Small Box

Big CAT

That’s Maximus, doing his trick of stuffing a very large cat (himself) into a rather small box.  This one labeled Travels.  I wonder, does that mean he’s telling me he knows what all the upheaval in his house is about?

There are quite a number of boxes scattered around these days, though this has become one of his favorites.  Probably because it’s in the office, and he can sit there in Regal Cattitude and watch me earn kibble.

His brothers have declared it soo warm for boxes, and spend their days spralwed out on the cool tile.  Or napping in the sink.  Nothing quite like a faucet with furry fringe to provide a highlight to one’s day.

Snoozles

Max and Puck are officially adults, having reached their 3 year mark on Valentine’s Day.  Hmmm, perhaps I should have posted a birthday cake in their honor.  Or made one made with tuna?

It seems no matter how old they are, when it’s time to snuggle up for a nap, they look to each other for comfort and warmth.  With Max’s girth and Puck’s fluff, there is plenty  to go around.

The wind was blowing rather hard this day, so maybe something more than companionship was at work as well.  The Tribe does get skittish when the house moans.  Not-so-little Phred had burrowed under the comforter, so he was roasty toasty as well.

Happy Meow-A-Daze

Puck and Max wish everyone Happy Meow-A Daze

Everyone else at Thunderpaws Tribe wishes you and yours the best for the Holidays, and a wonderful 2012

Butterflies for Christmas

This past weekend Max’s Grandmeow came to visit.  She was here for her annual holiday trip.  Max, being the most handsome fellow he is, had to show off the giftie that I made her.  He knows a good thing when he lies upon it!

Butterflies are Grandmeow!

There was another shirt, but alas, I didn’t get any photos of it.  Perhaps next time.  It was  nice to have her here. The boys took a real shine to their Grandmeow, especially little Phred, who hadn’t yet met her.  Everyone was in and out of the guest room – new smells!  Lots of sniffing!  A new warm human to sleep with, what’s not to like?

The pattern is a tried and true McCalls which is now, alas, out of print.  The fabric is a quilting cotton.  What you can’t see in the photo is that the buttons are shaped like flowers.  I thought that most appropriate for butterflies, don’t you?  Orange flowers.

Studded Stripes

Flora and Max

Flora, with the able pawed assistance of Maximus shows another foray into heat-set studs.  The top was a second acquisition during the Targét sale foray.  The inspiration something I saw at the mall while dashing hither and thither.  Amazing how little bits of bling will catch the eye, isn’t it?

Triangle studs, again from Qia Graphix  I tried to space them out randomly, so they give a kind of jeweled collar effect.  The studs also go around the back, so one looks as good going as coming.  After all, one never knows when an exit will be as important as an entrance.

I like the twisting and turning of the triangles.  They remind me of snowflakes, though perhaps a more cyberpunk variation.

Max thinks I should leave this shirt on Flora, as it makes the perfect bed.  For those keeping count, Max is now 2 1/2 years old.  Quite the strapping fellow, isn’t he?

Sleeping

with the Big Cat

Phred and Maximus.  BFFs forever.  Or maybe Phred thinks that by sleeping with the Big Cat he too will grow up to be big and strong?  Or at least big?  17 weeks.  Simply Amazing!

Max works very hard to maintain that prodigious protrusion of a tummy

16 Weeks

Phred, standing Tall

Hard to believe our little house demon is already 4 months old.  He’s grown so much.  If he grows into those legs, he is going to be a very tall fellow indeed!

The photo above is one of the rare moments when he’s standing still.  Something he rarely does.  He does, however, still wrestle with Maximus.

Quick Cat Toy

Or how to re-purpose old socks

Ingrediments for a quick cat toy:

• a pair of old socks, with a little stretch left in the elastic
• a tub of catnip

Put your hand into the sock, like you’re going to be acting with sock puppets.  Everyone remember how to do that? I turned this one inside out, as I wanted to have the fringy bits show when it’s completed.  You don’t have to turn it inside out.

Scoop up a bunch of catnip from the tub.  I don’t measure.  This is quick and simple.  You want enough to fill just the toe of the sock.

Turn the sock right side out, still holding onto the wad of catnip.  Basically, you’re pulling the body of the sock over the hand holding the catnip.   Roll it into a ball, starting at the toe.  This is how I was taught to pair and roll socks when I was a kid, doing laundry.  Same principle.

One pair of old socks gives you two cat toys.  Our Tribe hasn’t unrolled the socks yet.  Crushing the catnip will refresh the scent.  This happens when I unexpectedly step on these.  Nice thing is they don’t hurt your feet when that happens.

Manic Max with his new toy.  Yum!

 

Grandmeow

to the rescue!

Fiona has gone to live with her Grandmeow in San Diego.  Mom (aka Grandmeow) has lifted a huge burden from our shoulders, and I am ever so grateful.  I was, literally, at wit’s end.  Fiona will have a good home, and the best of care.   Grandmeow is the person who taught me to care and love animals as much as I do.

Fiona and Maximus Cat were not getting along, and his bad behavior was escalating.  Escalating to the point where we had to pretty much keep them separated.  Not that Fi was the aggressor.  Not at all.  Max decided he didn’t like her – and in cat business: That. Is.  That.

Lest you think we just brought her in, and tossed her into the existing mix, we didn’t.  There was a slow integration, and things seemed to be going OK.  Then, somehow, something changed.  Fiona is a sweet, timid soul, and well, that was just fodder for Max to show off his macho-ness.  Which he did, by chasing her whenever he could.  Fi took to hiding under the furniture, coming out to eat, then hiding some more.

I even consulted an animal behaviorist, to try to find out what could be done to work things out.  And this helped, so long as a human was there paying attention to them.   The instant my back was turned – the chase was on.  This was no way to live, for humans or felines.

Grandmeow sends us “Fiona Flyers” with updates on how she’s doing.  Better and better every day.

Big Boys

Maximus: 12 pounds 10 ounces

This week the Hellboys went into the vet for their annual check-up.  I knew they had grown, but hadn’t quite realized how much.  They are no longer kittens, but full fledged cats.  At least in size and stature.  In my mind, however, like all the other fur babies, they are, and always will be spry youngsters.

Max weighed in at 12 pounds, 10 ounces.  He’s grown into a fine strapping fellow.  He wanted nothing to do with the vet, and decided if he could hide his face in my arm, and not see out, then obviously no one could see him, and he would avoid whatever awaited in this odd smelling place.

Puck: 10 pounds 4 ounces

Puck, his brother (yes, despite what they look like, they are truly brothers) is a bit smaller at 10 pounds 4 ounces.  There is indeed a cat under all that fur, and you can tell when he walks on you that he is not a lightweight.

Puck also expressed his displeasure at the vet’s office: growling.  A sound I’ve never heard come out of his furry self.  Low.  Deep.  Scary.  It didn’t help that the vet tech kept referring to him as a her. He’s a manly cat under all that fur, and people had best not forget it!

Max, showing off his Tuxedo Spot