Aby-a-Day- 31 Januari 2020: The manbun that wouldn’t die (Photoshop Friday)

You know, say what you will about the internet and Facebook in particular, but sometimes it can be a very silly and hilarious place. Remember Jacoby’s manbun? The other day I found a Facebook group called This Cat is PHOTOSHOPPED.

Well, of course I had to join! By way of introduction, I posted the close-up photo of Jacoby with his manbun.

And it BLEW UP. I posted it on Wednesday, and as of this evening, my post has had 1,568 reactions and 98 comments. Wow.

Some of the comments on my post were awesomely hilarious:

“Khajiit has wares, if you have coin.”

“This cat has a 100% chance of stealing your girlfriend”

“This Cat is STEVEN SEAGAL”

“That’s one sexy cat! 🔥🐈
I am a little concerned about the fact that I think a cat is sexy though…”

“Jason Momoa in cat form?” “Jason MeowMeowa”

“He looks like he became a millionaire from Bitcoin but has since spent most of it on cocaine.”

And then, people started commenting with Photoshops they’d done including Jake and his Manbun.

Miroslav created a dating profile for Jake, with the caption “Unpopular opinion, Jacoby.” Someone else responded, “Nah, he vapes catnip in enclosed public spaces”

Micaela included Jake in a collage of celebrity manbuns.

Abigail had Smudge the cat confront Jake. Someone commented on her work, “I’m just here, trying to enjoy my salad, and I’m getting upstaged.”

Angela envisioned him as part of the cast of 90210.

But perhaps my favourite was the first photo comment, which started with Jessica asking me, “Can I use this photo for my religion? (ask me what my religion is). When I said, “Ohhhkay…what is your religion?, she responded with this:

I’m interested.

Aby-a-Day – 30 Januari 2020: Loving is sharing (Thursday things)

We won a brown domed cat bed by Dogman at a cat show a few years ago. Angel immediately claimed it as her own, and for the most part, all the other cats respect her ownership.

Except, of course, Logan, and, later, Izaak, at least when he was younger.

Or so I thought.

A couple of weeks ago, I found Zak in Angel’s bed. With Angel still in it.

So it’s still happening, even though Zak’s an adult who weighs the same as Angel does.

But the part that really made me laugh?

Angel has apparently just given up and resigned herself to sharing her bed at the whims of a stubborn Singapura.

Aby-a-Day – 29 Januari 2020: Wordless Wednesday (Friendly Freddy and the Cat Boys)

Aby-a-Day – 28 Januari 2020: This Cat is Assembled INCORRECTLY (Cartoon Tuesday)

There is a fun group on Facebook called “This cat is assembled INCORRECTLY.” When I discovered them a month or so ago, their group banner was similar to the cartoon above with the IKEA logo…except with a photograph pasted in. I knew I could do better…so, voilà! I made them this.

Okay, maybe the cat isn’t an Aby…or maybe it is.

EDIT: OMG the group was featured in an online article, and my banner is one of the illustrations!!

Aby-a-Day – 27 Januari 2020: A kitchen mystery (Mischievious Movie Monday Mystery)

So the other day I walked into the kitchen, and the cabinet above the refrigerator, where we store the dry food we give Angel as a treat, was open. And the bag was…somehow…on the kitchen counter. Pretty sure it was Alfred, but he tried to frame Dashiell for the crime. For some reason, most of the photos I took were “Live Photos,” so here they are as a short YouTube video:

Aby-a-Day – 26 Januari 2020: Happy 2nd birthday, Izaak!

Today is Izaak’s second birthday!

Zak was a bit taken aback by the flame on his birthday candle.

But since we have a show in two weeks, probably best not to get his whiskers all singed and twisty.

Zak’s birthday present was a catnip fish that was supposed to flop around like a live fish.

Turns out, the site was a scam, and the fishes don’t move. They’re just stuffed catnip fish.

Luckily…

…Zak didn’t care. He loved the fish, with or without gimmick.

Unlike last year’s birthday, Zak was not as hesitant to tuck into his non-raw birthday cake.

Happy second birthday, Izaak!

Aby-a-Day – 25 Januari 2020: “Get you a cat who can do it all” (Silly Saturday)

So, you may have noticed there’s a new social media challenge meme going around. Of course I had to do it…and of course, I had to do it with Jacoby. So…here you go: Jake’s profile photos on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Tinder.

Aby-a-Day – 24 Januari 2020: Giant Military Cats (Photoshop Friday)

This week I discovered an interesting Giant Military Cats. As you might guess, it features giant cats Photoshopped into military settings.

Well. Challenge accepted! And I knew just the photos I wanted to use. So…

…here you go, Giant Military Lorelai.

Aby-a-Day – 23 Januari 2020: Fun under the covers (Thursday Things)

Lorelai loves to bury herself under our duvets.

And Izaak loves to attack the moving lump under the duvet.

It’s so funny to watch him stalk the lump.

I really should have made a video of this…it was so funny watching Zak try to predict where the lump would go next.

“HA! Gotcha!”

“Wait, what?”

Alfred comes to try to help. Spoiler alert: He isn’t helpful.

By the time Dashiell shows up, Rory has admitted defeat and popped up from under the duvet.

Is it just me, or does Zak look disappointed?

Aby-a-Day – 22 Januari 2020: Wordless Wednesday (Dinner chez Hellqvist be like…)

Aby-a-Day – 21 Januari 2020: Castle Cats (Cartoon Tuesday)

So, on our way to see Frozen 2 downtown, I couldn’t help but notice a power box decorated with the very lovely Castle Cats.

I had no idea what they were or what they referred to, and come to find out that they’re part of a video game designed by PocApp Studios, based right here in Skövde!

How cool is that? I am not much of a gamer, but I may have to check out this game!

Aby-a-Day – 20 Januari 2020: Lorelai at the Vet (Medical Hipstamatic Monday)

Last week,Loreali went to the vet to have some sores on her ears and head checked out. This first photo is at the bus stop; you can see the general lack of winter we’ve had in the background.

Rory rode the bus like the pro she is, and I didn’t need to let her out during the ride.

We got to the vet early and were ushered into our exam room.

While we waited for the doctor, Rory investigated Dashiell’s carrier, which we used for the trip today.

Then the nurse came in and left the scale on the table. Of course, Rory had to investigate it, and it had some interesting smells.

Apparently, they were VERY interesting smells!

But at the end of the day, Rory’s skin issues were most likely related to her early, temporary, heat.

So her issue was hormonal, and not contagious. GREAT to know!

Of course, right at the end of the visit, Rory got a little naughty. What can you do?

Aby-a-Day – 19 Januari 2020: Where the Boys Are (Swedish Sunday)

In my last post, I wrote about how all our cats interact, and all the different alliances they form with each other cat. Yesterday, it was our two girls; today it’s the boys’ turn.

It is not at all unusual to see the three boys, Dashiell, Izaak, and Alfred, together in a sort of pack.

They seem to gravitate to the same napping spots.

I usually wake up to all three of them in bed with me. Zak is usually under the covers, Dash is against my right side, and Freddy is either on my chest or under my right arm, next to Dash.

And then, Zak and Dash have a special bond…after all, Zak was Dash’s first friend.

Aby-a-Day – 18 Januari 2020: Girls! Girls! Girls! (Swedish Saturday)

I have said, for many years, that cats work better in pairs. I am now kind of eating those words, since we have had five cats for a few years, now, and it’s a wonderful dynamic.

They fall into some natural pairings: the two girls (Angel and Lorelai), the two (soon to be three) show cats (Izaak and Rory, plus Dashiell), the older two (used to be Jacoby and Angel; now it’s Angel and Alfred), the two neutered boys (Dash and Freddy), the two unneutered cats (Rory and Zak), the two youngsters (Rory and Dash), the two Americans (Angel and Dash), the two Swedes (Rory and Freddy)…it’s kind of fascinating to see how they align each other.

Angel was always bullied by Tessie, and Kylie would join in when she heard Angel scream at Tessie. She was always a bit nervous around Pyret, but since Pyret has left us and Angel became the senior female, she’s really come into her own.

Feeding five cats is tricky, but luckily, we have a lot of rooms. Freddy eats on his own, because he eats wicked fast and he’ll eat everyone’s food given half a chance. Dash and Zak eat together (in the winter, anyway) because Zak won’t steal Dash’s food, and Dash is preoccupied with his own bowl.

That leaves the two girls to eat together. And they do eat very nicely together. They are very companionable, sometimes switching bowls, but there is never an argument over dinner. Angel still doesn’t really cuddle or sleep with anyone (unless Zak insists), but she does seem to have forged a friendship with Rory.

Aby-a-Day – 17 Januari 2020: Woman yelling at Izaak (Photoshop Friday)

You’ve all seen it, I’m sure: the meme of a woman yelling at a cat. The woman is Taylor Anderson from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and the cat is Smudge.

Well…you know I had to do this! I knew that at least one of the professional photos of Izaak we had taken at the show in Örebro last year would be perfect for my own version of this meme.

Actually, there were two photos of Zak that were perfect, and I couldn’t decide which one I liked better. So, I made them both.

Regardless of which Zak-face is better, I knew the perfect argument for them to be having!

Aby-a-Day – 16 Januari 2020: Autumn leaves (Thursday Things)

Autumn in Skövde is beautiful.

The trees are easily as lovely as the trees in New England.

And the orange and yellow leaves carpet the lawn.

By October, Dashiell was confident enough outside to go offleash.

At first, he stayed close to the side of the building with Angel.

But then he got brave and started to explore. It was so heartening to see!

At one point, I was looking for Alfred and thought I saw him in the middle of the lawn.

But it wasn’t Freddy. It was a hare!

I tried to get both Dash and Freddy to notice it, to see what they’d do…but neither of them saw it. Too bad.

I guess Dash was too busy exploring!

Aby-a-Day – 15 Januari 2020: Wordless Wednesday (Illustrating the Singapura personality…)

Aby-a-Day – 14 Januari 2020: More Pub Quiz sketches (Cartoon Tuesday)

Björn and I did the Pub Quiz last week (mainly because they’re having a 25% off food deal for members), and we did all right; we tied for third place. And we won paper plates (which is way more awesome than it sounds)!

But as always, the best part of Pub Quiz was the fact that they gave me a pencil, some paper, and waiting time between questions…and when I have that, I sketch cats.

Aby-a-Day – 13 Januari 2020: Never skip a dose (Medical Mishap Monday Movie)

As you may recall, Lorelai is on birth control pills. I give her her pills every Wednesday.

But…I messed up. As you may also recall…Christmas was on a Wednesday.

Björn’s brother, Örjan, came for Jul and stayed overnight til Christmas. I forgot it was Wednesday…because it was Christmas.

I remembered to give her her pill the following Wednesday, New Years Day…but it was too late. I woke up on 2nd January to Rory trilling and Izaak yelling at Rory.

Apparently, she was nagging and pestering Zak, since he’s the only whole male in the house. Not that she didn’t flirt with Dashiell and Alfred…but Zak was her main target.

As you can see, he “assumed the position,” but his bits were nowhere near her bits. He was simply trying to get her to shut up and leave him alone! It’s all set now; I had the advice of my friend Anne, and got her to go out of heat, and all is well again. We do have a prospective suitor lined up for her later this year. All in all, my mistake was actually a good thing. I now know that it only takes a week for her pills to wear off and to get her into heat. I know that she knows what to do. And she doesn’t spray or yell her head off…she just trills. All of which is very useful information.

Here’s a little video of the little hussy.

Aby-a-Day – 12 Januari 2020: International Champion S*Backilandets Mercedes von Ekorntorp (Cat Show Sunday)

Unlike Izaak, Lorelai did not become an International Champion on Saturday at the show in Turku.

That’s because she was in direct competition for the certificate.

We saw Thea Friškovec, who loves Zak, and who has seen Rory before on her judging table.

There was another blue Aby female in Category 7: Ch FI*Redcheetah’s Erin.

When there are two or more cats in the same category, sex and colour, only one earns the certificate. The other gets an Ex2.

I am sure it was hard to pick the best cat…they are almost the same age (Rory is four months older), same colour, same level of achievement…

…It was pretty tense to watch.

In the end, our friend Jonna and her cat Erin got the certificate. Congratulations!

But Erin was only entered on Saturday. On Sunday, Rory was the only blue Aby in her category.

We saw Martienn Tausen, a judge from Iceland.

He didn’t Nominate her, but that wasn’t important.

What was important is that she earned her non-Swedish certificate and achieved the title of International Champion. It’s a bit ironic; we started showing Rory earlier than Zak because we had to wait to get his pedigree entered into Sverak…but he earned his title before she did!