Then…

Now, about the same time of day as the picture taken above – 11 AM!

This is now too.  Miles misses the sun!

I ran across that old photo of Miles from earlier this year and it made me excited for SPRING!  I know the cubs are anxious too.  They tend to enjoy sitting outside staring up at the sky for much longer when it’s not pouring rain outside!

Mom and Dad are proud to present the winner of the July 2011 calendar page auction for Purrfect Pals!!

You better start working on that goat belly Mister!!

Purrfect Pals Black Cat Gala 2009 raised over $40k this year and had great fun doing it!!

Our furry son turned two!  Because he’s just a cat we won’t get too technical about how long ago his birthday was…  .” )   (Timberhaazy.com was having technical difficulties I swear!) Here he is presenting in Birthday Pose below.  He weighs in at a robust 12 pounds and has grown into a loving companion with tons of character and a great sense of humor!   We couldn’t possibly be more proud and loving of our Bengal bebe!!!

The Birthday Pose, giving the camera a Zoolander patented Blue Steel gaze

Happy Second Birthday Miles!!

This year we worked really hard on growing our goat belly, learning to be safe in the back yard, walking on a leash outside the yard and not beating our sister.  Because not beating our sister doesn’t seem to be sinking in… this is happening:

Meet Miles and Timber’s new baby Shiba Inu sister!  She’s the one on the left (facing) with lipstick on her face.  Bengal cats require a fully sporting buddy who is game 22/7*, and sweet little Timber isn’t interested in keeping up.  We concluded after a full year of contemplation, that we are ready to expand again.  I think the cubs will both be over the moon when the bebe comes home on Halloween!!!

* Even Bengal cats sleep at least two hours per day…

I am a menace to my own furry son.  Tallying my strikes against Miles in the past two days I’m running out of metaphor its gotten so bad!  Last night I was performing his customary ablutions; beautifying his ears, eyes and nose, when I dislodged a scab disguised as a nose crust causing a bleed to erupt… early this morning I stretched and punched him in the face while he was half asleep… attempting to stoop and apologize, wearing no glasses, I lurched forward and stepped on his foot.  By the time I got home I was fully alerted to the trend so I thought I’d atone by freshening the litter tubs.  I opened the back door to circulate some fresh air and left it open for a few minutes thinking the thunder storm would keep the anyone from venturing out… when Ben came home he was shocked to be greeted by Miles- peering in through the back door, locked out in the rain and soaking wet!!  I’m not sure who I should be more concerned about – him or me!

Mom might be trying to kill me!!

The cubs got a long beautifully this weekend.  In a clinical terms they have been displaying all the signs of being “preferred associates” including occasional allogrooming. (Miles to Timber; she almost NEVER licks him).  Timber is also becoming less inclined to flee at the first sign of obtrusion by Miles.  I even witnessed him planting his two front feet into her abdomen (ouch!!)  while glaring and hovering over her, ears flattened.  I don’t know how this stand off would have ended had I not shooed him away.  I was terribly proud of her for not surrendering her spot!!

Miles realizing he  has failed to maximize his potential to be a nuisance by merely sitting.

Miles on his yard stake.

There’s a bee who lives in here; Miles could get pricky paw!

This is their wicked plan to escape; you go left, I’ll go right – run for it!  Between the two of them it is impossible to relax in the backyard. Timber finally got up the nerve to jump the fence just yesterday.  Lucky for us she jumped into the one yard I have access to – on three sides there are inaccessible yards.

What starts with “treat” and ends with me getting my treat?  (That thing he’s doing with his paw while he’s sitting down is “shake”, his favorite trick.  In this video though he’s just getting a freebie!)

Mom and dad just got a FLIP! video recorder that we’ve been harassing the cubs with all week!  Here we have Timber and Miles in the back yard on a sunny afternoon wearing their “charisma”.  They each have a personalized security package for when we go outside.  Most importantly of course, they NEVER go outside alone.  Timber’s flares includes microchip, collar, Red Dingo ID tag in Mauve Sleeping Cat, giant day-glo bell and reflectors.  Miles flares include microchip, day-glo harness, leash, collar, Red Dingo ID tag in Green Fish Bones, two bells and the fear of god (instilled by my irrational fear of losing my cat).

I just received current photos of Miles’ litter mates Exoticrose Catalina and Grand Champion Exoticrose Pinball Wizard.  Well, we love our furry son but Miles is no Pinball Wizard.  This cat makes Miles look like a little girl!  In fact,

Brother Pinball Wizard is what Miles might look like if he still had his.

Here’s a goofy one to make us feel better  .’ )

Sister, Catalina

Looks just like Miles right?  It’s Catalina!

Miles gifted Dad an (antique?) mug with his ugly mug on it for Easter!

I found this little darling at the thrift store and imagine some sweet elderly cat lady’s treasure of fine bone china featuring the regal likenesses of a bengal, siamese and a few others… ended up in the thrift store!  She needn’t worry about Bengal Mug – he’s found a good home with us!  Siamese, American Short Hair and Ragdoll are still at Value Village if you hurry