Martha Stewart just blogged that she bought two Persian kittens from a prominent breeder. She goes on to say that in order to “show” them she is “Mom” she bites their heads….hmmm I have never heard of that approach before. Mom’s duties usually include biting and eating other things produced from her kittens.

It saddens me that she would overlook the multitude of kittens and cats sitting unwanted in cages in shelters and at rescues and go for a “designer” kitten- but then again- it is Martha Stewart.

On a plus note, the following photo shows the acceptance of Vaughn and Sylvester into the clowder- I have opened up the indoor enclosure door and there have been no territorial squabbles as the kitties share space.

Shown in the photo: Vaughn, Sylvester and Reese- Tover is inside the cage on the other side of the enclosure.

I was tired when I wrote on the blog yesterday and need to clarify. I don’t give away my kittens and never have. But there is deep paranoia now with the users of CL and when I had a few ads running, I was getting some weird phone calls. I don’t want my cats or kittens abused or mistreated or killed so I simply won’t advertise on there right now. I hope that makes sense.

I just finished feeding all the outside cats and the pretty siamese looking girl with a collar came up to me and rubbed me. I was able to look at her collar and tag and her name is Melissa and there was a phone number. I have her in the bedroom and will call the number as soon as it gets to be a decent hour. Hopefully, the owners will come and claim her- Thank God for fresh yellowfin tuna- the best kitty lure I know! She loves the stuff and as she was eating, I was able to scruff her and get her into the house. One down and five more to go-

I just pulled up a ton of blackberry bushes. My arms look like I have suffered a feral cat attack! I remember a few years ago helping out at my friend’s greenhouse and answering the phones for people placing orders. People were ordering this berry bushes- heck, come to my house and dig up some for free is what I wanted to say. They were taking over the back pasture and were near the creek. It was nice and shady thankfully because it is in the 90’s at the moment- although a few days ago we had high winds and icy conditions! I just roll my eyes toward heaven anymore when the weather switches and say “OK God, really?” They were predicting 70 mph winds and hail the size of golf balls- that storm thankfully blew right by us!

We live at the base of the Cascades and the mountains will make their own weather. We can be sunny in the front yard, yet in the backyard it can be raining or even hailing. But I love the storms and just pray our 200 year old trees hold on tight in heavy winds.

As I pulled the blackberry bushes near the cat enclosures, the kitties thought this was a great game! They would hold on to the stem I was tugging on so I had to fight not only the hold the blackberry had on the ground, but also the hold the cats had on the stem. Great entertainment.

All the new cats: Secret, Smugggle, Vaughn and Sylvester are now fully integrated into the group. I need to get my facebook page for CATS Inc., started and get these beautiful cats new homes. I am reluctant to post on CL for several reasons- the main one being that it was announced on the news last night that people were getting kittens and cats off CL taking them to Scott Mountain and using them for target practice! Don’t even get me started about what I wish to do to this group of individuals! But there always seems to be yet one more litter box to scoop or clean, one more bowl of food to give out- and the day just flies by.

Yesterday, Mike had his first outing without his wheelchair! We went to a local business and he used his walker and walked into the business on his own power! I am so proud of him. Of course, he got so full of himself that he decided to when we got home to “walk” out to the shop. I followed him with the wheelchair in case he fell or had to sit down, but he made it all the way to the shop! I helped him clean up and discovered to my dismay that someone has been in the shop and helped themselves to the last custom knives he built. He had ten total, and they are all gone- the basket they were in was upended on the floor and the knives; bowies, skinners and hunters are nowhere in sight. I have to think that the recent vandals must have also gone out to the shop saw the knives and took off with them. He was really bummed but said he will make more soon.

He was so tired from the activity that I ended up towing him back to the house in his wheelchair- I roped his chair to the tractor and chugged slowly to the house watching him all the way- he seemed to enjoy the ride.

Vaughn and Sylvester are beginning to show signs of acceptance of the other cats. Both cats seem to be starved for love and it is hard to pry myself away from petting them and attend to business.

I got a call this morning about another litter of orphaned kittens- 8 total- the woman is supposed to bring them by later tonight but she sounded drunk and I hope she stays home. I suggested coming to pick them up- but she said no-

Thanks to the nonsense that happens around this area on the Fourth of July- there are now six new cats outside eating at the feeders. One is wearing a collar and my hope is I can make friends with her quick enough and see who she belongs to and return her as I don’t recognize her. There is a bengal mix, a siamese, two mackeral tabbies and a black boy a gold and white tomcat and a tuxedo kitty. They are all spooked to the max and who can blame them? We had M-80’s going off on the 4th and afterward. I fail to understand why there is a burn ban statewide till September, but fireworks are okay?

At any rate, my plan is to trap or make friends with these newcomers, and take them in to scan for a chip to see if I can reunite them with their owner- in the meantime, there are just more furballs outside to worry about and feed.

And of course since it is Kitten Season we have………

Today, I finally was able to free myself up enough to go into the enclosure and assess all the damage done. WalMart was having a sale on kiddy pools so we have all new litter pans. I carried out broken pieces of cat condos and cat carriers and wished bad things on the people who caused this. I finished ripping off all the wire on the intro cage and swept up all the debris.

Made some rough calculations and it will be just under $200.00 to replace what was ruined. It will have to wait though- I have two kittens in need of neuters and others who need to be seen by the vet. I am grateful that they didn’t have a pair of wire cutters or they might have made a escape hole for the cats to get out of- but all cats are now home and accounted for so thank you God! The other stuff is material and can be replaced another time. It just looks so sparse in there right now a pox on those who did this!

Here they are on the windowsill waiting for their daily lovin. I have to laugh because Sylvester is so jealous when Vaughn is getting pets that he walks all over the two of us as if to say: “Hey what am I? Chopped liver?”

As I leaned up to say good morning to Sylvester, Vaughn leaned over toward my face and gave me kitty kisses on my nose! I have to tell ya- I was NOT expecting that!

When I go in now they both fight for my attention and I wish God had given me more arms and hands to help them out a bit!

“Here let me help you Mom!”

Last night before I went to bed, we bored a hole into the wall big enough to fit a plug through. Although Mike was a calibration technician and electrician for thirty years or more, his days of running wire are long over. In order to get electricity into the new enclosure, I thought it easiest to put a hole in the board (It is not a wall) It was supposed to be as we were remodeling until Mike got ill- but it is just a board. So I bored a hole in it, stuck a plug through it- much to my surprise, the plug gets returned to me! I see a gray and white paw wave “You’re welcome Mom, you are always losing things!”

I stick the plug back through- boing!! It bounces back!

“Baker, you snot- knock it off!” I say and then push it back in and thread it down as quickly as I can.

I go rushing through the door before Baker decides this game is much to fun and he has to retrieve the item. I find him batting the plug back and forth looking mighty pleased with himself.

I retrieve the plug, using electrical tape, I bind it to the wall. Petting Baker, I inform him that I was sorry to take his prey away.

Here is Sylvester- on his third day up close and Purrsonal! LOL

One of the first things I do when new kitties arrive is go into the room where they are and sit on the floor and read to them, or pray, or just talk about my day. I do this on a routine schedule, only for about 20-30 minutes at a time. When I leave, I put tasty treats on the very spot my body was on the floor or carpet. This gets them used to my voice, it allows them to see I am not a threat as I stay low to the ground and never tower above them. And they start to understand that when they hear my voice, pleasant things happen to them- they get treats. I make my own treats- I detest packaged treats for both dogs and cats.

Yesterday, as I was reading to them a new book just sent to me for review called taming me- memoirs of a clever island cat, I feel this bump on my back. A gentle touch, not a strong headbump, but a soft nudge. I ignored it, smiled and kept reading.

Within minutes, Sylvester was standing in front of me checking me out. I didn’t make eye contact, just kept reading,my smile growing wider. He stood there trying to figure out this curious human who has not done anything to be preceived his predator. I just kept reading, but I snaked my arm out from under me and touched his side. He stood his ground. Closing my eyes, and putting the book down, I began to slightly stroke his sides and he went nuts! He laid down, and rolled on his belly. Knowing I was risking getting scratched, I still kept my eyes down away from his and started rubbing his belly. He is not a warrior (thank God) he is a lover. I was able to finally raise my eyes and keep track of what my hand was doing and where his paws were going. They were straight up in the air reaching and his belly was getting massaged and stroked. We were both in heaven.

Vaughn watched from a safe distance on the window and his ears were back. Although he wasn’t the one being petted, I could tell he was uncomfortable about this exchange. So I stopped, because I did not wish for my scent on Sylvester’s fur to cause friction between these two feline friends.

Feral or semi-feral? I think not and gratefully so. I think just misunderstood, perhaps others in the past hurting him or scaring him or expecting him to move forward on their schedule not realizing cats need time to figure out changes.

This morning when I went to feed, he came running out to rub against my legs while Vaughn once again kept vigil above.

10:20 a.m. pleased to report First Contact with Vaughn! He allowed me to stroke his beautiful back a few times before he moved away a short distance!

7:54 p.m. I am thrilled to report that Vaughn is now letting me pet him without incident! He hisses, but he is all bluff. What a beauty he is- he reminds me of a cat I had over 20 years ago named Bravo.