Violets and Cats? Very Interesting!

What do violets have to do with cats? Let’s back up a moment—I could use the word “very” for my V word and remind all of you that I am a very pretty, very smart, very funny cat, etc.; but that would be plain boring. All of my readers already know these are well-established facts. I’m not bragging, just being honest.

Now onto violet, the word of the week:

One thing about violets—many people wonder whether houseplants, like African violets, are poisonous to kitties. For those who enjoy this plant’s lovely purple blooms, there’s good news: They’re non-toxic to cats! For an exhaustive list of plants which are toxic and non-toxic go the ASPCA website.

Violet also gets around as a name for cats. Mom knows a real person who has an adorable kitten named Violet. There’s also a fictitious Violet, who Cynthia Coppersmith, the lady who marries Fr. Tim Kavanaugh, in the Mitford series books, writes about. I’ve heard some of the stories on CD, on the long car ride up north. Cynthia has a pet cat named Violet and writes children's books about the pretend adventures of her cat. Did you know the author of the Mitford series, Jan Karon, helped create some real books about Violet with author Melanie Cecka? Okay. Now this is getting downright confusing. You can check out more about these books at this LINK, while I lick my paws.

Are you a Downton Abbey fan? Mom is. (Insert eye roll here.) This show is based on a barbaric time in history when cats were usually kept just to control the mice population rather than be appreciated for their elegance. Instead, in this show, the people are dressed prettily and placed in an elegant historical setting. I am usually hiding under the dresser while Mom watches Downton Abbey. Occasionally I will hang out with Mom and Dad for a good head petting at that time. One of the characters on that show is a rather fearsome lady—Lady Violet Crawley. She may be cunning, but she doesn’t understand the subtlety of cats. (Here are some of her forthright quotes.) I think she would send a naughty house cat away to fend for itself. I shiver at the thought. 

And then there may be some cats with violet eyes. Albino Siamese cats sometimes appear to have lavender eyes (close enough). And apparently Siberian cats sometimes have them as well. Watch the video below and tell me whether you think this cat’s eyes are blue or violet? No offense, but for some reason I like green cat eyes the best. I am tired from writing this exhaustive article. It’s time for me to find a heat vent to nap on top or—or jump on Mom while she’s sleeping. Yeah, the second choice sounds better. Purr.

Wednesday Whimsy - The Kitten Chronicles, Part Two

A few months ago I had a chat with Natasha, my Siberian
cousin in Minnesota. She is a kitten, but nearly a year old.
Mom and I thought you might enjoy finding out how she's doing these days.

Hi cousin Tasha! Welcome to Wednesday Whimsy. 

Thank you, Lily; it is nice to visit with you again. I enjoy following your blog, you interview such interesting personalities, especially the other felines.

 

Have you grown much since we last chatted?

I am nearly a year old now, and have grown as much as I think I am going to, but am filling out nicely, or so my humans tell me. The fun thing is, I still fit under the love seat, so can escape whenever I want.  And, I am now big enough to hold my own when wrestling with Elliot, also known as “The Big Galoot”, and can pin him down. I am feeling really wonderful; full of energy and vigor. Life is grand.

How is the captivity going? Have you adjusted well to your most recent surroundings?

I often forget I am captive since I am having so much fun and feeling very much at home. Oh, Lily, I so enjoy myself. There are so many great places to nap--wherever I please really, although my humans sometimes annoy me by chasing me off some of the choicest spots, but I show them by sneaking back when they are not looking; Ha! I particularly love to lay in front of the fireplace and warm my paws and nether regions on a cold winter evening.  

Tasha watching a bird.

It is also fun to watch the birds out the window. My humans put birdseed right out on the ledge of the front window and I get to see the birds just inches in front of my nose. It is so exciting! It is also a thrill to watch the squirrels on the deck outside the back patio door.

Life is like a party--I AM a party animal!  I just love to have fun, and play, and run, and jump, and wrestle.

Tasha and her brothers enjoy watching the birds and squirrels.

Is your human training going any better? Are your humans getting any less “foolish and slow to learn”, as you put it our first interview?

I finally have my humans fairly well trained, though it has been an exercise in patience, let me tell you!  They have virtually ceased to annoy me in most matters, and especially about what I prefer to eat. It has finally sunk into their thick skulls, I think, that I will eat what I want and when I want, and sleep when I want and where.

They have provided all sorts of toys and furniture for me to enjoy, and I have almost complete run of the house. On the other paw, they have taken to brushing my teeth in spite of by most vehement and vociferous protests. I can take care of my own teeth, thank you! I may have to take drastic action there.

What do you like best about Tom and Betsi?

Hmmm; I suspect Tom is really a dog-person, Lily. He is so bucolic; just like a dog...disgusting! I won’t let him near me most of the time; sometimes I have to dive under the love seat to get away from him. On the other paw, he does get up at 5:00 AM, and so I can coerce him into feeding me right away. My brother cats and I have taken to coaxing him to awaken at 4:00 AM to get up sooner to feed us even earlier, but so far he has resisted. However, I think he will soon acquiesce; he knows I am not pleased.    

Betsi, on the other paw, is clearly a cat-person, and is pleasant to have around.  I prefer her company, and am more willing to let her play with me and even permit her to touch me occasionally. She is refined and elegant, and much more suitable to serve a cat of my status.

Sounds like you are keeping the upper paw with your humans. Good job!

How is life with your stepbrothers, Harley and Elliot? Do you have a favorite one to play with?

Tasha and Elliot snuggling.

Oh, Lily, I just love Elliot! I like to snuggle with him, and lick him. Sometimes, we hold paws, and occasionally when I lick his fur, he licks me back and I am in heaven! It is all so grand! We also like to chase each other back and forth across the house, and wrestle; though our mistress seems to get upset about the things we knock over, as if things are as important as we are.

Harley is mostly an old grump, and he usually sleeps all the time.  He does not like to be bothered at all, which makes it more fun to do it, but I mostly stay away from him.   

Paw holding, close up!

What are your future ambitions?

I have not yet jumped to the top of the piano to explore the crystal candlesticks or onto the fireplace mantel to investigate the porcelain birds. I also want to jump onto the kitchen counter to sample the food that I smell up there. I am practicing my climbing and jumping techniques to prepare for these activities, which I expect to accomplish in the next few months.

Someday, I would also like to sneak out of doors and catch a squirrel, perhaps this spring or summer. I am told this is not allowed, but I call my own shots, and will jump at the chance when I can. That squirrel is in for a big surprise!

Thank you, Tasha, for updating us on your life in Minnesota. It’s good to hear from you.

You are welcome, Lily; it was nice to chat again.  Do come and visit me sometime.

(And a special thank you to our Minnesota cousins, Tom and Betsi for helping Natasha
with the answers and sending these wonderful pictures!)

Wednesday Whimsy - The Kitten Chronicles

Lilybits - Not large, but in charge.

The Kitten Chronicles – Part 1

This Wednesday I am interviewing my distant cousin, Tasha. I’m going to find out what her life is like for a kitten in Minnesota.

Tasha, how old are you, and what kind of cat are you?

My name is actually Natasha, or Tasha for short, although my goofy human servants often refer to me by other annoying names such as Poozy. I was born on March 27 of this year in Mankato, Minnesota to my Russian-born parents who immigrated there. I am a Siberian cat, and am descended from nobility.

(Aren't we all?) I’ve been in captivity for over 1700 days. It’s been fairly tolerable, since I have my humans well trained. How is your human training going?

My Siberian cousin, Natasha

I am only about 245 days old, and was forcibly transferred to my current penitentiary in Lakeville, Minnesota, where I have now been for about 145 days. At present, I have two human servants; a husband and wife by the name of Tom and Betsi. They are very foolish, and slow to learn, though I have been patiently trying to train them in the proper methods of serving me. 

The other two cats I now live with obviously did not do a very good job in training them prior to my arrival, and I have been endeavoring to correct their many deficiencies. I would particularly like to curtail their most annoying habits, such as continually bothering me when I am napping or studying the outdoors through the window, or not presenting me with enough food of sufficient variety.

You sound like quite the intelligent female kitten! I hear you have big stepbrother cats. Please do tell me something about them.

Tasha warming up by the fire

Indeed, I live with two older cats; one is a fourteen-year-old Himalayan named Harley and the other an eight-year-old Persian named Elliott. I really enjoy my cat-mates, especially Elliot, who has been nicknamed “the Galoot” because he is such an oaf. He has a lot of really long hair, and I love to wrestle with him and swim in all that marvelous hair; he is such a push over. I generally take a great deal of pleasure in bugging both of them while they are sleeping, and I especially like to employ my strategy of licking them, which they detest. They will move to get away from me, and then I get to chase them around the house or otherwise lay claim to their resting spot.

I like being an only cat. I’m quite the diva! Do you like having other cats in your house? If so, why?

I am very fast and love to leap across the room and over the furniture. Oddly enough, my human servants get nervous when I do this, which gives me even more pleasure.  Though it is annoying to be held captive, this house has many advantages, and there are a lot of fun places to explore especially among the antique china and glass candlesticks.  One of my favorite pass times is relaxing upside down in front of the fireplace to warm my sensitive underside.

I definitely rule here, and claim most of the servants’ attention, and the food, for myself.  I have taught the older males to show proper deference to my person, and have claimed all the best toys, sleeping places, sunny spots and so forth for myself. I do enjoy the other cats, however, since they are a source of much entertainment for me.

Tasha and the Galoot 

Thank you, Miss Tasha, for being my guest today. We will check back with you on a

later date about how your captivity is progressing.

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