The truth about cats

Stivali here.

I am usually too busy sleeping most of the day to be bothered to write this blog, so sometimes my mamma does it. Plus, I really don't want to write about how much I love my new little brother (even if I do). I was here first and let me just say, he is absolutely nothing like my big brother, Stray Cat. Stray Cat was a total mush, and very loving. He never tried to attack me the way Pasqua does. *Sigh

I also really miss how I could snuggle up against Stray Cat. Pasqua only snuggles with mamma. Which usually means, I only snuggle with mamma at bed time because Pasqua stays at her feet.  This is becoming quite the habit here at night. Pasqua at her feet, and me, happily, by her head. It is getting colder where we live, and she is not putting the heat on yet. The past two nights I slept right beside her instead of an arm's length away. I know she is very happy about that. I only do it to get warm. She really needs to put the heat on so I don't have to be so close. 😹

I look like a majestic supermodel here.🐱

Pasqua looks a bit tubby here.😺

We had a good week. Sleeping. Waiting for Grigio. Eating. Playing. Sleeping. Eating. Playing. Waiting for Grigio. 

Mamma even went to a street fair and brought us back a new toy. One shaped like a bird, but we are not fools. We know it is a toy and not real. We see real birds every day from the windows and they are too quick for us to catch - considering, ummmm, ma doesn't let us out. 😿

Did you ever wonder why cats sleep so much? If you want to read this article our mamma read to us - it is very enlightening: Why Do Cats Sleep So Much?  Apparently, one of the reasons is to conserve energy between meals. And man, do we like to eat! Speaking of eating, I am starting to feel irritated by how much we feed Grigio our food. It is OUR FOOD. Now we have asked our mother to stop with the insanity and buy specific food for Grigio so he is not eating OUR FOOD. I hope she listens to us. This is important. I am not good at sharing food. It seems very unfair to us.😿

The article also mentions that sleeping is critical for our ability to regenerate itself and stay healthy. That is enough information for me to know that I have written enough today, and it is time to fall in to a deep sleep, and have some good cat dreams!

Nap Well, Readers!

Purr & Paw, 🐾
-Stivali.

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high, there's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby. Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true. Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me. Where troubles melt like lemon drops, high above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me. Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly. Birds fly over the rainbow. Why then, oh why can't I? If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why, oh why can't I?- Yip Harburg.

Happy July!

Dear Readers, 

We are so happy that it is July. Sunshine means sun puddles. Summer means longer days, which means more light to light our lives! We are so happy!

We are getting along fabulously. On occasion, Pasqua Scheggiare gets a little too rambunctious, but one fine swat of my paw on his head and he behaves again. It is like magic!

We are doing really well with demands. We have purrfected: 

• sit
• jump/up
• paw
• give me five

We are still working on 'fetch' - one which Pasqua did continuously but has recently become less enchanted with it. Haha!

Pasqua is quite the snuggler and he has a permanent spot next to mamma when she relaxes on the sofa. I don't join them very often because it is not fun for me to share mamma with Pasqua. I get envious and angry. 

This week, our country celebrates with fireworks and barbecues. I hope there are not too many fireworks nearby because they scare me. I know we are not under attack, but it sure sounds and feels like we are. I typically retreat to under the bed during such scary times. 

If you are wondering why there are celebrations here this week - it is to honor when the thirteen colonies claimed their independence from England on July 4, 1776.  This eventually led to the formation of the United States, so Americans celebrate this historic event on the fourth of July, also referred to as Independence Day.

Have a wonderful week, Everyone, and Happy Independence Day to all who celebrate it! 

Purr & Paw,

-Stivali. 

“I believe in America because we have great dreams, and because we have the opportunity to make those dreams come true.” – Wendell L. Wilkie.

June closes - graduations - proms - and Pasqua turns 9 (months)!

Hello Dear Readers,
We are surprised at how quickly time passes. Here it is June 23rd already. Our last full week of the month of June. From our window we see lots of prom and graduation festivities. School is out for all the neighborhood kids, and the start of summer is here!

Our cousin, Emma, graduated high school this week with all of her friends and classmates. We are so happy for her as she ends one chapter, and embarks on her next educational journey at the end of the summer. Education is our most powerful tool we can use to change the world! Congratulations to all of the graduates!

Also this week, we celebrated Pasqua as he turned 9 months old on the 17th.

He likes the boxes his gifts come in more than the gifts. I know a lot of you are thinking "typical kitty"! 😼

I share two photos of me since I shared two photos of my lil brother. I am a very blessed kitty, with a mamma who loves me unconditionally. Blessed to be able to live in a warm, safe, love-filled home, to have as many treats as I would like, to always have a bowl full of crunchy cereal, and another filled with fresh water. Yum! I guess I can add to my list of blessings the little Pasqua kitty, too. 😼

We had a good week. Filled with naps, snacks. playing, and snuggling mamma. We hope you all had a good week, too, and that your summer is off to a purrfect start.

As you enter the summer months, remember to list your blessings - we believe if you focus on them you will be blessed with even more!

Purr & Paw,

-Stivali.

"Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." - Henry James.

Bye Bye November!

Hello Dear Readers,
I am settling in to the winter darkness - where the days are short, and my stomach gets bigger.
It is easier living in the Northeast than down south where I was born.
While living in Florida, I always had to be in tip-top shape - not because I am vain. It was so hot, I did not want all that extra fluff.
Now, it is needed - it helps keep me warm.
Ma keeps the house a little on the chilly side, and I think I know why. She thinks I am more inclined to snuggle at night with her, and she is on Cloud 9 with the sweet quality time.

Don't tell her, but I don't need the house so chilly just to snuggle up with her.
Shhh...

Our secrets are safe here,
-Stivali.
XOXO

National Cat Day!

Did you know October 29 is considered National Cat Day in the United States?
Learn more here: National Cat Day Here are their Top 20 Ways to Celebrate!

Also, mamma found this very cool carrier for future travels with me - it looks pretty awesome. What do you think? Sleepypod

Looks cool, right?

I promised to give you a review of Jackson Galaxy's Obsession Solution, well, mamma's been putting it on me every day for a few weeks now, and I am happy to report that I am snuggling with mamma on the sofa when she is watching television or working, and I have even been sleeping through the night next to her - which is not my normal routine. Is this because of Obsession Solution, or is it just cold in the house? Haha! I am not sure. I also have not been over-grooming my front legs, so my fur is growing back. Is that because of Obsession Solution? Mamma and I would like to think so.

We give Jackson Galaxy four paws up!

Friendly Reminder: Bring your outdoor kitties INSIDE for Halloween Eve and Halloween Night - there are a lot of mean people out there. Keep your kitties safe, and consider keeping them INSIDE at all times, it's better for all of us. <3

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali.

The concert of purr...

There is a sweet melody in the morning hours before ma rises for her work day - she wakes, yet, stays in bed with Stivali and I.
The sweet melody is the harmony of a purr duet which makes ma happy.

I do not think there is any better time to get pets than in the morning.  We three are so happy in the morning before true wake-up.  My ma will hit the snooze button on her alarm clock one too many times, but totally worth it for all of us to get in those extra snuggles - and of course, purrs.

Like a lullaby, we sometimes help our mother fall back asleep with our chorus of purrs - - - sometimes this happens after she shuts her alarm clock off completely.  And although we are content, sometimes this makes her not-so-content.

Gee, we are just kitties... here for your entertainment.
💗😹

My room with a view...

Stray Cat View.

For two days it has been snowing where I live. I stare out the window and enjoy the view.

It seems to be windy and chilly, and I am not begging to go out there…

In a couple of weeks, it will be 10 years since I found Mamma.

10 years.  For about 8 months (or it coulda been a year, I am not sure about the timing), I was a street cat before she let me in to her warm farmhouse. I am very blessed.

My breed on average lives 12-15 years, I do not know if that is because of heart conditions (typical ailment of my kind) – as that seems very young to me.  We are meant to endure weather conditions, but it sounds like not for very long.  Sad to know it is imminent.  I think of Nonno Tony – my mamma’s father.  He is 74 years old, and still so active and energetic.   He too has a sickness, and it doesn’t let him down, it doesn’t stop him from working every day as a carpenter – he enjoys it.  He is my inspiration to take my medicines, to exercise daily a little, and to make sure my mamma is happy.

For example: I jump on her head in the early morning and wake her.  I lick her forehead if she doesn’t fully wake upon my jump.  She says “no” and “stop” but always follows both words with loving pets, so I continue to lick her and paw her hair until she says, “no” and “stop” again so that I can get a few minutes of those fabulous pets before she falls back to sleep.  If I feel restless, even if it is 4:30 or so in the morning, I pat her head again with my paw, and if that doesn’t stir her from her slumber, I will lick her forehead again, or move down to her cheek… it is a routine I repeat until I can get into my little nook to be held like a human baby and be pet until she gets out of bed to feed me…

I know this morning ritual makes her very happy.

I do not mind when it snows, it forces her to stay home, and that makes me very happy.

A little robin outside my window. 

The Slipper Series.

Monday

                                                                                        Tuesday

Perhaps Mamma is creating a "Slipper Series" and will share with you a photo of me each day of the week resting on her slippers...

Lately, she is taking more photos of me than usual, and usually she takes lots and lots.

As I have written before, I like to wake my mamma up a little before her alarm, so I can get her full attention and some really nice cuddles.  Recently, I have been jumping on her bed at 5am. Sometimes, Stivali, my little sister, is sleeping on mamma's belly, chest, or by her feet.  Either way, once I jump up, she jumps down.  Mamma and I usually snuggle for 15 minutes, but last week and this week, we've lingered longer into a half hour.

During this quality time, I rest in my little nook - which is the space on her side between her shoulder and hips.  My front paws over her underarm, my head on them, and my back paws over her hip and belly.  She wraps her arm around me, cradling me like a mother would a human baby.

Purr... Purr... Purr...

In March, I weighed in at 21.7#.

Doctors always told us that I was okay, perfectly healthy at 20# - 21.7# was considered a little heavier than I should be.  I am a big cat.  Not fat.  Just big.

Like I mentioned before, for a few days after my annual check-up I felt sick; but once I got my bloodwork, x-rays, and echocardiogram done in March, I began taking medicines, and I quickly got back to my peppy happy self.  I have not felt sick at all since.  However, I keep weighing in less and less.

I don't wanna lose weight.

Mamma is feeling alarmed, and is starting to really notice, physically, that I weigh less.

DATE:       WEIGHT:

March 19            21.70

April 08              20.50

Aug 01               19.11

Aug 16               19.04

The good news is, my quality of life has not negatively been impacted by my disease, I am still playful, joyful, and talkative.  I am loved, and that is a blessing to me. <3  

Your continued prayers are appreciated.