Washers & Pets

Deciding to be a proud pet owner of 12 cats - has it's highs and lows. Rarely do I think, WTH was I thinking taking in all these pets. Most days I truly love having unconditional love from them, they don't talk back and are just happy to have food, water and cuddles. Which let's all be honest....no human is as happy as our pets are! They live the best life - not having a care in the world.

Meanwhile - they sure do run up a high tab of expenses. We've been in our house for almost 10 years now. About 5 years ago we replaced the washer that came with the house. It was an old one, and had started "walking" no matter how you loaded it or the size of the load. Fast forward - we are purchasing a new washer. Which infuriates me to no end for so many reasons. The top two being - cost and that I feel the washer should last more than 5-7 years (which is the average for new machines these days).

We went to a local appliance store to see what they had and get pricing. The older gentleman that helped us, asked How many people in the house? Well..there's 3 adults and 12 cats. He looks at me like, who cares about the cats. I further explain that I do a lot of laundry due to some senior cats who pee on puppy pads, not to mention their beds, furniture covers and our regular laundry.

So we continue to look at washers - Maytag has a fancy pants washer made for "pets". What is so special about it? Not much, it just "removes" cat hair. Last I checked, all washing machines/dryers will do that. Now I truly would have gotten that one, because it had all the features we needed, and theoretically should hold up to a multiple pet house, and the price wasn't horrific.

Next up - he recommended a Spin Queen (and if you're like...wait that sounds familiar but it's not a brand name the general population would purchase - you're right!). Spin Queen is a commercial washer typically seen at your laundromat or apartment complexes. The great thing is they are more durable than the standard residential washer. (After all, they are meant to be over used and abused by people who don't care.) It's the same size as a standard washer, minus the coin operation feature. I'm most excited that it doesn't have that stupid auto lock thing that all the new machines have. Call me crazy, but I like to start the washer and fill it while the water is running and then rinse my detergent cup right into the wash.

So as you're all cracking up going this lady just bought a commercial washer because of her cats. You can switch to crying when you hear how much we paid for this non-fancy pants, take a beating washing machine. Roughly $1,400. Yep, that's a lot more than I wanted to pay, but - the price tag is worth it when we get a 5 year warranty with it AND it should last us 25+years.

Is it fancy and silver (how I imagine all my appliances eventually being) Nope, but it will get the job done.

Rough days, rough cats & naps

Here we are, the start to another week! I have a love hate relationship with Monday - It's the start of a new work week. BUT I only have to work in the morning, I'm home by 12 most Mondays. I know we all hate Monday's equally. The joy in my Monday comes with a cat. His name is Roughy. Keep reading to hear about him and the love hate relationship I have with him as well!

Roughy's deal: He is straight from the streets of Philly (quite literally!) I've always said I want a cat of every color - at that time, I was lacking an orange cat. Little did I know, I would soon have one! Gene's sister found Roughy when he was about a year or so old. Getting into trouble, which should really be his middle name! He was caught up in the grate at the drive thru to a bank she worked at. She saved him, brought him home, where he quickly got into fights with their other cat. So he moved along to my grandmother Beth's house...a holding spot till we could get him to our house in Annville.

His quick stay at Beth's house was so/so....he loved to sleep in bed, but would also show some bad habits. My favorite - he ate the entire corner of a loaf of bread - from one end to the other. Can't say I blame him, I love my carbs, but did he really have to munch on each piece of bread?!?! He quickly moved from there to us, a friend picked him up and drove the almost 2 hours to our house with him.

Where he met my cousin Joey...and this is where the good times really start! Joey was around much of his first year in our house. There was a learning curve for both of them! Roughy, learning how to live in a house, Joey, how a cat lives/behaves/etc.

To this day, I still laugh over two incidents (and wonder...if that's why roughy is the way he is). Joey one day when we weren't home, took Roughy outside (no lease, no carrier) realized he needed something from inside the house. Told Roughy to "Stay" on the bed of the truck. He comes back to no Roughy anywhere in the yard. Anyone else and I'd be like for real?!?! You thought that would work? Cats are nothing like dogs!

One other time, he opened a 2nd floor window looking over the sunporch roof. Forgot to close it and left our house. (We weren't home this time either!) I get home to find the window open, count cat heads to make sure all are accounted for....Then call Joey to give him hell. He's lucky for whatever reason the cats didn't notice the window was open!

So Roughy, is thickheaded, big attituded and super cute! He's always trying to escape outside. So we are constantly checking that the doors are closed and latched. He will do his darn-dest to get outside if he feels no one is watching. His attitude comes and goes like the wind. He will meow/nudge you for pets, but watch out he will change his mind with no notice and give you a bit, swat or growl. He loves a good fight with the other cats, sometimes playful, sometimes not. Just depends on his wacky mood!

I love him when he's being cute and friendly, hate him when he's being mean to the cats, and spraying to mark his territory. After a long time, we realized that he is much better behaved if he gets "Nap" time with Mel. I know - it sounds absolutely crazy but it's true....mid day when I'm home I'll take a short nap. If I yell out "Roughy, nap time!" he comes running and hunkers down in bed with me. He looks forward to this time with me, and somedays will follow me around crying until I go for a nap.

Who doesn't love a good cat nap?! Especially when the cats curl up and purr/drool the time away with you.

Introducing - Rollie

It's time to introduce another cat - Rollie, sister to Smokey. The dynamic Siamese duo. As bonded as they are, they are also extremely different in all the ways possible. My favorite nickname for her - Rollie Pollie. She has always been a big cat - much bigger than her super petite & slim sister. Rollie's weight has been a struggle, our vet is always nice about the overweight issue but likes to remind us to try and get it lower.

Rollie has her own following of people - but usually her followers are more interested in has she gained or lost weight since they last saw her. We are proud to say she lost weight (exactly how much, we aren't sure), and she's been holding steady. It happened in a haphazard kind of way. I switched all our cats to a high protein, healthy weight food by Purina One. Not exactly cheap, but not as expensive as prescription food, and I put out smaller bowls of food throughout the house that get filled once a day, once its gone that's it til the next day!

Her favorite human food - Cantaloupe. Somehow she knows when I'm about to cut into a fresh cantaloupe. I use the same cutting board and knife for a lot of things, but add a round thing to the mix and she comes waddling in for her share. She used to sit and hold bite sized pieces in her paw stuck on her little nails, in her older years, she leaves it on the floor and munches away. She's stolen a piece of pepper here and there, but truly looks for the cantaloupe.

She is second in line looking for hands on attention. She is not a fan of being held or picked up. She prefers to take her attention sitting on the couch next to you, or sitting on a chair for pets. Rollie prefers to stay on the first floor of the house, only occasionally making the long trip up the stairs to the second floor if the food is out downstairs. Can't blame her as all her favorite pillows and cat beds are downstairs. Not to mention where most of the human interaction goes on.

She has a party trick as well - is hers as cool as her sister? Probably not, but still cool. She "gives fives". That's her thing, and she has to be seated at the right height to do it, most times she'll do it on command as well. What is a cat five? For us, she reaches out and grabs your hand, pulls it toward her head/face and pets herself with your hand. Walk past her and don't pet - she's grabbing for you. You started petting and stop, she pulls you back in for more pets. Rollie loves the attention as much as Smokey so you have to be ready to give them equal amounts!

Rollie has the cutest white spot on her nose and just under her one nostral. Giving some people a little Hitler vibe.

If you have ever looked at a Siamese cat directly in their eyes you'll notice they have the most amazing blue eyes (at least ours do....) But when they are feeling a little mean or unfriendly their eyes kind of turn red! How crazy...it doesn't happen all to often in our house.

Till our Tails cross again,

Mel