Where's mine?

Woman, you used to share french fries on the long car rides. What gives?

Sunday Story

By Kat 3
Morning Scratch reporter

Yup, it's easy like Sunday...

OH MY GOD! WATER!

I'm going to die! They are going to kill me. Must find way out!
Must ESCAPE!
(Are those be backwards frootbatish ears?)

These photos bring back terrible memories. Before this stay at the Cat House Hotel, we stayed here for a week in October 2006 while the humans went to visit family in Virginia. Mom wanted to take me with them, but I was not yet properly leash trained like I am now. Mom says I was not properly bladder trained yet either.

See, the day I was getting picked up to go home, I had just finished a long play session with the kittens and was very thirsty. Long story short, at some point I got in my carrier, got in my car, and had to go No. 1 about halfway home (it's a two-hour drive). I didn't complain about it. I just went. I mean, I had to go! And I'm a free spirit. But I wouldn't have gone if I knew what was going to happen to me! This is what awaited me at home, when Mom and Dad found out what I did:

I'm never peeing again!

I'm DROWNING!!!

So this time, I'm planning ahead. It looks as if June 7 is now the day we can return home. I'm definitely going to visit the litter box before we leave.

Mom! Take me out! Why wouldn't my kitty spit do the job???

Silly Saturday

By Sara
Morning Scratch reporter

Purrs to everyone!

Today, we're giving our paws a break, so we thought we'd share a video ...

..... Miss Sara introduces ....

OK GO'S BIGGEST FAN EVER!!!!
Take a look:

Wacky Wednesday

DOG TAKES OVER MY PEOPLE, CAR

By Bogdan
Morning Scratch editor

While we've been away at the Cat House Hotel, the Investor and the man betrayed us. I have evidence, given to me by an anonymous source, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation.

The evidence: (Excuse the poor quality; the informant was working undercover.)

THAT dog was in MY car, and those legs belong to MY man. The dog, reportedly named Sophie, was baby-sat by my humans for a night and a day, sources tell the Morning Scratch.
"Aw. Wouldn't it be cute, Bogdan, if you called her Aunt Sophie?" the Investor said.
No. No, that would not be cute.
"I'll call her ant Sophie!!" Kat 3 said. "I like ants. They are fun."

Friends at the Cat House Hotel

By Bogdan
Morning Scratch editor

There are some very nice kitties at the Cat House Hotel. I am not one of them.

Yes! The catnip mat is mine!

But, Kat 3 made friends with several of the cats at the hotel. And here they are, with commentary by reporter Kat 3.

FRANKIE AND KAT 3

Yesterday, you saw Frankie and I playing and playing. Here we are on the Cat House Hotel porch hanging out together. I'm a little embarrassed here because Mom just told my new friend Frankie that when I was her age I was living in a Dumpster.

CHLOE

This is Chloe. Mom said she is an expensive cat. I don't know why she's more expensive than me, except that I came free. Chloe is funny because she growls when she gets pets ... but it's not because she doesn't like pets! She likes the scratches, but she growls anyway. Silly Chloe.

CHIPS

Chips followed my Mom all over the Cat House Hotel when she was trying to visit with me. I'm surprised Chips didn't follow her right out the door! Chips also liked Dad and jumped up on him and started licking his face. I wonder if my Dad has a tasty face like Skeezix's Mr. Tasty Face? I'll find out when I get home.

"MAO"
Hey! It's Mao! Just kidding. I didn't believe him at first when he said he wasn't Mao because Mao was on the lam, and I thought he was hiding here. But this is really Spanky. And Spanky is staying at the Cat House Hotel a long time, like us! I like Spanky. He enjoys chasing sparkly balls. And anyone who chases sparkly balls is a friend of mine!

Meezer Monday: Kat 3 reports from the Cat House Hotel

THE CAT HOUSE HOTEL IS SUPER FUN

I'm at the Kat House Hotel. It's named for me! No, really. Really! OK, not really ....

By Kat 3
Morning Scratch reporter

The Cat House Hotel is a wonderful place! There are toys galore, scratches all day long and plenty of kitties to play with. (P.S. Mom says to tell you we won't be home now until at least June 2.)

Here are some highlights from my stay so far.

*PLAYTIME*

I'll get you blanket! I'll win! And I did win. Yup. Teehee.

*FRIEND TIME*

Friend time is a lot like playtime. Look at our toys! That's my kitten friend Frankie. She had to go home already. Mom says I look chunky here. And it's a possibility. I've been taste-testing all the kitties' foods!!! Nummy.

*MORE PLAYTIME*

You can never have enough playtime.

*DRINK TIME*
All this playtime makes me thirsty. The nice girls who work at the hotel fill up kettles to fill up water bowls in our rooms. I like drinking from the kettles. That's my toy right there.

*DAD TIME*
Dad thinks he is funny. Here, he is pretending to put me in the water fountain. I'm screaming, "No! No!" but I know Dad would never really put me in it. I play along with his silly games.

*NAP TIME*
Just kidding! I didn't nap! There's too much playtime to be had, right Frankie? Teehee.

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

By The Investor
Morning Scratch human

Because the new wood floors warped after installation last week and had to be pulled up, the cats won't be back home this week. We are now hoping for a homecoming next Thursday, May 24.

BOGDAN

SARA

KATRINA

THE HOUSE
(New floors, Take 2 ... being jackhammered up)

Thankful on Tuesday

Thank you everyone for making my birthday very special even though I couldn't be at home. You are all such great friends!
Purrs from Miss Sara

Miss Sara is the birthday girl

SARA TURNS 5 YEARS OLD

"This basket is still my favorite hiding spot at the Cat House Hotel."

By Sara
Morning Scratch reporter

It's my birthday today! I was sad I'd have to spend it at the Cat House Hotel, but Mom visited me Friday, and I got to open presents from my dear friend Scooter.

Here's photos of my ity bity b-day celebration Friday with Mommy, Kat 3 and Bogdan. Dad was there, too!!

"What's this? I smell the faint aroma of ... CATNIP!"

"Good thing Mom brought something for us wear!" Kat 3 said. "It wouldn't be a party otherwise. Hey, Sara: How's this look? Do the colors clash with my furs?"

"I don't want to wear my lovely pink accessory," Sara said. "I want to play with it!"

"Pink catnip! Thanks, Scooter!"

"Collar bling! All the boys here will notice me now!"

"Kill the catnip! Kill the catnip. Wait. Love the catnip! LOVE THE CATNIP!"

"No, you can't have any. It's my birthday present from Scooter. Maybe I'll share later, like in the next century! What, Mom? Be nice? Sorry, it's the catnip talking!"

You know what's also very fun? I share a birthday with Rudy, Parker's brother. Go wish him a happy birthday, too! He's orange like me!

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MORE ALL ABOUT MEME

My good friends Ben2 and Caesar and Prinnie tagged me for this meme.

The rules: Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. Cats who are tagged need to write on their own blog about the seven things and the rules. You need to choose seven cats to tag and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

1. I run away from Dad when he does his Dinosaur Roar. Kat 3 likes his Dino Roar. She roars back. But it scares me!
2. I once gave birth to kitties! The lady at my foster home said I was a good mommy. I loved cleaning my kitties' furs.
3. I like cleaning my Mommy's furs. Sometimes I try to clean her long head hairs, and they get stuck in my mouth. Icky!
4. I enjoy being cleaned by Mommy. I stay still for teeth brushes and ear cleanings.
5. I never get on the kitchen counter.
6. I hold paws/hands with others.
7. I have a chipped front tooth. I don't remember how it happened, but it was like that when I was rescued from behind a strip mall in California's Central Valley.

I tag:
1. Rudy, Parker's orange brother.
2. Jeter Harris' brother, Matsui
3. Tara, Princess Meezer
4. Anyone else who wants to play! (Sorry! Mom says she can't type for me anymore today ... time for her to go to work ...)

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Happy Mother's Day to all the moms in the world.

Bogdan reports from the Cat House Hotel

Can you find Bogdan?

CATS OF THE HOUSEHOLD UNDER HOTEL ARREST

By Bogdan
Morning Scratch editor

Cats of the Household are being held captive in a so-called hotel.
They were left here weeks ago and haven't seen home since. Other cats are also being held at the detention center; however, they seem to have fallen victim to Stockholm syndrome.
"I looooove all these scratches!" Kat 3 said. "And, looky, toys everywhere! Hey, nice lady, could you refill my food bowl?"
Experts say this type of behavior is not unusual.
"Kat 3 just loves everyone," expert Mom says. "Huh? Oh, you wanted me to comment on cats in general? Well, I think it's really just you, Bogdan. You're so uptight."
Regardless of the expert's evaluation, this reporter stands by his claim of being held captive.
"They's nice people here, but I want to be released to home confinement as soon as possible!!" Sara said.

Investor, this is ridiculous! I'm so mad at you. Take me home!

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CAT TRIES TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH EDITOR

Nice Cat: Hey! What's your name? Want to hang?
Bogdan: Hey, buddy. You betta back up!

Bogdan: Yeah. That's right. Grrrrrowl! I am fear!
Nice Cat: Hey, lady. What's wrong with your kitty?

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A MEME, ALL ABOUT ME

The lovely DaisyMae Maus tagged me for this meme.

Here are the rules for this meme ...

Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. Cats who are tagged need to write on their own blog about the seven things and the rules. You need to choose seven cats to tag and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

1. In my free time, I am writing my autobiography.
2. I've bitten the investor's lips, twice!
3. I used to be a rapper
4. I like eating tomatoes and potatoes.
5. I break stuff, all the time. Stuff such as computers and olive oil bottles.
6. I am banned from one grandma's house for teasing (OK, chasing) my cat aunts, and I've slapped my other grandma in the face. The investor says I need an attitude adjustment.
7. I purr and drool all over the place and knead on the investor's hair when she lets me into the bedroom and closes the door and Sara and Kat 3 are locked out! I love that.

I tag:
1. + 2. Caesar and Princess
3. My buddy Rocky at Artsy Catsy
4. Honey P. Sunshine
5. Sammawow
6. Eve on Catster
7. The Feline Philosopher's Muse

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Coming ahead in The Morning Scratch: Cat House Hotel updates from Kat 3 and Sara.

An update of sorts ...

Hi everyone.

I would like to thank all of you for your support and coming by to see how we are doing.

I hope to post more photos and updates about the cats at the Cat House Hotel soon, complete with kitty reports; however, I have been swamped with work and personal issues. And now, the cats likely won't make it home on Monday, May 14. That homecoming probably will be pushed back until Thursday, May 17 or even later because the new floors that were installed yesterday warped overnight, and no one knows why. So, now these floors need to be pulled up, and we have to start installation over.

With all this going on and going wrong, I figured I would give up and this time build a small cat town downstairs, much like this:



P.S. Things have been emotionally difficult for our family lately, and I thank you all for the messages. I also wanted to share that a friend of mine died/was killed in Richmond, Va., over the weekend. I'm distraught and very confused. At these times I really wish my cats were here for a cuddle. I guess when it rains, it pours ....

Cat schmat. Hotel schmotel. When are we comin' home?

By The Investor
Morning Scratch human

On Thursday, the man and I went to see the kitties at The Cat House Hotel. They all seemed physically fine, and they didn't seem to be holding a grudge (well, maybe Bogdan was a little...).

Here's a quick peek. All three wrote their own reports, so I'll share those as soon as I can type them. Also, unfortunately, we again got news work on the house will take longer. The cats will not return home until at least May 14 now.

Now, the cats...

BOGDAN

Bogdan: Investor, I'm delighted to see you, but can't you see I'm sleeping?
Investor: Yeah, in a girl's bed!
Bogdan: Whatever. *SNORE*

SARA

Sara: Mommy!
Investor/Mom: Sara kitty!
Sara: I need one of these cute baskets for home, don't you think?
Mom: Of course, darling. Anything for Miss Sara.
Sara: (whispering) Can you hide me under your shirt and get me out of here?

KATRINA

Kat 3: Bugs!
Mom: Hi, Kat threeeeeeeee! How are you?
Kat 3: BUGS! BUGS!
Mom: Helloooo?
Kat 3: MOM! I'M BUG HUNTING! Shhhhh.
Mom: I understand. I've met some of your new friends.
Kat 3: Who ... like Skeezix's brother, Mao??

HEY, MAO, IS THAT YOU?

"Mao": I'm not Mao!
Mom: Who are you then? You know, Mao is on the lam... are you trying to make me think you aren't Mao, even though you are Mao??
Kat 3: Yup! Yup! It's Mao! Meow, Mao!
"Mao": No, I'm Spanky!!
Mom: I don't think it's Mao, Kat 3. Sorry.
Spanky: I'm so sick of that girl calling me Mao!
Kat 3: Ha-ha. Mao's funny! Silly, Mao.

Missing the kitties

By The Investor
Morning Scratch human

WHAT'S UP WITH THE CATS, KATRINA, SARA AND BOGDAN?

I miss them. They won't be back at the house until at least May 11 now. I'm going to visit them at the Cat House Hotel on Thursday. I wish this photo wasn't so grainy.

Last week, my husband and I had the same three days off (Thursday, Friday, Saturday), so we decided we needed to get out of town. We went to San Francisco. More on that in a minute.

I felt guilty for not going to Santa Barbara to check on the kitties, but I also needed a good break from the stress. I called them, though. Katrina is a social butterfly. I think the Cat House Hotel might want to keep her as the official greeter (I say, no chance on that! She's The Morning Scratch facility's official greeter). Bogdan is enjoying the outdoor screened-in porch. They both leave their cage in the morning for free play without hesitation. I'm glad they seem comfortable.

Sara is doing better. I think it's because Suzanne teleported over to spend some time with a fellow skittery kitty. They have been letting Sara walk around for a few minutes after the other kitties have been put away in the evening. She also will leave the safety of her blanket and basket during the day and hang out in her room. And on Sunday, she actually left the room all by herself — but apparently not for too long. She's baby steppin'.

UPDATE ON THE HOUSE
Now that the mold is all gone, the insurance company says our house is habitable and it will no longer pick up the tab for a hotel, so here we are, living in a house, with no floors downstairs and no fridge or stove. Woohoo! (The microwave is still in the kitchen, apparently making it so we can eat, and therefore the insurance company also will no longer pay for our food. Nevermind the fact that all of our other kitchen items are packed away...)

This is the bamboo floor we decided on. It's a weaved bamboo, and we are buying it through a local environmentally friendly business, which is getting it from a Seattle-based company that makes its woods by European standards... which means very little formaldehyde. The laminate we are using is also friendly to the environment. Today, the painters are here; hopefully tomorrow or Friday the cabinet fixer guy will be here, so we can start installing the floors Monday. Cross your fingers and paws for us!

YAY! SAN FRANCISCO!

I'll keep this short. My husband and I went to San Francisco mostly to get our grub on. Some of my favorite restaurants are in that city, which is where I went to college. I love the MUNI! I love the food! I love Ocean Beach! It was great. On the way back down south, we stopped by the IKEA in East Palo Alto. I really want these racks for my kitchen. Look! Racks for spices. Racks for plants. Racks for whatever I want! The cats probably will see racks for cozy cat naps! We'll return to IKEA after the house is new again. I always find stuff I like there, and we need to buy a bed frame.

Tomorrow, I'll take lots of pictures of Bogdan, Sara and Kat 3 (who you are really here for) to share with all of you. Thanks for reading!

Hijacking the blog

By The Investor
Morning Scratch human

Kat 3 preparing a few weeks ago for the Cats of the Household Monopoly Championships, which has yet to be scheduled. Here, she is making sure the hotels are not rigged. 'I don't want a repeat of the problems at the Scrabble Championships!' Kat 3 said.

Cat House Hotel vacation update: Because of the work to our home, Bogdan, Sara and Kat 3 may be at the hotel for as long as another two weeks. Bogdan and Kat 3 are fine and enjoying themselves. I'm worried about Sara, because she hardly ever leaves her safety spot under the blanket in the basket. I hope to visit them soon, but I'm not sure that will be doable until next week. I miss them a lot.

While they are there, however, they will get some special spa treatments, including a nail clipping! I'm excited about not having to enlist the man for help in that task anytime soon.

Here's some photos of the house/Morning Scratch facility. We aren't allowed to enter the living/kitchen areas because it is cordoned off with plastic (hence the poor-quality photos taken through windows). The plastic kept the bad mold spores in the immediate area when cleanup was taking place. They also cleaned the air in the house with a HEPA filter.

Floors are up in the kitchen (apparently the mold beneath the floor was disgusting), and portions of drywall were removed to see if mold grew there, as well. You can't see it here, but parts of the cabinets were removed, too. We got mold test results today, and apparently the remediation removed the mold! Next up: Putting everything back to new.

Here's the dining/living area. Our new bamboo floors will hopefully go in May 7. Before that can be done, all the work in the kitchen on drywall, cabinets and plumbing needs to be completed.

The insurance company is taking care of all of this and we are being told that when work is complete, insurance representatives will contact us about subrogation, so the builder will have to pay (as it should be). Other problems the builder has not fixed we are going to fix so that we can FINALLY just live in the house. We'll then take him to small-claims court. We found out today he is building more houses. I really don't want to say his name here, but if you are buying a new house on the Central Coast, beware!!

Thanks for reading. The fun will return soon!!

Still on vacation ...

Sara, Bogdan and Kat 3: Examples of the Golden Spiral? Hm. Not really. (Photo taken two weeks ago, when they were blissfully unaware they would soon be without their beloved sliding glass door window.)

By The Investor
The Morning Scratch human

I did not drive to Santa Barbara yesterday because of the rain. Honestly, I'm a scaredy-cat and didn't want to drive two hours there and back while it was raining.
I called them though, and Bogdan and Kat 3 are doing great! Bogdan is enjoying sitting in high places and looking down on everyone, while Kat 3 loves taking in the sights out of the business' front window from the comfort of one of several cat trees.
Sara is still quite scared, but if one of the nice girls carries her out of the cage, she will walk around a small area near the safety of her basket (just in case someone drops something or hisses and she needs to quickly return to under the blanket).
They all say hello. They also hope Lilly Lu feels better soon! They are purring for her. Sophia is holding an auction for Snuggles to help Lilly Lu pay her doctor bills. Check it out.
I hope to make it down to Santa Barbara soon so I can pick up Bogdan's report for you all, but we'll have to see how things go because I work today though Wednesday.

This photo was taken Monday before I left. It's the only one I haven't shared yet. Kat 3 sure felt comfy there right away!