Mischief Monday - Lost and Found - by Styx

 Dear pals, dear pals,

Lady was a little frustrated with me because in the night, I got up on the charging counter and I knocked her AirPods on the floor. Did you know AirPod cases are really fun to chase around the floor? They are flat and slippery and so much fun. You can slide and chase them and have lots of fun. 

During Gris and my play with it, she played too,  we opened it and while Lady found one earbud, the other was missing. She looked and looked and count not find it. Later that day, the Man found it on the floor by her mats. This made her happy. She did not want to buy new AirPods. 

Now she has ruined the fun by keeping them in a drawer. I haven't figured out how to open the drawer yet. I will keep working on it. 

I will give Lady a point, since she took the AirPod case away, she got me  a ball. I love my ball, but it is not as fun as an AirPod case.

Gris playing with the ball, cause the mischief may be there is no picture of me playing with it

Have you found a fun new toy at your house?

your pal, Styxy

Mischief Monday - Begging - by Styx

 Hi pals, hi pals,

I have learned a great new trick. It is so good, it is a very yummy tick. 

You see, I like meat. I really like meat. Styxy thinks he should get all the meat.

So I have learned to sit on the table and be cute and my people will sometimes give me the meat.

The Man says it is a bad habit, but since I won't sit on Lady's lap, I only like Man's lap, she is trying to bribe me to like her more, by giving me meat at the table.

I am a very smart boy.

Now I get meat.

I don't care if my people call it begging.

your pal, the meat loving and getting Styxy

Mischief Monday - Stupid Ideas from The Internet - by Styxy

 hi friends, hi friends,

Besides hats, I think people should be banned from looking at stupid things on the internet.

Lady was scrolling along waiting for Man to make dinner and she came across videos of people setting a cucumber behind their cats and seeing the reaction. The cats were freaking out. 

So she made our dinner, and when we weren't looking she put a cucumber behind us.

Then we ate and she waited and waited and made so much video of us eating. 

Finally, I finished first and saw the cucumber. I did not freak out, but I very, very slowly walked around it and checked it out.

Here is a screen shot from that.

2 minutes later Grissie finished and she just walked right up to it and checked it out. She thought it was stupid and walked away.

We didn't have the reaction of other cats, but apparently it still amused our Lady (who clearly needs a life).

your pal Styxy the cautious

Mischief Monday - Please Send Help - by Styx

 Hi friends, hi friends,

Please send help, please send help! The evil company called Amazon brought Lady torture devices. 

It brought all the hats. So many hats. 87 million hat! (Editor's note 10 hats). Styxy hates hates! Gris tolerates hats.

We are now undergoing hat training. 

Even for the treats, I don't think it is worth it.

Be prepared for much hat tax in the coming weeks.

Pinned between her legs for a picture

Please don't be like one of Lady's best friends and encourage this behaviour.

your hat hating Styxy - who thinks Lady should get a dog for hats

Mischief Monday - Home Alone - by Styx

 Hi friends, hi friends,

The most horrible thing that has happened to us since coming to live here, ok, second most terrible thing, as dressing up is the most terrible thing, oh and Tigris says forced snuggling is worse, so maybe like the 3rd most horrible thing to happen since we came to live here. A horrible thing happened. 

Trigris protecting me from the kids, she is a very good mom

The people left us alone in the house for 87 million hours. We only got food and water when the two of Callie's kids came over to feed us and play with us and take good care of us and mow the lawn because they were bored. 

I was forced to drink out of a water dish and not Lady's water glass

Our people have argued that first 4 nights is not 87 million hours, and that it was less traumatizing then taking us to a kennel where they thought we may thought they were truly abandoning us. We haven't lived with them for 4 months yet and the people thought 4 nights at home with kid check ins would be the best for us. 

Having to play puzzles in the sun with kids

We were both very happy with them when they came home and gave them lots of love and attention and we hope they never go away for so long ever again, or they take us with them. Because we saw proof on Lady's camera we could have gone with them. 

This was taken a vineyard

Lady says there are no plans for the people to leave us for 87 million hours for a long time. We don't have to worry about it. Because of this promise, we may let her tell you about her little vacation.

your pal Styxy, who guarded the house and played well with the children

Mischief Monday - The Rest of the Story by Styx

 Hi pals, hi pals,

Last week we shared a picture that looked like this and people wanted to know what happened.

Fortunately, it was not a bath. I am a very clean boy and do a great job at taking care of myself. Unfortunately, I was just up on the counter, minding my own business and the tea towel was there and my people thought it would be hilarious to make me wear it. 

I tried to use the force to get it off, but I failed. You would think with the internet, they would have better things to do, but nope, dressing up Styxy is too fun for them. 

I guess this is the price I pay.

Your pal, the too tolerant Styxy

Mischief Monday - I Was Thwarted - by Styx

 Hi pals, hi pals,

I tasted the freedom and had the cool grass on my feet and the sun at my back and I hate to admit it, but that sweet, sweet grass lead to my downfall.

The Lady stupidly used the front door when she was doing bird feeder stuff and I was able to make a break for it.

Lady was screaming and I scooted under the deck. Man came out and called me and I stuck my head out and then I ran in the grass. Lady went inside to get treats, while the Man was calling me to stop and wait. The bush was thick so I stayed on the grass. Then the sweet sweet grass was calling my name and I couldn't resist it any more. I stopped for a snack and my man was able to scoop me up.

Dramatic recreation of my taste of freedom

My love of grass thwarted my freedom. 

Lady and Man were glad I was safe and are now being extra, extra careful.

your pal, whose love of treats got the best of him, Styxy

Mischief Monday - Unfair - by Styx

 Hi pals, hi pals,

I have to tell you something that is very unfair in our house, so unfair, so unfair and it is making me sad. Sometimes to get treats, I have to do a puzzle. I started with some of the dog puzzles. I do not like the rocking ones and the moving ones. Then the Lady and Man got me a cat one. Level 2. I figured it out in only a few minutes. I am a very smart boy, so smart. I can do puzzles. I like treats. Treats in puzzles is nice. 

My cat watermelon puzzle

Oh, back to unfair. Tigris will have nothing to do with puzzles. She will look at them and look at the people and walk away. She walks away from food. So instead of making her do a puzzle for treats, she just gets some. She doesn't have to do a puzzle. 

Eating treats

It does not seem fair that this very smart Styxy has to work for the treats. I should just get treats for free too.

you pal, who is treated unfairly, Styxy

Mischief Monday - A Barrier by Styx

 Hi pals, hi pals,

Happy Monday! I am so happy to be here, but sad to tell you all about how my people may have found a way to actually stop me from exploring they ways I want to. 

You may remember when I first came here (can you believe it is almost 3 months), I was a little nervous and I hid under the washer and dryer. Then when my people took the entire laundry apart, I got in the ceiling. I got in the ceiling 2 more times before the people figured out, their attempts to stop the unstoppable Styxy from getting in the ceiling were for not. So they made this area a no Styxy zone. 

Last weekend, they put up barrier I have yet to figure out how to get by. Lady says more importantly the Man and Lady did it without many HBO words. They are not the most handy people. 

It still needs a frame, but works for now. 

I really don't think this is fair. I think I should be allowed to get into the ceiling. They should have built stairs to let me get down more easily. Don't you agree?

That was the mischief this week.

I hope you are all well friends. 

your pal, the stifled explorer Styxy

Mischief Monday - Enough with the Paw-parazzi by Tigris

 Dear reader,

As we approach our 3rd month in this home, I am learning to adjust to the craziness of the Lady. She can be a lot. She is always singing at me, and she wants to scoop me up and love me (although she is learning to respect me on this and scoops Styx up more). She also does terrible things like wanting to cut my nails. While these are things I don't love, overall I know Styx and I are safe here.

However, could she just lay off taking pictures of me every 2 seconds? Enough with the Paw-parazzi, even if I am super beautiful.

Me and my turtle trying to nap

Reclining on a hot day

Supervising Lady's work from the writing drawer on her desk

Supervising Lady's work from the stool in her office

Trying to escape in a box

No matter where I go, there she is with her phone. Do other cats and dogs have this problem? Is this part of being loved?

Tigris

Mischief Monday - Wild Weather - by Tigris

Dear readers,

The weather in my part of the world was been a little wild. A few nights ago, it was super, super windy. Lady and Man had all the windows open because they don't have a/c and it was cool. Around 3 am, there was a big bang and the Man got up and couldn't figure out what it was.  The next morning he found one of the kitchen screens in the middle of the kitchen floor. Fortunately neither Styx and I noticed or wanted to go out and no wild animals got in, maybe it was just too windy.  Interesting enough, none of the patio furniture pillows blew away. 

I was not a huge fan of this wind. I allowed Lady to put me on the bed and I stayed for a while.

The next day, the Lady couldn't find me, but then she did. I had returned to the top of the pinball machine. When I first moved here, this was one of my safe places, and while I don't feel the need to visit it too often, sometimes it is the best seat in the house.

Has your weather been wild?

Tigris

PS the people have been out all the time and rarely home so I haven't gotten to visit you all like I would have liked. Life may slow down a little soon. 

Mischief Monday - Is She Trainable? By Tigris

Dear reader,

I am trying to decide if this Lady who has brought me home is in fact actually trainable. For someone who spends her days teaching and training other people, she is very resistant to change. 

For example - the other day I was enjoying a little face rub when she interrupted it to take my picture. She said I have a very serious face and she wanted to capture my smile. 

I clearly gave her a look to show I was not impressed. But did she put the camera away?

No, she continued to try and make me smile.

Do I look impressed? Does this look appear to be a Tigris who is enjoying this? No. Finally, I gave her a smile, just so she would put the phone down and focus on me. 

Hey wait, maybe instead of training her, this Lady has trained me! Clearly she is very good at her job as she tricked me. I am going to have to up my game.

Tigris 

Mischief Monday - Attempts to Trick Us - by Tigris

 Dear reader,

I would like to report my servants the people I live with get crazy ideas, and as far as I am concerned attempt to trick us.

Friday night the Man cooked duck. While I could definitely got behind the man eating some of the meat, being offered the "juice" of the meat was not acceptable. 

Further, the Man tried very hard to convince us we wanted to eat it. This was very suspcious.

We held our ground, and I am sorry to report, no good food was given instead.

Tigris, who has very high standards

Mischief Monday - Crash and Play by Styx

 Hi pals, hi pals,

You are not going to believe it is me who caused some mischief. Not your calm pal Styxy who can just be found kicking back and enjoying life. 

The other night the dishwasher was full, and without thinking Lady and Man left a container on the counter. It made a loud scary noise when the ghost of Hailey, who was a counter surfer, threw it on the floor and smashed. Man was so happy to be cleaning up glass at 3 am. Bad ghost Hailey, bad.

In other news, to help me not be so busy (even though I have calmed down a lot), my people tried puzzles. First they tried the puzzle in the picture above. Then they tried the dog ball.  It was ok, but I knew it was for dogs.

Then they got me a cat one. It was ok. I get bored of working for food. Tigris refuses to work for food. It is beneath her.

Lady and Man are getting better at this cat, I mean ghost, proofing and I fear all the best fun will be done soon.

Lady said I should say, for those who read the deer and car story, that in the end, the car also lost. It was a write off and Lady had to get a new car. She said dealing with all of that was like a part time job. (It made her very grumpy).

your pal, who likes to play with ghosts, Styxy

Mischief Monday - Inadequate by Styx

 Hi pals, hi pals,

The Lady person showed you last week how she got bird spikes to keep me off the banister. Her first attempt was inadequate. 

I am a very agile cat and I learned I could jump across them to land on the post on the landing.

This was great until those spikes tripped me and I fell off.

I wasn't hurt at all because I am Super Styx.

However, the people were really freaked out so they put up more.

It looks sooooo ugly, but apparently safety first!

So far, this has been working. I miss my balance beam.

you pal, Super Styx who wants to walk the tightrope, who is sorry we didn't get to visit this weekend but Lady went away to Cheese Fest. 

Mischief Monday - The Barrier - by Tigris

Dear reader,

My servant  Lady has asked me to tell you all she is aiming for 3-4 posts a week right now on her rebrand.  It is going to depend on life and us etc. etc. We are here to stay. Thanks to Ms Ann for the rebrand. 

Lady disturbed my wild turkey viewing for a picture!

Now to the mischief. As you may have read, I had a big fall a few weeks ago. I am back to 100% now, thanks for your concern. 

Lady and Man were terrified it would happen again and had no idea what to do. It was Aunty-Yam's to look for bird spikes. Lady would have never thought of this. Lady ordered it (picking brown to match as best she could). Lady and Man zipped tied it on the banister. This way the banister isn't damaged and they can be easily removed if needed. 

The spot I climbed to jump to that window

The view from Lady's office

Lady says it is a new trend. The medieval castle look.  She hopes it is more temporary, but has put our safety above ascetics. 

This has stopped us from climbing the banister and falling but has not stopped Styx from knocking all the things off other shelves. Lady and Man really need to get on this cat proofing. 

Tigris

Mischief Monday - 1 down, 8 to go - by Lady

We had cats live in this house before, but they were old cats, so there are things we didn't think about when we got the new ones.Besides the ceiling (see Styx's adventures), we have a banister that runs around the upstairs and opens to our basement. At the end of this are windows. It never occurred to us before we got the Rivers that they would try and get on said windowsills.

Then we took Styx off the banister many, many times and realized this may be a problem. Before we had a chance to solve this, Tigris got up for the first time, tried to make the window and fell all the way down.

Dramatic recreation

It is fair to say both the Man and my hearts stopped watching this happen. 

We raced downstairs and she was no where to be seen. As we were worried about injury, when we found her under the bed, we pulled her out. We did a full exam and discovered, other than what appeared to be a sprain in her front left paw, and a scare, she was ok. She ate, she purred etc. We watched her very closely and by day 3, she was back to her normal self.

Tigris tolerating us icing her paw

The limp persists some, it is not as bad and not all the time, so isn't a major concern.

We are sure she lost a life that day. We hope that she has learned to NEVER try this again. 

We have put a Kleenex box (seen in the window) and a temporary tinfoil barrier to discourage anyone from trying this again. If people have ideas for a better solution, please let us know! 

Mischief Monday - The First Styx Adventure

 It is hard to believe, sitting where we are now, that Styx ever had problems adjusting to this house.

The first day we had the Rivers, we let them out in the laundry room. Turns out, there are two problems in the laundry room we didn't consider (as our old cats were old, and knew us). 

The first, is that the box that was built for the washer and dryer (they need to be raised in our house so the plumbing works), had an entry point at one end. While Tigris came in and out the first day, Styx did not. After 24 hours of knowing he wasn't coming out or eating or drinking, we spent the 2 hours needed to take this apart. The builders of this house had gone crazy with the screws, perhaps hoping to tile it one day. Some of the screws were stripped etc. etc. I am sure the Rivers were terrified as we took it apart (we only put 4 screws in it when we put it back and we added some wood to block the end so they couldn't get under it).

The Man taking the box apart

The good about this, is that we were able to give this area a good cleaning

The second thing, was the ceiling in the laundry room is not finished. As soon as we lifted the lid, Styx, climbed the wall and went into the ceiling. 

After a few hours, he came out to where we could see and reach him, and using a ladder the Man was able to pull him down.

Later he appeared on this ledge

After that we moved all the cat stuff to the guest room. 

Tomorrow we will tell you about his second adventure. 

Styx - the Trouble Maker

Mischief Monday - The Rivers - by Phod

 Dear pals,

Lady and Man went out on Saturday and I had a very good nap. When they got home, they took me outside and introduced me to the Rivers. 

Are you my new siblings?

Lady says after a crazy day where everyone was out adopting animals, they found these two cats who are now called Tigris (female, formally Lilo, about 3) and Styx (male, formally Stitch and about 4).  They came from the local SPCA.

Tigris - her picture from the SPCA as she won't stay still enough for Lady to take a new one

Styx - who is feeling very overwhelmed with the change.

At the time of writing this, they hadn't been with us for a full day. Tigris has been out and about and exploring. She explored a lot in the night, knocking things over, turning on the TV. Styx has found a hiding place that the people can't get to without making it a construction project. (Lady and Man didn't know it was open at one end). At any rate, he did stick his head out at Lady so she knows he is all right.  She will give him a day or so before taking it apart, taking him out and then fixing it so he can't hide there. 

Can you see the little face peaking up?

I feel there is going to be a lot of mischief in our lives!

Tomorrow, I will do a snow check in.

your pal, who now has cats again after 10 years, Zaphod

Not Much Going On - By Phod

 Dear pals,

I have settled into the routine of being an only dog. I don't always love it, but I am doing my best. Lady and Man are happy that I have stopped needing to go out in the night to do my business. I often wake up, have a drink and go back to bed. Some days I am really lazy and don't even want to get up. 

Because there is not much going on right now, and because Lady has come out of hibernation and is super busy and hardly home (and when she was on the weekend, we didn't always have power), I will have a modified blog schedule this week. Know we are all doing ok.

your pal, enjoying the last moments of snow, Phod