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07/21/09
In recent months, Catster and Catblogger peeps have been stepping out from behind their web personas to meet longtime online friends. This week I’m spotlighting some of those meetups.
Earlier this month, in an event more hotly anticipated than the new Harry Potter movie, the moms of catblogging superstars Jeter Harris and Daisy the Curly Cat met for brunch in Florida with Sarge Charlie and Auntie Bee.
I don’t know how it started, but Sarge Charlie and Auntie Bee are frequent visitors to the cat blogs (perhaps because their lifestyle doesn’t permit cats), and everyone just loves ‘em, including me.
By all reports, it was a raucous good time and Jeter Harris’ mom left flat-cat versions of Jeter behind with Daisy’s mom and Auntie Bee. (L to R in the photo above: Daisy’s mom, Sarge Charlie, Jeter Harris’ mom, and Auntie Bee [seated].)
In June, midwestern Catsters and catbloggers met at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.
(L to R: Moe and Carmella’s Mom; Victor and Nina’s Mom; Pearl, Bert and Jake’s Mom, Rosie & Cheeto’s Mom, Chey and Gemini’s Mom; Sly’s Mom; and Isis, Stinky Pete, Daphne, Chloe, & Spooker’s Dad.
Chey’s mom (who travelled from Washington state for the event) describes the meeting:
“On a sunny day in June, cat bloggers from around the Midwest met at the Lincoln Park Zoo. While road construction on I 90 scared off a few from Wisconsin and matters of new babies kept others away, 9 people showed up to join in the fun at the zoo. The meeting was less a first time meeting than it was old friends catching up after a long absence. Michigan cat bloggers spent the night near Chicago to be part of the meeting. The only draw back was a little confusion on the meeting area. We also realized that it would have been nice to have a sign because not everyone was immediately recognizable!”
Stay tuned this week for more stories of meetups between online cat moms and dads.
Remember to follow best practices for meeting online friends:
- Meet in a public place.
- Bring a friend with you.
- Be wary of “new best friends” who form immediate Super-Glue bonds with you or ask for money.
See related Cat's Meow entries:
05/26/09
 Hey evrybuddy, Skeezix heer. As part of Strollin’ Week on The Cat’s Meow, I’m mewing with strollin’ cats so yoo can see whut strollin’ is like!
Today, I’m interviewing one of the ferst frends I made on Catster, Rocky Ann. I don’t think thare’s a Catster alive hoo duzn’t know Rocky Ann. She not only founded and administers the populer Super Strollers Groop on Catster, but she also takes Stroller dekerayting to a hole new level. She lives in Suthern California, so she can strole praktikly all yeer around. Welcome, RA!
Skeezix: How long have yoo bin strolling?
Rocky Ann: I have been strolling for almost 3 years. I took my first stroll on June 29, 2006 at the age of 15 years old. I started the Super Strollers Group on August 11, 2006.
 Skeezix: What prompted yer peepul to get yoo a stroller?
Rocky Ann: I read all about my friend, Catster Colleen, having a stroller in WI and it sounded like so much fun. Mommy wasn’t sure if I’d take to it at my age, but my Daddy thought I’d love it. Daddy was right as usual! If it wasn’t for Catster, I might never have started strolling.
Skeezix: What brand and model of stroller do yoo have?
Rocky Ann: Right now I stroll in the blue PetGear AT3. I started off with a PetGear Happy Trails in PINK and moved up to this model. It is very roomy, has a smooth ride and Mommy can walk really fast with it.
Skeezix: Wood yoo rekummend it to a frend?
Rocky Ann: I have recommended this stroller to many friends. I highly recommend any of the Pet Gear Strollers.
Skeezix: How often do yoo strole?
Rocky Ann: I stroll almost every day when the weather is nice (summer, spring, fall) . During the winter months, esp this year, not very much. As I’m getting older Mommy doesn’t want me to get chilled.
Skeezix: How far/long do yoo strole?
Rocky Ann: I usually power stroll for an hour. I’m not sure of the distance. I think my longest stroll has been near 2 hours.
 Rocky Ann and her mom, mid-stroll Skeezix: What do yoo like most abowt strolling?
Rocky Ann: I love being outdoors. There is so much to see. I never fall asleep, I have to pay attention to everything going on. We have many different routes to stroll, so I see many different things. I love to stroll in the dark too. My favorite part is being able to join Mommy on her daily walks.
Skeezix: Is thare anything yoo dislike abowt strolling?
Rocky Ann: I don’t really like it when humans come up to my stroller and interrupt my stroll. I like to watch them from a distance. And I like to keep moving. Also I don’t care for the coyotees. But I usually turn around and go in the opposite direction when I see one. They have the right of way around here.
Skeezix: Have yoo ever seen any other pets in strollers on yer stroles?
Rocky Ann: I’ve only seen one doggie in a stroller and he was in a baby stroller.
Skeezix: Do yoo only strole in yer nayberhood, or do yoo travel to parks or other places to strole?
Rocky Ann: My neighborhood is connected by many sidewalks and bikepaths. I have alot of strolling options right in our area. There are different subdivisions, parks, dirt paths and shopping within strolling distance. Really, Irvine is made for strolling. But I have never gotten in a car to get to a strolling place.
 Rocky Ann is the Babe on Board this stroller! Skeezix: Any funny strolling stories yoo’d like to share?
Rocky Ann: It is just so funny that everytime I am out strolling there are people who come up to my stroller, and think they will be looking at a human baby, and are so surprised it is me in there!! I bring a smile to many peoples faces  I have the nickname “Lucky Cat” by some of my neighbors. I decorate my stroller so I’m very noticable.
Skeezix: Any stories related to being a member of the Super Strollers Group that yoo’d like to share?
Rocky Ann: It has been fun meeting strollers in many different states and countries and reading about their adventures. Everyone has something different to see in their area. In the past we use to do virtual strolls so that we could all stroll together.
Skeezix: Thanks, Rocky Ann, for taking time away frum strollin’ to share yer ixperiences with The Cat’s Meow.
Rocky Ann: Thanks for the interview, Skeezy! Strolling cats (and cats considering strolling) are always welcome to join in the fun at Super Strollers.
See related Cat's Meow entries:
05/15/09
 Hey evrybuddy, Skeezix heer. Today thare are 2 vary speshul berthdays being sellubrated on Catster. The ferst, as yoo mite alreddy have gessed, is Toulouse’s berthday. He is 14 yeers old today. PHEW!!! That’s OLD!
Toulouse is one of the ferst frends I made on Catster, and I consider myself vary lucky to be counted among his 1000+ frends. Toulouse is always thare to help anycat in need, and he’s at praktikly evry pawty thare is on Catster! It’s cats like Toulouse hoo help make Catster the most magical spot on the innernets.
Reesintly, when a groop of Tennessee cats needed to be rehomed, Toulouse helped form a groop to get the cats adopted out and organize an auction to raze munneys for expenses. Toulouse does stuff like that all the time. Yoo can count on him no matter what.
Win peeple ask me whut I do on Catster, it’s an easy qweschun to anser: I make lifelong frends like my buddy Toulouse. Happy Berthday, Toulouse!
And check back a little later today for an in-depth interview with a Catster Fashionista hoo is sellubrating his 20th berthday today!
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05/01/09
 Although every Catster cat is special, there are a few Catster Superstars who’ve been instrumental in making Catster what it is today: a magical kingdom of feline fun where miracles happen daily. One of those superstars is Hazel Lucy. When there’s a Catster in need, Hazel Lucy swoops in and mobilizes Catsters to help out, one paw at a time. If she were the President of the U.S., this recession would have been over by the end of January: she’s just that good. We love you, HL! Have a great birthday!
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03/03/09
 Hey, evrybuddy, Skeezix heer. Today is a vary speshul day: my best frend Miles’ 20th berthday! I cawt up with him between naps to discuss his secrits to lonjevity, and to find owt how he will be marking this milestone.
Skeezix: Happy Berthday, Miles! To what do you attribute your lonjevity?
Miles: Good food, lots of water, and my people taking good care of me when I got sick or stressed. Also, I think tabbies have good genes.
 Skeezix: How are yoo planning to sellubrate yer berthday?
Miles: The usual way – with naps! MOL! I got a tie for a birthday present from my nephew Fido. What was he thinking? So I had to pose for a picture in it and I HATE the flashy thing on the camera.
And I’ve been promised scallops for my birthday dinner from my favorite Chinese restaurant. That’s all I really want.
Skeezix: Man, I hate that flashy thing, too! As you look back on your long life, Miles, is there anything you regret not doing?
Miles: Not really. I’ve had biological kittens and adopted kits. I was meowrried to Murray until he went to the Rainbow Bridge and we were very happy. He still visits when he can. And I lived in 3 houses since I found my furever family and made one trip to Grandma’s house on the farm.
Since Murray left, I am the alpha cat, so my life’s pretty good. (Don’t tell him, but I was the alpha cat before he left too – I just let him think he was.)
Skeezix: Are thare still sum things yoo’d like to accomplish in yer life or have yoo done it all?
 Miles: Well, I’ve got a new relationship with Catster Jacob (right), so I want to stay around and get to know him more. We’re very discreet. And I hope it doesn’t offend Catster readers but I want to increase gay cat awareness.
And I’m determined to be at the wedding of my daughter Phoebe and Gimme! I love teasing Gimme because he calls me Mr. Miles Sir which cracks me up.
Skeezix: What stand out as some of the hilites of yer life?
Miles: Being adopted by my furever parents. I was so naïve – I didn’t know there were homeless cats until I became one. And I was lucky I found the perfect home quickly (or it found me).
 Joining Catster and making new friends and adopting extended family members like my nephew and son-in-law Fido. Everycat on Catster was so kind when Murray left and I was depressed. That’s when some of my strongest relationships with Rocky Ann and Hondo’s family and Gimme’s family were formed.
I taught all the new additions to the family to run back and forth in our old house. I would take the puppy or kitten upstairs and run up and down the hall with him or her. I don’t run as often anymore, but my son Murray kept the tradition alive by teaching Harry how to run back and forth in this house and they do it every morning. I’m very proud my legacy will continue.
And there was the time Kramer and I climbed into the walls of our old house. MOL! We didn’t come out for 24 hours and we were very dirty when we finally did.
Skeezix: What’s a typical day like for yoo?
Miles: I get up at about 10:30 and have breakfast, some water and use the litter box. Then I walk down the hallway to say good morning to Phoebe and get a little exercise. I look out the door to see if the squirrel is in the tree.
 If it’s sunny, I spend the afternoon in a kitchen chair or the cat bed by the window to be in the sun. If not, I use Dad’s bed for the afternoon to nap.
When Mama eats, if the food smells good, I beg for a bite, walk down the hall again, and then sleep on the DVR until bedtime. At bedtime we get our bowl refilled, so I eat some fresh food, have some water and use the litterbox again.
Then I sleep right next to Dad with my chin on his arm. Unless Allie crowds me out of that space. Then I move to his feet.
 Skeezix: Do you have any age-related health problems?
Miles: I have cat arthritis in my back legs so I don’t jump on the high cabinets anymore because I’m worried I’ll fall. And I sleep in the sun as much as possible because that makes them feel better. Also I walk up and down the hall at least twice a day to stretch them out.
Skeezix: What’s yer faverite groop on Catster and why?
Miles: Best Friends because it gives me a chance to help homeless cats. I am an administrator, but we have been slow in rejuvenating the group. At the holidays most of the cats who would be donating were donating for Muppet’s surgery. So we’ve taken a break from the fundraising for a bit.
 Skeezix:On yer profile page, I notist that yoo got sum new beds frum Cat in the Clover. I know thoze are reely grate beds … how are they to sleep in?
Miles: They are wonderful and soft! They are up on the table because I sometimes mistake a bed for the litterbox if the bed is on the floor. *blush* I do get a little confused sometimes since my 18th birthday, but not too bad.
Skeezix: Hey, don’t feel bad, we all have litterbox issues at one time or anuther – at my howse, I’m known as the Jackson Pollock of poo. What advice can you give to other cats who are inching up on the 20-yeer mark?
 Miles: Drink lots of water even if you don’t feel like it. Too many cats have kidney problems. If Mama thinks I’m not drinking enough, Dad makes chicken bullion for me because I will always drink that. A water fountain is a good idea too because the filter takes the chlorine out of the water. Try to eat a good quality cat food because it makes a difference. Take an interest in something, even if it’s just looking out the window! And, of course, use nip in moderation.
Skeezix: That’s good advice, Miles! Thanks fur taking the time owt of yer bizzy napping skedule to chat with me, and enjoy yer berthday!
See related Cat's Meow entries:
02/25/09
 Hey evrybuddy, Skeezix here. Today, I’d like to interdoose yoo to Piper Serendipity, the rayning World’s Coolest Cat. The World’s Coolest Cat title is awarded to the cat who gits the most popular votes in the finals of Catster’s World’s Coolest Cat Contest, and it’s the most prestigious award a cat can win. I cawt up with Piper at her home in snowy Michigan:
SKEEZIX: Do you go by yer full name, or can I call you Piper?
PIPER: Piper is fine, unless I’m in trouble then my mom calls me by my full name.
SKEEZIX: Ha! Then I’ll be shur to just call yoo Piper. How’d you get yer name? It’s vary pretty!
PIPER:My mom says that the larger black spot on the back of my head looks like a ghost, so she named me after her favorite character on the television show, Charmed: Piper.
 As for my middle name Serendipity, that’s another story. My human brothers were doing Science homework when I was a very little and they asked mom if she knew the definition of Serendipity. She didn’t know, so they looked it up. It is the act of finding something valuable or delightful when you are not looking for it. Well, mom said it described me perfectly since I ‘m so pretty with such unique eyes and they really hadn’t planned on getting another pet anytime soon. (until they were offered a FREE KITTEN – first pick … then they saw me….LOL.) That’s where Serendipity comes from.
SKEEZIX: Whut was yer ferst reaction win yoo lerned yoo been voted 2008’s Werld’s Coolest Cat?
PIPER:SHOCKED to say the least, Mom just stood there for a while looking at the computer. When she realized that I had won both “cat”egories she called dad and flew thru the house to get my human brothers. That got my attention and “the dog” going too. I got a lot of  hugs and kisses and the right to be finicky about my fave flavors of 9 lives canned cat food, (without mom making a fuss about it.)
SKEEZIX:It’s vary impressive that at the tender age of 6 munths old, yoo’ve wun the most prestigious pet photo contest on the planet! How did yer early formative months prepare you for this achievement?
PIPER:Well, actually mom has been taking pictures of me since I was 3 weeks old and still living with my kitty momma. When she agreed to take ME as her first-pick, her and the boys visited me every week until I was 8 weeks old. Then I went home with them and met my new dad and “the dog”. So I am well-socialized, beautiful and photogenic.
SKEEZIX:How many photos did your mom take to get the winning shot?
PIPER:She took at least 20 pictures that day of us on the bed. That was the best one even though my mom thought it was a bit off center.
 SKEEZIX:Whut’s up with the dog? Do you LIKE hangin’ with a dog? Do you have to live with the dog? Aren’t yoo afrade he’ll eet yoo all up?
PIPER:Yeah, I live with the dog. She’s my buddy……we play, fight, run through the house and get a little crazy. Mom yells at us for acting the kids!?!? The dog does clobber me once in awhile when I get too rowdy with her. She has always been like a mom to me since I was just a baby. She cleans me, snuggles me and makes me mind. Her name is Brandy and I love her. (Brandy is a 100 lb. Rhodesian Ridgeback mix.)
SKEEZIX:You wun a bunch of grate prizes. Which one are yoo most looking forwerd to getting and why?
PIPER:It’s hard to say…there are so many nice things. I’d probably have to say the camcorder so mom can make little movies of me!! I’m really not looking foreward to the comb cuz I heard mom say I was getting it ! LOL
SKEEZIX:How did winning the contest change your life?
PIPER:I get away with more now than I did before. I can steal mom’s straw right out of her iced tea and not get yelled at!
SKEEZIX:It’s always good win yoo can git away with stuff becuz yer famous! Enjoy yer prizes, Piper, and we’ll look forwerd to yer entries in the World’s Coolest Cat Contest this Fall!
See related Cat's Meow entries:
02/12/09
Hey evrybuddy, Skeezix heer. Me and the Food Lady are in the process of creating a Scooter Tribute Book for Scooter’s mom and dad, and would like yoo to contribute your memories to it if yoo knew and loved Scooter as so many Catsters did. Evrycat and persun is invited to contribute. The book will be a hardbownd bookstore-qwality coffee table book, bownd with a durable library binding and printed on premium 100-pound silk-finish paper. It comes with a laminated 4-color dust jakkit. Yoo can see a book sample heer.
To submit an entry for the book, go to scootertribute.blogspot.com and follow the direkshuns at the top of the blog. Text and fotos only, pleeze. Thare are no reestrikshuns on length.
If yoo left a tribute in the comments field of the post for Scooter last week or contributed to the post, you can use that, or rite sumthing brand new if yoo like.
BTW, this is not a seekrit project, so you don’t have to tippytoe around and keep it a seekrit frum Scooter’s famly. Pleeze ask evrywun yoo know hoo was a frend of Scooter’s to pawtisipate. We will need about a minimum of 50 entries to make it a viable book projekt.
See related Cat's Meow entries:
02/05/09
 One of the most difficult aspects of participating in a vibrant cat community like Catster is experiencing the loss of cats you have come to love as if they were your own. The last month has been especially rough on me. A few weeks ago, one of my first online cat friends, Kalin, went the Rainbow Bridge at the age of nearly 19 after battling cancer, diabetes, and the encroachment of old age. I still can’t type Kalin’s name without tearing up. This week, another of my dearest online feline friends, Jake, was diagnosed with cancer. (He, too, went to the Bridge on Feb 5th.) I ache over living a continent away from Jake’s mom, unable to embrace her in a big warm hug.
 And so I felt suckerpunched when, minutes after hearing Jake’s diagnosis, I learned that 20-year-old Scooter, Catster extraordinaire, had taken a turn for the worse. She made her journey to the Rainbow Bridge today.
If you weren’t a purrsonal friend of Scooter, you may recognize her photo from her popular entries in the World’s Coolest Cat Show, or from an interview Skeezix did with her last Fall, or perhaps you remember when she was Catster’s Cat of the Day. For a cat who napped 23-1/2 hours a day, Scooter got a lot done. She was one of the founders of the Olde Furts group on Catster, a vital group that provides support and camaraderie for cats who don’t move quite as fast as they used to.  Scooter was always there with encouraging purrs and paw-holding as members grappled with age-related issues.
Or, you might know Scooter from last summer’s “Summer of Scooter” group, a self-proclaimed “Woodstock for Kitties,” a Festival of Peace, Love, Music, Catnip, Naps, Streaking and Chicken Baby Food. It just doesn’t get much better than that, although there were a whole lot more naps than streaking!
Raypod was especially close to Scooter, and his mom visited her in Albuquerque :
I tried all yesterday to write about my darling Scooter, but it’s hard to type when your paws are soaking wet.
Now that ain’t right! Because along with being sweet, sensitive, thoughtful and smart, Scooter was funny as hell! I laughed out loud every time I got one of her poop reports. They were so detailed (and frequent) that Coco’s Department of Homeland  Security made her a Poop Advisory Color System chart to keep track. For a while she sent us daily Monk-e-mails that made her look like one of The Jeffersons, sound like Dame Edna, and cause my Mom to blow coffee out of her nose at work.
Scooter fell asleep at parties, but she did know how to have fun. When my brother Mouse started his gallery, Mouseworks, she created some very original “earth art” by digging up corn kernels in her back yard. One of Baby’s first friends, Scooter co- founded Olde Furts with her. But it took Scooter to transform a cranky Meezers’ refuge into a source of hope and help, good humor and hugs for hundreds of Catster’s aging kits. Old age ain’t fur sissies, and Scooter was up to the task.
Sometimes I think of Scooter as Catster’s Princess Di, just a bit long in the tooth. Her skill, as her profile read, was love. Nobody didn’t love Scooter. And Scooter loved everyone back. Her gift, I think, was for seeing—not so much the best in everyone, although that was often the case, but rather for seeing just what made you, you. She was a great connoisseur. What else would a classy lady like Scootie be doing with a naughty boy like me? And a Democat at that?
Catster is a community built on intangibles: love, imagination, compassion and memory. So even as Scootie leaves the physical plane her spirit remains as one of the cornerstones of our community. But at this sad time we must also remember that these cats are beautiful avatars; what animates them, for all of us, what makes them what they are, is the people who love them in real time.
And for Scooter’s parents, life won’t be the same. No snoozing Scooter in the sunny window perched on her favorite sofa, not to sleepy to tell an interloper, “Hiss off.” No skinny Scooter teetering gamely along as she “walks the line” in her backyard, looking for lizards, daring that roadrunner to make another appearance. No Scootie, so silly in her baby buggy. Or lying on their legs at night.
Scooter was my entire family’s friend and my "secret fiancé." We loved her with all our hearts and will miss her every day—as will all her Catster friends. But it’s to Bonnie and Dean that we must send our love, our appreciation, and our most comforting purrs.
One of Scooter’s best friends, Daisy, remembers how she first met Scooter:
I met Scooter just before Valentine’s Day in 2006. I had been on Catster about 6 months and was just starting to know some cats. I don’t remember where I saw it, but Scooter posted that if you wanted a special Valentine from her to send her  your address. So I did. And one of my dearest friendships here on Catster was begun. The Valentine is still on our refrigerator.
Scooter has always been so helpful to me and Mom when we try to do fancy stuff on the computer. And she was so nice and helpful to other cats. My Mom went out to Albuquerque in October and got to meet Scooter in person. She said she was sweet and beautiful, just like she is on Catster. Scooter’s Dad gave us some special pictures of her that we will always cherish.
Scoodle … we love you and your parents so much. We are so sad that you have to leave us, but we will always remember your sweet face and your cute voice. Sending you hugs and purrs as you make your way to the Bridge.
Another Catster Superstar, Calvin, shared his memories of Scooter:
I’m all about my friend-girl, Scooter – Scootie Patootie.
I’m all about how she was my first Pal of the Week back in November of 2006.
I’m all about the way she helped me find my “U” friend, Ug, when I was making my alphabet of friends.
 I’m all about the cuddle bed her Mom made for me.
I’m all about when she told me her middle name was Calvin so she could be a Calvinette in my Cool Calvin Club.
I’m all about the way she took napping so seriously.
I’m all about the Olde Furts group she administered.
I’m all about the way she flirted with me, and told me we could date when she turned 21, and we didn’t have to wait until I turned 21.
I’m all about cougars.
I’m all about how she was my Pal of the Week again the first week in 2009.
I’m all about how she loved the orange boys.
I’m all about how she sounded like a sheep when she meowed.
I’m all about her smarts, her beauty, and her friendship.
I’m all about knowing we will all miss her so much.
I’m all about knowing she will be the Queen of the Rainbow Bridge, just like she is the Queen of Catster!
Knead On ~
Calvin
Cybil and her family shared her memories of Scooter:
Our family friendship with Scooter  began on June 19, 2005, Fathers Day, just 1 ½ months after she joined Catster. Scooter was kind enough to add Moses and I to her Diary entry that day. A small gesture that went a long way towards a timeless friendship.
3 ½ years, many laughs, tears, parties, and pmails later, we are filled with good memories of Scooter and her family. She’s been one lucky girl, relaxing outside with the Roadrunners and Plumbago, sneaking through the grass and walking the line. And that was just the outside stuff! Whether sleeping next to the computer in her heated bed, sleeping on moms legs or dads lap, she lived life in comfort. Her mom and dad have always been aware of the angel they had in Scooter. Her friends were the fortunate ones who were able to know it too.
Love you Scooter.
Cooter’s family will miss Scooter’s sisterly love:
What we can meow about dear S+Cooter is the same as many will meow: she is elegant, caring, helpful, thoughtful and adorably lovely.  She is one of my precious ’s’ girls and always will be.
My sisfur Sissy has proclaimed Scooter as her big sister for always being there for her with advice and sisterly love. The Olde Furts group brought them closer together and they spent many meowvelous moments together.
My little brother Luke was the first to ever pmail her in April of 2006. Since then he has been smitten, as many of us are… He loved her because she was fun & silly, and he admired her in every way.
S+Cooter always remembers our birthdays, she always has comforting meows and is always attentive in the Catster community. She was an angel on earth, and she will continue to be one at the bridge.
We love you!
whisker kisses, (S)Cooter
Scooter’s friend Edgar has fond memories of Scooter:
Scooter, your delicate, sooty paws walked across my heart one day and left an imprint that will stay there furrever. You have been so kind and gracious to me and my furmily.  When my sisfur, Emily Felicity, embarrassed herself in Olde Furts, you reached out to her to offer your wisdom and comfort.
You have laid your lovely paw on so many cats and touched their lives and their hearts. You saw how much we loved the Olde Furts and honored us by asking us to become administrators. You enchanted us with your beautiful pictures and videos, you amused us with your diaries and messages in the group. And I can honestly say… (no offense to any other meezers out there) you are the most beautiful meezer girl effur. I, and my furmily, will always love you dear Scooter.
Edgar wrote the following poem for Scooter, and she meowed about it in her diary:
Winter
Now, in the cold of Winter
We think back, with a happy sigh
To the Summer of Scooter
and long fur those days, gone by
We long fur those days in the sun,
When we celebrated Scooter, our furriend
And we all had so furry much fun
And we all wished that it neffur would end!
As we nap through the Winter, we dream
And in sleep it all becomes clear,
That the sun will on all of us beam
And our dear Scooter will always be here.
No matter the middle of Winter,
No matter the waning of light,
We forever and always have Scooter
Because in our hearts, she shines bright.
Like many Siamese, Scooter was a fighter, and we were hopeful that she’d rally from this latest setback. But it was time for her to be released from her frail body and make her way to join those we’ve loved before. We light her way to the Bridge with love, tears and happy memories, thankful to have known this very special, very generous soul.
See related Cat's Meow entries:
01/01/09
 Hey evrybuddy, Skeezix heer. As many of yoo know, da grate Jeter Harris spends evry New Yeer’s in Times Sqware with his best frend Reebok and thare galcatpal, Madison. I was lucky enuf to score an interview with Jeter this morning — and he happily accommodated me despite having a big toona joose hangover.
SKEEZIX: How long have you and your best frend Reeb’ da Grate been sellebrating New Yeer’s Eve in Times Sqware? How did this tradishun begin?
JETER HARRIS: reeb an i hav been celebratin noo yeer’z eve since 2006. he haz been kind enuff to make da trip to timez skware. how did da tradishun begin? i dunno … it jus did. (i remember da furst yeer we were warin leis! it wuz reeb’z hawaiin theme dat yeer.)
SKEEZIX: You and Reebok live about 3000 miles apart…. how did you ever meet each other?
JETER HARRIS: reeb an i met eech udder on da catster. lookit him an den lookit me. hansum … yes? i dunno (again) we jus started bein frendz … an den, suddenly, like owtta noware, we became bes frendz. jus like dat! i keep askin an askin “do u know da way to san jose?” an i don’t getta anser … but he knowz da way to noo york…
SKEEZIX: Does Madison always sellebrate with yoo, or is she a new addishun?
JETER HARRIS: in fact, mad wuz wid us dat verree furst yeer at timez skware in 2006. lookit her … byootiful … yes? three tabbiez in da city.
SKEEZIX: Does having a girlcat along cramp your stile?
JETER HARRIS: cramp owr stile? duhr. she met a sailor dis yeer … i think maybe we cooda been crampin her style. (wut’z “cramp?”)
SKEEZIX: What did the three of yoo do once you got to Times Sqware?
JETER HARRIS: well … mad got dere furst to save us a seet … an den she met da sailor (but dat’zza nudder story) den reeb picked me up becuz i hav been “gfl*.” wen we got to da city da furst thing we did wuz look fer bill an hillary clinton … we were so eksited becuz we’re democatz … den we started drinkin tuna juice an watchin all da crazy peepul … wen da ball dropped an it wuz 2009, reeb an i head-bonked, fell to da grownd, an started wrestlin. it wuz verree eksitin. den, uv course, we laffed an laffed.
SKEEZIX: Sounds like a grate time! We all know about your reesint walkabout and your pleas to be freed from house arrest. Were yoo tempted, given this one-nite repreeve, to maybe not reetern home?
JETER HARRIS: well skeez, i am home. it wuz so c-o-l-d las nite … i decided dat i wood put up wid dat kitten joba an stay warm. but i havta say, mi frend, it’z hard to keep a former feral indoorz…
SKEEZIX: Any Cats-Gone-Wild storeys yoo’d like to share about times you’v had too much toona juice in Times Sqware? Or does whut goze on in Times Sqware stay in Times Sqware?
JETER HARRIS: cat’z-gone-wild? harharhar! yes i hav sum storiez … but mi mom will be reedin dis an i don’t wanna disturb her…
in udder nooz: i wanna thank u skeez fer yer grate collum. it’z intrestin an informativ. an da grate food lady herself (va va va voom) izza good reed, too.
happy noo yeer to u an yerz … an to all da grate catster catz … may u stay in da green in 2009!
SKEEZIX: I’m glad yoo enjoy The Cat’s Meow, Jete! I coodn’t do it withowt the support of grate frends like yoo. And thanks fur taking the time — despite yer hangover — to do this interview. I heer that Hair of da Dog helps. Altho I don’t ixzaktly know whut yer supposed to do with the dog hairs once yoo get ‘em.
(BTW, as most of yoo know, Jeter Harris is my spellin coach. Well, reesintly Jeter ternd me on to this grate software called Mikrosoft Werd, wich CHEKS YER SPELLIN FOR YOO! Unforchewnitly, Jeter pointed out to me that they haven’t gotten da bugs outta this software yet cuz evrything shows up underlined in red. I bet it will be amayzing once we can make da red underlines go away!)
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* gfl: Grownded fur Life
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12/12/08
  Hey evrybuddy, Skeezix heer. I’m so ixsited, I cood wet my pants! One of my best frends and Catster, Goma, is going to be on Animal Planet’s Cats 101 this weekend! Goma is a hard-werking kitty in Vermont hoo not only has his own blog, but also makes videos and deezines snowbords ( FUN!) — all this, and he’s not even 2 yeers old! (And, he is impressively furry. I bet yoo cood make 100 cat hair handbags out of his furs!)
 Goma (whooze name meens “Sesame” in Japanese) gets assistance in his endevvers frum his mom, Sachie Tani, hoo admits to being a crazy cat lady. On her blog profile, Sachie says, “Imagine your typical cat lady and multiply her to 100.” Sachie is a talented grafik deeziner hoo introdoosed Goma to the werld with her grafiks on Burton snowbords and children’s wear, and even a Goma cartoon on the Flip Mino camra (see right). How cool is that?
For the Cats 101 segment, the TV crew spent 12 howrs watching Goma and Sachie at home and at werk. They even filmed Goma bike riding in a backpak to work with Sachie at the waterfrunt. Imajine riding a bike! Goma duz EVRYTHING!
When Sachie first met Goma, it was love-at-ferst-site. He was the ugliest in the bunch and the runt of the litter, “a little ugly duckling,” she says. (Hmmm, I wuz an ugly runt, too!) Born in Japan, Sachie says that if her visa expires and she needs to return to her homeland, she could never leeve Goma. “He is my baby,” she purrs, with a crazy cat ladey sparkle in her eye.
Eva Sollbergerger profiled Goma and Sachie in the popular “Stuck in Vermont” series, wich yoo can watch heer:
Currently, Goma is giving away orijinal Sachie-deezined teeshirts on his blog! Heer are two of the GRATE deezines:
Hop over to his blog for deetales on how to enter! (And hoo notist that my speshul frend Daisy is playing the keybords in the top deezine???)
I can just tell that Goma is going places! Watch his nashunul TV daybyoo on Animal Planet Saturday nite at 8pm so that yeers frum now yoo can say yoo saw him win he wint on TV for the vary ferst time!
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