End of January

January is ending and with it the joys of the Christmas holiday. All the cookies are gone. The Christmas tree balls that escaped have been captured and returned to their boxes. The dogs have been washed and beds dressed for the long dirty days of Spring. Lots of rain here in Dallas in the Spring. Next our human will be looking at us cats for a deep body grooming otherwise known as a "fluff and fold".

School started again so my human is working on the computer. Here come the long nights of reading and writing and coffee drinking. Must nap now so I can store up the energy for the nights ahead

TUESDAY

Ahhh ...cold is coming in from the North. I can smell Canada in the air and even my joints are letting me know that Christmas is coming. Pretty soon logs will arrive and we will have a fire going. I will have to jockey for position on the marble hearth - just beware you young whippersnappers,  I have experience on my side (as well as a few extra pounds). :-) Mats not withstanding having a long, furry coat can be a plus. Must remember not to repeat last year. Flicked the tip of my tail in the fire and singed it,  I did. It was pitiful... I looked just like a smoking tiki torch wandering the house. For months where ever I went that smokey smell followed me. I shudder remembering those days. Must go now to write my Xmas list...chocolate mice, furry mice, mice with feathers, feathers with mice... the list is endless.......

Wed - the night has fallen and the little critters are coming out of the floorboards. Literally. We had one of those outside bugs make its way into the house through the den molding. Me and me cousins all stood around it and watched as it moved across the floor. Nobody wanted to touch it. It looked slimy and not very tasty. Finally little Gracie hit it real hard with her paw and it stuck to her claw. Her eyes went real, REAL Big and she just started to shake her paw in the air like it was on fire. HEE! HEE! She was hopping around on her back legs and hissing at it.  What a sight - a little black cat with a green thing stuck to her paw doing the Irish jig. Just needed a little beret to complete the picture.

I fell over I was laughing so hard. And it hurt 'cause I am a big guy.  Gracie is all of 5 lbs and is as tough as leather especially with the paper towel roll. Mom came and put the fire out by rescuing the green thing - a slug she called it.  Gracie was fine and needed some real long hugs before she sauntered through the house again. Just the thought of it makes me chuckle all over again.

Saturday - Rising from my nap I find a trail of kibble leading to the big cushion in the bedroom. Ahhh,smells like cookie crumbs - those little almond ones that my human likes with her tea at night. The wind is blowing outside so I shall investigate the windows. Something will be moving in the night......

Thursday and my human got a small box in the mail that smells remarkably like the Vet's office. I suspect she will be chasing me around tonight with that little white syringe. Its a good tasting vitamin tonic but I dont see the need. I eat all the kibble I can grab, help myself to the ice cream and chicken she is not fast enough to keep from me. I ask you... what more can a cat ask for ... velvet pillows, maybe?

Mr. Mac's Animal Care Diary

Tuesday - Another beautiful, crisp day in Big D. Must get one of the younger folk to help groom this long coat of mine. Perhaps a quick wash behind the ears before the human gets the detangler out. That thing hurts going over these old bones - Ouch! Although I must say I do cut a fine figure of a cat when she's done. Must find my pillow now and rest after my kibble...mmmm dreaming of the great mouse chases I've had...

Setting the Stage

I live in a Tudor bungalow and pretty much have my way with the residents. I am a long haired, big, orange man with soulful eyes that reflect red in the dark. Yep about 1 in 100 red cats have red reflective eyes. Did you know that 1 in 4 red cats are female. Pretty exclusive club. I am a complacent cat with white socks. The Japanese refer to white socks as "walking on snow". Yes, I am a stealth walker and do so enjoy surprising the younger members of the household when they get out of line. I have simple tastes... the best of everything especially roasted chicken, ice cream and butter on toast. Beware the distracted human. I can clear a piece of toast in less that 10 seconds and be back to snoozing under the lights as if nothing ever happened.