New Year's Resolution

My New Year's Resolution this year is to get my Thunder Blog going.  I am going to try to do a cat blog a week--even more if I get inspired.  Actually, I am always inspired about writing about cats--particularly Thunder--I just have to sit down and do it.

Thunder is a delight.  All cats are, to me, but Thunder is my heart's delight.  Some would say that he is the reason I retired.  As with so many things, a lot of reasons form a big decision, but I confess, the thought of spending more time with Thunder was one of them.

So, if you want to hear all about what makes Thunder the Wonder Cat so wonderful, stay tuned.

Thunder the Delightful

Thunder the Delightful

I came home, today, and Thunder greeted me, of course.  He wanted all my attention.  I wanted supper.  I stuck my meal in the microwave, and he still wanted attention.  I tried to get him to eat his supper, but that isn't what he wanted.

I had 3 minutes until my meal was ready, so I followed him around and told him how beautiful he is.  I tried to get him to eat, and he still refused.  I followed him around some more while he purred and showed me his scratching post, his other scratching post, his pad, his pedestal, his other pad...

This is how it always is with him.  After a while, he was ready to eat, and I was able to get my supper, too.  He is one of those cats who is truly, truly happy to see me--and isn't just happy that I am home to feed him.  He makes me feel very loved.

Who is the Cutest?

I have a t-shirt that I have been wearing for years.  It says" Owner of the world's cutest cat."  Of course, I think Thunder is as cute as can be.  Every cat mother thinks they have the cutest cat, but I  have to be honest.  Ellen's cat, Stormy, is cuter.  Thunder is the handsome, elegant one.  Storm is just 100 percent cute.  Here are some pictures of both.  What do you think?

Red Blanket

Red Blanket

A couple of years ago, Ellen got me the neatest gift for Christmas.  It is a small electric blanket--about 6x6.  It is just perfect for a chilly house like mine.  I like to keep it in our TV room.  Thunder, over time, has become very attached to it.  One of his favorite activities has turned into watching TV.  Actually, I don’t watch much TV at all--it has been months.  I sign out TV series from the library, instead.

Thunder has become obsessed with Red Blanket.  I usually don’t have it on, but he still keeps bringing me to it.  I walk up to him, and he trots away, with his tail up in the air--his signal to follow him.  He brings me to Red Blanket so I will sit and pet him, or give him pieces of dry cat food, one at a time.  

He rolls, stretches and purrs.  He begs for pets.

This happens many times a day.

He likes it so much that he is more tolerant of me grooming or brushing his teeth on Red Blanket than anywhere else.

I have taken to sitting on red blanket--instead of my favorite chair to read in the quiet part of the afternoon.  I turn it on low, and he gets so content.  Anything that makes Thunder happy, makes me happy, too.

10 Years!

Today is our 10 year anniversary.  Ten years ago, my life got brighter and happier, and he has continued to be the brightest light in my life.  I dote on Thunder, constantly.  Good thing he is a cat who likes to be the center of my attention all the time.  He never complains of me helicoptering.  He wants me to!  

In honor of our anniversary, tomorrow evening we are having a cat party.  I will get some fresh nip, and we will cuddle or play.  Maybe we will do both.  Whatever he feels like, that is what we will do.  That’s how cat parties work.  

I can’t wait

My Book

My publisher is downsizing their warehouse.  Consequently, I now have several cartons of books at my house that I want to sell.  

“Trail Training for the Horse and Rider” is a highly readable, how-to book for trail riding.  I cover training the green horse, retraining the spoiled horse, negotiating difficult obstacles and terrain, conditioning, dealing with difficult weather and more.

It costs $20.00 plus $4.00 to ship.  If you are a local person, we could arrange to meet to save shipping costs.

Thunder Drama - Hairball

Thunder had a hairball this morning.  At least it wasn't a big one.  Most cats just vomit it up, and they are done with it.  That's not the way of Thunder.

First he wants attention-lots of it.  That isn't all that unusual, so it doesn't guarantee that a hairball is brewing, but there is no hairball that he doesn't go through this stage.

The bigger the hairball, the more demanding he is.  This morning's hairball was small.  He just wanted me to pet him and cried when I left.  The big ones seem to come at night.  That is when he will wake me up with purring, ramming my face, biting my nose.  When he purrs, he trembles.  Those days, I know for sure the hairball is coming.  This could go on for an hour.  It was a problem when I still worked.

With a bad hairball, he starts to cry, emphatically--and then, it is done.  Today's hairball was mild, so he didn't cry.  I am so glad.  It tears my heart to pieces when I hear that cry.

After he expels the unwelcome pile for fur, it isn't over, yet.  Next, he need comforting.  I have to pet him and console him.  He is relentless in his demands.  The bad hairballs usually end up with him trembling in my arms, purring and purring.  After about a half hour, he gets hungry, and it is over.

I always feel bad when one occurs, and I'm not home for him.  That is one more reason that I had to retire.