Chloe says, “There’s no one here but us pine cones.”

You can’t see me

This was taken a while back, when Chloe was still coming in pretty regularly. She doesn’t come in nearly as much now. We aren’t sure why, but we think Sylvester and Smokey might have something to do with it. She’s usually very quiet when she comes in, and sometimes she can even find a better hiding place than this.

This is Zoe from about 10 years ago at my parents’ house.

Zoe bowing

I can’t remember exactly when I got Zoe, but I he was a small kitten. He’s grown, or nearly grown here, so it must have been a year or so after I got him. He was almost completely white when he was young. He’s gotten a lot more red in his coat in the last few years.

Dusty is the most skittish cat we have. He will come up to me, but not Mark. He runs if you move too quickly. He likes to lie down where he’s at least partially hidden.

Dusty in the grass

He gets up under the long ornamental grass at the end of the driveway and seems perfectly happy to stay for hours. But he got suspicious when Mark took this picture with his iphone, and right after this shot, he ducked into the culvert. We think he might sleep in the culvert, but we know for sure it’s one of his favorite boltholes.

Zoe and Chloe have a love-hate relationship. For Chloe, it’s mostly love, so you know where that leaves the hate.

Zoe starts out all lovey-dovey.

Kissy-kissy

But it always turns ugly. First he starts to push her around.

Pushy-pushy

And then, if we don’t bring out the Cat Corrector, he gets really mean. Usually just the sound it makes when we pick up the spray bottle is enough for Zoe to wander off innocently.

He has gotten really mean at times, but Chloe always seems to forgive him.

Chloe, dear, he’ll never change.

Zoe has been an indoor cat all of his life. That’s about 10 years. Now, because Mark finally got tired of his disgusting bathroom habits (which involve tracking various materials throughout the house — Mark), he spends almost all his time outdoors. He only comes in for his eyedrops and to eat, and occasionally to take a nap on the couch.

Poor, tired Zoe crashes on the couch

He almost always sleeps with his tongue sticking out a little.