February went by in a flash!

Was this the fastest month ever for you, Dear Readers?

We can't believe it is the last week of February already!

I am happy to report that we are doing well. We play together, we wrestle, and we nap a lot, too. 

Things are going well. Although, little Grigio is insisting on staying outside despite our efforts to get him inside.

We are mesmerized by the outdoors, but we kitties prefer staying in where it is warm. Mamma being inside is a good excuse for us not to leave. 

May the rest of your February be fabulous - and the upcoming March magical.

C'mon, Spring, we are waiting for you! 😺

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali. 🐾

I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior. – Hippolyte Adolphe Taine.

How does your cat love thee? Let us count the ways...

Happy Day, Dear Readers!

Did you ever wonder how us cats tell you we love you? Well, my mamma knows all the signs. First off, she tells us she loves us all of the time. I mean ...


ALL

of

the

TIME.

She is consistently telling us. Sometimes, she looks right at us, meets our eyes and closes them slowly at us. Then, we tell her we love her back by imitating that gesture.

Little Pasqua Bunny even winks at her when she winks at him. It's adorable.

Stray Cat used to head-butt mamma, and that certainly was a cat gesture for "I love you!" - neither Pasqua nor I do that to her. That shall remain special between her and our dear Stray Cat.

Remember how I told you about me carrying little Verdi to mamma? That is my way of telling her I love her and I trust her with my favorite toy. Daily I carry it to her, up and down the steps. She adores when I do this.

If you have an outdoor kitty who brings you a catch (bird, mouse, squirrel), this is the same sign of love. Giving you a present. So don't get upset, just thank your kitty for the gift and reciprocate with gratitude and an "I love you, too!".

Does your kitty knead your lap when relaxing with you? This sweet sign sometimes called "making biscuits" is a natural thing baby kitties did on their cat-mom while nursing, the action promoted milk, and therefore this sweet affection shows that your cat is content, secure, and definitely loves you!

Both Stray Cat and Pasqua greet mamma at the door every time she arrives home. I am much too lazy for this display of love and affection. If your cat greets you and shows excitement to see you return home, then, be rest-assured it means they love you! (Me NOT doing it does not mean I do not love mamma, it just means some cats are more affectionate and excitable than others.)

I rub against my mamma any chance I get to put my scent on her and steal her scent. This is the most common way I tell her I love her. I also fall asleep next to her and purr as loudly as possible. So if your cats rub up against you a lot, wants to be near you a lot, and purrs way louder than normal when they are resting near you - they are telling you they love you!

Cats do not talk to other cats with meows. They reserve meows for their humans. 😼 If you and your cat have full-blown conversations word-to-meow, then, yes they love you! 😼 Extra brownie points to you if your cat trills or chirps. That is cat talk for you are super duper.

One thing that Stray Cat did that neither Pasqua nor I do is groom mamma. We groom each other on occasion as a sign of trusted friendship, but we don't do this to mamma. I am very sure that this action, that Stray Cat did daily, multiple times a day, was a pure sign of his love for mamma.

You may be completely disgusted and feel that this would NOT be your favorite affection preference, just know that if your cat does groom you, they consider you part of their inner circle. Be extremely pleased that your cat shows love for you in this way.

How does your cat love thee? Let us count the ways...

I'll start with these ten. Add the affection you receive in the comments section below to keep the count going.

1. Eye blinks.
2. Head-bunting.
3. Gives gifts.
4. Kneads you.
5. Greets you at door.
6. Rubs oils from their facial glands onto you.
7. Super purrs.
8. Stays near you no matter what room you walk into.
9. Talks to you.
10. Grooms you.

💘💗❤♡♥♡♥❤💗💘Happy Valentine's Week, Everyone. Be kind to one another and give extra pets to pets. Even Pasqua deserves them. 😹

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali. 🐾

If you have only one smile in you give it to the people [cats] you love. —Maya Angelou.

Two Years

At 4:45pm today, it will officially be two years since Stray Cat tragically passed away.

Mamma marked one year in this blog post.

This year, she is letting me do the writing.

On (what turned out to be) Stray Cat's last day, I kept him company in the sun room while mamma was at work. She came home early to finish her work day from home. We followed her into the dining room, and stayed with her while she worked. My big brother's breathing was labored, and mamma got very concerned that he had too much fluid on his lungs.

She took him to the animal hospital for another chest-tap so they could remove that fluid in hopes he would feel better. She seemed a bit frantic, and very sad. She reassured me they would both be home soon.

Two hours later mamma returned with Stray's empty carrier. She was sobbing so hard I did not know what to do to help her.

Since that day, Stray Cat has never returned home. I felt depressed that Stray Cat wasn't home anymore, and I did not really understand why - but the answers to all of my questions were not as important as making sure mamma got up in the morning and to not leave her alone when she would cry. Naturally, I did my best to give mamma more affection, and pay more attention to her needs.

I did not know what to make of all of this. I still don't. The emptiness we both still feel and the new silence that is ever so present in our home because of Stray Cat's absence.

Stray was a good big brother to me. As soon as I arrived, he treated me like a baby sister and took me under his paw and showed me the ropes of life in Florida.

Today is a solemn day.

January 26 will always be for us. Eight years prior to Stray Cat passing on this date, Myles crossed over into heaven. Our only solace is that they are together with Jesus, playing, having fun, and just waiting to see us all again.

To make a donation in honor of Myles, please do so here: https://www.kidsandcars.org/
Thank you.

Hug your loved ones, Readers, hug them often.
-Stivali. 🐾

What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. -Helen Keller.

Socks with a purpose

Hope everyone's week was wonderful.

Our dear Aunt Sheryl, who sadly is allergic to us, gave mamma the cutest pair of cat socks at Christmas.

Have you ever heard of this company Conscious Step?

Check them out if you haven't. They are pretty cool. For every pair of socks purchased they donate to a non-profit. You can purchase based on a cause that is close to your heart, like: protecting endangered animals, empowering women, conserving the rainforest.

Pretty awesome, right?

We thought it was pretty neat and thought you would, too.

Hope your Sunday is filled with naps and lots of sunshine!

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali. 🐾

“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.”  - Amelia Earhart.

Cat Story

A long long time ago, our mamma penned a children's picture book inspired by her orange tabby, Kismet. It has taken on many renditions over the past decade - rewrite rewrite rewrite - as she seeks a literary agent to represent her and a publisher to publish it.

She has many stories written for it - making it a picture book series. This is in addition to all her other works she has written and others she is working on.

There are many stories about cats, and we are hopeful that hers will be published one day for the world to enjoy. 

™© suntawrites

There's a lot of lost work out there, or forgotten work, and we don't want that to happen to Kismet's story.

For instance, the author famous for The Grapes of Wrath, wrote a cat story in the 50s that was published in French. The Smithsonian reports that for the first time it has been published in English (through purchase of a magazine, check it out here: https://strandmag.com/product/john-steinbeck-issue-plus-1-year-subscription/).

© Jeffrey McKeever

Steinbeck's The Amiable Fleas is a lighthearted short story about the friendship between a chef and his cat (depicted above). It inspires us to keep encouraging mamma to work at her craft, to try to get published, and to remember that the loyalty 'n love between human 'n cat is a story worth writing and reading! 

Inspire one another! 

-Stivali. 🐾

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” - Louis L’Amour.

Ciao 2019!

Happy Sunday, Readers! Did y'all have a wonderful holiday week? We hope so.

What are some of the traditions you and your family have? There are traditions in every family, in every culture, and for every season.We eat fish on Christmas Eve and a big pasta dinner on Christmas Day. Filled with loads of laughter, and lots of dessert choices. Mamma really likes spending the days with us and our family.

This week, we will ring in the new year, and by us, they drop a huge geodesic sphere covered in crystals, and a lot of people crowd around to see it in person, while nearly everyone else watches it on television. That sounds strange, I rather paw at the ball and play. But the one in the city is too big for us kitties. Hehee

If you want to read about winter traditions in other areas of the world this article may suit you: winter-traditions-from-around-the-world

I am the cutest present under the tree!

Grigio visited us every day! 

Pasqua Bunny looking super cute.

 

Have a safe and happy new year celebration,
-Stivali. 🐾

Life's not about expecting, hoping and wishing, it's about doing, being and becoming. - Mike Dooley.

Festival of Lights

Hello Readers!

Mamma is preparing for Christmas, but that is not the only holiday of the season. Hanukkah 2019 will begin this evening and ends the evening of  Monday, December 30.

Learn about the History of Hanukkah here. Thank you, History Channel. 🐱

Do you celebrate Hanukkah? Or, if you know someone who does, did you know that to wish someone a Happy Hanukkah, you would say “Hanukkah Sameach!” or “Chag Sameach!” (meaning: Happy Holiday)? In Hebrew we would say “Chag Urim Sameach!”.

Mamma likes to bake and cook. To her utter disbelief, we cannot help her, we have too much fur. If you are looking for new recipes for Hanukkah, check these out: Hanukkah Recipes & Tips

Whatever you celebrate, we wish you full bellies, joyful laughter, and much happiness as you celebrate.

We are at the screen door looking outside in this photo. 

How cute is this cat nip filled stocking from our Aunt Julie? 

From our home to yours, Happy Holidays! 

Purr & Paw, 🐾

-Stivali.

Merry everything, and a happy, always!