Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2014 - Letter E

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of  blogging in the Challenge. 

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary, and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and stories about cats that I will share for the next 22 days with you. I am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests you.

E is for Eyes and Ears...

Cameras do interesting things to cat eyes.

Gracie Loo, our Duchess.

This is Fred and his sister, Ginger. Her eyes were a brilliant yellow, but always photographed oddly. They are sitting on the toaster oven waiting for dinner.

Our sweet Fiona, who was nearly blind with eye infections as a kitten.

Trouble's eyes are the most beautiful Siamese blue; they never photograph that way. He is part Siamese somewhere in his background, but his Mom is a vibrant orange, white and black calico.

Fred has a damaged ear. Happened years ago, we presume in a fight. Fred is, after all, Top Cat on our property. Everybody bows down when he goes outside. He is seldom challenged. Inside, he is a big mush.

A photo of Buffy, or Van Gogh. As an outdoor kitten, one day she had two ears, the next only 1 1/2. The vet surgically removed the remains and she became an indoor kitty. Buffy never grew. She remained this size for about 3 years until she went to heaven. You could hold her whole body in two hands.

Thank you for stopping in and I hope you enjoy my pampered cats.


Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - 2014

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2014 - Letter D

The typical line up for food a few years ago.

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of  blogging in the Challenge. 

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary, and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and stories about cats that I will share for the next 23 days with you. I am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests you.

Heated houses and water dishes to keep them cozy in the winter. Some preferred sleeping in the big, old barn next door.

D is for Details...

So, you may ask, how did you end up with all these cats?

When we bought our house about twenty years ago, my husband and I did not realize that this area was a magnet for stray cats. We are located in farm country and shortly after we moved in, cats of all sizes and styles started to wander onto and off of the property. Soon females would stay and have babies and once you see those babies, you have to put out some food for the moms so the kids will be healthy and then put food out for the kids so they can stay healthy. And then provide heated houses so the colony (for by then we did have a colony of feral cats) didn't freeze in the really cold winters we get. Cats would leave and other ones would show up.

More recently.

We have much less than this now.

This is Lovey, one of the few who loved to be handled and give kisses.

We took as many of them that we could catch to the vet so there wouldn't be more kittens and gave any of them that were friendly to friends and relatives and some to the shelter. Lots of them spent their whole lives living on our property or in the big old barn next door. A few lucky ones we just had to bring inside with us.


























Now, we are down to a handful outside where they will stay until they leave for Kitty Cat Heaven. They are content and well cared for and we hope that no new ones show up to take their place. But, like Motel 6, we'll leave the lights on.

What about the cats you have inside?

As the days go on, you will meet many of our indoor cats. Some of these photos are old (we've been married for 50 years this December and have never been without a cat or cats), so not all the kitties you will see are still with us. They are still very dear to us, though.
At present, we have 3 siblings, 2 siblings, boys and girls, all neutered and spayed. Our oldest is 14 and youngest is 8 months. Not giving out any numbers, and that is all I'm saying about that.

See you tomorrow for the Letter E.

Thank you for stopping in and I hope you enjoy my pampered cats.


Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - 2014

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2014 - Letter C

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of  blogging in the Challenge. 

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary, and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and stories about cats that I will share for the next 24 days with you. I am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests you.

C is for Cuddle...

This is Max, one of our young ones and Fred.

One of many feral Moms who used to gift us with little ones.

Left front to Right back: Meghan, Fred, Trouble, Gracie.

L-R: Gracie, Meghan, Trouble, Fred.

Fred and Gracie with DJ playing the WII.

Outdoor Kitties on the door mat on a cool fall morning.

.

Margaret liked DJ from the start, the others not so much.

Gracie slept with DJ and cuddled him when he was brand new in the pack and play.

Fiona doing a little neck cuddle with Gary.

Meghan has loved Trouble since the first day they met, about 14 years ago.

This is Linus on the left and Max. Born of different Moms but possibly same Dad, they came to live with us last fall.

 

Thank you for stopping in and I hope you enjoy my pampered cats.


Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - 2014

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2014 - Letter B

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of  blogging in the Challenge. 

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary, and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and stories about cats that I will share for the next 25 days with you. I am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests you.

B is for Books and More Books...

I have a small collection of books about cats. Some are filled with beautiful feline photos, some with kitty stories and one particular book is entitled " I Could Pee on That." Its poems make my 8 year old grandson, DJ, crack up every time he reads them. I want to gather all my cat poems and stories together during the blog and work them into book form.

 

The Best Place to Read

Where do you like to read your books,
Under the bed or in little nooks?
On the couch or on the stairs
Or in your bed with teddy bears?

I like to read in the sun and the rain
In buses, on airplanes and on the train
I read with my hat on, or in the bath
or walking down the warm beach path.

My favorite place is my window chair
with some of our cats with me there.
With Jasmine and Trouble tucked in tight
And Margaret and JJ, my read is just right.
 By Suz

Thank you for stopping in and I hope you enjoy my pampered cats.



Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - 2014

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge 2014 - Letter A

Hello, Old Friends and New and Welcome to

April

and my 3rd year of  blogging in the Challenge. 

I love cats. I can't remember a time when there weren't cats in my life. Sometimes one or two, most times lots more. My husband, Gary, and I seem to be magnets for strays. Consequently, I have many photographs of cats and kittens that resided outside our houses and of those who, by the luck of the draw or paw, made it into the inner sanctum of feline luxury, our home. I have also written poems and stories about cats that I will share for the next 26 days with you. I am also looking forward to visiting your blogs to see what interests you.

A is for Active, Agile, Athletic...

Night Life At Our House

Ralph, who was named Rachael at birth.

When the lights go out at our house,

And the night has settled in,

It’s not the mice that come out to play,

But the cats that make the din.

Night becomes Olympic time,

With all the thumps and bumps

Of slalom runs and toboggan rides

And contests in ski jumps.

You lie awake within the bed,

And listen to the noise.

You begin to wonder who will win,

The girl’s team or the boy’s.

Somewhere close to midnight

The players lose some steam.

But, now they’re fighting under the bed

As you just drift off to dream.

Rachael soon become Ralph when it was evident

When the morning sun comes shining

And you stumble from the bed,

You’ll find the jolly contestants

In the kitchen waiting to be fed.

You rush about to leave for work,

Grouchy from lack of sleep

And notice that your feline friends

Are curled up not making a peep.

Cats are very athletic

And seldom come to harm

They love to be active when the sun goes down

And sleep after they hear your alarm.
By Suz

that she was a he.

Thank you for stopping in and I hope you enjoy my pampered cats.



Blogging from A to Z April Challenge - 2014