Yesterday I heard a rustling noise in the kitchen. With 9 cats here I knew it would be something interesting and as usual Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, was at work. I saw a large bag full of treat pouches sticking halfway out of a cabinet. Suddenly Elvira's head popped out of the cabinet holding the bag of treats. Her boyfriend Beau was waiting for her on the other side, sitting on an aquarium. Elvira passed the large bag of treats to Beau who took it and jumped down to the floor. Elvira jumped down after him and they flew out of the kitchen with Beau dragging the bag. I caught up with them just as Beau passed the bag back to Elvira and I managed to retrieve the bag before they got it open, though Elvira growled at me as I took it from them. I hid it in the stove temporarily until I could find a secure place to put the bag. A couple of minutes later Elvira was sitting in front of the stove studying the door. She pushed against it in several places but never got the stove open, though not from a lack of effort. I only wish I could have gotten a photo of this.

I always get excited when I see you've posted. With 9 kitty's I bet there is never a dull moment in your home. You must have a California King sized bed!

Elvira is VERY clever! I can just see her holding a meeting with Beau and drawing out detailed plans! They almost got away with it!! I would have loved to seen pictures! What characters.

We have so much going on here. The other night I went to the pantry to refill the dry cat food. We have one of those self feeders that we refill about once a week. In all the confusion around here I forgot to buy more dry cat food and we were completely out. So I figured, "Oh well, I'll just give them canned food until my Hubby could stop at the store the next day". I never realized the little dears would not understand being out of kibble and I had to pay for it! Since we are remodeling, our large fridge broke down (when it rains it pours) so we bought one of the small fridges. I walked into the kitchen and Frankee has his front paws on the top of the door and he was actually standing on the ground trying to pry it open with Jasper sitting next to him in fascination. "Fine, run out of kibble and I'll help myself to shrimp!!" I felt so bad that I did cook shrimp for them.

I just love hearing "cat tales" from your house Ken! Keep em coming!

Michelle

Elvira is so precious. She certainly keeps one on their toes. What a picture your story made!

Thank you for the kind words, Michelle and LoveThem. Since I couldn't get to the camera in time to snap "the great treat robbery" here is Elvira today with her typically spoiled look.

Wow Ken what a beauty Elvira is ! I got a very clear visual of her pulling off the theft. My boy boo gets very upset with me when I run out of his canned food. He makes it very clear when he doesnt get his food He bangs the catfood door very loudly untill I produce one.



Boo,poppy, Muse, Nyzki

Too funny. I'd set something up with a bag of treats and get the camera, 'cuz it sounds like it's going to be a heck of a show.. She's gorgeous. lights, camera, action!.. Ann

Here is Beau (left) and Elvira in a loving moment on top of the refrigerator.

What a beautifully matched couple!! They are absolutely precious. Thanks for sharing Ken.

Michelle

There's something wrong with this 'picture', though......considering all the brilliancy of their clever plan....how come you didn't just let them HAVE some of those treats???? You must have a real steely (vs. 'stealy', like theirs) resolve, Ken! But heavens, if they can't get a reward for showing such smarts and determination, well, what's it gonna TAKE?!

And let me ask you...so haven't you yet cleared all your own stuff outta that above-the-fridge cupboard, in order to give them a lovely, cozy and high-up space to hunker down in for a good snooze??? Sorta like this?

*choke-cough!* Furkidlets' Mom, I'm sitting here eating a bowl of vanilla ice cream while reading your response and Elvira is sitting next to me. While I'm reading she stuck out her paw, grabbed the spoon and pulled it towards her, and ate my spoonful of ice cream. And after this you want me to turn over the rest of the refrigerator to her as well??? That is a cute photo you sent. I think pampering is rampant!

O.K. Ken. With 9 kitties, you should be posting everyday. Is there anyway (let's see how skilled you are) we can see all 9 in one shot? We need more pictures and stories!

Well.......YES! Or at least whatever is healthy for her/them in there! Sheesh - try and teach a stoopid hoooman some perfectly clear feline etiKIT..........

I dunnOOoo......there'd better be one heckuva large, honkin' hunk o' bird meat (if you eat the stuff yerself) on their plates at Thanksgiving to make up for your unfair faux pas......if not, maybe you'd best not fall asleep for too long......

Your story reminds me of the time, when our kidlets were WEENY, little ones, and we brought home a package of those mini-donuts (terrible for you, but ever so YUUUUMMM!!) from the Red River Ex. ...........and I awoke the next morning to find the package still on the kitchen counter, completely devoid of what was supposed to be my once-a-year morning treat. Followed the trail of crumbs all the way to the basement, I did, where Nissa and Sabin had so kindly actually left me a few, ragged donut pieces strewn from one end of the basement to the other. So it's true - everyone loves those little donuts! Mom was left hungry but very blessed with many chuckles.

Or the time, again when the kids were wee ones, and we were sitting in the den watching TV, waiting for the dough to rise for our pizza crust. Suddenly we heard the strangest, most alarming & alien sound, but weren't sure WHAT the heck it was, so quickly ran to investigate. We found Sabin sitting underneath the desk in the living room, looking nothing if not shocked and confused, facing his sister (Nissa) who, a foot away, was uttering her very first loud GROWLS directed towards her brother......for DARING to try and steal her coveted prize of a thick pepperoni slice stuffed right in her dainty, little mouth! (no, she actually didn't even eat it; just wanted, I imagine, some practice in her mighty huntress skills)

Needless to say, we proud parents could only stand there peeing our pants....and once we got our breath back, praise our girl mightily for her very first moment of standing up to her pesky and more dominant brother! And for teaching us that hey! cats can actually GROWL just like doggies! (please forgive us, mighty felines, for being young, foolish and ignorant way back when)

Oh, man.....cats are just tooooooooo amusing! So yes! Regale us with more stories and pics, IF you're not shaking too much with laughter to capture the proof on 'film'!

Ken

I love the photo with the two of them on top of the fridge.

(I am typing the next line quietly so Lucky won't hear....). The top of the fridge is the only place Lucky hasn't figured out how to get to.

These sweethearts are always thinking.

Nickels, ask and ye shall receive! It's just a "quick and dirty" composite because teaching those high school kids wore me out today. Here is the menagerie, minus Viscount Peter the bunny and Albert the ##atiel because I ran out of room.
Top (left to right) - Ellen, Luvey, Velvet
Middle - Beau, Princess, Sebastian
Bottom - Freddie, Elvira, Miss Kitty

With faces like these, you gotta love em!

Ken

Haha, the little monsters planned it! After all these cats and all these years I am ready to believe anything. Isn't Nature amazing..those little brains know so much. They scheme and plot and plan, and it usually involves food. Poor old Miles spent her waking moments trying to find new ways of stealing the forbidden foods from the other cats..she did not like her Limited Diets Vet food.
She NEVER gave up!
So be prepared to find the oven door open.

much love nine times
you are a lucky man, Ken Albin

Eva

Ken,

They are precious! You should have your own reality show called "The Feline Nine"!

I've got it!!!

"81 Lives"!