Mah Dilemma

Hah, y'awl, Gabriel here. You know? Mah loyalty may lie all the way in Pipi's corner (Princess) when it comes to the new cat, Bella. And Ah certainly will not stand for her bullying her too much, Ah will step in and well.. check to make sure Pipi is okay, anywah. Ah guess what Ah'm sayin' is, Ah will not stand for being ambushed mahself when Ah least expect it.

Howevah, Ah have bean observing Bella in the keetchen. Just today, Ah hung out bah the water cooler bowl and with one eye trained on her from afar, Ah have begun to notice that she duzz have quite a bit of pull with mom.

Next thang Ah saw, mom took out this much bigger can of 'nummy num' we'd never seen bafawre. And Bella seemed to have asked her and made her do this. She seemed to know what this particular can was and she started singing a song and crying and begging awl at the same time.

So Ah decided Ah was gonna go along with the program here in the keetchen, and let Bella do the tawlking. Then all three of us form a group together waiting for mom to come up with this new 'nummy num' [tuna]. It's like, we are a solid team at that particular point.

Who IS this Getty?

Getty called out to mom again tonight. She came a little ways down the steps, looked at mom through the railing, and tried to tell her something with her soft meow. So mom tried to talk back to her..

I perked up my ears and walked up the steps, along with mom. My neck was all stretched out in this new cat's direction... I am really intrigued by this other new cat, I must tell you.

Getty continued to look right at her and ask for something. So mom tried to meet her upstairs ..Getty went under the bed again.. I think she's complaining to mom about Bella.. and how she probably can't even eat her food with Bella around. So mom closed her room's door so she can eat in peace, cause we had just heard another fight up there with Bella and her.

What In the Hale?!!

Ah had a very weird experience tonight. First of awl, Bella the Bully pounced awn me while Ah wasn't even mindful of her. She got me while Ah had mah back to her. That pretty much set me off and Ah pounced back in a reflex action - and then some.

Ah had that cat in total submission, Ah tale you. And Ah was going for more. Ah chased her again and drove her almost down the stairs.

But then? Awl of a sudden? Ah felt some kand of .. uhm.. poking on mah belly. What tha.. ? WHERE is it coming from?

WHAT IN THE HALE?

Ah got poked outta nowhere like that 2 or 3 more times. Bella somehow knew to run away while Ah'm standing there getting poked by thin air.

This completely stopped mah momentum, forgetting awl about Bella and ending up running downstairs mahself!


[ Gabriel got squirted on with the water bottle from afar.. He couldn't tell I was doing it.. ]

:))

Trying to Regain My Dignity

I'm back down in the living room now, fresh from being humiliated into submission by this shadowy slip of a cat named "Getty". Who never comes down to be part of our every day life even.

So now I had to regain some of my dignity back. I chased and tried to pounce on miss Priss [Princess] but she was too quick for me, she climbed on top of the chair. Add more humiliation to that, she tried to hit back from on top of the chair. That... hadn't really happened before either.

I realized I was losing my footing, fast. I just couldn't believe it. So I turned the other way and pounced on Googie while he had his back on me.

Aw, dang! though.. He didn't like that. He came after me all pissed off this time and now I ended up on a real defensive stance, forget submissive. This was defensive all the way, crouching and hissing my way out of it. And he appeared not to want to let it go!

.... What would I do without mom around? .. I'm just NOT having a good night - at all! ...Tried to come back up the steps through the railing to avoid big orange mountain and almost got my head stuck between the wood bars.

Getty's Rampage

I saw little "Getty" tonight, that's what mom keeps calling her when I'm by her side and I always look under the bed for her when I hear "Getty".

So she just tried to come down the steps and she saw me and Googie further down, lounging quietly. I looked up at her and we had an understanding: I reminded her that this is not her territory down here. So after some hesitation, she turned on her paw and went back upstairs.

Next thing we heard, she started running back and forth and acting up. Like the delinquent teenager that she is. We even heard her hiss by herself while she's on a rampage up there. Is this cat psycho? And then? I went up there to see what she was doing 'cause I heard her make a big fuss and I didn't want her to make a mess! I've been put in charge of her by mom, you know. That's my duty - and I guard her and her room every chance I get.

So I went up there and that little turd actually gave me lip back! ..I had to step back cause the turd got over-aggressive to tell you the truth.

Thank god mom saved the moment.. Although.. I WAS humiliated a bit, being found stooping and staring at this little turd of a cat..

The "D" Word..

I am extremely mad. Mom gave us dinner earlier tonight but it wasn't enough. So I buttered her up again when she went into the kitchen; you know, the usual brushing against the legs, the begging, wide-eyed stare into the eyes, a painful meow.. So she gave me more. But I had to share it with Princess. And I finished mine first so I started to threaten miss Priss to back off - HER plate was still half full. That's when mom ruined my moment. I heard something about "diet" - heard THAT before. I was SO pissed off, I started growling ominously as she coralled me out of the kitchen. I swear I was really close to attacking her outright, I was SO mad! Take me away from my dinner!!

Next thing I knew, mom throws at me Wooly Zingy.. that pathetic toy being... And I was more than happy to attack him repeatedly with all my rage. I tell you, I coulda killed somebody.. being kept away from food that I can still see on that plate!!

Taking the Matter Seriously

Hah, y'awl, Gabriel here. You know, Ah waus busy snacking in the kitchen when Ah heard another commotion. There was some intense hissing and some banging noise under the coffee table.

Ah knew Bella was nearbah me right bafawre this. And Ah kinda figured, she's the one who ran and chased Pipi [Princess Cat].

So Ah abandoned mah eatin' and came out of the kitchen slowly. Ah threw the dagger look directly at Bella, seeing how she had cornered Pipi again behand the coffee table. Ah was not amuzed this time. It stopped her in her tracks, literally. She took one look at me and did not dare move, Ah tell you. Her tail was bushed out and she just kept looking at me with that guilty-as-hale look.

Ah stood there, across the room and cawntinued to stare at her - we were both motionless even that far apart. It didn't matter, I made my presence known.

"Ah thought we had tawlked about this, Bella. Now, thangs have gone out of control here and Ah am NAWT happy. Ah have warned you about this." Ah walked slowly but deliberately, poised for a showdown.

Bella scooted quickly under the dining room table for cover. At that, Pipi got bolder and gingerly walked over to me, a spring in her footstep. We met halfway.

"Are you okay, honey?", Ah looked down on her little face and checked on her, nose-tipping her gently.


[Gabriel IS the strong-and-silent type. He may appear like he is submissive but he is really biding his time, trying to be a peacemaker. If he is pushed too much or too far, he WILL show his other side. And I'm afraid one of these days? He's really gonna pounce on Bella and it's gonna be a total showdown. ]

How Does She Do It?

Something amazing happened this morning when I walked in Bella's room. Getty had been camping out in there and I called out her name:

"Gettyyy"..

At that exact moment, Bella lowered her neck and looked under the bed.

She knows the cat's name.. And she won't let her out of the room, is our current problem right now..

She has been taking her guarding duties way too seriously.

I Know When I'm Still the Top Cat

Mom asked me to follow her upstairs tonight. She said: "Wanna come upstairs? Come on!" And I did, on-cue.

I don't miss my cues. I've been right on mom's every word ever since I met her. And so, I waited for her to start up the stairs, respecting her pack lead status, and then followed behind her.

I then followed her to her room and got on her bed. I was purring really loud. My tail was way up in the air and proud - I knew I was being treated to top-cat status, being asked to accompany her "upstairs".


[That happened before she fled her own room after being surprised by Getty who was hiding under the bed.. ! ]

Commotion in the Cat Ranks

As mom was sitting peacefully downstairs by the thang [laptop], we suddenly heard this huge commotion upstairs. Googie and I looked towards the ceiling, knowing that Bella and that other strange cat were up there. We just looked up, really.. wondering what now.

So then we saw mom go up there. Bella was all ruflled up, apparently, and was now outside of her own room. Incredibly, GETTY, the strange cat, was trying to help herself at her bowls. BELLA's bowls.. And Bella was ousted, somehow, by the hallway.

What an incredible sight that was..

I was so mesmerized by the commotion, I waited and went back up there so see if everyone was okay, taking one step at a time with my neck stretched forward. Good thing the strange cat's room door was closed.

[Seriously? This Getty thing seems to be getting more and more surprising -- and worse. If GETTY, after all this fear-hysteria, is gonna be kicking BELLA out of her own room like that.. something is VERY wrong..! MOL! ]

What is MY Carrier Doing There?

I keep discovering more strange things in the house. I went up the stairs the other day and saw the door open to the small room; it had been closed for a while now and we never got to see who was really there.. Googie and I would just catch a whiff of a strange cat and it didn't smell good.

So now, the door was all the way open and as I came up the last step, I stretched my neck in that direction and began to walk slowly toward the room.

As I walked in, I looked carefully around me.. I was like in a trance. And then I caught sight of this small cat, staring right at me from the a dark space.. She was inside this square little space of a catbed. And she didn't say or do nothing, she just looked at me. It was such an awkward moment, I couldn't help but let out a slight hiss.

And then, I turned to my right and what do I see? Why... it was my carrier! My very same one, the one I had been put in by mom several times to "go to the doctor"!.. WHAT is it DOING in here? I went straight to it, its door was open. I smelled it very carefully and walked all the way in it to further investigate.

Very strange..

Tough Love Momma

I had babysitting duty tonight.

Instead of hanging out downstairs with the rest of my family, like mom, Googie, and Miss Priss (Princess), I took it upon myself to guard little Getty in her upstairs room. I was up there for hours, guarding her. And when she tried to get away? I pounced and chased her back.

Guess I made more of a big deal.. 'cause it brought mom upstairs to check and see what happened. So then I watched Getty lose it again when mom came to check on her; she wails like somebody's going to kill her. I stood there dumbfounded and wondered what is wrong with this cat.

As soon as mom closed the door to Getty's room, I knew my duty was over. On-cue, I got up.

My tail went up in the air and I followed mom back downstairs, proud. I did my job and was now I was free to join the others.

[She takes this seriously.. She's a 'tough-love' momma cat. ]


:))

Tangling With the Wrong Cat

Ah had dealings with Bella-the-Bully again tonight...

At tale you whaaat: She is reaaallly beginning to push mah button here. She charged me again and Ah can plainly see she's a restless cat who's looking for trouble.

Ah had to put mah foot down. She tried to charge me again and Ah snorted loudly at her as a dire warning.

She always backs off but Ah could tale she was quite restless tonight so Ah had to take matters into mah own paws: Ah chased her half way up the steps.. and if it weren't for the fact that mah one paw's claw got stuck on the step? Ah coulda done some real damage.. But Ah got stuuuck, you see.. And that pretty much ruined mah momentum ...and she sat there, one step above me, staring at me in disbelief..


[He got literally STUCK with one paw up on the higher step above him, unable to move... Can you picture this? :)) ]

Bella's Babysitting Conscience

I'm the Bella, the new cat. And I take my role here very seriously. I got assigned to look after the delinquent kitty, Getty. And so, I park myself faithfully outside her door when mom leave it half open, and make sure she doesn't get out.

Yes sir, I take my job seriously. Just now, she tried and I chided her, pfftt! I gotta keep her in there is what I'm understanding. Go back you little rascal!!

Ah Hate Eenterference

Hah, y'awl.. Gabriel here, the orange cat (Princess' lifemate). You know? I tried to get some quality time with mom this morning when she was still in bed. I made it all the way on her belly, sitting there in mah favorite spot and nose-tipping her in the face. Ah love to do that, it's the closest Ah can get.

And to tale you the truth? Ah was hesitating to get on her like that 'cause Ah'm quite aware that Ah'm big and could hurt her. So she plopped me on there herself.

But wouldn't you know it, the 'phone' thingy made its noise and she turned AWL her attention to THAT. And Ah could hear this uther human talking on and on .. Ah could hear her Ah tale you, and Ah DID NAWT LIKE it..

Mah ears went flat down and Ah began to look quite peequed.. Ah finally jumped off and gave up.

Requesting Permission?

I'm so out of my element lately with this new cat Bella.

I mean, here I've got mom trying to play with me, and she swings the string over in my face, and I eagerly jump on it with all my gusto for once. I'm all excited and grab it with both paws in mid-air.

And then when I land back down on the floor? I realized BELLA was perched up on top of a step, looking over at me.

I stopped my play, I hesitated; I was like curving and raising my back, about to bat it one more time when I thought: 'Huh..I better be careful here.. SHE's looking at me and.. "

So I looked at her carefully, stopping the show altogether. I eyeballed her once again, waited to see what she would do. I realized that I had lost my guard during play while she was right there - knowing she could ambush me at any moment while my attention was elsewhere.


(Well, I eventually got chased across the room and had to hiss her off - but that's another story.)

Can I Have Some of Yours?

Hi, there. Princess here, THE original cat? The one who reincarnated? (I tell you what: if I knew I'd have to put up with this new cat here I'd have thought twice about it.. )

So our dinner tonight could've turned a little dicey - but it didn't. Mom served Bella first and I didn't see a bowl for us yet so I just sauntered over to Bella's bowl, like 'hey, can I have some of yours?'.

She actually didn't do anything, she just kept eating and just looked up at me. We got ours too..

But I'm not too shy about going up to Bella - no matter how many times she's chased me; no matter how many times I hiss and run.

Bella's Babysitting Duty

I had babysitting duty tonight. I followed mom into Getty's room, that disturbed cat who won't get out of there. Well, mom asked me to 'talk to her' and see if I can help. So, I did. I sat there in front of Getty for a while, and even guarded the entrance to her room when the door was open. I did my duty.

And then I came down but when I went back up to my quarters, what do I see! Little Getty was out and about exploring the new space. Hiss! Pffffft!! And oh no! She got away in the wrong direction.

So mom comes up and asks me "Where did she go?".. I pointed with my nose-tip in the direction of - you got it: mom's room. So now I had to help get her out of there and I did my job well. I got Getty to go back to her room.

"Good job, Bella! You're a GOOD CAT" is what I heard mom say. I was irritated though, this Getty cat is a lot of trouble, she is totally out of control and I see it ..and my whole furrface took a panicked look while mom was trying to get her out from under her bed. I mean, I've got my paws full with miss Priss the rest of the time, and now I've got to chase this delinquent nini too.

[ Irritated meant that she really didn't want to get petted after this too much.. She shook her head away from my hand and walked or rather, led me, to her food bowl. I guess THAT was the reward she wanted more. :)) ]

Letting Loose

I let loose tonight in my room when nobody could see me.

The lady had come in again not long before to check on me and fill my food and water bowls and stuff. And then, after she closed the door? I went on a rampage.

And now, this other big cat I keep seeing come in once in a while started sticking her paw under the door and hissing at me, warning me to simmer down.. hah!

[Bella was down in the living room with the rest of us when she got distracted by Getty's playing upstairs and started focusing in on the whole thing. Like a mama cat, she went up the stairs ready to chide.. MOL! ]

Taking a Lesson

I decided to try something new with Getty today. I took the play with Bella into Getty's room so that Getty could see how a ..'normal' cat plays.

So I held the fishing pole style string toy, bobbing it up and down in front of Bella's face, as she reached and batted it in front of Getty. All the while, Getty sitting in her safe little cubbyhole - watching, watching quite carefully.

Once in a while I would then swing the string toy over to Getty. She blinked her eyes several times.. It was the only time so far, she has actually blinked. All this time, she has had that fixed ready-for-attack stare.

Check out frame 1:32 - 1:43 where Getty is watching Bella... quite telling, I think. ("If I could only....", is what I read from her little furface expression.)

Ah Get It Naw...

Miss Bella has cawntinued to act silly and foolish. She'll rush over to me, charging like an out-of-control cat in heat, no less in middle age..Mah, mah, mah - oh MY!

But Ah don't pay her no mand. Ah just got charged and she like.. stops at the last possible moment, expecting me to fleench like a fool. But Ah won't. And Ah don't.

Ah just sat there and stared at her like the sphinx.

Ah got her number naw.. It's awwlright naw.. (in fact it's a gas! )

:)))

Earning My Place

I have now earned my right to take up space on mom's bed.

In fact? I was the only one lounging in leisure all afternoon and evening, while the other two were snoozing downstairs. Princess has not managed to keep me away with her catty, demoralizing looks every time I come in and see her perched over there. I had to carve out my space earlier today when mom was sleeping, unfortunately... well, there were a couple of skirmishes between us which woke her up..

But we worked it out. Really.

A Possessive Cat

I tried to ambush Googie cause he was trying to get past me and go in the kitchen. Well, I own the passage to that, I rule the territory.

So mom came over and did the tap-tap on my forehead with her finger trying to tell me I'm not supposed to do that. My punishment wasn't bad enough to keep me away - I quickly followed her into the kitchen and brushed up against her, I know she loves me. My whole point here is to be the one - and only one - by her side.

And then I sensed Googie again trying to get in; let me tell you: I can tell when one of them shifts and moves near me even if I can't see them.

This was my perfect opportunity to ambush his orange fluff butt round the corner when he couldn't even see me coming, hah!! I surprised him allright - he hissed and spit all over the place.

This time? mom was a little more perturbed, it's true. It's not like I don't expect it, I do. I know from past experience she's gonna either send me back to my room or whatever.. That's the price I have to pay to keep the others away.

Standing Up To Bella

Ah stood up to Bella 'dis morning.

She tried to share mah breakfast bowl; and that was neither here nor there to tale you the truth. Ah mean, Ah'm not the kind of cat that's gonna pounce like a thug just because somebody else is hanging around mah food.

But then Ah began to walk away and she's blocking the path out of the keetchen. She's always sitting there were Pipi and Ah need to come and go from. So this time? Instead of trying to quietly bypass her bah rubbing mahself against the wall, Ah hissed in no uncertain terms.

Ah stood there, square in front of her and faced her dead-on. She went into a submissive position, scootin' and lowering herself to the floor and cowering, her ears looking pasted flat on her head.

Yaw see, Ah'm the strong-and-silent type. And one of these days? Eef she keeps pushing it? Ah'm gonna put mah paw down for real. And it ain't gonna be a pretty picture.


[ MOM'S NOTE: I really need to clip his claws before that happens.. Cause it's gonna happen, I know it.. He's gonna have enough of her antics and he's gonna lose it. ]

Mah Birthday

Yes, it was supposed to be mah birthday. Googie here, and by the wah, Ah am an entire three years old naw.

However, Ah had to deal with Bella. Again.

And so, mom finally deescovered later awn in the day that Ah have a red boo-boo scratch right above mah one eye.

You know? Ah go about mah day minding mah own beesness.. Ah don't bother anybody. And naw, Ah've got to take AWL the crap from miss Bella, who apparently's got some kand of problem.

Just tonight, she rushed me... Ran right over to me like a crazy lady. Ah just stood there staring at her. Uther times, she gets awl uptight like the time with the dishwasher, and just becoze she didn't understand whah that thang was making noise, she had to slap me one just becoze Ah was standing in front of it.

Ah've been slapped a couple times and Ah don't even fleench. Ah even let 'em eat bafawre Ah go to the bowls.. And mand ya, Ah'm the biggest one here. But Ah know who Ah am.


[ I am quite surprised that he hasn't tried to defend Princess though.. He was always protective of her .. And he had to go through a difficult adjustment when Bella first came in, he retreated and withdrew for a while, was really depressed, did not eat or drink or go to the bathroom.. I had to retrieve him from the furthest, quietest corner of the house.. Well - Happy Birthday Virgo cat.. You are one special tomcat and I love you very much. ]

Bullies Need Love Too

Even if it's from a fake rabbit.

Bella has taken to one lone rabbit in mom's bedroom for comfort. She's taking time-out from her relentless pursuit of dominance, you see.. So she needs to reach out to 'him', even. With her paw.

And this is her sensitive side..


)))

Disgusted

I am so disgusted right now. I came down to join the others again and sat myself down right in front of miss Princess. She started growling at me again. Wouldn't you know it, mommy came and picked her up to move her away from me... I just couldn't stand it any more, I took a swat at miss Priss as mom carried her over the floor past by me.

I had to hear the music, of course: "BELLA!", mom yelled. At that, I leaped back over the steps with my ears down.

And then I came back a couple steps down to watch through the railing - in disgust. Watching Miss Priss get all tended to by mom.. this 'are you okay?' bit, and stroking her on top of it. My furr-face couldn't have been any more disgusted.

Personal Attention

Mom paid me a visit in my room.. My sanctuary..

I was sleeping on the big bed but I was eager to come to her so I jumped down to greet her. She put me back on the bed and layed down with me - I liked that.. I was now getting quality time with mom. I started purring and I thanked her with nose-tips and kisses and snuggles and headbonks. (Just don't touch me on my belly.) I kept an eye out for the others all the while, here and there; wanted to make sure they didn't invade my own room, you know? And then Googie appeared by the steps, staring at us on the bed; he seemed stone-faced but he didn't dare enter.

Then we came down and I follow behind her, and I spotted Princess doing a power-claw on her scratching post .. so I got ready to ambush her, pounce from behind so she couldn't see me coming.

What a nice shot that woulda been. But I got chased by mom, I was so upset I dug my claws onto the carpet and started bitch-meowing!

[ MOM EDITOR'S NOTE: We've come a long way from this morning when she was really angry at me and kept slapping my hand every time I tried to touch her; she even hissed at me.. I have no idea what happened overnight.. But she's never been angry like that at me, especially first thing when she sees me. ]

Anything for Some Peace

In my quest for the safest spot in the room, I decided to perch myself last night on top of the leather chair in the living room. That would be that thin area at the very top of the chair? Yeah, that's where I'll take my night-time snooze..

I figured, Bella can't charge me all the way up there, it gives me a good buffer.

Except... once I started falling asleep, I lost my balance.

Giving Her Lip

Mom tried to tell me it was time to go to "beddie bye" last night. I understood what she was trying to do: she was trying to get me out of the bedroom. I've heard about this before, from the others. I get that she always closes the door, that they have to wait to see her again in the morning.. And that's the way things are here. But I'm not used to that - so I gave her lip.

"Mewooow! I don't wanna go!!", I protested with my ears flapping down.

But I went ahead anyway, begrudgingly, and walked out of the room with my ears down.

Free to Play

Ah am finally fealin' free to play in front of Bella, without fear or hesitation.

In fact, Ah jumped so high, Ah almost landed near her face a few times. Of course, Ah did expect a little hiss from her but she got over it.

She just wants to make sure Ah respect her boundaries, you see. Ah am a giver, and Ah tolerate quite a beet. And Ah have understood a few thangs about Bella... Ah do see that she is older than me, and Ah can also see she has bean a little tense. And so, Ah give her a lot of slack. She's slapped me a couple of times but Ah let it slide.

Ladies First

Ah let the ladies eat dinner first tonight. Ah thought it was the right thang to do, see... Ah mean, mom came in kind of late, and we were all in eentense anticipation. So all three of us, Bella included, gathered round mom as we watched her open up the cans of our dinner.

So then she served Pipi and Ah separately, and Bella separately. We awl got along pretty well. Ah ate a little bit out of our dish with Pipi, and then Ah stepped away for a while.

Let the ladies eat first. Once they were both done and out of the kitchen, Ah came back to finish up.

Putting My Best Foot Forward

I got let out of my room this evening after a 'timeout'. I was pretty much told to 'go to your room!' upon which I responded by putting my ears down and briskly walking into my room and by the corner of the bed. This is the spot where I go to when I know I've done bad.

Well.. I've had a busy day.. I've been on miss Prissie's case pretty much all day, starting with late this morning when mom opened her door. I just can't let Princess come upstairs, it's MY territory. I want to be the one to keep mom company, I don't want to share her. So then, I guess.. I did a couple other things throughout the day.. Okay, yeah - I'll admit to cornering Prissie again up against the toilet.. And then stalking and rushing her down by the living room. I guess mom had had enough and so, I had a timeout 'go to your room'.

So now she let me out and I made it a point to put my best foot forward. I followed her patiently downstairs, keeping a few paces behind her and waited for her to encourage me to come all the way downstairs because I could see the two of them down by the bottom of the steps looking on in anticipation: Googie-the immovable orange mountain, and Prissie (Princess).

So I followed mom faithfully without a hitch - or hiss. I was surrounded on both sides by Googie and Princess and stared at by both of them and I managed to just blend in; I looked at mom's eyes for reassurance, to make sure all was cool.

"You're a good cat", she said leaning down to caress my head and back. I even tried to hang out in the kitchen just so I would not be tempted to harass the sissies.

A Stalking-And-A-Shnortin'

Ah almost lost it there for a minute when Ah spotted Bella-the-Bully stalking me from under the drop-down step in the living room.

She had her whole body lowered to the floor like a pancake, her ears flapped down and ready to pounce across the room - and Ah was the target!

Ah got beside mahself and let out a ...snort! Ah literally snorted as Ah quickly walked my way near mom!

Bella -The- Bully Timeout

Mom came home just a while ago and let out Bella-the-Bully again out of her room. Googie and I had enjoyed a breather for a couple hours and now she was back among us. We keep thinking, and hoping, that she's here temporarily... Cause mom sometimes keeps her in her own room, especially if she chases me too much.

So now, after her latest 'timeout', she tried to put her best paw forward and acted like nothing happened all day, sitting among us peacefully. It was all a show for mom, she was right there watching her.

I decided to claim mom's territory and plopped my butt right next to the 'mouse' thingy she always touches ..And I looked straight at Bella while claiming this territory from my perch above.

Cat Tantrum

I have taken control of the upstairs fort. So, I lay down on the floor of mom's room - or I go to my room, whichever strikes my fancy of the moment. And of course, I've had a busy day today, keeping Princess out of mom's room, cornering up against the toilet in the cat bathroom, chasing her down the stairs, and then cornering her in the living room. I especially take advantage when I hear mom talking on the thing.

So mom came upstairs just now, and went to her room... well, the 'small room' as the others call it, which is the room next to her room. [the bathroom].

So she is sitting down and I come in to pay her a visit, my tail up in the air as usual. I mark her hand with my chin and brush up against her legs. She strokes my back.. and it's a lovefest like that back and forth.

But something got into me again and as she lifted her hand one more time to touch me? It just got to my nerves so much, I threw a temper tantrum. I just jumped with both my front legs in the air and smacked her with my closed paws.

"Ahhh!!! WHY did you DO that?!! ", she yelled at me.

I just sat there impassively and stared right in her eyes. What do you mean?? The moment has passed now.

"GO to your ROOM!", she said to me.

Oh, fine then. I got up as soon as I heard that and briskly walked back to my room with my ears flapped down.


["Go to your room!" is something Bella understands all too well - from the get-go. And she responds to it like a human child...]

I'm Sorry

Mom reached out with her hand to touch me and I snapped back at her, bitch-meowing and all: "Don't touch me!! aaahhh!"

My ears went flat, my eyes couldn't be any more dilated.. I raised both my paws as I layed sideways on the floor, went into a defensive fighting position - and scratched her hands.

"Bella...! honey??? oooohhh....Why are you DOING this to me??", she pleaded with this special voice she took on.

I felt bad. I shifted position. She reached out to my nose with the same hand I had just shredded. I really felt bad. I reached over with my nose and smelled her hand; and brushed my nose and then my chin over her fingers.

This was my way of letting her know I was sorry. I just couldn't help it - I have my nerves. A lot of things have happened to me in a very short time. Some strange people messed with me and my belly, it was all shaven off when I woke up, then I wasn't allowed to go out like I was used to, I didn't have all the attention I craved from the toms of the neighborhood.. And then my owner disappeared after I saw some strange men, all looking the same, take her. And I was left alone, and I really didn't know what was going on. I had nothing to eat or drink for a while, and I was worried sick about my owner, and what happened to her. And then, if that wasn't enough, I was taken by more strangers to this place full of cats in cages... and they were all warning me this was a bad place that I may never get out of..

So, you know - it's been weird.. And then mom came and got me, she seemed so glad to see me and hug me. So I thought she might be my owner's petsitter and I was happy to see her too. I did adopt her immediately too. I kiss her, I lick her hands and legs.. I love her touch, most of the times, and I purr to high heaven when she pays special attention to me. But I'm still "tense".. that's what they called me in that bad place full of cats.

I keep wondering... how long is it gonna take 'till I go back to my owner? I just keep wondering because I'm not sure if this is really where I belong.. It's a whole new place, it's different, there are two other cats in the house who keep giving me a hard time.. Making me feel like I'm just a guest...


[MOM'S NOTES:
Bella was taken to the shelter after her owner got arrested. Have no idea who the owner is but I'm feeling there must have been a female owner involved because Bella understands a lot of words, she is very communicative.. And it's usually female cat 'moms' who keep up this level of communication .. She was also shaved on her belly prior to her arrival at the shelter, so she must have been spayed sometime before the arrest. She is a 6 year old cat, reportedly, and I do sense that she must have had kittens - more than once. That she had a full life as an indoor/outdoor cat, having worn a flea collar when they found her. So she was used to getting attention from tom cats in the neighborhood, who prowled after her all the time.. And now that part of her life is gone... She is in a more sedate, enclosed environment where she continues to adjust. Unfortunately? There are no sexed-up toms around to pursue her, and Googie's definitely not gonna fill that role. So I think what is also happening with Bella is that her hormone levels are adjusting after her recent spaying.. ]

The Stranger Drill

Miss Priss and Googie began to act different yesterday.. I could tell something was up and so I looked to them to figure out what was happening. They gave me the understanding as they kept looking toward the door that somebody was gonna come in here. They didn't know who, and yet they were both worried. Miss Priss said she saw mom 'get ready for it', she said she saw her go downstairs and push those things on the wall - and that this action alone indicates someone always comes in.

"So what?", was what I wondered. "Well, that's never a good thing", they tried to tell me. "We always hide for that."

I just couldn't understand why though. I never hide from anybody when I was in my previous place, are you kidding me? I figured, I'm gonna follow their act, since they've been here longer than me - they must know something I don't. And a stranger DID come in the house, I could sniff him as we all went and took cover. And the sissies acted like it was the end of the world.

But I still couldn't figure out: WHY? After so much time had passed and the stranger was still in the house, and I could hear him talking to mom, I decided enough was enough. This, to ME is not a "dangerous" thing... It's far from a 'bad thing'.

I just came on down to see what was up and to be honest? I was hesitating at first, only because I was spooked by the other two sissies. So when I saw the stranger, I got fear back in me thinking back to their ideas, and went for the stairs again. As I was heading up the second set, I heard mom calling out to me:

"It's okay, Bella. It's okay, honey.. You can come down.. Nothing's gonna happen."

I stopped in my tracks, looked back at her and instantly felt secure again. I turned on my paw and came down, nose-tipping her extended hand to me, and then stretched my neck to meet the stranger. I was being introduced and I responded, accordingly. I brushed against his legs several times to make him feel welcome.

They really ARE sissies, Googie and miss Priss - no doubt about that.


[Let's just hope this one behavior is gonna pass on to Googie and Princess and open up their cat minds a little more ... Let the New York cat teach them. :)) ]

Ah Turn The Uther Cheek

Miss Bella walked in the kitchen tonight and got all spooked bah the dishwasher running.

Ah guess where she comes from, she's never heard such a thang bafawre, Ah don't know. So Ah just stood there, next to it, and looked at her quietly.

The closer she got to it, the more spooked she got. To the point where she took it out on ME. Her eyes were big and wild and she didn't know what to do. Ah just thought this was a good time for me to appear even more powerful, just standing there staring at her while the thang behind me was making its noise... Ah was gonna take advantage, you know?

Well, Ah nevah.. She just leefted her paw and slapped me one right awn mah cheek.

Ah didn't move, Ah didn't react, Ah didn't flinch or nuthing. That's mah game, Ah'll just stand there emotionless and let you lose your cool. And Ah mean, Ah get that she's older than me - Ah wouldn't slap a cat-lady her age back, nawt when Ah can see that she's scared of the dishwasher noise!

She soon walked out of the kitchen altogether. What a fool.

[It appears as though Googie has an understanding of Bella by now. At first, he was really upset and then depressed by her presence but he is now back to his old self and strong enough to take this little petty skirmish from her and it did not phase him. ]

It's MINE!

I'm sitting in peace next to mom's feet and what do I suddenly see?

Googie sniffing my punch-bag toy! ["Lime Green Zingie", the green lamb.] This is MY toy.. Mom keeps giving it to me to take out all my pent-up energy on.

Are you kidding me?! I flew into a momentary rage. I reached out with my left paw and swatted at his huge, orange fluff-butt.

"Ah-nnnnew!", I screamed in outrage.

He wouldn't even give me the time of day.. He IS an immovable, orange fluff mountain. He just kept sniffing it and I got my own butt swatted by mom. So I ended up running upstairs back to my sanctuary.

Lost agin!


[Mom-Editor's Note: "Lime Green Zingie" has long served as the punching bag for Googie, FIRST."


KEEP PATIENT WHILE VIEWING: WAIT FOR FRAME 2:36 - 2:42.. IT'S PRECIOUS!

I Just Can't

Later in the day, I had a close encounter with Googie. We both came into the kitchen where mom was.

He walked past by me in his quiet way while I stood near the lower cabinets, looking his way. As he came walking near me, he had that look in his furr-face again. I'm really not sure what to make of it. All I know is, he's not engaging, he's not nose-tipping me the way I've tried to do with him several times now.

So, as I marked the table next to me with my chin, I suddenly decided with one swift jerk of my head in the other direction from Googie:

"Uh! This is SO not worth it!" I suddenly walked away and out of the room.

I will NOT stand there and be ignored by this spoiled sissy.


:)) [It REALLY happened people... Just like THAT.. Wish I had a camera. !! ]

Even Bullies Care

I may be a "bully", whatever that means, but when I hear big orange Googie start to cough over in mom's room, I WILL get up and out of my snooze position and stick my head out the door to wonder: Is he okay?

Right about that moment, mom came up the steps so I looked her directly in the eye. It was written all over my furr-face: 'WHAT's WRONG with him?".. I had that bewildered look as I stood outside my room looking at her for an understanding.

"He's... a little sick, that's all.. ", she said to me.

And with that, I watched her go into her room to tend to big-baby Googie.


[Googie has been occassionally coughing or dry-heaving but nothing's coming out.. It started since his first close-meeting with Bella.. But its only once or twice a day.. His eyes are clear, he's not sniffling or anything like that. And he is back to his normal social self, following me around and for the most part co-existing in peace with Bella. ]

What Is "Bully"?

I got called "don't be a BULLY!" just now and I wasn't sure what mom meant by it.

I stopped in my tracks in the middle of the hallway, fresh from having cornered miss Prissie under mom's bed. And then I got chased out of the room by mom, my belly still practically swinging back and forth over my short legs, and I'm standing there, stopped in my gate, wondering:

"What is a "bully"? "

My ears flapped back and forth as I looked around, perplexed.

Oh well. Time to go back to my room - and with that, I quietly sauntered away out of view with my ears down.

Nothing Can Touch Me

When awl is said and done, Ah find total comfort and security on mom's chair. She spends so much time on this chair, Ah am cawnvinced that if Ah sit on it? Everytin' will be awlright and Ah will be protected. Especially in this new challenge Ah have bafawre me with this new cat, miss Bella.

Ah can't wait to get on it, Ah just take over as soon as Ah see her get up and walk away. But then she comes back many times and keeps sayin' "excuse me?".. and Ah have already claim the chair, see..

Freakout-Free Zone

I now don't freak out when Bella, the new cat, tries to come down the stairs and pass nearby me. I actually did NOT hiss, I'm over it. And all three of us, Googie, Bella, and I, Princess, have hung out together in a small space - in peace.

We even took turns eating at the coveted bowls area in the kitchen. We all just like to follow mom around and THAT's our common priority.

Obsession On The Run

I am starting to get used to getting chased and bluffed-on by Bella. And I just can't resist but follow her to watch her, anyway. Tonight, I heard her upstairs kicking cat litter in the box.. So I went up there to check on her.. I'm not only a curious-cat.. I'm obssessive.

She didn't like me coming up there so I got chased all the way back down to the living room. I'm so used to it by now, I just outran her.

A Thorough Greeting

I greeted mom by myself tonight when she came back in. I leaned in for a nosetipping and she reciprocated so I took my time to check her out carefully, smelling her nose and her forehead. I was so glad to see her, I kept nosetipping her.

Miss Priss missed her chance, she was sleeping on the job.

(* 'Miss Priss' is Princess, the Reincarnated Cat.)

Back-Talk

To be honest, I do give mom some back-talk. Like just now: I just had another skirmish with miss Priss who came up to stalk me while I was on the litter box. So I chased her down the steps but I forgot mom would see it.

So now I had to face the music: As she talked to me, I gave her back- talk. "Meehhh!!" [translation: It's not fair!! She stuck her nose up my butt and I'm not ready for that! ]

I HAVE to speak my mind too, you know. At least when I know it's not fair.

On the Lookout

Let me tale you: Ah have heard from Pipi about how this new cat, Bella, likes to ambush when you least expect it. She gets Pipi from behind .. Well.. she stops at the last moment, but Pipi told me how startled she gets.

And so, when Ah venture out from mah safe spot under the table, Ah pass Bella bah real slow. And then will snap my head back to look at her and make sure she's still there.

The thangs Ah have to do just to go over to the food bowls!

Ain't No Fool

Mom brought the real tasty food in tonight and both Googie and I promptly came to the kitchen eager to dig in as soon as she'd serve us.

And then Bella caught on to what "nummy num" really means and she came in and tried to make friends with Googie, nose-tipping him. I mean, I get it - she tried to pay her respect to him first. But he was no fool when it comes to food and this type of closeness with the still-strange new cat was too much for him.

He hissed at her. Of course, that didn't really phase Bella.

We all got our bowls in separate areas of the kitchen .. but Googie got all emboldened and later tried to railroad into Bella's area because she was served at our own usual serving spot. Of course she's no fool either so it all got diffused through their posturing..

I just watched and ate.

A Visit

I just watched Bella go up to Googie.

She hadn't realized he'd been hiding behind the door to avoid her. She tried to visit, I think.. So he hissed once and then she settled down in front of him and tried to make friends. Then she went behind the door on the other side, I think tried to trick him or play..

That cat just doesn't give up..

One Hot Mess

I have been watching Bella-on-a-rampage, playing with the string mom keeps waving in front of her. She's been jumping, twisting and turning high up in the air.. with that belly of hers exposed for all to see just how round and fat it is.. Hah! And I watched in amazement.

How can this bully enjoy herself so much when she's such a hot mess?!!