M's POV

All blog-stars feel ignored once in a while. I will demonstrate using pictures, how my pack and the cats spend their days as M works away.

This is M's desk. 

The bodies belong to Bob and Jet, the tailless twin kitties.

They are allowed up there.

Please notice: coffee cup, PetZoom (ultrasonic dog bark control), cherry flavored chapstick (M's addiction), Program (dog flea treatment). 

This is Jet's favorite napping position.

M is sure it's due to Jet's XL tummy.

Bob refuses to grow up. He's a wool sucker because he was never properly weaned.

He prefers it when the shirt he's sucking on is on M.

Max, the maine coon cat, is a loner.

He spends his mornings napping on the Emery Cat Scratch Board on top of the pool table.

Our beloved senior dog likes to be as close to her mistress' feet as possible.

We, the brats, the chiweenie and the teacup chihuahua (moi) love to play bitey-face by M's legs. Sometimes we irritate her so much that she puts us on her lap. 

Hint hint! Dog training tip!

What do you do while your parents work?

Twinkie

Sunday's Maine Coon Cat Pictures

Our beloved Max, the Maine Coon Cat, fell asleep in the cutest position the other day. He  was on top of a billiard table leaning against his As Seen on TV EmeryCat Scratch Board sleeping peacefully. We obviously need to add fresh catnip to Max's scratch board, if we want him to play with it. Actually, any time we want to renew any of our cats' interest in older toys, we lace it and allow the catnip effects to work their magic.

Maine Coon Cat Pictures

 

The ongoing battle between M and Max has ended. Max now seeks M out and often rubs on her and jumps on her lap. She's still not used to his changed behavior and savors every head rub. We're so grateful for this rescue cat!

Twinkie

Grateful Teacup Chihuahua Pictures

I may be tiny, but my gratitude is enormous. I was so shocked and surprised to receive not just one, but two packages in the mail just yesterday. The first one was from my friend, Sally Ann. She said that her thoughtful mommy came up with the idea. 

At first, I was suspicious of the package

At first glance, the content made me wince

I am a chihuahua!

Of course, I hadn't realized it wasn't meant for me

As I was saying, not only am I a chihuahua, this thing was meant for someone much larger than I am, an irish wolfhound perhaps. 

Get those smelly socks off me

and

I can't possibly be 510 years old, can I?

My fabulous and well mannered spotted sister had to model

 The chiweenie couldn't recognize her and had to come up close for a good sniff

Thank you, Sally Ann and her mommy. Our thoughts are with your family these days. We wish Lord McDuff, the eskie, a spectacular come back (I hope you remembered to get him down from the door knob). 

The second package, was from Puddles, the model, um, the doxie, as I found out after I got help opening it. You see, I don't open suspicious packages as I don't accept candy or rides from stranger. As I was saying, I asked for help. I invited the cats because . . . they have many lives.

The great Max, the maine coon cat, gave his seal of approval

Bob seconded that

The chiweenie unveiled one of the hidden treasures, Pooch Pops, yummy!

I didn't care so much for the next present, but somebody squealed

M loved it and was grateful

She will cherish it either forever or until one of our cats breaks it, but one thing is for sure, she will safeguard it

This year's logo was created by our friend Ann at Zoolatry

We'll be lucky to have nearly as beautiful a logo for next year's Global Animal Blogging Event!

Just in case, Bob sniff tested the cup too

Cats are suspicious by nature

Teacup chihuahua posing with actual cup and pooch pops

What I enjoyed the most was my lovely card

That Puddleliscious is too much

Thank you

To tell you the truth, it was so nice to have a Global Animal Blogging Event memento. You were too thoughtful dear Puddles, Albert, Whitney, and mommy!

Thank you for the lovely presents!

Twinkie

Catnip Toy Review | Nip/Tox

Frankie here, Twinkie still ici!

Have you heard the saying, When the cat's away, the mice will play? What happens when the cat is Twinkie and the mice are the cats? As Twinkie's assistant, it is my sad doody to let you know about some terrible things going on in my home. Yup, yup, another cat-astrophe. They broke out the catnip filled cigars!!!

You see, dear furiends?

What makes this extra remarkable is the fact that all three cats are together. 

Let's see how this develops.

Jet is a well known catnip toy addict

You can clearly see the catnip effects here

And so is Bob

Catnip effects obvious

Look who else decided to use drugs...um, catnip

Our maine coon cat, Max!

Max suddenly realized Jet was too close to him.

He raised The Paw

Jet did not like this one bit. 

After this photo, there were two cats (Jet scrammed)

Twinkie should be very proud of me, I even made a video.

Video Catnip

For all my kat-furiends drooling over this, I know I shouldn't but I'll tell ya anyway. These are YEOWW! Catnip Cigars. Fittingly, I discovered them through my cat-furiends over at I Love Catnip, true story BOL Thank you, 3 city katz! Now, if you love your cat and don't mind the crazy misbehavior, get them a Yeoww! As you can see, Yeoww! Cigars got an A+ at my home. If anybody questions this, just tell them that Frankie & The Cats recommend them. 

I am terribly sad to tattle, but like I said earlier, I felt it was my doody. Now go have a nice day and don't worry about me. I can always run for cover on my Linguini's bed.

Frankie 

Family Portraits--Our Ancestors

Today's post has been inspired by my loose interpretation of Bijou's Wordless Wednesdays. As you may know by now, my family consists of adopted animals; a bunch of mismatched members, picked off the streets, with little known history. We call ourselves The Misfits. Well, it's time for us to write our own history. Let's hit it, Frankie, Linguini, Bob, Jet, and Max!

We think this is a distant aunt of Frankie's. Her name was Tiny Links.

She's a chiweenie of course

This is Max's cousin, from his mother's side of the family, and his name is Mini.

The maine coon cat has not evolved at all  

Linguini's Great Aunt Ziti. 

The resemblance is astonishing. They match each other spot for spot!

Bob's relative and we'll leave it at that. 

While conducting the search for our relatives, I stumbled upon this picture. Apparently there's a long tradition of ITs terrorizing young chiweenie puppies. 

This, I can't explain.

Finally!

While we're still working on verifying the authenticity of this photo, it has to be my relative. Check out the uniqueness of the leap, the grace, the determination. Apparently us Twinkersons can fly over water too. I am proud to be a Twinkerson and a tea cup chihuahua. 

I hope you enjoyed this trip down our past. If you need me to, I'll be happy to research your relatives too. I'm getting good at this. 

Twink!

Maine coon cat Max: His Story

Alright, get your tissues ready. I'm geared up to talk to you about Maxwel, Maximilian the Grrreat, Maxine (because he sounds like a girl), Maxi, etc. Our newly adopted main coon cat.

MAX in the shower

Momma was coming home from the animal shelter and she was supposed to bring home a large Akita and German Shepherd mix, Darla--only. Well, as it turns out, when M goes to the pound, ya never know what she'll bring home. So, I wasn't terribly surpised when she got out of the car, Darla's leash in hand and a huge box in the other. What was that box doing there and what was in it?

As M was leaving the shelter with her daughter, my beloved Sissy D, they discovered that one of the cat cages had a notice on it. Of course they rushed in the office to enquire. Max's hours were numbered. Momma tried to plead with the shelter, to give her 'till Monday (it was a weekend), but they shook their heads and confirmed that Max would NOT be around on Monday.

"Well, in that case, wrap him up!" M is decisive that way. Apparently, not only was Max "too old", he was eight, he had also been adopted out once. He had made it to the parking lot. Between the animal shelter and the lot he had apparently coughed up such an enormous cough ball that the lady turned around in her heels and returned him! OMD the fool!

It was July of 2008 the day M brought Max home. She hadn't even seen him at the animal shelter, not a glimpse. He had been curled up at the back of his cage at the shelter and he was barely visible. We all got to see him for the first time when he started coming out of his box, and coming, and coming, there was no end to this dude. Max is enormous! I now know that it's normal for a maine coon cat. He's much bigger than me, no surprise there, but he's also much bigger than the twins, the catnip addicts, Bob and Jet.

Max was covered in poo and we all held out breaths at both his beauty and his stench. M took care of the latter and we could all breathe again. Underneath the poo was one of the most gorgeous kats we'd ever seen.

This is Max the day he came home.

The face! This dude was not supposed to enjoy life any longer? What?!

See the "M" shape over his eyes? We think he's a Maine Coon Cat

The problems with Max became obvious immediately. M would occasionally and half-heartedly try to find him another home. I'd hear her on the phone: "I'm looking for a home for Max. He's awesome. He's the best. We should all adopt a pet. You can only have him if you really want him, because I want to keep him. Plus he has a couple of health issues. I love him sooo! Are you sure you can provide him with the best home, because actually, no, never mind, I want him." Needless to say, nobody dared adopt Max from my mom. But there was also no controlling the twins, out tailless cats. They hated. The reason? I personally believe they're still afraid of him. It's been a year and a half since then, but things haven't changed much. We've seen very little blood, and their fights are a mockery, but they do not get along. M got a bunch of feline anti-anxiety sprays, some herbal potions, and she did everything the experts said, but it didn't make a difference. M had a personal problem with Max too. He didn't want her. She'd try to pet him, and he'd worm away. She'd find him lying about contented, attempt to touch him, and he'd move. I could see the disappointment in her face. The worst part was, that when my human siblings would visit, Max was all over them, begging to be petted. What's up with that cat behavior? M is a charmer (with animals mainly, don't get me wrong), where was her mojo? My guess is her mojo left along with that first poo she had to clean off him.

Rescue Maine Coon Cat in his bed on his bed in his own bedroom

We lived like this for eighteen months, when M decided to get Max an As Seen on TV EmeryCat Scratch Board. Scratch boards are Max's passion, plus he hates having his nails clipped. So, M ordered him two and held her breath. Would they work on Max's nails? Would they make him happier? The Emery Boards finally arrived. They came with a kitty toy, that Max loves and two cheap looking de-shedder tools. Hmmm, M put the tools aside. She's got the Furminator and she loves it, even though Max winces and tries to squiggle away from her, somehow they were getting the hang of it. Golly, this almost sounds like a review, but I can't tell you much about the Emery yet. I need more time to have a educated opinion. Anyhow, the cheap looking de-shedders were abandoned in some kitchen drawer, until ...

Happy Max The Yogi

Friday night, a long time after we adopted Max from the animal shelter, we were all hanging in the living room, and what do I see? Max is all over M being brushed with the de-shedder and purring loudly. I guess Max didn't like the Furminator, his loss. M was mesmerized while Max was hypnotized. They remained there for about half an hour, while Bob made uneasy circles around them, vocalizing his frustration. Frankie put an end to it. She got fed up. She went up to Max's face and yelped "My turn!". He got the message and left to play with the fluffy cat toy that came with his EmeryCat. I have never seen a shinier kat. I have never seen Max more content. As for me, I'm a lady, and I patiently remained on my heating pad from where I observed all I just recounted, even though, between us, I was dying for my turn!

There's a feeling of tranquility in my home that wasn't there before. I want to believe that the Max-saga is coming to a fast end. We want him not just alive, but happy too, and he's finally getting it. What can I say, katz may be able to catch birds in the air, but when it comes down to their IQ, they are slower than k9s. Oh, I can also say that EmeryCat's de-shedders get an A+ from me, as does the Furminator for the rest of us. 

Twink!

How To Train Your Cat | Not So Much Walking

Another Cat-astrophe!

A bit of walking, a lot of eating, and tons of tugging is more like it. BOL I feel like breaking into a song: "Who let the katz out? Woof, woof, woof, woof!" Let me translate for the ones still waking up: catwalk=disorder+confusion! They, the cats, have actually caused me so much uncertainty that I'm torn. What am I?

What am I?

Now to the real katz. While Maximilian our XXXL Maine Coon cat acts like the purrfect gentleman, I can't say the same about the twins. Bob and Jet aren't the cat's pajamas. Watch this:

I think Bob confused roll with stroll

He eventually took his first steps.

Look at the baby!

And here are two how to train your cat videos to demonstrate the perfect walking refusal technique.

Courtesy of Bob

Courtesy of Jet

And finally, The Cat Walk

(this is boring)

Not to be confused with Khyra's walks!

In the end, both katz were happy with their "walk". Jet ended up eating instead of cat food a bunch of grass too. Another way of saying this is, Momma ended up cleaning up after her. Haaaa...

Twink!

Waaaait: I'm not done. I just found out it's my friend, Stella's, fourth birthday today and I want to wish her a Happy Birthday filled with walkies, purple armchairs, many fabulous walks at the beach and anything she desires. Gunther and Betty, I'm sure you'll get some cake too. Four toots for Stella!!!!