Monkey in the House

I spent the day reminding Spyder on how to maintain his focus. Our exercise was for him to concentrate upon the mousie without showing intent. But, it seemed he was distracted by being too close to the closet doors. He kept saying he wanted to see what was inside.

"Focus, Focus, Focus, young Spyder. Just think of the mouse. Do not show him your intent. See your self running up behind him silently." I say.

"Do not get so close that he can detect you, but make your decision to fly and leap to catch him unawares. And do not let him know of your intent."

It seems he cannot pay attention. I keep trying to explain to him that he when he controls his "Catra", he can gain supercat powers. I know that he is young, but he is not too young to learn from a Master such as myself. I can guide him along his path. It is better that I guide him than for him to have no guidance at all. I only had those honorable dogs to teach me, but he has a true Zen Master to teach him. He will learn the Way of Cats.

I had just about decided his energy was wasted. He needed to go play or take a nap, or whatever it is he does when he is not under my tutelage. So, I told him lessons were done for the day and off he went. I settled myself down and proceeded to perform my ablutions, when out of the corner of my eye, but what do I see? It is Spyder running like an ambitious Samurai around the corner and up onto the bed.

"I can do it" he mewed.

"I..... can.... do.... it."

And he did! Well almost.

But, I will give him credit. He made a spectacular move. We had earlier been practicing the Monkey pose and discussing the various powers of Goku. So, obviously some of the Ninja energies that I passed on to him are beginning to stick.

Any kitten who can fly has potential.

Oh, didn't I mention?

Young Spyder flew from the bed to the top of the closet, a distance of about 9 feet. He certainly did land his front paws upon the shelf. so that counts as a "land" in Ninja training terms. But the back paws didn't quite make it. He made a wonderful "save" though, using his back claws to steady himself while he whirled his tail to give him that catastic lift only the strong can develop. He was able to confidently claw his way completely onto the shelf without falling off.

I bestow upon young Spyder, his second and most auspicious name of, "Monkey".

Spyder Monkey.

Has a ring to it. Don't you think?

HIKIKOMORI SPEAKS UP!

I have been a bit shy lately, well, maybe just reclusive. A lady needs her peace and quiet... time to meditate, to go inward, to experience my true self. Ninja says I am becoming Hikikomori and will inherit loneliness if I continue. I don't think he understands me.

On Sunday, Ninja and Spyder were possessed by inordinate excitement. The Monk and Elizabeth went away for several hours leaving us to fend for ourselves. Of course, this is the natural way of things. Or it should be. However, Ninja and Spyder are getting earnest in their attempts to establish dominance. I know this is supposed to be the natural way, also.

They seem to forget that I am sovereign here. Ninja may act like he is going to run the family, but if he plays too hard with Spyder, then I don't even give him warning. I immediately attack. He never stands his ground with me. I respect his great age and wisdom, but I wonder about his claims to being a Zen Master. Ninja may want to be top cat, but as soon as Spyder gains some maturity, the two of them will have to face off. I suspect that Ninja might not be entirely satisfied with the results.

The two of them tire me out having to referee their little territorial disputes. Can't we all just share alike? I am unable to relax in my boudoir. Spyder doesn't recognize my private boundary. What's a lady to do? While they amuse themselves with their games of Charge and Slay, I retreat to the garage through our personal kitty door. There is an old piece of carpet out there convenient to our litter boxes. I hate to admit it, but it's the only place I can get away from the two of them. As long as Spyder doesn't discern how to pass through the little swinging door, I will only have to temporarily interact with Ninja. And if he enters the garage, I know he's not coming for a visit, so I return into the house. There are certain things a lady just doesn't need to see. A lady needs her privacy!

I was so glad when Elizabeth and the Monk returned. Then, Ninja and Spyder could vie for their attention. After the Monk left, Ninja went to lie down on his spot on the headboard, only to discover that his bedding had fallen upon the floor, probably due to their rowdy behavior. Sigh! I suppose boys will be boys.

So, Ninja decided to lay at the foot of the bed. This disturbed both Spyder and I. We didn't know what areas to claim as our own, because now they were overlapping. I just didn't feel like I had enough room to nuzzle my sheepskin and get a good knead going.

As it turned out, Spyder and I ended up being crowded together. I don't mind, but every time Elizabeth moves around when sleeping we get jostled. And she does a lot of tossing and turning. I wanted to go back and lie down in my boudoir, but the door was closed, so I just went and sat in front of the door. I'm sure Elizabeth was mortified when she found me out like that in the morning. She picked me up and cuddled me. But, I was not about to forgive her right away. Thank heavens she doesn't insist on holding on to me when I am feeling this way! So, I went in to have some privacy.

Yesterday, I expected the three of us could have some comfortable confined social time together. We all have our established places in our room and when the door is closed we are quite cordial. We all usually nap at this time. However, when Esther came to visit, Elizabeth forgot the close the door. She might have remembered if she had stayed, but she had to leave the house while Esther did her work, which is very noisy!!!

Vacuum cleaner
Washing Machine
Clattering Dishes
Shower Bathtub Water Running
In and out with trash

I think you get the picture. I can't even go out into the garage, because the dryer vent is out there and the wind whistles through it so violently I get very uncomfortable. I then, retreat to my window.

Spyder and Ninja were affected by all this cleaning, too. I am thankful, at least that there are no chemicals to stink up our environment, to burn our eyes or insult our noses. But, I do wish Elizabeth would remember to close us into our space before Esther visits. That way, all that noise and clamor can be muffled. Then we only have to deal with it towards the end when the cleaning has to take place in our room.

The boys were pretty skittish from all the prolonged turbulence, after Elizabeth came home. It is different when the are creating the swirling energy than when machines and people are stirring things up. Since they couldn't relax, she was not able to relax either. I think one stress tumbles over another until it all clumps into one big vibrating mass. The whole house is filled with it.

Cleaning house day may clean the house, but it makes the home filled with stress if we are left to cope in the middle of it. Sometimes I find messy house to be more tranquil. Many more hiding spaces that way. I made sure Elizabeth know how distracted we all were by hiding in the garage a very long time. Finally, she got the hint, and brought my boudoir into her room and placed it on the middle of her bed. This was a very good solution to the problem. It made a statement to the boys exactly who is reigns here, and shows them both which side of the bed on which to sleep. Unfortunately, as I have mentioned before, Ninja has a terrible snoring problem. There was no way I could spend the whole night with him thundering away. A lady should not be required to tolerate it.

I got up and went to sit by the door. That wasn't enough, at first, for Elizabeth to notice. So I reached under the door, curved my paw up underneath and "gently" yanked on the door so that it rattled, quite admirably, I must say. I continued to do so until Elizabeth became conscious of my message.

She does read me fairly well, but I wish humans could speak our mental intuitiveness. Then it wouldn't be so necessary to create such major efforts to make ourselves understood. I have to give her credit, though. She tries!

Cat Trains Human

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I am da most awesum kitten dat ever was!

Dat's what elixabet say when I began her obedience training. So, I was trainin' elixabet, see. I try menny tymes before she unnerstand what she sposed ta do.

I hunted for me mousie all over da house. He gots away so menny tymes. I hunt everywhere. But no can find him.

They's so many mousies n balls n toys, but I wants only me special mousie. Da one wit da blue fur and no tail. I ate his tail one time. elixabet worry bout dat for a while. But, is okay. When I was little me mama brought us kittens mouses all da tyme. So I know what to do wid dem. I miss me Mama sometymes but Bambi say it okay, Bambi can be my pretend mama. So, dats okay wid me. Don't hardly member me brudders n sissies no more. Dats okay, too. I got Bambi. I got Ninja. I got elixabet and da Monk. So, I not lonesome. I know from da shelter dat they got good homes, too.

I ask Ninja, where me mousie? I ask Bambi, where me mousie? Ninja say I has plenty toys. Go play wid one of dem dats in the dresser cubby space. Is okay, he say. Can have fun dat way.

But I wants me speshul mousie!!!

Bambi say, did you check behind doors? in corners? hidden under fings? Where did you have it last time you played with it?

I dunno. Don't member.

Toys do dat ya know. Toys likes ta hide cus dey wants ta play hide n seek. Sometymes dey jus wanna rest. Sometymes dey jus disappear forever.

I don't wants me mousie ta disappear!

I lookt all dem places what Bambi said. Den I look under frigerator. Aha! Der was my mousie. I finds my mousie under da fridge. I such a good hunter. Huh?

I get mousie out from under da fridge. I work hard. Out. Out. Come out mousie. Let's play. Me paws was dirty all way up to my... whatcha callem.... elbohs? An elixabet she see me all dirty. But I gots me mousie in me mouf, and she think she gonna take it away from me but I hang on tyte to mousie. She want to pick me up, wash me off, but I get away from her. Ha ha! she give up.

So now she ready to learn from me. I run all ziga zag in front of her. She laugh. She sit down to watch. So I puts da mousie in front of her. Ya know? Like a gift. Like when me Mama brought gifts. So, I sit dere and wait. She coo at me."What a good kitty!" Ov course I good kitty! She don't hafta tell me dat. But is nice to know she figger dat out. So, I pounce at mousie, but not so hard. Just pounce near it, so she think I wanna play.

Ninja n Bambi, dey watchin alla tyme. Dey smilin. Dey laughin. Dey fink so funny dat I bother to try to teach elixabet tricks and trainin her ta do what I want. I gonna show dem, I fink. I gonna show dem!

She is gettin' it! She know I wanna play. She pick up mousie n toss him across da room. Yeah, she got teh idea now! Okay, so I runs to catch mousie. Make her laugh. I grabs mousie in my teef, and bring mousie back to her. Jus out of reach so she know I want her to get it. She pick up mousie again and trhow it. Yay! she one smart hooman! So I tell her wid a little mew purr. She a good girl! She smile. I runs n bring back mousie. She so happy she learning. I train her all day.

She get up and go to bafroom. Comb her hair all fallin' down in her face. Take her pills. I foller her in dere wid me mousie. Yup! I play wid him, bounce him all round da baftub so she not forget ta play.

Den she go lie down on dat big bed. She fink I gonna let her rest? I leap up wid mousie n she throw again n again.

I run,
I jump,
I leap,
I flies,
I smash into wall,


I dig behind door n under bed to find mousie each time, so she never forget how to play da game of Throw. She call it fetch, but I call it Throw.

She can call it fetch if she wantsta. But, I jus happy she learn so good n fast.

We play hard til I huff n puffin' and she got arm tired.

I climb on puter table wit my mousie and lay it down dere so mousie not get lost again.

We play again tomorrow. See if she member her training.

Now I rest. All tired out.

Eight Years in the Life of a Ninja

Well, here I am another year older, and wiser, I like to think. We had a great party today and celebrated with a tuna cake cut into three parts. There were no candles on the cake. Miss E doesn't believe in having candles. She thinks they are dangerous. That's okay by me. Though candles can bring about great states of relaxation by staring at them. I can stare all I like in relaxations without candles. I rather like the warmth of the stained glass lamp shining down on my fur. I don't think a candle can do that.

The years have passed by in a blur. I've had a good life. I can't complain. The only life I ever knew was with the couple I lived with and those two dogs.

One was a Lhasa Apso. Her name was Dolly... Dolly Lamar.... get it? No?

Dolly told me she is from a long line of sacred Dolly Lamars from Tibet. She is the 123rd in her lineage. She was very wise, but very sometimes hard to understand. She spent a lot of time chanting in some ancient gutteral sound. Once she was quiet, if a bell rang, she would start up again. It sounded like "oooooommahneeepadmeeeeehoooo" I think there was something about her background or training that was set to bells. if the door bell rang she would start up. If I jingled my collar bell, she would stop, and then if I jingled it again, she would start again. So, I tried not to jingle at all. That was one of my first lessons in becoming a Ninja. Being silent in my stealth techniques.

The other dog was an Akita. He was huge! His name was Kain Doshi, but our people just called him Doshi. He claimed to be a warrior monk of the highest caliber and an expert teacher of Ninjutsu martial arts. I called him Sensei, which means teacher in Japan, where his ancestors came from. Though he was large, he was quiet compared to Dolly. He really knew how to just sit, and be. I learned a lot from Sensei.

I miss those two. But when I was living with them it could be very difficult to get through a day with both of them on my tail to learn this lesson and that. It could be very confusing, since both had different points of view. Yet, they were united on their goals to train me to their "Way". Unfortunately for them I am not a dog and could not fit into their "pact". Fortunately for me, I am a superior black cat who has taken the best of their knowledge and put it into practice. Even they could never reach the state of being one can reach in the practice of "Stillness". I am actually quite excellent and can hold that pose for a very long time. No dog I know of can keep stillness for that long, always being distracted by people calling them, responding to whistling, and cars driving up to the house, and so on.

I do miss them, it's true. I miss the couple, too. Even though they were always yelling at me.

"KOBE!!! Get down from there." I had to get away from my incessant but well meaning teachers. Didn't I? How else was I to do that but by sitting on top of the refrigerator?

"KOBE, Come here!" What did they think? That I was a dog and would come running when summoned? Excuse me, even a tough guy like me has a sense of dignity. Besides I had no idea they were referring to me when they were shouting KOBE, KOBE, KOBE all the time. Dolly and Sensei showed me that when they are shouting like that to go hide and whimper, usually under the table. But, I would never go under the table with the dogs. I couldn't stand the whimpering. It was just too high pitched for my sensitive ears. So, I would go hide somewhere else. The couple thought I was "aloof", and seemed quite happy to leave it that way, as the dogs were happy to lick their faces all the time. That left me plenty of time to practice my Zen skills.

But, that last year I lived there, the couple were always bickering. I was almost relieved when we were all put in our carriers and taken to the shelter. Dolly swung into her chanting continuously that whole trip. I felt sad that my own Sensei would howl like a common dog, then too. It was quite painful to be in the middle of that. I was so relieved when we were separated but I didn't realize I wouldn't see my teachers again. That is one thing they were sure of when we were traveling in the car. I had blocked out all their noise, but they Knew it was Good bye.. Sayonara because that was part of their last messages to me.

At the shelter nice man took me out of the carrier and "inspected" me, saying I was in perfect shape. Of course, I was, even though I was already seven years old. They say that is 45 in people years. I suppose that is venerable enough for me.

So when I came to live here and was called KOBE, I turned and went in the other direction. It didn't take long before the Monk recognized who I really was, and pointed out to Elizabeth that I was truly a Ninja. He is a very smart man, and a brother in the monkhood so to speak, as it seems he can be "still" in the midst of chaos, too. And even though he has an innate fear of cats, he is able to maintain his integrity by his own zen practice. It seems that Keli, the Dowager Queen was his first teacher of cat acceptance. Though, I have noticed, even though he is able to pet me, he has never attempted to pick me up. I recall, though, that he would let Jeffery sprawl himself out from head to toe on his lap on occasion.

Now that Keli and Jeffery are gone, I have a lot of responsibility around here. First and foremost, I guard over the household by keeping my post at the head of the bed on the bookcase headboard. Then, of course, I must be a good example and older brother to Bambi, though she has little respect for me when she chases me about. I guess I still have a lot to learn about patience. And now that little Spyder has joined us, it is imperative for me to let him know who is boss around here, and teach him some manners. Though Bambi insists that she will take care of raising him in the Way of the Cat.

Sometimes I'm not sure which is more challenging, to live in a household with two dogs, or to live in a household with two other cats?

I know one thing for sure. The past is the past, and it is done. That is the way of the Zen Cat. The future with Bambi and Spyder is yet untold. Though, I may attempt to influence them with my abilities and powers, we may not always see eye to eye. Worry not, I say to myself. The future is the future, and it is not this moment now. Spending this moment now worry, is not living. It is worrying. For right now, I will just be and live the moment.

Happy Birthday to me.

Pink Feather Boa

Is me, Spyder, an I got a story ta tell ya!

It so funny!

Miss Bambi, she got's herslef in trubble. Well not too bad, ennyways.


We was playin mousie hunting, an runnin' back n forth everywhere. Bambi saw a spider. Not, me, of course. She saw one o them little creepy crawly things that go so fast ya can hardly catch em. Though I caught one the first time I ever saw one. An I ate him all gone! That's why me name is Spyder!

Enyhow, Bambi, she was so excited to see the spider that she stopped playin wid me and went instead to catch the spider. Well, he was much faster than she was. An he went hidin beneath some plastic bags on the floor. Now, Bambi, she aint afraid of no plastic bags. Seems like Ninja is, an I aint too sure about em.

So, Bambi, she dives right into them plastic bags. They was all filled up wid sumpin'. An you know what? She quickly lose her interest in that spider. He got away completely. I didn't even get a chance to get him, cause she wouldn't move outta my way. She was soo interested in them bags.

You know why? 'cause she recognize the smell o sumpin she knowed before. Yup! she knowed the smell of those feather thingys. People calls em boas. Though they not a Boa. Even I know that is a big dangerouos snake we all gotta stay away from.

So, Bambi, see, she knows those feather boas are inside the baggs, and she begin to push at the bag and pull at the bag. Before you know it she unties the bag. I know Elixabet was watchin all dis time, and she was smilin' as we played. But, when she saw Bambi opened da bag and we begun to eat the feathers, Elixabet, she come straightaway and grabbs da bags and feathers all away from us. Den she tie up da bag all tight and put up in da closet.

Now why she buy dem feather boas for us if she aint gonna let us play with dem? Huh?

Rain and Wind

We waited up all night.... well past 2 AM. That's when Elizabeth went to bed. But, no rain at that time. Though the wind was blowing.

Finally, the rains came in torrents. The wind was loud and it blew the trees into a frenzy. It seemed their branches would fly off! Spyder was so incredibly excited that he could barely contain himself. He kept running back and forth between the plate glass door in the other room and Elizabeth's bedroom window. Unfortunately for her, in order to get to her window, we have to leap from her bed. Spyder is so enthusiastic he runs right across her legs when he is on the way to her window. Luckily she didn't wake up. I think the rain sings her to sleep.


I sat up in the window with him so I could explain all the intricacies of rain. Rain comes from the sky, but it is the same as what comes from our water bowl. It has a different smell, a smell of the sky and the clouds that pass by. It tastes of wildness and that flavor comes from the clouds who pull up the flavor from the earth to the sky.



I pointed out to Spyder that he is a very special cat because he wears the sky color in his one eye, and the gold of the sun in the other. I reminded him that he has a sacred cat name that his mother gave to him. He says he remembers. It was "Morning Sky". I thought that was funny, because in the mornings he is too asleep to even welcome the morning sun. Maybe his mother should have named him "Sky at Sunset", but who am I to differ from her. I named all my kittens with sacred names, and they come from the deep earth wisdom we all possess. So, his mother would not have been wrong in the name she gave him.

Sometimes when the clouds come down to the earth and become fog, you can sniff the same smell as the rain drops. We need to recognize the rain for it's own being and the purpose it serves in our lives. We would die without it, my mother once told me. And I know she was telling the truth. After all, she had spent all her life outside and was only captured when I had not even opened my eyes. We were newborn kittens then, and didn't understand her howling and grief. Oh how she missed being outside.

Spyder didn't understand why the rain appeared. He wondered if it would go on forever. I explained that if the rain would go on forever it would not be a good thing. When the raindrops fall on us, we get wet. Some cats don't mind this, some cats do. I recall Jeffery telling Ninja and I that Keli loved the rain, and any kind of water that sprinkled or fell upon her. She even enjoyed baths. But if the rain falls forever, then not even Keli would continue to enjoy it. There must be a time for rain and a time for dryness. Each has it's own purpose. Spyder just didn't understand this, so I stopped trying to explain it, and just told him we could enjoy watching it for it's own sake, without asking why it exists.

Soon, morning came and we were all still awake. As the sun rose the rain ceased. We all had the ultimate pleasure of watching the sun embrace all the raindrops clinging to the tree leaves. What a spectacular sight to watch the trees turn into more beauteous beings with such lovely decorations adorning them. They were actually shimmering in the joy of it.

Ninja wasn't all that interested. He said "Rain is rain, and air is air, and wind is wind. It is all zen to me!"

I don't understand what he meant, but it is interesting to see how peaceful he can be about it all. I used to meditate on the rain. But with Spyder around, it is nearly impossible with him running from window to window and asking so many questions!

If you perceive rain in her eyes
and thunder in her soul,
Point towards the moon
and let her sink in the magic.
Let the moonlight coat her.


From the poem, Where Forever Lasts
by Ruku Taneja
Mumbai,India
July 3 2009

Awaiting the Rain

There is a fragrance upon the winds. I am familiar with it. I recall it from when I was a kitten. It means the rains are coming. I am looking forwarad to it. It has been too long. It will be interesting to see what Spyder's reaction will be. He hasn't lived long enough yet to know what is rain.

Ninja and I have been discussing it. Such a nostalgic conversation for him. He has been through seven rainy seasons. He was so reminiscent of his first rainy season. He was but a kitten then, like Spyder.

Ninja tells me about one time when he was living with the dogs that he went outside. He intended only to look around, but the wind blew the door shut, and he was left outside to get soaked to the skin, while he tried his best to hide from it. His people were looking everywhere for him.

He waited for them to find him but they never did. Finally they let the dogs out and thank heavens the dogs had enough sense to sniff him out. And he got to go back inside, then.

The last time the rainy season began is when I had my kittens. It was damp all the time and I tried to keep them warm. I know I was a good mother, but then one day my kittens were gone and believe me, it was the saddest day of my life.

That is why I'm glad Spyder is in my life. Though he is not my kitten, I sometimes feel like he is. Spyder is all excited listening to us talk about the rain and can hardly wait. He will be in for a surprise don't you think?

Isn't he adorable with that look of anticipation on his face?

Bambi and Ninja Sleeping

Bambi Speaks Her Mind

It's been a challenging day. Elizabeth wasn't feeling well and so the whole morning was wasted. It's not like we sit around waiting for her to play with us. But, life does seem to be more interesting when she is around.

She has been feeding Spyder and I in the spare room and shuts the door so that Ninja will not come in and eat our food. I wouldn't mind at all if he wants some of mine. I eat so little and always leave a some left over. That's what a lady does. Later, when we have finished all we are going to eat, she takes our bowls and puts them inside the armoire. Even I have not figured out how to open it, and Ninja is hopelessly clueless. He still thinks he would find a tasty morsel up on top of the armoire. She also locks our bag of food in there. Smart! She noticed that Ninja had started to scratch a hole in the bag the other day as it was kept in the kitchen. So, now, Ninja hasn't much chance for cheating on his diet. Poor thing! But, I must say it's working. He is beginning to be more active and getting a little bit sleek. Don't you think so? Look at the picture above. That was Ninja and Spyder eating together. Wouldn't you say Ninja is a big boy?

Don't get me wrong, it's not like Elizabeth is starving him. He has access to food all the time. But, it is diet food. Supposed to be good for him. But, he says it tasted like cardboard. I'm not so sure that is so bad. After all, our scratching box is made of cardboard and it has a delightful taste of catnip. But, I will respect Ninja's opinion as to the flavor of cardboard. Admittedly, I haven't much taste for it myself. I think Ninja just might be feeling a little left out, like he is being treated like a second class citizen. Spyder and I have room service, and he has to eat in the garage. Though, when I pass by his feeder, I can see he can eat as much as he wants. No small servings for him.

Elizabeth pulled herself out of bed, fed us and left for her book club. She is to lead the group today. I worry for her as she was up until 4 AM trying to finish that book. I don't think she did. How is she going to talk as though she had? She looks so tired. She locked Spyder, Ninja and I in the spare room before she left. She always does that when Esther is coming over. But, when Esther came over she opened the door to get the vacuum cleaner and Ninja took off running and she just went about her work. So Spyder ran to see what she was doing in the kitchen.

I went to the bed and laid on the lambswool sheepskin. I understand that it belonged to the once much loved Keli, and I can still catch a waft of her sweet fragrance when I roll over on it. Elizabeth has cut it into three pieces. Two smaller ones and one larger one. The two smaller ones can fit into the travel carriers, but right now one is in my bed and the other is on the spare bed for whoever wants to lie upon it. Funny how Ninja is not at all interested in it. Buy Spyder and I just love it. The big one on Elizabeth's bed, she put there just for us, and in the evening before she falls asleep Spyder and I claim a part of it. We both like to knead it a litte bit before settling in.

Elizabeth returned from her book group. She was limping and went to lie down. I know enough to leave her alone when she is like that. Her pain vibrates all over the place and it makes me restless. Ninja, with all his Zen training, prefers to lie down beside her. Ninja says he can pull the pain right out of her with his paws. I think it just makes her feel better because she's got that fat cat to pet. He purrs and loves to lie down upside down for her to rub his belly. I don't think rubbing belly is a Zen practice.

But, what do I know? I'm just a pretty white cat with thoughts of my own.

One Bored Kitty

Boring! Boring! Boring! Dis is Spyder. I spy on those two lazy grown up cats. Ninja, he lay 'round alla time, 'n snore, snore, snore. Sumtimes I think, he gonna just explode wit da snorin'. Mebbe dat why he fallin offin da bed. Huh? And dat Ninja. He sneaky boy. So sneaky. No wonder his name Ninja! 'cept he not brave. He a wussy cat. Even elixabet say so. and she know a wussy cat wen she see one. I think she know.

I so bored. I gonna do sumpin 'bout it. I leap up on bed with bestest skill. I try sneak up on Ninja, but he got good ears. Hear me comin' even on soft blankies. How he do dat? I dunno!

So I sneaking closer and closer. That Ninja he growling quiet first, den he growling louder 'n louder. Den him HISS! Wit him big mout open so bigger like panther. Anyway, he say dat is panther hiss, and dat mean last warnin'. But, warnin' me of what? Ever time I sneak up and he do dat, I get closer and closer and he growl and hiss, and I get closer and closer. He give big last warning, but do nothing. So, I just keep closer until I touching him. He huffy puffy go way.

Ha! Now maybe he play wid me. What you think? He play wit me? Naw.... Boring! Boring! Boring!

See my pitchur? Dat how Ninja make da big Hissy. I can do it good too. See? Not very good pitchur tho 'cuz I move and make too fuzzy. Nex time I hold still for camera. No make fuzzy wuzzy. You see soon... nex time. But, did get pretty good one. Huh?

I hungry all da time. But no can find food. Where elixabet hid it? Ninja think he know and take all dat trouble to get up on the condo, den get up on the printer table, den get up on da printer. elixabet no like dis. No way! She put big towel on printer and it slippery. Ninja get on dere and almost slip again 'n again! But him determined. He gonna get my food and Bambi's food. Den when him get way up on top of da compuder closet he not find no food. HA! Elixabet, she fool him! No more dat cat food is dere. ha! ha!

But, dat also mean, I got no food cuz it locked up inside dere. It my food she hidin' So I go in kit-chin and see if Ninja food is dere. He don't mind me eatin' it. He don't like it. He say is diet food. Is tastin' pretty good to me. I would eat it all gone. But, dat elixabet, she no want me eatin' diet food. Not good for me, she say. I gots to eat baby food... kitten food. Other is more intresting. But, when she shut me and Bambi in the room with our food, I eat mine all gone, and part of Bambi's too.

Bambi, she say, is okay, kid. you can eat it. She say she is Lady and like to eat like Lady. That okay wid me, cuz I get her foods. Know what I mean?

Bambi, she no wanna play today either. Boring! Boring! Boring! Alla time I go pounce and she no want me pouncin'. She let me have it real quick. She hold me down. She slap me face. She one tough Lady! I go way. kick da jingle ball. Good attack! I succeed. Jingle ball retire to under washer. I git him later, though. Uou watch and see! OkY? dON't forgit now.

I git so bored, so bored, I go hide. I hide so good for long time. I hide so good nobuddy fine me. Not Bambi, Not Ninja, Not even elixabet. She not find me either. So, I hidin' real good. You wanna know ware I hided? Huh? In da big closet! Dey not knows how I get inside dat closet.

Dat closet door. It shut tight. Wanna know how I get in dere? I slip in between doz two sliding doors. Just push da one behind da first one, and it push open just fine enough for me. I know Ninja too fat to git in dare. No way! Fat Ninja. He too fat. I know Bambi. She a Lady. She no want to go in me secret closet place ennyway, even if she knew whar I was. but those guys, dey don't know. I hided so good.

Boring closet, all dark and nothing to play with. just a buncha boxes. So I climb up to high box and go sleep. So bored. So bored. I bore myself to sleep. Ha!

Boring! Boring! Boring!

Awesome Cat Blogging!

Hey there Dudes and Dudettes! This is the Ninja blogging. We have had an awesome day. Well, parts of it anyways.

What's not so awesome? Elizabeth has put me on a diet. It's impossible! I love to chew on dry food, a lot, but not this cardboard stuff. Funny thing is, that little pipsqueak, Spyder, loves the stuff. He comes and nudges me away anytime E puts the bowl down for me. Well, he can have it! I'd much rather have those sweet little niblets made especially for kittens. You know. The stuff that's chock full of calories to provide maximum growing. Yeah, that stuff. I love it!

Before, E was feedin Spyder and Bambi up on the table by the window. She thought I wouldn't fit up there because of the big ol' lamp sittin on it. But, I'm the Ninja! I am the sneaky one. Whenever she wasn't lookin' that was when I was up there enjoying that special kitten food.

But, now, alas, she has changed things around. She's feedin' those two in the spare room. And feedin' me in the kitchen. She thought if she did that, then we would all eat what we were supposed to. But, I had her fooled again. She thought I was too fat to make my way up on top of the computer cabinet and get to those two bowls. Even Bambi and Spyder didn't know that's where she put them when they weren't looking. But I saw her and it didn't take too much effort to get up there. It was a bit treacherous, but it was worth it to get that kitten food.

She finally got to serving those two for 20 minutes then locking their food away in the cabinet. I cannot get the doors open. Phooey!!!

She thoughtfully put a whole open feeder out in the garage for me to have access to my food anytime. But, I really don't like to eat it. Did I already say that? Right!

Bambi and I can go through the cat door to get out there for our litter boxes. But, little pipsqueak hasn't figured it out yet. He thinks we just magically disappear. It's just as well that he can't get out there, otherwise he would be eating my diet food! I don't know why he likes it so much when he has that delicious stuff. He eats that enthusiastically, too.

I shouldn't complain. I do eat it, and I have become a bit slimmer. I must admit. And I find that I am friskier, too. I have even been playing with the mice lately. Though I make sure those young ones don't know it. I play when they aren't around. Plus, I do find that I feel a lot more affectionate towards E. And as long as those two are locked in the other room enjoying their 4 meals a day, I've got her all to myself. And, we sure do get some cuddling in then. See? Now, that's awesome!

This is awesome! E did an odd thing today. She took Spyder away in the carrier and they went for a drive. He didn't even have an appointment. She told him she just wanted him to enjoy the car. They were gone for hours! When they returned, Spyder told me he wasn't scared at all. I believe him. He is quite mellow about the car. That last time, he just went to sleep.

But, one thing that bothered Spyder was that when E drove up that steep hill, he started to freak out. That's the same steep hill where Jeffrey got all excited and tried to claw his way out of his carrier and got sick, and you know the rest.

Spyder tells me he doesn't really understand what made him get upset. He really had been enjoying the ride up to that point. He says after they went past the place where Jeffery was upset, then Spyder wasn't upset anymore. How odd! Don't you think?

I asked him if he got upset because he remembered this was where Jeffery got sick. I asked him if he could smell the forest that got burned last year. Did that upset him? He's just a little kit and doesn't seem to get it. He only knows that he didn't like that one part of their drive, and suddenly he was crying out. He didn't know why.

I think there must be some primordial built in radar that we cats have. That something special that lets us know when there is danger. Whether Spyder was remembering that was where Jeffery got upset, or whether he smelled that danger of the old fire, it doesn't matter. We just got that extra something that makes us sensative.

When they returned, E had a plastic bag that had a treat for us, two big feather boas. I watched as she pulled them out of the bag. They were so excited to play with them. Even some of the feathers came loose. But, you know, they aren't as interesting when they are just laying there not doing anything. Finally, E put them away. Later, Bambi discovered the bag hanging on the doorknob. She shredded the bag with her claws!!! I know how sharp her claws are. She snagged me on the nose the other day.

Anyhow, after shredding the bag, of course, the feather boas fell out and Bambi had the time of her life. The kitten was in the other room snoozing on the bed. Otherwise, he would have been in on it, too. I have to admit, I was a bit relieved when E caught on. I'd like to see the boas last for a while so I can play with them, too!

All that ruckus tired me out, so I climbed up on the bookcase headboard above the bed and curled up to sleep on my bed. I know I snore because E nudges me occasionally and tells me so. This time that little pest didn't come to bother me so, I must have gone into a deep sleep.

The next thing I knew, I was falling in between the headboard and the dresser. I even bumped my head! I was not in the least bit ready to fall on my feet. It was a terribly clumsy thing to do, but I was helpless. Dead asleep, and boompt, there I was sailing through the air, and kerplunk on the floor, bedding and all.

I must have stretched out my legs and pushed myself, and maybe then, the bedding just slipped across the headboard and there it went. I really was dazed for a while, and E made a big fuss over me. I was so embarrassed in front of those two white cats that I went into the living room and hid behind the curtain in the window for a while.

This was absolutely the least awesome part of my day.

Stoic Kitten

It is I, Bambi. How do you like my picture? Kind of sultry. Huh?

It's been pretty quiet today. There's no scent of Mr. Jeffery outside, nor inside. We haven't seen him since we all went in the car that day. We all had gone in the car, which made Ninja pretty nervous. It seems that Spyder doesn't mind the car at all. He was in his little cuddlesome soft side carrier, and fell asleep. I like riding in the car. I thought Jeffery did too. But, all of a sudden he was pretty upset. We all were worried about him because he was acting so strange, and then he got very quiet and Elizabeth gave out such stressed emanations. So she tooke to the vet and then we didn't see him anymore. Ninja and I have taken turns going to the screen doors and sniffing, but neither of us can get anything. He hasn't slept in any of his favorite spots. He's not under his tree.

We haven't heard him calling us either. Ninja usually goes to get Elizabeth to open the door for him. But, there has been no need, now. It is strange. This is the longest time he has been away from home. Perhaps he is still at the Vet? or maybe he has gone exploring. He has often told us of his old home where the forest animals and giant trees live. So, maybe he went there. I hope not, it sounds like a scary place to me. Mr. Jeffery said the last time he was there, a terrible fire ate all the trees, chased him and his forest friends away and scorched his fur.

Ninja has been coming into the room where we have our scratching house and sleeping with us instead of on top of the bookshelf above Elizabeth's bed. I guess he is a bit lonesome for Mr. Jeffery, and wants to be with us for company.

Little Spyder and I were playing today and he ran right over the bed leaping up the curtain. Then he walked across the top of it for a short bit. But, you know, he isn't very balanced and the next thing I knew, before I could give him a warning to get down, he fell right through the place where the curtains hook on to the rod. I was shocked. It happened very fast. I could do nothing but stare until Elizabeth ran and got him down.

It's odd that he didn't make so much as a peep, because later he told me that curtain hooks have claws and they clawed him all along one side. I was surprised to learn that. Lucky he has good fur. I have never climbed a curtain before, nor walked across a rod. But, I could tell that Spyder didn't make it up, by the look on his face when it happened. He's a stoic little guy.

Telling Her of His Death

Yesterday, when Esther came to help out, I just couldn't bear to tell her about Jeffery. He always greeted her when she arrived. I'm sure he had affection for her, though he had an ulterior motive, too. She always opened a fresh can of cat food for him. Because his tummy couldn't tolerate as much food as the other cats, she would give him a quarter of a can at a time, over a period of three or four hours. Because he would eat and then ask to go out, then a short time later ask to come in and eat again, he was very happy that she accommodated him.

I couldn't bear to tell Ester about Jeffery's not being with us anymore. I knew I would fall apart. I needed some time to just process the whole thing. So, I kept running out to do an errand or two and we didn't have much time to chat.

So, today when she arrived, I asked her to go out into the garden with me in front of Jeffery's pine tree. I showed her the little curved bridge I had created and the little pile of dirt beneath it, the catnip and flowers (now wilted) I had placed upon it. I explained that Jeffery was there, and the circumstances surrounding his death. She had a very astute observation that had not quite occurred to me.

I had presumed that Jeffery had freaked out because of memories of being caged regarding the fire. What Esther pointed out to me was that the area I was driving by when Jeffery started freaking out was the very area where the forest fire had occurred. Maybe he could smell the remnants of the scorched trees, where the trauma had occurred and that was what had triggered his freaking out.

Later, I was sorting through some papers and came across the veterinary records of last July when I first adopted Jeffery. I recall that when I adopted him from the shelter, where he was scheduled for euthansia I had to sign a waiver saying I knew he was very old and not in the best of health. I had not remembered what I now have read on his medical record from last year. He had a heart murmur and signs of renal disease.

It is all making better sense to me now. I am more grateful that he lasted as long as he did. I'm not feeling quite so guilty that I put him in the car inside the cage. I had been feeling it was my fault. If I hadn't done that, maybe he could have still been with us.

Firefighter Rescues Cat

Just a picture I found on the internet. Makes me think of Jeffery's rescue from fire.

Jeffery's Farewell

I didn't want to leave without saying good bye.

So, granted my last wish, I am here to tell my story.

This morning, bright and early, the alarm went off. Usually I am the alarm, so I was a bit surprised. Is today to be moving day? I hope not. I have spent my life living in my wonderful forest, then the fire came along and my life as I knew it was gone.

Then, coming here to live with Keli and Elizabeth wasn't so bad. Though I missed my forest, at least there are those two pines out front I could lay beside and enjoy the fragrance of old times and dream old dreams.

I know I haven't been doing well lately. I forget things, A LOT! I come in and go out, and come in and go out, and I can't remember. Did I just come in? It seems like I haven't been out all day, so I ask to go out.

It's sort of the same with food. Though Elizabeth leaves a feeder out where any of us can have a meal to our heart's content, sometimes I forget where it is located, and it has been worse lately to the point of frustration. Elizabeth literally has had to pick me up from the door and remind me to eat. Or sometimes I have just eaten and I go back to eat. I forgot that I already ate. That really causes a problem because then I up-chuck on the furniture, the bed, the carpet, whereever I am located. I really feel confused when that happens.

The kids call me old man. I'm now 18. I've had a good life. Did I tell you before? I can't recall. Sometime I'll tell you about the good old days.

Well anyways, Elizabeth was gathering everyone up and placing them inside there travel cages. I was outside and she was looking for me. Those plumbers had arrived and were planning to start up the jackhammer. I've heard a lot of big noises before but I wasn't wanting to hear that. So, I quickly slipped to the back door, did a polite meow and waited. I could tell Elizabeth was relieved.

The kids were disgruntled with me for holding them up. I just did a hiss and that shut them up. I get tired of hearing them complain. If they would only calm down, they would be more relaxed, like me. They gotta take life in their stride. Take what comes and wait it out. Be with the moment, then see what the next moment brings, and so on. Sometimes one moment will be the same as the next. Sometimes there are subtle variations.

So, we all got settled into the car, our cages all lined up in a nice order. My cage is bigger than the rest, of course, because even though I am thin as Abe Lincoln, I am also very long as he. So, I need some stretching space. It's not that it wasn't big enough. I just started to crack around the edges. All these weeks, these months since Keli died, I have wanted to go, too. These young whipper snappers have their lives ahead of them. Mine is finished, and unlike Keli I have had some major medical issues for quite some time now. Maybe that is what set me on edge. Did my blood sugar go haywire? My thyroid give out?

All I know is that I began to feel intense anxiety. I couldn't bear to be in that cage for one more second. But we were already on our way to Santa Cruz. Elizabeth didn't have a chance to stop and kept talking to me soothingly. But, it did no good. I felt like every nerve was on end, every sound was like the jackhammers we had left behind. It all echoed and reverberated like a chinese gong right inside my head. My eyes burned like fire. Like the Trabing fire last June. The fire that destroyed my home and separated me from the family I had lived with so long, separated me from my trees and my forest friends. The fire that scorched my fur and filled my lungs with heat and smoke.

It all came back to me in that moment. I panicked, I couldn't breathe again, I felt the heat again, I felt the terror of my animal friends, the horses screaming, the dogs down in the next gully howling like banshees. And suddenly I was a banshee. It seemed. I couldn't stop screaming, howling and I just lost my cool completely. Everything was so intense. It was like I was living my whole life all over again in fast motion. All at once the good things and the bad, but mostly those last years of not being able to play anymore with my buddies, of not having my front fang to chew anymore, of having a body that has been failing me. It all was crushing down on me. I had to get out of that cage.

I didn't know where I might go, even if I did get out of the cage, but it didn't matter. I unsheathed my claws to the fullest extent and began furiously to rake them across the metal door of the cage. It hurt to pull on them like that. I know that I must have scared the kids, but I was beyond caring. I felt like I was going to explode, and that is just exactly what happened. Like fireworks inside my head, I exploded and like fireworks I fell down empty. I fell down and the light was expended. I hovered above my body and watched as Elizabeth had finally found a safe place to pull over. All her soothing words were not heard. They fell upon deaf ears. Her pets did not soothe. I had no sensations of feeling left. I was just a little tiny spark floating there.

At least the turmoil had stopped. I could just be there floating, I could see my breathing as I laid down beside myself and curled up. I vaguely heard Elizabeth calling the vet, arranging to go there to see what was wrong with me. I wish she wouldn't do that. I didn't want any last ditch efforts, made. I just wanted to remain in this peaceful state, maybe a little longer.

She turned the car around and before I knew it we had arrived at the vet's office. At least it was the one I like, Dr. Neow. I could tell that he knew I was unconscious. I could tell that he knew there was no number ten to come along. Nine was all I had and it was finished. I was terrifically grateful when he explained somewhere far off in the distance that it would be fruitless to prolong my agony. I know Elizabeth petted me over and over again. I know she whispered in my ear those loving things, our own special language, she speaks those words for only me. Like a lullaby, like a poem, like soft purrs from the depths of my momcat's chest. There she was waiting for me. Momcat. "Son, It's been a long time. I've been waiting for you. Please come home now. But, I clung on filled with angst and floating both at once. Then the vet explained the fees involved in putting me to sleep. "Taking him out of his misery", he said. How understated was that? Elizabeth then fell apart and cried. And the vet told her to take me to the shelter as they could charge considerably less.

By this time, I didn't care. No more anxiety, no more digging at the door of the cage, no more yowling. Just that sense of momcat and me nudging each other peacefully. Her asking, "Are you ready son?" I don't know that I wasn't ready. I don't know what I needed to do to be ready. I just laid their on the floor of the cage and wet my blanket. How embarrassing. I have been doing that a lot lately, forgetting to go to the door when the pressure builds up. Too many accidents. And the biting, yes, I'd been biting at all the well intentioned folks who cared about me, taking it out on them. I felt ashamed but at least I never drew blood, and was forgiven each time.

Bambi, Ninja, and Spyder were very quiet. Of course they knew something was wrong. They were nervous and uneasy, but did nothing to bother me. They couldn't have anyway. I was already too far away from them in spirit. I wished I could have given a little mew to Spyder to reassure him. A polite meow to Bambi to encourage her t go on without me, and continue doing the great job raising Spyder into a respectable adult kitty. I wish I could have told Ninja to keep his eye out, to be there for the other two, especially in hard times. Actually There was no need for me to say anything at all.

The vet at the shelter was very gentle and kind. Elizabeth didn't come in with me, which was a good idea. She had a horrible time getting Keli home after she was euthanized, I couldn't imagine how it might be for her to drive all three of them home, with me gone. My Momcat licked my forehead just like when I was little and I felt comforted, and this time more than ready to leave. The vet came to me with her injection. The last time I would smell something. The last time I would taste, or hear.

Suddenly I was free. I could raise up higher and left my body effortlessly.

All is beautiful.

Good bye everyone

We Worry About It

It is I, Bambi.

Since Jeffery has no interest in blogging this evening and the other two boys are distraught, I thought I might fill you in on what has been occurring.

It was a flurry of nervous tension as things were being pulled out of cupboards and packed in boxes. Ninja got very depressed. He said this is what happened before he ended up in the Pacific Grove Shelter when his people got divorced. He keeps thinking that Elizabeth is going to take him to the shelter again.

I tried to reassure him, but I am in some doubts myself. I have seen boxes packed over and over in my almost two years of life, but I didn't end up in the shelter. I was fostered that last time. Before that, I just got moved from house to house as my person couldn't stay very long. She was going to school and could only live in a room. That was a problem. I go quite grouchy and the others who lived there didn't like that.

Then one of the other relatives kept me for a while, and then the boxes got packed again. That was when my kittens disappeared, too. I don't have any kittens anymore. But, I do have little Spyder in my life and I would like him to stay with me. He is a rambunctious play partner. He takes my breath away, sometimes. But, I will teach him some manners, yet.

Spyder is taking all this in his stride. He doesn't have any bad associations with boxes, so he is having fun exploring them and poking around in the open cupboards.

It wasn't until Esther came over that we learned what all the fuss is about.

Someone is coming here tomorrow to tear a whole in the kitchen floor and make a big mess fixing water pipes. Apparently, this will be very noisy all day long because of machines. I hear the washing machine and I don't like it, but have gotten used to it. I don't think any of us would be able to tolerate louder noises. Well, I suppose we would if we had to. But, I hope we don't have to.

Elizabeth brought home a pretty pink travel crate for me. I really like it. She put a piece of my favorite sheepskin inside and I went in and checked it out. Very cozy. She did the same for Spyder. Though he hasn't got a nice crate. He has something that looks like small luggage and can be carried on the shoulder. I think he will be quite crowded. But he's a good kid and will at least like cuddling up in his sheepskin, too.

She also fixed up a crate for Ninja. He says it is the one he came home in from the shelter, when he was first adopted. It's really old and smells of the Keli Cat that is so revered around here. I can tell she was a grand old matriarch and worthy of respect. We feel her presence often when she comes to check in on Elizabeth. She sees how depressed Elizabeth gets because she is gone. Ninja got a message from her saying she was happy that we were here to help her. I wish she would give me messages, too. But Ninja says I'm too young yet, and besides I need to watch over Spyder. Well, that, I already know. But, I wonder how old I have to be in order to get messages.

There's a larger cage for Jeffery with his favorite blanket in it sitting in the living room by where he sleeps a lot.

Litter and spare box have been loaded in the trunk. I saw food being put into a carry bag, too. So I think she means business when she says she will have to take us all in the car with her and spend the day out of the house.

I hope it will not be as hot as expected as then she wont feel very good and that always makes Spyder sad because she wont play. If we are all going to be in our travel cages, I don't think we will be playing at all.

Maybe we can go to the pet store and hang around there.

Spyder Cat Monster Adventure.

It been turrible morning. Turrible I tells ya!

Oh yeh, dis is SPyder. We was all hangin' out in da spare room. Elixabet were on da comeputer.

Sudenly a big scary monster came to da bak door. It was open, but scrreen was closeded. Still it big n scarey. So Ninja give da signal. Grrrrrr! let's get outta here. I look at Bambi. SHe no movin' She starin' down dat monster.

I so scared. Ninja say agin, let's go! But, I stand dair waitin' fer Bambi to come away from dat screen door. I no wants her get hurt. She my bestest friend, and I no want sumpin happen to her. She not movin' She jus starin' real hard at monster.

Monster, he got big eyes. He look like very bad guy, Big fur all over. Big ringo tail. He stink so bad. But, he see me. He see Ninja. He see Elixabet an' he not look scared. We got 4. He got 1. He not scared?

Bambi, she very quiet, den she say at monster. "Now I gonna tell you once" she say. "and den you go way very fast. You hear me eow dirdy raccooonn?" she say.

He blink him eyes at her. He hardly don't believe this liddle white cat be so seryus to challenge him! I hardly don't believe it too. Where she get da courage? Don't she know she so small an he so big guy?

Ninja, he be so ready to run. I can tell. We is sticky hair up in airs. But we don't want leave her alone wit monster. Maybe he rip screen an take her away! Maybe he bite her, maybe rip off her pretty white fur. Maybe he tear her face. Oh! soooooo scarey!

We gots to stick together an help each other help out an show Mr Raccoon Monster we not scared! Even tho' we is.

Den, Elixabet, she notice sumpin' goin on. "It about time!" I say. "It about time!" She get up an look, an den I so scaared an Ninja so scared dat Elixabet do dat, we disappear in one second. Zip zip zoom! Whoosh! But, jus one thing. I disappear right into da wall. Well, not eggzackly. I run so hard. no look whair I goin' I smack my head on wall. Ow! Ow! Owie-Ow! I see stars everywhair. How dat happen? I feel weerd, but, I no stop, I keep on goin' zippety-zip.

Den, I forget a secon. I don't know what happen. I suddenly in udder room. Don't member how I gots there. Ninja he hear wit me. Ninja look at me wit big yellow eyes. Are 'eow okay? he say. I guess so, I say.

Den Ninja say, "In not scared. I jus runned away to do famous ninja trick. I sneak like silent Ninja, nobody know I see dem! Follow me. I show eow how" he say at me. So, we peeks aroun da corner an see what Bambi do now.

Bambi gots her pose a quiver pose, she gonna jump that raccoon guy, she gonna really let him have it real hard. She mean it wit all her heart. I think she gonna try and scare him forebber!

But, Elixabet she some rescue! She stand up fast, (never know how dose hoomans do dat wit only 2 legs. How dey keep balance so long?) She make big lion noise. Raccoon scared now and run away. Good thing too, cuz Bambi she pushed up against screen real tight now. I think she was gonna eat up da monster

Me, I a scaredy cat. Ninja he a woosy cat. Bambi. She my hero. She so brave. I got to learn how to do dat.

Heh! Heh! Heh! Those guys are sleeping again. Lazy Cats! So, I'm writing again today. It's me, Ninja, the Panther in Disguise!

Elizabeth went away for a while today. We were all very curious about her preparations before she left. She went out to the garage and brought back the picnic cooler, and set it down in front of the fish tank. Then, she took a jar and dipped it in, and dumped the fish water into the cooler. We saw her do that before when she took the out and drove it away last month. So, we were waiting for the exciting moment when she would grab the net and catch a fish. It would have been so cool to stand on the side of the picnic cooler and look down on the fishy, like Bambi and Spyder did that time with the Plecostmus. But, we were disappointed when she just closed up the cooler and left the house.

Several hours later, she came back. And, guess what? This time she had fishies in the cooler! LOTS of them!!! They are going to be fun to watch, I'm sure. They are a very deep orange, almost a red color. I know they say that kitties cannot see colors, because we have no rods in our eyes, but that is not true.

I was surprised that Bambi did not spend much time investigating the new fishies. She got bored fast and went to lie down. Spyder, on the other hand, jumped right up on top of the tank, instead of on the bench that sits there just for us to look inside. That little guy usually sits on the bench. When he got up on top, he was looking very hopefully through the cracks in the lid parts. He is very fortunate that he did not fall in, as the top to that tank really isn't very secure. Elizabeth needs to get something better. Especially if Spyder is going to do things like that!

I wouldn't dare jump up on top of the aquarium. I am strong and muscular and outweigh Bambi and Spyder, both. So, I would probably end up going swimming!

Ninja Cat Imparts

The kids (Bambi and Spyder) and the old man, (Jeffery) are asleep and I've got the computer to myself. Let me introduce myself. I'm Ninja. Today was an unusual day. We had unexpected visitors.

Well, maybe Miss E knew they were coming, but she certainly didn't tell any of us. We only found out when she gathered us together and put us all in the spare room, except for Jeffery. He doesn't like to hang out with us. The few times she tried to put him together with us, he was so mean, and poor Bambi cried at the door until Elizabeth opened it. Jeffery ran out straight to the front door and begged to be let out. She always gives in to him! He is the only one allowed out. I guess cause he doesn't go very far. Bambi and I would choose to explore.

I know if I got out I would check out the whole neighborhood and not come back til I was done. I'm sure Miss E knows this quite well, cause she keeps an eye on me and I get a squirt from the Scat Spray Water bottle any time I get too close to the door. But, I just want to smell the world! Doesn't she understand that?

So, I have to use my ninja tricks to silently sneak past her so I can hang out by the door. A guy can just sniff the air can't he? I really must get out there sometime if I can just find a way! After I tore the holes in the screens those first two times I got out, they fixed it so I can't do that anymore. So, finding a way out is more challenging now. As a ninja master, I shall be patient. Everything will fall in place. I haven't learned to walk through walls yet. But with practice, we shall see.

Back to the visitors. Elizabeth's son came with a friend. So, we were introduced one at a time. I can tell her son really likes me, so I just sort of sleepily ignored him, while he stroked me. Ninjas must keep their emotions under control and not let others know what they are thinking! Since I was in the bedroom up on my special place of honor on the bookcase headboard, I didn't watch as the guests were led into the other room to meet Bambi.

Oh, she is such a hussy! Kissing up to them like that. Straining her neck to be rubbed and squirming to their sweet talk. I'm not jealous, I just think her immaturity gets in the way of her maintaining any sense of dignity.

I was surprised at Spyder's reaction. He is always so interested in everything, so curious about everything. Always checking things out, always strutting through the house as though it was his to conquer (well it is, actually), it never occurred to me that he might not be wanting to be associated with introductions to new humans.

Elizabeth had to go hunt him down. Once she finally found him she carried him out to the living room like she was about to show off a precious treasure. Well, I guess he is in a way. Though, I know this family would not be able to function without my guardianship of our treasures.

I learned how to be a guardian in my previous life. I mean the home I lived in before I came here. My Sensei's were two dogs. They weren't very good at teaching me how to meditate. They said I was better at focus and concentration than them. Guarding, on the other hand, was more difficult to learn. I can wag my tale well to welcome someone, but I just never got the barking down to a fine art. My Sensei's did tell me, though, that my deep throated warning meows are very effective. And I must agree. A good guarder doesn't need to come across as a wild cat, or a grumpy old man wild cat. One needs some finesse to carry off the job appearing threatening without appearing to be a danger. Appearing too dangerous can end up in very bad situations, about which I have only heard whispers.

Well, on with my story. Where was I? Oh, yeah. There was Spyder hiding out, trying to make himself invisible. That doesn't work very well if you are going to come running the second a feather toy is waved in front of you! So he was taken out to meet the guests. I could sense his distress. Even though they admired his oddly matched eyes and praised his pretty white hair and complimented him on his little black top hat, he was having none of it. Never relaxed, never warmed up and worst of all, never got the petting, cuddling and attention he deserved. I will have to take him under my wing and teach him how to greet guests more calmly. He has to learn first and foremost, Cats are in charge, not the other way around. If you are going to hide under the bed, then hide under the bed and stay there, while they go through all the wheedling motions to try to get you to come out. After they give up and go away, Then you can make your big entrance. They will be so much more impressed with you that way.

They all went away for a while so we listened to the stereo while they were gone. I love it when the traditional Japanese music is on. Bambi is into the sentimental music called "torch songs". I can see why. Those high female voices have great modulations. They actually can resonate quite well with our own tonal qualities. Spyder is totally clueless about music as of yet. Though, I notice he gets really calm when there is harp music playing.

When Elizabeth and her son returned, this time there were three other female humans with them. It was quite exciting, as they all smelled of fish. I could smell them when they first arrived. They were still outside and one of the girls offered sushi to Jeffery. He turned his nose up at it and walked away. Go figure!!! I guess he still prefers wild squirrel from his old forest home.

So when they all came inside, Bambi and Spyder were out there in the living room in a flash. They were right up their sniffing fingers and everything. Spyder had lost his shyness so easily, it was amazing.

So we were all given little morsels of sushi. It was really quite delicious. We were all sad when they went away.

Name that Cat!

It took a long time for Spyder to get his name.

The shelter gives a name to each cat that arrives, if it was not surrendered with a name already given by it's family. Since Spyder and his siblings were found kitties "stray cats", they were given names that were related to the neighborhood in which they were found. Crespi was the name given. Ugh! I knew that wasn't the name he was meant to have.

Since Spyder has a unique appearance, Zenmonk and I tried out several names to fit his looks. Spyder has one blue eye and one gold eye. I know that David Bowie has different colored eyes and we tried on names related to him. David was out of the question as I have a brother by that name. We thought of names of his songs. Rebel was out of the question, too. I believe the name we carry applies to our personality and I didn't want a Rebel cat.

Since Spyder is all white with just a touch of black on his head, I thought perhaps he could be named after a childhood kitty who he resembles... Topper. But, no. that was not his name.

Zenmonk wanted to name him Mohawk or Geronimo. It was Geronimo for a while. But, Spyder certainly didn't respond to it. Zenmonk still calls him that, and that's okay. We will see if he will change over to Spyder.

One day, as I picked him up and held him like a little baby in my arms, I began singing to him. Do you know the song? "Can she bake a cherry pie, Billy Boy?" So, I thought, Ah Ha! That should be his name. Billy Boy. But, no, as he grew up into an adult cat, he would have such a sissy name, so I thought, okay, Billy would be nickname for Bilbo Baggins. But, Bilbo, still was not what I thought to be a good name for an adult cat. Too stuffy. What a curmudgeon name, even for a traveler on an adventure.

So, Billy Baggins was next (and that's the name I told the vet when I took him in for his first check up).

But, you know, sometimes a kitty names himself. There I was one day when Bambi was playing with a mousie in the bathtub. Funny cat! And suddenly I saw a spider scurrying across the tub. Bambi got very excited and wanted to play with it. She was careful not to destroy it, she just wanted to harass it.

Spyder, came out of nowhere and jumped in the tub. He wasn't about to play. Before I could stop him, he ate that spider! I called the vet right away to see if I needed to bring him in. No, the spider was a harmless one, and the joke was that my kitty now had spider blood in his veins. And so, that is how Spyder got his name. Oh... and the spelling? Well, I think the little guy is somewhat of a spy, as it seems he knows what's going on even from another room. It seemed he was spying on Miss Bambi, while she was playing. Don't you think?