Trick Or Treat? by Frankie

Chessie,

  Have you heard of something called Halloween? It's a weird night thing when those small people go around to everybody's house and beg for treats. Not only that, but they dress up in odd clothes too.

  Mom-mom likes to sit outside and give them food as they walk up to the house. I keep hearing them say "trick or treat". What is that supposed to mean, and what if mom-mom doesn't feed them? I wish just walking up to mommy got me some treats, but that's not gonna happen. Hmmm, I might just try that anyway and see what I get.

  At first it scared me, the noise and those little people running around everywhere. Mommy stood by the door and told me that it was alright. Then she would give them names like Princess, Spider-Man, and Sponge Bob. I sat in the doorway to get a good view of all the activity. And just like that, it was all over and done with.

  Well, I'm gonna see if I can get some treats out of mommy. See ya.

What's Behind That Door by Frankie

Hey Chess,

  That's a nice playpen you have there, although I'd be busy finding an escape route instead of playing. When mommy wants me to stay put, she'll stick me in mom-mom's bedroom and close the door. It's because that's my favorite napping spot, but who can nap at a time like this!

  Something is going on just on the other side of that door. So I cry and try to put my paws under it to get someone's attention. Usually mommy will say "calm down and knock it off, your fine". But if it's mom-mom, she sometimes opens the door just enough that I can squeeze through. I then run over to mommy to see what's going on.

  She's up a ladder putting something on the wall called shelves. All my dreams have come true, I can now walk up on the walls! As I proceed to jump up on the first level mommy yells and says "DOWN". Oops, she means business now. She calls mom-mom in to come get me. When she does, mom-mom calls me a tattle-tail and puts me back in her room with a toy.

  Oh well, can't blame me for trying.

  Frankie

Grounded In The Playpen by Chessie

So, Frankie,

 I’ve only got a few minutes to dash this off to you... something BIG is going on here, and while its been fun, I’m also worried big time.

 I told you my Mom has been packing boxes and moving stuff from all over the house – why I do not know.  She’s put me in my playpen several times (I really do like scooting around in it, playing on the soft floor with my toy mice) but then she opens the doors to the garage and takes all the boxes and other pieces of stuff, furniture I guess its called, out there.  I can watch her from the playpen, she says I’m safe and can’t get into mischief.

 Yesterday she emptied the big pieces of furniture that have cubbies that I’m not allowed to play in – I did once a long time ago and broke some glasses.  Mom was not pleased and said I was a bad kitty.  So we’ve had a game this time, I pretend I want to get on those shelves and dodge around her to watch what she’s doing and try to jump on the shelves, but she can’t catch me ‘cause I’m quick and I run away.  It makes me laugh, but I don’t think Mom is laughing – so she keeps me ‘safe’ in the playpen.

 I can’t figure out what’s going on, it makes me wonder, and I keep talking to her about it very vocally – but she just hugs me and says ‘It’s okay, it’ll be over soon...’  Wonder what that means? I’ll write again, as I can get to the ‘puter... gotta run now Mom’s back from the garage, Chessie

Nip Smells by Frankie

Hi Ya Chessie,

  Catnip, huh. Well I haven't really played with all my toys yet. Mommy brings them out three or four at a time, so when I get bored with them, I get some new ones and she puts the old away for later. It has something to do with what she read online about kitties like me.

  Anyway, I haven't really smelled any of my toys with it, but mommy did give me some straight from a sprinkle jar. It's kinda nice, I get a little more playful and I think it makes me have super-speed, so I can run in all the rooms in the house before mommy can catch me. She laughs and reaches out to grab me, to kiss me, but I'm just too fast for her.

  See, that's the best part, she tries to get me but I'll run past her into another room and hide. When she walks around and doesn't see me, then turns to leave, I jump out and run past her again. She yells 'cheater!' and chases me again. It's so much fun and we do it almost everyday (even without the catnip).

  Oh, I think I hear her coming, I gotta go hide. Talk to ya later.

Catnip by Chessie

Hey there, my kitty friend Frankie!

 Have you ever smelled something called catnip?  Do you like it?  Does it make you all silly and excited??  Evidently some humans, people like our Moms, think it is fun to get cats all excited with this smelly herb.  I can’t be bothered!  I can smell it in some of the toys that I have been given as presents over the years – but I only play with the toys after they have lost their scent.  If there is a fresh smell of this catnip stuff in a new toy, I will ignore it, or try to hide it, until the smell is gone.

 Why do people put herby smells in my little stuffed mice – I’d play with them, and be much happier if they smelled like real little rodents.  After all, I am a mighty huntress - yes I am!

Farting by Chessie

Hey Frankie!

 How are you doing?  I thought your story about running around the room and playing tag-on-the-hand with your Mom was fun.  I sometimes run around the house too, especially when I’m playing with my toy mice and flipping them in the air.  But then I also run around the house... when I ‘um... make a noise.  Well, I am a lady and I just don’t do unladylike things, usually.

 I’ll tell you how it happened, a few weeks ago I got really bored with the canned food my Mom has been feeding me, like forever.  The flavors are boring and not too many varieties of them and I just wanted something different, unusual, a tasty new treat.  Well, Mom finally got so frustrated with me wasting food. She kept reminding me that there are many starving kitties in the world, and she was going to feed the food I refused to eat to kitties in the yard!  Like that was going to impress me:  you have gone to your happy new home, and thankfully no other lost kitties have shown up in our patio garden since.

 Anyway, after almost a week of me being a picky eater – just nibbling around the edges and barely eating a bite of the canned food – Mom gave in.  Yes!!  I usually win in the test-of-wills game.  She had some food stashed in the pantry for emergencies when hungry strays, like you, appear and she opened a can and offered it to me out of desperation.  It smelled delish!  Tasted good too – some kind of shrimp with tuna and cod she told to me.  Yummy!  I gobbled it up and ‘Me-owed’ for more.

 So Mom relented, at least for now, I’m eating the new flavors, and enjoying the different tastes... but, there is a difficulty I’ve noticed and so has Mom.  These funny little noises come out of my butt.  It is a surprise when it happens - it feels a little like a little bubble popped outta me.  I do it mostly when I’m sleeping.  Sometimes I also do it when I’m playing with my toys and it causes me to jump and run around cause I don’t expect it to happen.  It is very strange, it doesn’t hurt and it doesn’t smell – but it happens unexpectedly. Oh my!

 Well, speaking of food, I think I’ll go check out the kitchen and see what’s to eat.
 Chessie

Yummy People Food by Frankie

Hey Chessie,

 I started to talk about this a few days ago to you but since we're on the subject again, I have a couple of new things to say. I've tasted quite a few people food stuff. Before I would just stick to my cat food, nothing else was better. Mom-mom offered me some of her lunch meat and that was it. Now whenever she or mommy goes into the kitchen I follow, and very loudly demand that they show me everything they get out. It's to make sure if I wanna try something I get first dibs.  

 Mmmm, butter! Yeah butter is really good, I've tried it warm and melty as well as cold, it doesn't matter to me - they're both yummy. Now speaking of cheese, grilled cheese that is. Mom-mom loves the american cheese that comes packaged in it's own little plastic sleeve. However mommy likes the 'real' stuff that's from a place called a deli. Don't know what that is but it sounds like food heaven. I've found I like a few different cheeses from the ones mommy gets as a special yummy treat.

 Anyway, I was in the bedroom taking a nap, when I heard the plastic crinkle. So I jumped out of bed, came racing out to the kitchen, and jumped up on my stool by the butcher block. I did it so fast I almost fell off the other side of the seat, then I turned and let out the loudest meow of my life. Mom-mom was so startled she dropped the slice of cheese on the floor, so I figured it was mine now. She and mommy got a good laugh out of it as she cut it up for me, but somehow I know that's not going to happen again.

Toaster Treats by Chessie

Hey, Frankie –

 Remember the other week, when I was telling you about my special treat – a lick of melted butter in the morning… well, I forgot to tell you how I know about that yummy taste.  My Mom puts her breakfast food in a small white box on the kitchen counter and pushes down a lever thingy and then waits for it to get hot and toasty brown, and then wow - it pops up!  Then she rubs cold butter on it – toast she calls it – with ‘my’ knife, and then it melts into all the little nooks.  Some of it stays on the knife – and that’s my treat.

 But sometimes my Mom plays a trick on me and she’ll use the small white box during the day, but when the toast pops up – she puts cheese on it.  It melts too, but I can’t have any of that – ‘cause, she says it’s wouldn’t be good for my girlish figure.  I don’t know what a girlish figure is – do you?  I don’t think I have one… but I’ll keep looking for it, ‘cause that melted cheese smells de-vine!  I’d like to try it sometime.

 Just between you and me Frankie, I’ve checked out that small white box on the counter at night, when it’s dark in the kitchen, and Mom’s asleep.  I can’t figure out how it makes food hot and toasty brown… but I’ll still come a runnin’ whenever I hear it go ‘pop’ – ‘cause I might just get a lick of melted butter, or even better – melted cheese.

Chessie

Yelling About Birdseed by Frankie

Hey Ya Chessie,

 Ouch, I know what you mean. There's been a couple of times where I've jumped and missed my mark by an inch. Unfortunately mommy saw and insists on 'checking me over' to make sure I'm alright. She likes to fuss over me so much, she rubs and touches my legs and sides, then kisses me on my head and sends me off to play again.

 Anyway, about the sun, I have noticed it changing a bit. Even when I lay out by the back door it doesn't feel the same. Sure I get all toasty warm but it goes behind the tree tops so I don't get as much sun. However... all the bird and squirrel activity has gotten good. Mommy has two feeders out full of seed and all the little birds are scarfing down as fast and as much as they can. There's even a squirrel that hangs upside-down on one of them. Mommy gets mad and yells at him/her and knocks on the window or door to get them to jump down. At first I thought she was mad at me, but she pet me and said "It's OK, you're a good boy, but that squirrely is being bad".

 Uh-oh, speaking of bad squirrels, I hear mommy yelling again.
 I better go see what's going on. Talk to ya later.

Fall by Chessie

Yo’ Frankie,

 Have you noticed how lovely, cool and pretty these days are – Mom calls it ‘fall’ – a word I don’t like, ‘cause I’ve fallen a couple of times recently from high places in the house, and it hurts!  I do like to climb to the tippy top!

 Anyway, this temperature stuff is de-light-ful.  The house is open to the breezes and it’s sunny, warm in the sun, and coolish in the shade – purrfect!

 I have a problem tho’ and wondered if you had noticed where you live.  The bright sun moves around the house differently now, and I have to keep moving as well, if I want to nap in the warmth of the sun.  I also think the days are getting shorter, ‘cause now when it’s time to get up in the morning for my breakfast, it’s still dark, not like before… and when Mom fixes my supper the sun is going away and it gets dark and she has to turn all the lights on so she can see.  I, of course, can see ‘cause I’m a cat and we have special night vision.

 Anyway, all this chasing the warm sun’s rays around the house tires me out.
 Happy nappy time, Chessie

The Bengal Bruiser by Chessie

Hey Frankie!

 Read your blog note today about visiting the Vet again – see, now you know what I mean about these big ol’ dogs snuffling along our carriers!  You are correct – it is very rude!  Have to give some thought to retaliation – a hiss of a warning, followed perhaps with a well placed claw across the nose of the intruder!  We should think about that –  ‘cause I don’t want a bloody nose dripping all over my carrier, my Mom wouldn’t like that either!

 So are you officially going to have to change your name from ‘Frankie’ to ‘The Bengal Bruiser’?  Wow!  A fifteen pounder huh?  I’ll make sure to stay on your good side – otherwise you could probably take all seven pounds of me down pretty quick. You wouldn’t do that to a lady, though, would you?  I never would have guessed when I spied you in our garden, skinny little fur ball that you were then, that you would grow into such a big, handsome kitty.  Must be the food, but I would expect it’s also the love and good care your Mom is giving you too!   And as I’ve told you before, I am an eat-to-live kitty – just a picky eater my Mom sez.

 You know Frankie, I wouldn’t say this to most folks, but I really like sharing our catty, ‘er kitty thoughts and opinions and adventures... maybe it might have been interesting to have had you hang around my house a while longer.... but then, you wouldn’t have found your wonderful forever family, and you and I wouldn’t have been able to share our observations and experiences so everybody else would know what we’re thinking and talking about. Pretty cool, I think.

 Later, its supper time and Mom is rustling around the kitchen – gotta go!  Chessie

Oh My, Boxes! by Chessie

 Uh oh, Frankie, you’ve got boxes being packed too?  Wonder what’s up with that??

 My Mom spent the whole of the last weekend moving things around the house, and boxes, all sorts of boxes have appeared.  She’s making me very worried, and she laughed at me and said that “It’s okay… Chessie, it’ll be okay very soon!”  The last time she told me that – we moved!!!

 Before we moved to Delaware, we lived in Florida and one day some people came and when they left – Mom started packing many boxes.  The next thing I knew, we were driving forever in the car, and now we live in this house.  I hope we are not moving again… I like it here.  Lots of windows!

 But at least while Mom is doing all this packing I can play in the boxes.  When she sees me dive into a nice, roomy box sometimes she gently closes the lid and I can sleep in there for a long time.  She always cracks the lid a mite bit so I can push out by myself, when I’m ready.  Mom laughs at me when I go to sleep in a box ‘cause I guess I snore – so what!  Speaking of sleeping, I need to take a nap.

 Catch up later, Chessie

Stuff In Boxes by Frankie

Hey Chessie,

 Mommy has been going around putting all different kinds of stuff in boxes here and there. I'm not sure what's going on but I like it. Some cats really don't like change, but I look at it as a new adventure. I already have a 'moving box' that mommy gave me that has all my toys and junk in it, of course I like to play in it myself too.

 She puts stuff in the box then writes on the outside, I guess where the things go to again. I tried to read it but looks kinda like gibberish to me, Etsy & eBay, but there was one I know the word - Donate. Mommy and mom-mom like to put lots of stuff in that one apparently. When they fill it, they put it outside in the morning and I see someone pull up in a big truck and take the box. I'm usually in the front door looking out the glass and see everything. When I see the truck stop and someone come up to the house I run out of the doorway and jump into the front bow window. It's not cause I'm scared or anything, I just don't want to be taken with the stuff.

 Anyway, back to the other boxes. Even with all mommy's boxes of stuff from the house she gets new boxes from other places. First it was for my window perch, then for toys and a new BIG litter-box, now it's for the house. I can't make out any of the writing on that one. I think it's called 'icky' or something. Maybe you have heard of it, it's spelled I-K-E-A. When she gets a box from that place she opens it and all sorts of things spill out. I was even able to grab a small baggie out of it unnoticed. Although mommy caught me walking away while she was reading some papers from the box. I wonder what all this stuff is for.

 I'm gonna go back in the box to see if mommy forgot anything else in there.
 Talk to ya later. Frankie

My Manicure by Chessie

G’day Frankie!

 I have something more to add on the subject of grooming we've been talking about... I just got back from visiting the lady who trims my nails – I pretend not to like this ritual, but it does feel so much better when my nails get cut and no longer catch on the carpet or the upholstery on my comfy chair.  Chewing them off isn’t very easy, and it still leaves sharp, ragged edges.

 It has been a test of wills between Mom and me over the years – she is afraid of clipping too close to the nail bed, and that’s what I am afraid of  too – ouch!  Mom holds me close, but I squirm and wiggle and it just doesn’t go well... we’re both always a little nervous so, instead she takes me to the trimmer.

 It only takes a very few minutes and its done!  The lady is not afraid of me, she tells me I’m beautiful – of course I am – and while another lady stays close and keeps me distracted with a feather toy thingy – it’s done.  It takes longer for her to tie a silly animal print kerchief around my neck than to trim my nails!  Silly, but I do look pretty, and my nails do look and feel so much better.

Chessie

Personal Grooming by Frankie

Hiya Chessie,

 My favorite isn't to be brushed but to be scratched. Mommy has a nice brush for me (it was an extra of mom-mom's, but she wasn't using it). I more prefer someone to use their hands and nails to scratch, then to rub me back and forth down my back. If I really like how they are doing it, I will roll over to my side and let them continue. I'll stretch out with my front and back legs then arch my back to get a better position. Mommy laughs and rubs me more and reaches up to my head and ears to massage then scratch me there. Hummm... I really love that.

 I purr just about the whole time cause it feels sooo good. I do drool sometimes, just when I get scratched on my neck and chin. When that happens mommy laughs again and rubs it back into my fur. I can pretty much request being scratched anytime I want. Little by little I'm learning these things. Since I was out on my own (running wild on the streets) it's been a bit hard to believe that someone would want to take care of me and not hurt me. Sometimes it gets to much when mommy snuggles me, I freak out and scratch her then run, cause I think she'll hurt me. She doesn't get mad though, she says "I'm not happy with that", but she lets me come slowly back and rub up on her leg to say 'I'm sorry'.

 Speaking of claws, I'm not at all happy about how mine get trimmed. Mommy will hold me like a baby, on my back, while she uses her hands to hold my paws. Then mom-mom will snip them with nail clippers or small super-sharp scissors. It only takes a couple of minutes but I don't care for all the drama. What's wrong with my nails? They grow long and pointy and make nice scratching noises when I sharpen them on the back of the couch. Of course that's when mommy yells "stop that!" or "NO!".

 Oh well, I'll try to understand all these rules some other day. It's time for a nice nap after all that drama. Talk to ya later.

Brushing Time by Chessie

Hi Frankie,

 Do you like having your coat brushed?  I love it!  My Mom has a special wooden box near my comfy chair.  I know that in the special box are my comb and brush.  Almost every morning when she’s finished with her coffee, she’ll look at me and ask “Do you want to get brushed?”  I recognize that word ‘brush’ and I know where she keeps my comb and brush, in that wooden box - so I jump up on the thing she calls an ottoman – funny word – and I start to dance around in anticipation.

 It feels so good when Mom brushes me.  I purr and drool and rub against her hand trying to hurry her along – I LOVE to be brushed!  I’ll even help her by climbing up and trying to use my nose to open the box to make her move faster.  Ah… it feels so good to be brushed!!

 My Mom has realized though that sometimes she says the word brush and I come running ‘cause I think she’s going to brush me – but she’s not!  She laughs when that happens!  Hrummph!  She did this to me the other day – she was working with some funny looking thing, rubbing it on the wall in the hall, and said, ‘This brush isn’t spreading the paint evenly.’

 I was asleep in a chair near where she was working with something that was wet and smelly – paint I think she called it… but when I heard her say my favorite word, brush, I went running into my sunny room and jumped up on the ottoman, but Mom stayed in the hall muttering to herself… until she heard me repeatedly calling to her:  “Me-om!”  She came to investigate and I was trying to open the special box with my nose.

 My Mom really loves me – she finally stopped making that happy, laughing noise and sat right down and brushed me. Ahhhhh…. It was heavenly!