Yah, exactly, eh?

So you must have done the purrfectly right thing! Iggy must be so pleased that his 'Washoe' [human/chimp DNA] got his lesson so quickly! Now he just needs to teach you to sign!

It's been stupid around here. We had a long power outage, and I learned that Iggy is afraid of the dark.

"You can't be afraid of the dark! Stop cowering-Be a MAN! You are semi-nocturnal, aren't you????
You are when you ATTACK MY FEET at night!"

It was just the strangeness and departure from "Normal". Iggy is a true creature of habit. He has his little rituals and routes.

THIS is how weird it was- The routers and modem are running from a UPS and we could use our laptops on their internal batteries for a while:

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When those batteries croaked, we gave up, went into the camper, and started the 4KW generator, cooked supper and watched TV.

For true entertainment, I called the power company, and pointed out that Baghdad now has more reliable utilities than my neighborhood.
(We live in the woods. Squirrells like to chew on the 13,8-'s and blow themselves up. There was a bad windstorm, for this week's excuse.)

All is as normal as it can be around here, now. Iggy looks funny in the dark:

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Hey! I ran into THIS on the Internet!

"The first cat in the new world was a Tuxedo cat named Asgerd who accompanied (some literature indicates she led) early Viking expeditions to the North American continent."

Nonsense.


We know better.

The First Cat to North America was Igward The Pink. Some people thank him for bringing Lutfisk to North America.

Most do not.*

IGWARD THE PINK DISCOVERS AMERICA

*Just kidding. Remember, you were going to save some lutfisk for me this year.

Yup! It was me all along! Meow!

"Did small white feet, in present time,

Walk upon England’s mountains green ?"


Your Cat Of All Nations!

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WOW what a picture..............Iggy is definitely ready for the Holidays!

That other picture you posted of him with the surrounding black background so all his
black blended in.......scary....

He really does look something like that. AllI see down the dark hallway is the eyes and the white parts. It ruins his game of ambushing me.

I have not heard back from my friend in Norway about Igward the Pink, yet.
It should be interesting! (Despite the Lutfisk joke.)

I LOVE IGGY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He thanks you. He does that to people. Yesterday we had strangers visiting for business. He presented himself to the Shop and made a grand entrance, whereupon he was promptly picked up and petted because he reminded them of a departed cat of theirs. He ate it up without any shame, and put on a purring show for them. He is VERY affectionate and friendly.

This is my first Thanksgiving, since I was only born in March, but the other cats, Murphy and Sam have explained it to me.

Since I was born in Southeastern Massachusetts, it is a big thing here, so I shall recite the ancient household legend, passed down from many generations of cats:


"It is said that Jon dons hys buckelled hatte, & taketh his blunderbuss into ye fields and forysts, and, cupping a leafe betwixt his thumbbes, maketh a strange warbling sounde, whereupon appeaereth a most plumpe and savoury game byrde. Ye cattes of Squanto and Massasoit didst protect the Three Sisters from myce thoughout ye seasones, and they didst bring of their bounty also.

He bringeth it home, and with many and varied spices, doth prepare for us a feaste worthy of ye Kynge."

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND ADMIRERS! (Lucky You!)

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Happy First Thanksgiving, Iggy! You are dreaming the right dreams there.

Just wait until next month when you meet Santa Claus!! Better make your wish list now in case
it is a long one

Iggy, you maketh me pee my festyve pantaloones.

Dig, Dig...Scratch Scratch
Pat Pat
Scratch Scratch
Pat Pat patter.

All Buried!

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Thanks, pal!! Now here be-ith another pair! Jon's gonna wonder what the heck those are doing in your box.....

I think the real reason he makes up funny posts about me is that I suspect he collects them.

I think he's strange. I mean even for a human.
He was singing some Monty Python "Mounties' Chorus", for example.
It MIGHT be OK, because I know he has family in the Maritimes, but still, Eh?

Don't tell him I said anything.

Just act normal when he logs on.

It'll be our secret.

Meow. Click to view attachment

Errrrrr......and does he put on women's clothing and hang around in bars???? Maybe you'd best hide your catnip in a sock.....we don't want to encourage him any further. "Eh" is right!

Don't let on it was me, either, but in that case, you might want to check the pantry for any secret salt cod stashes....as well as that Scandinavian fish treat. Or even some Swedish Dainties......yum.....

Okay.....ACT NATURAL! We need a diversion! Any paper bags with paw-sized holes in the ends handy?!

Dum-de-dum-dum.......

QUOTE

.."but in that case, you might want to check the pantry for any secret salt cod stashes..."

What a rush of nostalgia! I forgot about that stuff and am so delighted with the memory I am willing to overlook the rest of the conversation!!!

Iggy, pay attention..you love fish!

(Seagull, foghorn, bell buoy SFX)

My grandmother, who was born on the Isles of Shoals, used to have TONS of that stuff around! She made fishcakes and chowdeh oot of it!
I have not seen it in decades! It used to come in little pine boxes!!! She actually rode to school on a tugboat.
Her father was the captain of a three-poster bark, and had rounded the Horn six times.

Iggy, you would have made a great Ship's Cat! Wasn't that a time!

The shriek of wind in the rigging and the crack of Sail. And the FISH, Iggy! Aye, The FISH!

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The Celeste Dunhill, Halifax.

No Heronchoker jokes, Eh?

For the past few months, we have had a little stool on the floor in front of and below the TV .

At suppertime, Iggy installs himself on this as a Begging Station, poses, and stares at us, expecting tidbits.

He now weighs twelve pounds, and his tail is longer, over an inch per pound.

We suspect Thanksgiving had something to do with breaking the 12-pound barrier.

We certainly did...

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Galloping after the laser:

Elephant Gallops


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Part 1 of a funny clip.

Hey, Igward!!


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Part 2. Iggy flips Out. Literally.


My Friend Flipper!

I just want to mention that Iggy made me marvel at what special individual characters our animal friends (In the case of cats, Employers) are.

Many months ago now, I posted pictures of his fascination with ice.
Why? Why would a creature get these odd quirks?

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So, last night I had a cup of ice water. He jumped up on my desk and was pointing to the cup with his pink nose. I gave him an ice cube. Usually, he knocks it onto the floor, chases it and corners it, and drinks it as it melts.
But last night, that is not what he wanted. I was holding the cup away from him, because ..well.. it was MINE. But he kept begging.
I put it on the desk, and he plunged his hand (I do not call it a paw because he uses it like a human hand-He picks things up and examines them, etc.) and one by one, he began fishing all the ice cubes out, and putting them on the desk.
I placed them back in the cup.
He removed them again.
I placed them back in the cup.
He removed them again.
Finally, I gave up and threw everything in the sink, and got a towel and wiped up the mess on the desk.
Returning to the kitchen, there were wet footprints leading from the sink, across the counters, and then across the floor, where they then disappeared on the carpet.

Since he was born on March 16, he has never seen ice or snow in the wild.
BTW, we have already planned his birthday cake. A can of his favorite, Fancy Feast Cod, Sole and Shrimp, removed from the can and placed on a plate, with a sardine as a candle. This should make a funny video.

This will be a STRANGE Christmas season, because Iggy has never seen one and does NOT know what to think of it.

Sadly, we have to have a rubber tree because the glitter and needles end up in the litter box.

Murphy ate the last real tree we had.

I am hearing this more and more as Iggy becomes a big cat, but inside, he is still a kitten.


He IS only nine months old.


He gets into everything, and some of the things he does are more outrageous than the last.


Now he steals toys from the other cats.


Where will it lead if he reaches 16 pounds like his father?


Will he get worse?

Yep! I think you can count on him getting worse.

I'm having a similar problem with Jingles. He's about 8 months but thinks he's a kitten too. He's weighing in at 10lb right now. Was 3-1/2 lb in June. He is a very "confident" cat. Walks around the house like a panther (when he's not running at about 80mph)............looking for something to get into.

He has a couple of plants that he likes to chew on. One is a ponytail palm and we put it up into the pass through in the kitchen. Kind of a wide counter so he sits on the L/R side so maybe I won't be able to reach him if I'm in the kitchen..... I started flicking water at him since I can't reach him. Now he's figured out that the faucet turned on means water is on the way so he takes off as soon as I turn it on. So, in the bathroom the other morning he is up in the big floor plant.... me being indesposed could reach the faucet however he was smart enough to realize that I was too far away from him so only a couple of drops could reach him. He just sat there squinting his eyes & began to chew as fast as he could because "she'll get up soon & I'll have to quit this." He jumped out as soon as I got up, sat looking at me for a minute and when I turned to go out the door, he flung himself down across the doorway so I almost fell on my face trying to not step on him.

This morning ornaments were on the floor instead of the tree. He gets some of the strangest things down & carries them around. Pin cushion full of pins TWICE so the dog got it too and chewed it all apart.... hopefully she didn't swallow any pins. Big roll of packing tape, big roll of twine & carried them downstairs. This just our weekend adventures so far.

Almost forgot......... he answers the phone..... my cell phone will be anyplace but where I left it if it rings when I am out of the room. Sound asleep he will jump up & grab it and carry it away. If it's on the floor, I know it rang while I was out of the area. Sometimes he gets there before I do. Had to call my daughter back one day to tell her he got it and ran away with it before I could answer it. He even knocked the regular phone in the upstairs bedroom down one day while we were gone.

He has a strange burrrrrrrrrrrrr sound he makes all the time & is fool enough to announce he's about to do something with his burrrrrrrrr. EVEN when he is about to go to the litter box!

What would we do without these guys, Jon?

QUOTE

What would we do without these guys, Jon?

Mister Jingles is experiencing the Big Kitten Thing, too. They remember things they did when they weighed three pounds and try them now and expect the same results. Iggy used to scoot up the back of my office chair, then sit on the back, and nibble my ears. Now, I feel the chair shaking and claws struggling as this gigantic moose tries to do what it did when it was tiny.

QUOTE

he was smart enough to realize that I was too far away from him so only a couple of drops could reach him. He just sat there squinting his eyes & began to chew as fast as he could because "she'll get up soon & I'll have to quit this."

Miles used to do that when she stole other cats' food: "Miles! You Pig!" ("EAT FAST! EAT EAT EAT! Gobble gobble, they will stop me in a moment...get it ALL now!")



One thing I would miss is the conversations we have when he is hanging out in my shop.
To an outsider I guess they are boring.

"You are a great cat, Iggy"

"Purrr Purr"

"You are the best buddy a guy could have!"

"Purr Purr Purr."

"You are BEAUTIFUL! Much too pretty to be a Boy Cat!.."

"Purrr Purr, Purr, Trill"

"..With your liitle white FEET and your PINK NOSE"

(Rolls on back) "Purr Purr Trill purr..."

"LOOK! Out the window! A BIRD!"

"SQUEAK!!!!"

"You are BEAUTIFUL! Much too pretty to be a Boy Cat!.."

I totally understand those conversations

My hubby tells me he is NOT beautiful, he's a boy! He's handsome!

So, Handsome Hans it is sometimes when we talk.

Hans Schnable.... after a dirty wrestler in the 50's that his Mother would get all excited to watch on TV.

Better go save the Christmas Tree...... He's trying to get Fat Boy talked into helping pull it over.... "See, like this...I'll reach way up here, this way.... you do the same & I know we can do it!".... Oh, now he's pulling all the little sequins off the brand new tree skirt. Like the plant..... pull, pull, pull cause she is comming to stop me.

Dear Friends and adoring fans! I want to share an experience with you. The picture below was taken by my Auntie, in near darkness.
Unlike us, I realize that humans do not see well in the dark, but maybe lightening this picture will reveal the horror I saw the other night.

I have seen, once in a while, cats come up on the deck, to gaze at me. (And who could blame them?)
They are usually visiting from nearby, and are willing to brave the coyotes in order to adore me.
As one would expect, I generally see a Better Class of Cat; One with impeccable taste, and a desire to share the limelight of my elegance.

This one, however was UGLY!

First, he has a coarse, wiry coat, unlike my velvety sleekness.
His tail was not one noble color, like mine, nor gently graded like Sam's.
No, this one had alternating light and black RINGS on it, so it looked like a fat SNAKE.
His EARS were too short, and his muzzle was stubby, with a black nose (Unlike MINE).
So ashamed of his appearance, yet wanting to bask in My glory, he felt he had to WEAR A MASK!

I may as well tell you the worst. The next morning it became clear that he was NOT EVEN LITTERBOX TRAINED!!!!

This neighborhood has has really gone downhill. I want them to sell the house and move.
Or if HE comes back, just burn it down and move away.

Iggy, you are an indoor cat.

This is because I love you and I do not want you to take a journey through the digestive tract of a coyote.
Otherwise I would need to say you need to get out more.

First, if you REALLY look at that picture, there are other animals there, too, including one of the following.

That's right Son. It can get worse.

You had better get used to it.

This was my first Christmas in 12 years without Miles. She used to disrupt everything, and between her and Murphy, we had to give up having a real tree. They ate them, climbed them, and opened gifts not meant for them. (It was OK about the catnip toys..they got them first, of course.)

So rather than dwell on who was missing I fell back on my usual therapy of Iggy Pranks and jokes.

On March 16, 2009, a year and six days after Miles died, Iggy will be a year old. While it was fun watching him grow up, I am actually glad he is a cat now.
He has reached thirteen pounds.

I saw an ad on TV from one of those mints that makes special commemorative coins for any stupid excuse, such as the "Rutabaga Jubilee Week Collectible Investment Grade Anodized Aluminum Limited Issue Medallion", and decided it was a good idea.

The Ignatius Maximus Thirteen Pound Jubilee Edition!

"Just Four easy payments of $29.95-but WAIT! There's MORE!
Order TWO, and we will throw in the Miracle Dust Magnet Ultrasonic Flea Repeller,
AND
The Garden Magic Shredder, Dicer and Slicer FREE!"

Makes a GREAT GIFT!!!

Obverse:

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And how like a cat, we have the Reverse:


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Jon, you are just too damn funny for anybody's good......... .......and Iggy is SO lucky to have you! And WE'RE just as lucky to have you HERE to amuse us as you do! (are you SURE you're not part of the alumni writers' group from SNL or something????) Man.....I'm STILL peeing my pants!

But do you mean to tell us that there are no pix of Iggy opening his presents?!?!?! Or adding to his personal goal of feline heftiness by raiding the larder???

Thanks SO much for the well-needed break from the season's inherent and abiding sorrow. I, for one, really needed that and yes, humour DOES help a lot in life. I'm sure there are a lot of us who would easily extend our heartfelt feelings about our kidlets to YOU, too, in saying "What would we do without you?!"



But you forgot the 1-800 # to order one of these super, must-have coins of a lifetime that will NEVER, EVER be offered again unless we call RIGHT NOW!! And I simply CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT those fabulous go-withs!! Finger poised, ready to dial......

I just missed it. I was on the phone with my niece, when Iggy decided that a little snowman decoration was an Official Cat Toy. Now, what happens when 13 pounds climbs up one side of a small fake tree? Over it went. The mess has been picked up.

A few days ago, a small stuffed fuzzy Polar Bear Christmas decoration, designed to be placed under a tree because it is about 10" long, was suddenly adopted by Iggy. He was seen trotting down the hallway with it in his mouth. He brings it places to keep him company, and he takes naps with it, but at least does not bring it to bed. Yet.

What a strange, odd creature he is.

How can they all be so different and have such unique personalities, with a brain the size of a small lemon?

He always was a little different than other cats, so we have the Nature/Nurture thing here.

Jon,

Was this how the incident started with the tree?

At least Jingles tried to make up by helping with the dishes! But I detect an evil look in his eye..... or is that a "you're not gonna KILL me are you" look?

What a strange, odd creature he is.

How can they all be so different and have such unique personalities, with a brain the size of a small lemon?

He always was a little different than other cats, so we have the Nature/Nurture thing here.

These are the same things I've wondered/said about Jingles.

He has managed to tear almost every sequin off the brand new tree skirt. He also adopted a reindeer ornament off the tree. Thank heaven I only put up a small tree with cheap bows and a very few cheap ornaments. I hava a small tabletop tree & that got the once over first. (more like 10 times over) I've had to remove the collectables on top of the china cabinet as he got up there & knocked down (broke of course) Grandma's oil lamp! So.... if it doesn't fit INSIDE something and I want to keep it in one piece...... it gets packed up for now. He gets the oddest things down and carries them around. Two different pincushions, a roll of packing tape, lipstick, tube of neosporin, telephone receiver if it rings & he beats me to it. My cell phone is like an alarm clock to him.... he flies to get it & pick it up when it rings. Since the dog loves to chew things up I think they are in it together............

Yo, WeeBee..... what do you see on top of this dresser you'd like to have today?

I think I should glue velcro to his feet & the ceiling because he is always looking at the ceiling when he gets up high, then he could walk around on it.

Latest trick is to jump on the patio door to see how high he can get.... his back feet are ABOVE the handle from a dead standstill! When he & WeeBee play, he jumps high up on the door & pushes off like a swimmers turn & back over top of her.

I had one other cat similar to this one and my husband said I thought you named him damnit cause that's all I heard for several months. He would hide in the bush at the end of our driveway & jump out at dogs going by.

But then there are the "peaceful" times we treasure also................

That could be a greeting card...SO CUTE! And Mr. Jingles being GOOD and not doing outrageous things..for a moment.

Like THIS:

Wonderful pictures and stories. I laughed at Flossie's mom about naming her cat..damnit..that her husband thought it was the cat's name cause she always said that about the cat. I told my husband and he said well ours must be named NoNo cause that's what he hears from me.

By the way, I still can't get over Iggy being 13 pounds!!!

My Little Guy was 16 pounds and the new boy, Lucky has stayed at 11 pounds for the last 3 months.

How big can Iggy get????? Kind of hard to walk on people when you start weighing as much as a litter sack

Lots of hugs and best wishes,

Judy

Big enough for this:

I hope you're not suggesting that His Imperiousness would do anything so (um) feline?


BK.'s weight, throughout his prime, was about 18 lbs, and mother had another big boy who was perfectly healthy and sleek at 25 lbs. Iggy could get lots bigger. Heaven help you!

As usual, the criminal returns to the scene of the crime. To GLOAT.
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Now, here's a BIG cat................ our nephew's cat weoghing in at nearly 30# I think. Never saw a cat this big in my life.

See wat we have to shoot for Jon with our Iggy & Jingles?

At least this game is not as distructive as that waterbed trick!

I have been trying to think about what to do with this thread, and am soliciting opinions.

I fear it is heading toward some kind of general discussion thread and has strayed from its central theme, and it brings up the question,
"How long does A New Beginning Last?"

"Is Iggy, at ten months old, still a New Beginning?"

I still feel he is because of his ever developing personality.

But I recognize that he is an established friend and partner now. He is one of the most important people in my life.

Your thoughts are welcome, as always.


Iggy's Staff.

A New Beginning just lasts and lasts.

Yes, Iggy is still one because a new beginning is different than what brings us here in the first place.

And as he grows and establishes himself in your home...he is still "new" and has lots of stories and pictures for us to smile at.

Lucky will be "new" to me until he has to go. As long as he is happy and healthy...it is important to share all that. We share the painful stories but it helps so much to read the happy ones.

I see so many who wonder if they should get a new one. It is important they can come here to this Section and see what a difference that can make. They see it can help.

I read others where they say to one who has "moved on" by getting a new one and that they are doing so much better.....and these others say...thank you for giving me hope...for letting me know this will not always be such a big part of my everyday...that the pain can lessen...that we don't replace our special ones who had to leave ..when we get another. That is okay to welcome a new one into our homes.

Yes, Jon....I think of Iggy as being in the perfect place and helping many by being here.

You asked for opinions......that's mine.

Give that boy a hug and kiss from me,
Judy

Jon..........

How about when Iggy is 1 year old you just start a new thread.....

Iggy's year two but still in new beginnings so the thread is not too long to read at once. We don't want to miss any of his antics or your explanations/captions/observations.

Just another idea for Iggy's Staff to ponder

Thanks, Friends and Fans! I think I should answer this because of Jon's limitations.

Let me explain.

As a cat, I sleep all day and most of the night. I therefore am much more in touch with my unconscious and with Universal Truths of Nature than any Primate could be. No offense. We are different.
Primates gather roots, nuts, berries, grubs, and cans of Fancy Feast.
WE sleep 90% of the time.
The rest of the time, to put it indelicately, we are lightning-fast, clawed and sharp toothed killing machines, who, like our friends the dogs, made deals with the Primates thousands of years ago.

"Feed me, give me a warm place to snuggle, fuss over me, you got no mice, no rats-No Trouble...Capische?"

So while Jon is the best buddy a cat could ever have, and we love each other, the fact he had to ask shows he just does not "get it".

1: I like the "Year 2 Thread" idea, because I have ELABORATE PLANS for him after my birthday party. He suspects nothing.

2: I am a different cat every month. I learn new tricks and new Human Words. I get bigger and more clever.
I have found more ways of ambushing him.

Heehhee. Yesterday I hid his shoes. Actually, I dragged them back into the closet WHERE THEY BELONG! He went crazy looking for them.

Just when he thinks he knows all my tricks, he relaxes his vigilance, then I make him laugh again.
I'm no fool. When I make him laugh, there is chicken for me.

3: I have not lost sight of the fact I was hired to make people happy.
I accept his friends when he introduces them to me.

I come every time I am called, even if I am sleeping.

When he comes home or upstairs from his shop, I greet him with my Happy Dance and pretend I have not seen him in years.

I am, (with all due modesty), as Jon says, Probably one of the greatest cats who ever lived, hence my Name.

Meow.
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IggyMeister,


EXACTLY......DUUuh! These HOOmans.........

You do realize, though.....if you sleep THAT long everyday, you're depriving yourself of more overlording time......

You might consider taking some feline pointers (the "Let's Stay Sharp!" clawse) from the also-mighty Nissa-The-Grey & UUUuuuberSabin and break the mold by only sleeping about 20% of your day away! (don't worry, you'll still be handsome - how couldn't you be???) THAT oughta throw another wrench (a fitting monkey one) into the works and really teach Jon how to walk on his toes!!

P.S. It's also really fun to knock phones off the hook when your hoomans are sleeping, especially if there's one beside the bed, Sabin says.