Schipani Degan Blog » Cats

Enough already, with the cats!

Frank — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 18:07:46 +0000

We are definitely slowing down with the number of pictures we are taking, so maybe this will be the last set for a while. We are starting to get used to their craziness, although they keep finding new ways to be crazy, run like mad and bounce off things. They literally are off the walls.

The funniest antic has to be from their second day home when little Tigger thought it would be fun to stand on top of a lamp shade. This is a 6 foot tall floor lamp, mind you. He jumped from the back of the couch to the top of the lamp and quickly ralized that was a bad idea. He found himself very high up on a lamp that was teetering back and forth and standing on a hot light bulb. (Luckily it is one of those energy saving compact flourescents that don’t get too hot.) He survived the fall back down to the ground, but we didn’t see him for a few minutes after that, and no, he has not tried that one since. If only I had caught THAT with the camera!

The stare-down

If that mouse comes around here again, I swear I’ll get him!

Cuddly Kitties

Frank — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 17:30:03 +0000

Kitties had a little too much to drink last night.

We have Names!!

Frank — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 16:41:21 +0000

I think we have finally decided on Tigger and Roo. But they will also answer to kitty-cat, purr machine, or hey you! Actually they don’t respond to anything unless they feel like it. They are cats, after all.

Many thanks to everyone who gave us name suggestions. Believe it or not, they actually helped us pick. We promise to have more pics up soon, and maybe even some postings that aren’t about the kitties!!

Kitty Milestones from Week 1

Frank — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 13:38:15 +0000

Here are some highlights from the cats’ first week at home:

Sunday, August 27 — the cats came home (scared of everything!)

Monday, August 28 — they used the litter box for the first time

Tuesday, August 29 — they had their first visitors — Gina and Chip — who brought them a little present

Wednesday, August 30 — the cats tested out sleeping with us. The little girl liked it, the little boy seems to hate soft surfaces, so he didn’t stay on the bed for long.

Thursday, August 31 — they used their scratching post for the first time and were markedly less afraid of everything than they had been. They also started jumping up on things, although they don’t seem to like to be up high (so they don’t hang out on the couch or try too hard to get on the table).

Friday, September 1 — they met Sam for the first time. Little boy cat had an embarrassing incident with a paper bag, and has not gone near his former-favorite toy ever since.

Saturday, September 2 — first visit to the vet, which they handled very well. Little boy cat weighs 5 pounds 7 ounces, little girl cat weighs 4 pounds 13 ounces. They started to be afraid of everything again.

Sunday, September 3 — Sam helped come up with the names Pele and Mia after watching their soccer moves. The names may stick… Sunday night both of them fell asleep with us — and purred for over an hour straight!

Cats are Fast!

Frank — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 03:33:15 +0000

It’s not easy to get good pictures of them when they are whizzing by you at 300 miles per hour, but it is a good way for me to practice my picture taking skills! I’ve taken so many pictures of them already, not only are they no longer troubled by the camera noises or the flash, sometimes I think they are actually posing for me. (“Wait, this is my better side.” ”Let me roll on my back so you can get a good shot of my fuzzy belly. Isn’t it cute the way I swat at the little mouse?”)

Off to the races! Sprinting up and down the hallway is a favorite passtime. Notice little girl kitty right behind giving chase.

Diving in for the kill

The near-constant Mexican standoff

More name suggestions:

Zippy and Poppy (Frank and Kristen)
Tigger and Roo (Frank)
Tigger and Winnie (Frank)
Zip and Vroom (David G. — quite appropriate for this set of photos)
Perseus and Andromeda (David G.)
Hansel and Gretel (Kristen and David G.)
Hasan and Zuhra or Fatima and Husan (Lisa S. – the Uzbek names for girl and boy twins…depending on which is older)
Bob and Melinda (Lisa S. – after the Blanchards…authors of our favorite cookbook)
Condi and Rummy (Danny)
Samson and Delilah (Mandi)
Linus and Lucy (Kristen)
Bobby and Cindy (Kristen)
Mork and Mindy (Kristen)
Ying and Yang (or Yingie and Yangie, for Kristen) (Charlie)
Sodapop and Popcorn (Charlie)
East and West (Charlie)
Frizzy and Dizzy (Charlie)
Bonnie and Clyde (Charlie)
Nacho and Salsa (Monica)
Dash and Violet (from The Incredibles) (Jessie)
Puddin’ and Zippy (Sam)

Frank is advocating for Tigger. Kristen thinks that’s inappropriate because he’s not orange. If the boy is Tigger, we can’t decide if the girl is more of a Roo or a Winnie. Or if she should just be named Zippy. Either way, the cats are more and more fun each day as they loosen up and start to get cuddly.

Cats Day 3

Frank — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 12:16:13 +0000

Still no names for the kitties. We’ve considered Linus and Lucy, Jacques and Julia, and some other pairs. I’m thinking of Nellie for the girl because she is a nervous nellie. Otherwise they are LBK and LGK (little boy kitty and little girl kitty), or what I’m sure I’ll end up calling them anyway, kitty-cat.

Cast your votes for these names or add your own to the list:

Pants and Socks (Shannon)
Pants and Knickers (or Skirts) (Debbie)
Pants and Boots (Mom and Dad Degan)
Al and Tipper (Sam)
Lucy and Ricky (Sam and Lisa)
Donnie and Marie (Sam)
Salt and Pepper (Lisa â€” cute, but I already had a cat named Pepper so thatâ€™s not an option)
Pebbles and BamBam (Lisa)
Darcy and Elizabeth (Lisa)
Toffee and Fudge (Lisa)
Sonny and Cher (Lisa)
Nick and Nora (Lisa)
Elvis and Priscilla (Lisa)
Daisy and Gatsby (Lisa)
Casper and Wendy (Lisa)
Gomez and Morticia (Lisa)
Luke and Leia (Debi)

Cats Day 2

Frank — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 03:05:24 +0000

They’re still super-cute, and really warming up to their new home. We still haven’t been able to figure out thier names. (They just won’t tell us, no matter how many times we ask!) “Pants” has sort of lost its luster by now. He doesn’t actually pant any more – that must have just been from the excitement of the car ride home. We’re still open to suggestions.

The Cats Come Home!

Frank — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 03:30:57 +0000

Today our family doubled in size, with the two newest members of the Schipegan household coming home. We’re still searching for names for the adorable brother and sister we brought home from the Washington Animal Rescue League today. They’re about 4 and a half months old, and look how darned cute they are!! The one with the white paws is the girl kitty-cat. So far I like the name “pants” for the boy because he pants like a dog when he gets excited.