Cat Dental Hygiene

While she was here, Aunt Sarah took this picture of Madelyn brushing Percy's teeth... not a practice we usually follow in our house. Not sure what possessed her on that particular night, but she reassured Sarah, "Don't worry, I'm using a guest toothbrush."

Very reassuring to the guest. :-)

Is It Two Peas in a Pod?

Or two cats in a chair? Or two bananas in a peel?
This is the first time I ever saw two bananas fused together... maybe its an OIC thing. OIC is a little acronym used by expats here that stands for Only In China, and its sometimes the only explanation for the way some things are!

Princess On Her Throne

Afternoon Nap

Grandpa and Percy shared the couch one afternoon last week, during my parents' visit.

Kitten Stuff

Yes, this is really our kitten's foot, but no, I did not paint her nails. I'm putting in a plug here for Soft Paws, which are little rubber tips you glue over your cat's claws so they don't damage furniture with scratching. Google it... you order them online, and the bonus is that they come in a variety of colors!
When I was growing up my mom used to dress our cats up in doll clothes... I think Madelyn inherited this desire. Here Princess is modeling an American Girl nightgown! Often one of the kitties will nap with Gwen in the afternoon.

Turns out both the kittens are quite happy to be pushed around in the doll stroller, much to the girls' pleasure!
Madelyn always gets one or both of the kitties to snuggle with when we settle down on the couch to read, schoolwork or otherwise.

A Percy Cuddle

Gwen is really pleased to be bigger than someone in our house. She can often be seen lugging one of the kitties around, dragging the victim to its food bowl or wherever else Gwen desires to take the poor thing. Fortunately Princess (when she can be caught) and Percy have been pretty cooperative. Gwen has pointed out her new status to us a number of times... "I a big girl, carry kitties."

She has a new pixie haircut too... what do you think?!

City Kitty

Percy and Princess

Please indulge me for a moment while I introduce our new kitties! We got them yesterday afternoon, and Madelyn is already deeply attached. She's been wanting a kitten since we lost our sweet Oliver two years ago, and somehow now seemed to be the right time.

These two are not siblings, but have been fostered together for a while, so they're quite close and it's really fun to watch them interact. Princess, the white spotted one, is nearly six months old but quite small for her age. She had been abandoned right after birth and was bottle fed after being rescued. Percy, the orange striped guy, is around 3 months old. They are the same size!

The animal rescue that we got them from doesn't have its own facility, but rather a group of foster families that care for the animals. Twice a month they bring the animals to a restaurant that offers them the use of a covered porch area to show the animals to prospective families. Mr. Wu took Seth and Madelyn and I to this restaurant, O'Malley's Irish Pub (isn't that a riot, in Shanghai?!), yesterday morning to look at the kitties. He had a hard time understanding that we were going to get cats from a restaurant!

Princess was really shy and skittish yesterday when we got her home... Madelyn was so pleased when we finally got Princess cuddled up on her lap.
Gwen tries to show Percy how to use his new toy.
Princess gives Percy a little lovin'.
Two are better than one!
Here's Percy, Mom, I found him!