Cat tree

Hi: I finally ordered the cat tree/condo/
scratching post combo from http://www.acecatfurniture.com/ I don't think it will make it for Anna's arrival but we can hope. She will be three months old on Thursday and is scheduled to be spayed next Tuesday. Now, that we have the food bowl issues sorted out I'm ready to move ahead and buy the food; maybe. We're thinking about feeding raw? I just don't know - - sounds like work but sounds like the right thing to do. Our breeder is sending out the kitten package today so I might wait and see what we need to buy. It will all work out. I'm just acting like an expectant mother.

We have everything else I think. Now we're just counting the days: ten (not inlcuding today or the day she arrives). Take care everyone.

Bowls

I went to Costco yesterday (one of those huge member warehouse stores where you can’t leave without spending a small fortune and picking up items that look cool but have no use). I saw some pet food dishes made out of stainless steal and picked them up thinking they would be perfect for the kitten. I keep reading that the stainless steal and the ceramic dishes are best because of their weight and ability to clean.

I brought them home, happily rinsed them and set them in their “spot” for the kitten. I was very proud as we only have 15 days until the Anna Shea arrives and I need to start prepare (yes, it’s very much like prep for a baby but it’s a kitten). My husband came home from work and said they were dog bowls. I said they were pet bowls but perhaps there was a picture of a dog on the labels but wouldn’t they do? He was very sweet (he’s the guy who grew up with four cats) and got that special tone with me (indulgent but not patronizing), “Darling, whatever you think. It’s just that Anna will be so tiny she could curl up in one of those bowls and nap and she would even need to step into one to eat or drink.” I’m paraphrasing because I don’t think I actually heard everything he said as my mind was whirling trying to figure out how I could have thought these enormous bowls (a kin to a soup tureen) would work for a cat let alone a kitten.

I’m still a dog person. This is the underlying issue. I think “dog”.

Well, enjoy the latest picture of Anna Shea: Big yawn by the 11 week old Sib.

Great news! Anna Shea (now ten weeks old) is coming home in less than three weeks (over U.S. Labor Day weekend). I have another website for you to check out: http://www.welovesiberians.com/ and our breeder, http://www.prekrasne.com/ has kittens: one little girl is left from the C litter and several from the D litter. You can also put your name on her wait list for what will be a bunch beautiful kittens in the winter and early spring.

The kids are back to school here in Tucson and so I must go help with homework. Take care, everyone! -jlr

The Return of Anna the Brave!

Here's of a story of nine week old Anna Shea from her breeder (link on left). Remember while you're reading that Anna is 2 pounds and the Ragdoll is upwards of 20 pounds.

"Little Anna story for you: Seamus, the big Ragdoll, harasses the kittens to no end.

Katie [Anna's mom] clobbered him when she was in big bad momma mode but now that the babies are older the momma hormones are fading. Anyway, he'll casually walk by one of them and just give them a cuff. Well, he walked up to Anna today and what did she do? She stuck her tiny little paw out and gave HIM a cuff! He just sat there - probably thinking "Did she just do that??" I think she won that time out of sheer shock factor."

Solid Blue?

We’ve learned this week that our Anna Shea (nine weeks old) is not a Solid Blue with White but a Blue Mackerel Tabby with White. That translates in layman’s terms to a gray cat with bits of white to a striped grey cat with white bits. Mackerel means having narrow stripes that run parallel down the side or in layman’s terms again: tiger stripes.

Anna is doing great. She’s got the run of the breeder’s house now with ten other kittens her age. I imagine it’s sort of like going Chuck E. Cheese or Peter Piper Pizza for a three-year child’s birthday party. The kids are having a blast and will sleep really well that night and the adults need a nap immediately upon entering, or an Advil, or maybe a stiff drink. The breeders of this world deserve every penny! And you would agree if you’ve ever spent the afternoon at Chuck E. Cheese or cleaning-up after several litters of kittens or puppies!

Anna will be here in five weeks. We’ve been waiting to buy the kitten stuff. Okay, I have been holding myself back from purchasing a wide range of cat paraphernalia. My husband assures me that the kitten will be very happy to play with a waded up piece of paper formed into a ball, or a bit of yarn, or something else equally recyclable. How dull!

Every toy manufactures cringes at the thought that we would be so “inventive” as to make our own toys fashioned out of toilet paper rolls and cardboard boxes. A kitty condo out of paper sacks – they would think it's absolutely horrific!

So I’m torn between the pretty colored catnip infused mice and sparkly, dangly bits of tinsel, foil and plastic verses the make-your-own-fun House brand. Do I buy the golden domed litter box or the basic litter box or even more economical and practical plastic storage bin? $31, $16, $4 respectively. Will the cat care as long as I clean it?

I’m debating big stuff here, don’t you think? Okay, it’s not international relations or world economics but it our family and our money. Same difference right - - just a smaller scale? Yeah, okay, not really the same at all.

I’ll leave you with the fact that in the next few weeks we will have to get the basics and it will be fun to both buy and make our own toys. Moderation in everything!

Happy Day - jlr