We Need a Cat Whisperer

It's a good thing this cat is cute, because she has atrocious manners. None of my previous cats had any interest in kitchen counters. Ding Ding jumps up on ours regularly to see what's new. We've tried scolding and spraying her with water--so now she knows she isn't supposed to do it. The problem is she doesn't care. When we catch her on the counter she scurries to sit next to the toaster. Maybe she thinks we can't see her?

She also loves to drink out of the toilet. Yuck.

Ding Ding Displays an Early Interest in Literature

We're not suggesting that the cat is able to read, but she is very interested in reading material. Since Ding Ding shares her house with a librarian and an English professor it seems very appropriate that she cares so deeply about books and newspapers. This is especially apparent on Sunday mornings when she amuses herself by playing fetch with small, scrunched up balls of newspaper, or diving under any sections of the paper that are scattered on the floor. We offer these photos as evidence of her varied taste in literature.

More Pictures of Ding Ding

April 24, Part 2

This is Annie, who lives, unhappily, with Ding Ding. Annie likes to be left alone--not a concept that Ding Ding understands.

April 24, 2008

Ding Ding is named after a friend of my daughter-in-law. Her friend is Chinese, and she says that Ding Ding is a very common name for pets in China. During Ding Ding's first days with us my family was visiting, and because of the cat's outgoing nature my sister-in-law grew quite attached to her. I promised to share pictures of Ding Ding as she grew up. At first I thought I would make some sort of album on my computer, but then I decided a blog would be the perfect vehicle for keeping everyone who likes Ding Ding informed of her progress. Hence the Ding Ding Chronicles. My husband thinks I should call this a blat instead of a blog. He says a blog would be for a dog.

The photo above is one of Ding Ding's favorite toys. She loves to play with all her toys, and even things that are not her toys. She is especially fond of playing fetch with small crumpled-up pieces of the newspaper.

In the beginning...

In December, 2007, our cat Molly disappeared. She went out one day, and never came home. We posted signs around the neighborhood, sent out emails, and visited the shelter in hopes of finding her. But we never did. Finally on January 12, we decided to get another cat.

Molly only liked my husband and me, and would never even stay in the house if we had company. Her companion cat, Anna Livia, is a feral cat, and she shares our house, but is very afraid of people. We decided this time we wanted a really friendly cat. So off we went to the animal shelter-- my sister-in-law, my nieces, my son and his wife, and me. We looked at every cat they had, and I held many. Then my son said "what about one of these?" There were two kittens in a cage. One was black and white, the other a grey tiger. They were chasing each other all over the cage. I asked to hold the grey one first. Then I asked to hold the black and white one. She immediately started purring, and didn't stop as I handed her around to everyone.

So Ding Ding came home with us that day.