Meet Big Kitty

I was thrilled when I found out earlier this week that Jackie & Karly would be hosting another "Pets Are People Too" Link up! Last month I introduced you to my favourite furry trouble maker, Peyton. This time I thought I'd introduce you to the other cat who lives at my house, Big Kitty.

Big Kitty & I have a complicated relationship. And by that I mean, she doesn't really like me. It's nothing I did, she just doesn't really like anybody except for my Dad & Brother. 

Big Kitty's claim to fame is her name, or lack there of... You see, Big Kitty was adopted by the family while I was away at university and I was not very happy when I found out they got a kitten when I wasn't home to play with the kitten! So I made an agreement with Brother that we would come up with a name together, even though I was 500 miles away and wouldn't meet the new kitten until Christmas (this was in October). Brother really wanted to name her "Tweety" because she looks like Sylvester and he thought that would be funny? I like people names for cats and I was pushing for Riley. There were lots of  phone conversations and texts and e-mails sent over the course of two weeks. Finally my mom demanded we pick a name for the cat because she was going to the vet the next day. We randomly agreed on "Boots". 

Fast forward a few months to when I come home for Christmas and meet the newest member of the family. "Boots" doesn't really know her name and I quickly agree that after meeting her and knowing her personality it doesn't fit either. There's a brief discussion about picking a different name but it never happened. She was our only cat, so she just became known as "Cat". When people asked about her name I would either tell them it was "Cat, short for Catherine" or "Cat, because she looks just like Cat from Little Bear!". 

This went on for three years, then we adopted Peyton. "Cat" wasn't the only cat in town anymore, she was going to need some sort of name to distinguish her from the kitten. And so, she became "Big Kitty" (Peyton is referred to as "Little Kitty" 90% of the time by the rest of my family). 

Her personality is totally different than Petyton's. She doesn't like to cuddle and will tolerate a few pats on the head or scratches under the chin before she tries to claw your hand off. She spends most of her day sleeping in normal cat places (beds, couches, blankets) and is a very respectable and rule abiding member of our household. The only trouble she gets into is when her food dish is empty and she scratches the door frame demanding someone fill her food dish. 

Meet Peyton

This is Peyton (Peyton Juliet if she's in trouble, which is often).

Peyton is extremely curious and gets into all kinds of trouble has all kinds of adventures! She loves people food and will eat just about anything if you give it  to her. And if you don't give it to her she will help herself. Her favourite human food is chocolate milk, she will go to great lengths to stick her head in a glass of chocolate milk and as soon as she hears the fridge door open she is there to check out what you're eating. 

She loves to be up high, she was around 6 months old when she figured out how to jump up on the kitchen table and then to the top of the fridge. (That's also where we used to keep the cat treats, but more on that later.) Recently she's decided she likes to hang out on the banister at the bottom of the stairs. She reminds me of one of those gargoyles you see on old buildings when she hangs out here.

She has a ridiculous amount of toys. I do mean ridiculous, she has a full toy box in the living room, not to mention she got her very own cast-iron cat bed last year for Christmas. Crazy? Yes. Absolutely Adorable? 100% Yes. She carries her toys all over the house and has a few favourites that she more or less takes everywhere with her. I snapped this picture last spring when I was packing for camp. I had gotten out my suitcase but hadn't put anything it in yet, I heard her coming up the stairs with a toy and she jumped in my suitcase with it and gave me this look. My heart seriously melted. The worst part about camp is being away from her! 

Peyton is seriously smart, she plays fetch and has figured out how to open cupboards to get the bag of treats. She prefers to drink out of the faucet rather than her dish and if she decides in the middle of the night she's thirsty she takes a toy into the bathroom and meows and meows until I get out of bed and turn the water on for her. She may be a bit of a spoiled brat. 

One of my favourite things about her is what I call her "Disney Princess eyes", they are so expressive and too big for her face, but I think it's adorable. She such a huge personality and even though she is an active cat and will play for hours she sleeps with me every night and purrs like crazy.