Kitty Quote of the Month - April

Confession

I've been named Poosie, and I am spoiled
Thoroughly, thoroughly spoiled, and I like it.
And don't let anyone tell you different.
I lie upon the softest cushions,
Under the downiest covers
And love every moment.
I get the cream off the top of the milk every day
And special double thick, heavy on Sundays,
And I lap it up.
My owner is besotted.
She hugs and kisses me
And carries me around with her all day,
And talks to me and I enjoy it.
I'm spoiled rotten, and, friends,
That's the life.
Whatever I want, I cry for,
Crab, lobster, caviare, fish roes, sardines, fillet,
white meat of chicken,
You name it, she's got it,
I get it.
I don't want to work, or hunt.
If ten show-white mice were to saunter past
my nose,
I wouldn't lift a paw.
I'm greedy, graceless, shameless, lazy,
And luxury loving.
Everything that comes my way I take,
And yell for more.
I'm spoiled useless.
I admit it.
And I adore it.

Paul Gallico
(1896-1976)

Kathy's Journal - Volunteer Work at Local Animal Shelter

I took a trip this past week to my local animal shelter for some volunteer work. Spent some time with some of the adorable kitties that they have there. From handling some of the cats, I have discovered that felines, like their human counterparts, display many different personalities. Polly, pictured above, is a beautiful white medium hair female who is rather timid. She is skittish around me and justifiably so since she hardly knows me. In the bonding room, she seems much more content hiding in a kitty cubby hole than being frisky and playful. Elton, on the other hand, is quite different. He's an old boy at age 7 and just a little on the hefty side. Actually, he's a load to carry around. If you need to build up your biceps, he's a good one to haul around. I enjoyed our time in the bonding room. He was much more playful than Polly. I understand that the shelter is really pushing to get him adopted ASAP. I do hope that they find someone suitable for him. He would be a great pet for anyone. Polly might need additional time to warm up to someone, but in the end, she would make a wonderful pet to love. I am looking forward to eventually spending time with each of the cats there. If anyone is looking for that special feline or canine companion, I highly recommend visiting your local animal shelter. As I mentioned in an early post, Nala and Gizmo were both adopted. These animals need a loving and caring home to go to. I will continue to post my kitty and doggy experiences at the shelter.

Mouse Alert!!!! Bathroom sighting at 3:00 am

Last night/3:00 am: MOUSE SIGHTING!!! We had soo much fun chasing the little creature around the house. We managed to wake up Kathy and she found us with the mouse in the bathroom. Nala and I desperately tried to grab it. The little varmint managed to sit precariously on top of a little shelf just out of our reach. Kathy end up depositing it outside. Why couldn't she just leave it in the house...why, why, why??? We tried to tell her we would have apprehended it in no time at all. She absolutely has no confidence in our hunting skills. Mousetraps begone!!! I know we can do the job. We are extremely unhappy and upset about this whole episode.

News from Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter - weekly update

The local paper here, reports every Wednesday on different issues and topics coming from the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I just started volunteering there last week. This past week, they did a report on the weight problems that they are seeing with cats and dogs. "There's been a trend recently of overweight pets and we've seen them at the shelter - pups and cats who are well over what their healthy weight should be. We had a cat recently who weighed 28 pounds. While he was quite a conversation piece, that much weight can cause a lot of health issues". Jennifer Vanderau, who wrote the article, says that any kind of food (human or pet) given in large amounts can be very unhealthy for any pet. I totally agree with her. When I was at the shelter last week with my daughter, we chose a very hefty male cat to spend quality time with. He really was a handful to carry. I noticed just how many big cats were there. My old neighbor had an extremely overweight pug. That dog looked like a little blimp on four legs!! He did try to take the dog for walks. I sincerely believed they gave that dog human food and perhaps way too much of it. The biggest cat I know of weighed in at a whopping 40lbs. I even saw a picture. It looked enormous. Just like humans, being overweight for dogs and cats can cause all kinds of health issues. Jennifer reports, "It can cause a host of ailments, which can include thyroid problems; diabetes; hygiene issues (cats and dogs who can't clean themselves); joint, bone and ligament problems; issues with internal organs; heat intolerance; and even skin issues".

contributions: Shippensburg Sentinel - Jennifer Vanderau, reporter-Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter

Gizmo's World - Comfy and cozy!

I just had one of Kathy's tummy rubs I told you about. Now I'm ready for a nap. There's no better way to take a snooze unless you're wrapped up in a comfy, cozy fleece blanket. Please don't disturb me. I'm in total bliss!! I have to make sure Nala knows that I don't share blankets either. She can snooze in her cardboard box for all I care!

Gizmo's World - Oh boy, look what I found!

So, Nala thinks she can hide from me in Kathy's laundry basket. WRONG!!!! I'm soo much smarter than she thinks. Hey Nala...the box won't work either (hint, hint!) She has no place to escape me!! I RULE!!!!

Nala's World - Is it the laundry basket or the box??

I have been trying to decide where to hide if I have to escape from one of Gizmo's sudden attacks. He's soo moody sometimes. When he gets grouchy or irritable, he
likes to sneak up on me and POW!!! I have to be careful and prepared for anything. I'm thinking the laundry basket or a cardboard box would do nicely as a hiding place. Oh my God...I simply can't decide. I need your vote -- laundry basket or box. Maybe I'll ask Kathy to help me decide.

Gizmo's World - Anxiously awaiting tummy rub!!!

OK, I'm waiting...there's nothing like a little tummy rub followed by a nice nap. I just absolutely love myself!!! I could be any female feline's favorite male pinup. Well, maybe not every female... Nala would rather scratch my eyes out. She just doesn't know what's she's missing!! Her loss.....til next time.

Nala's World - the local watering hole saga

So, this is Gizmo's watering hole. Just because Gizmo found it first doesn't mean it's his!!! Gizmo knows that I found it. He thinks I'm a little sneak. I think I'll just lounge in here for awhile. If Gizmo comes into the bathroom and finds me - it could get really ugly!!!!

Kathy's Journal -- Volunteering at the Local Animal Shelter

I recently signed up to volunteer at my local animal shelter --- Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter in Chambersburg, PA. My first visit was yesterday. They are many cute and adorable kitties that are awaiting adoption. I do hope that all will eventually find a good home. The shelter has staff members who interview prospects interested in adopting. They want to make every effort that those who are interested are suitable to adopt. Nala and Gizmo were both adopted and I highly recommend adopting from a shelter when looking for a cat as a pet. I will continue to write about my volunteering experiences in future posts. Til next time.....