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.