Category Archives: cats

Most of these posts have some connection to two rascals: Andy and Dougy, the Persian cat brothers I’ve had since late summer of 2011. They make me laugh, and, on occasion, say naughty words in a loud voice. They are, however, the joy of my retirement! Earlier ones about Louie the ginger cat lead me to refocusing on my pet cats once I became a two-cat person. I got the brothers shortly after Louie died in August 2011. They were born July 1, 2011, so I had to wait a little after Louie died before they were available. They were rascally kittens, but played well together. One is named after the patron saint of Scotland, St. Andrew the apostle. I wanted to honor my family’s strong Scottish roots by giving him a name connected to Scotland. When I got his brother a short time later, I wanted to give him a Scottish name, too. Friends suggest some horrific ones” Angus, Archibald…and those are just the “A” names! Then I had an epiphany: My name is as Scottish as it gets: Douglas. In a fit of mirth, I decided to name the second kitty “Dougy”! Why not? He isn’t a junior, though. He and I have different middle names.

Post 918: “Go to bed, kitties! Go to bed…!!!”

I’ve written before about the wand toy game Andy and Dougy invented. The most noticeable part of the game is how the cat inviting the brother to play meows piteously from some distant place till his brother comes running.

From that point, when both are at the wand toy, the boys begin to chase each other. The wand toy doesn’t seem to serve any specific purpose other than to announce the game has begun.

Andy prepares for the game.
The wand toy is stretched out in front of him.

Though it seems to be a “keep-away” game, the wand toy never gets taken. All I know is it will be in a different place each time I see it. One or the other cat moves it at some point during the game, though I’ve rarely seen this happen.

A pitiful yowling alerts Dougy to the starty of the game....! This time it's during the day, but last night it was after I went to bed.

A pitiful yowling alerts Dougy to the start of the game….!
This time it’s during the day, but last night it was after I went to bed.

Yes, last night the game took place while I tried to sleep! I guess I didn’t wear the boys down enough before I went to bed.

Andsy needs a drink. Dougy must be sleeping because he isn't running to join the game...!

Andy needs a drink.
Dougy must be sleeping because he isn’t running to join the game…!

Of course, he and Andy were up last night playing, so, of course, he is a bit worn out this morning!

Dang cats!

Post 915: a wartime celebration…

The fascination of old photos, especially those that predate oneself, is the story they tell. Or don’t. For example, this family photo of what appears to be a family birthday celebration.

Surrounding my grandfather, the apparent “birthday boy”, are, starting at the top right: my mother, my father, my Aunt Esther (I think…), my grandmother, my brother, grandpa, and — the first born in my family — my sister.

I think this predates my second sister, so may be a photo taken in 1942 or 1943. No one seems that happy, perhaps a reflection of the family attitude toward having one’s photo taken.

Or perhaps the lack of smiles reflects the times, a wartime celebration where the cares of the day out-trumped any effort to have a good time. They were uncertain times, and a victory was the prayer, not an inevitability.

I find that photo so depressing, I include this photo of my brother taken around the same time. It makes me smile!

dads shadow and dick1

Post 913: Andy’s new sleeping spot…

Andy changes his sleeping spot quite a lot. I imagine this is in part because I snatch him up to give him medicine from a given spot once too often, then he figures he has to find a new one. Could be!

Doesn’t look comfortable to me, but Andy’s been sleeping here lately.

It’s next to the dining room table and close to a fine escape route under the table, a well-known “good” spot to hide from the human!

Post 911: It’s Thanksgiving up north…!

Thanksgiving! Who doesn’t look forward to this holiday? Food, family, fights, and football! It’s everything you could hope for in a holiday!

And more!

marijean and topsie 2

It’s also all about love, forgiveness, and sharing! Hope you have a great Thanksgiving, Canadian friends!

Post 910: Andy’s looking different today… Surreally?!

Low light and PhotoShop make for odd results. Here are three looks at Andy, taken in very low light without a flash, then heavily manipulated to find anything of interest.

electric andy 3

Pointillistic Andy in the shade. Get the point?

electric andy

Solarized Andy in a bit more light. Hey, great detail in the carpet! LOL!

electric andy 2

Detached Andy floats slightly above the floor, but you can see some eyes in this one. And his horns…!

Yes, Taking photos of black kitties is a challenge!

Post 909: smoking hot Caturday…!

I think my kitties are pretty cute, but I’m prejudiced. On the other hand, when I ran Dougy’s photo through a “How Sexy Is You Profile Photo?” gizmo on Facebook, it came back with the astounding result below:

smoking hot
Dougy is a “sex kitten” apparently. Who knew? Who knew…!?

Post 907: the bent twig…

It is difficult to remember that sometimes today’s naughty kitty is the result of errors made raising said kitty when he was a wee kitten.

For example, this screen shot from an early video of Andy and Dougy shows where I failed to properly bend one of my little “twigs” when he was a very naughty “sapling”!

Yes, that's Dougy in the cirtcle! Bad kitty! Very bad kitty indeed!

Yes, that’s Dougy in the circle! Bad kitty! Very bad kitty indeed!

So, since I failed to correct the behavior at the time, should I feel upset with Dougy now when he openly defies me now, and scratches that same piece of furniture?

Dpigu beingh a very naughty kitty... and enjoying it!

Dougy being a very naughty kitty…
and enjoying it!

The question was rhetorical. I’m reaping what I sowed! (Or failed to sow.) In Dougy’s defense, he doesn’t do this naughty thing too often.

Post 906: Dougy keeps informed…

Dougy is an interested kitty. He watches the morning news shows with me each morning and is better informed than at least 50% of the electorate.

“Did you hear what Carson said about surviving a mass shooting…?”
Dougy is incredulous, but what do you expect from a kitty!?

Bad kitty! You may not like what the polls say, but that sort of language still is unacceptable in his house!

Bad kitty! You may not like what the polls say, but that sort of language still is unacceptable in this house!”
Dougy hisses at the screen when the latest poll results appear.

“Turn it to an old movie! I can’t stand any more of this!”
Poor kitty! The news just isn’t to his liking these days!

Post 904: Andy wants attention…

Dougy and I had fun time earlier this morning. I brought out a wand toy he’d not played with for a few weeks, and it was like a new — and very, very exciting! — toy. Woo hoo! Dougy played so hard, he had to take his morning nap a lot earlier than usual today.

Andy, however, just sat it out. Apparently the old toy wasn’t exciting to him. Or he had other interests at the moment. Regardless, I lost track of him till I sat down at my computer.

I felt a thuimp on my leg. Andy was beside my chair, trying to get attention. Or a good scritching.

I felt a thump on my leg. Andy was beside my chair, trying to get attention.
Or a good scritching.

What a look, Andy! He definitely wasn’t pleased to be left out of the morning’s fun!

Scritched, Andy hopped up on my computer desk to keep track of me from eye level.
OK, kitty, I get your point!

Post 903: “Loving’ tender crispy chicken”

I’m a fan of McDonald’s buttermilk crispy chicken sandwich. Freshly made, it is everything the packaging promises. Let it sit awhile under the heat lamp, and it is, in the euphemism of the Internet, a POS. This morning, I got the POS version.

I kind of like this sandwich...when it's fresh!

I like this sandwich…when it’s fresh!

It probably isn’t a good idea to charge someone $6.05 for a dead sandwich, especially someone who blogs and has a work history as a quality assurance fellow. I have my standards, and I am reasonably articulate about them!

I tried to bite a chunk out of the sandwich. I barely managed to get a bite, but then I couldn't chew the tough chunk. I spat it back out!

I barely managed to bite two chunks off this sandwich, but they were inedible. I had to spit them out.

I tried to eat this monstrosity, and managed to get a couple chunks off it. But I couldn’t chew them! The idea of wasting the sandwich goes contrary to my quality training. On the other hand, that sandwich was dead before I got it. It shouldn’t have ended up in a customer’s hands.

“I should take this back to the restaurant and complain,” I thought. Yeah, get in my car and drive completely across town and have the hassle of getting in line to complain. “I mean, this is the first time this has happened to me…wait, no it isn’t!”

dried-out bun, wilted lettice, soggy tomato, leather-like breaded chicken cutlet:L Of course I want to pay $6.05 for it!

Dried-out bun, wilted lettuce, soggy tomato, leather-like breaded chicken cutlet. Of course I want to pay $6.05 for it! Make me another one just like it!

Time of day may be a factor. I bought the sandwich just before the changeover to breakfast menu. I can imagine someone saying, “Don’t throw that chicken sandwich out. Someone might buy it, but we won’t want to make one fresh when it’s this close to changeover.”

Yeah, you don’t expect 5-star quality from a fast food outlet, but you can expect a specific consistent level of acceptable quality from a McDonald’s outlet.

That’s been the McDonald’s promise and the measure of it’s success: Reasonably tasty meals that are the same no matter when or where you buy them from a McDonald’s outlet.

The local one failed today. Big time.