My daughter has gone out of town for a few days so her two gorgeous Maine Coon cats have come to Crazy Nana’s house for a wee visit.
Please allow me to introduce King Henry, aka Hank:
He is a gentle giant although, right now, he’s not very happy with life and is growling even when he comes over to be petted. See this face? This is not a happy face. It’s a “what did you do with my momma face?”
And then, there’s the baby, Lord Byron aka Ronnie who measures 36 inches from tip of nose to tip of tail and still has much growing to do. Shhhh, we won’t tell my daughter this as she thinks he is the little one.
Sophie, of course you know, but I must give her honourable mention here as she is graciously (yeah, right!) sharing her home for a few days:
Sophie’s way of greeting the boys this afternoon was to go touch noses and then hiss at them. She is definitely not a sociable cat but she is not mean or aggressive, just disdainful! Sophie is the reason we have a sign on our front door:
We live in a 150 year old farmhouse and, when you enter the house, you’re actually entering the addition which is only about 75 years old and consists of the entryway, the living room, stairs to a huge bedroom under the eaves and the door to the back field. When my daughter and the cats lived with us for a few months, we put a door between the addition and the kitchen which then leads to the rest of the house. Once the boys were let out of their carriers, Sophie decided she needed out of the kitchen to see what was going on. First step, well after the nose touching and hissing, was to make sure the boys know who belongs to the scratching post:
And then we played Follow the Leader or it might have been, “over here is the litter box in case you need to….”
Back to the living room, where for one brief moment of sheer insanity, Sophie got into Hank’s carrier and played with his toys! You have to know that Sophie does not play, Sophie does not sit on laps and purr, Sophie does not like to be picked up, Sophie wants to be fed NOW, wants the door opened so she can go outside NOW and yes, she will lie on the desk beside your computer, or even beside you on the bed, but don’t push your luck, okay?
Meanwhile, Ronnie was in the hall checking out the scratching post. So there, Sophie!
The day is almost over. Mirza is stretched out on the bed in my studio, Sophie is hogging the heat vent in the kitchen, Hank has found a spot to sleep, and yes he does sleep in that position, and Ronnie is wondering why Crazy Nana won’t leave that damn door open so he can run through the house and be chased by the goofy English Setter. Welcome to Crazy Nana’s house, y’all!













Jan 25, 2013 @ 22:22:29
It was a Congo like of cats! So fun.
Jan 24, 2013 @ 14:17:36
What a crew you had there! Peace and quiet now???
Jan 22, 2013 @ 17:45:25
Joss what adorable additions even though temporary to your home.. Cats Rule don’t they…. Im catless at the moment and have been for several years.. after having several one who lived to be 21..
My daughter now keeps 2.. and for anyone who doesn’t know Cats they each show their own individual personalities and make everyone away when displeased lol.. as your Sophie obviously shows
Lovely to read and see your photos
Jan 21, 2013 @ 09:42:57
Oh my gosh I so love this post! Feels like I’m right in your house with these lovelies. You could write a grwat children’s book from this post, Joss. Was so fun to read…..can’t even pick one thing I liked best. Love it all!!! Xo
Jan 21, 2013 @ 03:54:41
You’re a good nana! and Hank looks very crabby ;-/
Jan 21, 2013 @ 00:25:40
Awww, they look like so much fun! Pet sitting is always such a good time.
Jan 20, 2013 @ 17:50:37
This is so authentic to the inner life of cats (often identical to the outer, they often being wysiwyg) that I am sure in a former life you were one formidable feline!
Jan 20, 2013 @ 23:35:24
Heh heh, formidable feline eh? Much better than being catty. Lol
Jan 20, 2013 @ 17:09:26
I love this, Joss, and the pictures are great. When Paul and I went to spend the holidays with my son and his wife, we brought Merlin, the kitten. My son has 2 bichons and I thought for sure the dogs and Merlin would not get along. Well, I was very mistaken. Merlin took to them like fleas to a dog and played every waking moment with the dogs. They all loved each other and wound up being great playmates. You just don’t know…..
Jan 20, 2013 @ 23:36:46
That is just so sweet. I’m hoping that one day I will find Sophie and Mirza curled up together!
Jan 20, 2013 @ 15:11:47
Oh! I love it! Since I live with 3 cats and a dog always.
Jan 19, 2013 @ 23:46:34
LOL, that’s a lot of PO’d sour-puss pics… May be no fur flying, but there sure is a load of catitude!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 22:37:15
Love this post, Joss! I am a cat lover but my husband is allergic; thanks for the vicarious cat fix
Jan 19, 2013 @ 22:41:36
you are so welcome. My hubby “hates cats” and yet Sophie the Unsociable has grown on him and he can be found scratching her belly or clipping clumps of fur away from her.
Jan 20, 2013 @ 10:47:17
Oh yah hates them, mmmhmm sure! Except he’s always sure to mention how you guys were supposed to keep sweet Ronnie, who loves his momma tool much
Jan 20, 2013 @ 15:15:48
He’ s just a big fake, he is!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 19:51:44
What fun! Cats have definite [superior to all other life forms] personalities, and these are real beauties!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 22:42:23
They say that in Ancient Egypt cats were worshiped as gods – and they have never forgotten!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 17:45:45
Oh Hank… He has so gotten used to me being with him full time!! I feel bad now! Poor bubba.
Sophie probably couldn’t resist as that is Christmas Rat, the stuffed rat filled with catnip! AKA Hank’s favorite toy; another reason she may have gone for it
Please tell them their momma misses them!!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 22:43:30
They had a good day and Hank is less growly than yesterday. They will be glad to see you. I’m sure they, Hank especially, thinks I’ve done something nefarious to you and I will never be forgiven!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 17:44:08
This was such a delightful read. We have always had cat companions and have one now who is about 18 years old by our calculation. He’s sleek, black and very snooty. Without doubt his true love is my husband. That’s clear as he only sucks up to me when he’s not feeling well, so we always know when a vet appointment ought to be booked. Overall from what I read above I think Coal is very much like Sophie. They are the kind of cats I admire greatly from a distance. However, I confess that as much as I like cats, my affection for them doesn’t rival my first love for horses and dogs.
Jan 19, 2013 @ 17:29:52
Oh my … what fun to be an observer! All in all they seem to get along pretty well?! Hank is so handsome and I totally love the way he sleeps!
I’ve never introduced any of my cats to another cat. Hadassah lived with a dog for a while, and that worked well.
Jan 19, 2013 @ 22:45:11
Hank was a rescue and his first home was here but he loves no one like he does my daughter and I know he’s sure it’s my fault that he is back here with me and she is nowhere to be found! It was a good day, everyone settled in and we just mostly keep Mirza away from everyone!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 17:22:17
Beautiful! I am such a cat lover!!!!!!!!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 22:46:08
me too. I would love to have another cat and we did have one for almost a year but had to find her a new home as Sophie was constantly on the alert and stressed. i just felt it wasn’t fair to her and would likely shorten her life.
Jan 19, 2013 @ 13:28:26
I love the way Hank sleeps! So adorable!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 22:46:30
He truly is a special boy!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 13:16:36
I remember having my daughter’s 2 kittens and her gerbil at grandma’s house and then my own cat. They all claimed a spot and called it their own
Jan 19, 2013 @ 11:23:36
It really IS like having house guests, isn’t it? : )
Jan 19, 2013 @ 11:30:54
Oh absolutely. I find it interesting that cats, unlike humans, seem to be able to leave the grumpy one alone rather than try to convince her to change her attitude!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 11:13:17
I love it.
Jan 19, 2013 @ 11:15:43
It is going to be a fun few days for everyone!!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 11:04:29
I am in love…
Jan 19, 2013 @ 11:16:53
Jan 19, 2013 @ 10:02:40
Sweet kitties, no matter what their temperment. I love the look on Sophie’s face while she is playing with someone else’s toys – that look says it all.
Jan 19, 2013 @ 11:18:36
Pretty much eh? I’m pretty amazed that she went for the toys. It’s for sure a case of owning the house and everything in it!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 07:21:22
I would love to be adopted by one of those! They are gorgeous.
I particularly like the ‘follow-my-leader’ shot!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 05:54:37
AND what absolutely gorgeous creatures!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 05:50:57
This all sounds so familiar! So well put – super!
Jan 19, 2013 @ 00:13:21
All you need now is a parakeet and a hamster in a wheel to complete the setting!