Dear World,
Life gets better and better. First, I know where She keeps the Cat Cookies! Second, We have a new bag of Cat Cookies! After I say "third", I'm stopping with the counting thing because it's awkward and confuses me. Third, I'm making great grades at Cat Film School!
I'm going on a school field trip to see "Puss 'n Boots" starring the ginger cat from "Shrek". Can't wait! We'll have water bowls and Cat Cookies in the theater!

Later Tater,
Whistle (this is MY blog but some brother named Fish changed the pass code then I got on secret double probation because of a total misunderstanding...)

A Prayer from Whistle

Dear God, this is your Whistle.
Thank you for this day. Thank you for all I see around me.
For what is above my head, what is below my paws.
Thank you for everything!

Thank you for my brothers and my nanny, Sister the Dog.
Thank you for my humans.
Thank you for the big clay pot of catnip growing outside the window.
Thank you for all the birds out side; squirrels, too.

Thank you for Greenies, cat food and clean water.
Thank you for fresh litterboxes.
Thank you for the strength to jump high on the Study bookcases.
Thank you that no one saw me knock over the lamp in the dining room.

Thank you for my friends near and far.
Thank you for my green collar.
Thank you that I am dressed in clothes once a year on Halloween.
Thank you for ear scratches, purrs received with delight and bugs.

Thank you for making me and placing me in my home.
Amen.

Dubby here.

Why I like Flavor by Dubby

I enjoy all flavors, especially things to eat like food. I eat Cat Crunchies, Dog Crunchies, and any human food I can find. Today I licked the mixer blade in the sink.
Mom says I am not supposed to lick cookie dough on mixer blades or eat any human food. I do not understand this.

Flavor is my life. I love to eat. I am an Epicurean Kitty.

I am trying to be like my big dog friend, Sam. He is a Bearnaise Sauce Dog and lives with Aunt Songbird. He is big. I want to be just like him.

Sam throws up. I can learn to do this, too. Just like Sam.

I love Greenies but my Ginger Brothers are better at eating Greenies than I am.

I want to learn to eat off a sterling silver fork like Sister.

I love food.

Mom? That's all I can think of to write. OK?

Love,
Dubby

Fish here. Whistle is off giving lap time to one of our people.
Everyone is home with us! We slept on her bed and now I'm telling you what is going on.

There is a wet thing outside today. Water is on the windows and floor outside.
We are inside, dry and full of cat cookies.

When a hurricane comes, we give lots of cat contact by staying with our people. I hid under the covers of her bed yesterday for hours. I didn't know what was happening. They moved big green plants inside and stuff from outside, too. I love having green plants indoors! I found bugs and geckos to catch! It's like a big party in here but the people feel stiff and tired.

It's our job to help our people. Not difficult to do because when I feel them getting stiff and tired, they pick me up to snuggle into my fur. She tells me she loves me and that I am wonderful many times.

Sister, our dog, is staying close to the people, too. She is beautiful. She has new flavor because the people took her to a place where she got a "bath". So silly! We groom Sister everyday! She doesn't need to go anywhere!

I try to worry when my people worry but I cannot. We are safe and dry. We have plenty of food. I can go wrestle with Whistle or Dubby anytime I want to. My water bowl is full. The litter box is clean. Really, now, what else is needed? Nothing to worry about here.

Dubby thinks the plants brought indoors are for our birthday celebration. I didn't tell him otherwise. He's young and this is his first hurricane.

Forgot to tell you that she sewed a wool felted sweater scrap cover for me! It's toasty and smells like her hands. I tried it out last night and slept for several hours under it.

If you are a cat, you need one of these cover thingies.

Time to go. I hear the cat food cannister shaking.

Fish, I am sure I am her favorite.

Aunt Songbird is here! She brought us cookies! Big bags of cat cookies! She brought catnip! Toy mice! She is here and we love her!

Sister got dog cookies with yogurt icing! And sprinkles! She ate two and wanted the entire box but Aunt Songbird said, "save some cookies for later".

When I woke up this morning, I went in to Aunt Songbird's room. I jumped on her bed and looked at her!

She is really here!

Dubby says, "I love her! She is my Aunt Songbird!"

We say "ant" for "Aunt" down here because we are Southern Kitties.

Love,

Whistle, with Cat Cookie Breff!

Whistle's Christmas List

Dear Santa Claws,

I had a great year! We got Dubby! We learned new tricks! Fish got hurt, then got well!
Sister is so much fun! Andy got hurt and he got well!

Here is my Christmas list. I wish for these:

A great present for Sister because she is the Best Dog in the Whirl and my nanny.

400 lbs. of Greenies, the best cat cookie!

To be the spokescat for Greenies, the best cat cookie!

Get my picture taken with the President of Greenies, the best cat cookie!

Please get Fish and Dubby and Andy what they want for Christmas

More than one Birthday a year!

Love,

Whistle

RGBP Friday Five

Parishioners pushing for carols before you digested your turkey?
Organist refusing to play Advent hymns because he/she already has them planned for Lessons & Carols?
Find yourself reading Luke and thinking of a variety of ways to tell Linus where to stick it? (Lights please.)
Then this quick and easy Friday Five is for you! And for those of you with a more positive attitude, have no fear. I am sure more sacred and reverent Friday Fives will follow.
Please tell us your least favorite/most annoying seasonal....

1) dessert/cookie/family food I like everything. I love Greenies Cat Cookies best of all!
2) beverage (seasonal beer, eggnog w/ way too much egg and not enough nog, etc...) I drink water only so I don't know about the taste of eggnog and beer.
3) tradition (church, family, other) Why can't we climb the Christmas tree? Why bring it inside if we can't climb it, chew it, and play hockey with the ornaments???
4) decoration See Above
5) gift (received or given) Christmas Cat Collars!!!!
BONUS: SONG/CD that makes you want to tell the elves where to stick it. Every CD that ISN'T Jingle Cats

Love from,

Whistle

Ten Random Things About Me

Aunt Songbird asked me to play. I love her!

1. I love my birthday.

2. I love Greenies Cat Cookies.

3. When Dubby rough houses with me, I don't hurt him.

4. I love Sister, my nanny.

5. I nap in class at Professor Whisker's School.

6. I can fit 5 Greenies Cat Cookies in my mouth at once.

7. My fur is rougher than Fish's fur.

8. I catch feltie toys and put them on my Mom's bed because I love her.

9. I don't understand John Calvin.

10. I dream of going outside.

Scary things...

Our Mom has her suitcase out. She's putting things in it and muttering. We aren't allowed in the room with her suitcase. I don't know if she is hiding things from us or if she is recalling how her Mother's cat "did something in suitcase" years ago as her Mom packed for England.

Anyway, she must be going somewhere again. First, she when to see the Aunts, Assumpta, Bea and Dibley. She stayed a long time.

Then, she went to Nashville to see Cheese, Sue and 1-4 Grace. She stayed a long time.

After that, she packed her suitcase for Atlanta and saw the RevGals. She stayed a long time.

Off to Washington to see PPB and many young gals. She stayed a long time.

Now, here she goes off to see Ireland. Who is that? She will stay a long time.

I don't care for it.

Who will keep our secret water bowls filled? Who will scratch my head and tickle the polka-dots on my tummy?

Who will go get Fish to give him cat cookies when he forgets to come to "Evening Cookie Time"?

Who will keep Dubby from getting into trouble?

Who will let Sister and Andy indoors, let them outdoors, indoors, outdoors...all day long?

Travel is not good. I'm against it. Really, really against it. Don't care for it.

Just so you know how I feel about it,

Whistle

P.S. This is a picture of the suitcases and cases displayed at Ellis Island.

Things are pretty good around here. Fish can jump and fight again. Andy swatted me and hissed. I found catnip on the scratching pad today.

We have a new cat, Dubby. He's small and doesn't smell like us yet. I talked to him some and so did Fish. Sister is scared of him.

Maybe she's just upset that she has another kitten to raise. She leaves the room when Dubby comes in. Dubby walked over to her and rubbed his head on her leg. Sister didn't know what to do with him.

Dubby isn't a Ginger cat. This makes us sad for him. He looks a little bit like Andy because of grey striped fur. Other parts of Dubby are white.

LD keeps Dubby in her room and snuggles with him. I think she should pay more attention to us. I told her so and she said, "Whistle, don't bite Dubby!". I wasn't going to bite Dubby! I was looking for a head scratch and cat cookie.

Oh, here's the rub: the new kitten eats Greenies! I hope he brought his own supply. Like I feel like sharing Greenies with him! We have a big depot of cat cookies from our birthday gifts but these cookies are for us, not little cats who smell funny and are not Ginger.

Otherwise, all is well here and if you need me, I'll be taking a nap in my cat basket.

Sincerely yours,

Whistle

From the Mailbag

Dear Whistle,
How is Andy?
---A Nother Cat Pal

Dear ANCP,
He's crabby in his confinement pen. He hates it! His owie is getting well. He hisses at us when we stick our paws in his pen.

Dear Whistle:
What do I do about bad breff?
---Pass Me a Breff Mint

Dear Mint,
Have you tried Greenies, the breff refreshing cat cookie? I have great breff because I use Greenies! I use Pittr Pat Mints to keep my meows clear and loud. They help my breff, too.

Dear Whistle,
When is good time for a cat cookie?
---Anon.

Dear Anon,
When is it not a good time to have a cat cookie? Believe me, a cat cookie helps any condition. Like if you are getting hissed at by Andy or if you see your Mom standing near where she keeps the cat cookies or when you feel a bit peaked or if you need to keep your strength up. A cookie is a great idea anytime.

Thanks for your questions! Keep your whiskers clean and as Cousin Meleech says, "Peace of the Paw",

Whistle

SMELL MY BIRTHDAY BREFF!!!

We got canned Cat Food for our birthday dinner tonight!!! Never had it before! DELICIOUS!

We got snacks like New Zealand Venison Jerky!!!Greenies!!!CatBerry!!!Cat Coat!!!

We got catnip candy bars! Furry mice! New Collars!!! We got birthday cards from Josie and Boudreaux! LittleManKitty sent beautiful catnip candy bars, cat cookies and furry mice!

We got pieces of leather string to chew! We got everything a good cat could want!

I HAVE CAT COOKIE/CANNED CAT FOOD BREFF!!!!!!!!!

We got new collars! We look very handsome and catly! We are 2!

Burp,

Whistle

Shhhhhhhh! Don't tell anybody!

Littlemankitty sent us a birthday box! Mom opened it to see who sent it then told us we couldn't have it until our birthday...

I got into the box and found a furry mouse toy! Greenies! Cat Crunchies! Catnip Candy Bar cat toys! All from my Cousin LMK!!!

Mom saw me with a spit-drenched furry mouse!

Then I told her I needed to have a Cat Crunchy! It's a new kind! I got one and so did Fish!

Are birthdays the best or what?

I'll be TWO YEARS OLD on Tuesday! So will my brother Fish!

LMK, you are the best!

Love,

Whistle

Dear Melech,
You are a great kitten! We all think so! You sent us cat cookies! We love them and got our Mom to buy more for us. Even our nanny, Sister, likes the cranberry cat cookies.

I hear that you are using your feet and paws funny around your litter box! This is great! Keeps the humans on their toe pads wondering what you are doing. Our forecat, The Great Rusty, perched with all four feet on the edge of his plastic litter box. Sometimes he did his work inside the box, other times, he just didn't.

I have a Booda litter box with steps. I walk up a ramp into an enclosed litter box. Lots of privacy, good place to kick litter everywhere! Love it! Our Mom likes it because she doesn't sweep up kicked litter everyday. Because the Booda is like a lil' round house, the litter stays inside of it. The steps knock off the litter crumbs when I leave the Booda. I think I heard LMK has a Booda, too.

When Fish gets out of his Hermitage, I'll share the Booda with him, or so my Mom says. He may have to get his own! A cat likes his own place to return to the earth what came from the earth (see my poem, "Bitter Litter" from my book, " Fish's Greatest Poems and Quotes: One Cat's Perspective on Life, Naps and Cookies", InterVarsity Press, 2007)

Anyway, you are a great kitten and I'm sure you are helping your Mom feel needed. Be sure to learn to sit on her lap and make her calm. This is holy work and one of the reasons God called us to be Preacher Pets.

Peace of the Paw,

Whistle

Boring!

Boring, boring, boring!!! Whew! I'm sick of my brother, Brother Fish, blogging here. Get your own blog, you slacker cat!


Fish is BORING!



Let's discuss something we are all fascinated about: MY BIRTHDAY IN 13 DAYS!!!
Yippee!

I'm sending out invitations. Mom says I may invite whoever I wish but to remember that far away pet friends won't be able to come. That's OK with me! I just want other animals to know I love them!

Guest List for Whistle's Birthday Party (and Fish's....)


All of my RevDog and RevCat pals!
Dibley
Assumpta
Chubby the Squirrel out the kitchen window.
Gypsy the Cat
Border Collies down the street

and then, I'm inviting humans who sound interesting:

Miriam Webster, she knows words
Warren Peace
Chester Drawers
James Herriot
Dr. D., our vet
Whoever it is who owns the Greenies factory

Can you think of anyone else for my guest list?


Did I tell you that Mom is ordering a canned cat food cake from Party Animals Bakery? Yummy!

Love from your Favorite blogger,

Whistle

P.S. Have you bought my gift yet? Not that I'm asking for one because I'm not supposed to ask for gifts and I wouldn't think about asking for a gift even though my birthday is in 13 days.

Guest Blogger: Fish

Dear Friends,
As you know, I've been in confinement for years so my fractured-three-pins-added leg may heal. I've had a great deal of time to think.
After much reflection and reading, I've decided to become St. Fish. I discover that I am a contemplative cat who likes to meditate under my turtle quilt. During meditation, I realized that I do not miss television, my ipod or watching bird videos. Instead, I've discovered blessings in the quiet. My "cage" has become my hermitage. My time "apart" are refreshing moments when I can think deep thoughts about my food bowl, my paws and life itself.
Therefore, I have taken the name, "St. Fish", to honor my Mom and in recognition of my new monk self. I can't figure out how to tonsure my head so I believe my shaved back leg will serve as my "monk's mark".
Please, no more gift cards for downloading iTunes or frivolous cat toys (except catnip mice). I do accept cat cookies because a cat who can't enjoy cat cookies has poor theology.

In Quietness and Rest,

St. Fish (do you recall that my birthday is 14 days from now?)

Dear Mrs. Inner Dorothy,

Thank you for the cat breff mints and treats. We tried to sit like the Buddha Cat on the bag of treats but Fish's splint won't bend. We have fresh breff and happy tummies.

Please give our best regards to your people and to Ouzo and Truffle. We want to be international pen pals with Ouzo and Truffle. Our teacher, Prof. Whiskers, says we need to "broaden our vistas" because we live in a tiny place in the Deep South.

We send you love, snorgles and several whisker tickles,

Whistle

P.S. I'm writing this for Fish because he is napping. Mom told him to practice his thank you note writing but he just keeps his eyes closed.

I've got lots to tell you.

Our Boy is going to France soon. We will miss him. Our Mom is making us berets to wear. I wish she wouldn't. Does that cat in the picture look happy. Nope.

Andy, Fish and I had a Quiet Day. Andy slept on Girl's bed and told us that we could sleep in the same room with him if he couldn't hear or see us. We slept all afternoon on the enormous dog bed under Girl's bed. She pushes the cushion under her bed in the daytime. Mom couldn't find us and was convinced we had escaped to OUTSIDE. We were just obeying Andy so he wouldn't box our ears.

Fish ate the string I used for Intramural String. I'm off the team now.

He's getting better at eating cat cookies out of Mom's hands but I'm better! I turned in my Catacomb Project to Prof. Whiskers. I made an "A" even though the project was smooshed by Sister.

According to Mom, I am the "sweetest cutest cat in the whole wide world"! Sounds good but she says this to Fish, too.

Yours,

Whistle