Remembering Bentley James

Looking back at my post on March 25th, I realize I missed something important.  That was Bentley's birthday, my late but much loved and still missed first cat.  So in memory...

Bentley James was born March 25, 1997 and passed on March 10th, 2009. 

He was just a little grey fluff ball when I brought him home in June of 1997.  And he was my baby, buddy and supervisor from our first moment together.  Here's one of his first photos:

Bentley loved baskets, boxes and sleeping in the sink.

Everyone who met Bentley loved him, and at various times he was called "magnificent" "wonderful" and even "glorious."  A cat-fearing friend of mine actually enjoyed seeing his pictures and would sometimes ask if I had any new ones.  A neighbor who kitty-sat with him wrote me a thank you note for letting her watch him!  There was just something about him.

True to his British Shorthair breed Bentley rarely meowed, but his loud rumbly purr was an awesome sound.  And he was always close at hand to supervise everything I did.

I'm lucky to have many, many pictures of Bentley, and it makes me smile to look through them and remember fun times, silly times, and cozy times with him.  If a beloved fur child is part of your family be sure you take lots of pictures of him or her.  Don't let anyone tell you it's a crazy thing to do.  Some day they will be real treasures for you and bring you happiness and comfort.

I love you Bentley!

Happy Birthday Nick!

Nick is 3 years old today, and I think he's had a good day.  I sang "Happy Birthday" to him this morning, which he, perhaps, could have lived without.  I did it while snuggling him, though, and that's something he HAS to have each morning.  He got lots of nice birthday wishes via Facebook today as well, and tonight I cooked chicken and rice for his birthday dinner.  Ok, the dinner was mostly for us, but Nick did have his own unseasoned chicken chunk and a bit of the rice on his own little plate.  The chicken disappeared quickly, the rice not so much. 

He wasn't a tiny kitten when we brought him home two years ago, so I haven't noticed the changes in him as much as I have with Nate, but here's a picture from back then...

Look how small he looks sitting in the basket of the cat tree!  Today he fills it to overflowing and it leans precariously.

And here's a recent photo, patiently awaiting a game of fetch with one of his many soccer balls.

Happy birthday sweet boy!

Find the Kitty

Cats love to hide; I'm sure you know

If you've searched for one, high and low.

Thus I present the first "hidden kitten" picture on Cats365.

(The hider is Nate)

Cat Parts

Yes, cat parts.  Several years ago I was quite involved with a cooking/recipe site on which there were quite a few cat lovers.  The site still exists but the community is nothing like it used to be.  Anyway, we used to have mini marathons of posting kitty pictures.  Sometimes we'd be more specific and post pictures of just parts of cats.  Maybe it'd be "cat ear" day, or "cat tail" day.  And I miss that.  And I'm bringing it back.  And Sandi K., if you ever read this I hope it brings back good memories.

It's "Paw Day!"

Nate Paws

Nick Paws

Seeing White

I'm finally back.  I realize there was quite a delay between Day 7 and Day 8 but certainly not due to a lack of cat antics or photographs.  They've been entertaining me all the while.  Today we were slated to get a serious snowstorm...at least 8 inches.  Schoole were closed.  People were raiding Kroger for emergency supplies (since when does steak qualify as an emergency supply??).  Anyway, it snowed during the night and driving to work this morning wasn't pleasant, but during the day most of the snow melted.

All this to lead into these photos from close to a month ago, when we actually had some accumulation on January 28th.  Todd went outside to get the snowblower going, once the snow abated, and boys found it fascinating as you can see...

 "Hey Nate, what the heck do ya think Dad's doing out there?"

 "I don't know, but I wish I was out there too!"

 "Gee, it's loud and kind of scary."

"Nah, I think it's exciting. Still wish I was out there."

And finally he got his wish, although he was perhaps a bit less excited about it once his paws sunk into the white stuff.

Snuggles

Nate is my snuggler, and he was in full snuggle mode this weekend.  When he wants love he comes and finds me, jumps up on me, sticks his head under my chin and starts to purr.  And he doesn't like to share me with the TV or my Kindle (if I move my head to the side to see either, he'll block me over and over).  And really what's more important on TV or the Kindle (or online) than kitty snuggle time?  Nothing I know of.  So warm, so sweet and something I can't control; it only happens when it's his decision.  And as time has passed and he's grown more confident in our home it's not as frequent as when he first came to live with us, so each time is special.

Shoes!

Shoes...I love them!  And most women I know love them too.  I love to look at them in catalogs and online and in stores.  Most I can't even wear, but they're so awesome!  And as you can see here Nate also has a shoe fetish.  He's not so particular about how they look, and usually the dirtier they are the better he likes them.  Here he's loving on a shoe that was just visiting