Graceless '12

It's been a few months since the last Graceless Kitties post - high time for the first installment of 2012.

So here are some of our sillier (or at very least more relaxed) friends at the cat sanctuary doing what they do best. Enjoy.

 photos by Marianne

photos by Michele

photo by Ayako

photos by Phaedra

 photos by Claire

In addition to thanking the photogs credited above, thanks to the cats (Fred, Piper, Morrissey, Diablo, Ricky, Leland, Larry, Ella and others) for playing along.

All hail the graceless kitty

"Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this"  ~ Anon.

Cats may not have forgotten, but those who interact with them on a daily basis may now and again (and again and again) get to see that mask of regal aloofness slip a bit.

For your entertainment a blooper reel, er, photo essay of some of our sanctuary friends' less graceful moments.

A big thanks to Ann for the idea.

Abby: upside down and doesn't care who knows it

Tootsie with food on her nose... as usual

Mary

photo by Phaedra

Lola

Jenna-fur

Fred

photo by Phaedra

Andy, posing for Playcat

photo by Phaedra

Diablo - "Eat. Play. Fall Over."

Gunther, seconds away from giving the paparazzi stink eye

Logan. Because he can

photo by Michele

Zoe, trying to sell us on the idea that this position is remotely comfortable

Charlie: "You're taking a picture of me? Neat! Can I watch?"

photo by Michele

Ricky and his "drool man chu"

Arnie: "Here's lookin' at you, kid."

Ricky (II)

This is Ricky:

When she first met him, Leslie thought Ricky was "the neatest looking cat [she'd] ever seen." She may be more used to him now -- spend enough time at the sanctuary and you'll get to meet more than a few striking cats! -- but he's not the sort of cat who can escape notice for long. He likes attention and is pretty keen to interact.

Ricky doesn't even need to exert himself to capture the attention of most passers by. For me, I find this expression alone will often suffice:

He makes me smile. And this in turn makes him happy because he knows I'll get sucked in to softing him and tickling his chin.

Amazingly, this friendly boy used to be feral and started his life at RAPS as a resident of the back pens. There are actually quite a few cats at the sanctuary who have become tame over time. And that in itself is something pretty unique and special about our place.