Welcome to the Big Top. Catnip served here.

I learned something about our cat last night. He apparently thinks our home is the Big Top. And, he's the star of the show. His specialty is acrobatics.

Here's how I came to know this.

This weekend, Lawman and I made a trip to the local greenhouse. While there I purchased flowers and herbs to plant in pots for our front porch and our deck. I love the smell of peppermint and spearmint (they're also good in tea) so I bought one of each. Next to them was catnip.

You know where this is going, right?

In my moment of kindness (weakness is more like it ), I suggested we buy catnip to put in with the spearmint and peppermint and see if our cat liked it.

The pots have been on the deck since Saturday but he only discovered it last night.

It's like a drug. Did you know that? I swear my cat is a druggie. A circus druggie. Living in my big top.

As soon as he got one whiff of that plant, (or was it taste?), he was hooked. He did back flips. Somersalts. He contorted his body just to get closer to it. He nearly laid in my pot. It was so funny that I hollered at the rest of the family to come watch this.

Next year I'm going to do an entire pot of just catnip. Cat will be stoned all summer.

Hide the Kitten, Part 2

If you missed Part 1 go here.

So the kitten had been found. What a relief. I couldn't take anymore tears. How could they, Blonde 2 and 3, be so attached to an animal that they'd had less than 24 hours? Ok, I'll admit he was cute.

Now that kitty had been found they had to get his "area" set up. Litter box, food, water. All necessities in the life of a kitty. Those Blondes were more than willing to do that. How long can this last? I was guessing not long. And I was right.

Kitty easily adjusted to life in our home. I would too if I was treated like him. He didn't have to do anything and those blondes doted on him 24/7. It didn't take kitty long to find his favorite sleeping spots. Sunning spots. That's all he needed.

Well, the newness did wear off. And kitty became cat. Now I have to ask, plead and threaten those girls in order to get the cat chores done. No one wants to feed him. Or water. Or change the litter box . Eeww! And, yes, I must admit that I've been known to take care of that cat. More times than I care to admit.

It didn't take cat long to find his favorite night-time sleeping spot. Our bed. Lawman was none too pleased about that. However, he's adjusted to it now. No problem for him. Cat is on my side of the bed at my feet. Same spot every night. He moves to the floor as soon as my alarm goes off in the morning. He follows me to the bathroom and waits by the shower. He jumps up on the counter just waiting for me to turn on the sink so he can get a drink. He follows me to the kitchen when I make coffee. He doesn't drink coffee but he knows he'll get his morning kitty treat. Isn't he spoiled?

Then he checks the weather. That's right. He surveys the outdoors from the patio doors. And while he's doing that he's also considering his daily hunt. Squirrels, birds, bugs, blowing leaves. He thinks he's a hunter. He's never brought back a kill unless you count the little mouse he got in the garage. That was probably more of a playtoy though. He just tossed it around enough to cause battle wounds. I had to finish it off. Does that make me the hunter?

Then there's the neighborhood cats. He's always watching them. Like he's on the prowl. Somtimes he chases them. Sometimes he befriends them. Just depends on the day. One day this week he got caught. Lawman caught him under the deck with another cat. Lawman said, "I don't know what he thought he was doing. He can't impress the girls. He's done lost his equipment."

Hide the Kitten

We have a cat. A psycho cat.

A few years ago our girls thought they needed a pet. They wanted a dog and I said no because it would have required us to build a fence around our back yard. No. Because I like our backyard. It's very open. None of the neighbors have a fence so our backyard looks like one big park. I love it.

Ok, back to the story. No fence was going to be built so they suggested we have an indoor dog. Again, I said no. I'm a farm girl. Animals belong outside. Period.

We'd done fish and the girls said they didn't count as pets because you couldn't play with them. What? Have they never heard of a fish out of water?

Ultimately, their daddy caved. We caved. Lawman is friends with the local vet and of course he said it would be easy to hook us up with a cat. No problem. Well, he was right. Lawman and the girls went to the home of one of the vets clients. Said home had a mama cat with several kittens that were in need of a good warm place to lay their head. Lawman and girls picked one out and brought him home. He was only about 6 or 7 weeks old and all black. Cute little guy.

Now mind you, I'd already laid down the ground rules. I wasn't changing litter. I wasn't feeding the cat. I wasn't watering the cat. Do you water a cat? Whatever. You know what I mean. If they wanted the cat, they got the jobs that came with it. Got it? Got it.

Well, kitty hadn't been in our house long and he disappeared. We couldn't find him for hours. And hours. Did he escape out an open door? Where was that cat? Finally it was bed time and still no cat. Girls were in tears. How could they possibly lose a pet? It hadn't even been 12 hours since they brought him home. You can only imagine the number of tears that were shed. Poor kitty could be outside in the cold and wet. All by himself.

The next day while I was at work I told Blonde 2 to sit quietly on the steps and listen for the kitty. Eventually he'd make a noise. He did. She heard a little meow. But where was it coming from? That kitten had found his way into one of the recliners and in order to get him out, Blonde 2 had to cut away some of the fabric. Ugh! At last, kitty was found.

Guess what his name is? Peek-a-Boo. He likes to play that game. Go figure.

to be continued....