Tempest and Teacup

I had mentioned in the past that I enjoy watching a Youtube channel called Kitten Academy.  They foster kitties, and in addition to regular videos about their current adoptable kitties and non-adoptable “faculty”, they also have a 24/7 live stream where you can watch kittens play to your heart’s content.  Lately, however, something special has been happening that I simply must tell you all about.

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Memoirs of Elsa Part 2

I have been writing down some memories of my kitty Elsa, who passed away a few weeks ago.  Naturally, it’s better to remember the happy times rather than the sad ones, so here are some more random memories of little miss Elsa.  You can find part 1 here.

Memoirs of Elsa Part 1

In case you haven’t heard, the Duck lost her kitty Elsa a little over a week ago.  Since the loss of my other two cats about five years ago, I have learned that memories fade far more quickly than we would like, and so I wanted to write a little bit more about her so that this post could serve as a refresher in case I ever forgot.  There won’t be much rhyme or reason to this post, other than to recount a few memories that I don’t think I’ve discussed prior.

A Farewell to Elsa

Well, in about a five-year time span, the Duck has lost her third cat.  Elsa was going to turn five in a few months, but six months ago, she developed a sudden case of what the vets thought was asthma.  None of the medicine provided did much to help her, and coaxing her to sit still long enough to use her inhaler was typically a failed affair.  Even so, nothing could have prepared me for what happened.

You Sweater Believe It

Mother Duck and I enjoy watching Kitten Academy, a Youtube channel where you can watch 24/7 live streams, and shorter close-up videos, of the many kittens they foster.  These kittens have a good deal of delightful toys and have been a major influence in us buying extra goodies for our kitty Elsa.  Since watching Kitten Academy, Elsa has gotten a cat tower, assorted toys, and a tunnel, not to mention the topic of this post.

Bonus Time: Yet Another Cat Nap

The other day, I couldn’t find my kitty Elsa.  She spends most of her time with me in the living room, either on the blankets on the couch, specifically placed there as an extra soft place for her to nap, or on a dining room chair.  With the cat missing from her two most frequented spots, I went searching for her.

Elsa Says “Ah”

Maybe I’m rather biased, but sometimes it seems as if my cat exceeds the average level of cuteness displayed by most felines.  I also know people seem to enjoy pictures of cute and cuddly kitties, so sharing such things with you all is surely one of the kindness things I can do.  No need to thank me; I’m happy to do it.

My kitty Elsa sleeps in all manner of silly ways.  You may have seen posts describing how she enjoys sleeping on her back or wrapped up in blankets.  She also sometimes uses my computer’s power…thingy as a pillow.  You know, that big, block of a thing that’s part of a laptop’s power cord?  Well, it gets warm when the computer’s on, so she naps next to it, or on it, a lot.  No pictures to share of that at this time, but maybe someday.

When Cats Use Objects as They Were Actually Intended

Cats are pretty adorable creatures.  Sometimes, it almost feels as if they’re doing it on purpose, and it really only makes it that much cuter that they’re not.  They were just born that way.  There has always been one thing in particular I found especially endearing, and that was when kitties sleep under blankets like people.  I don’t know why, but seeing a cat napping with just its head visible has always been a pretty goofy sight, and I never pass up an opportunity to photograph it, that I may share it with the world.

I used to have a Manx named Arwen well-versed in this ancient kitty technique.  On more than one occasion, I would find that she had decided to pull a blanket over herself, after which a nap would ensue in utmost comfort.  Had she learned this from watching me (I hope she didn’t watch me while I slept….)?  Or was she just a kitty ahead of her time?  She could open sliding doors, after all.  Either way, her adopted brother Alex never did such things.  I think it was because he wasn’t super bright, and he was a big dude and probably had plenty of warmth-giving padding anyway.  But mainly because he just wasn’t all that clever.  He was still a nice boy, though.

The Reason Elsa’s Toys Are Always Moist

Recently, my cat Elsa has begun a very strange habit.  To put it simply, she drowns her toys.  Despite having many pets over the years, I have never seen this before.  You see, starting a few weeks ago, Elsa’s jingly mouse toys have been ending up in her water bowl.  I thought she had been doing it by accident, as she likes to toss them, but it just kept happening, leading me to wonder if itwas, in fact, entirely on purpose.

So, What Elsa is New

Well, I just got a new cat, what’s new with you?…

Ahem, yeah, I have a cat again. For the first time in over a year. And I don’t recall getting a cat ever being this difficult before. I went to a bunch of different pet stores on the lookout for the right cat, but many were unfriendly, too hyper, or when I did find one I liked, I’d pet it, and then get hit with a mad case of asthma. There are better ways to die than asphyxiation. I’ll pass.