Max-a-Million was on TV!! He and JJ went this morning and he had to wear a collar and everything. All of the TV people really liked him -- even after he got nervous and pooped on the floor (luckily that was AFTER the filming).

JJ and Max were advertising the Black Cat Cotillion where all of the black cats are going tomorrow. Some of us (i.e. everybody except Max, Jinx and Spooky) just don't see what the fuss is about those black cats. As far as me, Tita, Melody and Beignet are concerned, there should be TORTI DAY!! But, I guess it is a good thing and JJ is working very hard to make it a good day for AARF and all of the black cats...

We just can't wait to hear about it all from Max! Maybe I can even get him to write about it. Mostly he just likes to turn the computer on with his head, then let us do the typing.

Ohhhhhhhhh Boy! Time for supper!!

Oregano

Hey, guess what? Sandy Claws came and left a bag of goodies hanging on our chimney!! JJ was really surprised because we woke her up early wanting to go down and see what Sandy Claws had left -- she was surprised because she didn't think we knew about Christmas and Sandy Claws.

First, we ate breakfast because, of course, sustenance is necessary to play insanely with new toys. And, because there just isn't anything better than a wedge of Friskie's or Fancy Feast in the morning (or the afternoon or whenever for that matter). Then, JJ got down the bag that Sandy Claws had left -- WOW -- there were bags of treats and bobble toys (the one with the feathers just made me go k-k-k-crazy!! Also, JJ got all of the tissue paper from all of the presents she had gotten and a couple of bags and new boxes and put that in the floor for us to play in and THEN, she got all of the mice and toys from under the stove with the long thing and we played ourselves silly!!

Beignet still won't play with us but we know she wants too. Sometimes she and Mellie slap at each other but it is just girl stuff cuz they aren't really serious. I feel sorry for Beignet, though, because she just sits back and watches us all -- and we want her to join in.

I took the feather bobble toy and ran all over the house and up on the new house for cats and down and up on the couch and upside down on the round thing and flipped over and fell down and fought with it and carried it and threw it and bit it. Whew!! It was really hard work -- plus, I had to keep it away from everyone else, too. Being a cat is just not too easy at all -- we work Hard!! We work weekends!! We order in!!

Anyway, this is the first time I have ever had Christmas and I love Sandy Claws and JJ and all of the world -- and I especially love my new Mom or Dad is who going to come soon, I just know it!!

Meowy Christmas everyone!!

Oregano

It is Christmas Eve and we are all patiently awaiting the arrival of Sandy Claws. The big tabby and the big black cat say that they have seen Sandy Claws and that he has brought them presents!! We are not exactly sure who Sandy Claws is -- well, after all, this is everyone's first Christmas -- but we think he brings lots of fun!! JJ says Sandy Claws might bring us some tissue paper and boxes to play in and some treats and balls and bobble toys -- and maybe some CATNIP!

You know what? Antoinnette already got adopted! We say "What's up with that?" because we have been waiting a long time to be adopted and she just got here and didn't even have to go to the ADOPTION FAIR and she got a nice new home. I gotta admit, we are pretty jealous.

JJ says that she is going to stay home all day tomorrow and hang out with us. That is almost the best present of all. Of course, the best present in the world for each of us would be finding a forever home and going to live with a loving companion or family.

Amelie

Bonjour and I am pleased to be speaking with you. The other cats have kindly allowed me to express myself -- well, actually I just scared them away!

I am a little confused. I was living in Louisiana, in St. Bernard's Parish. Then, all of a sudden everything went crazy and there was wind and water everywhere and the person who used to take care of me was gone. I was very sad and afraid and went hungry for quite a few days. Finally, I was so hungry I went into the trap and "boom" I was taken.

I was certainly glad to be somewhere that food and good-tasting water was so plentiful but I was very scared of the people at first. A lady named Jill called my name Oceanus. But when I came here to North Carolina, JJ began calling me Beignet. This suits me as it is related to my heritage.

Now, I am well-fed and warm and have lots of comfortable places to sleep. I love JJ and she treats me so well. But I am not sure about these other cats and I twitch my tail and growl at them. Sometimes I even chase and swat them!! Some of them are afraid of me and some of them aren't. Truthfully, I am kind of afraid of them which is one reason I act so mean. If I don't let them get to be friendly with me, they can't take advantage and steal my share of food.

JJ says someone wonderful will adopt me soon and love me forever. I can't wait for that to happen. I want to go live away from the big water in a house with lots of sunshine.

Au revoir, Beignet

Cat, has it ever been cold here!! We can feel what it is like outside from the air coming under the door. Wow!! We are sure glad to be in JJ's house safe and dry.

Everyone is feeling lots better but we are still staying home from the adoption fair a couple of more weeks just to make sure we don't take germs to the rest of the cats. Not that we mind staying home -- but I think we are driving JJ crazy! We have been running a lot and growling at one another and sometimes Beignet, the stealth cat, dashes out and swats somebody. You know what? Nikita is not scared of her -- the biggest scaredy cat of all!! Maybe she is only scared of people.

Tonight JJ made a cake. We wanted to taste it but, once again, she put it where we cannot even get a bite. We still don't understand that -- doesn't she want us to make sure that it will taste good to her other friends?

Oh, my goodness, Tita has the brown mouse toy, gotta go!!!

Amelie

We are finally starting to feel better and it is about time!! I thought I would never enjoy catnip again. All of us have been sick, from a little to a lot. Beignet, Max and Jinx-y have just sneezed a little but me, Tita, Spooky and, especially Melody, have been real sick. Melody even had to go to the HOSPITAL!! She spent the night at North Davidson Veterinary Hospital with Dr. Schmunk.

When Melody got the virus that we all had, it made her have asthma. When JJ got home from work on Friday, Melody was all wheezy and breathing fast. She kept getting worse and had to have some pancake syrup to keep her from going into shock and then she was off to the doctor for a shot and some antibiotics with extra punch. She still got sicker and she stayed with Dr. Schmunk on Saturday and JJ got to pick her up on Sunday. Now, of course, JJ has been treating her like a queen and I'm kind of jealous!!!

JJ doesn't like us to be sick, but she did cut most of our toenails while we felt too bad to care. Melody is getting a bunch of medicine. We will know that she is all and truly well when JJ can't get it into her any more.

The big tabby cat has a brand new door on his house. It is made from wood and now no rain at all can get in. He got new shavings so he has a nice place to nest. He sits at the back door looking pitiful until JJ turns her back and then he goes in his house. He likes to make JJ feel bad and keep opening the door and asking him if he wants to come in. Of course, he won't, but he likes to see JJ open and close the door.

We're trying to be nice to Antoinette and Beignet. Beignet, however, is a stealth cat. She will run up out of nowhere, swat you and run away. Whoa!! Max really doesn't like it. Hopefully she will get nicer -- she better not pick on Maxie too much, because we all take care of him!!

Well, life is hard. Being a cat is tough work. See you around.

Oregano