Pine Cone has been lounging outside the door to Mandy's room.  I suspect
the little stinker has been scouting the bitties for positions on the
"Mouser." (I have.  PC esq.)  He's also been putting the rest of the
cats through their paces in preparation for this year's cruise.

When one walks into the room, the bitties jump into action.  Eric
waddles towards the big lumps that have entered the room.  Usually
Traveler is right behind him.  Qui Gun Kit and Pez duck into their cave
(a box that is lined with a towel, taped shut, and with a small door in
it, so that the bitties can get away from the hoomins.  The door is just
large enough that Sonya can squeeze in as well) and Spike usually stays
in the cat bed looking around as if he's confused and in need of
assistance.

I'd think Spike was lacking upstairs, but he's the first to the feed
trough (Sonya) and is usually the first one to figure out a new
activity.  He has started trying to get the other bitties to play tag
and bap with him.  Eric is getting the idea, but prefers to tag Traveler
instead of playing with Spike.  Pez also prefers to bap Traveler, but
will take on Spike in a pinch.  Qui Gun would like to be alone, thank
you very much.

Eric is the most sociable of the bitties, and Qui Gun is the least
likely to come out for picture time.  Mandy still needs to take more
pictures of him and Pez. Qui Gun has a goatee, Pez has almost all white
on his back legs.  We still don't have them sexed yet, but we're pretty
sure that Eric is a he.  We're not as sure on the rest.

Sonya is very patient with her babies.  She lets them climb all over
her, has been teaching them to clean themselves, play, and to explore
their world.  Traveler has been biting the water bowl.  We think he's
trying to figure out what his meowmie does with it.  He's quite an
explorer.  Spike is all attitude.  He squeals the loudest, starts the
most tussles, and walked the first.

Yes, the bitties are learning to walk.  As you probably know, bitties
don't walk at first, they scoot themselves around using their legs much
as a sea turtle on the sand.  Very lizardish.  The bitties have
progressed to wobbling along on their bitty feet with the long toes and
claws hanging out.  Very cute.  Bitty feet are large in proportion to
the rest of their bodies.  Their tails are so cute.  I caught Traveler
waving his tail back and forth.  Most of the time, the tails stick out
straight behind them, but the bitties have been seen with their tails
sticking straight up in the air.

Traveler and Spike are learning to swivel their ears in the direction of
noises.  This is so cute as their ears are so tiny and so hairy.  Yes,
one of my favorite pastimes is watching bitties.  I also love to hold
them while I'm reading or watching TV.  They have such definite
personalities and are so cute to watch.  I enjoy getting them ready for
their new slaves.

Pam S.