Peppe Got A Lion's Cut!

What? You don't shave your cat? He's lookin' sharp for summer!

Signs Of Summer

Peppe got a lion's cut! He's ready for the beach...

The multiplexes are full of summer blockbusters.

Meet Peppe: The Italian Christmas Kitty!

On Friday night I had a very special delivery: a five-year-old orange Persian named Peppe. I found him one random afternoon about two weeks ago on Petfinder.com. That's also the site where I originally found Maestro and Mozart. If you're looking for a pet, it's a great place to look. They even have barnyard animals!

Some fun facts about Peppe:

1. He's originally from Italy and came to this country (with eight dollars in his pocket!) with his original owner. He even has a passport.

2. He's a proper Persian, but the shelter had to give him a lion's cut, in winter, because he got really matted being stuck in the cage.

3. He likes to follow me around the apartment. I think he has some attachment issues.

4. He's the most affectionate creature I have ever met. I recommend one of his love bites on your cheek.

In his carrier when he first arrived. He wasn't too jazzed about getting out.


Peppe isn't so much as a cat as he is just a giant, orange face.


He's already plotting his escape.


Hairless but happy.

Maestro and Mozart Get Shaved!

It seemed like a perfectly good idea at the time: get The Boys, Maestro and Mozartm shaved before the start of summer so that when the heat kicks in they won't suffer. After all, Le Doug had a Himalayan named Spitfire for years, and every May he would get shaved.

Our regular groomer doesn't do lion's cuts, which is when you shave almost all of a cat's fur off, leaving just a mane, booties and part of the tail. Instead, she referred us to another place just down the road.

Early this morning we dropped The Boys off and told the groomers not to be surprised is Maestro gave them a hard time. He can be a little wiley sometimes. Mozart, on the other hand, shouldn't be a problem.

Hours past and we didn't hear back from the groomer. Eventually we called and were told that Mozart bit one of the groomers and it was so bad that the groomer had to go to the doctor.

We went down to pick up The Boys and we were greeted by a very unhappy groomer. Turns out the guy that Mozart bit had to be taken to the hospital, because he might need stitches. It seems that when he was giving Mozart a bath Mozart sunk his teeth into him and sliced open his whole hand. This is odd, because Mozart only has three incisors, as opposed to four that normal cats have. Also, Doug and I give Mozart baths all the time and he's always like them. Methinks this groomer's technique could use a little improving.

The groomer that told us all this was really pissed off, as if Mozart's behavior was somehow a reflection on us. If it were socially acceptable to throw a shoe at us, I think this gal would have. Doug and I even came in with two bottles of Rose wine for the injured groomer, as a measure of goodwill. And not for nothing, but isn't getting bit by an animal an occupational hazard of being a pet groomer, the way electricians always risk getting zapped? Then again, if you know what you're doing, you probably won't get zapped, or bitten, for that matter.

Regardless, below are some photos of what The Boys looks like now that all their fur has been shaved off.

Inspecting Each Other's Damage


Forlorn


At least They Have Each Other


Ariel View of Maestro


Lion's Cat Mirror Image


Mozart Tries to Deal With Reality


.. And Eventually Settles in for a Nap