Plopped in the Middle

Myst is a little bitty cat as Persians go ... and he knows it. When people walk close, he jumps out of the way, even if nobody is really heading his way.

Me? I'm bigger and I have no fear of being stepped on. In fact, if people are carrying groceries or walking around, I prefer to plop down in the middle of the action.

The center of the kitchen is my favorite spot. I love to see humans stepping over me while trying to do balancing acts. Here I am in front of the cold box (which holds great-smelly stuff inside). Humans like to open this box a lot. They are so funny.

Yes, He's Comfortable

Hey! We may look uncomfortable, but we cats can be VERY comfortable in many sleeping positions. I have fallen asleep flat on my back before - in the middle of the room. (See Pictures of Me Sleeping.)

Dandelion can not figure out why someone would point a clicking box at him right now.

Then and Now

This is a picture of me three years ago. I have changed a lot with a more rounded body (as Himalayans usually have) and a much thicker coat. It takes two years for a Himalayan to reach his full colors and sometimes even a little longer.

Here's a picture of me today. I love my soft coat and long fur. I am very comfortable in warm or cold weather (well I am in the house all the time, but I do not always seek the very warmest spots to sleep these days -- because I am wearing a good warm fur coat).

Inspecting the Groceries

The family brought home the groceries today and I was sure to do my inspections. Terry left the room for a minute and found a package of hamburger meat on the floor when she got back.

I had my wide-eyed innocent look on, so Terry said to Richard, "Why did you put the hamburger meat on the floor?" To which Richard replied, "I did NOT put the meat on the floor!"

Terry looked at me again. I sat very still -- all pretty -- wide eyes -- being so sweet. Her eyes narrowed at me and I decided it was time to leave the room and pursue other catly interests.

Cat Beds

I love my cat bed. Dandelion loves his. Of course, which one goes to me varies as Dandelion gets first pick all the time and I get what's left, but they are all good beds.

Myst does not like cat beds at all and refuses to sleep in one. Terry tried putting a bed out for him in his favorite places. She thinks he would grow to like them as I do, but he refuses to sleep in one. He will sleep just about anywhere else, though laps are a favorite spot. I think Myst just prefers preheated places to sleep.

Straining to See

Myst is watching wasps and birds while sitting on a narrow ledge. He has no room to turn around and has walked forward as much as he can, so he figures the only way to see those things is just to turn his head. The humans here are laughing. Humpf, I think Myst did the best he can, given the circumstances. Maybe someone with HANDS can pick him up and turn him around.

Dead Asleep

Okay, I look like a dead zombie cat. It is so funny that Richard used this pic as a wallpaper.

Hey, sometimes one can be too tired to move and still be awake enough to have their eyes open!

Hanging Out with My Hero

I love hanging out with Dandelion, my hero. He's the oldest cat here and the boss, although Myst disagrees, thinking HE is the boss. Me? Let them both be boss. I am more than willing to do anything it takes to keep the peace.

Huggable

Here's Jenny holding me. Terry says I am a big teddy bear and just fun to pick up even if I mutter and moan about it. I look twice as big in winter than in summer with my fur coat all thick and puffed out.

No More Pills

"At last!," Terry says. No more pills. I got to bat around the pill bottle and that was fun! It rolls real good on the floor.

Myst is not too fond of towels now, but he is all better and obviously happier. The humans here keep saying "Whew!" I don't know why... it was interesting to watch all this going on every day.

Big Cat and Little Cats

Dandelion is one big cat. Terry used to call me the "little cat" until Myst came along. Myst is a tiny delicate Persian. I stood there once, newly brushed with my coat all fluffed out and Terry said,"I can not call you a little cat anymore, Muddy."

I guess I am a big cat now. I kind of like the sound of that, even if I would rather hide under the bed than argue with Myst.

Happy Valentines Day!

May everyone find someone to love today. There are lots of cats, people and animals in the world who need a little love. May you find some love to share. The world is sorely in need of it.

(As for me, I see birds outside. Yes, I just *love* birds. I adore birds! I would like to chase those birds, maybe catch one and.... well, er, uh, well... love it ... um, in my own way.)

Cheek Rub

When he is not taking his pill, Myst is the sweetest thing you ever saw, getting his cheeks rubbed and enjoying every minute of it.

Thanks for the suggestion about wrapping Myst in a towel. It helped a lot... only a few more pills to go and he will be cured of his urinary tract infection. Its odd how he got it, since the vet says he is on the right food (Science Diet) to prevent it.

Better than the Movies

"Why is it, a cat gets a tasty-flavored pill from the vet and he decides he hates it even though every other cat in the house thinks it is delicious?" That's what Terry said to me when I wanted a taste of Myst's antibiotic pill.

Myst is getting better and does seem happier except at pill time. All I can say is that things are so entertaining around here. Even Dandelion, who is deaf, perks up when he sees stuff going on like this. It's better than the bird movies I watch out of the window.

Taking (or Not Taking) Medicine

When Myst first came home from the vet's, he was extra happy (except when chasing me) and was extra loving and almost had a smile on his face, just glad to be home .....

..... UNTIL it became time for him to take his antibiotic pill. The pill was supposed to be delicious (indeed, I wanted to eat it myself). Myst wanted nothing to do with this pill. The vet showed Terry how easy it can be to give a pill to a cat by holding their head, opening their mouth and dropping it in. Terry said it looked real easy.

BUT that was when it was an unexpected first time. Now Myst is wise to this. Terry and Richard tried to give him the pill. Terry held him and Richard dropped the pill in his mouth ... after several unsuccessful tries and being clawed up pretty bad. Yes, now Terry's sore hands were matched by Richard's sore hands.

It was a heck of a lot of fun to watch. I even came out from under the bed to see this action!

Myst at the Vet's

When Myst came home from the vet, he smelled very peculiar. He had been there a few hours and they had used medicine. Myst did not smell like he lived here anymore.

I was scared!!! I was horrified and curious at the same time. The problem is that Myst sensed I was scared of him even if he is only half my size. Myst decided to chase me and show me who's boss. He hissed and I got out of there as fast as I could. I ran and hid under the bed. I have no desire to be a dominant cat -- EVER -- and I will never challenge any cat for that authority.

Having yielded the floor to Myst, I decided to stay under the bed for a while, even though my pet humans were laughing at me.

Mad Myst

Myst can be one MAD and fierce little cat. He did NOT want to go into the cat carrier and did NOT want to go to the vet. Terry leaves the carrier out and I tried to show Myst how easy it is to crawl in and out of one, but Myst never wanted to go inside a carrier anyway - ever!

So Terry says Myst has to go to the vet and he refuses to go in the carrier. He braced his legs on the outside of the carrier door and I heard Terry going Ow! Ow! The next thing I know, Myst is running to hide in deep dark places under heavy furniture that nobody can get to and Terry has bleeding and scratched up hands. Round 1 goes to Myst - nobody goes anywhere.

Terry asks her friends online for advice and tried it. She put the carrier in the bathroom because Myst loves to go there and play in the sink. Sure enough Myst (after 3 hours or so) creeps into the bathroom, Terry creeps in after him and shuts the door.

I do not know what went on after that, but I heard a lot of yelping and meowing. I was so curious that I stuck my paws under the door to try and get it open. I was meowing myself because I was missing out on some good action!!

Anyway, some time later, Terry opens the door, smiling and er, a bit more scratched up and Myst is crying out his anger at being contained.

Gee, a trip to the vet is not nearly so traumatic for Dandelion or me. We don't enjoy being contained, but at least we are polite about it.

But when Myst got home .... whew! That is another story I will save for tomorrow.

Primping

While I LOVE to be brushed, I do not make it easy. I walk around and primp and prance while I am being brushes. It keeps my pet humans busy and on their toes.

What's for Supper?

Hmmmm, I LOVE mealtime around here. I am sniffing the air now, trying to figure out that smell. Is it mouse? Bird? Catnip? (I really have to make sure it is not catnip. I would not want to miss out on THAT.)

Ready to Inspect

Ah! I am waiting for the groceries to come in. It's my job to stick my head in every bag and make sure there is nothing out of order here. Alas, I would LOVE something to be out of order, like a mouse or a bird crawling around somewhere.

Box Games

Another fun thing about boxes is waiting for Myst or Dandelion to come by and jump in. Then I can crouch low and paw at them until they jump out to chase me.

Humans can be fun, too. One time Terry was playing tag with me and I ran up the hall. I stopped and looked every which way. I thought it would be very clever to hide in this box, so I jumped in and crouched low. I figured she could not find me at all. I never understood how she could just pick me up so easily. I was sure I was well hidden! Sometimes humans can surprise you with their cleverness.

Box are For Sitting In

It doesn't matter if the box is too small or just right, I like to sit in it.

New Box

Oh, the smell of a new box! It's almost as good as catnip!