Tobey opens the door

Bill or Kitty would sometimes get home and find cabinet doors and drawers opened. They soon discovered who was behind it all.

A rest from the rain!

Everyone and their mother is out shopping the after-Christmas sales. Not Badtz and Tobey. They're enjoying a break in the rain by hanging out in their favorite bird watching spot.

Tobey has forgiven Badtz for telling tales during Christmas dinner. It had to do with the day Bill and Kitty brought Vivienne home from the rescue foundation. Tobey was introduced and then Badtz. Then Badtz ran off and Vive chased her into a dead end hallway. That where the discrepancy in stories lie...

Christmas Night

Tonight was a fun night for the critters. Bill and Kitty had friends and family over for Christmas dinner. Badtz kept an eye on them but ran off when someone wanted to pet her. Tobey slept on bench until dinner time and then he had to go find another spot (dryer). Vive skulked about looking for anyone to play with her.

This is Badtz watching over all of us. She, as well the rest of us at the Happy House, wish(es) you a Happy Christmas!

How's the doggie been?

She has been fine! Vive is the the typical border collie. Intense. Bill and Kitty need to order a couple sheep and goats to to keep her busy. Oh, Bill gets her out a couple times a day to run her, throw the Frisbee. Fortunately, she hasn't tried to herd the cats.

Old News

Kitty didn't get to post this in mid-November regarding Tim Lincencum, our MBL 2008 Cy Young Award winner! Badtz is over the moon with this. Tobey is very happy too as he is a great SF Giants Fan. It's been hard for the critters these couple years as they have not been the winning-est team.

Tobey at Work

Here is Tobey doing what he does best, sleep. There is nothing sweeter than a watching a cat sleeping peacefully. Kitty has always envied how soundly Tobey and Badtz sleep. They sleep soundly until 3:30 AM, then they wake up and walk across Kitty's face.

One Year Anniversary

The first entry in Bill and Kitty's blog was on Oct 17, 2007. The first critter entry was the day after that, 10/18/07. Can't believe it's been a whole year! Not much has changed. Well, the critter count has sadly gone down by one.

Soon it'll be winter. Bill, Kitty and the critters will hunker down and bear with the short cold days. TV probably. Tobey will want to watch Eight Below again, and again, and again :-)

Tasty Dog-water

Why does water taste better from a dog's dish? We don't know it just does! Badtz and Tobey agree! Yes, even Miss Texas loved lapping from a dog dish when she was around. Bill and Kitty think it all started with Miss TX trying to get the upper hand over old Kayla. Cats are funny!

Badtz w Grapes

The catz have been making themselves at home on the kitchen table. Bill and Kitty get into the habit of wiping the table down before they have a meal on it.

Last Day of September

No this is not a picture of Tobey at a night club! Looks like one though. If it was so, that would be Badtz dancing on stage. She looks so shiny and her whiskers show up so nice in the light.

Autumn is Just Around the Corner

The days are getting shorter and cooler. Kitty crocheted a scarf a couple years ago for Tobey when he was a wee boy. In this picture he is helping Badtz try it on for size since he has grown out of it. She may need it during a cold winter.

"We love the new dryer!"

Bill and Kitty are always happy when they can make the cat critters happy. They're none too happy that the Gnome is relaxing on the it with the Tobester. Gnome be gone!

New Washer and Dryer

Look who was taking the dryer on its first voyage? We think that Tobey has been inside already.

Badtz sure has bright eyes.

Life without Miss texas

The Floor-Cam captured this picture of Tobey stretching out on a Saturday afternoon. He needs someone to look after. Badtz won't let him fuss over her. She needs someone to play chase. Tobey will sometimes acquiesce.

Everlasting Pet

Bill and Kitty think they found an answer to anticipated pet demise.

http://www.bostondynamics.com/content/sec.php?section=BigDog

Rest in Peace Miss Texas

The day arrived, Miss Texas is gone. She had been ill for quite sometime. In the last week she stopped coming out for treats and then she couldn't lift her legs to get into the litter box, her rear legs atrophied beyond return or rehabilitation. Poor thing.

You will be missed little sweetheart.

Where's the Camera?

Sorry for the lag time. The camera went missing last Sunday. Bill and Kitty looked everywhere for it. It finally showed up in a place where they looked many times. It's a mystery.

Here is a picture of the two most likely suspects.

Tobey gives Miss Texas a Massage

Tobey has been taking diligent care of the old lady of the house, Miss Texas. He gives her a back rub to help her with her arthritis pain. She keeps on plugging away.

Still, Miss TX can eat and get to the cat box... the day that changes will be the day Bill and Kitty will have to make a decision. She has been with the Happy House for over 16 years. She was the one year house warming gift to themselves.

It's Smokey Outside

Maybe you've read about the numerous wild fires occurring all over California. The critters stay inside all day while Bill and Kitty are at work. The windows are kept closed so the smoke won't cause any breathing problems for them. Don't know if they make nebulizers for cats and dogs. You can see how concerned Badtz is.

Tobey Counts Money

Tobey CPA. When he was younger he would propel himself from the bed to the mule chest and play with pennies. Once he gets a coin in his mouth, he jumps back to the bed to play with it some more.

Bill and Kitty had a couple jars full of pennies in their den. Bill noticed that they were a handful of pennies lined up against the wall. We mean more than just a dozen, but many coins scattered about that corner. Wasn't until Kitty was reading in bed that Tobey came up and spat out 2 pennies for her that it was confirmed that he was the penny pincher. Tobey then, leaped to the chest and started his money counting.

Th critters are smittened

Bill and Kitty were off on a motorbike adventure last week. They entrusted the critters to a friend who stayed at the Happy House. Vive can't stop talking about him. "He's great," "He can throw a Frisbee far," etc.

Badtz just stewed in her Peanut box, her peanut gallery (pictured), while Tobey and Miss Texas was curious of this wonder human.

Back at the Ranch

Someone was happy to see Bill and Kitty come home. The neighbor who cat-sits told us that the feline critters greeted her at the door each time she came over for a visit. The cats like their humans.

Vive, Action Dog

Bill and Kitty are in San Diego and took Vive along with them. In Balboa Park there is a beautiful leashless dog run near Morley Field next to the Tennis courts. Notice Vivienne's focus with so many dogs around her.

Vive at the Beach 2

There was a request for more Vive on the run. Maybe next week Bill can get the video camera out and capture Vive catching Frisbees. Now that's a sight to see!

Bird's Eye View of Tobey...

Tobey in complete happiness. Fresh laundry! He slept for hours.

When Bill and Kitty need to fold the white load, Tobey always battles with them for a tee shirt or undies. Alas, he will eventually sit in an empty basket.

How Many Names can a Cat Have?

When Badtz was first fished out of the curb she was named Black Kitten, then Sapphire. Then her rescue mom (Bill and Kitty's neighbor) named her Maggie. Then Pearl, then Misty. Bill noticed a resemblance to the Hello Kitty character, Badtz Maru. Kitty started calling her Roberta for reasons only Kitty knows. Goatbutt, DevilCat, etc. Now she has the alias, Loquacious B. She does, however, answer to Badtz.

Viva at the Beach

This a typical San Francisco Bay Area day; overcast, windy and a wee bit of chill. Vive wouldn't have it any other way.

Action Photo of Viva

Sorry for the absence.

This is for a new reader. You know who you are!

Bill and Kitty have been so occupied with the feline critters that poor sweet Vive totally gets ignored.

As you see from this picture, she is very hard to capture in a still photo.

Tobey Watching

The SF Giants were away playing the Phillies. The game was tied at 2-2 and went to extra innings. At the top of the 10th the Giants scored a run. The Giants put Wilson in to close at the bottom of the 10th. It was tense, but the Giants put the Phillies away and won. Tobey was engrossed.

Secret life of Badtz

Nothing pleases Badtz more than watching The Who at Woodstock in her favorite chair, the one with the paper bag on it.

Favorite hang-out

Soon it will be summer. The cats have their summer sun spot picked out already. They like the writing desk with the Southern exposure. They can also watch the neighbor's cats lurk around the side yard.

Loquacious B

Badtz has a new name, Loquacia. Her mcee name is Loquacious B!

Merriam-Webster sayz:
1 : full of excessive talk : wordy
2 : given to fluent or excessive talk

That's her! She is down with that!

Better Upside-down

Most cats enjoy sitting on their stomach with their paws tucked. Not Badtz. She really enjoys seeing things inverted. Not that she knows what inverted means.

She is still soft with a white snowflake on her throat and a feisty disposition!

Camera Angle

Someone took the camera, placed it on the floor, and snapped a picture of Miss Texas. We don't think the cats are that smart! Have the Bendables come back to life? Are they taunting the critters while Bill and Kitty are away?

Hanging out at the Laundry

All the animals are low energy because of lack of food.

See how they are wasting away...

She Shrunk

Badtz was stewing in her own juices. Mad, mad at not having that extra scoop of food in the bowl. Tobey gets a bit noisey too asking for food but Badtz get down right insistent!

Fat Cats!!

Tobey and Badtz went to the vet yesterday. They were deemed healthy except for the weight issue. Tobey is now 19 lbs and Badtz is a 15 pounder! Staring this morning they are on a reduced portions diet. They're going to loose 2 lbs each.

On anther note, Bill reported that the vet spent a few extra moments petting Badtz and deemed her the silkiest cat he ever touched.

More Tobey

Stalling until Bill and Kitty gather more photos of Viva.

Enjoy this moody picture of Tobey. He is enjoying the sun while stretched out between the window sill and Kitty's desk.

Brief Hiatus

Wow, the weather has been really beautiful here in Richmond. It's been hard to sit down with the computer and blog. Besides the critters have been very staid. As you see, here is Tobey all cuddly bunny in Bill's arm.

Badtz M.I.A.

A couple years ago, Bill and Kitty went on vacation and had a friend stay to take care of the critters. They were told almost 24 hours after she escaped that she was loose in the neighborhood. Bill and Kitty rushed back home and Badtz came back within 4 hours of their return.

Here is one of the two pictures of Badtz with a collar. So elegant. Meow!

Bad Catz

When Bill and Kitty first met Badtz, her name was Maggie. She could be a Maggie, but Bill noticed a similarity to the Hello Kitty character Badtz Maru, the penguin with an attitude who wants to become the boss of everything. She has lived up to her namesake. Besides Badtz is a contraction for bad catz!

When They're Not Fighting

Badtz and Tobey can be sweet to each other.

The Crow

Not really The Crow, no Brandon Lee, but Badtz Maru!

Here she is battling it out with big handsome Tobey. She doesn't climb up on the scratching post much. But she and the Tobster still battle. She has a Tobeyness about her and that's what what bugs him.

Badtz Begins

Kitty first meet Badtz as one of two kittens when she and Bill kitten-sat for a neighbor. Bill had met Badtz when she was 4 inches long. She was just rescued from the curbside by a person and then given to the neighbor for care. The neighbor also rescued a little gray kitten a couple weeks later.

You may remember Tobey's betrothed Priscilla. Well Kitty met her shortly after the rescue and was smittened by the kitten. She hadn't met Badtz yet and was looking forward to having the little pitter-patter of kitten paws around the house.

Here they are at their first stay with Bill and Kitty. If you click on the photos you will see Badtz's stripes. She is a black-bodied tiger cat! No wonder the attitude.

Tex, Miss Texas to you

At night Miss Texas wonders around the house. You can hear her claws clicking as she walks down the hardwood hallway. Then her claws snag on the rug as she circles Bill and Kitty's bed every 10 minutes. Each step catches the rug, no wonder Kitty wakes up every couple hours.

Miss Texas's best friend

The days of Miss Texas ruling the house is long gone. She is approx 17-18 years old. She is still pretty feisty but the arthritis has settled into her hips. She gets comfort from our "Wee Lover Boy," Tobey. He spends time with her and they have an understanding. We're happy that Badtz will be around for Tobey when Missy Miss takes her last nap.

Miss Texas's Turn

Bill and Kitty adopted Miss Texas as a 1year house present for themselves. She was 2years old.

After a month with her they decided to adopt a pet for her. They went to the Oakland SPCA and adopted a white kitten and named him Tim. She tormented, bullied him. He was a beautiful and a gentle soul. She out live Tim. He died at 10 years of age.

Two-weeks after Tim's death, Miss Texas wondered around the house looking for him and making lots of noise. Bill and Kitty adopted Tobey thereafter.

Daddy Love

When Bill and Kitty were searching for an orange kitten they lucked-out.

As they approached the Hopalong adoption event, they saw a woman in a wheelchair cuddling an orange kitten. Their hearts sank because that was "their" orange kitten. So, the plan was, Bill was to create a distraction so Kitty could snatch the kitten from the handicapped lady and run to the car to wait for Bill while he fills out the adoption papers!

But, they didn't have to do that because there was a second orange boy. The Big QT, Tobey. We love our boy! Our wee lover boy :-)

The Old One and Tobey

When Tobey was a kitten Miss Texas tried to bully him as she had done with a past cat named Tim. But Tobey was able to give back more. He tired her out. She's not the young girl-cat she was when she was bullying Tim. She jumped on the Tobey bandwagon. They have been BFF.

Tobey's #1 Love is...

It's a toss-up! It has to be either sleeping or clean laundry. A combination of both maybe!

A whole website can be built on pictures of Tobey sleeping and Tobey sleeping in the dryer, laundry basket, pile of clean laundry. He has slept on dirty laundry, but he doesn't get a refreshing sleep as when he slumbers on clean laundry.

Prissy

Tobey was once betrothed to a cute gray kitten called Priscilla, Prissy for short.

He loved her. She loved him. See how cuddly they are. Prissy was one of the kittens Bill and Kitty took care of for a neighbor. The other cat was Badtz. Bill and Kitty couldn't adopt both kitties. Badtz, was the pick of the litter. Poor Tobey. He is stuck with bad catz Badtz.

The Many Loves of Tobey

This week we'll feature the many loves of Tobey.

Tobey was very close to Bill and Kitty's old Golden Retriever, Kayla. Tobey enjoyed rubbing his head on Kayla's paws after she came home from a walk. She was his virtual outdoors.

He was deeply sadden the night Kayla died. He stood in the dinning room watching her fade away.

Outside with the Vivester

Vive loves walking at a local park. She runs ahead of Bill and runs back to when he calls her. She gets 4 times the exercise than the human! That's okay because Vive has 12 times the energy of any human.