A Kitty Needs Lots of Love

I turned 17 years old this summer. Up until a few years ago, I used to spend lots of time outdoors in the back yard. There are big trees to climb, birds to chase (and be chased by!), cats who visit and try to taste my nip, mice and garden snakes to catch, sunny spots for warm naps, snoopervising locations, roofs to explore, and people to snoopervise. When I was younger, I would stay out all night sometimes and the People would get mad. I guess they did not understand that I was protecting them from the raccoons and coyotes and bad neighbors!

These days, I go out a little bit. I still chase interloper cats from my nip plant. I chase Slinky back next door every once in a while. But most of the time, I like to sit in my snoopervising spot on the big chair in the front room, where I watch the people and animals go up and down the block. I am a good watch cat. This is also a good, warm snoozing location.

Today there was an article in the San Francisco Chronicle about behavior signs that your cat might be sick. The Food Lady was very worried about me after she read it. I was pretty perky this afternoon and even played cat toy for a while. I also ate a bunch of stinky goodness and dry food. Anyway, this is my typical daily activity log:

35% sleep - the people wear me out. I used to sleep with them at night all the time but sometimes I sleep in a warm spot on the couch at night. They move around too much!

20% cat adoration - People snuggle time. The People need so much attention! I have to sit in their laps and keep them warm every night. I think they would freeze without me!

25% Food critic and commentator - Well, I am a tortie and I have lots of tortietude when it comes to what I eat! After a bunch of helpful hints from you readers and cats, the people now put my food bowl next to the dinner table and put some of what they are eating (at least that is what they tell me!) in with my cat food. I like that very much! I seem to be eating a bit more and I also complain a bit less about not being thrown the entire leftover roasted chicken from the dinner table.

10% Private time, curled up in a ball. The people get worried about this and think I am having tummy or thyroid troubles (a life long issue) when I do this. Sometimes, I just want to be left alone.

10% Tortie Comment Hour. I have a lot to say. I walk around and say it. I complain about where the people are sitting on the chairs and couches. I complain about the number of crunchy foods in my bowl. I complain about the animals that walked by the house today. The Food Lady and I have long discussions during Tortie Comment Hour but the Food Dude, even after all these years, remains clueless about HalloweenSpeak.

Anyway, I have my ups and downs. I have a very sensitive thyroid. I'm not the wild cat I used to be. But the other day, I jumped up on the roof and ran around. This is a big jump so it made the Food Lady happy. My people give me lots of love but they pay attention to all my little quirks. I'm glad they do. I don't know what we would do without each other.