Stillmeadow Friends

Hi Aunt Shelley,

You remember me. Right? I'm Emma. The people I own called me that because I'm a tabby cat and my markings form a perfect little "M" on my forehead. I'm grey, beige and white, trimmed with black stripes and my tail is striped like a raccoon!

I'm pretty, and I know it. They all tell me that I'm a snob - Well I can't help it if I'm better than them!

Although I don't remember because I was just a baby, they tell me I turned up on their front door step early one chilly morning in October 1995. I was crying and cold and terribly upset. Mum (I have to call her that because she's british) held me close until I was warm and I felt a lot better. Boy was I hungry! She fed me on pink salmon and then I snuggled up and went to sleep on a baby blanket in a cat carrier.

A little while later, Mum, me, and the kids went door to door around the whole neighborhood, but nobody knew who I was.

They fell in love with me over the weekend. I knew they would. Even the two dogs made a huge fuss of me and Sophie, the big golden one would get huge drinks of water and then aim herself straight for me to slap a big dripping wet kiss all over my face - YUCK

I went to the vet a few days later - It was very scary. I got poked all over and he looked at my teeth and said I was 8 weeks old and as fit as a fiddle. ...

...And so the weeks and months went by and I settled down happily. Mum had just decorated the living room and hallway and one night I decided to add some personal touches. It looked great to me, but they didn't think so. To this day I still don't know why they didn't appreciate the fifteen holes I made in the plasterboard. I was disgusted when she filled them in and painted over them...After all my hard work!!

I don't go outside because there are too many scary critters out there and I'm not very brave. Birds scare me too - Mum reckons I never read the instruction manual on how to be a cat.

Oh! I chose the nice portait of me on the top, but mum insisted on putting this one here too. I'm sure she's trying to damage my ladylike reputation. You see, I like catnip...I'm hooked on it actually, and I had just had a good sniff and snort at my toy...It makes me a bit silly, and I batted around the house a few times and then plopped down in the office feeling quite giddy, and of course Dad, always with his camera at the ready, took this...Oh the shame of it...How would he like me taking his photo after he's had a few beers?!

I've got a few hobbies. My best one is snoozing and I have lots of favorite places in which to do it; the porch, Jenny's bed, which is mine now since I took it over; The back of my favorite chair in the family room, the dining room chairs... I also like to snooze on the top of the stairs, but mum swears I'm going to kill one of them some day and so she always picks me up and plonks me on one of my other favorite spots.

I also like food. First thing in the morning I won't let mum do anything until she's given me my Temptations. I discovered a long time ago that the more pathetic I can make myself sound, the quicker she gives things to me... I just open my mouth and holler. Try it whenever you want something. It works!

I like Jenny. She's black and fluffy and she's sweet. I like giving her head butts and I rub my face against hers. I don't know why but she doesn't like it. She always raises her head high, as if there is a bad smell under her nose and she looks for mum to save her!

Ok...Here's what I love.

Fancy Feast
Iams Seafood Recipe crunchy food :)
Temptations treats
Sleeping
Ham
Cheese
Sleeping in the sun on the screened porch
Having my tummy tickled - but only when I want something and need to humor them...
Having my ears stroked.
Catnip
Sleeping
Chasing a length of yarn all over the room and pouncing on it.
Munching moths - yum!
I ate an ant once but that didn't taste good...
Chasing bottle tops or bits of crinkled up paper!

Here's what I Hate
The vacuum cleaner - It's a monster.
Strangers -very scary indeed
Birds - especially Dopey and Beauty the two parakeets who live here - They make fun of me.
People walking in on me when I'm using my litter. I mean, wouldn't you be upset if yours was kept in the laundry room?!
Hairballs...They are really gross and yucky, but very funny when someone steps on one, especially if it's gone cold and they have bare feet!
Being picked up and messed about with and cuddled when I don't want to be... Mum ALWAYS does this to me. I choose when I want affection and kisses -mostly at mealtimes.

Well, that's the story of my life so far. Jenny will most likely want to make a blog here too just cuz I did. But I was first because I'm a cat. What do dogs know anyway?

Love, Emma.
New Boston, NH