NO-BULLY Zone..

BELLA'S NO-BULLY ZONE:

I visited mom at top of the counter there by the 'laptop' thing and we were all good, she hugged me, I kissed her, I was satisfied once again that I am... loved, 'mkay? And then I went back and forth towards the other area where she really doesn't want me to go, and she took me and put me down on the floor... I was kinda pissed at that - since this wasn't MY decision. So I started to walk out of the kitchen and who do I see but miss Priss right there, coming in. I eyeballed her and pretty much got poised to ambush her, until I heard: "Bella? NO BULLYING!"..

Somehow, I figured this meant I am not to ...chase or do whatever I wanted to do. So I walked-on-by. Yep, I did..

Missed My Turn

It was time for breakfast this morning and mom served and everybody went up to the bowls. But I was hesitant cause I've been caught doing something wrong before ...So I didn't wanna just jump right in there.

So as everybody lined up on the bowls, I hesitantly approached.. my tail down.. trying to figure out where my place was.

"Go ahead Getty! ", I heard mom say. Okay, I'll go to the right, where daddy Googie's eating.

"No, no! The other way Getty". I recognize the words 'no-no'.. So I stopped at the sound of that and did go the other way.. Worked my way into miss Princess's bowl. Then mom came up and I couldn't risk being touched so I .. fled..

After everyone was done, I approached again. I was more interested in touching base with them first than going straight to the bowls. I went up to daddy Googie who was hanging out nearby there and lifted my butt and back up at him. I then went over to miss Princess who was sitting right there next to him...I approached her from behind and lowered my face to hers.. nose-tipped her and looked right in her eyes to greet her properly.

All was well... Now I could go to the bowls.. I ate whatever was left. [no wet food was left....]


[There was a spare bowl with food next but Getty is a social eater and needs to share from the same bowl ...And when she does that, the other cat leaves be it Googie or Princess, to let her eat .. That protective instinct kicking in over her.. So I have to make sure that Googie does eat because he's gotten a bit thinner since this pattern started with Getty. And Getty's gained quite a bit of weight, besides. Plus she throws it up after she eats the wet food, which is another reason why I don't think it's a good idea for her to eat too much wet food. So I try to serve just a little for her on one bowl... But she can never figure out - or want to - eat by herself from her own bowl.. ]

LITTLE GETTY'S WORLD: Am I Being Blamed??!!

You may all think I'm some.. back-woods stray kitten but I tell you what: I know how to cover my litter box ..'em, "stuff" properly cause I'm the only one who will take whatever is available there and put it on top of the litter; like, today I took a scrunchy bag and covered it. The other day I used a white paper towel; and so on. But on to the more important thing that happened today: Somehow? I was involved in a bad fight between daddy-Googie and miss Bella. I guess you could say I was a "witness" and when the tempers started flying downstairs, I tried to run my way up the stairs.

Except.. I had to face mom who was coming down the stairs. That kind of slowed my momentum as I was fast and furious, intent on getting away from the ugliness of it all... It scares me so, every time to see daddy-Googie fight with her.. So I had to pass by mom by the upper steps and I slowed down, only to realize SHE was pissed off at ME. She even touched me, touched my back! "They're fighting over YOU!! you know that?!!", I heard her say. I stopped by the last step, now that she was below me.. And I looked back at her, confused. "That's right! That whole fight is over YOU!", she continued. I just couldn't quite run away.. anymore. It didn't matter that she touched me, I HAD to stop and look back at her and try to understand WHAT is she talking about?!!! Am I being blamed for sometin' I DIDN'T DO?!!

There would be no flat ears, no bushed out tail, none of that.. Only a confused look....

Eet's a Bust!

Mah morning went bust tuday... Everythang was going fane in the begeeenin'. Mom had left the door open awl night long and we were on the bed with her and Ah got to lay bah her side in the mornin' when Ah knew she was close to waking up - Ah wanted to be the one to be there when she opened her eyes.

But then, all hale broke loose downstairs after we had our breakfast: that god damned Bella chased mah little Getty again and Ah ran after her ...And Ah admeet, eet got a little ugly. Ah chased her awl over the place downstairs where mom wouldn't see me... But she heard Bella's screaming so she ran down the stairs. Ah was in the heat of the moment again - and NAWT done with it.. Ah hate it when she trahs to break it up and make me go back upstairs.. So Ah hissed at her a couple times. And it made me even angrier so Ah eensisted awn another round at Bella, chasing the damned beatch! Meanwhile, little Getty fled up the stairs ..

We awl ended up back at the living room and it just got awn mah nerves awl over again to see her just lounge 'dere bah the scratching post as eef nuttin' had happened. God damn it! Ah took anuther stalk posture and sprang over to her, swinging mah paw in the air toward her - with mom screaming at me 'Nooooo!!!'

Ah removed mahself entirely from the situation .. Ah went downstairs to chill out and look out the big glass window with little Getty.

[No actual physical contact was made .... except for Googie's paw aiming at her ass... ]

Taking Turns

I had my beauty nap upstairs earlier this evening, so I decided I was ready to trott on down the stairs and see what's going on with the others. I could still sense mom in the house. So I come down halfway, just enough to be able to survey the view of the entire place from my perch point. And what do I SEE... punk-Googie is all over mom, right there on her lap, on the couch.

I was so miffed, I just stayed in place, where they wouldn't see me.. Or at least, that was the idea. HE looked right up towards me in the middle of all his ...petting! So deflated, I stayed put, and lowered my head to the floor. I didn't move, what's the point you know? I can't very well go up to them, cause ...HE's there. So, despondent, I stayed motionless on that spot with my chin over my paw on the floor. Until little-brat Getty noticed me and chirped to me, as she ventured out from under the dining table.

"You okay, miss? ", she called out to me, walking hesitantly closer to the steps, stretching her little neck out.

"Forget it, kid.. It's nothing you need to worry about"...

But now mom went on the alert and got up and walked toward me. Now SHE was worried, as SHE stretched her own neck out, asking me if I was okay too. At that, I sprang up and quickly walked down to meet her with my tail up in the air. "I'm okay mom! See?!! "

Bluff 'N Stretch

Mah day went pretty goood tuday.. Mom was up and about all day long and we all stayed up right along with her.. well, except miss Bella who needs her beauty nap. And then she comes down and gets cranky on mah little Getty again, and starts to chase her downstairs. Ah sprang into action once agin, following them quickly down the stairs.

She just doesn't get it, you know? Ah had mah talk with her again but she felt she had to go back upstairs just a leetle too soon for mah taste. So Ah followed her right up the steps and ambushed her when she least expected it..Well, Ah mean.. in a bluff kinda way.. Enough to get her to go into a submissive stance and froth at the mouth so to speak... Ah stood over her with mah neck all stretched out, for good measure.

Anuther Sanitary Cleepin'

Ah came up 'diis mornin' to greet mom and Ah played it cool with Bella, we were like.. inches away from each other and nuttin' happened.. So Ah felt like Ah was the "good cat" Ah was expected to be... And Ah went and layed down on the coveted place, mom's bed. But what do Ah get? Ah get mah fluffbutt cleeped. There Ah wauus, layin' down without a care in tha world, off guard and een blees, when Ah start to hear that all-so-familiar 'clip-cleep' noise.. A leetle too close to mah butt! Ah turned? And what do AH SEE? A whole tuft of MAH orange fur just .. lying there on the side of me!

Aww, naww.. Ah can't have DAT... Ah had to git up and go awn down..

A Poke In Mah Belly

GOOGIE'S DILEMMA:

Ah sauntered over to mom tonight, bah the couch, and plopped mahself down next to her bah the coffee table. Den Ah looked over to mah left and Ah casually observed some kand of ..eeminent deesturbance going awn over dere bah our cat bathroom. Miss Bella was on the outside side of the door, keeping vigil, stalking... and Princess was stuck inside, waitin'... biding her time trying to get out and avoid any cawnfrontation.

Ah looked over a few more seconds and Ah just layed mah head down to the floor. Next thang Ah knew, mom gently poked mah belly with her finger and said: "Well, aren't YOU gonna get involved in this? Is it only GETTY you're protecting?? You don't care about your PRINCESS!??"

...She can handle herself.. She's not a baby.. Ah remained in mah spot and cawntinued to lounge.

Keeping Vigil

Ah settled mahself on mom's bed and was laying mah head down already snoozing.. She came bah and stroked mah belly and then walked out of the room... Well.. WHAH?? Soon enough Ah became aware that she ... She was actually payin' a VISIT to the UTHER room, where Bella was at! Next thang Ah knew, Ah see Bella coming out right behand her, all chipper and sheet...

Ah'm now out of mah snooze for sure, sitting up and stretching mah neck... Looking at the both of them... too lazy to jump down and harass but too perturbed to let it go and get back to mah snooze.

Lapping It It Up

Ah have spent the last thirty meenutes roundabout on mom's lap on the couch... lapping it all up. Ah received the most soothing, gentle finger massage on mah shoulders and back, and on top of mah head, and the sides of mah face.. and everythang! Ah couldn't help mahself, Ah had to purrr - and in spurts! Ah let out some loud purrs here and dere, Ah loved it all so muuuch.

Well, here's a peecture of me just naw... when Ah'm coming to from mah lazy bleees, and getting ready to jump down.

To be honest, Ah could just stay on mom's lap a lot longer, like Ah deed when Ah was a baby but... Ah know it's not practical.. and Ah'm a lot bigger now and Ah even had to be careful on how to get down gently without.. hurting her.

Babysitting Roundup

I'm making the rounds tonight, making sure little brat Getty is reigned in.

She tried to be rude to mom again and I stepped in and blocked her from running down the steps. I just blocked her path and we both stopped and did nothing else..I have learned boundaries with that darn Googie getting in my face..

So when it died down and Getty went back up on her chair? I turned to look at Googie, cause he was watching the whole thing. It was all good, we had no confrontation over it.


[Mom tried to get close to Getty again but instead of sensitizing her, it seems to have the opposite effect: Getty is still reacting badly to any attempt to get too close to her - unless it's on mom's bed, and Googie or Princess or both are there with her. ]

Little Getty's World

I have learned to take my place as soon as mom starts serving..

Cause if I don't? I lose my chance entirely.. I have realized that there are enough bowls to go to, and make like the others...who sit there quietly stuffing their faces ... Hah!

Bella to The Rescue

I was sleeping peacefully upstairs on my own bed this afternoon when suddenly? I hear somebody hissing downstairs. It didn't sound right, it was a hostile hiss. And who would do that? I never see miss Princess hiss... I ran down the stairs and saw mom sprawled on her hands and knees on the living room floor, trying to talk to and get close to that little brat, Getty. I trotted on over to her to make her feel better: I started licking her forehead and kissing her. What a brat that little Getty can be!

The least I can do is make mom feel better... Since I can't very well chase the brat anymore without facing punk Googie afterward!

Looking for A Snuggle In the Wrong Place

GETTY: We all had a nice, quiet afternoon...with mom close by to all of us, she was laying on the couch down here. Except for Bella, she wanted her privacy so she went to sleep upstairs. So it was me, and daddy-Googie, and miss Princess down here around the big "table". Me and miss Princess like to sleep on the chairs ...well, and sometimes daddy-Googie takes on the big chair too..

So I saw miss Princess this time on the big chair and I contemplated it for a little while, as I stood down below, looking up at her and estimating my jump. So I jumped up on the chair too, I wanted to snuggle and cuddle. Uhhm... She didn't like that.. She got all mad at me and I had to flip over on my white belly and show her I was totally, and completely, submissive - complete with my front paws up in the air...

Wouldn't Think Of It

BELLA'S BITS: It was time to go to bed.. I sauntered past the "dining" area and looked to my left, toward the 'power chair'.. Hmmm.. Miss Princess was laying there, sleeping. I could see that. I turned and walked on, I would not make a power-play for the chair. We are way above that, I just wouldn't think of doing it.

So, I went on upstairs to my own bed.. But before I did? I leaned down and kissed mom on her forehead..she came by the steps and asked me if I would give her a "kiss-kiss?".

Sideways - And a Bushed Tail

LITTLE GETTY: I have bloomed in full-force tonight. I can't tell you how many times I skipped and hopped across the entire room sideways with my back arched and my tail bushed out.

I hopped like that in front of miss Princess all the way from the kitchen into the living room where she sat next to mom... But.. she didn't bat an eye, she just sat there looking at me motionless. I repeated this feat in front of daddy-Googie who stepped up and chased me, hahah!!

BOY! I had so much fun!!

My New Plan

BELLA'S BITS: I have taken to the small cubbyhole 'beddie-bye' lately, leaving my catbed behind by mom's door cause that punk, Googie, keeps coming by and I don't like to be surprised - or harassed by his presence. Especially when I'm off-guard, snoozing.

So I came out of my cubbyhole just now when mom came over to say hello to me, purrring away. And I followed her down the steps. But before I did that, I had to pause a little and look over punk-Googie's way.. I knew he was in mom's bed.. had to make sure there wouldn't be any surprise ambushing or what not..

Springing Into Action

Mah day went pretty goood tuday.. Mom was up and about all day long and we all stayed up right along with her.. well, except miss Bella who needs her beauty nap. And then she comes down and gets cranky on mah little Getty again, and starts to chase her downstairs. Ah sprang into action once agin, following them quickly down the stairs.

She just doesn't get it, you know? Ah had mah talk with her again but she felt she had to go back upstairs just a leetle too soon for mah taste. So Ah followed her right up the steps and ambushed her when she least expected it..Well, Ah mean.. in a bluff kinda way.. Enough to get her to go into a submissive stance and froth at the mouth so to speak... Ah stood over her with mah neck all stretched out, for good measure.

Supercat In Action

Ah had to snap into action again late last evenin'... Dere Ah waus, chilling mah butt on the coffee table near mom when we suddenly heard running and hissing. What do Ah SEE? but Bella having cornered mah little Getty up against the wall! And MAH little Getty was hissing, trahing to defend herself.! Eet didn't even stop there, she chased her down the stairs.

Well Ah sprang into action right then and there! - All I needed was a blue cape on me to complete the act. When little Getty saw mah presence down there, she felt secure enough to haul it back up bah herself, while Ah remained down there to have ANOTHER yet little 'talk' with miss Bella. Mah way. No fuss, no heess, no theatrics.

Quietly, we both came back upstairs on our own time.

Busting In

BELLA:

My day started as usual with mom opening the door... Well, after I scratched it a few times. We went down to the kitchen but then she suddenly went back upstairs to the bathroom and closed the door to me. I patiently waited for a while. Finally, I busted the door open. She's had enough time in there.

So I nonchalantly sauntered in, brushing by her feet (as she sat on the 'throne' )

An "Oopsie" Moment

I have watched daddy-Googie climb up on the counter there in the "kitchen" room. He goes past by mom's area and den takes a drink of water down there .. He told me about it too, there's like.. this beeg bowl of water that mom leaves. So I decided I'm gonna follow in his paw-steps.

And mom walked in right at that very moment...When I was leaning down to take a drink 'n stuff. I stopped and looked back at her. Oopsie. "What are you doing?", she said. Oh. I gingerly turned back and got myself out of this sticky situation... But I wasn't too concerned, I just stayed next to the kitchen entry. She popped her head over to me and I looked right in her eyes: "meehhh...", I said, looking as innocent as possible. "I didn't know ... ". Really.

No-Bullshit Meow-Zone

BELLA:

I am sitting on the floor, chillin.. in spite of the fact that, that punk Googie's been eye-ing me as he sits on the floor just a few feet away. So mom passes by and she leans down and touches me: "Is everybody okaaayy??", she goes with that baby-like voice she does sometimes..

"Newwnnn!! ", I just couldn't help but let her know exactly how I felt, turning over my shoulder to look at the orange punk...

(Am I REALLY "okay" having HIM beside me? NOT! )

Sometin' Wrong..

Mom came home tonight and Ah could tale pretty much right away sometin' was wrong... So Ah kept an eye on her carefully, from places where Ah wouldn't be too obvious... like through the glass side table in the keetchen.. We awl pretty much just watched her quietly, even little Getty kept it on the down-low.. Dinner tonight wasn't really that important to any of us... Ah mean, when mom feeling low like 'dis, dat takes priority..

Spittin' Mad

Well Ah got spittin' mad just a few meenutes ago.. Tha NERVE that woman has sometame, to trah to tale me to lay off Bella! Ah'm hot on her trail, stalking her downstairs when next thang Ah knew, Ah'm being asked "What's the matter" with me. Ah just heessed back, iz what Ah deeed. And den if dat' wasn't enough, she wanted me to go back upstairs!

"Newawwwww!!", Ah yelled in protest. "Ah've got business to settle down HERE!". Meanwhile, Bella's down 'dere bah the couch, biding her sweet time.. And mom ends up carrying her upstairs while she's growling at me, while Pipi had come down already to ask me what's wrong, nose-tipping as usual.

Ah got so perturbed seeing miss Bella up dere bah mom where AH belawng?Ah ended up wrestling Pipi bah the scruff of her neck... And den more screaming came after me then.. Ah had to stop and face the music, squeenteeng mah eyes.. Damned if miss Bella didn't jump down to join the scene.. Ah had to hah-tail it back downstairs, dang it !

You Can Count on ME

SHE GOT MAH BACK AND AH HAVE HERS... OR, WELL... EET EEZ THE UTHER WAY AROUND BUT IN THIS CASE... AH PROVIDE MAH OWN BACK..

Mah Duty

Ah had to do mah duty agin 'dis mornin and jump een and keep the reigns on Bella. You see, mom brought a new scratchin' post, the kand we already have... but more of it. And she wanted Bella to use it, so she tapped on it with her hands.. but Bella took a swipe and hit mom's hand.. So Ah moved in and stretched mah neck out toward Bella, walking toward her menacingly.

"WHAT the f--k did you just DO?", Ah looked at her angrily. "Sorry...", she recoiled right in front of the scratching post.

Ah Have Mah Voice

Ah just couldn't stand it anymoare... That Bella had the nerve to tease me and tempt me from above 'dere awn the table next to mom.. een the keetchen. Ah hadn't anticipated that, I was hanging around closeby mom on the floor 'dere... And next thang Ah knew, Bella is looking DOWN at me.. Perched like a queen bee up 'dere.

Ah got eento it: Ah started to stare at her, mah eyes getting darker and bigger... And Ah let out a couple of cat curses.. yowl! "Stop it!", Ah heard mom say. Whah, Ah was ready to jump up 'dere and teach her a lesson, that Bella... She saw it too, she crouched all up in a ball ready for it.

Cat Chaperone

Ah had to squire and chaperone little Getty earlier, just kinda.. BE there between her and mom. You see, mom likes to sometime go up to Getty and trah to get close... And Ah know Getty doesn't like that, it's one of her biggest fears and Ah know that. So every time Ah see mom get close to her, Ah nonchalantly insert mahself between them or close bah little Getty - to make her feel more comfortable.

[So he did that for all of the 20 or so minutes it took for me to take pictures of Getty.. he came by and brushed by my legs or stood nearby Getty, like a ... chaperone ! :) ]

Ah Keep Forgettin' ..

She keeps making 'dat noise again: "DON'T step on my JEWELRY!"... And Ah keep forgettin' every time and Ah almost DO...

Aw wale...(and 'den Ah keept getting petted some more, as soon as Ah turn 'round.)

Squat 'N Scream

Ah trahd to go after Bella again 'dis morning when Ah heard her in the cat bathroom.. So Ah began to stalk her, turning to look at Pipi briefly. Ah wasn't aware Ah was being watched by mom until the last meenute practically, and it ruined mah momentum.

Ah came upon Bella squatting in the box but mom was right behand me and awl Bella deed was hiss a little ("Get out you idiot!! Can't you see I'm taking a dump?!! " )

So Ah was ushered out by mom to mah displeasure... now AH began to hiss here, totally pissed off Ah couldn't DO what AH wanted to DO. Tried to take it out on Pipi, took a little nip on her back 'dere but 'dat didn't work either, Ah got scooted away - and then Ah remembered what happened the uther time... Parked it bah little Getty again, it's like.. mah safe spot when these thangs happen..

Ah steel had awl this pent up energy and Ah had to run downstairs and back up again - Ah was SO close to ambushing Bella again running back up the steps- but mom was right there watching me, dang! So we all played with the streeng. And that squishy thingy..

A Tomcat's Duty

Aw what the hale... We ended up getting our breakfast and mom put us both side by side to eat, well she put the food that is where AH was standing and Bella ran over next to me to make sure she duzzn't miss anythang. So mom put awl this food under my nose practically, on mah bowl and Ah'm just standing 'dere, watching Bella eat.

Ah really didn't wanna eat, Ah'll just.. supervise.. So Ah watched Bella eat.

Had To Get Eento It

Bella trahd to keep Pipi from coming up to see mom 'dis mornin' and Ah had to get into it. Ah trahd do tale her mah way dat it's not a good way to be.. But she ran right over to where mom was sitting and then stooped in that defensive submissive posture she gets into with her ears stuck on her head. Now she was under mom's protection who petted her and told ME off.

Guess Ah didn't make mah point clear. Pipi was still waiting down bah the steps and Bella went back to her bully-stance up top of the stairs... staring down at Pipi. Ah had to get eento it - AGAIN. "Naw Bella, god dammit!!!", Ah coralled her over to mom's bed and she snuck in there under it.. Ah'm looking right at her, pretty much deeesgusted. Mom didn't do nutting 'dis time.. She just started calling for Pipi to come up.. But Pipi never deed..

As if awl that wasn't enough, Bella ventured out of under the bed again all ready for round THREE: she saw little Getty standing there and wanted to go ambush HER now... Ah stood there between them, Ah looked at Bella and warned her in mah quiet way: "Just remember..You do and Ah'm coming after you.."

We Got It Down-Pat

Ah can naw report dat we deed settle down with miss Bella here... We got our new routine down-pat..

Laike, dis morning? Ah sauntered into mom's room with no eencident, miss Bella hanging round her and we're crossing paths and awl. Not a heess or fuss een sight..

A Spooky Night..

Ah don't know what's going awn, but Ah've bean jumpy awl night. Ah turn to the left, Ah turn to right.. Ah'm ready to flee at a moment's notice. Mah ears keep flicking back and forth.. And Ah keep looking up toward the top of the windows, and across the room.. Ah'm so cawnfused.. So Ah kept close bah mom, just in case.

"It's okay, Gabriel", she said to me, patting mah back and stroking me. "It's just the wind, honey.."...

"WIND"? What's DAT? Eet's the first time Ah heard DAT.. "Weend?".. Wanna try for just plain 'scary'?

A HUFF 'N PUFF - AND A BLUFF ABOUT MAH FLUFFBUTT!!!

Ah have bean CAWMPLETELEH beyond embarrassed bah now... ! It awl started while Ah was lounging on mom's bed.. And she started on me with that shiny, clipp-y thingy [scissors].. She wanted to "clean me", give me a "sanitation clippin" iz what Ah heard her say. After a point, Ah decided Ah had had enough, and Ah could tale Bella was lounging down bah the floor but she hadn't seen anythang.. So Ah escaped down to the living room.

Little did Ah know, Ah got followed. Now mom started coming after me with the white cloth. Ah went here, Ah went dere, Ah went under the dining table.. But Ah knew Ah was een for it.. So she kept eensisting and she finally got me right there in the middle of the room - and that Bella was perched on her usual place, on top of the flat scratch post, watching me like some kand of.. scene or somethang.. Just the fact that Ah was being pursued bah mom was enough to embarrass the hale outta me.. Ah got so pissed off, Ah went after her: "WHAT are you looking at?!", Ah rushed her and swatted in the air. She freaked, ran from me, Ah ran after her.. Ah kept swatting in the air... Hissed at mom for embarrasing me..

After a few meenutes, Ah just went on and joined mom bah her laptop...Got mah stroking in on mah head and it was awl over..

Seeking Refuge in The Cat Bathroom

Well Ah got eenvolved in a couple of short skirmishes 'dis mornin', chasing Pipi when she came out of the cat bathroom - and getting caught bah mom. And then Ah saw Bella getting harassed bah mom, she was touching her belly in that way that Bella duzzn't like, so Ah knew there was gonna be some swatting 'n stuff...

So Ah gingerly bounced 'n stepped into the bathroom to get away from the situation..

Protective Duty

Ah just deed little-Getty protective duty. Ah mean, the little girl just came out of the cat bathroom with her tail up high in the air.. and we awl looked at her proud, dat she used the boxes you know? But then Bella started to stalk her and ended up ambushing her while Getty had one leg up in the air, sittin' dere cleaning herself. Well, AH NEVAH... Ah took momentum and went after Bella just as fast.. nutting much else happened, Ah just have to bluuuff a leetle beet.. And bounce briskly toward her with MAH own tail fluff up in the air..

Ah Be Careful..

Ah've bean very careful naw to saunter outsade mom's 'laptop' thang awn the counter. Ah just deed it again, Ah made sure Ah was gonna go AROUND it, and not AWN eet. You see, she got real upset at me the uther day when Ah walked awn eet... Sometin happened, Ah don't know whaaat.. But the short and long of it was that Ah got screamed at, really bad. And Ah just parked it down one step below awn the side table, mah ears on the down low, just facing the music. And music Ah got, trust me.

Once in a while, Ah stole a glance at her with mah eyes all dilated... Ah was so sad that mom was so upset... And Ah deed sometin, Ah know Ah deed... But we made up soon after - and naw Ah'm beeing reaaalllly careful.

A First Time For Everythang!

Mom came een earlier tuday and brought a bunch of bags.. the scrunchy kind. We all know about these bags, it's when mom brings us our food. So we were all quate excited and as we went up the stairs along with mom and the bags, Ah decided it was time to ... sniff Bella's ass. Dat's right, it was awl good, and we were AWL in a good mood, so .. whah nawt??

Dere EEZ a first time for everythang.. Whah, she didn't even notice.

That's What I'm Here For..

PRINCESS: I have been keeping close to mom this morning, watching her carefully as she seems so busy on the 'laptop' thingy.. I make sure not to walk all over it though.. But I keep her company cause I can tell she is doing something important..

And I look at her, trying to get her to notice me, and she'll turn sometimes and look back at me, and say: "I'm okay..", and she'll stroke my head. That's what I aim for.

Sticky Situation - Or, "An Oopsie Moment"

GETTY: AN OOPSIE MOMENT...

I have watched daddy-Googie climb up on the counter there in the "kitchen" room. He goes past by mom's area and den takes a drink of water down there .. He told me about it too, there's like.. this beeg bowl of water that mom leaves. So I decided I'm gonna follow in his paw-steps.

And mom walked in right at that very moment...When I was leaning down to take a drink 'n stuff. I stopped and looked back at her. Oopsie. "What are you doing?", she said. Oh. I gingerly turned back and got myself out of this sticky situation... But I wasn't too concerned, I just stayed next to the kitchen entry. She popped her head over to me and I looked right in her eyes: "meehhh...", I said, looking as innocent as possible. "I didn't know ... ". Really.

Where A Cat Sits...

Where a cat sits, most likely determines her position in the pack.

Take BELLA, for instance. She's been hogging what we call "the power seat" on a regular basis now. That's the special chair associated with mom. It's where the others have seen her sit for long periods of time, even before Bella arrived.

So, for this evening for example, as I make my way through the living room and back, I stopped and noticed the seating pattern of the four cats:

Bella is at the highest point of the seating - the 'power seat' is higher than the dining room chairs and it stands out, exposed.

Princess takes her place on one of the dining room chairs where she has the glass table top above her as security. Little Getty takes the very back seat, literally and figuratively - she sits on one of the last chairs of the dining room. And Googie sits on the floor, on the edge of the dining room - in front of the room in fact.

And that, my friends, is every day's pecking order.

Some Finer Points

BELLA: There are some finer points in my life here in the new house that I've picked up along the way, did I mention?

Well, yeah. There are certain words mom says that I am expected to respond to right away. I've watched miss Priss and punky Googie do it so ... I figured, I need to get with the program.

So when I'm standing in the middle of the stairs? And she shows up ? And I hear her saying "Excuse me?" - I know it means I need to move out of the way.

Things like that.

(Of course I'm a pro by now to these other routines like "let's go get some nummy-num", and "time to go upstairs to beddie-bye?" - which I don't always respond to because I will draw a line to how much of a monkey I'm willing to play. 'Mkay?

My Cues

BELLA: I have come to a place now where I am ready and eager to respond to mom whenever she leans in for a kiss. We've been on this routine for a while now.. She comes over to check on me, and I see her leaning her face close to mine.

That's my cue. It's my cue to lean over to her too, and give her a kiss. Or two. In fact, I keep licking her forehead or her nose, or wherever she points me to, for as long as I can.

A Tense Moment

BELLA: I have not been feeling well today, I threw up a couple of times.. second time was a hairball. And I almost did it a third time this evening.. So mom has been tending to me, with the water and all.. But I expected my wet-food dinner tonight and I didn't get it.. So I settled on the chair again and began to groom my belly. When she passed by, and I looked up at her. She was holding a box in her hands, looked to me like a food box of some kind. I stopped my licking and stared at her. Hard. She just didn't know what to do, she stopped for a moment. I let my stare go and continued my grooming..

Can't believe SHE gets to eat and I'm stuck with the food I don't like..

A Clicking And A Purring

I'm starting to purrrr when I see mom coming over with her phone thing and she starts holding it in front of me and then I hear a clicking noise...

I'm starting to get that this is all about ME. So I purrrr now..

Even if I'm interrupted in my toilette.

Sideways..

GETTY: I got the urge to run through the whole room sideways...
And den? I layed down to rest but flicked my head over to see miss Bella getting sick and throwing up all over the carpet. She must've been embarrassed cause she headed for the "downstairs" after that to chill out. But den? I watched daddy-Googie go after her and mom was telling him to 'be nice' and not to fight and stuff .... We all ended up hearing another guttural scream out of miss Bella and mom had to go down and settle it.

She came back up and went right for her chair. I felt so bad for her, I went straight over to her, jumping on the chair next to her and looking over at her, kinda worried.

A New Attitude

BELLA'S BITS: I've arrived to the point where I can stand there, minutes on end, and let mom scratch my face - and I love it! While I lean into her hand with my face too...

Cause I've watched Googie do it.

A Cleanout

Holy shit! Googie got cleaned up by mom and he sure wasn't happy about it.. I watched it all play out and he saw me watching and he took it out on ME.. Mom came to me to make me feel better and then I went to the kitchen for a snack (I snack when I'm stressed).. But I kept looking over to see if he was coming... Little Getty stood there watching me fret.. Holy shit!

Standing By The Bathroom, Talking..

GETTY: I saw mom's door open this morning and ventured all the way inside her room .. I could sense her and miss Bella in the 'bathroom'. So I stood by the doorway there and called out to her. Suddenly, her head popped up from the corner there. "Yeeees??", she called out back to me. "Meoww", I said. Well, that was my good morning, really. The rest was history.. Got chased out by miss Bella..

Can't Take That Name

BELLA'S BITS: Momma came home and we went through our usual routine: I kissed her hello, I led her downstairs before all hell breaks loose with that beeping noise, then she lifted me and held me close, rocking me while I purrred up a storm and kissing her.

"Was Googie nice to you?" I then heard her say. To my distaste, I turned my head the other way upon hearing that name. Please!