Mittens' Story (Part 1)

I was doing volunteer work for our local cat/dog shelter. At the time, it was still a kill shelter (this was the reason I had to stop volunteering there; that, and the fact my asthma got so bad.) They have since gone to a no-kill facility. I did my routine, cleaning cages from the front office (where the adoptable cats are) to the back (where the newly admitted ones are placed in cages and quarantined.) In one of the bottom cages, on the end, was a calico, making herself as small as possible. When I talked to her she growled. There was another feral in there who was so wild you had to wear gloves, and then be careful. I ask Annie if the cat was safe to touch. She advised me she was, no problem. I opened the door and took out this frightened girl with huge feet. She immediately began to purr!!!

Her cage was the only one, out of all of them, that didn't need cleaning. She hadn't used the litter box, eaten or drank any water since she had been admitted, the night before I got there. I got attached to all the cats, but she tore at my heart more than any other had. The next day, and every day after, I hoped she would be gone when I got there, that someone gave her a forever home. She started slipping under her bedding to completely hide. That is the way I found her one morning, several days later. She had been moved "up" to the adoptable room, but nobody would know there was a cat in the cage and, if they did, her growling would surely put them off. After all, most people want a playful kitten or a grown cat that is outwardly loving. Days went by, she still hid and growled.

Each day I took her out and held her and listened to her purr, hating to put her back. Her cage never did need much cleaning, she seemed to not want to go on living. I couldn't sleep at night and thought of her all the time. I happened to be back in the quarantine room and looked at a calendar on the wall. Mittens, whose name was Arlana, was penciled in on a date, a few days away. I didn't know what this meant, but I had a bad feeling.
(Continued tomorrow)

Toni ( The Mom)

Patches' Story

After reading Derby's story I decided to write the girls' story; how they found their furrever homes.

One gorgeous fall day, in October, 1999, a lovely calico cat came walking up the driveway, taking her sweet time, tail held high, feeling very comfortable and secure. It was like she knew that whoever lived here would let her stay. She knew she had charm. My husband saw her first, when he happened to look out the window. I had been wanting a cat and had discussed it with him, so this was an opportune time for her to show up. Coincidently, calicos were my favorite, ever since I had one as a little wafer. I went out, walking slowly, talking softly. She just talked right back to me and was fine with my picking her up. I didn't want to get attached, figuring she belonged to someone, she was too friendly and unafraid.

I opened the door for her and invited her inside. It was obvious she wasn't used to being indoors, the ceiling were so low, not like the sky, and there were no trees or grass. After numerous headbutts and winding around me, she found a spot on a quilt that was folded up beside the couch, claiming it as hers. I called the neighbors and also called the shelter, nobody was missing a calico who had one black leg and one orange, with white tosies. (I was so very glad nobody claimed her.) After a week, I called T.E.D. and made an appointment for spaying, worming, shots, and health check. The spaying wasn't necessary ( somebody must have loved her) and she got a clean bill of health. The only thing we can figure is someone dropped her off (their loss, our gain.) She was two years old.

She fit in and it didn't take long before she was claiming the bed as hers. My husband named her Patches, I added the Lady. She is our lovely Patches Lady, Bootiful Gurl, our Patchy Girl. We love her so, she is "the boss lady."

Toni (The Mom)

Lasso That Log

The Dad did the strangest thing the day before yesterday, as we girls, and Mom too, watched on in wonderment. There was a big log floating in the pond, up by shore, that The Dad wanted left there, reasons known only to him. The Mom asked him later and he said he wanted it by the bank because, as he put it, "it was neat." Around suppertime, The Mom saw it floating out and told him. He got a long rope and tied a horseshoe to it (for weight) and did a cowboy lasso to bring the log back into shore. After numerous tries, and Mom yelling "yee-haw," he managed to corral it, and bring it in close.

The next day he took Blu, the metal monster, tied a chain to the big log, and pulled it into place against the shoreline. The Mom said something about "only in America." If cats could belly laugh, we would!! The picture below shows the log in place.
Patches and Mittens, Supervisors

Some Exciting News

There is a new cat blog! It is called The Tower Hill Mob...... Tilly- a 16 year old ginger and white girl Toby- a 12 year old tiger living with each other(reluctantly) and gently guiding their beans through life. Go visit, say hi, and welcome them to the group!!

Wonderful news! Shaggy is better. We are so glad!

Is something exciting going on over at The Cowboy's place? Here is an excerpt from what Daphne, the dog, had to say:

"He was gone earlier today. Not sure doing what, but geez he stunk like cat when he came home. I saw on the table some forms. Something like "application ... adoption ... pets in your household ...." I didn't really understand all of it."

Did you notice that Jack Frost was sitting outside the window, looking in at Patches? Well, he is there, just scroll down to Saturday's post titled Unwelcome Visitor, to see him peeking in. I bet you didn't see him, did you?

Patches and Mittens

Going Outside

I asked The Mom, in my very sweetest purring voice, "Mom, may I please go outside, as it has been, well....... since forever; the last time I was outside. I will be very careful, I won't eat any grass because it makes me sick all over the floor, I will come when you call, and I won't seek out Mistrie to hassle."

I heard her rummaging in my basket. Then she scooped me up, put me on the bed, and proceeded to put my purple confinement gadget (harness) on me, something I haven't worn for several years. It took her forever because it needed to be resized ( I have put on a few pounds, you see.) She snapped on the blue lead rope and opened the door for me. The sun hit my fur, the dirt squished between my tosies, and the air smelled of spring. I immediately sought out some grass to eat; infraction number one. Then I got stubborn and wouldn't go where she suggested; infraction number two. I went in search of Mistrie, but she hid from me; infraction number three. The Mom said, "enough already," but this is just the tip of the iceburg. I shall return for more fun in the sun. There is no stopping me now.

On a serious note, our furry good friend Shaggy of Little Cat Feet is feeling poorly. Please go visit his blog and send him well-wishes.

Patches

Unwelcome Visitor

The Mom is a real whirlwind of activity since she bought all those flowers. She is planting, weeding, watering, fertilizing, and planting some more. Then she worries over someone by the name of Jack Frost coming to visit. I wonder if Jack doesn't like the flowers because The Mom puts the ones she hasn't planted in the garage and covers up the ones in the ground so he can't see them. I wonder how long this guy is going to stay. The Mom seems to think he will camp outside and she said he does his damage, usually, in the early morning hours as the sun is coming up. Mittens and I will keep an eye out for him and any nefarious activities. In fact, I think that is him at the door! I shall hiss, growl, and show my claws; he is not welcome here.

Patches

Favorite Birds

Edsel tagged us! We are supposed to name our favorite birds. I am resting on my paw, thinking about this. Let me see.....

I guess my favorite has to be the bluebird; it is our state bird.

Then there are the six, cute, little goslings, tiny geese, all yellow and fluffy.

Next come the ducks with their hearty brood of twelve!!! Imagine, twelve babies to try and take care of.

Of course robins, they are everywhere, busy building nests.

Hummingbirds are after The Moms fushia, they are so quick, tiny, and fun.

I mustn't forget the lone turkey that hangs around and digs in The Mom flower beds.

These maybe aren't my favorites, but they are birds I see everyday.

I tag Oreo, Cat Crossings, ...It's All Good, Brit Cats, and whoever else wants to play.

Patches

Grandpa Norton

It is with great sadness, we say farewell to another blogging kitty. Grandpa Norton went to Rainbow Bridge yesterday at 4:40 AM. Our deepest sympathy and thoughts go out to Mary and the Meezer Tails in this time of dreadful sorrow. We know he will be back, they always make their presence known to those who love them. We also know he will be playing happily in the daisies, chasing butterflies and napping in the green grass with Ralphie. Go to Meezer Tails and read the wonderful tribute Mary wrote to Grandpa Norton. He was a fine old gentlecat, a Puddin Pop.

Toni (Mom to Patches, Mittens, and Mistrie)

We shall have The Mom light a candle for Grandpa Norton to help him on his journey. We shall have a moment of silence, hanging our heads, while purring gently, as we help him on his way.

Patches, Mittens, Mistrie

New Monitor

The Mom got her new monitor yesterday, now her color scheme is all messed up and she has been changing and changing. Mittens has been helping her, but she is drooling on the keyboard. I hope she doesn't short something out!

Here is a picture of the goslings, taken when they were just a day old. The picture isn't very clear, because The Mom didn't dare go outside for fear of chasing them away.

Patches

WINNERS!!

Mia and Ghost are the winners of our contest for the 10,000th hit! Concatulations. Please email us with your address so we can send your prize. They checked our site at about 5:21 PM PST as The Mom checked right before that time and it said 9999!!!

The Girls

News and Updates

The Mom called Dell today and found out that the new monitor is supposed to arrive tomorrow.......paws are crossed.

We are getting very close to hitting 10,000 visitors. Please let us know if you are the lucky one by posting in the comments. Also, email us with your Furless Ones name and address; our email address is in the sidebar.

Six fluffy, yellow, baby goslings hatched out yesterday, all jumped out of the nest within an hour (As The Mom and The Dad watched with binoculars.) They are now swimming around with Mom and Dad Goose, learning, daily, how to become good, productive geese.

Patches

Oh.....No!!!

This morning, when The Mom booted up her desktop so we could post for today, all she got was a black screen. She called Dell and got in touch with this guy she had trouble understanding, she thinks he was in India. To make a long story short, Dell is sending out a new monitor; it should arrive on Thursday or Friday (we hope.) I am using The Mom's laptop to post this, but all our blogger stuff is on the desktop so our paws are tied. Hoping to be back to normal by Friday, until then we won't be able to visit you or send emails.

Patches and Mittens, Mistrie too.

Blue Blanket

Do you remember the blue blanket that was left at the napathon in January? Well, nobody ever did claim it, so The Mom said she would let Mistrie have it. Here she is, enjoying it; so whoever left it, a big "Thank You."

We also want to say how sad we are for everyone over at Caturday for the loss of their darling Silas. We know he is happy at Rainbow Bridge with little Fergus, and all the kitties "who went before."

Patches

Gardening

The Mom picked a bouquet of daffodils yesterday. They are so pretty, all yellow and springified. She got all the cowpies spread and she is now starting to plant. She is always moving things...she plants them one place and then next week, or next year, she moves it somewhere else. Unproductive, if you ask me. The only moving I do is from one chair to another, or from the food bowl to the window. The Furless Ones need to be more observant, they could learn a lot from us!

Patches

Mittens... On Purring

The Mom was upstairs, I was downstairs, on the chair in the dining room, when I began calling her. At first, she was concerned; was something wrong? She came down and patted my head. I jumped down and purred her a nice melody, letting the sound go really deep in my throat, wrapping around her legs and talking fine, of things important to me. She listened and petted me and talked back in her funny human talk, some words I know, others are a mystery, they make no sense. She bent down and said, "Mittens, you are so sweet." Why didn't she just say, "Mittens, mewowr murp," it means the same thing; but I don't think she grasps the concept of easy language, she prefers it difficult. Edsel agrees with me on that, check out his post for Monday.

Mittens

Climbing Tree

This is a picture of the climbing tree for the catolympics. There is a yellow mark on the tree where your front paw has to touch, shown by the yellow arrow. This is catolympics regulation height for climbing, The Mom checked in the book to make sure.

On another note, you must go over and see Timmy, (the April 22 post) if you haven't already. He is quite the scholar.

Patches

Billie

For those of you who attended our nap-a-thon in January, this is Billie, the girl who gave us the talk on "How to get the most out of your human without them knowing it". She is our cousin kitty and lives with one of the Mom and Dad's boys up on Sugar Mountain. She is about 8 years old, a real ginger cutey. She has been with the boy since she was a kitten.

Patches

Cow Pies

In Phase One, The Mom and Dad raked about five acres of the Big Piney Woods and are now ready for Phase Two.

In Phase Two, The Dad will be working on a retaining wall and spreading grass seed and fertilizer. The Mom will be spreading bull.......excuse me........cow pies.....the real kind, the kind kids like to walk in barefoot and throw at each other. The Mom and Dad went to the neighbors farm (it is a steer ranch) and Farmer Jack loaded the Metal Monster truck named Blu with four buckets of rich steer dodo the Mom calls Black Gold. (I call it just plain stinky.) While The Mom was waiting for Farmer Jack to load them, she played with a black and white woofy. She tossed a plastic disk to him and he would jump up in the air and catch it, bringing it back to her, all slobbery. She smelled all dogified, so I huffed away, having nothing to do with her.

In Phase Three, The Dad will be using the Grass Eating Monster (aka lawn mower) and the Skinny Cutting Monster, (aka edge trimmer) and The Mom will be spreading the Black Gold on her flower beds and planting lots of flowers. She bought a whole bunch today, wave petunias, wallflowers, gerbera daisies and pansies. She says this is a start.

In Phase Four, The Mom and Dad sit back, relax, and enjoy their work, inbetween mowing, watering, weeding, killing bugs, more fertilizing, which takes up most of the summer. There really seems to be something wrong with this picture because, come fall, it all dies anyway.

Patches

Clicky Box Lessons

The Mom is going to the library place this morning to take a class on taking pictures with her clicky box. Oh, no!!!! Does this mean she will be taking MORE pictures of us than she already does? Does this mean we will be bothered when we are trying to sleep, bothered when we are eating, or playing or meditating with the flashes in the face? Does this mean she has gone mad??? I think I will hide so she can't click away at me.

Patches

News

We have Catolympic news. A blog has been created to view news, updates, any information that becomes available about the event. Go HERE and bookmark this page for future reference.

We have been tagged by Zeus. We need to list five kitty words we like........here they are (well six):

Happy Toes (spreading toes when very happy)
Making Biscuits (kneading and purring)
Monsters (huge noisy large machines, run by beans)
Little Wafers (tiny children)
Pancakeing (curling up in a ball)
Motor Running or Purr Machine Going (purring)

Now we must tag five kitties...let's see.......we tag:

The Monsters
Lone Star Purr
Oreo
Fat Eric
Furry Paws

Patches

On Napping....

I feel like napping

Dreaming things that kittie's dream

Until the day's done

~Patches~

Back To Normal

It is really nice to get our house back to normal. There were toys everywhere and loud strange noises. The Mom and Dad stayed up too late, and ate at strange times. There were people coming and going at all hours. Each night I got under the covers and cuddled the Mom, because I missed her. I am, as Patches will verify, a real skairty cat, and I don't like anyone but them, so I hid, staying in the closet the whole time.

The Mom is going to the Drill Doctor today for her tooth. I am wondering if the Dad will have to put her in a carrier to get her there. She says she hates to go about as bad as we hate to go to T.E.D. (The Evil Dr.) I will give her extra purrs when she comes home.

*Update: Mom said the Drill Doctor was painless, but not the bill.....so I will purr to make her forget.

Mittens

Company

The Little Winnemucca Wafer and her Mom will be here for a few days, so the Mom says we should be good hostesses and stay off the computer. So......everycat, we will be back in a few days.

***Update 4/18.........we will be back tomorrow (Wednesday, yipee!!!)

Patches

Happy Easter!

I heard from Mistrie, who seems to know a lot about what is going on, that this truly is the day the Easter Bunny hides eggs, baskets and candy. Little Winnemucca Wafer got here last night, so The Mom can give her the basket I saw, later the two other boy wafers will come and get their chocolate treats. Because Mom is going to have the family for dinner, it means:

1. Mittens will hide.

2. I will be ever so cute and purr up to everyone.

3. Mistrie will do her soulful look with her nose up to the glass, as she tries to win over the company.

All in all, it should prove to be a good day; The Mom will eat a ton of jelly beans and fix a ham, and everyone will slip me some.

Patches

Getting Ready

Today we are getting company for a few days, so I am watching for them. The Dad's daughter and the Little Wafer are coming all the way from Winemucca, Nevada, to visit the rest of the family, (2 sons, a daughter, and their families) and have dinner on Easter. Mom is busy cooking and cleaning. She is going to have ham....oh, boy!!!

I saw a pretty little basket upstairs with a rabbit hanging on it, and tons of candy, which I don't like. The Mom says it is for the Little Wafers, and the Easter Bunny left them here, for them. She said usually the bunny hides them, but she is helping the bunny out, so she will hide them. Maybe the bunny will bring us something...........

Patches

Happiness Is.......

On this spring day, Mistrie found a sunny spot to enjoy, after a gray winter.
(Not taken today, it is back to raining.)

Busy Mom

Mom has been busy redoing her Idaho Nature Trail's blog template. Now both her blogs are done (yeah, right Mom; I have heard that before.) I am looking on, supervising. Without my help, it would have taken extremely longer. I didn't even get my normal nap. Now I am really tired.

Patches

Party Pictures (3)

At the dance..........

(Left) (Angelica (above) and Victor Tabbycat (below) watch the dancers.
(Right) GigoloKitty looks for another dance partner.

Time to rest and nap................

(Left) Ariel ready to nap.
(Right) Smeagol (behind) & Strider, all tuckered out.

Other kitties who stopped by for the party. (Mom didn't get pictures, sorry.)
Brandi
Meeko and Kiara
Bella and Dolce
Egypt and Dino
Luna
Georgia

Party Pictures (2)

Here are some additional party pictures, with more coming tomorrow.

(Left) While Dancing, Edsel pulls Boni's tail, as Mittens watches.
((Right) Bonnie listens to the tunes.

(Left) Beau Beau checking out the party invitation.
(Right) Sammy looks on, as Mistrie tosses party favors at him.

Party Pictures (1)

Here are pictures of some of the kitties who took hokey pokey lessons.
Helping out the kitties learn left from right paws, we put purple stickers on the left paw. More pictures tomorrow.

(Left) Miles waiting to start lessons.
(Right) Smiley Boy, Derby visits with Patches after lessons.

(Left) Chatham cleans sticker off, after the lesson.

(Right) Charlie checks his paw.

Party Posts (2)

We decided to make a second post for comments, the one is getting long and taking a long time to load. So start posting party comments here.........

Party Posts

This spot is reserved for comments for those of you attending the dance party (see post below.)
The party has begun. Put on your dancing toes.

Patches, Mittens, Mistrie

A Celebration

The Mom worked for two days on our blog, getting it just so. We helped a lot, and she said because we were so good, we could have a party. A friend of Mom's, Martha, and her cat, Wyoming, (pictured) are already here. In fact, Martha blew up a bunch of balloons, and made some surprise treats. We are going to have a dance, so wear your dancing toes. There will be refreshments; fish, ham morsels, and shredded beef, served on crackers, kitty lickin good punch, and catnip tidbits. There will be lots of places to nap between dances. It will be a good time to give us input on the catolympics, and we can show you where the events will be held. Looking forward to seeing all our friends.

The party is starting at noon Eastern time, but you can teleport on over anytime today (Sunday.)

Patches & Mittens

Face Lift

The Mom has decided she is going to get a facelift. Oh, no sorry, our blog needs a facelift.
She has been working on it for days now, and hopes to have it ready tomorrow. So, be on the lookout for our "new look." Oh, and she says I have to share it more with Mittens, so her picture and my picture will be on the profile photo.

Patches

Happy Toes

When I purr and make biscuits in the air, Mom says I have happy toes.

Last summer, Mom fed the neighbor's five outside kitties when they took a trip to Alaska. They were all cats that were dropped off, so they were pretty wild, but Mom did make friends with one she named Biscuit. Biscuit would "make biscuits" as she walked toward Mom, and made them the whole time she ate. Mom said she has really happy toes!

Patches

Ode To Spring

Spring arrived today
The sun is high above
Days are longer now
I hear a morning dove.

Spring arrived today
The geese are on their nests
I hear a robin's song
As the sun sets in the west.

Spring arrived today
Our Mom says it is so
The sun is warm upon the soil
As green things start to grow.

~Mittens~

The Hokey Pokey

Edsel is a marvelous dancer, proof positive in the picture we saw of him on his blog. We girls have been practicing a dance The Mom used to do with her cousin, when she was a little wafer, called the Hokey Pokey. Here are some shots of us practicing. The words go something like this:

Put your right paw in,
Put you right paw out,
Put your right paw in,
And you shake it all about,
You do the hokey pokey,
And you turn yourself around,
That's what it's all about.

Repeat with the left paw.

Take a nap.

Here we are doing "put your right paw out."

Nice Quote

The ideal of calm exists in a sitting cat.
Jules Reynard

Spring For Sure

The Mom says it is official, spring has arrived to the Big Piney Woods. All the ice on the pond finished melting yesterday. The geese are nesting, (they should hatch out babies in a month) there are ducks all over looking for nesting spots, the deer are seen daily, and also a moose is hanging around. Mistrie is enjoying the sun and watching all the excitement.

Patches

Lost

Mom said she lost an hour, so I am going to go look for it. I have checked all over downstairs and found nothing that looked like an hour. Is it bigger than a breadbox? Is it animal, vegetable, or mineral? Is it hiding or just lost? Mom says it has something to do with setting the clocks ahead, so I am heading upstairs to check the alarm clock to see if an hour is hiding there.

Mittens

April Fool's Day

Mom said she would just as soon sleep through today. Some persons (no names mentioned) always pull jokes on her, and she has yet to get them back. She says, "wake me when it's over."

Patches