Allegra’s World

Allegra and Ruby Love (Most) Household Chores

Allegra's World, Ruby's Reflections| 25 Comments

cats_and_household_chores

Household chores are at the very bottom of my list of things I enjoy doing. I’m fortunate that I have two feline helpers who make the whole process a lot more fun each week, because they seem to think that some aspects of household chores are actually kitty playtime.

At the top of the list is changing the sheets. Allegra is particularly adept at this particular task. She loves to “ride the mattress” when I turn it. Then she dives under the fitted sheet as I try to fasten it to the mattress. Once that is successfully accomplished, complete with kitty lump under the sheet, she’ll move on to crawling inside the duvet cover helping me put the duvet cover on.

bathroom_cat

Ruby is a very talented bathroom cleaning assistant. Continue Reading

A Very Special Visitor for Allegra and Ruby

Allegra's World, Ruby's Reflections| 12 Comments

visit_from_robin

Allegra and Ruby got a surprise visit from our dear friend Robin Olson of Covered in Cat Hair last week. Robin was in town for BlogPaws. She’d been wanting to meet the girls two years ago when BlogPaws was held at Tysons Corner as well, and this year, we finally managed to find the time to make it happen.

Allegra, who loves visitors, took to Robin right away. She greeted her at the door, and led the way upstairs into our living room. Ruby, who tends to be a little more cautious with people she doesn’t know, didn’t take long to warm up to Robin, either. But why don’t I let the girls tell you about Robin’s visit in their own words.

Allegra: I love visitors, and I could tell right away that this lady was a cat person.

Ruby: New person in the house!Continue Reading

Allegra Will Be Featured on Nat Geo Wild’s “Wild Side of Cats”

Allegra's World| 27 Comments

National_Geographic_cats

Last August, I was contacted by a British production company making a special for National Geographic called “Wild Side of Cats.” The program looks at the behavior of domestic cats and examines how that compares to big cat behaviour in the wild.

The production company came across a video clip that I shot of Allegra testing the Imperial Cat Scratch ‘n Shapes Sofa Scratcher Chaise. I always knew Allegra was a world-champion scratcher, but apparently, her technique in the video clip is so perfect that they ended up using it for the special they’re filming.

The special will air this Sunday, May 19, on Nat Geo Wild at 8pm Eastern. Continue Reading

Sunday Purrs: Allegra on Living in the Moment

Allegra's World, Sunday Purrs| 12 Comments

Allegra_The_Conscious_Cat

I don’t understand why humans have such a hard time with what they call “living in the moment.” To us cats, it’s just living. Where else would you be, if not in this present moment? That’s where all the good stuff happens: it’s where the sunbeams are, it’s where the birds outside the window are, it’s where breakfast and dinner are. Why would you ever want to worry about what’s going to come next, or think about what already happened?

When we want to play, we play. When we want to nap, we nap. When we want to cuddle, we cuddle. I know humans have what they call “responsibilities,” the most important one, of course, being that they make sure we never run out of cat food, and I’ll concede that that requires some planning, but I thought I’d give you some pointers on how you can be more like a cat and enjoy the moment.

Allegra’s World: new window perch

Allegra's World| 21 Comments

cat_window_perch

If you’ve read our blog for a while or follow us on Facebook, you’ve seen lots of pictures of me and Ruby on our window perch. It’s one of my favorite places to hang out, whether it’s for watching the world go by outside the window, or for a nice long snooze.

Last week, something bad happened to my window perch: Mom found a hole in it! It started out as a tiny little hole, and neither Mom nor I worried much about it, but it got a little bigger every day, and pretty soon, I could stick my hole paw through it. That’s when Mom decided we needed to get a new perch.

cat_window_seat

I wasn’t all that sure I wanted a new one. After all, I, and all the kitties who came before me, had molded it into a perfect hammock shape, as you can see in this photo. But Mom said that the hole could turn into a hazard. I guess that’s one of those big words humans like to use when they’re worried that something bad might happen to us kitties. Like we’d be silly enough to get our head stuck in that hole. Mom really worries too much.Continue Reading

Allegra’s World: Birthday girl

Allegra's World| 34 Comments

 birthday_cat_cupcake

It’s my birthday today! I’m three years old! I can’t wait to see what Mom and Ruby have in store for me today.

 Allegra_cat_exam_table

It’s hard to believe that I was ever this tiny. When I came to live with Mom, I was seven months old. The photo above was taken the day Mom met me for the first time.

Amber showing Allegra the ropes

My older sister Amber showed me the ropes. I know I probably drove her crazy. All I wanted to do was play, and she didn’t seem to understand that. I was sad when she passed away only five weeks after I arrived.

Allegra and Ruby as kitten

A little less than a year later, I got to be big sister to Ruby and show her the ropes. Continue Reading

Allegra’s World: I’m going to be famous!

Allegra's World| 33 Comments

National_Geographic_cats

There was a lot of excitement at our house last week when I was contacted by a British production company making a special for National Geographic, provisionally called “The Wild Side of Cats.” The program looks at the behavior of domestic cats and examines how that compares to big cat behaviour in the wild.

The production company came across a video clip that I shot of Allegra testing the new Imperial Cat Scratch ‘n Shapes Sofa Scratcher Chaise. I always knew Allegra was a world-champion scratcher, but apparently, her technique in the video clip is so perfect that they might use it for the special they’re filming.

Allegra hasn’t let her potential fame go to her head. She still deigns to spend time with Ruby and me, and aside from occasional remarks such as “I should be fed first, because I’m going to be famous,” she’s taken things in stride.Continue Reading

Allegra and Ruby: good office help is hard to find

Allegra's World, Ruby's Reflections| 17 Comments

cat_computer_desk

My office is my favorite room in my house  – which is a good thing, since I spend so much time in it! I have a big, white corner desk, a window with a beautiful view of the trees in my backyard, book shelves filled with treasured books and mementoes ,and a comfortable chair in one corner, which serves as meditation chair, editing chair, proofreading chair, and, of course, kitty cuddling chair.

Allegra and Ruby in office

Since I spend most of my day in my office, it’s not surprising that Allegra and Ruby do, too. They both like to hang out on the window perch next to my desk. They also like to help me work. You didn’t think I get all this writing done all by myself, did you?

As you can see in the photo at the very top, Allegra likes to sit right in front of my monitor. Continue Reading

Allegra and Ruby like it hot

Allegra's World, Ruby's Reflections| 23 Comments

cat_stretched_out_on_sofa

Their mom, not so much. Actually, I do like hot weather and don’t mind temps in the 90’s – but not when those 90’s are inside my house.

We were affected by the massive power outage that hit the Mid Atlantic after a severe storm known as a “derecho,” a term I don’t ever want to see in a weather report again, came through here this past Friday night. But why don’t I let the girls tell you what happened.

Allegra: Friday night, we were all snuggled up in bed with Mom, and I had just started to drift off to sleep when out of nowhere, this rush of wind hit the side of the house. It felt like the whole house was shaking!

Ruby: Wha? What’s happening? I was sleeping!

Allegra: I jumped off the bed and ran to my safe place.

Ruby: Mom? Why are you getting up? We just went to bed!Continue Reading

Allegra, Ruby and The Taste Test

Allegra's World, Feline Nutrition, Ruby's Reflections| 8 Comments

Pawgevity_raw_rabbit_cat_food

September 2022 update:

Back in 2012, friends of mine started a small company making safe, locally sourced pet food. They were involved in every aspect of the food they made, from farm to bowl. Their meat and produce was sourced from local farmers who follow humane practices. Pawgevity owners Carole and Norman King personally visited each farm they work with. Sadly, the company didn’t survive.

Back then, I had an opportunity to visit Pawgevity’s offices. Located in a refurbished former railroad depot, the offices featured giant high ceilings, whitewashed brick walls, dark wood floors, a cozy seating area for visitors, and, of course, a freezer full of their products. I got to visit their spotless kitchen, where they prepared the organic produce that goes into the food. After a tour of the premises, and chatting with Carole and Norm for a while over ice cold lemonade, I was delighted to find out that they are adding a new line of rabbit food to their product offering.

Pawgevity_raw_pet_food

Rabbit is Allegra and Ruby’s favorite food, and when Carole and Norm offered me a sample of their new product, I knew my two girls would be absolutely delighted. But why don’t I let them tell you.

Ruby: Allegra, Mom is getting our dinner out of the fridge! Come quick!

Allegra: I’m coming, Ruby, I’m coming. You know it always takes her a few minutes to get everything ready for us.

Ruby: I know, Allegra, but it goes much quicker if we sit there and stare at her! And even quicker if I rub against her legs the whole time!

Allegra: You just keep on believing that, little one. Oooh – wait! Something smells different!

Ruby: It smells so good! I’m starving! Mom, hurry up! Can’t you see I’m practically wasting away?

Allegra: I think Mom has a new food for us, Ruby.

Ruby: I smell it, too. Do you think we’ll like it? I don’t always like everything she gives us.

Allegra: I like everything Mom gives us. It’s not nice to be fussy, Ruby.

Ruby: Hurry up, Mom! Me first, me first!

Allegra: You always get yours first, Ruby. You think you’d know that by now.

Ruby: Thanks, Mom. Oooh, this is so good!

Allegra: It is different. Unlike you, Ruby, I’m going to take a careful lick first to make sure I’m really going to like it. Hmm. This is tasty. I like it! What do you think, Ruby?

Ruby: Nom nom nom nom nom.