StrangeRanger

The Return of the Best Cat-Mas EVAR!

Well, the Ranger household has returned from the Winter Palace.  We all (except Maddie) enjoy the holiday visit to Lady Ranger's ancestral abode, but we're all also happy to return home (except Ivy).  The wee tuxedo cat was. beyond doubt, the Belle of the Ball again this year.  Ivy does not hesitate to make herself at home in the Winter Palace, immediately taking over the papasan in the sun-room and the best sun-puddles in the living room.  While Maddie sulked in the bedroom, Ivy wandered about the house exploring and socializing.  And napping.  Of course.  I don't have any pics yet.  I hope the father-in-law will e some of his pics in the next few days, and I'll post them as soon as I get them.  In the meantime, here's a pic of Ivy getting in the Christmass mood:

  Gettin' ready for teh Par-Tay!

 We really should have gotten her a little lampshade to wear on her head 'cause she was such a party animal.  In fact, the one downside of Ivy's trip is that she spent so much time socializing and exploring and wandering she didn't eat as much as we would have wanted.  While she put a hurtin' on her plates of Christmas Turkey she seems to have dropped to 7 pounds.  She did eat all her food upon our return, but 7 pounds isn't much more than she weighed when we first found her and we are extremely worried.  Must shovel more turkey at the wee tuxedo cat.

Maddie seems to be delighted at being home, and Ivy seems to find it not terrible.  We're hoping the new year bring new appetite to our small foundling.

New Years means Bubbly!  Wheeeeee!  Get me another lampshade!  When do we start?!?

She seems irrepressible, doesn't she?  We'll let you know how things turn out.

Maddie's Tree

It's Christmas time, and Maddie has once again decided that the tree makes a wonderful backdrop for her:

Happy Christmas, Everyone! 

I was trying to get her to hop into the top-hatty basket.  No dice there, but it doesn't harm her beauty.

We're off to the Ivy's Winter Palace for the holiday.  We hope she'll be happy enough there to stop harrassing Maddie.  And yes, that's really what's been happening.  Ivy has taken over the bed and has been quite hostile to the idea of sharing with Maddie.  Hisses, growls, cat-torpedo action, the whole smash.  A few days ago, Maddie decided it was *not* worth it and tried to walk by Ivy off the bed.  Ivy swatted her on the butt to send her on her way.  Color us stunned.  Ivy then scrambled off the bed and gave chase (back legs sliding out from under her, twice).  We had to resort to water bottles to dissuade her from further violence.  Maddie was *not* the aggressor this time.  Wild.  What's gotten into our Wee Tuxedo Cat?

We wish everyone a happy Holiday Season, including those for whom it's not a holiday.  We'll let you know if extensive time in a warm sunny room makes Ivy more peacable.

Monopolizing the Sun-Puddle

There has been a new occurance here at Chez-Ranger.  Ivy (holding steady at 8 pounds, as far as we can tell) has exerted her dominance and established a monopoly of the bedroom sun-puddle:

  HeeHee, I sure have, haven't I? 

Quite an occurance!  At one point, Ivy even drove Maddie off the bed!  Ivy'd been relaxing in the puddle when Maddie put her front feet on the bed.  Ivy hopped up and did the cat-low-belly-ears back slinky-rush at her.  Maddie walked rapidly from the room.  I was stunned.  Ivy has since been the main occupant of the bed and the blanket stack:

 

 I think the next one is my fave.  Here's a cat that is really enjoying her sun:

  This is *SO* cool!  err, Warm!

Never fear Maddie fans, your girl hasn't been left out in the cold.  The assertive Ivy has allowed her to share.  Some. 

  Hmmm... should I get up there?  Nah.  Our butts would be too close together and I might get tuxedo-cooties...

  I guess this'll have to do...  Yeah, I guess it will.  Don't snore too loud.

Funny.  Two cats take up the space of one human.  LadyRanger or I will be sleeping on the couch if this keeps up.  Not that we don't like the couch.   

Standoff

Ivy is apparently feeling some better.  She's been eating her gooshy-food.  I weighed her yesterday, using the old 'weigh Ivy and me, weigh me, subtract' method.  If our scale is accurate the wee tuxedo cat is up to 8 pounds.  We'll all be happier if we can tag 9 pounds or more, but we'll take 8 for now.  The best news is that, for the past three days, Ivy has been eating her pill-mashed treats!  There has been no need to forcibly pill her, for which she and I are both grateful.  I'd like to thank Jason, Felix, Riley & Tiki, Fiona, Scooby, Shaggy & Scout and Marjorie for their suggestions and their very kind support as we try to work through this.  Ivy is quite thankful for all the ideas that did not involve me grabbing her face periodically.  And, though Ivy always got her pills, I'm grateful for the afore-mentioned ideas which may be put in place should we have to return to non-treat-pilling.  Anyways...on to the pics!

Ivy has been feeling her oats.  I've always said that, for an elderly, fixed, female Ivy certainly has a pair.  Witness today's action:  Ivy was happily napping on the bed when I disturbed her with the camera (note...an action shot complete with paw-stretching action!):

 I opened the curtain for some nicer light and Ivy was drawn to that holy-of-holies, Maddie's spot in the sun puddle:

  Hmmm...do I dare?

  Yes.  Yes, I do.

  Say, this is really nice....

Meanwhile, Maddie, napping in the papasan, notices something...

 I sense...a disturbance in the force...OMG!

Maddie rushed over and hopped on the cedar chest, and thus began the standoff!

  Hey...

What?

You're in my spot!

Oh.  Bug off.

 I said, YOU'RE IN MY SPOT!!!

LaLaLa, can't hear you....

  Cue tuba solo from "Jaws". 

Actually, no violence ensued.  Maddie and Ivy maneuvered for postion a bit and Ivy decided that she'd check out the thermal blanket, but then she decided to press the issue:

 After a bit, Ivy went off to raid Maddie's bowl, leaving Maddie in possession of the sunlight for a while.  She did come back though, and the two did come to a peaceful resolution:

  Here's hoping that the peace holds. 

Thanks again for all the good wishes for Ivy!