Life with two cats- something I’ve never experienced before – is a circus. I’d like to be able to say that I am the ring master and can control all the action, but anyone who has ever lived with a cat knows that is never the case.

The boys have, for the most part, come to a sort of truce. There is no hissing and spitting. There is, however, chasing and wrestling, which I guess is normal cat behavior. Of course, I worry that the big one is going to really hurt the little one. At times I get the squirt gun out to break it up, if it’s starting to look too mean spirited.

For the most part, though, the circus events consist of trying to capture the toy that is hanging from the doorknob of the front door. We’re on our fourth toy. They eventually manage to snap the elastic and capture whatever it is that’s dangling from it.

They really like this game.

Last night I went to that most evil of stores (evil only because I am incapable of showing any restraint when I shop there), Wal-Mart. I spent a bundle on toys for the boys.

Last weekend I’d gotten a corrugated cardboard scratching post (the furniture was taking a beating, in spite of the fact that I’d put dozens of strips of double sided sticky tape all over it).

Well, this scratching post (scented with catnip) has been a huge hit. Both of the guys loved it, and were fighting for domination over it. Yesterday I discovered a round version of the same toy, but this one has a ball in a track that goes around the outside of it.

This has been the hit of the century. They are going crazy over it, and they seem to be able to play TOGETHER while using it. This is something of a miracle. There have been moments of sibling (are they siblings if they’re not from the same litter?) rivalry. Bravo loves this little spider toy, and he wants to play fetch with it all the time. Broadway keeps trying to spoil his fun by stealing the toy and hiding it.

Of course Bravo then finds a good time to retaliate and steal whatever toy Broadway seems to have taken a shine to.

This is what leads to the cat racetrack. They zoom around the apartment and chase one another up and down furniture, beds and anything else that might be in their path – even me.

But I am happy to have these feline friends with me, and admit to contributing to the circus. Like any indulgent parent I buy them any toy I see that might be amusing, and the apartment has all sorts of cat tuff scattered everywhere you might try to step. I laugh at their antics, and love to hear them purr.

I like that Broadway is clearly becoming used to his surrounding and is now sleeping on top of the bed instead of under it. Bravo has done that from the start. I like the Broadway has a new habit of hopping up on the bed when I go into the bedroom to dress in the morning, and waits for me to pet him and give him hugs. He gives "kitty kisses" by touching his nose to mine.

Encore always did that.

Bravo remains fascinated by the bathroom. He hops up on the vanity every morning and waits there while I shower. He still loves to watch the toilet flush (I have to prevent him from jumping up on the seat – I’m afraid he’ll fall in!), and likes it when I turn on the water in the sink.

But I still miss Encore everyday.

I’ve been working on trying to make a page with a couple of their pictures on it, but for some reason the images continually come up as broken. I have no idea what I’m doing wrong. It may be that age old problem of being a Mac user, so I may have to see if I can get files of the pictures in a PC format and take time to monkey with the page some day when I have time at school.

Which means never, considering how nuts work has been lately!