Happy New Year!

     Time flies when you are having fun!  We didn't get on the blog to wish you a Merry Christmas and here we are...14 days into the new year.  There has been a lot going on to keep us busy.  I just wanted to take a minute to say Happy New Year and to let our readers know that we will be taking an extended break from blogging again.  Check back in about 6 months from now...

Cher

     The mother cat, Likes 'em Green, came bringing two kittens to our backyard.  Here, food was left out.  Mama and kittens came to eat only.  They never hung around.  Their presence was known to us, as we called the female kitten Cher and the male kitten Sonny.
     Sonny stopped coming.  Cher grew into an adult cat with kittens of her own.  She came to eat and she showed her control as she constantly fought with larger female cats.
     We never really got close to Cher and she was as wild as one gets.  That was until her last days.  Her last days came with much sadness.  It was during those last days that I was able to touch her slender, frail body.  What had happened to her?  We tried different attempts to save her, but nothing helped.  She continued to eat during those last days, though.
     Likes 'em Green, who had had many litters of kittens since Cher, brought her a mouse.  Out of sight, Cher took off with her mouse.  I guess a mother, even in the animal kingdom, never forgets her children. 
     Cher stayed around until her life ended.  Such a vibrant cat and to end at such a young age!  What killed her?  I could only guess.  But she, like so many I have seen come and go, has a special place in my heart.  She was a small cat with long black fur and she had her own personality.  She had come back to where she considered her home to die.  We buried her beneath the pear tree.  She will be remembered.

Happy Halloween!

     The National Retail Federation recently estimated 20 percent of Americans (that is 31.3 million people) plan to dress their pets in Halloween costumes this year.  Also according to the National Retail Federation, the most popular costumes for cats and dogs are #1 Pumpkin and #2 Hot Dog. 
     Whether you dress your pet up or not, remember to keep them safe during the holiday.  And give them lots of tasty treats (but no candy!)  Happy Halloween!

Tiger

And My Name Is

     Four indoor cats were rescued from outside.  The mother cat had left them in our garage.  They have now been with us for eight years.  We named them My-a, Bugs, Blossom, and Runtie.  We call each cat by their name when talking directly to one.  It's amazing to me that they indeed know their name.  The name we call has that cat running to us.  Of course, there are words they evidently know.  Scat is a good word you don't even have to say twice and off the table or where you want them gone from, they're gone.  Cats in their own way have no problem in understanding their owner.  I love all four of my cats.  I am not without sometimes referring to them as human.  Thank God for cats!

The Living Fly Swatter

     In my house, no plastic fly swatter is needed.  My cat, Mya, is a living fly swatter.  You let one pesky fly enter my house and he is history.  From one window to another, the race is on.  The cat jumps over furniture, etc until the pesky little creature is caught and eaten.  And people say cats aren't useful.  Mya is worth her weight in gold.
     That fly swatter hangs in a familiar place on a nail inside an entrance door.  It's just not needed.  But it remains in reserve in case Mya gets too old to chase flies.  Right now, she definitely earns her keep.

Taking a Break

     It has been such a pleasure writing for this blog every month.  However, we are going to be taking a break for awhile and hope to be back and writing for 2019.

UPDATE:  We will begin new blog submissions on July 1, 2018!