Marvelicious

Man-about-town Marvin still visits daily, but it's been ages since he was here for a kitty bed photo shoot. He's still a marvelicious model. Just give that boy a pink mouse and watch him go.I found out that Marvin has a home. My former neighbor kids Hope and Taylor met Marvin's people, who live about half a block from me.

48 hours of fame

We are Etsy's featured seller!After midday Sunday, my interview will be archived here.

Made you yawn

Marvin and Betty: drama queens and scathing critics.

Catnip boomerangs

Our most fun Christmas moment was a surprise package of Jake & Micah catnip boomerang toys. This catnip is so potent, it's bound to become illegal! The ecstasy-inducing nip even permeates the packaging the toys are wrapped in.Alvin (above) was so intoxicated by the catnip-infused tissue paper, he couldn't find the toy.Pierre's blue and orange-flash eyes (above) match the toy's fabric. The dark spots on the fabric are happy-drool marks.
Marvin passes out after a few rounds of boomerang.

The Next Top Model

Marvin had his first modeling assignment today. It was also his first encounter with a kitty bed. And what a ham was he.Marv reminded me of Betty's fabulous early modeling sessions -- playing to the camera, improvising acrobatic poses, exuding melodramatic flair infused with cheeky humor.

Marvie the Moocher

Marvin's fur, I've discovered, smells like cigarette smoke. Since I'm a nonsmoker, either he's sneaking puffs behind the shed or he's got a pack-a-day mama who kisses his head during the many hours when he's not at my house. Rescued homeless cat, my eye. Marvin just hangs out with me for the cool kitty toys.

Is Marvin Gay?

just because he prefers to frolic with pink mousies?I wish he was. Marvin could stand to get in touch with his feminine side. Neutering has only slightly calmed his hyper-manliness.

Cat ladder

When I found this rusty iron ladder behind the garage, I was going to throw it out, but loved its crusty barklike texture. When I propped it against the shed, the kitties quickly learned to run up and down it (as Marvin demonstrates). Cat ladders are magnificent.

's Marvylous

Marvin is our newest stray to be neutered. He's the anonymous kitty seen here a couple of posts ago -- initially I called him Bruce, but now he's Captain Marvel, Marv-o-licious, and Coolit Marv (when he chases the other cats).
Marvy is vocal (i.e. whiny) and loves to lay on his back for belly-scratchin. Though he's big and muscular, he doesn't use his claws or teeth on me. He must have been loved by people as a kitten and then abandoned. The vet says he's less than a year and half old, so it's full Marvelocity ahead.

All aboard the Mayflower

We're about to plant the flag and proclaim ourselves a feral cat colony.

I finally connected with my local Humane Society maven of feral cat rescue -- a remarkable, inspiring woman devoted to educating the public about feral cats as urban wildlife. In the next few days I'll be registering with the city as a feral colony and will make it my job to trap and neuter every feral I feed in my yard.

Here are ferals Gus and Bruce lounging in the back yard. Gus is a charter member of our colony -- he's a gorgeous dark tabby with white feet. I trapped and neutered Gus several years ago, the same time as Puppy (Linus), but adorable Gus has never become tame.

Bruce is my generic name for the many light tabby males I feed. (They all look like Keenan but are husky wrestler-types, not lanky cowboys.) I'm not sure which Bruce this is in the photo, but he's a cinch to be a loverboy once he's neutered.