My New Name

I know what my new name is. When she calls me out by my new name, "Bella", I quickly turn around to look at her.

Or when I'm upstairs in my room and I hear her calling me, I'll come down to meet up with her.

My new name, my new life.

A New Discovery

I'm getting a little antsy again just now and climbed over on mom and her chair a couple of times. I had to see for myself what she's been doing all these hours on that thing.. It's too quiet around here.

So I finally climbed up on the table itself and walked all over the keyboard.

I had to be part of this, finally.

I Punish Myself..

The Prissy cat was eager to meet up with mom early this morning when she opened her door.

Wouldn't you know it, the little brat started hissing at me just for being there, minding my own business by my door. So then, mom closes me up in my room. I protested and scratched on the door. She finally opened it. I was so furious, I ran down and smacked that little Prissy.

Oh but - oops! Mom heard her squeal and came out.

I knew. . I knew at that moment what was about to happen. So I went ahead and punished my own self: I ran back up to my room and went under the bed at once.

Our Dining Experience..

Our dining experience was ruined tonight..

Mom tried to serve us all in the kitchen but I felt uncomfortable..

I didn't want to eat 'cause I kept looking at Bella, the new cat, who was a few feet away. Googie didn't want to eat either, mom kept pushing his plate full of wet food near him and he wouldn't touch it.

And then our 'group sports' session began: Mom started teasing Bella with the fishing rod string and so Bella started chasing it like a maniac while Googie and I watched despondently. Then the string swung over my way and I just raised my paw in an obligatory attempt to act normal..

Quality Time

Ah spent a lot of quality time with mom this afternoon. She had to come get me from downstairs 'cause Ah withdraw when Ah'm stressed, like with the new cat. So she took me up to her bed and brushed me some more, and then Pipi joined us and we all took a nap together. Even though Ah knew that Bella the new cat was laying right below us on the floor.

Ah am still not over it though... Ah have this constant unease and Ah even did a low-growl once it was time to get up and go down from the bed.

Ah have not done mah usual thangs, like claw the carpet, or spend time with mom bah the computer - which was our daily routine, or eat much of anythang.. except some dry food. Ah am just all-cawnsumed bah the fact that there is this strange cat in our home.. And Ah take defensive positions where Ah can have mah back literally covered so that Ah'm not ambushed from behind.

Ah am careful not to have any kind of cawnfrontation with this cat, as best Ah can.. She's a real dominant type and Ah don't want any part of it. Frankly? Ah don't really know what to do.. But Ah take it out on mom sometimes when she tries to placate me.. Wale, meaning.. Ah growl a little 'cause Ah can see Bella cat nearbah.

Tongue-Tied..

Once Googie got down from mom's bed, I could tell he was apprehensive of Bella.. Even though Bella had walked out of the room and was all the way by her own room. He could still see her across the way.

So he wouldn't move, he wouldn't leave to go down and get his dinner, he hunkered under the chair. So I joined him, to keep him company, right there under the chair. Even though I never go there on my own, I wanted to be protective of him.

I had his back.

Quiet Night?

We are having a quiet night here.. I am pretty much the only one who has the guts to stand up to Bella.. At least I hiss for both Googie and I. And when mom picks me up in her arms after our last hiss-fest, I get emboldened and growl some more in my power-position.


It's a 3-ring circus: Princess hisses at Bella, and Bella tends to hiss only at Googie.

And Googie.. can't hiss at all...

Helping Out

Mom came upstairs to my living quarters tonight, in her usual routine.
I followed her into the smaller room when she went in there to check on that other cat. I went in behind her to check on things, and looked up to see the cat was being rude, as usual, but not as bad as that first time when I had to put her in her place.

So, I just kept quiet and checked the situation to my satisfaction, and quietly walked out to let mom do whatever she's got to do in there. I may not like that cat but I'm long done throwing a hissy fit.

So mom comes out and starts to go down the steps. She turns and reaches her hand out to me to stroke the top of my head as I'm standing there at the top of the stairs. But I flick my head at the last moment, away from her hand.

I just don't like to be touched after she's in that room with that other cat. Any other time, yes. Just not right then, I don't like the smell of it.

Ah Can't Hees

Ah can tale you it's now official: Ah can no longer heess.

Ah tried to heess at Bella and Ah couldn't.. Ah started coughing instead.

The nerve of that cat, to dare come up behind mom, up on the chair just to see me get groomed awn the table! What an utter imposition.

Respecting the Boundaries

Mom played with me today. I love to catch that string and I will put all my might and gusto into it. I've got a take-no-prisoners approach to my play.

There came a point in time though when the string started to go closer to big Googie's way. He was sitting in an out-of-the-way spot in the kitchen. And so, I carefully held myself back every time the string entered his space, in spite of my instincts. In spite of how I love the chase.

I did the same with miss Prissy .. mom took the string and swang it over her way and I stopped every time, wanting to avoid any kind of ugly collision...

I'd never hear the end of it.

A Cat's Sense

I am not adjusting as well as could be with this new cat. I'm having a hard time accepting that I will have to put up with a much older, mature cat.. Even though she has tried to be friends with me, tipping her nose to mine..

And I have a way of sensing when the new cat, Bella, has disappeared in her upstairs quarters.

Soon after? I just come up from the ground floor. I just know.

Group Sports

I tried to partake today in mom's attempt to have us all play together.

She used our old string-on-a-fishing-rod with Bella and I watched her play furiously from afar. I began to get drawn in, and I took a few steps closer as Bella kept jumping and chasing it all around. Why, at one point Bella came dangerously close to me but I was preoccupied with the play to react.

Then mom swings the string over to my face and I gave it a few half-hearted swats. It was like.. obligatory. I couldn't really get into it, I was still too aware of Bella's presence near me.

I tried to forget my fear and loathing of this new cat and gave it a couple more fake swats just to please mom.

Early Grooming

I did have mom all to myself overnight, in spite of today's rollercoaster events with the new cat. I was so happy to be on the bed all night with her, I got antsy early in the morning and decided it was time to ..fix her hair.

So what if she was sleeping? I thought it'd be good to groom her a little bit.


[Nothing like trying to sleep through getting your hair pulled by this tiny little mouth.. It's what she does. It's what she used to do in her previous life too. ]

Gabriel's Adjustment

Ah have pretty much bean .. uhm, 'demasculated'.. Relegated to just watchin' the new cat eat out of mah bowl...

Ah can't tale you just how big a knock this has bean... Ah just nevah expected sometin' like this to happen. And when Ah was poised to fight, early awn? Mom nipped me een the bud.

So naw... Naw Ah just stay in the background.

Don't Eyeball Me Missy

You know? I got tired of being eyeballed by miss Prissy over there across the living room. So out of my blissfull snooze I come and ran over to let her know in no uncertain terms, I will NOT be eyeballed and threatened, not even from afar.

I just ran over to her and pushed her on her belly side with my one paw and now I'm just sitting there, standing my ground, watching her go into a tizzy.

She's growling, hissing, and backing off slowly.

Whatever.

An Arrangement

I have worked out an arrangement with big orange dodo, the one mom keeps calling "Gabriel".

I watched him eat in the kitchen earlier without incident. And then he watched me drink water from his water-cooler bowl - without incident.

So, whatever he seems to feel or think, I - Bella, can tell you that it's all cool. We take turns eating at the kitchen food bowls.

A Big Step for Bella and Princess

Mom woke up today and I was more than happy to follow her to her room. And then I realized the other skittish cat she calls "honey" showed up so I kept to myself in MY room. But then mom wanted me near her and picked me up and plopped me on her bed. Where this hissing-cat was laying at.

I wasn't so sure I felt comfortable with all this and I tried to tell mom with a tired, hoarse meow. You see, I'm at the tail-end of my upper respiratory infection and I've been generally a little cranky.

"It'll be okay", she reassured me.

So I got to share her precious bed space in some peace.. Even though the spoiled Prissy brat hissed at me some in the beginning. And I flopped my tail impatiently.

This Cat Definitely Speaks English

Okay, what just happened is unbelievable, even to me.

I stopped in the hallway to talk to Bella, the new cat. She had just chased Princess down the steps when Princess made her customary trek up to my bedroom for our 'good night' ritual. All I heard was a sudden, intense hissing and next thing I saw was Bella sitting halfway down the steps, looking down. Princess had fled.

So now I am about to tell Bella.

"Bella, you can't be chasing Princess down! She's a cat here too, you can't be doing that!", I said to her. She was sitting just inside 'her room', where she goes for her sanctuary - especially after she's done something bad.

As I talked to her about how she shouldn't have chased her, and that Princess always visits me in my room, she craned her neck over the doorstep and looked pointedly toward my bedroom. She thought, or wanted to know, whether Princess had somehow made it inside the inner sanctum.

I just couldn't believe it. There was no mistaking her craned neck, and her focused glare down the hall toward my room.

"NO, Bella! She's not there now... You've chased her down! "

Bella continued to sit-pretty.. Right at the door line, right on her 'boundary'.

Timing Is Everything

I have actually figured out the timing of the "medicine" mom gives me. And so, yesterday when it was right about that time, I went and hid out of sight in my room and I wouldn't come out even when she kept calling me. I just knew..

(I always came out when she called me.. but enough is enough.)

On other matters, I have refrained from charging the other two.. I was warned earlier today by mom that if I did, I'd go back to my room. And so, I took it easy.

I followed her around and got to be by her side. Only cat in the house being by her side. And then I got a little tired and retired to my room, on my favorite spot on this big bed that belongs to me.


[And.. GLOP! in goes the "medicine" in her mouth... :))) ]

Banned to My Room

I am now banned back to my room.. Mom pretty much chased me up there, yelling at me "NO! Bella! No! ". Because I charged Princess and chased her downstairs.

So this was the first time I've seen mom angry at me. I went and hid under the big bed in my room, I knew she was angry but I couldn't help myself. Something just drove me to do it.

I'm in this new place now this whole time.. And this new lady I call - and treat like- 'mom' has been really good to me.. But I'm frustrated. I've been sick, I'm in a totally different environment... And I have to deal with two other cats, I hadn't counted on.

When she got me? I thought I'd be the only one. Well, until I took a sniff of this other nini in the carrier. But she's out of sight - out of mind. These other two seem to think they own the place and it's stressing me out. It's like.. a betrayal to me by mom..

I thought I'd be the only one.

Furr-stration

This has been a lively evening for me. I ran up to my room for some peace and quiet.

I couldn't take the play anymore, mom got a little too happy around me trying to pet me and all that.

She threw over my way this weird lime-green stuffed toy and I took all my frustrations out on it.

I get all antsy as it is when she tries to touch me on my belly or my sides, and I keep telling her not to. I'm not feeling really good and I try to tell her my troubles when she comes near me and touches my head.. I'll let out a hoarse meow and even got angry a couple of times.

And then she started throwing this ball all over the place and I ran every time to go catch it, while the other two kept watching me from afar. Ah got in such a huff, I almost jumped at her.

So I thought it best to just leave the scene altogether and go directly up to my room before I charge her.


[ Could Bella be missing her owner? Could she possibly think that all this was just a temporary arrangement? And that I'm only a petsitter to her? ]

I Tried To Make Friends

I've been really patient with this younger small cat mom keeps calling Princess or "honey". I thought we were cool when we touched noses earlier. But apparently not. She hissed at me when I tried to come into mom's room.

This continued when I saw her again in the kitchen.. so I turned and walked away with my ears flapped down, I was so pissed off.

Forget it, prissy!

An Unpleasant Surprise

Gabriel ("Googie") here...

Ah can tale you that thangs are not a whole lot better. Mah whole routine, everythang Ah have bean used to and have taken for granted in this house, has changed...

Ah can't believe that mom has done this to us.. Pipi and Ah. We suddenly have to deal with this new cat, never mind the uther one hiding in the other room that we never see.

Ah tried to defend mah turf, but every time Ah've lost face with mom preventing me from charging and fighting the uther cat who keeps invading mah territory. And naw... naw Ah have bean resigned to just stay out of her way and in a safer place. This has upset me so much, Ah've had somethang stuck in my throat it feels like ... And Ah keep trying to throw up and nothing will come out.

Tonight, mom talked me into keeping company again, like old times, next to The Thang [laptop], on top of the table. So Ah let her put me back up there. And Ah relaxed, and enjoyed her stroking me.

Next thang Ah know? Somebody's up there with me, sniffing mah ass! Ah turn 'round and what do Ah SEE? It's the imposter! The invader! The 'cute cat'! Startled, Ah hissed even though Ah didn't feel mah best. And she swatted at me! Can you believe it? She tried to swat mah butt!!

Mom stood up at that point but neither of us knew WHO was really in trouble. Ah looked over at Bella, she looked confused over at me.... and we both jumped down at the same time.

Ah was so upset, Ah even screamed at mom in a way Ah had never done before when she tried to calm me down. Ah screamed like an alley cat, warning her not to touch me.

Ah got wind of Pipi getting charged by Bella a little later.. and Ah couldn't even run over to defend her.. Ah was across the room when it happened.. And normally, Ah would have.. Ah would never let Pipi (Princess) un-defended.
But Ah couldn't... Ah feel somehow out of sorts..

Horrors!

A sudden, horrible thing just happened to me..

Here I was snoozing, minding my own business and next thing I know, Bella is coming at me, charging, ready to jump me. Ohhh! Pffft! I ran as fast as I could downstairs and she came after me! Thank god mom was there...

She came down again to get me and tell me it was all 'okay' again.. I looked around for Bella but didn't see her.. Mom reassured me she was back in her room and my tail went up in the air and got myself comfortable again near her.

Furball Een The Way

Ah haven't bean doing too well tonight.

Ah've had some kind of thang stuck somewhere in mah throat and Ah've been trying to get it out.. To be honest, Ah'm not so sure what it is.. Eet just may be that Ah'm awl tongue-tied with this new cute cat in the way here.

Ah got so perturbed, Ah tried to hide when mom tried to help me. She gave me some glop to lick from her finger and Ah resisted.

The worst part was that she tried to 'spoon feed me' right in front of the new cat. Ah growled.. something Ah nevah do to mom.
Ah can't believe Ah lost face - AGAIN.

Gettin' treated like a baby in front of this new minx who wants to take over the whole house!

Falling Asleep at the Worst Time

I just don't get this new cat...

She got done with our food bowls, had her fill, turned toward my way and stretched herself leisurely like I wasn't even there.

And then, she started walking right toward me. Like there's no worry in the world.

I really didn't know WHAT to expect so I ... hissed. And began a low growl. She just simply looked at me, like.. no reaction.

I backed up a few steps as we continued looking at each other. Again, and again... It just never ended. I ended up falling asleep in front of her.. All this staring is taking a lot of energy out of me.



[BOTH cats fell asleep in their positions.. :) ]

The Stare-of-Intimidation

I spent good quality-time with mom early this evening. First of all, I had her bed all to myself all day long, right there on my regular spot. I was in-control, and the 'cute cat' was nowhere around that I could see. And then mom came in a little while ago and asked me for a massage - which I readily gave her. So... I can see, there is really no change in my bond with mom.. Just because this Bella 'cute cat' is here now..

I did come down though after I heard Bella coming out of her room. So I come down to the kitchen and stopped in my tracks, I couldn't believe it: Bella was eating out of ... OUR DISH! I was STUNNED.

I turned to look at Googie who was laying under the dining table. "Yep.. you got it".. he was resigned to it -- He had given up.

And to be honest, I do not have a death wish. I'm not about to lunge at this new cat as I can plainly see that she is a much bigger cat than me.. And I haven't yet quite gotten the upper hand here, she does not seem to respond to my Stare-of-Intimidation.

The Final Straw

You know, Ah thought it was bad enough that Ah keep losing ground with this new 'cute cat' awl along so far.

Ah didn't thank it could get any worse. But eet deed.. Eed deed.

She walked on in our food area in the kitchen tonaight for the first time. Ah was in utter deesbelief! Ah lowered mah body to the floor and stalked her, preparing to pounce if she got any closer.

But as usual, mom ruined my moment. Ah got henpecked and there it goes again! - Ah lost face !

Ah Lose Face

This evenin' thangs didn't go as well.

Ah had to face the 'cute cat' again and even though Ah initially had no problem with her every time Ah'd see her.. Well, Pipi has put certain thoughts into mah mind.

So, there she was again, as she stepped over her boundaries from her room into the hallway. And Ah'm there bah the hall railing, awl bah myself. With mom between us.

Ah hissed. She just remained motionless, staring at me right next to mom's leg.

Next thang Ah know, mom comes over to me, waving her finger in my face, taling me to 'be nice' and 'no hissing' and such.

Hay, naw!! Ah felt coralled into withdrawing which wasn't a good thang for me. Ah don't like to withdraw (well, even though Ah've done it already 2 or 3 times with this cute cat..)

But Ah was really peessed off at mom now. "Hey! It's NOT MY FAULT!", my eyes went real wide and Ah snorted, Ah was so ruffled.. Ah retreated, nonetheless, the whole while this cute cat is sitting there watching me like she ate the canary.

Bah this time Pipi comes running up the stairs and Ah meet her half-way bah the upper steps. The cute cat had the upper hand again, staring us both down.

"What happened, Googie? Are you okay?", she looked at me in my face, nose-to-nose, inspecting me carefully. Her little neck was all stretched out to meet me up close. Ah told her what had happened.

"DID she really?", Pipi turned and looked at the cute cat. It didn't matter to us right then if mom was nearbah watching. We just stood there together, facing the cute cat. Pipi stood motionless trying her best to stare her down, she was really peeessed off too naw. We coulda stood there forever just staring right below her on the steps but mom came by and we all just went downstairs.

Huh.. but the cute cat does not follow. She won't come downstairs at all Ah guess 'cause we told her we've bean here a long time naw.. and that's our territory.

I Make Like a Mound

I was "downstairs" with Googie when we felt this so very unsettling shaking.. We didn't know what was happening..
Googie literally tripped over me just trying to run near mom. He went and hid in mom's closet.

I myself have been hiding since then under the blanket in the "downstairs" 'beddie-bye' [daybed].


I make like a mound.

Pushed From My Throne

I had the 'throne' spot on mom's bed when I felt ambushed by a procession coming my way by the 'cute cat' and mom in tow.

I didn't wanna take an chances.. I just jumped off and out of view.

And then mom started crawling on the floor telling me 'it's okay' and that she won't let her hurt me. So I came out with my tail up in the air.

"Really? you mean that?", I meowed questioningly, arching my back and looking at her. Somehow, the 'cute cat' had disappeared.. I just didn't catch a glimpse of her anyway.

Running Interference of a Different Kind

This is Bella, and I have had quite a busy evening.

What with meeting the other tiny cat and letting the big orange Dodo go by on to mom's territory.

But earlier in the evening I had to run over and try to protect mom.

I heard this punk growling at her as I was leaving the room. It was the same punk I smelled back in the carrier and I just couldn't stand her from the beginning.

So now, I'm hearing her curse at mom, threatening her and everything.. It was just awful. I ran back the first time and looked at mom..

I heard her a second time so I came back running and checked again to see if mom was safe .. I looked at her face and checked with her, in her eyes to see if she was okay.

And then I put this little creep in her place. "Noooo! You're NOT gonna do that, you little F---K!! Shut the hell up right now!! ", I screamed at her on the spot. It stopped her lunatic little tirade dead in her tracks.

The deed was done and I gingerly walked out of the room satisfied that mom was safe now.


[It's good to know that Bella's going to protect me from now on .. :))) This was very much like the babysitter cats I have on the videoclips on this blog !! ]

Ah Have Pipi's Back

Hah, you awl.. Eet's Gabriel here..although the ladies keep cawling me "Googie".

Ah had to run some interference this evening for Pipi. She tried to go upstairs to join mom and she felt she couldn't because the 'cute cat' was staring her down from the second floor. And so, Ah walked awn up and showed them both how it is done.

And then Pipi and Ah just camped out outside mom's room and stared back at Bella, who stayed within the edge of her room.

Ah got Pipi's back.

Boundaries

You may have seen the first-meeting video of Bella and Gabriel ('Googie').

In my role as the caretaker and surrogate 'mom' to the cats, it is crucial that I set the boundaries between them.

Especially in their first up-close meeting. Googie has been with me since he was a kitten, and he is 3 years old now. He understands a lot, including the word "I'm sorry". (Just watch some of his videos, i.e. the one where he's about to pounce on Princess but stops when I call him "not nice".)

And so, in order to set the tone to both cats, it was very important to step in at the precise, critical moment, and let Bella know in no uncertain terms that it was not okay to attack. And so she retreated. (Bella is very smart too.)

Timing is everything with setting boundaries. You need to nip it in the bud, you have to catch the behavior at the precise moment that it is expressed.

And it worked. You will notice that it worked, to the extent that the cats: 1) did not attack each other; and, 2) did not threaten with the guttural howling. They did however, set their own boundaries.

I Encounter The Orange Cat

Well, hello there.. This is Bella.. I am new here, that much is true.

But like I said, I am NO pushover.

Today, mom opened the door to my room and told me it was okay to venture out. And venture out I did, with still some slight caution. I mean, I would rather stick close to my room, having seen these other cats around who act like they're shocked and confused at my presence.

But she kept calling me to follow her back to her room. And so I did.

Next thing I know, the huge orange cat saunters up from down the stairs. This .. dodo who kept looking at me before.
I'm like: are you KIDDING me? I have to put up with THAT? Noooo!! My tail bushed out. Growl! My ears went flat and I prepared for attack where right at that point I got yelled at by mom.

I tell you he was just a foot or so up-close to me. But apparently, I am not to attack. And to tell you the truth, he didn't flinch, he didn't threaten me.. He just kept looking at me like a nini..

So I retreated a little and went back to mom's bed, I figured that'll be a safe place to stand next to. I continued to growl at him though, I really didn't think it was appropriate for him to just ... WALK in there. Because.. I WAS in there! And he needs to respect me!!

He sat down across from me and just looked at me.. He really did seem calm.. His ears never went flat, his whole demeanor was actually quite... kind. And so I relaxed a little and stretched my paws up.

So here I thought he was cool but then he got up and tried to circle me slowly... Hey! what are you DOING DODO?? ! I growled some more to warn him. Next thing I see, he retreats out of the room ever so slowly... But oh NO! He's going to MY room! I took a few brisk steps to follow him and see how far he was gonna go but mom told him to "stop it" and to "out"! So, thankfully, he didn't invade my room.

He disappeard downstairs and I saw mom following him. I thought about going down the steps but decided that it was not my place after all. I think they were drawing their territory lines there...

Ah Meet Bella

Ah just got to meet the 'cute cat'. Mom kept cawling her "Bella".. like.. "Bella stop it!" I don't know what's her problem, her tail was awl bushed out and she kept growling at me. Ah just stood there, dumbfounded.

"STOP IT!", mom yelled at her. "I saved your life!!" She retreated toward the bed for cover while Ah watched hesitantly. What DUZZ one DO een this moment? Ah have nevah...

After a while eet really was kinda boring, and Ah yawned a couple of times as Ah sat there watching her hissy fit.

And... WHERE is Pipi in all this??

An Eager Cat..

I had another short face-off with the 'cute cat' tonight. I saw her in her room, she stood there with the door open - and mom was standing between us. I froze again.. I am trying to wrap my catmind around this and I'm looking back up at mom with my eyes real big: 'What is going ON? WHY is this cat here?!! "

Next on my repertoire tonight was when mom went up to her bed. I was more than eager to follow her just to BE with her, make sure she knew I was there, you know. So I gingerly jumped up on the bed even before she asked me for a "massage" - which is my cue to start kneading on her belly for as long as I can.

I have become a very eager-to-please cat at this point.

I am no longer sleeping during the day now that mom's around all day and the new cats are here, especially the 'cute cat'. I am tip-toing "upstairs" every time to go see if they are out and my nerves are on a hair-trigger so last time mom called out to me, I jumped as high as Googie.

Bella - The 'Cute Cat'

My name is Bella; well, that is the name my new mom has given me.

I may be still a little sick but I really enjoy my time with her. I liked her immediately, as soon as I saw her.
I followed her around in this first place where we were, purred like an engine when she touched me, watched her carefully for her directions .. you know, what she wanted from me and all.

But I'm no pushover either. I stand my ground. Like I will not put up with some ninny cat in the other carrier.
And I do not like to be stroked on my lower belly 'cause it's tender ... there's not much fur down there yet. [it's been shaven].
So, as much as I love her, I will gently let her know not to touch me there. And if she insists, I will more firmly let her know with a kick from my back legs and a bit of a nip and a meow to stop it.

Now, on other things? I can tell you that a bunch of strange men broke into my home when my owner was gone and took me. All these men were dressed the same, very strange. Next thing I knew, I was taken to a place full of cages with other cats. Some of them looked really scared... and they told me about 'the blue corner' where they put cats and hold some weird, clicking square thing popping a sudden burst of light in front of their faces. And that this was a bad sign.. that if a cat gets taken from her cage? And put in front of this clicking thing? The cat's gonna be gone soon. But I knew I'd be taken care of, I never really worried.

Now, tonight, mom corraled me to her room. So I looked out carefully to see if the other cats were around, and as soon as I ascertained that the coast was clear, I followed her. She put me on her bed and I understood that this is where she wanted me to be. I checked out my new surroundings and my eye went straight to this furry animal. I stopped in my tracks on mom's bed and stared at the thing, motionless. Do I, or don't I? Hiss, that is. I couldn't tell at first whether this was a real animal, a cat, or what.. After staring at it for several seconds, I finally figured it out - it was not real..

But you know? I actually wanted to go back to MY room.. the blue room, with the big bed that's all mine. So then, she followed ME. Followed me right back.

I have my preferences.

The 'Cute' Cat

Googie told me about her.

He told me he really couldn't stand the other one, in the smaller room. But this one? He's got no problem with. I know that he'll just stand there patiently and wait to catch a glimpse of her behind the door.

Oh my GOD! Am I losing my place here??!

He's taken me upstairs when he gets wind of mom about to go in and out of her room to tend to her. And so we both just lay around the hallway, watching.

I felt like an orphan all of a sudden! Every time mom came out of that room I looked at her with huge eyes.. Wondering, PLEADING to know what was really going on??

And this cute cat? Not only does Googie like her.. She looks much bigger than me. The first time I ever saw her my tail bushed out like a porcupine! I couldn't even ..HISS!

Pecking Order Observed

You know? I may have stepped up my game and gotten on the Power Seat lately. Like Googie.
But I know when to get off!

You see, since I've been aware of the new cute-cat behind the door in our room, I have had to step it up. I attack the scratching post more than ever before. Ah play tag 'n chase with Googie and keep his interest up in chasing me. And I have started to take over mom's Power Seat.

But when she nears the chair? I know my place - I start to get up and get OFF. She doesn't have to cajole me down like she does with Googie.

I respect the pecking order.

Pipi's Account

Ah was lounging around in my peace and quiet just naw, when Pipi ran down the stairs and came right up to me.

"Googie! She's UP there! In mom's ROOM!", she told me flabbergasted.

"Awkay, naw.. Calm down: who up there, Pipi? We've got a couple of different ones.."

"HER! that cat!! "

"Let's just go over it together: who did you see and where?"

"It was in mom's BEDROOM! and I couldn't see her! the door was closed! "

"Awkay.. well, let me go up there and see if Ah can figure it owt. You just stay right here."

And so Ah walked on up, as nonchalantly as Ah could, knowing that mom was up there. Well, Ah did see her bedroom door closed and so Ah parked it right in the middle of the hallway to see what was what.

And then, next thang Ah knew, Ah see mom coming out of the UTHER room.. And Ah do sense the cat to BE in this UTHER room.. So, thangs, AH think, were under control. Becoze this cat, has always BEAN in the UTHER room.

Ah went downstairs after mom and pretty much told Pipi she waus imagining thangs..

:))

A Stranger in the Bedroom

I had another strange run-in tonight.

I saw mom's bedroom door closed and thought it odd.

So the closer I got, the more I could sniff out the other cat. It got to the point where I got so upset, I started hissing. WHAT are you DOING in there? That's mom's bedroom!!

Next thing I know, I see mom come up from downstairs. I turned swiftly to face her, questioning her with my huge dilated eyes: Mom? What is going ON? there's the CAT in your ROOM!!

I got no response.. She just acted as if nothing had happened. I looked for my cues in her and I got nothing back!

I left the scene briskly, I couldn't take it anymore.

Horrors..

I climbed up the stairs slowly and what do I hear?! To my utter horror, mom was being threatened by that strange cat in the smaller room.. I stopped dead in my tracks while hearing her growl at mom and my eyes went real big as I kept looking at mom in shock. I was afraid for her! What are we gonna DO mom?? I lifted one paw up...

I couldn't run the other way and leave mom behind. I've just never experienced anything like this before. I mean, I've lived in the house for so long now with Googie ... and everything was going fine.. And now ... Now this.. street-cat is threatening us all!


[Mom did walk out and closed the door behind her, keeping Getty to herself. Again... ]

Keeping Vigil

I was especially vigilant this time when mom just came back from outside. I was right at the steps to greet her. Well, more like check her out closely, I was apprehensive.

Sensing it, she reached out with her hand to let me smell her fingers - which I responded to, on cue. I took extra time trying to figure out, DID she go to another cat again?

What am I to expect now? Better take another careful whiff of those fingers!

Meeting Getty..

I came face-to-face with the other cat this evening, mom called her "Getty".

She tried to introduce me to her so I'm in her lap and in we go to the other room that I sometimes go into. And there was this cat.. sitting there quietly under the desk. I just couldn't take it anymore, I hissed. And this cat, Getty, was insulted and she... simply looked the other way. She got this forced look about her, turning her neck away from us, hoping it would all go away.

So then mom and I left the scene, she put me down on the floor and as I'm going out the door Googie's right there wondering what just happened, he could see I was a bit.. unnerved. We touched noses and he looked at me closely.

"What happened in there, honey? ", he wanted to know.

"Goog, it's this other cat.. She's in there.. And she was just.. STARING at me!"

I walked away and Goog took one step toward the room, looking at mom for his cue.

"Go ahead.. You wanna meet the cat too?" So he cautiously starts to walk in, one step at a time, when mom tries to touch him - and then he freaks, hisses, and runs out of the room.

He didn't even get to SEE the cat.. he just got all spooked up by seeing my reaction.

Mom's One Rule..

One of the things I've kept in mind when I returned in life to re-join mom was the one rule about the bed.

"Not on the sheets! Only on the blanket!", she used to say. Well, that was in my past life. But it got set in my head pretty good and I didn't need to hear it over and over agian; I picked things up pretty quickly.

So when I returned, this of course I remembered. I just don't lay around on exposed sheets. It's MY rule too - and I've taught Googie about that also.










MOM'S NOTE:
You all may think this might be a little hair-splitting but I just don't like to have cat hairs up my ass!
:)

Mah Days On The Keyboard

That's pretty much how Ah spend mah days with mom. Ah join her bah the "keyboard'; and Ah take mah snoozes up there too.

You see, Ah like to know how thangs work. Ah like to trah and figure it all out.

Like, what IS this thang that's ...bright whate?

Ah Don't Think Grooming is Appropriate

Ah'm just sitting here close to mom, bah The Thang (the laptop), my usual spot on the table, when she lowers her face close to mine and whispers:

"wanna give me a kiss-kiss? "

So Ah moved on closer to her and tipped mah nose to her face ever so slightly. Ah aim for her mouth, een fact.

But then she lowered her head even more, like Pipi does when she wants me to lick her forehead. So now Ah'm looking at mom's hairline, up-close and personal.

Ah hesitated. Ah put mah nose-tip up close, near her hair.... but Ah didn't think it was appropriate for me to lick and groom her.. She doesn't have fur like Pipi....

A Moment of Petrified

The new cat, Getty, has been pretty much in a catatonic state since she got here. Well, pretty much all the way through her stay at the shelter as well, according to her 'behavior rating'. So, to play it safe and make sure it's not a physical ailment, I took her to the vet's today, along with Bella, the darling cat.

She proved near impossible to examine as she hissed, growled, and threatened and then jumped down on the floor and hid behind a chair.

But as "the doctor" came in, sat down on her stool, and began to talk to me, Getty somehow got brave enough to jump all the way up to the counter and then walk over near the doctor.

So she stayed there, in a typical stooping position on all fours, sort of looking on toward the vet. There was no growling, no hissing, no posturing. However, we did have to bring in reinforcements just so she could be examined.. We needed to check her spayed belly. There was a bit of plaintive meowing going on but that was just about it.

On the way back, Getty was quiet. I set the carrier down on the ground floor as I opened the door from the garage. I had to take Bella upstairs first, since she was the one with the virus cold. While Getty was downstairs in the carrier, she apparently came face to face with Gabriel and Princess. Both, disappeared. I mean, I had to go on a mission to find them in the house.

I found Googie underneath my bed, unwilling to come out, his eyes totally dilated and unable to look at me. He was going over in his little cat mind what he had seen, what he had experienced in his short moment with Getty. He was now just as catatonic as she has been.

He came back to join me just a little while later.

Waitin' For A Report?

Mom went up to the funny cat's room a little while ago and we could hear her coo-cooing her..

She spent quite a bit of time in there, behind closed doors.

So Googie and I parked it outside by the railing, side by side, patiently waiting for her to emerge. She finally came out the door and we both looked up at her, wide-eyed. Wondering, how did it go??

"It's gonna take some time, okay? She's... "s-i-c-k" ", she told us.

I broke my stare at her and nervously turned my face toward the wall, I really didn't know WHAT to think or how to respond to that one.


:))

I Thought I Was the Princess

Mom woke up and I heard her stirring upstairs.

"Hey, Goog? what do you think? what about those cats up there?"

"Come awn, Pipi.. let it go, honey.. Awkay, AH'LL go and see her."

So Googie went upstairs to greet mom but I stayed. Googie is a big guy and he can handle himself.


I ... stayed behind..

Watching Out

I have been a little more vigilant than usual since the new cat guests have arrived.

Yesterday, instead of sleeping all day, I was out and about and kept close to mom in the living room and just snoozed here and there.

I've changed up my sleeping spots. I wanted to be closer to her, so I picked the computer bag next to her feet to sleep on while she was on The Thang [laptop] on the dining table. I've never done that before.

And then I would wake up, look up toward the "upstairs" where the cats are and remind myself that I am not in total control anymore. I then went on top of the couch and chased a fly for a while.

I saw mom go in and out again of our room to tend to that new cat.. And I really didn't want to get any closer than the stairs. I don't really know what to think about it.. The cat seems much bigger than me ...and older. I'm a little intimidated by this, that's why my tail bushed out the first time I saw her.

No Cawncern

Ah have trahd to explain to Pipi that there is no cawncern.

That there really is nothing to worry about the 'other cats' becoze ..Well, we are still mom's main cats, and she's not acting any differently towards us.

You see, Ah deed see .. the other cats. Yeah, Ah believe there are two of them, and when Ah take a whiff of the one particular one, Ah don't really like it.

But Ah've seen the other one. A couple of times now.. And you know whaaat? Ah really don't see anythang wrong. She seems to be a perfectly stand-up cat to me.

Mom has opened the door a couple of times and she's stood right there and looked right at me. Ah thank she wants to come out. So Ah figured, Ah'll help her. Like Ah deed when Pipi was shut in there a while back. So Ah started digging and scratching with mah paws to help 'er out. And Ah could hear her scratching on the other side herself, see.

Well, a lot o' good that deed me, mom came right over and put an end to that.

"You can't see her yet, Gabriel. She's S-I-C-K. She's sick, okay? Not yet.".

Aw.. "SICK"? Ah looked over towards the door again where the new cat was behand... Huh.. "SICK". That ...doesn't sound good. Ah looked at mom. Well, something was just not right here. So Ah followed mom downstairs.

Embracing The Fear - continued

So, Googie and I realized that our carrier boxes DID have other cats inside them. But within an instant, mom whisked them upstairs, out of our sight.

Now there are closed doors to face. I just couldn't believe it. I got whiff of one, hidden in MY room! I stretched my neck to sniff a little closer. Could it BE? Could this really ...BE?

And then the door opened a little and mom came out and I.. And I caught a glimpse of the ... CAT!

My tail bushed out like Halloween. When mom saw me she then whisked ME out of the area and into her bedroom and closed the door behind her.

I was left to cool my paws a little and then I was let out. I went right up to Googie:

"Goog, what's going on? What do you think?!!!"

"Pipi, Ah thank it's really much ado about nuttin' . It's just a couple of cats and it seems as though they're visiting, is mah guess. Look, Ah saw the other one too..Ah thank it's gonna be okay. See? AH'M not upset. And you shouldn't be either".

Well suddenly, after this whole sighting and smelling, Ah had some energy to let out. Ah ran around the living room and decided to ... ATTACK the SCRUNCHY BAG! That's right! I was gonna conquer my fear once and for all! Pushing and pulling it with my paws, no matter WHAT sound it made!!


:))

Embracing The Fear

Mom finally came home. She was never gone for one whole night, we were really wondering what was going on, me and Googie.

But as she came through the door and we met her by the steps downstairs, what do we see: She's carrying our boxes again. And the one box [carrier] she's carrying has somebody in it! Thrashing about!

We both turned in unison int the opposite direction, ready to flee. But we weren't sure. DID we really see that? I mean, we can definitely SMELL it.!


[to be continued ...]

What Do You Mean??

Pipi (Princess) and Ah went over to our food bowls together for dinner. You see, mom was in the kitchen so we followed suit. That's how it happens every evening. We take our cues from her.

But then, as we were busy eating with our head buried deep into the bowl, scrunching and munching, we hear:

"I'm gonna go and get you nummy-num".

Well, hold on a minute. We both looked up at mom, Pipi and Ah. "Nummy num" is our other food, Ah believe they cawl it 'wet food'.

So Ah looked at mom, in suspense. Ah had stopped eating. And Pipi stood there too.

"Yeah, I mean.. I don't have it NOW, but I'm going to get you some.." she says.

Oh. Well, ah.. What do Ah DO then? Ah was confused. Ah didn't see no can coming out, didn't hear the 'pop' sound. She was just standing there ...TAWLKING to us about it.

Ah went back to eating; and so did Pipi.

Hold On While I Groom Myself

Mom just came home and Ah layed on the floor nearbah. Until Pipi came up.

Ah tale you, Ah had just licked her head - just minutes ago.

But Pipi is in a bad mood. She tried to pick a fight with me again. So there Ah am, layin' down and she trahs to take advantage of that. She attacks me with open arms and paws, pretty much slapping me on each fur-cheek. If you can picture that.

And you know? Ah don't take it too seriously, Ah mean Ah know... Ah know Ah'm much bigger and 'dis too will pass. Plus Ah love her.

But she keeps coming AT me, really peeved about something. Mustering awl her strength at me. So now Ah have to get up from mah lounge position just to defend mahself. So Ah stand and wait for her next move.

She crouches, tries to menace me with her squeegie voice. Aw, awkay - hold on. Ah need to lick mah side for just a moment while Ah'm standin' here.

Nope, THAT didn't work. She jumped on me again and Ah fell to the floor.. Ah'm taling you, Ah don't have fight in me right now. And Ah roll to the floor right at the edge of the step, Ah almost fell over. And Ah start to hear mom go "No fighting please! No fighting. No. No. Stop it."

Apparently, she was satisfied. She just went on and got outta the room altogether. Left me and mom alone to enjoy each other's company.


[He is losing his battles as his huge belly is tipping his balance... ]

Flopping the Tail Hard

I think mom tried to tell me tonight about "another cat" coming.

I was sitting on the bathroom's floor in my peace and quiet and she started talking to me.

"Princess? I need you to listen to me now.", she said in a serious tone.

All of a sudden I heard something about "a cat" and that I had to be "nice" to the "cat". I didn't like the tone this was taking.

I closed my eyes into slits and started flopping my tail. Hard, against the floor.

I really don't need this. I went and told Googie and we disappeared for a while even though she was down by The Thang where we usually hang out all together.

Did I Do Something Wrong??

I heard an unusual sound coming from the kitchen while I"m on the laptop. Yes, it's "mom" talking here.

It was a metal tinkling sound and so I wondered, "what is Princess getting into now? "

And so, I jumped up from the chair and turned the corner, anticipating to catch her in-the-act of some mischievous stealing .. most likely on top of the kitchen counter or something.

Instead, she had knocked on the windchimes, hanging from the door.

So she looks up and sees me. I stop in my tracks. And so does she: One paw up, in suspense, her little eyes staring at me, motionless:

"Did I do something wrong?"...

"Oh... okay..", I said, realizing no harm done anywhere.

Paw goes down and she begins to walk toward me - now that the... standoff is quickly resolved. :))

Sorting Mail and Tending to Mom

I thought it was about time I step in and see if I can try and .. uhm, sort mail?

Yep, there was a batch of papers "downstairs" by the steps and it was there for a while so I pawed through it.
So that mom would see it when she came in.

Oh but then? After she came in and spent time in the house? I noticed something was wrong..

She was on The Thang and then kept going back and forth to the kitchen. But she didn't look so good. I could tell she was upset.

So I made an exception, since it's Googie who's got that territory usually. I just jumped on the table to be close to her.

"I'm okay, honey", she tried to reassure me.

Ah Bide Mah Time

Ah was quite patient this mornin' while the ladies had their quality time bah themselves up in mom's bed.

You see, Pipi and Ah have it out almost every night and sometime in the mornings, as to who is gonna get closer to mom and when. Pipi trahs to block me every night from going up the stairs, even though mom keeps cawling for us.

So, Pipi last night tawlked me into staying away while SHE was the only one sleeping on mom's bed. And so Ah just stayed out bah the side of the hallway...

But Ah get mah own quality time with mom.

Ah get it right now, while she's awn The Thang..Lots of head-bonks and stroking here. Aww, Ah lauuve her so much, Ah can't help but walk awl over The Thang and brush up against her face.

And Pipi is nowhere to be found, see.

Never Listen to Catty Rumors

"Hey, Googie?! Watch out for mom, she's got something weird on her... I had to run away from her room while she was getting ready."

Gabriel is nowhere to be found but he emerges while mom is in the kitchen. As he tells it:

Ah approached quite carefully one paw at a time. Ah had that alarmed look in mah face.. Well, pretty much the same look Ah get if Ah get wind of the ... alarm. [alarm remote].

And so, Ah stared at mom for some kand of an explanatiawn. Standing at the kitchen entrance in suspended animatiawn, one paw stopped in front of the other..

Ah waus like.. split at that moment.

"What's the matter; Gabriel?", mom turned and said casually. "What's wrong? What is it?"

That's just eeet! Ah don't really know mahself. Ah don't even know where to look.. Awl Ah know is what Pipi told me, that somethang unusual was going awn with mom.

"Is it the flip-flops on my feet, Gabriel? "

She suddenly leefted her one big paw and ooops! Ah see this new thang on her lower paw, totally braght color and awl. OHHH! THAT'S IT! THAT's what Pipi must be tawlking about! Better run!!!

"Hey, Gabriel? Look, LOOK!", she says coming after me, flopping those ... FINS!

OH, MAH ... GOD! Oh, but wait! Whah am Ah runnin?

He hesitates, stops, starts to run again... And then decides it's all quite silly.

Never listen to catty rumours.

Princess Slaps Googie

Sometimes? I can tell you that I'm definitely NOT in the mood for Googie's shenanigans, okay?

I'm a serious cat, and I don't mess around. He likes to tug at my tail every chance he gets, and he still chases me like a child...
I don't have time for this sort of thing.

Like this instant here, below: I can't even pass him by, that boy..