Now that's the Life

Our cats, quite literally, lap from the luxury kitty fountain.

Yes, that is my pillow. Well, formerly my pillow.

But they love each other. Most of the time.

It takes one to know one

Garnet is obsessed with drinking out of the bathroom faucet. It is now a hazard to walk anywhere near the bathroom door for fear that she will bolt out of nowhere, endanger your life (and hers), just to be there waiting on the side of the sink for the chance that you just might actually use the sink. In the morning, I can expect to be greeted from a dark peaceful sleep, after stumbling through the hallway, to a hoarse squawk from Garnet as I enter for my shower. It's alarming and disconcerting. So if we have pity on her (since she is obviously thirsting to death) and turn on the faucet to drip, she will spend a solid half-hour lapping frantically from the faucet opening. I am worried about H2O poisoning. Seriously- this new obsession has even taken over her insistent monitoring of the computer. I think we should be worried. I mean really, how much water does a cat need?

On another note, it has become apparent that Mymble can not go to sleep for the night without licking someone's face. This licking habit, or shall I say obsession, is rapidly progressing into an alarm clock ritual, which is simply another story in itself. Perhaps another time.

If you can't beat 'em...

Well, while giving in and putting out a pouch of good food so Garnet leaves me alone I noticed something. Those two girls still need to learn a little bit about sharing. When you take a bowl that is split in two, divide the food equally, then put it down and they still go for the same side it shows they just aren't good at sharing. I wonder if I could buy them a little book about sharing?

My Lunch

Garnet needs to realize that cheese and crackers is my lunch. It is NOT Kitty-cat food!

Ten Reasons for Having Cats

10. Consistent company on the couch (plus a foot warming bonus).
9. Hours of amusement with the laser beam.
8. Low maintenance. Food and litter box = less than 5 minutes a day.
7. Cute, cute, cute.
6. Conversational ice-breakers. Who doesn't have a pet story to tell?
5. Rock star status. How can you beat adoring eyes following you around? (though probably hoping for a treat).
4. Excellent secret keepers. And non-critical listeners.
3. Role models. Cats have a great life.
2. No slobber or land mines in the back yard.
1. WAY cheaper and less maintenance than suggested alternatives, such as dogs or kids.

Addition #1: An excuse to not do work, such as grading papers or cleaning...

Our Christmas Presents

Why I love our cats

While Mymble does not prefer sleeping on the bed, I know as soon as I sit down on the couch that I'll have a kitty to keep me warm. Mymble has proven to be quite the snuggler. She'll come and beg for some petting, then curl up on my lap and sleep. She might snore a little, but she definitely keeps me company. I love that our cats seek out attention. I also love that she's too busy sleeping to attack my pens and sit on my papers. What more could I ask for? :-)

An honest moment

This is what Mymble thinks of you.

P.S. We have cat fur everywhere.

Earning her Keep

Who says cats aren't useful pets? As you may already know, our house has its fair share of bugs. This summer, there were enough mosquitoes in the yard to populate their own small city (we had the bites to prove it). Both of our cats, though, are decent bug hunters. Mymble will watch the bugs attentively, and in one instance the other day, leapt across the office floor and skidded to a stop to keep her eye on a wayward bug. It was the fastest I'd ever seen her move. Garnet, though, catches those bugs and eats them! I know it seems strange, but I find it satisfying to see the kitty with mosquito wings hanging from between her lips (do cats have lips?). We couldn't be more pleased that Garnet is helping tame the bug population around here, and it almost.... almost... makes up for the waking me up every night... almost...

Garnet has the Bug in her mouth

The coup-de-grace

Grooming

Today, while I was laying on the floor, Mymble decided I wasn't clean enough and used that super rough tongue of hers to clean my head, recently buzzed. It was funny, she made sure she got most of it!

A New Game

The girls have figured out that we are obsessed with the computer. Both of them have decided that instead of viewing the screen, we should definitely be viewing them in all their streched-out, purring, rubbing kitty fur on the keyboard- glory. No joke, as I write, Mymble conveniently arches her back to effectively cover the WHOLE screen. They stand and look at me as if I would dare to move them out of the way. I think they're taking shifts. Earlier it was Garnet posing in front of the screen, now Mymble is blocking for the team. So, it was cute and amusing when Garnet chased the pointer around the computer screen. So, I like that they just can't get enough petting. But really, this new game is not that fun. I think Joe will have to shut them out of the room to get his fix. I swear I will give them more attention- as soon as I check one more thing...

Midnight Marauder

Garnet and Mymble are very loving kitties. They have adapted very well to living in the house. Perhaps too well. They have discovered that people beds are much better than kitty beds. In fact, people beds are great for exploring in the middle of the night, not necessarily for sleeping. While Mymble enjoys one place as well as the next for taking a nap (or hibernating), Garnet seems to be truly nocturnal. I must have woken up 3 or 4 times last night to Garnet pacing over the top of me and stepping on some truly uncomfortable places. Of course, today, she has innocently spent the day curled up and, ironically, motionless, on her new favorite spot on the bed. She must have discovered it while trekking around last night. It's a good life to be a cat.

Sisters squabble

So, it turns out the Mymble is a bit of a bully. Garnet can be eating or playing with a toy and Mymble will come right up and muscle Garnet out of the way! We're going to go to 2 dishes b/c we've seen this happen so many times already. I just gave them new catnip mice to play with and when I threw the first one to Garnet Mymble walked in the room and took it so I throw the second one down and Mymble muscled Garnet away from that one too!!!!

More Pictures

Mymble Looking Cute















Garnet doing the same, both were on the futon together.















Like Sisters















Garnet is our curious acrobat















Mymble stands a careful watch around the house.