Formerly Feral Friday - Not Happy...

Hey kitties. You know what? Next week at this time the 'rents will be over a thousand miles from O Hi O. And me? I will be stuck here with my sibs and a sitter. This sux. Why do they need a vacation? Aren't I a daily vacation? I mean...well...just look at all this cuteness!

Thursday 13 - Thoughts and Things To Be Thankful For

#1 - They're Home!

Mommy and Daddy came home safe and sound yesterday. That's the very best thing to be thankful for today!

This is a picture Mommy took coming in to Chicago. It made me start to wonder - how many kitties live in Chicago?? All those big, tall buildings! There must be a squillion kitties in every one of those buildings! Whew! (That's # 2).

#3 - This beautiful necklace was waiting for Mommy in the mail. She ordered it from Artsy Catsy. The kitty on the necklace looks an awful lot like me. I am honored that Mommy wants something hanging around her neck that looks like me! (That's #4) She already has me on her purse. She got a cell phone charm from Artsy Catsy last year that has my face on it (it's very itty bitty, so it's hard to take a picture of that you can see!) I'm happy that Mommy also wants me hanging around on her purse. (That's #5)

Then I heard this news from Victor Tabbycat: Oh my Bast! I just readed the most HORRIBLE story! Does anyone know if we can do ANYFING? Town Puts $5 Bounty on Feral Cats Who can we contact? I don't even have words in my vocabulary that describes how sad this makes me. Are there really humans that are this cruel? I asked Mommy to send an e-mail to the town's council people and she did. You should get your humans to send an e-mail telling them how you feel about it - if you go here you can do that. And here's what I'd like to send the Mayor and Council of Randolph, Iowa:

(only it would be the real thing!)

(that's #6)

# 7 & #8 - We have two new members in our family! They are of the feline persuasion, and they are larger than me. I am going to introduce them tomorrow. AND there is going to be a contest. Come back tomorrow for the introduction and the details!

#9 - It has been sunny here in O Hi O for the last 2 days. Some of the snow is melting and oh boy, have we ever been taking naps in the sunny spots! I am very thankful for the sun. I almost forgot how wonderful it is!

#10 - We only yakked 3 times for our sitter! I'm thankful that she said she'd come back and watch us anyway! We were all very well-behaved! She said so! Yup! We were!

#11 - Mommy and Daddy have no plans to go away again for a long time. I'm really thankful about that! It's very stressful when they both go away!

#12 - Mommy thinks that I should wear my John Deere cap for St. Patricks Day. I am thankful that she's kidding (I hope!)

#13 - I saved the most important thought for last. Petey the best boy-cat in the world was lovingly helped to the Bridge yesterday by his humans. Petey fought lymphoma, went into remission, but sadly it returned. It made my Mommy and Daddy's eyes leak a great deal when they read the news while they were in Chicago and it broke my little kitty-heart when they told me about it. Petey's humans said this about Petey and how we should remember him:

Petey went with grace, dignity, and calm. He was truly ready and it lightens my heart to know he’s somewhere where there’s endless bacon, big puddles of sunshine perfect for napping, toys to play with, big cats to pester, and no more pain.
The kind, loving messages you sent throughout this journey, but especially last night, helped me stay strong for Petey.
I will be forever grateful for your love and support.
Please hug your kitties extra hard for me, raise a glass to toast the Best Boy in the World, and eat more bacon! Petey would have wanted it that way.

So Petey, we did.

Smooches to you, and to every kitty...

Thursday Thirteen - Things you can tell NBC

This is the character "Dwight" from the NBC show The Office. Mommy loved watching this show, but she missed it last week. We learned from Mr. Hendrix that part of the plot involved Dwight killing his girlfriends cat. Not funny. Not funny at all. I would like to suggest thirteen things that we should tell NBC about that type of "humor." If you would like to contact them, click on the The Office link I have in the first sentence and scroll to the bottom of the page. Find the link that says "contact us" and let them know that you don't think it's funny to make jokes about killing kitties. Here are my thirteen suggestions -

• 21% of U.S. households have at least one cat. Don't make us mad!
• The number of pet-owning households is expected to grow nearly 12% between 1993 and 2000, and another 5% between 2000 and 2010. Don't make us mad!
• 34% of cat-owning households have incomes of $60,000 or more. Don't make us mad
• 32% of those who own their own home, also own at least one cat. Don't make us mad
• Each year Americans spend four billion dollars on cat food. That's one billion dollars more than they spend on baby food. Don't make us mad!
• In an average year, American cat owners spend $2.15 billion on cat food and $295 million on kitty litter. Don't make us mad!
• There are more than 70 million pet cats in the U.S. Don't make us mad!
• United States pet owners will likely spend more than $40 billion in 2007 on pet-related expenses, including food, accessories, veterinary care and gifts, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. Don't make us mad!
• Demand a plot line where Dwight has a change of heart and becomes a volunteer at a shelter.
• Tell NBC that by making light of killing a cat, they are condoning animal abuse
• Tell them that you are going to write letters to the ASPCA, PETA, and the HSUS letting them know that NBC thinks killing cats is a funny plot line.
• Tell them that you are going to tell everyone you know that they should not watch The Office because they think cat killing is a funny plot line.
• Tell them that they should apologize for the poor choice that they made in allowing such an awful plot to air on their network.

Since big advertisers pay attention to dollars, it wouldn't hurt to send letters to pet product companies as well. Let them know that NBC should NOT condone this type of "comedy." There is nothing funny about harming or killing an animal. Period.

Thank-you in advance for taking action kitties. Now I am off to write a lot of e-mails...

All I Have To Say This Weekend Is I Love You And Miss You

In Remembrance of
Anastasia, Oscar the Puppy Cat, Ubee, Paul, Taboo, Sundance, TeaCup Zephaniah, Biscuit Sinatra (still missing), Elijah Bob (still missing), Jack Skellington (still missing), Echo Baby, Captain Kitty, Abby, Jetta, Whiskers, Brendan, Moxie, Ariel and Buzzerbee.
Much love, purrs and thanks to Kashim and Othello for the lovely graphic.

Formerly Feral Friday - Another Reason I am a Lucky Cat

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=260959@kshb.dayport.com

Please click and watch the above video. I cannot believe that people who have no hearts or souls can walk the earth. Mommy talked to the lady in the video (her friend Jenny) and the kittens are already in foster care. They have little kitty colds, but other than that, are fine. They are friendly, not the least bit scared of people. The Wayside employee who saw it happen did not get the license plate of the vehicle 'cause she was so focused on the kennel that was thrown. I personally hope that Karma comes and whaps these people upside their head like an angry, hungry tiger.
Being formerly feral, I know that I lucked out. These kittens had a rough start too, and with all of the media attention, chances are good that they will be adopted.
So, everykitty, I know I say this a lot, but go and give your human(s) a headbump and a purr. We are fortunate to have humans who care about us.
That is all I have to say about this terrible situation.

Wishful Wednesday

Daddy took some photos of my sister Puff enjoying the warm weather. We know that they aren't award winning photos, but Mommy cherishes seeing her babies when she is on the road, so to her, they are priceless. Mommy also said that our family is so lucky to be able to take photos of our family whenever we want when there are families who lost that opportunity yesterday. Our hearts, prayers and purrs go out to the families and friends of the victims of the massacre at Virginia Tech. God's love and mercy be with you all.

Sad, Senseless, Sorry and Sorrowful