Pet of the Week: Blue and Splinter Find a Home in Pennsylvania
Years of remodeling mean lots of exploration for these two cats
Blue and Splinter, two very curious cats, love that their owners are remodeling their home. This means new rooms to explore and lots of action every day.
His favorite spot: After a day of following the Larsons around while they work on their home, Blue curls up with his favorite fossils, found on the Larsons’ property.
In this south-facing window, he can stretch out and soak up the sun.
See more cats enjoying their favorite sunny spots
In this south-facing window, he can stretch out and soak up the sun.
See more cats enjoying their favorite sunny spots
Outdoor cat at heart: Splinter’s name comes from the fact that she was originally found in a wood pile. And it seems she has yet to lose her love of the outdoors. She’s mostly an indoor cat, but she enjoys spending time on the porch and standing in front of the window watching bunnies, chipmunks and birds scurry around.
Her favorite spot: Splinter enjoys giant sheets of kraft paper that arrive with packages. She also loves it when the whole family spends time together on the second-floor side porch.
Designer pet: Splinter often creates little round beds to nap in, and the Larsons have dubbed her “the designer cat.” Nancy says she carves out a circular spot any time she lies down on a blanket or a towel.
Designer pet: Splinter often creates little round beds to nap in, and the Larsons have dubbed her “the designer cat.” Nancy says she carves out a circular spot any time she lies down on a blanket or a towel.
Building buddy: When the Larsons worked on the kitchen, Splinter hopped up inside the cabinets to get a closer look at their progress. “We think they like the building and work going on,” Nancy says. “They like their environment to be dynamic.”
Each time a room gets torn apart and put back together, it creates opportunities for the cats to explore. They make tracks through little piles of sawdust. They pounce on a tarp that covers the floor. And, of course, they must examine an old chair in its new spot.
“On a daily basis and at work, they are endlessly entertaining,” Nancy says.
Read more about pets at home
Each time a room gets torn apart and put back together, it creates opportunities for the cats to explore. They make tracks through little piles of sawdust. They pounce on a tarp that covers the floor. And, of course, they must examine an old chair in its new spot.
“On a daily basis and at work, they are endlessly entertaining,” Nancy says.
Read more about pets at home
Pets at a Glance
Pets: Blue, a Siamese cat, and Splinter, a mixed-breed Siamese
Ages: 6 and 5½, respectively
Location: North East, Pennsylvania
Owners: Karl and Nancy Larson; he’s a retired General Electric technical leader, she’s a retired architect
New home for people and pets: In 2005, Karl and Nancy Larson purchased a lot and started building a new home. The home’s shell was finished in 2009, and the couple moved in to do the rest of the work themselves. They’re still working on their home and plan to finish it this spring. During the early years of the home improvement process, the retired couple decided they needed some company around the house. First they adopted Blue, and about a month later they adopted another cat, Splinter, from an animal shelter.
Cat spaces: The Larsons decided not to create any spaces specifically for the cats while building their home. Instead, they added beds that can be moved around to keep things interesting and fresh for the cats.