House Chores

I told Norma it’s time we start divvying up chores in the house. She thought that was hilarious.
 

Happy Holidays

 

Comfortable Kenta

Norma is still leery of her younger brother. The feeling isn’t mutual.
 

Strength in Numbers

Waiting for the next meal which is hours away.
 

Theo Memorial

I haven’t put away Theo’s favorite bed. Alias and Norma have never tried napping in it. Years ago, a former work colleague gave me a toy cat that breathes and purrs. I’ve kept it in my office(s) since. Visitors often ask, “Is that a real cat?” Last week we moved office locations and I brought the toy cat home. He now formalizes our Theo memorial. Although every time I walk up stairs, particularly in the dark, I have to look twice not to think Theo is sleeping in his bed again.
 

Alias’ Smile

He’s got the cutest lil overbite.
 

Finding Comfort

Kenta definitely is finding his place in our house. He’s playing more and more with the bevy of toys we’ve accumulated over the years. He loves to chase after Norma and Alias when they get in their full speed races up and downstairs. I came home this week to see this sight- Kenta and Alias snuggling together really for the first time. I had some doubts bringing in another cat for a number of reasons. I have no doubt now I did the absolute right thing. 
 

Bah Humbug

Alias has heard other homes in the area have real trees inside during this time of year. He’s wondering why we don’t have a real tree he can sit on top of. I have yet to tell him the fat guy with presents likely won’t be making an appearance in our house either.
 

Legacy

Kenta’s favorite toy by far is a swat at a mouse in a circle toy my late Mom and Dad bought for my first cat Mr. Max. It was Max’s favorite toy too. How cool is that?
 

A Throne

Norma and Alias are jealous of my fancy litter box.
 

Furminator

Kenta had his first furminator session, which he loved. Diego-San used to demand to be furminated before he let me go to bed. But I put the furminator away after Diego-San died and I couldn’t locate it again so I ordered another. Norma and Alias are not too fond of being combed but they wondered why their new brother was getting all this special attention.

Family Ties 3

I love the way Kenta is learning from Norma and Alias. When meal time comes, Alias races down the hallway with the speed of a linebacker. There’s a cat tree with two scratching post legs that he attacks with so much aggression that one of the two legs has been shredded, less than a year since I bought the tree. Kenta chases after Alias and scratches the other scratching post leg.

Norma is the first cat I’ve lived with that does the knock things off tables and shelves and desks onto the floor. So to deter unwanted knock offs, I now place a whole bunch of cat toys on her favorite perching spot, a bedroom cat tree. Just recently, Kenta has followed Norma’s lead in making sure there are no cat toys left on the cat tree. Norma and Alias are still treating Kenta similar to how they treated Theo in the beginning. Somewhat wary but curious to indulge non-aggressive attempts at getting to know each other. 
 

Family Ties 2

Alias, Norma, and I truly lucked out that we found Kenta (or maybe he found us). He’s such a mellow fellow, loves to cuddle. He watches both of his siblings closely and loves when they pay any attention to him.
 

Family Ties

Kenta is working hard to get his siblings to like him. I think Alias is starting to warm up to his younger brother.
 

Alias’ Advice

It’s always a good day to roll up in a ball.
 

The Sounds of Meows

Norma has a very high pitched meow, almost a squeal. Alias’ meow is much more gutteral like it’s coming from his belly. Kenta has a high pitched like Norma’s only half the volume. The first time I heard it, I thought it was Norma and was worried that something was wrong since it sounded so timid. 

Comfort

It melts my heart to see Kenta learning to play with Norma and Alias. He’s tried to join in on Norma’s flinging of cat toys around but she’s let him know that play is a solo activity. When Alias chases Norma down the hall, Kenta is chasing along too. He played with the mechanical mouse in a circle toy for quite a while. It’s good to see him feeling more and more comfortable in the strange surroundings.
 

Routines

Kenta is learning our routines. I think he’s going to like the weekend routine even better.
 

Changes

It’s been a big week of adjustment for these two. They’ve both done really well. Slowly but surely, we all are figuring things out.
 

Behind the Name

Da Kid is a true sweetheart…

So how did I land on Kenta Grant Maeda? He was originally named Cary Grant by the rescue (obviously for his handsome suaveness). I thought about naming him Humphrey Bogart after my favorite actor from that era. I could call him Sir Humphrey or Bogie or Bogart all great names. I originally thought about naming Alias ‘Kenta’ because how cool has it been to have a Minnesota Twin share my surname? Mom would have been amazed. But ultimately Alias was named after a Bob Dylan movie character “what’s your name?”  “Alias anything you want…” 

I decided on Kenta Grant Maeda because Kenta sounds more like Cary than Humphrey or Bogie, and I thought he might respond to that. And he did come over when I called his name out. But also to honor our ex-Twin, and keeping Grant to honor his original name and also one of my heroes, Bud Grant (who I learned everything I know about leadership from) and also I can call him KG (after Kevin Garnett) or KG’s nickname, ‘da kid’ which honors what I called Diego-San, Thompson and Theo, ‘da Boyz’ for all those years. Kenta suits him well.

Kenta

Meet Kenta Grant Maeda, KG, or da kid for short. After spending most of the day hiding under the bed, he surprised me by coming up at night and when I called his name, he eventually came over and rubbed up against me. Then he stayed with me for a long time before following Norma and then Alias around. He’s incredibly soft and floofy. And I’m guessing a real sweetheart. He did get scared when I yelled at Norma (a nightly occurrence). 

Update

Day 6 and he still hasn’t come out from hiding. Friday night/Saturday morning someone (probably Alias) was able to get the door to the bedroom his brother was in, open likely by leaning on the door whose handle doesn’t latch. So the newcomer ran downstairs and now is underneath a bed. He has been eating the food I’ve placed under the bed so that’s good. I’m sorry he’s so scared and stressed out…
 

Day 2

He still hasn’t come out from underneath the futon. I’m a little worried that he hasn’t eaten in two days or drank any water. I think I may try harder to coax him out tomorrow by moving the futon.
 

Adoption Day

Alias and Norma’s new brother came home yesterday. Alias got to meet him briefly when I put the carrier down. He came over and sniffed his brother. There was no hissing so that was good. Then our new housemate (name to be determined) spent the entire day hiding underneath my futon.It took Diego-San four days to come out of hiding when I first brought him and Thompson home. I hope it doesn’t take that long this time.
 

Repertoire

Norma and Alias are practicing all the things they are going to teach their new brother.
 

Siblings

I’ve told them all about their new brother. I’ve also told them they are going to be great siblings just like Theo was when they first moved in. I don’t think my words are sinking in.
 

Big News

Norma and Alias are getting a brother Wednesday.
 

Windy

It was really windy out yesterday and Alias spent the entire morning staring out the living room picture window watching the leaves swirl in the wind gusts. A couple of times he tried to catch a leaf only to be thwarted by the window glass.
 

Oh No

Alias is surprised that someone found his toilet paper stash.
 

Norma’s Advice

A good nap partner is one whose head snuggles in perfectly with your own.
 

Sheets

Norma prefers to sleep under the covers with me. Alias prefers to sleep under the covers when I’m not there. To each their own (although I prefer Norma’s preference).
 

Howler

Alias is checking out the howler that was given away at last night’s Timberwolves basketball game. He’s made a new friend.
 

Anniversary

Yesterday, was Alias and Norma’s three year anniversary of moving in with me. Here’s a picture from their first night.
 

Memories

My memory is that Theo didn’t spend that much time with Norma and Alias. And yet I have a ton of pictures of them together. Probably because whenever he did spend time with them, I made sure to take pictures.
 

Birthday

My birthday is coming up in a few days. I asked Norma what she planned on helping me to do to celebrate. I think it involves sitting on top of her cat tree.
 

Together Through Life

Just another lazy afternoon together. 
 

Young Alias

I told Alias he was a really cute kitten but that he’s still cute. Just an older cute. I don’t even remember when his eyes turned from brown to green.
 

Fetch

Alias has a favorite toy mousie he loves to play fetch with. I keep it in a drawer so we don’t lose it and as soon as I open the drawer Alias is right there looking at me. He’ll play until my arm gets tired. Unfortunately the mousie is starting to fall apart and I’m not sure I can find a replacement since it was a part of a larger toy that broke freeing the mouse.
 

Meteorological Felines

We got our first snow last night. At least it was followed by a sun puddle.
 

Time Flies

Norma can’t believe summer is over. Life goes by too fast.
 

Feline Mechanic

I think a mouse or other rodent died in my car engine. When I turn on the heat there’s an awful stench. I asked Alias if he wouldn’t mind checking it out…
 

Weekend Buddies

They plan to spend a lot of time together this weekend just like they did last weekend and the one before and…
 

Bad News

I broke the news to Norma and Alias they didn’t win the cutest pet contest. Ironically, they took the news cute as hell well.
 

Norma Isn’t Happy

Someone stole her perch. 
 

Cutest Pet Contest

 I entered Norma and Alias in our office’s Cutest Pet Contest. After the first day, they are in third place. That’s actually impressive since I haven’t voted so others are voting for them. Good luck kids…

Burning the Candle at Both Ends

I have a lot of late nights and early mornings the past few weeks. They are wondering why I bother. I’m not sure.
 

Collector

Alias’ collection of toilet paper rolls keeps growing.
 

Resting Spots

Norma has her favorite spots to rest. This is one of them.
 

Cutest Pets

I’m entering Norma and Alias in our office’s cutest pet contest. I have a lot of photos to choose from.
 

Explorer

I left my knapsack unzipped. Someone quickly discovered I left my knapsack unzipped.