Giuseppe Gattino

The Easter Miracle

2011-04-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

So much to catch you up on! It's been crazy around here with all the caring for Scruffy Gray. Last week Scruffs went in for his annual (birthday!) exam and started immediately hissing at the vet. The vet (who is really a nice lady and didn't deserve this behavior at all!) offered to sedate Scruffers so they could give him a full exam uninterrupted and end with a spa day of bath, nail clipping and the shaving of his matted back fur.

Heather agreed and left Scruffers at the vet for the day. But later that afternoon the vet called to inform us of a big surprise: Scruffy Gray isn't a boy kitty, he's really a she! No wonder she's been in a bad mood most of the time she's lived her - we've been calling her by the wrong gender!

But then Scruffers came home and she was scared and hid for a day and a half. And when she walked her right front paw buckled under like she was missing a bone in her front leg. (It was very reminiscent of when Harry Potter had his bones removed from his arm by accident). Heather had to call the vet repeatedly over Easter weekend (poor vet!) to give her an update on Scruffy's status.

First the vet thought Scruffy suffered a stroke. But Sunday night (Easter) Scruffy remarkably returned to her normal self, as if she rose from the dead. But then Heather fed her another pain killer (for the arthritis pain in her back) on Monday and the weird behavior started all over again. Very PTSD-like. She hid for almost two days this time and was scared of everything.

So now we know it's a very rare reaction to the pain medication. Since then, Scruffers has returned to her normal self.

Except that he's a she.

Happy birthday, Scruffy Gray

2011-04-22T11:56:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday Scruffy Gray! Now wait one second - Scruffy, don't you know how birthdays work? We're supposed to surprise you, not the other way around.

Do you want to hear Scruffy's big surprise? My brother is really a SISTER! No wonder he/she looks distressed all the time. We refer to her as Mr. Scruffy Gray. And Mr. Robust Snuggles. Yikes! And Craig calls her "my little guy."

Well, no more of that! Luckily, Scruffers is a great unisex name, so it's not a big deal. Not like a certain someone (who shall remain nameless to protect her identity) who named her kitty Candy and then found out it was a boy. And that poor cat was stuck with the name Candy his whole life. So, Scruffy, be thankful on this Good Friday that Heather (oops!!!) didn't name you 'Candy'. Think how distressed you'd feel then!

Breaking News!

2011-01-27T12:22:00.000-08:00

OK, that was just to grab your attention. But this is a big deal, so I want everyone to know:

The Kitsap Humane Society is giving their kitty room a big upgrade! The new cattery allows the kitties to socialize and move around more. There's even a new ventilation system to disperse the ammonia aroma.

I just happened to stumble across the upgrade while I was helping Heather do research for work. We were searching for more information on the annual run the shelter puts on in and the news was on the front page of their site. The run, by the way, is on May 21st this year in Bremerton in case you're looking for an excuse to support the animals and get some exercise. Me, I'll just get Scruffy to chase me around the house!

(Photo: Mungo eagerly awaits your visit to the shelter.)

Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jan/26/cats-get-new-quarters-at-the-kitsap-humane/#ixzz1CGiRUWKn

Lending a helping hand - or paw, in this case!

2011-01-23T12:55:00.000-08:00

Normally Scruffy Gray sleeps right through the afternoon, but for some reason, he decided to wake up and help with the grocery shopping today. Here he is inspecting the bags' contents to make sure Heather purchased quality goods.

We're such good little helpers!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T17:59:00.000-08:00

Happy new year, humans! Now it's time to stop celebrating and get back to the routine.

Hope you made those new year's resolutions. Oh, you didn't? I can offer you a few...

Love your kitties
Make sure you stock your kitties toys with all new catnip
Play with your kitties

Happy new year from Giuseppe and Scruffy!

Time to Recharge!

2010-12-28T14:23:00.000-08:00

The holidays get pretty tiring with all the food and wine and family visits. Sometimes a kitty needs to remind his humans that it's time to take it easy.

"Hey, you. You're not going anywhere right now. Just lie here and relax."

Here's to a little R'n'R during the holidays!

Don't Forget About the Animals, Santa!

2010-12-24T08:18:00.001-08:00

What do all good kitties do on Christmas eve? They sit tight in their little snuggle beds and wait for Santa, of course! We make sure we've written our letters to Santa making our Christmas requests and then we sit and wait.

What did you ask? What do kitties wish for on Christmas? I don't know about other kitties, but Scruffy and I, we talked it over in advance. And we asked Santa to give all the homeless animals a good family.

Scruffy purred when he heard what our human, Craig Romano, did. Oh, you didn't hear? Craig put up on his Hike of the Week site a hike at the N.O.A.H. Center. He's trying to do his part to alert humans how many animals need a home. We were only a little disappointed that he featured a dog, but we're trying to take the high road. No 3 a.m. belly rub from you, mister! OK, we're mostly trying to take the high road. Come on, we're not purr-fect either!

And Santa, if you're reading this, we could use a little more catnip!

Merry Christmas to all the animals!

Would you like me to inspect that for you?

2010-11-27T07:50:00.000-08:00

Aah, the first eating fest has ended. Or the second if you count Halloween. Thanksgiving is over and now it's time to burn those calories (and a whole in the wallet) by shopping for Christmas presents!

What do kitties want for Christmas? Well, I, for one, like to play with cardboard boxes and wrapping paper and catnip. And, Scruffy, well he'd like to play with those things too but he's too arthritic to jump into boxes, so he'll just take extra catnip. On the floor where he can reach it.

Excuse me, I've got to see what arrived in the mail today. I am the package inspector!

(Giuseppe inspects a package to make sure it's safe.)

It's November already? How did that happen?

2010-11-04T18:41:00.000-07:00

Whoa! How did November get here so quickly? One minute I was watching all the birds play outside and the next minute I'm listening to Heather make plans for Thanksgiving! Thank goodness I'm a kitty and time doesn't mean anything to me.

Here's to the beginning of the holiday season! Don't forget to schedule some extra time to stay home and snuggle with your kitties (OK, and doggies too). We sense how crazy busy the holiday season is and we want you to remember that we need love too. And, most importantly, petting your kitty/doggy helps you relax.

Bring on the holidays! Santa, if you're listening, this year I want all the kitties to find their forever homes.

Notes from under the bed

2010-10-14T11:19:00.000-07:00

I thought all was right with the world. Craig had finished his hiking research for his upcoming backpacking guide and he promised to stay home for a little while. Heather had returned home after a week in Portland. And Scruffy and I were getting used to everything being normal again. Breakfast on time, all four of us hanging out in the living room reading the paper together in the morning, evening treats. The routine was just starting to get re-established.

(Above: Giuseppe inspecting Craig's sleeping bag, making sure it was going back to storage for the winter.)

That's when the ambush occurred. I was sitting downstairs, watching as the dreaded kitty carrier was brought into the house and the door was left enticingly open. Come on - it was obviously for Scruffy. I might be docile enough to let Craig and Heather cut my nails, but Scruffy tries to eat them alive. I know they pay the vet team to endure his attitude so they don't have to. So I had nothing to worry about. I was getting ready to watch Heather attempt to lure Scruffy into the carrier.

But then Heather leaned over (to kiss my goodbye, I was sure) and she picked me up and quickly shoved me into the kitty carrier. What??? When did she become quick as lightening? It must have been all that coffee she drank before breakfast. Dang it! And the next thing I knew I was in the back seat of her car being whisked away to the vet! AAAAH!

In case there was any doubt, I was a brave kitty. Contrary to the rumors, I did NOT drool like a St. Bernard and I did not shake with fear the entire time. And I did not wrap my body around Heather's neck in hopes that she'd save me from the vet. Nope. Do not believe a word of it. I will have to have a talk with Scruffy about those nasty rumors he's been spreading....

Everything will go back to normal, I'm sure it will. But for now, until I'm absolutely sure, I will be hiding under the bed. Just in case.

Things to be thankful for

2010-10-07T21:23:00.000-07:00

What am I thankful for this fall? For one, I am NOT the kitty wearing this stupid outfit. Rumor has it the kitty also has a smoking jacket he is forced to wear in public. Would someone please call PETA? This is animal abuse. Definitely animal abuse.

And I am also very thankful that Craig finished his last hike for his backpacking book. Now we can see him again! Of course, right now he's holed up in his office working all hours of the day to finish his manuscript. But at least I can wake him up at 3 a.m. for my belly rubs again now that he's home.

And I'm thankful that it's no longer hot, even though it was not ever hot this year. I still am happy not to have to worry about sweating in my long fur coat. I know, I know, you're all grumbling about what a lame summer it was. Well it's time to get over it and enjoy the crisp fall air and the sounds of leaves crunching under your feet!

Creatures of Habit

2010-09-17T07:23:00.000-07:00

OK, maybe you didn't understand what went wrong this morning. Every Friday Heather gets up at 5, well, 5:13 to be exact, and feeds us before she leaves for a run. I know she mentioned last night that she was exhausted and not to wake her early, but come on. Do you really think we can change that easily?

By 5:45 we were in a bit of a panic. "Hello? Anybody awake up there? Why is there no breakfast in our bowls?" Scruffy meowed out (he's been taking over in the vocal department) and scratched the mattress (until Heather smacked him pretty good with her pillow). Me - it's my job to jump up on the bed and sniff out what's going on.

And the report - everyone was tired and wanted us to leave them alone. Sorry. Fat chance! Maybe tomorrow we'll mix things up a little....

Scruffy steals my job

2010-09-02T08:01:00.000-07:00

That's him. He looks pretty innocent, doesn't he? "Oh, look at me, I'm an old, rescued kitty and I am so sweet." Ha!

It was MY job to wake everyone up every morning. I had the job perfected. I would walk the headboard behind Heather and Craig and jump on and off the bed. Then I would jump onto the windowsill and bat at the venetian shades until Craig finally got so sick of it, he would get up and glare at me. Worked every time!

But now Scruffy has decided that it's HIS job to wake up the house. He walks stealthily into the bedroom, quietly staring at the bed. Then he makes his move, meowing a little, in hopes that Heather will jump right out of bed (fat chance!). When that doesn't work he will pull himself up onto the mattress (he's too old and decrepit to jump up) and walk back and forth over Heather's body and stare in her face.

But I'M kitty number one!!!!! Hello? Doesn't anyone remember me?

Mountains of Stress

2010-08-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

My human Craig is under a ton of stress. A mountain of stress, to be more exact. He's in the middle of two books (one manuscript is finished but there are still maps to create). And he HAS to complete his research for the backpacking book ASAP.

Everything seemed to be going pretty well - there have been no more road wash outs and the snow continues to melt in the mountains. But then last night he was supposed to go on another research trip and suddenly the weather forecast turned bad. Thunderstorms and flash floods, not a good forecast for higher elevation hiking.

(Photo: Here I am helping Craig inspect his book collection.)

Scruffy and I realize that he has to get the research done. But in all selfishness, we were excited to have him home today. Stay home and play with us, Craig! We miss you when you're away! No one else (hint: Heather) remembers to give us our favorite treats every night like you do. And no one else gets up at 3 a.m. to rub my belly until I purr.

We have plenty of catnip and wine waiting for you to celebrate the finished manuscripts (plus maps!) We can't wait!

Declaw the guy!

2010-07-30T12:52:00.001-07:00

I was browsing on Facebook today and I noticed a post from a local woman who wrote "I'm still sad about my missing cat." So I started reading the comments and the whole situation just about makes me want to go over to her house and wring her husband's neck.

(Caption: Scruffy teaches Giuseppe some tricks of foraging for food in the wild).

Get a load of this: This woman has had two indoor kitties for 11 years (bless her!). They are declawed (take that previous sentiment back!) and recently her husband decided that they should live outside. So at 11 years old, and without claws to defend themselves or climb to safety, the old kitties were ceremoniously thrown out. And now one's missing.

OK, I can understand that some people don't like cats. Heck, I don't like some people! But to live with the cats for many years (I think the couple has been together longer than 11 years) and suddenly decide to get rid of them seems a touch heartless. And then to get rid of them by tossing them outside, like the trash, well I just don't know what to say. What kind of human being has such a lack of regard for life?

Scruffy and I have voted and it was unanimous: declaw the husband and send him packing to live outside. Sheesh. Who would have such a hardened heart? Luckily, not our humans. (Plus, we made our own key to the front door!!!)

Poor lady. What happens when the husband gets sick of their children? Lady, don't declaw them, just in case!

GOOOOAAAAL!

2010-07-15T21:38:00.000-07:00

Scruffy Gray won. Fair and square. It was just like a soccer game, long and drawn out with a lot of posturing and scrambling and changing of positions without gaining anything. But finally, it happened: Scruffy Gray 1, Heather 0.

Heather had arranged a visit with the vet - Scruffers needs his nails cut and his back needs to be shaved. Poor guy, he's so arthritic he can't clean the fur on his back. And no matter how much time Heather spends brushing out the mattes, the fur just keeps getting worse. And on top of that Scruffy has been doing his pirate trick again where he lifts one side of his upper lip funny like he's saying "Grrr, matey!" So the pulled tooth site probably needs to be looked at since the pirate look should have ended months ago after the broken tooth was pulled.

So Heather began by pulling the dreaded kitty carrier out of the garage. Scruffers took one look at it and hid behind the couch. Heather moved the couch and Scruffy ran (limped quickly, really) upstairs. But Heather was quick and had already closed the doors to all the rooms upstairs. Scruffy was trapped. "Should be no problem now," Heather thought. Except that the door to her office wasn't really closed all the way and Scruffy snuck in and hid behind a heavy desk.

Well, after a lot of hiding and trying to lure Scruffy out, Scruffs somehow escaped and ran under Heather's bed. Heather slunk in under it and tried to pull him out. And that's when Scruffy hissed at Heather. But she was determined. So she pulled out the green towel to wrap him up and he lunged at her. And scratched her pretty good all over her hand, enough to draw some blood. And then he hid for the rest of the day.

That was Tuesday and Scruffy has yet to sit on her lap again. He'll sit next to her, but doesn't really want Heather to pet him and he won't purr for her. And every time she walks into the garage he runs behind the couch - just in case.

I don't know what his problem is. I sat in the kitty carrier no problem. In fact, I watched almost the entire game from inside the kitty carrier. Pretty good view and I was guaranteed not to be approached by Scruffy. It was probably the safest place in the house for me to watch the fun.

When Craig's away the kitties will play!

2010-07-13T06:31:00.000-07:00

Scruffy looking around: Is that really a bag of kitty food on the floor? Wait - is this a trick? How could I be so lucky?

Giuseppe: I hate seafood. I'll just watch.

Let me just check and see where the kibble is...

There's got to be some food in here somewhere! Oh well, I guess since I'm in here I'll just lick the bag...

Be careful what you wish for

2010-07-12T08:47:00.000-07:00

What can I say? Perhaps Be careful what you wish for would be a good place to start. I spent the past two months waiting for the weather to get decent. I have been moping like the rest of you in Washington, done with the rain, the gray, the never ending 60-degree days.

Then suddenly the temperature shot up from 60 to 92 last week. Whoa! I said I wanted nice weather, not heat stroke. And for those of you who may not understand: no one in their right mind would purchase A/C in this part of the country. Why waste your money? For what, one week a a year? So last week we suffered. Scruffy Gray hid under the guest bed all day for 3 days in a row and was so stressed from the heat, the frightening overhead fans whirling overtime and the open windows letting in the sounds of barking dogs that he threw up his dinner all three days.

And me? Come on, I'm a long-haired kitty. Half Maine Coon. Do you think for a second that I enjoy baking in my fur? So we suffered.

But there are many positives that have come from the heat wave:

1. Summer's finally here! Believe me, everyone's mood improved.

2. Now I am happy that it's 60 degrees and gray outside today. I could use a little sun break.

3. The garden is finally taking off! And biggest bonus of them all: I got to go outside and play!!!

With the leash on, dang it.

Tuna

2010-06-28T18:40:00.000-07:00

Today was supposed to be a special treat day. Scruffy and I needed a treat, not kitty treats, like we get whenever we do something special or look cute, but a REAL treat.

Why? I think Heather realizes how hard this gray weather has been on us too. We might live inside, but us kitties know when it's gray and depressing weather outside too. We see it in the lack of sunny spots to bask in, we sense it in the humans around us. The weather is getting to everyone, no doubt.

But where was I? Treats! So Heather was making herself a little lunch and dropped a bit of tuna on the kitchen floor. It might not have made a sound, but Scruffy can hear a drop of food hit the ground anywhere in a five mile radius, I kid you not. His head whipped around and he stared at Heather, hoping, praying that for the first time since he's lived here that she would allow him a tiny bit of tuna. And she did! She took the dropped piece of tuna over to him (and walked right past me without even noticing) and he almost ate her finger in his rush to devour the tuna.

So Heather decided I was next. She took a big chunk of tuna, stuck it on her finger, and brought it over to me. I sniffed and walked away. So she placed it in a small cup, knowing that I will not, under any circumstances, lower myself to eat out of a human's hand. And I walked back over, sniffed the cup and attempted to bury it. And that's when she got it: I don't like fish! I don't know how many times I have tried to bury the salmon and tuna dinners she places in front of me, but Heather has never understood that I am just not a fish kitty. Finicky, yes. Fishy, no.

Hopefully that means she'll start buying more of those tasty chicken treats instead... Have you figured it out yet, Heather? And maybe roast a fresh chicken and drop a piece or two on the ground... A kitty can hope!

Pretty Please Mother Nature

2010-06-10T19:53:00.000-07:00

I can't take any more rain. Please make it go away. That's all I have to say.

Except I think that everyone who lives out here feels the same.

NO MORE RAIN!!!!

Rain, Rain, Go Away

2010-06-03T20:52:00.000-07:00

That's it! I can't take any more of this weather. I don't care if I'm an inside kitty or not, there's only so many days a week I want to stare out at rain. Pouring rain.

Whatever happened to spring and walking outside on a leash with my Craig? Nope, no way. If you think that the two of us are going to stand outside in the cold, windy, pouring rain so I can sniff the tree frogs, you are mistaken. I don't like to get wet. I'm a cat, not a dog.

So, here I am waiting for a vacation. Let's go somewhere sunny, ok? Somewhere with lots of birds to look at and maybe some tree frogs to sniff. I'm packed and ready to go!

The overwhelming "to-do" list

2010-05-21T11:40:00.000-07:00

Phew, this Friday's been rough on me and it's not even noon. First, I had to take a well-deserved after-breakfast nap, but Heather and Craig just wouldn't let me sleep. They kept coming over and rubbing my belly and then finally Heather started photographing me, so I knew I had to get up.

I sent Scruffy over to do the laundry while I helped put up Craig's newest Hike of the Week up on his site. So much work for a little kitty! After Scruffy was done warming up the laundry (napping across a pile of Craig's clean shirts), he and I had a long philosophical debate on the nature of stairs. We discussed metaphors and the meaning of life and whether Craig and Heather would bug us less if we napped downstairs on our couches or if we stayed in our snuggle beds.

Hopefully this afternoon will be less taxing, I can't imagine being this busy all day.

Renaming the kitties

2010-05-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

Heather swears that if she knew Scruffy well before she and Craig named him she would have called him Bilbo for the old Hobbit. I think that's because she struggled for months to get through the Lord of the Rings and she would enetertain herself by playing with Scruffs in between attempting to finish another page. She says Scruffy Gray looks exactly like she would picture a hobbit creature. Especially when he's on his back playing with his stick (he ate the attached feathers the first day so now it's just a stick).

So I asked her, what would you have called me? I don't think I can tell you Heather's answer. Sigh, OK: Dingleberries. Completely unfair! It's not my fault I'm a long haired kitty! See what I call you when you're not around, lady!

Worn out

2010-05-16T21:15:00.000-07:00

I don't know how Heather and Craig do it. With the improved weather they've been on the go constantly and it's all I can do to keep up. Just hearing about their adventures makes me exhausted.

Craig's hiking tons of miles every day trying to finish the research for his upcoming Day Hiking Columbia Gorge book. Every time he calls to report his daily hike, he sounds beat. He even hung up on Heather mid-sentence one night because his mind was toast.

And Heather has a big event coming up - a half ironman - so she's been constantly out running, or swimming at the lake or going for long bike rides. She comes home looking so tired that Scruffy and I have to keep an eye on her to make sure she remembers to feed us before she passes out.

It's enough to make me want to curl up in my snuggle bed and take a long nap. Hmm, that sounds like a great idea! I think I might do that - if Heather's snoring doesn't keep me awake.

My new camera!

2010-05-10T22:41:00.000-07:00

I couldn't believe my good fortune today - Heather came home with a new digital camera! I liked the old one, it took decent shots. Though it was hard to operate since I have no thumbs. But the camera was never the same after it rolled off the side of a mountain last fall. (Oops!) I had been trying to convince Heather to buy a new one but she wanted to wait until the old one died. Well, RIP old camera.

It finally passed away last week. Heather was taking photos and the viewfinder showed a grid on the screen and then turned itself off for good. But now we have a new camera (still not easy to operate without thumbs!) and I've been learning all the settings. Here's Scruffy Gray posing for his first portrait on this camera! Ooh, we're going to have a blast with this baby!!!

Meet Scruffy, the Tweaker

2010-05-05T08:04:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure who came home with Heather yesterday, but it wasn't the Scruffy Gray I know. That Scruffy Gray likes to sleep all day and lie across Heather and Craig's laps as much as possible.

So who's this guy? Scruffy came back from the vet (after getting a tooth surgically extracted) and was a completely different kitty. According to the post-op info sheet, he was supposed to want to stay in his kennel for a few hours and sleep off the morphine. Uh, no. That's not what happened.

Scruffy was thrilled to escape from his kitty carrier, even though he could barely stand. He was swerving around like a drunk trying to walk from room to room. He fell partially into the litter box and then couldn't figure out how to get out. I watched him trip over his own feet and fall over trying to squat down in front of his food bowl. And his pupils were HUGE. Scruffs finally had to resort to lying on his side to give himself his post-dinner bath because he realized he couldn't have three legs on the ground and stay upright to lick the fourth.

He somehow got the hang of walking up and down the stairs (sideways!) and began doing laps around the house, like he was coming down off of a drug high. That started around 5 last night and here it is 8 a.m. and he's still doing laps.

Scruff's attention span isn't so good, either. Just like a tweaker. "What was I doing? Oh yeah, I was hungry, I'd better beg for some food. Oh, the food bowl is full and right in front of me? OK, I'll eat. Wait, what was I doing? I'm hungry, I'd better ask for some food." Last night Heather sat in front of his dinner bowl and tapped it every time Scruffs forgot what he was doing so he could eat his meal.

Me? Yeah, OK, I admit it, I was glad to see him come home. I was pretty worried about Scruffs. He is my brother, you know. Now, it's time for my post-breakfast nap. Watching Scruffy do all these laps around the house is tiring me out.

Positive thoughts for Scruffy Gray

2010-05-03T18:58:00.000-07:00

Thank you for all of your positive thoughts and encouragement. Yes, you know who you are. You people on facebook who told my human that after their kitties had teeth pulled the kitties then hated them. And so now Craig is super freaked out that Scruffy Gray will hate him after tomorrow's procedure.

That's right. Tomorrow Scruffy Gray officially goes under anaesthesia to have two broken teeth removed. Sounds like fun, eh?

Scruffy Gray, I'll be thinking of you. As I'm eating breakfast and taking my nap in my soft snuggle bed. Good luck, ol' boy! I'd have your share of breakfast too, but I'm too busy snubbing my own meals.

The Furless Leader

2010-04-20T20:19:00.001-07:00

Oh, really? It's FEARless leader, you say? Well, not in this house!

I know, I should bad for Scruffers. It's not his fault that his arthritis is so bad that he's unable to clean his back. Heather brushes it a lot, but she hasn't wanted to get in too deep because she's not sure how much pain he's in. And finally Scruffers had to go to the vet yesterday and the people told her his matting was too close to the skin to try and clean it up. He was forced to endure multiple shots, a blood draw, an ear cleaning and a partial body shave. Better you than me, old boy!

So, for all of you to see: Scruffy's new 'do!

What part of "I hate everything new" don't you get?

2010-04-07T21:18:00.000-07:00

So here I am living the life of a happy indoor kitty, putting up with my cranky brother Scruffers. Life seemed good. Simple, routine, and perfect. What kitty doesn't appreciate a simple routine?

I get up, meow at everyone else to get up, I get fed, I take a bath, run around, take a nap, repeat. What part of this perfect routine says "please change"? NONE of it!

I woke up this morning and Heather attempted to feed me a meal I had never tried before. Where does that fit into my routine? No where. Duh. I ate a little and let her know how angry I was. But Heather must be really dense because she fed me the same stupid thing for dinner.

You realize I don't like change, right? So why are you trying to change my meals? Humans can have all the variety in the world. I'm a kitty. I don't need variety. (Hmm, by that logic, maybe Heather's dad is a kitty too...)

I didn't give in for dinner. I ran away. I ran around in circles and meowed at Heather till I lost my breath. Then I tried to bury my dinner. Finally - two hours later!!! - Heather gave in. She went into the garage and pulled out some of the wet food I like and poured it over the top of my rejected dinner.

OK, I admit it, I compromised and I ate it. I was hungry by then, you know. But I'm still not letting Heather anywhere near me. I sat with my back turned to her at the dining room table so she'd see how angry I was. Am.

I need to learn how to use a can opener.

The hiatus is over!

2010-04-03T18:35:00.000-07:00

Phew! That's all I can say for the last month. February was crazy and March was even crazier. I wanted to write and let you all know I am doing OK, but everyone was so busy I had to help out more at home.

Craig has been on the road a lot. It turns out that researching and writing two books at the same time along with frequent book talks around the state and other freelance projects is a lot of work.

And Heather, yeah, same deal. No, she's not researching two books. No, her job has increased in responsibility and time, which she swears is positive. She and Craig keep mentioning that in this economy you're either working like a dog or not working at all. I guess since I'm not a dog that leaves me as "not working."

So my job is to help out when I can. I help inspect the packing and unpacking process for Craig. I help Heather with computer work (she calls it "distracting") and I keep them both on track by making sure they get up bright and early every day. The early bird gets the worm!

As a side note - happy one year anniversary to Scruffy Gray! He came to our home officially last Good Friday. I love you, bro!

It must be a deadline!

2010-03-04T20:40:00.000-08:00

All the humans are working like crazy this week! Heather and Craig have their noses to the grindstone (ok, really to the computer) desperately trying to get work done before tomorrow night.

Scruffy and I have tried to play and chase them around but only Heather has been willing to take short (sanity) breaks to play with us. I sure don't envy them! It's days like this I'm glad I'm a kitty. What a life, eh?

(Photo: Are you sure I can't help out? I'm really good at organizing!)

No bull - get a kitty!

2010-03-01T12:43:00.000-08:00

OK, I am not sure I understand human behavior. Who would ever think of having a bull as a pet? Can a bull fetch your newspaper and slippers? (Not that I do that, mind you, but I have been known to steal slippers.) Can you take a bull out for a hike or a long run? Is a bull snuggly? No, no and no.

Please folks, do not try this at home. Skip the bull and get a kitty. Or (gasp) even a dog.

(This guy seems to be as unsnuggly as you can get as far as pets are concerned.)

Coroner: Eastern Pa. man killed by pet bull
An eastern Pennsylvania man was attacked and killed by a "temperamental" pet bull a day before his 53rd birthday, the coroner's office said Monday.

The property owners had encouraged Weinhold to get rid of the bull, Straka said. She said the same animal believed responsible for the weekend attack rammed Weinhold last summer, breaking several of his ribs.

Weinhold kept about 10 head of cattle at the farm, all of them as pets. Straka said it's not clear what precipitated Saturday's attack. The bull recently fathered a calf, but Straka said bulls are not as protective of their offspring as cows.

No one witnessed the attack. All of Weinhold's injuries appear to have been inflicted by a bull's head and hooves.

Rainy Days and Mondays

2010-02-24T20:12:00.000-08:00

Sigh. It was sunny for almost a week. And in February too! The irises are blooming, the heather plants smell nice, the birds have been seen playing in the yard, and now it's all gone. Back to the gray, dismal and depressing northwest winter weather that makes me want to curl up in my fleece snuggle bed and nap all day.

Don't worry, Heather. You work hard on getting your work deadlines met and I'll nap for you!

What did you say? Oh, it's not Monday? Well, really, what does it matter to me? I'm just a little indoor kitty. Days-schmays, it's all the same to me.

Commando Kitty!

2010-02-23T08:41:00.000-08:00

See that small golden circle hanging (annoyingly) off my collar? Well, it's gone now. I've gone commando!

Whenever I feel like Heather has slighted me, I tear off my collar so she knows how I feel: I don't associate myself with you. What has she done this time? Oh, the usual. She didn't take me outside yesterday on the last nice sunny day of the week. (Mark one check against her.) And then she has sent Craig away and he still hasn't come home. (Mark a bold check against her here.)

Scruffers is convinced that she took Craig to the vet and left him there. He won't sit on her lap in case he's next. OK, I know, he's a little odd. And highly anxious. And without Craig around we all get a little depressed.

So it's my job to mix things up a little. Liven things up. And so, I've gone commando!

Beppe Bigazzi is sick in the head

2010-02-17T11:26:00.000-08:00

How would you like your kitty served? With fresh herbs, maybe some fresh catnip?

Celebrity chef Beppe Bigazzi upsets viewers with his cat casserole

A top Italian food writer has been suspended indefinitely from the country’s version of the television programme Ready Steady Cook for recommending stewed cat to viewers as a “succulent dish”.

RAI, the public broadcasting network, said that it had dropped Beppe Bigazzi, 77, for offering the recipe on La Prova del Cuoco, which is broadcast at midday on the main channel. Its switchboard was inundated with complaints from viewers and animal rights groups. Bigazzi said that casserole of cat was a famous dish in his home region of Valdarno, Tuscany.

“I’ve eaten it myself and it’s a lot better than many other animals,” he told viewers. “Better than chicken, rabbit or pigeon.” He said that for optimum flavour the meat should be “soaked in spring water for three days” before being stewed.

Elisa Isoardi, the programme’s presenter — who has a cat called Othello — tried to steer Bigazzi off the subject. Reports said that during the commercial break she and the show’s producers tried to persuade him to apologise to viewers but he refused.

Carla Rocchi, the head of ENPA, the Italian society for the protection of animals, said that killing cats was illegal. Francesca Martini, the Deputy Health Minister, said it was “absolutely unheard of for a public service broadcaster to tell people how delicious cats are to eat”. She called for the producers to be investigated for criminal offences involving incitement to mistreat animals.

Bigazzi, a consumer affairs journalist and author of Cooking with Common Sense, has been one of the stars of La Prova del Cuoco for the past ten years. He is noted for his exuberant style and previously caused uproar by boiling lobsters live on the show. Yesterday he said that he had only been joking about the recipe, and he had been misunderstood.

He added: “Mind you, I wasn’t joking all that much. In the 1930s and 1940s, when I was a boy, people certainly did eat cat in the countryside around Arezzo.” Food historians said that Italians in cities such as Vicenza devised cat recipes in times of economic hardship. Inhabitants of Vicenza are still nicknamed magnagati (cat eaters), and in some butchers’ shops rabbits are sold with their heads to assure buyers that they are not cats.

From pet to pot

• In his 1529 treatise on cookery, Ruperto de Nola recommended spit-roasting cat basted with garlic and olive oil. He wrote: “Take the garlic with oil mixed with good broth so that it is coarse, and pour it over the cat and you can eat it for it is a good dish”

• The Spanish expression pasar gato por liebre derives from the practice of hunters trying to sell skinned cats as hares. When butchered, the animals are supposed to look almost identical

• In 2007 Australians at a cooking contest in Alice Springs sought to curb the feral cat population by using them in a dish. One judge found the cat casserole so tough that she had to spit it out

• Last month legal experts in China responded to pressure from the country’s middle class and proposed a ban on eating cat and dog meat. Both are traditional Chinese dishes but if the law is passed people caught eating cats could face 15 days in prison

Giuseppe: Read the story and watch the video of this cruel chef at the UK Times Online. I give the show's programmer credit - she kept picturing her kitty Othello in a stew and looks horrified. Beppe - the Great Depression is over. Even the Chinese have (officially) given up eating kitties.

Gung hay fat choy!

2010-02-14T19:51:00.000-08:00

Happy Chinese New Year!

Yay! It's my favorite year in the Chinese horoscope - year of the tiger! OK, I personally wasn't born in the year of the tiger, but my human friend Heather was, and she's super excited. What do I love? The fact that it's the year of the kitty! Kitties everywhere - rejoice! We rule!

The ultimate kitty betrayal

2010-02-11T11:56:00.000-08:00

How could it be? I thought we were kitty friends. Best kitty friends (BKF!), in fact. But then, I spotted it - the ultimate betrayal.

Sure, I know I like to drop dookies in Scruffy's kitty box. And he does it to me too. It's just part of the game we call "Turd Wars." But this, dios mio, was downright mean.

Ok, ok, get to the point Giuseppe Gattino. I went to lie down in my fleece snuggle bed and, gasp, someone was already in it. In MY snuggle bed. Scruffy - how could you?

I tried to alert Heather, but she thought Scruffy was missing. She and Craig searched all over the house for him while I stood by their bed meowing my complaint. Finally, Heather looked under the bed and saw a strange sight. Something gray sticking its head out of my snuggle bed. And then - it gets worse! - she started laughing. Ooh, that just made me even more angry.

After a good laugh, and some photos, Craig pulled out the treats to entice Scruffy to get out of my bed. They tried to offer us both treats but I refused. No way. You can't buy your way out of this one. I waved my tail in annoyance and stomped off to Heather's office. When Heather followed me in and brought in those stupid treats I showed her what I thought and tried to bury them in the carpet. Take that, Heather!

But I can't hold a grudge for long. Heather got me some of my favorite treats and brought them to the windowsill where only I could eat them. I enjoyed them and then, when Heather wasn't looking, I ate the discarded treats that Heather threw in Scruffy's bowl. And now that I'm full, it's time for a little kitty nap. But maybe on my throne, since my bed still smells like Scruffy.

Scruffy reads Money magazine

2010-02-08T15:53:00.000-08:00

Scruffy, don't despair! You're an indoor kitty now. You can ignore finances and block out the recent stock market decline.

That's right, close the magazine and take a little kitty nap and ignore all the financial bad news....

Gothic kittens? You're kidding, right?

2010-02-02T09:07:00.000-08:00

What the ...? How is it possible that a human would consider piercing kittens' ears and necks? We're kitties, not toys!

From the AP: A northeastern Pennsylvania woman is heading to trial on animal cruelty charges for marketing "gothic kittens" with ear and neck piercings over the Internet.

Thirty-five-year-old dog groomer Holly Crawford is scheduled for trial Tuesday in Wilkes-Barre (WILKS'-behr-ee).

Prosecutors say she inflicted pain on the cats to make money. Attorneys for Crawford say she didn't act maliciously.

Crawford's home outside Wilkes-Barre was raided in December 2008 after the SPCA of Luzerne County received a tip that she was marketing the animals online for hundreds of dollars.

Crawford said she used sterilized needles and made sure the kittens were healing properly. She said she wasn't trying to hurt them.

And the next question is: who would pay money for mutilated kittens? Sick and wrong, I tell you.

China enters the modern world?

2010-01-27T14:30:00.000-08:00

You know the world has gone crazy when China, where every critter big or small is fair game, considers banning the human consumption of cat and dog meat.

What will be next? Lead-free toys? Untainted prescription products, baby food and toothpaste? One can only hope.

Chinese legal experts call for ban on eating cats and dogs: Widespread and ancient practice of eating dog meat increasingly distasteful for China's growing affluent, pet-loving middle class.

(Photo: Caged cats after being rescued by China Small Animal Protection Association from a market in in Beijing where cats are traded for meat and fur. Photograph: AP)

Scruffy's Story

2010-01-23T11:41:00.000-08:00

The time has come. Yes, it's time to share the story of Scruffy Gray. The Humane Society of Skagit Valley has requested stories of animals that have found homes because of the shelter. And it's time for Scruffers to spill his guts. Scruffy, come on, it's time to tell us what happened to you!

I have pen and paper ready and I am preparing to interview him right now - ok, as soon as he wakes up from his afternoon nap. Stay tuned!

Block watch kitty

2010-01-19T22:43:00.000-08:00

Someone has to watch out for this house. If it's not going to be the humans or Scruffers, than I guess it will be me. Geesh!

It all started when Heather was on the phone talking to her mom tonight. The doorbell rang a couple of times and someone started banging on the door. Heather ignored it while we jumped a foot into the air. I mean, hello! Why would you interrupt our nap so rudely? But then it happened again - the ringing and pounding at the door.

So what does Heather do? Sets the phone down and opens the door. Didn't look out the window, nope. (Hello? Any brain cells in there?) And that's when she realized there were two strange women who didn't live in the neighborhood at her door. And then I saw it: Recognition passed through her eyes. What if this had been dangerous? I mean, there was that woman just the other day who answered her door and two guys forced their way in and tried to rob her. (But her dog bit the guy and the ran off.)

What was Heather expecting? That Scruffy would hiss them to death? Luckily Heather was very assertive and scared the strangers off so I didn't have to go after them. Who knows what they were doing, anyhow. They were pretending to sell magazines, but it was a complete scam.

Are they casing our neighborhood? Checking out the houses to see who has an attack kitty? Just so you know I have very sharp nails and I will use them. And I am the neighborhood block watch kitty, so just you try and come back. I'll be staring out the window watching for you.

Mid-afternoon ramblings

2010-01-13T13:14:00.000-08:00

I am so upset I can barely enjoy my nap. How can I be an indoor kitty, with all the food, love and toys I could ever want while there are people starving in Haiti? The unfairness is eating away at my conscience.

Not that I'm unhappy with my lot in life. No, quite the opposite. I love my life as an indoor kitty. I love Craig and Heather and my buddy Scruffy Gray. I love my bowl and my fleece snuggle bed and my yellow mid-day napping chair in the living room. And my toys.

But I'm having a hard time staring at photos of people who are obviously living in extreme poverty, suffering even more than they were in everyday life. Look at them. Roads, buildings, lives - completely destroyed. And yet, here I am, getting ready for my afternoon nap and the most difficult thing I have to do is decide where to spend my afternoon.

I guess the only thing I can do is feel thankful for what I have.

The unwanted bath

2010-01-07T22:37:00.000-08:00

Demoralizing. That word sums it up pretty well.

I know, I am not a snuggly, play-with-strangers and sit-on-your-lap type of kitty. No, I realize I come across as aloof to newcomers. To everyone but Craig and Heather. But it doesn't mean that I don't have a heart.

I admit it. Heather and Craig's leaving for almost two weeks completely stressed me out. What would you do if the people you loved and saw all day every day suddenly packed their bags and kissed you goodbye? How was I supposed to know they were coming back?

Scruffy Gray took it all in stride. He was sure they would return, but me, well, I'm a sensitive kitty. And so the day after Heather and Craig came home, my stomach did the whirlies. I tried to make it to the kitty box on time, but alas, I failed.

But the worst part was when Heather and Craig "inspected" me for cling-ons and forced me into a lower body bath. Oh man! I ran downstairs to escape their overzealous towel drying when Scruffy saw me and laughed at my sopping wet tail.

I hope tomorrow starts off better.

New year, same old routine

2010-01-04T12:33:00.000-08:00

Us kitties never follow calendars. Why would we? It's not like we ever have to be somewhere on a specific date. And if we do (the vet), I don't want to know about it ahead of time, that's for sure!

January, shmanuary, it's all the same to us. Here's Scruffy Gray following his new year's resolution: to get enough sleep.

Happy whatever date to you!

Bring on the new year - and the catnip

2009-12-30T10:15:00.000-08:00

As 2009 wraps up, I guess it's time to think about 2010. And I suppose there's no better time than the present to make my new year's resolutions.

I resolve to play as hard as I can and have as much fun as I want whenever the mood strikes. Even if it's 4 a.m.

I resolve to love my humans and my kitty brother.

I resolve to get as much sleep as I can because nothing is worse than feeling tired all day.

Yeah, that pretty much sums up my days. Not a lot of changes to make for me.

Wait - what did you ask? "Will I stay up late and watch the ball drop?" Hmm, I always like to get up as soon as Craig and Heather go to bed, so of course I'll be up to ring in the new year. But watch a ball drop? Nah. I might sit in one place and stare out the window for hours, but the idea of watching a giant ball in Times Square slowly descend on the tv screen sounds incredibly boring. I'd rather dance on the kitchen table.

Happy New Year!

A Christmas wish come true

2009-12-25T10:04:00.000-08:00

Scruffers and I like to take turns sleeping under the Christmas tree. Of course, when Scruffers is under the tree Heather and Craig "ooh" and "aah" about what an adorable kitty he is. But when I am under the tree Heather pulls out the squirt bottle ready to aim when I taste test the needles.

Of course, when I am under the tree I like to mark the area with my pheromones by rubbing my face against the tree. I'm not really eating the needles; I know they were made in China (by small children). But Scruffers, he's different. When he gets under the tree he stares off into space for a while (usually till he starts snoring and we wake him up with our laughter). Then he gets settled in and takes a long nap.

What is that little guy thinking? Here's what we have decided: Scruffy is still feeling thankful that his wish came true. Remember, just a year ago he was living on the streets in the snow and freezing temperatures, barely getting enough food to survive. And then one day we took him and and nursed him back to health. And now here he is - living indoors, with two square meals every day, two down comforters to sleep on, a fleece snuggle bed, a kitty friend (me!), and two warm laps to choose from. If Christmas is about being thankful for what we have, then Scruffy Gray is celebrating Christmas more than all of us. Merry Christmas, little guy!

Christmas rush and treats for Santa

2009-12-22T15:51:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, it's been a long time since I've written to you. Well, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to not keep in touch. I have no excuse except that it's Christmastime and this time of the year I feel the time pinch.

Come on, you have to understand all the things I have to get done. Help Craig and Heather with their Christmas cards (check) - ok, I admit it. I contracted that out to Scruffers. That's why some of them are so late. He's a little slow at cards.

Why? Well, first of all, he spends more time napping than me because he's pretty old. (Sorry, Scruffs, but it's true.) And he's just slow. Between the arthritis in his hind legs and back and the overly-flexible front leg, he has a hard time getting around. And then he spends a lot of time just staring out into space. That eats up a lot of card-writing time too.

Where was I? Gift wrapping (check) - I think. I always love helping wrap presents: chasing the wrapping paper so it stays in line and batting at the tape dispenser. Hanging of the Christmas ornaments and decorations (check). That was fun too. I like to check to make sure the tree is still fresh, but every time I try and taste the needles I get sprayed with the squirt bottle. And sniff the presents (check). Scruffers and I take turns doing that. And sleep under the Christmas tree (check).

See how busy I am? No wonder I don't have time to play! Now, if you excuse me, I have to go bake some tuna treats for Santa. I hope he likes them!

Sweet Dreams!

2009-12-09T21:28:00.000-08:00

Sleep tight, little Scruffers! I have noticed that in this super cold weather you've been spending all your free time curled up on one of the down comforters in the house. I'll let you have them 'cause as a Maine Coon, I'm pretty toasty all the time. In fact, I keep begging Heather and Craig to take me outside on the leash but they seem to think it's too cold to go outside.

Gee whiz! Hello! I'm made for this weather! Well, except for the frosted grass. I didn't like how that felt on my little indoor paws. I kept trying to pick one up and shake it off but then I'd have to set it down to do the next one and it seemed, well, never ending. But I did get an awfully tasty tuna treat for letting Heather rub my paws down when we got back inside. And that's what it's all about now, isn't it?

Huddled around the fireplace

2009-12-04T12:14:00.000-08:00

Brr, is it ever cold! The heater keeps clicking on and I can feel the chill in the air. Last night we all huddled around the fireplace trying to keep warm and watching the outdoor thermometer drop down to 30 degrees. It was an exceptionally good night to snuggle!

While we were huddled together, I noticed Scruffy got lost in his thoughts by the Christmas tree. He seemed to be remembering the hard times when he struggled to survive out in these miserably cold temperatures.

We're glad you're with us now, Scruffers! Just stop hissing at me, ok? I just want to play!

Where's the Virginia?

2009-12-01T20:43:00.000-08:00

After eight days of Heather's mother visiting us, we all assumed she was here to stay for good. Well, heck, if you've seen her unpack her car and fill up the guest room, you would think she had moved in for good!

Scruffy will have one less lap to sleep on. And I will have one less human to avoid when I'm not feeling snuggly (which is most of the day, according to some.)

I know what will happen: Heather will scrub the house and get it back in order just in time for Virginia to come back and visit for Christmas! We're counting down the days!

Don't forget, Virginia - we love catnip presents!

(Photo: Giuseppe Gattino showing his incredible desire to be snuggled by Virginia.)

Feeling thankful for all I have

2009-11-25T12:43:00.000-08:00

This is the perfect week to begin a season of feeling thankful for what we have. As an indoor kitty, I have been sheltered and naive to what could happen to me if I were living on the streets.

In the seven months that Scruffers has lived with us, he has taught me a lot about how other animals have to survive fending for themselves. So here's what I'm thankful for:

My humans - Craig and Heather
This warm house with many good snuggle spots (and views of the swans and geese)
My bowl, which is replenished with tasty food twice a day (sometimes requires a lot of meowing to get it filled)
My kitty brother Scruffy Gray
My snuggle bed
My dingle ball
Belly rubs
Catnip
Tasty tuna treats

(Photo: Scruffy Gray enjoys a moment of catnip-induced euphoria in his new home.)

2009-11-21T10:20:00.000-08:00

It's the weekend before Thanksgiving and you know what that means, don't you? It's a weekend of Heather cleaning the house for her parents' arrival.

Plus, between now and Thanksgiving the house is going to continuously smell like chicken and turkey! Maybe I can convince Heather to buy some salmon to cook up too...

I can't wait to help Heather out!
My favorite duties:

Helping make the bed
Supervising the cleaning of the kitty boxes
Sniffing the chicken to make sure it's ready to go into the homemade chicken stew (you'd better let me try a sliver!)
Glaring at the vacuum cleaner when it interrupts my nap
Making sure the house is bug-free (I like to catch and eat them all!)

Time to get to work! I'd better start by checking on that chicken that's making the house smell so good!

Notes from the snuggle bed

2009-11-18T18:55:00.000-08:00

The day started out sunny. I stared out the window in the morning to watch the snow geese play in the lake by my house and enjoyed the quiet. Hmm, quiet? - that means the main road's been closed!

Yup, November brings plenty of rain, which translates as flooding opportunity. The snow geese love the rain because it offers them more ponds to play in when the fields flood. And we love it because the road closes by our house and the traffic noise is lowered significantly. And it gives Heather and Craig a quiet road to run on to check out the snow geese. It's a "win win" situation as you humans would say.

Well, even though the road closed, the noise level has increased because we're in the midst of another wind storm. Time for me to crawl into my snuggle bed and listen to the wind howl while I enjoy a little cat nap. It's another good day to be an indoor kitty!

Must be November

2009-11-16T21:29:00.000-08:00

That's right, November is here! It came on quite suddenly, with the usual incredibly loud wind storms and the never-ending northwest rain pelting the windows. Of course, none of that matters to me 'cause I live indoors.

But my favorite part about November is when the snow geese start coming back. I can hear them flying over the house in the morning to head to the wetland mitigation lake below. And then they fly overhead again at dinner time. They're starting to gather here in large numbers and will soon be very vocal. It's music to my kitty ears!

I love to stare at the snow geese and listen to them fly over the house, but when I see how big they are I am thankful I'm an indoor kitty. Right Scruffers?

Ok, gotta run. Snuggle season has begun and I have to claim my spot on the sofa.

King County waives adoption fees for shelter animals

2009-11-09T12:04:00.000-08:00

King County is waiving fees on all pets in its shelters and in foster care, officials have announced.

Dogs, puppies and kittens previously cost $75 to adopt, and adult cats were $35, according to the county. While there still will be a charge for a pet license, the change is part of an effort to find pets safe homes as flood season begins.

When the county adopts out animals, vaccinations, including rabies, are included. A list of adoptable pets is at www.kingcounty.gov/pets.

County Executive Kurt Triplett announced in late September his intent to move pets out of the county's Kent shelter by Nov. 1 because the building could be flooded this winter due to damage to the Howard Hanson Dam.

At that time, Triplett also said King County would stop providing shelter and animal-control services to cities by the middle of next year as part of an effort to close a budget gap.

While the county has identified a few sites for a temporary shelter, it hasn't closed a deal yet, Christine Lange, a county spokeswoman, said last week.

"We're very close to having plans finalized, and the animals will be out of the shelter well in advance of a flood event," Lange said.

The county's Kent shelter on Oct. 19 stopped accepting pets given up by owners, she said. Last week, the shelter had 310 animals, county records show. There were 523 more animals, mostly cats, in foster care.

Is it your turn to rescue a kitty? I hope so.

(Photo courtesy of www.petfinder.com)

Cat gets H1N1: Furry housemates may have flu risk, too

2009-11-05T09:34:00.000-08:00

Oh no! What if I wake up and look like this? Please don't let me get the swine flu!

By The Washington Post and The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Does the swine-flu pandemic pose a threat to your pet? Yes, according to a new report from the American Veterinary Medical Association.

A cat in Iowa tested positive for the H1N1 virus, state officials confirmed Wednesday, "marking the first time a cat has been diagnosed with this strain of influenza," the association said.

The 13-year-old domestic short-haired kitty was treated last week at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ames and recovered, officials said. The virus also has been confirmed in two ferrets — one in Oregon and the other in Nebraska — but they died.

"We've known certainly it's possible this could happen," said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) spokesman Tom Skinner. "This may be the first instance where we have documentation that transmission occurred involving cats or dogs."

The veterinarian who treated the cat, Dr. Brett Sponseller, said two of the three people in the cat's Iowa home had flu-like symptoms before the cat became ill. The case was confirmed at Iowa State and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Other influenza strains have been known to cross species, but Sponseller cautioned against drawing too many conclusions from the cat, including whether other pets also could get the swine flu: "It's well documented in influenza in general, but this is the first highly suspected case of H1N1 going from humans into a cat."

The indoor cat was lethargic, had a loss of appetite and appeared to have trouble breathing after it became infected, Sponseller said. Its owners declined to comment.

Officials said pet owners should take the same precautions against spreading swine flu to pets as they would with humans.

Getting children vaccinated for swine flu also can help prevent the illness from spreading to pets. There is no swine-flu vaccine for pets.

Dr. Ann Garvey, Iowa's state health veterinarian, said it is not known how sick pets could get from swine flu. "Because we haven't seen that many cases, it's difficult to give a blanket assessment on how sick it can make an animal," she said.

Officials also stressed there is no evidence swine flu can be passed from pets to people. "But it's so early in the game we don't know how it's going to behave," said Michael San Filippo, spokesman for the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Oh, Scruffy - trick or treat!

2009-11-03T20:09:00.000-08:00

What's that noise? I swear I just heard Heather walk upstairs with a clean kitty box. I'd better go check it out.

Yup, there's fresh kitty litter in my freshly scrubbed box. But, here's my favorite part - I beat Scruffers to the inspection of his box. And his box has been scrubbed clean too.

I look around to see if he's coming. Nope. I quickly jump into his box and lie down. I love to rub my scent in all over his box so he can't get away from me! Might as well tinkle a little too so he really knows I was here. He he he!

(Photo: Giuseppe Gattino looking around for a sign of Scruffers.)

Who wants to start with some worms?

2009-11-01T11:35:00.000-08:00

Halloween was so much fun! I thought it was ging to be an annoying evening but after being cranky all week, Heather adjusted her attitude and we had a blast!

First I helped her decorate the outside of the house. We added fake spiderwebs sporting fake spiders and old campaign signs redecorated with messages such as "danger ahead!" and "beware!" leading up to the house.

Then the fun began! Heather made (and I supervised) a dinner plate to scare off the children. It sported worms (ramen noodles soaked in soy sauce), bugs (cooked white beans) and hearts of bad children (chicken hearts). And then I helped her as she changed into her super-scary Halloween costume. She painted her nails black and ringed her eyes with this hideous neon green eyeshadow. Next she put on black pants and a black shirt and then covered them with a long black dress that looks like one of those coats Iranian women have to wear in public. Heather then put this awful looking red mask over her head and tucked it into the Iranian coat. Scruffy took one look at her and hid behind the couch!

OK, talking about Scruffers, notice that he thought that worms, bugs and the hearts of bad children would make a tasty meal. He attempted to eat it a few times! Scruffers - wouldn't you rather have that nice soft kitty food Heather feeds us?

The doorbell rang and Heather got to test out her costume. She opened the door and - the first child cried. And the second. And the third one ran away and had to be brough back by his brother. Heather ended up taking off her mask for all the smaller children and only offered the optional worm meal to the older kids. My favorite was when she asked the 11-year old girls (all dressed up as sexy cheerleaders, yuck!) if they wanted to try some worms. They actually screamed! Scruffers and I were on the ground rolling with laughter! Only one kid wanted to taste a chicken heart but Heather had to take the plate away and explain that they were raw. Come on kid, chocolates or a chicken heart. It shouldn't be a difficult decision!

It was a dark and stormy night...

2009-10-30T21:11:00.001-07:00

It feels like Halloween, doesn't it? I'm sitting on my throne (not in the bathroom, silly - up on the fleece blanket on the dresser) and all I can hear is the wind whipping around. The trees are creaking, leaves are flying everywhere, and I can hear the wind rush into our fireplace. It's an exceptionally good night to be an indoor kitty.

Of course, I don't know what it looks like outside because Heather closed all the blinds, but if I could see outside, this is what I would imagine - a dark and spooky. What a perfect way to usher in Halloween!

(Photo taken from Eddie Soloway's website. Eddie, I don't know who you are but you sure know how to capture a spooky looking evening!)

Who wants dinner-o?

2009-10-29T22:21:00.000-07:00

Aah, dinner-o, one of my favorite meals of the day! And tonight was a special treat! Where do I begin?

Heather chose not to feed us before she left for yoga. We knew she'd be back after dinnertime but she decided that feeding us on time wasn't a priority. So we waited. And waited. And the next thing you know it's 7:45 and Heather's just coming home. And with groceries in her hand to boot. OK, it was bad enough she left us to go to yoga, but then she went shopping afterwards. Sheesh!

Heather raced in the door and fed us pretty quickly. Scruffers and I were too busy having our nightly feeding frenzy contest to be mad at her. Then Scruffers made Heather take his bowl upstairs (like every freakin' night) so he could finish dinner in peace. So far, all's normal.

Heather sits down at the diniing room table to eat her dinner and that's when the fun begins. Scruffers comes back downstairs and sits in front of my tunnel and begins retching. As he and Heather are facing each other. Imagine: Heather sitting at the table with a bite of food in her mouth watching Scruffers retch and regurgitate his dinner all over my tunnel and all over the living room carpet. She was horrified. Then to top it off, Scruffers had to wipe his mouth off on the tunnel to get the last bit of saliva and slop that was hanging from his lips. Ugh! I swear Heather turned green.

She tried to finish dinner and calmly waited for Scruffers to eat the slop off the floor and from inside the tunnel before she started cleaning. It definitely wasn't her night.

Maybe next time you'll feed us before yoga, eh?

We're thinking of you, Cynthia

2009-10-28T10:08:00.000-07:00

Our kitty friend Cynthia goes in for surgery today for a double mastectomy. Yikes! I know Cynthia from my young days - she and Dave raised me from the time I was born till I was old enough to come live with Craig and Heather. She also took great care of me last Christmas.

Scruffers fell in love with Cynthia the moment he met her. While he was still nervous about being touched outside of his safety zone (Heather's office) he one day met Cynthia at the front door and proceeded to jump into her lap and purr while she gave him a full body rub. Here he is (left) keeping Cynthia from getting beyond the front entry way.

Get well soon, Cynthia! We both miss you!

Shtinky Puddin' must be so upset!

2009-10-27T15:42:00.001-07:00

Did you see the news? Shtinky Puddin' - don't look; it's not pretty. It's time for you to save the tigers!

Experts: Tigers fast dying out despite campaigns

The world's tiger population is declining fast despite efforts to save them, and new strategies are urgently needed to keep the species from dying out, international wildlife experts said Tuesday.

An estimated 3,500 to 4,000 tigers now roam the world's forests, down from the more than 100,000 estimated at the beginning of the 20th century. All the remaining tigers are in Asia.

Taken from an article by BINAJ GURUBACHARYA - Associated Press Writer

BINSAR BAKKARA / AP: A newborn Sumatran tiger cub is seen near the paws of its mother at a zoo in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. There are thought to be only around 250 Sumatran tigers left in the wild.

Welcome to the Rainy Season

2009-10-16T16:57:00.000-07:00

It looks like my days of going outside on the leash are over for now. Fall is here and so is the rain. And the gray. Heather was excited for the beginning of the fall rainy season but who knows why. She said she was sick of training but the good weather made her want to continue training so she wanted the good weather to hurry up and go away. Uh, can't you just take a break from training when the weather's nice? Guess not. Maybe that's why you got injured, Miss "I can't take a day off and miss a day of the best summer we've had in forever."

OK, so I live with a weird-o. Two of them. Craig was ready for the rain too because he's sick of being on the road and hiking all the time for his next book project. And talk about injured! Mister "I'll just take more painkiller so I can continue researching this backpacking book." Why can't you guys just see the sunny weather and enjoy it from inside like I do? Take a long nap in the sun, watch the reflection of the sun hitting my name tag and chase it around the living room until I find a bug to stalk.

I like sunny days. Why anyone would wish for this wet, gloomy weather is beyond me. Hot chocolate season, puleaze! Kitties can't have chocolate. The only thing to look forward to is the return of the tundra and trumpeter swans and the snow geese.Thank goodness I do live inside, though, 'cause those things are HUGE.

Happy Thanksgiving to Canadians and Scruffy Gray

2009-10-14T15:43:00.000-07:00

I talked with Scruffy Gray this morning and he told me he wanted to celebrate a late Canadian Thanksgiving since it's too early to celebrate it here. "Why?" I asked him and here's what he had to say.

Scruffers: "The weather is turning cold and rainy and every time I look outside I remember how miserable I was last year. Living outside in the cold, the pouring rain, fending for myself, with no one to care for me. And here I am, inside a warm, dry house, with a soft fleece bed to nap on, a new kitty friend (that's you, Giuseppe Gattino!), great humans who love me, and two delicious meals served to me every day. I am forever grateful that I was rescued and given another chance at life."

Wow. Sometimes I'm so busy playing, napping, getting petted and making sure I get fed on time that I forget how lucky I am. Thanks for the reminder, Scruffers!

Leave Us Alone

2009-10-06T12:54:00.000-07:00

That's right, I don't want to be bugged today. I still feel sub-optimal after yesterday's visit to the vet. What did I get? Two shots, a blood draw and an oral injection? Something like that. All I know is that it was a terrifying experience. Sure, yeah, the vet's a great woman - she even knew that I preferred to ride on her right shoulder! But still, who wants to go to the doc and be treated like a pin cushion?

And afterwards I came home and had the shivers all day and later threw up my dinner. I'm still trying to sleep it off. I hope I feel better soon.

Then, to top it off, Craig left for who knows where so he can't take care of me. AND Scruffy was super stressed out for who-knows-what reason (who really knows what goes on in that odd little head of his?) and he regurgitated his breakfast and his dinner.

What's the difference between regurgitation and vomiting, you ask? Well, for us kitties, the difference lies in whether we can still eat it again. Scruffy ate his mess on the carpet and I just stared at mine with mild interest (though I was far more interested in watching Heather scrub the carpet clean).

Lump

2009-10-05T08:01:00.000-07:00

What could the lump be in the couch? Could it be Giuseppe singing a classic song from the Presidents of the United States of America?

Or could it be Giuseppe hiding from the world?

I would guess option B if I were you. Especially 'cause that song is funny only if you hear it once in a blue moon. But afterwards you'll find it in your head for weeks and that always annoys me. Who wants a dumb song like that floating around in their head for weeks on end? Not me. I'd rather find myself singing "Peaches".

Now, where was I? Oh yeah, why I'm hiding. Everybody needs a time out once in a while and today's my day. Today we find out of Virginia stays with us for another week or if she is able to go home. The anticipation is killing me. I think I'll hide till I find out.

There's something about that hat

2009-10-04T08:04:00.000-07:00

I don't know what it is but I can't stay away from Craig's Green Trails hat. Craig will come back from a hiking trip and set his hat on top of his backpack and the next thing you know the scent lures me in. I sniff the air and all I can smell is his awesome hat.

I have to check it out. First I walk over to casually inspect his backpack. Then I see the hat, waiting for me. I jump up and stealthily grab the hat! I inhale deeply and the aroma overpowers me. I take the hat with my teeth and drop it on the living room floor. Then I rub my head all over it. And roll around on it. And the next thing you know I've been rolling and sniffing for long enough that Heather and Craig are standing over me, laughing. I gulp and try to regain my composure. How could I look so silly? I try to ignore that hat but there's something about it that tickles my nose.

(Photo: Giuseppe Gattino enjoying the Green Trails hat.)

Don't Bug Me!

2009-10-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

You know what I love about fall? OK, besides the fact that Craig and Heather are actually home on weekends...

What I really love about fall is that the bugs are trying to move indoors. And I love tasty bugs! They're almost as good as tuna treats.

That's right, funny-looking, big, flying bug - I'll get you. I'll watch you fly in circles around the light and I'll make make funny little chirping noises at you while I wait for you to tire out. And as soon as you get to my jumping level - smack! I'll bat you around over and over until my stomach growls and then I'll have you as a snack. I can't wait!

(Giuseppe Gattino spots a funny-looking big flying bug in the house.)

Dueling Naps

2009-10-02T13:06:00.000-07:00

You've got to love Friday afternoons. They're purrrfect days to nap!

The contest is on - ready, set, nap! Whoever gets up last wins!

(Photo: Giuseppe Gattino and Scruffy Gray take over the living room.)

the Virginia Saga

2009-09-24T18:56:00.001-07:00

Where do I begin? Craig and Heather disappeared for the week and left Heather's mom, Virginia, in their place. She was supposed to stay at the house, feed us and play with us. But a few hours after they left, Virginia fell in the neighborhood and broke her arm.

She ended up in the ER and then had to have surgery on her arm yesterday. So here we are taking care of Virginia. Scruffy's been cleaning the house and I've been running around trying to entertain her and keep her spirits up.

Of course, we are counting down the minutes till Heather and Craig return... Get better soon, Virginia! And Craig and Heather - come back soon!!!

(Photo: Virginia enjoying her tour at the Aplets and Coplets factory in Cashmere.)

Mutts Turns 15!

2009-09-09T15:55:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it? Fifteen years of Mutts! Of course, I, Giuseppe Gattino, have only been around for one year so fifteen sounds super old to a young, spry kitty like me.

I love wintertime when Heather and I curl up on the couch and we read Mutts comic books. I love Shtinky Puddin' the best but Crabby is pretty funny too. Check out Mutts Comics and the cast of characters at www.muttscomics.com

Congratulations, Patrick McDowell! And thank you for your help in finding me my home! The strip above is what started it all.

The Banana Bread Caper

2009-09-08T14:47:00.000-07:00

I've returned, which means, of course, that Craig has left for another trip. On the bad side, I always miss Craig desperately when he's away. He gives me the best 4 a.m. belly rubs a kitty could ever wish for.

But, on the up side, I get to use my computer again! For those of you who didn't hear, Craig's computer passed away last week and Craig has been borrowing mine (OK, Heather's), which has left me without a means to post.

(Photo: The evidence, just waiting to be eaten.)

So where do I start? well, really, Friday was the most exciting day so I'll start there. Oh, did Heather ever get into trouble that day! Someone gave Heather a slice of homemade banana bread and Heather left it on the dining room table. Come on, you can't leave food on the table and think that a curious kitty (or two) won't check it out. So Heather was upstairs in her office, hard at work, when Craig came upstairs to yell at her. "Why did you leave plastic wrap on the living rooms floor? I can't believe you were eating in the living room!" (A big no-no in this house.) I hid quietly, hoping no one would notice me. He then went on about how there was a piece of half eaten banana bread lying on the table. At some point, they realized that it was me, but Heather still took the brunt of the blame. I would have finished the bread, but it was right after breakfast and I was still full.

Then, Heather was quietly eating lunch and Craig came into the kitchen to chastise her for leaving raspberry stains all over the counter. (A local farmer had just dropped by a bunch of raspberries and they were still sitting in a cardboard box on the counter.) But the stains continued onto the windowsill - and they were in the shape of paw prints! And there were a few smashed berries in the box. Heather and Craig both got a good laugh out of that, at least once Craig realized that Scruffers had not tracked raspberries onto the carpet. (Don't forget Scruffers - no food in the living room!)

So Friday was a lively day at my house! OK, I'd catch you up more, but it's time for my midday nap.

Giuseppe Gets his Groove Back

2009-09-01T12:22:00.000-07:00

Darn it. I just can't get any work done today. In case you were wondering why I haven't been writing, well, I'll explain. Sigh.

Craig was gone for most of last week and that always puts Scruffers and I in a funk. We get worried. We're kitties. We need stability, routine. We kitties thrive on routine. And then on top of that Heather suddenly disappeared on Saturday with packed bags. And we didn't know what was going to happen. (Remember how we love routine?) So we were too depressed to do much of anything Saturday and Sunday. We just slept and waited for them to come home. And waited...

And then they finally returned late Sunday night and that's when we got our groove back: "Yay! They didn't abandon us!" And Monday morning I was full of piss and vinegar and ready to write and that's when Craig announced that his computer crashed. And he needed to use mine. So I've got my groove back and I'm all raring to write and now I have no computer. (Right now I'm using Heather's work computer while she's away at lunch.) So I guess I'll have to spend the day playing with Scruffers.

It's a tough life - forced to play. Well, shoot. Someone's gotta do it! Watch out Scruffers - ready or not, here I come!

(Photo: Yay! Craig's home! - Shot by kitty lover Karen Sykes.)

Total Kitty Makeover

2009-08-26T10:34:00.001-07:00

Heather's favorite column in fitness magazines is the Total Makeover with the before and after photos of people who have transformed their lives. So, let's focus on someone who has been completely transformed in the short time he has lived at my house: Scruffers!

Here he is in the "before" shot: matted fur that was 'icky' to touch, eyes half-closed due to a chronic eye infection, and while not visible to the untrained eye, a very malnourished and weak kitty.

Now for the transformed Scruffers: A healthy kitty who has happily taken over my spot on the love seat in the living room. Since he's napping in this photo, you may not be able to see that his eye infection has completely vanished. The contented smile is a sign of how happy he is to receive two square meals a day and a kitty friend (me!) who keeps him on his toes.

I admit it, I was a little hesitant to invite Scruffers into my house, but watching him open up and learn to love us and his new home has been amazing. And I love having someone to play with every morning. He chases me around the house and sometimes we have swatting contests (until a pre-caffeinated Craig starts to raise his voice at us for making too much noise). It's all in good fun, Craig!

Giuseppe in the Mail

2009-08-24T13:26:00.000-07:00

Can you see it? It's me, Giuseppe Gattino, on a U.S. postal stamp! Scruffy and I were having fun one day at work and we ordered a bunch of these. We also surprised Craig with a set of stamps featuring Scruffers lying on Craig while he was napping on the couch. Scruffers mailed those to Craig separately with a note thanking Craig for rescuing him. I admit it, it was a pretty cool thing for him to do.

Are we becoming buddies? Well, sometimes. When Scruffers is in a good mood I like to make him chase me around the house. Of course, when I try to chase him around he gets nervous and has a hissy fit. And he's so darn old I swear all he wants to do is sleep. Take today, for example. We slept all day yesterday while Craig and Heather were out hiking. So today I'm full of energy and all I want to do is run laps around the house. But Scruffers, no. He slept all day yesterday and now all he wants to do is nap all day today too. So I have to run over to Heather and tag her on the leg and make her come chase me. It's just not the same as having a kitty friend.

We're almost touching!

2009-08-20T22:40:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting for months to become friends with Scruffers. I know he's a really cool cat - Heather and Craig wouldn't have brought him home if they didn't think he was a great kitty. But he's been so darn nervous around me and it's driving me crazy!

Why won't he let me meet him and get it over with? We have been getting closer. We play together sometimes (I let him chase me around until he hisses and freaks me out). And in the mornings he sometimes lets me hang out close to him.

Here we are today in the dining room. Scruffers was ripping apart the catnip plant and I took the opportunity to see how close I could get to him before he freaked out. Here's how close I got. Of course, this photo was taken seconds before he hissed and scared me off, but that's life! I'll just keep trying!

Don't worry, Scruffers, we'll be friends soon!

(Photo: Giuseppe Gattino trying to greet Scruffers.)

It's a tough job, but someone had to do it

2009-08-19T22:23:00.000-07:00

Heather looked so stressed today at work that I decided to help her out. I know, it was really thoughtful - what can I say? I'm a good guy.

I spied her in the living room getting a mailing ready to send out. She looked so methodical - counting out a bunch of brochures and lining everything up into super-organized piles. Then she took a little break and went upstairs.

It was my chance! I knew Heather wouldn't let me help out if I asked, so I decided to intervene: I jumped on all the piles to mix them up so they'd look fun! I took a running start and jumped into the middle of the piles and slid all the way to the other side of the room. I repeated it many times because, heck, it was a lot of fun!

I waited expectantly for Heather to survey my handiwork. When she came downstairs she took one look at the chaos and burst out laughing. See! I knew I could destress her! I added a few more jumping-slide moves so Heather could see me in action.

(Photo: Me, helping out like a good kitty.)

Where can we go where it will be cooler?

2009-08-18T21:55:00.000-07:00

I'm ready for a vacation from summer. Yes, I realize the warm weather has only been back for a few days, but you must understand - I'm a Maine Coon. We don't do so well in the heat.

Today it registered 86 at my house, even though the local paper said it was only going to hit 79 degrees. Hmm, someone must not being doing his job... Maybe the meteorologist is on vacation too!

And tomorrow it may be as warm as 86 degrees. So what will that mean at my house? 90? And it's not as though the thermometer is in the sun. No sirree, it is in the shade all day. So no, as a matter of fact, I am not looking forward to tomorrow.

Wish me luck! And pray Heather doesn't try to wrap me in another stupid wet towel again.

But That's MY Spot

2009-08-13T10:07:00.000-07:00

Guess who? Yes, that would be Scruffy Gray sitting in my special spot on my favorite loveseat. I came downstairs and there he was, taking over my space. And then I noticed he had scratched on my scratching post and drank water from my water dish. Sheesh!

Don't worry. I already got him back. Yesterday when he was out of his room, I peed in his kitty box. Take that, little guy!

I Love a Rainy Night

2009-08-10T21:33:00.000-07:00

Remember that song? Eddie Rabbit. I know, it was produced a few decades before I was born (I am only one year old) but I must have been listening to "kafe 104.3" too much in my spare time.

Anyway, after the miserable heat spell we had now we're below average temperature. It's 64 degrees outside right now. And raining. And you know what? I love it. It's so refreshing to see the tree frogs bounce along in the grass and to spend the day inside hanging out with Heather and Craig. 'Cause it's not like they're outside playing in this weather.

So yeah, I like this weather. It makes everyone stay at home and I like that. I can't wait till winter. (I am a Maine Coon, you know! We like the cold!) We can snuggle around the fireplace and I can sniff everyone's hot chocolate. Just the four of us. That's right. I've accepted that you're here to stay, Scruffers.

Modelling in bed

2009-08-05T22:10:00.000-07:00

My modelling shot. What do you think? Very demure. This pic is my favorite for the week.

Now that the weather has cooled down I can hang out in my fleecy snuggle bed again. Except not right now because Heather threw it in the wash. Now I have to claim it as mine all over again by rubbing my scent and fur all over it. I don't know why she wanted to wash my bed; it was perfect!

Kittens in the Oven?

2009-08-03T10:16:00.000-07:00

What's wrong with people? I thought our little house was crowded with 2 humans and 2 kitties, but this house must have been hell. Just imagine the stench. This news piece from the Seattle Times is hideously disturbing....

40 cats seized in filthy house in Snohomish County
Forty cats and kittens are in quarantine at the Everett Animal Shelter after being seized in filthy conditions from a house north of Lynnwood on Friday night.
Snohomish County emergency medical technicians responded to a 911 call in the 11700 block of Center Road and found the resident, who needed care. But they also found animals living amid feces and urine. The smell was so overpowering that Snohomish County Animal Control officers donned protective suits with ventilators to enter the house and seize the animals.
Vicki Lubrin, Snohomish County Animal Control manager, said six dead kittens were found wrapped in paper towels inside the oven; bodies of two other kittens and one adult cat were found decomposing elsewhere in the house. Seven animals had to be euthanized.

This makes me want to hide under the bed and forget that people like this exist in the world. I hope those rescued kitties turn out O.K.

TGIF

2009-07-31T11:21:00.000-07:00

It's Friday and it's so much cooler! Thank goodness! I couldn't have taken much more of that stifling heat. And neither could Scruffers.

It's back to a normal summer temp but things in the house are not completely normal. Heather kept all the doors open to every room during the heat wave and it has continued. I finally get to hang out with Scruffers any time I want! The only thing stopping us is him.

He'll figure out that I'm fun to play with one of these days...

Cranky-Spanky

2009-07-30T11:46:00.000-07:00

OK, I've just about had it with the heat - and with Craig and Heather. Yes, I'm cranky-spanky. But dealing with the 100 degree+ temperature outside and Heather chasing me around trying to suffocate me with a wet towel did not make me very happy. Not to mention Scruffy's attitude.

Here's how it started. Last week the temp warmed up and Heather realized she couldn't close her office door or she and Scruffers would suffer in the heat. So slowly but surely, Scruffy has had to deal with an open door. I came in to visit and meet him many times those first few days, but now I really don't care what Scruffy does.

So, yesterday: it was supposed to be hot - maybe even hit 97. It was 87 degrees in Seattle at 8:30 in the morning. The fans were turned on and Craig fretted to no end about my well-being. He researched online how to cool off kitties and he found some website that recommended getting a cold, wet towel and wrapping your kitty in it. OK, I don't know about you but that idea sounds cruel. Every time I get wrapped like a kitty burrito in a towel it's to get medicine shoved down my throat or in my eye. And let's not forget that cats don't like to be wet! Hello! And then there's my claustrophobia. Whoever wrote that was a certified idiot.

But no, Heather and Craig had to try it. I had to put up with it 4 times yesterday. If only I had pulled a Scruffy. He took one look at the towel and hissed and swatted at Craig so he only had to deal with it once. Heather didn't dare get scratched.

Then, on top of it all, Scruffy had to find a cool spot to hang out, and where did he choose? Obviously not anywhere downstairs where it was cooler because he's still scared stiff of the evil ceiling fan. And Heather was not about to turn it off to accommodate him. So he ended up lying down in front of the entry to my kitty box room on the tile. So I couldn't go to the bathroom until Heather figured it out and moved my kitty box.

The absolutely worst part about yesterday? It reached 92 degrees inside the house and didn't drop under 90 until 9 p.m. Miserable! At 10:30 last night it was 84 degrees outside. Finally cool enough for me to run around and chase bugs in the yard, but not fun to be inside. I woke up this morning and it was still 86 degrees in Heather and Craig's room.

Heat Wave Continues

2009-07-29T16:06:00.001-07:00

It's so hot even the stuffed animals are wilting in the heat. Current temperature (according to the Burlington regional airport) is 97 degrees.

Ugh! Need I say more? My brain is so fried I can't come up with anything more to say even if I wanted to.

Please, Mother Nature, turn down the oven!

Do NOT Touch

2009-07-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

Do NOT rub Scruffer's belly. He can't stand this heat wave more than me, the long-haired kitty.

He is hiding under the far corner of the guest bed to make sure no one gets any dumb ideas - such as disturbing him.

I learned my lesson already today... I slowly sauntered over to meet him and he slowly hissed at me. Too hot to move quickly.

Heat Wave 2009

2009-07-27T19:30:00.000-07:00

Why is it so hot? Does Mother Nature have something against me? I am a long-haired kitty. I can't handle this type of weather.

Don't talk to me. Or touch me. I am unsnuggable right now.

Office Assistant Hard at Work

2009-07-23T14:16:00.000-07:00

Scruffers: "Oooh, was that the phone? Too bad I can't get it from here... I guess I'll let Heather do all the work today."

(Photo: Scruffers in the middle of his daily 6-hour catnap.)

Where are you going?

2009-07-22T08:08:00.000-07:00

Why is Heather packing? Is she planning on leaving me? I saw her last night - stuff spread out all over the living room floor (obviously Craig's out of town because he'd never go for that!) and packing list in hand.

I kind of wish I were Scruffy today because Scruffers is oblivious to it all. He's stuck in the office and can't see Heather packing up to leave us. OK, maybe I don't want to be Scruffs - do you know how hot it was in that office yesterday? Not to mention I am much better looking, younger and livelier.

But that's besides the point. Really, it's quite unnerving to think that Heather might take off when Craig's gone. Who will feed us? Who will rub my belly at 4 a.m.? Who will make sure it doesn't get too hot in the house?

Maybe if I unpack her stuff while she's not looking she will get the hint and stay home...

Who is Chartreuse?

2009-07-16T07:19:00.000-07:00

What? You haven't met Chartreuse yet? He's one of the guys who lives here at the house. He met Heather and Craig years ago when they stopped by McDonald's. Chartreuse wanted to escape (to0 many small children) and Heather agreed to let him move in. Below is our conversation.

Giuseppe: I saw on your tag you were made in China. What was it like there?

Chartreuse: Hot, crowded, and full of young children in the factory where I was born. I was happy to be packaged and shipped to the U.S. to start a new life.

Giuseppe: How did you get the name Chartreuse?

Chartreuse: (Laughs) Funny story... Heather and Craig named me based on my color. But neither of them knew that Chartreuse was a green color, not a variation of fuchsia. I had the name for a few years before someone told me. Heather offered to rename me, but Chartreuse is a part of my identity. I am Chartreuse - no matter what color I am.

Giuseppe: What do you like to do for fun?

Chartreuse: I really like to hike. One of the advantages to being tiny is that I pack easily and I can fit anywhere in a backpack. One of my favorite trips was touring SE Oregon (Steens Mountain) and Nevada's Great Basin National Park with Craig, Heather, Doug and Beanie a few years ago. Hiking to the top of Wheeler Peak was amazing! Do you know what it's like for a tiny bear to look out at 13,000 feet? Pretty spectacular, I tell you.

Giuseppe: Do you have any plans this summer?

Chartreuse: I hope to get some backpacking in and maybe do the Clear Lake Triathlon with Heather. Wish us luck!

Don't forget to vote!

2009-07-15T07:12:00.000-07:00

My new poll! I know, I'm shameless - vote for me! Giuseppe Gattino!

Scenes from a Busy Work Day

2009-07-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

Giuseppe: Must knead and purr, knead and purr...

Scruffers practices interacting with clients during his on-the-job training.

Monday the Thirteenth

2009-07-13T22:51:00.000-07:00

Monday the 13th. That's right.

I woke up this morning - promptly at 5:30 a.m. - and had to beg for breakfast. I swear, as the summer drags on Heather and Craig keep getting up later and later. Today they had the nerve to sleep in till 6:30. On top of that Heather fell back asleep and didn't roll out of bed until 8! And they think cats are lazy. Jeez!

I had already finished breakfast, washed myself, played a while, stared out the window and was settling in for my mid-morning nap when Heather decided to crawl out of bed.

Finally we started our work day. And that's when we found out that Heather's work computer was on the fritz. Heather spent most of the day swearing softly at that computer while erasing all unnecessary files to make room on the hard drive. After a few hours of that fun, she decided to use my work computer. And lo and behold, my computer was acting up too. Ugh! So I was forced to abandon my blog posting plans and play all afternoon. I tell you, it's tough being a kitty!

The Office Assistant Has His Say

2009-07-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

Why does everyone want to interrupt my nap? I like to sleep from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. every day. How hard is that to get through your little noggins? Please don't bug me when I am napping. I don't wake you up in the middle of the night, do I?

It Looks Like a Good Week from Here

2009-07-06T11:33:00.000-07:00

Yesh! It's a new week and this week looks to be much better. The Fourth of July is over - and hopefully that means all the neighborhood idiots ran out of fireworks (or fingers)! And finally the heat is gone! Yay!

I admit it, the fourth was a little tough. I was OK until our neighbors set off a chain of fireworks and then I was forced to hide under the bed. They were so loud and scary sounding. But the heat is what really got me. Ugh! It was too hot on Saturday and Sunday and I know I whined too much, but I was miserable. Heather could barely move on Sunday too. She just laid on the couch and periodically got up to refill her glass of iced tea.

How did Scruffy Gray fare? Um, not so well. The heat was really hard on him and the firework's forced him under the bed. How do you reassure an abandoned kitty that he's safe on the Fourth of July? He spent Sunday pacing all day in a continued stress response. Then he tried to go downstairs and the evil ceiling fan was on. I don't know what happened to him (he won't tell me the story) but he is scared to death of the ceiling fan. Upon spotting it he ran to the guest room and hid under the bed all day. And he hissed at Craig and Heather.

He seems better today. He snuggled in with Craig so they could read the paper together and then he purred on Heather's lap before it was time for his all-day nap.

And me, I'm much better today too! I feel like playing again and running laps around the house. And trying to coax Scruffy out of bed to play with me...

Chernobyl Kitty Strike Again

2009-07-03T11:41:00.000-07:00

What is he doing? Scruffers, is that you?

It must be the heat affecting his brain, that's all I can say.

Or maybe it's from a lack of food. Can you believe Craig forgot to feed Scruffers breakfast this morning? He was wandering around the house trying to figure out what was going on. "Hello? Why has everyone eaten but me?" I can't believe he was so darn polite about it. I would have let them know, believe me!

Housework - phew!

2009-07-02T10:54:00.000-07:00

This morning I had to help Heather make the bed. Boy, was it hard work! Between chasing the sheets and attacking Heather's arm, I was all tuckered out by the time we finished.

I don't know how she does it without napping between chores. Oh yeah - don't forget to clean out my kitty box while you're at it!

It's a bad time of year to be a long haired kitty

2009-07-01T11:39:00.000-07:00

If I stare at the machine long enough, will someone come over and turn it on? I'm dying in this fur suit!

This is How I feel about Fireworks

2009-06-30T09:32:00.000-07:00

OK, the truth is I was yawning in this photo. But if I could look evil enough to make all the fireworks go away, I would. In a heartbeat. Come on, why spend all evening (or weekend) scaring all the animals? And some of the war vets too, I might add. It sounds like we're under attack and it's loud and scary.

On top of it all it's been a very dry month and what if sparks from someone else's fireworks hit the grass in our yard? Heather was over at a neighbor's house the other day when a smoldering fire was found in their back yard. Just what I need is for my favorite kitty home in the world to burn down.

And you thought Scruffers was tweaky normally? Let's see what he's like after a night of incessant fireworks. I hope it rains. Cats and dogs.