Category: Pets

Don’t Fence Me In

Our dog Ellie rests on the hardwood outside our bedroom

I took this picture last summer of Ellie resting on the hardwood outside on our bedroom. We were having a heat wave and have a portable air conditioner in the bedroom and would make her stay in there during the savagely hot days, especially as she’s gotten older she pants heavily on hot or even warm days. But as you can see she doesn’t like being cooped up in there, more than anything she wants to be with her people and be at the door to greet me when I come home. Generally the weather here doesn’t get too hot but the last couple of summers have been hot and we hit 91 yesterday on May 22nd. May 22nd!

I have an appointment in a couple of weeks for an estimate on getting central air installed, which if feasible will make both of us quite happy during those days we need it. I love the smell of fresh air, and the cats like the open windows, but there are days where AC would be nice.

An Early Start

Our dog Ellie in the early morning light at the dog park

A couple of weeks ago I woke up early (for a Saturday) so Ellie and I got an early start to our walk. It was a lovely spring morning and since I take the new camera a lot on our walks now, I took a couple of pictures of her at the dog park before we spent the next hour walking the neighborhood.

Let the Belly Rub Commence!

Let the Belly Rub Commence!

Sam sometimes likes to hold my hand as he’s about to fall asleep, a trait he shares with Emma, and while he does like the occasional belly rub he doesn’t love them the way she did (or our first cat Templeton, who was crazy for them). One of the things that surprised me having cats the past couple of decades has been how different their personalities are, it’s fun to learn how best to delight each of them. I’ve also been surprised by how affectionate they are, I was not expecting that based on the stories I often heard, but my lap is rarely empty (Trixie is asleep there now).

Wildlife Watching

Our cat Boo as seen from below as he sits in the cat tree on December 3, 2016. Original: _L1A8486.CR2

Boo watches wildlife in the back yard from the top of the cat tree as I photograph him from the floor. “Look, Trixie, there’s a junco!”

Our cat Trixie seen from below

Trixie, in her own inimitable style, watches wildlife in the back yard from the middle of the cat tree as I photograph her from the floor. “Look, Boo, there’s a squirrel!”

Our cat Trixie looks down at me as I photograph her from below

Trixie watches me watching her. “Look, Boo, an ape!”

📷: Canon 7D II | Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8
🗓️: December 3, 2016

The Home Stretch

Our cat Sam stretches out on the cat tree

I had to laugh when I saw Sam sleeping all stretched out on the cat tree, of the six cats we’ve had only the tidy Scout would be less likely to sleep like this. Sam generally prefers to sleep curled up so I don’t know how he ended up in this position, he had been sleeping up there alone so he had the entire space to himself.

Made for Trixie

Our cat Trixie looks out from the cat tree in the evening light on April 1, 2017. Original: _DSC3873.ARW

When we first got this cat tree, I thought the cats would only use the middle platform as a place to jump to the top, as it isn’t very tall. But it turns out to be perfectly Trixie sized, so she often hangs out here to watch the birds and squirrels in the backyard.

Winter Destinations

Our black-and-white cat Boo rests on the wooden heating vent

I wanted a quick test of my new Sony Zeiss 55mm f1.8 lens so I visited a popular winter destination in our area, the wooden heater vent in our living room. Boo was enjoying warm air blowing on his belly but when he got up to greet me he was immediately replaced by its most frequent guest, Trixie, who is usually sleeping here when I come home from work.

Our tortoiseshell cat Trixie rests on the wooden heating vent