Relax, let go...

There aren't many cats that would lie around a house in this position with a 3 year old and an 11 month old romping around. This is our grand-kitty Ozzie. When this guy's tired he doesn't give two hoots what is happening around him. He just zones out.
We could all take a lesson from this guy to just relax, let go and trust that all will work out.

Cat tip-for-the-day=^..^=another cheap toy
You know I'm always trying to save you some money so here is another very cheap toy you can make for your cat.
I don't have photos for this one but here's what you do.
Drop in to your local thrift shop and pick up some baby socks for .25 - .50 cents a pair.
Fill the toe with dried catnip that sells at most pet stores for a couple of dollars a tub.
Tie the top tight with a short piece of raffia.
Throw on floor.
Enjoy the show. You can get a year's worth of cat toys out of one tub of cat-nip.

hugs, Deb

Meet my charges

Emmi & Didi

Bud

Ripley

Nico

Freya

                                                       Toby

Smudge   

                                                   

Zoie & Penny

Teddy

Cortez

Rosie

Meet some of my weekend charges. Funny word..'charges'. They are all just beautiful cats to me.
We are having Fall-like weather and being outdoors for any reason is spectacular. It has been around 23 with a cool wind. Kane has been able to come along in the car the last few days while I cat-sit. Windows down, cool breezes and country smells. He loves it. I just park him in a shady spot and he snoozes away.  I've been so busy I haven't told you that Kane turned 13 last week.

Yes, he was pampered with a special dinner & ice-cream. Spoiled rotten is more like it. I'll get back to him in another post.

I am down to 5 cats to provide care for today instead of  17. It was a wild and crazy weekend for cat-sitting but so much fun, nonetheless. I cuddled tabbies, tuxedos, black beauties, wonderful whites & calicos.

I have the best job ever, me thinks.

                                                Bud-love
hugs, Deb

TLCC all around

                               Tender-lovin' Cat-care 

Well, that was probably the busiest weekend for cat-sitting this year. I'm done like dinner so put a fork in me.

I have distributed TLCC *insert CAT where appropriate* to so many beautiful felines in three days that I'm beat. My back's been abused from all the stooping and scooping, dish-filling and water-bowl refreshing (I told you this was a glamorous job), but the cuddles and the nuzzles, the play-time and the grooming is what makes it all fun. I'm tired and covered in cat hair but I still manage to smile. I've had jobs in the past that at the end of a busy week I was good for nothin' and cranky.  Not anymore.

I love this shot. Look at the face on Cortez. He wants out!

                                                 Cortez

Here's Ripley waiting for me to arrive.

Ripley

I'll put a post together soon of this weekend's charges. So many gorgeous cats.That is, all but one shy one, Ellie. All I saw was the south-end of this northbound cat. Then she'd disappear into her safe-zone which happened to be a finished basement. I was forewarned long ago and have to be content with the fact that she was eating and using her box. Oh well, there's always next time.

It has been so great to drive through the country-side today. The weather was perfect.  Deer were everywhere this weekend as if they knew that any harm to them was at a limit since most people were at cottages. Such magnificent creatures.
AND for my dishaholic friends...
I took some time to do some re-arranging in my cupboard today when I dropped back home for lunch.

I'm needing to see more white again so the blue and white have been put away for awhile and the creams, browns and white is what suits me now.  When life is hectic and stressful (my sister's surgery wore on me a little but she's doing well) I never get tired of playing with dishes....or cats. Cheaper than a therapist. ;-)

hugs, Deb

It's only a matter of time...

If you look close, you will see a tail to the right that obviously does not belong to Lily.

Around our home, there is no sitting on the couch without checking very closely if there might be a body under a blanket or a cushion. 

In this case we were forewarned.

You just have to lift the blanket to find AA (Audacious Audrey) hunkered down for her nap.

As you may have guessed, she has never been sat on.....yet.

Besides Audrey, I also love honey.

I came across this article in Woman's World magazine today.

More reason to love honey.

I am fortunate to live near enough to a bee-keeper/blogging friend who has the most wonderful honey I have ever tasted.

Drop over for a visit..

http://knatolee.blogspot.ca/

hugs, Deb

Age chart and a tip

(Dec. 2012)

Cat Age...........................Human Age

6 months........................10 years

1 year...............................15 years

2 years............................24 years

4 years............................32 years

6 years............................40 years

8 years............................48 years

10 years...........................56 years

12 years...........................64 years

14 years...........................72 years

16 years...........................80 years

18 years...........................88 years

20 years...........................96 years

21 years..........................100 years ^..^

At 25, our Mr. Ed is off the chart but still livin' the life.

Cat-tip-for-the-day=^..^=Play

Do you play with your cat? In order to keep it happy and content you need to add fun and excitement to it's life. If your cat is an in-door only cat, please PLAY with your cat. Most in-door cats are bored and need some stimulation. Add a box or a big brown paper bag to it's area and roll a ball into it. Get down on the floor and play along with your cat while it rolls a ball around. Attach a feather to a stick and dangle it so the cat will jump. Exercise is so important for cats who are unable to climb trees and run free. I find a ping-pong ball really gets Audrey going if I bounce it down the hall or the stairs. Adding new toys to their stash once a month is something for them to discover and have fun with.  Spend time with your cat. They love that. 

hugs, Deb

Wonderful White

I'm getting ready for a busy weekend but there's always time to catch a cat in a window.

Buddy is a kitty-client of mine and he always waits in the front window for me to arrive.

He's a very affectionate and talkative fella. He loves when I bring out the brush to groom him. This guy's a real gentleman.
Meet our neighbourhood cat, Calaus. He has one blue eye and one yellow. He is an enormous cat.
He also owns our block and keeps most other cats away. He's not fond of dogs, either and will run one off it it comes snoopin' around. Looks like he has destroyed the lawn chair.

                                                  Calaus

I've had a love-affair with white cats since I was young. One of my first cats given to me by my mom was a long-haired white beauty. We named her Snowball. (of course).

My lovely Lily is pure white with yellow eyes. She is Ed's one and only; his sweetheart.

I snapped this before leaving for my nursing duties this morning. True love, I tell ya.

hugs, Deb

Is it Friday yet?

Lets have tea. 

It's been a long week and I'm tired but it's a good tired. I've been cat-sitting a little and playing Nurse Ratchett a lot. I know everything there is to know now about recuperating from a hip replacement  if I ever need one. It's not a lot of fun but each day I was amazed at my sister's progress. The fracture is throwing a wrench into the exercise routine for the hip but whatever....she's doing well.

My sister hates tea. *raised eye-brows*
How on earth did this happen? I drank other beverages throughout the day and saved my beloved cup of tea for at night at home.  It never tasted so good. Diane and I have been filling up on fresh fruit and great coffee.

 Peaches are in season and are amazing and the cherries are incredibly sweet.
While my sister sleeps I have been reading The Veganist.

 The author talks about the five reasons she became a vegan years ago. It is well written and very informative.  You won't find many recipes but good advice on what foods to try and why you need them in your diet if you have chosen to eliminate animal protein.

I'm not a vegan but I am a vegetarian. Since I changed my diet and stopped consuming meat I feel healthier and happier. I do it for two reasons; I want to strive for optimum health and I want to accomplish that without any animal having to lose its' life so I can eat. It's a very personal decision and that's that.

My busy weekend of cat-sitting begins. The August long-weekend was always the busiest time for me but I have found lately that every weekend I am booked up. It's wonderful and I am so happy to know that more and more people care enough about their cats to take that extra step to find proper care for them while they vacation.

Make the best of your long-weekend.

hugs, Deb