Vengeful Cat and Forgiving Husband

I was rather dismayed when I took my cat, Cloud, to the vet 3 weeks ago and realized he is 8 years old.  I was guessing 5.  I got him as a very small kitten, and could not believe so much time has passed.  Half of his life is almost over. Cloud may have understood those remarks, because he suddenly started going crazy wanting to go outside. Some kind of mid-life crisis, I guess. He has been the most laid-back cat, but now he acts like a demon.  I have been adamant that he can't go outside, because I had his front claws removed.  So we are in a battle.  Every time the door opens, Cloud is right there and bolts out.  I don't think I will ever have another cat declawed.

Of course he likes to lie on the sidewalk right by the driveway and street.

He particularly scoots outside in the morning, when Don is coming home from a long night's work.  So one day after having a particularly hard time finding him the night before, I asked Don not to let him out when he gets home. So Don was very careful and Cloud spent most of the day inside, before finally making his breakout.

All seemed to go well, until Don called me from the hospital about 9:30 saying he had a big favor to ask me.  One night out of a thousand that I'm actually in bed before 1 a.m.  "What is it?' I asked.  Don said, "My clothes smell like the cat peed on them.  Please bring me a change of clothes."  Well he didn't have to say that twice.  I couldn't get there with fresh clothes fast enough.  Cloud has never gotten up on the settee at the end of the bed where Don lays his clothes.  I guess Cloud actually understands the term pissed-off.  Okay, Cloud gets to go outside now.  

A Great Cat

Cloud is the best cat I have ever seen.  I got him when he was 5 weeks old.  I got the flu the next day and laid on the sofa with him for a week.  Wherever I am in the house, there is Cloud; except when I go to sleep, he doesn't follow me to the bedroom, unless his food bowl is empty or his water isn't fresh.  Then he will sit at the bedroom door and meow until I take care of those responsibilities.  We had him neutered and his front claws removed when he was quite young. So he is not allowed outside. I can be eating salmon and watching TV, get up to go get something and lay the plate right beside Cloud and he ignores it completely.  He only sniffs or eats his cat food.  He doesn't jump up on the kitchen counters.  I did not train him to be like this; thank goodness I didn't have to, because I'm not very good at training cats or dogs. Actually, it's more like they train me.

He wants to be around Kennedy, but when he gets enough of her rough-housing he just leaves the room.  He is a huge cat, yet very unimposing.

Kennedy and the Front Door are Decked Out--It's October!

 Kennedy has started wearing her October/Halloween wardrobe.  These outfits so exemplify her personality. 

Yes, she's pulling the leaves off of my crouton.

But I so want to get a perfect picture.

If you find Cloud, you will find Kennedy and me.

The photography session is OVER.