I {heart} cats

Have I mentioned how much I love cats?  I think cats are possibly the best animals on earth. It's sad that I went so many years without a cat of my own, considering I have always loved them. My cats live strictly indoors and have no claws.  I have one cat that is my little buddy.  She's cute and sorta fat.

She follows me all over the place, sleeps on my feet, comes running to greet me when I come home (after careful scrutiny and peeking around corners to make sure I'm not Patrick) and if she had thumbs she would even try to come in the bathroom when I'm in there (she stands on things and I can hear the doorknob rattle--she obviously knows the doorknob is key, she just can't actually turn the handle so she resorts to sticking paws under and meowing until I come out.)  Doesn't she look happy in her Mickey Mouse hat?  Actually, it is a hat from Savannah's Disney Build-a-Bear, but it just happens to fit Dusty too and she was so cooperative to sit there and wear it.  She's just an all around happy and friendly cat.

Shadow, on the other hand, didn't care for the hat, as evidenced by this complete look of disgust.  She's much too sophisticated for such antics.  Shadow used to like me, too, until I brought that "other" cat home (although now she has gotten used to her and I think she has forgiven me.)  Since Dusty is always cleaning out Shadow's bowl, she has learned how to open the pantry door and get her own food.  I'm very serious.  She can also hear the sound of me making my bed (who knew blankets were so noisy?) and always comes running so she can run back and forth on her favorite blanket before I cover it with the bedspread.
I grew up with cats and have ALWAYS loved them.  One of my favorite memories from childhood is the Mother's Day when our cat decided to go into labor and give birth right there in the dining room right as we were sitting down to dinner (and my mom screeching at my dad at the top of her lungs to "get that @!#! cat out of here RIGHT NOW!" hehe).  We used to line all the new kittens up along the fence and then call the neighbor's dog over...just so we could watch them all fluff up and hiss.  It's instinct, ya know...
Here are some things I think are hilarious about my cats:

• Even though they bathe themselves, they smell nice and perfumey...it's weird.
• If the litter box gets too dirty, they "protest" by pooping in front of it. (I can't say that I blame them either, because who wants to use a filthy restroom?)
• They love the smell of sour washcloths, towels, and chlorine-soaked swimming suits.  They will roll around in them almost like they're getting high if given the chance.
• They like to "sharpen" their nonexistent claws by rubbing their cotton ball paws on the furniture (it's a good thing there are no claws there or my furniture would be toast)
• Considering they lick their own butts they sure are particular about what food I feed them.
• Dusty drinks by dipping her paw in the water bowl and licking it, almost like she's scooping it.  Shadow just puts her paw down in the bowl while she drinks.  I have wondered if she needs to make the water move so she can see it.
• They can't walk while wearing clothes.  Savannah has dressed them in doll clothes many times.  They flop over like they're off balance, rendering them incapable of running away and subject to the torture of accessories, like hats, purses, and socks.

Every time I see kittens I want to bring another one home, but Patrick would either kill me or leave me.  Someday in the future, there will be a story on the news about a crazy old cat lady and it will probably be me.  How many cats can I get before I become the crazy old cat lady?