I received this today from the always fantastic Carron. I love this video.
http://www.wimp.com/catdolphins/
Sadly, I can’t embed it because the YouTube link is private so it can only be viewed through the link above. It’s absolutely adorable. Enjoy.
~Kelly
Nope, that’s not the title of Geoff’s favorite WWII era submarine movie, it’s the radioactive iodine that’s going to be used to treat Smoky for his extreme hyperthyroidism.
Of all of our furry children, Bucky (Buckminster Charles the III), is probably the most personable. He loves people, is always around to greet newcomers, and can often be seen sitting in the window. Years ago, when I lived on Beacon Hill in an apartment with a completely enclosed courtyard, he was often known to not only go window to window and visit my neighbors, but also to leap vertically to the second story and sit on their window sills to make his presence known. He has always been very smart, an amazing athlete, and on top of everything around him.
Note: this does not make Geoff feel any better about it when Smoky, not pictured, actually does this. At least now we know why.
Someday soon, actual content!
~Kelly
And I needed a good laugh. Then I found this.
Geoff and I have a friend who has an underpants thieving cat. I don’t know if he’d go to the extremes of a drying rack, but it’s amusing to think about. Enjoy.
~Kelly
I’ve always considered myself more of an Animal Person rather than a Cat Person or Dog Person. Those terms always felt too exclusionary too me. So I found this little thing interesting when it came through my feed today and I thought I’d share it with all of you. Where do you fall?
Of course it doesn’t mention anything about small mammals. Or snakes. Do they count as “Exotics?” I wonder where my work at the museum with raptors and alligators puts me? Hmmmmm…..
~Kelly
The Rapture didn’t happen, so I did not get to assume ownership of any gorgeous new Boston Whaler cuddy cruisers that previously belonged to wealthy Raptured fishermen. Oh, well.
One interesting side note: around the time that the Rapture was supposed to have taken place, I couldn’t find Scratch. In fact, I could not find him for a while. Later on he appeared in the hallway, meowing to be let back inside. My theory is that he was the only being raptured, but then after he spent a few hours running amok in Heaven breaking things, God changed His mind and sent him back.
-Geoff
I have much to talk about later including my recent shopping victories and my job interview yesterday, but for right now it’s LOLcats. I think the Crazy Screaming Fiendish Monkey Children I taught last night ate my brain. Or, at least, my ability to think for myself. Damn, I hope they didn’t turn me into Sarah Palin, I’d better check on that.
Anyway, here they are.
~Kelly
Ok, stick with me. This one gets a little weird.
So, today I discovered that the place that I usually order our expensive and highly specialized cat food from is run by a bunch of right wing creationist wackjobs. You must understand, Geoff and I are firm believers in voting with our feet, our wallets, and, you know, at the actual voting booth. (Interestingly, I discovered the complete wackiness of the pet food vendor from the vendor themselves, Google just confirmed it.) Anyway, I called Geoff at work and explained the dilemma. The food is really good for our cats. They love it, it’s been easy on their kidneys and bladders as they age, but I really, really, can’t abide lining the pockets of a company run by someone who describes himself as a “New Earth Creationist” or who holds that everything modern medical science has told us about “cholesterol and the human body” is a “myth”.
Right. Um, this guy is a Veterinarian, not an M.D. I wonder if anyone has pointed that out to him?
Anyway, we feed our dogs this stuff and they scarf it down. They LOVE it. Thumbelina’s skin has improved 200% since she started eating it. She’s almost 10 and still has a waist which is a minor miracle for a dachshund. Rerun? He looks more like a sausage, but I think that has more to do with the fact that he is patently lazy than anything else. Anyway, as Royal Canin was one of the few pet foods only marginally involved in the major 2007 pet food recall as most of their food did not at the time use wheat gluten, (none of it does now, as far as I know, or if it does, it is all domestic) naturally, I looked there first for a new cat food.
I found a perfect substitute, only it required a prescription. This was absolutely fine by me and, turns out, fine by my vet as well. (I love my vets, they’re awesome.) So after checking out our vet’s affiliated order and ship website I also checked out PetFlow.com. I had received an email or two a while back from Dogster about this new service from PetFlow and had filed it away thinking that if I ever needed to have cat food shipped I’d check it out. Well, there’s no time like today while running screaming away from creationists. I was able to sign up for regular shipments of the new prescription food, the price is better than the vet’s affiliate site, and with the coupon code “Dogster” the shipping is free. As in, free always. And it ships automatically every 6 weeks. I have not yet discovered if the people who run PetFlow.com are in bed with the Koch brothers or anything, but for the moment the Liberal science teacher in me can rest easy.
Pretty cool, huh?
~Kelly
Back in December my parents lost their Elder States Kitty, Maxx, to cancer. It was right around Christmas and both of my parents have missed him a lot since. Maxx was… particular. The offspring of a tiny calico who formerly lived next door and a GIANT neighborhood Tom who was probably part or all Maine Coon, Maxx had a tiny head, huge body, and was all love. He was a lap and shoulder cat who liked to sit in the chair in the living room with my Dad when he read or, ahem, “rested his eyes” and either cuddle on his lap or perch on his shoulder as if reading whatever my Dad was reading.
About 2 weeks ago my parents got to feeling that it was about time to add a new feline or two to the house. My sister went online and looked for Maine Coon cats that needed a new home. They found two 6 month old brothers who had been surrendered by their owner due to lack of time to care for them. They had been surrendered at a high kill shelter in the south and had been transferred to a no kill shelter near where my parents live. They applied, were approved, and were able to pick up the boys this past Saturday.
Introducing Meezer and Moon. Pictures and commentary provided by my Mom. All photos were taken at the shelter before the boys were picked up and taken home.
Here is a picture of a very tired Meezer. He is more laid-back than his brother Moon, but they are both full of energy and love to play with a black shoe lace on the living room carpet.
This is Moon. I can tell because he has more fur coming out of his ears. This is an unusually quiet moment for him. He usually does not want to miss anything and will bring you a toy to play with, even if it belongs to Jasmine!
This is Moon again. When not taking a kitten nap, he is alert and ready to play, or attack your sweater zipper. He also is the most vocal and is not shy about telling you that he wants your attention.
Here is Moon again!!! I think he also likes to have his picture taken. As you can see, these photos were taken at the rescue shelter before we brought them home. They have been with us only 3 days, but are acting like they own the house already. The first day they arrived, both kittens jumped onto Dad’s lap when he sat in the red chair. That is what he misses most about Maxx, the chair time, so he was very happy. Meezer stayed on his lap, but Moon climbed up on his shoulder just like Maxx used to do.
Moon woke me up this morning at 5 am, by climbing under the covers and sleeping on my pillow. Without using his claws, he grabbed my face and started licking my chin. How can you not like that? I am wondering if this is basic Maine Coon behavior or did we just get lucky.
So, those are the newest family members. I am hoping that we’ll get more photos from my Mom and Dad soon. Enjoy the pretty kitties.
~Kelly
The Books are Taking Over... 