Sir Nicky... still skiddish after all these years.
(Click picture to enlarge those eyes.) 
"Everything we see hides another thing, we always want to see what is hidden by what we see." ~ Rene Magritte
Our feline friends are officially getting old.... as are we. Miss Clover and Miss Scarlett have already left us, leaving their siblings a little lost and sad. The ragdolls are fast approaching the ripe old age of 13 and are slowing down; although they were never very energetic, even when young. They prefer a slow pace of life... eat, sleep, sleep, sleep, eat some more and then sleep. Nicky here is still hiding. Such a timid fellow, he hides in plain sight. He thinks no one can see him if his nose and face are almost covered, but tends to forget that 14 pound body and long bouffant tail that sticks out behind him. Right now he needs a bath. We brush and clip and get enough fur to make a sweater for a small child this time of year, but he still needs a bath. If I keep saying he needs a bath, perhaps it will magically happen.....
Early on in life, Nicky had a bath at the vet. Perhaps that scarred him for life, or perhaps his irrational fear and paranoia that hits only when he sees water is simply congenital; though I don't believe the latter as his sister Willow is perfectly horrified but perfectly behaved in her bath, simply looking with a pitiful gaze as if to say... "why are you doing this to me?" Nicholas, on the other hand, ended up with a note on his permanent record that read in large letters... "NICHOLAS DOES NOT BATHE WELL!" His bathing behavior, which I decided to take on myself and which was not one of my better ideas, has become progressively worse. Time before last, he bit me... hit a vein and wouldn't let go. I got him loose, wrapped a towel around my wrist and almost drowned him in the sink while he thrashed water all over the laundry room floor. His bath was less than satisfactory and I ended up with a hematoma from my hand to my elbow.
I bathed him again a few months ago. This time in the large master bath shower. This time with a muzzle that also blindfolded him. This time with me outside the shower... at least to get him wet. His reaction was the same. He screamed and twisted and jumped. I have never seen him jump that high... straight up and then flopping down on the floor of the shower. Then I held his muzzled head on a soft wash rag fairly tight to the floor with one hand while soaping and scrubbing him with the other, then rinsing with the hand held sprayer until the soap was gone. Only at the very end did I run a bit of a soapy rag over his head and rinse that. Then I got out of the shower as quickly as possible and let him go nuts until he calmed a bit and realized that the water was off.
The strange thing is that as soon as I wrap him in the warm towels fresh from the dryer, he goes limp and is perfectly content to be dried and air blowed and brushed and combed. He simply closes his eyes and lays there as if at the spa. Looking at these baby blues... who could believe such a demon resides inside.
Sigh... like I said... Nicky needs a bath.
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Friday's Ark
Carmi's Weekly Theme... Blue
Carnival of the Cats...at When Cats Attack
Miss Scarlett... finely tuned at fourteen
(Click to enlarge)
"An animal will always look for a person's intentions by looking them right in the eyes." ~ H. Powers
Miss Scarlett and her brother Mr. Rhett (aka Houdini) are fourteen this year. Rhett is as sharp as ever; able to dart out an open door in a fraction of a second and quick enough to evade capture unless you are able to grab at that long tail. His Siamese tail has saved him many times. Rhett never seems to learn that it is not a friendly world out there for kitties with cars and raccoons and other nasty critters in the swamp preserve behind the house. His cat curiosity always gets the best of him.
Miss Scarlett, for the most part, is physically fine. She has never gotten over her nervousness and pacing when anyone is around, but she did gain all her weight back after that bladder stone surgery and so far, no more problem in that area. I've noticed over the last year that she seemed to be running into things and being startled by objects in the middle of the room or if we moved objects out in the garage. She spends a lot of her time in the safety of a box, with her back up against a wall or door. Miss Scarlett is for all purposes blind.... no cataracts and eyes just as clear as ever.... she just cannot see. We think she sees a bit of light and shapes but not really any detail. She is able to get around her special places just fine... as long as nothing is moved.
For cats as well as humans... it really is no fun getting old.
We haven't been to Friday's Ark in some time, nor have the kitties seen their friends at the Carnival of the Cats ... this week at When Cats Attack.
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Sir Nicholas Alexander (Nicky)
(Click pictures to enlarge) "Cats conspire to keep us at arm's length." ~ Frank Perkins
Nicky and Willow don't like the dog... Daisy loves them and she would love to play and romp and sit with them.. but all they do is hiss and spit at her. They feel that Daisy, as well as all humans are beneath them... servants. We humans are here to feed them, scoop the litter boxes, provide soft beds, fresh water and toys, and to offer up our laps and our feet as often as they deem necessary. The moment we fall down on the job, even for just a moment... they are there with voices full of complaint ... whining about how horrible it is. Never mind that these Ragdolls weigh almost twice as much as the Siamese and could stand at least one less meal a day.
These two are brother and sister... while Willow is very regal... although it is sort of a waddling type of regal... Nicky is the quintessential "scaredy cat". Nicky is afraid of everything... a true agoraphobic. Some days he seems afraid of his own shadow and yet, other days he is surprisingly bold, willing to take on his sister in a fist fight or fist slap as it is with cats. True, he seldom wins but he tries.
Lady Wilhelmenia Abigail (Willow)
Willow is still up to her old tricks... red pipe cleaners and toy mice... dip them in the water then dump them in the food bowls. So not much has changed... they are now considered elderly... they just had their 11th birthday last fall. But they are still as spry and active as ever... well, at least they are as active as they ever were... so they are not athletes... couch potatoes need love too!
Nicky and Willow both will be visiting Friday's Ark and the Carnival of the Cats hosted by Catsynth this weekend and might pop on over to Camera Critters too... they've been complaining that I don't let them get out much to socialize anymore.
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Who is this cat...able to capture the perfect light and shadow? 
It's Mr. Rhett... smooth operator... of course!
(Click pictures to enlarge) "When naming a cat, if one's imagination is totally at a loss, start with a good encyclopedia. Look up the names of emperors, empresses, kings, and queens. Cats, particularly male cats, like very strong names which link them to majestic feats." ~ Auriel Douglas
Mr. Rhett fits his name. He is a smooth operator; he works and weasels his way out doors and in doors and onto laps... if all else fails, he simply gazes longingly until the object of his desire gives in and invites him into his/her lap. Rhett has become the most vocal of the cats... he talks almost constantly... unless asleep. Small stuffed toys, sponge balls and a ragged stuffed cloth ball are his "babies"... he carries them around and meows and meows and meows. Rhett knows what he wants and how to get it... most of the time, just like his namesake.
And if you must know... his counterpart.. Miss Scarlett.. is as capricious, cantankerous and conniving as the original as well.
Mr. Rhett is taking his show on the road to Friday's Ark and to the Carnival of the Cats, hosted this Sunday by Artsy Catsy. He is being so active this week... his human uncle is arriving Saturday... the same day Rhett wants to visit over at Camera Critters. One busy cat!
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Miss Scarlett: Checking out the tub. (Click picture to enlarge) "Cat Rule #7:
Always accompany guests to the bathroom. It is not necessary to do anything. Just sit and stare." ~ Unknown
"Looks like I caught you, Scarlett. What are you up to now? You do know that I used that shower just about an hour ago, so the tub is still wet! Would you like to take a bath? No? Well, then, could you please get out of the tub and.... well, leave the room? You know how YOU hate having someone watch you when nature calls you to the litterbox! So, go on... move... scat... SIGH...ok...you may stay.... just PLEASE STOP STARING!
Better yet, why don't you go on over to Gattina's and see who is at Cats on Tuesday? It has been so long, they've probably forgotten who you are. Don't scare anyone with those eyes though!"
Update 3/27/09: Miss Scarlett had a diva attack... minus the green ball gown. She doesn't see why she can't visit the other cats at Friday's Ark... especially since everyone loves a party! And the Carnival of the Cats this week is at Three Tabby Cats in Vienna. Vienna... isn't that where Uncle Stephen lives?
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Crouching tiger position. (Click picture for larger view)"What we see depends mainly on what we look for." ~ John Lubbock
Maggie: Oh! Look! Something's out there! What is that chirping noise? I need to find out! I need to blend in with my surroundings and check this out!"
Balancing cat position.
"I have slowly climbed this hill and now I balance, as still as a statue. Look at all the birdies, finches and mourning doves. I am sooooo good... they don't even seem to notice me. But, my feet are getting tired.... my body is too big.... too long... don't look down, don't look down! I am going to have to get closer soon!"
My pirouette move. I am a ballerina!
"I can't get past this lamp...hmm... I'll try this direction. Yes, this should get me closer to the window, but.... I am just so big and my tail is swishing. Oh! No! I can't move like a mouse... more like an elephant! How do those Siamese do this so well?"
"Where did they go?"
"Well, here I am, nose against the window and what is this? That person that I do not like, pointing that black box at me again! I want the birdies, where did the birdies go? Uh-oh, I feel a song coming on......Where did all the birdies go... Long time passing
Where did all the birdies go... Long time ago..Meoooowwwwww!"
"Perhaps I will see them on board Friday's Ark or perhaps at the Carnival of the Cats hosted by Artsy Catsy. But with all the other cats there, the outlook for birdie sightings might be slim."
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Clover: "Growing old is not for sissies!" "Nothing's more playful than a young cat, nor more grave than an old one." ~ Thomas Fuller
It isn't easy getting old. Somehow I thought that Clover never would. After all, she will only be 15 this July and my Siamese have always lived long lives. Her sister Chloe is spry and feisty still. But somewhere between the moves and all the mayhem.... Clover suddenly got old. She lost weight and became extremely wobbly in her gait. The vet found calcification of a couple of her vertebrae but nothing else. So now she gets to stay in my room with a soft heating pad and access to her food all the time. She eats well, but doesn't gain weight. She doesn't jump up on the bed or anything else for that matter now and getting up from a nap or laying down for one is a very slow process. We both take glucosamine/chondroitin supplements and it doesn't seem to help either of us! Now her eyesight is going as well. She stays close to my leg as I move around the room and uses her whiskers to feel her way at times. She demands more, more often and delights in keeping me awake at night, then snuggling down to sleep with her stuffed dog as soon as I get up.
But Clover still purrs, in fact she purrs more now than she ever did as a younger cat. So as long as she purrs and eats and keeps demanding.... I'll keep giving in to her whims, keep getting her Fancy Feast in her favorite flavor and keep gazing into those deep blue marble eyes.
Clover will be a late comer over at Friday's Ark this week but she's old and slow so they'll forgive her. If she has any energy left she will head out to the Carnival of the Cats, hosted by Mind of Mog.
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Mr. Rhett... not so sure about this hammock.
(Click picture for larger view) "Watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you." ~ Roald Dahl
Mr. Rhett wanted to go outside. He loves the hardwood floors, but he really wanted to go outside. So, Nyssa took him outside, to swing... with her in her brightly colored string hammock. He loved sniffing the air and looking at the trees and he kept one eye on the grass (tends to want to graze on it); but I am not so sure he knew what to make of the swinging. Here his eyes look a bit glazed over.... either he didn't care to see the ground moving beneath him or he was thinking about his friend Sophie (she asked about him the other day and it always puts him in this weird dream state).
It has been much too long since he visited aboard Friday's Ark or was able to attend the Carnival of the Cats. Rhett is hoping to do both this weekend. And he, along with his bright hammock are included in Anna's "Project Blue".
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Mr. Rhett: "Frankly, Scarlett, I'm thinking about Sophie!" "There is no 'cat language'. Painful as it is for us to admit, they don't need one." ~ Barbara Holland
Dearest Sophie,
It seems like years since I have seen your beautiful face on the computer. You life is so full and exciting with lizards to chase and such exciting places to see. I miss you! I saw that huge McCloud on your mom's blog. Please! Dearest Sophie! Be careful around him! One false step and he could stumble and crush your delicate toes! I would trade my sister Scarlett for you any day.... better yet, we could send our huge, hairy Willow to keep McCloud company and you could come here. You can share my playthings and my soft pillow. I would then be in heaven indeed!
Oh! No! Here comes my human lady! I don't want her to know I can type. I'll have to hypnotize her and make her think that she wrote this post herself! Wish me luck! And please get your mom to post your lovely pictures.
I adore you!
Rhett
(Fade to black......"Rhett?! What are you......oh, I'm getting sleepy....sleepy." "Snap!!!" "Wow! Look at this! I wrote a post for the Carnival of the Cats, hosted this week by Bad Kitty Cats Journal! Wonder when I did that? Oh, well... time for bed.")
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Miss Willow... trying to look thin...
(Click picture to enlarge) "Law of Cat Inertia:
A cat at rest will tend to remain at rest, unless acted upon by some outside force - such as the opening of cat food, or a nearby scurrying mouse." ~ Unknown
In a comfortable chair, in a comfortable position, in a comfortable room..... who would want to move? "Not I", said the overweight cat in her pancake position, "Now go away and leave me to revel in my repose." Being the obedient human that I am.... I did just that.
Miss Willow will take her "ewes not fat, ewes just fluffy" body on board Friday's Ark today at the Modulator, and she will definitely get out to the Carnival of the Cats on Sunday... they serve food.
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(Click on the cat tail ... picture ... to enlarge.)"I love cats. I love their grace and their elegance. I love their independence and their arrogance, and the way they lie and look at you, summing you up, surely to your detriment, with that unnerving, unwinking, appraising stare." ~ Joyce Stranger
Someone is too big for the barrel in the cat tree. See that big, long bush tail hanging down.... they better watch out, five other kitties might like to have some fun with that thing. Who is it?
Miss Willow, of course... looking sweet and innocent but with fire behind those eyes. No wonder the other cats haven't messed with her tail. No one touches that tail with a paw or a claw and lives to tell about it!
Miss Willow isn't too happy about the picture of her "tail end" but she did put her stamp of approval on the head portrait! So it's off to Friday's Ark with all the other animals at the Modulator and then party time at the Carnival of the Cats, hosted this week by Mind of Mog in memory of Krissie.
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"In a cat's eyes, all things belong to cats." ~ English Proverb
Miss Clover hardly ever shows her tummy, preferring to sleep curled up in a tight ball. She has no qualms, however, about sleeping on someone or something else's tummy. This little Care Bear was a gift for Nyssa's 21st birthday as a commemoration of her first birthday party. I was going to wrap it and just left for a few seconds to find the paper and gift bag and a card. I returned to find this... a sleeping cat propped up on the teddy tummy. This is as close to a "tummy tuesday shot" as Miss Clover will ever get. Sorry about the cat hair, Nyssa!
Meanwhile........"Cats are absolute individuals, with their own ideas about everything, including the people they own." ~ John Dingham
A little sleeping ladybug has appeared on the back of the loveseat. I wonder how long it will take the felines to notice. Shh! Here comes Mr. Rhett....
Rhett: "Hmm. What's this?! It almost looks like a sleeping human... it has a hand and a face but it doesn't smell like a human. It isn't moving."
"And what is this back here? It's red and there are spots! AND A BIG HUMP ON ITS BACK! It must have something bad, perhaps something contagious! How else would it get that hump?
"MOM! Get this thing off the sleeping area! I think a ladybug and a baby got stuck in one of those teleport chambers and got joined together accidentally! Don't you remember?! Like that man in that scary movie.... The Fly and all his nails and teeth fell out and he grew this awful stubble stuff all over his body and he was grotesque.... Do you supposed that is what happened? Do you think? Hey! Mom! Do you think that's what made the ladybug hump on this baby doll?" (Pause... quiet... Rhett pokes the ladybug monster with his paw and I hear a soft "huff 'n puff" ..... "It's a doll... a weird ladybug baby doll") "Mom?! ..... Never mind."
Miss Clover and "Blabber mouth" Rhett share the love of stuffed animals this week at Cats on Tuesday, hosted by gattina and Miss Clover finds tummy comfort for Tummy Tuesday over at catstuff.
Rhett: "Mom! I heard that Miss Willow was going to Friday's Ark! Can I go too? Please!" "Oh, OK..... May I go too? Hmmm... well, OK, if Clover has to come with me...mumble..mumble." "If I take Clover, may I go to the Carnival of the Cats too?"....."Purr... she said yes!"
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