January 6, 2016January 5, 2016 by greg-in-washington

Scooby and Twelfth Night / Fort Apache

This post features Scooby and also my Marx Rin Tin Tin Fort Apache playset. Don’t ask me why. Twelfth Night (Epiphany) and some of you thought Christmas was over! The three kings arrived to deliver their gifts to the Christ child. I keep the holiday going as long as I can. The twelfth day of Christmas according to the song is 12 drummers drumming. No wonder I woke up at 5 AM.

It has been two weeks since I last posted here. Some of you are probably tired of looking at my Christmas post–but people are still looking at it! I did visit a few blogs during my vacation. I guess I am not an internet addict after all! I enjoyed doing other things. It is a daunting thought that I must post here all year long. I thought the same thing last year, but I did not run out of steam. I may get off to a slow start. Let’s begin.

Scooby reflecting upon Twelfth Night

Scooby in the frosty catio

Scooby enjoys the recliner’s “rumble or cat seat”

Fort Apache

Scooby presents Fort Apache

Scooby presents “Fort Apache”. It was a John Wayne film made in 1948. In 1955 a popular TV dog named Rin Tin Tin lived in Fort Apache. When I was young back in 1957 I received a Marx Rin Tin Tin Fort Apache playset, which I had desired for a long time.

Western television shows and movies were the rage. Playing cowboys and Indians with toy cap pistols and figures like those shown below was very popular with young boys. The underlying violence was never realized or condemned by parents. Ritual violence is supposed to reduce aggression. I did not create the violent characters shown, but I am responsible for creating the bloody battle shown here. Political correctness is out the window! Additional figures were added over time. I know how film director John Ford felt, and it was good! Maybe I could do a stop action movie like Gumby?

It was like staging a movie, and frankly, still a lot of fun, bringing back fond memories. It was one of my favorite toys, and that is why I hung onto it. In my set, you may see the white figures of Rin Tin Tin, Rusty, and Lt. Rip Masters from the Fort Apache TV show standing right of the front gate. Scooby was very good in that he did not enter the fray, or do any Catzilla damage! Can you spot the rare Blue Buffalo? He makes pet food now.

Overview Marx Rin Tin Tin Fort Apache play set (1957)

Fort Apache battle

That’s it for our first post of 2016–Scooby and Fort Apache.

October 17, 2015October 16, 2015 by greg-in-washington

Scooby the cat’s first week home

Cats, Scooby, Zeke
catio, cats, Marigold, Opie, Scooby, Zeke
24 Comments

Scooby was standing in his cage looking at me when I came to pick him up. The adoption lady was 15 minutes late arriving, which made me anxious. I filled out the form to adopt him on Thursday and now it was Sunday. Would something go wrong, and I would have to wait longer? No worries.

Hello

Opie and Scooby in catio in early morning

He cost $80 US to adopt. He had a FIV test, and all his shots, plus a microchip implanted. I got a copy of his records for my vet. He had been spayed earlier in his life. The lady showed me which dry cat food he had been eating. It was “Simply Nourish Source” cat food. Amazingly, that is the food I give my cats, and I have a large supply of bags of it at home! I would not have to be serving two different kinds of food. I was given coupons for many products free or with $ off. I used a free coupon for yet another bag of dry food, but I wanted to get out of there and get him home soon. We put him into my cat carrier. He weighs 14+ pounds and is a big fellow–all muscle!

My legs are tired!

This room suits me!

Riding home in the car he was silent. He was glad to get out of that cramped cage. It has been 6 years since I had any new cats. I knew the routine of introducing them, but I just threw the rulebook out the window. What was the result? Firstly, Scooby is very friendly and nonthreatening. He must have been with other cats as he took no notice of the others. They did take notice of him. Marigold is in a grumpy mood, but much better than the first day. She’ll get over it. Opie is wary of him as he is so big, and he likes to play chase with her, but she does not like it. Zeke and Scooby, after a couple of days, sleep together, wrestle, and play. Zeke needed a playmate. The females were not so keen on playing chase with Zeke for long. I separate them into groups at different times during the day for stress reduction. There must be supervision when they are all together.

Marigold Zeke watching Scooby in catio

Food is an issue for Scooby. He must be fed alone, apart from the other three, who eat on their own. He has to check everyone’s plate to see if they got something better than he got. Pushing his head into their plates is not appreciated. He is familiar with cat toys and plays with them. He really likes catnip. He kept following me into the kitchen every time I went in there, with a look like he wanted something, but I didn’t know what it was. As I looked at him sitting in front of the refrigerator, a light bulb illuminated over my head. His eyes got big when I pulled out the milk carton. I gave him a little bit in a bowl. That was what he wanted! Someone had been giving him milk! My cats do not get any, as I know they shouldn’t have it, but for now, Scooby can have a little as a treat.

Zeke and Scooby in the catio

There were no litter box problems of any kind. That was good! One bad thing is that he wants to get out the front door when I go out or in. I must be careful. He does not respond to his name. In fact, he does not respond to voice at all. I thought he was deaf at first, but I tested him, and he can hear fine. He is like a husband who never hears what his wife says. He is tuned out. Maybe he doesn’t speak English. He is bad jumping up on the gas stove. That is dangerous!

Scooby and Zeke sleeping

I had a vet visit for Zeke’s annual exam plus shots on the upcoming Tuesday, so I called them, and substituted Scooby. I was glad to get him into the vet so quickly. Nothing wrong was discovered; nevertheless, I will keep a close eye upon him for anything unusual. Online I registered him with the microchip company. I also licensed him online with the county. It is the law. It cost only $5 because I am old, and I get a tag to put on his collar. I need to buy a collar.

This cat bed is too small!

Scooby discovered the tent

The other cats ie. the girls will get used to him, I believe, once they realize he is harmless. They let him come quite close to them now, but NO sniffing! All in all, he is a very congenial companion, and a happy guy.

I like it out here!

Scooby sleeping

October 2, 2015 by greg-in-washington

Foggy October Morning 2

It is a typical foggy October morning here in the Pacific Northwest. I sit at the computer drinking my morning cuppa Joe–black. I indulge myself with a hot piece of microwaved apple pie with a slice of American cheese melted on the top. Not exactly the “breakfast of champions” but who cares? I don’t want it to read on my tombstone: “He never had pie.” How sad would that be? I would prefer it to read: “He ate the pie!”

I usually listen to classical music in the background while at the computer, because I do not want my mind to be distracted by lyrics. Even contemporary instrumentals will cause me to try and remember the lyrics and mumble along leaving out most of the words I have forgotten. Today is a little different, with some instrumental base jazz playing, and a dwarf in a suit dancing in the corner–not unusual here in the Pacific Northwest.

First thing though for the Maine Coons is for me to open the window and let the Maine Coons out into the catio, so they can see if anything has changed overnight. Certainly, the weather did not change. Fog with rain in the forecast.

Who is upstairs?

Who is coming out?

I have my eyes on you!

October 1, 2015October 1, 2015 by greg-in-washington

Foggy October Morning in the Catio

It is a typical foggy October morning here in the Pacific Northwest. I sit at the computer drinking my morning cuppa Joe. I remember when we were complaining about all the sunshine and the extreme heat! Now it is gone, and the furnace kicks on in the early morning. I like it to be warm when I crawl out of bed. When it gets colder, I will be having furry company in bed at night. First thing though is to open the window and let the Maine Coons out into the catio, so they can see if anything has changed overnight.

There were some black bears up a tree nearby earlier this week. Animal control got them down and returned them to the forest. I have my own little forest in the back as you can see. Deer and squirrels and red-tail hawks frequent it.

(Marigold, not a coon, marches to a different drummer, and has her own routine.) Once the coons are satisfied, they come inside for their breakfast. After breakfast, they go back outside again.