What Not To Do When You Build A Catio

Catios are nice for kitty to have for some outside time but if you don't want your cats to go out in the rain, think it through before you build. 

When the catio framework was first finished, I instantly learned of its considerable faults. We had put down a tarp for a floor over the dirt. And we put an old carpet on top of that. Soon it rained and part of the "floor" had water seepage beneath. It quickly became muddy in that corner. Yes, the carpet got wet. There were other problems I had to fix, too. So, it was clear to me, the catio was not finished as I had thought. I couldn't hold the contractor responsible because I hadn't thought of this and other problems that needed further work.  I hope you will learn from my mistake and not do what I did. Think it through. 

Maine Coon Kitten Nursing on Blanket

This was my beloved Shadow, who was separated from his mama before he was five weeks old. He hadn't reached maturity yet in this video. He was about eleven months of age. My friend called him an "armpit cat", meaning whenever I laid down to sleep, he would snuggle up to me right in my armpit. He never lost his need to suckle and loved his blankets! I loved this cat so much! But, you can tell, I'm sure, by the way I am writing about him in the past tense, you understand that Shadow is no longer with me. He had a gastrointestinal obstruction, a bowel disease. After several visits to the vet over many months, Shadow made no improvement. Surgery was suggested, but at the cost of several thousand dollars almost as much as my yearly income at the time (2011). I couldn't just let him suffer until the end came. Though it broke my heart, I had him peacefully put to sleep.

Grief for Kitty

Grieving the loss of your cat? I wrote this poem

Your Kitty will always be with you.

She's the whisper of the leaves 
as you walk down the street
and you remember her fascination
with them falling through the sky
like tantalizing birdies.

She's the smell of bleach
in your freshly laundered sheets
as you recall the hairballs
she made on them.

She's the soft paw
on your brow
when you're not well,
the gentle
(or not so gentle)
purr in your ear.

Your kitty lives
inside your laughter,
and she's crystallized
in your every teardrop.

She's the place
you came from
when you picked up
the pieces of your life
as she moved into your home,
and she's the map you follow
with every trip
that you have taken
into each new future adventure.

She's your love and your heartbreak,
and nothing on earth can ever separate you
-not time, not space, not even death

Your kitty will always be with you.

Elizabeth Munroz
1 Oct 2001

(Inspired from "Your Mother is Always With You")

Rescue Kitten Visits

My big cats are very curious about the rescued kitten! They are being friendly too. This is Georgie's first look at the ginger baby.

I held my breath when Georgie acted like he was going to get in there with the kitten. 

But, he just wanted a closer look.

Close-up of rescue kitten inside the carrier. So cute! So tempting to want to keep him. 

But no, no more cats for me! 

I wonder if Sunny recognizes the resemblance between himself and the kitten.

MUSIC FOR CATS

ENJOY!

*

Calico Tortie High Up

This beautiful Calico Tortie mix is Miss Buffy da Bampire Flayer.

Her has a tall climbing structure.

In order to get to the top, Miss Buffy has to climb up through a hole. 

Sometimes she forgets the hole is there and starts to fall through.

But she catches herself every time, 

Even if part of her still hangs through,

 Buffy da Bampire Flayer loves to be at the top.

Christmas Cat!

Timmy can hardly wait til Christmas! Bring it on, Santa Cat!

Crazed Cat Protecting Black Feathers

The Great Pink Hunter has captured a feathered critter toy! 

Don't come near or he will fiercely GROWL you away!

Mean Birds!

The birds are harassing the cats today! 

Queen Bambi got so excited she body slammed the catio door! 

Wish I could have caught it on camera. But happened too fast. 

This is the aftermath when Pinky came over to see if she was okay. Bambi is reassuring him

Cats Hogging the Bed

Where do I fit on my bed? 

I slide in on the edge where Sunny and Timmy are, then gently push my behind toward those same interlopers. They shove over unwillingly and sometimes just get up and get onto the same spot on the blanket they were already occupying on TOP of ME! 

That's about 40 pounds of cats!!! 

No wonder I wake up all achy! But to be fair, they don't stay there all night. Usually after they get some pets and treats they leave the bed. Sometimes I can't figure out where they are hiding all night long. But, by morning they are back to climb over me to wake me up. Just like real kids!

Sunny-Boy on the bottom left. Pinky above him. Georgie above right and Timmy, bottom right.

My cats get along amazingly well. I introduced Timmy as a kitten to adult Bambi in 2009. She mothered him until he became an obnoxious teenager, when I introduced kitten Buffy who Timmy adopted. They were playmates for about a year. They are no longer close, but tolerate each other just fine. They cross each other's path and only Buffy gives a grouchy growl. She doesn't seem to like anyone. But, she is a calico after all. And they have a reputation for being cantankerous!

Then, there were two kittens who lived with us for a few months, no longer with us, that Timmy adopted and loved on.

Then, Ninja (the second), a black cat who was added to the menagerie. He was easily acclimated. He'd had previous contact with a lot of other pets in his two years.

Then I adopted Sunny-Boy. Being so quasi-feral, he became Ninja's best buddy and love interest. (Yes, cats can be gay).

But, Ninja got outside one day and never came back. The animal control had picked up his body about a week later. My heart was broken, and Sunny missed his buddy so much. He would meow for him at night out in the catio. Almost as if he were calling for him.

Eventually he settled down. But still he does a little bit of calling, now and then. He carries around a little stuffed animal when he does that.

So Sunny began to relate to Timmy and mothered the new bottle-baby kittens I adopted last October, one of which was Pinky. The following week I rescued Georgie off the street after he was thrown from a car window right in front of me! Since he was sick I had to keep him in the bathroom for months.

The other kids tolerate him quite well. Though, Sunny gently smacks him on the head when he has no manners and is too intrusive,. Then Georgie lies down and rolls over for him to apologize. Then maybe he will get a forgiving lick on the face from Sunny. Pinky loves him as a brother and they play all the time. Though Georgie is about two months older than Pinky, he is outweighed by several pounds. Pinky is such a chubby boy!

Timmy nuzzles and licks Pinky now, and so does Sunny and Georgie. He's still everybody's baby. Unlike some cat households, I think it is just luck that they all get along so well. Or maybe it's just the careful way I slowly introduce them. I never have flying fur, except from Timmy who sheds enough for all six cats!

A Tortie-Calico

Wow! So cool! No doctor appointments today! No errands to run!

 I don't know what I'll do with myself! 

I guess I'll just sit here and stare at beautiful "Tortico cat", Buffy

Pink Jacket Timmy Cat

Timmy says, "Boys can wear pink if they wants to!" 

(Especially since the pink suede jacket was a free pick from the SPCA donation box!)

Hummingbirds Outside the Catio

Entertainment for the cats!

The hummingbirds do not harrass the cats (so far)!

The cats don't bother the hummingbirds. They stay still as statues!

Morning Tea in the Catio.

Earl Gray Tea with ginger, honey and Meyer lemon (fresh off the tree).

Queen Bambi stretching out. She never falls off the edge!

Watch out Timmy! 
While you're intent on watching the birdies your furry belly is in jeopardy! 
It doesn't fit that skinny shelf! 

Catio Window Cats

My cats are so spoiled with their 9 by 9 ft. catio! 

I had looked into having one like this built. 

But I didn't think it would be roomy enough for six cats to occupy peacefully! 

Though I wouldn't mind having one like this on my front kitchen window!

Not sure the source for this picture.
As soon as I find it, I will give credit where it is due or replace.

Odd Eye Morning Cat

Timmy says good morning! May I have some of your tea? No? Then why do you come into the catio every day this way?. It's torture, you know, when you sit there having toast and tea without offering us a treat too! Oh cruel cat mom! Note: Timmy says this while standing on my lap! Standing! I say! He weighs a ton!

Cats Face Off!

Bambi and Buffy have an altercation.

Lunch with Kittehs!

Home Sweet Catio. It's lunchtime with CatMom.

Black Kitty is Ninja-Boo
Stripe Kitty is Georgie
Ginger Kitty is Sunny-Boy
White Kitty is Queen Bambi
Sandwish and Tea is Mine!

Quiet Morning in the Qatio

Morning tea in the catio with Earl Grey double bergamot and Georgie Porgie.

Pink Cat at Night

Pinky staring at the leaves scattering in the darkness. 

Or was that a mousy?