This is what happens when Pepe is caught laying down on the job and not defending the deck from intruders. On the other hand, this is what happens when the intruder also lays down on the job and stops foraging for snacks.
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
The lazy incompetent human has been unable to find cat grass at a multitude of stores. Her attempts at growing grass in pots has been fair-to-middling at best. <<Advanced Master Gardener, my eye!>>
Her normally robust supply of outdoor catnip seems not to have come back with the cool, wet spring. That’s especially puzzling given that catnip is a member of the mint family, which loves water.
However, the other day she hit the jackpot and found healthy looking pots of both grass and nippy. Corky was most pleased as these pics show. 
He was the first, but certainly not the last cat to nosh down on the new greenery. Sadly, the plants no longer look quite so pristine.
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
After the triple toy box excavations several days back, the human put all the toys away. The next morning, many of them were dragged back out. Theorizing that the cats were really searching for those tiny toy mice they like so much, and that they have strewn throughout the house, later that day the human opened her stash of toys, pulled out a few she thought the cats would like, then leaned over the banister and dropped 6 new fake-fur mice into the toy boxes from upstairs.
The next morning she found that during the night more toys were pulled out and dumped, including 2 of the 6 new mice. Since the cats left those mice on the stairs, instead of carrying them around to all their favorite locations, presumably they were not of an acceptable color and type that the cats like. It may well be time to visit the pet store to restock.
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
This weekend the human washed and hung the kitty blankets out to dry in the great outdoors. 
The kitties LOVE the smell and feel of freshly laundered blankets. Finding Missy Mao lounging in one of the beds whose blanket had just been replaced, the human just had to get some pics. 
Unfortunately, once again the evil human focused on her paws and that made Little Mac a bit nervous. 
She got prepared to make a hasty retreat in case the human got a little too up close and personal with her feet.
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
Some kitty or kitties had a grand time scooping toys out of the toy boxes this morning and tossing them on the stairs. Usually, when they go digging for something, they stop with one or maybe two boxes, but their search must have been frustrated as all three boxes had been partially emptied. If only the human knew what they were looking for…
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
This is what happens when the kitties are not vigilant. 
You just never know what kind of creature will show up and visit the deck.
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
The Merkitty was once again stretched out on the top of one of the couches capturing some rays of sunshine. She was executing a double-paw dangle with aplomb and feeling pretty good about herself. 
Then the silly human showed up with the annoying camera. Fortunately, it was bright enough out that no flash was needed. Still, the human always seems to need to get up close and personal during these photo shoots. 
The Merkitty was not amused….especially when the human zoomed in on her velveteen paws. 
<<Can’t you see why I find those paws irresistible?>>
<<Can’t YOU see why I find it annoying that she’s always touching them?>>
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
It was bound to happen. Mac has rushed to Pepe’s side every time he’s turned the ball on the top of the automatic puzzle feeder/crunchy dispenser. She’s like a little vacuum, gobbling up snacks. However, it’s been several weeks since the Pepster learned to turn the ball and get a treat for himself and the human figured Mac was just not going to learn how to operate the gadget. Still, she should know by now that the Merkitty is always full of surprises. 
Last evening the human watched her operate the device and give herself some crunchies. This morning, it was the same thing. Hallelujah! Maybe Mac will stop waking the human up every few hours all night long demanding a treat.
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
Here’s Caesar looking for all the world like he’s applying focused concentration in order to dangle his outstretched paw. <<Maybe I was just mapping out escape routes in case the silly human got too close and tried to touch my paw!>>
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
Here’s Mac doing her version of photosynthesizing: capturing the sun’s rays (very rare in the Mitten this spring) and enjoying the heat soak. The human was so well behaved that she didn’t even attempt to touch the extended dangling paws.
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
The human walked in. Pepe rolled onto his back and showed his soft tummy. He wanted some attention. The dutiful human obliged.
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
It was time for a vet visit for Caesar. Caesar hates vet visits. 
The human had corralled him into a new kitty carrier, but that didn’t improve his mood. In fact, after unzipping the front and trying to coax him out onto the exam table, the Big Guy refused to budge. 
While 2-legged and 4-legged waited for the doctor to come in, the Emperor turned his face away and refused to give up the grumps for his human.
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
Pepe and Mac were having a little tête-à-tête on the back of one of the couches. 
They were laying quite close to each other, as though engaged in an animated conversation. 
Of course, then the human showed up with the camera and spoiled the mood entirely. 
<<Who are you looking at?>>
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
Pepe was bored and restless. The human was noshing on some takeout food. She tossed the crackly bag on the floor.
Pepe immediately jumped inside, although it wasn’t a good fit. After trying to get comfortable a couple of times, he gave up and exited the bag. 
That’s when he applied his usual “crush it and sit on it” technique of bag subjugation. 
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
Here’s Mac sleeping at the very edge of the door to her favorite kitty carrier. Normally, she loves stretching out for a snooze in this one. However, on that day, she didn’t make it past the entrance before falling a sleep.
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
It’s not every day that you see Fireball and Pepe lounging near each other. On this day, the Pepster was mellow and didn’t chase the Little Red Bee, who lay nearby catching some ZZZZs.
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
In the last week or two, the kitties have stuffed one or more toy mice into their soft-food bowls almost every night. 
The two-legged isn’t sure what the four-leggeds are trying to tell her, but it seems they are trying to tell her something. 
At the rate they’re going, the human will need to go shopping for more fake-fur mice toys pretty soon.
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
Pepe Monster was having a bit of fun. 
He kept ducking under the blanket and batting at the tricksy human’s paw as she tried to tickle him. <<With a face like that, can you blame me?>>
Of course, keeping his eyes covered by the fabric has its distinct disadvantages when it comes to knowing where to swat — especially when he also leaves lots of tickle-prone body parts unprotected. 
<<Sometimes it’s important to take a peek outside just to figure out where the tickle finger is.>>
<<…Then it’s back to duck and swat all over again.>>
Pepe can keep up this game for 15 minutes or more — far longer than the human with her short attention span and myriad chores to perform before work. 
<<Where’s she go?>>
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
When hunting the illusive red laser dot, it’s important to remember the art of camouflage. 
You don’t want the dot to see you before you see it. 
So find a rug that blends well with your fur coat. 
Then wait patiently for the dot to reappear. 
When it does, pounce! And when you get bored, it’s okay to just get up and leave.
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
The human found Caesar and Mac having a cuddle this morning in one of the kitty beds. 
Mac had her foot on Caesar’s hip 
and Caesar had a big forepaw wrapped around Mac’s neck. In fact, he was giving the Merkitty a thorough washing when the human first saw them.
(c) Copyright 2019, PeggyMalnati. All rights reserved. Photos my own.
Living with Carnivores 