The Help

I am so excited to formally introduce the rest of our family living with us!  While we have tons of fun here, I couldn't imagine not having our pets!  They make every activity extra fun and way more silly.  I mean prepping fishing gear and taking out a transmission are interesting but why not let the cats help?!  There are times for sure when we would prefer they didn't help like at meal times in the kitchen, or seeing three cats' heads in the coconut shreds to be milked, or any time a machete is being used, or even following us down to the boat only to be rescued from a rainstorm.  They never hesitate to attempt to help themselves to our plates when we aren't looking.  I'm sure Jason doesn't appreciate the cats helping him stay awake with allergies after sleeping on his pillow all day. 

Their personalities couldn't be more different but couldn't be more pleasant either.  Having pets are not only fun but essential for living here: The dogs ward off trespassers and the kitties keep the rodent population in check.  So in order of age I give you:

Master "Chief"
 Australian Blue Heeler, age 2; weighing in at 57 lbs; Chief came from Australian with Anna and Bob when he was a puppy and is definitely the brawn of the group.  He is the scariest thing the Fijians have ever seen and that's the way we like it.  If they only knew he's really a clown!  He for sure has the most nicknames:  Asteroid, Beefy Chiefy, Toe-Dragger, and sometimes Jesus.... He will walk over anything or anyone to get where he's going and the more of an obstacle, the better.  Chief enjoys chewing on bamboo, Gus's legs, goat skulls, and thinks he's a tight-rope walker.  

"Gus"tafer
 Australian Red Heeler, age 2, weighing in at 52 lbs;  Brought from Australia the same time as Chief, Gus is the brains to Chief's brawn.  Gus loves stimulating play like chasing his ball, running, and especially jumping.  One day he may be one of those high-flying frisbee dogs you see at the state fair!  He may not look as menacing as Chief but he's just as ferocious.  Although they don't get out often, Gus is an excellent truck companion and loves to chase the four-wheeler.  The boys even go on the occasional boat ride to "our" island where they chase seagulls, smash crabs, and eat sand all day!

Lulu
Beautiful female Calico born in Fiji and our longest surviving cat.  Lulu is the original hunting prodigy of the group and has survived a broken leg.  She loves coconut, climbing, rubbing against feet, and "swimming" through the grass.  She kept Jason company for many months when he was here alone along with Mr. Kitty who is no longer with us.  On March 28, 2015, Lulu gave birth to four kittens when we were out fishing and is the best mommy!  The poor thing is attempting to teach her babies hunting but to no avail.   

Monkey Pod
Anna surprised us for Christmas with our very first pet: a black and brown striped fireball of a kitten!  Yes, Monkey Pod is an unusual name but has sentimental meaning for Erik and I after our time in Hawaii.  Besides, it's how we say it rather than the words themselves.  With Lulu on maternity leave, Monkey Pod stepped it up as reigning hunter.  In fact, she rarely snuggles comfortably without scanning for geckos or large insects.  What sounds like thunder is actually her paws on the tin roof at night.  The attest development is her crush on Chief who is not quite sure what to do with her!  She is by far the softest and always finds time for a bath between kills.  Monks loves using our mosquito net as a ladder and a hammock.  When she's not hunting or sleeping, you can find her bullying Lulu or wrestling with her sister.  

Roscoe
A delicate female Calico born in Fiji and sister to Monkey Pod.  Being almost skin and bones when she came home, we weren't sure Roscoe would make it!  "Survival of the fittest" is no joke in Fiji with a vet being a hard two-hour drive away.  Long story short, Roscoe is a brand new kitty with the help of chicken livers!  A real sills head and definitely the princess of the property.  Her hunting style is more targeted at butterflies and leaves, but you can tell her heart is set on a bird.  And that's ok because she is the sweetest cat ever.  Known as Erik's stalker as a kitten, Roscoe will follow him all day, anywhere (remember the rainstorm rescue?).  She loves to sleep (especially wedged between Erik and I every night) but not too far from the cooler containing her livers.  besides sleeping, she can be found wrestling with Monks, climbing trees, and has survived a cane toad encounter.  

Last, but not least, are our newest arrivals:  Count, Yoda, Mini Monks, and Tupac.  Lovingly called "the box of allergies," these are Lulu's four babies and two (Tupac and Mini Monks) have already gone to new homes as of this week!  

This post is in loving memory of Mr. Kitty AKA Mista Kitts, the original coolest cat ever until his death, December 2014.