An Angel to Watch Over You

The Whip here ... I have the most horrible thing to tell you. I can barely bring myself to write about it but I must get it out. We lost my dear sister, Charmin, to the kitty angels in the sky on Memorial Day. We had been romping in our kitty kage late in the evening when Charmin fell down and started crying. She got up and limped through the kitty doors to get in by Mom and Dad, and then flopped down again. I was right behind her and stood over her trying to let her know I would be there for her, and that she was going to be ok. Mom and Dad were on their hands and knees talking to her too. She'd get up, try to walk, and flop down again. Her hind legs just weren't cooperating. Of course, late at night, on a holiday, none of the closest vets had any small animal emergency service available. Dad found an animal hospital a good 40 miles away that was open 24/7. He put Charmin in a laundry basket on a towel, and they rushed her in to town. I was left home alone to pace back and forth, fretting every minute they were gone. When they returned, almost three hours later, with the empty laundry basket, my heart just sank. Mom was in tears and Dad was no less upset. I knew then and there I would never be able to "squeeze the Charmin" again. Mom and Dad think she was already with the angels when they left the house with her. She may have suffered a little kitty stroke, but I guess we'll never know for sure just what actually happened. I am very lonely without her, and have consequently latched on to both Mom and Dad in a big way. I insist on sitting on their laps at all hours of the day and night. They've had to drag out every last feather stick we ever had and play with me. I wake Mom up very early every morning by laying on her and "kneading" her. I don't mean to hurt her with what she calls my daggers, but I just "need to knead" her, to let her know someone is still here that loves her. Plus it helps give me a sense of security. I don't know if they plan on getting another playmate for me, or if I even want one. I guess time will tell. Meantime, we all sure do miss our Charmin. And, if you're up there reading this Char, Mom and Dad want to thank you for all the love you gave them and I do as well. We may have acted like typical brothers and sisters but I think you know that I loved you dearly. You shall be missed, sweet little Charmin girl.

The "Flaming, Flying Squirrel" Adventure

Seems like there's never a dull moment around here. One our our most memorable indoor adventures was the day Dad lit the papers in the fireplace to burn them. Unbeknown to him, a silly squirrel had apparently fallen down the chimney and was behind the paper. So as soon as Dad put a match to the papers he started darting back and forth in the fire box, with his tail on fire! Upon seeing this, Dad opened the door just a bit in the hopes of reaching in and grabbing him. But the squirrel managed to zoom out and race across the floor ... with sparks flying off his tail as he went! This created great sport for Charmin and me. We ran after it as fast as we could and chased it into the back room, hoping to help corner it for Dad. Meanwhile, Mom was running along behind, stamping out potential fires from the sparks landing on the carpeting. Once we'd chased it into the back room, we were (not so very graciously) escorted out of the room and shut in the bedroom. The squirrel, meanwhile, jumped up into the open window, lodging itself between the window and the screen. Dad had to reach up in there to grab him, not an easy feat, but eventually he got him. Mom ran back into the living room and opend the door for Dad to put the dumb animal outside. Just as he got there the squirrel nipped Dad on the hand so he ended up throwing the poor critter out the door and over the deck, instead of just putting him down gently outside, as he planned. Thus, we called it the "flaming, flying squirrel". We were all concerned for the poor little guy but apparently he was none the worse for the wear. A few days later we spotted him on the bird feeder out back. We knew it was him because of the lack of hair on his tail! Bet he stays out of the chimney from now on!

Naughty or Nice?

Ok, so one time I tore the toilet paper to shreds. So what? The only other bad thing I ever did was when Dad was remodeling the bathroom and Mom was visiting her family and friends back in Wisconsin. (Smart move on her part, to be gone during the remodel). Anyway, Dad had removed the toilet and had the entire floor torn out. There was this big empty hole just calling to me to come and explore it! (The Whip was too much of a chicken to do it. He always makes me go first.) So into the hole I went, only to come out in the crawl space below the house, which I quickly got out of and was free in the great outdoors! That was, until Dad came after me. He saw the tip of my fluffy tail as I went through the hole and came running. He knew Mom would kill him if she cam home and I was missing. He got around to the back of the house just as I came out from under it so I quickly ran around to the front with him chasing me. What fun! We made the loop of the house twice and then I took pity on him and scooted back into the crawl space I came out of and popped back up through the hole in the floor of the bathroom. Phew! We were both out of breath and after that I was locked out of the bathroom until all holes were closed up.

Mr. Whipple here ... She certainly has selective memory! She neglected to tell you haw she uses our entire kitty kage as a little box. Now, if that isn't naughty, what is? Dad put down fine pea gravel on the floor because he and Mom were tired of us dragging the cedar shavings all over the house. Like we could help it if they got caught in our toes? But the pea gravel makes Charmin think it's one big littler box. (And you thought she was intelligent.) I would never do such a thing. I use the appropriate box to do my duty in.

And of course, there was the previously mentioned time she deliberately beaned me on the head with a book out of Mom's bookcase. Mom thinks I start the trouble but Dad always sticks up for me. He'll tell Mom, "I saw the way she looked at him!" And that's the truth. A dude can't ignore a challenge.

Charmin here ... Yeah, well, at least I don't jump up and hide behind the antique milk pitchers Mom has on top of her Hoosier cabinet and above the kitchen cabinets. And they didn't have to bolt the clock/CD tower to the floor because I like to perch on top of it. Let's face it, neither one of us are complete angels, but that's what makes us so adorable. How boring our parent's lives would be without us!

Famous Stuff and Us

If you were born in a certain era, you can tell by our names who we were named after. As Charmin mentioned earlier, she always had that name because she's so soft and fluffy, and as you can tell by the photo above, she does love her Charmin tissue. But it was my name our new parents wanted to change. So I became Mr. Whipple, after that famous dude in the Charmin toilet paper commercial. This is a hard name to live up to because I do have a tendency to "squeeze the Charmin" now and then. Hey, I'm just trying to have some fun here. And for those of you who don't know, Dick Wilson, the original Mr. Whipple, passed away this last November. I was heart broken. I attempted to write a sympathy note via e-mail to his daughter, Melanie, also an acrress, but it was returned, no address found. I do wish these web sites would keep their info up to date!

We had our names and picture in the Oregonian newspaper last year when the "Back Fence" column wanted cool pet names to publish. That was really impressive to all who read it. Plus one morning we were mentioned on the K103 radio station. This surprised even our parents. We do have our fans out there.

But the neatest thing Mom ever did was create our own postage stamp using Zazzle.com. It has our picture and names on it and you can actually mail a letter with it. However, I can't imagine why anyone would want to do that as it would leave a big ugly cancelaltion mark right across our picture!

It's such an ego trip to know that the very mention of your name causes people to smile. But then, we like to spread joy. Isn't that what being a cat is all about?

Foods We Don't Eat

Us, fussy? We'd be kicked out of Kittydom if we didn't snub our food now and then. We gave Mom and Dad the impression we weren't picky eaters when we were young - and hungry, I might add. Had to eat to grow, ya know. But after years of the same old stuff we finally said "Enough!" We insisted on the expensive little bitty cans of Fancy Feast (Grilled Turkey only). This set Mom and Dad back quite a bit, but hey, we're worth it. It was especially expensive when we ran out mid week and Dad would have to buy it at the grocery store up here on the mountain. They overcharge for everything so why should our food be the exception? We ate that for what seemed like ages and then decided to go back to the cheap Friskies stuff just to give them a break. We also have two different kinds of dry food we sometimes eat when we're snubbing our canned food. But our favorite foods are Bumble Bee Tuna (sometimes cheaper to buy then cat food) and thinly sliced deli turkey. Yummy. We do know what's good.

Drinking water is another matter. We love our water and know how good it is for us. Right from the start we insisted on having a faucet left on for us to drink from. You could often find one of us curled up in the bathroom sink, on the off chance someone would come in and turn on that faucet. This habit was frowned upon once Dad remodeled the bathroom. Dang! Finally a friend gave Mom a small drinking fountain that recycled the water in the bowl and sent it out a spout. This was fabulous! We had constantly running water to drink and wash our toes in! Only problem was, they quit working after about six months. So after going through at least three of them, our parents decided to bite the bullet and buy us the expensive Drinkwell Fountain. This one works great too and we always have water at our fingertips. We call it our water "fountain of youth". I'm sure it's what's keeping us so young looking. Neither one of us has a wrinkle in evidence. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Twang Your Magic Twanger, Froggie!

Ha! I read what The Whip said about my intelligence.... and he's right! What he didn't say is how much smarter I am than him. I've always been able to entertain myself but he needs Mom or Dad to play with him. When Dad first built our kitty kage he hung a bungee cord, with a feather on the end of it, from the underside of the roof. He would then pull the cord way back and let it sail. Whip and I would run up the spiral staircase to catch the feather. This was so much fun. But since our parents couldn't be out there constantly twanging the bungee cord, I had to take matters into my own hands, I mean paws. I had to stand on my hind legs to be able to just barely grab the feather in my mouth, then I would walk backwards with it as far as the cord would allow me, use one of my front paws to position the cord better and then let it go ...T-w-a-a-a-n-g! I would run up the pole, catch the dang thing, release it and start all over again. Mom and Dad would watch me do this from the kitchen window. I could tell they were awe struck by the way their jaws hung open. Unfortunately, after twanging it so many times the cord lost some of its elasticity and now isn't so much fun anymore. One can only hope Mom or Dad will replace it one of these days so we can again play with it.

I also play with a little green plastic ball, about the size of a ping pong ball. I bat this all over the house. It makes a great clacking noise on the hardwood floors. Now and then someone will roll it across the floor to get my attention, but I'm perfectly able to play with it on my own. And when it goes under the couch or somewhere I can't reach it, I just sit and stare at the spot it went under until someone gets it out for me. When I'm done playing I pick it p in my mouth and drop it in the box where I keep it.

And to prove what great motherly instincts I have, I must tell you about my little "pink baby". Mom and Dad would say this is only a pink vinyl cord that once held a feather on its end, but I know better. I carry "my baby" all around the house with me, dropping her by the food dish at din din time so she can eat too. Sometimes I put her in Dad's slippers to keep her warm at night. Mr Whipple never comes near her. He knows better!

I'm also very good at the computer. The above picture shows me studying the music video screens. While Mr.Whipple likes to sit on Moms lap and push the keyboard in so she can't type, I sit right in front of the monitor so I can learn what's new in the world, read her e-mails and help her play her on-line games. I point out which jewel to click on when she plays Bejeweled. I just know she appreciates all my help.

And yes, I did deliberately knock a small book on the Whips' head one time when I'd had enough of his chasing me. Too bad I couldn't have reached a heavier book. It would have been so much more satisfying!

Cats Rule, Dogs Drool

As long as I have the keyboard to myself, I'll continue on. One of the many cool things about our kitty kage is the door mat. What? We're suppose to wipe our paws on it before we come in? Give me a break! Anyway, the cool thing about it is what's written on it ... Cats Rule, Dogs Drool. Now ain't that the truth! We cats are superior in all ways, just ask any one of us. For instance, have you ever seen a dog snub it's food? Not in my lifetime! Those idiots will eat anythng put in front of them. No discriminating tastes what so ever. Even my sister Charmin is smarter then any ol' dog. (Actually, she's quite intelligent, but don't tell her I said so.) But, I, of course, am the top dog, er, I mean cat. Charmin always has to play second fiddle to me, and she does it so well. She lets me eat first and leaves the comfort of the bed when I leap on it, and Mom. And of course, she has to cry for help when I happen to "squeeze the Charmin" just a little too much when I'm only playing with her. One time tho, she did get back at me, little stinker. We were having fun running thru the house, me chasing Charmin when she jumped up on the bookshelf to flee my pursuit. I was crouched down below it, contemplating my next move, when she gave me this evil look, reached down to a shelf holding minature books and deliberately pushed one off, bonking me on the head with it. OW! Of course, Mom got a good laugh out of that one, at my expense I might add. Why do women always have to stick together? No matter, I know I'm the alpha male. Well, actually, other than Dad, I'm the only male. But it's a real ego trip to be the top cat of the house. I generally get my way in things, especially with my Dad who fawns over me. Charmin is the Mama's girl. There you go again, those women sticking together. But that's ok, to each his own, hehe.