What's new, Pussycat?

I like pets.  I love dogs.  But, I have a small problem with cats.  I might be a cat hoarder.

Besides the Martha Stewart gene, I have a ooooooh, if one cat is great, "ten cats are ten times as great" gene.  This is a recessive gene that none of my family seemed to have until Mary Michael met a cat.  Meow.....the gene continues.

Currently, Bill and I have three cats.

1.  Mike's cat Jack:  Jack is the daughter of Sally and Spencer, feral cats that I thought I could tame.  She is vying for the title of meanest cat in the universe.  We've had her for 14 years.  She scares me.  About five years ago, I rescued her one night from a thunderstorm and she thanked me by assuming the position of a living coon skin cap on my head and biting the top of my scalp with her sharp little teeth and her claws simultaneously digging into my ears.  Jack is angry that she doesn't have her boy.  We cut her some slack because we feel the same way.  She loved Mike.  I do think, she has some socialization issues.

Interesting sidebar:  Spencer had a "plumbing problem" and he had a sex change operation at THE University of Georgia.  Don't ask...it's another crazy story for another crazy day.

2.  Norman:  Norman was part of the negotiations of the seller in the acquisition of this house.  He's got a head like a cat head biscuit.  He doesn't "meow".....he "meows" in a soft little voice.  Sweet big yellow kitty....a keeper!

3.  Mr. Biggles:  Bigs is a black and white cat that looks like he is wearing a tuxedo. He'd really like to move in the house and become gentrified.  Mr. Biggles came with the house.  We think that he an Norman are brothers.  He is charming and smart.  He swings in the hammock with me and he purrs.  He loves people.  He could have been named  Mr. Purrsonality.

Yes, Mr. Biggles attended Carol and Clay's wedding.  He even bowed his head during the prayer.

Cats have been a part of my life from the get go.  My first kitty was a little yellow cat named Penny.  She was petite, sweet, and dainty.  I could dress her up in doll clothes and she liked riding in the doll buggy.  I was five years old and I've been hanging out with cats from that day forward.

Zane Gray was a member of our family for 17 years.  Zane was great with the kids when they were growing up.  Zane was low maintenance and he was a great chipmunk hunter--he also brought a live bunny in the house one time.   Bill has a very dry sense of humor.  "Erin, did you know we have a live bunny hopping around the living room?". (Note:  during graduate school I would not have won any "cleanliness is next to Godliness" awards).  "No, Bill.  I didn't know that."  "Well, we do. "  At Zane's funeral, we whistled "How Great Thou Art."

A cat sees me and he sees "sucker" written across my forehead.  I love Maine Coon Cats.....a rag dog kitten gives me the willies....a calico cat is made to love-- I enjoy cats.  I think my family is scarred that I'll take my love of animals to the extreme.

Carol Keys Gledhill gave me a book with patterns so I can knit all the cats I want.  Molly and Dan have encouraged me to start knitting.  Carol told me I could have all the knit kittens I wanted.  Molly and Dan have told me this is a great idea.  I have heard those three muttering between each other that I have tendencies to turn into the "crazy cat lady".

Mary Michael and I meow greetings to each other.  One of our favorite games is Nana Kitty, Momma Kitty, and Baby Kitty.  I have taken an oath NOT to get Mary Michael a cat.

Molly's post from Facebook last night:

Mary Michael has been pretending she's a cat for about two weeks now. Combined with her new found love of The Little Mermaid, tonight's rendition of "Under the Sea" was performed during dinner using only the word, "meow" for every lyric.

That's my girl!