tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-175507362009-07-17T13:38:36.228-05:00Stories, comments, poems, and book reviews by and about Aloysius Katz, a.k.a. Aloysius Pangur Ban, M.F.A. (Master of Feline Arts). Featuring: Great Feline Authors, Into the Litter Box, and Darcy Xenophon.Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.comBlogger429125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-32641955336579086512009-07-17T11:55:00.009-05:002009-07-17T13:38:36.244-05:00

The timber tiger is what I seek.His stripes are bold; his bulging cheekIs filled with nuts and seeds and bird eggsAnd bugs and worms and even frog legs!I can hear him chittering.Underneath the steps he’s skittering.I know if I am very stillI’ll have a chance to make a kill.And what else to do on a cloudy dayBut lie on the patio and dream of prey?Now, for the Modulator's Friday Ark. And on Sunday

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-58510445071249779312009-07-09T13:51:00.004-05:002009-07-14T12:50:17.782-05:00

I love to be out on the patio at dusk. Not only does my fur contrast nicely with the red flowers, but I can hear those chipmunks rustling around underneath the foliage. I wish I could go in and out all night, but eventually my humans want to go to bed and make me come in. Silly humans!See more cats at Modulator's Friday Ark and at Sunday's Carnival of the Cat--hosted by the M-Cats Club,

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-68275368926807576472009-06-20T13:06:00.004-05:002009-06-20T13:20:45.384-05:00

My human made me pose for this picture! That's the filter thingamajig that goes in the furnace and catches some of the fur I shed. Then she went on the internet and sent the picture to the 3M company that makes the filters. They promise to send a coupon for a free filter. But hey, you know, I think I look pretty handsome in this picture. Maybe they will offer me a job as the 3M spokescat.Check

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-33415424781731413592009-06-05T12:00:00.005-05:002009-06-06T13:28:28.709-05:00

I sought them hereI sought them thereI sought those chipmunks everywhere!Are they in heavenOr are they in hell?Those damned elusive . . .Oh, what was it I was looking for, again?Jump aboard the Friday Ark at Modulator. On Sunday, the Carnival of the Cats will be at Adventures in Cat Philanthropy,

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-70718681006611919242009-05-29T11:51:00.003-05:002009-05-29T16:42:51.819-05:00

Moses the cat and Matilda the dog may be of different species, but they have something in common: both of them were rescued by amanuensis' niece. They now live happily together in the Ohio countryside. Apparently no one told Moses that he's supposed to dislike dogs, because he really seems to want to cuddle up to Matilda.They'll be boarding Modulator's Friday Ark today. On Sunday, the

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-16305946925126588822009-05-25T12:33:00.004-05:002009-05-25T12:47:40.116-05:00

Some of my friends have stopped by and asked what's up with me, because it's been quite a while since I posted anything. Well, I've just been hanging around like any cat would, indulging in my favorite hobbies--birding and napping. Yes, it's finally spring here. The snow's been gone for some time, and there are birds singing constantly. That's one reason why I'm napping now. Every day I get

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-81318863041454303962009-04-02T15:05:00.005-05:002009-04-02T15:31:41.738-05:00

See what I had to go through to get out to my backyard! This was a little while ago before the snow finally melted.First I tried walking down the downspout.Ish! Then, my humans thought of putting a plank out across the snow. I sniffed it.But I didn't like it. Something smelled fishy, and not in a good way.Finally, I took off across the snow, determined to reach the sunny part of the backyard.

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-5000527462085027932009-03-20T12:19:00.003-05:002009-03-20T12:39:22.646-05:00

Today I'd hoped to celebrate the coming of Spring, but when I woke up and looked out the window, everything was covered with a layer of snow! I had to go back to my archives to find a photo of myself sitting in the sunshine.All I'd like to do is go out in the backyard and cat around a little. I'd even step across the snow that's still piled up in the shade next to our back steps. But today is

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-33981453192937944332009-03-15T12:50:00.004-05:002009-03-15T13:40:57.491-05:00

We all know that many humans treat their pets like children, but how many treat them like fashion models? Lilly is a gorgeous young coal-black long-haired cat who really seems to get off on being dressed up. The Star Tribune gossip columnist C.J. recently interviewed Lilly and her human, Carol. There's evan a video of Lilly getting dressed, and her human talking baby talk to her.Carol complains

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-51432210942323997382009-03-12T16:38:00.003-05:002009-03-12T16:58:03.684-05:00

More wildcat news. Last week, hunters used their dogs to tree this gorgeous cougar, apparently a wild one, near Spooner, Wisconsin. The Wisconsin officials who came to look have said that wild cougars are rare in Wisconsin and next door here in Minnesota. I sort of wonder whether the cougars might not be migrating. After all, in some parts of the country, it's spring, and young cats have

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-67563647088064624132009-03-09T13:17:00.003-05:002009-03-09T13:46:31.352-05:00

I woke up early and took a bath today, because it's my birthday! Yesterday, my personal groomer had brushed me--including my fluffy ruff and tummy. Don't you think I look a lot better now?

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-73182523171886123732009-03-06T11:44:00.003-06:002009-03-06T20:36:27.518-06:00

A little bit of the nip keeps me from thinking too much about money. I like to roll in the catnip and then lick it off my fur. I even offered some to my humans, but they said they preferred a little nip of something else. As long as they have enough money for catnip and food, I guess we should all be happy. And by the way, Monday is my birthday! Check out the boarders at the Friday Ark.

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-22441416525626848592009-02-26T15:16:00.005-06:002009-03-01T13:55:42.085-06:00

Lots of humans are sitting around caterwauling about how their economy is in free fall. Well, maybe it's time they turned the economy over to us cats. Cats have a natural ability to recover from falls. We know how to roll gracefully and how to get back on our feet as smoothly and quickly as possible. We know how to clean up our own messes, too, something that humans seem to have a heck of a

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-91540560582010178462009-02-22T12:36:00.004-06:002009-02-22T12:50:03.164-06:00

A pear-shaped cat whose proclivity Was to maximize his productivity Got an excellent start: He perfected the art Of militant couch inactivity.Today's Carnival of the Cats will be at When Cats Attack! Don't forget to celebrate Mardi Gras on Tuesday. You know I'll be doing that.

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-29608306674634147362009-02-21T14:48:00.003-06:002009-02-21T15:04:43.672-06:00

I was sad to hear that Socks, the debonair tuxedo cat who lived in the White House during Bill Clinton's two terms, has passed away. Socks was a crowd pleasing cat who reportedly liked to perch on the President's shoulder. We will miss him very much.

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-88372412243761472272009-02-18T11:36:00.004-06:002009-02-20T11:44:28.827-06:00

Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune has a feature about wild cougars in Minnesota. The handsome cat above was caught on film in 2007 by a stationery camera set up near Floodwood, Minnesota. But, according to the Department of Natural Resources, the wild cougar population is very small in our state, maybe only two or three individuals. Apparently humans can easily mistake other species for cougars

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-59549019024275718782009-02-12T11:28:00.006-06:002009-02-13T11:40:26.578-06:00

I wish all you cats and catted ones a happy Valentine's Day!And happy Valentine's Day to all creatures.Love and purrs,AloysiusSee you on board the Friday Ark.

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-26174743696761923162009-02-08T12:56:00.007-06:002009-02-08T13:14:07.457-06:00

I'm afraid I've been sleeping too much to blog very often. That's winter for you. There have been a few entertaining interludes, though, like posing with this big red poinsettia that has survived since December.An even better distraction: squirrel watching. Our neighbors sure seem to like feeding the darned little tree rats. I love to watch them hanging upside down--the squirrels, not the

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-46744333430458293032009-02-06T11:27:00.005-06:002009-02-06T14:37:23.480-06:00

Ever since I first heard the story of the story of Kajeeka and George, two rescued lynx who bonded at the Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, Minnesota, I have just fallen in love with these two. A donation to the Sanctuary lets you send a unique gift of lynx love to your Valentine. But hurry! You have only until tomorrow, February 7, to order in time for Valentine's Day delivery. Even if you

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-15756576113527418462008-12-24T16:43:00.002-06:002008-12-24T16:54:06.242-06:00

Yes, there he is again--Santa Cat. He's looking over my shoulder, isn't he? He's going to decide whether I've been a good cat or a bad cat, isn't he? Humph! Could any cat be cuter or more cuddly than I am, sitting here on my flowery cotton quilt, just trying to get a late afternoon nap in before Christmas Eve starts up? Happy Holidays to all cats and catted ones. And this is probably is a

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-78029044116656524282008-12-04T16:17:00.004-06:002008-12-04T16:32:28.855-06:00

Check out the Friday Ark on 12/5. And on Sunday, the Carnival of the Cats lands at Mind of Mog.

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-52685536617504143372008-11-30T14:17:00.003-06:002008-11-30T14:29:03.160-06:00

The first real snowfall of the winter has finally come; I'm contemplating the snow-covered bushes outside my window. I'm glad to be staying warm and enjoying the blooming holiday cactus. My humans are contractually obligated to keep a space open for me on this table.This week's Carnival of the Cats is at Nikita’s Place.

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-31822969941617104852008-11-06T15:40:00.005-06:002008-11-06T16:01:36.089-06:00

The pet population at a certain place in Ohio has really gone through the roof lately. I'm talking about the country home where amanuensis' niece Lee and her husband Gary live. Here's Matilda, a rescue dog they recently adopted. I'm told that Matilda is devoted to Lee and is learning to follow along when she rides her horse.There are also two Sheltie puppies in the house. This one's called

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-30743715954520024022008-11-06T12:12:00.005-06:002008-11-06T12:17:57.748-06:00

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17550736.post-72638531940437254222008-10-31T13:11:00.005-05:002008-10-31T13:14:33.620-05:00

Since reality shows are all the rage, I'm going trick or treating--as myself! Please pass the tuna.Check out the Friday Ark for more merry critters.

Aloysiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14376805761417557738noreply@blogger.com0