I say this because my garage roller door was left open last night for around 12 hours and not a thing is missing from the garage or the house. Might I add that this is not the first time it has happened. For reasons not known to me, I sometimes come home and find the garage door up with nobody at home and nothing missing. My other half assures me that it must be that we must forget to close the door. Apparently, it is not possible to open another person’s garage unless you have the remote because the remote has to be programmed into the unit that operates the door.

My mum doesn’t quite believe him. While she was staying with my sister, she said the garage door went up all by itself, then down and then up again. She maintains that there is no possible way anyone else could have opened the door because all the remotes were safely stowed away. Personally, I think one of my sister’s cats found the remote and was chewing on it. Mum still maintains that it did it all by itself. Insert spooky music here if you please

Mojo and Rosie often follow me out into the garage when I am going to get something from the car like groceries or a jacket I’ve left in there. It seems that the rooms they do not have access to – the cat free zone and the garage – are the source of the most curiosity for them. Mojo in particular often scouts the perimeter and I’m sure he is wondering how that door opens. We generally only leave the remotes in places where the cats can’t accidentally set them off but this morning when I came in the adjoining door, I found him standing next to the hook that the remote hangs off. I wonder, does he know what the button is for?? Is he just waiting to make a break for it??

When we built the cat park for him, we were a slight bit concerned that he may escape from it. Every time I clean the enclosure, I look under the scratched up weed matting to see if there isn’t a tunnel reminiscent of The Great Escape. Don’t get me wrong, Mojo is a very lucky to live here and we try to cater for his needs – he has a cat park, many toys, outdoors excursions on a harness and any kind of food that his little heart desires. But being that he was a freely roaming outdoors cat a few years ago, I’m sure he longs for the outdoors more than what his cat park can provide.

Nevermind, if I get my way, we would like to move onto a nice piece of acreage…..a good five to ten acres would be nice. Imagine the cat park I could build on that!

Mum decided that there just wasn’t enough tinsel on the big Christmas tree – which we moggies have been very good and left alone (don’t ask about the mini tree though) – and so she put up even more along the top of this blind. But she didn’t realise that the tinsel from last year has fallen down behind the blind so I thought I would help her fix it….but a moggie can only do so much. A little help please mum??

She’s grown accustomed to my house being her home for the holidays, so she makes herself at home quite nicely and settles in. She has a beautiful temperament – very excitable though – and would love to get to know my cats a little better but they are just not coming to the party at the moment. Indie has had previous exposure to Mojo last holidays – he quickly laid down the law and said “I’m boss” and Indie being the smart dog that she is, readily agreed. But being Rosie’s first Christmas here, she isn’t accustomed to the Christmas dog invasion as yet. She likes her well enough so long as she keeps her distance, which is easy enough while Indie is outside.

In the meantime, there is a strengthened border patrol presence to prevent the invader from encroaching on their turf. Not to worry…I’m pretty sure Indie knows better than to cross the border into moggie territory. *hehe*

“What the heck is this??”

“Is there food in it??”

“Oh I know, it’s a chew toy right?”

“Oh ok, I’ll wear it. But only because you feed me!”

I kid you not. When Irish Eyes are Smiling has become When Kitty Eyes are Smiling. Forget Lord of the Dance, the new version is Lord of the Pounce. *hehe*

Perfect gift for the cat mad person who has everything else already, even better if they’re a fan of the Irish like I am.

But when it comes time to decorate the Christmas tree, they are always willing to get in the thick of it and lend a helping paw.

Firstly you have to make sure that you have all the right bits….walk over the top of them and make sure you get any loose bits of artificial leaf out of the way. Don’t worry about the instructions – they’re always in Engrish anyway!

The next step – stare at the tree for long enough and it will miraculously put itself up! Laser eyes are really helpful in this process – it lets the tree know you mean business!

Next, make sure you have the site supervisor’s approval on your construction before you progress any further. If you get the branches in the wrong order, he won’t be happy and you’ll have to listen to him moaning all day long about how you stuffed it up.

After it’s up and all the pretty balls and tinsel are on it, you can sit back and take pride in your work.

Simple and understated is best for the moggies here – flashing lights are a no no, particularly with a resident chewer in the household. If you’re lucky, the tree will stay upright for the festive season and they will be content to bat the balls from time to time while lying under the tree.

Best be prepared to be picking it up every day though….oh and invest in some shatter proof balls for the tree

Don’t you just love looking at baby photos?? A very young Mojo – back when he wasn’t quite as cranky, had yet to discover what grass is, hadn’t destroyed a lounge suite by using it as a scratching post and didn’t blink every single time you went near him with a camera.

The method is simple:

1. Take a roll of wrapping paper and discard the paper (or wrap presents with it first, it’s up to you) and remove the flexible inner cardboard. This will only work with those rolls that have a cardboard liner that is not a solid cylinder.
2. Roll the cardboard so that it forms a long funnel with a very small opening at one end and tape up the side of the funnel.
3. Put the smallest end to your mouth and start talking.
4. Watch your gullible little kitty try to jam her head into the end of the funnel, wondering how you’re hiding a human in something as small as the funnel.
5. Repeat ad nauseum, until you are no longer laughing or kitty loses interest.

Of course the fun stops when kitty starts chewing at the end of the funnel and starts making a big jolly mess everywhere. *hehe*

Part of the All Women Blogging Carnival 26 November 2007, hosted by Leigh at All For Women.

I was quite amused to hear about Oscar, the cat they are dubbing the Grim Reaper. He’s even made it into the New England Journal of Medicine due to his uncanny ability to be present when terminal patients are within hours of passing away. If you do a Google search for “Oscar the Grim Reaper”, you will find he has also made it onto CNN, CBS and NBC. Everyone wants to know – how does he know when people will die? Oscar has been present for the last few hours of around 25 patients at his nursing home in Rhode Island – to the extent that when he lies on someone’s bed, the nursing staff start making calls.

There are all sorts of theories to explain his behaviour such as pheromones or change in routine of the nursing staff to accommodate increasing needs of terminally ill patients. Others are putting it down to a kitty sixth sense. It’s not too unrealistic to believe that this is possible….after all if dogs can smell cancer, is it unreasonable to believe that a cat can detect imminent death?

Whatever the reason, I’m sure that Oscar brings comfort and support to those who are dying. When my time comes, I hope I will spend it with a furry or two by my side. But if I see Oscar all too soon, I will be running for the hills!

I remember seeing a photo of a moggie sprawled out across a table, eyes half-lidded with the sunlight coming in through the window, shining on the table. I looked at that photo and thought “that’s one contented kitty”.

I don’t often get an opportunity to take a photo of Mojo in those moments. Particularly now that he is older and has decided that 9 years of photos is well and truly enough. *hehe* But occasionally he will let his soft side shine through and providing I’m quick with the camera, I can actually capture that moment. He really is quite sweet when he wants to be, don’t you think?