It was in October when we adopted Hobbes (October 10th, to be exact) and the leaves were dropping. And while I viewed the falling leaves as tears for our sweet Henry, the kitty we just lost, Hobbes viewed them as adventure. It's funny how perspective can be so radically different, isn't it?I don't think Hobbes had a backyard as a baby because he wallowed in the dance of autumn, chasing every single leaf that fell with reckless abandon. He was hilarious wrestling this leaf or that to the ground--like it wasn't gonna get there on its own. He'd run from one end of the yard to the other, sneaking up on the browns or the reds, attacking each like it was his enemy.
Hobbes still likes the leaves....and the yard. He spends every available moment out there now, exhausting himself chasing after the leaves. He moves a bit slower now that he's added like 45 pounds or so--but he still has the want. He'll sit for hours under that tree--daring those leaves to fall anywhere near him.
He was under that tree when I captured this photo--him giving those leaves the stink-eye. And it seems like yesterday that he was that little kitten. He still is, I guess--it's just under all those stripes.
26 comments:
Hobbes, you are lucky to have a yard full of leaves to chase! Mostly, the leaves just stay on the trees where I live.
Loads of leaves here for Hobbes.
He still is a kitten-just super-sized.
Check the answer to your comment. Anything you can do, I can do better :-)
Isn't it interesting how a kitten becomes a genuine cat, and yet there is that kitten inside!
That's just one of the great things about kitties -- there is always a kitten inside there. That sense of wonder goes on. Isn't it great.
Everything is a toy to cats - and as they get older, and slower, just like us, it is always a delight to see he inner kitten come out and play.
Life is a toy for kitties! It's so fun to watch them play and enjoy everything. It's a good lesson for us in that we should play more and find joy in just being.
He must make sure he doesn't get buried!
Mmmm, leaves. yum!
I can picture Hobbes chasing the leaves and I can imagine how much fun it must be to watch him. If only we could all approach life the way Hobbes does, we could be so much happier.
oh man....you make me LOVE thursdays!
Lovely Hobbes photo, but does he ever take a bad one? I don't think so. I remember when Pumpkin chased the leaves last year as a kitten.
Daisy--Oooh, Daisy, you would LOVE chasing leaves! You never know where they are gonna land. It's a good workout too. Although you can't tell by Hobbes' body!
Helene--He was out there again today. I was trying to rake them up while he was attacking. NOT a big help.
Vanilla--Even my old Grace will chase a leaf like a kitten. I was surprised she still had it in her. I think she took a nap right after that though. :)
Chuck--Kitties are always up for fun--that's what I like about them. Well, that and kitty food.
Grace--My old Grace still plays, which amazes me. She'll wake up from her nap just to play "snakey". I guess that old kitten is still in there.
Beaded Tail--I like their concept of playing hard and napping harder. I'm all about that!
Pricilla--He crawled into my leaf bag today and scared the bajeepers out of me! That is one BIG leaf!
Ann--He's SUPER FAST, Ann. Hard to believe he can get that stripey goodness moving so darn fast!
peewee--Hobbes' makes everything good. :) Well...maybe not all that fur on my clothes.
Jennifer--Doesn't Pumpkin chase the leaves anymore?? Now if only I can get him to rake and bag the darn things. :)
I love Hobbes--what a great cat! I'm sure my cats would like being outside too if I let them.
Looks like a great spot for Hobbes there - and a delightful way to pass the day! Happy Gotcha Month, Hobbes!
I always meant to ask you, and somehow never have, how exactly do you enforce the whole stay in our yard rule with him??? I'd be so afraid to let ours outside (and won't while we live in Baltimore). Lucy is so curious I could see her taking off big time!
I can visualize Hobbes chasing leaves. Cats can be such fun.
Karen--Hobbes REALLY likes being outside--more than any cat I have owned. You know--he even likes the snow!
Cute--I completely forgot to celebrate his day, poor guy! Although I think he isn't all that big on smoochies and such, so I guess he probably spent the day doing what he loves best--going outside and chilling. He has a good life that Hobbes.
Nancy--I'd be afraid with a grown cat too. We have always started with them as kittens--taking them out only with us. We never let them out of our sight and came in when we did. If they started to creep away, we'd tell them "no" and bring them back into the yard. My kitties don't always stay in the yard now--in fact, I found Hobbes about 4 houses down the other day and yes, he was in BIG trouble. I'd probably start with yours on a leash or maybe one of those screened in play yards they sell for cats. (See Drs. Foster and Smith catalog online) We still don't leave them out when we are not home and they come in before dark. Treats and lots of love work well as a reward when they do come in on their own.
Aren't we all just kittens under our stripes? Very profound.
Don't mind me while I envy a pet that likes to the stay in the yard.
I am thinking kitties and fall leaves go very well together! :) And of course, Hobbes looks extra cute amongst the fall leaves.
xo Catherine
Marilynne--And do you know what Hobbes loves more than leaves in the yard?? Em's ribbon dancer! Yep. I think he would love that girl in the video on you blog. :)
Sharky--Some of our inner kittens are bigger than others. ;)
Jodi--Well, don't be so quick there, Jodi. I found him 4 houses down the other morning. He wasn't so "cute" then. Ugh.
Catherine--His coloring is so pretty amongst the leaves. I almost lose him!
He just really couldn't look more content!
We all the same cat under the stripes..
I never realized that my boyfriend was man enough to wear pink on his collar.
Is it any wonder why I love him?
I think you need to post a video of that crazy dude attacking leaves. I love watching cats go nuts over the simplest things.
violet--Dang, that cat has the life! Imagine just laying back watching leaves fall. Oh, and chasing a squirrel every now and then. Sigh.
V7--No kidding! But I don't think my stripes are nearly as big as his! Or at least I hope not anyway! ;)
CG--Homeboy already lost his snappy new peace sign collar--I could KILL him. So my revenge? I made him where one of Grace's old collars until I get the $6 to get him a new one. At homecoming, I told him that Matt Cabel was gonna laugh at his girlie collar, but I don't think he cared. Damn!
Casey--You know, I have never videotaped that guy. That may have to be my new medium! Thanks for the idea!!! Hey--I miss you! When are you gonna give us an update???
Hmmm, if I could just find a way to convince Tedy to rake the leaves instead of diving into the piles of leaves I think I'd be onto something. Does Hobbes know how to chase them all into one pile?
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