Gimme That Toy!!

Miss Agnes Pettibone, always the lady, waits patiently for Ian to begin another round of play with her favorite toy. It's a sparkly ball on string attached to a stick, or 'Magic Wand of Want to Kill It' in kitten vernacular.



Master Henry Pettibone, doing his best to impersonation of a gentleman with all the time in the world, also awaits round two, but despite his casual appearance, keeping glancing sideways at the man who stands between him and his toy. Little does he know, he's not fooling anyone.

Mobile Phone pix

Is that chicken!!??!!

This is the face of a kitten who really would like to help me eat my chicken dinner.



Another mobile phone pic

Pumpkins?

Henry wasn't too sure of what to make of those little pumpkins.

Snacks Please!!

We've had a leisurely weekend full of napping and chin scratching. The kids have been rather feisty at times, too. They're playing, but Agnes gets a little tired of Henry taunting her and she's hauled off and popped him a couple of times, only to turn right around and chase him. It's entertaining.


Mobile Phone Picture

Squirrel TV

With Fall falling the neighborhood squirrels have been busy, which means that the cats have the fun of running from window to window, plotting what they would do to said squirrels if they weren't bubble children.

We're coming back!

Hello!!

I'm sorry we've been away so long. We were taking a little break. It's been a busy summer that had its ups and downs. It included my first photography show (up) and was topped off with a medical scare for me that (fortunately) turned out well.

To all you ladies out there, be sure to get your mammograms and do your self-exams!

Agnes and Henry were a great comfort to me during what felt like an eternal 7 days waiting for the biopsy results. The importance of and my deep love for my little cat family and my beloved husband came ever more into focus.

Anyway, thanks for your patience! New pix to come this weekend.

xoxo

Agnes cooling out on the tub

Agnes cooling out on the tub
Originally uploaded by Cloudstomp

This a blurry mobile phone picture, but it was cute enough to share. Agnes discovered that the edge of the tub was cooler than the floor, or anywhere else in the house, for that matter.

I love the dreamy expression on her face.

We're Having Us a Heatwave

It's hot!

We're having a heatwave. It's expected to get into the mid-90s this week which makes for melty pools of kitty puddles. They took advantage of the house being cooler this morning to run amok and burn off some energy.



Thank goodness for fans!

New pictures coming later.

Miss Agnes

Agnes_July_7
Originally uploaded by Cloudstomp

Miss Agnes Pettibone is such a darling girl. She is delicate and seems dainty despite being a large cat. She's long, lanky and nearly 12.5 lbs of fur covered muscle. We joke that her paws are almost the same size as my hands.

Where Henry chirps, Agnes clucks and has a few long, loud vocal phrases. She's a talker! Always on the bug hunt, her 'ack-ack' sounds burst out of her, seemingly beyond her control. I like to hold her up when there is a spider on the wall just to watch her outburst.

Agnes still enjoys a nice pillow, but the table in her turf. She rolls around and has a endless supply of affection to give along with the occasional nip in the midst of a love frenzy.

Unlike her brother, she doesn't misbehave. She may be putting thoughts in his head, but she's usually standing by watching him get into mischief. She holds her own though and chases, pounces on, and pops Henry with those meaty paws when he has it coming.

One of her many nicknames is 'Waggles' because she walks with waggle in her backside that is accompanied by a curl at the top of her long tail that waves around and she walks.

She's truly a delight.

My Butterscotch Boyfriend

Lovely Henry is one cool cat. I would describe him as unflappable. He is equal parts loverboy and devilish lad. The first time I set eyes on his picture on IBKC I blurted out, 'that's him, that's my cat'. He was adorable but had a ruffled James Dean look about him, as my dear friend Dorothy once said. He is very much the rebel when he wants to be, but lucky for him, we find it amusing (generally).



He's chewed through 8 cell phone chargers, 3 sets of speaker wires, 1 USB cord, and his latest conquest was a mouse. Not the scurrying "eep eep" kind, but the one attached to my computer. This all despite our best efforts to discourage the behavior, hide cords behind object, and develop a sixth sense.



When he's not jumping up the walls, playing cheetah, or pouncing on his sister, he enjoys climbing and entertaining himself with the countless number of toys and ping-pong balls we have around the house.

He is very vocal, but it's mostly constant chirping sounds that sound like he's saying 'bert, bert', however, he's letting his delicate little meow out more and more. I love it and try to get him to talk to me as much as possible.

Henry is a hard sleeper (he wears himself out), a dedicated cuddler and much to my great delight an excellent lap cat.

Splendor in the Grass

The centerpiece on our dining table is usually a fresh bunch of cat grass. Both kitties enjoy a tasty green munch, but Miss Agnes is particularly fond of it. It's her personal jungle and snack bar.




We were having some fun on the table which is where she hangs out and rolls around anytime one of us is sitting at it. She goes belly up for what we shamelessly refer to as tummy time' on a regular basis.




This is was taken mid-yawn, but it's undeniably cute, if I don't say so. Check out the meaty paws on this girl. These cats are almost disturbingly dexterous.

The Return of Agnes and Henry

Hi! We're back!

It's hot day and Agnes and Henry are hanging out trying to keep cool.



Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of these little muffins coming to live with us. We will mark the occasion with fish treats and possible party hats! Photos to come..

Hi!

I've been totally lame and haven't posted any new pictures yet. I apologize. They're on the way.


In the meantime, if you are interested and able, please consider making a donation to support Itty Bitty Kitty Committee Foster Mom Extraordinaire, Laurie C., who is raising money and walking in the Humane Society of Tacoma/Pierce County's annual walk for homeless pets.

Laurie does so much to help kittens in need of good homes. We owe her the world for caring for our little Pettibones and making it possible for us to meet and fall in love with them.

To make a donation and learn more about the event, go here: http://www.firstgiving.com/ibkc


As Laurie says, "Even though it's called a "Dog"-a-Thon, the money raised benefits all shelter animals. That means guinea pigs, birds, bunnies, chinchillas, hamsters, adult cats and yes,,, the kitties too!"

Thank you!

Stay tuned!

The kiddos are a year old this week!! Photos and updates coming this weekend.

Remember when they were just itty bitty fuzz balls?

Agnes shows off her purring skills

Agnes1
Originally uploaded by Cloudstomp

I thought I'd share my sweet girl enjoying some tummy rubbing. Listen close and you can hear her purr.

Agnes and Henry - Busy Bodies

H&A2
Originally uploaded by Cloudstomp

Here is a peek at Agnes and Henry in action.

Been Away Too Long!

Hello,
Many apologies for being absent in the month of March. It was a whirlwind month with lots of stress and change for we humans in Casa de Agnes and Henry, but everyone is intact and encouraged now that Spring is here.

The kids are more wonderful than ever. They're definitely big kids now and their personalities are coming ever more into focus. I'll have some new pictures and more to say about them soon.

iCats

He looks so sweet when he's sleeping, but ol' Hank here is having a grand time tearing around like a wild beast. This morning we discovered that he chewed through Ian's iPod charger in his nightly raid of the countertop. Still his cuteness and charm outweighs his naughtiness. I can't lie; I love his naughtiness.



Miss Agnes has been talking up a storm and enjoying the effects of her catnip banana. She hops more like a rabbit than a cat when bounding after objects, but she runs with the grace of a wild horse when she's chasing her brother around the house. Here she is seen through the door crack, holding court in HER room, the bathroom.

Will Work For Snacks

The kids are doing well and are full of energy and love.

Henry's eye is better and he has another week on the ear medication. I used chicken treats to help soften his aversion to the medicine. What happened was fantastic. After a couple of days, all we had to do was pick up the eyedrops and he came running.. "Medicine (OK Snacks) Please!" Agnes would do some extra scratches on the post to earn her snacks. What adorable little monkeys!


Henry is tall and has long legs. Here you can see why I call him "Long Shanks".




Agnes had a few days of teenage offishness, but has returned to being sweet and flirty. She's found her daytime perch; the bathroom counter. She meows adamantly at the door if the bathroom door is closed. Whatever makes her happy, I say!

Henry's Day Out

My orange buddy had to go visit Dr. B today. He has a little kitty Pink-Eye and an ear infection. Nothing major, thankfully!



He did well in the car, but was definitely a little stressed. When we got home, Agnes became fascinated with him, circling him, sniffing him, and hissing repeatedly.

After a nap, Henry curled up on me, then started biting me toes. Back to normal..

He dislikes the ear drops, doesn't seem to mind the eye drops, and enjoyed the chicken treats. He and Agnes are buddies again.

We've had some high-flying ping-pong ball chasing from both of them, although Agnes seems a little more spazzy than usual. It's pretty cute.

I'm happy I can help the Butterscotch Kid feel better and he'll be happy to know that he shouldn't have to go back to vet until August when it's booster shot time.

Bring back that sunshine!

Saturday was beautiful, sunny and almost warm. I spent the morning cleaning the house. Agnes and Henry followed me room-to-room. They had a good time pouncing on the broom (Henry's obsession) and the pet-hair removal roller (Aggie's fave).

They both had their love bug on. Henry has started doing the arched back - head bump and purr routine and was happy to be carried around while he worked his motor.

I deposited Agnes on the sun spot streaming in on the bed, which I would venture to say, brought her to kitty nirvana.

I kept them out of the bathroom while I cleaned it and when I let them back in I found them both rolling around with glee. Henry on the rug and Agnes on the toilet lid (of all places!!?) These little clowns continue to make every day better for me.

The Kids and Me

These photos were taken the weekend before last when it was sunny and cold, unlike this past weekend which was snowy and cold. Ian is out of town for a few days, so it's just the fuzzy ones keeping me company. They keep themselves busy, tearing up the place and, as seen here, bug hunting.




Henry is experiencing a new round of naughty. We've had to build a wall of paper towels to keep from getting behind the fridge. When we shoo him away from something, he goes and attacks something else or hops up on the counter in defiance. The squirt bottle works, but it doesn't stop him from giving us the "kitty finger" when he's feeling his oats. It's pretty amusing and he's so damn sweet and cute that it makes his 'naughtiness' more a source of entertainment than frustration.

His latest trick has been hopping up on the buffet at night and turning on the little stereo. One night it was the radio. Another night he hit 'play' and turned on a CD. It's a little disconcerting to awaken suddenly to the sounds of Tom Waits and Sigur Ros coming from the other room loudly. Getting up to turn off the stereo, I've been met by two guilty looking kittens; an orange one on the buffet and a tortie on the floor nearby.



Agnes was my shadow this weekend. She took advantage of Henry's multiple naps and glued herself to me. It was some good kitty loving! She's such a sweet girl.

Little Individuals

The sunshine had different effects on the kittens. Henry went for soaking it up. Notice how pronounced his stripes are becoming. They remind me of Fruit-Stripe gum





Agnes responded by getting her freak on under a chair. It was quite entertaining.

Squirrels Not Cats

Sorry it's been awhile since I've posted anything new.

The kids are well, growing longer by the day. It's hard to move when they have me pinned under the covers. We need to weigh them, but I suspect they're pushing the 10lb mark in this. They're 9th months old!

Henry walks around chirping a lot of the time. He sounds like a living squeak toy. We're trying to find a way to get moving footage of his high flying jumps. It's impressive how much spring he has in those lanky legs.

Agnes has decided that her favorite new toy can be found in an endless supply courtesy of the bowl of un-shelled nuts on the coffee table. Walnuts are the best, but she's enjoying knocking the almonds around, too. Needless to say, we're finding them in numerous and strange places. At least she's not bored, right?