Your story reminded me of the commercial where the white cat jumped on the cupboard spilling spaghetti sauce all over the floor. The husband had been preparing a surprise dinner for his wife before she got home. He quickly grabbed the cat by the nape with one hand while he was still holding in the other hand a large knife he’d been using. Just then his wife walks into the apartment and sees him with the cat and knife and a large spill of something red on the floor underneath them! It’s still on YouTube and hilarious to see. https://youtu.be/18HRNQyo9mg
Oh, poor Lupin! Just like when the pen burst before in the comic (or in real life, when he got into some daffodils and was yellow for a few weeks) if he comes across a colorful spill, it’s just too easy to blame it on him. A couple of weeks back I was painting a play table for the Toddler, and Lupin ran across it, inspiring this strip. In real life, we caught him immediately and were able to clean it all up and somewhat hilariously–it was white paint. It got me thinking what would happen if we DIDN’T catch him fast before he did his usual race-around-the-apartment.
In my old house, there was a trail of white kitty prints across the hard wood floor where my cat had taken a leisurely stroll through a paint pan. I started to take them off, then decided to leave them there. They eventually wore off, but after my cat passed away, I was glad I’d kept them.
This strip brings certainly brings back memories. 🙂
Aww, that’s sweet, Mariella. 😻 I think I would’ve done the same. One thing I’ve collected over the years are the long whisker hairs whenever I find them.
Aw, Puck is trying to accommodate Lupin even though he doesn’t like paint, what a good friend he is! And “oh my CAT!” is going to be my new go-to exclamation from now on….
My father once laid some cupboard doors flat after he repainted them. The cat ran across them so, naturally, Dad re-hung the doors with her paw prints running across them. People always wondered how the cat ran sideways along the cupboard doors.
Georgia: You might consider making and keeping paw prints of all your boys. When we finally had to put our beloved Spook to rest a few years ago, our vet kindly made a print of his paw on a small memorial card, which I keep on the fireplace mantel next to a picture of him. I feel close to him every time I look at it.
I’m not a cat person *ducks*, but I really love this strip and have been following faithfully for some time. When my puppy, Mr. Pickles, died at the age of 15, the vet’s office made a plaster cast of his paw for me. I keep it with his ashes. Sometimes, I go and press my fingers to his paw print, just because.
Yes! At least 2 robber mice. Georgia, with all the beautiful details you put into the strips, maybe you can start doing a “hidden robber mouse” in each one. I love each strip so much.
I was working on a painting once and Linus ‘helped.’ Turns out he really didn’t like the way the paint felt on his paws so he kind of froze. Good thing as it was a dark purple color and would have made a mess of the apartment.
Lupin here is great. ‘I DON’T KNOW WHY I DO THIS STUFF!!’
I love how it’s given away immediately with Lupin’s stained paws, coffee cup and paper yet it still starts with ‘someone has paint on their paws.’ At least he realized he was the culprit straight off.
Thank you, Jon!! I remember reading about this but there wasn’t an accompanying photo. I also clicked on the link about how cats adopt the habits, personalities and schedules of their owners. I’ve often thought they did and I see it very much with my girl, Tuulikki. I think it’s more evident in one cat households too. Since I love the personality of my cat, I guess it says something positive about my own personality.
There was also a case when they were renovating one of those buildings with the Italianate Terra Cotta tile roof, there were cat prints on the bottom sides of the roof tiles as if the cats had walked on them when they were laid out to dry. Proof of cats is everywhere.
Oh that is so cool! I’m glad the writer of that manuscript didn’t simply trash the letter or burn it because of the paw prints–shows he/she had a sense of humour. 😀
Ha ha!! Too funny!! The one robber mice resting with his legs crossed, that was so kewl!! Lupin is so innocent of what he does!! Yeah, coffee mice mug would be the cats meow!!!! Purrrrr!!!!
The last time I saw that happen was not with my cat, but with my dad! He was in the yard, getting ready to paint the steps, took a step back, and *plop*- right in the paint tray. As he was hopping around, trying to shake off the paint, he got the other foot in. 😀 We had man-size grey shoe prints on the paved driveway for weeks. LOL.
That was many years ago, and brings back such a great memory… Thanks.
Poor Pengy, what will the Toddler say? Thank goodness Buzzy Mouse was spared. (By the way, that’s my new name for my PC’s mouse) Loved, “oh, my cat” and “I don’t know why I do this stuff” , poor Lupin. He seems pretty scared of your cleaning methods, whatever did you do when he got into the ink? I mean it looked like a nice bubble bath. At least he owned up to it this time.
I’m surprised we haven’t seen paw prints on your live cast, YET! Thanks for making us laugh Georgia!
Oh yes, the pitiful cries of my Skates while he was locked out of the bedroom I was painting. Yet this is exactly what would have happened had I let him in!
Oh, I needed this. Oh my CAT has it ever been Monday! This really saved the day. Really great strip, and some of the comments are real hoots, too.
Only worse mixture than cats and paint: cats and candle flames. Actually, we think the cats’ tails are really alien creatures with minds of their own, attached remora-like to the cats’ backsides in a symbiotic relationship.
My Mallory (now departed) set her tail on fire once. She was a VERY fluffy cat and I was able to put it out quite quickly but it still ranks as the closest I’ve been to a heart attack.
I donated all of my candles to charity yard sales when the first cat came along. The thought of one of my crew catching fire just horrifies me so. Also made a designated smoking area on the outdoor deck so kitties all have nice pink lungs. No flames near felines at my house….
Back in ’89 while working at a tattoo shop I had to mix up some of the red pigment, at that time you often mixed your own colors from dried powders and I did so at home rather than chance getting any of it airborne and all over the shop. No matter how careful I was, my poor white Princess would invariably end up a faint pink hue for days.
We were so worried our cats would find the wet cement when we had some work done in the basement a few years back, but they were freaked out enough by the Strangers that it wasn’t an issue. The only paw prints are the ones I doodled for posterity.
LOVE how Lupin doesn’t even notice his paws covered in paint until after the apartment run!
My former roommate and I used to make a little stamp pad out of a folded up damp paper towel and food coloring. Then we’d carefully touch it to our cats’ paws and then touch the paws to a greeting card. We’d do this to send Christmas and birthday cards to another friend’s little boy. He thought it was the coolest thing to get birthday cards from Boo and Mai Ling. But it’s definitely a two person job. You have to make sure to clean off the paw before they get loose or you end up with a Lupin-like mess!
That’s me, when I paint!! I try to get the paint only where it should go but…..
I get it on my hands, clothes, hair and even on our Jeep Cherokee! Poor Lupin, I know just how he feels! Lol!
As I’ve come to expect from you – another hilarious and warm-hearted comic. You couldn’t possibly do otherwise! I’m sure if I was a cat, there could be no better home to live in than yours. 🙂
Georgia, I have to ask about your own ‘robber mice’. Do you actually have mice in your apartment? And if you do, do they come out in the open (although perhaps covertly) where you and your family interact? Or are you using artistic licence to add to your wonderful stories?
The reason I’m asking is concern. I absolutely know you and your husband are very intelligent and knowledgeable. (No flattery but it’s obvious from your writings and comments.) Mice leave invisible ‘safe’ pathways for themselves and others to follow by tiny drops of urine forming lines throughout their travels. We don’t see it unless we shine UV light on it in total darkness. I think some would be horrified to see how much there are. They also leave out tiny rice shaped turds wherever they’re about. All in all, very filthy and disease spreading habits if you’re not a mouse. I hope you don’t have a real mouse problem!
In one very old house we lived in, the place was overrun with mice. Over the months and MANY mousetraps later, we’d only get the occasional invader as winter set in and outdoor mice looked for shelter. (They’d enter through cracks in the concrete foundation under the ground we couldn’t get at.) But when they were at their worse, I had to keep all my foodstuffs out of the cupboards, stored in various sized glass jars or else they chewed through and ruined them.
We’ve been surprised by mice running across the bathroom floor – once while I was on the toilet, mice dancing on the stove top while we sat eating supper and the sound of mice scampering about between the walls and across the dropped ceiling. I’m surprised the house never burned down from them chewing on the electric wiring! I had to vacuum and wash the floors every morning before I let my own Baby and Toddler down to play. It made me detest mice even if I still think they’re cute OUTSIDE of houses.
Thanks for telling us your apartment is mice-free, Georgia. Did you ever live in a place that had mice? Or what inspired your robber mice? They’re such cheeky characters!! A perfect addition to your story line.
We have had pet rodents in the past, the Man and I! We were lucky to have a wonderful group of male rats over the years (all grew old and have passed on now sadly. We very much want to adopt more in the future, once our children are a little older). We also had a very sweet quartet of little mice when we first married, and the robber mice are based upon them! Alas, they have also passed on, but are fondly remembered. I adore domesticated rodents, the only downside is how short their lifespans can be. 🙁 I had one rat, Atticus, who lived to be about three and a half, which was quite old. From baby rattie to little sweet old man rattie, he was with us and what a sweet fellow. He was nearly bald by the time he passed on. He used to love to give little kisses.
We also had a rat who came from an episode of ‘Hoarders’! If anyone out there ever saw the episode with a gentleman named Glenn from California, we adopted one of the many rats he once owned. Rodent rescues all up and down the west coast took his rats in, including Best Friend Rodent Rescue in Everett, WA where we adopted Milo. He was very smart and very funny. I try to never play favorites… But Milo certainly had a special place in my heart.
If anyone is wondering, the cats and the rats got along very well (though we never had them together without close supervision!) Each of the cats had been a kitten with different rats we had, and so they seemed to grow somewhat used to them. One of the mice we had was marvelously clever and brave, and got on surprisingly well with the cats–though again, we NEVER left them alone or even had the mice out when the cats were in the same room. This particular mouse just seemed to “play” with them through the bars, and was even quite the escape artist, ending up on the top of its cage more than once! Each time the cats left the mouse alone, and we quickly returned it. That mouse is who the black robber mouse is based upon… And yes, more will be learned about them in the near future!
I have to admit that my favorite animated movie, of all time, bar none, is “Ratatouille.” Considering humanity’s close relationship with rodentia, especially rats (and you can take that any way you want—preferably several ways) we should be more appreciative of them. They are ASTONISHINGLY intelligent for such a short-lived species. Personally, I’m not particularly fond of rats—but I can’t help but admire them, and it’s not even grudging.
They are indeed marvelously intelligent. All of ours, (and I’ve had 14 over 10 years–not all at once, ha! Usually in groups of 2-4 at a time, with overlapping as one would pass on and one would survive) learned to come when called by their name. And I had a little old man rescued rat named Rex, whom three young rats Gabriel, Sherlock, and Atticus carried cheerios and other treats to when he was old and achy. The kindness and intelligence I have seen from these small creatures is quite incredible. I agree that even for folks who may not care for them, we live very closely with them and it would be nice if it could be a bit more peaceful.
Thanks for the background info, Georgia. I think I’m as curious as a little kid and am always wanting to know more so really appreciate you telling us!
I know rats are smart and make great pets but as you said, sadly such short lives! That’s what’s prevented me from ever getting any as pets. I couldn’t bear to lose them so quickly. I even find 15-18 years that a cat can live for far too short. The death of a pet sets me into a tailspin that I find hard to overcome.
A friend told me of two brother pet rats who loved a treat ice cream. They’d scoop it up with their paws but found it too cold. So they took turns dropping a tiny pawful onto each other’s back and licking it off instead. You know rats are very social but many don’t realise they NEED a sibling or other rat or they become incredibly lonely and don’t do well.
I think rats are sweet and adorable and applaud you for having them as pets. And I love that you once had your own special little robber mouse escape artist. Now all you need to get is a pet parrot …and a few ferrets! 😉
Most of our boys loved ice cream too! And spaghetti, which they would feed into their mouths like little mimes pulling up rope, ha! They do indeed need a sibling or friend, they do so much better in pairs and groups!
Actually, James, we had an indoor cat then who’d go outside with us. He was a very good mouser too but he was frustrated in his efforts to catch these mice. They basically lived between the floor joists and in the walls like the robber mice do. They were very savvy mice and only seemed to venture out when my cat wasn’t in the room.
It drove him batty to hear their pitterpatter as they ran about, hidden from sight. He wanted to catch them badly. I even left cupboard doors open so he could get them. I don’t say he never caught one as he might’ve, I don’t know. But if he did, there were literally many dozens more he was unable to reach.
Now with three cats manning various rooms, the success rate would’ve had to go up!!
You’d think, but it’s not always the case. We had a mouse problem for several years every time the weather got cold. Two cats were in their glory going after mice and leaving “surprises” for the humans to find, the rest of the cats didn’t seem to care much one way or the other. When we asked a local exterminator for advice on de-rodenting the house and mentioned the main reason we knew we had mice was the cat’s reactions, he did a double take and, after confirming there really were four cats living in the house the mice were invading, diagnosed the mice as suicidal. The mice should take one sniff of “CAT” and head elsewhere. Didn’t happen with more than a few in this place.
Our mouse problem started when the feral who’d moved in to our garage and was slowly warming up to us passed on (it’s his probable kids chasing down any mice foolish enough to enter the house these days) and mostly stopped after residing the house and some massive garden work that seem to have blocked off the mouse doors to the house. I say “mostly” because while the HUMANS haven’t seen or heard any signs of mice for a winter or two (we still put mouse repellent out just in case) the cats still go in to “something’s in that wall!” mode on occasion. As I said, we don’t hear anything and haven’t found any evidence of mice. And the cat who’s most likely to go in to hunter mode and stare at the wall has been known to do that to walls we KNOW are solid stone with dirt on the other side.
Maybe your cat who will stare at a solid stone wall in ‘there’s a mice in the wall’ mode has exceptional hearing and can hear atoms shifting about. 😉
All joking aside, maybe he does hear something on the other side in the dirt. Mice don’t willingly give up a comfy winter home and they also form burrows underground. It’s where mice and rats naturally live – in burrows like gophers have. There might still be mice around but living in the diet like they should. He might be listening to them moving about.
I’m reminded how sensitive their hearing is by the way my cat can hear a spider moving that I don’t see. She’ll stare fixedly at a place by the floor. The first few times she did that, I couldn’t figure out why. It was only when I uncovered a spider (and I don’t mean big either) that I realise she can hear them moving! Now when she does that, I go over and ask her if she found a ‘friend’ and take care of it. Don’t underestimate them hearing things we’re completely unaware of!
I absolutely agree, much better than the very overused OMG—after all, cats really are in charge, have frequently been worshiped as deities or at least the avatars of deities—and created humans with opposable thumbs to serve them.
Thanks for that link too, Kevin! I wonder what else will be foundof preserved artifacts attesting to the cat-ness of our favourite Felines through the centuries. 😀
Back when I bought my first house, the upstairs was unfinished. So my boyfriend at the time had some friends come over and drywall it. At the time I had three cats.
We kept the door closed, but Sheena – my Angora – snuck upstairs. And got her tail into the drywall plaster. And painted half the upstairs with her tail. She had a very fluffy tail, and got really good coverage.
Same thing happened when I was putting linoleum down in the kitchen. She ran across the floor, then into the basement, linoleum glue all over her paws.
Back in 1992 we had 7 cats, 3 of whom might have been related to Elvis. I was learning to paint at that time. One evening, my husband and I were getting ready to go out to dinner and I had put on a white warm-up suit. Already you can see where this is going, right. While hubby finished getting ready, I thought I would do a little further work on my latest project and got out my palette and put a quantity of very red paint on it. Just as I dipped my brush into the paint, Gato jumped onto the table and tracked thru the paint with all four paws. I grabbed him and held him with his back against my tummy to take him to the closes sink. He performed that maneuver cats use when they don’t want to be held, and turned himself inside out and upside down and managed to get pawprints all up the front of suit. I had to ignore the suit while I cleaned his paws Which he didn’t approve of either. Once he was clean I then began to clean the suit. Fortunately the paint was acrylic and was still wet so I was able to get it out, using a couple of tricks I had learned. But then I had to find something else to wear.
This reminds me of the science fair project I did in elementary school. It was about my cat’s pregnancy and how her kittens developed. My mom made up a stamp to look like a kitten paw and we stamped painted prints all over the board.
Not like a bunny to me but I see the resemblance! I’ve noticed that Georgia has drawn the boys with their ears on high alert as well as normal and relaxed moods. It’s one of the things I love about her drawings – all the little nuances that cats have in body language and how it adds to the story.
Oh, my! This strip reminded me of my late cat, Tiki. She got a tad too curious and stuck her head through the looped handle of the grocery bag that I was using to keep supplies in while I crocheted a baby blanket for someone. The next my mom & I saw was Tiki streaking through the house with the bag flapping like a cape over her back! We laughed so hard that we were crying. Tiki finally ran behind the couch, and when we pulled the couch out, there she was — eyes wide open and panting like she had just outrun a mortal enemy (which in a way I guess she had!).
Aw, poor Tiki. Glad no harm came to her. It’s why I’m careful to never leave a bag with loop handles out unless I cut the loop open.
BTW, I had a Tiki many many years ago too but a boy, not a girl. We even had a newspaper subscription that came in his name (long story). Another of my rescues – as a abandoned kitten off the streets in Montreal in February. He would’ve froze to death soon if we hadn’t rescued him.
Thank you, Lanny! The past few days the Baby had a cold, on top of teething. The good news is she is much better tonight (just a bit snuffly, but lightly snoring away) the bad news is I was not able to work on the comic last night. 🙁 It will be up tomorrow morning though, I promise! 🙂
For some reason, unknown even to me, I was hysterically laughing at poor Lupin and the green paint. The Camera One panel actually landed me on the floor as I rolled off the couch laughing. Thank you so much, Georgia. You brighten my week.
My cats did this with barbecue sauce over the weekend! Was cleaning it off counters for hours.
Your story reminded me of the commercial where the white cat jumped on the cupboard spilling spaghetti sauce all over the floor. The husband had been preparing a surprise dinner for his wife before she got home. He quickly grabbed the cat by the nape with one hand while he was still holding in the other hand a large knife he’d been using. Just then his wife walks into the apartment and sees him with the cat and knife and a large spill of something red on the floor underneath them! It’s still on YouTube and hilarious to see.
https://youtu.be/18HRNQyo9mg
HAHA!! I had never seen this before, thank you for sharing!!
HAHAHA!!! I do remember that one!
Oh, poor Lupin! Just like when the pen burst before in the comic (or in real life, when he got into some daffodils and was yellow for a few weeks) if he comes across a colorful spill, it’s just too easy to blame it on him. A couple of weeks back I was painting a play table for the Toddler, and Lupin ran across it, inspiring this strip. In real life, we caught him immediately and were able to clean it all up and somewhat hilariously–it was white paint. It got me thinking what would happen if we DIDN’T catch him fast before he did his usual race-around-the-apartment.
Just brilliant. Especially the bird’s eye view of the living room
Speaking of the birds eye view of the loving room… Who notices one of the Robber Mice?
I just love how life with the boys inspires the strip.
Oh my Cat! It’s everywhere! (Love it.)
In my old house, there was a trail of white kitty prints across the hard wood floor where my cat had taken a leisurely stroll through a paint pan. I started to take them off, then decided to leave them there. They eventually wore off, but after my cat passed away, I was glad I’d kept them.
This strip brings certainly brings back memories. 🙂
Aww, that’s sweet, Mariella. 😻 I think I would’ve done the same. One thing I’ve collected over the years are the long whisker hairs whenever I find them.
I haven’t laughed so loudly for a long time! They are so awesome!!! ^^ Thank you!
“It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
I spy robber mice!
Oh my CAT! Poor Lupin. This should be continued!
“Quick! Clean my paws!”
This is when you find your true friends. Not this time, old bean.
Hilarous! “Well done, Lupin” indeed… I hope that if this is based on personal experience that it wasn’t recent 🙂
Oh this is great! Didn’t look so bad at first…then WOW! LOL Love it!!!!!!
Aw, Puck is trying to accommodate Lupin even though he doesn’t like paint, what a good friend he is! And “oh my CAT!” is going to be my new go-to exclamation from now on….
Love it! Considering how many times Lupin jumped on your drawing board during the live chat, this does not surprise me!! He’s a good boy anyway!
My father once laid some cupboard doors flat after he repainted them. The cat ran across them so, naturally, Dad re-hung the doors with her paw prints running across them. People always wondered how the cat ran sideways along the cupboard doors.
That is great! We saved Lupin’s paw print under the table too. 🙂
Georgia: You might consider making and keeping paw prints of all your boys. When we finally had to put our beloved Spook to rest a few years ago, our vet kindly made a print of his paw on a small memorial card, which I keep on the fireplace mantel next to a picture of him. I feel close to him every time I look at it.
I’m not a cat person *ducks*, but I really love this strip and have been following faithfully for some time. When my puppy, Mr. Pickles, died at the age of 15, the vet’s office made a plaster cast of his paw for me. I keep it with his ashes. Sometimes, I go and press my fingers to his paw print, just because.
Love that idea! At a previous job I used to threaten to dip the paws of my boss’ cat in paint and turn him loose on the hood of her truck. 🙂
Oh my Cat! For sure! Poor Lupin, needing to suffer a clean up. The napping robber mouse seems very relaxed.
so funny..this happens in my house except it’s with mud
Hahah, this is awesome! Lupin reporting on himself before he realizes he is the culprit!
I got excited to see the robber mice too!
Poor kitty!
I don’t know why I do this stuff… You are a cat, Lupin, isn’t that enough?
And it happens so fast! In the blink of an eye he is ALL OVER THE PLACE!!With green paint, no less.
Yes! At least 2 robber mice. Georgia, with all the beautiful details you put into the strips, maybe you can start doing a “hidden robber mouse” in each one. I love each strip so much.
What cracks me up, too, is Elvis’s deadpan comment,”Well done, Lupin”.
At least Buzzy Mouse escaped clean!
Oh my Cat that was hilarious!
I was working on a painting once and Linus ‘helped.’ Turns out he really didn’t like the way the paint felt on his paws so he kind of froze. Good thing as it was a dark purple color and would have made a mess of the apartment.
Lupin here is great. ‘I DON’T KNOW WHY I DO THIS STUFF!!’
I love how it’s given away immediately with Lupin’s stained paws, coffee cup and paper yet it still starts with ‘someone has paint on their paws.’ At least he realized he was the culprit straight off.
Let’s not forget…
Cat Paw Prints Found on 15th-Century Manuscript
http://news.discovery.com/animals/pets/medieval-cat-paw-prints-found-on-15th-century-manuscript-130404.htm
I love this!
Very cool, thanks for sharing Jon!
Thank you, Jon!! I remember reading about this but there wasn’t an accompanying photo. I also clicked on the link about how cats adopt the habits, personalities and schedules of their owners. I’ve often thought they did and I see it very much with my girl, Tuulikki. I think it’s more evident in one cat households too. Since I love the personality of my cat, I guess it says something positive about my own personality.
Cat-like typing (writing) is not a new phenomenon!
There was also a case when they were renovating one of those buildings with the Italianate Terra Cotta tile roof, there were cat prints on the bottom sides of the roof tiles as if the cats had walked on them when they were laid out to dry. Proof of cats is everywhere.
Oh that is so cool! I’m glad the writer of that manuscript didn’t simply trash the letter or burn it because of the paw prints–shows he/she had a sense of humour. 😀
Oh My Cat! Love it! Georgia, I love your furry kids! They bring a smile to my face and heart every Monday and Thursday!
Please consider doing a coffee mug with their three faces . . . . !
Paint *and* robber mice… oh my Cat, indeed!
Poor Lupin – so unfair! If it’d been Puck he would’ve got ‘clean’ away with it! 😉
Robber mouse livin’ large, relaxing on the couch. A big green paw print on his back, no doubt.
Everything he does makes it worse! Ahahahaha!
Ha ha!! Too funny!! The one robber mice resting with his legs crossed, that was so kewl!! Lupin is so innocent of what he does!! Yeah, coffee mice mug would be the cats meow!!!! Purrrrr!!!!
The last time I saw that happen was not with my cat, but with my dad! He was in the yard, getting ready to paint the steps, took a step back, and *plop*- right in the paint tray. As he was hopping around, trying to shake off the paint, he got the other foot in. 😀 We had man-size grey shoe prints on the paved driveway for weeks. LOL.
That was many years ago, and brings back such a great memory… Thanks.
Who among us can judge? Who among us has not run madly through the house with paint all over our paws? I will not judge!
Poor Pengy, what will the Toddler say? Thank goodness Buzzy Mouse was spared. (By the way, that’s my new name for my PC’s mouse) Loved, “oh, my cat” and “I don’t know why I do this stuff” , poor Lupin. He seems pretty scared of your cleaning methods, whatever did you do when he got into the ink? I mean it looked like a nice bubble bath. At least he owned up to it this time.
I’m surprised we haven’t seen paw prints on your live cast, YET! Thanks for making us laugh Georgia!
I think “I don’t know why I do this stuff” is my all-time favorite drawing of Lupin.
Oh yes, the pitiful cries of my Skates while he was locked out of the bedroom I was painting. Yet this is exactly what would have happened had I let him in!
Oh, I needed this. Oh my CAT has it ever been Monday! This really saved the day. Really great strip, and some of the comments are real hoots, too.
Only worse mixture than cats and paint: cats and candle flames. Actually, we think the cats’ tails are really alien creatures with minds of their own, attached remora-like to the cats’ backsides in a symbiotic relationship.
My Mallory (now departed) set her tail on fire once. She was a VERY fluffy cat and I was able to put it out quite quickly but it still ranks as the closest I’ve been to a heart attack.
I donated all of my candles to charity yard sales when the first cat came along. The thought of one of my crew catching fire just horrifies me so. Also made a designated smoking area on the outdoor deck so kitties all have nice pink lungs. No flames near felines at my house….
LOL!! Poor baby! He’s just accident prone, I know the feeling. :p
Oh wow, another fine mess they got into!!! Wonderful stuff! Thanks xxx
“clean my paws” – oh Lupin, that’s not going to help, hon. *laughs*
Back in ’89 while working at a tattoo shop I had to mix up some of the red pigment, at that time you often mixed your own colors from dried powders and I did so at home rather than chance getting any of it airborne and all over the shop. No matter how careful I was, my poor white Princess would invariably end up a faint pink hue for days.
We were so worried our cats would find the wet cement when we had some work done in the basement a few years back, but they were freaked out enough by the Strangers that it wasn’t an issue. The only paw prints are the ones I doodled for posterity.
LOVE how Lupin doesn’t even notice his paws covered in paint until after the apartment run!
My former roommate and I used to make a little stamp pad out of a folded up damp paper towel and food coloring. Then we’d carefully touch it to our cats’ paws and then touch the paws to a greeting card. We’d do this to send Christmas and birthday cards to another friend’s little boy. He thought it was the coolest thing to get birthday cards from Boo and Mai Ling. But it’s definitely a two person job. You have to make sure to clean off the paw before they get loose or you end up with a Lupin-like mess!
Love the idea!
Loving camera one
That’s me, when I paint!! I try to get the paint only where it should go but…..
I get it on my hands, clothes, hair and even on our Jeep Cherokee! Poor Lupin, I know just how he feels! Lol!
Besides the cat pawprints in the manuscript, cat prints have also been found on roman tiles in Britain, proving that not much has changed in 2,000 years, I guess. I remember seeing the tiles at a museum in Caerleon (Wales, UK) and for whatever reason a clay tile with cat pawprints in it made the ancient Romans seem more “real” than anything else I saw.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3179764/I-CLAWdius-Roman-army-cat-left-paw-prints-2-000-year-old-clay-tile-discovered-Gloucester.html
This made my day. Love the robber mice just eating a relaxing. Oh my cat is my new expression.
Did anybody else notice the robber mice?
As I’ve come to expect from you – another hilarious and warm-hearted comic. You couldn’t possibly do otherwise! I’m sure if I was a cat, there could be no better home to live in than yours. 🙂
Georgia, I have to ask about your own ‘robber mice’. Do you actually have mice in your apartment? And if you do, do they come out in the open (although perhaps covertly) where you and your family interact? Or are you using artistic licence to add to your wonderful stories?
The reason I’m asking is concern. I absolutely know you and your husband are very intelligent and knowledgeable. (No flattery but it’s obvious from your writings and comments.) Mice leave invisible ‘safe’ pathways for themselves and others to follow by tiny drops of urine forming lines throughout their travels. We don’t see it unless we shine UV light on it in total darkness. I think some would be horrified to see how much there are. They also leave out tiny rice shaped turds wherever they’re about. All in all, very filthy and disease spreading habits if you’re not a mouse. I hope you don’t have a real mouse problem!
In one very old house we lived in, the place was overrun with mice. Over the months and MANY mousetraps later, we’d only get the occasional invader as winter set in and outdoor mice looked for shelter. (They’d enter through cracks in the concrete foundation under the ground we couldn’t get at.) But when they were at their worse, I had to keep all my foodstuffs out of the cupboards, stored in various sized glass jars or else they chewed through and ruined them.
We’ve been surprised by mice running across the bathroom floor – once while I was on the toilet, mice dancing on the stove top while we sat eating supper and the sound of mice scampering about between the walls and across the dropped ceiling. I’m surprised the house never burned down from them chewing on the electric wiring! I had to vacuum and wash the floors every morning before I let my own Baby and Toddler down to play. It made me detest mice even if I still think they’re cute OUTSIDE of houses.
Never fear! The apartment is mouse free!
Thanks for telling us your apartment is mice-free, Georgia. Did you ever live in a place that had mice? Or what inspired your robber mice? They’re such cheeky characters!! A perfect addition to your story line.
We have had pet rodents in the past, the Man and I! We were lucky to have a wonderful group of male rats over the years (all grew old and have passed on now sadly. We very much want to adopt more in the future, once our children are a little older). We also had a very sweet quartet of little mice when we first married, and the robber mice are based upon them! Alas, they have also passed on, but are fondly remembered. I adore domesticated rodents, the only downside is how short their lifespans can be. 🙁 I had one rat, Atticus, who lived to be about three and a half, which was quite old. From baby rattie to little sweet old man rattie, he was with us and what a sweet fellow. He was nearly bald by the time he passed on. He used to love to give little kisses.
We also had a rat who came from an episode of ‘Hoarders’! If anyone out there ever saw the episode with a gentleman named Glenn from California, we adopted one of the many rats he once owned. Rodent rescues all up and down the west coast took his rats in, including Best Friend Rodent Rescue in Everett, WA where we adopted Milo. He was very smart and very funny. I try to never play favorites… But Milo certainly had a special place in my heart.
If anyone is wondering, the cats and the rats got along very well (though we never had them together without close supervision!) Each of the cats had been a kitten with different rats we had, and so they seemed to grow somewhat used to them. One of the mice we had was marvelously clever and brave, and got on surprisingly well with the cats–though again, we NEVER left them alone or even had the mice out when the cats were in the same room. This particular mouse just seemed to “play” with them through the bars, and was even quite the escape artist, ending up on the top of its cage more than once! Each time the cats left the mouse alone, and we quickly returned it. That mouse is who the black robber mouse is based upon… And yes, more will be learned about them in the near future!
I have to admit that my favorite animated movie, of all time, bar none, is “Ratatouille.” Considering humanity’s close relationship with rodentia, especially rats (and you can take that any way you want—preferably several ways) we should be more appreciative of them. They are ASTONISHINGLY intelligent for such a short-lived species. Personally, I’m not particularly fond of rats—but I can’t help but admire them, and it’s not even grudging.
They are indeed marvelously intelligent. All of ours, (and I’ve had 14 over 10 years–not all at once, ha! Usually in groups of 2-4 at a time, with overlapping as one would pass on and one would survive) learned to come when called by their name. And I had a little old man rescued rat named Rex, whom three young rats Gabriel, Sherlock, and Atticus carried cheerios and other treats to when he was old and achy. The kindness and intelligence I have seen from these small creatures is quite incredible. I agree that even for folks who may not care for them, we live very closely with them and it would be nice if it could be a bit more peaceful.
Thanks for the background info, Georgia. I think I’m as curious as a little kid and am always wanting to know more so really appreciate you telling us!
I know rats are smart and make great pets but as you said, sadly such short lives! That’s what’s prevented me from ever getting any as pets. I couldn’t bear to lose them so quickly. I even find 15-18 years that a cat can live for far too short. The death of a pet sets me into a tailspin that I find hard to overcome.
A friend told me of two brother pet rats who loved a treat ice cream. They’d scoop it up with their paws but found it too cold. So they took turns dropping a tiny pawful onto each other’s back and licking it off instead. You know rats are very social but many don’t realise they NEED a sibling or other rat or they become incredibly lonely and don’t do well.
I think rats are sweet and adorable and applaud you for having them as pets. And I love that you once had your own special little robber mouse escape artist. Now all you need to get is a pet parrot …and a few ferrets! 😉
Most of our boys loved ice cream too! And spaghetti, which they would feed into their mouths like little mimes pulling up rope, ha! They do indeed need a sibling or friend, they do so much better in pairs and groups!
I can assure you — if you’ve got three cats in an apartment, any “mouse problem” is going to be extremely short-lived!
Actually, James, we had an indoor cat then who’d go outside with us. He was a very good mouser too but he was frustrated in his efforts to catch these mice. They basically lived between the floor joists and in the walls like the robber mice do. They were very savvy mice and only seemed to venture out when my cat wasn’t in the room.
It drove him batty to hear their pitterpatter as they ran about, hidden from sight. He wanted to catch them badly. I even left cupboard doors open so he could get them. I don’t say he never caught one as he might’ve, I don’t know. But if he did, there were literally many dozens more he was unable to reach.
Now with three cats manning various rooms, the success rate would’ve had to go up!!
You’d think, but it’s not always the case. We had a mouse problem for several years every time the weather got cold. Two cats were in their glory going after mice and leaving “surprises” for the humans to find, the rest of the cats didn’t seem to care much one way or the other. When we asked a local exterminator for advice on de-rodenting the house and mentioned the main reason we knew we had mice was the cat’s reactions, he did a double take and, after confirming there really were four cats living in the house the mice were invading, diagnosed the mice as suicidal. The mice should take one sniff of “CAT” and head elsewhere. Didn’t happen with more than a few in this place.
Our mouse problem started when the feral who’d moved in to our garage and was slowly warming up to us passed on (it’s his probable kids chasing down any mice foolish enough to enter the house these days) and mostly stopped after residing the house and some massive garden work that seem to have blocked off the mouse doors to the house. I say “mostly” because while the HUMANS haven’t seen or heard any signs of mice for a winter or two (we still put mouse repellent out just in case) the cats still go in to “something’s in that wall!” mode on occasion. As I said, we don’t hear anything and haven’t found any evidence of mice. And the cat who’s most likely to go in to hunter mode and stare at the wall has been known to do that to walls we KNOW are solid stone with dirt on the other side.
Maybe your cat who will stare at a solid stone wall in ‘there’s a mice in the wall’ mode has exceptional hearing and can hear atoms shifting about. 😉
All joking aside, maybe he does hear something on the other side in the dirt. Mice don’t willingly give up a comfy winter home and they also form burrows underground. It’s where mice and rats naturally live – in burrows like gophers have. There might still be mice around but living in the diet like they should. He might be listening to them moving about.
I’m reminded how sensitive their hearing is by the way my cat can hear a spider moving that I don’t see. She’ll stare fixedly at a place by the floor. The first few times she did that, I couldn’t figure out why. It was only when I uncovered a spider (and I don’t mean big either) that I realise she can hear them moving! Now when she does that, I go over and ask her if she found a ‘friend’ and take care of it. Don’t underestimate them hearing things we’re completely unaware of!
“OH MY CAT”, perfect T shirt idea, with Lupin illustration in panel 6.
I absolutely agree, much better than the very overused OMG—after all, cats really are in charge, have frequently been worshiped as deities or at least the avatars of deities—and created humans with opposable thumbs to serve them.
There’re also the 2000-year-old prints found on a roof tile!
http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/2000-year-old-cat-pawn-prints-discovered-on-tile-150730.htm
Love the “Oh my cat!”. And hey, at least his paws match his eyes!
Thanks for that link too, Kevin! I wonder what else will be foundof preserved artifacts attesting to the cat-ness of our favourite Felines through the centuries. 😀
Back when I bought my first house, the upstairs was unfinished. So my boyfriend at the time had some friends come over and drywall it. At the time I had three cats.
We kept the door closed, but Sheena – my Angora – snuck upstairs. And got her tail into the drywall plaster. And painted half the upstairs with her tail. She had a very fluffy tail, and got really good coverage.
Same thing happened when I was putting linoleum down in the kitchen. She ran across the floor, then into the basement, linoleum glue all over her paws.
Thanks for the laugh – this strip is the best!
Back in 1992 we had 7 cats, 3 of whom might have been related to Elvis. I was learning to paint at that time. One evening, my husband and I were getting ready to go out to dinner and I had put on a white warm-up suit. Already you can see where this is going, right. While hubby finished getting ready, I thought I would do a little further work on my latest project and got out my palette and put a quantity of very red paint on it. Just as I dipped my brush into the paint, Gato jumped onto the table and tracked thru the paint with all four paws. I grabbed him and held him with his back against my tummy to take him to the closes sink. He performed that maneuver cats use when they don’t want to be held, and turned himself inside out and upside down and managed to get pawprints all up the front of suit. I had to ignore the suit while I cleaned his paws Which he didn’t approve of either. Once he was clean I then began to clean the suit. Fortunately the paint was acrylic and was still wet so I was able to get it out, using a couple of tricks I had learned. But then I had to find something else to wear.
I will be grinning for the rest of the week. Only a cat can color your world like this! Thank God for that!
This reminds me of the science fair project I did in elementary school. It was about my cat’s pregnancy and how her kittens developed. My mom made up a stamp to look like a kitten paw and we stamped painted prints all over the board.
Lupin found the enemy and it was him.
Love Lupin thinking positive, “Maybe it’s not that bad.” Only he knows it COULD be worse.
For some reason, my favourite thing about this one is the paint’s the same colour as his eyes….
Anyone else think that Lupin sometimes looks like a bunny when his ears are more stretched up? Pretty cute, in its own way.
Not like a bunny to me but I see the resemblance! I’ve noticed that Georgia has drawn the boys with their ears on high alert as well as normal and relaxed moods. It’s one of the things I love about her drawings – all the little nuances that cats have in body language and how it adds to the story.
My first cat definitely had a bunny face… if I covered her ears, she looked *just* like a bunny. Which weirded me out, so I covered her ears a lot *g*
Oh, my! This strip reminded me of my late cat, Tiki. She got a tad too curious and stuck her head through the looped handle of the grocery bag that I was using to keep supplies in while I crocheted a baby blanket for someone. The next my mom & I saw was Tiki streaking through the house with the bag flapping like a cape over her back! We laughed so hard that we were crying. Tiki finally ran behind the couch, and when we pulled the couch out, there she was — eyes wide open and panting like she had just outrun a mortal enemy (which in a way I guess she had!).
Aw, poor Tiki. Glad no harm came to her. It’s why I’m careful to never leave a bag with loop handles out unless I cut the loop open.
BTW, I had a Tiki many many years ago too but a boy, not a girl. We even had a newspaper subscription that came in his name (long story). Another of my rescues – as a abandoned kitten off the streets in Montreal in February. He would’ve froze to death soon if we hadn’t rescued him.
I just noticed that Buzzy Mouse was listed in the cast of characters. YAY BUZZY MOUSE!!
I hope that like last time you were late posting that you and yours are all fine. I’ll take a chance and say sorry about the computer problems.
Thank you, Lanny! The past few days the Baby had a cold, on top of teething. The good news is she is much better tonight (just a bit snuffly, but lightly snoring away) the bad news is I was not able to work on the comic last night. 🙁 It will be up tomorrow morning though, I promise! 🙂
Oh no, poor baby girl, hope all well soon, best wishes you and yours xxxxxx
Please be OK and that the problem now is just a glitch.
Pray all is well with Gwen, and we all know, being a mother does come first.
Be well little Gwen.
For some reason, unknown even to me, I was hysterically laughing at poor Lupin and the green paint. The Camera One panel actually landed me on the floor as I rolled off the couch laughing. Thank you so much, Georgia. You brighten my week.
You’re welcome Eva, thank you!!!