Happy Father's Day

Without our dads, we wouldn't be here.
We don't know who our dads are and neither of us really remember our momcat either.
We were both stranded, runts of litters it is called, and we are grateful we were found, and then brought to our human mamma to live in a safe forever home.
Can we tell her happy father's day - when she is both mother and father to us?
I think so. She deserves the blessings and our gratitude.

Our human mamma has a very special dad we call Nonno. He comes and visits us all of the time and most times, I hide, some times I hiss - he is very funny because he will hiss back. He just wants love, but I don't like to give it freely. I let Pasqua do that. Nonno will hang out with Pasqua, pet him and love on him... while I hide. He is a good grandfather to us. We are very blessed.

To all the readers out there who are dads - we wish you a very Happy Father's Day. ❤

Me eyeing up Pasqua.

Pasqua has plenty of silly positions.

Have a wonderful week, Everyone!

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali.

"It is admirable for a man to take his son fishing, but there is a special place in heaven for the father who takes his daughter shopping." - John Sinor.

Cuteness Overload - Paws Please and Take it In. . .

Thank you, Readers, for your support and for your votes for our sweet Pasqua in the two contests he was placed in. The results of the Catster's Purrrific Contest are in. Check out all the winners here.

We are happy for all of the winners but sad our lil boy did not make the final cut. 🙀

He's still pretty cute don't you think?:

I mean, it is okay if you think I am cuter, but I did not place in any contests at all. What? 🙀 I know. Incredulous! 

This was a very busy week for us here. Lots of napping, eating, playing, and telling Mamma we love her. What? You don't believe me? Check me out here: Chatting with Mamma
See? I tell her I love her.

"Chip's" chirp is still the cutest thing ever but we have been unable to capture it perfectly yet to share it with all of you. We appreciate you staying tuned! 😻

Enjoy the rest of your week and we hope it's filled with delicious cat nip or the like.

Purr & Paw.
-Stivali. 

Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June. - Al Bernstein.

7 months feels like a lifetime...

Mamma and I do not like knowing how much time has passed since my big brother died.
The 10-15 minutes before his death were traumatic and Mamma replays it over and over in her mind and it is debilitating.

I am trying to be more fun for her so she is not so sad.

I still don't like being held, which I know is hard for her since she was accustomed to how much my big brother liked being carried around in her arms.

Do you know he died in her arms? That was his favorite place to be.

I hope she realizes that and finds comfort in knowing he would not have wanted it any other way.
She is sad because she felt numb as he was crossing. She wasn't even petting him and was only holding him - both motionless. 
A sadness she cannot get out of her mind. 

Today is August 26. Marking 7 months. We have now been living in our new home longer than Stray Cat was alive in it. That feels depressing.

It is a warm summer day, we have the windows open and doors open; screens allow me to breathe in fresh air.  I smell lotsa smells from outside.  Smells I know Stray Cat would lift his little nose to. We are sad that he is not here to enjoy the new town, the new house, and all it has to offer us on such a warm summer day.

We wonder if he can see us from heaven. If he knows how sad we are without him here. We wonder if he realizes how much we love him still and how much we ache in his absence.  He provided both of us such joy. He was such a funny affectionate loving cat.  We miss him. We hope he knows how much we love him - and pray he realized it when he was here with us. 

I try to make mamma laugh. I bring her Verdi daily.  I hide under Stray Cat's blanket on his favorite orange chair. I try to do silly things so I can hear her laughing.  I do not cuddle with her, but I do sit near her every day.  I even go to bed next to her although I won't touch her.  Hopefully, she knows I love her, and this is how I show it. 

Where's Stivali? 

There she is! 

I am a good hider.

Cute old photo of my big brother, Stray Cat.

This is me and my big brother when I first moved in with them back in 2010.

There's a really beautiful song our friend, Lynda, told us about. It helps.  Here are some of the lyrics... and a YouTube video so you can hear it if you wanna: YouTube video

"Honey, I thought you should know, that I'm in a hurry. I've got to move up north, but it's just temporary. I really tried not to lie. But this burdens getting heavy. No, you can't come with me this time, you got your own destiny.

But Heaven's not too far away, I know someday you'll visit. And I didn't think I'd go this way, can I please have one more minute? No honey, I don't want to go, please know that I have to. I think it's time I go home. 

Yes, I can still hear your voice. Sounds just like it did. And I can still feel your hand
When it touches my skin."

Hug the ones you love tightly.

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali.

Six Month Mark

Today marks six months since my big brother, Stray Cat, wento visit Kismet and Zoe in Heaven with plans to never come back.

My ma and I have been extremely sad. And ma has been buying things to keep him close to her heart. See evidence below: 

I do believe she considers me a non-human person.

I never knew life without my brother.  I was born and he was already here.  I did not realize I would have to know life without him.  It kinda sucks learning and living in this new life.  No matter the time that passes, it doesn't really get better. I hate how we make notice of the calendar and of how many days, weeks, and months have passed.  Today is six months, and it is pretty awful. I wish we weren't paying attention to the days without him - but it is so hard not to. I miss my brother.  We used to nap together, a lot. Some times right up against each other, but more often like this:

Readers, do you see me? 

Even though ma and I saw this coming, it did not prepare us for the pain which would follow.  We are still sad. We talk about him like he is still here, and he is still here - in our hearts.

You may already realize, I am not much of a cuddler. Okay, fine, I am NOT a cuddler.  I know ma would love it if I would wake her like this  (see below photos), but it is just not my personality.  I am way more of an independent-want my space-type of cat. Maybe one day I would do this for her, but if we are really honest here,  since my paws would not be the same as Stray Cat's fuzzy paws, it won't ever be done. *Sorry, Mamma! 🙀

Ma would be so embarrassed if she knew I posted this pic.🐱

Well, Big Brother, if you have a web browser and internet access up there, I hope you are reading this and okay with me taking over your blog. Give St Francis a hug from me. We miss you a lot.  Life won't ever be the same without you here in it.  

Purr & Paw,
-I was a little sister once.

Introducing Topino Verdi!

I need to introduce you to my friend, Topino Verdi.  "Verdi" for short: 

 

Every day, I play with Verdi.  He is the perfect sized mouse to fit in my mouth. Each evening, I meow as he is in my mouth and carry him to Mamma. Impressive, right? My ma thinks it is pretty darn awesome that this has become an evening ritual. 

If Verdi is downstairs, I will find him and carry him upstairs.  If he is upstairs, I carry him downstairs.

Now, ma has been trying to video-tape me or at least take a decent photo of me doing this, but I don't like that idea.  However, I did want to brag about it here on Stray's blog. 😺 

Everyone always brags about how affectionate and loving Stray Cat was. How he was a complete love sponge. I know Mamma misses his affection, and having unconditional love expressed that way - but really, I must tell you, he was kind of an attention hog. 😹 Seriously, no one could give that much love - I mean, really, he was nimious. 

And, by the way, he never brought Mamma any presents. Never. 

So, this is how I am showing her MY unconditional love - I am not affectionate or mushy - but at least I bring her a present daily: a topino. 

How does your cat show their love to you? *Curious, as I may need more ideas since I certainly do not want to be held. 

Purr & Paw,

-Stivali.