Why we love our cats! Valentine's Day Special Giveaway

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I've been through the major cats in my life. There is my cat when I was a baby that I barely remember and two cats we had to rehome (not for this thread and 9 years later I still regret. No need to comment, I beat myself up enough for that without help). There is my sisters cat too but he is more distant though very special.

This entry is going back to Link and Rocket. My little guardians making sure I am where I should be. I went to the drive in this past weekend and their response to me being late was to trap me in bed so I didn't get any silly ideas about staying up.

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So this post is to express my love for my snuggle buddies. Always looking out for me and keeping me where I belong.

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Today is dedicated to the cat in my avatar, Neely.  She was an owner surrender at the shelter and her name was Precocious.  That should have been my first clue, lol. View media item 404469
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And last but not least, I loved how she would guard the front door

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She's sassy.  Very much her own person.  Rules my house with an iron paw.  

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"Ai Has A Suspicious!"

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This post is for my angel kitty Kiki. She was mine from the day I met her. She had been dropped off at the shelter with her six kittens. She let me handle the babies and purred for me. We fostered Kiki and the kittens, we had six kittens in my kitchen for 13 weeks until we returned the kittens to be adopted out.
She became a lap kitty, and learned that she didn't need to attack the yarn I crochet with. I lost her just 9 days ago. Still hurts and I miss her at night when she would have tucked me in at night.View media item 404493

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Murphy is the snuggliest kitty ever.  He likes to be held like a baby and he has to be loved and snuggled and hugged or he doesn't know what to do.  He also really loves to bury his face in my hair.  I'm worried about leaving him for a week to go to Texas.  John will be here, but it's not the same.  Murphy's a mama's boy.

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Luna came into my life only four days after my dad passed away two weeks ago today. Plans were already made to take her in only a few days before.

Just like my father's passing was sudden, so was finding out from my daughter that she had a friend who could no longer care for Luna and that she needed a home. I took Luna in because I had been toying with the idea of adopting a cat for a couple months. My daughter's cat, my grand-cat, is a fur baby I absolutely adore and my daughter has been pushing me to adopt my own cat-baby.

Luna was understandably skittish the first few days with me and my other daughter but, after I returned from my father's services later in the week she slept with me ... and on me!  Luna sensed my sadness and heavy thoughts and I have discovered she is a truly sweet and sensitive soul.

Whenever I have a moment of sadness she pounces on the sofa as if she knows I need a flash of joy and fun!  Luna has comforted me more than I probably realize. In such a short period of time caring for and interacting with Luna has allowed me to stay in the moment. 

Luna reminds me that happiness is the best medicine to combat sorrow and her coming into my life will always connect her to my father.  

I love her so much more than I can express here. 

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This one goes out to Ash. He lived with me (well my brother and his wife did so Ash was with them) for 5-6 years before they got their own place 2.5 years ago. When they moved out they got a dog and Ash took off for a month but he came home and hasn't shown any signs of wanting to leave since (even though there are now two large dogs in the home). Ash is the most mellow and confident cat you will ever meet. No joke.

When Ash lived at our house he would take naps right in the middle of a yard sale. Just sprawl out on a pile of clothes, a table of nick-knacks or where ever looked good to him. If someone wanted whatever he was on they would frequently ask us to move him because he would crack an eye at them before falling back asleep. He used to watch over my niece (he is only 6 months younger than her) as she took baths and would come get us when she needed something. When my brother and his wife have parties (loud with bounce houses and kegs) he will just meander through the crowd or hang out in the house somewhere. Their last big party someone came running out of the bathroom freaked out because the "giant cat" was staring him down when he tried to use the bathroom, lol. At quieter get together's at their home Ash will just chill on the couch or demand someone get out of his way so he can reach his food dish on a shelf above the couch (away from the dogs) or demand the door be opened so he can go out. Ash has converted a few of my brothers friends into cat people and convinced my sister-in-laws best friend to get a kitten just by being him. 

The only time I haven't seen Ash completely at ease with everything was when my brother first moved out and Ash stayed with us for 3 weeks while they got the new place set up. He was so depressed missing my sister-in-law. 

During the days he visits his adopted family; my brothers neighbors. They home school their kids on their enclosed patio and Ash frequently hangs out on their wall under the avocado tree watching their lessons. If they are late starting class he will yell at them in the house to get out to the patio. He has adjusted to the dogs and swipes at them if they try something. Sometimes the female (who was a puppy when they got her, the male was an adult) will try to chase him across the yard. That usually results in a yelling from my brother and later a swipe on the nose from Ash. The male dog has pretty much accepted Ash and doesn't cause problems. In fact, the male dog seeks out Ash when he gets scared to cuddle up against. Ash's strong streak does have its downside of a lot of fighting with neighborhood cats; luckily he is large enough to win most of the time as no other cats have been seen around the house since they moved in.

I love how mellow Ash is. I love how dedicated he is to his family. I love how he is always true to himself and a steady presence in their lives. He is a real cool cat and I love him for it. I do miss having him around our house; although he didn't really interact with the other cats. But I know he is happier with my brother and his family, even if it means living with two large dogs. 

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Entry:    One reason that I love my cat so much is that when i am out and come home she'll stand outside the door for me, and greet me, often by meowing "hello" with nearly perfect pronounciation, no less!

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This is for one of my current furbabies -- Trina. She came as a stray from our friend. He would have kept her except he already had 6 cats.
She's very mellow, and purrs whenever we pet her. She's helping with getting past Kiki's loss. Her eyes are nearly gold, not just yellow. We just love her distictive tabby pattern. We think she's just about 1 year old now
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She's demanding.  She insists that I do what she wants, when she want.  And yes, that's one of the reasons I love her!  She's so funny when she decides it is time for me to come to bed.  She sits in the bedroom door and YOWLS till I give up and turn the television off!

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"AI am teh BOSS obs dis howse!"

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I seldom write about my precious persian kitten, Gizmo, he was taken too young at the tender age of only 3 y.o.  It's difficult for me to talk about him without tearing up. View media item 404700

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why I love Rascal


Rascal is the essence of cat. He is proof that cats have been worshipped as gods. He doesn't mind being worshipped, now, he is used to it. Rascal is no lap cat, far from it. He will use teeth and claws liberally to emphasize a point. He is also fearless, and has been seen chasing away a deer and a small dog attempting to poop into my sister's yard.

(He stopped wearing a bell long ago, because he could walk soundless even with a bell, and I thought I would go mad if I had to wear one myself all the time. But I still like this picture.)

He appeared one day ten years ago when I, then catless, had put the leftovers of a roasted chicken outside to feed the wildlife (do not attempt to try this at home. Cooked bones are dangerous for cats). He started to come by, looking for food. It got cold and wet, and he didn't have any other place to spend the night. My landlord found out, and we had to move. We have moved twice since. Rascal wasn't neutered, so I took care of that, but have never told him. His main occupation is hunting gophers - he likes his prey to be of a certain size to be worth the effort - and ruling his territory. One glance is enough to get every neighborhood cat out of his way, watching warily, and any who doesn't will risk a beating. Rascal is an absolute ruler of at least two blocks.

Last December he got overconfident and was attacked by what was probably a raccoon. The vet didn't notice most of the damage and treated one abscess two weeks before Christmas, leading me to believe it was fine for me to leave the cats to a sitter over the holidays and travel to a different continent. Only at Christmas two other abscesses broke open. Rascal got emergency surgery to remove necrotic tissue, and I stopped my vacation short to come back and take care of him. Signs of Rascal not being well: he acts like your lap cat. Signs of Rascal feeling better: he sinks his teeth into your leg since you didn't understand the message that he needs to go outside.

He spent a month locked in my bedroom, recovering. He had a third of his body shaved. The hair has started to grow back, and he is back to both his old self and to liberally using the cat door again. I cannot contain him, not when he is well. But I can worship him, and I do.

ENTRY--This is about Asia. Asia is a regal kitty, an excellent huntress, and loves being groomed--by anyone but me. (Apparently I just don't comb her right.) She's sweet, affectionate, and aside from one teensy little incident earlier in the winter (where she was bullying Princess), very well behaved. She has perfect lady manners, and when she wants out she will come up to one of us and gently pat our knees. (If we don't move fast enough, the claws start to come out; the longer she waits the deeper they dig. 
She's also very smart. She figured out before any of the other cats that the little red dot that sometimes appears is controlled by the humans. Who doesn't love a kitty that's smart?

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Mickey never meows.  I don't think I've heard him meow even once.  He purrs and he chirps.  If you pet him, he'll give a chirp, roll onto his back, and purr his way through all the belly rubs we have to give.  When he wants attention, he follows you around and jumps up and wraps his legs around your leg in a hug.  He'll do it again every time you take a step until you pick him up and give him loves.

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I am dedicating this post to my cat, Mittens.

Several months after the loss of my Mickey, I adopted Shadow. He immediately made himself at home. He was never scared or frightened, and wanted to explore the whole house. I tried giving him his own space with his own room, but that is not what he wanted. Since I had no other pets,I let him do as he pleased. Within two days,it was as if he was always here.
Now while I knew Mickey loved being the only kitty, it was different with Shadow. I could tell while he loved his new family, he would like a kitty friend. After lots of thinking,I decided to get another kitty. I could certainly love another kitty, and hopefully Shadow would be happy.
Now enter Mittens. I went to the same place I adopted Shadow from and asked their opinion on who would make a good match for Shadow. They recommended this beautiful but quite shy orange and white cat.They were close in age and both male. They felt Shadow would make him feel comfortable, as Shadow is very outgoing.
So, I took Mittens home two days later.
He was the opposite of Shadow. He welcomed his own room and loved to sleep in the carrier. Shadow could sense another cat in the home and wanted so much to be Mittens friend.
I took things slow, as Mittens wanted nothing to do with Shadow. I felt bad for Shadow, but even more so for Mittens. He kept hiding in the room anytime I entered. He would be out and then run into the carrier. He acted like he had never seen a toy before, the poor thing. Luckily he was eating fine and using the litter box. All he needed was time.
About one month later, he was playing with all his toys and welcoming Shadow's friendship.
Both cats are now best friends and act like true brothers. Shadow stands around and acts like Mittens protector.
If Mittens makes a little sound, Shadow comes running to be sure Mittens is fine. So very sweet and precious!
Both my babies love their new home and family and we sure love them!

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The first two pictures are from when he first came home, scared and hiding in the carrier.
Just look at how comfortable he looks now.
Lastly, my two loved babies together, so happy and so very loved!

ENTRY--Today is for Spot, my cuddle buddy. He always knows when I need a kitty cuddle and will jump in my lap (and sometimes will jump in my lap even if I don't need a cuddle 
This was taken right after I got my first pair of fuzzy pajamas. He was a little wary at first, because he'd never seen anything like them before, but then he decided he needed a cuddle anyway--which is why he looks so uncertain in this picture.

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Baby Link was the cutest little bugger you ever did see (yes, I am biased of course). The moment I got him home I put him on the floor and he immediately jumped on a sparkly puff ball that was near him. At the time he was so tiny that he was able to wrestle with the puff ball. Not even phased by being in a new home or our 2 hour drive home from where he was before. Link was just a tiny ball of fluffy energy. He lived solely in my room during the day for the first 2-3 months and would come out to join the rest of the family in the evenings (he was tiny and fast, we didn't want him to get stepped on or dart out a door). Every morning I would play with him before work, every evening I would sit on the floor and be his human jungle gym. I have so many pictures and video of him. I loved watching him play and tumble across the floor.

One time he was in a bowl chasing his tail around and around, then the bowl tipped over and he looked so confused. So he pounced on the top of the now upside down bowl like it was the bowls fault and promptly slide to the ground. Where he licked his tail indigently before attacking the bowl again. Even thinking about it now makes me chuckle. I honestly had never had a kitten with such and endless stream of energy. He was either full tilt playing or passed out sleeping. Luckily, he learned my schedule pretty quickly and would sleep when I did at night. 

I should have known then that Link would never slow down. He is now almost 3 (his birthday is late February/early March) and he is still a ball of energy. He is a smidgen bigger though causing a minor stampede when he races from one end of the house to the other. He still only has two modes; on or off.  I miss the tiny puff ball days but seeing his as a handsome adult is also a joy. I love my Link, always making me smile.  





Don't worry, he didn't go outside alone until he was much older. The outdoor photos were me taking photos of him on Easter morning, I have some of him in an Easter basket and with eggs. I let him walk around after I finished with the basket and eggs because he seemed interested in exploring.

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One thing I love about Freya, is, unsurprisingly, how sweet she is. She's never hissed at any one in her life, and only growled once ( and that was at the when the vet tech was putting her into the cone of shame when she was still groggy from her  spaying surgery. I heard it, an said, "that's a new sound for you, kitty..." and the vet tech stared at me slack jawed. "she's never growled before?", to which I responded, "No, never."

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There she is all calm and relaxed gazing at me sleepily as she lays on my bed.

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LOL...I am limiting her Temptations, and she gets so disgusted!  She'll come and ask for them, and when I say, "NO...it's too soon!" she lays back her ears, calls me a dirty word, and stalks off!  I can't help laughing over it.

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why I love Grisou


Grisou is the only cat I actually went out to get, because I needed a playmate for the Rogue. He had been born feral and then rescued from people thinking it would be fun to have a hungry pitbull eating a litter of feral kittens. He is the soul of a cat everyone wants: he will start purring whenever I pick him up. He will sit on top of me whenever he can. He comes when I call him. He brings me great gifts that he dragged from a long way through the cat door into the kitchen, and so we even had Frederick the mouse survive for two days under the appliances. He is a big game hunter. He also looks like a potbellied pig. When he is hungry, he likes to follow me around like a puppy, and needs to be picked up and sit down in front of his food. He prefers being hand-fed, but I prefer him being grown up and eating by himself.


Two years ago, being severely bullied by the Rogue, he stopped coming home. I was going door-to-door talking to neighbors who claimed to have seen him, getting desperate, when a week later he returned as if nothing happened. Both he and the Rogue were put on anti-depressants, which helped a lot. Grisou started defending himself. He also started curling his tail. The medications have long stopped now, the Rogue is gone were warriors go, but Grisou still likes to curl his tail. It is not injured. It will straighten when hanging down a cat tree or slipping through the cat door. He just likes it curly. He got a little potbelly to go with it.

Grisou was the first one to sense the Rogue was dying. I didn't know. The vets didn't know. Grisou stopped eating in mourning for the last few of the Rogue's days, and I was trying to syringe feed both of them. Thankfully Grisou is behaving like a stuffed animal once picked up. He will wriggle and bite my nose when he has enough.  But I can pick him up anytime and breathe into his fur and be thankful to have him. He will then purr. He will always purr. I love him so very, very much.