Ways to recognize my cats in the dark...

In the night, before I sleep...

Wicket stumbles as he lands. It's a thump-sound of at least three parts, then a pause for recovery. He's got a sweaty little boy smell (in a good way), and the skin around his neck bunches as he walks.

I know Kai by the thick, soft plush of his coat, and the way he lifts his head to meet my hand, and the way that he always nibbles my fingers if I offer them in just the right way. I can feel his backbone bones.

I know Meera by the lack of backbone bones. She's generously proportioned, and she's least likely to come near my face. She sits still as I rub my thumb across her nose and eyes and forehead, and purrs, purrs, purrs.

Pretty Girl 1

Pretty girl 2

Meera crawls INTO the blue chair

Wicket gives it a try

Pensive

Kai hangs over...

...the edge of his favorite piece of furniture: the teacart.

Sympathy blogging...

...for my friend Lizzie, who's feeling pretty bad right now.

The other day I went out to eat at the Olive Garden, and brought home a giant bag of leftovers. A giant, paper bag with handles. A giant, paper bag with handles that Kai found irresistable.

I left it on the kitchen floor, and only realized my mistake when I heard the bag being dragged at horrendous speed from one room to the other. By the time I got to Kai, he'd disentangled himself, but he wouldn't let me near him for hours. He stayed under the bed and just looked so scared still. It broke my heart.

The next day he was back to his usual self, but oh the guilt! The guilt!

Is Wicket prettier here?!

Or here?!

Mock catfight: Wicket vs. Kai

Post-mock catfight

More Kai, black and white

Kai sleeping in black and white

Soooo reflective of their personalities...

After being gone for days, and wondering what kind of welcome I'd receive, I unlocked my apartment door, and called for the kitties.

Wicket sat in his usual spot, about two feet inside the front door (Jen, he can back up when he wants too!), mewing his little head off. Very vocal, that one. Then he ignored me for the rest of the night, sniffing corners and staring out the window until 2 a.m. rolled around, when he curled around my sleeping head and started purring.

Kai came trotting from the bedroom, and was all cuddles and leg rubs all evening.

Meera stayed under the bed during the somewhat chaotic process of unpacking, except for the two times that she darted out, made a beeline to me for some headscratch, and ran back to her hidey-hole.

Typical! (I love typical)

Wicket and the turtle

So on the last day of my incredible vacation this past weekend, I picked up this turtle magnet from the Museum of Natural History on Cape Cod. Immediately I thought of my bebbies, and sure enough, here's Wicket making friends... (Its legs are on springs!!)

Back on Wednesday!

This lil photographer will be incommunicado until Wednesday... So here are a few more pics of wobbly Wicket to tide us all over:

Back to back

Airborne!

(Kai, Wicket, Kai)

Caption this photo!

"...and the stars in their paths agree, the great riddle of the universe shall break on the seventh day of..."

OR

"...dang! i shouldn't have eaten that last kibble..."

Meera, being inscrutable