September 20, 2017September 21, 2017 by greg-in-washington

Catio Nights

This post is about catio nights.

I only let the cats out in the catio in the dark when I am awake. When I go to sleep every one must come in. Sometimes some coaxing is required, but all in all, they are pretty good about coming in on command. There is a wooded area in the back of my lot, which is of great interest to the cats, because of the birds and other critters that like it out there. Many hours is spent in surveillance. Additionally, Scooby is the only cat that looks up to watch the airplanes flying over the house. The other cats take no notice. Sometimes they hang out until after sundown. Early in the morning when I get up before sun up, they go out again. It is primarily the boys–Scooby and Zeke–who are interested in staying out after dark.

Scooby

Scooby and Zeke

Use Earth Friendly Shopping Bags

Use earth friendly bags and not disposable plastic bags. July 12 Tacoma passed a law–no more flimsy plastic bags. (I’m a little late on this post, but we get there in the end!) They endanger marine wildlife and clutter the landscape. If you need a bag, you have to pay 5 cents for a recyclable paper bag or reusable bags will also be available for purchase. Grocery produce bags, dry cleaning bags, and newspaper bags are still allowed and free. Low income people receiving certain benefits get bags for free. That is good news for the cats as they like paper bags. I have quite a few reusable shopping bags of my own. Marigold is more of a “box cat” than a “bag cat” so she does not appear today. Let’s see the cats being earth-friendly.

Opie

Zeke

Scooby

Opie

September 6, 2017September 9, 2017 by greg-in-washington

Life in the catio then and now

Cats, Scooby, Zeke
catio, cats, Data, Marigold, Opie, Peep, Scooby, Verty, Zeke
23 Comments

This post is about life in the catio then and now.

THEN: I rummaged around my external hard drive, and pulled out some old catio pre-digital photographs. The catio photos are taken at my previous house, where I originally built the thing. Aside from a few repairs, it is still the same catio. The cats shown are Peep (Maine Coon), Data–long hair orange and white, and Verty–a tabby like Scooby. All crossed over the bridge quite a while back. They can be read about on my In Remembrance page. Interestingly enough in both locations, the catio faces East. My next door neighbors had cats, rabbits, and geese. When coyotes killed them all, I decided my cats were going to be indoor cats from then on. I could not bear losing them. And thus, the catio, or catrun, as I called it then was created.

Old Polaroid of me and cats checking out the new catio for the first time 2001

The above featured photo is a polaroid from 2001, which I repost today as it is the only one I have like this.

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August 30, 2017August 28, 2017 by greg-in-washington

Wordless Wednesday (Zeke)

August 2, 2017July 31, 2017 by greg-in-washington

A very hot Wordless Wednesday and scorching days ahead

Opie cooling off by the air filter

Zeke and Marigold relaxing in the shadows in bed to escape the heat

A blanket with snowflakes and penguins must be a cool place to sleep, Scooby thinks.

July 24, 2017August 10, 2017 by greg-in-washington

Happy 4th Blogversary!

Cats, Scooby, Zeke
blogversary, cats, greg, Marigold, Opie, Scooby, Zeke
18 Comments

Happy 4th Blogversary to us! We have been banging out posts on the Feline Cafe here on WordPress for 4 years now. I am going to need a new typewriter ribbon soon! Every January I think, “How am I going to post all year long? I got nothing today!” Blogging never ends. It is like a long running soap opera: the story just goes on and on. . . . We had a new blog theme makeover. We also got a new domain name. Since we started here, we have never lost anyone! How lucky is that? Time to give some credit to the staff here who keep things going.

ZEKE EDITOR IN CHIEF

OPIE Reporter

MARIGOLD lAYOUTS / REPORTER STYLE &FASHION

Scooby Delivery & Subscriptions

GREG roving correspondent and photographer

GREG ROVING CORRESPONDENT / PHOTOGRAPHER

July 5, 2017June 29, 2017 by greg-in-washington

Happy Birthday Zeke (8)

Happy birthday Zeke! You are 8 today! You are an old senior cat but you do not seem like one of those old timers! We shall look back at a few of your old photos on your special day. First, a few facts about you:

Zeke is a Maine Coon
He likes to be out in the catio many hours of the day, and especially the night, if I forget to close it.
He likes to sit out in the catio in the rain and cold.
He thinks he can go through the mirror to the other side. He paws at mirrors vigourously.
As far as nip is concerned, he can take it or leave it.
He lives under the bed.
He fears all strangers, and since he does not meet new people, everyone is a stranger. He has rarely been seen by anyone else. He can only be seen on this blog. I tell people I have 3 cats not 4. They will never see the fourth one anyway!
He is not a fussy eater.
He especially likes feather toys.
He likes to run and wrestle with Scooby.
Zeke enjoys watching animal YouTube videos with birds and squirrels.