My girl is still working on the Writing Outtakes series. I don’t know how she manages to keep on going, but I suppose she hasn’t run out of ideas. And I know how inspiring we cats can be to someone like her.
Day 2 of the creativity residency. Marmalade has trouble with puppy Snow and tries to tell his boy Matteo who is distracted by Ali.
*Please note: The Viscount is played by a different doll even though his voice and clothes are the same.
If you like this video, feel free to subscribe to my girl’s YouTube channel to get updates for upcoming episodes. For more information check out: https://alinoelvyain.wordpress.com
Well, my dear subjects, it has been a while since you heard directly from me, your royal feline emperor. I have missed writing letters to you and sharing my wonderous life one-on-one.
Summer was relatively smooth sailing in my kingdom this year, aside from the usual hiccups with Dog. I found that Dog’s belongings are actually of much use to me, something I can benefit from at his expense: his beds, his pillows, sometimes even his toys. Although the beginning of my relationship with Dog was tenuous, he has turned out to be an excellently naive and unquestioning subject. As this summer closed, I took great pride in the knowledge that I, as emperor, had fully survived the coup attempted by Dog last year. My rule and my power seemed to be going ever upwards, with humans and Dog alike deferring to me.
But then another creature came, another invader of sorts. Something unlike anything I had ever encountered before–something that vaguely reminded me of a rat, but not enough to be certain. Small, black and white, with kicking, thumping feet and weird little teeth constantly gnashing. A pet rabbit, the humans said. Abandoned at the park and needing medicine and food.
Dog was ushered out of the room, but I in all my regal demure-ness, was allowed to remain to supervise and observe. Dog whined and moaned outside the closed door, and I smiled smugly to myself. The humans did a similar routine as they did with Dog so many months ago when he was small: blankets, towels, food and water, and many checks between the two of them. Then they began making many phone calls. I was relieved to know this stranger was not going to stay forever the way Dog did.
So far, Rabbit has kept to himself, content to stay in the room the humans cordoned off for him. He does not seem to be interested in taking power, gaining territory, or staging a coup. In fact, he does not seem to be interested in much at all except disgusting green food. When he had first arrived, I had hoped that perhaps his rations would be interesting, something to supplement my dog food tithes with. Sadly, the humans keep giving him the most unpalatable things, vegetables and the like. Dog’s food is better.
Dog is more tormented by this visitor than I am. Once I saw what little of a threat Rabbit was, I was completely at ease, and have since forgotten about his existence most of the time. Dog, on the other hand, has been desperate to get into the room. He says he just wants to say hi, but for some reason — perhaps the wildness in his eyes, or his drool — this seems rather implausible. Whatever his true intentions are, it’s no concern of mine. Rabbit doesn’t bother me and that is all that matters. The humans have assured me that Rabbit will get a family of his own soon. In the meantime, he will stay with us in his own private hotel — out of sight, out of mind for me, and well out of reach of Dog.
Until my next missive,
Emperor Julius
photo by Clarabelle Fields
Note from Julius’ human: Before finding this abandoned rabbit, I didn’t know how common it was for people to dump rabbits in parks. Unfortunately, this is extremely common,especially in the months after Easter. Many people buy rabbits on a whim around that time of year without realizing the commitment required to properly care for this kind of animal. There are so many abandoned rabbits in the US that they are often euthanized immediately if they are surrendered to a shelter because there is simply not enough space to house them all. Because of this, we are holding onto this little guy until we can find him a new home. Please take careful consideration before adopting a rabbit (and any pet, for that matter). The ones abandoned outside often die very unpleasant deaths.
Nothing gets past his Highness. Well, almost nothing. (There was one time where he slept through his human making a tuna salad…a shameful day that we will not speak of again…)
Among his many imperial duties is that of chief inspector, that is, he must thoroughly inspect everything that passes across his royal countertops. Food, glass, ceramic, plastic — whatever comes into or out of the kitchen must pass the emperor’s inspection. Bottles must be sniffed, foreign objects tapped, and water sampled. A taste test here or there never hurt anyone either. Sometimes Dog tries to take on this role, but chief inspection has always been, and always will be, the rightful role of the emperor.
Being countertop inspector is a demanding job. Countless hours spent walking up and down the lengths of the kitchen, checking the sink and the stove, performing quality checks on leftovers and fallen crumbs, doing inventory counts inside cabinets and open drawers, sitting for hours on top of the fridge watching traffic as it passes by underneath.
Sometimes things are not up to par — when something doesn’t pass inspection, the problem must be solved quickly and effectively. One swoop of the regal paw and the problem is ended on the tile three feet below. The humans still express their skepticism, but one day they will learn that the emperor’s judgment is always final and just.
Traitorous mugs and cups must meet their rightful condemnation on the floor. Useless plastic bottles must be cleared away. And unpalatable fruits and vegetables must yield to his emperor’s carnivorous preferences, flung with skillful claws into the kitchen sink. Always at the ready, the emperor is proud of his countertops, never letting so much as an ant miss his discerning eye.
One day, the humans will realize how fortunate they are to have a tireless countertop inspector like Julius, keeping them safe from dangerous ceramics and keeping the counters clean.
Summer is the height of his highness’s annual hunting season, during which he goes on many thrilling and exciting expeditions around the house. Valiant and brave, every year Emperor Julius adds more insects and creepy-crawlies to his victory count. And usually it is a good year, giving him many stories that he can brag about by the fireplace come winter.
His highness has honed his hunting skills over the years, learning when exactly to leap at the glass windows. He knows how to tear down blinds at just the right moment, how to swat at dust bunnies with elegance, and how to stare into space at night in just the right way to scare the humans when they’re home alone.
His tastes have also evolved with time and experience. He now knows not to bother with most bugs, saving his energy for the juiciest and best. Dog can take care of the boring, plebeian daily fare…pill bugs, june bugs, house flies, the average spider just trying to mind its own business in a quiet corner. Ticks and mosquitoes are the humans’ department. The truly dangerous ones — wasps, though they buzz so delightfully — the humans can deal with too.
His highness saves his razor-sharp claws for just the right catch: the challenge, the speed, the temptation of none other than the fruit fly.
Stealthy and quiet, this adversary poses a delightful challenge. He has to stay on his toes, all four paws at the ready. Sight and precision is essential here, all the more so in dim evening light. He must leap, track, and wait, eyes dilated to their full murderous potential. Humans and Dog watch him in awe, amazed by his predatory dance. How he leaps! How he bounds! The fruit fly is just within his royal reach!
Sometimes the blinds come with him. Sometimes the curtain. Sometimes mementos on the mantle. But thankfully his Highness always walks away unscathed, ready to hunt another day.
As he curls up in his window-bed, he sharpens his claws and dreams of the next time. One day, the fruit fly will be his. Until then, he naps.
We are now halfway through the year, and your royal Highness thought he was getting a lucky break this past month. It has now been sixteen months that your feline leader has had to cohabitate with Dog. Although relations with the slap-happy Dog have improved in recent months, the imperial jester and man-at-arms still can prove to be quite a nuisance in his highness’s imperial schedule.
Except for brief hours of reprieve during things called “walks”—the mere mention of which makes Dog froth at the mouth—the canine has remained a near-constant companion for Emperor Julius for all these many months. And while his highness has made the best of it, Dog never fails to annoy after long enough.
But last month, something changed. Dog went away in the car. Dog often goes away in the car, but he almost always returns before his highness can even get a good nap in. Dog was gone for a long time. It seemed as if he might not return. His highness was hopeful, but he knew he had been tricked in this way before. For two days and one night, he reigned supreme and alone, just as he used to.
When Dog returned, he was different. He didn’t annoy the emperor or chase him or try to sniff his tail. He was tired, and he smelled of The Place of Troubles—the vet whose name shall be unspoken. His highness had never seen this side of Dog. So quiet, so tired, in need of comfort. Dog slept for three days, and his Highness found his heart moved. He slept next to Dog, keeping him company. Emperor Julius knows well the Place of Troubles, and he felt for Dog.
After those three days, he found he felt different about Dog. He no longer was repulsed by Dog’s smell or belongings. In fact, he began to find some comfort in Dog. He now counts Dog’s bed among one of his own.
Dog is feeling better now, and is on the road to being his annoying self again. But Emperor Julius will never see him the same way again, and now they have more to share.
My girl has been busy learning how to do short films. This is the result. The first episode of her series entitled Writing Outtakes. It features one of her books per episode and of course several cats. Oh, and it includes herself and a friend of hers and a few others who show up from time to time. I know I’m excited to see how it will turn out. I do know that I will appear in the series at least once. Perhaps more.
Details on the first episode:
How Ali & her four cats get to Fairy Tale Heights.
It has been several moons since our dear readers have received a missive from his royal highness Julius. Seasons are once again changing at Casa Julius, and his Highness has completed his transition from his winter to summer quarters yet again — an arduous annual journey from his blanketed chair by the living room fireplace to his blanketed window basket in the summer sun.
So far, this summer has been a quiet one at Casa Julius. There have been no sightings of coyotes in the nearby woods, and the turf wars of last summer with the neighboring cat-kings has yet to resurface. Perhaps that is the influence of Dog, his Highness’ live-in court jester and man-at-arms. What there have been are plenty of birds, and snakes, and frogs, and little insects that scurry around in the garden outside. His Highness has taken to watching their motions throughout the day as his royal entertainment. It is great fun for him to watch inferior creatures travailing in the summer weeds, while he is content and comfortable inside his air-conditioned palace.
Sometimes the sorry little creatures find their way into the house, and his Highness will dispose of these intruders himself, personally. Hunting them is like sport for him — the more dangerous ones, of course, are handled by his soldiers without him even having to lift a paw. But the insects that present no real danger, only fun, definitely are the sport of the emperor. He has taken a great liking to hunting them in the evenings. There is nothing better than engaging in a riveting indoor hunt followed up by a tongue-bath and a little sip of milk. It is not becoming, of course, for an emperor to eat what he has hunted. (Such is the habit of the peasantry.) But his man-at-arms is happy to accept whatever his Highness presents. Another benefit of having a dog in the house — Julius now has a live-in vacuum cleaner as well.
From his summer basket, His Highness sends his regards. He hopes that his followers are having a pleasant opening to summer just as he is.
April showers have definitely brought May flowers to casa Julius this year, dearest readers — a world that was swept with winter and bitter cold just weeks ago has suddenly begun to transform into a realm of green.
Every spring season, the emperor dutifully supervises from the top of his seven foot cat tree as his imperial gardener works her magic in the soil and transforms his winter view into a luxurious summer one. Soon, Julius’ sights will be full of beautiful displays of blooming trees, budding flowers, and singing birds. (The birds are probably the most important feature.)
Being an indoor emperor, Julius himself does not get his paws dirty with gardening. However, at casa Julius we do have admiration for the intrepid cats who take matters into their own paws and get to work shaping their gardens into personal havens complete with endless napping spots, plenty of hunting opportunities, countless snacks, and, perhaps best of all, unlimited litterbox access!
This month, readers, we hope you enjoy our list of our favorite YouTube cats in the garden!
#5. Gardening around a cat…
If you ask me, it sounds from the title that this human isn’t appreciative of the important assistance their feline sage is trying to offer. It’s vital that everything is checked and approved by the cat before it goes into the ground. There is so much to do — testing soil quality, eating weeds, and more. Silly human!
#4. Cookie Cat and Honey Cat
These two are taking matters into their own paws — the best kind of landscapers and gardeners that you could possibly hire. You won’t have to worry about weeds or too-tall grass anymore with these two around.
#3. Energetic Cat Helps Out with Gardening
No, human, you must have my assistance! Faster than lightning, this cat immediately knows where he’s needed. Sensing his human’s incompetence, he wisely decides to rush in and save the day by offering his gardening guidance and expertise. This will probably be the best garden of the year!
#2. Cat’s Day in the Garden
To call this a mini movie doesn’t honestly do the video justice. With beautifully edited footage, gorgeous scenery, and adorable actors to boot, this movie will offer great inspiration when it comes to designing and creating a perfect garden for your feline royalty. Endless opportunities for rewatching, both for relaxation and inspiration. And this channel offers even more gorgeous cat/garden goodness if you want to see more.
#1. Oscar the Garden Cat
Finishing off our list is none other than the courageous, all-knowing, all-doing Oscar the Garden Cat. Oscar is a bonafide gardening expert — if your cat would like a blueprint for how to become the best garden helper there is, Oscar is definitely a must-watch. I have no doubts that any plant he touches grows wonderfully, blessed by wise Oscar’s whiskers! And if you couldn’t get enough of Oscar the first time, don’t worry. There’s a part two!
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are completely my own. Neither I nor anyone at Sir Socks Le Chat has any association, affiliation, or other such relationship with any of the YouTubers/YouTube channels listed in this article.
Sir Socks Le Chat 