Our April Fool's Kitten Turns 17! Happy Birthday Powder!

I enjoy naps...and treats...and singing the song of my people...

So...I'm the senior member of this family and I take my position seriously. I know I've been the quiet one on this blog, but since I lost my sister Puff last December, I need to speak up a bit more. We all miss her very much. Puff and I had the same birthday, but today we'll celebrate my birthday solo and I plan on spending it doing anything I want. Last year the 'rents found out I have hyperthyroidism and now I take tasty chicken flavored medicine that helps me feel good. I still play, enjoy the 'nip and sitting on Mommy's lap whenever she tries to sit down.
I use to be an obsessive groomer, but I stopped doing that a few months ago. I also decided that Mommy isn't allowed to brush me anymore. So...clumpy mat city happened. Dr. Webster had to take the clippers to my back. I'm now sporting a reverse Mohawk. It's not a look that every kitty can pull off, but I do - I look great!

I thought I would post a blog from my sister Parker from 2007 to commemorate that great day I came into this world. Thanks for visiting everyone - be kind - purr more and hiss less!
Love,
Powder

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It's April Fool's Day and it's also the day in 1998 that my two calico sisters, Puff and Powder entered into this world. Born in a barn and destined to have a incredibly short, crappy life full of disease, hungry coyotes and extreme temperatures, these two gals hit the kitty jackpot. At the same time they were born Mommy and Daddy were getting ready to enter into wedded bliss and the only thing Mommy wanted for a wedding gift was a cat. Yup...one cat. Daddy already had a D.O.G. - a sweet guy by the name of Jordan. A Golden Retriever who was about the happiest, silliest canine around. So after the vows and the short, but very sweet honeymoon, Mommy and Daddy drove many, many miles into the flat and boring Southwest Kansas country for a calico (that was Daddy's only requirement).
They arrived at the farm and were directed to the barn. The people who lived there were not what you might call cat people. They were people who had cats in a barn. A lot of cats in the barn, an awful lot of cats in the barn! Mommy felt overwhelmed. Daddy searched till he found a little calico kitten who was busy chasing around with her littermates. He scooped her up, looked her over and called it good. Time to go, right? Well, not quite. Mommy had been looking around and noticed the ittyest, bittyest kitten (calico) in a bale of hay trying with all of her might to back her little butt into the hay so she wouldn't be noticed. This just made Mommy more determined to meet her and the closer Mommy got, the more this little ball of fluff burrowed and hissed and spit and hissed some more. Mommy was hooked by her determination. Daddy couldn't say no. So, in that awful barn in Kansas is where Mommy and Daddy started our little feline family. Puff and Powder got a great home, and as a result of them being incredibly cute and wonderful, more cats have been welcomed into this family, like ummmm - ME!
So Puff and Powder, thanks for not screwing things up for those of us who got to join you later. I hope we share the same food, bed, toys, windows, home and the love of our parents for many, many, many more birthdays to come. I really do love you more than tuna juice!

Weekend Plans

I have big plans this weekend. They involve the deck, some sun and shade and a lotta' nip. All kitties are welcome to come over and enjoy the weekend with me. I have to tell you, life doesn't get much better than this. So if you are in the mood for some fun and sun (and 'nip), you know where to find it - the big brick house in our little corner of O Hi O (I'll keep a blue eye out for you!).
Friday Smoochies!

The Rudy Report

Hi-Dee-Ho Kitties - it's me - RUDY! with your Rudy Report! It's been such a HOT Spring that we have been having to stay inside and dream about the deck. We only got out there one time. I nommed on some cat grass and took a big drink of water. Guess what happened about 5 minutes later? If you guessed that I yakked it all up at the bottom of the stairway, you win!  Mommy says that this week might be a little better, the hots might go away and we can get back on the deck. The sad part is that when the 'rents left us to go on vacation, the catnip plant on the deck bought the farm. Now we have to start all over again with a new 'nip plant. Sigh...
Mommy is still working with our little shelter, trying to raise money so they can offer more services to the great animals that are living there until they find their forever homes. She reminds all of us how lucky we are. So many kitties, so few homes.
I hope all of you have a great week. I am still fat and sassy, big and bad and hard to diaper and handsome as ever. Oh, and modest, very, very modest.
Keep those tails high kitties!

What Happy Looks Like...

...or what high on 'nip looks like...

The Rudy Report

Just waiting on dinner...hurry up!

Sanibonani kitties! It's me - RUDY! with your Rudy Report! What a week it was here! Puff and Powder are now officially teenagers and we had a great weekend celebrating their birthday. The actual day of their birthday was on Friday and we want to thank all of you who came over to help them celebrate. On that particular day, I did not feel as though I had a lot to celebrate. It started with the PTU making an appearance and from there things just went downhill for moi. Mommy stuffed me in the PTU and we headed down the road to visit Dr. Joe and Dr. Wendy. Now don't get me wrong, I love them both but I have seen enough of them to last a long, long time. I was overdue for my Rabies shot and my FeLV shot. I could not get them when they were due because I was still recovering from that awful, horrid, no good Hemobart. So into the room I went and I was treated like a rock star. Lots of the staff peeked their heads in to see me and they all remarked on how handsome and wonderful I looked. Both Dr. Joe and Dr. Wendy came in to check me out. You see, Dr. Joe is the guy who does the day-to-day Vet stuff and Dr. Wendy is the gal who does the surgery and critical care Vet stuff. Dr. Wendy wanted to see for herself how I had progressed. Let's check my weight first, shall we?

Crappy phone shot courtesy of Mommy

Holy Cod! 12.2 pounds! When I was sick, I was down to 7 pounds. My normal weight was about 11 pounds. So, I guess I showed that Hemobart where to go! Everyone was very pleased with that number. After the great weigh in, I was poked and prodded and they looked in every opening I had (geez!). My toofies are good, my ears are pretty clean, my ticker is fine and apparently my butt is pretty nice as well. Time for the shots. Dr. Joe first gave me a shot of cortisone behind my head so I would not be as sore. Then in one flank I had the Rabies shot and in the other flank I had my FeLV. Dr. Joe said that since I am an indoor-only kitty that I never have to have another FeLV shot again. Yay! I took my shots like a good mancat and never even flinched. After that I was more than ready to hop back into the PTU and head on home...

Open the door, will ya'?

So kitties, that was that. I hope I don't have to go back to see Dr. Joe and Dr. Wendy for a long, long time. I spent the rest of the weekend in laps and inhaling some 'nip leftover from the Calico's party. Not a bad way to recover from a trip to the Vet's.

Oh, one more thing. Lobster is good. Very, very good. You should try it if you get a chance. Where has it been all of my life?

Playtime in O Hi O

Nothin' like a Saturday afternoon with toys and some 'nip for the kitties. Diamond has his squeaky toy, Baby Dumbo, and the kitties have their 'nip toys. Life is good.

Don't Forget To Take Out The Recycling!

Never underestimate the powerful, lingering scent of catnip in an empty box. And always remember to thoroughly check the recycling bin before emptying!

The Return of Parker Pie!

Hi-ya!

I sure did miss everyone. It's been a very interesting few weeks here in O Hi O. Last you guys knew, the 'rents were on their way to a nice vacation at Lake Tahoe, we had our most favoriteist sitter coming to stay with us, we were holding a Happy Carrot Giveaway contest and our laptop seemed to be headed for that great recycle bin in the sky.

Let's start with the fun stuff - the giveaway! I had Mommy go to Random.org and pick a number between 1 and 46. She did as I asked and we came up with a winner - it was comment #8 and I am so pleased that the winner is three cool kitties from Minnie-soda! That's right, it's the Cat's Eye kitties - Theo, Diego-san and Thompson are going to be getting the coolest carrot in the Western hemisphere! That makes me happy because they look like the kind of guys who know how to appreciate a good 'nip carrot!

I think that's enough for today. But I do have a lot to tell you. A whole lot. Some of it is pretty funny, some of it not so much.

Later kitties, oh and here's a few smoochies for the weekend!  Smooch, Smooch Smooch!

ps - Sniffie - we're all praying very hard for you!

A Happy Carrot Giveaway!

Lookit' what I'm giving away!

This my dear kitties, is a Happy Carrot from Purrfectplay, my pals in Indiana that make organic toys that are fun and safe for us to play with. And it reeks (in a good way) of primo 'nip!!! Here's what they have to say about it -

"Lined with organic cotton canvas and covered with thick organic Colorgrown fleece, our 6 inch carrot contains over 1/2 cup of the finest organic catnip. Crafted right here in Indiana, it is crowned with floppy fun hemp cord "leaves". Durable and yummy, the Happy Carrot will bring many hours of happy play to your kitties. "

Sounds pretty cool, eh???

So, I was thinking, since the 'rents are leaving us on Friday for their stoopid vacation, I thought I'd have some fun here on the blog and host a giveaway. I like to keep things simple so all you have to do is leave a comment here and tell me you'd like to be entered in the drawing. But what I'd REALLY appreciate is for you to go and visit Purrfectplay, find them on Facebook, and tell them that Parker says "hi!" Would you do that for me? I haven't told them I'm doing this giveaway yet and the Mom 'rent is so busy I don't think she knows which end of me is up, so I'm not letting her pick me up - HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!

Oh - you know what else? I had to give up my laptop to the Laptop fixit guy again, so I will be without a computer for a little while. And a kitty without a computer is like, well...,a kitty that can't keep up with what's going on...I'll be back ASAP, OK? Meanwhile, leave a comment and go visit my buds at Purrfectplay!

I leave you with an old, but adorable photo of me...

...You're welcome!

Wordless Wednesday

'Nip Trip

I think I've been overserved! Our homegrown 'nip is potent!

Photo Hunt - Addiction

Well, this week's hunt was pretty much a no-brainer for us kittes at casa de O Hi O. This is our baby 'nip plant. It will feed our addiction all summer long! Roll 'em if ya' got 'em kitties!

Tummy and Toes For Tuesday

I realized that it been a long time since I have showed off my tummy and my toes. I apologize for the delay. The 'nip is an extra-value bonus. You're welcome.

Gosh, I'm cute.

Smoochies!

Blogpaws Photos

Mommy heads off with some help from her NUVI.

She gets there with no trouble and registers!

There is so much to see and to learn!

She loved this booth and all of the organic goodies - go visit, they are at Purrfectplay the lady was very nice and gave Mommy some 'nip and a wool ball to play with (that I LOVE!)

Gorgeous art was all over the convention!

Mommy went to some of the educational panels, this one was how to publish a book in a digital world. Very interesting. And there were dogs and cats in the audience! Mom thinks that next year they are going to have the gathering in Denver! Tomorrow I will show you some of the friends that Mommy met!

Thankful Thursday

I was thankful this weekend for the sun and the 'nip and a little furmination. Mommy was thankful for something else. I don't get it...

Wordless Wednesday

My Psycho Valentine...

Since Mommy was in the hospital on Valentine's day, I did not get to open my wonderful Valentine's gift from my hubba-hubba tabby lover Tripper. He sent me a 'nip rainbow and a 'nip heart from Siamese Rescue!

I really loved both 'nip toys and the sentiment on the heart says it all!

Tripper, thank you so much! Just like a Kewpee hamburger, you make my heart go flippity-flop!

How Puff Rolls...

Here is Puff enjoying a little sun and a LOT of 'nip. Her head is covered in it! It's just how she rolls...

ps - the annoying barking in the background is none other than Diamond!

Tattle Tail Tuesday

Last weekend was warm enough for all of us (except Powder) got to go out and enjoy the deck. Puff and I got furminated and as a reward we got a liberal dose of 'nip.

Mommy says she now knows where the term 'niphead originated.
Puff thought it was just like heaven must be!

I agree!

The Rudy Report

Hi there! Rudy here with the Rudy Report! While those silly siblings of mine got Furminated and enjoyed the process, I partook of the 'nip. They might all be a lot lighter, but I'm higher!!!

It was a wonderful weather weekend in O Hi O, the hots went away and we got mucho time on the deck. I have to say that Monday really has come too soon. Now Mommy has to go back to her crazy busy hunting place. Next week I heard the 'rents talking about her leaving us for another country! I know some of you kitties live in Canada, so you are going to need to keep an eye on her when she is there, OK?