Neck warmer on duty

Fergie is waiting patiently for someone to sit down in the chair so she can curl up and be a most helpful neck warmer! This photo was also entered in the "match the pet photo with the owner" contest at work. Fergie's family lives in Ontario so we thought this would make it tough for all the co-workers attempting to make the match - since it is unlikely anyone would have had the opportunity to visit Fergie's home. What we didn't notice - the work binders on the shelf that quickly gave away the identity of Fergie's owner!

One cool cat!

In June we had a contest at work where the pet photos were posted on the wall and people had to match up the pet with the owner. The owners of this gorgeous cat live in Montreal and he probably looks familiar to you if you have been reading the blog - yes...Romeo has already had two appearances with many more expected! This photo is one of my favorites since he looks like he is relaxing and enjoying the warm sun. A co-worker trying to make a successful match in the contest determined that this photo had to be in Montreal due to the high sidewalks. After laughing a little, we let him know that this was not a street sidewalk!

'bin shopping

Saturdays are usually shopping days, including lots of recyclable shopping bags and occasionally one reluctant younger son who comes along to help with the heavy lifting (for example, those heavy boxes of cat litter and big bags of kitty kibble). Today, younger son was pressed into duty for exactly that. He was busy hauling in groceries while Mama Bear was putting everything away.... then he called out for help with one particular shopping bag. One of the just emptied bags in the hallway was starting to move ..and then a furry head popped out. Papa Bear headed off for the camera and came back to find Spike settled quite comfortably in his new resting spot. All sales final on this product!

The "old one" still has some play left in him!

Angel is getting older and doesn't usually join the younger two cats when they are playing. He will chase a catnip toy for a few minutes but once he has chewed on a few times, he loses interest. This little catnip mouse, that can barely be seen, was clutched in his little paws the other day. He kept this toy in play for quite some time and by the time he released it it looked very much the worse for wear, with bite marks and saliva all over. When we rescued what was left of it, there wasn't anything left for the other two cats to play with.

A new toy for Spike

Someone said to me this week that I didn't look like one of those people who would buy fuzzy toys for their cats. I replied that the toys I buy usually aren't fluffy initially, but after Spike has played with them and covered them in "floof", then we suddenly have fuzzy toys! Most times, the thrill of the new toy disappears quickly and we have a growing pile of cat toys tucked away in the corner, forlornly looking for someone to play with them.

This cat tunnel, purchased last Saturday, seems to be holding Spike's attention. He regularly goes flying through the tunnel a few times and then settles inside for several minutes, occasionally swatting at the hanging ball in either end. Last night, it was totally quiet in the house (everyone was in bed except for me) and I was busy working on the laptop. All of a sudden I saw two white ears pop out of one of the holes in the side of the tunnel. I hadn't realized that Spike had been sitting quietly in the tunnel while I had been working.

Papa Bear was on cat watch for the day shift and came into the living room to find Spike tucked inside the tunnel. Fortunately he was able to get a quick photo off before Spike moved back into chase mode.

Spike finds yet another sleeping spot

We had just finished washing and drying several blankets and had temporarily placed them on a box in the living room before heading upstairs to put them away. All it took was 10 minutes out of the room - and we returned to find a sleeping furry snuggled into the blankets. No wonder the washng never gets finished around here!

Angel's Chair

Early on, Angel adopted this chair for his own. He would jump up, turn around and then sit down facing out so he could see everybody. Then he found other "cat" places that were even more desirable and the chair sat empty for several years. A few months ago, we brought up a soft white blanket from the dryer and placed it on the chair, intending to take it upstairs and put it away in the linen closet. Angel made a beeline for the chair and quickly curled up on the blanket. Ever since, he sleeps on the chair every evening and usually through most of the night. Oddly enough, neither Spike nor Sebastian sit on this chair - although they are quick to share the other choice sleeping areas. We had planned on moving this chair into the dining room but Angel looks so content when he sleeps there that we don't have the heart to do so. Often he pushes his head into the blanket so that all we see is the top part of his head. Every once in a while he looks over with those penetrating green eyes of his - and then tucks himself back into a furry white ball... almost indistinguishable from the matching white blanket.