Cato waiting for Santa Claus
I am exhausted with all of this waiting for Santa to come. It’s Christmas Eve morning and I don’t think I can wait any longer.
I’d like to take this time, while I’m waiting to wish all of my dog friends, and all of my human friends a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May you all have a cozy home to sleep in and tons of treats to warm your tummies.
If there is one think I know I have done well, it is that I have trained one of my dads to know when I need, or more correctly, want a treat.
When my dads are eating their meal at the kitchen table and they have finished without giving me taste of their meal, I gently lay my head on my dad’s lap (this is the dad I have trained the best) and look up at him.
With a little whining, in a very few minutes, he gets up, goes to the treats area, and gives me my well-deserved treat. Mission accomplished.
Last month one of my dads, Kevin, left me for a whole month while he went to Malaysia to visit his family. This is the longest time either of my two dads has left me. Usually, when both of my dads are home, Kevin, goes to bed at 9:30, as he has to get up early for work. This is a great time for me, so I gladly go to bed with him. I usually start to whine at about 9:15 to signal that I’m ready for bed.
My dad, Steve, doesn’t go to bed until much later, as he is retired and can stay up and watch TV. I wasn’t having any of these late-night bedtimes. At about 9 o’clock I would sit in front of him and stare. If that didn’t work, I would then start to whine. And if that didn’t work I started to bark and howl. Finally, Dad got up and headed toward the stairs. Naturally, having to be first I raced upstairs and jumped on the bed. But he fooled me. He went back down to watch TV. Can you imagine that? He wanted me to go to bed alone! No way was I going to bed alone! So I came back down to get him. After a few more of my antics, he relented and went to bed with me. It was almost 10 0’clock! I went right to sleep.
My dad, not used to going to bed so early, of course, got up early, but not me. I stayed right in bed until he went downstairs. My dad kept complaining to me that he didn’t like going to bed when it wasn’t dark yet, but I paid no attention.
Finally, my dad, Kevin, came back home. I was so happy. I could once again go to bed at a decent hour. But when he gets up early for work. I stay in bed with my dad, Steve, until he gets up later. I guess you could say I’m a creature of habit.
Happy Birthday to me, Cato! Today I turn 9 years old and I am feeling grateful for all the love and cuddles I’ve received over the years.
But this year is different, as it’s the first time I’m celebrating my birthday without my beloved sister, Lucky. Even though she’s no longer with us physically, she will always be in our hearts and memories.
Thank you to all my furry friends and humans for making my day special. And Lucky, wherever you are over the rainbow bridge, I hope you are celebrating with us too.
Lucky and myself celebrating our birthday 2022.
Cato wants to go to bed.
One of my dads is away for a few days at a conference and it’s just me and my other dad at home. My dad, Kevin, who is away, always goes to bed earlier than my dad Steve, so I am not used to staying up so late. Today I went for a walk, had many treats, and spent time in the backyard, barking at anything and everything.
I had my dinner, brushed my teeth, been out to pee several times, and begged for treats, but not always successful. So now I am ready for bed. But my dad says. “it’s only 8 0’clock!” Isn’t it terrible that he’s making me stay up so late?
One of my dads has gone away to a conference and I’m not getting as much attention as I usually do. My dad will be gone for four days and I’m afraid my other dad will leave me alone. So I follow him wherever he goes. When he sits down I have to be right next to him to ensure I get a lot of attention. Last night he stayed up late watching television. It was way past my bedtime so I sat in front of him and stared, whining, until he went with me upstairs to go to bed.
I’m so used to having both of my dads at home with me that I get anxious when one of them leaves, even for a short time. I don’t completely relax until everyone is home together. A few months ago both of my dads went on vacation for a whole week and they left me with a friend of theirs. He was very nice, but I was extremely upset. I wouldn’t even eat, except for a few snacks.
I still remember my dads leaving me and I’m afraid they’ll do it again. I guess you humans call that separation anxiety. It’s not fun for us dogs. I know my dads worry about me when they go away, but I really miss them when they are gone, even for a few minutes.
Cato, helping with the Chinese New Year meal.
Since my dad, Kevin, is Malaysian Chinese we all celebrate the Chinese New Year in our house. My dad prepares the traditional Hotpot meal which consists of a lot of different kinds of food, including meat and fish balls, mushrooms, cod, sliced beef, tofu, and all kinds of vegetables. Each person at the table chooses from all the ingredients and cooks his own, in the big pot which contains the broth. Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to do that. But I did help in preparing the meal. My job was to make sure none of the food fell to the floor!
Here is a picture of the table at our celebration. I know you can’t see me, but I’m there. I’m under the table, in case something falls off the table. Don’t worry though. I enjoyed my own dog friendly meal after the hotpot.
Chinese New Year Hotpot
I’m sorry for being a little late posting these pictures, but the Chinese New Year celebration lasts for 2 weeks and we are still celebrating. So Happy Chinese New Year of the Rabbit to all of my friends!
This was my first Christmas celebration without my sister, Lucky. Even though she wasn’t physically with us, we could feel her presence. Her stocking was hung on the mantle, along with mine and my dads’.
I got all kinds of presents, including a down jacket and winter shoes for those cold winter walks. I had so much fun opening my gifts after my dads opened theirs. I’ve already sampled my treats and chewed on my squeaky toys. My dad, Kevin, even took me for a walk in the after-blizzard freezing temperatures.
I’m so happy to have a warm, loving home where I am treated like a king. I only wish all those poor homeless dogs and cats in shelters and living on the streets could have a home like mine.
I want to wish all my animal friends, and humans a warm and Merry Christmas. And a special loving Christmas to my sister, Lucky, up there over the rainbow!
I know everyone communicates with others by a variety of means. Some use spoken language and some use sign language. I use my own personal look for whatever I want or need. This is my “I gotta pee” look. If my dad doesn’t get up and let me out, which is rarely, I then start to whine and then bark. But this look almost always works immediately.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. My dads got up this morning to help prepare for the Thanksgiving feast, but I decided to stay in bed for a while. After all, I’m not much help cooking, but I am more than happy to help with the eating. I’m having my own turkey dog food for my Turkey Day dinner.
I hope all of my human friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving and the furry members of their families have a special treat to celebrate this day of sharing, and giving thanks for all we have.
Cattle Dog Kids 