Sir Ryder of Cupp

He Lives !

2010-12-18T12:20:00.003-05:00

I stopped posting on the Sir Ryder of Cupp blog, because I dreaded I would have to write of his passing. Unbelievably, Ryder is alive, kicking and brilliantly acting the part of a grouchy old man. He still has some bad days health wise but manages to recover. When he is sick, he lies in the bathtub so we refer to it as the hospital. He still has his beautiful coat and moves spryly and loves getting new toys.

This past year, he has used his nursing skills to take care of me. I am a cancer patient now and he is there to console me when I'm having a down day. He took excellent care of his first mommy too.

He continues to bully Shasta and anyone else who strikes his fancy, especially if he is not feeling well.

Award For Excellence

2008-02-11T23:32:00.000-05:00

Ryder, in a true display of royal arrogance, gave me that "So?" look and went back to napping when I told him that he had won an award for excellence. However, I am sure that he thanks all his fellow felines at The Zoo for so generously giving him this honor.

To give you all an update on his health, he is doing quite well. He has some bad times but much of the time, he is well enough to really annoy his sister, Shasta. Thank you all for your thoughts and purr-ers.

Royal Mannerisms

2008-01-26T12:00:00.000-05:00

People often comment on Ryder's regal bearing. Here he demonstrates the correct form for relaxation. Notice the angle at which the head is held, and the placement of ears to enhance the silhouette. Above all, notice the elegance rendered by the carefully crossed feet. Closed eyes are allowed if everything else is done correctly.

Ryder and Mom Have Disagreement

2008-01-24T19:05:00.000-05:00

Ryder says: My mom says that now that I feel a little better I have to clean my room. My room is located under a china cabinet that belonged to my first Mom. I chose this spot because both my moms keep my catnip in a drawer right above my space. I have to have a catnip fix everyday unless I'm real sick.

In my room, I have two sheets of tissue paper about two years old, the bottom half of a gift box acquired at Christmas time, a plastic bag I stole in the night, and some of my favorite toys. I finally got my room just the way I want it and she says I have to clean it up!

Mom says: I have always taken pride in having a clean and tidy house and I find it embarrassing that Ryder has created this mess right in the living room. Besides, now he spends most of his time in his makeshift bed. I think it's time for some housecleaning.

Ryder Sends Thanks For Your Purr-ers

2008-01-23T15:35:00.000-05:00

Sir Ryder and all who live with him are grateful for all the purr-ers you've sent to him. It reminds his mom of the old adage "A trouble shared is a trouble halved."

This picture was taken a few minutes ago. His Regalness is waiting by the front door for Shasta to come back in from the sunporch. He's so handsome.

RN Shasta Cares for Ryder

2008-01-21T14:30:00.000-05:00

Ryder (black and white cat) was recently diagnosed with liver disease. When he was quite critical recently, I made him a "temporary" bed from a plastic storage box and a blanket. At that point, he was too weak to jump into his favorite chair or on a bed.

Shasta (white cat) makes a point of checking on his condition frequently, as you can see from this photo. In fact, it was her behavior regarding Ryder that convinced us that something was seriously wrong with Ryder.

Their roles have been reversed. Ryder was always nurse to the "beans"; now Shasta is nurse to Ryder.

Ryder Acknowledges Christmas

2008-01-21T01:17:00.000-05:00

Each year I have this Charlie Brown Christmas tree on a stand in my little sitting room. Other people laugh at it but I LIKE IT.

Ryder likes it too. He snoops in the gifts to see if there's anything for him (there isn't because I learned long ago that he could find his gifts and opened them as soon as he had located them).

I'm grateful to have this picture because we had just received word from the vet that Ryder has liver disease. We take his health day-to-day and pray for as many good days as the Lord sees fit to give him. He is thirteen but we had hoped to have him until he was thirty...........

A Bad Hair Day

2007-10-24T18:01:00.000-04:00

Not only did this cat get the dreaded b-a-t-h but they also had to mess with her "do". Sometimes life gets out of hand. There are more cute cat pictures on this site.

Latest Pet Rage?

2007-10-15T18:34:00.001-04:00

ABC News reports that miniature pigs are being bred at a farm in Devon, England. The little piggies are said to be ideal pets and easy to house train. The breeder tries to sell the porkers in pairs so they will have the companionship of their own kind. The farm has a website at http://www.pennywellfarmcentre.co.uk/. The little guys look adorable.

Ogden Nash's View of an Ostrich

2007-10-01T07:53:00.000-04:00

Here's another Ogden Nash poem:

The Ostrich

The ostrich roams the great Sahara.
Its mouth is wide, its neck is narra.
It has such long and lofty legs,
I'm glad it sits to lay its eggs.

I've been in love with Ogden Dash poetry as long as I can remember. His short and witty poems never fail to delight.

My Sidekick

2007-09-25T10:06:00.000-04:00

Shasta (right) has complained recently that Ryder is getting too much press and that she gets none. I suppose she's right.

As you can see, Shasta is no lightweight. She also came to us as a very confused cat, unsure of how to approach life. I wish I could say that living with us has improved her outlook but I can't.

Despite her confusion about many things, she is very clear about her love for us. And ours for her.

Fattest Cat in the USA?

2007-09-24T22:23:00.000-04:00

Meet Sam, a cat who lives near Atlanta, Georgia. He weighs a whopping 45 lbs. While looking for heavy cats, I learned that the Guinness Book of Records no longer lists records for overweight cats because of the danger of people overfeeding their animals just to set a record. Good for Guinness.

Go the Sam link to see additional pictures, especially the ones of Sam with his owner.

Regal Ryder

2007-09-24T21:22:00.001-04:00

Ryder, The Regal, contemplates the coming cold season and doesn't look too happy about it. I don't understand why because he loves air conditioning and stands over the window unit whenever I turn it on.

Camouflage

2007-09-20T02:36:00.000-04:00

Here's Sir Ryder with his soccer ball. Molly was watching him. Maybe she was wondering what was up with the black and white..........

Talented Cat

2007-08-15T10:42:00.001-04:00

I love the felines that can do more than catch mice and ignore humans.

You Know You Are A Cat Person If.....

2007-08-13T10:59:00.000-04:00

I just found an interesting website at www.felinefollies.com. Among their features I found this article titled "You Know You Are A Cat Person If......."

1. If all your Christmas presents are related to cats. — Leah
2. If, at 8:00 p.m. on a Friday night, you notice a small rash starting on your kitty’s neck, so you rush him to the emergency room and spend a week’s pay, just to be told it’s time for another bath. — Debra Franco
3. If, at bedtime, whichever cat’s not already in bed, you carry them to bed one at a time, in order of seniority. — Janet Fink
4. If, at night trying to get comfortable in bed, you feel as if you’re playing cat "Twister." — Dara Keenan
5. If, at night, your cat sleeps in bed with you and your spouse. — Dara Keenan
6. If, being a well brought-up young lady, your cat writes "thank you" letters for birthday and Christmas cards received. — Heather
7. If cardboard boxes and sisal are part of your home decor.
8. If cat germs mean nothing, and you and your cat drink out of the same glass. — Carol Thompson
9. If everyone around you hates cats, and your response is, "Well, you don’t have to visit." — Dawn Williford
10. If hairballs are a common topic of conversation among your friends.
11. If a friend gives you a cat scratching post and kitty toys for your birthday. — Joyce Wermont
12. If, after a hard day at work, you get home feeling tired, but you feed your kitties before doing anything else. — Cathy Higgins
13. If, after discovering the joys of cat ownership, you try to convince everyone you know — even lifelong cat haters — that they should adopt a cat.
14. If, after months of working on the family tree, tracing many generations across the world and time, the cat appears on the "tree" with his own branch. — Leisa Logan
15. If almost every checkout clerk at the grocery store greets you with, "How many cats do you have?"
16. If you come home from grocery shopping with several bags of cat food, a few cat toys, a bag of litter, cat treats — yet only a six-pack of soda and chips for yourself. — Yevarechya
17. If cleaning the litter isn’t a chore because you know the kitties will be much happier with a clean box. — Kerry Bolduc
18. If each one of your cats gets spoken to in their own individual "special voice."
19. If every meal is shared, no matter how hungry you are. — Kerry Bolduc
20. If every time you see a cat, you become very "maternal" and say, "Oh, pusshy pusshy pusshy!" — Fran

Roses and Ryder

2007-07-21T13:53:00.000-04:00

I caught this picture of Sir Ryder when he was taking time to smell the roses..........

More Of Ogden Nash

2007-04-18T09:28:00.000-04:00

Because Ogden Nash's poetry often is about animals, this blog seems an appropriate place to share some. This one is named The Panther.

A panther is like a leopard

Except it hasn't been peppered.

Should you behold a panther crouch

Prepare to say "Ouch".

Better yet, if called by a panther,

Don't anther.

Feline Love

2007-04-13T20:51:00.000-04:00

I found this adorable picture on a website with many more adorable kitty pictures. Check it out.

Ryder's Snit

2007-04-03T16:30:00.000-04:00

Ryder is in a snit because he can't go out on the porch due to construction. Today I found him pouting in one of the empty bookcases. H always feels that everyone should suffer as much as he does.

Ryder's Crazy Eyes

2007-04-01T18:51:00.000-04:00

I love this picture of Sir Ryder. Even though his eyes are the same color, light plays a trick in this photo, giving him one green eye and one blue eye.

Meet Lily

2007-03-21T19:18:00.000-04:00

This is Lily who arrived in the neighborhood in November. She has grown but is still very small and is eagerly learning her way in the world. I know she is of the canine ilk but we love her anyway.

Speaking of "ilk" reminds me of Ogden Nash who said:

A cow is of the bovine ilk.
One end is moo,
The other milk.

Sir Ryder's Bed

2007-03-18T22:02:00.000-04:00

For years, Ryder slept in our bedroom in a basket that seemed too small for him. When he was my mother-in-law's cat, we used two identical baskets to pack her meals in and then to pick up the dirty dishes. When she passed away, the baskets sat idle until one day we found Ryder in one of them. I added a piece of sheepskin and he claimed the basket as his. About four years later, I decided he need a new piece of sheepskin. He never got in the basket again. Don't mess with the castles of royalty.

Shasta's Recovery

2007-03-13T09:20:00.000-04:00

My sidekick, Shasta, has recovered from some unknown malaise. She was very lethargic for several days and stayed on my bed 24/7. Now she's back playing with Ryder and waiting for her friend, Molly, to visit.

She's also waiting for warmer weather so she can spend more time on the porch, watching the birds and other neighbors.

2007-03-12T15:16:00.000-04:00

How's this for maternal love? Or is Mama holding the baby in place so she can catch some ZZZs? Whatever. I love the picture.

World's Ugliest Cats

2006-09-18T09:45:00.000-04:00

When I look at this trio, I see my own cats differently; Shasta is smarter and Ryder is less bossy. The black and white cat is definitely having a bad hair day. The one crouching is pathetic and the hairless one ....well, what can you say about the hairless one? I've used this picture to show my cats why they should never sit like this but they ignore me.

"Cool" Picture

2006-07-17T19:25:00.000-04:00

Most feline lovers have probably seen this photo already. I post it now to offer some relief from the heat wave blistering the lower forty-eight.

Molly's Cap

2006-06-23T19:37:00.000-04:00

My neighbor, Molly, found a soda bottle cap on the floor and we discovered her sitting quietly, holding it in her mouth. Her human mom says that when Molly was a puppy, she used a bottle cap to retrieve because balls were too large.

I guess she was reminiscing about the "good old days" as she sat there, apparently lost in thought.

Adorable Kitten Photo

2006-06-23T19:13:00.000-04:00

Isn't she sweet? I found her on cats.about.com.

Her owners, Jodi & Steven Cyr, say that their kitten, Icis, is 2 1/2 months old, a Devon rex, and she loves to retrieve a ball.

What I want to know is, when will she grow into those ears? And eyes.....

Don't you have the feeling that you are looking at a super intelligent being instead of a cute kitten?

Don't Mess With Jack

2006-06-20T16:19:00.000-04:00

In this photo, you can see a bear up in a tree where it had escaped from Jack. The little orange spot on the ground is the fearless feline, Jack.

Here's the complete AP story:

WEST MILFORD, N.J. - A black bear picked the wrong yard for a jaunt, running into a territorial tabby who ran the furry beast up a tree — twice.

Jack, a 15-pound orange and white cat, keeps a close vigil on his property, often chasing small animals, but his owners and neighbors say his latest escapade was surprising.

"We used to joke, 'Jack's on duty,' never knowing he'd go after a bear," owner Donna Dickey told The Star-Ledger of Newark for Friday's editions.

Neighbor Suzanne Giovanetti first spotted Jack's accomplishment after her husband saw a bear climb a tree on the edge of their northern New Jersey property on Sunday. Giovanetti thought Jack was simply looking up at the bear, but soon realized the much larger animal was afraid of the hissing cat.

After about 15 minutes, the bear descended and tried to run away, but Jack chased it up another tree.
Dickey, who feared for her cat, then called Jack home and the bear scurried back to the woods.
"He doesn't want anybody in his yard," Dickey said.

Bear sightings are not unusual in West Milford, which experts consider one of the state's most

bear-populated areas.

Invisible Cat

2006-03-05T20:12:00.000-05:00

My sidekick, Shasta, loves to play Hide and Seek. Here she is trying to pretend that she is part to the arm of the chair. She really didn't think that anyone would see her. She remained absolutely still long enough for me to get the camera.

New Kid on the Block

2006-02-26T21:02:00.000-05:00

This is Brody, the new kid on the block. He arrived shortly before Christmas to brighten the life of a neighbor and to steal the hearts of everyone who meets him. He had spent many long months at a local shelter but had obviously been well-loved and well-trained by his previous owner.

We have always separated our cats from visiting dogs by use of a gate in the hall. During one of Brody's first visits, the resident royal cat, Ryder, decided the gate was not necessary when Brody came so he promptly crawled under it. We haven't used the gate since and peace reigns.

Buddies

2005-12-22T19:29:00.000-05:00

I would love to recapture the child-like ability of intensely studying others and trying out their habits to better understand what they are about---like this child is doing.

Cat T-Shirts

2005-12-13T09:36:00.000-05:00

I found this great web site for all you fellow feline lovers. They have a t-errific assortment of t-shirts with cat images of all kinds. Check it out.

Noel, Noel!

2005-12-11T11:26:00.000-05:00

I love singers who really "get into" the song.

Cat Bathing As a Martial Art

2005-12-06T16:48:00.000-05:00

The following advice is offered by Bud Herron on a great website that animal lovers will love:

Some people say cats never have to be bathed. They say cats lick themselves clean. They say cats have a special enzyme of some sort in their saliva that works like new, improved Wisk - dislodging the dirt where it hides and whisking it away.

I've spent most of my life believing this folklore. Like most blind believers, I've been able to discount all the facts to the contrary - the kitty odors that lurk in the corners of the garage and dirt smudges that cling to the throw rug by the fireplace.

The time comes, however, when a person must face reality; when he must look squarely in the face of massive public sentiment to the contrary and announce: "This cat smells like a port-a-potty on a hot day in Juarez."

When that day arrives at your house, as it has in mine, I have some advice you might consider as you place your feline friend under you arm and head for the bathtub:

Know that although the cat has the advantages of quickness and utter disregard for human life, you have the advantage of strength. Capitalize on that advantage by selecting the battlefield. Don't try to bathe him in an open area where he can force you to chase him. Pick a very small bathroom. If your bathroom is more than four feet square, I recommend that you get in the tub with the cat and close the sliding-glass doors as if you were about to take a shower (a simple shower curtain will not do. A berserk cat can shred a three-ply rubber shower curtain quicker than a politician can shift positions).

Know that a cat has claws and will not hesitate to remove all the skin from your body. Your advantage here is that you are smart and know how to dress to protect yourself. I recommend canvas overalls tucked into high-top construction boots, a pair of steel-mesh gloves, an army helmet, a hockey face mask and a long-sleeve flak jacket.

Prepare everything in advance. There is no time to go out for a towel when you have a cat digging a hole in your flak jacket. Draw the water. Make sure the bottle of kitty shampoo is inside the glass enclosure. Make sure the towel can be reached, even if you are lying on your back in the water.

Use the element of surprise. Pick up your cat nonchalantly, as if to simply carry him to his supper dish (cats will not usually notice your strange attire. They have little or no interest in fashion as a rule. If he does notice your garb, calmly explain that you are taking part in a product- testing experiment for J.C. Penney).

Once you are inside the bathroom, speed is essential to your survival. In a single liquid motion, shut the bathroom door, step into the tub enclosure, slide the glass door shut, dip the cat in the water and squirt him with shampoo. You have begun one of the wildest 45 seconds of your life. Cats have no handles.

Add the fact that he now has soapy fur, and the problem is radically compounded. Do not expect to hold on to him for more that two or three seconds at a time. When you have him, however, you must remember to give him another squirt of shampoo and rub like crazy. He'll then spring free and fall back into the water, thereby rinsing himself off (the national record is - for cats - three latherings, so don't expect too much).

Next, the cat must be dried. Novice cat bathers always assume this part will be the most difficult, for humans generally are worn out at this point and the cat is just getting really determined. In fact, the drying is simple compared to what you have just been through. That's because by now the cat is semi-permanently affixed to your right leg. You simply pop the drain plug with your foot, reach for your towel and wait (occasionally, however, the cat will end up clinging to the top of your army helmet. If this happens, the best thing you can do is to shake him loose and to encourage him toward your leg). After all the water is drained from the tub, it is a simple matter to just reach down and dry the cat.

Do NOT try to use a blow dryer. You might as well use a vacuum cleaner.
In a few days the cat will relax enough to be removed from your leg. He will usually have nothing to say for about three weeks and will spend a lot of time sitting with his back to you. He might even become psycho-ceramic and develop the fixed stare of a plaster figurine.
You will be tempted to assume he is angry. This isn't usually the case. As a rule he is simply plotting ways to get through your defenses and injure you for life the next time you decide to give him a bath. But, at least now he smells a lot better.

- By Bud Herron

Emily, The Stowaway, Returns Home

2005-12-03T09:49:00.000-05:00

Emily may be just a year old but her wanderlust life has lead to experiences the rest of us only dream about. Emily was found in a cargo container in France. Her tags revealed that she belonged to a family in Wisconsin, across the pond from Europe.

Now, thanks to the generosity of Continental Airlines, Emily has flown business class, with an escort, back to her family in the USA. Her family "will spend time just cuddling her" according to owner Donny McElhiney.

My advice to Emily: get a passport and document these adventures. Otherwise, who will believe you when you say you've been to Belgium, France, Newark, Milwaukee.............

Some Canine Time

2005-11-25T22:17:00.000-05:00

My canine friend Molly, thinks that I have given too much time to the felines. Molly has to wear a coat and boots to visit me since the latest snowfall. I'm sure she envies this guy in the hammock.

Another of the World's Ugliest Cats

2005-11-24T17:29:00.000-05:00

I don't understand why we are so fascinated with ugly but we seem to be. I found this photo on Sam and Susie's Blog. I see this cat as unhappy and unhealthy. I wish I knew more about it to pass on to you. If any of you know about this cat, please let me know.

Dear Departed Sam

2005-11-23T19:15:00.000-05:00

On my other blog, WHATEVER, I wrote on September 1, 2005 about Sam, the world's ugliest dog. Now, sad to say, Sam has passed away just before he turned fifteen.

Other readers have used many adjectives to describe Sam; words like ugly, hideous, freakish, gross, cute, disgusting. But no one ever described him as forgettable. Live on, old Sam. I'm sure you're the handsomest dog in Doggie Heaven.

Gift Ideas

2005-11-20T21:25:00.000-05:00

I want one of each for Christmas.

Ryder and Shasta

2005-11-13T18:26:00.000-05:00

Here are my babies huddling under a lamp on an antique chest going into the kitchen. They look grumpy about something.

Help For France

2005-11-08T11:28:00.000-05:00

Perhaps this little guy could help cut down on the burnings in France. Seriously, what a terrible situation is going on there. Unfortunately, there are no quick and painless solutions.

What's the Name of That Pizza Place?

2005-11-07T08:43:00.000-05:00

"Two year old Tommy loves the phone book; I'm not to sure who he's looking to call, but everytime the phone book comes out Tommy does this."- Scott Brookes

Isn't he adorable?

2005-11-05T11:58:00.000-05:00

The Catman of Key West

2005-11-04T19:48:00.000-05:00

This is for all of you out there who think that cats cannot be trained. I found the web site of Dominique and his flying household cats. If you will be visiting Key West in the near future, you can see their show at sunset each day.

Here's what the Boston Globe wrote about the show:

The "lions," of course, are his tiny domestic cats, with names like Sara, Sharky, and Piggy. Together·, Dominique and his kitties offer a unique show that's as sensational as it is silly. Sometimes the cats charge out of their cages, then leap up to Dominque's tall circus stands, or onto the Frenchman himself. Sometimes they execute jumps, skips, and turns, or leap through flaming hoops, eliciting ooohs and aaahs from the packed circle of onlookers. Sometimes the cats do absolutely nothing at all. In which case, Dominique, a well-seasoned ham with a flair for theatrics, performs figurative headstands while waiting for them to do their stuff.

How to Give a Pill to a Cat

2005-10-30T08:37:00.000-05:00

You may be more successful than I have ever been at medicating a cat. The following instructions are part of the public domain, as far as I know.

1. Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.
6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.
7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered Doulton figurines from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.
8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.
Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
9. Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
10. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Throw tee-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
11. Call fire department to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil-wrap.
12. Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed, force cat's mouth open with small wrench. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet mignon. Hold head vertically and pour ½ pint of water down throat to wash pill down.
13. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture store on way home to order new table.

Everybody Wins

2005-10-29T09:30:00.000-04:00

It is estimated that 50,000 animals were left behind in New Orleans after the recent hurricanes and animal shelters all along the Gulf Coast have more pets than they can care for. At least two prisons have taken in animals to rehab before finding new homes or being returned to owners.

Everyone wins. The animals receive an abundance of attention and care. Humane Societies receive help. Inmates feel they are contributing to the storm victims and improve their self-images. Prisons improve through better inmate behavior and attitudes. And the rest of us? Our hearts swell with the knowledge that everyone wins.

ABC News Headline: " Bon Voyage: Wisconsin Cat Sails to France"

2005-10-28T17:46:00.000-04:00

I love the true story of the cat named Emily who belonged to a family in Appleton, Wisconsin. She disappeared about a month ago and turned up in Nancy, France, near the German border. Apparently, Emily visited a paper warehouse near her owners' home and ended up in a cargo container headed for France, first by ship and then by truck.

When workers for the French lamination company found her in the container, she was wearing tags that included the name of Emily's vet. They called the vet and he contacted Emily's owners. Now they have to figure out how to get her home.

One of our cat's disappeared a few years ago. His name was Sean McIntyre O'Russo and now I wonder if he went off to Ireland.

My " Blonde Cat" - Shasta Yvonne Russostein

2005-10-21T10:37:00.000-04:00

In addition to Sir Ryder, we have a feline princess who also lets us live with her. Her name is Shasta with no royal title. Shasta came into our lives a few months after we lost another cat. Even though she was about a year old then, she was a very confused cat and remains so today. As I wrote on my other blog:

Not long after getting our white cat, Shasta, I came up with the theory that white cats are the equivalent of blondes. Just as the blonde who didn't make ice cubes because she didn't have the recipe, Shasta struggles through life without the benefit of a User's Guide. She tries to bury her food and water and never buries you-know-what. She has a hard time making decisions. Every day, it takes several tries of peering out the door before she decides to go out. But in spite of her difficulties, she is a devoted sidekick and I love her dearly.

The World's Ugliest Cat?

2005-10-21T09:23:00.000-04:00

This is a photo I found on a website called College Humor.com. Even though my cats have more hair than this cat, they don't alway have more decorum. I have to keep telling them that it is uncouth to sit like this.

In Person, Sir Ryder of Cupp

2005-10-19T21:00:00.000-04:00

2005-10-19T16:11:00.000-04:00

Who is Sir Ryder of Cupp? He is a black and white cat about eleven years old and lives with us.

Ryder originally was a dog substitute for my mother-in-law. He decided she needed a nurse more than a dog and took over that duty for the last couple of years of her life. Walking was difficult for her so Ryder would walk in front of her, constantly looking over his shoulder and adjusting his pace for her. She couldn't hear well so if the doorbell or phone rang, he would run to the location and wait for her to come.

My mother-in-law couldn't decide on a name for him. She toyed with the idea of "Nickels" or "Baby" but neither felt just right to her. His arrival coincided with golf's Ryder Cup tournament in Rochester that year. So Ryder it was. And is.

After her passing, Ryder came to live with us. We had lived next door and were in and out all the time so he knew us well. Before long, he became my husband's nurse and was right at home.

He is unashamed of his menial occupation with nursing but also lets us know (frequently) that he is of royal blood and must be treated accordingly; thus, the full title Sir Ryder of Cupp.