Tanner's tocks and the shaved belly...enjoying some outdoor time! 

We didn't remember to celebrate last year, so these were Ollie's tocks back then...he's grown just a bit this year!

Tanner loved his new baby.  They have been and still remain the best of friends... 

Oliver loved Smokey from the beginning too, but it took Smokey a while to warm up to the new pesky baby in the house! 

Oliver got a new cousin in November...Cousin Georgie was brought in to give Oliver a playmate his own age.  They became fast friends! 

It's been a year of new experiences and wild times, but Oliver has shown that he belongs in our family.  I am thankful everyday for the facebook post that mentioned the poor little kitten at the shelter and the decision to adopt him!  Here's to many more years with you Oliver Hughes!

 

 

 

Brothers helping me work on some scrapbook pages... 

Brothers washing...sometimes this turns into a whapping show, but not always :) 

Oliver would like to point out that he is almost officially a mancat...this photo was taken on Friday, and he is 11 months old!!

 

Here's a washing video...

The Black Tornado strikes again!

Thankfully no one was hurt!  We know Ollie was involved because he was afraid to go down the hall for several hours...

 

Unfortunately, it is not our table, but a friend storing it while she is in the process of moving!

Poor innocent looking baby Ollie...did I do that?

Like The Island Cats recommended...we are taking it easy this week!

 

The photo is a bit blurry because some kitten doesn't like to be still.  Here you can see that Oliver is changing into a girl kitty by growing his nails long!  His girl name is Olla-Keisha.  He is happy to report that he was snagged by the spa crew shortly after this photo and clipped back into a budding man-cat!  Ollie does not enjoy having his nails done, and will growl softly at you while it is being done.

 

He loves to climb on this clothes rack though.  He has taken to trying to chase his tail while up here...it isn't the most graceful of activities!  This kitten is a nut for sure!

Ollie and Cousin Georgie love to play with a certain toy.  They are both big jumpers and do a good job of giving each other a turn at play.  Auntie and I try to give them jumping time several times a day!  One of these days, I will get a good photo of them jumping big...in the meantime, here are a few ok photos...

Wow, has it been over a week since we last wrote?  The mom better be careful before we start looking for a replacement!  AND, this week, she is staying at a house watching three GIRL cats!  The nerve...secretly though, we will be glad when she is back.  Auntie does a good job watching us, but nothing beats a mom!

Smokey Update:  The biopsy came back showing - nothing definitive!  How's that for being vague?  The vet that saw him recommends removing it to have it tested further, but said it could be anything from an infected bug bite to cancer...let's just cover all our bases here!  So, Smokey will be going next Wednesday to see his regular vet and discuss the options and get her opinion.

 

Smokey is thankful it wasn't 100% something bad...we still have hope!

 

Smokey's main need right now is to gain weight...this is hard for older fellas and we are struggling at the moment even to maintain week to week.

Tanner is doing well, and is thankful for all the fresh nip growing in the garden.  We bring some in most weekends for everyone to enjoy.

Ollie is a crazy pants and should be thankful he is cute!  Precious mementos left by Ollie so far include:

1) Ding in the floor from knocking an ornamental apple off the ledge

2) Another ding in the floor from knocking the pear off the other ledge (Ollie does not like fruit!)

3) Hole in the wall from knocking over a dining room chair

4) Set of blinds is crooked because the string on one side was broken and has had to be tied up until it can be replaced

5) scuffs on the wall from knocking the lamp off the table

6) Trying to climb up between the wall mounted cabinets in the kitchen and has pulled a piece of something down from between two of them!

 

Don't let that sleeping baby in the photo fool you...he is a wild man!  I must be getting old, but I don't remember kittens being this destructive!  He is keeping us on our toes, for sure.

The boys got an Easter bowtie this year...let's see how that went, shall we?

Smokey was ok, but not thrilled.  Do you see all the fur about the fly away on his head?  He is shedding like mad these days! 

Tanner is very cooperative when it comes to wearing things.  He just sat there...It was hard to get a photo of the bowtie with him looking at me though... 

Oliver thought he was being attacked!  Here are a couple of videos that show how Ollie reacted...

 

http://youtu.be/-ENQ-eQrAiI

 

http://youtu.be/BwZvacsF8Rg

 

Please Note:  Ollie had the collar on for maybe 5 minutes :)  He has a lot to learn from his brothers!

 

 

Ollie is now 7 months old!  He is growing into a fine looking Mancat!

This photo was taken in early April.  He is quite handsome!

 

Ollie weighs 9.5 pounds now.  He is starting to fill out a bit and doesn't look so skinny when you look down on him.  He isn't fat, but is solid.  He and Georgie are switching to adult food now, since they are such big boys!

Ollie will sleep in this hammock in the evenings after meals.  I love how he curls his back toes!  He does this when you hold him too.  This will sound a little crazy, but I love how his feet smell.  Have you ever smelled your cats feet?  Now, not when they've just come out of the box, but when they've been sleeping with them tucked up underneath their bodies.  Go give it a try!

 

Ollie nurses on your hands still, and loves to squeeze in as close as possible in the night.  He wants both of your arms around him, and he will lay in the circle they make.  This is rather difficult when you are laying down, I might add!  Oh the random, uncomfortable positions we get in to please the cats!

 

His favorite toys are:

*Puff balls with some crinkle stuff in them

*a blue puff ball

*jelly beans from casbah kitten

*the toy and refill from Japan

*Georgie and Tanner

 

Well, that's an update on Oliver Hughes!  He is a love and I'm so happy to have him.

Tanner lost a bit of weight two weeks ago, and then gained a little bit back this past week, bringing his weight to 15 lbs 3 ounces.  We are trying not to lose any at the moment, as he is losing muscle more than fat right now, and we are still trying to make sure he is healthy and rebuilding his red cells.  He looks much better than he did a couple of weeks ago, but I am still debating about having an ultrasound done, for peace of mind!  It seems like since he came down with that terrible cold at the end of January, he hasn't been the same...he is having a hard time bouncing back completely.

Tanner still loves his baby though, even though his baby is HUGE!  Ollie has grown so fast it is hard to remember him as a tiny baby now.  Ollie is all muscle too, he is a solid cat! Ollie weighs 9lbs...he is only 7 months old!

I find Ollie sitting like this a lot...yes, he is sleeping!  If you watch him closely, he is swaying back and forth a bit...I usually go and help him lay down or snuggle with him!  He is one crazy kitten.  I am so glad that Tanner and Ollie still get along so well.  Tanner loves to wash his baby, and they will wrestle some.  Tan is learning that he doesn't have to be quite as gentle with his baby now!

Smokey(on blanket) and Ollie (back of cushion) are wiped out after a big Easter weekend.

 

Ollie now weighs more than Smokey!  Smokey is still working hard to gain weight or at least maintain.  He has lost a couple of ounces of the last two weeks...so we will cater to him more.  Has anyone found a food that has worked well for your cats to help keep weight on? 

You can barely see Ollie behind Tanner, and yes, Ollie is standing!

Now when Ollie stands behind Tanner there is no hiding!

He has been losing his baby teeth.  Here is a top canine tooth, freshly lost.  Auntie happened to see it on the floor, after we noticed a bit of blood on Cousin Georgie's neck!

 

Ollie is also growing in the pre-molars in the back of the mouth, and his poor gums are so red and irritated right now.

 

Click Here to see a page diagramming the dental anatomy of cats. 

 

This is a current photo of him. Here are some facts about the one and only Oliver Hughes!

The other week, we had a snow storm.  And while, it was nothing compared to what many of you have been getting all winter, it was a big deal for us here in the South.  As usual, things were shut down for a period of time, which was fine with me...I always welcome time at home to spend with the boys! 

The snow was very pretty while falling.  It snowed like this most of the day...I was glad to get to watch it from a warm house. 

The bird feeders were very popular!  We have many cardinals that come around and they are so pretty against the backdrop of white.  I took many photos from inside the house that day...this was one of my favorites.

Now, on to the mancats!  What better way to pass time than to bake some cookies?  Auntie started getting the ingredients together, and of course Ollie had to help.  He is a very curious boy, and loves to be a part of the action.  Watching Auntie spoon some flour into the measuring cup. 

Getting a closer look at the flour container... 

You have to level the flour...it is important to use accurate measurements when baking.

Finally, the batter is done...watching to see that Auntie doesn't leave any behind on the beaters.

 

Thanks Ollie...I don't think Auntie could have done it without you!

Tanner and Cousin Pirate found the small catnip plant that has survived the winter.  It should start growing soon and will be quite large by the end of summer.  It is still pretty potent and the boys loved getting high from it!

 

Ollie and Cousin Georgie do not get to come outside like this for 'free time' yet.  They are still too unpredictable and wild!  They did go for a stroller ride around a couple of neighborhoods and had a nice time.  They love to stroll.  You can't see them, but trust me, they are in there! 

Tanner's eye started running again, so we are doing more drops.  It is still a touch swollen, as you can see below.  This is looking pretty good compared to what it was before...

 

Here is a link to a video showing Tanner getting vacuumed.  He loves it!  It was a treat for him this weekend, since he has been feeling so poorly lately.  He doesn't want or get vacuumed everytime, but he was in the mood, and enjoyed it this weekend!

http://youtu.be/zGz3RGswN8o