My story isn't over yet.

Thank you, Dear Readers, for your prayers, thoughts, and hopes for my health and overall peace.  They worked. My ma had called the doctor last Monday morning, as you read in the hope hope post. She asked if she could increase my diuretic dosage and the doctor agreed; with guarded monitoring to see after a week how I react to it.

Each day is different. Some days, I don’t breathe heavy, and I am cooing and purring like my ma is used to. Other days, I do breathe heavy, I am lethargic, and want to be left alone. No purring.  This is upsetting to mamma. She said, though, that each day is a gift, and so it is. She loves on me and loves on me each day we are together.

I am a blessed cat.

Are you familiar with the beautiful song, “Never Been a Moment” by Micah Tyler? If you do not know it, I encourage you to listen to it – it is such a beautiful song. My mamma changes the lyrics a little bit and sings it to me, as if the song was written about me. She is so funny!

I think, though, if I had a singing voice that wasn’t equipped with just chirps and trills I would sing it to her. Of course, changing her kitty lyrics to human ones. She is a good human. Here is her version of the song she sings to me:

♬"You were lost, but somehow you were found.
There's been some pain, been some regret, been some moments I'll never forget.
But when I look back from where I'm standing now, I know -

There's never been a moment I was not held inside your arms.
And there's never been a day when you were not who you say you are.
Yours forever, it don't matter what I'm walking through, ‘cause no matter where I'm going, there's never been a moment that I was not loved by you.

Loved by you.
Loved by you.

You've been my rock, you've been my peace, always showing your good heart to me.
My days are marked by grace I don't deserve, no, you've been the kitty who is always ready to play. You've been the light that has led my way. No matter where I am, there you are!

There's never been a moment I was not held inside your arms.
And there's never been a day when you were not who you say you are.
Yours forever, it don't matter what I'm walking through, ‘cause no matter where I'm going, there's never been a moment that I was not loved by you.

Loved by you.
Loved by you.

So where could you go that you could wander from my sight?  Where would I run and never leave behind your all consuming, heart pursuing, grace extending, never ending love. Stray Cat’s love! 

There's never been a moment I was not held inside your arms. And there's never been a day when you were not who you say you are. Yours forever, it don't matter what I'm walking through, ‘cause no matter where I'm going, there's never been a moment that I was not loved by you.

Loved by you.
Loved by you."🎶

It is true. She is mine forever. I am hers forever, and it doesn’t matter where I am or where she is – there was never a moment I was not loved by her – nor a moment where she was not loved by me.  This is true. 

Hug tight those you love, Dear Readers! 

How we spend Halloween...

...until the door bell rings!

My ma said she read that Halloween started as a festival called Samhain. It was part of an ancient Celtic religion in parts of Europe. As you all know, when the end of harvest came, the darkest season started, but the Celtics believed the barrier between our world and the ghostly spirits' world got really thin during this time of year.  After the festival ended, November 01 marked a new year.  

Happy Halloween and Happy New Year, Readers! 

What if I was given a "real" name?

People have asked us what my "real" name is; or when is my mamma going to give me a "real" name.

What is it about "Stray Cat" which makes people believe that this is NOT a real name?  People name their children all sorts of things from Soapy Water to River to Sunshine - - - does anyone ask those parents when they are going to rename their child a "real" name?

The funny thing about humans and their opinions of names or anything else really, is, why don't they just keep their dang opinion to themselves?

If you don't like my name or anyone else's be grateful it is not YOUR name and YOU don't have to wear it.

Humans are funny.  In my world, funny is synonymous with rude in this instance. 😺 Humans can be rude and they don't even realize it.  If what comes out of a mouth isn't a blessing to the ears listening to the words... then, no need to say it.  Keep it inside.

Wooo, don't let me digress!   This will start to sound like an advice column from a cat, hahaha!

Anyhow, I like being called "Stray Cat" - it reminds me of where I came from and how unhappy I was until my mamma took me in the warmth of her home.

She also has many many nic-names for me, all out of loving affection - Boohbahla, Boohbah, Buddy, Bubbie - and other spontaneous names... Her friends call me "Chubby" or "Chunky" but I prefer ma's nic-names for me.

I wonder what she would have called me had she listened to everyone initially.  Once she decided to keep me, what would she have changed my name from Stray Cat to? What? ...Charlie? I know she always wanted to name her next cat Picerno (pronounced Pi-chair-no) or Potenza after her family's home, and perhaps call the kitten "Pitchy" or "Enzie" but those names do not suit me.  Arancia  (Italian "orange") was another possibility for me... but I would not want my nic-name to be reminiscent of a chia pet.  😹

Other than Stray Cat, I think I may have liked, "Cutie" - she calls me that on occasion and I really believe it and like it. I am cute, after all.  If I was given a "real" name, that would be my first choice.

What would you think would be the best name for me? If I was given a "real" name? 

Chirp trill chirp trill

It is true, I am a Maine Coon. Maine Coon's tend to chirp rather than "meow", why is that? 

Did you ever consider or wonder why?

My sister and I rarely meow at one another, we clean each other but don't really speak to one another. Sometimes she will hiss at me, especially when I return from the doctor's office, she yells at me to tell me that I smell weird.

We both talk to our mamma, and she talks back.  It is quite fun.  My sister meow meow meows, and I chirp and trill.   If you have never met a Maine Coon, you may not know what we sound like - we chirp and trill - trill is like a meow with a purr and chirp is like a bird.  My sister makes the funniest noise when she sees a bird, sounds like "ca ca ca" - my chirp is more like a bird's tweet. So don't confuse the "ca ca ca" of a domestic cat to the chirp chirp chirp of a Maine Coon.  

Today, for Mother's Day, we will be sure to sing to our mamma - she likes hearing our adorable voices, and we like making her happy.

To all the mothers reading my post - Happy Mother's Day to you!  My sister and I hope you get all the singing you want - from cats or humans.  If you have a dog, be fair warned, they don't have as much vocal variety as us cats... so just another reason to add a cat to your family.

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.
💗😹

Our ma says she loves us but then she does this...

My ma tells us all of the time how much she loves me and my sister.

She gives us kisses and hugs, treats and our favorite foods, she provides lotsa toys and lotsa places for us to cozy up and sleep - she is really good to us.

Ma's favorite holiday is Easter. She says it is the most important holiday.  She also likes that for some reason it is traditional to decorate with bunnies. She said that bunnies represent fertility and that the goddess of spring used bunnies as her mascot, so, the bunny mascot evolved into the mascot for the spring holiday of Easter. Or something like that.

Anyhow, I am rambling. What was my point?

Easter is my ma's favorite holiday.
She adores bunnies and cats.

Alas!  The cat bunnies are here: 

I am the Easter Kitty! 

I am not amused, but I love my ma,
so what else can I do? 

I think I look pretty cute.

Happy Easter, Everyone!  Happy Passover!  Happy Spring! 

Ma, I am so not amused by this.

Has anyone else noticed how ugly the faces on bunny costumes used for the children's photo opportunities (at the mall and the like) are?  Why is that when real bunnies are adorable?