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.

Settling in...

I'm getting used to having this little guy around.

However, I sometimes look down at him in disgust.

And he is undeterred...

We are all settling in, waiting for winter to end. Sun puddling during the day. Sleeping through the night. Life is good here. We are happy. 

Hope all of you readers are, too.

Purr & Paw,

-Stivali (and Pasqua). 

Happy February!

Happy February, Readers.

There is still a kitten in our house. I don’t think he is going back to wherever he came from.

Witnessing first snow of his life.

Hearing a snow plow for the first time. 

He is 4.5 months old, with a lot of energy, and likes to play. He likes to eat my adult food, and that is fine with me, because I like to eat his kitten food. Ma has all about given up trying to separate our food respectively during feedings.

He also sleeps a lot, which is great because once he sleeps, I can nap, too. We nap often on the same furniture but not too close. I am not there yet. He wants to be next to me, but I need my space, so I move my nap place every time he gets too close. He seems to get the hint, in the moment, but forgets my imaginary border that exists around me every time it is nap time. Strange.

I nap here, on this side of mamma.

He naps there, on the opposite side of mamma. 

I still carry Topino Verdi to mamma twice a day, she has yet to capture it on video for us to share here. For the most part, the little kitten has an understanding that Verdi is mine. On the occasion, when Pasqua doesn’t remember, Pasqua receives a light swat of my paw for touching my beloved Verdi.

Co-existing is working for me. We both sleep in the same bed through the entire night (not cuddled next to one another, of course!).  We play, we nap, we eat, we sleep, we give mamma love, and she gives us her love.  That’s all any of us seem to need.

 Purr & Paw, 

-Stivali. 

Continued Progress

This little nugget here turns four months old today. I think I like him okay, I even share sleeping quarters with him now, through the night. Overnight! We don't cuddle or anything. If he wants to, and comes too close to me, I hiss and run away.

This is continued progress. I promise.

Happy January 17 - the birthday of my gorgeous aunt - Cheryl! Happy Birthday Cheryl! We love you. XOXO

Purr & Paw,
Stivali.

Ma's Still Trying to Video Tape Me Talking to Her...

So, my ma and I do this adorable (to us) back and forth where I "meow" after she tells me she loves me. It is a daily occurrence and it is precious.
Every time she tries to record me, I get shy and stop talking back to her.
She almost caught it on video but of course, she hates how high her voice gets when she speaks to me so won't share it here. She is so silly! I know she will keep trying to get me meowing on video so we can share it here.

Anyway, since she hasn't perfected getting me on tape, I decided to share an old video of my big brother being cute. Well, he was always cute. Every. Single. Day.

Being adorable is my job around here.

My ma bought today a bottle of Jackson Galaxy Obsession Solution for me in hopes that it will reduce my anxiety as I started excessively grooming one of my front legs and now have a bald spot. ☹ I will keep you posted if it makes a difference in my behavior. I don't know why I do these things!!

Have a peace filled week, Readers.

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali.

A note from Stivali, Stray Cat's little sister.

I have been considering delving into this blog thing for a while now.

I am much too lazy to write, nor do I think I have much to say which people would want to read.

However, it did occur to me that I think I am quite adorable, and maybe just a mere photo of me once in a while would make Stray Cat's fans grateful to see a cat - even if they don't believe I am cuter than him. 

Dear Readers, trust me, I am quite cute. 
Here:

Evidence of why I haven't written sooner. I like to sleep.

Also, I wanted to share with you a fabulous cat sanctuary in New Jersey.  It is here, that my mother decided to sponsor a special needs cat named Pixie.  She chose this particular kitten for two reasons: 1) she looked like a female version of Stray Cat. 2) the horrific cause of how Pixie became a paraplegic. 

The kitten's backstory tug at my mamma's heart strings (a diabolical teenager shot a pellet gun at Pixie which lodged in her spine causing her to lose the use of her hind legs).

My mamma and Uncle PJ went to meet this sweet cat and of course, quickly fell in love with her.

To learn more about Pixie, click here: http://www.tabbysplace.org/updates/cat.php?i=2299

If you are interested in sponsoring or adopting a cat from the sanctuary, or learning more about the organization, click here: www.tabbysplace.org

I think that is all I've got in me for today. Thank you for reading.

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali.

I am tired all of the time.

So. I have been sleeping a lot.
"They" say cats sleep generally 12-16 hours - and I am pretty sure I am up to 20.

I have been coughing/dry heaving a lot, too.  Before my CHF diagnosis, ma always assumed my coughing was due to a hairball that would not come up... now we know the truth.

The new diuretic may or not be working, I do not know, I cannot tell.

My ma is sad and watches over me obsessively.

I do not know how to help her feel better about any of this.  Although, I have made it a habit to sit on her pillow, above her head every morning, and wake her up by pawing or licking her forehead. 

She may or may not like this, I do not know, I cannot tell.

As the holiday season quickly approaches, remember to focus on what is important. Don't get lost in the hustle and bustle of the season.  Hug your loved ones tight - tell them you love them.   Pet your pets, let them know you love them, too.

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!