it's raining cats . . .

now they are four. Yep, Moak came home with Katie for Thanksgiving and life has had it's ups and downs ever since.

Moak - Happy to be home again, he sniffed out all his old favorite napping sites, did a pool patrol and headed directly to the food bowl as if he had never left. You could almost see him grin. That is of course until Bear and Ninja coming running, full tilt, up to greet him and Moak in utter displeasure hisses and snarls at the monster babies. He still does not like them and I, of course, am watching him like a hawk to make sure my bed does not get baptized a second time because he is dismayed.

Bear - Yesterday morning, I walked half asleep into the bathroom only to be rocked fully awake by walking in cold water. Huh? The bathroom floor was sopping. One look at the water bowl was the key to he who was responsible. Bear doesn't just lap. He sticks his paw in the water and licks the paw. Always. And then he gets bored and tips over the container. Note to self: buy an un-tipable bowl. So just on the off chance, I check Snoops bowl in Katie's room and although not upended like the bathroom bowl, it is half empty and the carpet is squishy. And, Katie wakes up to tell her tale of woe . . . someone (Bear - of course) tipped over the bud vase, at 2:00 a.m., containing six baby yellow roses that Frank had gotten her.

Ninja - Seems least phased by the commotion, perhaps because she is too busy causing her own. Darting here and there, she has learned to fetch with little golf ball size wadded up balls of paper. I spent good part of an hour, while watching TV with Frank, in bed, tossing the ball and having it delivered back into my hand. Love her hi jinks. That is until she, at 4:00 a.m., delivers the ball anxious to renew our game. Not.

Snoop - Has become, of all things, the indulgent, favorite uncle. He watches over the crew meting out playful swats when necessary, chasing along with the babies, and over lording the entire hierarchy. He is happy in the midst of the din until he has had enough and retreats up under the box springs of Katie's bed. To prove how further he has mellowed, he has actually allowed the shy Bear into his inner sanctum when visitors arrive.

Now four days into the visit, everyone has seemingly gotten used to everyone else and I do believe that Moak, who will be happy to once again be a solitary cat, will be missed by all.