Meowy Christmas to all our friends

We are just stopping by to wish all of our friends a Meowy Christmas...May you each find your fondest wish under your tree and stay safe.
We also wish that all your mommies and daddies stay safe, whether they are traveling or no.
Snuggles and purrs,
Taz, Runt and Charles
ps...thanks for all the great comments on my gotcha day post...Mommy and I both think we are very lucky to have found each other.

Happy Gotcha Day for the Princess

Many years ago, after one of the kitties that came before crossed the Bridge, I came to live with mommy. I had been the kitty of an older mommy, that crossed the Bridge and I found myself in a big room, filled with lots of other cats and I was put in a metal box with a towel to sleep on and where I was treated well, but it wasn't my home, if you know what I mean.  I was scared, so when people came to stick their hands in to pet me, I hissed and often scratched them.
For several weeks, this one lady came to the scary place, looking at the kitties. I heard her tell one of the people that her kitty had died while she was gone on a trip and that she was looking for a kitty friend for the remaining kitty she had at home. Matter of fact, I think she had spotted a cute little (why must all you young things look so cute?)black and white one, who was about a year old...Me, I was 7-8 by the people's best guess but then this lady got talking to the worker people and they were talking about me and how they didn't know what they were going to do with me with my acting up (!) and how no one would want me.
Then, on Christmas Eve morning, the lady came back and the worker people put on leather gloves (I told you I was scared!), and stuffed me into a carrier thing and I came here to my forever home. I didn't know it was my forever home and I was still scared but soon, I would let the lady pet me a little when she fed me and now we have a good relationship-I let her pick me up and pet me, then I chirp (I don't meow, more like a chirp) and I jump down. I have a bedroom of my own that those stupid boys stay out of...most of the time, and all the good food I can eat. So, I guess this is my forever home now and I'm glad that lady saw beyond the scared and took me home to become the princess.
I am Taz, Princess of all I want to be! Thanks mommy!

Mommy here: this was 6 years ago today...it took about 6 months before she would let me pick her up and hold her but we have come a long way and she has a home with good food and a warm place to sleep. Oh, and some one who loves her a whole bunch!

Thanksgiving Greetings from 3 kats and a Kwilter

We are just stopping in to wish all our friends and family, furry or not, a very Happy Thanksgiving! We are thankful for our full food dishes, a mommy who will sleep sitting up because we are hogging the bed, warm places to hide and our good health.
We wish that all could have these things and hope to work to try and make some of it come true.
Snuggles and purrs from all of us,
Taz, Runt and Charles and, of course, our bestest mommy, Anna, in IL

Happy Veterans Day and thanks to those who adopt...

All of us here at 3 Kats and a Kwilter want to wish a Happy Veterans Day to all that serve or have served to protect our country. To those whose loved ones gave the ultimate gift, blessings on you and yours.

Here is a picture of our favorite soldier!

And mommy found this the other day and we just thought we wanted to share it today too. Basically, all three of us are rescues, although Charles and Runt were the mommy's nephew's. So, people who chose to find their new loved ones from a shelter or a rescue are a-okay with us!

snuggles from Taz, Runt and Charles
(mommy here...Thanks to Ann from Zoolarty and the people at icanhascheezburger.com for the graphics. You are amazing and we love you!)

Dona Nobis Pacem

 And as mommy's favorite Captain would say..."Make it so!"

Snuggles from all of us at 3 kats and a kwilter!

Just chillin'

Yes, it's been a while but we have been enjoying the change of colors and the cooler nights. It makes for good cuddling with mommy but she's been complaining that we are couch hogs and that she has to sleep all scrunched up...Hey, it's the price you pay for our company!!

So, mommy snapped a couple of pictures of Runt and I while we were relaxing. We really do hate the camera, but we try to just deal with her need to have cute pictures of us to share. Taz usually gets up to greet, so it's difficult to get a good picture of her relaxing. Mommy says she might try it again later today.

This last one (above) is me just hanging out on mommy's lap. As you can see, I'm a big boy-just look at the size of that paw! I love to be on her lap but she says I wiggle too much and puts me down. Now, Runt, he makes himself comfortable and doesn't move until mommy does, so he gets extra lap time.
Oh well, there is just more of me to love and a little goes a long way. >^^<
Snuggles and purrs,
Charles

Just mommy's quilt tops!

Mommy's been mistreating us by not letting us blog! It's been a whole month since we posted and now that we have pestered her enough, what is she going to blog about? Quilting!

Mommy here: Sorry, babies, but I don't have any really cool pictures of you to post and you really haven't done anything to blog about.

That's because you aren't hardly home anymore and when you are, you're sleeping.

That's because I had new duties added to my job and I had to go to school for it and before I did that, I went away for a long weekend of quilting in Wisconsin and I wanted to share one or two of my pictures. I promise I'll post for you soon.

The pinwheel quilt will be going to my new great niece when she arrives in December.

 This top is done. Now I can figure out how to quilt it!

These are blocks from a swap I was in earlier this year. I am making a few more to add to these and about 20 others. Then I will lay them out and make another quilt top.



Thank you to my 3 kats for letting me share my quilt tops. We will return to our regular cat blog posts soon.

Anna (the Mommy)

Wow! Look at this cake!!

Mommy's brother in law likes to fish, mainly for catfish and he catches quite a few (not that he's shared any with us!) but does the catch and release gig. For his purrthday, this is what his cake looked like:

Mommy, can we have a cake like this for next year's gotcha day, but with a real fishie on top?

Purraying for all those in the path of Hurricane Irene

Mommy was telling us about this big, bad storm that is moving through the Atlantic Ocean and heading for the East Coast and she sounded worried about all those who are in the path, so we just want to say we are purraying for everyone and hope to hear that the loss of life is none.
Be safe!

Taz, Runt, Charles and mommy, Anna
(thanks to Zoolarty for the great graphic!)

Friend-shaped holes in our hearts

We learned this morning, before mommy went to work, that Miss Peach had traveled across the Rainbow Bridge. While not totally unexpected, it still made us very sad and our hearts have Miss Peach shaped holes in them. We hope that the memories of her will help fill them during the coming days for not just us but for all her friends. We especially hope this for her Miss Karla and LapDaddy, for Cole and for HoneyBunny. Snuggles and purrs to all!

Then, we found out about sweet little Beignet. While it sounds like he will have a good life, it makes us sad that he won't be going home with his sister, Truffle, and his mom Paula. We want to say we wish you the best, little one and hope your life is filled with all the love you can gather.

Edited to add: We awoke this morning to hear about Sweet Beignet's passing. We are so very sad that somecat so young should be called to the Rainbow Bridge, but we figure Sweet Praline wanted a new playmate and Beignet, being the good boy he was, volunteered. Our thoughts are with everyone who was getting to know this little furrball!
So, here's to our friends, old and new, and to the ones we have lost...May we always remember to say I love you and to give that extra snuggle while there's time.
Purrs,
Taz, Runt, and Charles...and mommy, Anna!

Runt's turn and a plug for donating kitty litter

Runt was upset that Charles got featured for World Cat Day, so mommy is going to give a little time to the Runtster today.
Runt came to live with mommy and Taz when Charles did. They both lived with mommy's nephew and his wife until the marriage ended and her nephew had to move back in with his mommy and daddy and the boys couldn't go with. But her nephew knew that they would have a good home here, so mommy took them both in. Runt is gray and white and has food issues. He is wheat gluten intolerant and still manages to try and eat the dry food ( he's not supposed to!), so he has sores on his mouth that mommy is trying to heal up. He gets Stinky Goodness and the only reason Charles doesn't eat it is that he can't get his fat butt up where mommy feeds Runt.
Runt is mommy's little love bug and his tail curls over his back when he's happy or excited. Here is a picture of Runt from last summer (or the summer before) watching mommy doing yard work.

Love you, baby boy!


Now, the plug for donating kitty litter. Every so often, World's Best Cat Litter will run a contest between 3 worthy shelters and donates cat litter to these shelters based on internet voting. Mommy always picks one of the shelters and votes for it each day. There really are no winners or losers, as all three shelters receive cat litter for free, just in different amounts. And, right now, until September 16th, you can vote for your favorite of the shelters. As of today, over 7000 pounds of cat litter will be donated and this round started on August 1st.
So, check it out:  http://givelitter.com

Happy World Cat Day! featuring Charles

Well, it's been over a month and we are just getting a post done...It's been so terribly hot that mommy just comes home, fixes something to eat for all of us and then crashes in front of the fan or air conditioner!
Mommy decided yesterday to see if she could get a weight on Charles. He is mommy's big boy and after seeing the scale reading yesterday, we now know why...Charles weighed in at a solid 19 pounds! No wonder mommy says "oommph" when he jumps up on her lap!

Charles is a tuxedo mancat, with 4 white spats, some white on his tummy and a little smudge of white on his forehead. He's a snuggler to the nth degree and loves it when it gets cold out, since he can snuggle with mommy without her kicking him off because he's too warm.

Happy 4th!!

We are just popping in to wish all our friends a happy and safe 4th of July...Mommy is going to abandon us for a couple of hours today to go to a neighborhood picnic but that's all right since that normally means goodies in the form of leftovers for us! And, it's too hot outside for us and our fine fur coats, so we'll just stay here in the house, where there are a few cool spots to hang out in.
We like to try and stop by to wish Happy Birthday to all the felines celebrating but, wow!, there are a lot of them today, so consider the wishes have been made to one and all and purrayers for those who need them.
Snuggles,
Taz, Runt, and Charles

Watch cat?

The mommy here...first, thanks for the birthday greetings. It is nice to have all of our friends share in days like that.
I think I have mentioned here before that Taz, aka "the Princess" doesn't exactly play nice with the boys. And some days, it works the other way too, as this photo will show. (please ignore the mess, this old machine has been here since I moved in and I don't normally go to that corner of the basement)

That is Runt, sitting in wait, for Taz to poke her head out to eat..She's hiding up in the machine. I know this because, while he was distracted having breakfast, she stuck her head out to see if the coast was clear. Runt heard me talking to her, and came running back down to the basement. He's been sitting there now for almost an hour. She knows he's there, so she's not giving him a chance to startle her.
Got to love the games!

Many years ago, in a place not far from here...

Mommy was born in the early hours of the morning! She was her mommy and daddy's first baby and was different because she was born with a port wine birthmark.  But she was special and she became a big sister to one sister and three brothers, and she grew up to be our mommy and for that we are happy!
So, Happy Birthday, Mommy Anna, and we hope we get to share you for many years to come.
Snuggles and purrs,
Taz, Runt and Charles

Happy Gotcha Day to the "Boys"

Three years ago, while I was vacationing in New Mexico, I received a call from my sister. It seems my nephew, who was moving home, needed to find a new home for his cats. While he was willing to take them to the Shelter, he first wanted to know if I could take them. He knew they would be able to stay together and that wasn't a sure thing at the Shelter.
So, while I was gone, I became the new mommy to two beautiful boy kitties and they have been joy everyday since. So, Happy Gotcha Day to my Charles and my Runt. Mommy loves you lots.

Remembrance Sunday

Well, this is a quick drop-in but we didn't want to let the day go by without remembering the cats that have come before us here at 3 kats and a kwilter. The Rainbow Bridge has seen many of mommy's feline companions through the years and we just want to remember them with a smile and a few tears.
They are Scamp and Tramp, Thomas, Punkin Spice, and Tiger. Mommy misses them all but knows that we will all be together someday..
Sending snuggles and purrs to all the fine felines out there and their mommys and daddys that love them!
Taz, Runt, Charles and mommy, Anna, in IL

Trapped Cat Saved by a Burger!

Mommy was reading her Facebook postings and found this story. We all think that the person/persons that put this poor kitty down there should have to eat dog food for the rest of their lives. But, the story is great and actually has a happy ending in sight, so we are happy too.
Everyone have a great Thursday and enjoy the story!

Last Tuesday, two Minnesota Department of Transportation (DOT) workers were cleaning a pedestrian walkway on the Richard Ira Bong Memorial Bridge, which connects Duluth, Minn., with Superior, Wis., when they got quite a surprise.
DOT employee Christopher Smith was just doing his job, sweeping debris out of the path, when he heard meowing.
Smith looked over the edge of the bridge and found an orange cat trapped on a pier cap — a concrete ledge that tops one of the footings of the giant structure.
The pier cap, 80 or 90 feet above the water and 20 feet below the bridge decking and made of un-climbable concrete and steel, left the cat with no way to escape his predicament.
Unable to contact his co-worker, Gary Wright, who was operating a sweeper on the bridge, he called the police.
Superior, Wisc., police officer Bradley Esler answered the call.
“A couple of DOT workers had reported that there was an abandoned cat that was on a pier abutment about twenty feet below the bridge decking that appeared to be abandoned and cold and was meowing,” he said.
When Wright finally saw the police car parked near Smith, he went to check on his colleague and found Esler and Smith trying to figure out how to help the agitated feline.
Their first attempt involved dangling a nylon strap down to the cat to see if it would use the device to climb back to the roadway.
“Our thought was we could hopefully put the strap down there and the cat could self-rescue,” Wright said.
The cat had other plans, though. The feline seemed to calm down after he rubbed against the strap a few times. But it soon became clear that the cat had no intention of climbing a nylon strap, so they quickly came up with another plan.
Wright remembered a safety harness bag he had inside his truck. They decided to run the strap through the handles of the bag and prop it open with a piece of wood.
They baited the rescue trap with Smith’s lunch, a venison burger, in hopes that the cat would be hungry enough to succumb to temptation and facilitate his rescue.
“Honestly, as soon as the bag touched down on that pier cap, the cat jumped in it and I pulled as hard as I could to close the bag and pulled it up,” Smith said.
The cat was eating so hungrily that he didn’t even seem to notice what was happening. “I’m thinking the cat had been down there for some time,” he said.
When Esler and Smith released the cat from the bag, he instantly started purring, and the two fell in love with him. Both of them talked about keeping him.
The Animal Rescue Federation in Superior took the cat into its care. They gave the lucky feline, a Manx or Manx cross about 1-1/2 years old, a special name to commemorate his rescue.
“Ira was named Ira after being found on the Ira Bong Bridge. We named him Ira Bridger. He is a manx. He has a stubbed tail with a little kink in it. He has large feet for walking on snow,” said Jessica Grant from the ARF.
And the story continues: Esler is serious about adopting him.
“I am interested in keeping the cat,” Esler said. “I went to visit [him] and he’s just a happy camper, jumping from person to person. I think he knows it was almost lights out.”
Esler also said he’d like to find the person who he thinks “pitched it over the side” of the bridge.
“It would really tick you off if you would have seen it down there,” he said.
Wright agrees with Esler’s suspicions. “We found it hard to believe the cat got down there on its own,” he said.
Ira will remain at the ARF shelter for seven days in case the owner comes back to claim him, Esler said.
“I was hoping this cat was a girl so I could name her Bridge-ette,” Esler said. “But this cat’s lucky for many reasons, so maybe Lucky.”

(note from the mommy...I found this story on one of my facebook posts but it is actually pulled from Catster http://blogs.catster.com/kitty-news-network/2011/04/04/trapped-cat-saved-by-a-burger/, with sources listed as the Duluth News Tribune and Northlands News Center and I thank all for sharing the wonderful story)

For Shell and those who loved her

This will be a quick note from the mommy but we wanted to say we are sorry to hear about Shell and her departure to the Rainbow Bridge. We have followed her story and have been purring and praying for her all along. We know the decision was difficult to make for MaryAnn but we know that Shell knew she was loved and that is all we can ask for.

So, farewell, Sweet Shell!


Snuggles and purrs,
Taz, Runt, Charles and mommy, Anna, in Illinois

Bad mommy!

Our mommy has been so "busy" that she hasn't let us post on our blog. As you can see by this picture, Runt is giving her the cold shoulder routine (really cold, as the snow will show)

but at the end of the day, he is snuggled right in the blankets, near mommy for a little cat nap.
In other news, The Princess, aka Taz, has chosen the front bedroom as her domain and is hissing at all that enter, except mommy, who brings the food. Fortunately, this works for the boys as that room is too girly for them and it works for mommy, since the litter box is in the bathroom, immediately outside the bedroom door and easily accessible for princesses and boys alike.
Mommy has been sewing again, which is a good thing since she doesn't like us to lay all over her fabric and messing up her quilt blocks. We think it's fun to wait for mom to lay every thing out, turn to get her camera and then play chase and race through the middle!
So, to all our furry friends, we bid you a wonderful Wednesday!

A woofie named Madison

We got word today that one of our online woofie friends has left for the Rainbow Bridge. Madison would occasionally blog on his human mom's blog about his insight into life and the life of a dog with a quilter for a human. Mommy would often read us Madison's blog posts and we liked him, even if he was a woofie!

We just want to say here that we will miss your posts, Madison, and that we are sending our snuggles and purrs to your human family to help them deal with your leaving. Run free, Madison, run free!

You can read about what Madison's human has to say about his passing on her blog post:
http://amisimms.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/what-a-dog/

So, we'll be back soon to report on Mommy's return and how she is trying to get in good with us again, but for today, we are signing out.
Snuggles to all!

Mommy's leaving us!

Well, cats and kittens, the suitcase is out and the mommy is putting stuff in it...and not shorts and t-shirts but the same type of clothes she wears here at home. Why, oh, why would she want to go somewhere as cold as here? More importantly, why would she want to leave us here alone?

Mommy: Well, where I am going has been hit with the same goofy weather that the lower half of the US has been experiencing...should have been a little warmer than here in Illinois, but doesn't look like there will be much difference.

 Well, we think it stinks! Now, we won't have you to snuggle with or to get to fill the food dish whenever we want!

Mommy: Aunt Mary will be coming in to make sure you don't starve (not that that would happen anyway) and to give you snuggles and cuddles. I expect you to behave like well behaved felines and not to give her any trouble. Oh, and Taz, try coming out so she can see you once or twice...that way she won't worry.

 We're going to miss you, mommy.
I'll miss you too but I don't leave for a day or two, so let's snuggle some.
 No, we're too busy right now...

Just a quick note

Several of our cat friends are not feeling well and we just want to pop in to say "feel better" and "we're purring for you"...Special wishes to feel better go out to Momo and KC and her daddy, Charley.

Have a great Sunday everyone!
Taz, Runt, and Charles

Friends helping friends

One of the blogs that mommy checks most days is the Cat Blogosphere, where we cats are working to take over the internet. I mean, where can you find out about the latest feline fashion trends, who has found new forever homes and who needs a little help from their friends to get over a medical or financial bump in the road?
http://www.blog.catblogosphere.com/

Today's post is to help get the word out about the later-friends helping friends-and it's a double dose of help, with the current auction helping out Chrystal and the new cat house that is being built.
http://dogsandcats.typepad.com/blog/
The emergency auction to help out Bugsy and Gracie will begin on Monday, the 31st. Take a second and check out the offerings and we bet there is something you will fall in love with and need for your very own.
 Snuggles and purrs from all of us here in Illinois,
Taz, Runt and Charles

Here is the notice from the Head Auctioneer-Gracie:

We are having one for Chrystal to help get $$$ for a new cat house, that auction will end on January 30 at 11:59 pm est. We also are holding an emergency auction for Bugsy and Gracie from the Happy Cat Family, which will begin January 31st.  Read about them here:
http://www.happycatfamily.net/blog.html 
Much needed $$$$ are wanting for the big vet bills already in need of payment plus more medical things to happen to get these two back on their paws. Not only is one kittie in need from the Happy Cat Family but two. Please check things out as there are many wonderful items and some pretty jewelry that is purrrfect for that special dress up night out for your mommies. Gracie~Head Auctioneer
http://furriendsofcb.blogspot.com 

Happy Birthday to Sammy and Andy's Mom, Judi!

We just wanted to stop in to wish Judi a happy birthday! We are fans of Sammy and Andy and know that behind every great cat is a wonderful mommy, so Happy Birthday from 3 Kats and a Kwltr!
Snuggles and purrs,
Taz, Runt, Charles and mommy, Anna, in Illinois

Our wishes for 2011

This won't be a long post but we wouldn't let mommy log off her computer without posting on our blog.

We want to tell our friends that we wish them good health, good friends and good food! We think extra noms are in order to start the year out right. Mommy has pork in the crockpot for later today for her and she picked up extra snackies for us yesterday, so looks like it will be the start to a great year in Illinois!

We had almost 60° F yesterday...Right now, it's less than 30° F and we are snuggled into mommy's favorite fleece throw, where it's warm and toasty. So, stay warm if it's cold where you are or stay cool if it's warm!

We're going to close this entry with a picture taken by mommy's friend, Linda, this past week, after we had a fog overnight. When the sun rose, everything was shiny and glittery.
Snuggles and purrs!