Take a moment

 If you have indoor-outdoor cats please take a moment to read this article. ttp://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/ottawa/Cats+Canada+biggest+bird+killers+says+Environment+Canada/8981176/story.html

I really enjoyed caring for little Rosie last week. I dropped in to dish out some 'stinky goodness' for her lunch each day. She is such a cuddle-bug and looked forward to our visits. "Hope to see you again soon, Rosie."

Next week I will continue to post  many different ways to keep our indoor-only cats happy and content. It really is up to the owner to make the house cat-friendly and interesting for our frisky felines.

Our little Gwyn is a month old now and doing so well. She is such a little doll.

There I go bragging again. :-|

Ruby and Hugo are heading home today. Audrey will watch Ruby leave and that will help her realize that she has actually 'left the building.'  Back to normal again.

hugs, Deb

Boxes

The retired guy..."Why is that box there?"
Deb..."Because we have cats."

Plain and simple. Cats love boxes. If you are looking for ways to make your indoor cats more content just bring home some boxes. They will make great use of them.

One of my favorite photos ever is this one of Ed and Sierra sharing a box.

2010

This Campbells Soup box became one of the favorite sleeping spots for these two felines. It didn't matter that there was a couch, chairs or cat beds close by. This box 'spoke to them'.

I have a habit of bringing in new boxes for the cats to try out. If they are shallow but long they seem to like to buddy-up in them. The shorter, deeper ones become a quiet place to have a snooze. Or, as you see here, Sierra plays in them. By the end of the day this box was in shreds.
Boxes don't last too long around here because Sierra personalizes each and every one until there is nothing left.

                                          Annie's favorite box

So throw a few boxes around and watch the fun. Before long they'll be worn out and snoring.

The rain has held off today but it is much cooler here now. It's time to pull on a sweater and enjoy the cool air.
While I type, Ruby and Audrey are lying exhausted on the office floor. They are funny cats as they play hard and still hiss at each other in the midst of it. I think they find it hard to believe that they are actually together again. Anyway, the house is rockin' and I'm here without a camera this weekend. You'll just have to believe me.

Off for a walk with Kane to kick some leaves around.

hugs, Deb

Pumped

Audrey is waiting for her sister to arrive.

"We're gonna shake this place up."

Ruby and Hugo are coming for a 'sleep-over' and she's feeling rather anxious. All her toys are in a basket and her ESS has been placed in the living-room. Her cat-house with all the bobbles that hang from it sits ready for some action. She is pumped and ready to play.
Me, on the other hand, have had to put away all breakables and nail everything else to the floor. These sisters get pretty rowdy when they get together although last time they spent most of the weekend chasing each other on the stairs.
I haven't even told Annie yet. Last time she just growled at her and had a look like "What in blue blazes are you doing back here?" I don't expect it will be any better tonight.

Speaking of sisters, a big "Happy Birthday" goes out to mine today. "Hope you had a great day,  Diane."


Have a great weekend, everyone. I'll be cat-sittin' & refereeing around here. And to top it off it is supposed to rain all weekend.  Fall is upon us.

hugs, Deb

Window seats for cats

Keeping our cats happy and content in our homes can sometimes be a challenge. If you live with a cat or two then you know that they can get into mischief if not kept entertained. It would be so easy to keep them amused if you just opened the front door and sent them out to play but that is not the life for every cat. With the busy streets, the loose dogs and other predators, cats are much better off to be spending their time indoors where they are safe and sound. You also might like to keep your local birds and squirrels safe from their claws.

I live with five cats. Two are geriatric, one a senior and two young ones. The two oldest cats, Ed and Lily, spend much of their time on our back deck in a yard that is fenced. They are far too old to jump it. Our senior cat, Sierra, sits on our front porch most mornings waiting for the mailman to arrive. He is covered in kisses when he finally departs. She has been content to stay on our porch or in our yard for ten years now. I trust her but keep a watch out for any changes in her habits. She does not bother the wildlife.

Our youngest two, Annie and Audrey are strictly indoor cats. It is because of these two scalliwags that I have to find ways to keep them happy and content inside.

The first thing I did when they arrived was to place window seats in certain windows.

 The windows were closest to our maple trees where the birds spent time and where the sun hit most afternoons. They love these windows and can be found lounging on their seats every day.

 You can place bird-feeders in the trees but to be honest, I never felt the need to. There was always plenty of action.

This window seat is on the second floor just over the shed roof. Audrey loves to sit there and watch the squirrels jump from the trees to the roof and back again. She also does a lot of snoozing here.

Another place that is perfect for a window seat or shelf with a cat bed would be at a ground-level window such as this one.

This is in a basement laundry-room and the cats can watch the squirrels running around the ground. It , too, provides great sun-puddles throughout the day.
Cat window seats can be purchased at most pet stores.

So this is my first suggestion for you if you are looking to make your home more entertaining for your kitties.
Forget placing plants on all window-sills. Pick the ones that suit the seats or shelves and make your cats' day much more fun and interesting so that kitty isn't bored out of her ever-lovin' mind.

More ideas coming.

hugs, Deb

Lola

Lovely Lola

                                  One of my favorite kitty-clients enjoying the early evening sun.

Please drop over to http://godslittlepeople.blogspot.ca/ to meet Joan and Rebecca and see the wonderful work they do to rescue home-less cats in Greece.
hugs, Deb

If you can...

Please take a moment today to pop over to http://godslittlepeople.blogspot.ca/ to read about the rescue of three little kittens from a dump.

It is a heart-warming story and Joan & her friend, Rebecca have been rescuing homeless cats for years now and they are reaching out for our help.  I have been following Joan's blog for two hears  and I am amazed at the kindness, compassion & commitment this woman has for these cats.  Take a few moments to read her blog and please donate if you can.

hugs, Deb

Tea-time Tuesday

While Audrey watched the leaves fall from our huge maple tree

I poured myself a cup of pumpkin orange tea in my favorite Fall tea-cup.

I added honey so a plain tea cookie is just fine.

This is a delicious loose tea

Pretty, isn't it?

and I used my favorite cream-coloured tea-pot

Steaming hot

and just a teaspoon of honey added. It really hit the spot. Before I left to do the afternoon rounds I drank half the pot. The house smelled of orange cinnamon clove from my candle and the sun streamed through the dining-room windows.

Yes, October is here and I welcome it with open arms.

I'm joining Sandi at http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.ca/for Tea-time Tuesday.

hugs, Deb