Its Me, Ali Z!

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Good Morning all you Kitties and Pups!  Now that it is getting cold and snowy where I live, its easy to want to sleep in in the mornings, do you find it so?  We have lots to talk about so lets get started.

I am very concerned about Cloud.  He tells me he thinks I feel he is wasting his life barking and striking fear into the hearts of squirrels and asks what I think he should do instead.  Until I read an frightening article on the BBC news, I only felt he should do as he wished.  Now, however a Russian squirrel pack 'kills dog' .

Squirrels have bitten to death a stray dog which was barking at them in a Russian park, local media report.
Look at this article which describes a pack of black Russian squirrels . I only hope Cloud pays attention to this and realizes the possible danger involved.  Here is a picture of one of these vicious creatures.

Our good friend Zim writes and asks : "Wowzers!  Do you really play the piano?  What kind of music do you play?"  Zim, many people who have cats are surprised to know we enjoy playing the piano.  People go off to work and kitties open the piano and enjoy the music they make.  What kind you ask?  Almost every kind we have heard.  Kitten on the Keys, Ragtime, classics, jazz, we love it all.  Thanks for writing, Zim.

From Martha and Bailey Basset comes this question:  We really think you are one smart cat (thank you!).  Have you ever thought of becoming a dog?    Ohhhhh! what a shocking question, Martha!  Did you know cats outnumber dogs by millions as house pets in the USA, UK and many countries of Europe?  In the USA alone, there are about 60 million cats kept as pets.  There are about five hundred million pet cats in the world!  Why would I wish to join the minority, the less popular dog??  I am very happy being a cat!  Thanks for writing, Martha, and please write again.

We have three carryovers from last week that we must do today!  Chester wrote us some very kind words about enjoying our words on Tuesdays and asked if we are just as wise on the other days of the week!  Of course, Chester, I spend time on the other days of the week learning from books and the web.  Knowledge is a wonderful thing, don't you think?  Good to hear from you, Chester! 

Samantha asks a question about her family cat, Ozzie, who snuggles up to Sammie, rubs up againster her legs, and lets Sammie sniff her UNTIL  they realize their people are looking , then the hisses start!   This is really too bad isn't it, since you both seem to like each other but feel you must "put on a show for your pawrents."  I'm sure your pawrents would like this action very much, and I think if you felt you wanted to continue it, you should.  However, from personal experience, I find that all Stella wants to do is stick her cold nose up under my tail and I find that quite disgusting so I put a quick stop to it.  You dogs can get a little pushy about this affection between us cats and dogs.  Uh, do write again Sammie and let us know how this is going.

One of our favorite cats, Huffle, wrote about cats wearing clothes such as dogs sometimes do.  She says,
I don't usually wear clothes but your Mom is going to make me a husky fur sweater that I will wear proudly! I hope you don't think less of me, Ali Z.   Oh, no, Huffle, I never could, you have been such a wonderful friend to me.  I know you suffer in the Winter cold, so this will be a blessing for you and you will love to wear it.  I think we were mostly talking about silly clothes like costumes and the like for cats.  Do write again, Huffle!

Thats it for today, Kitties and Pups, again, I want to warn Cloud about squirrels who just get fed up about being constantly barked at, and attack dogs as a pack.  As much as we banter, I think both Cloud and I really like each other and I would hate for harm to come to him.  Can't you talk your Mom into teaching you how to paint?  I paint quite often and its a wonderful form of expression as your Mom knows.

We are saving a letter from our pal Max for next week.  He wrote about the Manx cat which is fascinating and I am gathering info for him.

Meow, meow,

Ali Zophia