Easing In: A Cat Slice of Life #sol23

The cat woke me two hours before the alarm. “The cat” implies there is only one.

But it could have been any one of about five regulars who disturb my sleep. “About five” implies that I have an undetermined number of cats.

I don’t. I have nine.

Two tuxedo cats and four black cats sit around a toy.

This is about six of nine.

Nine is one more than I had at this time last year. Isn’t it always “one more than last year” with me? But I have about five who disturb my sleep regularly.

This is the cat who woke me. He is a humble cat but still would not be surprised to hear himself described as “the cat” because he knows that he is the cat, the one who matters most, the favorite, the number one, the little baby, even though now he has to be called big little baby to distinguish him from little little baby.

A tuxedo kitten sleeps with a blanket tucked up to his chin

This is little little baby, the actual little baby, the babiest of babies. Unexpected number nine, even though we were definitely all full up at six and definitely DEFINITELY all full up at eight. Still, once you reach six or eight, what’s one more?

Especially when they are so baby.

The sleeping tuxedo kitten is now awake and wild-eyed, ready to play

So baby.

Posted

February 28, 2023

cats, slice of life

Elisabeth Ellington

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Comments

22 responses to “Easing In: A Cat Slice of Life #sol23”

sallydonnelly11

February 28, 2023

I like the humor that fills your slice. It seems to match the michief of your cat family! Thanks for including all the photos, too. Made me feel like I was right there, ready to reach out and run my hand across their soft fur.

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1. Elisabeth Ellington
  
  March 1, 2023
  
  With nine cats, there is definitely a lot of mischief, and Pickles, cat number 9, somehow always seems to be right in the middle of it!
  
  Reply
Trish

February 28, 2023

A black and white “baby” just landed in my lap—oops he’s gone to his food bowl—and now he returns to settle in. I love that “once you reach six or eight, what’s one more?”

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1. Elisabeth Ellington
  
  March 1, 2023
  
  We keep thinking we’ve reached the limit and then there’s room for one more! Loved hearing about your baby companion joining you for some slicing time.
  
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wordancerblog

February 28, 2023

Nine cats – nine lives! Love this post. You brought a whole new meaning to “Cats.” I always think of the musical – now I will think of your 9! What a creative post! Thank you!

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1. Elisabeth Ellington
  
  March 1, 2023
  
  Thank you so much for commenting! Now I’m doing the math and wondering if 9 cats means 81 lives??
  
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arjeha

February 28, 2023

Great to hear the continuing stories of your at. You are right, what’s one more? What an adorable little little baby, as well as a big little baby. Molly is my alarm clock.

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1. Elisabeth Ellington
  
  March 1, 2023
  
  So funny how there is always that one cat who knows it’s time to get up–even when it’s not! I’m looking forward to reading about your crew this month as well!
  
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  1. arjeha
    
    March 1, 2023
    
    I am sure they will provide some stories.
Trina

February 28, 2023

Yay, a return of cat slices! All three of my cats were obnoxious last night, too. Emma is my alarm clock.

PS You also remind me that maybe I could make room for another cat!

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1. Elisabeth Ellington
  
  March 1, 2023
  
  You know my philosophy: there is always room for one more! Big cat family dynamics are the best! I love observing all the little interactions and relationships among our nine.
  
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  1. Trina
    
    March 1, 2023
    
    I love your philosophy!
Ramona

February 28, 2023

I had to stop and see. And what a total delight! Is it a requirement that your cats be black and white? Just wondering.
A cat slice, probably my favorite after cookie slices.

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1. Elisabeth Ellington
  
  March 1, 2023
  
  Your question made me laugh. I do have a color scheme!! And yes, there is a reason we have kept so many black cats–the rescues and shelters won’t take them as easily as cats with other color patterns. We have gotten a no on all the black cats we have rescued, so they have been divided between our house and my mom’s house.
  
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WriterTammy

February 28, 2023

Adorable! So happy to see your name and your writing!

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1. Elisabeth Ellington
  
  March 1, 2023
  
  It’s good to be back! Can’t wait to be inspired by your words this month!
  
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Susan Kennedy

February 28, 2023

Can’t wait to fill up on cat stories. Definitely two dogs is too many.

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1. Elisabeth Ellington
  
  March 1, 2023
  
  Oh my goodness, yes, two dogs is A LOT. Two kittens are easier than one, but I don’t think kitten math applies to dogs.
  
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britt

March 1, 2023

Hahaha love the pictures! Commenter above also cracked me up with “nine cats, nine lives”
What’s the backstory on how the babies land with you? So sweet ❤️

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1. Elisabeth Ellington
  
  March 1, 2023
  
  We don’t have a single “on purpose” cat right now–that we went to the shelter to adopt. Seven are former ferals, one was a foster fail (not so much because we enjoyed him but because he has so many issues we didn’t think he’d be successful with most families!), and one was rescued from a neglectful neighbor. And at this point, they literally show up in our garage! The last three were dropped off by their mamas in our garage! Here, have some kittens!
  
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  1. britt
    
    March 1, 2023
    
    That’s amazing! My son’s in home daycare is kinda like that, oddly enough. Her house is the welcome to all animals, so the neighborhood cats are alllll over her yard, and some inside that are now officially “hers.” It’s helped my son a lot as he used to be scared of animals (I guess because we don’t have any?). Glad you’re a safe place for them!!
karpenglish

March 2, 2023

Is it weird that I am happy that you are back up to nine cats? 😀 Now when I talk about your slices, I don’t have to explain that you “are the SOLSC blogger who had nine cats, but now does not have that many any more.” I’ll definitely be writing some slices about my cats this month too. (We’ve crept up to three here.)

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