Too Big for Her Britches

ABOVE PHOTO: Little Getty - Having the nerve to sit on top of miss Princess! :))


BELLA'S BITS:

That little juvenile delinquent Getty is getting too big for her britches! Here I am, trying to stand my ground with her punk daddy-Googie downstairs while mom was turning on lights and closing the blinds, and she's there on the steps...Watching Googie confronting me again with his imposing presence. He approached me in his quiet-but-menacing way, facing me, eyeballing me.. What was I left to do but hiss. Luckily, mom was standing right there between us when he did it. So mom goes back up first, I follow a few minutes later.. not paying any mind to the little squirt who had already disappeared. Well, wouldn't you know it! She comes out of the shadows of the dining table to ...RUSH me, the little turd! I had no time for that, I just kept going toward the kitchen and just huffed her off.

[Mom's Note: I heard this sudden 'pffft!' and what did I SEE?! Little Getty right behind Bella, tail up in the air... She was.. actually hassling or rushing Bella. Apparently, Little Getty once again felt emboldened by seeing daddy-Googie acting out towards poor Bella - and she tried to copy his behavior... Just unbelievable.. ]

No Need To Eenterfere

GOOGIE:

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.

Little Getty's Point of View

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....

Ah'd Like To Get To Know You

GOOGIE:

Ah took the time and opportuniteh dis afternoon to trah and get to know Bella a little more. The sun was shining, the door was open, we could smell the fresh air bah the keetchen screen, it wauz an awl-around beautiful day when she approached my area so casually.

So Ah trahd to get closer to her, get to know her better. Ah approached her closer, poised with mah nose to smell her butt.. Ah even nose-tipped it but she quickly turned and left... Ah trahd... Ah reallly would like to get to know her better.

Ah Get It From One End, Ah Get It From the Uther

GOOGIE:

Ah'm nawt havin' a good time 'dis eveneen... Mom came kinda late and we were awl anxious about getting our favorite 'nummy num' cause we didn't get any earlier today.. So we all chowed down on our -late!- dinner and then it was kinda like... pandemonium cause miss Bella kept trying to finish up all the other bowls and mom kept shoo-ing her out of the kitchen and bringing ME back in to finish my own... Which Ah didn't wanna do at first cause Ah wanted to save some for little Getty.. But Ah deed finally eat some more, since she was eensistin...

And den, Ah watched Bella go up the steps, she passed bah mah Getty halfway on the steps... Ah was vigilant this time, Ah wanted to make sure she wouldn't bull her 'cause me and Bella had a brief brush earlier and it scared little Getty; she ran up the steps and watched Bella's tail bush out, at which point we both stopped harassin' each uther and we both looked up at the keeed... Aw-MAH-GOD.. .we scared the keeed.. Ah had to run up the steps to make little Getty feel secure again.

So naw, Ah'm bah the steps agin, watching Bella ... she done passed Getty allright.. But Ah wasn't trusting her. So she started running up the rest of the stairs and Ah chased her to mom's room where she goes hidin' under the bed...She yelled and cursed and growled at me, so Ah'm cooked.. And next thang Ah know, here's mom running up to me, yelling at me pretty much like Bella deed... Ah got it from both sides!!

Ah can be pretty stubborn and Ah make-like Ah walked away but then Ah returned to finish the job... Damned if Ah didn't get caught agin! Dis time Ah see the squeeert bottle comin' at me... So it was GAME OVER!!

Getty and The No-Smother Zone

GETTY:

I was together with daddy Goggie on mom-lady's beddie and everytin' was fine. I was licking him and kissing him, and grooming him.. When all of a sudden he pushed me away with his paw and walked on away from me. He went and sat on the other side of the beddie.

I didn't understand what I done wrong... I watched him go and sit across from me and I was so hurt.. Why daddy? Why leave me?

I sat down next to miss Princess and tried to forget about it.

A No-Smother Zone

GOOGIE:

Ah was layin' all blissfully awn mom's bed snoozin' when mah little Getty came bah and started giving me a thorough cleanin.

Well, Ah might say, Ah do like it when she duzz that... But to a point. She cawntinued awn and awn and Ah leefted mah paw up to signal her to lay off but she didn't get mah meaning. So naw, Ah had to git up, stand up, and Ah was peessed... She could tale bah mah demeanor eet wasn't goood, so she stopped and backed off and her little ears flapped down.. She was so cawnfused...

Ah felt bad and just walked over to mom... Mah leetle Getty ...Ah left her standing there, sad...

What A Deesapointment

GOOGIE:

The other night was a pandemonium of sorts.. Ah had to lose face when the squeert bottle came out.. At least Ah didn't get wet, Ah was quick enough to high-tail it down the stairs.

When the dust settled down and we all saw that mom was gettin' ready to turn een, we awl beat her to it: We awl took our places up on her bed, eager to re-bond and cuddle with her awl naight. Ah took the right spot, Pipi took her usual place at the foot of the bed, and little Getty went bold again and took up her spot right where mom lays down. Bella was underneath the bed still from mah last chase and came out when mom returned to the room and jumped up on the bed only to see dat AH was dere, haw haw!

So, with that pretty peecture all in place, we see mom coming in and expect, and anticipate, dat she's gonna go to sleep with us, like she done bafawre the last few naights. But what we heard was 'Time to go to beddie-bye now'.. Which really means we're getting booted outta the room. Ah was the last to be cajoled out, Ah refused to leave... She just lifts my whole body up and Ah'm still trying to tangle mah claws on the blanket and Ah let out a meow to protest... She carried me to the UTHER bed, guess she thought eet would be as goood..... It was all dark and quiet in dere, and Ah meowed in dismay again when Ah looked around that dark, lonely room..

Made Me Proud

GOOGIE:

Ah sat and watched a leetle beet of a skirmish dis evenin' from mah perch on the coffee table. But Ah deed nawt eentervene dis one time. For good reason.

Ah watched Bella chase and bully mah little Getty, and Getty running to higher ground on top of the chair. And Ah watched her fight back for once, mah leetle Getty. Even though her ears had virtually disappeared, mah little girl fought big Bella back ... She done hiss and didn't back down.

There was no need for me to jump een dis time.

[Territorial dispute again over the cat bathroom... ]

Thangs Ah Teach Mah Leetle Getty

GOOGIE:

Hello, y'awl... So, Ah gotta tale ya, there are some thangs? dat need to be taught carefully to the young ones. Like, in mom's room, she got diis ...material hangin' from the windows.. And it is very.. soft and she likes it just so. We know that, Pipi and Ah. So, little Getty was having a field day with them thangs, going awn up dere on her own when nobody's watching her, when she knew mom's down here with awl of us? And she done grab these thangs from both the windows and take 'em down.. Ah heard mom trah to tale her nawt to do dat in a nice way.

Well, dere came a day when mah little Getty understood. Een mah ever-patient, doting wah, Ah explained to her that we-don't-DO-dat.. WE never climb awn top of mom's stuff, especially een her room.

Those are the faner points of cat life een our house, den..

[Getty quit dragging and playing with my billowy scarf-curtains in the bedroom, just ..like... THAT.. I'm sure he had a lot to do with it.. And 'Pipi' :)) ]

Ah Can't Believe Ah Deed Dat

Here Ah wazz... layin' down on the hard floor near mom here bah the keetchen counter .. And she's awn the laptop thang, and Ah'm down below watching BELLA get petted up above. She's on my spot, and Ah'm letting her.. Ah'm playing it cool for everybody..

At some point, mom became aware of me, she turned her head and looked at me while Ah'm trying mah best to appear like Ah don't care, like Ah'm not noticing. Ah was staring into space after Ah quickly darted a look at Bella.. Ah just couldn't bare to look at mom right about now..

Mah Nit-Picking Nature

...has gotten me in trouble with mom... You see, Ah finally got mah turn with mom tonite, up bah the laptop. She called me while Ah was still down bah the floor and Ah actually answered her dis time with a complete, audible meow. Naw, for ME, dat's a milestone. Becauze Ah never do dat, usually... Ah just chirp.. And naw? Ah actually have answered back.

Anywah, Ah eagerly climbed on there and she hugged me real good.. But you see, Ah can't just settle on one spot.. Ah have to turn this way and that, and Ah have to walk all over her thangs she got around the laptop thang.. She got papers arranged just so.. And then she's got her personal thangs we never are supposed to take or play with.

So Ah finally settle on one spot, and Ah'm gettin' stroked and stuff... But then Ah see her place sometin' on the other side dere and Ah got all antsy again and wanted to go see what it was.. She started sayin' to me "No... no... nooo...! Settle please! "... But Ah didn't pay no mand... Next thang Ah knew, all hale broke loose and she started yelling... Ah got so startled, Ah jumped down and all her papers flew all over the floor... Now she was yelling louder... "God DAMN IT!!! "

Ah stood bah the dining room and she comes in and continues yelling at me: "WHY can't you just SETTLE?? Why can't you act like a NORMAL CAT?!! ".... What?? Ah'm not a 'normal cat'?? Ah looked at her all upset, mah eyes dilated.. God DANG! Ah haven't been yelled like dat ..ever!

[LIFE, IS NOT ALWAYS A BED OF ROSES I'M AFRAID... ESPECIALLY WHEN MOM ISN'T WORKING.. ]

Don't Mess With Me

GOOGIE:

Ah am just not in the mood to be messed with. Ah tried to pick a fight with Bella just because - and got caught in the act. Mom came out of the cat bathroom to fand me hovering over Bella who was lounging in all her glory on her usual spot. Guess sometin about mah demeanor she picked up on and started hissing and leaning away, her ears all flat as a pancake.

So mom came out and saw this little scene and proceeded to chide me up one way and down the uther... Well, Ah didn't like that. Outta the corner of mah eye, Ah saw little Getty running for cover up the steps so Ah high tailed it right behind her, giving her a good chase. Damned if Ah didn't get followed up dere bah mom.

Ah stood dere, facing her bah the last step as she's coming at me: "WHY are you chasing little GETTY?!!!". Ah hissed at her in response..and flung out a paw toward her direction: "Ah will NAWT be chided like DIS!! " was mah point here. Ah went on downstairs but Ah was followed closely... There was Bella again, back at the same spot... Dammit, Ah'm gonna take it out on HER agin! Down the stairs we flew to the ground floor now, Bella in hysterics, yelling at me, and mom and Princess running after us both.

Princess's tail bushed out - a rare thang Ah tale you. She came over to make Bella feel better and Ah guess Bella badmouthed me and gave her the understandin dat Ah gone a beet too far dis time.. Ah deedn't TOUCH dat womancat!!

After dis whole brouhaha, Ah went on up the stairs on my own, wasn't gonna wait around for another momma-chidin'.. She railed at me from behand, the whole house could hear "BAD CAT"... as Ah stood bah the keetchen side table now, marking it tediously, holding the one leg of it bah mah biig whate paw, Ah looked back at mom tentatively, hesitantly:

"We done naw?? "

Ah Can Nevah Say No

GOOGIE:

Mom's got dis special way of cawling me... She's noticed Ah haven't jumped up on the counter the past few times she's bean on the "computer" thang.. Ah have stayed away seence she gave me the understandin' dat she duzzn't like me walking and messing up her papers.

So evah, seence, Ah haven't joined her up dere. Until she noticed, tonite. In fact, Ah was sleepin' in the living room when Ah heard her go in her sweet tone, "Gabriel??? ".. And Ah woke up and answered her with mah 'chirp' ("brrrrr?????")... And Ah got up from mah slumber .. Ah knew what she wanted me to do.. And Ah came back up on the counter and joined her, licked her arm and everythang.

Ah can't say no.. especially the way she calls on me..

Mah New Plan

GOOGIE:

Seence mom has been hanging around awl day long in our house nowadays, dat has kinda.. deesrupted awl of our sleep patterns you see. So Ah've feegured a way to deal with dat: Ah bean hidin' in the 'power seat' now.. Ah manage to turn it, you see, in the UTHER direction, away from traffic .. as she comes outta the keetchen. And so, Ah can cawntinue to snooze away without being disturbed each time she passes bah..

It's a good thang the 'power seat' is a swivel chair.. And he's figured out how to do it..

Another Take

GOOGIE:

Dees? actually happened bafawre the hiss-n-leave episode. Awl bah the same spot mand you.. Guess Ah really did surprise her the second time around.. she's a very jumpy womancat Ah tale you...

Here awn dis peecture, Ah'm flat-as-a-pancake, stalking a big bird out there.
Couldn't even tale you dat Ah knew Bella would be beside me.

Tip-Toe'ing Out of A HIssy Fit

GOOGIE:

Starting with Mom's Note:

The unbelievable just happened. I'm laying there on the couch in the living room and I look over towards the kitchen and I see Gabriel (Googie) starting to walk towards the open (screened) door. That's his favorite spot, he likes to look out on the deck all the wildlife around us. But Bella was already plopped there in front of the screen. So I waited and quietly watched to see what would happen - I'll let him 'tell' it from here.. :))

After checking awn mah little Getty under the dining table, Ah walked awn over back to mah spot bah the kitchen openin. Ah saw Bella ahead, she was all plopped down looking out.. So Ah approached very very carefully, Ah was on mah tip-toes.. She didn't know Ah was coming behand her until the last meenute. Ah was already walking on egg shells and Ah was the one that jumped when she suddenly turned her head around and saw me! Yoh!! So like.. Ah'm resigned on turning around and walking back seence she made it clear this was HER spot now...Hiss and shoo away kinda thang. Then Ah heard mom's voice: "BELLA?? Bella?? HE needs to be there too! That's HIS spot too you know! He always looks out there! " At that, Ah turned back, walking back towards mah spot.. Next thang Ah know, miss Bella gets on up, turns around to leave, and she passes me bah turns her face towards me and hisses at me some..(Sometin along the lines of 'f--k you!!' ) ... and she stalks off in a huff.

Juuuust like dat. Naw.. AH was embarrassed.. Ah tried to walk away too but mom was right there naw... She picked me up to encourage me to go back to mah spot.. "hey now!", I protested in a squeaky meow. But hey - once she plopped me down on my spot, what's the point of leaving... Know what I mean?

Oblaged...

GOOGIE:

Ah went out of pocket for a while tonight and sat down near little Getty. We were down on the ground floor and she likes to sit on top of that couch down there, so Ah felt it more important to keep her company dis time, instead of being with mom up here. So then, we got discovered.. mom came down the steps and saw us, wondering out loud about how or why I was down there. She turned and went back up but Ah couldn't very well remain down there now.. So Ah came back up, little Getty in-tow, side by side me.

After getting some water and such, Ah finally climbed on top of the counter to be with mom.. She asked me 'where have you been?'.. Well, you wouldn't understand, really. (Getty issues..)

Eendulging Mah Little One

Dat's mah little Getty there.. Ah'm spending the night with her, good and close.. She's been needing me close bah the last few days so Ah've been staying close to her.. She liked to stay right dere too, close to her Mr Pinkie toy.. We've changed our spots once or twice tonight, just so she can have her toys too. Cause da first time, Ah was trying to lay close to Pipi too, who's on the power chair for tha night. So Ah was right below her with Getty. But Getty changed up on me and wanted to go lay down bah her little thangs dere.

Ah do eendulge her, she's mah leetle one.

You Okay, Hon??

Ah had to spring up from mah lounge position and check on mah little Getty.. Cause Ah noticed some commotion over dere bah her way.. Ah saw mom trying to get close to her. But then Ah saw Bella going up the steps and trying to get mom's attention.. Ah didn't like dat.. Had another chase with her down the steps to the ground floor, nothing much really.

And then Ah went upstairs to check on Getty.. "You okay, hon? Now.. Remember what we talked about... There's NUTTING to fear... awkay?? "

Aw Crap, She's On The Bed

GOOGIE:

Ah just wasn't exactly thrilled to see BELLA jump up on the bed dis afternoon... Here we were, Getty and Ah snoozin' away blissfully, when mom comes up in the room and discovers Bella hidin' and snoozin under it... She knew her place.. But now mom coaxed her into coming out and Bella brazenly jumped up knowing mom's got her back.

Holy crap... Ah really don't wanna even looook... She done jump up dere naw..

Not My Pinkie

I saw miss Princess go too close to my Pinkie. You see, Pinkie is my favorite and I always go to him.. And so, I thought everypawdy knew it was mine. So like... when I saw her near him, I got the nerve to go rush her and stand over her, claim MY toy.

Uhhm... well, she didn't seem to pay much attention to me on that point..

Oh well.

The Rewards of Daddy-hood

Ah reap the rewards of mah newfound ..daddyhood to mah little Getty..

She may sometame be a leetle ..indiscreet, but Ah taught her how to greet properly. Nawt with her butt, anywah..

Charged At Bah A Squirrel

Mom was standing like usual bah her laptop thang dere and Ah'm looking out from behand the screen door when suddenly Ah jumped head first toward the god darned screen! She looked over mah way startled.. She could see that tell-tale gray squirrel's tail flinching feisty ... Whah, AH NEVAH! Ah got.. charged by the delinquent squirrel in our yard!! He came running toward me on the deck right toward tha screen door! Taunting me!

What's a cat to do but charge right back, screen or no screen een between us!

Awl In A Day's Work

Ah bean helpin' mom dis morning with her ..'er "business calls". See, she's bean awn tha phone thang all morning long and every once in a while Ah jump up dere awn the the kitchen counter next to the laptop thang to keep her company. And then when she gets another 'call' from tha cell phone thang and she starts tawlking, Ah jump down cause Ah can tale, her voice changes. And then when she's done, Ah hear her cawling me out with that soft, velvety voice she's got just for me: "Gabrieeeel???" - And Ah come back from the uther room and do mah love-in duty awl over agin on the counter. So we done dat kind of thang several times now dis morning..

Eet feels so good to be hugged.. And Ah do declare, she needs it. So Ah stand there, in place, patiently while she hugs me and we stand there together like dat... eet could be furrevah..

Sounds of A Cat..

PIPI'S PERSPECTIVE:

I was busy eating my breakfast and mom was blasting the music real loud when I suddenly HEARD Bella screaming upstairs. I abandoned my meal and flew up the stairs - it was my time again to go save someone, go mediate!! [Where's my cape?! ] ..

So mom got all startled cause she couldn't figure out HOW and WHAT was making me jump and run like that.. Especially with all that loud music blaring through the house. So she followed me upstairs and found Bella screaming under the bed in the spare bedroom... She had both her frekking front paws .. STUCK.. on the blankie.. And Googie was standing around, outside the room.. helplessly, getting blamed by mom ("WHAT did you DO?!") .. .. Even Little Getty ran up there.

Kissing the Butt of the 'Don'..

A SURPRISE VISIT..

As we were laying peacefully as usual on mom's beddie, Ah suddenly felt a deep thump ... It was miss Bella right behand me.. Literally on mah behind. She done sniffed mah butt, actually; soon as she joined us on the bed. And so, Ah cawntinued layin' there. She paid her respects, and dat's awl Ah'm asking for. She went on and picked a spot further away from both of us; and Ah took the opportuniteh to relax and start groomin, leg up! Howevah, Pipi here wasn't keen awn dis development.. She done and got up as soon as miss Bella arrived and gave me some hale for it.

"Pipi, honey!.. She done paid her respects.. it eez awl we can ask for!", Ah tried to reason with her. WHAH she done goes and thanks eet eez MAH fault, Ah'll nevah know...

Cat Etiquette for A Stray..

LITTLE GETTY'S WORLD:

I have to tip-toe this morning around here cause I've seen and heard another commotion again between my daddy-Googie and miss Bella.. It does freighten me so.. I just stand back and watch, and if I can, I run away to the upstairs quarters.

Dis mornin' daddy and I were trying to go see mom-lady upstairs in her room when miss Bella tried to tell us we couldn't. So a fight ensued with daddy cause he won't take dat kind of ting. So anyway, we all finally got our breakfast, I mean.. dey did.

And when dey were all finished, I went over - dere was plenty of food still left. I have to wait until dey are finished cause it just seems like.. dere is no room for me...plus mom-lady doesn't like me nudging my way over to their bowl.. So I wait now to go dere by myself..

Bella-ing Through The House

PIPI'S PERSPECTIVE:

Our day began with Bella bellowing through the whole house.. I was paying my visit to mom in the bathroom when we suddenly heard Bella yowling her fight scream, yelling at Googie.

I heard mom mutter "I can't even go to the bathroom in peace! ". I myself jumped, my nails screeching on the floor as I quickly turned to gain momentum and run over there at once to see if I could calm them down.

I saw Googie standing by the last step trying to get to mom, and Bella standing in the hallway, trying to block him...

I don't really understand why Bella thinks she's got to be the only one near mom's quarters.. We have tried to tell her time and again that we were here first, and that we belong together with mom..

See If You Can Get Me Now

LITTLE GETTY'S WORLD:

Good mornin' everypawdy... Uhmmm.. I went to use da cat bathroom and when I came out? Miss Bella bullied me and chased me so I jumped on top of the coffee table. Right about that moment? Mom-lady came out of da kitchen and saw it.. And she goes: "BELLA? What are you doing??".. And so, miss Bella cooled her paws and acted like she was looking elsewhere..

So I jumped off the table, feeling safe now with mom-lady here, and as I walked further away? I stood in mid stride and turned my neck back to look at miss Bella with all the nerve and indignation I could muster: "See if you can come and GET me NOW!", I taunted her with my look. Uhm - with mom-lady standing near me.

Ponderin' 'N Posturing

Ah waited for mom to come home tonaight, and Ah took mah post next to mah little ladies.. Bella was kept at bay upstairs. Unfortunately, she was first thang in mom's mand.. Aw well.. We ate our dinner, and Ah kept to mahself after dat, under the daning table. Ah didn't feel like schmoozing with mom right then, Ah was sulking. Well, she noticed.

She came up and sat across from me, asking me what was the matter. Kept cawling mah name, over and over again. Ah had mah back to her, laying down like dat and so, Ah turned over for a while. Ah looked across the way only to see Bella lounging her big barrel belly. Ah could hear mah name beang called bah mom, and Ah layed there in deep thought, mah eye fixed on Bella. Ah was intent on staring at her with dis.. look of serious resolve.

Finally, Ah snapped out of it and got up, responding to mom's begging and cajoling. Walked right over to her to oblage, get my hugging for the naight and show her dat Ah steel do lauuuve her.

A Special Treat

LITTLE GETTY'S WORLD:

I jutt got a special treat from mom.. Cause I smelled it, and it smelled fresh and I approached close to her so she understood dat I wanted it and I got it. She let me smell it first on the stick thingy.

"Go ahead! take it!", she encouraged me .. But I couldn't, didn't know how to get it from ..So she dropped it on the bowl and put my nose down to inspect it and eat it.

But den? I figured, I had to paw it and try to kill it, don't I? Cause it smelled fresh and stuff.. Well, miss Bella came around right at that point and finished it off for me. No fuss, no muss.. She just swooped in and did the job right.

I do look up to her so...

Greeting Committee Blues

Mom came back home just a little while ago...She was huntin' all day for us and she came back with lots of those bags that got our food in them. Our greeting committee tonight was us, The Alliance. Me and little Getty were standing side by side to greet her and Googie was standing upright next to us, waiting for her to come through the door.

Soon as she comes in, what does she DO? She stands there looking confused and asks us "Where's Bella?"..

We all continued standing there, quietly... Looking at her. And Googie turned his neck and looked upstairs, trying to cue mom in on Bella's whereabouts.

Finally, Bella her-higheness comes bumbling down the steps.
SLIPPING, Bella!!

I Can Take A Hint

LITTLE GETTY'S WORLD: I got a 'talking-to' dis mornin..

You see, we were all hanging out in the "dining room".. Daddy-Googie was laying by the wall near me, along with miss Princess.. And I could see miss Bella there by her usual spot near her scratching post thingie. In fact.. I could see just about everypawdy from my perch.. Cause I was on "the power seat".. I didn't think anything of it, really. Until mom-lady came out from the kitchen, looked at the whole scene with us, and started saying things to me. Like, "I just can't believe it! YOU have the power seat? You got everybody else to lay down on the floor and YOU are on there?? Hah!"... There was this ..uhm, special tinge to her voice, looking me right in the eye.. I looked at the floor, I looked back at her, my eyes shifted back and forth. Hmm... Sometin's not right. She's trying to tell me I'm doing sometin wrong..

She left the room again. But I jumped off the chair. I can take a hint.

A Close Encounter

Well AH'll be damned! Ah was manding mah own beesiness, drinking-from-the-well awn the keetchen sink when suddenly mom got me and put me down on the floor...Well, Ah guess Ah was lingering there, thinking and awl..

So as soon as she puts me down, Ah came face-to-face with Bella-bully! Ah mean, Ah tale you awl, she was pretty much in mah FACE! And the nerve that she would be the one to hiss! "YOU!? What are you DOING next to ME!??", she hissed and huffed in eendignation. More like eendigniteh if you ask me.

Ah stood there for a few moments knowing mom is right there behand me.. She tried to make it all better, Ah could hear her say "no...no.. no..", petting me on mah head and at the same time placating Bella...

"Don't mess with me woman!", An stared good and long at her. Ah took the hagh road: Ah walked awn away.

A Diva's Pride

I was quite surprised at mom this evening. Seriously? I don't know what got into her but I really didn't expect it. I got a whiff of some fresh 'nummy num' in the kitchen so I eagerly went in where miss Priss was already eagerly waiting. It turns out, mom was preparing something for us, I could tell by the gleam in Priss's eye.

So I jumped on the counter, ready to cross the path and come directly to mom up there. Right as I was about to walk over the 'laptop' thing, she turned swiftly and yelled at me not to walk on it. But it was the TONE by which took me aback.. I stopped in my tracks, totally insulted. I did NOT walk on it, I turned on my paw and got back down on the floor. I walked over to Princess who was watching the whole thing and compared notes with her:

"Priss? What's this whole thing about? She's never yelled at me like that before...", I looked at Priss's face close up, then turned and checked back on mom, still baffled. "Well, she's just.. touchy about the 'laptop' thing, Bella.. she did the same thing to Googie last time"... I stood there taking in Priss's perspective, as we exchanged nose tips and glances. "Well, F--K it! I'M not gonna eat NUTHING now.. !" I huffed out of the kitchen and plopped back down on my spot. Now she was serving.. I could smell it, it was real, cooked chicken...

"Bellaaa?? Come and get your chicken! Come on!", she walked over to tell me.. I wasn't interested anymore.. I turned my head away, even as she tried to touch me and pet me on my back. "Growwwl!", I complained.. My pride was hurt. I did not go in there.. Not until I knew she wouldn't notice, after Priss had her share.

[I'm tired of the cats stepping all over my laptop's keyboard and f--ing up everything.. :( At least they listen to me. ]

Vacate That Spot!

BELLA'S BITS: I came down for a quick snack after my nap and was ready to go up close to mom but what do I SEE? I look up at the counter and punk-Googie is up there already with her, lapping it all up and looking all smug as can be, his eyes barely open. Talk about a 'cheshire cat'.. So I turned on my paw and went the other way, ears halfway down I was so disgusted.

Mom came after me going "awwww!" and petting me on my back but I kept going.. I kept walking to my spot, seeking solace by the scratch post, my ever-dependable power perch..

Yeah, yeah, yeah.. She was like.. trying to make me feel all better, but what's the point.. I didn't look up at her. I eventually made my way up to her by the laptop - he had to leave at some point, vacate that spot buddy!

Ah Stand Strong

Mom served us our lunch and Ah stood back as usual, lettin' the ladies eat. Of course, mom insisted and she picked me up and put me in front of mah bowl.. Ah do protest a leetle with a squeaky meow but then Ah do oblage and eat mah fare.. Ah walked away after a few bites cause the ladies were still eatin'. But then Ah kept hearing mom tale Bella not to keep eating..

Apparenlty, Bella had been going back to the bowls for thirds and fourths and Ah could hear mom tell her she can't do dat, and so on. So then mah leetle Getty approached the bowls. She is usually the last to go, after everypawdy's gone from there. Dis time, AH was gonna run eenterference. Ah accompanied mah leetle Getty to the bowls and stood guard.

Sure enough, belly-full Bella sauntered back in for the umptenth time, trying to get more scraps... Ah stepped right in front of her, tall and strong, mah shoulders slightly raised with a serious look to mah eye. "Don't even THANK about it woman..", Ah warned her. She started growling and crouching all at once, ears flat as a pancake again.. She backed off.. Ah stood mah ground.



Unfortunately? Dis whole scene freightened mah leetle Getty who was now heading for the hills .. up the stairs.. Her lunch cut short...

Not Interested

BELLA: I really didn't know WHAT to do when he got cute on me like this..

I had to look away in this awkward moment.. I really wasn't interested.

A Historic Event

ALL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.. A RATHER HISTORIC MOMENT, if you know how long it took us to get there.


Bella the 'New York cat' has finally felt included and comfortable enough to jump on - and stay - on mom's bed while Googie and Princess are on there. This has taken over six months to happen, she could never stay or even try it when they are there.

The wonderful concept of sharing.

:)

Awkward!

LITTLE GETTY'S WORLD:

I was sitting behind the glass thing down under the "dining table" and mom-lady was across the room with miss Princess. Miss Princess had followed her there and jumped on the "coffee table", pretty much begging her to be "petted", her tail swinging and her neck headbonking back and forth..

So I'm watching mom-lady touching miss Princess, picking her up, putting her back down, stroking her some more. It was like I was invisible, as I watched from afar. Then, all of a sudden mom-lady turned and looked at me.. Aw.. I just.. turned my head right then toward the wall..

AWKWARD! I craned my neck where it shouldn't go!

Memories

BELLA'S WORLD..

I'm just thinking... I have these moments when my thoughts carry me away.. My memories.. from my previous life in a place called "New York".. and why did my [owner] leave? Why did she disappear?

But I come to and I jump up soon as I see mom coming by. Like this time, it was bed-time..and.. I accompany her around the room every night when she gets ready, I like.. supervise her toilette and then I do mine too. I'll just put my thoughts out of my mind and come back to my present life..

WHERE's The Offender?!

BELLA'S BITS:

I woke up with a start this late afternoon when I heard someone squealing in pain downstairs. So up I went and down the stairs I tumbled in my grogginess to find out what was wrong.

There was miss Priss getting all babied by mom, stuff like "Are you okay honeyyy? awwww! " I stood by the landing and looked at mom for some understanding. She turned, we made eye contact and she said: "Googie got his claws into her, honey. It's okay now.."

I figured as much.

On that note, I stepped on down the rest of the steps to the floor, checked on Pipi and nose-tipped her as mom continued to pet her, and went to my usual post and plopped down, shooting an angry stare to the orange punk who was busy marking the dining room table. I continued to glare at him... He does so disgust me..

False Alarm

BELLA'S BITS: I was tricked out of mom's bedroom tonight. You see, I have fallen into this new thing now, going under her bed.. just for overall safety's sake what with punk-Googie coming in and causing trouble or what not. So miss Priss was laying on the bed, and I'm laying below it.. Next thing I hear? "nummy NUM!"..

We didn't believe it.. But then we heard the CAN opening downstairs! So Priss jumped first and ran down.. and I thought about it for a moment.. and I thought, what the heck! I can't very well refuse it!

The moment I came down there, SHE runs upstairs like somebody was chasing her.. So like, I started thinking: what if she IS in trouble? So I run right up too, looking around for the offender! My ears going back and forth, I'm standing by the top of the stairs looking to my right, looking to my left..! I look at mom all confused: "WHERE's the problem here?!".. And she starts to ...laugh! And run into her room! Damn! Meanwhile I'm not gettin' any 'nummy num', it was a ...trick! I got so pissed off, I stalked off down the stairs again leaving her back there laughing.

Well, she must've felt bad.. She came down and I GOT my "nummy num" after all!

The Finer Points of A Female Cat's Life...

I have been quite busy lately ... I've taken it upon myself to show Little Getty the 'ropes', the finer points of a female cat's life. I see miss Priss always running and playing with her and I don't think she's doing a good job teaching her.. She's more of a playmate to her than a serious mother figure. So I have taken it upon myself to give her some slack, know what I mean? She's a...let's just say a really young, scrappy one.. I know she came from that same place I did, we've traded stories...

So, I've been going to mom's bed to lounge with her. Like, today. She didn't know what to do, she was just standing there by the steps next to punk-Googie. I took the lead and led her upstairs myself, we spent all afternoon together on mom's bed.

And when she acts up? I reign her in, like tonite.

I'm never gonna let her curse and hiss at mom, I've let her have it on that from day one when she was real little, fresh out of the shelter..