LostWoods Blog

Both Fayne and Corliss went swimming again this morning. Usually one experience is all it takes to teach the kittens to be careful while perching on the side of the bathtub. But this litter seems to be endlessly fascinated with the tub and the water in it. This might be in part due to the new, fun game they learned from Great Grandma Shira.

Shira has episodes of craziness that cause us to remark that Psycho Shira is back. She’ll chase through the house like all the demons of Hades are on her heels. She’ll attack teasers and toys unexpectedly, then dash off. She crouch down and lash her tail, then take off after someone — or after nothing at all. It’s entertaining, to say the least.

One of the games she plays most often when she’s Psycho Shira is “killer in the bathtub”. She dashes into the bathroom and jumps into the tub. She crouches down, tail lashing and eyes darting wildly from place to place. Heaven help the other cats if any of them happen to go near the tub! If I’m around and have a toy handy, I’ll toss it in the tub with her and she’ll go nuts “killing” it. Because it’s so fun to watch her, I try to keep a ball in the bathroom just for that very purpose.

The latest victim of Psycho Shira’s bathtub killing is a little ball covered with a pink glittery and shiny fabric. It rattles, so it makes noise as it rolls and is tossed around. The kittens, drawn by the noise, have tried to join the game, but well… getting in the way of Psycho Shira is a guarantee of being swatted — or worse. So they’ve learned to wait until she leaves, then they jump in the tub and play their own version of killer in the bathtub. I’m sure that’s a contributor to their fascination.

But they also love being wherever I am and I like baths rather than showers. So ever since they were big enough to venture into the bathroom on their own, they’ve come in and sat by the tub watching me. Once they could get on the side of tub, the swimming lessons began.

Besides bathtubs, Seely has become enamoured with getting on things, exhibiting the typical Norwegian Forest Cat desire to be UP. And once he or she gets there, he/she will be looking for a higher spot to explore. Seely conquered the kitchen island last week, climbing up there via the wine rack. (aka kitty jungle gym.) But the island being, well, an island, he couldn’t get anywhere from there. This week he has figured out how to get on the dining room table because he can now jump up to the chairs. And just last night he discovered he can jump up on the bar stools at the kitchen counter and now can get to the entire run of counter top. It was a sad day for me. More cats to chase off the counter when I’m trying to cook. So far Seely is the only one to do it, but once one of them learns something like that, the others aren’t far behind.

The swimming lessons continue. The last kitten to get his water wings is Corliss, who fell in today. (Everyone else had already been swimming.) Despite being half soaked, he still was back about 30 seconds later, sitting on the side of the bathtub, watching the water while his ever helpful sister batted at his funny looking, wet tail. When I was done with my bath, I picked him up and dried him off — Corliss purring the entire time because he loves being held by me, wet or not.

The cats must have all missed us while we were gone those couple of days. Our bed has been very full the past two nights — Kalira, Talia, Zeke, Charlie, Rand, Basia, all four kittens — with visits from Natane and Peanut. Danica would like to come to bed with us, but she’s not that comfortable around the other cats, so she settles for cuddles down in the kitchen. Kefira does not like Danica at all, so Kefira is still with McCoy most of the time. He gets the company, she stays out of trouble.  Kefira’s “pink up” date is tomorrow, so I have my fingers crossed. Hoping for some beautiful babies out of those two. I have no reason to think she isn’t pregnant since both she and McCoy have had babies with others, but you just never know.

I need to spend some time getting caught up at home and with my email again. If you’re written and not heard from me, I’m still here, just totally buried in email. That’s what happens when I don’t respond to anything in three days. Argh! I really need to win the lottery so I can stay home and tend to my cat hobby and my email. LOL! I have an appointment for an eye exam after work today, then if I can see (getting eyes dilated is always such a joy – not!) I’ll dive in, one email at a time until I’m caught up. Maybe someday…

I’m back from Spokane & the surrounding area where Ken and I spent the weekend. The cats all survived being under the sole care of Jeremy for two and a half days. He didn’t even go out with his friends Saturday night because he “had to stay home and take care of the cats.” I don’t think we gave that particular order, but whatever inspired him to take good care of them, I’ll take it! He even spoiled them by giving them ham while we were gone. I guess he learned that from his dad, the cat hater. LOL!

Eleven weeks photos are up on the website. The kittens weren’t terribly cooperative tonight. Or maybe it was me being more impatient than usual. Allegra insisted on posing all hunched up like a garden gnome. Fayne had something in his fur — which I only noticed when I was editing the photos. Corliss never wants to sit up tall and look at me… The only one who behaved at all was Seely. My attempts to get another litter shot were all dismal failures. Maybe next week.

On a positive note, my work on the NFCFA By-Laws, etc is FINALLY done! Well, all except mailing the proposals and counting the returned ballots. But the real work — the reviewing, writing, discussing, re-writing, reviewing, discussing, re-writing… is DONE! We didn’t always agree on things and I lost a few battles, but in the end the entire committee voted unanimously to present the proposals to the membership. The same five people who began the work (six, if you count Pete, who was an ex-officio member of the committee) stuck it out and we ended with the same five people. The proposals won’t make everyone happy. Unfortunately, there’s no way to do that because there are some widely diverse opinions of how things ought to be in NFCFA. But we’ve tried to listen and reach compromises that we hope will pass. We’ll see. Whatever happens, I think we put a lot of thought, work, and attention to detail into the proposals and I’m proud of the work everyone did. In a few days we’ll see what the members have to say.

While I was off playing in Washington, Brenda took Beau and Dawnflower to a TICA show in Colorado. Dawnie got one final as 3rd best AB Cat. This was her very first show and she was up against her half brother Shane (AZWegie Shane, son of McCoy and Keegan) and Vanir Maverick, owned by Sondra Evans in the breed judging. Dawn had less coat that the two boys, but still managed to Best of Breed in one ring and get a high final. Go Chompers! Beau had an excellent show again, being Best Alter in several rings and finalling in all but one (I think) for the weekend.

 So now I think I’m caught up on the news. At least most of the news. I need to post some show season brags for the LostWoods cats and their extended family. However, I need to chase down all the correct info. I can tell you that two of Basia’s brothers are International Winners this year! Gotta love those Guri & Tori babies. They kick butt!

As I mentioned the other day, the babies can get on the side of the bath tub and swimming lessons were eminent. This morning while I was taking my bath, Fayne jumped up on the side of the tub. I asked him if he was going to be the first victim… Um, I mean, student.

After I got out and the water was draining, I heard a splash and sure enough, Fayne had fallen in and was frantically trying to get out. I rescued him, partially dried him with a towel, and put him down on the floor.

It’ funny watching kittens after they get wet. They take a step, shake a wet paw, take another step, shake the other paw. And so on. They think their tail is some strange thing following them.

Allegra was torn between helping her brother and harrassing him. She’d lick his side, then swat at his funny tail. She groomed his tail a bit and then chomped it. Poor Fayne was not amused.

But Allegra got her own punishment a little later. The kittens were following me down the stairs. When I got to the bottom, Ilooked to be sure they were all there. Behind me was Allegra. Every time she hopped down a step Corliss was right behind her and would pounce on her from the step above. He kept it up all the way to the bottom. Yes, his leg is much better today!

[I wrote the above on Monday, but apparently I was waiting for someone else to take a swimming lesson before finishing it and posting it. That should much better than I forgot to hit publish, doesn't it?]

Seely is the latest to take a dive. Last night he jumped up on the side of the jump in his usual enthusiastic way of doing things — full out intent on whatever task is at hand. He almost slid right across the edge and into the tub, but not quite. Unfortunately for Seely, today he did end up in the tub. I was getting dressed and next thing I knew, here came Seely on a run. I looked to see what had scared him and realized his legs and tummy were all wet. He had joined Fayne in the ranks of swimmers. It remains to be seen if Allegra and Corliss will also take lessons.

We’re supposed to have rain this weekend, so I don’t know if I’ll get outdoor photos this week or if they will be indoors. But one way or another, I should have new pictures by the end of the weekend.

Today was a much quieter day than yesterday, so I was able to get the kittens nine week photos taken and uploaded to the website. The best part was how cooperative they were when I lined them up for a litter shot. One picture is on the home page and here is a bonus shot. 

Corliss is doing much better today. He’s not quite 100% healed, but today he is putting weight on his paw and playing like his usual self. He’s still favoring that leg a little bit, but I’m betting by tomorrow he won’t show any signs of having been hurt.

While I was taking pictures, Charlie offered to show his children how to pose. Okay, I think he really wanted to get the teaser, but he did pose in between trying to kill it.

He also demonstrated what enterprising NFCs have to do when they don’t have a forest handy — they improvise!

I brought my plants home from work last week. I’m hoping they survive me and the cats. I’m not the best at remembering to water them (I’m a firm believer in making my plants “drought tolerant” LOL!) so between that and the cats thinking they make a good place for a nap, they may be dead in a week or two. And to think — at one time I had about 30 house plants and they were all thriving and beautiful. I guess I had less things distracting me back then.

Back to kittens… this time talking about future kittens. McCoy and Kefira have had a busy few days and if their activities have been productive, we’ll be looking for another litter of LostWoods kittens around August 8th. Cross your fingers.

It’s been a souce of minor amusement to me for weeks – the kittens sitting beside the bathtub, looking at me, trying to figure out how to get to me. I’ve thought it would be a really cute picture of them but I usually don’t take my camera with me when I bathe.

Well, I missed my chance. The kittens have stormed the walls (the side of the bathtub) and have taken control of the castle. This means that they will soon get their first swimming lessons. Wonder if there are any fish in the bunch?

They are now going up and down the stairs at will. Most nights I call them to come up to bed, but the other night I didn’t. Still, I woke up to find Fayne snuggled in between Ken and me. The others spent the night downstairs. Guess I’ll have to keep working on them to convince them they need to come upstairs and join us in bed each night.

Jeremy graduates from high school on Saturday. Ken’s parents are arriving this afternoon and staying with us for a few days so I’ve been super busy getting ready for them and the BBQ were having after the ceremony on Saturday. Add to that some unpleasant upheaval at work and you’ve got a tired and grumpy person. The kittens are a joyful break from all that – just like their litter name says.

Oh! I think Kefira might be going into heat. She’s been very friendly to me and REALLy wants to spend all her time with McCoy. That’s usually the precursor to a girl being in heat. Ooooo! I can’t wait for their babies!