The Days and Life of MiloCat

I'll just help myself, thanks...

2012-01-29T13:51:00.000-08:00

My person made some popcorn in the microwave. I like popcorn and I especially like buttery coatings. When she was finished, I helped myself to the leftovers. I put my head inside the bag and licked some of the buttery flavor. Then the bag got stuck on me! I stood up and kernels fell out all around me. My person pulled the bag off my head. Then she cleaned butter off my ears and fur. I could have done that for myself.

The Captain of Chenille

2012-01-16T11:52:00.000-08:00

My person got this stripey, plush chenille scarf for a present. She put it on, and I started kneading her neck. So then she swaddled me in it, which I didn't mind at all. Now I cuddle in it all the time. Here I am yawning on it, mid-nap. My person said it's getting grubby. I think it's great.

A Long Winter's Nap

2011-12-22T17:06:00.000-08:00

My person bought me this new fleece bed. After a long day of raking my new Catnip Santa Mouse and helping my person wrap presents, I like to relax in my bed. I knead the fleecy part.

Sometimes, when I want a lot of attention, my person rolls me up in the bed and carries me around. She says I'm like a burrito. We walk around the house and look out the windows. I like that a lot. I also nap in my bed.

Fall Fashion (and frenzy)

2011-10-15T06:57:00.000-07:00

I am enjoying the fall. My Greensburg person made me this festive orange bandana to wear. It coordinates with her fall decorations. I like to wear it. The cool weather makes me very energetic. I have been playing extra hard, and I bite my person when she doesn't play enough. I also like fall produce. So far, I have raked and licked apples from the farm and sampled a strand of spaghetti squash. My person said we are going to get a pumpkin, and this time it won't be from a can.

The long, hot, Cat days of summer

2011-08-26T11:39:00.000-07:00

My people went to the beach. My person told me it's like the biggest litterbox I could ever imagine. Even though I didn't go to the beach, I lounged on the cushions and inspected the beach supplies. Here I am napping on both a cushion and a shovel.

Time lapse

2011-07-29T14:34:00.000-07:00

My people brought home some plants from the farm. I hopped into the box to relax.

After I sniffed the marigolds and settled in, I decided to put my head down for a little while.
Then I took a little nap. Look how I wrapped my toes around the box handle for comfort and security.

Living on the Edge

2011-07-11T09:27:00.001-07:00

Look how I expertly distribute my girth on the window sill.

Things I eat and drink

2011-06-29T10:18:00.000-07:00

Here I am eating my special wet food, that my person combines with water to form a slurry. I slurp the slurry. Then I take a bath and dampen my fur with my slurry-breath.

I like to chew on leafy things. When my people brought home the farm basket, I sniffed all the vegetables and chomped on the leafy ones. My person said she would have to wash off my slurry-spit later.

Here I am in a beer box. I don't really drink beer. Just water from the sink. I don't care for my water fountain anymore. I like beer boxes though.

Just right

2011-06-19T10:53:00.000-07:00

Now that it's summer, our upstairs gets very warm. I like to go upstairs and lounge in the closet or behind the futon on the carpet. My person says it's too hot for me to spend much time up there. She says I get overheated and glassy-eyed. She only lets me go up for a little while, then she makes me come downstairs and closes the door. Yesterday she measured the temperature and it was 95. Just right.

Sometimes, I look a little bit like a cow

2011-06-11T06:36:00.000-07:00

Here I am, lounging on the rug. My person said the pattern of my fur reminds her of a cow print. She also said cheese comes from cows. I like cheese.

Also, look at how long I am!

What company?

2011-05-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

My person was getting our extra bed ready, so I helped her by pouncing on the sheets and digging in them. Then I settled in on the pillow. I took a bath. I even got a little bit under the covers. I was glad to have a new spot all set up for me. Then she said we are having overnight guests. And that one of them has four legs and black fur.

So very sleepy

2011-05-15T10:37:00.000-07:00

After a busy day of playing String, scratching my person while she sat at her computer, and climbing up the window screen, I was tired. I went to bed early. I have been sleeping on my person's pillow a lot lately. I don't like to share it with her though. I like to push her off, by sleeping on her face or touching her eye while she sleeps. Then she moves and I get it all to myself. See?

My Conditions, Part 2

2011-05-04T13:15:00.000-07:00

I had to take a medicine for my bladder problems. It had some side effects. Specifically, poop would just come out of me. I left little blobs of it around. My person said it was like living with a rabbit. It also stuck to my fur. She kept sneaking up behind me with baby wipes, which I did not like one bit.

Once that cleared up, I started to get sick. I threw up a lot. My person took me to the emergency vet. I had to have a lot of tests, including one where they shaved my belly. I hate the vet's office. My person told the staff that I am not cooperative. They did not believe her. They tried to take my blood. They had to bring me back to her. My fur was a mess, and the staff's hair was a mess. A big blob of my fur was stuck to her head. I got a note in my file about that one. Heh.

I might have a pancreas problem. But I might not. No one really knows. My person said that tests show my organs are in slightly unusual places.

I took some medicine for a few days and now I feel better. Here I am licking my belly after my test. My person says I have a little pink piglet belly.

My Conditions, Part 1

2011-04-28T17:11:00.001-07:00

Well, things were going great until a few weeks ago. I was on my annual Spring Break when one day I started having trouble at my litter box. I was all upset. The nice lady rushed me to the emergency vet. The people there did a bunch of tests, which I hated. I had to stay in the hospital for almost three days. The doctor told the nice lady that I had a "urinary obstruction" and I had to have procedures and a catheter and an IV. I even had to wear a cone. I hated all that too. Then I got to come home. Now I eat special food to prevent "crystals."

My person came to get me and now I'm back in New Jersey. She said it's very important that I stay hydrated now, due to my condition. She bought me this special fountain. It's OK, but I still prefer the sink.

Options

2011-03-22T17:43:00.000-07:00

Now that I'm on Spring Break, I have several beds to choose from.

Not quite...
The first bed is comfy, but I am not really allowed on it. My fur makes its owner sneeze.

Almost...
This is the bed my person uses. See how plush the pillows are? I like it when she is there.

Just right...
This is my new favorite. It is a red cushion that the nice lady puts in the hallway. I like to sleep and lounge on it. I can keep an eye on everything while I relax. She said it's the Dog Bed. I say, It's the Cat Bed now!

O'Milo

2011-03-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

I'm on my annual Spring Break in Greensburg. I am also ready for St. Patrick's Day. The nice lady made me a green and white bandana. Maybe to celebrate I will chew on her shamrock plant.

A Big Help

2011-02-27T10:07:00.000-08:00

When the clothes are fresh from the dryer, I help keep them warm:

I also make sure the ironing board is sturdy. My fur sticks to it.

My person says sometimes the clothes look worse after I help. I disagree.

Cat on a Mat

2011-02-14T17:26:00.001-08:00

Sometimes my person does yoga, and I do it with her. When she does "downward dog," I walk around underneath her, like she's a bridge. Sometimes I'll sit down and have a bath. She says "Milo, do you have do be *right there, right now*?" Well, yes.

When she lays down on the mat, I bite her head. I grab her hair and chew it. Something about that mat makes me act up.

A kitten named Raja

2011-02-07T10:33:00.001-08:00

Recently my person met this kitten. His name is Raja. Raja and his person live in the same building I used to live in. My person said he has white and caramely fur, like mine. He only weighs three pounds. He is very lively and smart. He even wears a sweater. I think I would like this kitten a lot.

This is what he looks like:

A football fan. Sort of.

2011-01-14T09:08:00.000-08:00

I am wearing my Steelers bandana for the big game tomorrow!

Even though I look mad here, I'm not. I'm just really static-y today. I like wearing my bandana. And my fish tie.

Happy New Year

2011-01-13T08:19:00.000-08:00

Well, I had some good fun over the holidays. I rode in my carrier to Greensburg. We had company on Christmas Eve and I visited with them. My person said I was the "host with the most" and complimented me for not jumping on the table.

I had turkey, chicken and beef every day with my cat food. For Christmas I got new nip pillow with Santa printed on it. I took a break from all the festivities by napping on the couch. I like the holidays.

Soap

2010-12-18T17:39:00.000-08:00

Today my person spilled a new container of laundry detergent. He knocked it down our basement steps. The soap went on all the steps and made a big puddle at the bottom. Before my other person could stop me, I ran down all the slippery steps as fast as I could, which was much faster than usual. At the bottom I slid and crashed into the wall. But I was OK! So then I walked around in the basement for a while. I had soap on all my paws and my leg. Basement dirt and a cobweb stuck to the soap and my fur. My person tried to wipe me off but it didn't work. So she rinsed off my back paws in the kitchen sink. She put my feet right under the running faucet! I hated that a lot. Finally I dried off. Here's a picture of my wet soapy leg.

I took a few naps, and now I'm relaxing on the couch.

Easy like Sunday...

2010-12-05T17:12:00.000-08:00

After battling with my person over the pillows last night, I decided to take it easy today. I sat with both my people on the couch all day, and only got up to eat my supper and briefly play String. My person told me I was even snoring for a while.

I'm in a box and my head smells like perfume

2010-11-16T18:35:00.000-08:00

That's all really. My person can't figure out why my head and neck and ears smell like sandalwood perfume.

At last!

2010-10-17T14:57:00.000-07:00

My person finally bought me a new scratching post. She had to specially order it because I have unique taste. I have two already, but I scratched all the good parts of my favorite one. And I don't like the other one, so I was temporarily using her office chair. This new one had tan carpet, my favorite. It is also tall, like me.

In other news, there were big puddles of water in the basement today. While my person was cleaning, I splashed around. There were a lot of dead bugs floating in the water, which I liked.

Neighborhood Watch

2010-10-03T10:12:00.000-07:00

Here I am spying on the neighborhood, especially the chipmunks. I don't think they can see me because I'm all stealthy...

My trip to the Hospital

2010-08-24T09:26:00.000-07:00

Eating all that corn might have had some consequences. Or it might have been the giant bug I ate one night. Anyway, I got sick and had to go the emergency vet. At first, the vet said I had to have an operation to remove an "obstruction." But then they did more tests and decided I did not have to have an operation, but I did have to stay in the hospital for three nights, which I hated. I even had to have an IV. When my people came to see me during Visiting Hours, I was M-A-D. I also gave the people there a hard time. The two doctors were OK though, and one said I was a "delight." The other one said that he "liked the looks" of me.

Here is my IV spot, and here I am recovering. My person said I had "poodle arms." I am not allowed to eat corn anymore.

Corn fiend

2010-07-30T08:08:00.000-07:00

I finally got some corn! I ate the husks right out of the garbage can.

I like to lounge with the rotary saw

2010-07-22T12:56:00.000-07:00

If my other person needs any help with a project, I'll be ready. I like to stay close to the tools.

Too hot, even for me

2010-06-20T09:39:00.000-07:00

I am one hot cat. I spend my days trying to stay cool in new spots. Here I am in the bathroom window, where it's shady.

And here I am on the kitchen rug. That spot isn't really cool but sometimes it gets a breeze from the refrigerator. Before my person took my picture I was 100% belly-up with what my person calls "shrimp arms," for maximum coolness.

It was in my way, so I moved it

2010-05-16T15:11:00.001-07:00

I wanted to look out the window one day, but my person put a new plant in my way. I moved it so I could see. Look at how I fit between the two other plants.

Fresh!

2010-03-03T20:09:00.001-08:00

My person bought some new covers for the couch. I liked the old covers. But she took the old ones off, and put on the new ones and guess what? I liked the new ones even more! I've been on the new covers non-stop. I even go on them more than my special pillow by the heater. When she was organizing it all, I took advantage of the couch-cushion pile. My person called me "Milo and the Pea." I liked how tall I felt.

What I do in a blizzard

2010-02-10T11:24:00.000-08:00

It got very cold yesterday when our new furnace broke. I wanted to lay on my cushion by the kitchen radiator like always, but it wasn't warm like it usually is. My person had the little heater on in her office. I like the heater but I don't like the carpet in her office so I stayed in the cold kitchen. Finally my person said "Oh for crying out loud, Milo! You're coming in the office!" Then she picked my cushion, my blanket and me up and hauled us to the office. As long as I wasn't touching the rug, I liked it.

See? Not touching the rug.

What I've Been Doing

2010-01-30T15:09:00.000-08:00

I've been busy so far in 2010. The year didn't start out very good though. I got sick when I was in Greensburg and had to go to the special vet there. I didn't like that vet. She said I was "obese" and had bad teeth. Anyway, I got some medicine, which my person had to squirt in my mouth and I hated that a lot. But after a few days I started to eat my regular cat food again instead of throwing it up. And then I got all better. Now I feel like my usual tremendous self.

I found another spot I like and I go there when I am all riled up. When my person walks by I try and grab her leg.

There's a tree in the living room

2009-12-13T16:43:00.000-08:00

My people have a tree in the living room. For Christmas. I helped decorate it. And then I jumped in all the ornament boxes and chewed on some tissue paper.

Another new spot

2009-11-29T17:08:00.000-08:00

I have a few favorite spots where I spend most of my days: my cushion by the heater, the fleece blanket on the bed, and my person's lap. When I want to add a little variety, I go in the bathroom. I jump up on the radiator and snuggle down behind my person's towel. It's warm on the radiator and damp from the towel, which I like a lot. Sometimes my person comes in and is all startled to see me. Then she offers me a drink from the sink.

Arthritic

2009-11-22T10:53:00.000-08:00

My person took me to the vet Friday, which I hated. She told him about how sometimes my hip seems sensitive. One time I even tried to bite her when she petted me. The vet checked me over and now I have a new medicine to take. When we came home, my person made sure to set up a cushion for me near the heater. I've been here for two days straight, except for when I was in bed.

A Successful Hunt!

2009-11-13T04:54:00.000-08:00

What a morning I am having! My person heard me galloping around early today and got up to see what I was doing. I was throwing a dead mouse high into the air! Flinging it across the room! Running after it at top speed so I could fling it again! I even flung it towards my person! My person wasn't as excited as me. She took my picture and then put the mouse in a plastic bag.

Cozy and plush

2009-10-17T16:31:00.001-07:00

My person wants to stay home all day with me! Look how cozy I am on the new extra-fleecy blanket. She said the color reminds her of my fur: all caramely.

Go Steelers!

2009-10-16T08:35:00.001-07:00

I'm ready for football this weekend! My Greensburg person made me this Steelers bandana and I like to wear it, along with my new red collar. My favorite football snack is a corn chip or two.

Cat on a Hot Summer Day

2009-08-30T19:18:00.000-07:00

It's been hot here. I like heat and I like to find the hottest, sunniest spots to lay in. But I am at a lower ebb than usual. I have to stretch myself out for maximum air flow.
Also, when it's very hot, my person gives me an ice-pack rubdown. I like it. Sometimes our friend Callan gives me an ice-pack rubdown too.

Corn!

2009-07-29T16:19:00.001-07:00

I love corn. I love it so much that my person opened tuna and husked some corn at the same time and I picked the corn. Here I am watching her and then eating some corn husk. I like how it squeaks in my teeth.

Uh-oh

2009-07-29T16:14:00.000-07:00

I decided to stop using my litter box again. I like to poop on rugs. My person decided to roll up the dining room rug to "limit Milo's options." Then she took away the bathroom rug. So I had to use this small towel. My person said "MILO STOP THAT!!!!!!"

A new spot

2009-07-15T17:50:00.000-07:00

Now that it's hot, I have to stay cool by contorting into unusual positions. Here's a new one. My person says I will hurt my elbows, but I say: notice how my belly can catch a breeze....

Strawberries!

2009-06-26T10:29:00.000-07:00

I love strawberries that come in plastic containers. When my people buy them I rush to the shopping bag. My person gets them out for me or I do it myself. I rub my face all over the container and sometimes rake it. I act the same way I do with catnip. See?

Look how long I am!

2009-06-20T15:19:00.001-07:00

It's been rainy here but when I find a patch of sun I stretch out as long as I can. My person always says "Milo! Look at how long you are!"

There were two cats fighting in my driveway this morning. Sometimes they individually come to my windows and I yell at them. Today they both came and they do not get along. I was all excited. My person said that there were clumps of cat fur in the driveway after she chased them away.

Spring Break!

2009-03-14T05:48:00.000-07:00

I'm on my annual spring break with my Pennsylvania people. Here I am napping. I don't know why Abby is so nervous. What's the big deal?

Sporty!

2009-03-08T17:40:00.000-07:00

I like sports and sports equipment. When my people get out balls, rackets, fishing poles, golf clubs, and golf balls, I thoroughly sniff them all. Then I play with the balls. One of my people started to play hackey sack with me recently; he tosses it around and I watch it and then rake it. Here I am with some equipment and my favorite hackey sack that looks like a soccer ball. Active!

Typical Friday Night

2009-02-16T15:35:00.000-08:00

Here's me and my person on a Friday night. We do this pretty much every night in fact. Sometimes when I am sleeping she squeezes me and says "I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW RABBITY SOFT AND PLUSH YOU ARE, MILO!"

Professional Cuddler

2009-02-11T13:40:00.000-08:00

It feels like spring here lately, and that means I'm in my annual Spring Frenzy. This means I am overstimulated, and I need attention all.the.time. I follow my person around and yell at her, and scratch her arm when she is in her chair. She picks me up and carries me around, which I like, especially when she wears fleece. This takes up a lot of her day, and she said I need a Professional Cuddler to cuddle me when she is busy. She also said I need a Professional Roughouser, for when I'm more rowdy and want to play string and hackey sack for hours and hours.

A New Game I Like

2009-02-04T15:38:00.001-08:00

Everyone knows how I like to play string. And I like to jump at my post and cling on to it with my toes. Lately we've been playing a new game: String on My Post. My people wiggle my string around my post and I grab it and rake it. Sometimes I get it in my mouth and shake it. My people say I am very athletic.

Home Improvement

2008-12-16T17:50:00.000-08:00

Lately my people have been doing some projects. Last weekend they painted the living room. First I rustled around in the plastic drop cloth. I was on the scene watching the paint get mixed, and then I walked around inspecting their work. Finally I got too tired to help anymore and took a nap on the couch. The plastic sheet on it made it all crinkly to rest on. Then, I went on the ladder.

Constipated

2008-11-03T06:41:00.001-08:00

Usually when I take my pumpkin and medicine I poop on the floor two times a day. Lately I have not pooped very much at all. My person called the vet today.

UPDATE: after not finding my poop for a week, my person said we had to go to the vet. The vet said on the phone that I might have to have an enema, and maybe an operation. We got to the office and I hissed at the vet. Then he examined me all over and said "He's not constipated!" And then he and my people talked about how I might have found a secret area to poop in. My person said she looked everywhere and couldn't think of where it was. So then we went home. When we got home, my other person looked into the crawl space. HA! I had jumped up about five feet and through a little window and into the sandy crawl space. My person had to put on his special suit and clean out out all my poop.

Then he closed up the little window and now I just poop on the floor like before.

A Gruesome Scene

2008-09-22T08:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my person found a smear of blood on the counter, next to an overturned toaster. She asked my other person about it but he didn't know anything. Then she looked me over, especially at my feet, but still couldn't figure it out. This morning after I pestered her and she got out of bed, she saw that there was blood on the floor by her side of the bed and on the curtain. She got a flashlight and looked under the bed. Then she said "That is so disgusting!!" I put two mice that I killed under there. Heh. My person thinks that I caught a mouse in the kitchen and then wrestled it into the bedroom. She is not sure where the second one came from. I'm not saying.

Let me tell you about the new rug

2008-09-07T10:47:00.000-07:00

One morning my person was looking at the floor and noticed some scratches. The scratches were from my nails, when I dig them into the floor to get traction to run faster. Some of the scratches are several inches long and show how I skid around and how wide apart my toes are. My people got worried and made an "emergency carpet purchase." This worked out great, because I LOVE the carpet. I lounge on it all the time. I sit in the middle and my people play tennis ball and ping-pong ball with me. The carpet is near my scratching post, so I can go back and forth between scratching my post and rolling on the carpet. My fur is all over the carpet, and so is what my person calls "Milo debris."

Sunning Myself

2008-08-31T19:27:00.000-07:00

In my new house, I have what my people call a 'sun room.' It IS nice and bright and gets very hot in the afternoon, when I like to bask on the new furniture. My person says that the divots in the upholstery allow my girth to sink in, making me look fit while I lounge. While I think I look great with the striped cushion, I mostly just care about basking. Sometimes I chew on the fern in the sun room and then puke it up.

UPDATE: I am banned from the sun room now because I keep eating the ferns and puking them up. I'm really mad.

Where's the corn?

2008-08-22T19:35:00.000-07:00

My people go to the farm most weekends and bring back a basket of vegetables. They usually have corn. I love corn. Even when they hide it from me, I find it. Even if it's at the very bottom of the basket or in the refrigerator door. When they unpack the corn, I try and chew on the husk. Every time they open the fridge I try and chew on it. When they get it ready to cook, I stay right nearby and try to eat some or chew on some. When they cook it, I try and eat the kernels. My person usually gives me my own portion of cooked corn. Here I am with the vegetable basket, getting ready to help unpack it. The corn is at the bottom. I also chew on lettuce.

Another Milo?

2008-08-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

Hmph. Cuteoverload says that there are a lot of pets named Milo. I'm much cuter than that kitten named Milo.
http://mfrost.typepad.com/cute_overload/2008/08/milo-on-pillow.html

Beefy

2008-08-07T16:26:00.000-07:00

My person took me to the vet today. I had to get two shots which I did NOT like. Mostly I like the vet though, and I liked him a lot today, because he said I am "beefy." I weigh 14.1 pounds and am in excellent condition. I got my fur and skin checked, and I have some "oily growths" which the vet said my person could squeeze. She said, "Uh, that's OK." Then the vet and my person had a l-o-n-g talk about my litter box issues. They did not reach any conclusions. I've been recovering all day.

Am I Exasperating?

2008-08-05T08:25:00.001-07:00

My person keeps sighing and saying things like "Milo, you are so exasperating!" and "Milo, you are a very challenging little boy!" These comments may have something to do with this morning.

First I went to the basement to poop. I was pooping on the floor when my person came down and said "Milo, what are you doing?" and picked me up and put me in the biggest of my three litter boxes, which was also about four inches away, where I finished pooping.

Then that black cat came back in my driveway. I decided to get a better look so I went upstairs and climbed out a window and walked across the roof and stood on the gutter and looked down and yelled at it. My people kept saying "Where's Milo? I can hear him caterwalling but I can't see him." Finally they found me and one of my people caught me. I wasn't ready to come inside though so I ran out the window again right away. It was pretty fun. Now I am banished from upstairs.

My person also said "Why can't you act like a normal 10-year old cat?" Well, I'm M.I.L.O and it's just how I roll.

Watching!

2008-07-27T15:17:00.000-07:00

I have spent the last few weeks getting all settled in with my people in our new house. I like it here. There are a lot of windows for me to look out. I can see squirrels and rabbits and birds. Today my person said there was a ground hog in the backyard that was almost as big as me! But I was sleeping and missed it. Best of all, some of the windows have a special ledge that fits me just fine--I can lounge around with the plants and keep an eye on the neighborhood, all at once. Sometimes I yell at our neighbor when he takes out his garbage. And sometimes a black cat comes in the driveway and I yell at him too. Here are I am in the window.

In other news, some friends have been coming to see me. They pet me and talk to me and the then they give me a massage. They call it an Intestinal Massage, and say its for my digestion. I still poop on the floor, but I sure like the massage.

To my new house....

2008-06-16T16:42:00.000-07:00

The nice lady said that we are all going back to New Jersey. But I am going to a new house! My people will be there waiting with all of my things, but we will live in a whole new town! And I have been told there is a lot of wildlife, including groundhogs, right outside the window!

A Taste of Freedom!

2008-06-07T15:36:00.000-07:00

I'm in Greensburg, mostly having a good time, but I get really mad when the people and dogs get to go outside. One day, the garage door was open a little bit. I helped myself out the door, then into the yard, and then across the way to the neighbor's. Stupid Abby barked and the lady and neighbor corralled me, right when I was going onto his porch. The lady took me inside and forgot that I knew the route to FREEDOM. So I ran right outside again through the garage and was lounging by the bushes when she found me. She said I could get lost and bought me a collar that says my name and phone number. Here I am wearing it, all tired after my adventures. I like the garage and the yard.

So plush on the upholstery

2008-04-20T12:38:00.000-07:00

I am having a great time in Greensburg. I've been sleeping in the bed, sleeping in the window, and sleeping in the nice man's chair. I like that chair. Here I am, taking a bath on it. Look how plush we both are and look at how I can wedge myself into a good spot.

Spring Cleaning

2008-03-20T11:04:00.001-07:00

I am having my annual Spring vacation in Greensburg. I rode here with the nice man and lady in my carrier. I don't mind the trip at all, until we get to Youngwood. I threw up there, just like all the other times. I am having a good time here. I have been sleeping, eating, kneading the nice man and lady, watching out the window and co-existing the Abby and G. One day I helped the lady by sitting in the dresser while she was cleaning the drawers. I liked all the dust and activity and I got my fur on all the clothes. Helpful!

Sunday Afternoon

2008-03-03T18:22:00.000-08:00

I've been spending most of my time relaxing lately. Yesterday was no exception. I found a great spot for myself on the couch, propped up on my person's foot. I could nap, see everything, and stay warm all at once.

Me in the Hall

2008-01-17T08:10:00.000-08:00

I live in an apartment with my people that is in a big building, like a hotel, according to my person. I've never been to a hotel, but I like to go in the hallway of the building a lot. I like to roll on the rug, stretch myself out, sniff the other doors, and occasionally walk to the Trash Room. Sometimes I get noticed by the neighbors who comment on my size and handsomeness. Usually I go out and my people stand around with me or we go for a little stroll. They make me come in too soon though.

A Holiday Story

2008-01-07T13:29:00.000-08:00

I like the curly ribbon my people use at Christmas. Sometimes I can get a good chew of it when they're done wrapping their presents, before they put them out of my reach. This year, my person left a whole roll of curly ribbon on the counter. I chewed on it for a few days before she noticed. Usually I puke bits of it right up, but not this year.

One day I felt funny when I went to my litter box. I made a ruckus until my person came. She looked at my butt and saw something white sticking out. She pulled it, and about six inches of curly ribbon came out of me! She yelled "EWWW MILO THAT IS SO GROSS!" and then ran in the bathroom with it. She said I was lucky I didn't have to go the vet. I felt a lot better.

Updates

2008-01-05T15:42:00.000-08:00

My person told me it is 2008, which means I have lived with her for nine years, and that makes me almost ten years old! We visited the Greensburg people for Christmas and I enjoyed myself. I lounged, sneaked into the spare bedroom to chew on delectable dried plants, puked them up, touched Abby and Geronimo with my paw, and got petted by the nice man and lady.

Lately I have been going in the hall a lot. As soon as I know my people are coming, I hide behind the door and when it swings open I dart out into the hall and roll around on the carpet. I like to get all staticky. Sometimes I walk down the hall and sniff the other doors. I used to be afraid when people came, but now I just let them walk over me. Then I come in and have my supper.

Since it's been cold I've been going on the cushions and by the heater.

Special treatment for my condition

2007-10-21T14:59:00.001-07:00

As many of you know, I have been having some problems with my belly. We went to the v-e-t again and he diagnosed me with "age-related constipation." While that may sound like bad news, it has some important benefits.
1. I now get to eat a spoonful of pureed pumpkin twice a day with my cat food.
2. I get my flavored gel even more often.
3. My person puts an oily liquid in my food and I like things that are oily.
4. I can poop in my litter box and not on the rug!

Presenting....Cole!

2007-10-16T14:42:00.000-07:00

This is Cole. We both have ties. We are both athletic and rabbity. We both have pink ears and noses. I have pink pads on my paws and Cole has black pads. He lives in Maryland where there are crabs and seabirds. We both like to be lively. And we are both strikingly handsome.

Upscale and in charge

2007-10-12T18:01:00.000-07:00

My person got me this new business ensemble for Halloween so I could be Manager Milo. But I like to wear it every weekday, not just for the holiday. I like how it has a crisp, starchy, pointy yellow collar and a fish printed on the tie. The color scheme flatters me. And I can say "You, get on that catnip acquisition plan!" and look all bossy.

Recovering

2007-09-23T09:34:00.001-07:00

I've had some hard times lately with my tummy. The night before last I was sick in the middle of the night and, even though I feel better, I'm still tired. So today I am recuperating in the sun. Later my person will give me my special chicken-flavored gel to help my belly.

I'm so connected

2007-09-11T17:35:00.000-07:00

I like the computer. I like my blog and telling everycat what my latest activities are. I like walking on the printer and making the lights and sounds come on. I like standing on the keyboard while my people type. Sometimes I just like to bask.

Roughousing and resting

2007-08-30T05:56:00.001-07:00

I'm back in New Jersey and in full effect. I've been pretty invigorated lately, playing String and with my red ball. First my people roll it down the hall or around the living room. And then I gallop after it, corral it, fling myself down on it, and rake it! Here I am after an especially challenging game. I decided to take a nap with my ball.

Whirlwind week

2007-08-05T16:21:00.000-07:00

Last week my people went away and left me at home. Two nice ladies came and gave me my cat food and petted me. And they let me walk in the hallway and down to the trash room, which I liked. But I was lonely. When my people are home, I get included in everything: I sleep with them on the bed, eat my supper with them, and play ball and String with them. So I didn't like being by myself for so long. But then they came home and before I knew it, I was in my carrier and in the car with my Greensburg people. Even though I get car sick, I like going to Greensburg. The first night I made my rounds to all the plants and dried flowers. I ate some, and puked some up. The nice lady gives me chicken treats and cooked prey with my cat food. There is a sunny window with plants where I like to sleep and stretch. Here I am in the window:

Litterbox fiasco

2007-07-07T16:28:00.000-07:00

So, I like to keep my people guessing. Lately, I've been not so inclined to poop in my litter box. Instead, I go on the rug right outside it. It's not that the box is dirty or anything. And I still pee in the box. My people got me new litter and a new cat food for "sensitive systems." And my person keeps looking at my butt and watching me every time I go down the hall. She said I might have to go to the v-e-t. That sounds bad. Maybe I'll feel like pooping in my box tomorrow.

Not catnip, but not bad

2007-06-23T16:46:00.000-07:00

My people came home with this mint. I liked it. I rubbed my face all over the leaves. To let my people know I was *starving* I ate the leaves. Then I puked them up. That got their attention!

Something I Hate

2007-06-08T17:56:00.000-07:00

When my person sits on the floor, I get really mad. She sometimes sits on the carpet to read a magazine, or maybe stretch. I remind her how I don't like it by sitting really close to her and staring. I fold my ears back and adjust my whiskers to show her she needs to move. Usually she doesn't pick up on my signals, so I bite her. Not too hard, but hard enough. Today, I was really mad. So I bit her really hard. She yelled and I looked at her and thought "What are you going to do about it, Lady?" Nothing, as it turns out. She went and sat in the chair, and that was that.

My awesome cat carrier

2007-05-10T14:58:00.000-07:00

My people got me something great: a hard plastic cat carrier. I used to have a soft black one and I hated it a lot. It shifted around too much and made me feel sick. The new one is much better. It has a very plush specially fitted cushion inside. I like going in it when we have to go in the car. Ever since we've been back in New Jersey I like to spend my days in it, in the house. I like to sleep in it in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening. I come out every once in a while for variety. I don't even mind when I accidentally close the door on myself. My person said I look like a shelter cat in there. When I get stuck, I just relax on the cushion until one of my people gets me out.

Sleepy but on the scene

2007-04-30T06:27:00.000-07:00

After many weeks, I am back in New Jersey with my people. I had a great time in Pennsylvania. There were a lot of spots for me to nap and lots of prey to stalk--like mice and Abby. My favorite room is the kitchen, because the nice lady makes me ground meat there and that's where she keeps my chicken shaped treats and my cat food. I like to sit on the fridge because I can see everything. And sometimes I find beef jerky.

Spring Break, Milo Style

2007-03-25T15:57:00.000-07:00

In the last few weeks, my people have had to travel a lot. So I am staying with my Greensburg people for a while. Life is good here. The nice lady bought me little chicken shaped treats and some new toys. The nice man is home a lot, and we sit on the chair together and nap.

I've lounged on the windowsill, helped the nice lady clean the bathroom cabinets, chewed on dried flowers, pushed items off the counter, antagonized Abby, opened the dog food cupboard, and gotten groomed with a dog brush (which was not bad at all).

Also, I've gotten to eat many usually off-limits foods. Here I am licking hamburger out of a pan on the stove. Greensburg is awesome!

Springtime

2007-03-04T18:12:00.000-08:00

There's been a lot of plant activity around here lately, bulbs specifically. A box of them arrived the other day. I dug out some bulbs with my paws and rolled them around on the floor. My person told me she'd plant them and they'd grow and get leafy and succulent like these paperwhites I'm sniffing and rubbing and rustling here.

Working

2007-02-20T19:12:00.000-08:00

Contrary to what some of my other posts might indicate, I do, in fact, earn my keep. While there aren't any rodents for me to police here, I help my people in other ways. For example, here I am making sure my person's papers stay put. And I'm keeping track of her pencil.

A Typical Day

2007-02-11T16:43:00.000-08:00

My day typically starts when my person begins to wake up. Or when I think she should wake up, which is somewhere between 4 and 8 am, depending on the day and the temperature. I eat my breakfast, usually have some litterbox activity, and then get on the office chair, the desk, the new comforter, or the couch for a l-o-n-g nap. If my people are home, I like to sit with them. Usually around 3 I start getting ready for dinner. I begin my dinner campaign by yelling, attracting attention to myself, and generally alerting my people. After my dinner, I like to play. Sometimes we play string, or I run around really really fast and scratch my post, or sometimes we play on the bed. I get a nighttime snack too, usually around 9. Lately I've been going to bed before my people. I like the new comforter. Here's me relaxing on my favorite red fleece blanket.

An afternoon with argyle

2007-02-09T17:18:00.000-08:00

It's been so cold here and one day I remembered how great it is to get in my person's sweater drawer. Here I am enjoying myself. Unfortunately, due to my girth, once I was wedged in, I couldn't slither back out. My person had to rescue me.

All my aliases

2007-01-19T06:26:00.000-08:00

My person has a lot of nicknames for me. I usually go by Milo but I'm also known as M, M-Cat, Milo-Cat, Bunny, Wrinkle, Squishy, The Boy, The Best Boy, Kitten, Peanut, Rabbit, and some others I can't think of right now.

When I got to Greensburg, I get called Kitty Boy. My pal Geronimo has a lot of nicknames too. Here are a few: G, G-Mo, G-Boy, Mr. Handsome, Mr. Stately, Mr. Big....Geronimo, what are some others???

Here I'm Just Plain Tired.

Tuna Surprise!

2007-01-17T18:10:00.000-08:00

My people went out to dinner and brought me some tuna steak. My person put it in my bowl. I looked at it, sniffed it, and then looked at her like "What the hell, lady?" So she took it out, cut it into bite-sized pieces, and I snarfed it down like prey. Usually, when I get something particularly savory, I take it out of my bowl and smush it down on the floor. And that's what I did with the tuna.

Paper paper paper

2007-01-12T14:08:00.000-08:00

My people got a package in the mail and it included a lot of paper. So we got it all unpacked and played...my people tossed my nip stocking around in the paper, and I ripped up the paper, shredded it up, chewed it and spit it out, crackled it, and finally took a nap in it. Here's me right before falling asleep:

Cat food!

2007-01-07T05:41:00.000-08:00

Here I am with my refrigerator. It is where my cat food is stored. Several years ago, my person thought she could hide my cat food from me in a kitchen drawer. I may not have opposable thumbs, but I just opened up the drawer, dragged the food out and ate as much as I liked. So now it gets kept in a plastic storage container inside the fridge. I eat breakfast, dinner, and a late night snack. I eat a few different kinds of food, including a weight management food, an oral care food, and, most recently, a "vitality" food. My person said the store was out of the other kinds. This food is good but is made for "senior" cats. I am feeling more vital though.

Overall, I'd prefer to eat more. When I am hungry, I have several persuasive strategies: I sit by the fridge, yell as loud as I can, knock things off the kitchen counter (if they get up to see if something broke, they can easily put cat food in my bowl), walk back and forth on top of their computers, scratch my person's arm, and generally draw attention to myself. It works, but sometimes it takes a long time, from, say, 1pm to 4pm. A few years ago, I had a great victory. When my person was in the other room, I slid my paw into the fridge and opened the door. A glorious cascade of cat food poured out! I ate til I could eat no more. My person called me 'freakishly strong.'

I'm....so...rabbity...soft...

2007-01-02T15:13:00.000-08:00

My fur is white and caramely. It is rabbity soft and extremely plush. My person described me once as a perfectly toasted marshmallow. This weekend, our good friend Chris came to visit, and she couldn't keep her hands off me. She remarked about my softness, my pink nose, and my fur. Then she gave me a massage. Which I liked a lot.

New Year's Nip

2006-12-31T18:12:00.000-08:00

For Christmas I got two new nip treats...one is a Pittsburgh Steelers nip pillow and the other is a nip stocking. Here I am with my stocking, which was so great it practically gave me fits. Notice my dilated pupils:

Christmas cardboard

2006-12-17T19:17:00.000-08:00

My people are getting ready for Christmas, and that means several exciting things for me: cardboard, paper, and curly ribbon. I enjoy all three. Here I am with a wrapping paper tube. My person says my name through it all loud, like a Milo megaphone, and while she says my name I chew up the end. I rip off bits of cardboard and spit out the bits on the carpet. I like to show my fangs.

Here's another picture of me in action. Check out my mighty jaws:

I can't wait for the reindeer to show up.....

Fleece Belly

2006-11-19T11:07:00.000-08:00

Here I am on a blustery fall weekend. Good thing I'm inside on my fresh-from-the-dryer fleece blanket. I've been preparing for a long, cold winter: witness my girth and extra-thick, super-insulating belly fur.

Scabby

2006-11-05T16:59:00.000-08:00

I sometimes scratch my ear or my forehead (on the bald-ish part) too hard. Recently I scratched four spots on my right side and one on my left. Now I have tough-looking scabs. Like I used to get when I was on the mean streets.

Happy Halloween

2006-11-02T18:00:00.000-08:00

Well, Halloween's over. Here's a picture of me in my pumpkin suit. I don't really like wearing it but I do look fantastic.

Maybe it was Friday the 13th....

2006-10-16T08:51:00.000-07:00

I don't know why, but I've been ALL RILED UP for the past few days. On Saturday I ran around as fast as I could all day, I knocked stuff down, I bit my person and I pooped on the rug in the bathroom. Today I pooped on the rug again and ripped up a plastic bag. Whew! I'm exhausted now, and resting by the heater.

Mmmmm flowers

2006-10-15T04:44:00.000-07:00

Here I am enjoying some new fall flowers. I like to rub my whiskers on them. Sometimes I get pollen on my nose. And sometimes I knock the vase over. You can't see her doing it, but my person is holding it up so I can sniff, rub, and bite these flowers. She didn't really like it when I snapped one of the stems in half though.

In addition to flowers, I like plants that are tendril-y and have dry crunchy leaves.

Steamy

2006-10-10T16:07:00.000-07:00

I like to be warm. And moist. I frequently go into the bathroom when my person is taking a shower so I can get all steamed up while laying on the plush rug. Recently I found something that's even better: the dishwasher. After its done running, my people open the door and let me lay down on it. I stay until my nose gets pink like a strawberry and I am slightly damp.

An intemperate feline

2006-10-02T09:38:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned my love of cardboard and fleece. I also like baskets. They crinkle and are pleasingly textured. My people store their entertainment items and plants on this basket-y serving tray in the kitchen. One day I shoved all of their stuff to the side and settled in. Now they keep a space clear just for me.

I'll take my cream straight up, please.