Jack the Cat Lost at JFK

See below for my previous Wednesday post.  

Have you read about poor Jack?    He escaped from his carrier at JFK, when in the hands of American Airlines.   Mom says he looks somewhat like me:

Here is the Facebook page set up about him:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jack-The-Cat-is-Lost-in-AA-Baggage-at-JFK/143108332445793?sk=info

Let them find you, Jack!!!!!   Let's all Purr our hardest for Jack to be found and reunited with his Mom.  He must be furry frightened.

Whisker Hump Wednesday

Mom never paid any attention to my whisker humps before some kitties started doing whisker hump Wednesday posts in honor of Kismet, who had to go to the Rainbow Bridge.   We did not know Kismet, but are sure his family misses him very much.

This closeup whisker shot shows the little dark spots where my whiskers grow from my face.  I kinda like them!

Caterpillar 911

Kitties, the caterpillars ate up all the parsley plant!     They were hanging on the very tips of the stems, eating the last few leaves when Mom saw them.    They are so voracious.    Mom had to rush to the store to get them a "replacement" diet of store -bought flat parsley.    They look like they are getting reasonably close to the size for forming a chrysalis, so Dad has set them up in a large tub with a cover and sticks they can use when they want to make a chrysalis.    The store-bought parsley has been "planted" in a pot in the tub in some water and will be replenished as needed.    There are still 8 of them.   They are getting pretty big and chubby.   Remember, they may look a bit icky (not many people like caterpillars) but these will be lovely Black Swallowtail butterflies.  

In this picture you can see all the bare parsley stems.  Click to biggify.  You can see their green poopies on the deck flooring.   

Caterpillar Update

Enough of hurricane updates!   let's have a caterpillar update!

The caterpillars rode out the hurricane in the garage and they weren't even aware it was happening.   OMC they grew a lot in 1 1/2 days!     And there are still 8 of them.  You can see 6 in the first picture and a close up of one in the second.   Some seem to be a bit bigger than others  Maybe they are one molt ahead? But we don't even know if they moult or not.   Click to biggify.

Updated:  yes, they do molt.  The stages are called instars.  Details here:
http://www.butterflygardeningandconservation.com/butterfly/st/black.php

Hurricane Update 3

We are still doing fine.      Amazingly, the windiest part was AFTER the hurricane seemed to be over, in the afternoon and evening today.    All our tall trees were lashing about.

Dad put up the hummingbird feeder again this morning as soon as he could get out there.  He secured it by attaching a rope to the bottom and tying it to the deck railing.  The little birdie has been back in spite of the strong wind, and also many other birds to the regular feeders.    Here is how the hummingbird feeder looks the way he secured it:

And here is the stuff Mom and Dad prepared for us before the hurricane, in case we had to leave the house.  The bag contained our food and bowls and water and harnesses.     But now it is all packed away again.

Purrs go out to all the people and animals who were badly affected by this storm.  We were very fortunate and know not everyone was in our  situation.  

Hurricane Update 2

Still fine here - 6:20 am.    Rain is not as heavy as during the middle of the night, and the wind is not as extreme as it may become still.     Still have power: maybe we will keep it!   Wouldn't that be great.    We kitties just got our breakfast.  Yum!

Mom heard a couple of branches falling down in the night - one hit the house, but it is still too dark to see exactly what they look like.

While being relieved that we came through the night OK, our hearts go out to other people impacted by flooding of their homes with all this rain.   We are fortunate that our house is on a hill, and is built fairly high, so our basement is still OK.    But record amounts of rain are causing a lot of flooding, and probably more to come with rising rivers.      We are watching the tv News, anxious about the storm surges in New York as well.  

Sweet story about Dad and the hummingbird(s):  he waited till it was almost dark before taking down the last feeder.     Just after he did so, the little hummer showed up for a feed in the rain.    So he went back on the deck and put the feeder out until it was truly totally dark.    Mom and dad watched the feeder from the kitchen table and saw the birdie come back a couple more times for a long drink.      I wonder how she sheltered fro the night.  

Hurricane Update

Still here folks, as of 2:20 am.     The sounds outside are scary, yet in fact it is almost all RAIN: the wind hasn't even picked up yet.     But from the news reports the wind is certainly coming.    Never seen so much rain before!    We still have power (otherwise we wouldn't be accessing the internet).
Laptop had been wrapped up in plastic and stored safely, but Mom could not stand it any more, because she couldn't stay asleep.  But we will secure it again soon, just in case.
The eye of the hurricane should pass around 8 am, we think.   Dad said if our power was out when it was time for breakfast, they would have PBNJ sandwiches for breakfast so as not to have to open the fridge.   They have our carriers ready and a "go bag" with food and water for us if it were to be necessary to leave the house but who would possibly want to go out in that mess for any reason!!!   Right now Simba is asleep in the basement and Audrey in the kitchen.
Hope to update again in the daytime if there is power.

Caterpillar Update

We have SIX of these guys on the parsley!     None have left for "greener" pastures.      Luckily Mom doesn't care if they eat up the parsley; in fact, they put the parsley in hoping to have this happen.    Mom guesstimates they are a bit more than an inch long at this stage.  (Dad measured: 2cm to 2.2 cm, so less than an inch).
Once the hurricane gets near, they will try to put the plant in the garage.

Let's all have a GRAND purr-in for all the kitties in the path of this monster hurricane.     We expect it to be pretty close to us, and will probably lose power and have trees or branches down, etc. The humans have stocked up on non-perishables (including OUR fuds), filled bottles with water, filled the car with gas, Dad even tested out his chainsaw!   We, of course, haven't got a clue what is ahead.  

Pee Ess: comments are back on.

Pee Pee Ess:  They are now warm and dry in the garage.  But Dad counted EIGHT!    Mom is worried they won't have enough parsley to all grow up and form chrysallises.

Furry Friday

Update on the caterpillars:  They are growing!   And getting spottier.  Will try to post updated pictures soon.

Just a couple of random furry pictures of us today in advance of a visit from hurricane Irene:

Me:  Mom and Dad were playing around with trying to get down to "cat level" with the camera on the kitchen floor.

Audrey:  her new favorite sleeping spot in the corner of the dining room.

Stay safe, kitties.    

Because of the malware issue Spitty the Kitty and Fuzzy Tales have mentioned, comments are turned off here.    We also will not be commenting on your blogs but be assured we are reading your posts, friends.

Critters on Thursday

::Meowwwwww::

You may recall that recently we posted a picture of a Black Swallowtail butterfly close to our potted parsley plant.    Because of our experiences last August, we knew that Black Swallowtail caterpillars will eat parsley so a few days ago Mom went to check the parsley plant to see if possibly the butterfly had laid eggs on it.      She was able to see several really small black caterpillars with a white stripe across the middle.    You may need to click to biggify this picture to see the caterpillar better - it is just below the middle of the photograph.    It was taken on August 18th and is already pretty zoomed.   They were SMALL!

On the 22nd, the humans counted 6 total caterpillars on the plant, which had developed spots and grown considerably, but were still small.  This picture is still zoomed a lot.

We are going to continue to follow these critters, so long as they don't get washed away or blown away by hurricane Irene on Sunday, because we expect to be impacted strongly by the hurricane here.  
For comparison, last August (2010), things were a bit further ahead at this time: the two caterpillars we had were already butterflies by August 28th.    I blogged about the whole process then.    Here are two pictures from LAST year, the first of the caterpillar at its biggest August 15th, and the second of the butterfly that emerged from the chrysalis on the 28th.     We hope to get to see the process again this year, though closer to the Fall like this, the butterflies don't "hatch" until the Spring.

And in other current gardening news, our lazy basil plants that Dad started from seeds are doing a lot better, and Mom even picked 4 small leaves to use in cooking dinner last night!

And last, but definitely not least, the Auction being held to help Sammy Andy Shelly and their family will be ending tomorrow, the 26th.     There are some wonderful things being auctioned such as 2 Peggy Blankies, a catnip quilt, jewelry, cards, kitty frames, a kitty tote, pashminas and shawls, books by Max and Sparkle and Fin, a Petsmart gift card, etc.  Most of the items include shipping!    Click on this link to go to the auction page.    

Dedications to Two Sweet Kitties

Today our post is dedicated to two kitties, one old one and one very young one:

Miss Peach, who lived 18 wonderful years and yesterday went to the Rainbow Bridge.   Fly free and be well and strong again, Miss Peach!    You can read the wonderful poem in tribute to her on her blog here.

Little Beignet, just a kitten, who has developed Vaccine Associated Sarcoma and must have a second surgery today.   His Mom who was to be, Paula, is so sad.   His sister Truffle will still be coming to her forever home with Paula, but not Beignet.   Please read about Beignet on their blog here.  Update:   Dear little Beignet passed away and went to the Rainbow Bridge during his surgery.    Such a new little kitty life, over so soon.

Many purrs from us.  

Manly (?) Monday

Mom thinks I look really silly in this picture - I posted the front view a little while ago, showing the crossed paws.  But look at the back legs and the long stretched out body!  

She calls me her funny bunny.

Easy Sunday

Easy Sunday Audrey Style: Sunpuddle Edition

PhotoHunt - Drink

Dad has to be very patient trying to get pictures of the little hummingbird who visits our tube feeders to drink the sugar water.   She flits in and out quickly and doesn't stay for long.  This picture has been enlarged quite a bit so it isn't in perfect focus - I am sorry.

Fixing My Furs Again

This is my window ledge in the basement.    Dad put a piece of carpet remnant on the ledge for me for comfort.     Mom just recently vacuumed it because it was oh-so-furry!    The past couple of days, Dad has been sorting all their accumulated travel brochures from years and years, and he had lots of papers piled ON MY LEDGE!    Well, finally, I got it back, and I was oh-so-glad.    So I settled down for a thorough fur fixing session.

Please 'scuse the murky looking window.    This was just after it had been raining, and also the window needs a good cleaning from both sides, since Dad has been painting it on the outside and he got the glass messed up when he was wiping and cleaning the wooden parts outside with a bleachy solution.  

Have a wonderful Friday, Furriends!

Wordless Wednesday

ManCat Bath Day

It is very Manly to wash well every day, and keep one's furs spruced up.    Even if it gives you hairballs.  That is part of the price to be paid for being always ready to impress the Ladycats.  Just in case one stops by.  You never know.   And I am not counting Audrey.

Easy Sunday Simba Style

We would prefer to be hanging out taking our Easy on the deck, today, but we have a rainy day, which is good for the grass and trees.  So we will chillax inside today.   Happy Sunday!

PhotoHunt - One

Number of kitties who can sleep on the Ess at any given time:

......... ONE!

Garden Item of Interest

::Meowwwwww::

Sorry my secretary has been so lax with getting a post up today.   She has been sitting at the computer a lot but seems to spend most of her time looking at stock market stuff.   Chill, woman!

Anyhoo, my DAD came running inside and said there was a Black Swallowtail Butterfly out on one of the impatiens pots, and grabbed the camera.     These are full size images if you want to click to biggify to see her better.  We hope it IS a her, because the impatiens pot is right next to the parsley!  Mom and Dad hopes she lays some eggs on the parsley, a favorite food for Black Swallowtail caterpillars.

The humans here  really don't eat much parsley, but grow it for the butterflies mostly.  Some of my readers from last summer may remember the excitement of us having green and black caterpillars on the parsley, them forming chrysalises  and then hatching to give black swallowtail butterflies.     Mother Nature appears to be repeating herself.

Wordless Wednesday

Rain Rain Go Away

We have had quite a bit of on and off rain over the past couple of weeks - of course just when dad is motivated to get some outdoor painting done.     Couple that with the fact that Audrey REALLY likes to go out on the deck now, and you get a scene like this occurring:

Dad is a bit of a tease, and encourages us to go on the deck even if it is raining lightly, then laughs when we want to come back in again quickly.    But on this occasion, Audrey wasn't buying it.

I do have to say that the perspective on this photo is not too flattering to Audrey, and makes her look fatter than she really is!   We think she is even maybe losing s little weight, with her greater activity level here, what with the deck and chase games and all.  She even accidentally escaped down the deck stairs to the driveway yesterday, but was brought swiftly back inside for her own safety.  

Spitty asked a question about the pink thing Audrey was lying on in the picture yesterday. That is her "Princess Blanket" that her first Mom got her.   It is pink fleece, with a pink satin ruffle and a bit of black trim.    Very snazz.     When the humans brought her back to our house on the plane, her first Mom (my human sister) said if they couldn't fit her beddie in the suitcase, to PLEEZE bring the princess blanket and put it in a box or something for her.  Well, they WERE able to bring the bed, and also the blanket.    Having both those things helped make Audrey's transition to her new home a happy one.

World Cat Day

Wishing every one of my kitty friends a Happy World Cat Day!   Mom and I like these two quotes about cats that we found:

Since each of us is blessed with only one life, why not live it with a cat?- Robert Stearns

"Beware of those who dislike cats."
- Traditional

Easy Sunday

Two interpretations on a theme:

Mom and Dad have a modern style leather reclining chair.      But to protect it from sharp claws, they often put this red bedspread on it.     We find it very comfy!

Photo Hunt: Painted

Today's Photo Hunt theme is "Painted".     The day before my human sister's wedding "the girls" went together to have manicures and pedicures at a Nail Salon.  It was a very pampering experience and a fun time together according to my Mom.    Here are 5 of the ladies showing their painted toenails:   

When I heard about it, I felt a bit left out of things even though I am a man cat: please Mom, can't I also have my toes done?   

(not only do they not serve cats there, I don't even have any front claws, so Mom couldn't even promise me Soft Paws or something.  Oh, well: maybe she can just come up with an extra large serving of treats instead?)

Simba

About Audrey's Captions and Sunshine Award

About the Captions to Wednesday's picture of Audrey:  LOVED all your ideas!    I invite you to go and read the full set.   The ones that probably most reflected the truth were the ones that suggested she was waiting for bugs, or just staring at the wall to aggravate Mom.    She hadn't been bad or anything, Mom just found her napping that way and snapped a photo.

Earlier in the week, Katz Tales gave us the Sunshine Award: thank you Au, Target and Guido!

There are 10 questions to be answered and then the award should be passed on to 9 other bloggers.   I will let Audrey answer the first 5 questions and I will answer the second five:
Audrey:
1.   My favorite color:   turquoise blue!  The color of my new collar.
2.  My favorite animal: mousies, especially furry toy ones with leather tails.
3.  My favorite number:  007 (Simba's tag number) and second favorite: 018, MY tag number
4.   My favorite non-alcoholic drink:  toona juice
5.   Social media?    We don't do Facebook or Twitter, but we love Blogging and reading our kitty friends' blogs

Simba:
6.   My passion:  Watching chipmunks through the basement window
7.   Getting or giving presents:  both are fab
8.  My favorite pattern:  Diagonal stripes - the floor of the deck
9.  My favorite day of the week:  EVERY day!
10.  My favorite flower:  Impatiens: Mom and Dad grow them on the deck.

Now I am supposed to pass the award on to 9 other bloggers.    I was chosen by being one of the first 9 commenters on Katz Tales' previous post.    So I am going to do the same.   If I pick you and you have already had this award, No Problem!

Eric and Flynn
Mr Puddy
The Island Cats
Admiral Hestorb
Mario
Sammy, Andy and Shelly
Brian
Fuzzy Tales
Margs Pets

Off to Bora Bora

We are joining Gracie and friends in Bora Bora today!    See ya later, Mom!! :::snicker:::

One Word Wednesday

Caption?

Prize from Spitty-the-Kitty

So kitties, the other day we received a package in the mail from Spitty-the-kitty!     We had correctly guessed that his reference to himself as Spitty Nagini was a reference to the snake Nagini in Harry Potter.   There were all sorts of cool toys and some treats in the package.  Here we each are checking out everything:

Kitties, Spitty's human put cool Harry Potter stickers on the mailing envelope and on the outside of the card he enclosed:  look at this one for Slytherin!

And here is Spitty's note that was in the envelope

Thank you very much, Sir Spitfire!  We really enjoy your blog.

Mancat Monday

I really so much prefer to have something soft to sit or lie on when I am on the deck!