kitty shenanigan's: traveling with cats

Traveling with cats is.... an event. I wish I could say I've figured it out or "got it down pat" by now, but no. We have moved from Phoenix to Friday Harbor & now Friday Harbor to Austin together. All I've truely figured out is how difficult it is and how much cats hate moving vehicles. I hope they're getting a little bit used to it as they do snuggle up and sleep for most of the travels now instead of meowing the whole way.

Jasper hates his crate. He hides under covers to avoid the reality of it.

Doris in the driver seat while parked on the ferry.

Safety of the hotel bed covers. 

Doris happy to no longer be in her cage in a moving car.

Jasper exploring the room in Amarillo, TX.

Where the heck are we?! Checking out their new home. 

Doris & Jasper did make it here like little troopers. Doris did get car sick twice, poor thing. They have settled into their new home and are back to their busy schedules of eat, sleep, poop, repeat! 

sshhhhhhh..... silent sundays: how does your garden grow?! with kitties & such...

kitty shenanigan's: getting healthier

 Jasper & Doris eat too much. So, I've been trying everything possible to curb this. Not an easy task either! If their bowl was empty there was nothing they wouldn't do to get my attention to get that bowl filled. Especially if I was still sleeping the meows would be incessant along with any clever noise making attempts, like whapping my calender against the wall(thwhap, thwhap) & pawing at my Ikea laundry bag(crinkle, crinkle, crunch). 

My first attempt at curbing their voracious hunger was to change their bowl. I bought Stimulo interactive feeder by Aikiou. I found mine on Fab.com a few years ago.

Doris and her Stimulo feeder.... Look at that belly...sigh.

But they figured it out and were found pulling the food out by giant paw fulls onto the floor and then hoovering in the food. Damn it, these kitties are too smart!

After doing some research on better foods I decided to make the switch to Castor & Pollux Ultramix. Castor & Pollux is an organic pet food company out of Oregon. I was able to order the food online at wag.com and get it shipped for free, which is awesome for a girl stuck on an island!

This food is formulated to give nothing but good nutrition to my kids instead of allllll the fillers that other cat foods have which tend to leave them still feeling hungry and gaining weight. I've noticed since we did the switch that they are more active and begging for food less! So fingers crossed they might drop some pounds from their fluffy bellies too!

kitty shenanigan's: oh Doris.....

My darling Doris is a smidgen daft and truly silly. She fills my days with WTF's and giggles. She makes me very happy & sometimes frustrated, as she is NO angel.  Luckily for her the laughs out weigh the hair pulling. So I've let her stay. 

Chillin' watching some Hulu on the computer

I caught her doing some knitting pattern reading the other night.

My bag!

Snug as a bug in a Rug

Shower time... I think she misses having a bathtub ledge to sit on. 

Another rough day I'm sure...

My favorite time of day with Doris is when we go to bed and read. She hops on the bed and snuggles into the crook of my elbow contently purring and sighing with every turned page of my book that jostles her coziness. 

kitty shenanigan's: naughty kitty

Doris was caught in the act of messing with the Christmas tree!

Playing the roll of cute cat next to tree, Doris!

Do-de-do... I don't think anyone is watching.

Hiiii-ya! take that naughty Christmas ornament!

HA-ha... I didn't even get caught. Just sitting here looking cute by the tree light.

kitty shenanigan's: sleep?! anytime. anywhere.

These two can sleep anywhere!  There does seem to be a common thread to all of their "anywhere's".... warmth!  Fireplace, sunshine, and each other. 

Silly sleepy kitties...

kitty shenanigan's: Rufus Tower

In case you have not seen this fabulous YouTube video.  Rufus's owner has made a kitties dream cardboard box condo!  If you have cats you know the allure of a box to there curiosity, it's like the proverbial moth to a flame. Resistance is futile!  

I hope that I can make something similar for my kids soon.

P.S. not only does this guy LOVE his cat but his Aussie accent is to die for... I'm gushing!

kitty shenanigan's: all hopped up on catnip

I don't know about other feline catnip addicts but my kids have different ways of adminstering nip into their systems.  Jasper is a straight shooter, full herbal consumption down the hatch!  Doris is a lid sniffer, getting high on the fumes while rubbing the lid on her noggin'.  

Jasper in action munchin' his nip...

Jasper being coy about his addiction. 

smells so good....

yum, yum ,yum.

just a little more...

Doris in pure catnip adoration...

Oh...

catnip lid....

luva you....

soooooo.....

frickin' much.....

Ohhhhhh....  Yeah!

Despite the differing methods of injestion the end result is the same.... chilled out!

blitzed blisssssss!

kitty shenanigan's: feline shoe lover

Doris is a complete girlie girl.  So, she of course has a total shoe fetish.  She has no preferences for her shoe groping as long as your feet have been in them recently. 

Mum's Fluevog's

Flops in the sun.

Camper flats from Barcelona.

Auntie Janet's vintage wedding clogs.

Stinky work shoes.

kitty shenanigan's: like a cat to water

It was always my understanding that cats hate water. Then I met Doris, my darling orange haired girlie girl kitty. She actually comes running when the shower starts, jumping in between the liner and curtain to await the puddles of water that accumulate on the tubs edge. So, actually she probably just has a drinking problem. Like an alcoholic salivating to the sound of ice cubes in a highball, Doris too knows the sound of her next drink, the first burst of water through the shower head. I know what you are thinking, give her fresh water in a bowl. I do! Everyday! She comes running the second I pick up the bowl to clean and refill, meowing till it's replaced for her drinking pleasure. 

Awaiting her next drink o' bath tub gin

Did I mention she is a lazy drinker?!

No, Doris... that is mom's coffee, not water. 

In fact I can no longer drink water from an open glass. I have to use a double-walled glass with top and straw. Anyone else have a cat with a drink problem?!

Have a good Mother's day weekend!