She never misses an opportunity for her precious afternoon nap. She typically sleeps from 9 a.m. to her 4 p.m. feeding time. Something definitely was up.

That’s when I saw it—a vole running away with a hunting cat on its tail. Sophie didn’t get it, but that certainly didn’t stop her from keeping on the job.

If you have a cat, I’m sure you understand the predicament. Poison is out of the question. A poisoned rodent is not as fast, the perfect prey for a cat. Unfortunately, the poison will likely do the same thing to her as it does the rodent—kill her.

Glue boards are the epitome of cruel, IMHO. So, we were left trying repellents. First we tried a sachet of peppermint and spearmint oils. The only good thing I can say about it is that it smelled nice. Otherwise, it absolutely did not work. In fact, the home invaders ate it!

Next, we tried sealing up what we found to be the hole. I first laced the whole with ground cayenne pepper with some hot sauce for good measure. Then, my husband sealed the hole with foam. This did the trick. No more voles!

I feel a bit bad. Sophie was enjoying the hunt. It was fun to see her in hunter mode, in touch with her inner cat. What worried me more than seeing her kill the rodent was the thought that she may make it a present for me. That, I could do without.

Photo by Juha Soininen

Cat Huntress is a post from: Sophie's World

I am happy to report that after a few months of a reduced diet, an added emphasis on activity, and perseverance that Sophie has lost 1 1/2 pounds.

She still has a bit to go yet, but the weight loss is evident. I can see it in her face. Sophie’s New Year’s resolution is to lose 1 1/2 more pounds to get her to the weight that her vet recommended. I’m sure as spring approaches and the birds return, she will have plenty to keep herself occupied with. At least it’s a start.

Photo by benipop

Losing Weight is a post from: Sophie's World

Celebrate the joy she brings into your life, the unconditional love, the trust. Celebrate those bizarre moments when she chases pixies in your living room. Celebrate those days when she won’t leave your side and demands to be held.

Celebrate her wackiness, her quiet, her poise. Celebrate those days when she just seems to know that you need a hug.

Celebrate those days when she won’t stop talking or those days when you have to search for her. Celebrate when she dogs your every move or sleeps on your computer keyboard. Cherish and love your cat for all the joy she brings into your life.

Photo by Hob

Celebrate Cats—Hug Your Cat Day is a post from: Sophie's World

For me, nothing looked right. I tried styling my hair. Yuck. I put it up. It won’t lay straight. I brushed it out, and it got frizzy. It is days like that I just want to cut it all off and start from scratch. What I needed was some serious Hair Care.

Well, it actually worked out. As part of my weekly to-do list, I have a task called “Spa Monday”. That’s the time I’ll indulge myself in something nice. I figure it is a good way to set the tone for the week. Even Sophie gets her own spa day. I’ll give her a good brushing to keep her coat nice and shiny—and to keep the shedding down.

For me, it was a deep conditioning treatment. Besides feeling good, it perked up my mood. There’s nothing better than taking care of yourself once in awhile, especially when stress or other worries brings you down.

I learned a valuable lesson from Sophie. Before we switched her to her present food, her coat was dull and flaky. So, I tried her approach. I started taking biotin and fish oil supplements. As good quality nutrition did for her, my hair improved.

I’ll have to believe her next time Sophie looks at me with those eyes that say she knows it all. Maybe she should get fed whenever she wants.

Lessons from Sophie–Bad Hair Day is a post from: Sophie's World

It usually happens after my husband gets home from work. During the day while I’m writing, Sophie is sound asleep. Naturally, my husband and I talk a bit at first. Sophie gets noticed, but I’ve missed the hubby too.

Dr. Bob suggested that I try a spray bottle when she uses inappropriate behavior as one way to deter her. I remember that we used a spray bottle on my last cat, Ruby (RIP), when she started clawing the furniture.

Ruby was a smart cat. She only was disciplined twice by the Disciplinarian. After that, I only had to shake it to get her to stop.

So, I thought I’d give it a try with Sophie. Earlier this week, she started up right after I fed her. WTF, I thought. C’mon on. I’ve been her all day. So, I squirted her.

Never will I squirt her again. Good-bye, Disciplinarian. I felt so guilty. Here she was, with unconditional trust in me and I let her have it.

Lesson learned: I’ll put up with her yowling and find other ways to distract her. I can’t really fault her for wanting attention.

Photo by gokoroko

The Disciplinarian Failed Me is a post from: Sophie's World

As I’ve written elsewhere, I recently purchased a new laptop. I was troubled by the fact that I was wasting so much time at night. I wanted to be able to work anywhere. I also desperately needed an upgrade. Sophie’s reaction surprised me.

I thought that having a laptop on my lap as I watched TV would be just fine with her. She’d appreciate the extra warmth. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The first night I brought out the laptop, she stared. WTF, I’m sure is what she was thinking. Rather than jump up on the couch as was her usual practice, she sat near the couch. She wouldn’t jump up. She’d whine a bit, but I couldn’t figure out what was wrong.

My husband figured it out. It was that black thing on the couch with me. Sophie was jealous of a laptop. At first, I laughed. How silly! Then, I was missing our nightly cuddles. To get her back on the couch, I set the laptop aside until she took her place. Only then would I dare bring it out. Eventually, she came to accept the black thing. Now, it’s not an issue. Maybe she does even enjoy its warmth.

Cats are funny animals. A cat that has claimed you as their own is a force not to be trifled with. To keep peace in the home, make sure your cat gets her time.

Cat Jealousy is a post from: Sophie's World

For Sophie, the cat who has everything, a gift will be a challenge. I’m looking forward to finding something unique for her. I’ll read the blogs and cat sites for some ideas. Twitter is also a good place for ideas. As I find ideas, I’ll share them too.

The hubby is another story. We’ve been spending more evenings at home, much to Sophie’s delight. It was nice because when we were in Illinois, anyway, we were part of a Wine of the month club.  Unfortunately, Minnesota law prevents us from joining a wine club, but given the opportunity, I’d do it again in a heart beat. It was always an adventure, getting a new wine, more often than not, a wine that we wouldn’t have picked up normally. The club we were a part of also included a recipe to accompany the wine. What a great experience it was! We had a great dinner at home, Sophie was happy, it was a good time.

That is the key. I want to get something for my husband and Sophie that will encourage our bonding time. Life is just too short not to be sharing it with the ones that matter most to you. Today, I was playing one of the many little games with Sophie as dinner cooked. She was so happy, purring away, so glad just for the opportunity to be with us. I think as I consider Christmas gifts this year, I’ll give her the one gift she wants most–all of us together.

Preparing For Christmas is a post from: Sophie's World

I’m convinced that cats have a keen sense of culinary taste. For me, I love cooking with strong spices that create atmosphere. Different scents evoke different feelings. When I cook with homey-type of spices like sage and thyme, our home takes on this calming feeling. Sophie reflects it too. She is content and relaxed.

When I cook with more exotic spices like curry powder and saffron, the air is charged with feelings of adventure. When I’m cooking  with these spices, Sophie is more likely to be found racing around, hiding, and playing hide-and-go-seek. Her mood matches the spices, creating that sense of intrigue.

I love the romantic feeling that comes from cooking with spices. Sophie with her sharp feline sense of smell, enjoys the adventure of our culinary travels.

Cats Nose for Spices is a post from: Sophie's World

To me, Sophie is quite photogenic. And yes, I do have scores of pictures on my phone. So, I suppose in a way, I have that “proud mom” syndrome. She hasn’t made it on our Christmas cards yet, but it probably will be coming down the line. I’m a pet owner and proud of it.

Being a Pet Owner is a post from: Sophie's World

Then there are the geese. This time of year, they bunch up in family groups. A couple groups were resting in the backyard. Pretty soon, as what usually happens, a fight broke out. The geese really get at it sometimes. The two in battle were locked, bill in bill. The fight intensified, with them rolling on the ground, neither one really to abandon the fight. Just like kids in the school yard, the other geese in the yard had to see what the fuss was all about. The bystanders squawked and honked, fueling the fury of the fight. All this time, Sophie is chattering away.

As if that weren’t enough, then the squirrels started at it. A few were digging around near the goose fight, but ran to the porch when feathers started flying. Sophie went back and forth between the squirrels scampering across the porch to the geese in mortal combat. She watched and stalked as long as she could. Exhausted, she gave into sleep. So much for a kitty to do.

Photo by hickoryhollow113

A Day In the Life of Sophie is a post from: Sophie's World