animals

My Cat Would Be a Subpar Spokesmodel /  by LoLC

As some of you already know, my second/other/remaining cat, Ginger, has been showing her age over the past few months, perhaps feeling left out of the recent spate of memorial posts.

Among other issues, Ginger has hyperthyroidism, which usually makes cats hyperactive and food-obsessed. Unsurprisingly, she opted for the less common "apathetic" version, which does the opposite. As a result she spends a lot of time lying around the apartment playing dead, which is about as delightful as it sounds. Nights have been long. So maybe it was inevitable that after seeing this commercial for the Cat's Meow toy dozens of times, I finally succumbed and ordered one:

How could I resist, really? The cats look so energetic! And the girls at the 1:15 mark are clearly having the best day of their lives.

After two days of watching Ginger's interactions with the new toy, it's obvious that she won't be featured in the ads anytime soon--but for a cat with pathological apathy, she sure makes a valiant effort:

A Very Good Bad Cat /  by LoLC

Maxee (~2000 to June 29, 2013)

Deemed a lost cause by an NYC shelter nine years ago, Maxee went on to help four apartments feel like home, keep my feet warm at night, and lick the bejeezus out of every soft fabric I owned. She was a skilled mouser, ant-er and ribbon-er who loved high perches, tiny boxes, and surprise attacks. She woke me up most mornings by systematically knocking my David Sedaris collection off the bookshelf, and thanks to her, brushing my teeth while standing normally will now always feel weird.

Max was quirky, quick and plucky till the end. She will be greatly missed.