Hunter's Turn.

Oh Hi. Mom play silly game with me. Mom had ham. Her touch me feets and say "paw". Me look at me feets, and say,"Yes, that me paw, give me ham please."

Mom keep touching feets and saying "Paw". Me not likey. Me say, "Stop touching me feets." Why Mom keep touching me feets ? Me not understand.

Mom touch feets again. Me smack her. Me get Ham. Now me understand.

Me go to fridge, and say, "More Ham please." Mom say, "No more Ham."

Me look at fridge, touch fridge with paw, & say, "Give me Ham please."

This sure is fun game. Me likey. Get alla Ham.

This morning while Mom make coffee, me try game again. Make sure it work again. Me sit in front of fridge & say, "Give me Ham please." Mom say, "I'm not giving you Ham." Oh yes, me forgot. Look at fridge, touch fridge with paw, and say, "Give me Ham please." Mom say, "Damnit Hunter." Me get Ham.

Wonderful game. Me really likey.

Me hear alla peoples out in Hallway. Me go to Apt. door. Look under door. Me say, "Me here, want to come and play ?" Nobody listen to me. Why alla peoples out in Hallway? Me not know. And, why they no want to play ? Me not know.

Me say under door, "Hey, come see Mom give me Ham." Nobody listen to me.

Litter box smelly. Mom go to work place alla time, and forget to clean box.

Me wonder. Will new game work for litter box. Me try. Go to litter box, put paw on box & say, "Clean litter box please." Hey, game work just fine. Wonderful game.

Let me see, what else me want ?

Me go now, say "Bye-Bye.

"Mom, oh Mom, me touch cupboard with dry foods with paw, dry foods please."

"Mom, you hear me ?" "Mom, me want to play game."

Teaching Hunter to shake Hands.

A woman at work brought in a Readers Digest. One article in it was..."101 things you can do now." .........& in that was, "Teaching your Cat to shake Hands."
" OK," I thought, "maybe if you had a normal cat." She thought it would be a snap to teach Hunter to shake hands.....since he was so smart anyway. Well that's true....but Hunter only uses his "Smarts" for his own means. And, I didn't think doing "Tricks" for humans would be up his ally.
It seemed simple enough.....OK, so I'll give it a try.
First you get a "Plastic" spoon (their kidding, right?)......put some canned chicken, or the baby food type chicken on the spoon (Hmmm)..........touch the cat on the paw while saying "Paw".........if the cat moves his paw...reward him with some chicken.......after awhile, when you say, "Paw"....the cat should put his paw in your hand.
I used Ham......because Hunter will do just about anything for Ham. If he could open the fridge........he'd get his own Ham. And, I actually got him to "Roll Over" once for Ham.........the fact that he's never done it since, & probably will never do it again, is beside the point.
I held the Ham in one hand......touched his paw with the other hand.....& said, "Paw" Hunter looked down at his paw....then up at me....then back down at his paw........then up at me........then went for the Ham. "No Hunter," I said, "Paw" & touched his paw again.........he backed up this time.
I forgot....Hunter doesn't like his feet messed with. I tried again.....I touched his paw & said, "Paw" He backed up again.......& gave me a look that said, "Stop touching my feet."
Once more....I touched his paw & said "Paw".........this time Hunter did lift his paw......to smack me on the hand holding the Ham, which I dropped.......& he grabbed. After he enjoyed his Ham snack.........he went to the fridge, looked up at it.......& "meowed". "You're not getting anymore Ham." I told him. With that....Hunter lifted his paw......touched the fridge......& "Meowed".......Gees !
"Hey, who's teaching who this trick ?" I asked him. Hunter once again......looked up at the fridge......touched the fridge.....& "Meowed". (sigh) What could I do...........I gave him more Ham.

Hunter is Here to Stay.

I'd like to say that when I finely brought Hunter home from the Humane Society.......we lived "Happily Ever After." I'd like to....but it didn't happen that way. Hunter had to first go to the Vet to be neutered before he officially became My cat.
I never had a cat before. So, I envisioned me sitting in the recliner with Hunter in my lap happily purring away while I petted him......or brushed him......& how he would sleep in his little cat bed right next to my bed. Yeah, Right.
When I got Hunter from the Vet & got him home.........the very first thing he did after I let him out of the carrier was, jump up on a living room chair & pee on it........he was still groggy from the operation. I picked him up & put him in his litter box.......which he jumped right out of & hid under the bed for the rest of the day. He wouldn't come to me at all.
Hunter wouldn't let me pet him.......or even touch him. After I would give him his food, & he was done eating it.........He'd go right back under the bed.
When he wasn't under the bed.....Hunter spent most of his time at the Apt. door......pawing at it & yowling. When ever I left for work.......it would send him into a yowling frenzy. My friend said to me, "Maybe he's never been alone before." He's so Cat smart. He told me he had gotten a toy cat for his cat......& would put it on the bed when he left for work. But, Hunter didn't want any of the toys I had bought for him.........all he seemed to want was this ratty old toy gray felt mouse that was in the cage with him at the Humane Society........& they sent "Home" with him. He carried the thing everywhere in his mouth.
Nights were the worst.........Hunter would be at the Apt. door yowling & pawing at it....wanting out in the worst way.........with the beat up gray felt mouse always next to him.
Some times he would pick it up in his mouth & wonder around the Apt. like he was lost...or looking for something.
My friend with his cat wisdom said, "Maybe he misses the people he use to live with."........."Cats have long memories."
6 months down the road....the Humane society called me........the lady asked if there were any issues I was having with Hunter ? ..........Issues ? "I have a list." I was thinking........but, I was determent Not to send Hunter back to live in a cage.
So, what I said was......."Nothing we can't work out."
It was Christmas Eve......& I was in a Blue Funk........not just because of Hunter.........but, the man I lived with for 12 years was gone. He loved Christmas time.......we would put up a tree....cook a big dinner......& invite people over. But, he was long gone.......my home was gone.......my things were gone.......my life was gone........& all I had was a cat who wouldn't let me pet him.
Sitting there in the recliner watching the snow fall..........Hunter jumped up into my lap......ratty old gray felt mouse & all. "Hi Buddy." I said & smiled. Hunter purred & nudged my hand with his nose. I laughed & petted his head......."I guess we both miss someone."........."But, it's just you & me now Buddy." I told him. "Meow" Hunter said. It was a calm "Meow".....not the horrible Yowling he had been doing. "Oh here, Santa came to you." I reached into my pocket & took out a new gray felt mouse.........I had my friend drive me to 3 different pet stores till I found one that looked like the beat up old thing he had. Hunter sniffed it........& picked up the old one.........I threw the new one across the floor......Hunter jumped down & ran after it.........then brought it back.......I laughed....& threw it again.......& Hunter brought it back again. (I had a picture in my mind of a small child saying Good-bye to a loved cat friend & putting the gray mouse in his cage for comfort.) And, that's when we started to bond.
We had to adjust to each other.........& it took months to teach Hunter not to race to the Apt. door every time it opened........it took even more months to get him to stop pawing at the door at night & Yowling........Now, when I lay down at night he jumps up on the bed....& when I say "Lay down."......Flop, he lands half on the pillow & half on me.
To the people who had Hunter before me;........he's a Happy, healthy,funny & smart cat. He has found a very good home with someone who loves & cares about him very much. He makes me laugh...he makes me mad.......he makes me crazy !
Thank-You

Oh Hi. Me likey Mom's friend. Her nice. Her come to see me. Mom say her come to see Mom, but me know her come to see me. Her alla time bring me nice things. Mom could not find Greenie Treats, but friend find Greenie Treats. Her bring to me. Nice friend. Mom's friend bring me nice rug. Good to sleep on. Nice friend. Friend bring me new foods bowl. It blue with gray cats alla round. Her say, "Made in USA" Me not know what that means. But, me likey foods bowl.

Friend pet me, and talk to me alla time.

Me likey to get up on dresser and move Mom's things around. Mom say, "Now how did that get here?" Me say, "Me not know Mom." Heehee

No tell Mom this, but me move rug under door. Heehee Funny Mom. Her see rug under door, and her try to push rug round. Heehee Me laught.

Me likey play tricks on Mom, is fun. Me alla time hide mousey under pillow. HA-HA Mom not know where mousey come from. Funny Mom.

Me watch Mom, her sneeze, her get tissue. Oh, Mom need tissue, me get one. Pull tissue out of box, bring to Mom. You think 10 tissue nuff ? Me not think so, get more.

Mom get into shower, me move rug in front of bathtub. Heehee Me sit on rug, Mom say, "Move you silly old cat." Me not old.

Mom get book bout cat. Cat name Homer. Mom read book to me. Me likey. Finely Mom get something bout a cat. Now we need to get movie bout a cat.

Me go now say Bye-Bye.

"Mom, read me more bout Homer cat." "Mom, you hear me ?" "Oh look Mom, rug under door again." "Now how it get there ?"

Hunter cuts a rug.

My friend bought me a small Non-skid rug.......it's about the size of a Welcome mat.......& has 3 little gray kittens on it. She didn't think all that rug surfing Hunter was doing was good for him. Although, Hunter would tell her...."It Fun, & me likey."
I put the rug down in front of the Apt. door.......& that's where Hunter likes to take his afternoon naps. Hunter will even pick it up in his mouth & drag it up & down the small hallway by the door......depending on his mood.
I never thought much about the rug. Only that it's now part of Hunter's Kingdom. And, I keep forgetting just How smart this cat is & how much he wants to make people aware that He's there........till he does something to help me remember.
So, the rug is moved around to different places.......Inside my Apt. & I'm use to seeing it like that. It never bothered me that it was never just neatly even with the door...........after all....it's Hunter's rug.
I came home from work on Thursday & a corner of the rug was sticking out from under my door. I looked down at it & said...."OK, this is new." & tried to kick it back under......it wouldn't move.......Ah....Non-skid. So, once inside the Apt. I grabbed it & pulled it back in.
On Friday.........the rug was back....alittle more of it this time. Hmmmm.
On Saturday........A lot more of the rug was sticking out from under the door. "How is this cat getting this rug under the door ?" I asked myself. I tried kicking it again......wouldn't budge......."How the heck is he doing this ?" Once again.....the rug was inside my Apt. Only after I had to bend over & pick the thing up. Gees!
On Sunday night..........The rug was right in front of my Door......like someone had neatly placed it nicely even with the door......grant it, the picture was upside down, but there it was like a Welcome Mat. There was also a note taped to my door that said......."Shirl, you know you are not suppose to have Welcome Mats out in the hallway." (sigh)....Yeah right.....Duh......Try telling Hunter that.
I picked the rug up.....tucked it under my arm.......& dropped it on the floor inside my Apt. After I put my stuff away........I tried pushing the rug around with my foot.....wouldn't move........I bent down & tried pushing it with my hand.....wouldn't move. I stood there looking at the rug........like I was waiting for it to move on it's own........Hunter was also standing there looking at the rug too......But, he got tired of looking at the rug sooner than I did....& wandered over to his food bowl "Meowing".
The only way I could move the rug was by Picking it up & moving it.......or grabbing a corner & dragging it........& it was even harder for me to get it under the Apt. door........Not imposable....just harder.
I checked Hunter's paws to see if he had grown thumbs........because if he ever does......I'm in big trouble.
It's just all part of the game of.......Let's see just How bad I can confuse Mom.

Hunter's Turn

Oh Hi. Me was sick. Me's better now. But, me have to go see Vet. Not likely ! Not likey at all. They put me in cage. Not likely cage. They do hurty things.

Vet mess with hurty chin. Me scream. Then Mom put nasty cream on chin. Not likey cream ! Fight with Mom. Me say, "No,No cream." Mom not listen. Her puts cream on anyway. Me take off. Mom put more on.

Chin was hurty. Mom touch hurty chin. Me scream. Me bite Mom. Me sorry Mom, but you touch hurty chin.

Chin better now, not hurty so much. Me can eat me foods now. Not feel sleepy alla time.

Me find toy Fly in toy basket. Oh what fun. Me not play with Fly for long time. Mom wind up Fly and put on floor. Fly go. Me catch. HA-HA Fun.

Me and Mom watch movie again. More scary movie. "Mom, you get movie bout cat Please." Me likey movie. Get Greenie Treats. Best part of movie.

Oh No! Mom has tube of cream. Me gots to hide.

Me go now, say, "Bye-Bye"

"No Mom, no cream." "Hurty chin better, no cream." "Mom, stop,stop Mom." "Me warn you, me bite." "You hear me Mom ?"

Hunter was sick.

Normally Hunter is a healthy cat. But, for the last few weeks he's been sleeping a lot. Then, he stoped eating his wet cat food. This was not like Hunter at all.....when I put the food in the bowl...he chows down. But, he would lick up the gravy & eat a few bites....& leave the rest. I'd find his bowl almost full in the morning. Then he started drinking large amounts of water.......I mean 2 or 3 bowls of water a day. That's a lot for him.
"Something is wrong" I kept thinking.....But what ? He was acting very unHunter. When I would try to play "Fetch" with him.......he would just lay there & look at the toy mouse. Then he kept wandering around "Meowing".
I thought maybe his tummy was bothering him again........until I seen him scratching his chin on his cardboard box. So, I picked him up & looked at his chin.......he had a pea sized black scab on his chin......& it smelled infected. Yikes !!!!! I had been washing his chin with Noxzema acne wash......for the feline acne. The acne was clearing up....but the Noxzema must have made him itchy.
When I touched the scab....he just screamed. I never heard a cat scream before.........it scared the mess out of me. I called the Vet.
I had to work all week end.......so, I had to get my cat loving friend to drive me into work on Fri.(the friend who normally drives me to work is afraid of cats & does not want Hunter in her car) So, we could drop Hunter off. And, this is why I love my Vet too. She knows I don't drive.......so, if I bring Hunter's food with me (just enough for the day).....she only charges me for an office visit. So, Hunter went in at 10...with a sandwich baggie of Meow Mix....& was out at 7:30 (she ever waits for me)........OK, the Vet took the scab off to clean around it........gave him some Antibiotics.....& his food.
Then $55.00 later......with a small bottle of drinkable Antibiotics (he's never taken pills before,& I don't want to even go there).......& a tube of Antibiotic cream to rub on his chin........Hunter is home.
I put all his bowls in bleach water.......& mopped real good around & under his place mat on the kitchen floor.
OK, now getting the cream on his chin........He just "Howls" when I put the cream on. "Oh, you big Baby !" I tell him...."This doesn't hurt." But, Hunter wants no part of it. Oh well....to bad....so sad. The cream goes on his chin. He just jumps around like I'm trying to set him on fire....Gees!
Hunter is fine now........except, he's rubbed a lot of the fur off of his chin...& it looks like he tried to shave himself. The Vet said it would grow back.

Hunter's Turn

Oh Hi ! Me was thinking about peoples today. Me not understand why peoples do somea things they do ? To me peoples funny. Like why Mom brush fur on head alla time ? Why Mom take alla fur cloths off and get in shower and get wet ? Why peoples outside get into car things and go away ? Where they go ? When Mom go away, her go to work place. Where is work place ? Me not know.
Some time Mom make me mad ! Me want soft yarn Mom bring home. Mom tell me "No,No." But, me Want yarn ! Nice yarn. Mom go away, me play with yarn. Me have alla fun with yarn. Was pretty when me was done. Me think it was. Mom not think so.
Me not likey be told, "No,No." Me say, "Me show you Mom." That why me take yarn.
Mom take away old litter box. Get new one. Not look or smell the same as old one. Mom say, "You go in new one." Me not think so. Me tell her, "Not likey new litter box." But, her not listen. Me go on rug. But, me have to "go" so me has to use new litter box.
No peoples play with me under Apt. door any more. Make me sad. Me still hear peoples out in hall. Me say, "Here me is, come play." Nobody listen to me. Nobody come play. Me still lay on little rug by Apt. door and listen to peoples in hall. But, play by meself now.
Me not get into cupboards any more. Find new place to take nap. In bottom of closet. Nice place.
Me think it's time to eat now. Mom almost done with laundry. Me go now, say "Bye-Bye."
"Mom, oh Mom, warm up foods in big box thing please." "Mom, you hear me ?"

Hunter is slowing down.

Either that or he's pacing himself. Hunter doesn't just "get into" stuff......he destroys stuff. He's chewed up my flip-flops........clawed up my rugs.....lost some of my Scruggs.........tangled my yarn........& scratched the cupboard door.
I had to put a child-proof lock on the cupboard door where I keep the small trash can. There are very deep scratches on it now......& he can still bang it a Little. He doesn't bother with the other cupboards anymore....just the one with the lock on it. I think he does half of this stuff because he gets mad at me.......for whatever reason in his little Kitty-cat brain.
Some of us at work pooled our money to buy yarn...to make this one woman a Baby Blanket for her Baby Shower. I crochet all the time. I make Chemo Caps & Angel Blankets. Any who......they gave me the yarn (to make the blanket). Hunter decided he not only wanted the plastic bag....but the yarn too. Hunter has been taking his afternoon naps in the bottom of my closet........where I have a big bin full of yarn. I had to get the bin to keep him out of the yarn. Well, instead of putting the yarn inside the bin.......I put it on top of the lid. Yeah, dumb me.....what can I say. Hunter kept pulling the bag down.....& pulling the yarn out......& sleeping on it. The last time he did it......I got so mad.....I bopped him on the head with a roll of the yarn......& yelled at him, "Stay out ! Bad Cat."
Then one afternoon when I came back up to my Apt. from helping serve Lunch......there was yarn strung all over my Apt. & Hunter was sitting in the middle of it...looking very proud of himself......like he was saying, "Look what I did Mom." There was pink,blue,mint green & yellow yarn all over everywhere. Under the bed.......under the living room chairs.......under the TV stand......under the dinning room table & around the chair legs........inside kitchen cupboards......around the toilet.......I mean all over. I just kept thinking......OMG-OMG-OMG ! "How could ONE cat do all this ?" I had to cut most of it up to clean it up.......Then run out to Hobby Lobby to buy more yarn. When Hunter goes on a tear...he doesn't do it half way.
Like I said....I think he does most of this stuff to get back at me. Like the fight we had over the Water bowl. When I first got Hunter......I would put fresh water in his bowl......& he would tip it over. So, everyday it was.....fresh water.....tip over. I yelled at him, "Stop doing that !" I thought I fixed him when I got a Pet Self Water........HA-HA-HA-HA. I came home from work & the thing was laying on it's side...in a small lake in the middle of the kitchen floor. So, we went back to fresh water...tip over.......but Hunter added a twist. He would put his 2 front paws on the edge of the bowl & look at me. When I would say..."Don't do it, don't you do it." Flip.....over the bowl would go. I stopped putting water in the bowl.......till he started "Meowing" for it. Then I started filling it again......& Hunter hasn't tipped it over since. Like everything else......once I stop yelling at him about it.......he stops doing it....like a spoiled child.
Hunter has a new "thing" now. Every time I clean his litter box & put fresh litter in it.......he scoops some out onto the rug the box sits on...& poos in that, instead of the box. As I clean it up I ask him, "Why are you doing this ?" Then after I clean it up...he goes in the box. Gees !
Hunter doesn't bang the cupboards much anymore.......push the silverware into the sink (which was very annoying)......claw up the rugs......or eat flip-flops.
He is slowing down. He's been napping more. Some times I worry about my Baby Boy. But, the Vet says he's fine. He'll be 4 in Dec. So, I guess he's just getting older...growing up. But still there are times I miss finding a half eater flip-flop or a roll of tangled yarn in the recliner.

You know you are a Crazy cat Lady when.....

You believe there is no such thing as a naughty cat. I have Hunter remember....He's not a bad boy, just a cat.

You set a place at the dinner table for your cat. I don't know when this started.....but, Hunter even has his own chair as well.

You refer to going to the bathroom as "using the litterbox." I actually said this at work a few times...once to my Boss.

You refer to your cat as your furry child. Hunter is my "Baby Boy".

You apologize when you step on a fuzzy cat toy in the dark. Yes I have.

You meow so well, you confuse the cats. I love the look on his face when I do......& if I'm in another room Hunter comes running in......some times he will even answer me.

All of your clothes have cat hair on them, even when they come back from the laundromat or dry cleaners. What can I say. When I wash my work apron.....as soon as I take it out of the dryer......I seal it in a zip-lock baggie.

All your social activities revolve around other cat people Your voice isrecognized by your vet's receptionist. And, she always says right after I tell her MY name....."Oh, Hi Hunter's Mom."

Kiss your cat more than 10 times per greeting. Hunter hates it...but, I do it anyway.

Onlookers grimace at the sight of you sharing your sandwich with your cat, bite for bite. And, there's nothing better for Hunter than sharing a good old Ham sandwich with me.

The highlight of your day is spending time with your cat. I can't wait to get home from work at night.

When you need someone to talk to, your cat is your first choice. Hunter & I have long conversations. He never tells anyone what I've said.....& he's a good listener.

While proudly showing off your family album, your guest asks, "Isn't there anyone else in your family besides the cat?" Sadly, no there's not. I had the guy in Photo at work ask me that when I took in film to get developed. All the picture were of Hunter.

You have little songs that you sing to your cat. to the tune of "Pussy Cat, Pussy cat." by Engbert Humperdink. "Hunter cat...Hunter cat how are you...how do you do ? Hunter cat....Hunter cat I love you.....you & your Hunter cat nose."

Your cat sleep on your head. Purring away.

You give your cat presents and a stocking at Christmas. Doesn't everybody ?

You put off making the bed until the cat gets up. Or I make it anyway...with a cat lump in the middle.

Lintwheels are on your shopping list every week. I have 6 of them right now in the Apt. & 2 in my locker at work.
yup, crazy cat lady......me !

Hunter's Turn

Oh Hi. Me just relaxing today. Mom some time bring plant into Apt. Me likey the plant and flower. Smell like outside. Make me think of outside. So, me really likey big green plant. Have to sniff alla time. Smell like dirt outside.

Me really likey plant with little yellow thingys. Me sniff. Oh, Mom bring plant with candies on it. Good yellow candies for me.

Not likey red head cactus plant. Me say, "Bad plant." Me get bad plant. Not likey plant with big leafs on coffee table. Me get bad plant.

Big green plant can stay. Good plant. Nice plant. Smell like outside.

Me wish me could go outside some time. Mom, say "No."

Some time Mom not let me do what me want to. Her say, "Stay out of cupboards." Her not let me play with phone. Mom not let me play with cable wire, Man play with cable wire. Me want to play with cable too. Mom not let me be on dresser. Alla good things are up there.

What me suppose to do ? Me not know ? Alla time look for things to do or play with. So, me play with big green plant. Is fun.

Mom moved alla toy mousey again. Me tell Mom, "Stop that." But, Mom not listen. Have to spend alla day putting Mousey's back where they go.

Me go now say "Bye-Bye" Hard work being a cat and putting alla toy mousey's back where they suppose to go. Nap time. "Mom, you take purple Mousey out of cardboard box." "How me suppose to take nap without purple mousey."

Hunter likes Plants.

I have this one friend....she likes to give people plants as gifts. Now, I like plants & flowers myself.....but, so does Hunter.
One Mother's Day, my friend gave me a Mini Rose bush.....a yellow one. It was very pretty........until Hunter decided it was also good to eat....& ate all the small yellow roses off of it. He picked off all the little rose blooms....not the leaves. It never bloomed again after that. He Must have ate the roses.......because I could never find any of the peddles. I felt like Jimmy Stewart in "It's a Wonderful Life" looking for Zu-Zu's peddles.
Then I bought myself a Moon cactus. It had the red glob on top. cactus like a lot of sun. The only window in my Apt. with a lot of sun........is Hunter's window. I guess he didn't like sharing........because he would not leave the poor cactus alone. And, you would think the crazy cat wouldn't mess with a cactus because of the sharp thorns. But, there it was...out of the pot...in the middle of the living room floor when I came home from work.......& Hunter looking at me like he was saying....."yup, I got it."
I have a small table near the window with a plant on it. This plant was given to me by another friend when I first moved into my Apt. .......as a sort of "House warming" gift. It's 2 plants really....& I don't know what they are. When I first got it.......it was small. But, I kept putting it into bigger pots......& now it kind of takes up the whole table. On his way up the chair to his place in the window.....Hunter has to stop....sniff the plant...play with the leaves......check out the dirt......& just mess with it in some way. So far.....Hunter has decided this is not a good plant to eat. Unless he nibble on a leaf once & didn't like the taste. So, it's pretty much the only plant I have.
For my Birthday my plant giving friend gave me a Cactus dish garden. It has a Moon cactus in it & other little cactus plants. One cactus had a small pink flower bud on it.......& very long sharp thorns. I thought sure Hunter wouldn't bother it. I was excited to see the small pink flower bud open. It never got a chance........Hunter picked it off. Now I keep checking it to see if any more buds will grow.......so far, nothing.
Then my friend (& I forget just why) gave me a big Rainbow (color) Elephant Ear plant. It's all green-pink-white & red. So, pretty. I put it on the coffee table. Everyday I find another leaf of the plant on the floor........Hunter has been pulling them out.....one by one.
My friend told me for Christmas she was thinking of giving me a Christmas cactus. I asked her if she could just give me a picture of one instead........it would last longer around Hunter.

Hunter's Turn

Oh Hi, you back again. Me likey see you. Me likey peoples. Peoples friends. Me alla time try make friends. Some peoples no likey be friends with me. Me not know why. Me likey them anyways.

Mom go out Apt. door in morning, her say, "Be good boy." Me alla time good boy. Just likey to play alla time. Why Mom not understand that ? Me not know.

Lady come to Apt. her pick me up. Me likey that. Her smell like other cat and doggy. Lady talk to me and pet me. Me purr. Me happy. Then lady open fridge. Me tell her, "Ham in there, give me Ham please." Her not listen. Mom hear me. Mom give me Ham.

Why peoples not hear me when I talk ? Me not know. Some time Mom hear me. Me talk alla time, but nobody hear me. When Mom leave and not come back for long, long time. Me hear peoples in hall under Apt. door. Me say, "Help me, me alone, find my Mom please." Peoples not listen. No bring Mom back. Me has to wait.

Mom alla time try to brush fur. Me say, "No, No" Not likey fur brushed. Me clean cat. Clean fur meself. No need help. Me big boy. Mom brush fur on her head everyday. Silly Mom.

Me go into bathroom with Mom. Has to check, make sure she not use my litter box. It OK Mom never do. While her sit there and do nothing, me think, "Her can pet me or play with me." Mom not likey that. Her alla time say, "Go play." when her sit there.

Me tell you peoples something. Listen to you cat. When him talk to you, listen to him. Him talk to you, maybe want something or need something. Hear what him say to you. Mom alla time talk to me, and me alla time talk to Mom. Me know what Mom say.

When Mom read book at night, her not pet me or play with me. So, me have to hide book. Me play trick on Mom. Me hide under bed and pull rug under bed. Funny Mom. Me likey play tricks on Mom.

Me go now, Mom come back from laundry room. Make dirty cloths clean. Not likey clean cloths. Not smell like Mom. Me go now, say, "Bye,Bye."

"Mom, Mom, why you make cloths clean ?" "Keep cloths dirty, Mom,Mom, you hear me ?" "Mom, me have Greenie treat please."

Hunter is my cat.

Hunter is a friendly little guy. He's a real people kind of cat. He loves people.....even if they don't love him back. Hunter & the Maint. man have always went head to head....& it has been Hunter's goal in his little kitty cat life to win the Maint. man over. It never happened (sigh) the man was just afraid of cats. Now the Office staff....that's a whole other can of tuna. The Apt. manager came to my Apt. to check my stove, fridge, toilet & smoke alarms. She picked Hunter up & carried him around....he was in kitty heaven. When she was looking at the fridge.......that woke Hunter up. I could hear his little cat mind screaming...."HAM...HAM....HAM in there." She had a fight on her hands to close the fridge door.........Hunter was having none of it........He wanted HAM ! To calm him down, I had to give him a piece.
Now, every time I head to the bathroom......some times doing the bathroom jig....Hunter is always right behind me. I once told him..."Buddy, if you don't get out of my way, I'm going to pee on your head." He wasn't impressed. So, I always have a cat watching me pee. Some times Hunter will rub up against my legs while I'm sitting there......"Meowing" like he's saying, "Pet me." Some times he will curl up in my underwear...which is annoying. Once he even brought me his "Fetch" mouse....Gees ! But, when Hunter uses his litter box.......he looks around to make sure nobody is watching.......& if I come into the bathroom while he's in the litter box......he will run for the hills.....& come back when I'm gone. And, if you don't put "Tidy Cats" in the litter box.....for get it ! Hunter will not use the box at all. How does he know ? I've often wondered what he did when he was in the Shelter ? Hunter had a littler box in the cage with him. Did he hold it until everybody went home ? Did he hold it till I came along ? I don't know. It's just little things like that, that make me wonder about my boy.
Hunter loves to be petted...held...hugged......& pretty much loved on. But, what ever you do......don't get that cat brush out. It's a fight to brush him.
I bought a thing called...The Love Glove. It's like an oven mitt, with brush teeth on one side. You put it on & pet away. Well, thinking this was an answer to getting Hunter brushed.....I tried it out. Of course he had to sniff it first. "See Hunter.....it's just my hand....here let me pet you." You would have thought I tried to set him on fire. He ran away like mad. And, that makes me wonder about him too. Why ? Why, doesn't he like to be brushed ? I still have no clue.
It's all these little things that make Hunter......Hunter.
Last night while I was sitting on the bed reading.......I happened to look down at the floor....& seen the rug disappearing little by little under the bed. And, I could have sworn I heard him giggling. While I'm reading at night...if I have to get up........when I come back.....Hunter is laying on the book. Every time. I have to reach under him to get the book back.
Hunter is playful.......loving......& a little annoying. But, that's my Hunter. I just don't know what I would do without him......answering my phone......getting into my cupboards........unscrewing my cable.......putting things under my Apt. door (speaking of which, this morning there was a red Trix cereal in the hall, which I stepped on.)........going to the bathroom with me.......covering up my book.......taking stuff off my dresser.........& playing with my DVDs (He likes to pull them off the shelf).........eating my plants. Oh I could go on & on. I love my baby boy....he puts a smile on my face every morning. He's always there when I'm feeling down.

Hunter's Turn

Oh Hi, Welcome to me Apt. Yes, Apt. belong to me. Come in, me show you round. Now, see dis rug by door, Mine. Over here, see dinningroom chair, Mine. In kitchen, box of foods on counter, Mine. And here by fridge, place mat with picture of cat,foods and water bowls, All Mine. See big chair in Livingroom, Mine. And, chair by window, Mine. Baskets of toy Mousey's by TV, Mine. Cardboard box, also Mine. In bathroom, sink Mine, Litter box, Mine. Come in bedroom. This mucha bed, Mine. Cardboard box in corner, Mine. Laundry basket, Mine. And, up on top of dresser, little round fuzzy things Mom wear in hair, Mine. Also white fuzzy birdie, Mine. Everything Mine. Me likey me Apt. Warm and cozy in Winter. Nice and cool with AC in Summer. Oh yes, big plastic box of Yarn, Mine. Me likey look out window. Window, Mine. Me see alla stuff going on in Parking lot. Peoples come and go. Cars come and go. Me see birdies, and butterflies. And peoples take doggies for walks. Oh wait, note come under Apt. door. Yes, is Mine. Me read later. Hey, what brush doing here ? Me thought me put in trash. It OK cause trash, Mine. Yes, everything Mine. Oh Hi Mom. Me not doing nothing.

Hunter is King of the Castle

And Master of all he surveys. Hunter's favorite flavor of cat food is....Fillet Minon with shrimp.....Gees. When was the last time I had Fillet Minon ?.......I don't remember. Hunter decides when it's time to eat......not me. He likes to have his dinner at 4:00. But, when I get home from work some times at 7:00 or 8:00.......he wants to eat as soon as I close the Apt. door. Once I came home very late......& the phone rang........after I hung up the phone.......Hunter (still "Meowing" his head off) was laying on the floor on his back with all 4 paws sticking up in air. "OK, OK," I told him, "I get it, you're starving." I bought Hunter a little cat bed. But, Hunter sleeps in his cardboard box........the dirty cloths basket.......or on my bed, near my head.......with as much of the pillow as he can get. He's a pillow hog........& a blanket hog too. I have never seen him sleep in the little cat bed I paid $12.95 for. (sigh) Hunter likes to look out the Living room window first thing in the mornings.........to make sure the neighborhood is running smoothly. I put a living room chair in front of the window & put a throw blanket on the back of it.........so he could sit on the back of the chair & look out the window. After he decides the neighborhood is safe........he's ready for breakfast. And, every time I go to the store....he gets a new toy. I keep saying I'm Not going to buy him another one........but, I always do. I know he likes all his little toys...because he plays with them all the time. Yeah, life is good for King Hunter. Long live the King !

Hunter's Turn

Oh Hi, Me watch movie with Mom. Mom alla time get scary movie. Me tell Mom. "Mom, get movie bout cat some time." Mom not listen.
Mom go into bathroom. Me in bath tub, Mom not know. Me play, "Sneaky Peek." Ha-Ha fun. Me look over edge of tub at Mom. Sneaky peek. Then hide. Ha-Ha Funny Mom. Me likey play with Mom. Me play "Cat and Mousey" Me be cat, and Mom be Mousey. Fun to play when Mom wear fuzzy blue flippers. Me hide. Jump out, and catch Mousey. Heehee, what fun.
When bad fly bite me on paw, Mom give me ham. Now me see fly. Not know if good fly or bad fly. Me say, "Look Mom, fly bite me, give me ham please."
Me not write lot tonight. Me tired. Had full day. Had fun day. Mom not go to work place, her stay home and play with me alla day.
Me likey when Mom stay home and not go away. Mom tell me, me was good boy alla week. Get extra Greenie Treats. Likey Greenie Treats.
Mom will go into bedroom soon. Her will get ice pops. Mom alla time tell me color of ice pops. Tonight Mom get 2 blue and one red. Me get plastic to play with.
It be hot in Apt. for me. Fur grow back. Mom try to brush me today and tell me, "See I told you it would grow back." Me not likey brush. Me take brush from Mom, tell her, "No,No." But, Mom not listen. OK me go now say, "Bye-Bye."
Mom, oh Mom, me put brush in trash, OK." "Mom, you hear me ?"

Hunter...out smarts me.

One of the things I repeatedly say to Hunter is......."Nobody likes a smarty cat." & I normally say this to him after he's gotten an extra piece of ham out of me......or figured out how to open...unlock.....turn on...or undo something. Let's face it....living with a smart cat is no picnic. Hunter is always coming up with new ways to get what he wants.........He got me to microwave his food, didn't he. Actually, putting Hunter's food bowl in the microwave was a mistake.......I took my food out of the freezer & was putting cat food in his bowl.....on the same counter.......I just grabbed the wrong dish. Now, when I fill his bowl...he will jump up by the microwave & "Meow".......some times putting his paw on the door open button...Gees !!!!
Hunter has sneaky ways of getting me to play with him too. Some times he will come up to me,sit at my feet & just look at me. If I look down at him & say...."What ?" He'll look down.....low & behold there will be a toy mouse there.
I have these flip-flops I crocheted blue fun fur yarn on. Hunter just loves these flip-flops. When I wear them around the Apt. .........he will hide........then as I pass by.........jump out & grab a flip-flop.
At night I sit on the bed, reading a book & eating an ice pop........Hunter sits on the floor in front of me........when the ice pop is finished.........he jumps up & grabs it.........then I hold it over his head & waive it around.......he makes jumps for it.
I'm waiting for him to learn how to open the fridge. He hasn't so far.......but, when he does.....game over.
The cupboard banging started because........Hunter likes Gold fish crackers & Teddy Grams cookies, OK........I kept them in one of the cupboards.......that is till he learned how to open them. It's not just the ones on the floor he opens...he opens the ones above the counters too. I was looking for him once.......& noticed the cupboard where I keep the snacks opened.........I went into the kitchen & here was Hunter.....up in the cupboard among the Gold fish & Teddy Grams......He looked at me like he was saying..."Oh Hi, fancy meeting you here."
I love that look he gives me when I find him doing something he's not suppose to..........That sweet & Innocent look....like he's saying......"Oh Hi, how long have you been here ?"
I had to go to the bathroom..........I knew Hunter was in the tub.........But, these little ears, then eyes came slowly up over the edge of the tub........when I looked again they were gone.........then the little ears & eyes came up slowly again over the edge of the tub..........I said, "Hunter, you're a funny guy." But, the little ears & eyes were gone again.........Made me wish I had my camera. Maybe I should keep one in the bathroom.
When Hunter was stung by the wasp.........I had given him a whole piece of ham. Now, when there's a fly in the Apt. ........He will start jumping around like crazy & limping on the paw that was stung. (Sigh) Hold up his paw to show me...like he's saying....."Fly sting me, need ham."
Hunter always looks at me as if he knows just what I'm saying to him. I talk to him all the time.......& he just sits looking at me.....some times he will "Meow" back at me.......like he's answering me. And he does talk back to me......when I scold him for some thing......He will......"Meow ow." back at me....& I tell him...."Don't talk back to me young man !" Tonight I said to him........."Let's watch our new Movie Hunter." (I have Netflix) He ran & jumped into the Lazy-Boy.......& said....."Meow, Meow." Which in cat talk means........"Don't forget the pop-corn & Greenie Treats." I guess.

Hunter's Turn.

Oh Hi, Mom say me hair fall out and make mess in Apt. Hair on me. Me not understand how could fall out. When hair fall out alot. Mom take me to Groomer. Not likey Groomer. Me get bath and me get hair cut. Not likey hair cut at all. Only best part of Groomer is me get to see Amy friend (Shirl's note: Amy is a yellow & white Ragdoll cat owned by one of my friends at work, we take Amy & Hunter to the Groomers together). But, when me see Mom's friend. Amy friend's Mom. Me know, me go to Groomer. Me try to hide. But, Mom alla time find me. How her do that ? Me not know.

Amy friend sit nice for Groomer to brush her fur. Me not likey brushed. Me tell Groomer, "No,No." But her brush me anyway. Me try to take brush. Never work. Then Groomer put me in tub of water. Me say, "No, No, Help Mom, Mom help me !" But, Mom never come to help me. Groomer laugh at me. Me say, "No ! Stop ! Mom, help me, help me, MOM !" Groomer laugh at me more. Groomer take me out of water and blow hot air on me. No likey that. Groomer say, "OK Hunter, we are going to make you look like a lion." Me say, "Whats you got in you hand ?" Groomer cut lotta fur off. Me scream, "MOM ! MOM HELP !"

Me not think about Groomer no more. Give me bad dreams. Groomer cut off alla my pretty fur. Amy friend always get treat for being "Good Kitty" Me not get treats.

Me get yummy people foods today. Meat and gravy foods. Was so good. But, made my tummy feel not good. Me had to go lay down and take nap. Now tummy feel better. Me tell Mom when time to eat, "Not want yummy people foods, make tummy feel bad." Mom will give me good foods. Tummy will not feel bad.

Me tell Mom alla time. "Me finished alla my foods, want more please." But, Mom not listen to me.

Me play with toys, get them all over floor. Mom yell. Me tell her, "Me a cat, can't pick toys up." Mom alla time put toys away. Make me mad. Me have to take them all out and put them where they suppose to be. White fuzzy mouse go by foods, Orange mouse go in bath tub, Gray felt mouse go by Apt. door, Blue mouse go on bed, jingle balls go in cardboard box. There, all done.

Oh, phone ring. "Me get it Mom." Jump up on counter, knock phone over, bend over phone say, "Hello" "Hello" Never answer me. Me not know why ?

Me go now. Say, Bye-Bye. "Mom, phone." "Mom, me think it for you." "Mom, come get phone."

Hunter is a Messy cat.

OK, I keep saying this........I know Hunter is just a cat. But, Hunter doesn't do things the way a normal cat would. Or at least I don't think he does. Take like when he eats. Hunter will sit by his food bowl....reach in with his paw & scoop some food out....then eat it from his paw. The dry food.....he drags the bowl over to the water bowl.......scoops some dry food out into the water bowl.......dips his paw into the water & eats the food from his paw. Or he will scoop out some dry food onto the floor & eat it one piece at a time....leaving the fish shaped pieces next to the bowl. So, Hunter eats on a place mat.......it's better than having a mess all over the floor. Actually, Hunter started putting his dry food into his water when he seen me pour milk on my cereal one morning. He sat there looking from me to his dry food.....then went over to the fridge, put his paw on the door & started to "Meow". I said to him, "What do you want Buddy ? Milk on your food ? I don't think so, sorry." And, that's when he started scooping the food into the water. Crazy cat.
Hunter has always been very particular about his litter box......if there is just one piece of poo in it........he will walk in & out of the bathroom..."Meowing" his head off, till I come & take it out. But, because he is a med. hair cat....some times the poo gets stuck in the fur around his butt. And, I will find little round hard pieces of cat poo all over the Apt. Nasty. I pick them up in toilet paper as soon as I see them & put them in the trash. And because of his longer fur....shedding is another problem with him. I gave up trying to get the cat hair out of my cloths. Now, I just use a sticky lint roller (which I buy at the $1.00 store) on my cloths outside my Apt. door......I carry it in my purse. My work apron I wash & dry in the laundry room.......& put it right into a 1 gal. zip-lock baggie.......take it out at work & lint roll the mess out of it. I have to use my Swiffer Sweeper every day...because if I don't........the cat hair takes over. I took the pad off of it once, showed it to Hunter & said......"Look, there's enough here to make another cat." He wasn't impressed. I cross Stitched a sampler that says....."Warning ! Cat hair sticks to everything, but the cat !" Which I then hung up on the outside of my Apt. door.....I felt I should at least warn others. And, Hunter has dandruff too. Which makes the shedding twice as bad. Yes, my cat has dandruff. Gees !
Right now, there are so many cat toys scattered all over the floor.......you would think I ran a Kitten Day Care. but, where is the cat who plays with all these toys.......why, he's fast asleep in the dirty laundry basket of course.......where else would he be. So, I'll pick up all the little jingle balls...toy mice.....& fuzzy balls.....& put them all back in Hunter's toy basket. Only when Hunter gets up....he will take them all back out.
Hunter has stomach problems.....not real bad stuff....it's like a human having acid reflux. So, he's on a special diet. Hair balls are his #1 problem. He has to have Hair ball control cat food......but, he will only eat Meow Mix......So, thank Goodness Meow Mix makes a hair ball control dry food. And, one cup is all he gets of it. And, the wet food has to have a certain amount of oil in it (to coat his stomach) & just small cans (like Fancy Feast).......& One can per day. wet food up-sets his stomach....& he throws up. I tried all different brands. And, he would throw up a lot......before I found the Whiskas pouches. Hunter holds them down. Some times I'll bring Hunter treats from the Meal Site where I volunteer. Like today, we had Beef & Mushrooms in gravy over mashed potatoes........I ask if I could have some of the beef fat & gravy. The lady serving the food loaded a take out bowl up.......but all Hunter got was one tablespoon of it. I don't want him puking all over tonight. He ate most of it. I'll throw the rest out.....& he'll get his one pouch of Whiskas tonight. He doesn't starve.......well, I guess Hunter would tell you different. But, I have to be real careful of what I feed him & how much.....or I'll be cleaning up cat throw up for days.
So, cat food all over the floor, as well as cat toys......shedding.....dandriff....cat poo....hair balls & throwing up. yup, he's a messy guy. But, he's my messy guy.....& I wouldn't clean up throw up, or poo for just anyone.

Hunter's Turn

Oh Hi, Me was just thinking. Mom get mad at me some times. Me not mean to make her mad. Last night me was just looking for birdies out window and her yell, "Hunter ! Bad cat !" Mom tell me, she no want me to fall out window. Me try to tell her, "Me not fall out window Mom, Me a cat." Mom not listen. Her put sticky stuff over window hole, no more birdies.

Me like kitchen cupboards. Good place to hide things and to sleep in. And, when Mom go to sleep, make noise, her get up. Or people come to Apt. door, ask Mom "What's going on ?" Me tell them, "Me awake, want to play." But they not listen.

Me not mean to get into trash, but me smell Ham and cat foods. Had to see if me could find yummy smells. Me see mess all over floor and me think, "Oh,oh, what me do now ?" Me not mean to be bad cat. Me good cat. Me nice cat.

Me not likey Mom go out Apt. door. Me say, "Take me too Mom." But, her never listen to me ! So, me open door and go find her. But, some times me find other open door and have to go in and say "Hello." to people. Why people not likey that ? Me not know.

Mom try to cover hole under Apt. door. Me tell her, "No, no Mom, people out there." Nobody ever listen to me. Me had to take sticky stuff off door meself. Mom not likey that at all, her call me, "Bad cat !" again.

Me try very hard not to be Bad cat. Me love Mom. Just want to play. When Mom yell at me and get mad, make me sad. Me go to Mom, say, "Me sorry." Purr and kiss her. Mom hear that. Her pick me up and pet my head. Oh, me likey head pets. Me purr and purr. Me tell Mom, "Me be good cat."

Oh look, me find yarn. Yarn just sitting here on table. You think maybe Mom want this yarn ? Me not think so. Where can me hide yarn at ? Cuse me, me need to go and find good place to hide yarn now. Me say Bye-Bye.

Hunter...makes me mad.

Well, sometimes he does. I know he's just a cat, but some of the things he does just drive me crazy. Hunter will find one thing he can do, & take it to the extreme.......repeating it over & over. Like opening the Apt. door. Once he discovered he could open the door himself.......that was it. I have to keep the door locked now at all times. Even if I'm going down to the laundry room. And, you would think once he got out of the Apt. & found just a long hall way....he'd stop. Not Hunter. If there was an opened Apt. door, he'd drop in on the neighbor for a visit.
Then he discovered the next best thing. Putting stuff Under the Apt. door. At first it was a game. And, yeah.....it was funny & sort of cute. But, Hunter always pushes the envelope (mostly, under the Apt. door). The morning I stepped out into the hall way & found the little hard round ball of cat poo.....I knew I had a problem. So, I put weather stripping at the bottom of the door......looked at Hunter & said, "Fixed you Buddy." But if nothing else......Hunter is persistent. he worked & worked on the weather stripping till he pulled most of it off. I tried to "Super Glue" it back to the door. Now, the people who make Super glue......apparently never tested it on a determined cat. Hunter worked at the stripping harder........& got it off. Now it's just easier to pick the stuff in front of the door up every morning. Oh, & let us not forget........Hunter's concerts at 11:00 P.M. from under my Apt. door. He will lay there on his rug & just "Meow" his head off.
Hunter getting into the cupboards is turning into a big problem. At first he'd just sit in front of one, open it a little & slam it. So, it was Bang---Bang---Bang....for a good hour every night. Till he found the trash can in one of the cupboards. Now, I put it there to keep him out of the trash. I came home from work & found trash all over the kitchen floor...as well as my clean dish towels.....dry cat food.....& dish washing soap. What a mess ! There's one cupboard that has slide out draws in it....& that's where I keep my dish towels .. the pads for the Swiffer Sweeper.......foil wrap.....& use to keep the zip lock baggies. Hunter decided this cupboard was a very good place to nap....& hide Hedwig (the toy owl from my dresser). So, when I can't find him in the Apt. I open that cupboard, pull out the drawer & there he is......looking up at me like he's saying...."What ?" I put a child-proof lock on the trash cupboard.......& glued felt to the inside top of the other cupboard doors. The felt stops the Banging.
I have been putting old bread out on top of the AC, so birds would come. Hunter will sit on top of the AC & watch them eat the bread. I thought Hunter would be happy with this......silly me. I forgot, Hunter watches everything I do. I would open that side panell on the AC to put the bread on top of the outside part of the AC. Hunter found out he could also slide that panell opened. I cough him with his head out the window....& yelled, "Hunter ! Bad cat !" at him. He pulled his head in & looked at me like he was saying...."What ? Looking for birdies Mom."
I live on the 7Th floor.......& I could just hear that call to Maint. in my head.....Me; "Ah, my cat is outside my Apt. sitting on top of the AC, can you help ?"......Maint.; "How did he get out there ?" Me; "Ah, he opened the window." So, I decided to put duct tape over the panell. Hunter is now working on the duct tape.
Then there are the little things he does that drive me crazy. Dropping silverware into the sink.........Taking Hedwig........flipping over his water bowl....turning the water in the bathroom sink on....walking around the Apt. at night like he's lost & "Meowing'. I had a Moon Cactus a friend had given me for my Birthday........Hunter worked & worked on it...till he pulled it out of the pot. I came home from work to find it on the living room floor. I was making Baby Booties for a woman at work....well I'd get one done & start on the other one. Then look for the first one & couldn't find it.......so, I'd make a new one. I kept ending up with ONE bootie. Till I found 5 Booties in the Cupboard Hunter likes to sleep in. Gees !
Like I said......Hunter is just a cat. A very smart & Bord cat. I'm sure he doesn't do any of this stuff to make me mad at him. To him, it's all just a game. But, if I ever move out of this Apt. & the next person who lives here finds....weather stripping on the door........felt on the insides of the cupboards....Child-proof locks.....& the AC duct taped to the window........I'm sure they will think to themselves...."What the Heck ?"

Hunter's Turn

Oh Hi, You see fishies on Mom's Blog ? Me likey fishies. If you put mouse on fishies they follow you. Then click mouse & fishies get foods. Ha-Ha Fun. Now me can play with fishies alla time, and they no stop moving.
Me like to play games with Mom, is fun. Me play "Hide and Seek". Me take stuff, "Hide" it, and Mom has to "Seek" it. Heehee. Mom still look for fuzzy white birdie. Me say, "No Mom is not there."
Me like floor thing when Mom pushes it across floor. Better than rug ride. Because Mom pushes it for me. And, duster thing. Mom shake it, me catch it.
Me and Mom have lotta fun together.
But some times me have to make sure Mom doing things right. Like when she clean litter box. Me not like stinky litter box. Me say, "Mom, you use to much litter again." But, Mom not listen. So, me take some out. And, when Mom wash fork and spoon. Me have to make sure that clean. Me say, "Oh Mom, missed a spot." And, they make nice sound when they go back in sink, "Clink,clink".
Me some time help Mom clean out fridge. Put head in trash bag and sniff. Me say, "Mom, this still smell good." try to take out to put back in fridge. But, Mom put back in trash.
Me go now. Watch little fishies. You not get away this time fishies !

Hunter likes Housework.

I can't make a move without Hunter following me around. So, when it's time to clean my Apt. I have to do it with him in tow. When I make my bed......there is always a cat sized lump in the middle. I've learned to just let it go. I finish making the bed....cat lump & all.
Hunter just loves the Swiffer Sweeper. When I'm pushing it around with the dust pad on it.......he will run, grab the handle, then sit on the sweeper part for a free ride across the floor. When he sees me get the Sweeper out.....he will run to the cupboard under the sink, get a pad out of the box, & bring it to me. He also loves the Swiffer duster. When I get it out to dust the living room...bedroom & computer desk. Hunter will run, jump & make grabs for it. Sometimes he gets it.......& he will go trotting off with it in his mouth...like he's so proud of himself for getting the evil duster.
Hunter use to sit on the counter next to the sink & watch me do the dishes.....he always liked the sponge I used. After the dishes were washed......he'd steal the sponge...& bat it around the kitchen floor. Till one day, when he jumped up there & I hit him on the nose with the wet sponge. I hated to do it, but didn't like replacing the sponge every time I wanted to wash dishes. Hunter still gets up on the counter & pushes the silverware into the sink...one at a time. I don't have a dish drainer, I lay the dishes & silverware out on a kitchen towel & let them air dry. I don't know why this crazy cat does that (with the silverware)...but, he'll do it every time.
Hunter HAS to supervise the cleaning of his litter box. He will jump up on the toilet or sink & just watch me dump out the dirty litter.......wipe the inside of the litter box out with a Clorox wipe....then dump clean litter back in. After I put the litter box back on the rug in the corner........he will get in it, & half the litter will go on the rug. I will have to pick up the rug & dump the litter back in.
But, this is a cat that turns everything into a game. Even laundry. When I separate the laundry......he will sit on the bed & watch me. When he sees an opening.......he jumps into the pile of laundry.....& runs away with a sock....a bra....even under pants. I made the mistake once of leaving the pile of whites on the bedroom floor, while I took a basket to the laundry room. Hunter jumped into the pile.........& took off (through the opened Apt. door) down the hall way....with my under pants in his mouth. Gees !
No wonder it takes me all day to clean a small one bedroom Apt.

Hunter talks a lot.

Hunter "Meows" a lot.....or "talks" a lot. I didn't want a quiet cat......you never know where they are. This would bother some people...but not me. I love it when he walks into a room...."Meow----meow----meow" he sort of announces himself.
Hunter has all different "Meows" too. There's his....."I'm mad at you !" "Meowowow" His, "Yow, yow" or "I'm starving" & his "Ow, ow" or "For Pete's sakes...clean the litter box !" He has a little "Mew" when he's happy. I've even heard him say..."Moo"...not quite sure what that means. Then there's a sound Hunter makes when he's on a tear...running around the Apt. like crazy. It sort of sounds like "Barking." I kid you not. A few people have heard it while I'm on the phone & have asked, "When did you get a dog ?" It's not a dog...it's Hunter. Hunter also makes this "Barking" sound when he takes a ride on a rug.
If I talk to Hunter...he will "talk" back. We have long conversations at the table in the evenings.
When Hunter knocks the phone off the charger.....he will look down at it & "Meow" I wonder sometimes what the poor Telemarketer on the other end thinks when he or she hears...."Meow" instead of "Hello".
The man down the hall form me has an orange Tabby. he told me his cat (Rusty) has been sitting by his Apt. door at night "Meowing". I told him that he probably hears Hunter. There is an Apt. in between them......but, they are "Talking" to each other at night. The man said his cat was normally very quiet. Not Hunter....you can hear him all the way down the hall to the elevator.....& some times even in the Laundry room when he really gets going.
And, you should hear Hunter when he's going to the Vet....you'd think he's walking the last mile. For a cat who tries so hard to get out....he really kicks up a fuss. I have to tell him...."You're OK Hunter." just to calm him down.
Right now the Apt. is so quiet....Mr. Hunter is taking a nap. But, as soon as he wakes up...he'll be walking around "Meowing" wanting to be fed.

Hunter's Turn

Oh Hi. Me read Mom's Blog. Yes me take things. Mom forgot 2 things me use to take alla time. The sponge Mom wash dishes with. Fun to play with. Me use to take before Mom get real cat toys. Then Mom hit me on nose with wet sponge. Me take no more. Me also take white puffy thing Mom take shower with. That fun to play with too. But, Mom hang up very high, and me not reach it. Me like Mom's dresser and jump up on it alla time. Lotta fun stuff up there. Round fuzzy things Mom wears in her hair ARE cat toys, not care what Mom says. Look like cat toys to me. Lotta shiny things. Me like shiny things. And, fuzzy white birdie IS Mine. Mine ! Mine ! Mine ! Me like to sleep with him. Nice fuzzy white birdie. Mom call him "Owl". Fuzzy white birdie belong to ME ! Mom will never find fuzzy white birdie, Heehee. Me have to check Mom's lunch box. Make sure she packed it right. And, when me find pudding snack. Me say, "No Mom, pudding snack for me." But, Mom not listen to me. And me Have to check the fridge. Look for yogurt, and for Ham. Mom must hide ham, me can never find. And Mom make lotta things with yarn. Me like yarn. Yarn soft and nice to play with. Me take yarn too. Mom make me cat nip mouse with yarn. Me like yarn mouse. But, like yarn more. Why Mom get alla fun stuff to play with, and not let me play with it. Me not know. So, yes me take things. Fun to play with. And, fuzzy white birdie is Mine ! Not belong to Mom. Now me go, say Bye-Bye. "Mom, me want ham." "Hey Mom, give me ham." "Mom,you hear me ?" "Me want ham, please."

Hunter is a "Cat" burglar.

Hunter likes to get up on my dresser. He takes my hair Scruggs & hides them in his cardboard box. I know he does it......even if I've never "seen" him do it. There is only him & me here......& unless I have a ghost who likes Scruggs.....It's Hunter taking them. Some times he takes them to the Apt. door & pushes them under. I've found them in the hall the next morning....so I shove them in my pocket & go on to work.
Hunter likes a lot of things on my dresser. I wear pins alot. The big ones of Easter bunnies.....Christmasy things.....Turkeys.....Pumkins...ect. Any who, I like to wear them on my coat & sweaters. Hunter likes them too.....& if I leave them out of my jewelry box...they come up missing. I found a 4 leaf clover pin in the shower once.
One thing on my dresser that he just loves.......& if you ask him, he would tell you it belongs to him. It's a small white owl, a stuffed toy, Hedwig, the Harry Potter owl. He takes it...& I take it back. I've found poor Hedwig on the bed.....in the recliner....in his box......in the shower....in the dirty cloths basket.....& in the closet where Hunter likes to sleep. But, Hunter's been hiding Hedwig lately. Hedwig turned up in a kitchen cupboard........then Hedwig was found under the bed.
And, it's not just my dresser. Hunter will put his whole head into something & take a good look inside. A grocery bag.......my lunch box.......the storage bin of yarn. he's a strong cat too.......once he puts his head inside some thing.....you are not getting him out till he has a good look around. With his head inside a grocery bag......Hunter found the ice pops I bought......he bit into one......what a mess. I opened the bag of ice pops & tried to throw it away, but Hunter grabbed it.........& we had a tug of war with it. My kitchen floor was a sticky ice pop mess. It wasn't the ice pop he wanted...it was the plastic tube it came in. Hunter takes things out of my lunch box......usually in the morning while I'm getting dressed for work........he takes plastic spoons out....napkins. Once he reached in & grabbed a pudding cup & went trotting away with it.
If I open the fridge while he's in the kitchen......anything on the bottom shelf he will grab & run with. Doesn't matter what it is....a box of cherry tomatoes.....a loaf of bread......or a cup of yogurt, anything is fair game.
But, the things he takes most often are the Scruggs & poor Hedwig. Right now even as I write this Hedwig is gone from the dresser....& nowhere in sight. So, I wonder where I'll find her. Hunter will run out of hiding place for Hedwig soon...this is just a small Apt. & there's just not many places a cat can hide an owl.

Hunter is a Smart cat.

Here is a list of things Hunter can do.
Keep in mind, he figured this stuff out by watching me.

1. Open the Apt. & bathroom doors

2. Turn the water in the bathroom sink on.
Once again, my faucets have handles, not knobs. You push down for cold & up for hot. He puts his paw on the handle & pushes down.

3. Turn the TV on.
I have a remote with big buttons. He knocks it on the floor & steps on the ON button.

4. Open the kitchen cupboards.

5. Answer the phone.
If you take my phone off the charger it automatic is on "Talk". Hunter jumps up on the counter, & knocks the phone off the charger when it rings. I've come home from work & found the phone on the counter & ask him, "Who are you calling ?"

6. Turn on the Computer.
Once again.....it's the buttons. He loves buttons & pushing them.

7. Find zip-lock baggies.
Doesn't matter where I put them...he always finds them, & chews them to pieces.

8. Get me a pad for the Swiffer Sweeper.

9. Turn off the Alarm clock.
More buttons.......He gets up on his back legs & with his front paw...hits the "Snooze" button.

10. Comes & gets me when he's made a mess.
If he's hacked up a hair-ball.....throw-up......or missed the litter box. He will come up to me,stand on his back legs & pat my arm with his paw.......till I come & clean up the mess.

And, there you have it....Hunter, the amazing cat !

Hunter is an Apt. cat.

Hunter use to live in a house & was use to coming & going when ever he pleased. That is,inside or outside when ever he pleased. I was told by the Humane Society, Hunter was taken by a family who did not ask their Landlord if they could even have a cat. This was the last family who adopted Hunter. He was a Birthday gift for their small daughter. I had asked as many questions about Hunter as I could think of. He had been adopted 5 times.....& was only a year old (poor guy). He had a history of running away. Nobody could tell me what happened to his tail.......or why there was no fur on both sides of his face from his whiskers to his ears (it's growing back in now). It looked like somebody had shaved him. Hunter is suppose to have a tail.......& the Vet just said it looks like it was cut off. But, she couldn't tell me why ???
Hunter has adjusted well to being an inside only cat. He still looks longingly out the window in the spring & summer......even though he's been neutered. You can tell he'd like to be out there chasing squirrels & Butterflies. I wanted to get him a harness & leash......so I could take him out every now & then, but the Vet told me it was better not to. If he was meant to be an inside cat...then keep him in.
When I first brought Hunter home.....I was also told to give him a "Safe" room, till he got use to the Apt. So, before I went to work...I'd put his food & water in the bathroom & close the door. The only problem with that was Hunter learned how to open doors right away. And as soon as I went out the Apt. door, he'd come out of the bathroom. My neighbors would tell me he'd howl all day long. The man across the hall even told me if I wanted to get a "Friend" for Hunter he wouldn't report me to the office.. So, apparently he wasn't use to being along either. So, I would spend a little extra time petting him before I went to work.
Hunter was a very "Needy" cat when he came to live with me. He would follow me all around & jump up in my lap every time I sat down. It was like he was starving for love. Which was OK with me, as I was feeling a little "Hungry" myself.
The races for the Apt. door began as soon as Hunter had free run of the Apt. Every morning I'd pick him up......put him on the bed....pet his head & assure him, I'd be back. It took months, but it worked. Now all I have to do is turn off the TV in the morning & he just goes into the bedroom.....then I tell him,"Bye Buddy, I'm going to work now, I'll be back as soon as I can."
That's what I call Hunter..."Buddy" or "my Buddy". Because he is my Buddy. Some times I call him "Dude" LOL
I'm just happy Hunter & I are living together so well. I was determined Not to take him back to the Humane Society for the 6Th time. He deserved a better life.
And, he's always been such a well mannered cat. He has never clawed up the furniture......he claws his cardboard box to pieces. He has never really peed on anything......he did once, but I think he was just mad at me. He doesn't mind "Playing" dress-up every now & then. LOL No, I don't do it often. He respects my space.......& I respect his.
I do some times wonder about where he's come from, but decided the past is the past. It's just Hunter & me.......in the here & now.