Max obviously just owes Sabrina money

... Tiger in the first panel is starting to remind me of a corporate boss coming to your house for dinner. I blame that tie.

Also, tomorrow's comic ~ Fox and Max will talk about at the party the story of how they braved the dungeon of Fluffy and rescued Grape from the clutches of the Mysterious stranger when she was just a kitten.

I think that's a scarf he's wearing.

I wish it were an ascot. I so want one of the characters to start wearing an ascot, just so I can liken them to Freddie from Scooby Doo.

A scarf that looks like a tie, then!

Oh, and I never noticed Zach's scarf looking the same way too. Bah, humbug again.

Silly Raccoons XD

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a dangerous thing.

Science time: raccoons aren't actually "washing" so much as inspecting and preparing their food. Water makes their fingers more sensitive, so they can examine the food with them, and they don't have the saliva to wetten the food when they eat it.

For a minute there, I thought there was a couch in the kitchen. That would be silly. But hiding infront of the couch? That means... Noone's watching TV?!?

Falstaff and Truck clearly haven't heard of Grape's reputation.

this is the way we ocd, ocd, ocd

As someone with OCD, I can relate.... I have done this many times.

Thanks for the science fact, Mr. Raccoon!

Truck you just don't learn very well do you?

See Falstaff, this is what happens when you get overly anxious for food. I should know i've had my fair share of skalded tongue and burnt fingers!

this hand of mine is burning red

its spicy grip tells me to grasp victory

All I could think was

"SPICY EYES! SPICY EYES!"

Quick! put your hands in water again to make them go away!

Poor Falstaff. He's giving Truck some bright ideas at the same time.

He might get caught red handed.

Fourth panel: compulsive washing of paws in nearest source of water, which would be that bucket.

Poor Falstaff, your hands will remember this forever. Too bad truck will not.

Spicy Paws sounds like the name of a nice restaurant for pets if you ask me.

Well it looks like everyone is happy! Even the Coons get their fair share of Crawfish. The only one there that is left hungry is Zach because apparently someone forgot to tell him what kind of party he was invited to. Whats a little rabbit gotta do for a salad, huh?

This one is just awesome. A very fitting birthday present!

Heh had a feeling this would be what happened.

And then Max takes off his collar and eats with the raccoons. =3

And somehow Peanut pops up and asks what's going on here... again... with no collar on.

What I liked about today's comic in particular is that it seems like the Raccoons and possibly the cats might start to get to know one another more just from this moment. Would also be funny If they wern't talking about Grape, but Max... but come on, this has to be Grape they are talking about!

Judging by the alt text, I'd say it's a pretty safe bet that they're referring to Grape. :P

Also, I appreciate Truck's utmost desire to keep things as hygienic as possible. Now I kinda want to hear him say, "Are you suuure this water's saaanitary? It looks questionable to meeeee."

We must never be fooled again!

Also, Max better make sure becoming more feral doesn't grow him extra teeth. I think it's turning him into a vampire in this comic.

Falstaff sure has a good memory does he?

Also call me crazy, but why do I have a feeling this reputation thing Max is talking about will cause problems in later arcs?

The only concern I have at the moment is how Grape looked concerned in the first panel as regards to Max's pouting. The thirst for reputation and popularity is one of those things i figure that will be scaled on him in the future if he keeps it up, but I just hope it doesn't hurt his reputation with Grape.

...right now, the only immediate worry is Bino. Wait until he tries to chase the coons away...

If they try touching Mega Ball =P

Bino I'm more than likely betting will make fun of the cats since they invited Raccoons to the party. Only for the Raccoons to pull something on him in return. Hah.

Well, I finally caught up with the series after my vacations and I have to say I have a strange feeling about this arc. I don't know why, but it's feels like there's something different playing in the comic, or maybe it's just me for being away so long. However, I'm not saying it's bad, just feels a little weird for an inexplicable reason.
At least still as funny as ever! XD. I don't even know how this thing is going to end up. The raccons have a total success to be invited in the party, now we have to know if this is going to be good or bad to Max's plans and his reputation.

Something is different. Rick underwent a style change and also cut down on the branching, complicated set of story lines. "Housepets! 3.0" is what he calls it.

Those raccoons finally caught a break. The Opener of Ways Took them by the hand and gave them the Crawfish they so desired! I think this will be going into the Bible being written on him.

Are we on 3.0 story line wise? I thought there was going to be an announcement of a jumping on point and a recap before that happened. Because I remember Rick mentioning doing a new jumping on point and a longer recap (detailing some minor retcons as well IIRC) as we started 3.0 story wise.

I think the 2012 Christmas strip was the jumping on point Rick was talking about. Although i'm really not all that sure? I believe that the style change and the Housepets 3.0 are distinct instances however. It seems as though Rick is preparing to (for lack of a better word) Jumpstart the comic by updating the blog page and making other changes to various elements of the comic such as Peanut's Spot comic.
If anyone knows what "exactly" is going on please, feel free to enlighten us!

I have the same thought about this too.

And about the change that I feel, I think it doesn't have to be with the plot, maybe it's just the way the arc storyline is developing or could be the reason that there's two new characters starring an arc (when I said "new" I mean that they never were protagonists before, and until now we just barely know them).

P.S.: This two adorable raccoons remind me a lot to Pinky and Brain, don't ya think?

Well Bino is going to be very angry and likely upset too but mostly angry.

I disagree, I think he'll be more upset. I picture him on his knees, crying and mourning the loss of his Mega-Ball.

When is Bino not disgruntled about something? I picture Bino pestering Max for the foreseeable future until something else catches his attention. I hope Rick can use this incident as a small joke later on.

Poor Bino, even when he deserves it, he should get his way liddle more often, lol. Anyways, I'm happy the raccoons didn't leave with empty paws, x3

It looks like some cat is gonna get a mega-punch.