It's Hard to Be The New One

 Thor has been in our family for 3 months now, and he and Pazzy still don't get along. Pazzy hit him couple of times just like he does with everyone, and Thor KICKED HIS BUTT!
So Pazzy feels threatened, and for the first time ever, The Bully is OUTBULLIED!
Walter didn't like him either, after Thor tried to wrestle with him couple of times, then got chased.
But for now, Walter is mostly OK with Thor.

It must be hard fitting into a cat society of 4 cats. It would be hard for humans to go into an already established group.
I think it took about a year and a half for Cookie to really feel at home too. She liked Walter and Mieszky, and all the humans of course, but thought Paz and Hime were mean.
I took this picture last September, and I think she finally felt like even The Bully was her family, everyone sort of hung out together when they were outside in front of our house.

Amazing Thing Zum Told Me 2

18months old 

So Zum was telling me that she was "In Mama's tummy".

I was astonished, and from that day, she would tell me more. 

She told me again "Baby Zumi in Mama's tummy." 

And when I asked her what she was doing, this time, she said, "Gonyo Gonyo Gonyo" and wiggled. I think she was trying to tell me that she was wiggling. Isn't that crazy!

About two weeks after that, we were driving back from school, and I told her we were going to take Walter to "Byoin" . (Hospital= Vets)

She understood about it, and she told me that Cookie went there. She remembers going to the vets with Cookie when Cookie was sick. 

Then she said, "Baby Zumi, Byoin". I don't know if this is a memory from when we took her to checkups to the local surgery, but then she said,

"Baby Zumi, Mama, Papa, Byoin".

Could this be when she was being born????

19 months old

I wanted to get more details, but then she went on to other topics. 

Many people seem to think that because babies can't talk, they don't really have any memories, but, THEY DO!!! It has been amazing, especially now that she can talk and tell me what goes on in her fascinating mind!

20 months old

And yes, we took Walter to the vets and she and Walter both behaved, and on the way back, Zumi said, 「Walter病院、あー楽しかった！」（she had good time taking Walter to the vets)
Well, Walter would tell you different.

Amazing Thing That Zumzum Told me

I heard that children could remember.... Zumzum started telling me on the way to school last Thursday that "Zumi , mama Tummy." I didn't know if she meant , "On" or "In" the tummy because sometimes she would sleep on top of me. But when she told me again a day later, I asked her if it was "中" or "上" (inside, or on top of) , and she said "IN".

She then told me she was sleeping there!

So today, she all of the sudden started talking about it, and I got it on camera!

Fat Pazzy

Aslan, also known as Pazzy, or Paz,

this is his handome face when he was still a kitten (about 6months?)

still has the kitten-y baby round face, so handsome!

I Love this picture of him and Hime facing off!!
They are about the same size still! (he was still 6moths then)





This is Pazzy much later:
Is it just me or is he looking a little inflated?

Now, Hime has the advantage of always being in black (everyone knows black makes you look slimmer)....

but the color factor aside, doesn't Aslan look like a football?

Or nice plush pillow!

Ooh, don't you just want to nuzzle your face in Aslan's plush tummy???

I don't mind his plush tummy, or his double chin, but he was getting real greedy.

When it came to food, he'd push Hime out of the way, growling. He is usually never mean to her.. But all logic goes out the window when it's foooood time, I guess!

He'd just sit in the kitchen, waiting for ANY chance of food, he'd be on

Energy saving mode

untill food time.....

We didn't think he was too happy. It was like, he was addicted to food (wet food), but it was making him miserable when he wasn't eating.
He hardly played anymore. Only cared about eating.
Poor Pazzy.
We thought we'd never see his once handsome face again... (buried in double chin forever...)

......And the horrible UK winter passed, so we let him go out more, sometimes all day long.
He is happier, getting his exercise , looking so sharp!


He rules his kingdom outside, King Pazzy.
He's got bigger fish to fry than sit at home and wait for food all the time!

Look at him! Loves it!!!

Goofy But Caring

"I was snoozing in my Saucer but I came to help Zum. "

"What's the matter?"

"I'm PrrrPrring, See? It's ok!!!"

"I will sit here because I'm concerned. "

"Still No good? I'm really getting concerned."

Believe it or not, THIS is the face of a concerned family!!!

Looking Ahead

When I see this picture, it makes me think that Cookie knew she was graduating this life and she was getting ready to move on to her next one. 

It was very rare occasion, her siblings would come gather around her, and they'd hang out together. 

Even Grumpy Paz. 

She always loved Miesky, and she'd snuggle next to him. So of course Mieszky joined.

And Paz stayed!
As hard as the last 3 weeks of her life was, I was glad we got to be with her.

Sisters . Erahhhhh!

Errraughhh!

This is a Princess cat version

I think sometimes sisters can look alike, even if they are cat and human!  Uhhhhh, Hime, You are not looking like your normal cat self.... more like a turtle?

 She just got excited about the box that my shoes came in,
Really Enjoying it!!!

Zum the Hipster. Even little girl clothes are hip nowadays!

Friend Or Foe?

Paz and Thor. They are just so alike. Paz was exactly like Thor when he was a little kitten.

Thor was kept in a small apartment in a room as there were two females, and no one was spayed. The females were in a room next to his room, and they , of course, were going crazy as they could smell eachother. He was going to be put down because of this, but he's been chopped, and now calm.

I thought he'd be a sprayer like Paz, who had his nuts when he was found by someone in their yard, and brought to Cats Protection. Paz wanted to go out too. Paz still sprays even with his nuts cut off, so I guess it depends on the cat.
Paz is used to being the alpha male. (the Real alpha in our house is Hime!) He'd hit everyone, so everyone used to get out of the way. Thor is younger and strong. Hmmm....

Thor

We visited Cats Protection. Zum and us we love spending time in there. The facilites are beautiful, theres lots of green and flowers, and LOTS OF CUTE CATS!

Sarah at Cats Protection knew that Shane wanted a Maine Coon for a long time. She said, "Show them Thor. He's beautiful."

So the lady brought us to the back, and there he was.

As soon as I saw his face and his big big paws

 I knew Shane would be in love.
Shane loves big cats. And stripey longhairs. Well, basically Main Coons. Though we have never seen an actual Main Coon. Thor looks like he is a Main Coon cross, with really big paws and big fluffy head, but his fur is sleek, unlike Mieszky , who has soft fuzzy long hair.
He has cute eyeliner eyes.

Let me outa here, I want to go out!!!

 Thor was dying to get out of the cage. He was just like Kitten Paz when I met him here, almost 8 years ago.
I stroked him, and Shane stroked him. He was friendly. Zum wanted to stroke him too.
Many cats who have never been around children get scared. But not Thor. He was totally fine when Zum stroked him, and didn't seem to be surprised if she made loud noises.
Our house seemed very quiet with only 4 cats now, so the decision was made.

We mulled it over again once we got home, and it still made sense.

We went to go pick him up two days later. Zum was saying his name too.
Welcome to our house, Thor.

Zumzum saw them together, and said, "Its the same!!!" Yes they look like brothers, don't they?

Calm Warm Day

Everyone is chilling , getting along!

The two Gentle Stripies, and Walter.
And Hime is being nice too!

When its nice and warm, the best thing to do is to lie down and enjoy the peace!

Cookie & Co.

Walter came to sit with Cookieand Tamapion next to her

Then Zumzum and Mieszk !

Lovely Cookie 6 -- Strong Core

I think that Cookie is a Princess who happened to be born on the streets.
Her nature is delicate, classy, "never worked a day in my life", "oh, what are you feeding me, I'm not eating that cheap stuff!"
but then being born in Sparkhill changed that.

She had to be strong.

She had to live outside in the rain. Find food, secure a real home for herself.

so there is a strength, and stubborn in her.

She recruited Danny (made friends with him) on the streets,
and although she wanted to live with him, he wasn't ready for a full-time cat.
We met her, and she talked to us, and told us she wanted a home.
I think about her sleeping in the dumpster and it breaks my heart to think she had to sleep there.
She deserves a fluffy bed fit for a princess.
Or even better, A LAP!

I am so glad she found us.
I am so glad she is in our lives.

Every time I looked at her, I would be reminded about how strong will will take you somewhere is life.
Look at this little girl! She made it happen!

Lovely Cookie 3 -- When Zum was born

When Zumzum came, it was a big change for everyone.
People told us, "oh cats get jealous of babies".
Not really.

I remember when we brought Zum home from the hospital when she was 5 days old.
Cookie came to look what was in the car seat, and she looked so scared!
She's never seen a creature like that!!!

I think all the cats except for Paz, who may have seen the next door's baby, were surprised!

But they all got used to Zum.

Cookie always takes opportunity to enjoy my lap

She would sit downstairs with Shane on his lap while I was upstairs with Zum.
She would come see me, and sleep next to me and Zum. And of course she took advantage of me when I was downstairs enjoying my Alone Time during Zum's nap.



Zum's first real word, other than "Baa!" (which is Boo! in Japanese)  was "Pazzy".
She started saying that in January, 2015, when she was 13 months old.

She called all the cats "Pazzy".
Then around March 2015, when Zum was 15 months old, she started saying, "Cookie".

I would read her the cat book, and she started pointing at tortoiseshell cats in the book, and say,
"Coo-Kie".
She also pointed at the little "Tama" Doll, and said, "Cookie".

Cookie treated Zumzum equally like us, and would say, "Erghhhhh!" to her when Zum came to her.

I taught Zum to scratch her chin couple of months ago, and Zum would scratch her chin, and Cookie would tilt her head, and say, "Erghhhhh!", for approval.

I think Zum really enjoyed growing up with her cat brothers and sisters.

Lovely Cookie 4 -- Classy

Even though Cookie lived on the streets,
she was such a classy delicate lady.

She would not eat if there were other (Pushier) cats near her food.
And she was REALLY picky.
So we would have to give her particular flavors of Felix or Sheva,
and she would eat on top of the kitchen bin, away from all her greedy brothers.

So she would jump up on the bin, and start "Eughhhhh"ing for food,
and if we gave her the wrong food, she would just go off.

She wouldn't just eat anything, even if it was People Chicken or People Fish.
She did eat mackerel sometimes, but not all the time.

Ex-strays tend to be eaters like there's no tomorrow, but somehow she was always picky.

She would not be mean to anybody, she would avoid Hime (chasing her for fun) , or Pazzy (sometimes hits everybody).
 But once,
Walter, in his crabby mood, he hit Mieszky who was near him (always happens)
he also hit Cookie, who was also nearby.
She hit him back without blinking an eye!
It was like, "Hey! Watch it! "

"I like and respect Cookie"

Walter was pushing his boundaries, and he never hit her since.
He knows, she is not to be pushed around.

Lovely Cookie 4 -- Work of Art

I think she finally felt at home the last year.
We got a cat fence, so she could go out and in, which gave her some space.
And she and Hime were getting along, I think she fought back to Hime to show her and they were respecting each other.

I always thought she was one of the most beautiful cats I've seen.
Tortoiseshell cats are very common in Japan, and not very appreciated.
But the way her coloring was swirled, and had such a delicate balance.
And her facial marking has lovely symmetry,  it was a work of art.
I never get tired of looking at her.
And on one side, she looks like Paz (ginger and white), and on the other side, there's bit of black with the ginger and white.
My favorite is the lovely black down the nose, and the ginger on both sides evening the balance. 
Her ears are dainty and pointy.
She has long long legs with tiny face, and long tail. She pudged up a little the first year she came to live with us, but she got back into her supermodel figure after she started going out.
I called her "Naomi Cookiebell" .

I do think it was her personality that brought us to adopt her, but her beautiful face helped too. 
But it's one of those things too, if you have kind heart, it shows in your face. And she's one of the most loving cats I've ever known.

Lovely Cookie 4

Even though Cookie lived on the streets,
she was such a classy delicate lady.

She would not eat if there were other (Pushier) cats near her food.
And she was REALLY picky.
So we would have to give her particular flavors of Felix or Sheva,
and she would eat on top of the kitchen bin, away from all her greedy brothers.

So she would jump up on the bin, and start "Eughhhhh"ing for food,
and if we gave her the wrong food, she would just go off.

She wouldn't just eat anything, even if it was People Chicken or People Fish.
She did eat mackerel sometimes, but not all the time.

Ex-strays tend to be eaters like there's no tomorrow, but somehow she was always picky.

She would not be mean to anybody, she would avoid Hime (chasing her for fun) , or Pazzy (sometimes hits everybody).
 But once,
Walter, in his crabby mood, he hit Mieszky who was near him (always happens)
he also hit Cookie, who was also nearby.
She hit him back without blinking an eye!
It was like, "Hey! Watch it! "

"I like and respect Cookie"

Walter was pushing his boundaries, and he never hit her since.
He knows, she is not to be pushed around.

Lovely Cookie 3 -- When Zum was born

When Zumzum came, it was a big change for everyone.
People told us, "oh cats get jealous of babies".
Not really.

I remember when we brought Zum home from the hospital when she was 5 days old.
Cookie came to look what was in the car seat, and she looked so scared!
She's never seen a creature like that!!!

I think all the cats except for Paz, who may have seen the next door's baby, were surprised!

But they all got used to Zum.
She would sit downstairs with Shane on his lap while I was upstairs with Zum.
She would come see me, and sleep next to me and Zum. And of course she took advantage of me when I was downstairs enjoying my Alone Time during Zum's nap.

Cookie always takes opportunity to enjoy my lap

Zum's first real word, other than "Baa!" (which is Boo! in Japanese)  was "Pazzy".
She started saying that in January, 2015, when she was 13 months old.

She called all the cats "Pazzy".
Then around March 2015, when Zum was 15 months old, she started saying, "Cookie".

I would read her the cat book, and she started pointing at tortoiseshell cats in the book, and say,
"Coo-Kie".
She also pointed at the little "Tama" Doll, and said, "Cookie".

Cookie treated Zumzum equally like us, and would say, "Erghhhhh!" to her when Zum came to her.

I taught Zum to scratch her chin couple of months ago, and Zum would scratch her chin, and Cookie would tilt her head, and say, "Erghhhhh!", for approval.

I think Zum really enjoyed growing up with her cat brothers and sisters.

Lovely Cookie 2

Cookie also loved baths.
Every time one of us were taking a bath, somehow she would find out and come sit in the ledge in the bath.
And drink the soapy bathwater.
She didn't mind if we stroked her with her wet hands. She'd say, "Ergghhhh" and look approvingly.
I don't know what about the bath water that she loved, maybe it was the temperature? Maybe it's the human taste water? Or maybe she liked the atmosphere of us taking a bath.

Another great thing was that she was always there for you.
If I called her, she would come.
I am in bed with Zumzum and tap my lap twice and call "Cookie!",
She would appear on top of the quilt in couple of minutes.
Not all cats, well, most cats would not come to you like that.
They take your call, and not always pick up.
Not Cookie.

She always shows us that she loves us, and she is happy to be with us.

Before Cookie came to live with us,
Shane would say to our cats, "Unappreciative!"
when they're ignoring us, or just be nice until they got the wet food and just run off.

Cookie, is the definition of " Appreciative ".
She wants to sit on our lap, give us "Eurrghhh"s  when we talked to her.

I was in the garden, and called , "Cookie!"
and she ran straight to me from the back of the garden.

She didn't like being picked up at first, she would slink away, with her long slender "super model" legs. I guess that is from being stray.
But eventually, she would let me carry her, and she would purr while I had her over my shoulder.

She is stubborn in her own way, and you could not make her sit with you or sleep with you, unless she decided that is what she wanted.
That is different from Mieszky.
But she and Mieszky were kindred spirits.
Very gentle , loving, and not a bad bone in her.
I used to call them "Gentle Stripies".
That is why she took to Mieszky right away, I think.

Lovely Cookie

I am writing this so I can remember all the great times we had with Cookie.
She is sick and I want to make sure I don't forget anything about this little great girl.

She is ex-stray, and she wanted a home so badly.
She would "Errrrghhhh" to us and Danny, to communicate and make us know she was there and she wanted us , because she knows, humans are not so clever and they will understand better if she was vocal about her expressions.

I respect her.
She made her own destiny out of her will, and found us. We could not help but see her lovely personality, and loving nature.

We decided to adopt her from the streets on my 35th birthday. At the time she was expected to be 1 1/2 half years old. So her birthday became April 16th, which is my half birthday.
When we brought her home, she sat on my lap continuously for the rest of the day, purring.
I think that she was afraid, but more afraid that we were not going to adopt her, so she showed us that she was happy to be taken in.
I laid down on the couch with her on my lap that day, and every time I stroked her, she would look up and say, "eghh", and lift her head to my hand to show her happiness.

We did not know if she was staying with us, because she did not look comfortable in our house that is already occupied with other cats, and especially because she was scared of Hime. Hime would chase her, maybe not necessarily out of meanness, but curiosity, and Cookie did not like that.
She would sit by herself in the bathroom or by the kettle, and that made me sad.
But she made friends with Mieszky right away. She understood his kind gentle nature and she would snuggle up to him. They used to sit together , or sit on my lap together , being Major Lap Cats.

She loved Shane a lot too.
She would sit on his lap immediately when it was available, and would do "Euuggghh!" when it wasn't , and come try to sit on it.

We did an experiment.
Shane would sit, and tap his lap twice , and Cookie would come jump up and get on his lap.
He would take her off, and call "Cookilns", again, and tap his lap twice, and she would come back and sit on his lap.
He did this up to six times and she came every single time!
She was a determined Lap Cat!