Fraggle Cats

MEOWWWWW!

2011-11-15T06:04:00.001-08:00

So, I took Gobo to the vet for the first time in probably about 6 years. I have been very lucky with him...he has been very healthy for all 8 (almost 9!) years of his life. Lately, he's been acting strange though. He's been going to his litter box in the middle of the night and yowling at the top of his lungs. It really worried me. I thought that maybe he was having difficulty going to the bathroom...maybe he had a UTI or something like that? So, I decided to take him to the vet! The vet was very nice, but poor Gobo was shaking the entire time he was there (and even on the car ride over). I felt so bad! He looked at Gobo and said he looked very healthy (phew!), but gave me a special prescription cat food to help any urinary problems that he could possibly have. He also told me that he thinks Gobo might be allergic to the Purina I've been feeding him (he seems to be scratching right around his eyebrow area a lot...to the point that he's even cut himself). So, I'm trying out this new food. The problem is that the Purina is about $5-$8 tops....this food is $28 a bag!!! RIDICULOUS! So, I'm paying an astronomical price for my cat's food now....it's worth it if it helps him. If not, then I don't know what to do! Here are some recent pictures of my crazy kitties:

Mokey cuddled on my legs

Mokey

Gobo

Haircuts and Snugglies

2011-06-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

So, I took Gobo and Mokey for their yearly haircuts. They did very well, and I actually got to watch the haircuts this time. They were both so calm and patient. Unfortunately, I have a new Mokey problem that's started very recently...she seems to pee in her kitty carrier every time I take her anywhere now! This is not a fun habit to deal with, but all I can do is put wee-wee pads and towels in her kitty carrier, and hope for the best. Sigh...she seems to be using her urine in bad ways all of the time. It's driving me nuts!

Anywho, I had 2 days off of work, and I ended up being really sick. So, it worked out well b/c I got to stay in bed and rest, and didn't have to use up my sick/vacation days. I noticed something really interesting though...whenever I walked into the living room, Gobo and Mokey were always snuggled up together on the couch! This must be what they do when I'm at work all day! It made me so happy to see them so snuggly and loving. I took a few pics with my cell phone (that turned out pretty blurry unfortunately) and a few others with my regular camera. It was just too cute..I had to get some pics :-)

Meoooowwww....

2011-04-12T07:46:00.000-07:00

So, I do love my kitties, but lately, I don't know what's going on with Gobo...he's driving me insane! Without fail, he wakes me up at 4:30am, meowing. I don't know what he wants....he just starts knocking things over in my room and meowing really loudly. It could just be for attention, but it's getting ridiculous...and if I shut him out of my bedroom, he'll just meow louder. He's not one to give up after awhile either. If I ignore his meowing, he doesn't stop...he'll just meow louder and more often. ARGH! Well at least HE is sleeping soundly with no interruptions! haha! Here are some sweet, cuddly pics of Gobo and Mokey from last week...

Cuddle Kitties

2011-02-02T07:29:00.000-08:00

Just posting some new pictures for 2011. The kitties are doing well, and Mokey hasn't been peeing outside of the litter box lately (knock on wood!). Hopefully, she won't do it again. I'm going away for a vacation in April, and my parents are going to kitty sit, so I'm hoping the "new environment" doesn't cause Mokey to start peeing around the house again.

Pee Problem

2010-10-26T11:55:00.000-07:00

So, I'm having a bit of a problem with Mokey. I went away to Dallas for a week, and had a friend of mine look in on my cats. There were no problems...until I got back. I'm guessing that Mokey was mad that I was gone for a week (actually, it was less than a week...I only left them for 4 days), and she started peeing in the corner of my room. Well, I scrubbed and cleaned and then I sprayed that "Nature's Miracle" (the spray that's supposed to get rid of the scent, so cats won't go back to that same spot). Then I covered the spot with a towel. Well, she peed on the towel. Then, I put her food there b/c I was told that cats won't pee where they eat. Wrong! She peed right next to her food bowl. Then, I put tin foil there b/c cats are supposedly frightened by the sound tin foil makes when they step on it...not Mokey! She peed on the tin foil. Then, I put a new, fresh litter box there (since my vet said that maybe she didn't like going to the bathroom in the same litter box that Gobo uses)...she peed NEXT to the new litter box, but not IN it! So, I cleaned, scrubbed and vacuumed the entire area...then I put TV stand w/my keyboard right in the corner where she likes to pee. THEN, I put the new litter box right in front of the keyboard/TV stand. Things were good for 3 or 4 days...until last night....when she peed in the opposite corner of my room! ARGH! I'm taking her to the vet tomorrow morning to see if it's a urinary tract infection or something of that nature, but I have a feeling this is just a behavioral thing...and if so, I don't know what to do!!!!

I'm so stressed and frustrated by this all, and I'm not getting any sleep at night. I could close my bedroom door at night, but then I can't snuggle with my kitties. Gobo is a great snuggler, and I can't lock Mokey out without locking Gobo out (since the litter box and food are not in my bedroom, so they need the door open to get to those things). So, if I keep Mokey out of my room at all times, then I have to also keep Gobo out at all times...and that stinks! I don't know if Mokey is still angry about my 4 day trip, but I'm just getting so upset by this all...and I honestly don't know what to do! I'm actually hoping that it's a UTI or something like that, so I can give her meds and she'll stop doing this. But, if it's behavioral, I'm just S.O.L.!

Snippity Snip

2010-06-23T12:27:00.000-07:00

So, it's that time of year again....time for a haircut!!! Gobo has been getting a nice Summer buzz cut for years now, but this was Mokey's first haircut. I was so nervous for her (since she is really skittish), but I was also excited to see what she'd look like. I think Gobo looks like a little lion when he gets his hair cut for the Summer... actually, he looks a little silly (a silly lion?). It's probably because of the color of his fur. Gobo is a "nude" color, so when he gets a shave, he looks naked!

I think Mokey's haircut turned out even better than Gobo's. You can barely tell that she is all shaved!!! The color of her fur makes the shave look so nice and smooth. I really love it on her. Unfortunately, she had a rough time with the whole bathing routine. The person at the "salon" said that Mokey got really scared in the bathtub, and tried to leap out. She cut her own paw and was bleeding a bit. She's fine now, but I was so sad to hear that she was freaking out like that. I hate that she was so scared and there was nothing I could do to help her. Hopefully, she's enjoying the nice, cool Summer cut....especially with the crazy humidity that we have right now.

So, the haircut torture is over now....until next year!!!!

Time to catch some Zzzzzz's

2010-06-08T07:05:00.001-07:00

Since the weather has been SUPER hot lately, Gobo and Mokey have been super sleepy. They sprawl out wherever they can to catch some Zzzz's. Here are some pictures of them enjoying their "nap time."

Cuddlefest

2010-04-27T10:18:00.000-07:00

I've been totally slacking with this blog, but I doubt people really read it, so it's all good. My kitties are definitely cute, but there are only so many pictures I can take of them all of the time...unless I find interesting props...then my cats will HATE me! haha! I got some cute cuddling/cleaning pictures of Gobo and Mokey, so I figured I'd post them here. They were beating each other up last night, but they cuddled and made up later. It's so cute...they're like an old, married couple. So, here are some pics...

Got all of your ducks in a row?

2009-12-08T07:26:00.000-08:00

Long time no blog! Sorry about that!!! I was away for Thanksgiving and then I went to Disney World for an entire week. I left Gobo and Mokey with my parents while I was away, and they seemed to have a good time. My parents have a much larger house than I do, so they have plenty of room to explore and hide.

Anyway, while visiting my parents, I went to use the restroom one day. What did I find in the bathroom (other than a toilet, sink, bathtub and other bathroom items)??? GOBO...in the bathtub....with some rubber duckies! Of course I immediately grabbed my camera to catch a picture because it was too cute to ignore. While taking some pictures, Mokey jumped in too! So, I had Gobo, Mokey and some ducks...all in the bathtub. Too funny!

Gobo's got all of his ducks in a row

Gobo fantasizes about swimming in the sea with his duckies
Mokey joins Gobo and the duckies for a swim!

Oooh yeah...that's the spot!

2009-11-03T12:39:00.000-08:00

Growing up with dogs, I didn't really know or understand how to "pet" a cat. All of my dogs were big dogs (collies, golden retrievers, etc.), so they'd just roll over on their backs and you could just scratch those bellies like crazy. The dogs would LOVE that!!! You obviously can't be so rough on a cat...cats are much smaller than my big dogs, and much more sensitive to touch.

It didn't take me long to find "the spots" on my kitties. Both cats actually have the same spots --- under the chin and behind the ear/on top of the head. Once you start scratching there, they purr like motor boats! What I love is that when I'm scratching their ears, they will nuzzle up to me and basically direct my hand to where they want to be pet/scratched.

Together Again!

2009-10-26T11:11:00.000-07:00

Gobo came back home last Thursday...hooray! I didn't know if he and Mokey would recognize each other, so I put Mokey in her kitty carrier, let Gobo in the house, and let him sniff her. He sniffed her for maybe 2 seconds, then walked away. Mokey was so sad, so I immediately let her out of her carrier. I was worried that they wouldn't remember each other, but they seemed to be back to their old selves almost immediately. Once Mokey was out of her carrier, she found Gobo, and he started cleaning her. Then they chased each other around the house a bit. Gobo growled and hissed at her a few times when she was annoying him, but that's all.

Last night, I was lying in my bed and Gobo was at my feet...Mokey jumped up on the bed, and I thought Gobo would swat her away. He didn't! He started cleaning her, and then they cuddled up together! It was SO cute!!!! Of course, I had my camera right next to my bed, so I got some really cute shots of the two of them:

Gobo really gets a hold of Mokey to clean her up

Mokey seems to love the attention from Gobo

Look at that! They are cuddling!!!

So happy....

Mokey seems to be in complete euphoria

Mokey's Modeling

2009-10-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

Since Gobo had some "glamour shots," I figured Mokey should have some of her own. Actually, I was quite excited because I found my camera that I thought I had lost way back in May!!!

I was at the mall Memorial Day Weekend and couldn't find my camera when I got back home. I usually keep my camera in my purse, so I assumed I had dropped it somewhere in the mall. I went back to the mall and retraced all of my steps, but to no avail. My camera was gone and I was really bummed (this was a brand new camera that I had JUST gotten as a gift in March!). WELL, I pulled out my electric blanket the other day (it's a fleece electric blanket...so nice and cozy on a cold night!) because it was starting to get chilly, and my camera was folded up in the bag with my blanket!!! That's why I hadn't found it...I had put my electric blanket away for the summer and must have accidentally wrapped my camera up with it!

So, I decided to take some pictures with my new found camera (all of Mokey since Gobo is still at my parents' house - no worries...he'll be back tomorrow or Friday! Yay!):

Cuteness in the carry case

2009-10-20T13:35:00.000-07:00

I have so many issues when it comes to taking my pets to the vet. I feel so bad taking them there (even though my vet is the sweetest person). Both Mokey and Gobo are not too fond of car rides, and neither of them like being "trapped" in their kitty carrier. It's funny because I had heard that cats normally like being enclosed in small spaces...I guess my cats only like being enclosed in small spaces that they choose to put themselves in. They don't like when I put them there! Gobo is worse than Mokey, but who knows how Mokey will be now that she probably associates the carry case with going to the vet to have surgery!

Here is why I feel so bad putting Mokey in her carry case:

Gobo hates when I put him in the carry case, but he seems to go in their on his own all of the time! What's up with that?!

My New Cuddle Kitty...

2009-10-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

Mokey had her "womanhood" taken away almost 2 weeks ago (it will be 2 weeks as of this Thursday). In order for her to recover more easily, I sent Gobo to my parents' house for 2 weeks. I am going to take her back to the vet this Wednesday, so they can remove her stitches, but she seems to be healing so well. I was worried that I would take her back home, and she'd be totally out of it....sleepy, sick and depressed. Wow...was I wrong! Quite the opposite actually. She is more cuddly than EVER and she is purring like a machine gun!!! She has slept in my arms ever since she got back from the vet and it's SO cute.

I don't know if she's more cuddly now because Gobo isn't around to compete for attention with her...or if she was traumatized by the overnight vet experience...or if having her spayed just calmed her and changed her personality a bit. I guess I'll have to see how she is when Gobo comes back this week (either Thursday or Friday). I'm hoping I don't have to go through the whole "introduction" thing again. I hope they remember each other and are happy to see each other! Two weeks seems like such a long time! I was told that if cats are separated for a month, they won't remember each other the next time they are reunited. It was so hard to get Gobo used to Mokey...I really don't want to have to deal with that again.

So, here are some pictures of Mokey, the cuddle kitty:

Huge scare...

2009-10-06T08:41:00.000-07:00

I had the most horrible night last night. I stayed home from work because I wasn’t feeling well, and decided that I’d go to the gym to do Pilates at 4:30pm (to get rid of all of my achiness in my body). I got home from work and was greeted at the door by Mokey, as usual. A minute later there was a knock at my door. I opened it up and it was my next door neighbor. He said, “I found your little black and white kitten at my front door…your front door must not have been closed all the way, so I put him back in your apartment and closed the door.” I then realized that Gobo was missing! I searched my whole house from top to bottom. I kept shaking the treats (he usually comes sprinting to me when I do that), but he wasn’t coming. I went into complete panic mode. I called my boyfriend in tears and he said, “I’ll be over as quickly as possible.” I called the police to let them know my cat was missing, and to call me if anyone found him. 3 neighbors were walking their dogs and overheard me (and saw me sobbing), so they calmed me down, grabbed their flashlights, and started searching with me. They told me not to worry…the one girl’s cat got away once, and came back 1 day later. I was like ONE DAY?! I can’t wait that long!!! So, we all went searching through the woods behind my place. I have SO many cuts on my legs b/c there are a million thorn bushes back there – ow! My boyfriend came over with HUGE, bright flashlights that he had just gone out and bought. They told me it should be easier to find a cat at night b/c their eyes will glow. We searched from 6:30pm – 8:45pm (what nice neighbors!!!), but didn’t find him. I was a complete wreck. Another neighbor came out because he had leant my boyfriend another HUGE flashlight, but then realized that his 2 cats were missing!!! How weird is that?! He had left the porch door open, and somehow they knocked down the screen door and got out! So, we were all looking for our cats!!! I finally decided to give up and search again this morning, but my boyfriend said he’d keep searching. My neighbor (who lives downstairs and in the back of the condo complex) was on his back porch and said, “What does your cat look like?” I was like, “Did you see him?!?!” He said, “No…I just want to keep my eye out for him.” As I was describing Gobo to him, I looked by the back steps and saw him sitting there!!!! I was like “Oh my God!!!!!!! GOBO!!!!” I went up to him and he just meowed a sweet little meow, and I scooped him up and sobbed uncontrollably. He nuzzled his head into my arms and I brought him back inside. He had a bunch of dirt all around his neck, but that was all. He wasn’t hurt and he was pretty clean for having been out and about all of that time. I found him around 9pm. I had looked under those stairs before and he wasn’t there….so he must have been in the woods and had come to the stairs when he heard me calling him over and over, and shaking his treats. I can’t even begin to describe how happy I was to find him!!! I’m still shaking a little from the thought of losing my Gobo…he’s like my baby. I woke up at around 4am and he was curled up in my arms, purring SO loudly. I just snuggled with him and fell back asleep…and woke up at 6:30am and he was in the same exact place! I love Gobo so much!!! I need to install a screen door in the front of my house…other neighbors have it…I just have to install it myself! My boyfriend said it’s easy, so I will probably do that in the next week or so.

America's Next Top Cat

2009-09-30T17:56:00.000-07:00

Gobo seems to really enjoy watching TV. It's always interesting to be watching one of my shows and notice a large cat shadow cast upon the screen....yes, that's what it looks like...Gobo's silouette in my TV show. The other spot he seems to enjoy is the spot on top of my DVR....I'm assuming that is because of the heat it generates. He has such a beautiful silouette, so I really don't mind it too much. The only time it's annoying is when he actually blocks the show I'm watching (which you would think would be difficult to do with a 32in flat screen TV...nope...Gobo manages to do it).

Climbing to New Heights

2009-09-23T08:09:00.000-07:00

So, remember when I said that Gobo and Mokey are always in the exact same place when I come home and open up the front door? Gobo is on the dining room table to my left and Mokey is right in front of me. WELL, last night was a little bit different. I got home from work and opened up my door, expecting to see Gobo and Mokey in their usual spots. Mokey was standing right in front of me as usual, but Gobo was not on the dining room table. I was surprised that he wasn't there, but then I was even more surprised when I looked up and saw where he was sitting!!! Gobo managed to climb up to what is probably the highest spot in my apartment!!!! I was wondering how the heck he was able to do that, so I waited for him to climb down...and of course, I took pictures of it all:

How did Gobo get up there?!

Is he ever going to be able to get down?

He seems perfectly content up there

Contemplating which route he'll take down...

Starting out on top of the kitchen cabinets...

Jumping down to the refridgerator...

Jumping down off the fridge onto the countertop...

Traveling to the stove...

Looking down...

"This is a piece of cake! Why were you worried that I wouldn't get down?!"

The Monday Stretch

2009-09-21T11:33:00.001-07:00

Sigh...it's Monday. Weekends fly by so quickly, and weekdays just drag. The worst part is waking up and realizing it's Monday and you have to get out of your warm, cozy bed and go to work. Friday can never seem to arrive fast enough!

Well, since it's Monday, I figured everyone would be pretty sleepy right about now (The Monday Post-Lunch Food Coma). So, it's time for a nice stretch...

Zzzzzz....

2009-09-17T13:21:00.000-07:00

Shhhh!!! It's "sleepy time" with Mokey....

And Gobo finds his own "sleepy time" as well...

A "Cat Person"

2009-09-16T06:31:00.000-07:00

I've always grown up with dogs. Nobody in my family has ever had a cat. When I was born we had a mutt named Laddie, next we had a sable collie named Prince, next we had a tri-color collie named Shadow, and our last dog was a golden/lab mix named Teddy. My parents didn't get a dog after Teddy because his death was too difficult for them...he was with us for 14 years and became a huge part of our family. By that time I was living on my own anyway...so I always grew up in my parents' house with a dog. Also, my uncle/aunt have always had dogs (german shepards and golden retrievers) and my brother and his family have a dog (golden retriever). My grandfather, who passed the same time as my dog, Teddy, also had dogs...his border collie, Buddy, outlived him.

So, I was the first in the family to get a cat. I really would have liked to have gotten a dog, but not only did the apartment I was living in at the time not allow dogs, but I also have such a crazy busy schedule that I knew I wouldn't be able to properly care for a dog. I work from 8:30am-5pm Monday-Friday, I go to the gym 3-5 times per week after work, and I do a lot of community theater (usually have rehearsals from 7pm - 9/10pmish on weekdays, and sometimes on weekends). I also like to be able to pick up and go away whenever I want to...and that's really difficult to do with a dog. Even though I couldn't have a dog, I knew I wanted a cuddly pet to keep me company. So, I decided to get a cat!

I wanted a dog-like cat since I was so used to having dogs...and I really didn't want a cat who would ignore me. I was getting a cat for companionship, so the last thing I wanted was a snooty, anti-social cat. A friend of mine had a Maine Coon mix and said Maine coons are known to be a lot more friendly and cuddly than other cats. So, that's exactly what I got (the full story about my adoption is one of the first blog entries I wrote, so you can go back to see that story if you'd like). Gobo is great, and he is definitely the snuggly, loving pet that I wanted. The problem now is that I've become a "Cat Person." I don't think I've reached the "Crazy Cat Lady" stage, but I'm definitely a "Cat Person." How do I know that I am a "Cat Person" now? Well, just read on...

Reasons I know I'm now a "Cat Person":

I carry pictures of my cats with me, and tell stories about them to anyone who will listen....as if they were my children
My checks have "Cute Kittens" on them
My address labels have "Cute Kittens" on them
I have a "365 Days of Kittens" Wall Calendar and a Page-a-Day calendar called "Bad Cats"
I write a blog that is devoted solely to my cats
One cat sleeps on my head and one sleeps on my stomach...and I LOVE it!
I went to a Cat Expo with a friend of mine
My condo is filled with cat toys, cat beds, and cat trees
I go to "Yahoo Answers" and answer "Cat" questions all of the time
I miss my cats when I'm at work
I miss my cats when I'm on vacation
I would never date a guy who was either highly allergic to cats or just didn't like them
I get defensive when people say mean things about cats
I cry when I see a stray cat that got hit by a car on the side of the road
In my old apartment, I fed and pet the neighborhood strays, found some of them homes, and even named them
I tell anyone who has a cat about "World's Best Cat Litter" (seriously the BEST cat litter I've ever used)
I look at "Cute Kitten" websites and think to myself, "My cats are SO much cuter than these stupid cats!"
I've submitted pictures of my kitties to "Cute Overload" and "The Daily Kitten," and am upset that neither of them have chosen my photos yet!!!
When my cats do something cute, I think to myself, "If only I had a camera on me right now..."
My computer background image is a picture of my cats

In the Window...

2009-09-15T11:02:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things is coming home from work, and being greeted by my kitties. They both have their "spot" by the front doorway. I walk into my place and Gobo is sitting to my left, on the dining room table, while Mokey is standing right in front of me. I usually pet both of them on the head a bit (and Mokey chirps), and then they follow me into my bedroom. A friend of mine kitty-sat for me recently. It was funny because he said, "Gobo and Mokey were so cute...Gobo was sitting on the dining room table, and Mokey was right in front of the door when I came in!" haha! It seems to be their "assigned spots." In Psych class we used to discuss how humans are territorial...we put a bookbag on a chair so that nobody will take our spot. Usually, once you've found your "spot," you expect people to know that it's YOUR spot and they'd better not take it! I find that I do that in the gym too...I have my favorite elliptical, and when someone else is on it, I get all upset. How dare they use MY elliptical! Well, I guess cats do the same thing...they have their "spot." Their spot on my bed (Gobo is on my head, Mokey is at my feet or on my lap), their spot in my window (Gobo is in the master bedroom window and Mokey is in the 2nd bedroom window), their spot in the bathroom, and their spot when I come into the house.

Here are some pictures of Mokey and Gobo in their "spots":

Mokey's "spot" in the window (can you see her??)

Gobo's "spot" in the window (can you see him??)

Gobo's "spot" on my head

Mokey's "spot" in her hut

Gobo's "spot" on the bathroom sink

Mokey's "spot" on the bathroom floor

A Game of Cat and Cat...

2009-09-14T12:13:00.001-07:00

Mokey is definitely a little rabble-rouser. She enjoys taunting Gobo...seeing how long it will take to annoy him. She'll usually hide to stalk him, and then just leap out and attack. Her favorite thing to do is use his tail as a play toy....he is not so fond of that game. Here are some Hide & Go Seek games that they were playing:

Mokey: "Gobo can't get me under here...heh heh!"

Gobo: "Hey...where did she go???"

SURPRISE!!!

Mokey: "Shhh...you don't see me..."

That little paw is dangerous...it can just pop out and swat at any moment!

Mokey finds a new hiding spot

Mokey hides behind the buddha dome litter box

Gobo: "A-ha! I found you!"

Gobo: "You can run, but you can't hide...anymore..."

Gobo: "What? I didn't do anything...I'm so sweet and innocent"

Purse Snatcher!

2009-09-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

Ever notice how a cat will curl up wherever it's most inconvenient to you? I'll be reading a magazine and my cats will immediately run over to me and sit on the magazine, or I'll get home from work and put my purse down on my bed for a second, and the cats will immediately snuggle up with my purse (making it very difficult to get my keys and go out again), or I'll be packing to go somewhere and they will jump into my suitcase. They MUST do it on purpose to make sure we don't leave the house, and we constantly pay attention to them!

Snugglin' with my Gobster

2009-09-03T08:19:00.001-07:00

One of the greatest things about Gobo is that he's a total cuddle kitty!!! Mokey is still a kitten, so I don't know if she'll be a snuggler or not, but Gobo is DEFINITELY a snuggler. I actually woke up one morning this week with Gobo snuggled up on top of my head, and Mokey curled up on my belly. It was SO cute! I didn't want to move!

I was worried that when I got Mokey, Gobo would no longer cuddle with me. Luckily, Mokey didn't change Gobo's cuddling habits. I DO notice that Gobo is a bit more possessive over me now. He'll be snuggling with me, and Mokey will come over, and Gobo will just growl at her! I think that sometimes she's just a little too playful for him. She's a kitten so she has a lot more energy than he does. He will chase her around the house a lot, but there are times when he just wants to mellow out...and she just never seems to stop. She thinks his big, fluffy tail is a chew toy! He doesn't appreciate that at all!!!

Anywho, Gobo is a champion cuddler. I used to sleep with a stuffed animal, but I don't anymore because Gobo is pretty much my stuffed animal...haha! I like to sleep on my side, and Gobo usually curls up cheek to cheek with me. Lately he's been enjoying the spot on top of my head! He'll lay on my pillow, right above my head, and nuzzle his nose on my forehead and cheek. I love it!!! Here are some snuggling moments that were caught on camera:

I was even able to catch a rare Mokey cuddling moment:

Rub a Dub Dub...

2009-09-02T11:43:00.000-07:00

...one Mokey in the tub! Yes, that's right folks, it's TUB TIME! It's always fun to find Mokey in the shower (seems to be her favorite place to hang out). Usually she's in my shower (the one in my master bathroom), but this time, I found her in the bathtub of my second bathroom. She was having so much fun and she looked so cute!

I doubt she'd enjoy it as much if I turned the water on!!!!

Clean Livin'

2009-09-01T11:53:00.001-07:00

Gobo LOVES my bathroom sink. He drinks water from his dish, but he loves nothing more than to drink the water that comes out of the bathroom sink faucet. Usually when I go to the bathroom, Gobo immediately hops up on the sink, waiting for me to turn on the faucet. I really don't know what it is about cats and sinks, but there are even websites devoted purely to cats in sinks (http://www.catsinsinks.com/). Too funny! So, here is my cat in sink picture montage:

Gobo is just relaxing on the ledge of the sink

I turn the faucet on....

Gobo notices the streaming water...

Gobo gets a taste of the water on his paw...

Gobo dunks his whole head in the sink!

Gobo is exhausted after a big water drinking session...

Gobo is done with the sink water...

Gobo goes back to hanging out on the ledge of the sink

An Apple a Day...

2009-08-31T07:46:00.000-07:00

Mokey went to the vet this weekend. She's pretty good usually, but she had some difficulty with the two shots she got this time (poor Mokey!). She had her rabies shot and her FVRCP (whatever the heck that means!). I go to Iselin Vet and I love all of the vets there!!! They are all so nice and caring...you can tell that they really love their patients. It's 30minutes from my house, but it's worth the drive! I'm sure I could find a good vet that's closer to me, but I love this place too much to switch. Mokey now weights 6lbs...I think she weighed 2lbs at her first appointment! That Purina Kitten Chow is certainly working. Also, Mokey lost a baby tooth!!! It is such a cute, little tooth.

Anywho, here are some pictures of Mokey's visit to the vet:

Just monkeying around...

2009-08-28T08:07:00.000-07:00

I think one of the cutest things is an animal who cuddles with a stuffed animal! It's probably because it just makes the animal look so much like a person. On scale of 1-10, the cuteness factor of these next pictures has to be at least a 9:

I usually don't catch Gobo being all cute and cuddly (he always cuddles, but by the time I grab my camera, he's gone!). I love the 2nd picture because it looks like Gobo is giving the stuffed monkey a kiss on the head! <3

Kitty Porn...

2009-08-27T06:34:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this title is quite deceptive. No worries...there is no actual "pornography" (this blog is rated "G")...it's just that Gobo and Mokey seem to have one toy that is a little odd. I'll be getting dressed in the morning, and I'll lay out my clothes on my bed...and the first thing my kitties gravitate to is my bra! What is it about my bra that makes my cats want to play with it?! I mean they choose the bra over the shirt, pants, socks and underwear! Gobo has been doing it since he was a kitten...and now Mokey's started doing it herself. Rather than throwing away old bras, I should save them as play toys for my cats! It might be a little odd if I have guests over though. Can you imagine hanging out at a friend's house, and her cat is running all over the house, dragging a bra along with it?! Yeah...that's probably just a bit inappropriate (just like the title of this post).

Here are some pictures of the culprits in action:

Treat Time!

2009-08-26T13:16:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to do is to shake the jar of treats and hear Gobo and Mokey come sprinting down the hall and into my room! Sometimes I don't even hear them...I just shake the treats and when I look at my feet, there are 2 cats right there. Mokey usually jumps up on my bed to be closer to my hands (and the treats), and Gobo just sits patiently at my feet.

My friend, Anna, just got me a fun, new jar for my kitty treats. It was a very sweet housewarming gift, and Gobo and Mokey REALLY appreciate it! So, here was Gobo and Mokey's introduction to the jar-o-treats:

Gobo checks it out to see if it's safe

Mokey wants to check it out too!

Mokey investigates...

It's safe! Hooray!!! TREAT TIME!!!

Snuggles

2009-08-24T12:10:00.000-07:00

Despite the occassional growling and hissing I hear from Gobo (which I really can't blame him for - I mean Mokey is like that annoying little sister that Gobo never really wanted), it seems like Gobo and Mokey are getting along pretty well now! They have been snuggling pretty close together lately. I get so happy when I see them playing nicely. I even took a video with my cell phone of Gobo cleaning Mokey. It's SO sweet! I snuck in some shots the other day of the two of them starting to cuddle up a bit:

They did get some alone time also. Mokey isn't always annoying Gobo. She lets him have some time to himself every now and then:

I'm a model you know what I mean and I do my little turn on the catwalk...

2009-08-21T13:55:00.000-07:00

Gobo is a very pretty cat...and I think that sometimes even HE knows that! He seems to "pose" for pictures a lot. Here are some examples of Gobo's "modeling":

Absolutely maaahvelous dahling!

Gobo's headshot (resume includes leading roles in shows such as "Cats," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," and "The Lion King")

Why are you looking at me that way?

Oooh so sexy

My little baby

2009-08-20T11:31:00.000-07:00

Since Gobo was my first cat, he will always be my little baby. I love him so much and he is such a cuddler! I think Gobo took the "baby" thing a little too literally though. My sister came into town once with her baby (who is now 5 years old!), and Gobo seemed to enjoy the baby's "playset" more than the baby did!

Since Gobo seemed to love that playset so much (and my sister (a) didn't enjoy the cat hair on her baby's playset and (b) wasn't willing to give the playset up to me), I decided to get him one of his own:

Check it out...it's shaped like a mouse!!!

Jersey Strong

2009-08-19T08:26:00.000-07:00

So, I belong to a gym called WoW (no, you computer geeks..it's not "World of Warcraft"! It's "Work Out World"). This gym is having a contest. Here's how it works:

Take a cool photo anywhere in NJ, make sure an authentic JERSEY STRONG sticker is visible somewhere in the photo, and then just upload it to the Work Out World website to enter the contest. WIN A FREE LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP --- There’s one winner picked each month. If your photo is selected as the winner of the contest, you’ll receive a FREE LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP TO WOW, and never pay membership dues, ever!

I took a bunch of pictures of Gobo and Mokey with the "Jersey Strong" sticker. I want to enter the contest, but don't know which photo or photos I should submit (you can submit as many photos as you want). I need opinions, so please tell me which photos you think are the best:

Picture #1:

Picture #2:

Picture #3:

Picture #4:

Picture #5:

Picture #6:

Picture #7

Please tell me your opinions!!! Just leave a comment to let me know what you think. Thanks!!!

Some good, clean fun

2009-08-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

So, even though it took awhile, it seems that Gobo and Mokey are "pals" now. There are times when I am worried that Gobo is attacking Mokey, but then I see that Gobo is just trying to get a hold of Mokey so that he can groom her. It's really cute!

"So we meet again..."

"Don't make this more difficult than it already is..."

"I will slap a cat!"

"I've got you now..."

"Ha! There you go...you will be clean and you will enjoy it!"

Me and my kitties...

2009-08-17T10:50:00.000-07:00

You know how people go to a party and start taking pictures of themselves with friends? They just take their camera, put their arm around a friend, reach out their arm, and snap the shot. Sometimes heads are chopped off, usually it's off center, but it's always a fun picture. Well, I do this with my kitties! Here are some lovely "self-portraits" I have taken with Gobo and Mokey:

Smiling with my Gobo:

Shhh...Mokey and I are napping:

A kiss for Gobo:

Posing with Mokey:

Playtime with Mokey

2009-08-15T11:45:00.000-07:00

So, I didn't get a chance to update my blog yesterday, so I will have a "Saturday Entry" this week in place of my Friday entry. I will make this one quick...just a couple of pics. Mokey is quite the playful one (of course she is...she's a kitten!). I love watching her run back and forth from one side of my house to the other! She can entertain herself for hours with little kitty toys....even a bottle cap entertains her. It's fun to watch her play "catch" with herself!!! So, without further ado, here are some Mokey playtime pics:

Mmmm...cool air...

2009-08-13T13:28:00.000-07:00

On these hot (and when I say hot, I mean sticky, disgusting, humid...need I go on?) summer days, Mokey likes to stay cool. That lucky kitty gets to enjoy my awesome, new Central AC unit all day/night. It's crazy how big Mokey is getting...she's more than doubled in size since I got her 2 months ago!!! So, here is my long, lean kitty machine enjoying her cool air:

Look how much she's grown in 2months...THEN....

and NOW...

Oh the places you go...

2009-08-12T07:10:00.000-07:00

Cats are known to curl up in the strangest places...and Mokey is no exception! I always seem to find her in the sink....

or the shower/tub....

or even the dishwasher....

It's always fun to try and figure out which location she's going to explore next. She'd better be careful though, or else she may end up on the menu....

Musical Mokey

2009-08-11T08:34:00.000-07:00

I am a music lover, and apparently, so is Mokey!!! Whenever I sing in my house, she comes running over to me and just stares. She is quite the captivated audience member! I think she is jealous that I sing and play keyboard. She seems to want to do the same thing. Here are some shots of Musical Mokey:

Next thing you know, she'll be serenading me! I should let her audition for one of those "Meow meow meow meow" commercials!

Mokey Monday

2009-08-10T09:42:00.000-07:00

I have decided to make this week "Mokey Week"! To all of you Gobo fans, don't worry! There will also be a "Gobo Week" coming up soon. Mokey Week is very simple...I will post a new picture of Mokey everyday of the week. Each picture will have a little quip or story. I may post one photo, or more than one photo...depends on what I feel like doing on each particular day.

Today I want to show 2 sides of Mokey: her loving side and her crazy side. Let's start off with her loving side. On moving day, Gobo was really upset. The old place was being emptied out and he didn't seem to know what to do with himself. Mokey didn't seem to mind the move. She's pretty relaxed and flexible, and adjusts to everything very well. Gobo was so upset that he decided to hide in the empty bedroom closet at my old place. This is what Gobo likes to do when he's upset...he hides!! It's usually under the covers or under the bed, but there was no bed in the room anymore...so he had to resort to his closet hiding spot. Mokey was playing and having a good time, but she noticed how sad Gobo was. So, she went into the closet, snuggled up next to Gobo, and tried to comfort him:

She did the same thing at the new home:

Not only is Mokey a total sweetheart, she's also a complete loon!!! She is very playful and silly...sometimes I think she even makes "silly poses" just for my camera:

Happy Mokey Monday!!!

Copy Cat

2009-08-07T06:15:00.000-07:00

So, it seems that as Mokey is discovering her true identity, she has taken to the "copy cat" method. Let me show you some evidence of this:

Not only has Mokey decided to try and be just like her big brother, Gobo, but she has also been growing quite fond of cat statues as well:

Ah yes...true love

An evening with Gobo

2009-08-06T06:34:00.000-07:00

I know you are all just dying to know what an evening with Gobo is like...well today's your lucky day! I took some pictures of Gobo last night before I went to bed (I should have taken more pictures at 4am when he decided it would be fun to knock things over and wake me up!!!).

First, as stated in the previous blog post, Gobo enjoys his time in the window (notice how I no longer have a window...it's now just a "relaxation spot" for Gobo and Mokey):

Second, we have Gobo in his favorite spot...the night table right next to my bed. This is the exact same place he likes to go to wake me up at 4am. Usually he'll push my lamp or alarm clock over....either that, or he'll knock anything over that is sitting on the night table. If that doesn't wake me up, he'll start playing with whatever it is he knocked to the ground...kicking it all over my room and running back and forth. He's a pretty big cat so it's surprising that he can even fit on that night table:

I decided to take some pictures from below as well. I wondered what it was like for Mokey, who usually sits on the floor right below Gobo. Well here is Gobo through the eyes of Mokey:

Poor Mokey!!! It must be pretty scary to have that HUGE cat staring down at you! Now Gobo's favorite time of the night is "treat time." I usually just shake the can of treats and he comes running. It probably takes less than a second for Gobo to get to me after I've shaken the treats:

How can I resist that face?! I mean I know I'm biased because he's my cat, but I seriously think he is the cutest cat...and I can't say "no" to that face!!! So, he gets his treats:

You can tell that Gobo thoroughly enjoys those treats:

After he's devoured all of his treats, Gobo goes right back to his favorite little spot...just as he was before:

What a life that cat has!!!

The Wonder of the Windowsill...

2009-08-05T08:17:00.000-07:00

What is it about the windowsill???

I don't know what it is, but cats really seem to love to sit in the windowsill. Maybe it's the warm sun on their face, or maybe it's the view of the outside world...who knows? Either way, they really do love perching themselves right near the window.

When I was house hunting, I desperately wanted to find a place with a bay window. I'd love to see my kitties enjoying themselves in that huge window. Unfortunately, I didn't end up buying a place with a bay window (even though my next door neighbors have one...doh!). It's ok though...I did set up a perch for Gobo and Mokey in my bedroom window, and they really seem to love it! I also set up one of those cat trees in my 2nd bedroom, right in front of the window. They love to climb that tree and perch in that windowsill as well.

So, here are some pictures of Gobo and Mokey in various windowsills:

Shhh...it's sleepy time

2009-08-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

So, since it is my LEAST favorite day of the week today (Tuesday...let me explain this...Monday is the first day of the week so I'm refreshed and ready to work, Tuesday is still the beginning of the week but I'm no longer refreshed from the weekend, Wednesday is the middle of the week so we're halfway there, Thursday is one day closer to Friday, and Friday is the last day of the week! So, Tuesday just sucks!), and all I want to do is curl up and go to sleep, I am going to post nap pictures of Gobo and Mokey.

Gobo LOVES to sleep under the covers. He will dig his way under my covers and sleep at my feet at night. I know that if I see a big lump in my bed, it's Gobo! Gobo did this at my parents' house, and my brother thought it was so funny. He then started to poke Gobo...Gobo didn't like that. It's one of the few times he's ever hissed! So, lesson learned...do NOT interrupt Gobo's nap!

The first time Gobo and Mokey cuddled up together:

Gobo just wants to be alone:

Gobo sleeps in his carry case (even though he hates when I try to put him in there to take him to the car):

Gobo sleeps on the computer, while Mokey sleeps under the computer desk:

Gobo and Mokey both like to sprawl out on the bed:

Mokey blends in with my furniture:

Is anyone else feeling REALLY sleepy right now???

The Introduction

2009-08-03T08:20:00.000-07:00

So, the reason I decided to get Mokey was because Gobo seemed so lonely. We had a stray kitten outside of my apartment, and I let it into my apartment to explore for a bit. Gobo kept his distance, but was definitely interested and curious. When the kitten left and I shut the door, Gobo sat by the door, crying. That was when I was like, "Ok! I'm getting Gobo a friend!"

Gobo is normally an extremely friendly cat, so I didn't think I'd have any problem introducing another friendly cat to him! I was advised to get a female kitten because Gobo could then be the dominant one, and there wouldn't be any issues. At first Gobo was curious...he sniffed Mokey and followed her around the apartment. Then, he got mad and jealous. I made sure to pay extra special attention to Gobo, so he wouldn't feel replaced, but he just wanted her gone. He stayed away from Mokey (even though she was so friendly, and she just wanted to play), and he'd growl and hiss whenever she came close to him.

I guess that after 6 years of being my "only child," Gobo didn't want to share the attention. Gobo stopped eating and drinking, and hid in my closet and under my covers at all times. He was depressed and I didn't know what to do!!! I was so upset that I cried about it, and called some friends who are cat owners to ask for any advice! I was really worried. What if I made a mistake? What if Gobo stayed depressed? What if this changed Gobo's personality, and he stopped being friendly and cuddly?

I emailed Ginny (the woman who had fostered Mokey), and she was so sweet and helpful. She talked to me on the phone and told me to just relax. She assured me that I made the right decision in getting Mokey, and that Gobo would eventually accept her. She told me to just give it time. Everyone told me to just give it time, but I'm really impatient! I hated seeing Gobo so depressed, and I wanted him to be friends with Mokey. My friend, Anna, told me to try Feliway. It's this thing that you plug into your wall (kind of like a Glade Plug-in), and it lets out some sort of cat phermone scent. It's supposed to help cats in stressful situations (a move, introduction of a new cat, etc.). Well, I don't know if it was the Feliway, or just that enough time had passed and Gobo got used to Mokey being around...but it worked! Gobo started eating and drinking again...and he and Mokey were getting along finally. HOORAY!

So, Gobo and Mokey are now friends. Gobo is always chasing Mokey around the house, trying to clean her! They wrestle a lot, and sometimes it worries me because Gobo is so much bigger than Mokey...but I think she is fine and is feisty enough to hold her own. She finds little, tiny corners to hide in, where Gobo can't reach her. It's funny because Gobo will sit there, waiting for her to come out...and Mokey will just stay in her hiding spot, but occassionally stick her paw out and smack Gobo in the face!

A New Beginning...

2009-07-31T05:51:00.000-07:00

Well now that I've introduced you all to Gobo, it's time to meet the new addition to my family: Mokey! I decided that it wasn't fair to leave Gobo home alone all day (I'd come home from work or the gym and he would cry and yell at me! I felt so awful!!!), so I started searching for a friend for him. I knew I was moving to a much bigger place, so 2 cats wouldn't be any more difficult than 1. I searched Petfinder.com pretty much everyday for a few months, but none of the kitties caught my attention. Then, one day I saw "Trudi"...
When I saw that picture of that adorable kitten, I knew right away that she was the one I wanted. I applied online to adopt her through FOLAS (Friends of Linden Animal Shelter http://www.folas.org/). When I didn't hear back after a day or two, I decided to call them up myself!! They were really sweet on the phone, and they actually said they were about to call me (I was just impatient!). In mid-June, I went to the Pet Smart in Union, NJ and met with Ginny, the woman who was fostering "Trudi." She told me that she has 7 cats...and if I hadn't come along to adopt "Trudi," she would have had 8 because "Trudi" has SUCH an amazing personality. She said that she is the most loving and affectionate kitten. I asked if it was ok to change her name to "Mokey." Ginny didn't mind at all, and she said she really liked my name choice (though she didn't know Fraggle Rock at all). So, I signed the adoption papers and took my first picture of Mokey:

How could you NOT fall in love with that face?! They guess that Mokey was born sometime in late April, but don't know the exact date. She was from a litter of 5 (4 girls and 1 boy), and they rescued her from a shelter in Perth Amboy. Nobody knows anything about her mother or father...they just had the 5 kittens in the shelter. They sent me a picture of her brother and one of her sisters in their new homes:

Mokey ended up having a terrible upper respiratory infection a week after I adopted her. I took her to a wonderful vet in Iselin (who says Mokey is her favorite patient), and they gave me some medication. After a day or two, the infection had cleared up and Mokey was back to her sweet and loving self!

I picked Mokey because she looks like my friend's cat (she has such an adorable cat!!!), who is a Turkish Van mix. I definitely think Mokey is also a Turkish Van mix. Here are some pictures of Turkish Vans, so you can decide for yourself:

In the beginning...

2009-07-30T07:32:00.000-07:00

I have decided to start a blog about my cats. No, I'm not a "crazy cat lady." I just take SO many pictures of these guys that I thought it would be fun to have a blog to show them off! So right now, my plan is to write a new entry every weekday (maybe sometimes I'll write on weekends, but I don't know). I doubt I'll end up doing it EVERY single day...but I'm going to give it a go! I'd like to post one picture per entry. So, everyday will be a different picture with a different story/description.

So...let's start off with my first cat, Gobo. Gobo was born in March of 2003 and I adopted him from Paws of Gold Feline Rescue (http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NY396.html) in May of 2003. I was looking for some type of Maine Coon mix because my friend had a Maine Coon and it was the SWEETEST and friendliest cat I had ever met!!! I went to a shelter down in South Jersey and started talking with a woman who was looking at all of the cute cats who were in the shelter. I told her that I wanted a Maine Coon type of cat, and she said, "I used to work for the Maine Coon Rescue Group, but I hated how they were run. So, a few of my friends from that group joined me in starting a rescue group of our own." They had JUST started this rescue group, and she and I exchanged emails so she could send me pictures of some of the cats/kittens that she was fostering. She sent me one picture and asked if I would be interested in any of the kittens in this image:

I immediately fell in love with the one in the front with the diamond on his forehead! I wrote back to her right away and said I wanted him...she said I was the first to respond, so he was mine!!! Apparently, 3 or 4 other people wrote to her right after I had written...so I got to her JUST in time! I picked up Gobo at her house in Central Jersey and she told me that he was definitely her favorite kitten of the group. She said he was full of personality. She definitely wasn't lying about that one!! Gobo is quite the explorer (which fits well with his name since Gobo Fraggle was the adventurous Fraggle, who was always traveling and exploring)...always curious and SO loving. He is so super soft and he loves to cuddle with me. He is such a friendly cat...never wants to be alone...always wants to be around people. I'm SO lucky to have such an amazing cat!