Visitor in the Garden

We interupt our regularly scheduled gardening blog to ask you all to send purrs to our friend Derry at Fuzzy Tails.  He is spending the day at the vet and would appreciate calming and healing purrs sent his way.

Now back to the regular program...

::meowwww::

Today we bring you a visitor in the garden.

This little fella has been visiting our yard all summer.  He loves the sunflower seeds we have out for the birds, and can just about clean out the feeders each night.  Auntie is calling him a pig, but we believe he is a raccoon!

Have you had any special visitors to your garden this year?

For more fabulous gardens check out the Society of Feline Gardeners at Master Jonesie's place.

Wordless Wednesday

Mancat Monday

Tanner demonstrates how sturdy the Chalet is...he loves to lay on top of it...great view from up here.  This is perfect for snoopervising and bopping brothers when they walk by.

Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet

 Petfinder.com has designated the week of September 17-25 as “Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week,”  a week to spotlight those pets that’re most often overlooked in shelters. When we fostered we were given many black kittens, and typically they took longer to adopt out that other colors did.  This is an unfortunate delima for these sweet babies, as anyone who has adopted a black cat will attest that they are the best!

To be quite honest, I'm not sure who these kittens are anymore...but look at those sweet faces!

This is Cole and Caleb...brothers.  They were adopted separately and into loving homes.  They were super sweet bottle raised kittens that we had.  One thing I remember about these boys, is that they liked their bottles really warm...if it was the least bit chilled, or room temperature even, they would not drink it!

This is Velcro...he is another bottle raised boy we had...and just as sweet as he could be.  He had an identical brother named, Xavier, and they were well bonded, and needed to be adopted together.  This created more problems because now we needed someone to take TWO black cats!  It took these boys almost a year to find their forever home...they were lucky to be a group where time wasn't a factor.  Not all black cats have this luxury.

Here's another shot of Velcro...he would nurse on your fingers! 

I have found a group in Boston Massachusets that understands the plight of the black cat, and have founded Black Cat Rescue.  It is important to get the word out about these remarkable animals, so consider going black the next time you adopt.  Here are some more reasons why...

10.You'll save $$ on their Halloween costumes.
9. You can always find them in the snow.
8. Holding a black cat is very slimming.
7. Black cats will match any decor.
6. A lint brush isn't required for a black-tie affair.
5. When you love a black cat, luck is on your side.
4. Black cats are like onyx, a beautiful gem.
3. Hey, they don't care what color you are!
2. Love knows no color.

And the number one reason to adopt a black cat...

1. They are the least likely to be adopted.

Thursday in the Garden

Today, we are back at the farm stand we found in Minnesota.  Donna had many chickens roaming around and we wanted to share them with you all...

 This is Big Red.  He is a beautiful rooster and he knows it.  He strutted around for us and wanted his picture taken.  The ladies that worked at the farm stand, said the girl chickens didn't much care for him, or his attitude.

 This rooster is the favorite.  He isn't very attractive, but he has a good personality.  The girls have plucked him, but he didn't seem to mind.

 Here is a mom with her babies...the ladies that worked there brought out some fresh corn so we could watch the chickens eat, and so the babies would come out.

This chicken was a bit crazy sitting on this chair!

We can read more about Donna and her farm here.

You can also visit more wonderful cat gardeners at Jonesie's place.

Wordless Wednesday

Trio on Tuesday

Devon, Cousin Sophie and Tanner all watch the birds in the back yard...

Meow Like a Pirate - AARRRRRHH!

Today, September 19th, in the year of our Lord two thousand and eleven, we be commanded to Meow Like a Pirate! We sail the high seas in search of gold doubloons and pieces of eight.

 Shiver me Timbers, they be returning with fantastic spoils and plenty of grog...

Ham, or Big Slab of salt pig be on the menu...

Lobster or Roach of the sea

niptinis and grog for the swashbucklers....

Milk and bubble teas for the buccaneers-in-training...

Fresh spoils of the seas too...

Be nay ne'er shy and commence ye-selves to partying...All ye scurvy dogs!

Happy Birthday Devon

 Devon still at his foster mom's house...just a few weeks old...looking like the Bat Cat!

Devon at our house...he had been there a few days...I think he has settled in just fine!

Devon now looking very regal...happy double digit's to my special boy!

Mancats get a dental

This is an older picture of Smokey, but it shows how we spent most of our weekend.  Smokey went on Thursday to have his teeth cleaned.  We were also concerned about one of the teeth, and thought it would need to be pulled.  Thankfully, all teeth were good, once the tartar was removed!  He was wiped out from his day at the vet, and I was willing to oblige with snuggles as often as needed.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Mancats Sing

On Friday morning, Smokey, Tanner and Cousin Pirate all had annual vet appointments. They were packed up while Auntie was home to help me, and therefore had to wait about 20 minutes before being loaded in the car. Tanner and Pirate calmed down quickly, and just sat and waited. Smokey, not fond of being closed up, sang his heart out trying to get free.
Tanner is in the big blue carrier, Smokey is in the green at the bottom of the photo, and Pirate is in green at the top.

I was so thankful to be able to catch some of Smokey's singing...he has the cutest voice. It's almost like it never changed from being a kitten, and is still quite high. Enjoy!

Thursday in a Garden

This week, we are letting mom show you some pictures from her recent trip to Minnesota. She, Auntie and a friend spent a week just driving around and seeing what they could find. This was a fun place for them, and we'll let mom tell you about it now...
Thank you boys for letting me take over today, and again I'm really sorry for not even getting the 'flats' out of the bag while on vacation! This roadside farm stand and homestead were a wonderful find for us. We passed by and turned around to go back...we are so glad we did!

The owner of this place is a lady named Donna. She is in her seventys and is a spry and spunky lady! Owning a farm had always been a dream of hers, and she is making is happen!

We walked around the yard and loved all the bright flowers we found...these purple ones are just gorgeous!

I don't know what these are called, but they are unique with a lovely color...

This is the house Donna lives in...There are fields with soy beans planted this year, next year they will be corn. There are chickens and a large vegetable garden too...I'll post more about this lovely place next week! Stay tuned...

To see more gardens, check out the Society of Feline Gardeners.

Wordless Wednesday

Tails on Tuesday

Devon loves to puff himself up! Here is an example of his bottle-brush tail...he's just been running around the house like a mad man! Devon is a nut!

Contest and Commentathon are over

Thanks to everyone who participated in the contest and commentathon.

The winners of the contest are ...... drum roll please...

USA - Meowmeowmans

International - Old Kitty

Please email the mom at ( scanipe1 at nc dot rr dot com ) with your address, so she can get your prizes in the mail.

We had 17 comments total, so the mom will dontate 20 green papers to SAS for their mom Judi.

A Contest and Commentathon

Cascades e-Boutique launched a new line of cat houses last month. Some of you saw the Tee-Pee on Catsparella's site, and entered to win. Well, we are running a contest as well, and you can choose to win either the Chalet or the Teepee. We selected the Chalet for our home and the boys love it!
Smokey was excited when it arrived...he is waiting for me to open the box. The instructions are clearly printed on the packaging...

Devon, Cousin Sophie and Tanner all watch, as I try to assemble the chalet...

Hurry up will you?

Devon is making sure I am following the steps correctly...There were quite a few steps, but it was easy to follow...
Still working...the chalet is quite large!
Finshed!! Sophie has already gone in to check it out...Devon is inspecting the outside...
Devon heads in...what fun!
Tanner takes a turn, so even large kitties can enjoy the chalet.

If you would like to win a chalet or a teepee, please leave a comment below. This will be for US viewers...However, if you live in another country, please feel free to enter, and the Four Crazy Cats will send you a gift package as well!

In the comments, please note where you live...comments accepted until August 21st at midnight, EST. Mom will select the winners on the 22nd.

Also...Mom will donate $0.50 for each comment to Sammy, Andy and Shelly's mom. In case you haven't heard, they are having a difficult and uncertain time, and this may help ease their stress a bit.(One comment per household please)

Ok great...let's get started!

Mancats and the Snake

Tanner loves playing with the fuzzy snake. It is great fun trying to shove it under a door!

World Cat Day

Today is World Cat Day...of course we believe everyday should be cat day!

Our mom has always been a cat lover, but Smokey was her first cat as an adult. He was rescued from an ad in the newspaper. He was so tiny and mom loved him before she ever met him! Smokey has blossomed into a super snuggly, sweet boy, and we all know he is mom's favorite :)

Devon came along next...mom had caught the 'black cat bug' and wanted another one. Devon is a lover boy and although not as snuggly as Smokey, he loves to be near mom regardless of what she is doing. He keep her on her toes with his crazy antics and diva attitude. How could you not love a boy like Devon?

Tanner was third and is the baby of the group. He is close buddies with Devon, and mom always claims how happy that makes her that her boys have a friend. Tanner loves alone playtime with mom too, especially with her feet and a string toy. Tanner is on the sensitive side and wears his emotions on his sleeve...Tanner is a momma's boy.

Mojo brought such joy and heartache into our lives. Mom loved being his health care provider, advocate, friend, and snuggle buddy. Mom hated that he was so sick and wanted him to just 'be a cat' for a while. She loved this boy, and he loved life. Mojo showed us all that life is good, no matter what. He will always hold a special place in mom's heart. Fly High Superman!

Mom here: Cats make the world a better place, at least my world. I love all my boys equally (even if they think Smokey is the fave!) They have brought me such pleasure with their craziness, zest for life, friendship and love. Here's to World Cat Day...may everyone be so blessed as to be owned by a cat!