Days and Nights with Dakota, Pixie-Bob

Time out for health tune-up

2006-08-29T16:01:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Mom hasn't been posting for me because
I've been a little under the weather. I don't
want to go in to too many details, but mom
has been busy researching and getting
information for my condition. It seems that
my problem is genetic. There have been
a few other related felines that have had
this issue.

I'm doing better now and as soon as I am
a little more up for chatting, I will write the
news and catch up with you all on my summer
activities.

I hope that you all have been enjoying your
summer!

cheers from,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

Cool! (or not)

2006-07-17T20:14:00.000-07:00

The weather here has been hot, hot, hot!
104 + temps! Since we do not have air
conditioning, the inside temperature has
been around 96+ during the day. Yikes!
Phoebe is going in to the groomer for a
hair cut. She's upstairs where it is hottest.
She needs relief.

On the side of cool is mom's new computer.
She's been promising to keep my diary up,
but it's been hard when her Mac OS 9 crapped
out on blogspot. Mozilla Firefox no longer
deals with helping old Mac guys. So it felt
like a frustrating situation.

Today dad surprised mom with an early
wedding anniversary present. He gave her
a new computer! A MacBook! Wow, mom
almost cried she was so happy! I'm happy
because mom can help me with my diary.

I think that mom now has the technology!

Talk to you soon :-)
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

Long Time No Blog

2006-06-29T09:28:00.000-07:00

Well, mom’s done it again. She’s skipped
months without updating my diary. Bad mom!
Actually, she’s had to wait until she can get a
hookup from home. Work has been too busy
for her to be tending to my diary. She’s still
working out the bugs. Technology becomes
so obsolete so quickly! Right now she has
OS 9 on her Mac and this is not friendly to
the blogger site! There will definitely be
things to be worked on before this becomes
a smooth process.

We’re all trying to stay cool at the homestead.
It is another hot, hot, hot summer. Mom and
dad have had people in to try and mitigate the
heat. They found out that getting central air
in their old home would be too expensive
and that nobody was willing to come out
until the autumn.

They have been working on alternatives for
beating the heat. It has proven to be
expensive as well. Doing anything for an
older home is proving to be expensive. Just
getting new screen doors is a major
undertaking. Sheesh! Everything is not
square. Especially for an old house built on a
hill!

Now I get to complain about strangers! As
my friends might know, I do not like anyone
to come and visit that does not live with me
in the home. Since mom and dad are trying
to get things fixed up and better for us all,
I have had to endure many strangers in my
space. Even getting the internet hookup at
home meant strangers. This is very annoying
to me and does not make me happy at all.
I do think that the new screen doors are
super awesome, though! We get to look
outside!

So besides the heat, intrusions, and all that
goes with it, what have we been up to? I’d say
more of the usual! We’ve all been in for health
exams, dental work, and shots. I got
something called a microchip. “Everyone has
them”, mom said. Mom and dad found out
that Velvet and I do not weigh as much as
they thought. They were calling us the “9
pounders” and this was incorrect. I weigh
7 pounds and something and Velvet weighs
a bit over 8 pounds. The only reason that
Velvet weighs more than I do is because she
has a tail!

Nimbus has been dramatizing Lightning. He
has a new form of domination, the screen! He
stalks Lightening through the screen door
when mom is around. Lightning likes to hang
out by mom when she is by the door. Nimbus
stalks him.

Nimbus will stalk him, then pop up and give
him the “evil eye”! Lightning play-bows and
barks! Velvet and I like to watch this very
entertaining spectacle.

If you think that humans are the only creatures
on the face of the planet that have “drama”,
think again. Relationships are complex and
communication is not always smooth. Think
of even all the complexities of a “boy/girl”
relationship”. Add diversity to the equation.

Nimbus still likes to face off with Lightning
in the living room. Canine and feline playing
styles can be very different! Guiseppe is super
reliable. He comes and escorts Lightning out
of his dilemma. One of the funny parts of this
situation is that Nimbus always gives Lightning
the “soft paw”. No claws extended! Nimbus
wants to play.

Lightning wants to play when he gives the
play-bow and barks. This goes back and forth
and back and forth again! Both communication
styles can annoy the playmate. This leads to
“drama”.

With this bit of philosophy I have to close.
I’ll be easy on mom and let her go off to her
other duties.

To all, be cool this summer,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

Happy springy catnip time!

2006-04-21T15:30:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

I haven't been on for awhile 'cause dad
hasn't been feeling too well. Good thing
is he's been home more, bad thing is that
he isn't feeling too good and we can't romp
on the bed like we like.

Mom feels bad for dad and has to work
harder to take care of him and do chores
and his job at work and stuff. They were
supposed to go visit their friends next week
but can't go now. Good for us because they
will be home and we won't have the oldest
cub invading our territory to take care of us!

Easter came and we got some Easter eggs!
We got some ice cream with whipped cream!
We had yams and chicken! Yum! Yum! The
grandcubs couldn't come over.....Yayyyyyy!!!
I hide from them. The cubs came by but didn't
stay long.....Yayyyyy!!! The oldest cub brought
cooked turkey and ham. This was good. We
already had the yams.

The weather is looking spiffy outside and
Velvet was naughty and slipped out the back
door! Mom and dad didn't even see her get
out. Dad heard her scratching at the back
door and let her back in. Good thing she is
spoiled and sleeps by mom's feet or by her
head or the rolling chair next to mom's side
of the bed. Good thing she knows to come
back inside!!!! I like to play with her and
wouldn't want anything to happen that was
bad.

Guess what else? We love catnip, except
Phoebe who runs from it. I get really silly
when I have some. Spring brings the catnip
out of the ground. I eat it then roll and roll
and roll, then savage the bed blankets.
Nimbus and Velvet love it, too. Good thing
mom picks us plenty! Once I bit mom's hand
after she picked some. I thought there was
still some catnip on it. I give the catnip leaves
the killing bite then I did in. Oh boy!!!!

My other neat trick is that I wait for mom to
get up and go to another room. I run ahead
then flop down on the floor right in front of
her and show her my belly. She always stops
to pet me :-)

Happy spring time to you with flowers and
catnip!

hugs from,
Dakota, Pixie-bob

Kiva the Diva shares about toys

2006-03-30T15:43:00.000-08:00

Hi Dakota,

I love toys too, I have my own that Mom plays with me.
I am a bit of a brat and must admit I love Mom's toys
too. Mom's toys consist of various paper things, I
just finished up ripping up all her stuff she left
out. A calender she just put up - I tore it up too.
Mostly because I was mad that she went away and left
us with that dang pet sitter. I always chew new things
that come into this house. Or else if I don't like it
I pee on it.

Kiva

Toys

2006-03-23T17:10:00.000-08:00

Our family loves toys. Mom even has toys
of her own. Dad’s toys are in the form of
gadgets, computer stuff, and music gear.
Mom’s grown up cubs like toys and, I’m sure
you wouldn’t be surprised to hear, the grand
cubs like toys, too. Nimbus, Velvet and I have
a super favorite toy. It is a bird on a string,
tied to a stick. Nimbus has done flips in the
air for this fine toy. All of us give the “bird” the
killing bite when we capture it. Sometimes we
are known to fight amongst ourselves for this
toy. This is why it gets put away after playtime.
We destroyed one, so dad bought us two.
Mom gets the giggles when he has one in
each hand and we are practically colliding
in the air trying to get at the flying birds.

Velvet can get quite vicious over toys. Don’t
get in her way and you won’t get hurt! She’s
also super fast. She’ll climb anything in pursuit
of her prey. She even looks scary when she’s
“hunting”. She’ll kick any cat or dog’s behind
that gets between her and what she’s after.

Nimbus is scared of some of the toys, or at
least cautious. He hangs back and observes
that is until you get the bird toy out. Then
everyone better watch out. Once he captures
it he gives it the killing bite and tries to take it to
his lair. He growls at anyone who gets close.
I haven’t been able to figure out how he can
actually hiss with his mouth full. But hiss and
growl like a demented thing he does.

Phoebe likes the feather boa on a stick. She
also plays a game called “evil envelope”. Don’t
get your hand too close to her claws when you’re
playing this game. It involves a person holding an
envelope and saying, “poo poo kitty kitty” while
wiggling it. She loves to shred the envelope.
She’s shredded mom a few times, too, with her
fishhooks of doom. Once she shredded mom’s
face accidentally when she fell off of mom’s head
when mom was asleep. The tear went all the way
through mom’s lip. This meant lots of cuss words
and a trip to the emergency room for stitches.

Mom has enough toy stuffed animals to fill a king
sized bed and then some. This is a problem because
she gave the bed to her oldest cub when he got
married. Mom and dad sleep on a full sized futon.
No room for all of us let alone these stuffed toys.
Sheesh, now they are piled all over the house.
Mom has other stupid toys, too. Her cubs
encourage her by buying her more. The last
thing was the Gary the Snail matchbox car and
Felix the Cat fan club button the oldest cub bought
mom. She takes some of her toys to work, but not
enough in my opinion. Even though mom has
made special spaces for us, I feel that we need
more space not more toys!

Like I’ve already mentioned dad’s toys are gadgets,
computer stuff and music gear. Don’t tell him but I
was the one who played with his guitar cable and
chewed it up. Well, maybe Phoebe chewed it a little.
I like to play with the computer, too. Dad’s toys are
actually cool. I figured out how to turn on the
computer and make the CD burner noisy. Dad did
something so that I couldn’t keep doing this all night
long. I still try, sometimes, though. I’m thinking that
it is only a matter of time before he forgets to do
what he does.

Some other time I’ll tell you all about the canine toys.
They like to play, too, and have their different games
and toys that they like to play with. Actually one of
Nimbus’s games is to trap Lightening and loom.
Lightening is afraid of Nimbus and actually needs
Guiseppe to escort him past this nemesis when
Nimbus has him trapped. Nimbus also bothers
Lightning by pawing him as Lightning walks by,
or looming over him when the poor dog is sleeping
in the chair. That naughty Nimbus, what a character!

Hugs from,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

My bio for some publications that share my diary entries

2006-03-23T17:04:00.000-08:00

My name is Dakota and I am a Pixie-Bob.
I was born on April 27th, 2004. This makes
me a Taurus. I’m a boy. My first mom was
Lee Jordan. She breeds and shows Pixie-Bobs.
I was born in the great Pacific Northwest State
of Washington. Carol Brewer founded the
Pixie-Bob breed in Washington.

My grandfather is a Legend Cat. Legend Cats
are a suspected breeding of a bobcat with a barn
cat. If this is true, I am 1/8 bobcat. This makes
me an F3 or 03 by TICA standards. My first mom,
Lee, likes to show. I used to be a show cat. Lee
heard that my current mom was looking for a
Pixie-Bob and thought that I would be perfect for
her. Mom agreed, and after a long hot summer
when I couldn’t be flown, I came to live with her
and dad. Lee kept showing me while I was
waiting to go to mom and I became a Grand
Champion. I was shown in the alter class.

Shortly after coming to my new home there
was a cat show. Mom had never been to a
cat show and Lee encouraged her to show
me. I got 10 finals and became a Quadruple
Grand Champion. I’m not trying to brag here,
just stating the facts. I really don’t like to show,
but because Lee loves it so much I tried to be a
good sport. To be honest I really don’t care for
strangers too much. When strangers or
non-residents come to visit I run and hide.
I even hide from mom’s grown cubs and young
grand cubs. I’m hopeful that mom will let me retire
as a show cat.

I have a good life where I get my favorite foods, raw
rabbit and cooked yams. I like to eat other things, too.
My dry food is called Evolve. I have toys and friends.
I even get to have my very own diary and have made
friends in other places. I like to play all the time. I like
to sleep on mom and dad’s bed. I like it best when I
get it to myself. Sometimes the Noses, these are two
annoying Italian Greyhounds, get there first and hide
under the covers. Sometimes my friend Nimbus jumps
on me while I’m trying to take a nap on the bed. Many
nights I sleep right at mom’s feet.

All of the companions, including me, have nicknames.
We also have a special song that mom sings for each of
us. Some of my nicknames are as follows:

The Barnacle, Barnacle Bob, Dakota-Bob, Me Barn,
The Naughty Barn, The Naughtical, Meearggins, The
Yam Man, Yammy, Yammers, and The Rabbit Rocket.

Pretty silly, don’t you think? All in all, I’m a fun guy who
loves to play. I hope that you will enjoy my diary.

You've got SNAIL!

2006-03-17T10:45:00.000-08:00

A while before mom and dad went
on their infamous trip, mom looked
in skit'o'vision and found out, surprise,
you've got snail! Yep, 2 little snails
magically appeared in skit'o'vision.
Where did they come from? They
were not purchased. Mom figures
that they must have hitchhiked in with
some live plants. They must have
been really, really tiny then they
started to grow!

Mom's named them Gary and
Larry after Gary the Snail, the pet
snail of Spongebob, who meows.
Larry was a cranky growly snail that
came to live with Spongebob on one
of the episodes.

The last time mom went to the fish
store she talked to the fish expert lady
and asked about the snails. The lady
recommended that she get a special
fish to take care of future overpopulation
problems. Mom didn't want the snails
hurt. The lady said that they should be
okay, but if we weren't proactive the
snails could take over.

So now, we have a new kid on the
skit'o'vision block. His name is Mr.
Ed and he is something called a horse
faced loach. Mom's been researching
his breed on the internet. His face
really does look kind of horsey. He's
a shy fellow, though. Now mom is
planning a bigger skit'o'vision. Phoebe
should be please (she's the one who
watches the most skit'o'vision).

hugs from,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

Do fish miss their keeper?

2006-03-16T14:42:00.000-08:00

When mom and dad were gone on
their trip I was unhappy. Others
around our house were sad, too.
Mom's oldest cub took care of us,
but he didn't see me or Phoebe. We
hid from him. He did a great job but
it's not the same as when mom and
dad are here. Nobody knew how to
sing us our special songs. Only
mom knows how to sing these love
songs to us. Some of the fish were
even sad :-(

We were happy when they came
home. I had to show them that I
was mad, though. I gave them the
super cold shoulder. I kept this up
until they took a whole day to lay in
bed with me and feed me yams. Mom
also had to make good with the Neon
Mafia. They were the ones who
missed her a lot! They looked pale
and sad and in not too good of shape.

The other fish didn't seem too upset
about her absence, but those Neons were
unhappy. They were so full of joy to
see mom, I can't tell you just how happy!
Mom had to send them Reiki energy to
help perk them up. They totally know
mom and all come out excited when she
comes home from work or sits by
skit'o'vision. This was so dramatic that
dad gave her a new name, Neon Mama!

I'm also a little mad that mom's been
neglecting my diary since her trip. Her
excuse is that she's had to catch up at
work. Ya, right! That's why she can post
a million smart remarks to Z and Bob
on the Phoenix list. I'm not fooled for
one minute. Bad mama! She says she'll
try and be better. If she doesn't improve
she's going to find out that it will take more
than a little yam to get back in my good
graces!

Hugs from Dakota, Pixie-Bob

Yams

2006-02-21T11:41:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

I have a new favorite treat. Velvet likes
them, too. Mom says that I can even say
the name for myself. "Yaaaammm!!!!"
Mom roasted up these orange treats in
the oven. I smelled them and my mouth
was so drooling! Mom says they're yams!
Dad hates yams. Mom likes them roasted
like a baked potato. A comfort food from
her childhood days when her Pop (granddad)
used to make them.

Mom was sure I'd hate yams. But I cried
and cried so she plopped some on the
plate after cooling. No butter, nothing. Yum!
Velvet came in and was jealous. Mom
tried it out on her, too. Yep, we like yams!
Nimbus doesn't like them. Phoebe doesn't
either. Velvet will fight me for them. I can say
"Yam! Yam! Yam! Yaaaaaammmmmm!!!"
Velvet can't say it. She has a tiny little mouth.

I like them plain, but guess what? Mom
added some cream fraiche and it was
like heaven on a plate. Double Yum!!!
Now Velvet really wants to scrapple over
them. Sheesh! Mom makes plenty. One
big yam is way more than she can eat.
She lets us have as much as we want.
I sure wish Velvet would just lighten up!

Mom wants me to tell you all that she's
bringing my picture to our annual meeting!
She says she'll see you all there!

see ya'll next time, friends,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

Phoebe, Queen of the Day, Velvet, Queen of the Night

2006-02-09T16:23:00.000-08:00

We have a new arrangement at our home :)
Mom has started letting me hang out with
Nimbus and Velvet while she is away or at
work. We get the downstairs. Phoebe gets
the whole upstairs to mostly herself. Tucker
is there but in his X-pen. We all are happier!
Phoebe doesn't like to play very much, except
for with mom I now get to hang out with those
who love to play. The Noses, Lightening and
Guiseppe, are in our area, too!

I was triggering the alarm when I was free
upstairs. When mom started confining us,
Phoebe and I didn't like it. Phoebe got more
shy and depressed. I could only play with
Nimbus and Velvet when mom and dad were
home. No fun. Now Phoebe is so much
happier. She sings and plays a lot more and
even comes out when Velvet is around.
Velvet still tries to be mean to her, though.
I think Phoebe is more confident because
she gets to be queen of the upstairs aaalllll
day long!

At night we all come out to play. Velvet is
the bigger queen then (not in size, just
meaness). The Noses join in our fun.
They try and hypnotize me and Nimbus to
get them treats. They like to chew
toilet paper. We like to drag out rolls of
toilet paper and watch them make a big
mess! They try and get us to knock food off
the counters. They can chew through
wrappers and boxes.

Sometimes Nimbus, Velvet, and I like to
get in the trash. There's fun stuff in there like
crinkly things and good, stinky smells, and
sometimes something to lick. The Noses
get really jealous then. They can see us
getting in the trash through the baby-gate.
They want the trash, but will get told,
"Bad dog!" Dad gets Mr. Squirt Bottle if he
hears, so we have to be really sneaky ;)

I'll have to tell you more about all the fun
we've been having, real soon.

talk to you later,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

House mice and our brave hunters a post from Auntie Phoenix

2006-02-09T15:23:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

This is my Auntie Phoenix's response to mom's previous
post to the list that they mutually belong to. Auntie
Phoenix has Scout, a handsome boy Bengal. Scout has
lots of fun like me. Mom and Auntie Phoenix have been
friends In Real Life, IRL, for many, many years.

enjoy,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

If I remember correctly Raven, that was 21 in one
day... it sounded like popcorn popping in the house
... hahahahahaha

I'm interested to see how Scout deals with the live
version of what he likes to bring me 100 times a day...
We have the mtn. voles up there, but I don't know if they
are going to be able to get in, they seem to dive into the
window wells, and, uh... stay there... never seen one in
the house.

In the old house and B.S. (before Scout) I had to resort
to traps, because sitting sniper style in my kitchen floor
10 feet from the dogfood bowl for 1.5 hrs. with a pellet
gun wasn't really all it was cracked up to be...

The honey and I were also wondering when someone
was going to come up with some sort of pygmy gazelle
hybrid that we can buy for our little wild kitties... I mean,
if you can buy feeder fish and mice for your reptiles....
why not? I say ANYTHING TO MAKE THE WILD KITTY
HAPPY!!! And what better? A miniature herd of gazelles
to turn loose in the house. ;-)

Speaking of brave hunters... my Scout has become quite
adept at the CRAYOLA take down... Brings them to me
over and over and over... Until the dog runs interference
and alas... that is the end of said CRAYOLA... well, 'cept for
the 483,000 shards left on the carpet.

*disclaimer- the mini-gazelle idea is not meant to offend
anyone, just in case it does/did... i know Raven IRL and
sometimes our sense of humor really isn't... to anyone but
us...

Phoenix

Mom tells a tale about Sage and the presents he'd bring her

2006-02-09T12:35:00.000-08:00

Here is a post mom put up on a list on a thread
about funny adventures featuring felines
catching mice or rats, then entertaining their
moms.

enjoy,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

in mom's words:

Can't resist adding to this thread. My old Sage,
adopted from the kill shelter (since crossed the
Rainbow Bridge) was a bruiser who'd tear the
house up and screens off the windows to get out.
He loved to bring me mice and rats as presents.
Sometimes headless, sometimes whole and
alive. One early morning in the wee hours I was
visiting the bathroom. While sitting on the
porcelain throne in the early dawn, Sage runs
in and throws something at me. It bounces off the
toilet and scrambles up my leg (it was a mouse).
Since I was doing my "business" and hopped up
mid-stream (so to speak), I ended up weeing on
the floor, screaming the whole time. My husband
ran in and caught the mouse. Sage looked on
calmly at this spectacle, sitting with his head
cocked. He looked pleased at my reception of
his "gift".

Years later, Sage got lazy and started releasing
his play buddies (mice) into the house without
finishing them off. They took up residence and
because Sage would not tolerate another cat in
the neighborhood, let alone the house, we
couldn't get a younger mouser. When we put up
traps, the first couple of days saw 19 mice dead.
My husband, delegated (or would that be voluntold)
to take out the carcasses, began to feel like the
Death of Mice, kind of like a rodent grim reaper.
Poor guy got quite a complex ;)

cheers,
Raven with Dakota, Pixie-Bob

About spoiled Mama Kitty and Hook's toys

2006-02-03T12:22:00.000-08:00

Hi Dakota Sioux,

Oh yes, my cold is almost gone now. Thank you. I
saw on phoenix that your mom was not feeling well and
also was haveing computer problems. Momma Kitty can
only get on the keyboard when I am here because my
computer desk has a drawer/tray made for a keyboard and
it slides into the desk so it doesn't sit on top or stick out
when I'm not using it. Anyway Momma only walks around
on the keyboard when she wants me to quit typing and give
her all the attention and that is almost all the time LOL.
Most of the time she lays on the desk above the keyboard
and plays with my fingers when I type. My computer makes
funny noises when I turn it on too and Momma Kitty hears
it every time and comes running and jumps up on the desk
to see what I am doing. She always has to supervise to make
sure I am doing it right.

I did some reasearch on bit cats and watched a lot of
documentaries on how momma big cats raise their cubs
and how they discipline them so I just copy that when I raise
cubs here at the house. They sure don't like it very much
when you hold them in one place because they want to run
around and get into everything and can't. When I let them
up they are usually good but only for about 15 minutes
then they are off again just like they were chasing a herd
of antelope. After all, they are cubs and forget very easy.
Just like human cubs do. Momma is a real spoiled cat and
she is kind of old. She is about 14 years old and she likes
to lay on my lap a lot. She does like to play a lot too and
if I rub her tummy she does like you do. She will grab my
hand and lick it and scratch with her back paws and play bite.
Sometimes she forgets and bites real hard because she
used to be feral for over 4 years before she came to live here.
When I go to bed at night she usually gets up on the bed and
sleeps with me. She has her favorite spot on the bed. If she
thinks it is time for me to wake up she grabs one of my knees
really hard with both front paws and with the claws out. You
have to wake up when she does that because it is impossible
to sleep through that one. Usually she just wants to play a while
about 3:00am.

Hook does have a real nice place to live and she eats about 5
pounds of raw meat a day. We feed her Nebraska Brand Feline
Diet and have an account set up with Central Nebraska Packing
and the regional distributor here in town so it is real easy to get
her food. We usually get about 5 cases (200 pounds) at a time
(every month or when she needs it) and we have a freezer we
keep it in. And when we do go swimming we have a whole bunch
of different toys for her. Most are indestructo balls. They are
made special for very large dogs and they are made from a special
non toxic type plastic that is very thick and very very hard to tear
up. Those balls are designed so that if they can bite through the
plastic the balls don't break up and it actually cards the tartar off
their teeth. I have used the larger balls with the Lions and Tigers
and they can bite holes in the balls but they have never been able
to bite a chunk out of any of them so they are pretty safe. I bought
one for the Liger that is 31 inches in diameter and he has not been
able to bite a hole in it so it is a pretty safe toy. All the big cats
play with that ball. I paid $250.00 for that ball. The balls Hook plays
with are a lot smaller than that. They are only about 11 inches in
diameter but she sure likes to chase them around the pool. They are
hollow and float and every time she catches up to one it gest away
from her again and she keeps trying to cahtch them. Sometimes she
can get hold of one and hold on and when she does she sure looks
funny holding the ball with her front paws and trying to swim with he
back paws. I have a La Bistro waterer for Momma Kitty and when I
wash it and re-fill it it makes bubbely noises and you can see the
bubbles rise up in the jug and Momma will come running and sit
there in front of it and watch the bubbles and sometimes try to
touch them with her paw. She has never been interested in running
water from a faucet though. She did investigat the toilet once that
I know of. She likes to sit on the edge of the tub until you flush
the toilet then she will put her paws on the edge and watch the
water go down. Then she makes a funny little meowk noise and
runs out into the living room and swats her catnip balls all over
the place. I have some plastic balls that snap apart in the middle.
They snap real real tight so what I did was take a fine wire nail and
heat it red hot and poked about 4 holes in each end and then put
about 2 tablespoons of catnip that I got from the pet store in each
one and snap it back together and she really goes crazy for those.
She can't get them open but with the real small holes in each end
she can sure smell it good. And of course, with the small holes it
doesn't spill all over the place either. Momma Kitty weighs about
11 pounds.

Since it is only Momma Kitty and me living here right now she is
so spoiled that she has her own plate on the table. I keep dry indoor
formula food on the plate for her. She has a La Bistro self feeder with
dry food also but she likes to eat on the table with me. She's funny. I
also have a mat that I made for her from a large terry towel that I folded
and sewed so she has a cushion to sit on. Sometimes if I put fresh
food on the plate she will try to burry it too but the table isn't dirt so
she will paw her cushion on top of her plate like it was burried. She also
gets about 1/3 can of wet food every day and has the dry food to graze
on whenever she wants. Of course when it is meal time she has to inspect
everything on my plate to make sure there is nothing she might want there.
If she thinks she might like something on my plate she will try to sneak it
for herself so I have to keep an eye on her sometimes.

Tim the lion man lives only about 9 miles from me and sometimes I go
to vist him too. But he works a lot and doesn't get home until later in the
afternoon or evening. And sometimes he has things he has to do after he
gets home so he is busy a lot. If your mom comes to vist Tim I might be
able to make it over to say hello if I know when she will visit him. Actually
I don't work. I am retired military with a fairly good pension so I can go play
with the big kitties most any time I want to. Or pretty much do or go
anywhere I want to any time. If I go somewhere for more that just the day
then my cub Evelyn takes care of Momma Kitty. So it is pretty easy for me.
Hugs back to you too.

(Catmanwho)

Hi Catmanwho,

I'm glad you are well! Mom is on the mend, too :)
Guess what? I have a la bistro waterer just like
Mama Kitty! Like her I like to watch the bubbles.
I always put my paw up there. Sometimes I grab and
hug the waterer and try to get the bubbles! I also
love to watch the water when mom washes her
hands. I get right up with my nose by the faucet.
I also like to watch the toilet flush and be in the
bathroom when mom showers.

Nimbus and I always follow mom to the bathroom.
I flop and wrap my paws around her ankles. I like
to head but her legs, lick them, then run to my dry
food dish and eat. All Nimbus does is sit on the sink
and try to stick his face right in mom's face. Sometimes
I get in trouble because I get excited and start biting the
metal thingy that brings the water to mom's water litter
box.

Once mom tried to lock us out. Nimbus took care of that!
He banged, howled and rattled the door until mom gave
up. Now she doesn't try to keep us out.

Mom thinks you have great tricks with cubs. She has
started using them on me. She's been holding me down
when I get up on the stove. She says that Mr. Squirt
Bottle is not doing his job. She say that I might get burned
because the stove is electric and has a flat surface. Velvet
gets up there too. We all like to counter surf and this
gets mom irate.

Hooks balls sound sooooo fun. So do Mama Kitty's. What
kind are they. Mom wants to get me some because I love
catnip. Velvet loves cat nip, too. Nimbus only thinks it is
"ho-hum" and Phoebe doesn't care for it. I have some catnip
toys I send all over the floor! Mom grows catnip just for me :)

Velvet sounds so much like Mama Kitty. Velvet thinks that she
is the boss. She supervises everything. Even the grandcubs
when they are over. Really I am the boss and the smartest
one, but I just let Velvet think that she is the biggest boss.
Mom has started Velvet on a new diet. She decided that
even though the canned food is expensive, mom doesn't
like how it smells. Velvet won't eat raw food, so mom is just
going to give her cooked meat that is plain. Velvet is way
happy about this. I like cooked meat, too.

Mom wants you to know that she'll be at Lion Tim's on Sunday,
the 26th. Her and dad are spending the night. On Monday
Lion Tim is taking them to meet Hobbs and the other cats :)
Mom's happy that your schedule is flexible and hopes you
can fit a visit into it. She has pictures of me! Tim told mom
that sometimes other Phoenix folks stay the night on
Sunday, too. He says that they all have a real fun time.
I better go for now and I'll talk to you soon!

head buts and hugs from,
Dakota, Pixie-bob

Friday, January 27th, 2006 and my friends' responses, too!

2006-01-30T12:31:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,

Here's this week's diary entry for your enjoyment.
Mom's been under the weather and not at work
so she couldn't help me post until now :( She's
feeling a bit better, though. I told her that she'd
better get back to posting her news articles, because
someone might get sad or miss something cool.

I've been super busy with my tabby buddy, Nimbus.
We've been figuring lots of stuff out. One sad thing is
that the big toy that sings and has a screen, mom calls
it the Mac, hasn't been working. Mom tried to tell me
that Dad has been turning off the power strip. I guess
we aren't supposed to play with the Mac, but it is too
tempting. We like also to turn on something dad calls
the CD burner. It makes a funny noise like something
lives inside it.

On the sad side of things, skit-o-vision saw the
demise of Chinese Al. Mom thinks he got injured when
she moved some new live plants into skit-o-vision. Chinese
Al was a an algae eater. The rest of the gang are still happy.
We have the Neon Mafia, complete with the Neon Boss and
his second in command. The Boss stays busy keeping the small
neons in line. We also have the Von Rio Tetra Conspiracy,
the Harliquin Rasbora Triumvirate, Cory the Catfish, and
Lazarina the Ram Cichlid. A fun group, happy and active
in their constant negotiation for territory.

I had a real fun time trying to chew through my rabbit
when it was defrosting. Mom tried to foil my plot by putting a
box on it. Ha, I flipped off the box and almost got the
chubs of rabbit to the floor. She outsmarted me by putting full
jugs of water on top of the box. Meeeeearrrghhh!!!!

Ahoy maties, until the next time!
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

Hi Dakota,

Hope your mom is feeling better, we really rely on her
wonderful writing and your posts too. Just reading
them makes my day.

Guess what, my Serval, Kiva writes too, but she is not
allowed in the computer room because she chews on the
wires and tries to pull the power bar out and run
upstairs with it. However, she composes to me and I
later type it out. She is writing a little book and is
now on chapter 5. I have sent you a copy of the first
chapter, maybe your mom can read it to you. Kiva
would love a skit-o-vision but I am afraid she would
somehow get inside it.

Bye, Dakota

Donna

A Serval’s Story

By Kiva (as told to and typed by mom)
copyright by Kiva 2006 all rights reserved

Getting to know my family

When I was just a little baby I remember coming to my
new home. Mom stayed with me in our bedroom all the
time and cuddled and fed me and I felt so safe and
loved.

Very soon I was exploring the rest of the house and
discovered that I had two older brothers. The first
one I met was Tao and I knew immediately he was a cat
just like me even though we look so different. I
wanted to play and I went over and bopped him on his
tail. He gave me such a glare and spit and walked
away. Pretty soon I discovered if I ambushed him at
the bottom of the stairs he would chase me all through
the house – great fun! Eventually he has even let me
wash his face, which I just love to do. I am quite a
tease and very lighthearted while Tao is much more
proud and serious. He is called Boss Cat around here.

In our pet room all his ribbons were displayed until
one day I knocked them down and shredded them with my
teeth. Surprise, I hoped to make Tao a little mad but
he looked quite pleased. The only one who cared was
Mom and she picked up all the pieces and put them away
in the closet.

My second brother, Brondo I didn’t touch noses with
until a little bit later but I could watch him from
our windows running around outside. Big noisy
creature, I worried how I would handle such a thing.

One day Mom let him in the house. I streaked upstairs
to our bedroom, ready to dive under the bed if
necessary. I could hear Mom saying “good dog, stay.”
I peeked down from the top of the stairs. Mom was
feeding him some goodies and Tao was there begging for
some too. I decided I better check things out.

Brondo was sitting by the couch so I jumped up on the
back of it to be safe. I thought I better test him
out a bit so I bopped him on the head. He ducked! I
had not even bopped him very hard. He has great
respect for us cats and so it should be. Now I often
lick him on his ears and pretend that I might just
bite him.- of course I wouldn’t dare but just so he
understands my power.

Once I met my brothers I learned that they were also
allowed to sleep in our bedroom. At first I did not
let Tao on the bed but he is a very stubborn cat. No
matter how much I chased him off he just kept plunking
himself back on, lying there with one paw out as he
always does and giving me that look. Okay, so I
finally agreed but Brondo is not permitted on the bed.
I say this and so does Mom. He sleeps beside us and
he has a great big bone he is allowed to have in the
house – he chews away and what a racket he makes.
Dogs are so strange.

We used to have plant family living downstairs but I
jumped on the big one and tipped it over. Their dirt
was fun to dig in. I loved chewing on the leaves and
so did Tao, although I got all the blame. Now they
have their very own room and we are not allowed in
there.

All of us have funny nicknames. Tao is Boss Cat of
course, but also Punky and Pumpkin Pie. Brondo is
Bronny Donny and Pupper. I am known as Miss Stinky
Poo, Monkey Girl and Kiva the Diva.

Life is very good. I am the baby of the family and I
try to get away with as much as possible.

love,
Kiva

from Cathy (she has Chaos, the cute dummy Serval)

"She outsmarted me by putting full jugs
of wateron top of the box. Meeeeearrrghhh!!!!"

Mom's are supposed to be smarter and have eyes in the
back of their heads!!!

Get well!!
Cathy

Dakota, what is this thing???

2006-01-30T12:23:00.000-08:00

Dakota
what is this thing??? !!!

Sounds like a large fish tank to me.
Catmanwho

Hi Cathy,

Catmanwho is correct. Mom says skit"o"vision
is a tank of fish. Sorry it tookme a while to
get back to you. Mom has been extremely
frustrated with her computer problems.
She has to do important things through e-mail
and it's broke. She also lost messages, pictures and
important information.

Skit"o"vision had a miracle. There was a resurrection
from Davy Jone's Locker .Mom had apair of fish to start
the tank and get it going. The male started chasing the
female and she went missing. She wasn't to be found
anywhere. The fish store said that the male probably
killed and ate her. About a week later the mean male
expired so mom thought"no more fish in tank". She quit
adding fish food and did some major water changes
without even bothering to let the very cold water sit and
allow the chlorine fade out. After many changes and
days, on Sunday she bought all new fish.

While the fish were floating in bags waiting to come out
in there new home, mom thought dad let out the tiny catfish.
When she looked closer, "ta-da", the female fish
was alive. How did she survive? That fish had no food for
over a week and drastic changes in water and temperature.
That's the big puzzler. The female looked skinny, but is eating
and getting along with her new tankmates. She doesn't even
bother them and they don't bother her. It is much more fun
to look at the tank now. Even Nimbus is interested.

It will be much easier for me to post after mom's computer
issue gets fixed.

talk to you soon,
Dakota, Pixie-bob

Mom tells of Mr. Snapper

2006-01-30T12:21:00.000-08:00

Here's a funny exotic story from our family as told by mom:

The tale of Mr. Snapper

When my husband and I got together, he was a dedicated bachelor
that had never been raised with pets. He had self-promised never to
be dragged down by pets, kids, or marriage. When I came into his life
I had 2 boys, 2 dogs, 2 tanks of fish, a snake, some birds, a bunch of
plants, and an iguana. I'm not counting the chickens and bees here
because they did not go with me to my new home and actually my ex
hated my snake and the snake mysteriously disappeared one day when
he was visiting the kids. The fish ultimately did not survive the move.

Well my now husband, despite his anti-marriage statements, ended
up married to me with kids and menagerie anyway. He used to joke
(somewhat seriously) that if he ever got rid of us, he'd boot a kid
to the left, a kid to the right, dog to the left, dog to the right,
and the iguana and I would go up the middle. This was 17 years ago.

Fast forward 6 or 7 years. I have skipped over many funny stories,
an especially funny one involving the adoption (without my husband's
consent) of my now deceased silver tabby, Sage.

One day my youngest son came home with a turtle that had been
found in a friend's backyard. The family dog had been molesting
this poor herp and my son came to the rescue. Along with the turtle
was my son's plea of, "Can we keep it?" I knew that my husband would
not be pleased. My son and I took the turtle to the pet store for
identification. The pet store said that they thought it might be an
endangered desert tortoise and that these were illegal. We'd have to
take it to the division of wildlife for proper ID.

My husband came home that night and was not pleased to see the new
creature at our home. I promised him that it was probably a pet we
could not legally keep and that I would take the turtle to fish and
game the next day.

The next day rolls around and my son starts begging all the way to
the division of wildlife about keeping the turtle. He tells me all
about a program for families to foster desert tortoises. When we get
to the division of wildlife the herp expert tells us that no, this is
not a desert tortoise. This guy is an ancient box turtle that is
probably close to the end of his life span. She thought he might be
about 70 years old. My son was so happy! While there, she takes me
aside and asks if I'd be willing to sign up for their desert tortoise
foster program and be an emergency home, just in case. She said,
"Two turtles are as easy as one", and "It is unlikely we will ever
need you because we usually have homes waiting." She also told me
that they preferred to adopt to school teachers so that the tortoises
could be used for education.

Ya, right. Spirit sees and uses a softie animal lover every time.
You wouldn't believe the animals that have come right to our doorstep
looking for their owners or a new home. One time a zebra finch sat
right on my front gate and allowed me to pick it up. Of course, now
the finch had a new home.

I asked the herp expert if truly I wouldn't be called on because my
husband would probably be unhappy. She again reassured me. She told
me that she had 2 desert tortoises being held down south, but they
wouldn't be arriving for a few months. She said she'd have homes for
them by the time they were supposed to arrive.

The minute I finished filling out the paperwork, in walks a ranger
holding a big box. Guess what? Yep, it's the ranger from down south
and he has the saddest looking big desert tortoise that you have ever
seen. This poor guy was seized in a drug raid. The irresponsible
people that got raided had painted his shell hideous colours. He was
malnourished and in out-of-season tortoise heat (he wanted to breed a
female). He was really a mess. The herp expert takes me aside and
begs me to give him a home. She said that no teacher would want him
because he looked so bad. She got my son involved in working on me.
Finally I give in (my heart really did go out to this poor fellow and
I was willing to risk my husband's ire.)

She and the ranger talked about how big this guy is. The ranger
says, "Wait, you've not seen anything yet!" He goes down and brings
up another big box. He pulls out an even more enormous tortoise.
He's a male, too, and the two males start to joust. The herp expert
said that this was the oldest and biggest tortoise they had ever
seen. She estimated that he was between 125 and 130 years old. His
story was that he had wandered on to a golf course and couldn't be
sent back to the wild.

She goes to talk to the officer about our pending adoption. When she
returns, she tells my son and I that actually the poor painted on
tortoise had to be kept as evidence for an upcoming trial. She
wanted us to take the huge tortoise. She then micro-chipped him,
gave us a packet on tortoise care, a permit (we didn't even have to
pay for), and off we went with 2 turtles instead of the one my
husband expected to stay at the division of wildlife. The tortoise
was so big his box barely fit on to the floorboard of my little Honda
Prelude. My son was overjoyed.

The poor guy was so stressed he did a big stinky poop that smelled
horrible in the box (usually tortoise poop does not smell). When we
got to my husband's workplace, he asked if we had gotten rid of the
turtle at division of wildlife. I told him that he needed to come
out to the car because I had something to show him. When he got to
the car, his mouth fell open and he said, "Yuck, what is that
horrible smell?". At first he wasn't very pleased. My son and I
worked on him and promised that this foul smell was not typical. He
did give in and start to come around though when I told him, "Hey, 2
turtles are as easy to care for as one."

Mr. Snapper endeared himself in my husband's heart when we brought
him home. At this time we had a ferocious silver tabby named Sage.
He hated other cats and could and did kick any dog's butt. One of
his nicknames was Frankenkitty because every year he would get
abscesses on his head from fights. He would have to get drain tubes
sewn into the wounds to allow the infection to exit. You couldn't
keep him in the house. He tore every screen off the windows.

When we first brought Mr. Snapper into the house, Sage decided to
show him who was boss. Mr. Snapper was curious about Sage and
started going toward him. Sage whapped him a bunch of times. Mr.
Snapper kept on coming. He chased Sage around and around the living
room while our family laughed. He moved surprisingly fast for a
tortoise. Sage found out that he couldn't boss Mr. Snapper around
like he was used to doing with the dogs. Mr. Snapper was a star and
he's been happy ever since.

The ancient box turtle we named Old Man crossed the Rainbow Bridge
that winter. Sage crossed the Rainbow Bridge a little over 2 years
ago. Our other original pets crossed the Rainbow Bridge at ripe old
ages. We have new feline, canine, bird and fish companions. Mr.
Snapper survives to this day. My kids are grown up and out of the
home. I have grandchildren and more pets than ever :) My husband
has come around and is planning on keeping me company at our
annual Phoenix Exotics meeting. He has actually become an animal
lover and bought me a new aquarium and all the accouterments for
my birthday this past December. This will be my first aquarium since
I lost all my fish 17 years ago. He was also behind my new feline
companions because my heart broke when Sage passed. He said that
I was simply the kind of person that would not be happy without a cat.
I now have 4 fabulous felines including the irrepressible and
mischievous Pixie-Bob, Dakota.

Hope you like my story :)

Raven and Dakota, too

E-mail :)

2006-01-30T12:05:00.000-08:00

Hi Dakota Sioux,
Yep. Momma Kitty does have her own mind. She is
laying right here on the desk above the keyboard
looking at me with one paw on my hand. The other
night she decided it was time for me to quit typing
so she got down on the keyboard and layed out full
length across my hands and the keyboard. It was real
hard to type that way because she weighs 11 pounds.
As for teaching cubs I sort of do it like a momma lion
or tiger would. When they get too rough or shouldn't
do something they are doing I just lay my arm and
paw across their shoulders and hold them down on the
floor for a while so they can't go anywhere just like a
momma would do with them. They don't like that at all
but if I hold them down so they can't go anywhere or
move very well for a couple minutes they get the idea.
They have a fit for a while but they know not to do it
any more and if they be still then I let them up and they
can go play again. They usually yeowl and growl at first
but get the idea pretty soon that it don't do any good
and they are being stopped from doing what they were
doing so they just lay still and when they do that I let
them up. Every time they do it again I put my paw on
them and hold them down just like a momma would
do again. I don't hurt them at all just make them stop
by holding them in one place for a while so they can't
go anywhere or play anymore until I let them go. The
Hook lives at my friends house. She belongs to both of
us and he has a lot of money and his house was designed
and built for her too. She has her own room inside and a
1/2 acre outside play yard that attaches to her room on
the outside of the house and she also has a big swimming
pool inside the house just off of her room and the main
living room of the house with big glass windows and glass
doors looking into the pool from the living room. Sometimes
we go swimming with her. She really loves the swimming pool.

My grandcub and I sometimes have long talks at breakfast
time before he goes to school about what scares furry friends
and makes Momma Kitty nervous and how he should act so
she will trust him more. He is only 7 so sometimes he forgets
and moves too quickly which scares Momma but he is learning
to be gentle with her. Even though Momma has been living with
me for about 10 years she spent the first 4 years of her life as a
feral so she can still get pretty nervous sometimes. It took me
well over a year to gain her trust enough for her to allow me to
handle her. Your Mom is right. People with furry friends are much
happier.

Lion Tim only lives about 9 miles from me and works at the
same zoo (where Hobbs and the rest live) where I worked for 8 1/2
years. I was the big cat curator there. Now I am helping out at a big
cat sanctuary in Fallon, Nevada. I don't know how long a drive your
Mom would have to make but I can understand that your Dad would
want to go along especially if it is a real long drive.

We are all fine but I am getting over a nasty cold I think I caught
from the Grandcub because his whole school seems to have it and
he does too. I think he got it at his school and then I got it but I am
doing much better now.

Catmanwho

Hi Catmanwho,

Sorry it took me awhile to write back. I hope that your cold is
getting better. You might have seen on the Phoenix list that
mom has been having computer problems. It makes it hard
for her to help me with my e-mails. I like to get up on the
keyboard like Mama Kitty. I do it so I can turn on the computer.
It is a mac and it makes a funny noise and lights up when I put
my paw on the button. Last night I turned it on 6 times while
mom and dad tried to sleep. Dad told mom that he is going to
turn off the power strip tonight so that I can't have this kind of fun.

It makes sense that you hold down cubs when they misbehave.
That's a great idea to be like the big mama cat. I can see that cubs
would get very bored and learn quick how to behave in a good way.
I get bored if mom wants to hold me when I don't want her to. I'm
real nice and she doesn't hold me long. I like to climb on her and
make sweetrolls. I'm not a big lap kitty because I have lots of
energy and like to run around and play. I like to get on the bed
to take naps and I follow mom around the house. Sometimes I like
to flop on my back right in front of her when she is walking around.
I like her to pet my belly and I grab her hand and lick and sometimes
kick and bite for play.

Wow, Hook sounds like she has a great place to live. It sounds
really pretty and fun. I like water, too. I've never been swimming,
though. I like to turn on the faucet and wrestle with the humidifier
and my waterer. I like to wait for the dogs to drink and get the
water holder bubbling really good. I bet its lots of fun for you
and your friend to go swimming with Hook. She probably loves it,
too. She probably eats lots and lots of meat. I can guess because
I eat alot and only weigh 9 pounds.

I get my meat then I run to everyone else's plate to see if I can help
them out :) Nimbus is a bigeater and mom has to make sure he does
not eat the food of Love Scoobs (Velvet). She gets special canned
food because she doesn't like raw rabbit. She tries to bury it! Silly girl.
There is no dirt on the floor to really throw on top of it. Still, she acts
like she is in the cat box and paws the floor.

Mom's computer is working now and she is feeling better and will help me
write. She continued this e-mail from her draft folder. Mom says that
when she visits Tim the lion man maybe she can visit with you if you have
time. Maybe mom can come and visit you at work.

I better go for now. I look forward to chatting soon.

hugs from,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

Live Skit'o'vision: Diary for Friday, January the 13, 2006

2006-01-13T13:16:00.000-08:00

Mom got me this cool present for her birthday in December.
I call it "skit'o'vision". It is a big thingy of water with plants,
bubbles, noise and 2 scoobing creatures. Well....it had two
swimming, scoobing creatures but they dissapeared. Dad told
Mom that they got sent to Davey Jone's Locker after they did
something called "expire".

Mom was sad. I guess she's had some problems with getting
skit'o'vision working. I still think it's cool with all the bubbles
and stuff. I keep going over there to see if I can see if the little
swimming snacks are just hiding. Mom told me that she was
working on these technical difficulties and when all seemed
in order there would be some new swimmers.

Isn't it just too cool that Mom got a present for me on her birthday?
I know that I'll have much more to say about this topic in the
future.

hugs,
Dakota, Pixie-bob

I've got e-mail and I sent one back, too :)

2006-01-13T13:02:00.000-08:00

Dakota,

    I have to agree. I'll just bet you could do a real good job of
decorating a tree yourselves.

     No I am not sleeping with any cubs rigt now. Don't know,
maybe in april. Yes you can rough house with cubs a little but
you do have to be very careful to teach them not to hurt humans.
Of course, when they are little they don't pay very good attention.
After all, they get real big later on and they have to know how to
play with humans and not hurt them. They have to know that you
trust them and that they can trust you and that you love them
very very much.

    The Hook is a real big girl now. she is almost 6 years old and
weighs around 170 pounds. Momma Kitty (the Landlord) weighs
only about 11 pounds. Actually she is laying right here on the
computer desk supervising everything I do, as usual. The other
day she didn't want me to be too long on the computer so she got
down and layed full out acorss my hands and the keyboard. Boy
was it hard to type like that. She kept giving me this scoldy stare
like I should quit typeing and just provide a warm lap for her to
lay in.

    I hope your mom finds a driving partner. That way she can have
her own car to get around with instead of having to rent a car or
depend on one of the other humans there to take her around.

    I looked at the link you sent an boy Iris and Fern sure had a
good time with that tree. It must be one tough tree if it has stood
up to that for 12 years. Actually, I am here now by myself with the
furry friends so I just don't even put up a tree anymore. Anyway
my cub invites me over to her house for holidays so they get to do
the decorating now. They don't have any furry friends because their
cub is kind of rough but when he is here at Grandpa's house he
minds real good - or else. Only one time he came to Grandpa's and
started to tear up the house but it didn't work because his backside
got tore up instead so he is very careful now when he comes to visit.
Even though he has learned to be very gentel with Momma Kitty she
still don't trust him and scratched him on the nose the other day.
I laughed.

    When I send this out I will go check out your blog to see what is
new over there.

Catmanwho

Hi Catmanwho,

That MamaKitty sure sounds like she has a mind of her own :)
She does seem a lot like Velvet. I'd love to hear all about the
cubs when you have some new ones. It makes great sense that
you would have to teach the cubs how to play right. This must
take some good understanding of how much you can play and
when you have to say "no". Mom says "no" to us all the time.
Especially when we get up on the stove and into fun stuff she
thinks we shouldn't. I learned how to turn on the computer all
by myself. We have one at home that does not have internet.
It makes a song when it come on. Kind of like it is saying, "Ta
da!" I can also turn on the CD burner. Velvet, Nimbus and I
like to get on the keys. It's fun. Does Hook like to play?
Does she come in the house? My guess is "no" because of
MamaKitty (the Landlord).

It's nice that you can go to your cub's at the holidays. I think
that it's also good that you set limits for your grandcub, too. He
needs to learn to treat MamaKitty kindly and other furrys as well.
He will be a much better adult if he learns kindness for all living
creatures and that he can't run wild at Grandpa's tearing up the
place. Maybe he'll settle down when he gets older and can have
a furry friend live at his house. My mom thinks that humans with
furry friends are happier. Mom and Dad are adjusting to the
grandcubs. They came when the oldest cub got married in
September. Mom and Dad aren't used to being Grandpa and
Nana, yet. There are lots of furry friends at the grandcubs' house.
They still get a little silly with us, though.

Mom's friend can't go to Phoenix after all :( The oldest cub is
going to come take care of us and Dad is going to go with her
instead. He said, "No way!" to mom driving by herself. Mom did
want to have a car. It looks like they will be coming through
Reno on the way back. They will be stopping over at Lion Tim's
and seeing Hobbs and the other awesome residents. I hope
that they take some good pictures. Mom will have pictures of
me with her so that my Phoenix friends can take a look.

I hope you, Hook and MamaKitty are all well and have a nice
weekend:)
Dakota, Pixie-bob

correspondence 1/10/06

2006-01-10T13:13:00.000-08:00

Dakota,

Yes, we had a fairly decent holiday season
this year. I don't think I will be making it to the
Phoenix meeting this year even though it is just
down the road about 480 miles. But maybe one of
these years. LOL. Tell your mom she would have
been busy with you guys if she had put all those
special christmas balls on the tree. I know how that
one goes. The Landlord (Momma Kitty) sure does
like to get after them too. I call Momma Kitty The
Landlord because she owns the house and she just
lets me live here as long as I feed her good and
give her lots of lovin's and treats and fun toys.

Catmanwho

Nice to have you back up on the links.

Hi Catmanwho,

Even though the Phoenix meeting is in your
state, I bet it is hard to find someone to take
care of Hook and the Landlord. Mom's lucky
because she has Dad to stay at home and take
care of us. Maybe Mom will get to meet you
some other time. Mom's best friend recently
joined Phoenix's e-list. Her name is Julie and
she just got a Bengal named Scout. Mom thinks
he's cute and loves his spots. Her friend might
join her for the Phoenix meeting. They will get to
drive together. If Mom doesn't get a driving
companion, Dad's going to have her fly. He
doesn't want her driving all that way by herself.

Maybe I can talk Mom into the Christmas tree and
balls next year. She found this funny Christmas
tree decorated by cats. You can check it out at:

http://www.fluffytails.ca/christmas.asp

Mom thought it was cute, but I think that it
is rude that she didn't let me and Nimbus
decorate our own tree. I know that we could
have done every bit as good a job as those
two cats, Iris and Fern. In fact, I think that
we could have done an even better job.

Are you sleeping with any cubs? Mom sure
wishes she could work at a big cat sanctuary
and help take care of the cats. She'd especially
love to take care of the cubs. I bet it's hard not
to rough house with the cubs when they are small.
I know that you have to be gentle so that they
grow up not to hurt people by playing too rough.

Mom's cub came and tore up the house last night.
I have the full story posted today on my blog:)
I'm not going to post all of my entrys to the Phoenix
list because I'd like there to be surprises if someone
comes to my blog.

talk to you later,
Dakota, Pixie-bob

New arrangement of furniture, Meearrgh! Tuesday, January 10, 2006

2006-01-10T10:09:00.000-08:00

Chaos, pure chaos, is reigning in our house at
the moment! Last night Mom had her youngest
cub over to help with making a huge mess. My
whole area is destroyed. I have lost my best perch
to look and plot to get those tasty bird-snacks! And
it is all Nimbus's fault. He is so big and clumsy that
he got us both in big trouble.

It all started on top of the buffet. The solid oak
number that we sneak on to watch the tasty bird-
snacks. Even though Mom tries to cover it so that
we don't have room to get up there, guess what?
I can get up on anything! I only weigh 9 pounds and
I can jump higher than a tall man's head. Hah!
Ya, I might be small for a male Pixie-bob but I make
up for it with a mighty attitude!

Nimbus is big, not fat, just big with a fat, fluffy tail.
He is also a clumsy doofus. I was up there minding
the bird-snack business when he decided to join
the party. We got in a tangle and almost fell into
the X-pen with Tucker. Ooops! Mom had a fit. She
told dad, "That's it, we'd best rearrange the furniture
before one of these fools gets eaten!"

So last night the cub, Trevor, came over and
started to tear the joint apart. My beloved bird-snack
observatory got moved to where I can no longer
drool over those potentially yummy snacks. It is so
unfair. Plus, there is a huge mess everywhere
because now Mom and Dad have to figure out how
and where to put stuff. Yucko!

They also have to rehearse with their dumb band
tonight and won't be cleaning it up as soon as I
want. Maybe I'll have to chew on some cables.
Meeeeeaaarrrrgh!

correspondence from the weekend of 1/7/06

2006-01-10T09:47:00.000-08:00

Dakota,

I enjoyed your diary for Jan. 6, 2006 and boy,
it looks like you had a wild couple months there.
Anyway maybe now things will be quiet for a while.
Glad to see you back and will be looking forward to
more diary entries when you can post them.

Catmanwho

Hi Catmanwho,

It really was hopping over the last couple of months.
I'm looking forward to more peace and quiet around
here! I hope that you had a very fine holiday season
with your girlcub and fur family :) My mom is still
planning on going to the Phoenix meeting and if
you go she can show you some pictures of me.

cheers,
Dakota, Pixie-bob

Friday, January 6th 2006

2006-01-06T11:16:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone! Hope everyone's
holidays were fun and full of joy. I've been
frustrated that Mom hasn't had time since
Halloween to help me with my diary. She has told
me that she's been too busy with work and
perparing for Thanksgiving, Dad's birthday,
her birthday, Yule, Christmas and New Years.

We did have a fun Thanksgiving and I got to
eat lots of turkey. The other holidays weren't as
fun because we had strangers in the house. Well,
some aren't exactly strangers, but they don't live
here. The grandcubs were here a bunch and they
are loud and rowdy. I hid when people come over.
I don't like to come out when there is company.

I did hear about something called a Christmas
Tree. Mom said we weren't going to have one
this year because Nimbus and I would tear it up.
She said that one of Sage's nicknames was the
Bryan Avenue ball buster because of his Christmas
ornament antics. She was not going to have this
going on with me and Nimbus. I think that this is
pretty bogus and that we should have gotten to
play with these mysterious ornaments.

Velvet got in some trouble on Christmas morning.
The grandcubs were over and Velvet was presiding,
as usual. Even though Mom told the grandcubs not
to pet Velvet, guess what? The littlest grandcub
stuck his face right in Velvet's face and got bit
over the eye for his impertinence. He screamed and
screamed, even though there was only a tiny scratch.
What a baby. I'd be bawling all the time if I hollered
every time Velvet bit or scratched me. I hid from all
that cry-baby wailing. Maybe he learned something,
like he should listen to his Nana when she tells him
not to pet one of us.

The next insult was that Dad and Mom had company
from out of town. They even stayed for some days
and nights. Guiseppe and Lightening got in super big
trouble right before the company arrived. They figured
out how to excape from their area, ate all of our food,
got into our potty, ate you-know-what (Mom calls it
"kitty roca"), then got sick all over the house from
both ends. They were sick aaalllllll day! Even I had to
say, "Eeeeeeewwwwww"!

Mom had to put one of the living room chairs
outside because it got horked all over! It was so stinky
she couldn't even get the nastiness off of it. Mom
and Dad had to clean and clean and clean some more.
Mom was way frustrated by the time that nasty storm
passed. I heard her muttering, "Why does this stuff
have to happen right before company arrives?"

Our New Year's Day was much nicer. Company went
to their own homes and Mom and Dad hid from
people. They did see the new lion movie about Aslan,
the lion. They liked it a lot. It is called "The Lion, the
WItch and the Wardrobe." They give it 5 stars. They
got invited to parties and some other activities on
New Year's Eve but opted to stay home with us. Yay!

Happy Halloween: correspondence Monday, October 31st, 2005

2005-10-31T16:45:00.000-08:00

Dakota Sioux,

    Sorry, I am a little slow to answer this but everyone
around here has been getting ready for trick-or-treat and
I've been kind of busy helping my own female human cub
(she is grown up now so she isn't exactly a cub - she's 33)
carve pumpkins and seperate the seeds so they could be
roasted. Monday I will be at her house to help in the evening
when all the trick-or-treat cubs come around. My house is
way off the road and kind of in behind a hill and is very dark
plus it is away from other places a bit. I have only had 4 cubs
come to my house for trick-or-treat in 15 years so I don't
think many will show up this year either. It is too dark here at
night and the cubs get scared to try to come this far off the
road in the dark I think and the houses are sometimes a little
bit far from each other so they would have to walk a long ways
to get a big bunch of treats.

    Yes, one of Momma Kitty's kittens did survive. At least as far
as I know. He was living in a barn down the road with another
group of cats last time I heard. But then, we have and awful lot
of coyotes out here and they aren't very friendly to cats. I didn't
get into trouble with the mean human who threatened Momma
Kitty because that human stayed away from her and me until I
took her home to my house. He was setting live traps which I
kept tripping and was going to use her for target practice with
his new .22 rifle. I just told him that if he did that I had my rifle
in my car always (it is a pretty big rifle too, it is a .44 magnum)
and I would go get it and somebody wasn't going to get out of
the ground. I think he got the idea. It is just my car gun. I have
even bigger ones at home and I have a permit so I carry a .45
ACP semi-auto usually. Most of the time if I tell someone to
quit bothering an animal they usually listen prett good and quit.

    Missy was real real sweet and loveable. Hook is much younger
(she is only 5) and she is big and really likes to play hard but she
is getting more mellow and likes to lay with her head in your lap
and purr until she goes to sleep. She has a real big purr. So she
is getting more and more like Missy as she gets older. When
Hook stands on her back legs she is about 5 foot 10 inches tall,
from her head to the ground, and weighs about 170 pounds.
Missy wasn't quite as big. I think Hook is as big as she is because
I heard that her dad was a Canadian Cougar that weighed a little
over 200 pounds and her Mom was pretty big too. They said she
was about 125 pounds so she grew up to be a pretty big girl. And,
boy, is she strong.

    Yeah, my Mom was kind of funny and she did get nervous when
she saw Sylvester and Boo just appear in the hallway or in the
living room. She is kind of old, about 87, and spirits, she calls them
ghosts, make her real nervous because she always said she didn't
believe in them until she saw those two come visiting. No, she
doesn't come here any more. She moved up to Michigan (about 2100
miles from me. All the rest of my family lives there, her sisters too.)
and when I talk to her on the phone I ask her if Boo or Sylvester ever
comevisit her and she says "No! and they better not either". I don't
know what she could if they did decide to visit her there. She is funny.
She makes me laugh sometimes because she acts so serious about
everything especially "ghosts".

    The story about your Dad's parents thinking your Mom is wierd
and him being a confirmed bachelor with no pets is funny. My
family thinks I am not only wierd but that maybe I am a little crazy
too because I playwith the Big Cats. My brother says that maybe I
am latent suicidal and have a strong death wish on top of that. Boy
did I laugh at him when he said that. He is a lawyer and spends most
of his time in court rooms and I don't think he has any pets so he
probably don't understand. He should know about animals though
because we were raised on a small farm. Anyway when he was a cub
he thought the cows and pigs were killers and the rooster was an
assassin - LOL. Your Dad sounds like he has changed his mind
about animals and likes them now. Probably your Mom taught him
how to love them.

    I don't think my job is that hard because I really love working for
and with the Big Cats. I have been doing it for about 14 years now.
You should see how crazy it gets in my house when I have little Lion
or Tiger or Cougar cubs here to raise. I take the matress off the bed
and put it on the floor and make the bed there while they are here
so that they don't get rowdy and accidentally fall off the bed and hurt
themselves. Also so they don't roll around at night when they are
sleeping and fall off and get hurt. The Liger here is still around. He is
about 11 or 12 years old now and he has a girl friend, a Tiger. She is
only about 7 years old and keeps him exercised pretty good. She likes
to sneak up on him and swat his butt, jump over him, and then run
and he chases her but she is faster than him and stays just a little ways
in front of him so he can't quite catch her and when he gets tired out
they both lay down and take a nap.

    I don't get away very often but I don't live too terribly far from Utah,
actually I live in Nevada over near the Reno area. Well my cub just called
on the phone and wants me to come over and help them put up -spider
webs? so I guess I will close this out for now. Oh, I agree with the
"surprise posts" they are sometimes more fun because they don't happen
all the time and sometimes that makes them even better because people
had to wait for the next one and they start to wonder "when is Dakota
Sioux's.next post going to happen".

(Catmanwho)

Hi Catmanwho,

No worries. I only get my e-mail when Mom is at work and has
computer access. My Mom's oldest male cub and his mate carved
pumpkins for their 2 male cubs last night. Mom didn't know that
they were going to do it, or she might have gone over. Mom's
oldest cub, 25 years old, married a female with 2 male cubs, ages
4 and 6, making Mom a Nana. The cubs call her Nana Raven and
Dad, Grandpa Scott. They might be expecting a new cub, but don't
know for sure yet. Mom's youngest cub is 19 years old. She only
has two male cubs, though like your girl, they aren't really cubs any
more.

Your girl sounds nice. It's great that she comes to visit and you get
to help her with her trick-o-treaters. Everyone is coming over tonight
to see Mom and Dad. I'm going to be hiding, but they can look at my
pictures :) The grandcubs are dressed up like Batman, Ethan aged 6,
and Spiderman, Jordan aged 4. They came to Mom and Dad's work to
show off this afternoon.

Thomas's wife's, Joyful's, family didn't celebrate the holidays much
when she was growing up. Last night was the first time she and her
cubs got to carve pumpkins. Our family likes to celebrate the holidays,
so she and the cubs will be getting new experiences. The grandcubs
are really cute and nice. Lots of energy, though!

Mom and Dad have jack-o-lanterns made out of terra cotta. You put
candles in them. Mom and Dad got some cool lights that go different
colours and put into 3 of them. I guess we ususally get some
trick-or-treaters. Last year I heard we had a good turn out and Mom
wore her leopard spotty ears to hand out candy. It is sad that you
don't get too many but nice you can help your daughter. Do you have
grandcubs?

My Mom and Dad's family, not counting the cubs and grandcubs,
would faint if Mom got a job with Big Cats. Mom laughed when I told
her about your brother, the lawyer and the small farm you both grew
up on. Dad and the cubs could really relate to the "assassin rooster".
Mom used to have a different home, when she was with the ex-meanie,
that had a quarter acre. She had Rhode Island Reds and Bees. She
had a huge Rooster that would get out of the chicken yard and she'd
make the cubs chase it down out of her garden. When Mom was
getting divorced from ex-meanie (Mom was seperated for a few years
first), Dad met the Chickens and had to help with the Rooster a couple
of times. Mom misses her Chickens and Bees. She has a teeny yard
now. She wants a farm kind of place and a feral colony (with neutered
ferals of course). She likes to do old farm timey things. She loves to
ride horses, too.

Mom and Dad came through Reno earlier this year when they went to
their nature recording workshop up in Yuba pass. They don't know if
they'll get to go next year. Depends on money. Maybe they can come
meet Hook and see the Big Cats you take care of if they come through
Reno, again. Reno's about 9 hours or so from Salt Lake. You could
see some cute pictures of me :)

Well, I have more to say but it is almost time to go. Mom can't be
home late because of family and trick-or-treaters.

Have a happy and safe Halloween !!! Boo!

hugs from your friend,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

Thursday, October 27th, 2005

2005-10-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

Last night was another rowdy night. This time I think Dad
got mad because we didn't let him sleep much. Nimbus and I
jumped on him a whole bunch. Maybe it's the rain. It's been
raining here and maybe we are all getting excited. Mom didn't
even wake up when we jumped on her. I was making sweet
rolls right on her and she didn't wake up. I think that she has
been tired after work and then coming home and cooking. Dad
works hard, too, and he helps around the house. He even helps
Mom around the kitchen. Poor Dad's body was sore from the
incoming storm. This means Dad doesn't sleep as well.

I heard Mom grumbling last night that she needs to get back
to work on her music. Dad's all for it. Mom says it can be kind
of hard with work and other obligations. Dad understands.

The leaves are turning a bunch of cool colours, here :) I look
out the window and see that it looks very pretty. The Scrub
Jay bird-snacks are coming around a lot. I think that they are hiding
seeds. Mom used to feed them dog-food, but had too many
problems with Vermin. She feeds some really tasty looking
Goldfinch bird-snacks. We have Robin, Starling, Magpie, House
Finch, Sparrow, Scrub-Jay, Mourning Dove, Black-headed
Grosbeak, Junco, Chickadee, Quail, and Cedar Waxwing, bird-snacks.
We've had a Rufous Sided Towhee before. We also have Raptors,
Ravens, Crows, Geese, Ducks, and Seagulls, too, but they
don't look too much like snacks.

One time Mom saw a Bald Eagle fly right down the street.
We have a colony of Bald Eagles that winter out by the Great
Salt Lake. We have Golden Eagles, too, and lots of other birds
that pass through. We even have a Flamingo that lives out at
the Great Salt Lake named Pink Floyd. I guess he has a following
and some people want him to have some friends. Wouldn't
that be pretty funny?

love,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

correspondence 10/28/05

2005-10-28T16:33:00.000-07:00

Hi Dakota Sioux,

    I didn't do a "reply" because it is getting real long so I just
printed up a copy and will answer your reply from my printed
copy. That way it won' take up so much mail box room.
    I'm sure that if your Mom really loved Sage she can feel his
spirit. Yes, Missy was a female Cougar about 15 years old and
she had to take the walk across the Bridge because her kidneys
and liver started to fail and the hard thing for me with her was
I had to help the Vet help her take the walk. I really loved her too.
Even though she was pretty big she would lay in my lap, as best
she could, she hung over on both sides though, and purr real loud.
    Missy like to come vist at night and when she jumps up on the
be you can hear the be creak and see her and when she leaves you
can see her foot prints in the bed covers.
    I was never able to tame Momma Kitty's kittens enough to be
able to find them homes. I could handle them but if anybody but
me was around they would run away and even I couldn't touch
them then. The human that was going to hurt Momma Kitty I think
killed one of her kittens and the other one moved to a farm that
had some ferrals living in it's barn I heard. I almsot got in trouble
because I told him if he harmed Momma or her other kitten (he
Kittens by that time were almost twice as big as her - they were
full grown) I would harm him as much as he harmed them.
    No, I don't have many other companions because Momma Kitty
is a lot like Velvet or maybe like Sage was. If any other domestics
come in the house she gets real territorial real quick. The only other
companion I have is a 5 year old Cougar named Hook and she is a
big girl (170 pounds) but she doesn't live in the house. Momma
doesn't go around her either because Momma grew up under the
buildings at a zoo that had lots of Big Cats, Lions, Tigers, Cougars
and all so she knows not to go around them. If I had bird snacks in
the house she would probably eat them all. Myself I take care of
mainly Big Cats at a sanctuary.
    You do have a right to brag with being a TICA Quadruple Grand
Champion and all. The vet says Momma Kitty is a Russian Blue with
a little Tabby thrown in maybe. Shhhhhhhh.....I call her the landlord
but don't tell her I said that, and tell people she owns the house and
makes me pay rent like food and treats lol. Since I brought her home
to live with me she has become a real spoiled lap Cat but I love it.
But then all my Cats are spoiled even the Big ones. I can even go in
and feed the big male Lion meat right out of my hand and he is very
gentle. He isn't very big though he is only between 500 and 600
pounds. I can hand feed the Liger too and he is 1100 pounds easy.
The Tigers get a bit pushy about their food so I don't hand feed them.
    Goin back to the Cat spirits that visit my house there are only three
that actually become visible and show themselves to people sometimes.
They are Boo and Missy and then there is Sylvester. Sylvester was a
black and white Maine Coon with a Charlie Chaplin mustache and she
belonged to a very close friend of mine. I know, her name is a guys
name. But when she came to live with my friend she was a stray and
they didn't know what she was and just gave her a name. She started
living on their porch and they felt sorry for her so they gave her a
home but because she was spayed and her hair was so long and she
(being spayed) never came into heat they just thought she was a guy.
The vet finally told them that she was a girl but she had had that name
for so long my friend just left her name like that because she came
right away when she was called by that name. She got cancer and
crossed the Bridge at about age 14.
    When I first met her she jumped right up in my lap and put a paw
on each of my shoulders and got her nose real close to mine and just
talked and talked and talked for a long time. I guess you could say
that we bonded almost immediately. She comes to my house to visit
more than Boo or Missy does. I know she sure scared my Mother
when she showed herself to my Mom when my Mom was here. I was
in a different room in the house and my Mom was yelling at me about
why did I bring another Cat in the house and when I explained to her
that that was Sylvester and she had crossed the Bridge a few years
before my Mom got real nervous and I laughed a lot.
    Your idea about an e-mail news letter sounds kind of interesting
but that would be almost like being a newspaper correspondent. You
would need reporters and an editor and a publisher. It would be quite
a bit of work to keep it going on a regular basis. I think the diaries are
good for now and even if you save up a few days adventures that you
guys have and do a nice long entry every now and then. That way
people won't get too used to them but will kind of be looking forward
to the next posting - then - surprise - here is the next one.
(Catmanwho)

Hi Catmanwho,

I am glad to hear that one of Mama Kitty's kittens survived. I know
that it is not always possible to tame ferals. I'm happy that you did
not let that mean human do more harm. This individual does not
sound like a very nice person. I'm also happy to hear that you escaped
getting in trouble because of this. I wish all humans liked animals.

Missy sure sounds nice. Is Hook as nice as Missy? I can see why Mama
Kitty would not want to be friends with Hook. She sounds like one
humongus girl. I bet she's really pretty, though.

You're Mom sounds funny. I've noticed that humans sometimes
laugh when they are nervous. Does she still come visit you even after
seeing Sylvester? Does she like Big Cats? My Mom's Mom and Dad
have both crossed the Rainbow Bridge. They passed away while
still young, both in their early 50s. Mom was with her Mom when
she crossed. Mom was also holding Sage when he crossed. Mom
has been with most of the fur family when they crossed. It's sad but
Mom wants to be there.

Dad's parents are still both alive and think Mom is weird with all the
fur family. They don't like to come to the house because Lightening
likes to stick his long nose in visitor's ears. He jumps on people, too.
Dad was brought up with NO pets. When he and Mom got together
he was a confirmed bachelor, never going to get married, have kids
or pets. Ooops, famous last words. Mom came along with 2 young
Cubs, 2 Dogs, 2 tanks of Fish, an Iguana, some Anoles and Geckos,
and a bunch of houseplants. Yikes! The Cubs are on their own but
now there is a bigger fur family :)

It was sooo funny when Dad got Mom Phoebe and Nimbus, because
his family didn't believe it was Dad's own idea. Somehow they
thought that it was all Mom. Dad's Sister told their folks that it was
Dad. When Thomas (the oldest Cub) got married in September, Dad's
parents came to the house to meet me, Nimbus, Velvet and Phoebe.
I don't like people I don't know. Mom made me meet them and I ran
downstairs and hid for the rest of the day.

I like your job. It sounds like a lot of hard but fun work. Have you
worked with Big Cats for a long time? There used to be a Liger living
in Salt Lake named Shasta. She crossed over the Bridge and her body
is stuffed and in Hogle Zoo. Tim, off of our list, told Mom that female
Ligers are rare. We have a friend who used to live by Shasta when she
was owned by a private owner. The state took her away. Our friend,
Ralph, said that he loved visiting with Shasta when she was his
neighbor. Mom visited Shasta at Hogle Zoo when she was still
alive, a long time ago.

I think that you're right about a newletter being too big of a job.
I keep Mom pretty busy typing as it is. Maybe sometimes I'll just find
something interesting to put in my diary. I also like your idea about
"surprise" posts. I think that they could be more of a treat that way.
I can also have extra ones on my blog if folks want to check every now
and again.

I have been having lots of fun corresponding with you and hearing
about your friends:) I look forward to future chats. Maybe if you come
to Utah sometime, you can come visit. Mom's going to try and make it
to the Phoenix meeting. Dad says it's okay if there is the extra money,
so she's crossing her fingers.

from your friend,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

2005-10-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

Last night we were so rowdy that we tore up the house. It
was kind of like World Wide Wrestling. I'd grapple with Nimbus,
then I'd grapple with Velvet. We would tear through the house
and jump on the counters and knock stuff off. We broke some
stuff, too, though we didn't mean to. We got up on the computer
and Mr. Squirtbottle made an appearance. Phoebe never grapples.
I don't know why. Velvet is still being mean to her. Though
Phoebe has been coming out more as we get back into the old
routine.

I like grappling. It's real fun. I lay on my back and take pokes at
Nimbus or Velvet. They jump up on top of me and we roll around
biting and poking and kicking. Then we take off and I chase
someone or they chase me.

One thing I don't like is Guiseppe following me around and trying
to bother my bum. I don't have a very long tail so I don't have much
protection. Nimbus has a bushy, long tail, plus he'll give Guiseppe
a swipe if he gets annoyed. If Guiseppe insists on keeping up this
disgusting behavior, I might have to whack him. Mom yells at him
to leave me alone, but he tries it when she's not looking. He does
the same thing with trying to get into food and the trash. Mom has
to put up baby gates so he can't get trash, our food, our litterbox,
and other stuff.

Mom was back doing her "art" again. She didn't get out the good
toys so we made our own fun. I find all kinds of treasures on top
of stuff. Nimbus does, too. We both are pretty good at dragging
stuff off counters and other areas. Nimbus gets really fascinated
with anything in a plastic baggy. Mom had some felt thingies for
a drum kit in a baggy and Nimbus found them. She also had some
sidewalk chalk in a baggy and he dragged that out, too.

Since Mom was not giving us attention, we brought our attention
to her. We ran all over her "art" and we grappled on it and tried to
take some of her pens. She kept tossing us off the bed, but that did
not stop us for long. There were three of us to give her attention.
We had a fun time while we did it, too. I wonder what will happen
tonight?

love,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

correspondence 10/27/05

2005-10-27T16:27:00.000-07:00

Dakota Sioux,

    Your Mom probably has good reason to be paranoid
about evil people on Halloween wanting to harm Cats,
especially black ones like Phoebe and Velvet. I used to keep
Boo in for a couple days before and after Halloween because
out here where we live a lot of Cats get real bad things done
to them at that time.

     Some humans are sometimes very evil and mean.
Especially teenagers.

    Boo was 19 years old when he walked across the Rainbow
Bridge and the really hard thing for me was that I was holding
him in my arms when he took the walk. But you know
something, his spirit still comes around once in a while to
check on me because every now and then he will appear in the
house for a few minutes, and that scares some people who see
it happen, and then he goes on to play with his friends I guess
because he just disappears. So I know he is doing fine. There
are a couple humans who won't even come in my house because
they are scared a Cat might just appear out of thin air. It makes
me laugh at them. They are the ones that saw Boo drop in and
now they are afraid it might happen again so they don't visit here
anymore. I also have a Cougar spirit that visits and that scares
Momma Kitty and she will hide for hours and hours and you can't
even find her or get her to come out when Missy drops in for a
vist even though Missy only stays a couple minutes like Boo.

    I have another kitty companion now her name is Momma Kitty.
It is a wierd name but when I met her she was a ferral and had a
litter of kittens. I didn't know what to name her and I didn't know
at that time that she would be coming home with me a couple
years from then. I spent a couple years getting to know her and
when a human tried to hurt her she came home with me and she
is really spoiled. She is about 14 now and hs been with me almost
9 years. I knew her for four years before she came to live with me.

    I like your Blog page - it's real cool I saved it in a file so I can go
there any time.

(Catmanwho)

Hi Catmanwho,

Mom thinks that Sage visits from time to time, but she has never
seen his Spirit. Was Missy a Cougar companion that used to live
with you? Mom has a black Jaguar Spirit that started visiting when
she was a young adolecent cub. Mom doesn't know where the Spirit
came from or how it found her. Another person has sensed this
Spirit around Mom and Mom had never even told her about it.
Mom's friend knew it was a Jaguar and black. Mom has felt
protection from the black Jaguar during scary times in her life.
We all think it would be fun to see Boo and Missy :) Though maybe
we, felines, might get scaired like Mama
Kitty. Cougar's are big!

Mama Kitty sounds nice, too. She's so lucky that she met you and
you could share your home with her. Were you able to find homes
for her kittens? Most ferals don't have a very long life and Mom and
me are happy that she gets to live with you.

Do you have other companions? If so, what are there names? At our
house we have Tucker, 7 year old neutered male Shiba Inu rescued
from extreme abuse, Guiseppe, 9 year old neutered male Italian
Greyhound breeder reject from a nice breeder, Lightening, 6 year old
neutered male, mostly bald, Italian Greyhound from poor genetic stock,
Velvet, you know about her she's 4 and spayed, Phoebe, 2 year old
spayed female Maine Coon from a nice breeder, Nimbus, 2 year old
neutered male Maine Coon from a nice breeder, and I will be 2 years
old next April and I come from a nice breeder. Just to brag, I am a
TICA Quadruple Grand Champion neuter. We also have Mr. Snapper,
140+year old desert tortoise Mom fosters for Division of Wildlife, 1
male canary, 2 male diamond doves, 5 Society finches, and a bunch
of plants. Mom also wants a snake. She used to have a Green
Snake many years ago that her ex-meanie did in (she divorced
ex-meanie many years ago and now has a nice mate). Her Green
Snake was extremely friendly and liked to have Mom pet and hold
him/her (she never knew its gender). Mom also, a long time ago,
has had a Ferret and an Iguana.

Dad bought Mom Nimbus and Phoebe when Sage got diabetes and
had to cross over the Rainbow bridge at 16 years old. Sage
originally came from animal control as a stray. Later on somebody
told her that he was a Maine Coon. Mom was so sad when he was
going to pass away that Dad found a local breeder and insisted that
Mom find a new friend. Mom didn't want to at first, but Dad said
that Mom is not the kind of person not to have a feline companion.
He thinks that if she doesn't have a feline friend she
will become too sad.

2 years ago at Christmas time Dad spent all of his and Mom's
Christmas bonus checks to buy her Nimbus and Phoebe.

I'm so happy that you like my blog. I hope that I will be able to keep
writing good entries. I had an idea about maybe a kind of e-mail
newsletter. I could write about stuff I find out and maybe other people
could help me, too, and we could put it on the blog and on the phoenix
list.

love,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

2005-10-26T17:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday when Mom went outside to go to work I heard
the biggest, tastiest looking, bird snack taunting her. It
sat right on the fence and squawked next to her head.
Mom said it was a scrub jay and it was as bold as can be.
If I were Mom I would have eaten it. Yum! Mom feeds the
bird-snacks. She thinks that this helps to keep us entertained.
I tell you what, it makes all of our mouths water. We want to
taste these yummy looking bird-snacks and we don't care
about the seeds. The only things that seeds are good for is
that they grow moths that we get to chase (that is the seeds
kept to feed the indoor bird-snacks).

Nimbus got a yellowjacket the other day and he lost a little bit
of enthusiasm for moth hunting. Like I said before, Phoebe
sings to them and hopes that she can get one in her mouth.
Velvet likes them, too. Nimbus says that Mom always has a
pet spider that comes in with the plants. A great big jumping
spider that Mom names and calls her pet. She usually thinks of
dumb names. Mom doesn't let anyone kill her pet spider. She
likes it when her "pet" goes on the ceiling and scares any guests.
Mom's guests thinks she's kind of weird. Mom and Dad's
neighbors call her "the eccentric artist or musician".

When Mom and Dad first moved to the neighborhood 16 years
ago, some of their "interesting" friends helped out with the move.
All of the neighbors got scared by the tie-dye and weird clothes.
The first neighbor-given nickname for Chez Lapin was "Hippie House".
This was not given as a compliment. After they all figured out that
Mom was an "artist" and "musician" and basically harmless, they
changed "Hippie House" to "the house where the eccentric artist lives".
Sheesh, people! Animals don't think and judge this way. I'm glad I'm
a feline.

Last night Mom was doing "art". She's trying to figure out what gifts
to make for who for Christmas/Yule. Velvet kept trying to lay all on
her paper and books and did not especially appreciate being moved off
of the paper and books. Mom told Velvet that if she did not co-operate
that Santa would not be bringing her stuff for her stocking. Mom then
told us that we are going to get locked up in our spaces for Halloween
and we would not get to see the trick-or-treaters. She said that she
didn't want us to run out the door (Velvet actually tries and has succeeded
in doing just this and Dad had to grab her by her tail). I say, "Bummer!".
I want to see all the kids and weird costumes. Oh, well.

love,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

correspondence 10/26/05

2005-10-26T16:51:00.000-07:00

Dakota,

    I had a kitty companion, named Boo (pure black and only
8 1/2 pounds). He was a lot like your St. Sage. The only
difference is he didn't tear out the screens but he thought
he was as big as a tiger because he would fight anything
that came anywhere near where he
could see them.
    Our neighbor has a real big guy (the neighbor claimed he
was only 23 pounds but I think he might have been a couple
pounds more) named Squeaker. Boo would take him on every
time Squealer came through our place (he always lost but he
always tried).
    He used to wake me up at about 2:00am to go out and then
raise the dickens to come back in about 4:30am. I finally got
tired of that and put in a kitty door for him. He was a good
hunter though and sometimes I would wake up about 6:00am
and find him in my bedroom by the file cabinet eating a quail
he caught. Then I would have to clean up feathers and little
bits of bone and clean blood off the carpet.
    He used to have to go to the vet often because of infections
he'd get from fighting so I know what your Mom went through.
    It sounds like Velvet has a little streak of "mean" in her too.
Keep up the good reporting in your diaries they are very
interesting.

Larry
(Catmanwho)

Dear Catmanwho,

Mom told me that Sage was a mighty hunter, too :) I bet I
could be a good hunter if Mom would just let me go outside.
I think my other feline friends would be hunting enthusiasts,
also. Velvet and Phoebe are black and Mom is paranoid and
thinks crazy devil worshippers might torture us (she's even
afraid of mean kids, too).

Boo sounds like a great friend. I bet you miss him like Mom
misses Sage. Mom used to try and head Sage off when he
would try and bring her presents. He let soooo many mice
loose in the house that Dad had to set traps. He killed a
caboodle of mice and felt like he was some kind of Dr.
Death of mice.

Sage had a nemesis, like Boo's nemesis, Squeaker, that Mom
and Dad called the "lunchbox kitty". The lunchbox kitty's real
name was Ziggy and he lived 2 houses down. He was a huge,
fat tabby who's belly almost dragged on the ground. Sage only
weighed about 16 pounds and he and the lunchbox kitty would
get into horrible fights on the nextdoor neighbor's lawn.
Neither one could win and they'd lock down on each others'
heads. Doc told Mom that Sage was a dominant cat because all
of his abcesses would be on his head or shoulders. If Sage was
losing fights, the doc said that he'd have absesses on his bum.
The lunchbox kitty finally moved away to Park City.
Sage didn't get so many abcesses after that.

Thanks so much for sharing stories with me about your feline
friend. I enjoy very much hearing about Boo! I am so happy
that you like my diaries. Mom has put up a blog for me and you
can find it at:
http://www.dakotapixie-bob.blogspot.com.
She puts my fan mail up and will start including my
correspondence, too.

love,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

Monday, October 24th, 2005

2005-10-25T17:14:00.000-07:00

Nimbus is my very best friend. We had so much fun last night.
He got under this great big towel on Velvet's chair with only his
tail sticking out. He was going wild under that towel and I
jumped on it. We played like this for a while then Nimbus came
out and we had a love grapple. We played together all night.
Sometimes I chased him and sometimes he chased me.

Mom and Dad were being lazy and looking at books. Boring!
Mom did stir herself and play with us for a little while. She got
out the mice on shoestrings. These are always good for some
fun. Nimbus, Velvet and I all went after them. You have to
watch out for Velvet, though. If you get in her way you're liable
to get a poke, a swat or a scratch. If you're really unlucky she'll
bite! She tried to bite Mom a couple of times last night but
Mom's wise to her.

I think that Velvet got extra mad at Mom because Mom caught
her sneaking up on Phoebe while Phoebe was in one of our play
boxes (the ones Mom and Dad make and cut circles in). When
Mom saw Velvet going over there, she picked Velvet up and
turned her around. Velvet HATES to be picked up! Velvet was
kind of hissy after that.

Mom tried to sweeten Velvet by letting Velvet nibble and lick
on her fingers. This seems to soothe some of Velvet's meaness.
Velvet wasn't sweetening that much, though. She was still being
mean. She gets a squinty eyed look when she's on one. She also
has her ears a certain way. You want to walk far around her when
she's looking like this. If you have some really bad luck she jumps
on you from her chair.

We all have our own chairs. Nimbus has to share his with
Lightening and Guiseppe. Sometimes he lurks when they're sitting
in his chair. He likes to intimidate Lightening. I've told him that he
shouldn't do that because I've seen Guiseppe protect Lightening.
Guiseppe, as I've previously mentioned, will bite. Once Nimbus had
Lightening trapped in part of the livingroom. Guiseppe had to leave
his chair and escort Lightening past Nimbus. Dad thought that was
pretty funny.

The same thing used to happen when St. Sage was alive. St. Sage, so
I've been told, was even meaner than Velvet. He was never mean to
Mom. He just hated other cats and some dogs. Mom was his best
friend, though. He knew the sound of her car and would greet her
when she got home from work or errands. She'd yell at him to get
out of the street, but that never stopped him. One of his nicknames
was "Frankenkitty" because he used to rip off the screens to get
outside, fight with the neighborhood cats, then have to go have tubes
put in his head to drain out the puss. Yuck!

Thomas, Mom's oldest cub, came home to live for a while (this was
before he got married) and brought his big ragdoll cat named Sapphire.
Frankenkitty, I mean Sage, used to torment that cat. He'd try to get in
and kill Sapphire. He'd bite the windows, slobbering all over them, and
pound on the door while howling horribly. He'd stick his paw under the
door and try and rattle it open. I think that Sapphire was relieved to
finally move out.

One of Sage's other nick names was "shitty kitty bang bang". He got this
nickname by always going out at night then demanding to be let back in
the house at 4:00 A.M. by banging on the windows and howling and
screeching like a wild banshee. He was so loud that even the neighbors
would complain.

What a trouble maker. I don't see why Mom still cries over him. He's
been dead for almost 2 years now. She even gets to have four fine felines,
instead of just one big mean one. I hope that she will eventually get over it.
We're all trying to help her out. Even Velvet gets disturbed when she cries
and comes and licks her face. If mean old Velvet cares and tries to help out,
Mom should just get over it. We're the best cats, IMHO, that can be got.

Mr. Snapper's the same as yesterday. I'll let you all know when Mom brings
him in the house. Maybe I can talk her into taking his sleeping photo for his
Phoenix story;)

love,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

Fan Mail part 2

2005-10-24T16:31:00.000-07:00

Dear Dakota,

I love ya! Tell your Mom and Dad that you are writing
a book. I think Phoenix will have to publish Dakota's
adventures and wisdoms all on it's own. Maybe we will
start a fan club!

Meows to you,

Donna

Weekend, Friday, October 21-Sunday, October 23, 2005

2005-10-24T16:26:00.000-07:00

We had a fine, sunny weekend around our place. Dad
really got ambitious and handy :) The sun was fun for
us because Mom had the windows open and we could
look out and see all the interesting neighborhood activities
and lots of tasty bird snacks. We watched Dad up on a
ladder scraping stuff. Mom hung out with us and did stuff
around the house. Our favorite part was when she was in
the kitchen. Yum! Mom always drops stuff when she is in
the kitchen ;)

Velvet was a tiny bit calmer. Mom says it takes time to get
back into the routine. Mom only had to get Mr. Squirtbottle
out a few times. One time she really hosed Velvet down,
though. Boy, oh boy, Velvet high-tailed it out of her
confrontation and violence with Nimbus in fast retreat.
She went and sat by the door and licked her bits pretending
like nothing happened. Ha! Ha! I saw the whole thing and
Velvet got real wet.

Phoebe came out a little bit. I'll be happy when Phoebe feels
better. She's really cute when she sings to the moths. She
has a trilly song and when she sees a moth she throws her
head back like a coyote and sings. I know she is feeling happy
and secure when she is moth singing. I've never seen a moth
come to her song, though.

Nimbus and I had lots of fun over the weekend. We only go
caught on the kitchen counters once. Mom didn't catch us the
other times, though I know she was suspicious when she heard
Nimbus's big body hitting the floor before she walked in the
kitchen. Nimbus thinks we are fooling her and I can tell we aren't.
I don't want to see Mr. Squirtbottle again, so I told Nimbus to try
and be quieter.

Other news is Guiseppe got in to big trouble this weekend because
he got into a bag of cheetohs and chocolate covered macadamia
nuts. He eats anything he can sink his teeth into, including icky
toilet paper that Mom used on her nose. Nasty! I can't even tell
you the other disgusting things he's dragged out ot the trash. If
I told you it would bring on a horkin attack and some hairballs
would have to come up.

Mom says that Guiseppe developed depression and an
eating disorder when she went to work full time. He and Lightening
were used to having her home to themselves (of course they shared
her with St. Sage). They were/are such spoiled babies that they even
have winter clothes.

When Mom started her job at Performance Audio, Guiseppe
blimped up and Mom's had to deal with the fat pet lectures from
the doc ever since. She even put him on a diet, but he manages
somehow to stay fat. The other thing that he started doing was
grudge poops. He became unhousebroken and taught Lighening
some bad things, too. Mom puts up with it, though. She just keeps
them on linoleum in an X-pen, while at work, and mops the floor
everyday. Somehow magically they become housebroken again at
night, weekends and holidays, or if Mom is home sick from work.

Speaking of eating, Mom's been bad. At least that's what Dad is
saying. Mom started letting Velvet eat ice cream off of her fingers.
Dad says she has created a monster. Mom says she's just trying to
sweeten Velvet a bit, given Velvet's recent extra bad temper. Dad
just shakes his head and wonders out loud what she is going to do
to spoil us all next.

Mr. Snapper's Diary.....ZZZZZZZZZZZ.....boring. He'll be boring until
Spring.

love,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

Thursday, October 20, 2005

2005-10-21T15:31:00.000-07:00

Mom threw in the towel last night. She's going to have us
go back to our old daytime arrangements. Phoebe and I will
be upstairs in our smaller space. Dag, I so wanted to get to
play with Nimbus during the daytime. Velvet and Nimbus,
lucky ducks, get the bigger downstairs area.

Velvet has just gotten too agressive and Phoebe is getting
more and more upset and shy. Velvet attacked Phoebe soooo
many times last night. Mom had to get Mr. Squirtbottle and it
did no good. Velvet attacked us, too. Nimbus and I are better
at defending ourselves, though. Guiseppe doesn't put up with
her stuff and Lightening stayed away from her.

Mom thinks it's because of Velvet's past. Velvet became more
and more insecure all week (translate agressive). Phoebe wasn't
doing that great, either (translate scaired). Mom thinks it will be
better for all to go back to the old routine. What makes Velvet
so mean?

Velvet is a rescue. Last April Mom and Dad were at Petsmart
buying supplies while Petsmart was hosting a super-adoption day.
Mom and Dad already had Nimbus and Phoebe. Mom saw Velvet
and went over to her cage. Velvet meowed and rubbed and
wanted Mom to pet her. When Mom read Velvet's story she felt
soooooo sad.

Velvet was four years old and had been rescued by the
fire-department during an apartment fire. The apartment was
located in a house that had been converted to apartments. There
were 38 cats in one 2 bedroom apartment. Velvet was one of these
cats and had suffered from smoke inhalation. Mom did know that
poor Velvet had been through Hell. Velvet's veterinary history also
said that when she was picked up by the apartment lady, she had
been pregnant and the kittens aborted.

Mom knew that Velvet wanted to go home with her and Dad. The
adoption lady said that Velvet really didn't like other cats in her
foster home and that she bites people. Velvet really liked Mom and
Dad and Mom knows how to deal with biters. Mom was concerned
about Nimbus and Phoebe. The adoption lady said that she felt
confident that Velvet could adjust, especially since she had come
from a home of 38 cats. She said if Velvet did not work out that
she could go back to her foster home. Mom talked Dad into taking
Velvet home.

Velvet is an all black, small sized, medium length coat, domestic
with green eyes. When she came to Chez Lapin she was put in her
own bedroom with all amenities, so that she could be slowly
introduced to everyone. After a several week rough introduction,
Mom found out that the 2 queens did not get along. Velvet was
very agressive with both cats, especially Phoebe, but got along great
with the Italian Greyhounds. Mom refused to take her back. Dad
loved her, too.

Nimbus fell in love with Velvet and started following her around
like a love-struck calf. He became a peeping Tom, peeping at her
when she was sleeping and engaged in other activities. They
eventually made friends. Nimbus also started to ignore Phoebe.
The longer Velvet stayed the less agressive she became. She also
started looking sleek and shiny with the good food she was getting.
When she first came her coat was rough and dull.

Velvet loves both Mom and Dad, but she loves to get up on Dad's
chest, wrap her paws around his neck and nibble his chin.
Sometimes she drools. She likes Mom to sing her own personal
"Love Scoob" song. She likes to nibble and kind of nurse on Mom's
fingers. Mom calls her "Love Scoob". Velvet comes to "Love Scoob"
and has never come to the name she came with, Velvet.

Nimbus, Phoebe and I all came from small in-home catteries where
we had an original feline and human Mom. Mom is our second
human Mom and the one we have bonded with. Velvet has also
bonded with Mom and Dad. Only Velvet knows her full history and
everything she has gone through? For the rest of us at Chez Lapin,
Velvet's full past is a mystery.

I wanted to let you all in on Mr. Snapper's diary 10/20/05
Mr. Snapper says, "ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ"

Mr. Snapper is almost in full hibernation and will soon be coming
inside to sleep off the winter.

I wanted to meow a big "thank you" and "purrs" to everyone who has
expressed their enjoyment of my adventures :) I was unsure if you
all would want to hear about them because I look like an exotic, but
am only an exotic at heart. I'm pretty small for a Pixie-Bob, but I'm
told I have a real "bobcatty" look.

love,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

First Fan mail

2005-10-20T10:16:00.000-07:00

Dear Dakota Pixie-Bob,

Congratulations and Welcome aboard. I am looking
forward to your adventures with all your other feline
friends and family as I am sure many others are going
to enjoy reading of your adventures as well.

I'm sure you will be ready to post as soon as your Mom
gets you set up with Phoenix-Exotics group. We are all
ready and waiting for that first posting and all the others
that will follow.

Your first Fan Club member,
Catmanwho

Dakota,

Congragulations. Now you are all set. Now you can really
spill the beans on your room mates - LOL

Catmanwho

Wednesday, Ocober 19, 2005

2005-10-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

Boy, last night was really a trip when I went home and told my feline housemates all about Mom's surprise and my new e-mail address. Nimbus's feelings were a little bit hurt because Dad kept telling him that once he and Mom's website was reworked, his pictures would be up and he would be voted the most beautiful cat on the internet. Velvet copped an attitude because she wants to be on meankitty.com. and Mom has never gotten it together to send in any pictures of her. Phoebe didn't have much to say. I think Phoebe's a bit unhappy with the recent move downstairs and Velvet's temper tantrums. I'm glad that I didn't tell them EVERYTHING, like that I have gotten some fan mail of my very own!

Mom did try and settle things down with a new toy. This toy is really, really cool! It's a stuffed spider that vibrates and moves around when she pulls a string. Nimbus, Velvet
and I has a great time trying to figure it out and playing
with it, that is until Velvet had a hissy fit and whacked
Nimbus on the nose and tried to take a poke at me. Sheesh,
girls!!! Phoebe checked it out from afar. She wasn't going
to go around Velvet.

Velvet was on one all night. She's such a meanie. I think
that after I told her about my new e-mail address she wanted
to prove to Mom that she, Velvet, is one of the meanest kitties
and if Mom does not get her behind in gear and submit her
picture and story to meankitty.com everyone is going to pay.
She even made Mom pay last night. Mom was grooming Nimbus
and Velvet jumped up, attacked Nimbus with claws out, and they
both scratched the heck out of Mom's legs and made them
bleed, like big time. Poor Mom.

The night went on pretty much just like that, with Velvet going
after one or another of us. She even went after Lightening and
Guiseppe, our two Italian Greyhound canine brothers. She has
Lightening scared witless. She'd better watch her act with
Guiseppe, though. Guiseppe can hold his own with mean kitties.
He's known to rear up and pummel a fiesty cat with his stick-like
legs. He bites, too. Guiseppe used to protect Lightening from
Sage (or St. Sage as we felines sarcastically call him), the now
deceased previous-only-cat that used to rule the house.
Confidentially, the feline crew that lives at Chez Lapin now are
all sick of hearing about St. Sage and his wonderful qualities.
Gack!

On that note, I horked up some fine hairballs when everyone went
to bed. In the wee hours, when Mom got up to use the bathroom,
Mom's horkin' seeking feet found one of my finest offerings in the
dark. Go Mom!

newsflash: Thursday afternoon, October 19th 2005

2005-10-19T16:14:00.000-07:00

I found out my surprise. Mom got me my own e-mail
address and I get to post my own diary entries from there.
Yayyyyyy!!! I want to give big "meows" and thanks to
Catmanwho and Jeanne. Mom says Catmanwho helped out
a bunch and that he wanted ME to have this special
surprise :) Mom says Jeanne helped me get a list
membership for Phoenix_Exotics. Purrrrrrrssss
to you both!

My new e-mail address is: dakotapixiebob@yahoo.com

I hope that I'll have lots of adventures and fun things to
write to you all about.

love,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

2005-10-19T13:53:00.000-07:00

Do you want to know something amazing? Velvet hates
raw food! I was totally shocked to find this out a while back.
I eat raw rabbit and raw turkey (bleck, because the turkey
has some veggies in it). Nimbus and Phoebe will eat raw.
Velvet totally turns her nose up at it like it stinks or
something (I know it doesn't actually stink because Mom
tells us it's human grade from Oma's Pride). Velvet gets a
special canned food (one that does not contain wheat or corn
products). I actually like the canned food, too. I hurry up
and eat mine, then I check out what the slow-pokes are still
working on. I can eat lots and lots. I show Mom that I hate
the veggies by trying to bury them on my plate. If I had some
dirt, nobody would have to smell or look at those nasty things.
I wonder if Mom gets it?

Dad's still calling me "Barnacle Bob"! Won't he be surprised on
the day I say, "Meeeeearrrrggghhh!" Ha! Ha! Ha! I'm working on
it, but don't quite have it down yet. Maybe I'll be able to do it by
next year's Talk Like A Pirate Day.

10/19/05
Hey, quicky afternoon note, Mom says she's working on a surprise
for me. I can't wait to find out what it is :)

love,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

Monday, October 17th, 2005

2005-10-18T16:50:00.000-07:00

My night was interesting. Mom is moving our day
area, where we hang out when she is at work, to the
downstairs. She's been bringing home boxes from work
that her and Dad tape up and cut holes into. These
make fun hiding places. Everyone was running around
trying to figure out why some of the cat beds were moving.
They were also concerned about the cat towers. Phoebe
was especially concerned. Her tower is called "Phoebe's
tower of feline power". She sits up on the top and watches
all. Sometimes I sneak into the little hole/cubby. When
Phoebe is in the hole, Mom says she looks like an owl.

Velvet isn't too cool with all of this. She and Nimbus used
to have the entire downstairs to themselves. Mom says its
time for everyone to get along. She doesn't think it is fair
that Phoebe and I have to have a small area upstairs when
the whole finished basement can be everyone's playground.
It even has carpet. I miss Nimbus when I can't play with him
during the day. Mom is taking care to introduce us slowly so
that Velvet and Phoebe don't fight. Velvet and Nimbus will
hang out in the big bedroom downstairs while we get used to
the space. Did I ever tell you that Velvet is quite the mean
queen? She kind of gets along with us boys (she still chases
and whaps us sometimes) but she does not like Phoebe and
Phoebe does not like her. I think that it was because of the
life she had before she came to live with us. Someday when I
have more time I'll tell you about it.

love,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

Weekend Friday, October 14th - Sunday, October 16, 2005

2005-10-18T10:07:00.000-07:00

Well, I kept it up and kept it up and kept it up and
kept it up, and do you think I got any of those tasty
bird snacks? No :( Nimbus admires my perseverance.
Phoebe is curious about if I can actually get one. Velvet
thinks I'm a show-off. Mom.......well Mom is not a happy
camper and after getting Mr. Squirtbottle out a few times.....
time-out for me!

Can you believe, she scruffed me? So undignified, dangling
by my scruff and going by myself to the place of food, water,
cat-box, but no one else. I cried and cried at the door, but
she wasn't listening. She didn't let Dad listen either. I heard
her tell him, "Don't you dare let him out, he's been a naughty
kitty!" She finally let me out, though.

I know that she loves me. Saturday night I was sleeping on
her shoulder, purring in her ear, and Dad asked her, "Is that
Dakota?" Mom said "ya" in a sleepy voice. Dad said, "He sticks
to you like a barnacle, huh?" The next day Dad was calling me
"Barnacle Bob" :)

love,
Dakota, Pixie-Bob

Booooooo! Scary Halloween futuristic sci-fi

2005-10-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

AP
Posted Oct. 31, 2025
Anywhere, USA

Crazy Cat Collectors Caught in Condominium Raid
by Joan Doe

Nathan and Wilma Fritz were apprehended by
authorities yesterday with two cats. Authorities told
the press that Nathan, aged 35 and his wife, Wilma,
aged 28, were keeping the illegal animals in their
condominium along with black market canned food.
According to Federal Legislation passed in 2023 private
citizens, are not allowed to own any animals. Canned
foods intended for carnivore consumption is also
forbidden according to legislation passed in 2024 making
possession and consumption of all animal products illegal.

The only legal facilities allowed to possess animals, usually
dogs and cats, are state and federally recognized zoos.
When the 2023 bill was passed by the House and Senate,
all citizens were ordered to release their animals to proper
authorities for immediate euthanasia. Long time
spokespersons for PETA and HSUS felt that the bill was a
true victory for animal rights. Joe Blow, spokesperson for
PETA, said, "These animals are better off dead than having
to suffer the companionship of humans".

When asked how the authorities found out about the illicit
felines, police said that the two individuals had been under
surveillance for some time. Mandatory psychological
examinations conducted by the couples' respective employers
revealed potential mental illness. Compassion, an interest in
life-forms other than human, a tendency to dangerous
individualism, belief in personal rights, along with a past
history of animal ownership, all contributed to the suspicion
that lead authorities to begin the surveillance operations.

The Fritz's are currently being held by authorities. The
penalties will be decided based on a comprehensive
psychological evaluation to determine the recidivism potential.
The minimum penalty for owning an animal is seizure of all
property relating to the possession of such animal with the
maximum penalty being confiscation of all personal assets and
life-imprisonment. The two cats, an 11 year old, neutered
male, and a 16 year old spayed female, were immediately
euthanized.

Previous diary entries-10/11/05-10/13/05

2005-10-18T09:56:00.000-07:00

Tues, October 11th, 2005

Yayyyyy!!! I get to have my very own diary. I'm Dakota and I'm a
Pixie-Bob. If you don't know what a Pixie-Bob is, I'll tell you. I
am a domestic cat that looks like a miniture Bob-Cat. Yep, a
Bob-Cat. Do I have any wild blood? Well, there is a legend and
there are legend cats, cats that came from mysterious beginnings.
DNA tests do not show any wild blood, though. Carol Brewer,
from the Pacific Northwest, developed my race.

What do I look like? I'm small for my breed. I am a long-haired
Pixie-Bob and my colour is brown-spotted tabby. I have tufted
ears, big feet, a tiny tail, long back legs, a mahogany coat with
dark brown/black spots, and a mischievious and playful personality.
Did I mention that I have gone to cat shows? I am a Quadruple
Grand Champion Neuter.

What am I listening to, currently? My favorite band is Litterbox.
You can check them out at http://www.eyeenvision.com. Take
a listen to "Four on the Floor", "Marked Territory", "Here Kitty,
Kitty", "On the Prowl", "Hiss of Death", and "Scratch". These are
some serious head-banging, heavy-metal cats! And now for my
first entry.

October 11th, 2005

I got in trouble AGAIN!!! Mom does not like me up on the counters,
stealing stuff, taunting Tucker (the aggressive shiba-inu who lives in
an x-pen under and guarding those tasty looking bird snacks), breaking
stuff while I rough-house with anywho-will-have-me, and plot with
Nimbus (my Maine-coon brother in crime) to take over the world.
He's Pinky, I'm the Brain!

Wed., October 12, 2005

Mom can be such a pain in the patootie. She really doesn't
have much of a sense of humor. She totally did not like it
when I dragged her undies out of the dirty cloths pile. It was
only a joke! Next she fed Velvet (that "Miss Thing" that mom
calls Love Scoobs) some nice fish before I got any. I tried to
fish (get it) the morsels from under Velvet's nose and boy, did
"MissThing" throw a queen sized hissy fit. I almost lost some
skin off of my nose!

Next, mom was cooking and all I wanted to do was help. Next
thing I know, out comes that nasty squirt bottle. Why can't she
see that I only jump up on the counter to help? I don't think that
a few hairs in the food will kill anyone. They can just hork-up the
hair-balls like we do. I told Nimbus that we need to get moving on
some of our finer plans. I think that he should distract Tucker
while I go for the bird snacks.

Thurs., October 13, 2005

What a rumble we have been having this evening! And all
because Velvet didn't get all of the human food she wanted.
Mom and Dad shared with her, but cheese and meat were not
enough.

She got really steamed when she was not allowed to eat
the ice cream directly form the bowl. Mom said she could lick
the bowl when they were finished, but nooooo! She got madder
and madder every time Dad diverted her away from his spoon or
the bowl.

Finally, full of feline fury she attacked Phoebe. Phoebe
ran, but Velvet was still mad so she tried to get Nimbus. Nimbus
ran, too. Oops, next thing I know, she's after me. She whaps me
upside the head a few times and I whap her back. She's too mad
though, so I run under the bed. I am not coming out until she
forgets about the ice-cream.