Talking & Singing by Frankie

Chessie,

 Short answer for your question about human words, nope. And I don't think I'll start anytime soon. Now I do let mommy know if I want something by meowing, but it's more of "meh". Sometimes mommy tries to copy me and it comes out pretty good, unfortunately she's just saying gibberish in cat. She might say a word right and I look at her or answer to let her know it was right, but then she gets it wrong again. At least she tries though.

 Anyway, I've gotten really good at letting her know I want something. She calls it charades and thinks I'm so smart for playing along. I meow a few times to get her attention, then she says "show me what you want", so I walk over to the door or window I want open. And just like that, she opens stuff for me, I don't have to lift a paw for anything. Mom-mom says I'm being lazy sometimes cause I'll look at a toy I want and mommy will play with it for 5 minutes before I just walk away bored.

 Another thing I'll do is "meh" at them when they go into the kitchen. I've discovered that most of the time they do that they get food out. If I follow them every time, there's a good chance I might get something. I make sure they show me everything they have, and sometimes I take a taste. So far, mom-mom has the best stuff, cause she has lunch meats like ham or turkey. I also like mommy's Tofurkey baloney, yummy! However mommy says it's too expensive to have me eat all her stuff, so she's gonna make mom-mom get her real stuff to share with me. Sounds like a good deal to me, can't wait. :)

 This letter is making me hungry now, I'm gonna go see if I can get mommy into the kitchen to feed me. Talk to ya later, Frankie

People Talk by Chessie

Frankie, my friend!

   Got another question for you – do you use human words when you talk to your Mom?  I have learned to say a few simple things that sound like the words my Mom says and it takes her ‘over the moon’ as she says, when we have other people in the house and I choose to talk in front of them.  I don’t know what the big deal is, but it seems to mean a lot to everyone else; they act like I am strange to make these human sounds... but whatever.

   I first realized as a young kitten that Mom referred to herself as ‘mom’ when talking with me.  So I decided, when she was ignoring me, talking with someone else here in the house, to call out to her: “Mee-om!”  Works every time!  Everyone stops to listen, some people ask Mom if there is a young child in the house and she shakes her head – no – and laughs!  I can say a few other things too:   Ya know that funny sound – maybe it came from a cartoon show – ‘rut-row’ that some people say?  Well, I can do a similar sound that is like a growl except it is   ‘hut-oh’ – Mom says its my hello ‘cause I only use it when people I know arrive at my house to visit me.  Only special people get my special greeting ‘cause I’m happy to see them.

   Frankie, don’t tell anyone, but I know a bunch of other words too, and I practice them when Mom isn’t around.  Some day I’ll share a few more special words with you.  In the meantime, listen to the words your Mom uses and practice saying them, when she’s not around.

   Fun, fun!  Chessie

Making Mommy Laugh by Frankie

Hey There Chess,

 I've been having fun around here just playing, looking outside, napping and such. It's been nice and cool lately with the breeze. Mommy opened all the windows the last two weeks to let some fresh air in, and so I can talk to the birdies. She also opened the front door to let in light when it got cloudy. I sat and watched it rain for a bit, what else could I do, the birds took cover in the bushes and trees until it stopped. So I got an idea, why not let the birdies inside the house, just when it rains. Mommy said no and almost yelled when I reached up to pull the latch open on the door for them. She forgot to make sure it was locked so I can't get out. Guess that won't happen again. :(

 Oh, mommy called me her little weirdo again. Just because one morning I felt like taking a trip running around the house. Well you see, I make a point of going into each and every room running in a circle pattern around the walls. Making sure to jump up onto and down under all the furniture in that room. Going as fast as I can (without breaking or knocking anything over) I speed down the hallway to where mommy and mom-mom are talking. I then jump up and try to touch mom-mom's hand up high on the doorway. Unfortunately I missed her hand, but I did manage to turn off the light on them, it's not like they needed it on or anything. Your welcome!

 Every now and again I wanna see if I could be an awesome ninja. Is that so terrible?

Type to ya later,
Frankie

Whisker Tricks by Chessie

Good morning Frankie!

   I’m getting a late start this morning… Mom tried to sleep in a bit later, and so that meant she wasn’t getting up to feed me my breakfast. It was the first coolish morning, and we had the windows open. Good sleeping weather, so we were all snuggled into the covers on the bed, but as it became dawn’s early light, I got a rumble in my tummy and I wanted my breakfast.

   I walked around Mom a couple of times – over her pillow, onto her shoulder and even tried to snuggle against her arm – all the while purring, of course = loudly! Mom just burrowed into the covers and said: “Chessie, let me sleep a while longer!” So l had to resort to ‘the secret weapon’ – whiskers! Tickling – with my whiskers – it works every time! I just quietly sit and move up toward her face and snuffle around a bit in her hair – I like the smell of her shampoo… but then I move my face along near her face and my long, thick whiskers start to tickle my Mom’s nose. My whiskers are one of my best features, even if I do say so myself. I tickle her face – no one, especially my Mom, can resist a tickle! It only takes a minute or so and she announces: “Okay, Chessie, I give up! I’m awake, let’s get up and get us some breakfast!” I can see her smile, she thinks I’m funny.

Awww, Do I Have To Go? (Vet) by Frankie

Hey Chess,

   In my letter about my first vet visit, I said I was 8 lbs, but that was right after I got to my new home. Now that I've been here for a while eating so much yummy food, I've been growing by leaps and bounds. Now I'm right around 10 lbs and still not slowing down. Mommy did adjust my food a little but I still get canned and dry everyday, just not as much. She makes sure I get some kitten nutrition as well as the yummy adult flavors so I grow up happy and strong. Mommy did some research online about Bengal cats, and it said that males (that would be me) get to be approximately 10-15 lbs. That means I'll be a BIG boy when I'm fully grown.

   Back to the vet's I go for the second time... A few weeks later mommy needed to take me back to the vet cause I had a sore spot on my back foot. She saw it before but it looked healed over from a while back, somehow (I played & licked at it) it reopened and got all yucky. She tried to clean it up and put a bandage on but after a few days it only got worse. I was gonna need something more, so the vet gave me antibiotics to get this taken care of. I really liked this vet, he was different from Dr E. There was just something I liked about him, maybe it was how he smelled or petted me. I let him know I liked him a lot by purring very loudly and licking his hand. He laughed and scratched me behind the ears saying I was a very nice kitty.

   Anyway, before we could leave we had to get the antibiotics from the nurse. So while I was in the waiting room, a big dog - yellow lab? - came up to my carrier and started to sniff at me. I smacked at her with my paw through the mesh screen and let her know I thought she was rude. She just stared at me like she didn't understand then looked at my mommy. Mommy pet her and said "It's OK sweetie, I guess Frankie just doesn't like doggies." I looked at her and said 'RUDE doggies mommy, I don't like rude doggies.' My favorite vet came around the corner and called the dog by her name and said "come on, lets go home". It figures, he's a dog person. I guess I should try to be nicer next time since she does belong to him and he is my favorite. Oh well.

Vet Visits by Chessie

Frankie,

   I just read your story about going to the Vet for the first time. Wow! Eight pounds huh? A young ‘un like you better be careful or your Mom will put you on a diet – that means less food to enjoy – not fun. I am about the same weight as you, and have been forever. My Mom says I eat to live, not live to eat like she does – whatever that means. But my Vet – a nice lady too! – always gives me a gold star on my chart because my weight is purrfect – no fat kitty me!

   It is a big clinic, and hospital, with lots of docs and staff, and I’ve been going there ever since we moved away from Florida; everyone there knows me. They are all very nice to me and call me by my name – I don’t know how they remember me. The only thing that I don’t like about going to the Vet (you are right it has some really weird smells) but it also has other cats and dogs there: big, barking, drooling dogs. Sometimes they stick their noses right up to my carrier and snort! How rude! I don’t like dogs, it doesn’t matter the size – big ones bark, little ones yap, they are all noisy. Not well behaved, like me.

   We’ll have to discuss more about going to the Vet another time, but right now… I’m getting sleepy – nap time, Chessie     

DIY Tall People by Frankie

Hi Chessie,

 No little people here, but I do see a few that walk the neighborhood out front. There have been a couple of times that they will see me at the door looking out and they wave as they go by. If the windows are open I hear them say "Mommy look, kitty!" I don't know how I feel about them though.

 Mommy has big tall people come in the house, even taller than mommy herself. I try to get close enough without them knowing, so I can sniff them. I wait til they talk with mommy to slink up and check out their big thick boots. So many new and interesting smells. Since the house is a bit older it needs to be worked on and updated here and there. Mommy has a bunch of different people come in and mess around with things. Then mommy says "well I could do that myself" and mom-mom rolls her eyes. In case you didn't catch on already, mommy has her hands full with me and her new burst of DIY energy.

 Anyway, I gotta go. Looks like mommy's packing another box and moving stuff around. I need to check everything out and make sure she doesn't miss anything.

 Later, Frankie

Little Houseguests by Chessie

Hey Frankie,

   I was just curious – does your Mom have other people come to your house to visit? We have lots of Mom’s friends and family visit here at the beach. Some of them are big people and some of them are little – about half the size of Mom, or even smaller. These little people are funny because they like to lay on the floor and watch the big box that has pictures that move and noise coming out of it. TV, I think that’s what they call it.

   Anyway, these little people are always interesting to play with, and they like to play with me, and brush my fur, and pet my head. So I like it when they come to visit us, and sometimes they sleep over the night. Then I curl up and nap nearby in the hallway and listen to them sleep – to be sure they don’t go away in the night. It’s fun to play with little people especially… big people too, but only some of them. I’ll tell you about the big people who come to visit another time.

   Chessie

My Window Perch by Frankie

Hi Ya Chessie,

   I just wanna tell you about my new window perch mommy got me. See, all the windows in the house are up high, so I need to be sitting on something to look out them. There is furniture in front of most of them but not where I really want to look out. Mommy has moved around some things but my favorite spot is in Mom-moms room. You get the best view of the bird feeders and the rest of the back yard. In case you didn't already know, I wanna see the feeders up close and personal. Where I can almost jump out and catch a singing birdie or big fat squirrel. Although, it is around ten feet away plus a tall drop to the ground, but I think I could do it.

   Anyway, mom-mom said she was "NOT gonna move her things around for me to put my big butt up in her window to wreck her curtains". So mommy looked around online to see what she could use for me and came up with a window perch. It's so comfy with a soft furry cover and she opens the window for me with the screen in so I can smell all the wonderful fresh air. It's been cool here too and a nice wind early in the morning. I can see and hear the birdies singing as they eat. During the hot time of the day (noon-3pm) the birds must take a nap in the shade cause I don't see or hear them that much. Oh, and the best part of the perch is I'm not 'under foot', meaning I don't get stepped on or pushed out of the way by mom-mom. I'm still learning the right and wrong way to push the curtains out of the way, mom-mom can be very particular about that.

   I'm sure I'll have lots more letters to write to you about what's going on outside from my new perch.

   Write To Ya Later, Frankie

Talking With Birdies & Yummy Butter by Chessie

Good day Frankie!

   How are you doing?  I’ve still been enjoying the lazy last days of summer.  The weather has been lovely, not too hot here at the beach with a gentle breeze, so Mom has had the kitchen slider open and I can smell the flowers on the patio and hear all the birds chirping.  The wild birds get fed seed every morning very early, right after I get my breakfast (I eat before everybody else in the house, even Mom’s friends who visit!)

   Anyway, I watch all the fluttering about under the big ol’ pine tree where the seed is, and sometimes the little wrens and sparrows come onto the patio looking for a stray ant or two.  They are quite funny, they come right up to the open screen door and turn their heads carefully watching me, and all I do  is sit very still.  If they get too close, I will make a little chattering noise under my breath, but I guess they don’t hear too well – ‘cause it doesn’t frighten them away. I always wonder if I could catch one, but the screen is firmly closed over the door.  I tried to open it with my paw once but Mom said ‘no!’ very sternly.

   I’ll watch the birds and the big, very fat squirrels in the yard until I hear the toaster pop up.  Then I make a quick jump up on the kitchen island and wait for Mom to bring me the knife she has buttered her toast with.  Yum!  I only get a little lick of melted butter from the tip of the knife - on those mornings she had a piece of toasted homemade bread – just enough, but no more.  I love melted butter, not the cold hard stuff tho’.  The bread smells good too, but only ‘cause it has warm butter melting in the nooks and crannies. I sniffed some toast crumbs one morning, but there wasn’t any melted butter on them – ugh.  I don’t really like any of the food Mom calls ‘people food.’ Just butter.  If I could only get her to put melted butter on my food.  Gotta go work on that idea.

Catch up later, Chessie

Lost Balls and My New Fetish by Frankie

Hi Ya Chessie,

   Just a quick update from me while mommy's away making herself some tea. The other day I was nosing around and came across an old toy ball. It looked kinda odd with it's weird yellow-green color and fuzzy texture. It isn't really good smelling from all the dust on it but when I push it, it goes rolling fast. I decided to ask mommy about it so I played and rolled it out to her so she could see it. She started laughing and picked it up and asked where I got it. As if I'd tell her where my new stash is located.

   Turns out, nobody has seen it for years. It's been 'lost' behind the bed since there were dogs living here. Someone must have been playing with it and forgot where they put it. Mommy dusted and cleaned it up by vacuuming it off, then giving it a good soapy wash and dry. She tested it a bit by bouncing it on the floor and getting my attention in the process. In mid bounce I leaped in the air like the jungle cat I am and snatched it away. Scrambling to catch up with it, I ran around the house knocking into things along the way.

   Oh, before I forget to tell you, this is something funny... Mommy thinks I must have a foot fetish cause I like to rub on and lick her feet. She laughs and stops me because it tickles and says it's gross. I think her feet smell and taste nice cause she's always putting lotion or something on them. There's just something about coconut flavored* I mean scented stuff. Yummy!

   Which reminds me, I gotta go find mommy. It's been a little while since I licked her.
Frankie

MY Comfy Chair by Chessie

Meow - there Frankie!!

   What’s going on?  I’m just hanging around the house – my Mom and I have a recurring tussle about my comfy chair... she thinks its hers and I know its mine!  Sometimes she sits in it and I have to get behind her back and nudge her out so I can take a nap!  I’m a delicate little lady, only about seven pounds, but mighty strong when I want her to get out of MY chair.  Mom usually relents... it is such a comfy chair!

   Mom had people in the house visiting for a few days – nice for me – more laps to sit on, but one of them was a big man and he sat in MY chair!  My Mom said it was okay even tho’ I sat and stared at him – he didn’t get the point!  It’s my chair and only sometimes do I let Mom sit there with me too.  But there was no room for me when he was sitting there.  But he left this morning, so I have my house back – and Mom’s busy working in the office, so I can sleep in my comfy chair again undisturbed...purr...

Let Sleeping Mommy's Lie by Frankie

Hey Chessie,

   Yeah, mommy has snapped a few pics of me sleeping. She says it's cause I'm so cute, but I think it's just her being weird. I like to dose off and on in the day as 'cat naps' and I see mommy checking up on me to see what I'm up to. I also do the same with her in the day when I run and play around the house.

   At night I do watch her sometimes, but I really like to play more. I'll jump up on her bed and wrap my front paws around her legs as I fall over on my side and nip at her toes through the sheets. Most of the time she'll just move around without waking up. But sometimes she'll sit up and grab me then slide me up to cuddle with her. I only lay there for a minute or two until she falls back asleep, then I'm up and rolling again.

   As long as I'm being quiet and playing everything is fine, but if I get up on mommy's bookcase that's next to the window, she gives me a warning. Not that I actually listen thou, she calls for me to get down two or three times, then just as she gets up I'll jump down and go running out the room. I know when she means business, but I'll push up against that line to see how far I can get.

   During the day if mommy's not feeling good, she lays down for a nap sometimes. That's when I get up in bed with her and snuggle, but only a little. I wait til she gets comfy, then I go to the foot of her bed and stretch out all I want.

   Hhmmm, just thinking about it is making me a bit sleepy. Talk to ya later,
Frankie

Night Time Activities by Chessie

Frankie,

   I have a question for you – since you are young and inquisitive.  Does your Mom watch you sleep?  Oh wait, of course she does, ‘cause my Mom told me she’s seen pictures on your Blog of you all curled up in a little furry ball.

   Anyway, have you ever watched your Mom when she’s asleep?  I do it sometimes in the middle of the night when I’m bored and I want my Mom to get up and play with me.  I’ll just sit on the edge of the table by the bed where she sleeps, or sometimes I even sit on her bed, in the corner – up close to her head.  I’m patient.  I watch her sleep.  I’ll sit there for quite some time, but eventually staring at her wakes her up and when she opens her eyes to see the clock – I pounce.

   I’ll snuggle against Mom’s head and purr – I’m so happy she’s awake, she laughs and says ‘Stop, I can’t breathe!’  She turns her face the other way and I run to her other side – and do it again. It’s fun!  Of course, its more serious business when she tries to sleep in her bed at first light in the morning; that’s when I’m hungry and I want my breakfast!

   I start moving around looking behind the window blinds, checking for the critters that move about in the yard in the very early morning light.  I run from window to window to see if the deer, or even the pretty fox is in my yard.  All the banging of the window blinds sometimes wakes Mom, but other times I have to go back to her bed and sit quietly and stare at her until she gets up and feeds me my breakfast.  She has to get up very early – at first light – ‘cause by then I’ve worked up an appetite from prowling around the house and sitting and watching Mom sleep in the dark.

   Try it sometime and see what you you think, Chessie

Flowers by Chessie

G’day Frankie!

   Hope you are enjoying these lovely days of late summer.  I was asleep in my comfy chair when I realized that the computer was not being used, so I thought I would write you a quick note... my Mom has been spending lots of time in the garden working with the flowers and shrubs... she cuts off some of the flowers and brings them into the house and puts them in a big, tall glass filled with water.  I like to drink lots of water, always have, so sometimes I will try to take a drink from what the flowers have been placed in.

   I usually get sidetracked though and sniff the flowers to find out why they are in water and not still in the garden.  I can usually catch a whiff of the lovely perfume smell when they are in the garden and the windows are open, but in the house – right under my nose -  it is heavenly.  So sweet smelling.

   Sometimes I try to pull out a blossom that I particularly like and nibble the petals.  That makes Mom crazy ‘cause then I get pollen all over my face... why does that matter?  Then I smell good too.  She has to wash the pollen off my face, but that’s okay, I like having my face washed with a warm, soapy terry washcloth. I don’t know why Mom brings the sweet, pretty flowers in the house for us to enjoy, if I can’t sniff them too and play with the petals.  Sometimes our Mom’s have funny ideas.

   Uh oh, I think I hear her coming to her office... later,
Chessie

Outside Vacume by Frankie

Hi Chess,

   About your odd garden monster, I have no idea what it's called but it does remind me of the vacuum, so I think it's an outside vacuum. The next door neighbor has one just like yours where he sits on top and tells it where to go. However it's red with black and is so fast I barely have time to jump from window to window to watch it.

   Mommy has one too but she has to push it along herself, I think because it's much smaller and has to plug into the house with a cord. (Oh, that's another rule, cords are NOT string - Don't Eat Cords!) I guess mommy's vacuum doesn't like being pushed around cause it makes that loud noise and sometimes doesn't eat all the grass it's saposta. Mommy and mom-mom take turns pushing it all over the front and back yards.

   All the birds and squirrels are terribly afraid of them too. They run and hide until mommy is done and fills the feeders and water bowls. Then little by little they all come back and start pecking at the ground, as if food was thrown everywhere. I like to watch through the glass doors as I press my nose down to the little crack at the bottom and sniff the grass smell. If I can just get out there someday, I'd roll around in the dirt and grass to make myself smell like outside. Then I could sneak up on the birdies and catch one. Mommy said I could try but she doesn't think I could get close enough. She says 'birdies are friends - Not food. I still think I wanna try though.

Catch ya later,
Frankie

Garden Monster by Chessie

Frankie,

   I must tell you about the very strange animal in my yard.  I have never seen anything quite like it... and I can’t imagine what kind of animal it could be.  Maybe you will know because you did spend some brief time in our yard last spring before you went to your new home.  I noticed it earlier in the summer.

   A man sits on top of it – it is quite large and it makes the most awful growling noise – very loud and fearsome!  And it is like a humongous bumble bee - all yellow and black.  The man rides on top of it and it moves very fast twirling and running and spinning all over the yard, maybe trying to toss the man off it’s back.  Then it stops for a short time, and it stops growling and the man gets off it and takes a big scoop on its back and empties it into a bag and then he gets back on and it starts to growl fearsomely again.

   Sometimes it comes very, very close to my sunny room window and I can smell the sharp tang of it’s fumes and dust with grass – I love the smell of grass!  But when the man riding the beast sees me sitting close at the window watching it roar around my yard – he laughs at my fearlessness!  I am not afraid of it, no siree,  but I am glad that I am safe behind the glass window and that I don’t have to ride that big, growling yellow monster.  Have you ever seen anything like that?

   I’m going to take a nap because it’s quiet again, later, Chessie.

My First Vet Visit by Frankie

Hey Chessie,

   I keep forgetting to write to you about my first vet visit, like I said I would. OK, here goes...

   On my first visit I weighed in at 8.3 lbs and I saw Dr E (it's what I'll call her for short). She said I seem to be healthy and not anywhere near too thin. Guess with all the food your mommy gave me it kept me full. The nurse took me in a back room so she could get a sample of blood to run the usual tests. Then came time for all the shots (rabies, distemper, etc) It wasn't so bad, just pinched a little. The doctors office was really nice, so many different kinds of new smells, and things to look at. I was a bit nervous at first, but I stayed on my best behaviour, Dr E even said so. After the poking and prodding, all the nurses wanted to see me, cause I was such a good and quite little boy, plus they thought I was such a cutie.

   On this visit, the nurse that took my blood used some of it for the Feline Leukemia test, unfortunately it wasn't taken correctly (it was her 1st time doing the test). We all make mistakes sometimes, but it came up as a false-positive. Dr E said we'd have to do it over again, and the second test was negative, Woo-hoo!

Nicknames by Frankie

Hey Chess,

   I've just been hanging around the house lately, seeing what kind of stuff I can get into. Mommy was walking around the house the other day, cleaning and such. Going from room to room with stuff, and I was kinda bored so I started to follow her. She would be standing somewhere dusting or organizing something and I'd rub up on her legs and 'talk' to her. She likes when I do that. When she finished putting the clean clothes away she stopped for a sec to pick me up. Then kissed me a bunch of times all over my head and face. I must be getting use to it since I don't think it's too horrible now. When I first came here I'd push and wiggle my way free cause I felt like they were gonna drop me.

   Oh! Before I forget... I know you said before that you don't do nicknames, but apparently here, it's anything goes. Mommy likes to call me 'her little weirdo', but mom-mom thinks it's mean of her to say that. I think if mommy is a bit odd and I'm her little weirdo that means I'm fitting in. Right? I guess that's a good thing cause I like it here and I'm not leaving anytime soon. Besides, I heard mom-mom call me 'the galloping gourmet' when I came running out of the bedroom at dinnertime. So she's one to talk... lol.