Couch: The Final Frontier

Applejack here -
I thought I had explored every interesting place in the house, but I came across something totally awesome today. Daniel was cleaning the couch cushions and when he had them off the couch I snuck inside the couch. Once I got in there it was hard to get out. But I found some beads so I played with those. I didn't want to get out (well, honestly... I don't know if I knew how to) until Mom enticed me with a toy. Here are some photos she took.

Applejack and Stephen Colbert are pals

Applejack here-
At the end of a recent episode of The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert gave the TV audience a chance to take a picture with him. I wanted to try it, though it was a little awkward, so Daniel took the picture. Colbert said he wanted people to send the photos in, so Mom is going to try to do that. I might be famous!

Adoption Anniversary!

It was 2 years ago today that our Mommy came to adopt us from Safe Haven for Cats in Raleigh.
The people at the shelter had named us Rocko and Pronto but those weren't very good names so Mom renamed us and we think she did a great job. Applejack and Zoë are great names (even though some of her friends pretend they can't remember them and call us Flapjack and Mincemeat and things like that).
Here are some pictures from the first few weeks at our new home with Mom and Aunt Melanie:

Sleepy Zoë - wasn't I adorable?
Applejack - I loved playing with the scratching board that Uncle Ceece gave us. We still have it and we scratch on it all the time
Zoë - I was so tiny, I barely fit in my collar!
Applejack - from the very beginning I loved snuggling in Mommy's arms
Applejack - I got introduced to the outside world (well, it was a view of the pool). Mom had to pick me up and put me on the windowsill because it would still be another couple of months before I could jump that high.

When we first came home we had to be separated from each other when we weren't supervised because Zoë still had her stitches and we would fight so rough with each other. I stayed in Mom's bathroom and Zoë stayed in Aunt Melanie's. They thought we were crazy with how rough we played; we'd latch onto each other and roll around all in one ball. We still play but Zoë doesn't like it as much as she used to.

We're so happy to have a Mommy who takes such good care of us and loves us so much! There's nothing like a snuggle with Mommy.

Counter Tops

Applejack here -

I've developed some new skills that I want to brag about. Well, I won't brag too loud because Mom gets mad when I display my new skills. But it's pretty exciting for me.

Back in our old home, when we were living with Mom and our real Aunt Melanie, Zoë and I never bothered to try to jump on the counters. I don't know why, we just never did.

So, when we moved in with the Chases last year, Tucker had this really cool escape hideout he could get to. Whenever he got spooked (and I confess that at the beginning I tried to do it intentionally) he would jump on the counter next to the fridge, then up on top of the fridge, and from there up to the little ledge over the tops of the cabinets. It's amazing and to this day I don't know how he does it.

Carolina is a serious counter top jumper. She treats it like it's a sport and she's an olympic hopeful. She's always getting on the kitchen counters and the island and the tables and it looked like so much fun, I just had to try. Surprisingly, I actually made it!
Unfortunately, this exciting new skill is something that Mom hates and gets really mad at me for. Well I say blame it on Carolina, because if it wasn't for her bad example, I would never have aspired to greatness.

My favorite now is getting on the windowsill in the kitchen.

Fighting Techniques

Zoë here -
I'm a defensive player. I always end up on my back, either by choice or because someone knocked me over. I tense up, put my ears back, curl up a little, and extend my back legs out one at a time to fend off the impending repeated attacks. Applejack will circle around me, looking for a good angle to attack from, and I'll swivel a little to be sure my outstretched legs will keep him off.

Applejack here -
I'm an offensive player, no doubt about it. I like to pounce and knock 'em over before they know what's hit them. Once I've got them pinned, I go for the jugular, take a big chomp, and just stay there while they try to wriggle free. It's pretty funny, because Zoë will start growling and hissing. I would laugh, but I want to keep my hold on her neck.

Now Tucker is one of those guys who will surprise you because he usually tries to keep a low profile around the house. But if we get into it, it's a whole different game.

When Tucker fights with his sister Carolina he uses the Peck-Swat technique, and that is hilarious to watch. He'll have Carolina on her back and he'll be standing over her. He'll dive down to peck at her once with his teeth and then immediately pulls his head back up while he swats her on the side on her head with his paw. He'll just do that over and over again until she fights him off. It's awesome to watch.

Carolina is a different story. She thinks she can take me, but come on, let's be real. She weighs half as much as I do. Sure, she's spry, but still... I mean REALLY, what chance does she have?

"How much is that kitty in the window...?"

Which one?


We all LOVE it when our people open the windows. It was finally warm enough today and so we all gathered on the window sill to enjoy the breeze and all the outside noises. And we didn't fight over who got to sit where. It was so cool!

Zoë - Professional Hole-Puncher

Zoë here -
Mom thinks I'm the weirdest cat ever because I like chewing on paper.


Well, it's not actually just paper.
I like to chew on magazines, paperback books, Kleenex straight from the box, file folders, important papers, cardboard boxes, toilet paper off the roll, and Post-Its. I'm a big fan of Post-Its. It's a bonus that Daniel works for 3M because we've always got a million Post-Its lying around the house. Jackpot!