Category Archives: animals

Another 4th of July

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4th of July

Another 4th of July is in the books. Happy Birthday America. I’m proud and happy to be an American but I don’t like  our celebrations. It is my least favorite holiday for that.  I don’t ever remember being really thrilled with fireworks even as a kid. They are loud and hurt my ears but at least I grew up in the country where you could put some distance between you and ground zero.  They are pretty to watch after all.  But then I got pets and moved to the city. Such fun, if you are a sadist, watching your beloved fur babies shiver and cower behind and under your furniture.

photo credit Deb Neumann

 

Banner

Banner is my calm boy. He handled this years Fireworks like a champ. We started out with a tremendous thunder and lightening storm in the afternoon. Mother Nature’s fireworks setting the stage for the evening. The rain came down in buckets. Banner snoozed through most of it but Balboa was gone in a flash.  When the rain finally let up and the neighbors started with the fire crackers Banner sat peacefully at the sliders and kept watch. The noise didn’t seem to bother him at all. 

photo credit DebNeumann

 

Balboa

Balboa is the perfect example of a ‘fraidy cat.  He went into hiding during the storm and I couldn’t even find him to feed him dinner.  I shook the treat jar and Banner was there in a flash but no sign of Balboa.  

As it began to get dark and the booms louder I closed up the windows and doors and put the A/C on.  I turned up the volume on the TV. It wouldn’t drown out the Fireworks but if would muffle it a bit.  I hoped that would calm my skittish kitty but no luck.

photo credit Deb Neumann

 

There’s our ‘fraidy Cat

Finally around 10 pm Balboa popped out from behind the dishwasher . He wouldn’t leave the kitchen. He would come up to the edge of the linoleum  and then sit down. He wouldn’t come into the living room for anything – even treats. But Banner went nuts. If I had any doubt that these cats had bonded this put those doubts to rest. 

Banner immediately started talking to Balboa. Lots of little chirps and merps then he got the zoomies. He raced back and forth from the living room to the bedroom and back swinging right up to Balboa on each pass. It was clear that he was trying to get Balboa to play. He might have succeeded eventually if right about then another big fireworks  hadn’t gone off. Boom! And Balboa was gone- back behind the dishwasher. 

Photo Credit DebNeumann

Around midnight I felt a bump on the bed and Balboa curled up next to me. All was quiet and dark and once again all is right in my little scaredy cat‘s world.

photo credit Deb Neumann

Rain and Kitty observations

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Rain Rain Go Away

I saw this post on Facebook and I had to laugh. It took me back to one of my Hawaii trips. It was to the Big Island where I was going diving with Manta Rays.

May be an image of 3 people, people swimming, pool and text that says 'After seeing a group of people in a pool, huddled together under an umbrella to stay dry, I understand why Aliens don't visit us. AMERICASBESTPICS'

I was at the boat launch for the Manta Ray dive chatting with the dive master when it started to rain. It was just a few sprinkles , no thunder or lightening.  One of the other divers interrupted us to point out it was raining and ask if we were still going to have the dive. She was concerned about getting wet in the rain.  I managed not to loose it before she walked away. 

Manta Ray

internet photo

The Perversity of Cats

Banner and Balboa get along good for the most part. One of Balboa’s many nicknames is ALB (Annoying Little Brother). Banner is about 2 months older than Balboa and was the first one added to the household. He is amazingly patient with Balboa but everyone gets pushed to the limit sometimes. 

Balboa has to have attention all the time. If not from me he goes looking for Banner. Banner spends a lot of time in the bathroom sink since there’s only room for 1 there.

Photo Credit Deb Neumann

Let me give you an example. Balboa was asleep on my lap and Banner was sleeping in the Kitty Condo on the new cat tree. I had to get up and that disrupted Balboa so he went looking for Banner. When he found him in the kitty condo he began to inch his way in too. Not much room for both but Banner didn’t fight with him. Instead he wrapped his paws around him and started a crowded grooming session.

Banner & Balboa 2023 Photo Credit Deb Neumann

One More Of the Kitties

Another grooming session. You can see how much bigger Banner is than Balboa here but a lot of it is fur. Banner has a thicker coat that my Persian cat had. We are constantly brushing and combing to keep his coat from matting or him getting hairballs. That’s how he earned his nickname of Fluffy Butt. 

Photo credit Deb Neumann

 

 

Can’t see the Forest for the Cat Trees

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More Cat trees

Getting the new cat tree put together ( finally) was a great move on my part. It is a major hit with both kitties. The chair scratching problem is almost gone. The only drawback is that the both want to sit on the same platform or sleep in the same kitty condo at the same time so there is some kitty bickering going on. I should have gotten a cat tree with 2 kitty condos.

 

I think the funniest thing is when Banner spreads out on the next to the top platform so Balboa can’t get to the high one without stepping on him.  It usually ends in a little spat before Banner lets Balboa pass.

Banner- photo credit Deb Neumann

 

Cat Tree- Photo Credit Deb Neumann

 

All this interaction  gave me the brilliant idea to get a cat tree for the bedroom. Maybe a bedroom cat tree would solve Banner’s tendency to serenade me morning and night. Keep him from getting bored while I sleep.

A Tree for the Bedroom

Considering what I learned from the Livingroom tree, I ordered a cat tree with 2 kitty condos this time.  “We” spent yesterday morning assembling the whole thing. I had lots of help from 2 excited kitties. The first thing you do is put the condo sections together.  They were checked out as soon as I put them on the floor. That’s a good sign. 

Bedroom Cat Tree- Photo Credit Deb Neumann

The Bedroom cat tree is as big a hit as the living room was and the dual kitty condo works great. So far minimal spats. I must admit that all of this in my bedroom is making me feel like a “hoarder” but if it keeps peace in the family it’s worth it.

Last night was quiet except for some tinkling bells around 3 am when Balboa got up to play with the dangly things for a little while. Both kitties are fascinated by the hammock but neither are brave enough to try it out. Banner got stuck in the round hole when he tried to climb through. His head fit fine but his fluffy butt was just too big! Don’t worry,  we got him free. 

Where have I been?

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Where Have you been?

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Sorry I neglected to write a post last week. I wish I could say it was because I was out doing fun and exciting things but my Cats have been monopolizing my time. I think I’ve convinced Banner to skip the night time lullaby but now he’s extended his morning symphony to  start at 4 AM. And he doesn’t stop! I’m trying to ignore him hoping he gets bored or tired and stops when he doesn’t get any attention. It’s not working.

 

5 Common Cat Sounds and What They Mean - FetchFind Blog

photo credit – internet

Nighttime Ritual

Once I had Banner on silent mode I thought I would get a good night’s sleep but now Balboa has developed a strange habit. He has to sleep curled up under my chin. He’s an 11 lb. cat, not a tiny kitten! He gets in bed once I’ve settled in, unusually almost asleep. He hops up and if I am not in the right position to suit him he stares at me, pushes my face with his paws and finally tried to stretch over me. I have to give in and give him room to get comfortable or no sleep for me. Its nice that he is so loving but seriously? 

photo credit- Deb Neumann

 

The worst part…if I have to get up at all during the night we have to go through it all again. I hate to say it but I’m getting tired. Is this what it’s liked to be loved to death?

So Where Have I been?

I’ve been taking a lot of naps. Not on purpose. I’ve just found that thanks to my furry little friends and my interrupted sleep  I can drop off almost as soon as I get up. Feed the little buggers, change the litter , fix my breakfast and boom! I’m down for the count. Needless to say I’m not getting a lot done. I’m so glad my lifestyle allows me to do this even if it makes for boring blog posts! 

 

 

Take A Nap! 5 Secrets That'll Make You Happier And Smarter - Barking Up The Wrong Tree

Internet photo

 

Cat Trees and Me

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Another Cat Tree

I don’t know if you remember but when I got my 2 little hellions I also set up a brand new cat tree for them. Within in months Balboa took a flying leap from the back of the chair to one of the top seats and crack! Broke it right off!  It was bad enough that I never got the stupid thing together right so it was missing a “condo” and had a tilt, like the leaning tower. It was the cat tree version of a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.

photo credit Deb Neumann

 

Of course I immediately bought another one but then it sat in a box for close to a year. In case you didn’t notice, I’m not very good at putting cat trees together.  Needless to say that old lopsided cat tree was really starting to look ragged. 

photo credit Deb Neuman

Construction time

I’m blaming it on spring cleaning. I needed to have my old bed frame removed so I called a local company I’ve used before and figured I’d have them take the old cat tree too. Once that was done I needed to put the new cat tree together quickly before I had a fuzzy critter revolt.

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photo credit Deb Neumann

 

I had a rough start getting the right poles set in the right places on the base but once that was done it went pretty smooth until I got the 2nd level added. Then I got help- unwanted help. Notice Balboa’s eyes. Those are the eyes of insanity!

 

photo Credit- Deb Neumann

There are still more levels to go!

Done!

It took about 3 hours especially with all of the help but I’m glad they were interested. I didn’t even have to use catnip to encourage them. Banner likes the little condo but Balboa is the King of the hill. He has to take the tippy top. 

photo credit Deb Neumann

This deluxe cat tree has 2 dangling toys and one rope. I wonder how long the dangling toys will last? I think they put them on to make the owners happy. Every cat I’ve ever owned makes that their first mission- to destroy the dangly things.