Conference misery::feline_v1

    Curiosity has the best of me, may I ask what is a ZhivagoCat?  I
    am new to NOTES and have never heard of the breed before.

    Welcome to Feline!!  You certainly may ask - It's not a breed, 
    just a fun naming convention that I am using firstly, because
    Dr. Zhivago is my favorite book, and secondly because I am
    half Russian!
    
    I have 12 cats - 7 of the 12 I adopted from the Lowell Humane
    Society - the rest were either strays or from litters that would 
    have ended up at a shelter.  I have named 8 of them after characters
    in Dr. Zhivago: Yurii Andreievich, Lara The Lady, Ivan Ivanovich,
    Pashenka, Katenka, Alexander, Sasha, and Nikolas.  Sasha is
    really a short name for Alexander, but they don't mind!  
    
    The other kids are KoKo, who usually looks like she should be
    wearing a yellow slicker, carrying a lunch box, and waiting for
    the school bus; Timothy, my 14 lb. very black very territorial male,
    Mister Miyagi, who spent his first 20 minutes in the house
    sitting on his hind legs boxing with anyone that came near;
    QuickSilvee (SilVee) coloring looks like soft silver and very
    rich heavy cream with a hint of melon - she is yummy!
    That's it in a size 12 nutshell!
               
    By the by, do any kitties own you?  If so, we would really like
    to hear about them!
    
                            ZhivagoCat Lady             
    
    
    Sasha,
    Pashenka, Katenka Dolly, Nikolas, Alexanda (Sasha is actually short
    for Alexander, but oh well).

    Thanks for the explanation.  Your family sounds absolutely delightful.
    Christmas must be fun at your house.
    
    Yes beautiful Siamese kitten has made it very clear to me that I
    belong to her and she has trained me well.  Recently my husband
    was away on a trip and she took very good care of me.  She also
    has made it very clear to the new Doberman pup that she too will
    have to two the line.  The kitten is 7 months old, very dark seal
    point and named for my favorite character in Madame Butterfly. 
    Her name is CHo Cho San (which I believe means butterfly and she
    does fly about the house at times)  (two should be tow)

    Thanks - they really are something!  This time last year, I only
    had 6 believe it or not!  My family grew in leaps & bounds this
    summer!  Timothy really had his way with the tree last year. I
    at least had the sense to anchor it top and bottom so when he
    tried climbing up the center it didn't tip over!  He finally
    gave up and decided that sleeping under it and on top of the
    nativity scene was second best!  The others were pretty
    civilized about it.  No tree this year - next year all of
    the new babies will be older and I will be (I hope) wiser!
    Your baby sounds like a honeybear!  
    
    Well, again welcome to Feline - it's a nice place to meet new
    kitties and their people!
    
    ZhivagoCat Lady!

    Thanks for the welcome.  I have so enjoyed reading the NOTES, but
    didn't
    quite know how to get started talking to people about my kitty,
    who by the way loves to unravel toilet paper and sit on a stool
    by the tub and peak around the shower door while I take my shower.
    She also is fascinated by the garbage disposal.  She looks at me
    as though she could speak and ask where did it all go?  We have
    many good times together, but can be quite aloof when she has a
    mind to, but that's the joy of loving a cat.  
    
    Since we have two new babies this year we have decided not to put
    up a tree, but have a small one on the piano and just string small
    lights on the plant jungle in the living room.
    
    Have a Happy Holiday with your brood.  Sincerely jpm.

    O.K. here is the routine of how my 3 have "trained" their mom. 
    I guess I must be easily trainable or just didn't notice till it
    was a habit.  (But I love it makes me feel so wanted...!!!)
    
    1. Pull into the driveway.  One of them is playing look-out in the
    window.  Doesn't matter what time it is and I think they take turns
    to.  Maybe whoever's been in the litter box last gets elected.
    
    2. By the time mom is unlocking the door they are all in position.
       
    3. Malcolm and 3-way are laying facing the doorway on both arms
    of the chair.  They both give me THE look.
    
    4. Close door.  Angus has stationed herself up on the bathroom sink
    saying in her feline voice "over here mom now".  Mom goes obediently
    and turns the faucet on.  At the same time Malcolm gets down from
    her perch and jumps into the sink.  
    
    5. Out of bathroom.  While the two are getting watered 3-way is
    now on the floor positioned for her i want my belly scratched.
    Signalled by rolling on her back back and forth.  Mom scratches
    belly.  
    
    6. Malcolm and Angus come down.  3-way moves to bathroom sink. 
    3-way meows for mom to pick her up and put her in sink.  
    
    7. Mom finally sits down and is rewarded by Malcolm on the lap.
    
    Well I'll leave it to you to decide if I'm trained well.  I think
    I've come along quite nicely and I'm sure the trainers would agree.
    
                                Kim owned by Malcolm, Angus, and 3-way

    GREAT JOB Kim, You're as trained as I am.  I love the 
    story.  I go through much the same thing with the sink
    bit.  Dazdee likes to drink the water and Whicket likes
    to play with it.  I'm trained to keep the water running
    for at least 20 min. a day.  :^>
    
    Katie

    
    Well trained is every morning at 4:30 when Sebastion goes into the
    bathroom and starts one of several annoying activities: 
    
    Shredding T.P.
    Opening the cabinet (2 inches and letting go so the door goes slam!
    slam! slam!)
    knocking things off the counters
    
    My husband gets up to go get him (stumbling in the dark) and fill up
    the sink (because he ASSUMES that's why he's doing it), and Sebastion
    tears past him as he turns on the water, jumps up on the bed into
    Dave's prewarmed spot and snuggles up next to me, purring away. 
    
    What a little operator.  He always HAS been jealous of Dave.
                         
    Amy.