If Cats Drank Coffee

WAFFLES:  Hey Boss! It's Wednesday morning. Have you had your cuppa George yet?

KATIE:  George??? Don't you mean Joe?

WAFFLES:  Joe? Who's Joe?

KATIE:  Cuppa Joe? You know, coffee?

WAFFLES:  Cats don't drink coffee, Boss. Even YOU know that.

KATIE:  Of course I know that. You're the one that brought up Cuppa George. Which, by the way, makes no sense at all. I'm just trying to explain that it's Cuppa Joe, not George.

WAFFLES:  Boss?

KATIE:  Waffles.

WAFFLES:  Maybe you should just switch to decaf.

KATIE:  Maybe I should switch to decaf???

...15 minutes later

About Today's Photos 
(...or rather, that last photo)

Sometimes the camera freezes an expression you just can't see with the naked eye. The beginning of a yawn or meow can turn a seemingly ordinary cat into ... well, into what you see in that last photo.

Of course in the case of Waffles, this kind of expression is far more common than you might think. He's definitely a cat that can go from lazy to maniac in less than 60 seconds.

Cuppa Waffles

In case you're wondering what that cool 'cup' is that Waffles is lounging in, it's his sporty Sleepypod convertible. (a.k.a. his Sleepypod with the top down.)

The Ladies ManCat

WAFFLES:  I've got to shiny up my handsomeness for the ladies, on account of it's Mancat Monday and all.

KATIE:  I thought Waffles Wednesday was your thing.

WAFFLES: The ladies need them some handsome on Mondays too, you know. 

KATIE:  *sigh*

WAFFLES:  I can do Thursday and Friday too. Works for me.

KATIE:  Do you see what I have to put up with?  Day after day after–

WAFFLES:  I better get a calendar to keep up with all this handsomeness. 

About Today's Photos

Some of Waffles' most expressive photos happen when we're not even trying. Earlier this year we were taking pictures for a product review when Waffles decided he was done with the food and the taste testing (really???) and opted for a quick bath in the white swivel chair. First comes the preening, then comes the posing. Good thing Glogirly still had her camera ready.

Katie is never far away though. She'll often maintain a safe distance, watching every move he makes. Usually with that "I can't believe my eyes" look on her face.

Oh, "If we could read her mind... what a tale her thoughts would tell."  ♩♫

MISSION SNICKERS - Finding a Forever Home

MISSION:  SNICKERS

KATIE:  Are you ready for Mission Snickers, Waffles? 

WAFFLES:  You mean like stealing candy bars and stuff from the kitchen cupboards? Do I get to wear the cable thing and hang from the ceiling like Tom Cruise?

KATIE:  Waffles, you've been watching way too much TV.

WAFFLES:  So the mission isn't about snacks?

KATIE:  This is about finding our friend Snickers a forever home. Not snacks.

WAFFLES:  Are you sure? Maybe Snickers wants snacks too.

KATIE:  *sigh*

MISSION:  SNICKERS
Dear friends and readers, we need your help. Glogirly's close friend Lori is searching for a loving forever home for her sweet cat, Snickers. She's heartbroken to have to do this, but in order to give Snickers a chance at a happy life filled with peace, love and wand toys, she knows this will be the best thing for him.

Lori adopted Snickers from the county shelter in Big Lake, Minnesota where she was working last year. She worked for the sheriff's office who managed the small shelter. She got to spend a lot of time with the animals in their care and quickly fell in love with Snickers.

He was so friendly and outgoing, not only to people but to the other cats and dogs in the shelter. For some reason, he was overlooked time and again by people wanting adopt a cat.




A little background...
Lori loves all animals, but the bulk of her experience is with German Shepherds. She's an experienced trainer and even did search and rescue with her dog Turbo, before an unexpected and aggressive cancer took him from her a couple of years ago. Shortly after, she took in another shepherd named Dodge. We don't know much about Dodge's background other than he was found as a young stray on the streets of Kansas City. A Minnesota German Shepherd rescue connected him with Lori and she began fostering him and soon adopted him. She's been working very hard with Dodge, training him and creating a home where he feels safe.

Her previous dog Turbo loved cats and since Snickers did well with dogs at the shelter, Lori decided to open her heart and home to this sweet tabby boy. Sadly, things are not good between Dodge and Snickers. It's hard to know how much of Dodge's unknown background might be a factor, but he's a very reactive dog and has shown aggression towards Snickers. Lori has tried every training technique she can think of. She's asked other experts for advice, she's given it time and patience. But nothing has worked. Dodge is still exhibiting aggression, Snickers is terrified of him and Lori is scared that Dodge might harm Snickers.

Snickers hanging out on his favorite scratcher.

Fortunately Lori has her home set up so that Snickers has the full run of the upstairs where Dodge is not allowed. She has secure gates set up and also has Dodge crate trained. His crate is located on the main floor out of sight from the upstairs. Dodge has responded well to training in all ways except for Snickers. He's approaching 125 pounds which is even more than Lori weighs.

It breaks Lori's heart, but she she knows that the best thing for Snickers is to find a loving home for him away from the stress and potential danger of Dodge. She even considered finding a new home for Dodge, but knows that he really needs someone like her who can continue to work with him and make more progress on training and behavior.

Window watching!

About Snickers - The Sweetheart Cat  
Glogirly visited Lori and Snickers earlier this week so she could get to know him and take photos.

It took less than 30 seconds for Snickers to start loving on Glogirly. He purrs like a steam engine and loves to head butt. He doesn't have a shy bone in his body and absolutely adores people. Even new people. Lori had a couple of college interns boarding with her for a short period of time and Snickers took to them right away.

• Snickers is four and a half years old, neutered and microchipped.
• He is not declawed and loves his cardboard scratchers. He's never scratched a single piece of furniture. (Kudos to Lori for providing him what he needs to get his scratching fix!)
• Snickers is an indoor-only cat, but also enjoys supervised outings out on the deck and the fenced-in backyard.
• He's current on all of his vet needs, though he does need to lose some weight which Lori has been working on with her vet.
• Snickers likes sleeping with Lori, but she's allergic to cats and can't have him up near her head. He has no problem listening to her when she tells him to go to the foot of the bed. (smart kitty!)
• Snickers and Lori are currently located in Big Lake, Minnesota which is about 45 minutes west of Minneapolis. 

Snickers enjoying the outdoor deck and breeze with his favorite spring toy.

If Glogirly knew that Katie could handle another cat, we'd be telling you about how Snickers was now living with us. Unfortunately, Katie's health problems are exacerbated by stress and she's had some recent complications that have required Glogirly to find ways to reduce her stress. At least for now, a new furry family member sadly doesn't fit into that scenario.

This is where we need your help
Social media is powerful. And so are you. You never know who might be reading or looking. A friend may know a friend who knows a friend. We're asking our friends and readers to help get the word out about Snickers so we can find him the perfect forever home. Please share this blog post or posts from our Facebook Page and Twitter profile with your friends and social media groups.

If you or someone you know would like to know more about Snickers or set up a meet and greet, please contact Lori or Glogirly via email.
Lori: lpeirce22@gmail.com
Glogirly: glogirl@visi.com

♥︎ thank you ♥︎ 

Waffles Tries Out His Pick Up Lines

WAFFLES:  Hey Boss, you come here often? 

KATIE:  Seriously? You're going to use that line on me?

WAFFLES:  Ok. How about this - can I get your digits so we can FaceTime? 

KATIE:  Waffles, you're already in my face ALL the time. The last thing I need to do is FaceTime you. And mitts off my digits.

WAFFLES:  Snapchat?

KATIE:  Waffles...

WAFFLES:  Man, picking up chicks is hard.

KATIE:  Waffles, you've got a lot to learn about girl cats.

WAFFLES: So what am I supposed to say? 

KATIE: Well, you should say nice things. Compliment her. Tell her you like her fur... 

WAFFLES:  Ok. I like your fur.

KATIE:  Waffles, you need to romance it. "I love your furs... how do you keep them so silky-soft?" 

WAFFLES:  Thanks, Boss. I lick them everyday. 

KATIE:  No Waffles, you're supposed to ask ME how I keep MY fur so soft. 

WAFFLES:  But I already know. You lick yours like elebenty billion times a day. That's why you cough up all those nasty hairballs that Glogirly steps in and–

KATIE: Waffles... if you want to impress the ladies, do NOT bring up hairballs. Ok, let's try this again. Just say, "Hello, my name is Waffles. What's your name?"

WAFFLES:  Got it. HELLO, MY NAME IS WAFFLES! 

KATIE:  Take it down a notch, Waffles. A little lower.

WAFFLES:  *low voice* Hello, my name is Waffles.''

About Today's Photos
Glogirly has taken pictures of Waffles at the kitchen counter before. She's taken pictures of Katie at the kitchen counter too. But getting BOTH Katie and Waffles at the kitchen counter together is a rarity.

It was about 4:45pm. Katie and Waffles were getting ready to get ready for dinner. Glogirly was emptying the dishwasher when she looked up and saw what you see in that first photo. She's learned to always keep her camera close so she grabbed it and started shooting. There was plenty of grumbling about the light too. Something about bright daylight from the windows behind and harsh light above from the kitchen pendants.

Katie and Waffles didn't care. They didn't even care that they were sitting just inches apart. All they cared about was that it was now 4:59pm and dinner was about to be late. 

Loving our Veterinarians #Cat2VetDay

WAFFLES:  Hey Boss, it's Take Your Cat to the Vet Day. We should go!

KATIE:  Yeah.... NO.

WAFFLES:  Why not? It'll be fun!

KATIE:  Waffles, we were just there. Let's not wear out our welcome.

WAFFLES:  But it's Take Your Cat to the Vet Day, Boss. We have to go! 

KATIE:  Waffles, what matters is that we remind everyone how important it is to see their vet regularly. 

WAFFLES:  Why? Is it so the vets don't get lonely and stuff and miss us?

KATIE:  Waffles, you do know that Dr. Karlin's world doesn't revolve around you, right? 

WAFFLES:  Yeah, but every time I see her she makes me feel like it does. 

Don't let your vet miss you.
Schedule a wellness check today.

It's true. We love our vets. In fact at one point, Waffles wanted to marry Dr. Karlin. His hopes were dashed though when he realized that not only was she taken, she was seeing untold numbers of other cats. But that hasn't stopped him from flirting. Or amassing more vet tech girlfriends than he can count.

In all seriousness though, we're very passionate about the importance of regular veterinary visits. Living healthy, happy and long lives with our forever families is what it's all about. Waffles is four years old, generally very healthy and he sees the vet once a year. Katie is approaching 12 years old and is now considered a senior cat so she see's the vet twice each year for her wellness visits.

4 Reasons Routine Vet Vists Are SO Important 
1.  Cats age more rapidly than humans
2.  Cats are masters at hiding illness
3.  Over half of cats are overweight or obese
4.  Preventative care is far more effective & less costly than reactive care

A New Vet in the Family
We recently visited a new holistic vet who we absolutely adore. (Ok, it's probably Glogirly who's doing most of the adoring.) Katie was recently diagnosed with early stage kidney disease. It's this that prompted Glogirly to seek help from a vet trained in both traditional western medicine as well as eastern "holistic" medicine.

Dr. Sue from the Cat Care Clinic in Mahtomedi, MN has been extremely helpful in guiding us on nutrition and in particular has already made a big difference in Katie's health and treatment plan.

Katie is doing great... please don't worry a whisker about her. As we understand it, nearly 30% of all cats will develop kidney disease at some point in their lives. There is no cure, but with appropriate treatment and nutrition, many cats are able to live long, healthy, happy and even symptom-free lives.

We're very excited to share much more with you about our holistic consultation and visit in a future blog post.

Do you love your vet?
If you're not happy with your vet, maybe it's time to shop around. We have a feeling there are lots of Dr. Karlin's and Dr. Sue's out there. It just might take a little looking. 

An Evening With the Amazing Acro-Cats

KATIE:  Today we're turning over the blog to Glogirly so she can tell you all about the Amazing Acro Cats. Meanwhile, Waffles and I will be practicing our own act on Gloman's guitar and Glogirly's piano. 

WAFFLES:  I get to sing too! La La La La Bomba! La La–

KATIE:  Yeah... don't quit your day job, Waffles.

Live from Minneapolis:
The Amazing Acro-Cats!

When I discovered the Acro-Cats were making a stop in Minneapolis on their 2016 tour, I could hardly contain my excitement. Cats performing circus tricks and playing in a rock band, just a few miles from the Townhouse??? Sign me up!

Much to Katie & Waffles' chagrin, I invited our cat sitters out for an evening of feline fun and tricks. You know those rare experiences in life that leave your cheeks sore from laughing and smiling so much? That's exactly what seeing the Acro-Cats was like.

The show is a blend of engaging tricks that show off each cat's unique abilities, lots of fun and humor between the cats and their three human assistants and even some how-to tips on training your own cats.



Samantha Martin is the cat lady behind this amazing feline troupe. From the moment she steps on stage, it's clear she has a very unique bond with these beautiful animals. On her cue, the Acro-Cats perform tricks like jumping through hoops, riding a skateboard, balancing and walking on balls and leaping high, high through the air. And if that isn't enough fun, band leader Tuna and the Rock Cats play just about every musical instrument you could imagine. And a few you haven't!

The Mission Behind the Fun 
The Amazing Acro-Cats and their human staff are devoted to promoting cat-training awareness and supporting feline adoption and rescue across the country. Their mission is to show cat lovers how they can improve their relationships with their furry family members through positive reinforcements that result in long-lasting and beneficial behaviors. It's about strengthening the human-cat bond. 

In fact, some of these 'tricks' can save a life. When they hear a certain cue, each of the Acro-Cats are trained to go inside their carriers (which are all on stage during the performance). Just imagine how important that can be in the case of an emergency at home. 

Another aspect of their mission is forming partnerships that involve fostering and finding homes for cats and kittens as their troupe of former orphans and strays travel from city to city in their custom cat bus. Every one of the cats is a rescue and during a very special part of the show, Samantha shares the back story of each cat.

Riding in Style

The Acro-Cats know how to roll! Their new touring bus, which was funded in part through a recent Kickstarter campaign, is nothing short of amazing. And check out the Tuna Mobile, complete with Tuna and her signature bell on the roof!

Tuna! Tuna! Tuna!

Beautiful all-white Tuna is the band leader and brand ambassador. She loves to ring her bell and push the lever on the light-up applause sign. She also plays a mean cowbell in the band. I couldn't help but be reminded of Katie and her 'bossy' personality when Tuna would come out on stage. Perhaps I need to find Katie her own light up applause sign. 

Pudge

Pudge is a beautiful long haired grey kitty who was found abandoned in a box on the side of a road. Now she's a happy, champion hoop jumper. Seeing the connection between Pudge and Samantha is so inspiring. You can just tell how much they trust and love each other. 

Jax

Gorgeous tuxedo Jax was found in a cooler outside a truck stop with her two brothers. She's fearless. Except when it comes to Cluck Norris, the chicken (yes, chicken!) who's also part of the talented troupe. Jax's specialty is walking on the ball and balancing on top of a skull while catching treats in her mouth.

Alley the Athlete

Alley was found in, you guessed it.... an Alley, along with her two brothers. Now she amazes her fans by leaping high in the air from platform to platform. She's even landed a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest cat leap! 

That's Buggles in the background looking on. He kicked off the show by riding his skateboard and then sat on top of that tall platform just watching all the action for the rest of the show.

Wiki

Wiki was rescued along with his brother Frisco from a high volume kill shelter when they came to Samantha as foster kittens. Frisco was adopted right away. Wiki showed a love for performing and was adopted later at about 8 months, but was returned when he apparently made it clear to his new owner that he did not want to be a single, unemployed cat. 

Wiki likes to wander offstage during the performance and mingle with the crowd while his adoring fans slip dollar bills under his collar. 

In 2010 he officially became the second male Acro-Cat. When it comes to the Acro-Cats, I guess there's lots of girl-power!

Following Cues

I was so impressed by ALL of the Acro-Cats and how they focussed on and followed their human assistants' cues. Sure, there are plenty of *I'm a cat and I'll do as I please* moments...that's part of the fun. But to see their connection, their eye contact and how they are all just having fun being cats made my heart smile big.

That's Nola and Oz going for a ride as they follow Samantha's cues. Looks like Oz is a real backseat driver.


Groundhogs and Chickens and Rats (in HATS!)
In addition to the amazing cats, there are a few *surprise* performers. Garfield the groundhog specializes in ringing his gong and raising the American flag. He was SO into his gong, I thought I'd die laughing.

The Rats in Hats (there are 3!) dash across the high rope while Cluck Norris the chicken hops along the parallel bars. He also plays the tambourine in the band.

Meet the Cats

Each of the cats has their own page on the Acro-Cats website. Their bios are SO much fun to read and include things like their signature trick, how they became an Acro-Cat, their likes and dislikes and a special 'little known fact' unique to them. 

Meet the Acro-Cats HERE.

Meet the Rock Cats HERE.

ACRO-CATS | Asti, Alley, Annie, Buffy, Buggles, Jax, Nola, Oz, Pudge & Wiki

ROCK CATS | Tuna, Sookie, Pinky, Nue & Dakota

Post Show Surprise

Just when we thought the evening couldn't get any better... the whole audience was invited up on stage to get up close and personal with the cats. Photos are encouraged so this gave me an even better opportunity to get some great close ups. This is Nue on drums for the Rock Cats. Even with all the people on stage, she was SO focussed on her assistant's cues as she tapped away on her drumsticks. 

This all demonstrated to me just how genuine their mission is and how important the audience is to them. It was a full house and it sure looked like every single person stuck around to get up on stage and meet the cats. 

This was the first time I'd seen the Amazing Acro-Cats, but it certainly won't be the last. I'm a fan for life. 

Follow That Bus!

The next stop on their tour will be in their hometown of Chicago, October 6 thru 9. You can check out their tour schedule to see when they'll be in a city near you!