It's time for the Bad Sport Category!!!

And now we move on to the Bad Sports in MangoMinster. My little big sister TaiChi is entered as a Bad Sport, and boy is she ever!

You would think that this cute little 18 year old miniature poodle would be just that: a cute little fluffy dog.

But no. But let me tell you, underneath that innocent-looking face is the brain of a scheming and cunning Mastermind. If SPECTRE was still around, TaiChi would be running the world, and having 007 bringing her filet mignon on a silver platter. Being as old and venerable as she is, she has learned a lot of sneaky tricks, and has done very well in passing them along to all of her charges over the years (and I think that she should get extra points for not only being devious and sneaky, but also for being a mentor to others). What, you ask, could she possibly do at her advanced age and at a mere 14lbs? I’ll give you the short list:

Used to sneak into Mr. Bufus’ lair and to eat all his food;

Sneaks her snooter closer and closer to Dad’s dinner plate while he is eating until he gives her tasty tidbits;

Sits on my head! (This was NOT staged. She just walked over me and sat on me!)

Did I mention that she walks all over me?

Steals food off Mom’s dinner plate when she’s not looking;

Convinces Dad that Mom hasn’t given her a treat for going outside, and thus gets ‘double-treated’;

Gets under Mom’s feet while she’s making dinner and waits for anything that might ‘accidently’ get knocked off the counter when Mom is trying not to trip over TaiChi;

Bites the hand that feeds her (Dad has the scars to prove it);

Refuses to eat her own food, and then will eat all of Dad’s and Mom’s;

Suddenly, and without warning (but with complete malice of forethought) piddles on the floor;

Pretends she’s blind and walks over Mom and Dad and me, and into food/water dishes, and yet can find Dad’s dinner plate with No Problem;

Pretends she’s deaf until she hears the treat bag being opened (from two rooms away);

Has always decided when she wants to listen to you (which is pretty much only when Mom calls ‘Dinner Time’), and when she doesn’t (which is pretty much the rest of the time);

Stamps her feet, spins in circles, and whines under the dinner table until someone slips her a snack, thus inciting a riot among the rest of us;

Demands to be carried, despite the fact that (when she chooses) she will wander aimlessly around the house for hours on end;

And that’s just the short list. I could go on and on. And yes, I have A LOT to learn from this Criminal Mastermind. She is my hero; I want to be just like her when I am old and venerable!

So please go vote for Methuselah, erm, I mean, TaiChi as the Bad Sport dog!

A Shameless Plug for Mr. Bufus

In honor of the start of the Cat-Dog competition at MangoMinster I am re-posting the tribute to Mr. Bufus, as well as his original entry, so you can get to know more about him.

Thanks very much for all the kind notes about Mr. Bufus. I must honestly say that I was overwhelming by the outpouring of support, both here and on Facebook, both from friends and family as well as complete strangers (many of whom I hope will not be strangers for long; when I get a chance I’m going to come blog-visiting!). Thank you so very much. We received confirmation that Bufus did, indeed, have cancer of the stomach and intestine, and while it was not yet causing him pain, it was causing fluid build-up which made him bloated and was causing him discomfort. The reality is that the fluid build-up was a bit of a blessing in disguise, as Bufus didn’t have to suffer while the tumors grew to a size where they would be easily noticed. Ultimately, he led a long, full life replete with opportunities to harass a collective pack of dogs, while also having plenty of time to nap in the sunny places. Bufus’ entry in MangoMinster will stand, and I have faith that he will hold his own in the face of very tough competition!

As the Ruler of the Roost, everything was his, if he wanted it, including Fiona's chew toys. (BTW, Bufus didn't have any teeth.)

Or Dad's dessert....
He always found the best sunny spots

And traveled in the motorhome like a pro:

(When he wasn't throwing up in his Uncle Charlie's hat, which did happen on occasion... But that's what Charlie gets for not paying the proper respects!)

He was a fantastic Guard Cat

And, yes, he really did like taking showers.

Seriously.

Bufus was truly the King of the House.

Thanks again for all the words of support; Bufus really was A Great Cat (or, Man-Bear-Dog-Cat-Pig, if we are going to be technical about it) and he will never be forgotten.

Here is his original MM entry:

Name: Mr. Bufus

Gender: Male

Breed: Man-bear-dog-cat-pig (with apologies to South Park); the vet papers say that he is a Maine Coon, although I say he is a Very Large, Venerable Cat

Group: Cat Dogs

Blog Link: http://lizski.blogspot.com (that would be this bloggie).

Here is his picture:

I felt it would be helpful to include a brief statement with Mr. Bufus' picture.

Mr. Bufus is a rescued kitty who has risen to the lofty position of the head of Civil Defense for the Dranow household (the submitted picture shows him in his uniform). In this role, and over his 20 years of life, he has raised generations (note from Fi’s Mom: literally!) of puppies to be respectful of cats, despite having been declawed at an early age (he has a very wicked right cross; for a big lazy cat, he can be very quick when he wants to be!). Mr. Bufus is very much a Cat Dog, as many people has likened him to a dog (even his groomer has said "he’s a great dog" on more than one occasion). He also takes showers (seriously!) and will stand at the shower door when it is running and will meow to be let in. He doesn’t seem to care that he gets soaked. (Which might make him more of an alien than a Cat Dog, but that’s neither here nor there…) Mom and Dad say that he is a man-bear-dog-cat-pig, but I think that is because they watch too much South Park. Mr. Bufus travels Very Well in the House With Wheels, and likes throwing up in visitors’ hats (just ask my Uncle Charlie, who generously provided a hat for Mr. Bufus’ use). He also has the largest litter box on the market, and still manages to miss, which, I think, is a skill in and of itself.

So, now go to MangoMinster and vote early and often for Mr. Bufus!!!

*kissey face*
-Fiona, Official Ballot Box Stuffer