Thoughts on Cats and other Pets

Meet Fez and Jackie. They rule our household! My Grandson, Matt, found them in a dumpster at his work place. There were 4 altogether and he captured them one by one. Fez came home first. Two others were placed in a home in Santa Barbara.

Fez is Alpha Cat, even though she was the runt and fit in the palm of Matt's hand when we got her. We were told by a vet that Fez was a male and the mistake wasn't discovered until she was taken in for neutering! The funny thing is she seems to have the more agressive personality and acted like a male from the first. By the way, Fez is on the left in this picture.

We had a hard time telling them apart when they were kittens and they still look alike from some angles. Jackie is the Big Girl, weighing in at over 15 pounds, and has the softest fur. She is also the shiest and disappears when company comes. If she is trying to get my attention she butts me with her head. Now Fez, on the other hand, uses her claws when I ignore her too long.

There is no mistaking the fact that Tim is the main person in their lives. He spoils them something awful and they follow him all over the house. He just can't bring himself to scold them if they need it.

Fez and Jackie share their bed with Tim and Karen. Notice I said their bed! Poor Karen loses her spot if she has to use the facilities during the night. Or else they have her so penned in she can't move. Their favorite place is her feet. I keep telling her she is bigger then they are. "Just toss them off the bed"

They are not the kind to cuddle. Fez will lay next to you and put one foot on you but it has to be her idea. Jackie will let you know when she wants to be petted otherwise, forget it.

We had a foster kitten for a few weeks. She was a pretty little calico. I called her Miss Kitty. We had her long enough to make up flyers to see if the owners were interested in getting her back. The cat rescue people arranged for her to be spayed and shortly after they found a home for her. Fez and Jackie did not like sharing with Miss Kitty.

We recently added a dog to the household. Her name is Lady.

We had a problem with some teenage boy coming onto our fenced and gated. I added discouragements but that didn't stop them so we are hopeful that Lady will solve the problem. She is another rescue animal who appears to have been abandoned. Lady is smart and apeares to have already had some training. She is fitting in well. We have a routine down for securing her while we drive in and out of the electric gate. My biggest argument against getting a dog was keeping her from running out the gate when we move the cars out. It is a little inconvenient to have to get out of the car to release her but a lot easier then having to chase her down the street.

Lady sleeps near the washer and drier at night. The baby gate keeps her confined, and she hasn't tried to go over it, although she could easily do so. She is sharp and has to check out anything that moves, even bugs.

The cats are not happy with the addition of Lady and Fez has had an anxiety problem. I know that sounds funny but she had to be given anti anxiety meds. She seems to be doing much better and is off the meds. The dog doesn't have the run of the house and the cats do.

Lady found a bunch of discarded credit cards yesterday while Tim was taking her for an early morning walk. It turns out they were from an auto burglary and are now in the possession of the police.

There will, without a doubt, be more tales to tell in the future. In the mean time, CATS RULE, DOGS DROOL.