by Mousie, lover of kisses and cuddle trainee

Good morning, friends.  

You may remember our blog about Grammy's cuddling written this past December.  If not, you may read it here.  Well, the cuddling saga continues.   Grammy has had her training and is ready to go but before I get into that let me tell you something even more monumental than that.  

I am becoming a cuddle kitten.  Yes, you read this correctly. I, the wee timid Mousie, am learning to cuddle with Grammy.  It has only taken me eight years to reach such a comfort level... and I still prefer to make the decision to do so but Grammy is thrilled - like over the moon thrilled.  For the past six months I've demanded kisses from Grammy before I allow her into her bed and then demand a multi-kiss tax in the morning as she's making the bed and serving our breakfast.  Works every time and I get a head pat or two as well. BONUS!

During the afternoon the back of Grammy's chair is my preferred seat while she is working on the computer or knitting.   You may ask why the back of the chair... and I'll tell you.  Grammy's heating pad for her back stretches up and over the back and I love, Love, LOVE to be warm.  But, also I like sitting there because I can hop onto the arm of the chair to demand extra kisses if a window should open up.   And guess what I discovered!  Grammy has a soft, cushy lap.   The only problem with it is... there is only one and there are five of us. 

Do you know how hard it is to get lap time? At one time I didn't care but now that I do it has been challenging.  Routines have been set and those siblings dislike change. A girl has to be ready to slip in on a moment's notice!  
 
One Grammy, 5 of us, two of whom are lap hogs.  Yes, Etude and Mummy Whiskers demand more lap time that the rest of us.  Mummy says she should have more because she's the eldest and has priority; Etude's reasoning is that he's the largest and so can keep Grammy warm the best... an unselfish gesture on his part.  Well, let me tell you... Nothing altruistic about it... he knows Grammy will stop knitting and give him ear twizzles interspersed with chin and head rubs as he gazes adoringly at her.

Now, Sweetie and Rondo are more fair about it.  Rondo only sits on the arm of the chair when he wants food.  He's no lap cat.  He thinks that is unmanly and beneath a cat of his stature.  Oh, he'll bounce on the lap while passing from one chair arm to the other as he howls for his meals but sit in it... not a chance.

Sweetie demands cuddles with Grammy as she's drinking her morning coffee because if a girl can sneak in a lick or two of 'the joe' all the better.  If she misses that window she may come back later in the day and whisper in Grammy's ear as she naps, 'Coffee, Grammy' hoping the subliminal message gets through.  If or when it works she's in there quick as a bunny for her requisite cuddles, snuggles and nuzzle time.  

Now, I only seek cuddles on my terms.  I do not demand. No, I'm a gentle cat. Grammy must be knitting something that requires a super amount of concentration so she won't be tempted to confine me tightly in her arms. That's when I slink down off the back of the chair, weasel my way onto her lap and under her knitting and pop my head up between her and the knitting and start kissing her cheek.  If I'm lucky she'll absentmindedly stop knitting and scratch my head between the ears, and down my back to the base of my tail.  Ooooh, I do love to have a good scratch there.  On occasion I'll settle on the lap... as long as she doesn't try to fold me in her arms.

Don't get me wrong.  I do allow Grammy to wrap her arms around me for a cuddle but only if she's leaning over me on the bed.  Then I still feel I'm in control and I can usually get in a couple more kisses and the occasional lick of her cheek.  But ooooh, I do love those tail scratches and have occasionally settled in until Grammy's back has said 'enough!'  Ignore your back, Grammy. Keep scratching!

Oh, and back to Grammy and her cuddle training... she's graduated, on call and ready to go but in addition to cuddles it looks like she's going to be teaching knitting at the hospital too...   Isn't that the grandest?

On the other hand... how will we get our requisite cuddle time?  Hmmmm! Not so sure about this!  I'll have to give it more thought.

Comments are welcome.... light and fun!

by Sweetie, teller of mischievous tails and phantasmagorical ideas.

Our Aunty M. (yes, another Aunty M) posted an interesting photo on her page a few days ago and it got me thinking.  As you've read in our previous posts the boys are sometimes a little rough on Whiskers, Mouse and me. They like to pounce on our backs, clamp their jaws on our necks and hold us down for a while.  Now, you have to know, they don't usually hurt us as long as we remember to just stay still until they tire of the game. For that is what it is to them.

On the other hand sometimes we squeal or squirm to get away because it isn't a game to us and that makes them clamp down a little harder... and Grammy has to intervene.  That means the old girl has to set down her knitting, shift to the edge of the chair, propel herself up onto her feet, lumber over to us and separate the perpetrator from the perpetrated on.

Etude has perfected his timing and lets go just seconds before Grammy reaches for him and runs for cover snickering and giggling.  It has become a game for him. Another thing they both do is creep up behind us to sniff our butts.  If we ignore them they will nip our haunches so of course, we squeal to get Grammy's attention which means another knitting down/scooch to edge of chair/push up/lumber routine and more snickers from Etude.   Rondo on the other hand will release as soon as Grammy yells, 'Rondo!!!' with a shame-on-you voice. The yell elicits no reaction from Etude.  He prefers to see Grammy in motion. Those incidents where Rondo pounces are usually between the two boys though Etude has been known to return the favour as well.  They are both scamps.

by Sweetie, fitness trainer

Good morning, dear friends.  
Once again I'm taking over the blog and this morning's topic is my chubby brothers.   Yes, the chubby bunnies who pester Grammy night, morning and many times in between for food.  

As you know from reading past blogs, these boys have never suffered hardship and live to eat.  It is time they learn to eat to live like we girls. BUT first we have to get them from beach balls to svelte handsome fluffballs. 

Grammy had been working with them on this for well over a year and in all that time the most either of them had lost was 1.5 lbs.  This at an exorbitant cost for a food that would speed up their metabolism.  If it worked it would be worth it... BUT, unfortunately when Grammy weighed the cost and lack of substantial weight loss with continuing the food with what her budget would permit her blood pressure hit an all-time high.  Something had to give and with a limited budget you can guess what.  But then, what to do?

Grammy decided to return to the food the girls eat and they were on before but try reducing the quantities.  So for the next two months they were fed the same foods as the girls but in reduced quantities: 1/2 cup each of kibble and 1/8 tin of wet food.  AND  NO TREATS, No extras.  Of course, we don't get extras... because Grammy takes our kibble from our dishes and pretends they are treats.  Sneaky but it works.  

Two months into this routine and Rondo and Etude were looking even more rotund than before and had ballooned from chubby bunnies to beached whales. Every ounce lost had been regained and more.  This is not good!

Now, Rondo is longer in the legs and the body so looks less like a blob than shorter, cobbier Etude.  BUT both are over the recommended weights BY FAR and neither can be determined svelte. 

So the question begs.... did coming off this metabolic diet cause a rebound effect?  We don't have an answer for that but going back on it isn't an option and the weight has to come off.

This meant Grammy would have to go on another hunt for something to bring down their weight while staying within a budget she could manage and off she went to a nearby pet food chain to look for something that might be effective while not putting them in the poor house.

Grammy really likes the staff at this petfood store and trusts they know what they are doing.  Our clerk suggested a high fibre/low calorie diet for a short term to bring the weight down and the best in his opinion was something called FAT CAT. He is talking from experience so, if the name is any indication maybe there is hope.  Definitely it is worth a try.

We introduced the food into their diet and slowly transitioned them to the new food.  They love it and so far they haven't been able to eat all they are allowed based on their current weight.  I assume the extra fibre fills the corners of their big tummies.  *Giggles*

And so, they get their 1/8 tin of wet food and the allotment of dry.  Whatever is left over at the end of the day is brought up to daily limit again ready for the next day.  So far, they are satisfied but it is early days.  We'll give them a month on the new food, weigh them and see what difference it makes.  Here's hoping!  

In the meantime, I, Sweetie, am planning a workout routine for the two of them once they're at a reasonable weight to stress those hearts.  Oh, and for Grammy too.   ​

by Sweetie,  Chronicler of nothing much.
​
Friends,  We apologize for being late with our 'blog' today.   A couple of things came into play here.  One was the old girl, herself. She slept in and had to rush off to her appointment this morning and only had time to feed us and upload Aunty L's blog before hightailing it out of here.   

Now that word 'hightail' begs an question and hopefully an answer ... Grammy doesn't have a tail so how can she hightail it?   Well, Whiskers explained it to me.  She says hightailing means to hurry up and get out of there and doesn't have anything to do with having a tail.   

Well, I, Sweetie, Googled it.... and guess what!  It does have to do with a tail.  It is originally about when white-tailed deer see danger  they lift their white tails and run for their lives.  *Giggles*   I'd love to see Grammy lift her tail and run out of here like a deer... but her hightailing is more like a tortoise lumbering across a field.  Not at all graceful, nor swift.

Not only that, if she did do a hightailing manoeuvre she'd probably take a swan-dive... and not a graceful one either.  Hey, the woman is a disaster on two feet.  Pity the poor neighbours, people on the street and us.  But we have learned to steer clear of those disasterous feet.  Smart little duffers, we are.

Okay so enough of her hightailing it out of here. After her appointment to loosen up stiff muscles, tendons, ligaments etc. she headed back home to us... and we planned to work on the blog with her but now she was like loose jello ... with a mushy brain which was of no use to us.  We had to plop her into her chair, turn on a heating pad and let her sleep away the afternoon.   I tell you, these old folk are something else.

So friends, It looks like we have no blog today.  Nope!  But we will share this with you... For an old codger she isn't half bad.  No siree.  She has her good points -especially when doling out the food rations and giving cuddles.

See you next week and this time hopefully with something to say.    

We love you, friends.  And don't forget to smile, it may be the only smile someone sees today and it will mean so much to that person.

Comments are always welcomed.