Cat Convos: Loki

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I’ve been putting off this post for quite awhile as it makes our loss far too real. Loki passed away peacefully at home surrounded by all of us who loved him dearly. Despite our unwillingness to let him go, Loki chose to saunter over to his next adventure.

Hiyu: Loki was the best playmate ever and the softest pillow in the world.

 

 

Kuri: Loki was born first, so literally, he was there for every moment of my life. I miss him terribly.

Me: The three of you had a lot of fun together.

Kuri: I keep forgetting he’s gone. He always answered when I called him, and I always answered when he called me. You always called it a game of Marco Polo, but it was really a game of Loki Kuri.

Loki and Kuri

Kuri: And sometimes it feels like he’s never left me, sort of like, he’s with me sharing my body and soul.

Me: Is that why you sometimes do things only your brother used to do?

Hiyu: Loki was the coolest cat ever. I miss him. He taught me how to play and how to really nap like a master napster. In return, I taught him the nuances of climbing and  balance.

Kuri: I miss him too, but as you say he will always be a part of all of us.

Me: In our memories and in our hearts.

~lisa

 

Kuri: Since I’m sure Loki is often still around, can he still join us for Cat Convos? I can tell you want he wants to say.

 

 

 

Cat Convos: Thank you!

Kuri: We’re back to cuddles and combining ourselves in Bengal puddles.

Loki: Thank you everyone for your well wishes. I’ve been hanging around, not doing much of anything, but I’m feeling much better right now. I’m taking it day by day.

Hiyu: Loki is even playing with us again.

Me: I’m happy to report that tests have come back showing that Loki has the most mild, unaggressive Lymphoma. We’re taking it day by day, but our goodbyes are not immediate.

Loki: The shock of only being given a few months has made me reevaluate my life.

Kuri: Me too, especially since I also had to have my tummy shaved for an ultrasound.

Hiyu: You two look really funny. Makes me glad I’m not a twin.

Me: Hiyu …

Hiyu: Self-interest is a hallmark of being a cat.

Loki: Hiyu cuddles with me too. He’s just a little on the opinionated side.

Kuri: We all are. Thought you’d be use to it now.

Loki: I’ve come to realize I don’t need to make many changes to achieve my dreams. I nap, I play, I cuddle, I purr ( maybe catch up on my reading) and I snuggle.

Hiyu: I like how you now guilt them into giving us tuna.

Kuri: and lots more snacks.

Hiyu: I’d give up all the extra tuna just to have you stay with us.

Kuri: Me too.

Loki: I know. I love you too.

Thank you Everyone

~lisa

 

Cat Convos: Secrets

Loki: I’ll tell you a secret.

Kuri: Don’t, you’ll get us in trouble.

Me: Is it an important secret?

Hiyu: Yes, and we really can’t wait to tell you.

Me: Okay…

Loki: Keep the feather stick moving and we’ll tell you everything.

Hiyu: We’ve been practicing secret cat ninja skills.

Me: I thought all cats were ninjas.

Hiyu: True, but we decided we had to be more versatile to be a Cat Emergency Response Team.

Loki: I’ve secretly been watching dog shows.

Kuri: I’ve taught Hiyu and Loki how to make shoes disappear. If you stick your head in a shoe far enough, you  can walk it under some furniture. It drives humans nuts.

Me: You mean my friends?

Hiyu: I’ve taught Kuri and Loki how to open cupboards and how to hide in the highest places.

Me: So all three of you now know how to open cupboards?

Kuri: And sliding doors.

Me: Loki?

Loki: (feather in mouth) mmmph?

Me: What skill have you taught?

Kuri collides with Loki and the feather jumps back in the air. Hiyu, who’s been waiting for his chance takes it down.

Loki: I’m working on door knobs. I have the mechanics of it down. I’m still figuring out how to hook my paws around the knob to get a good turn out of it.

Hiyu: You almost did it.

Kuri: And once we can open all the doors, we can go anywhere and use our secret cat powers for the good of the world. 

Me: I think– (mid-air collision between Kuri and Loki. Hiyu jumps on his throne and laughs at them.)

Loki: Can we have dinner now?

 

Me: Yes.

I don’t tell them that I know the secret of locks and keys. ~lisa

 

Cat Convos: Resolutions

Hiyu: We want to talk about our resolutions for the new year.

Me: Really? You guys have changes in lifestyle you want to implement?

Loki: No, silly. We have resolutions for everyone else.

Kuri: Yeah, we have a good long list.

Loki: We have a plan.

Me cautiously: Are you going to tell me the details of your plan?

Kuri: Last year we started our Cat Emergency Response Team. We’re going to talk a lot about emergency preparedness. We want all of our readers to be safe and prepared.

Loki: Even dogs and birds and hippopotami.

Me: Hippopotami?

Hiyu: That’s the plural of hippopotamus. We like to educate people.

Loki: We’re also going to help you lose weight.

Me: You could lose a couple of pounds too.

Loki: You have a lot more to lose than I do. Hiyu’s going to inspect your food and keep track of your exercise. 

Me: Anything else?

Loki: You need to take more pictures of us. My coat is perfect.

Kuri: We’re going to help around the house more.

Hiyu: We have a lot of surprises for you this year. It’s going to be fun.

Me suspiciously: Surprises?

Kuri flicks his ear. Hiyu gives me an evil grin and Loki gives me a tummy to pet.

Now I’m really looking forward to 2018.

~lisa

Purrs to All

Wishing all our readers a wonderful holiday season!

Purrs to all of you!

Cat Convos: Living with Bengals

One comes off even less sane when you report weekly on your Cat Convos. Fortunately, I provide a translation service for those who are not fluent in Cat. Our sub-dialect is Bengal.

Kuri: Have you heard this one?

Me: Which one of what?

I continue down the hall with three cats running and leaping around me. Sometimes they get excited when I leave the computer.

Kuri: Why did the cat join the Red Cross?

Hiyu: Because he wanted to be a first-aid kit.

Loki: That was too easy. How about “What’s a cat’s favorite button on the TV remote?

Me: Paws

Hiyu: You shouldn’t make fun of us.

Me: I only answered the question.

Loki: Hiyu’s right. We like to be smarter than you. You shouldn’t answer our questions correctly.

Me: Did you know there is a French proverb that says “The dog may be wonderful prose, but only the cat is poetry.”?

Kuri: I like poetry.

Loki: I have one! I have one! How many cats can you put in an empty box?

Me: How many?

Loki: One. After that the box isn’t empty.

Kuri: Good job, Loki! That was clever!

Me: Sometimes all three of you fill a box.

Kuri: I can explain: once one of us in the box, it’s no longer empty. Get it?

Hiyu: Knock. Knock.

Me: Who’s there?

Hiyu: Maybe I’ll tell you, maybe I won’t.

Me: Really? Can’t we just play?

YES! They all scream and scramble towards the box forts.

The first play session of the day then begins.

Hiyu takes a graceful leap plucking the feather stick out of the air. Kuri charges in the moment the feather stick touches the floor, but he is blindsided and bowled over by Loki who’s also trying to grab the feather.

I distract them from the beleaguered feather with red laser dot. Once we’re done, they’ll be ready for their naps and I can once again write in peace.

~lisa

Cat Convos: Where’s the Tree?

Me: You guys sound like a herd of elephants.

Loki: You said I need more exercise.

Hiyu: I DO NOT sound like an elephant. It’s the twins, not me.

Me: You guys are making me dizzy with all this gallivanting about.

Hiyu: We certainly aren’t gallivanting. That means wandering aimlessly.

Kuri: Yeah, we’re running full speed, cornering fast, testing our speed and reflexes.

Me: Dare I ask why?

Kuri: We’re on a hunt for the tree.

Loki: We know it has to be here somewhere.

Me: We don’t have a tree yet.

Kuri: The Christmas boxes have been here a week.

Hiyu: We’re going to keep playing Cat Conspiracy Theory until it’s up.

Me: I thought you guys were having a blast playing The Floor Is Lava.

Loki: It helps having different stacks of boxes everywhere, but Hiyu still wins.

Me: Why do you guys want a tree? You aren’t allowed to touch it.

Loki: We like to lurk around the edges. That’s not really touching it.

Kuri: I like the smell of a tree in the house. Especially now that The Hill got rid of all its houseplants.

Me: I decided you three were more than enough work. The houseplants all went to good homes.

Loki: I miss them.

Kuri: She gave them away because you ate them.

Loki: I only took a few nibbles.

Me: You’ll get a tree next week.

Kuri: Why do we have to wait so long?

Loki: You hid it, we’re going to find it. 

Hiyu: What’s the point of unpacking the ornaments if you don’t have a tree to hang them on?

Me: We’re going to share the good fortune we have as much as possible. We’ve gathered too much of the detritus of living in our consumer culture. We’re going to be giving a lot of things to charities, including all these excess ornaments.

Loki: Are you going to give away our toys?

Hiyu: Are you going to get rid of my perching places? What about my hiding places?

Me: Don’t worry. You guys will always have a surplus of everything, however that doesn’t mean we can’t share with those who do not have as much.

Kuri: They can have my old jingle balls, but not our catnip.

Loki: Did you give away our tree?”

Me: I told you it’s coming next week. I suggest you ask our readers where they think we should donate all of this stuff.

Kuri: Okay. Hey Readers, what are good places to donate our ornaments and toys and all the other stuff we’re going to give away?

Hiyu: Question asked. Now back to Cat Conspiracy Theory. Ready, set, go!

Me: We would love to hear your suggestions of best places to donate.

~lisa

Cat Convos: CERT Inspection 1

Crash! Bang! Thud!

Me: What’s going on in there?

Hiyu: We’re doing an inspection and you aren’t passing.

Loki: Relax, you’re mostly passing.

Kuri: Where do you keep the crockpot and all the big kitchen appliances?

 

Me: What?

Hiyu: We’re doing a CERT Preparedness Inspection.

Loki: Remember, we formed our own type of CERT. We are now a Cat Emergency Response Team.

Hiyu: And you can’t help others until you take care of yourself.

Loki: Yeah, the mantra is “you’re number one”, then “what about you?” If you can’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of others.

Kuri: Found them. All heavy appliances on the bottom shelf where they can’t fall on your head. Good for you.

Me: You guys still aren’t allowed in the cupboards.

Kuri: Fine, I’ll get on them. Is that better?

Me: What makes you guys think it’s okay to destroy the kitchen?

Hiyu: Official business. We’re pretending to be an earthquake.

Loki: I like practicing opening things anyway.

Kuri: Who knew we would be so good at mayhem and mischief?

Hiyu: I did.

Me: You knock those dishes to the floor and there will be no laser tag for a week.

Kuri: We’re done with the kitchen anyway. Loki and I are going to throw our weight around and see how much furniture we can knock down.

Me: You’re getting a time out.

Loki: Does that mean you don’t have all the furniture attached to the walls? What about these bookshelves?

 

Me: We’re not getting rid of the books.

Loki: You aren’t going to stop us from making sure you’re earthquake ready.

Hiyu: I HAVE A BRILLIANT IDEA! You can rent us out as CERT Earthquake Inspectors. If we can destroy a house, then you’re in trouble if a big earthquake comes.

Me; (carrying three large, squirming cats in my arms): Enjoy the playroom.

Hiyu: Wait! At least run our previous post about how we created the Cat Emergency Response Team. Our readers will want to know.

Loki: Yeah, someone might have missed it.

Me: Fine. I’ll put the original post at the bottom of this one. Happy?

Kuri: May we come out now?

Me: Not yet. Run off some of that energy and then you can sit on my legs while I get some computer work done. Right now, I’m wishing all of our readers an easier time in their preparedness preparations.

~lisa

As promised, the original post:

Cat Convos: CERT

Hiyu: You’re a CERT.

Me: Yes, and…

Kuri: We’ve decided we want to be CERT.

Me: You want to be a part of a Citizen Emergency Response Team?

Loki: Something like that.

Me: You guys aren’t exactly citizens and you don’t have opposable thumbs or…

Hiyu: We know all that.

Kuri: Yeah, we want to form our own CERT.

Loki: It’s brilliant and we can help other cats.

Kuri: Even dogs. We could help dogs.

Me: Let me explain a little bit about CERT.

Loki: We’re going to make our own CERT.

Hiyu: Yes, we’ve figured it all out.

Kuri: We’re going to be a Cat Emergency Response Team.

Me: Cat Emergency Response?

Kuri: I’m going to educate the public about having emergency rations & toys for all of their companions.

Loki: And I’m going to help with post-disaster mental health. I’m good at purring.

Hiyu: You can make little first aid packs for us.

Me: I’m not sure.

Kuri: We can help with search and rescue.

Hiyu: I can get to high places and I’m small enough to get into little places.

Me: That’s quite a dream you guys have there.

Hiyu: If it’s important to you then it’s important to us.

Kuri: You know how much we like to help. I even have an outfit for it. I can do security detail.

Me: You know I’ve got you guys covered. Your Emergency Go Crate is well stocked with food, water and toys. Your pictures, descriptions and up-to-date vaccination records are also there.

Loki: Why do we need more than toys and food.

Me: In case we have to evacuate. Human shelters only allow service animals and if I need to get you boarding then they need all of your records.

Kuri: I’m not going to be boarded. I’m going to be in the thick of it.

Hiyu: That’s why we’re forming our own Cat Emergency Team. We want to be part of the solution.

Me: My hope is that if there is a problem, you guys will take care of the house and the rest of the family while I’m out helping with recovery.

Hiyu: What if we agree to help birds?

Kuri: Or dogs or reptiles or–

Loki: Fish. I like to watch fish.

Me: I appreciate that you guys want to help.

Hiyu: So it’s settled. We’re your own Cat Emergency Response Team.

Me: I love you guys.

Loki: Purr

Hiyu: I can purr louder.

Kuri: Not as loud as I can.

Loki, Kuri and Hiyu: Purr, purr, PURR.

Me: May all you readers out there be safe and have a plan.

~lisa

 

 

Cat Convos: CERT

Hiyu: You’re a CERT.

Me: Yes, and…

Kuri: We’ve decided we want to be CERT.

Me: You want to be a part of a Citizen Emergency Response Team?

Loki: Something like that.

Me: You guys aren’t exactly citizens and you don’t have opposable thumbs or…

Hiyu: We know all that.

Kuri: Yeah, we want to form our own CERT.

Loki: It’s brilliant and we can help other cats.

Kuri: Even dogs. We could help dogs.

Me: Let me explain a little bit about CERT.

Loki: We’re going to make our own CERT.

Hiyu: Yes, we’ve figured it all out.

Kuri: We’re going to be a Cat Emergency Response Team.

Me: Cat Emergency Response?

Kuri: I’m going to educate the public about having emergency rations & toys for all of their companions.

Loki: And I’m going to help with post-disaster mental health. I’m good at purring.

Hiyu: You can make little first aid packs for us.

Me: I’m not sure.

Kuri: We can help with search and rescue.

Hiyu: I can get to high places and I’m small enough to get into little places.

Me: That’s quite a dream you guys have there.

Hiyu: If it’s important to you then it’s important to us.

Kuri: You know how much we like to help. I even have an outfit for it. I can do security detail.

Me: You know I’ve got you guys covered. Your Emergency Go Crate is well stocked with food, water and toys. Your pictures, descriptions and up-to-date vaccination records are also there.

Loki: Why do we need more than toys and food.

Me: In case we have to evacuate. Human shelters only allow service animals and if I need to get you boarding then they need all of your records.

Kuri: I’m not going to be boarded. I’m going to be in the thick of it.

Hiyu: That’s why we’re forming our own Cat Emergency Team. We want to be part of the solution.

Me: My hope is that if there is a problem, you guys will take care of the house and the rest of the family while I’m out helping with recovery.

Hiyu: What if we agree to help birds?

Kuri: Or dogs or reptiles or–

Loki: Fish. I like to watch fish.

Me: I appreciate that you guys want to help.

Hiyu: So it’s settled. We’re your own Cat Emergency Response Team.

Me: I love you guys.

Loki: Purr

Hiyu: I can purr louder.

Kuri: Not as loud as I can.

Loki, Kuri and Hiyu: Purr, purr, PURR.

Me: May all you readers out there be safe and have a plan.

~lisa

Cat Convos: Introductions

Hiyu: Why do we have to introduce ourselves? Everyone already knows us.

Me: We have some new readers and long-term readers would also like to know a little bit about you.

Loki: I’ll go first. I want to get it over with.

Me: Okay, tell us your favorite things and one thing you really want to accomplish this year.

Loki: I like curling up in blankets and taking naps and I like stretching out in sunbeams and rainbow-beams and taking naps. I also like to hide in boxes.

Me: You really like sleeping, that’s quite true. What’s your goal for the year?

Loki: Doorknobs. I want to open doors on my own.

Me: Yes, I see you trying all the time.

Back Camera

Me: Thank you Loki

Kuri: I like to try everything my humans do. And napping. I like napping too.

Me: What’s your favorite things humans do?

Kuri: I like the way you scream when I jump in the bubbles baths and I like arts and crafts, especially with pipe cleaners.

Me: What’s your goal for the year?

Kuri: I want to read all your books and write a screenplay.

Me: A screenplay?

Kuri: Yeah, ever since I read Save the Cat by Blake Snyder, I’ve wanted to write just like you do.

Me: I don’t write screenplays.

Kuri: Maybe you should step out of your box and try.

Hiyu: My turn.

Hiyu: I like following people around just to see what they’re doing. I also like getting to the highest spots anywhere. I love running and jumping high.

Me: That’s quite true.

Hiyu: My goal is to keep the house safe. I do rounds every hour just to make sure.

Me: You do a great job.

Hiyu: I know.

Me: Favorite Books?

Kuri: Save the Cat and poetry books and game guides.

Loki: How to interpret dream books and hopefully someday I’ll find one about doorknobs. I’m still looking for my favorite.

Hiyu: High fantasy. I like books like Eve Forward’s Villains By Necessity. I like thrillers too and adventure stories.

Me: You guys are pretty cool cats.

Hiyu, Kuri and Loki: We know.

~lisa