Incredibly Alice

One year ago today, I brought Alice home from the Wisconsin Humane Society.  We’ve had an incredible year together and I’ve learned so much about Alice, particularly how incredible she is.

Alice’s First Day at Home

Incredibly Lovable: Alice loves cuddling and being held.  She snuggles in my arms and will rest on her back like an infant.  This has lasted for 30 minutes before and is a regular occurrence; my girl loves to be loved.

The “Pet me; I’m cute” face

Incredibly Weird: This kitty enjoys sitting side the refrigerator.  Yup, you read that correctly: Alice likes to sit in the refrigerator.  I may have broken this habit, but for several weeks anytime I open the fridge door, she would step inside, climb onto the bottom shelf, and sit.

Alice willingly sits in the refrigerator

Incredibly Playful: Alice can entertain herself by looking out the window, but she also loves to play.  She chases a string, rolls a jingle ball, wrestles with her catnip-stuffed squirrel, and chases her spirals all over my apartment, frequently losing them under the couch or in my closet.

Let’s Play!

Incredibly Silly: When Alice plays, she completely over-exaggerates pouncing on her toys, which is quite a sight.  More of a sight is watching her swat toys around my apartment like it’s a giant soccer field.  She leaps over and through table and chair legs; she covers every inch of my apartment from the foyer to my closet to the kitchen; she also knocks her toys “out of bounds” and needs a new one put back “into play” for her.

Stalking

Incredibly Daring: Cats love to climb.  I don’t have much in my apartment for Alice to climb, so she takes full advantage when I do laundry: she daringly scales my wobbly, 4-ft tall drying rack.  Regardless of whether there are clothes to sprawl across or not, she seems to enjoy the challenge of climbing and balancing across the top of the drying rack.

I’m not sure how this is comfortable…or safe

Incredibly Curious: When Alice and I go outside, she wants to investigate everything!  We walk up-and-down both sides of my block, and we’ve ventured around the block east and two blocks west of us as well as a partial block south.  Her curiosity leads her up chain link fences, trees, and even brick walls.

Climbing a Tree

Incredibly Spoiled: Aside from fresh food, fresh water, and a clean litter box first thing every morning, Alice gets to go outside several days a week.  She also gets milk with me for breakfast, tuna for dinner, and I offer to share my food with her, especially her favorites (dressing, ice cream, meat, and cheese).

“Where’s my food?”

Incredibly Trusting: Alice loves pretty much everyone; at least, we’ve yet to meet anyone she doesn’t like.  When we’re home together, she frequently sleeps with her stomach exposed…much like a dog.

A trusting cat leaves her stomach exposed

Incredibly Confident: Similarly to trusting, Alice is also a very confident cat.  She makes herself at home just about anywhere, indoors and outdoors.

“Hi, I hope you don’t mind if I make myself at home.”

Incredibly Cautious: At the same, she can be quite wary of the noisy outdoors…and wind.  Honestly, a strong breeze could blow her away, so she’s smart to be cautious when it’s windy.

Maintaining a low center of gravity

Incredibly Social: As I said previously, Alice has yet to meet someone she doesn’t like.  Overall, she loves meeting and interacting with people, and she’ll approach our front door when there are people in the hallway and always greets my guests.

“Hello there, Little Bug”

Incredibly Unathletic: Sometimes I wonder about Alice though because she seems to struggle jumping up to most pieces of furniture.  For example, I’m always surprised the few times she jumps onto the kitchen counter.  Although, she’s getting better at jumping up on things; maybe she was just being lazy.

Apparently my hand makes a lovely pillow

Incredibly Rude: As much as I love Alice, she certainly knows how to take advantage of that love, particularly where food is concerned.  She thinks whatever food is mine is hers, to the extent that she’ll take a bite off my plate, fork, or the food in my hand (while on its way to my mouth).

“Don’t mind if I do”

Incredibly Smart: When I’m petting Alice, she will use her paws to move my hand or keep my hand in place.  She knows she wants and how to get it!

“Now this is comfy!”

Incredibly Determined:  As I just said, Alice has a mind of her own.  She knows what she wants and is determined enough to get it.  For example, Alice learned how to open the window!

Overall, I’d say I’m incredibly lucky to have such an incredible cat who’s also incredibly photogenic!

Alice at her finest 😛

Outdoor Alice

As my Facebook friends are well aware, Alice and I spend a lot of time outside together. Our weekend afternoons are spent lounging in the sunshine and we enjoy evening walks after work during the week. On weekends, we’ve also taken to walking the length of the block.

Watching People and Traffic

Besides relaxing in the grass and soaking in some much needed Vitamin D, I watch Alice’s reactions to her expanded world. She absolutely loves watching the birds (and people too). Knowing full well that Alice has little chance of catching these birds, I’ll occasionally let her run after them 🙂 Hopefully she’ll never catch one because I’d feel horrible and I don’t know what I’ll do for the bird.

My Little Huntress

Alice is most fascinated by ducks.  Yes, I said ducks.  On a walk a couple weeks ago, we encountered a pair of mallards nibbling on fallen birdseed.  I’ve never seen Alice so entranced.  She really wanted to cross the street to see those ducks; instead we watched them for almost 20 minutes.  The next day when we walked down the block, she insisted we cross the street.  Once across the street, we were standing in front of the house where we saw the ducks.  I practically had to drag her away from this house.  Almost two weeks later, she still stops to investigate 🙂

DUCKS!

Alice has also taken a recent interest in bunnies and squirrels. When we first started adventuring outside this spring, she paid little to no attention to her fellow small mammals. Now I’ve caught her not only staring down squirrels and bunnies but stalking them too. Alice can have her fun, but literally I keep her on a short leash.  Chasing bunnies will take her a lot further away than the birds; they fly up and Alice stays on the ground, unlike running after bunnies.

I am considering adding to her leash because I’d like for her to wander more on her own if she would like. For the time being, I give her more length by hooking my ankle through the leash. I can sit in the lush green grass and she can l lounge under the bushes without darting off.

I am most surprised by Alice’s reaction to dogs. She shows little interest in them. Little dogs might as well not exist for how much attention Alice pays them. She barely watches them when they pass; there’s neither a stare down nor hissing and puffing up. Only once has she shown a frightened emotion toward a big dog. I was holding her and she squirmed in fright. Otherwise, nothing.

“Dogs, where? Eh, whatever, I prefer to cat nap.”

When we walk down the block, Alice frequently stops to sniff the yard with a cat, who we’ve seen once, and a dog, who we’ve seen twice now. The most recent time, Alice stopped to flop in the grass and both the husband and wife were outside. While we chatted, two neighbors from across the street joined us. Then the son returned home with the big dog (I think she’s part boxer, to give an indication of size) and one of his friends. The dog wanted to play with Alice so badly; she kept pulling at the leash. All the while, Alice neither paid attention to the group of humans nor the dog. Finally I picked her up, so I know she’d see the dog. She saw her, but she remained relaxed in my arms. It was crazy. The wife was also surprised by Alice’s unusual cat behavior. That’s my girl though; calm in the face of stress.

LONG, LUSH GRASS!!

Speaking of not-so-cat-like-behavior, Alice will scratch at trees, but she’s made little attempt at climbing them. One time, however, she did jump to the trunk and clung on. She’s such an odd ball of fur J  I keep expecting her to take off up the tree because she stares at the trees as though she’s considering it.  I’m not sure how I feel about her climbing trees.  On the one hand, if she wants to climb then she should climb.  (I climb trees and jungle gyms when I feel the need to climb, so why shouldn’t she?)  On the other hand though, I’m not so sure about waiting for her to come down from the tree.  I have a hard enough time coaxing her inside for dinner most days (thankfully she’s easy to carry).

To climb or not to climb?

The most normal cat behavior Alice exhibits (beside sleeping in the sunshine and relaxing from a good vantage point beneath the bushes) is her reaction to other cats, even this is somewhat abnormal though.  Again, Alice is calm in the face of new situations that would stress most cats out.  When we encounter another cat (there are two who will sit outside on a cat tie), Alice is cautious about walking too close to them and respects their space.  At the same time though, she’s curious and wants to say hello.  I tend to be the one that decides we’re close enough because I will neither walk-up someone’s driveway nor into someone yard uninvited.  Thus far neither Alice nor the other cats have puffed up, hissed, or meowed at each other.  Alice did meow once, but she was looking at me when she did.  I think she wanted me to know there was another cat around 🙂

I thoroughly enjoy observe Alice’s behavior and shall continue to do so.  When I’m not scrutinizing her, I’m taking an absurd amount of pictures.  She’s just too cute to resist!

A defeated Alice. It’s so hard to tell her ‘no’

Six Months with Alice

Six months ago today (February 17), I adopted Alice from the Wisconsin Humane Society.  She’s just as wonderful, lovable, and playful as the day I brought her home.  We’ve grown and adapted to each other while learning along the way.

Ma chéri, Alice

One of the first things we learned and adapted to was our daily routine.  Alice enjoys her morning cuddles (especially pre 8:30am) before she has breakfast and soils her freshly cleaned litter box.  Then she joins me for breakfast.  Being the spoiled cat she is, Alice enjoys a small bit of milk with me while I eat.  She also receives a very small bowl of canned tuna for dinner; a can lasts seven or eight days, so it really isn’t much tuna.  (She will meow and walk into the kitchen, stare at the fridge, and walk into the fridge after I open the door when she wants tuna.)  At night, our routine now includes Alice curling up in her corner of the bed and sometimes playing with my feet as she gets comfortable.  Many times, Alice is still sleeping in her spot the next morning—or she returned to her spot during the night 🙂

Another part of routine includes when I arrive home.  Alice is a sweetheart and almost always comes to greet me.  After I set my purse and other items down take my shoes off, and put my winter coat away, I give Alice a hug while holding her in my arms, petting her, and sappily loving her.  We cuddle like this several times a day as Alice is very lovable 🙂

She also loves people and is great with kids.  Alice has met numerous new people during our six months together and has taken well to all of them, including my young nieces.  My youngest niece still prefers to pull on Alice’s fur rather than pet her gently.  Alice has never retaliated against the noise or the pain, except once when my niece had a fistful of fur and Alice gave her a look before putting her open mouth on my niece’s hand.  The action was gentle enough that my niece didn’t let go because there was no pain inflicted; the action drew attention to the situation though, so Alice’s fur could be returned to her without tears or bloodshed.  I was quite proud of Alice.

“Look how cute I am. Pet me?”

However, Alice isn’t as fond of other animals, at least not cats.  She and I house-sat for my mom earlier this winter; Alice and my mom’s cat didn’t get along for the first week.  At first he didn’t realize she was around, but then Alice started antagonizing him and he wouldn’t leave her alone.  There was lots of hissing and growling with the occasional swatting at each other (most from Alice).  She felt comfortable as long as my mom’s cat wasn’t around, and as they adjusted to each other, Alice was fine as long as she had some space.

Overall though, Alice is extremely chill.  Even traveling around during the holidays, Alice rode great in the car, went in the carrier when she was asked, and somewhat enjoyed exploring the car on our long drives.  On our drive back to Milwaukee, Alice spent most of the drive asleep on my lap.  Even while I was driving, she kept asking me to pet her.

When we aren’t venturing all over Wisconsin, Alice spends her days at home mostly sleeping on my bed, sleeping on a chair, sleeping on the couch, sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a box (she has three to choose from), sleeping on a box, and sleeping in front of a window.  I absolutely love watching her sleep; she’s so peaceful.  Consequently I have an overabundance of “sleeping Alice” pictures, particularly because she tends to sleep in interesting ways.  She does the typical curl in a ball to sleep, but Alice also lays sprawled out in a manner reminiscent of a dog or even a human.  Interestingly Alice’s favorite sleeping place changes frequently.  For several weeks, she preferred the loveseat armrest, then there was the dining room chair, the living room rug, the red chair, my bed, inside or on top of any box, my headboard or backpack, back to my bed, and now the couch by my feet.  Despite where she sleeps, she moves and switches places every-so-often and she frequently moves to within arm’s reach of me.  Alice has even been known to relax on the bathroom rug while I shower; this desire to be near me never ceases to amaze me and continually makes me smile.

Dozing in the living room

When Alice isn’t sleeping, typically she’s grooming herself, playing with her toys, looking out the window or scratching.  Despite being a long-haired cat, Alice grooms herself more than any other cat I’ve ever had (which is a lot consider my family almost always had cats).  Her fur is so soft and warm though; I enjoy burying my face in her fur after being outside 🙂

The most entertaining thing Alice does is definitely play with her spirals (basically a spring).  She swats them all over my apartment, races after them, leaps over any furniture that impedes her, and will carefully carry them in her mouth when they “out of bounds.”  Watching her reminds me of myself playing soccer, the way she races all over like a crazy girl and slides under the couches attempting to keep the spiral in play 🙂  Watching Alice wrestle is also quite fun, as is tempting her to chase a string in circles.  Alice and I are excited for spring, so I can open the windows.  She simply loves sitting in the window watching the birds and squirrels.  Alas it’s currently far too cold to have the windows open.

Playtime

To vent her frustrations regarding the lack of open windows and breeze, Alice chooses to scratch…on the furniture.  If I keep her claws trimmed (an activity she is fairly patient with), she scratches on her scratchers instead.  A firm voice and water also help as a deterrent; theoretically praising her for using her scratchers helps too.

The only other trouble Alice tends to cause involves my laptop.  She enjoyed cuddling on my chest, but that sometimes involved her walking across my keyboard.  This caused my laptop to behave strangely; thus Alice is no longer allowed to step on my computer.  Unfortunately this seems to have extended to laying on me, as she rarely cuddles with me while I’m on the computer anymore.  Instead she enjoyed flopping across my homework last semester.  Her favorite homework to obstruct: French.  Alice wasn’t picky about which French class she distracted me from, but it was always a French class.

“Hi, this looks like a nice place to relax.”

“Really? You work too hard; how about pet me.”

 

Alice’s love for food leads her to joining me at the table for meals.  She literally sits at or on the table while I eat to sample whatever I’m eating.  She attempted to take half a quesadilla off my plate (that didn’t work so well for her); she tried to eat pizza crust out of my hand (I was currently also eating it); and at least once she ate a piece of meat off my plate (like it was sitting there on her plate).  We’re working on not stealing my food.

Random fact: Alice gives me funny looks when I stretch, workout, or dance in the living room.  I think she thinks I’m strange.  Although, she’s stopped giving me these funny looks when I talk to her in French.

Typical Alice

Alice and I have enjoyed our six months together and will hopefully have tons and tons and tons more months together (she’s only two and a half years old).  Whenever the weather improves again, Alice and I will try going outside again.  She wants to go out now, but she only ever asks when I’m in the morning or late at night (at which I’m in my pajamas).  Now to cuddle with my furry baby 🙂

Alice by Alice

I read my human companion’s assessment of me and there are a few inaccuracies.  You need a cat’s perspective (and so does my human companion), so I’ll tell you about a day in my life.  It’s a hard life, especially when it’s hot.

5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. or 7:30 a.m. (depending when my companion awakes): I enjoy the freedom to run around the entire apartment playing with my mouse, playing with my jingle ball, clawing at my three scratchers, and looking out the window.  I also stop to wake my companion several times because I also enjoy to be pet in the morning.

Around 7 a.m. or 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. (when my companion awakens): I have only four requests: feed me, water me, pet me, and clean my box.  Then you may do as you wish, but I require at least 10 solid minutes of attention in the morning; I’ll even reward you with lots of purring.

8 a.m. (if my companion hasn’t awoken): I shall cuddle with her and receive my morning love while lying on a soft blue pillow or my companion’s torso.  I can forego being fed for now if I’m receiving adequate amounts of attention.

Usually by 8 a.m.: I’m ready to clean up and relax.  I might want to play with the string though, depending on how much I played earlier in the morning.  I’m very talkative when I play.  Otherwise, I might following you around in hopes of more love and petting.  I need enough love to get me through the remainder of my tiring and difficult day.

For the rest of the morning and afternoon: I’m content napping and looking out the window.  I don’t just nap or nap in the window though; between naps I’ll walk around, stretching my legs.  I might eat and/or drink a little (to keep my strength up) or sharpen my claws on my scratching wedge (it’s my favorite of the three).  I also find somewhere different to nap—sometimes in the middle of the living room rug, other times on the bed or on the dining room chair with a cushion.  My curiosity has led me to discover numerous other great napping places, some of which double as hiding places (for when that noisy thing you all call a vacuum appears).

During meal and snack times: I check the goings-on in the kitchen; I offer to help, but my companion always mistakes this offer as a request for food.  I’m curious and love food, so I always accept my companion’s offer by sniffing first then maybe sampling.  I’m also fascinated by the large box that lights up when it’s opened.  I think my companion calls it a fridge.  It’s cold, but I’m curious and I see bowls of food.

In the evenings: When my companion comes home, I enjoy meeting her at the door.  I’d like to explore beyond the door, but my human won’t let me.  She caught me the first chance I took exploring.  After she comes in though, I only want attention (and maybe more food and water).  I’m still happy to cuddle though before I decide to take another nap.

At night: Before bed, I like a little more love and attention.  Sometimes I like to play before bed too, and I always need to sharpen my claws.  After my companion goes to bed, I prefer to sit in the window for a while.  Then I’ll find somewhere to sleep (for most of the night), perhaps on the bed near my companion’s feet.

You can see now that my companion was incorrect regarding a few of her facts.  You must also now understand the difficulties of being an indoor cat; if you don’t you must be a lover of those noisy barking things I met at the vet last week.  This also makes you a hopeless human, so now I return to nap on my favorite chair.

Meow.

Style: Humorous
Genre: Descriptive

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Meet Alice

I adopted Alice from the Wisconsin Humane Society on Saturday, August 17, 2013.  She’s two-years-old and only six pounds.  Her long fur is red along her tail, back, neck, ears, head, and paws while her tail tip, paws, stomach, chest, chin, and nose are all white.  Alice has big, fluffy paws and a loving heart.

She’s a sweetheart who enjoys spending time with people, even toddlers and babies.  She doesn’t seem to mind crying, happy screaming, or fur-tugging babies.  My two nieces (two-and-a-half years and five months) visited the weekend I adopted Alice and Alice never once folded her ears back, swatted, hissed, or exhibited any other negative reaction towards the loud noises.

Like many cats, Alice also loves to be pet. However, she prefers to lie near people’s feet to sleep, not on their lap.  She’ll sleep on my bed with me, but—with the exception of the first night—Alice only sleeps by my feet.  Even when I sit or lay on the couch, Alice lays on the floor beneath my feet.  Currently, she’s half hiding under the couch, at the end of the couch where my feet are hanging off.  She certainly likes to do things her way.

I can’t talk about Alice without mentioning that she loves to scratch.  I have three scratching “posts” in my little apartment; Alice uses all three.  I’ve never met a cat who loves to scratch as much as Alice.

Alice and I also have several similarities including our love of food/the kitchen, how much water we drink, and our independence/confidence.  Alice tends to follow me around my apartment; however, she always follows me into the kitchen.  She’ll rub against my legs, beg, and meow asking for food.  If I offer her some, she’ll at least sniff, if not sample everything.  She also eats and drinks a lot for her petite size.  I tend to give her fresh water twice a day because she drinks so much.

Finally Alice is an extremely confident cat.  When I brought her home, she promptly—although cautiously—walked out of the cat carrier and began exploring her surroundings.  Within an hour, she was confidently moving throughout my apartment and “owning her space.”

I’m so glad I adopted this sweet, wonderful, little purring kitty.

Style: Informal
Genre: Descriptive