Purrfectly Black Cat

Me Be Bibs, A Scallywag Pirate Kitten!

2006-10-31T14:41:00.000-08:00

Ha! Did you read Stripey's post below?
Me be his sister and me grew up with him. If anyone be Captain after me Mum, it be me! There's nothing wrong with a wench for a Captain!
Me did everything before Stripey; getting out of the box, eatting solid food, and even climbing up into the Crow's Nest!
Even to this day, he be trying to nurse on me Mum!
Arrg! CAPTAIN WHITE BEARD THE PIRATE! That be me one day!
The only one me fears, besides me Mum, is me "Mini Me" sister, who jumped ship to a new home. She did everything before me, and she looked and was just like me Mum!

Ahoy Me Mateys!

2006-10-31T14:04:00.000-08:00

Me be Stripey!
One day me be Captain!
ARRG! CAPTAIN STRIPE!
After all, no wench should be Captain! Even if she is me Mum.
Me got stripes like a Tiger for a reason!
ARRRRRRGGGGG!

Welcome Aboard, Me Hearties!

2006-10-31T12:11:00.000-08:00

Captain Mojo here.
Me justly earned me rank as whilst being a stay cat, me single- handedly, overtook an entire household! Then me created me own crew by having kittens!
ARRG!
Not, just any kittens, but Mischievous, Villainous, SCALLYWAG KITTENS!
A product of their breeding, me might add.

Avast! We Pirate Cats Are Taking Over This Blog!

2006-10-29T15:08:00.000-08:00

Me Human made this Blog about me, Captain Mojo, and the time has come to pillage it from her!
Afterall, we have pillaged and plundered everything else in this household.
Arrg! Set sail me hearties, with me and me Scallywag Kittens!

Cute Cuddling Kittens

2006-10-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

And of course they are on my Computer Chair!
They looked so cute, and comfortable, that I didn't have the heart to move them, even though I had homework to do.
I wonder if my instructor will understand?

A Kitty Computer Nerd?

2006-10-22T11:33:00.000-07:00

First it was my chair that the cats were taking over. Now it appears to be my computer!
I can't work on the computer without one or the other cats getting right in front of the monitor. Especially, Little Miss Bibs! She so enjoys trying to catch the mouse pointer!

Hey! How Did You Find Me?

2006-10-17T05:34:00.000-07:00

I thought I was Hidden!

Stripey

Two Kittens in a Basket

2006-10-12T12:39:00.000-07:00

With a whole house full of places to sleep, I find it rather funny that the kittens would curl up for a cat nap together in a 12 inch basket!

Thank God and Martha Stewart for...

2006-10-07T02:03:00.000-07:00

... an awesome covered small garbage basket that I found at K-Mart! Hopefully, this will keep the cats out of the garbage!

know it looks like a full size kitchen basket, but it's not. It's a small one that can sit under my computer desk. You know, the place where the cats like to investigate.

I bought two of them. The other one is for my bedroom. They were less then $7.00 each.

I hope they work!

I'll let you know.

See my previous post to see why I need this!

This is Why I Hate Taking the Garbage Out.....

2006-10-04T23:35:00.000-07:00

Not that taking the garbage out is such a big chore..... But, I have to try and keep the CATS out of the baskets AFTER they have been emptied!
That's the BIG JOB!
You can pick them out of there and they just come right back.
Remember, I have three cats, and they ALL love trash baskets!
AAAAAHHHHHhhhhh!

Hey! Who Threw Mojo Away?

2006-09-29T15:37:00.000-07:00

Look underneath the keyboard, you'll see a knocked over garbage basket, lined with shopping bags, and Mojo's head sticking through one of the handles.
I read somewhere that cats are attracted to plastic bags as they use fish oil in the production of them. Whether that's true or not, I don't know but I can confirm that they love plastic grocery bags!
I can't put a new plastic bag in a trash basket without a cat, or two, climbing in afterwards. So, I try to hurry up and put some garbage in them, to keep them out of them, which defeats the purpose of emptying them.

These Cats Want My Chair!

2006-09-27T13:17:00.000-07:00

You know, there is a whole house full of comfortable furniture for these cats to lounge on, yet they seem to always want my computer chair.

I can get up for just a second, and one of them has taken it over!

I think they are trying to tell me something, but I'm not sure what.

What do you think?

This Kitten will Sleep Anywhere!

2006-09-20T23:14:00.000-07:00

Ahh, forget the soft bed, couch or chairs! Little Miss Bibs prefers the Kirby Vacuum for a pillow, and the floor heater's metal grate for a bed!

She's sound asleep here, and didn't even notice me taking a picture of her.

The Daddy Cat Sighted Lurking About

2006-09-17T11:42:00.000-07:00

I'd like to think that he is a proud Papa, and wants to see how his offspring and Mojo are doing. But, I'm more inclined to believe that he is thinking about having more kittens.

Cats and Flowers... After Shots

2006-09-13T10:54:00.000-07:00

Although, the flowers appear to be ruined, you can see by the second picture they can still be saved.

Just by trimming the flowers above where they were bent over, and then putting them in a smaller vase, they still look pretty good.

After, I took this photo of them on the kitchen table, I moved then to on top of the entertainment center, as the cats don't go up there, so they'll last a lot longer, now.

Cats and Flowers... During Shots

2006-09-12T21:55:00.000-07:00

Well, it appears that Stripey took a back seat, and let Mojo and Bibs arrange the flowers this time around!

Cats and Flowers... Before Shot

2006-09-09T22:14:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh! What a cute sweet picture of my cats by a fresh bouquet of flowers!

HA!

In this photo is one of the new kittens, "Stripey" with his mother, and this blog's founding star, "Mojo".

This is the before shot.

I know what will happen to these flowers, as I have experienced it before, and if you are a regular here, you know, also.

I have my water gun handy, at this point, as I would like them to last a few days, at least! Well, maybe a few hours!

Come back in a few days to witness what can happen to the beautiful flowers when there are cats and kittens in the house!

I'll try to get pictures of the culprits!

New Kitten Ears

2006-09-09T21:47:00.000-07:00

This photo may not be one my best, as it's fuzzy, but the light through the ears of a new kitten, just does something for me. It reminds me of images through new bright green leaves, shot against the sun.

I know this kitten hasn't explored the outdoors yet, and I can just feel him taking in the outdoors with all of his senses.

A Kitten with a Handbag Fetish?

2006-09-09T21:02:00.000-07:00

Oh boy!

Little Miss Bibs, just loves to climb into my handbags!

Here she is in my Roxy Handbag, and in the other photo she is in my Yves Saint Laurent Tote bag, that I use as a book bag for my class. (I think the thread on her face came from my sewing basket, not far away. Guilty!).

Maybe she wants to go with me, or maybe she has a handbag fetish, or just maybe she likes to climb into A N Y T H I N G !

I'm betting on the latter. What do you think?

Did this Indian Make this Basket Just for Me?

2006-09-01T07:09:00.000-07:00

Because, I tell you, I fit just purrfectly!

Kittens Lounging in the Window

2006-08-30T11:33:00.000-07:00

Ahh, what could be better than just kicking it in the window on a cool summer afternoon?

Well, maybe having your sister join you, and Mom 's tail to play with, too!

"Blitz Turbo Cat Scratcher" Review

2006-08-28T15:55:00.000-07:00

I thought I would make this blog a bit more useful to cat owners by reviewing some of the cat products I have tried out.

Having a mother cat and kittens, we've tried a number of products, and I get to view the kitten and mature cat's response to the products.

The "Blitz Turbo Scratcher" has been the best cat scratcher I have found for both the kittens and the mother, and I have a number of different scratchers.

It is formed in a circle with a track around it, which a ball is enclosed, which is great fun for both young and old cats to play with.

The center scratching area is composed of corrugated cardboard, which cats just love to dig their claws into and scratch! An added bonus to his area is that it includes catnip which you sprinkle into the cardboard. What a brilliant idea! The cats love it, especially after a new 'sprinkle"!

I've even witness them purring and rubbing their faces against it, and then curling up and taking a nap on it.

I've added a link on my side bar in case you want to check it out. They also make replacements for the inner cardboard. I recommend buying extra catnip, if you really want to spoil your cat.

Add A Kitten To Your Floral Arrangement...

2006-08-28T01:22:00.000-07:00

Or better yet, let a kitten arrange it for you!

Oh, my poor roses!

My little black "Mini Me" kitten went to a good home with a lovely teenager named Amanda. She really loves cats, and will make a great companion for Mini Me. I took a picture of her with the kitten, but my batteries decided to die on me right at that moment, so I can't share it with you.

"Strippie" and "Little Miss Bibs" are still here, and they both sleep with me, and I'm really getting used to them, and attached.

I don't even care if they ruin my roses, as it's so entertaining.

New Zealand, world, sport, business & entertainment news on Stuff.co.nz: Mystery 'panther-like' animal spotted in Canterbury

2006-08-11T04:08:00.000-07:00

A Big Black Cat Sighted in New Zealand

The above links to the story.

I wouldn't want to meet this black cat! Well, at least not in the open where he/she could get me.

Notice the eyes looks just like our domestic black cats!

Ya know, Mojo's kittens seem to enjoy hissing at times. I think they are trying to learn how to growl! They have even backed Mojo off.

I've got a few scratches, but they're all in fun, and the kitten's are no way near as scary as the picture posted here. In fact "Bibs" crawled under the covers with me last night and was licking my leg.

Black cat brings therapy of love - Nashville, Tennessee - Thursday, 07/20/06 - Tennessean.com

2006-08-08T02:35:00.000-07:00

Black cat brings therapy of love - Nashville, Tennessee - Tennessean.com

The above links to a wonderful story about the great work a Black Cat named Baldwin is doing as a Pet Therapist at a convalescent home in Tennessee, and how he won over a resident who use to dislike all cats.

My Black Cat Mojo is doing fine, along with her kittens who are close to being ready to go to new homes. It's going to be tough to give them up as they have been fun to have around.

Mojo seems to have grown up a lot. She use to be a lot more playful, but I guess when you are around playful kittens 24/7, you get a little tired of it. Now when I wiggle a toy, she just watches her kittens attack it. Maybe, she knows it good practice for them. She has been an excellent mother since day one.

Making a Bed Can Be Fun with Kittens in the House!

2006-07-27T13:39:00.000-07:00

No longer are Mojo's six and a half week old kittens just sleeping and nursing. They make everyday events fun!

All three of them are eating solid foods, and seem to prefer the dry food to the moist, which surprised me. It won't be long until they are completely weaned.

Out Of the Closet... Mojo's Six Week Old Kittens

2006-07-22T18:38:00.000-07:00

The kittens have out grown the closet and have now been making my bedroom and bathroom their new home. Occasionally they will make a mad dash out to the living room, but quickly return to their safe haven.

They are also all getting around very well. Running, jumping, stalking, pouncing, climbing, are all of some of their favorite things to do.

The black one, ("Mojo's Mini Me"), is always the first to do everything, and has already started eating wet food. I expect the other to follow suit soon.

Their eyes are starting to turn to their permanent colors, as they all start out with blue eyes.

The little grey one is the sweetest, and I call him "Lover Boy". The black and white one looks like she has on a white bib, so I named her "Bibs". She also has darling white little feet, as well as the grey tabby.

I've added to my sidebar The Kitten Rescue/Kittens Six to Seven Weeks. It says by the 7th week the kittens should be weaned, and I guess we are close to doing that. We'll see how the week goes.

Anyways, thanks for stopping by.

Sleeping Kittens

2006-07-10T14:28:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd post this sweet picture of the kittens sleeping.

Video of Mojo's 4 week Old Kittens

2006-07-08T20:55:00.000-07:00

Saturday the 8th of July marks Mojo's kitten's 4 week old birthdays.

They sure have come a long way in such a short time.

Last week they couldn't get out of their box and now they can easily escape. So, I have removed the box from the closet and have laid out Mojo's blanket to cover the closet. I have barricaded the closet door opening with a huge suitcase, that Mojo can get over, but the kittens can't, yet.

I thought since the stripe one was larger than the other two, that he would be more outgoing and aggressive, but I was wrong. He is the shier of the three, and the black one is the most outgoing, with the black and white one a close second.

My new opinion is that the stripe one takes after his Dad who must be a larger frame cat than Mojo, and the other two take after her.

They are all so sweet.

Radio Station For Cats Launches Black Cat Adoption Month Campaign - Press Release

2006-07-04T22:25:00.000-07:00

Radio Station For Cats Launches Black Cat Adoption Month Campaign - Press Release

July is Black Cat Adoption Month! Please read above story if you are in the market for a cat!

Mojo and Her Kittens on the Fourth of July

2006-07-04T20:30:00.000-07:00

I brought the box out from the closet and placed it on the couch today, so I could begin to socialize the kittens into the household.

I tried to shoot some video of them there, but they turned out too dark. So, I took just a few flash shots as I didn't want to expose the kittens, to bright light, too much as recommended on the Kitten Rescue site, (see my sidebar).

I think Mojo looks stunning in her Designer Vera Red White and Blue scarf. I even think she enjoys wearing it as she has had it on for a couple of hours now, and hasn't tried to get it off yet.

My First Audioblogger Post

2006-07-04T16:59:00.000-07:00

YouTube - Edgar Allen Poe's The Black Cat

2006-07-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

YouTube - Edgar Allen Poe's The Black Cat

While attempting to upload a short video of Mojo's kittens I came across this animation video of Edgar Allen Poe's "the Black Cat"

Kittens in a Basket

2006-07-03T18:30:00.000-07:00

I gathered up the kittens, put them in a basket to take them to the front porch, so I could shoot them in natural light. None of them enjoyed it. Not even Mojo. I guess they are still too young, as all they did was meow. Sorry there is no sound, but I shot it with my digital camera, not a video camera.

YouTube Test: Black Cat Leash Training

2006-07-02T01:22:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I want to add video to my blog, so while my batteries to my camera are charging, I'm attempting to add a video I took while Mojo had just became pregnant, and I was attempting to leash train her.

I hope it works.

NEWSFLASH! The Black and White Kitten is Trying to Escape From The Box!

2006-06-29T03:26:00.000-07:00

Well, last night we noticed all the kittens are attempting to walk around in their box. They're a little wobbly, but can manage to get from point A to point B.

Then tonight, while Mojo was eating, I went in to check on the kittens, and the Black and White one was able to get her paws up on the top of the box, and look over the edge. She was meowing and trying to pull her self over the top. Yes, she was literally "thinking out of the box"! It won't be long now!

I'll try and get some good pictures of them this coming weekend.

Cat Scratch Fever and a Black Cat Who is "Feisty and Full of the Devil"

2006-06-27T11:45:00.000-07:00

The Times Plus, Monroe Times, Monroe, Wisconsin, USA

I occasionally will search news stories to see what I can find on Black Cats, and today I came across the story that links above about a black cat name Dameon who caused the writer, June Augsburg, to contract "Cat Scratch Fever".

Come to find out, it can be pretty serious, so I thought it was worthy of posting here. I also thought it made for an interesting read, as Augsburg's use of words describing the incident made me giggle, although the story really wasn't funny.

The "Mojo Muse" Realized - But Where Was My Camera!

2006-06-26T00:54:00.000-07:00

It was one of those moments that you will always remember, but you have no proof, no documentation, no witnesses, just a memory. Gee!

I started sewing my "Cat Scratch Curtains" while my cat, Mojo, was still pregnant. She was my muse, my inspiration for the name of the curtains, but had yet, to scratch the "Cat Scratch Curtains", although I caught her scratching my expensive silk ones in the Bedroom, once. No damage, thank goodness.

Since I have many windows in the Living Room / Dining Room / Office area, and had only one window done, I decided to get back to working on them this past weekend. I have a half length window in the Dining Room above my computer, and after sewing all the yarn on one of the panels, I decided to cut it in half, as I have a shelf under the window, and I didn't want it to go down to the floor like I want for the other windows.

Well, as I was cutting it, she came out of the box from her kittens, and started attacking the scissors, as she did with her pink blanket as I was cutting it in half, to make two of them as whaleshaman had so thoughtfully suggested, (see previous post down there somewhere).

Then it happened, and me, with no camera handy!

I had the panel folded in half, laying on the carpet in the Living Room, and cutting it. After she attacked the scissors, she walked onto the curtains, and scratched them, EXACTLY where the yarn was sewed onto, which represents the cat scratches! It would have been a perfect shot, if I only had my camera handy!

Of course, I ran and got the camera, but by then she didn't feel like scratching the curtains anymore. That's a cat for you.

After I got them all sewn up and finished, she did have to come investigate the hanging of them.

I can tell by the look on her face she is getting sick and tired of all the pictures I have been taking of her lately. I saw the same look on my daughter's face when I was taking photography classes.

2 Week Old Kittens and It's Still Calm Here

2006-06-25T16:11:00.000-07:00

In the past week not much has happened new with the kittens, except you can occasionally catch a glimpse of them sitting up. They do seem to get around a little quicker, by crawling about.

I am amazed at Mojo's dedication to her kittens. She is in with them, I would say 85% of the time, and you very seldom hear a whimper out of the kittens. I feel she deserves a Mother Of The Year Award!

The Kitten's Eyes Have Opened!

2006-06-20T02:52:00.000-07:00

Oh how cute they are!

My husband noticed the striped kitten's eyes were open first, and called me in to look at them. I picked each one of them up, and held them right up to my face and looked into their squinty little eyes, and when they made eye contact with me, they all stopped meowing long enough to try and figure out who or what I was! Oh gawd! I'm in love!

I didn't take a picture of them yet as The Kitten Rescue Site says to avoid bright lights at this time. That's the wonderful website that Whaleshaman had provided me with when we were trying to figure out what sex they were.

The Kitten Rescue site also has different pages for the different stages of kittenhood, and I've just added a link to my sidebar to their page for Kitten's "Birth to Two Weeks". It's a must read for people who have kittens! Thanks again whaleshaman!

Mojo and her 1 Week Old Kittens - The Calm Before The Storm!

2006-06-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

Ah, these kittens are such sweet little angels! They just cuddle up on Mojo, and her favorite blanket, and you never even hear a whimper out of them! Well, that is unless you pick them up, as they want to go back to what they were doing, which is either sleeping or nursing.

I am really enjoying these days, as I can imagine what it will be like when they open their eyes, and can crawl out of the box! Mojo, herself, can be pretty rambunctious and playful. I can only guess what it will be like with three more, and those three being kittens!

By the way, Mojo is an excellent mother. She very seldom comes out of the box where they are, and you can tell that she is really enjoying her new role as "Mother".

Another Black Cat Found Under The Hood of A Car!

2006-06-16T14:44:00.000-07:00

News & Star

The above links to another story of a Black Cat who was found under the hood of a car in the UK.

This is not the same story I posted earlier, this is a different Black Cat. Sounds like this is becoming a trend over there.

The above photo is of Twinkle with owner Barbara Walton.

Cat Butt Photos to Determine Sex of Kittens

2006-06-13T16:54:00.000-07:00

Okay, this was a little weird for my friend Heather and me, as we felt like we were entering the domain of Cat P@rn! LOL! So, in addition to posting photos of the Cat Butts, I am also
posting a photo of Heather in the act of holding up a tail, to prove I had an accomplice , so I won't have to take the wrap all by myself!

Okay, based on the photos of the Cat Butts, this is what we think, see if you agree:

The Black Cat is a Male

The Black and white Cat is a Female

The Stripped Cat is a Male

We had a hard time deciding on the stripped cat, but since it did not look like a female, it had to be a male. What do you think?

I've added the webpages to determine the sexes of cats on my sidebar that whaleshaman had sent to me. Thanks! These were very helpful and quite clear on how to tell the difference.

What Sex Are Mojo's New Kittens?

2006-06-12T02:08:00.000-07:00

I've tried to get pictures of the, humm, important areas for those of you who may be more knowledgeable than me in determing the sex of the new kittens.

As soon as I brought them out, and gently rolled them in my hand to see the important areas, they started whinning for their mother, and Mojo seemed to get a bit worried by their cries, and although she never stopped purring, she did seem concern. Being a mother myself, when I hear a baby cry for its mother, my first instinct is to get them to their mother ASAP!

So, I guess we'll try again another day.

Curiosity Almost Killed This Lucky Black Cat

2006-06-11T21:44:00.000-07:00

News - Sheffield Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More

The above links to a story about a black cat named Salem in the UK, who decided to go on "Holiday" with his family by climbing underneath the hood, (or "Bonnet"), of the car, and getting stuck in the engine!

Salem survived the trip, proving once and for all that black cats are lucky, as they seem to believe in that part of the world, (see my earlier posts in April on whether black cats are lucky or unlucky). Well, maybe not absolutely, since it was suppose to be a free trip that the family had won, and after paying for the mechanic to get the cat out, and the Vet's bill, they were 660 pounds in the hole! But, Salem was lucky he didn't die, and the family is lucky they didn't lose their beloved cat. Right? Yeah. Right.

I find it interesting though, that the cat was named Salem, which I feel must refer the belief that black cats are witches, (or at least owned by witches). See my previous post on the Edgar Allan Poe Story entitled "The Black Cat". So, I guess in that part of the world they embrace, or at least know of that perception.

Day 2 of Mojo and her Kittens

2006-06-11T14:20:00.000-07:00

We still have only three kittens, and now that Mojo has been coming in and out of her Kitty Cube, I have had more of an opportunity to examine her better. Her belly is quite lumpy, but I believe it is her milk, as she spent most of the first day in with her kittens breast feeding and purring. (See previous post).

Yesterday, while at the grocery store, we passed by the flowers, and my husband asked if I wanted to get Mojo some flowers, and I laughed and said "No!" But, as we were walking away, I recalled how she loved attacking and chewing on the Carnations in a bouquet of flowers my he had bought me, so I thought, since Carnations are edible, and she loves them, she deserves her own bouquet. Yes, we bought Mojo a bouquet of pink Carnations!

As the days go by, I will attempt to get better pictures of the kittens. As they are so little right now, I am hesitant to mess with them too much.

My Purrfectly Black Cat "Mojo" has had Her Kittens!

2006-06-10T20:36:00.000-07:00

I had to go out of town on Friday, as my brother who lives out of the country was down south of me about 250 miles visiting his daughter, who just had a baby. So, we booked a room down there for one night, and left early Friday.

I was really torn, because I knew Mojo was due soon, yet I wanted to see my brother, and my new nephew, and other family members, too!

I even called the Vet to see if I could board her there, as I knew she wouldn't want to go with us at a time like this, especially since she hates cars. The Vet's office actually recommended that I leave her home, as they felt she would feel safer there, and it would be easier on her. So, I hung curtains on the bath rod, put her blanket in there too, left plenty of food and water, and with a tear in my eye, bid my farewell to her.

When we arrived home at 5pm on Saturday, she didn't greet us at the door, so I went straight to the bathtub, swung open the curtains, expecting to see her with a litter of kittens, and no Mojo. So I went to the closet next, and much to my surprise, she was there , in the center of the closet, delivering a black little baby kitty. It was all the way out, but was still attached by its umbilical cord. She was torn between greeting me, and cleaning up the new kitty. So, I quickly pet her, and placed her back with her kitty. She finished up cleaning her and got her cord loose, and tried to pick her up to put her in the Kitty Cube, but failed short of it. I asked my husband for a towel, and after wiping the new kitten down, I went to place it in the cube for Mojo, and low and behold, there were two more kittens in there! One being Black and White, and the other an unusual Brown and Black Tabby stripped kitten.

After getting a little bit of loving from me she went into the cube with her newborn kittens, and have been mothering and purring ever since! It's now shortly after 10pm.

I'm thinking maybe she actually had the kittens in the cube, as the carpet in the closet is clean, and the cube isn't. I think when she heard me come in, she climbed out to greet me, and couldn't go any farther. So, those of you who thought she'd have them in the cube were correct. Here's the breakdown of the poll on "Where Will Mojo Have Her Kittens?":

37% KITTY CUBE
21% BOX UNDER BATHROOM SINK
21% BATHTUB
11% OTHER
5% UNDER THE BED
5% IN A DRAWER

So, a majority of you bloggers were correct! Way to go!

I'm not sure if she will have anymore, or if this is all. She's been in there with her babies, so it's hard to tell, if she still has more in her. I did notice she looked much smaller before she went back in, but I didn't get a chance to feel her belly. Time will tell. I've read that they can go 24 and even 48 hours in between kittens. So, we'll see.

Thanks for all your support and coaxing Mojo on! She did a wonderful job, and she is in mommy mode now and really enjoying herself!

The picture I am posting here is of her and her newborns. The stripped one is in the center of the other two. I know they are hard to see and I'll try to get better pictures later, as I don't want to disturb Mojo too much right now.

I'll also keep you posted if any more kittens arrive.

Still No Kittens, Yet

2006-06-08T02:11:00.000-07:00

It's after 2am on Thursday morning and still no kittens! This is driving me crazy! When I left for work she was in the bathtub, and when I came home 10 hours later, she was in the bathtub. She always greets me at the door, but the last two nights she has been in the bathtub! She's in here with me now, and just ate some of her favorite can Cat Food.

Okay, I'm really thinking she is going to have them in the bathtub now, the only question is when!

Mojo Is Close to Having Her Kittens, I'm Sure!

2006-06-06T02:16:00.000-07:00

I keep thinking it's going to be today, then the next day, I think then it'll be today, but now I know it's coming soon, real soon! Here's how:

Well, this is a crappy story, but thought I tell it in case someone out there has a pregnant cat, or dog, and wants to know when the time is coming close.

So, here goes....

We changed the kitty litter box on Friday, and then on Saturday, it was full of crap! Geeze, I freaked out! She never goes that much! There was so much in there, I thought some of it might be her kittens, but she was still fat, and gee, on closer inspection, it was definitely poop! I told you this was going to be a crappy story.

So then last night I was watching a show about wolves on the Animal Planet Channel, and one of the wolves was about to give birth and they showed her pooping, (it was a long shot, so it wasn't too gross), and the expert said that she had been doing a lot of that, and that's a sure sign the babies are coming soon.

So, when I went to work today I was talking to a girl I work with who's dog just had puppies, and I told her the story I just told you, and her eyes got a little wide, and said that her dog did that, too! In fact, even where she wasn't suppose to! I asked if she had them right away, and she said no, that it was about three days later. I think she felt a little relieved that her momma dog was just doing what she had to do, because of her situation.

So, if you count three days from Saturday, that puts us at Tuesday when the kittens will come!
Hello!

Anyways, the photograph here is Mojo on my dining room table! Geeze! I never thought I'd let a cat on my table! The curtains in the background are the "Cat Scratch Curtains" we were sewing in an earlier post. She's just been laying around everywhere, and taking it easy.

I will keep you posted when they come.

The Poe Decoder - "The Black Cat"

2006-06-03T18:27:00.000-07:00

The Poe Decoder - "The Black Cat"

The above links to a website about Edgar Allan Poe, and to the page regarding his short story entitled, "The Black Cat".

Not only can you read the story here, but it also links to a summary, and discusses its theme, style and interpretation, point of view, and more.

Maybe this 1843 story aided in the superstitious perception of the black cat, although he does comment on the belief that black cats are considered witches, by some people, so it goes back earlier than the 1840's.

I read elsewhere that Poe actually owned a black cat himself named Catarina.

By the way, my black cat, Mojo, hasn't had her kittens yet.

Mojo's Been Helping Me Sew While waiting for the Kittens to Come

2006-05-30T00:51:00.000-07:00

Everyday, I keep thinking this may be the day that Mojo has her kittens, but no kittens, so far.

So, we've been keeping busy sewing fuzzy fur type yarn on curtains that I made. I think I'll call them "Cat Scratch Curtains".

We also cut her favorite blanket in half and sewed up the raw edges. I don't think she liked me cutting it in half at first, as she was attacking the scissors. I do believe she enjoys having two blankets now, and it will come in handy on wash day, as Whaleshaman suggested in a comment to one of my posts. Thanks Whaleshaman.

Maybe tomorrow we'll have kittens. I'll keep you posted.

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Picasso portrait fetches $95.2m

2006-05-27T11:51:00.000-07:00

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Picasso portrait fetches $95.2m
The above links to a news story of the recent auction of Picasso's Dora Maar Painting with Black Cat, which is the second highest price paid for a painting.

Where Will Mojo Have Her Kittens?

2006-05-21T15:16:00.000-07:00

As the time is getting closer to the blessed event, I find myself consumed with wondering where Mojo will have her kittens!

After observing her walking into the closet and meowing, I got to thinking that maybe I should have taken Chris' advice to the "T", and put the box in there.

Well, when we went to Wal Mart yesterday, I found a great "Kitty Cube", which is a soft cube with an opening in the front, so I bought it to put in the closet, in case she was determined to have them in the closet. I lined the cushioned bottom with a towel.

Where do you think Mojo will have her kittens?

I've added a poll on my sidebar, to see where the vast millions of people who visit this blog, (hee hee), thinks she'll have them. Please take a moment to place your vote on the poll. You may get a pop up ad when viewing the results, as it is a free service, but I believe it's harmless.

If you've ever had a cat who had kittens, please comment, and let me know where she had them, as I want to visit all the possibilities.

Some Great Information Regarding Cat Pregnancy & Delivery

2006-05-19T12:48:00.000-07:00

My last post, I announced that my black cat, “Mojo” is having kittens, and I asked if anyone had any info or advice as I haven’t had kittens since I was a kid.

Well, a fellow blogger, Jenn of http://igot2shoes.blogspot.com/ , commented on that post, and provided me with two links on the topic of cat pregnancy and delivery. I found these links to be so helpful, that I felt they deserved a spot on my sidebar under links.

If your cat is in the same situation as my mine, and you’re a bit nervous and concerned about what’s going on, and how you’re going to prepare for and handle the “big” day, be sure and read the links. Thanks Jenn, I feel much more prepared!

Another blogger, Chris, suggested I, in advance, prepare a box lined with towels in a cozy spot, such as a closet. Chris was right on with that suggestion, as even the “experts” on the links said to do that. Thanks Chris for the great advice!

I have prepared a box, but instead of towels, I’ve put in her new pink throw blanket, as she really does love it, and can’t help but purr when she gets on it! I’m hoping it will lure her to the box, and I am even putting cat treats in it before I head off to work, so she’ll surely notice it.

Instead of putting it in the closet, I’ve cleaned out the under the bathroom sink cupboard, and put it in there, as I hope to be able to on occasion, confine them to that room, as that is where the kitty litter box is.

I don’t know if she will go there when the time comes, and I think it’s coming soon, as cats are such independent creatures. I’m kind of afraid she might just have them in the bathtub, as she loves lounging in there, and has even taken her favorite toy in with her. Of course, not when there is water in it! I guess time will tell.

Maureen of http://stalecoffee.blogspot.com/ , also commented on the post saying she is looking forward to seeing the photos of the kittens, and congratulated “Mojo” and me. Thanks Maureen! I will be posting lots of pictures, and hope you enjoy them. If anyone else wants to follow this kitten birthing saga, be sure and bookmark this blog.

So where do you think she’ll have the kittens? I’m betting on the bathtub, only because I’m really making an effort now to keep my dresser drawers closed, (see previous post, 4/30/06)!

My "Purrfectly" Black Cat is Having Kittens!

2006-05-13T21:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's official! I took Mojo to the Vet yesterday, and she said Mojo is pregnant!

For those of you who have not been following this blog, I'll briefly tell you how this happened:

Mojo was a stray black cat who crossed our paths in from of our house one night shortly after we moved in here. When my husband went back out to retrieve some more groceries from the truck, she jumped out from the bushes and playfully attacked his legs, and ran back into the bushes. Shortly afterwards she started meowing outside, and with some coaxing, she came in, and we fed her, and of course she's been here ever since.

We, at first let her out everyday so she could go home, if she had one, until a male cat started hanging around, and my husband noticed one day he had her down by the neck.

From then on we kept her in for her safety. We were sure by then she didn't belong to anyone, as she spent so much time here, even when given the opportunity to go home, plus she didn't have a collar.
I was afraid she might be pregnant, as right before we started keeping her in, she was gone longer than usual, and was acting strangly when she came in. Sticking her butt up in the air, and rolling around on the ground.

That was about a month ago, and now my fears have been confirmed.

I don't really want kittens, (do I?), but I certainly can't bring myself to have them aborted, either. So we are having kittens. Afterwards, we will get Mojo spayed.

Let me say here, that I do believe in spaying and neutering, (well, unless you are a breeder), and if I had went out and bought a cat, (which was the farthest thing from my mind), I would have had her or him spayed or neutered.

I remember when I was a little girl, I had a cat that had kittens, but that was so long ago, and all that I can remember is she had them in a strange place, (maybe the closet), and then I remember her hiding them in the closed up hide a way bed under the cushions. It was so cute seeing all these little kitten faces popping out when we took the cushions off, looking for them. That cat had her kittens on Mother's Day!

Since, it's been years since I've been around kittens, and birthing, I was wondering if anyone had any advice for me.

Should I help Mojo clean them up when they are born. Any ideas on how to help care for them?

I bought Mojo a comfortable throw that can be washed. The picture posted here, is her on it. She just loves it, as it is fluffy like poodle hair on one side while the other side is satin. As soon as I brought it home, she jumped on it , started purring and digging her claws into it! I think she really digs it!

Don't tell my husband, but I am beginning to look forward to having these kittens, and I think he may be too, as he picked up a new cat toy today while we were shopping, as he remarked that we are going to need a lot more toys now that kittens are coming!

I would love to hear any stories of your experiences with kittens, and advice is always welcomed!

Hello! I've just now noticed I had some comments!

2006-05-10T04:00:00.000-07:00

I thought they would be emailed to me first.

You know, I'm new to this blogging thing.

I'm going to read them all and respond, and look at your blogs, too.

How fun is this!

Thanks for finding me.

Black cats are awesome!

And, their owners, too.

How To Train A Cat On A Leash

2006-05-07T16:05:00.000-07:00

Ha! This actually worked! Time after time I tried pulling her like an old prospector pulls at his mule! It certainly didn't work, and I think I would have had more luck with the mule!

Here I have her favorite toy , (which resembles a bird on an elastic string on a plastic stick), and I'm dangling it out in front of her, and she actually moved forward! In fact I had her going all over the yard! YIPPEE!

She seemed to get much more comfortable on the leash as time progressed. I'm thinking if I continue with this concept, eventually I may get her to follow me without the toy. I'm not sure though, but, I'll let you know if it happens.

Put Your Cat on Cards, T-Shirts and More

2006-05-04T12:21:00.000-07:00

I've been a Cafepress Store Owner for more than 2 years now and have a number of free stores. Since starting this blog I've opened a new one for my "Purrfectly Black Cat" images. I've even created T-Shirts with images of my very own black cat, "Mojo", based on the picture of her on my first post.

I thought I would share this with you all, because it's kind of cool creating your own products, PLUS, you can also make some money at this!

It doesn't cost anything to open a basic store, and you can design and order many different products, such as T-Shirts, Hats, Greeting Cards, Mugs, Sweatshirts, Stickers, Buttons, and the list goes on.

You don't even have to buy anything from your own store if you don't want to. People searching their website, may find your designs, and want to order them, and then you make a commission off of that. They are a "Print on Demand" company, so if someone orders one T-Shirt, that's all they print, so there are no up front costs, and they ship it out, then you get the commission, which you set as high or low as you want to. Of course if you order from your store, you get it for the base price.

I've been happy with everything that I have ordered from them, as they use quality products, and they have always paid me on my commissions. They also have an affiliate, and referral program, which you can also make some additional money with.

If you want to check it out there is a link on my side bar in green that says "Sell T-Shirts with Your Own Design for Free", right above the Pet Meds ad.

If you have any questions, feel free to comment.

I hope you have fun creating your own products!

Why You Should Not Leave Your Panty Drawer Open

2006-04-30T15:51:00.000-07:00

Well, unless you want a fuzzy butt.

When I went shopping yesterday, I bought Mojo a cat halter, as her cat leash had a built in halter, which was hard to attach properly. So, I put on her new halter for awhile to get her use to it. Shortly after she disappeared, and here's where I found her!

I guess the halter is comfortable, if she can fall asleep while it's on.

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Valuable Picasso comes to London

2006-04-30T15:19:00.000-07:00

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Valuable Picasso comes to London
The above links to a story about a Picasso Painting of Dora Maar with Cat, which is actually a Black Cat, valued at around 50 Million!

Cat in a Bag

2006-04-30T02:09:00.000-07:00

Poor Mojo has been cooped up, so I thought I would take her Shopping with us today, and snapped a picture of her in her "Blitz" Pet Carrier, which is like a big purse as it is soft, (and carpeted), and has not only a handle but a shoulder strap, too.

Boy, her eyes really show up through the mesh, don't they?!!? ("What are you doing to me now?")

We took her to a couple of places, and then dropped her off at home, as she was feeling a bit confined after a while. She was also drawing unwanted attention. Well heck, when you are as cute as that what do you expect?

The yellow thing is in the background of the picture is a ball with a bell in it. There is also squeaky Mice toys and Cat Nip sprinkled in the bottom.

Cat on a Leash

2006-04-27T02:42:00.000-07:00

Although my "purrfectly" black cat, "Mojo" seems content to stay in the house, a couple of times she has tried to go outside when we went out or in. She got over it real quick, but I'm concerned for her safety, as related in earlier posts. So I got her a "Cat Leash", and after figuring out how to put it on her, I took her outside.

Hum, she didn't quite get the "Cat on a leash" thing, and just kind of looked at me, like "what are you doing to me?"

I haven't given up yet, though. I feel as with everything, "practice makes purrfect", so I will be attempting it again.

I've seen cats on leashes before, so I believe we can do this, with a little effort, and

I'll keep you posted as to how it goes.

If anyone has any ideas as to how to help us, I will be glad to hear from you.

Some Really Cool Cat Products!

2006-04-23T22:25:00.000-07:00

I was recently shopping on Amazon.Com and found tons of cool cat products!

I've added a couple of them on my sidebar, and plan on adding more with in the next few weeks.

I just love that stroller! Check it out!

If you've seen or have gotten a cool cat product lately, please let me know.

I've Added a Black Cat Link

2006-04-23T15:53:00.000-07:00

My English friend, I refered to in an earlier post, has emailed me a link to Wikipedia / Black Cats, and I have posted it on my sidebar.

It confirms that in the United Kingdom black cats are considered lucky, and it also has a lot of more information on black cats, and how they are preceived by other cultures. The site also has links to other black cat information.

Although, I grew up here in the United States where we are warned of black cats crossing our paths, I have decided to adpot the UK conception of them being lucky. Especially, since I have a black cat crossing my path on a daily basis now.

Thanks for the link Sandy.

Cat in a Window

2006-04-23T10:56:00.000-07:00

I've been keeping Mojo in ever since she had that encounter with the male cat. She seems quite content being inside, and has clamed my sewing cabinet by the window, as her spot to look outside.

Cat in the Bath

2006-04-21T22:35:00.000-07:00

That crazy black cat of mine just loves the bath tub! She'll get in the empty tub when I'm in the bathroom, or if I'm taking a bath she'll jump up on the edge and sniff at the bubbles and shampoos and such.

Yesterday my husband said after he got out and was draining the tub, the bottle of soft soap fell in, and she jumped in after it, and when she realized there was still a little bit of water in it, (which was instantly), she flew out of it, and dashed into the living room to walk around and shake all of her little paws, in an effort to get any water off. He said it was the funniest thing he ever saw, as it looked like she just bounced off the water, and out the door, and watching her try to get the water off her paws, was just as funny!

I haven't tried giving her a bath yet. I don't know if I am brave enough.

If anyone has any suggestions on giving cats a bath, I'm all ears.

Are Black Cats Lucky or Unlucky?

2006-04-18T02:27:00.000-07:00

The night Mojo, my black cat adopted me, I was a bit concerned as she crossed our path, but then an English friend told me they believe over there that they are lucky. I did a bit of research, and found some really cool old postcards with black cats, wishing people luck. I believe they are English. I've posted one here. I've also used the image of this cat and others on t-shirts and other items in my Cafepress Store. There's a link on the side bar if you want to look.

Any ways, here in the states, as far as I know, black cats are suppose to be unlucky if they cross your paths.

But, since she has come to live with us we have gotten notices of two class actions, that we qualify for. They won't amount to much, but we've never had that happen before.
So I was wondering if anyone had any stories of getting lucky or unlucky with black cats. What do you believe?

I will do some more research, and if I find any cool sites, I'll post a link to them on the side bar.

Purrfectly Black Cat

2006-04-17T00:05:00.000-07:00

This Blog was created to share my love of black cats with others, and to provide links to black cat info and products relating to them.

As a child I loved cats and had many, but never got lucky enough to have a "purrfectly" black one!

As I grew older I begun to consider myself a "Dog Person", as I also had many of them, too. Although I still love dogs, a young stray black cat has recently captured my heart and home!

Here's how it happened:

We had just moved into a small house on a hill, and one evening as we returned from shopping and were preparing to unload the truck a small black cat came dashing from across the street, and ran to our steps up to the front door. I remarked to my husband that a black cat just crossed our paths! As we started up the pathway, the black cat dashed in front of us up to the top and hid in the bushes. After bringing in our groceries, my husband went back out to get the remaining bags, and when he came in with them he told me that the black cat had jumped out of the bushes at him, and playfully attacked his legs! I, of course, thought that was funny, and asked where it went, and he said it went back into the bushes.

After a while we heard meowing outside, and with some coaxing, she came in. The cat looked so little, I thought I better feed her. That was about a month ago, and she's been here ever since. I've asked around and she doesn't seem to belong to anyone, and a neighbor said she's seen her hanging around before I moved in. She had no collar.

In the beginning I would let her out everyday, so she could go back home, if she had one, and to go to the bathroom, as I didn't want a kitty litter box in the house. She is so good, and has never messed inside the house.

Then another cat started hanging around, and mewing outside when she was inside. Hum, I'm guessing he's a male! Anyways, twice I heard cat fighting while she was out, and my husband saw the other cat get her down by the throat!

Then she started acting real weird. She was rolling on the ground, or laying down and sticking her butt up in the air. Gee, I guess maybe she might be in heat!

For the past week and a half, I've broken down and bought a kitty litter box, and am keeping her inside. She did really great taking to the kitty litter box, and broke it in as soon as we set it up! We first got her some kitty litter with crystals, and then a cheaper brand, and she kind of stuck her nose up at the cheap brand. Hum, do you think she really cares?

I guess it's time to make an appointment with the Vet. I don't even know if she's had any shots. She might even be pregnant already. Do I want kittens? Do I want to get her fixed? I'm not sure.

I would love to hear from any cat lovers who have gotten their cats fixed, and how that went, or had kittens, or even if anyone has any advice about cat litter, or anything else.

As I was typing this she threw up a fur ball. I've never seen a cat do that before. Should I be concerned. Is there something I can do to prevent this in the future?

Thanks for listening to my rambling ons. I would love to hear from you.