So it's not manly to own a cat!!

Cats are funny creatures. Like you don't know that already!

I am finding though, that many people just don't like cats. Take my brother-in-law for instance. Over the weekend he was in our home and when he saw our cat and how much both my husband and I love him, he kind of snickered and said, "Oh no, I can't believe you're a cat lover now!" He didn't have much of a chance to interact with our feline friend because, of course, Baxter didn't know him and ran under the couch and stayed there!

I asked him why and he responded by saying he just loved dogs better. They were just more manly.

Wow! Really??

My Aunt Mary just sent me a picture from the 50's of Marlon Brando and his adorable white cat that he loved dearly. You can't get more manly than Marlon Brando and he loved his cat!!! (I attach the link here so you can see the pics - http://www.vintag.es/2013/03/marlon-brando-with-his-cat-at-home.html)

Sometimes I see men walking through our development with the tiniest white fluffy dog. Does that mean they aren't manly men?? Ridiculous!

I kept my mouth shut because you just can't change anyone's mind about things, especially if they aren't open for change. And he certainly wasn't!

Well, his loss - not mine!

Mommy's away so the cat will play

About a month ago, I decided I had had enough of winter and brightened up the house with a silk flower arrangement filled with yellows, pale greens and soft pinks on a pedestal stand near the front door. I hung my spring wreath outside on the front porch, added a brand new yellow tablecloth in the dining room along with an arrangement in the center of Styrofoam eggs that I had hand painted and decorated with glitter and small flowers many years before. All this in preparation for Easter and the spring I was so desperately longing for.

It made my mood brighten and somehow, the house seemed more cheerful and expectant of good weather days ahead.

The first few days after my festive activity went unnoticed by my feline friend, Baxter. This surprised me as I know how curious cats usually are. He seemed unfazed by the addition of new items added to the home. But, of course, the only thing he could possibly get his paws on was sitting on the dining room table! The others were out of his reach, thankfully.

A few days went by and all was well. Then, on the following Saturday, my husband and I were out shopping for most of the day and didn't come home till late that evening. I didn't notice anything unusual until the following morning when I went into the dining room to open the blinds.

Little yellow and purple eggs were scattered across the room. Some were flung under the hutch and others under the server. Still others I had to hunt for as they were clear across the room and even into the living room beyond!

Ah my curious friend decided to play while Mommy was away. All week long he hadn't even so much as touched them!

Was he being spiteful??? Or just curious and bored??

If I know my little friend at all, I'd say it was probably all the above!

Love Bite

Monday night I was recovering from an epidural injection to my cervical spine (the saga continues!) and resting on the sofa with ice (of course!) along with my husband, dad and mother-in-law. Believe it or not, my 86 year old father was the one who drove me, while my mother-in-law stayed behind and cared for Baxter.
She just happened to be with us for the weekend, not because Baxter needed any babysitting.

My furry feline friend decided to get in some late night exercise and frolicked from couch to chair and even ran with lightning speed up and down the stairs all while we were trying to watch a good movie on Netflix.

He screeched and yelped and made so much noise I thought only a bigger animal could possibly be trapped in our home instead of Baxter.

He made one last leap across my tired and sore body only to make a stab at biting me before landing deftly on the wood floor next to me. Ouch!

My feline friend is such a comfort. Not. He's a spoiled little toddler cat who was probably none to happy to have been left alone with.....the MOTHER-IN-LAW!

He was probably very annoyed at me and took this opportunity to let me know it.  Gee, thanks Baxter.

My dad got quite a kick out of this strange, but sometimes loveable creature. Of course, he wasn't the one with a bit of blood on his wrist.

Love at Last

I tried to take a nap today while resting my upper back with ice, and normally Baxter would be right next to me cuddling up. He seems to like those afternoon naps as much as I do - when I can, that is.

But today, he was nowhere to be found. I searched for him knowing that cats are like that. The minute you want them, they are gone. "In how many places could he hid?", I wondered. I looked under beds and even in the bathroom sink. Yes, he sometimes like to sleep there too.

But he was nowhere to be found and I resigned to nap without his warm, furry body next to mine.

Then suddenly, a leap from out of space and there he was. My furry friend hadn't forgotten me after all.

We slept for half an hour or so and then it was over.

Later while preparing some tea, he watched me from the rug in front of the fridge, and as I turned to speak to him, he blinked. A long, slow blink that let me know he loves me. And I blinked back speaking soft love words to him to let him know, yes, I love you too!

It is amazing to me how much one could love and be loved by an animal. My Veterinarian tells me that cats are the number one pet in America now. I can understand that. They are pretty easy (compared to dogs!) to take care of after all. Yet the love they give is no less than that of dogs.

How about you? How does your cat love you?