It was a kittentastic weekend around here, as you might expect. We got a few toys for them (and a carpet covered “kitty jail” to hide and climb through and besiege your sister in) although, as all parents probably suspect, their favorite toys ended up being things that we didn’t buy them at all, like the pulls on the blinds.
The two kittens are showing distinct personalities already, with Lucky being essentially fearless (just too busy having fun for much cuddling yet), and Hanna showing the impact of being raised in a house with a lot of children and a lot of dogs. Hanna guards her food like she’s in a prison cafeteria and when she gets a toy she likes, she will puuuuuull and try to take it back to somewhere she can savage it on her own. And this kitten, who is probably less than a pound weight still, has broken not one, but two toys this weekend, by yanking them and engaging in a tug of war, determined to take an entire pull toy (and the ~200 pound guy at the other end) with her under the rim of the waterbed.
Saturday photos:
Sunday photos (all by Jenn):
From San Bernardino County Animal Care & Control:
The San Bernardino County Animal Care and Control Program would like to offer pet owners the following tips to help keep their pets safe this holiday season.
- PLEASE make sure that your pets have proper identification (ID tags, microchips, tattoo, etc.) on at all times because if your pet were to become lost, you would have a much greater chance of finding them.
- If you plan on having a Christmas tree in your home, here are a few things to remember: avoid using tinsel because your pet may think it’s a toy to play with and accidentally swallow and choke on the tiny strings; keep edible foods and gifts away from your tree so that your pet will not be tempted to investigate them; hang small and breakable ornaments out of your pet’s reach; refrain from using chemicals in your tree’s water, which can be harmful to your pets; do not allow your pet to drink the tree’s water which can quickly become dirty and filled with pine needles.
- Electric window displays and lights are very inviting, not only to you and your neighborhood, but to your curious pets as well. Make sure that all of your electrical connections and outlets are secured and concealed. Tape electrical cords to the walls or floors to ensure that your pet will not chew on them.
- Holiday plants, such as poinsettias, ivy, lilies, mistletoe and holly berries may add beauty to your home, but they are very poisonous to your pets.
- Use caution when burning candles. The flames or dripping wax can burn dogs and cats or singe their whiskers or hair. They can also start a fire if knocked over by curious pets.
- Before your family celebrations, make sure that your pets have a safe, quiet area where they can rest. It is best to keep your pet locked up safely in a bedroom where they can escape from all the noise and festivities.
- After you have had your fill of holiday turkey, ham, chicken, and/or roast beef make sure you throw those bones away – do not give them to your pet! Bones can splinter easily and cause damage to your pet’s throat and intestines. Bones can also become lodged in your pet’s throat, which may result in your pet not being able to breathe.
- Avoid feeding your pet chocolate, candy, cookies, and alcohol, which can be toxic to their health. If you want to give your pet a special treat add water or broth to their dry food or mix in some canned food. Avoid feeding your pet high-fat foods, such as gravy and dressing, which can cause serious stomach upsets. Make sure that your guests know not to feed your pet as well.
- After your gifts are opened, quickly dispose of all plastic wrappings, ribbons, and bows that can be easily swallowed by curious pets.
The San Bernardino County Animal Care & Control Program hopes that these pet tips prove helpful and they want to wish all of you and your pets a happy and safe holiday season. And, remember if you are interested in adopting a pet over the holidays, please visit one of your local animal shelters where there are lots of homeless animals just waiting to find a responsible and loving family to celebrate with. For more information, please call the San Bernardino County Animal Care and Control Program toll free at 1-800-472-5609 or visit their website at www.sbcounty.gov/acc.
I would have thought it would be too soon to get a new cat after losing Motley Sue, but when Jenn brought home the yard cats from Ellis Truss last weekend, two things happened:
First, I realized that, although they might be maniacs (one more than the other), I really liked having Patch and Penny around.
Secondly, I saw how Jenn lit up when they were here, playing with each other, being silly, being fascinated by the fish tank, or getting cuddly with us (mostly her).
So, when she realized this week that it wouldn’t be realistic for me to head up to Northern California for Thanksgiving with the Yarbrough clan this year, due to my illness, she asked if we could celebrate Thanksgiving this year by welcoming two new cats into our home. Late yesterday afternoon, Helping Paws rescue/adoption from Apple Valley brought over two eight week old kittens, the only two from their litter from an owner who, for whatever reason, will not spay the mother cat, who in turn produces litter after litter after litter. The two kittens were raised in a house (very) full of children and other animals, and once the newness of this move wears off, we expect them to be pretty fearless.
The two kittens are a black female we’re probably going to call Lucky, and a black and white female whom it looks like is going to be called Hanna. Both have now ventured out from their hiding spot behind my dresser to eat a little Kitten Chow and drank a little water (and be shown where the litter box is), and to wreak clumsy havoc on some cat toys, but they retreat back into hiding whenever they decide they have had had enough adventure for one go.
It feels great to have cats in our home again. Updates to follow.
Jenn mailed off a bunch of our BlizzCon schwag to a guildmate of ours on the Silver Hand server yesterday. Using her technical skills, she grabbed some images of mailboxes from the game (the world of Azeroth has a mail system that puts the real world’s to shame):
I told her I was going to post that, since it’s so damn cool.
Jenn: You’re just determined to paint us as crazy geeks to the world.
Beau: Actually, the opposite. I want to show the world this is just normal fun. If we were all huge football fans and you sent Widge’s stuff off with Washington Redskins decorations, no one would think that was odd at all. And people pay more than $100 per ticket to go to a ‘skins game, and people there dress up and wear crazy makeup and so on. No different from BlizzCon, except the weather is worse, it lasts less time and the Offspring don’t play.
Changing the world through the power of blogging. Or something.
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