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July 3, 2006
More Cute Cat Pics
One just cannot have enough cute pictures of Winston and Tokaji on their favorite chair. Just check out these sweet peas! :)

Comments

Hi, I am playing around with image editing software, and wanted some pictures of cats. I found your blog from a google image search. I just wanted to thank you for the pictures. Your cats are indeed quite cute, and even though I'm not a photographer, I can tell that the photography and especially the lighting in some of the pictures is very nice. Good job, and have fun with the cats.


I was looking something on internet, and I find this beautifull cats, also nice people who love cats.


I just felt like Googling "cute cats" and came up with this - what wonderful cats you have and a great idea to have this site for them!


July 2, 2006
Tokaji - Next American Idol
I barf a little bit in my mouth every time I see the Ford commercial featuring Taylor Hicks, the spasmodic, karaoke crooner from this year's American Idol. In response, I would like to nominate my kitten, Tokaji, as the next American Idol. Does Tokaji have what it takes? Well...

  • The fact that Tokaji is neutered makes him more appealing to men (sympathy voters), women (not threatened by his manliness), and the transgendered (no explanation needed).

  • The fact that Tokaji is a kitten appeals to kids.

  • The fact that Tokaji is five pounds appeals to little people.

  • The fact that Tokaji does not wear clothes appeals to the hippies ("Tokaji is himself") and the rockers alike ("Tokaji thumbs his face at the audience by not wearing pants").

  • As a Singapura, Tokaji can relate to minorities especially the Asian community and my friend, David.




April 9, 2006
Pretty Kitty
Now that Tokaji is feeling like himself again, he decided that he would allow me to take some pictures of him posing on top of the cats' favorite chair.



Comments

wow... that cat is so beautiful.


April 9, 2006
Snaggletooth Kitten
Unfortunately, Winston is not the only cat with bad teeth in this house. No, it is not this bad...


One of Shawn's colleagues created that hilarious image, and Shawn's mother thought it was real for a moment! YIKES!

Actually, one of Tokaji's fangs was crooked and therefore poking into his lip. Kind of like Billy Idol...


O.K. Only one more joke about the kitten and then I give up. Don't the kitten's whiskers look like Pei Mei's?


Thankfully, the veterinarian dentist was able to shape the fang without hitting a nerve (and therefore requiring a root canal). Tokaji is doing fine again and still loves to bite toes! :)

January 11, 2006
Tokaji in the Bag
It seems that Tokaji's latest obsession is literally in the bag! It makes me very nervous, but I still like to indulge him when I can supervise. In the pics below, you can see that he even joined some mangoes in the bag. He tried the mangoes, but he did not like them. [I have even read an article lately that reports that cats connot taste sweet. Perhaps that is why my delicious mangoes escaped Tokaji's sandpaper tongue attack?]



December 31, 2005
Wrap up a Christmas Kitty
JB finally tempted Tokaji to come out and visit while he was over at the house. Tokaji was quite shy, and he hid under a tent of wrapping paper until JB would play with him again. It was really cute!

December 30, 2005
The Boys
These are two beautiful pics of Tokaji and Winston in my office. They were very glad when we returned home.


December 20, 2005
So Happy Together
Tokaji seems to be getting bigger every day. Shawn and I feed him soft food, which he gobbles up. Thankfully, Winston and Tokaji still love each other very much, play together (i.e. wrestle) a lot, and enjoy their favorite chair in the sun. Check it out!

December 17, 2005
Billy's Creative Mind
Perhaps Billy has finally found a way to get back at me for the "Man in the Moon" picture that I made of him? Billy created these funny pics from pics that he downloaded from my blog! He morphed the eyes to make them super big and even added some fun clip art and color to make sure that the boys are ready for Christmas! Check it out!



Comments

Hi Dre and Bill and everyone on the blog!! Thinking of you Lisa


thinking of you


December 15, 2005
Thing 1
Minus loved Thing 1, and I finally gave Thing 1 to Tokaji. Tokaji loves Thing 1, too. He carries Thing 1 by the tiny doll's head, plays with it roughly, puts it in his food, chews it, licks it, and even brings it to his litter box. I finally had to sew poor Thing 1's face together again because the stuffing was starting to come out of a hole near his mouth. Thankfully, Shawn was able to find a new Thing 2 on eBay. I am afraid that it won't be much longer until we have to give Tokaji the new one because Thing 1 is stinky and falling apart. That is true love!

November 12, 2005
Nap Time!
Winston and Tokaji have such an easy life! ;P

November 11, 2005
Curious Kitten
This curious kitten helped me wrap gifts for Christmas today. Well, at least, he enjoyed the boxes and the bubble wrap! :)

November 10, 2005
A Study of Tokaji
Tokaji loves to help with whatever I am doing, even if that means that I am working in the office. After seeing how cute he is, you can definitely understand why I could not toss him off of my desk.





October 26, 2005
Tokaji Update - Week Four
Last Wednesday was the day that Tokaji said goodbye to his goodies. I dropped him off at the vet first thing in the morning, and he was operated on early. I called three times to get updates from the doctor and the nurses. The vet, however, would not return him to me until he had recovered enough from the anesthesia. They used valium, and he was sleepy and groggy for the good part of the next day as well. Hey, if you are two pounds, a little valium goes a long way!

Winston was not very nice about the procedure. As soon as Winston smelled Tokaji, he hissed at him. Tokaji was sad, but too tired to mind. I wish I knew whether the hissing was Winston's embittered cry for his own missing fuzzies or whether it was the doctor's office smell or another cat's smell on the kitten.

Thankfully, Tokaji has been back to his own shenanigans ever since. Minus loved chenille; Tokaji loves warm laundry. If only I could teach him to fold it! Tokaji still plays roughly with Winston, and I finally caught a bit of a pic of it (see below). They always stop when I enter the room because they think they are in trouble. All I hear is their growling and moving, so sometimes I really feel like a Mom and checking on two kids, who may be up to no good, but sure know when to stop.

Tokaji's face has changed quite a bit since those first pics of him upon arrival. Stepping back and admiring the pictures, I also feel like he is growing. I do not think that he will be very big, but definitely irresistible! :)



October 26, 2005
Tokaji Update - Week Three
Tokaji was a non-stop kitten in his third week with us. He loves to fetch - especially the small sparkly balls I bought at the vet's office. He also has grown incredibly close to Winston. Either Tokaji is hiding, planning a surprise attack on Winston, or they are rough-housing, or they are napping together. If I go to take a picture of them napping together, Shawn says that I 'already have that one', but they are so cute, it is hard to resist. I am anxious for next week though when Tokaji will go in for his neutering. Little does he suspect...



October 9, 2005
Tokaji Update - Week Two
This was a momentous week as both Shawn and I were gone for the first half of it. Shawn returned on Wednesday, and thankfully the boys were fine. Whew! I was so worried that things would happen just as with my dearest Minus and that we would come home to a very sick cat. Thankfully, Tokaji only had his winky eye still - just as we had left him.

I took Tokaji to the new vet (The Cat Doctor) on Friday (after trimming seven of his nails; that is quite good), and I was very disappointed that he only weighed 2.13 pounds. I was sure that he had grown more than that! More like a half a bag of sugar, maybe 2.5 pounds. Oh well. It was a different scale than that on which he was originally weighed. Tokaji was a little superstar at the vet, hissing at all the ugly old cats with his ears pinned back and sitting in all the ladies' laps for some cuddling. I suspect that he does not know that we were there to discuss the imminent removal of his itty bitty kitty balls. Don't tell him! (I am waiting for his pet insurance to kick in, which will cover the expense of the neutering as well as the shots that he is due for.) I also got him some medication for his eye.

During the course of this week, Winston and Tokaji grew even closer under our very eyes. They clean each other and run around the house together. Winston does not even mind sharing his favorite chair with the little bundle of energy! Winston is also enjoying Tokaji's first material possession - his house. I do not think that little Tokaji minds much though. When I brought Tokaji back from the vet, Winston immediately went up to him and licked where he had had blood taken and cleaned his face. It is very, very cute!!!



Comments

Can I share the cat house and chair when I come and visit?


Could they be any cuter?


October 9, 2005
Tokaji Update - Week One
After a week with us, Tokaji seems to be doing very well! He has eaten enough to give him a small round belly and I believe also that his face has filled out, so that he does not look so gaunt. He drinks from the fountain and uses the box religiously, too. He seems to be very happy and exceptionally busy around the house. Tokaji LOVES fresh, warm laundry and his little cat exerciser in my office. Winston is very motherly towards the kitten, and I know they are falling in love. :) Winston immediately gained a few pounds as soon as the kitten food was available, but I have also caught the kitten eating Winston's food. I guess the forbidden fruit does taste better!



September 25, 2005
Introducing Tokaji!!!
The past two days were more than amazing and, of course, exhausting! On Friday, Shawn and I flew to Sacramento, California to meet Mette, the Singapura breeder. She is a fun person (with blue-painted toenails), who really loves her cats. She moved to the United States from Norway fifteen years ago. She used to do cat judging, but now she seems to be overwhelmed with kittens. Don't think that there are not any homes for these beauties though; they are all spoken for, and there is even a waiting list for future litters! She was kind enough to give us the 'royal' tour of her cattery. As you can see in the photos below, she let me hold one that is a couple of weeks younger than Tokaji, and she even took out these downy babies for their first short trip outside their cage, so we could get a picture! The third pic is of two kittens play-fighting in a basket. What could be cuter than that? How about Shawn getting groomed by the mother cat!? I think Shawn liked it, but I did not know whether I should be jealous or not, but look at how many new friend I had made! That is me playing with Tojaki's litter mates.





That evening, we also met and got to play with our new baby, but it was hard to play with him alone amongst so may playful kittens! We named him Tokaji (pronounced Toke-Eye) after the deliciously sweet Hungarian dessert wine, which tastes like apricots (which would be pronounced in Hungarian Toe-keye-Yee). Mette had a purple rubber band around his neck to tell him apart from the others. Shawn, Mette and I visited some more and then called it a night.

That evening in the hotel, I did not sleep well at all. I worried about the long trip back to Atlanta and whether the little guy would like it in our home, away from his littermates for the first time.

Shawn and I arrived fifteen minutes before the agreed to time on Saturday morning. Tokaji had already eaten and done his business, so we were ready to leave. Here is a pic of me and Mette holding the kitten and his purple rubberband. It was very sad to take him away from so much action, but he did not cry until we were in the car a couple of blocks away.



The airplane ride was wonderful. The sound of the engines must have made Tokaji very sleepy! He slept in the bag while we were served lunch, and then he slept on me for the entire movie (Mr. and Mrs. Smith) and snacks. Not one peep!

When we finally arrived at home, we set him up with a litter box (hand-me-down from Winston), some soft and some dry cat food, and some water, but what he really seemed interested in was investigating his new home! His two pounds fits everywhere - even in the keyboard drawer on my desk! (Unfortunately, Winston has been hissing and growling at Tokaji.) Meanwhile, Shawn and I opened Tokaji's first material possession - a luxurious cat bed from Mom and Dad! He LOVES it! He ended up sleeping there all night after eating some soft food and using the bathroom.






At two months younger than Minus was, Tokaji is very playful and very small. My heart has already melted for this little fuzzy bundle of joy. As he lays curled in a ball on my lap while I type these words, I am sure you can understand why. I cannot wait for you to meet him! Welcome home, Tokaji!

Comments

Oh, I can see why your heart melts. What a gorgeous little guy.


My Lord, what a nice kitty. He looks so tiny in that skyscraper home of his - I think I'd join him in there since it does look very comfy! Congrats guys, he really is adorable. I can't remember watching an film on board a plane, nor finishing my meals and drinks, without hearing from our kitty-girls! Tessa frequently asks us when she can go and stay at your place. Once she'll have seen these pictures, she'll probably just hop on a plane by herself....

Enjoy!! Much love, Saskia, Folkert, Lydia & Tessa


What a precious baby! Welcome to your new home. You are a very lucky little guy to have such a wonderful mom, dad and brother. You are just a little doll!


September 22, 2005
Winston Knows...
I don't know what has gotten into Winston lately, but I am beginning to wonder whether he knows that he is getting a little brother very soon. He does not sleep with us all the time any more, and he actually let me take some rather candid shots of him over the past days. What follows are the best. I could swear he was posing!



August 30, 2005
Not Quite Winston
I took Winston to the vet on August 19th, and neither of us has been quite the same since. Winston bit me during the examination. Thankfully, the wound is slowly healing. One good thing that has come out of the visit is that Winston has all of his shots and even a new cat food, which he seems to like quite a bit. Here is a picture of Winston sunbathing in his favorite chair this weekend past.

June 17, 2005
Minus' Birthday Has Special Meaning Again!
I had secretly been very anxious about Friday, June 17, as it would have been Minus' first birthday. His life was so short, he loved us so much, and we loved him so much. It just seems so unfair. Still, in some mysterious way, I feel like Minus had an effect on this day. The breeder, Mette, e-mailed and let us know that our new baby boy was born! YAHOO!!! Mette said that we could start thinking about S and T names. My heart has been racing ever since the news! I am just so excited! :)

Comments

Say hello to our new boy Twiki! Biddy biddy biddy!!! Or is it Stalin?


Have you seen pictures yet? Could it be a Tyrone? Or "Sudi" which is Swahili for good luck ...


Hey Guys, great news! How about Sans or Sign like minus-sign or Spector. Hey what about Titili for butterfly from(India/Pakistan)? bilbro


Congrats! Maybe Sauvignon or Tequila?


Hey Dre! Awsome Blog - browsing through the pictures felt like a reunion. Will send more later - X


Apparently there's a really fun site called: www.stuffonmycat.com I thought it might be something for your guys??? Love Saskia


Maybe Sasha? Or Sahne? Schiesse? Tobias? Turd Blossom? Trotzkopf?

I'm so glad to hear that you'll be welcoming a little one soon.

Love, Kayt


May 8, 2005
Winston Is Watching!
One of Winston's most endearing qualities is the fact that he likes to look out the window. Of course, as his humans, we like to think that he is watching us come and go, but he knows better. Just look at him...

April 24, 2005
Sunbeam on Winston's White Chair
Who am I kidding? With a look like that, you would let him shed on your white chair, too! :)

Comments

That's why we had to get the Dyson Animal vacuum!


my cats are exactly the same 1s black with a white bely and white socks and the other one is white with a black saddle and tale. there so adorable but i hate it hen i pick the up for 1 small cuddle and then i have to go and get changed before going out. Is there anything that will help this or will i just ave to live with it. please email me on scarysarah2006"hotmail.com if you know how i can stop this


April 15, 2005
Happy Birthday Winston!
Our dearest Winston turned four years old on April 15th! So, if you were a spoiled cat, what would be your birthday wish be? Why a plate of tuna, of course! :) Happy Birthday Winston! We love you so much!

Comments

Winston is the only highlight of April 15th. Damn IRS!


March 28, 2005
Shawn and Winston
As much as Winston hates it, Shawn and I love to hug him. Here are some pics of Shawn in the kitchen with our big boy, who by the way, has gotten back to his normal weight since the kitten food is gone. They both look very handsome! :)

March 9, 2005
Thank You!
Thank you all for your wonderful comments and cards! This has been a very difficult time for Shawn and for me, but it was your support and caring that helped us through these dark days.

I will begin blogging again today and try to add some content about other not-so-important things, which have been going on here. I still miss Minus dearly. He seems to be everywhere. I found another one of his mice without a tail in my computer bag, and I found a lot of paw prints on top of the glass on the dresser in the guest room. I imagine that he was up there gnawing on the palm, which Shawn and I have put outside to slowly torture to death. I even confessed to my mother that I let Minus claw one of the yellow chairs from my grandfather. The worst part is when I am settling in to bed. I miss my little niblet, who would step across my pillow and my face, lick me on the nose in the middle of the night, explore under the covers and even yank on my pump cord! The best part was when he settled in to sleep either next to my head or close and warm next to me under the covers.

The autopsy report stated that it was FIP, which took Minus' life. FIP is fatal, and we are keeping a close eye on Winston to ensure that he is OK (although it typically only kills kittens). Winston has not been himself. Maddeningly, he keeps searching for Minus in all of the places, where he would normally be - like on top of the chairs under the table. The three of us will be fine, but the three of us Minus 4 is still minus one.

March 3, 2005
In Memoriam

Comments

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of sorrow. Rest easy in knowing that Minus is no longer in pain.


So sorry to hear this. I know how you feel. When I lost my colt Freedom Be it was a heart taking expererince. love you all Denny


Oh Guys!! I can't believe it. Having a "child" of my own, and not being able to image if anything happened to her, I sympathize with you. I'm sending you a big hug.


My eyes fill with tears when I see our precious Minus 4. What a special one he was. His little paw prints will forever been in our hearts. He is in kitty heaven with my beloved Brandon and Brittany.


Shawn and Dre - We are so sorry and all extend our deepest sympathies to you. Two of us have lost beloved animal children this year and know only too well how deep the grief is.


I'm so sorry for your loss. Please let me know if there is anything I can do. With love, Kayt


Dre, Shawn & Winston - I am so sorry you lost Minus. I can't imagine what you all are going through, but if you need a shoulder both of mine are always available. Minus is missed and thought of a lot, but I hope in time your family will grow again. Love you all, M.


I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.


so sorry to hear about a loved one. Cassandra means the world to us. Next cocktail is on me.


Dre and Shawn, I am so sorry to hear about Minus! I know how heartbreaking this is. You have my deepest sympathies.


We are truly saddened by your loss. We know Minus was your baby, and he will be greatly missed. Now he's playing in catnip heaven... Our thoughts and prayers are with you guys. All our love, Kim, Andrew, & Hudson


I share your sadness and your sense of loss of Minus. I relate to losing a family member when losing a pet. Both of my Dobermans (Sheba-deceased) and Sophie presently have the family name and very dear to my heart. Alot of tears were shed in the grieving process. My heart goes out to you and my prayers are with you.


Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the rest of your family. It is tough to lose a family member and it must so much tougher when the life is cut short. I guess we are just supposed to know the reason for some stuff.


I meant to say we are not supposed to know


Dear Andrea and Shawn, Just wanted to let you know, I'm sorry for the loss of your beloved Minus 4. I'm sure you'll have lots of great memories. Love, Betty


I'm very sorry for your loss. I'll always remember my passed loved ones with a little sadness, but a lot of happiness for the wonderful and enriching moments they gave to me. May your memories of Minus be as happy during this time of sorrow.


Shawn & Dre, Losing a loved one, whether human, canine or feline, at an early age is always a tragedy. You are in our hearts and prayers.


Love knows no species. Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet.

I am so sorry to hear about Minus. Give Winston an extra hug for me, since he can't read (or can he?).


The creatures we allow into our lives are not just appendages, but are the nucleus of nurturing that shapes the realm of our lives. Minus will be missed...


Ha Ha Ha, Shit happens


February 22, 2005
Shawn Takes Special Care of Minus
After another shot, I am happy to announce that Minus' fever has started to come down! Shawn spent all of his President's Day caring for the little niblet. Shawn reported that Minus did eat a few bits of his kibble as well as some wet food. Minus has yet to drink any water. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this 'fever of unknown origin' as the vet calls it continues to go down and that Minus gets his appetite back.

Comments

Has the vet checked him for possible thyroid condition? Thyroid problems are prevelant in cats and dogs. If you go to the thyroid web site, you can check out symptoms for cats. Our little Minus 4, just must get well.


yeah marc im sure you mother thought that too at your birth...


February 21, 2005
Minus Worse Than Ever
Minus looked terrible when we returned from Orlando on Sunday. We had taken him to the vet before we left, and the Critter Sitter contacted us over the weekend. Minus has not been eating or drinking. I rushed him into the vet again yesterday once I got one look at him. His fur was matted, and he was skinny and lethargic. The blood counts look totally normal, but he had a 105 degree fever. I am so beside myself as I sit here in the airport on my way back to Pittsburgh. My thoughts are with our little niblet.

February 6, 2005
Warm Sunbeams
Winston and Minus have been enjoying the warmer weather and sunbeams this weekend. I took these pictures on Saturday. Aren't they so cute?


Comments

they dont stay cute forever. my 2 (purdii and jewels) are rascals they love too hunt and seen as we live next door to a fisshing lake theres plenty too hunt i hatecats for that reason do you know why some cats hunt and others dont please email me on scarysarah2006@hotmail.com if you do thanks bye


January 31, 2005
His Name is Minus 4
I finally received Minus' registration papers back from the Cat Fanciers' Association, and they screwed up! His name was supposed to be "Minus A" according to the breeder, but the papers came back as "Minus 4". The poor kitten has been through so many name changes, I don't have the heart to change it again. Although that is a humorous way to look at his name, "4" isn't even a letter! Oh well. It reminds me of that couple, who named their first son "John v2.0".

Minus has also been very itchy lately. Shawn and I braved the ice storm to take him to the vet on Sunday, and even after doing some skin scrapings, his illness could not be identified. He had no fleas, mites, worms or otherwise. The vet was kind enough to give us a hydrocortisone spray to hopefully soothe the itchiness. The spray makes Minus smell like the old Aqua Net hair spray. Apparently, it also tastes like it. Both Minus and Winston are making faces when they lick it! ;-P

Comments

Wahoo Dre!!! Happy Happy Joy Joy!! HB! HB! LUv billanboo


January 28, 2005
Who Is Sleeping in My Bed?
Winston can be simply mean. Early Monday afternoon, Minus cried and cried and followed me around the house. Since I am new to cat ownership, I had no idea what was wrong. Finally, I followed him to the culprit - Winston was sleeping in Minus' bed!

Comments

Winston must need a bed to. Poor Minus. Without a bed and itchy skin. He needs the comfort of soft chenille.


January 24, 2005
Minus Art
I took a beautiful picture of Minus between the pillows of the freshly made bed this morning, but unfortunately, it was very dark. I worked on the photo in Photoshop for quite some time, but when I was done, it looked more like a painting than a photo. Oh well. Check it out...

January 10, 2005
Minus Is a Pedigreed Cat
I sent Minus' papers to the Cat Fanciers' Association this morning. The Cat Fanciers' Association is the world's largest registry of pedigreed cats, and Minus is one of them! Here are the details:

Cat's Name: Minus
Breed: Singapura
Color: Sepia
Sex: Neutered Male
Coat Length: Short
Eye Color: Green
Date of Birth: 06/17/04
Breeder: Mette Mjanger
Sire: GC Squire Adel of Fagervoll
Dam: GC USAF's Minling of Fagervoll

Minus has been growing since his arrival. On December 5th, he weighed 3.9 pounds; on December 28th, 4.5 pounds; and on January 9th, 4.8 pounds! He is so wonderful! :)

January 3, 2005
Gotcha!
I must be getting quicker at taking pictures of Winston and Minus, because this is my second picture of the two of them together in less than a week! They are sitting together on their favorite chair. I wish that I could have gotten closer, but Winston was gone as soon as this picture was snapped. Someday, I will succeed in getting closer. It is only a matter of time! ;P

Comments

They are looking like really good friends. How awesome!


December 31, 2004
Window Watchers
Winston does NOT want his picture taken with Minus - although he plays with him constantly, cleans him, etc. So, while we were backing out of the driveway, Shawn let me make one more attempt to catch the two cuties together, and you won't believe it! I got one picture of the two of them in the window! Aren't they great?

December 30, 2004
Minus Loves Chenille
I like to think that everyone has their own favorite textures. I simply love cashmere as well as fur. Minus loves chenille. Shawn and I discovered this originally when he took to licking the gorgeous chenille throw, which Leann gave us last Christmas. We thought maybe it was because it had a good smell, but this morning, I put that to the test. I gave Minus a chenille scarf to cuddle since he is not feeling well. He licked it a few times and snuggled into its warm goodness. Enjoy, little kitty! :)

Comments

I love the feel of chenille as much as the next person, but the whole licking thing is a little sick;P


Jazzmine loves soft things to cuddle in. She doesn't lick, but kneeds her paws and has her pink little tongue sticking out.


December 29, 2004
Sick Kitties
Since our return from the wonderful holiday with Mom and Dad, we have been tending to our sick little kitties. We took them to the vet on Tuesday morning and got them both eye gel and antibiotics. It seems that Minus, who is the sicker of the two, never beat it and then gave his virus to Winston after all. It is so sad to look at them, and the medicine must be horrible, because it is VERY difficult to dose them. :(

In other cat news, Minus hates wearing clothes. I bought him a sweater to keep him warm, and he wears it like a straightjacket; he cannot walk because he believes that his front paws do not work anymore. In fact, he can barely stand if he is wearing his sweater. I cut off the arms of the sweater just to see if that would help, but then he refused to move once he got it on. Oh well. I know it cannot be because he is not a Gator fan!


Both cats are curious but not so sure about their new toy from Hudson. It is called the Feline Frolic Remote-Controlled Cat Exerciser. They definitely like the mouse on the string, but the motor from the robot cat has them worried. So far, Winston will not touch the toy, and Minus cuts straight for the chase: he grabs the mouse and runs, which drags the robot cat behind him and scares him to death! Oh well. At least, Minus is enjoying all of the boxes that we have brought back - despite his illness.


Comments

I bet he would have preferred the FSU wife-beater t-shirt to the Gator sweater!


NEVER! My kitten is a Gator fan through and through! Chomp! Chomp! Chomp!


I tried to get Macey (our dog) boots when we first got her hoping to keep her feet warm and clean when she was outside. It didn't work. She ate her boots.


December 20, 2004
Big Yawn!
Minus is really the cutest kitten in the world! He is finally getting used to the Eastern standard time and has taken to napping during the appropriate hours. Here are a couple of beautiful pics of Minus in his bed, and one of him being his curious self! :)

December 15, 2004
Minus Fetches Mice!
Aside from being underfoot constantly and jumping on us, I have also decided that Minus is the smartest cat in the world - at least my world. This morning, he learned how to fetch! I would throw one of his mice through the kitchen. Minus would chase after it, pick it up in his mouth, bring it right back, and drop it at my feet! He did this abou ten times with a couple of distractions (i.e. dropping the mouse at Shawn's feet and stopping at the vent to enjoy the warm air). Still, I think it is amazing! :)



In other kitten news, it is official. We have not been able to come up with a better name for our bundle of joy, so the kitten will be called "Minus".

Comments

"Minus" just sort of stuck. If there had been a name change, I would have had to refer to him as "the kitten formerly known as Minus" or came up with some sort of androgynous symbol;P


Minus works . . . . Here kitty kitty . . . . .


December 13, 2004
Minus and I
Shawn finally caught a picture of the quick little kitten sitting on me! I look tired, but I am so happy that I actually have a picture of the two of us! :)



As an update, Minus is doing great! Today was the last day of the antibiotics for his tiny sneezes, and Winston and he seem to be getting along quite well. I love it when they fall asleep with one another. It is just so cute! Minus is learning slowly about 'NO!', but so far, we have had it easy since he is too small to jump up on the kitchen or bathroom counter tops. I tried to trim his nails myself, but ended up getting it professionally done as he is too wiggly. He loves the fur-covered mice toys, the soft sparkly balls, and the feather on a stick. Shawn and I are spoiling him rotten, and I still have not thought up another name. The current front runner is Ren. He does not respond to any name yet though.

Comments

I think that it took so long for him to learn "no" because his initial language was Norwegian. Had we said "Nei", he likely would have responded. As True Americans™ our duty is to strip him of his native language, replacing it with English. Perhaps some day we can send him south to Warner Robbins to learn "Southern Redneck", a regional vernacular from around these parts.


Neat picture. Two beauties in the same shot!


December 10, 2004
The Secret to a Good Night's Sleep!
I have discovered the secret to a good night's sleep, and it is a feather on a stick! You read that correctly. Let me explain... If you want to sleep well in a house with one busy kitten, the key is to make sure that the kitten is tired when you are! Minus loves a cat toy, which is essentially a feather on a stick. He will follow it, jump for it, try to paw it and bite it. It is actually great fun for Shawn and I as well. Click here to watch a video of Minus already starting to wind down! :)

December 5, 2004
My First Weekend With Minus
This weekend was like a dream. I was able to get home Friday night an hour earlier than planned to meet little Minus. My first impression was that he changed the entire household dynamic. Winston seemed twice as big and old, and his hissing made it readily apparent that he was not pleased. It also seemed that Minus had already become very attached to Shawn because he balled up in Shawn's lap, but Shawn picked up the kitten and placed the four pounds in my lap. Immediately, Minus balled up and fell asleep! My heart melted!

After Shawn and I spent some time catching up, we went to bed. That was when the fun started; Minus was wide awake! He tried to scratch the headboard repeatedly, he bit my finger, he climbed across my face, he sneezed into Shawn's face, he dug on top of the covers, he explored under the covers... It was insane! I was exhausted from the week, but this kitten was a real bundle of energy! Finally at 2 AM, I held him next to me under the covers, and we got four hours of sleep. The next morning, Shawn was so sweet that he took Minus when the kitten awoke at 6 AM and closed the bedroom door and read the paper downstairs.

I got up just before the Christmas tree was delivered and slid into a sweatshirt and sweatpants. As soon as I went to pet the little guy, I realized that I might have made a fashion mistake. The drawstrings on my sweatshirt were suddenly Minus kitty toys! I also understood why Shawn had so much difficulty getting a picture of the kitten because it just did not want to hold still! The good news is that it likes the 'Cat in the Hat' crinkle toy that Kim and Andrew gave Winston, and it likes the Hammacher Schlemmer water dish, too. What was old becomes new! I hope that Winston will like them now, too.



In the morning, Shawn and I ran our errands in preparation for Dutch XXXmas, and we picked up a rabbit at the farmer's market for Minus. Seeing as neither of us know how to dress a rabbit, the rabbit is still in the refrigerator. JB came over after lunch with the alcohol for the party and a couple things that I forgot at the grocery store. He decorated the whole tree and set up the bar while Shawn and I worked in the kitchen. JB went home, and Shawn and I finished and printed our poems. Little Minus sat on my lap, my shoulder and my back while the Muses inspired me! Minus really likes to be in your mix!

The party was a huge success again although We missed Jim and Michelle, Allan, and Kayt. Shawn will make another awesome site soon with all of JB's and my pics and the poems. Stay tuned for the link! Minus was a hit with the guests that are not allergic, and he was quite social. However, at the end of the party, I was made aware that the kitten had a dingleberry, which I promptly cleaned up! How embarrassing, but the kitten seemed no worse for the wear! JB was also noble about his lack of being represented in a poem, but I now I have open opportunity to write one for our own Christmas get-together!



Shawn and I went to bed very late, and things started off as a repeat of Friday night. However, Minus squirmed away from me and snuggled in between Shawn and I under the covers. Winston also joined us on top of the covers. It was WONDERFUL! But, it ended at 6:30 AM again, and Shawn being the best boyfriend in the world, took the kitten downstairs and read the Sunday paper while I got some extra sleep.

I took Minus to the vet for his sneezing on Sunday morning, and he was a little rock star! Not even the vet had seen a real live Singapura before, and admittedly, I LOVED being the proud mother! Now I understand how Shawn feels when he brings in Winston. I even indulged in a little guilty pet owner pleasure and had Minus' picture taken with Santa! Of course, the photographer shot more than thirty before one came out with my squirming kitten in a decent pose, but I think it is great!



This evening I flew back to Philadelphia, and it seems like the weekend was really just a dream. There was so much excitement! I guess that I expected the little kitten to have a personality like Winston already, but Shawn explained that these are the best of times as well as the worst of times. YIKES! In addition to that, I do not think that Minus is the kitten in the picture sent by the cattery because of his markings, but I am still in love with him! I have not come up with a new name for the kitten either, but I do not think there is any pressure to do so. Minus does not listen anyway! ;P I know that things will calm down, and we will get used to being a family of four! I am so lucky! I cannot wait to come back home to my three men!!!

Comments

Santa has that look like "if one more animal pisses on me..."


I think that Minus listens, but he only speaks Norwegian;)


How funny! Oh the joys of two kitties (especially a kitten)


The party was great, at the Lewis Estate. All were smitten, with the cute new little kitten. Pictures will follow... Nah, I don't haiku that well...


December 3, 2004
Shawn Takes First Pictures Where Minus Is Still
For some reason, Minus slowed down for one moment so that Shawn could take a few more pictures. I have a much better look at Minus! I cannot wait to get home tonight!



Apparently, Minus also is a little sneezy today. I hope it did not catch cold on the flight from California! Or maybe Atlanta is just a little colder than he is used to? Allergies? Poor kitty...

December 3, 2004
Minus Arrives!
I cannot begin to explain how anxious I have been for the arrival of Minus. Last night, I sped back to the hotel and watched the clock in my room, twisting my hands, waiting until the agreed upon time to call Shawn. I finally broke down and SMSed him at about eight o'clock, and he was still waiting. At about eight thirty last night, Shawn and I finally had a chance to chat. He was in the car with little Minus still in the carrier. He reported already that Minus was very sweet. In fact, Shawn had stuck his finger in the carrier, and the little one immediately rubbed against it! :)

I talked to Shawn again at nine thirty for the update from the house. Apparently, Winston was not immediately enamored of the energetic little kitten. Minus was completely unafraid of Winston though and kept on trying to headbutt him (sign of cat love). Minus was also very busy exploring the house. Shawn's impression was that Minus does not like to be held - just like Winston. In addition, he reported that Minus has a small kitten cry and even put the phone up to him so I could hear him purr! :)

It is truly difficult to explain how I felt when Shawn relayed all of this information. To use a seasonal analogy, I was like the Grinch; my heart grew three sizes yesterday! :)

Shawn sent a few pictures this morning. The better ones are below. Apparently, Minus does not slow down! This could be interesting!

Comments

Saying that he doesn't slow down is an understatement. Every pic is a blur!


Dre- He is awesome. I wouldn't count on him slowing down anytime soon. When Winston adjusts, you are liable to have a very busy house with your children.


November 30, 2004
Stork Announcement!
DRE* and Shawn would like to announce the arrival of our newest addition! The stork (a.k.a. Delta Cargo) will be delivering our new bundle of joy on Thursday night. He was born on July 3, 2004 in Fagervoll Cattery in Sacramento, California to Atel and Minling (see their pictures on the cattery's website). He is a purebred Singapura, neutered male, who is 4 1/2 months old. He is a very sweet and people-oriented little guy with quite an interesting background. He was born "Minella" and sold as a breeder female, but he turned out to be a male with no testicles - at least not where these are suppose to be. So, long story short, "Minella" is now "Minus", and fully vaccinated, dewormed and fixed. Shawn and I have yet to give him a name, but Winston is very much looking forward to having a little brother! Please help us as we welcome our bundle of joy into our home!

Here are two pictures of our beautiful boy at two weeks and at sixteen weeks old.

    

November 8, 2004
Winston Could Have Been a Contender
After enjoying the cat show, I took this photo of Winston to remind me just how special he is!

Comments

Winston would do well in a cat show if it weren't for his belly roll!


November 8, 2004
Duluth Cat Show
Shawn saw an article in the AJC on Sunday morning, and we spontaneously decided to head up to the Duluth Cat Show! It was fun! We saw a lot more Abyssinians (like Winston) than we had expected. A photo of the Abyssinian judging is below. I fell in love with a Singapura (picture below), but Shawn seemed to really like the Havana Brown. The Ocicats were very unusual. My other favorites were the blue Sphynx and the Tonkinese.

Comments

The Singapura was cool looking too. They are small cats with very large eyes, not unlike the PowerPuff Girls.


September 2, 2004
Forgiving Winston
Admittedly, Winston has been on my last nerve for the past few days. I don't know exactly what triggered it, but somewhere between waking me up early on Saturday, pouncing on my very asleep yet wiggling toes in the middle of the night, or rushing down the stairs between my footsteps, I was upset with him. This morning though, he finally apologized, and with a look like that, I had to accept! :)

Comments

Oh yeah he can be annoying! His current mission is to trip me while going up or down the stairs. He doesn't realize that he is NOT in my will;P


August 19, 2004
Squeaky Clean
Shawn and I gave Winston a bath yesterday in anticipation of my parents' visit. Winston purred the entire time, but still tried to jump away twice. Here are a couple of cute pics of Shawn and Winston right after the bath! The good news is that Winston's coat looks great now that he is dry! :)

    

July 6, 2004
These Are a Few of My Favorite Things
With the painters, guests, and the holiday itself, it has been a busy long weekend at our house, and each of us has taken refuge and comfort in something special. Shawn enjoys his Neverwinter Nights, and I work on my photos and doing minor home repair. Winston is even more base (or should I say primal?) than any of those things. After having survived a long day at the vet and a diagnosis of a small liver and chronic constipation, Winston retreated to the laundry pile and snuggled with his favorite toy (a pink feather on a string) and a pair of Shawn's dirty Clavin Klein underpants. To each his or her own! :)



June 18, 2004
The Strangeness Continues: Stinky Poop Makes Cat Cry!
I know this is totally inappropriate, but while I was creating my blog entry about Sarah, Winston came into Shawn's office to do his business in the cat pan in the corner. As the remarkably pungent odor drifted towards the desk, I looked over and noticed a large tear welling in his eye. Luckily, I had my camera and shot this photo as evidence. I was almost crying too by the time he was finished! Whew!



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