3 the kitten has been adopted, he's going to a loving family experienced with cats. Their 2 sons are twins ages 5 and have been asking for a black kitten for months now - when they found out 3 was looking for a new home they jumped at the chance.
New Daddy came to collect 3 yesterday in a brand new cat carrier, 3 came with a cat climbing tower, sleeping basket, multiple toys and kitten food and buscuits. New Daddy asked me how much he had to pay, but I asked for a donation for the local Cat's Protection League instead.
I had a little cry when he'd gone, but Bacon & Eggy seem to have forgotten him already, Eggy has just hit 6 months of age and has discovered his new little cat dingle, and is tearing around the house screaming for no reason and sitting on my lap asking for love every time I stay still for more than a minute - I have just put the phone down from making his appointment for neutering next Friday :)
Anyway, time to sign off now with the last photo of 3 that I took, just minutes before he was whisked away to his new home. Goodbye little man!
I had a call at the weekend from a friend who was in a bit of a pickle with his new kitten - his girlfriend was violently allergic! She started to take one anti histamine tablet a day to ease the symptoms, but after weeks of increased dose to 3 a day, it was clear this relationship was not going to last. The telephone call went something like this:
"Hi Nina, how are you?"
"Hi Demitri - err you have never called me before"
"Umm, yeah, listen, how do you fancy another cat?"
[at this point I paused for half a second, my heart leaped at the possibility of another cat, but my brain gave off warning signals that my partner would not entertain the idea]
"Err, Fred will go mad but I can't say no," - thinking on my feet, I continued "If no one else will take the little man I will look after him and find him a new home"
So that was that. Two days later, the kitten was delivered, apparently without a name. I thought about this for a few minutes and decided not to name him (despite the fact he looks like a 'Bandit' as his facial colourings looks like he is wearing a burglars mask over his eyes) however as he was a temporary cat, and the third in the house, I named him '3'.
I was confident that Eggy would be fine meeting a new kitten, after all he's only 6 months old himself, Bacon however, I predicted a lot of noise and bluff. And lots of running away. I was right on both counts. Eggy came in from outside through the catflap and literally ran straight into '3' on the stairs. '3' has a panic attack at this surprise and leapt straight upwards in shock, his tail fat with alarm, eyes huge with bewilderment. Eggy leaned forward to sniff the new smell of this creature, and the little fella promptly boxed him on the nose in terror. Eggy was a little surprised at this kind of welcome, but was so curious he tried again to get a better smell. Their noses touched. A brief scramble up and down the stairs and Eggy had a new shadow, his name was '3'.
For the next hour they chased each other around the house, behind sofas, up the backs of chairs, behind curtains, under tables, around chair legs and inside boxes. It's been a long time since I have seen cats actually play and not really wanting to assert authority on each other, just experiencing the joy of someone else who wants to do exactly the same thing - go crazy and have fun! It was very funny to watch this charade continue in every room of the house, from one to another then back again, upstairs in the bathroom and down the stairs, '3' in front with Eggy right behind and BAM! Straight into Bacon who had heard the noise and had come up the stairs to investigate.
Bacon did a kitten jump straight up in the air, which is funny to see as he is a big fat black cat who looks like the feline equivalent of a mean door bouncer at a rough nightclub. He was scaredy cat! He hissed and showed his teeth, '3' just sat and blinked at him. Not bothered. Bacon backed off and '3' ran past downstairs, leaving behind a fat cat with assorted question marks hovering over his head.
Eggy and '3' continued to play, unfortunately Bacon took refuge in a corner under some stored tables, which is where the kitten were playing earlier. The two playmates were headlong down the house, straight under the tables to find a quivering monster cat scared out of his mind. More hissing, more backing off, more giggling from me at the oversized pussy cowering in the corner at a small kitten who would fit in a half pint glass. I decided to open a tin of tuna to entice Bacon out, to no avail. Eggy and '3' ate silently, side by side without a problem.
After a munch and a first visit to the litter tray (who's a Good Boy) fighting resumed around the house, Eggy pretending to be a big cat bully but not quite pulling it off..
In the night there was several occurrences of bare toes getting scratched and bitten, usually this is Eggy but as the newcomer spent most of the night on top of the duvet he seems to have learned quickly that toes in duvets shout things like "Gerroff!" and "GetOutOfIt!"
This morning Bacon was slightly more accommodating, less afraid, less hissing, photos have been put on Facebook appealing for a new owner to come forward .. fingers crossed!
Eggy is nearly 5 months old and still only has one ball that has dropped, when we take him to the vets for his snip the question is going to be asked what to do with him. His heart murmor is still there but the nice vet lady said it's nothing to worry about. Eggy sleeps in his fluffy basket next to my side of the bed at night, but mysteriously appears above my head at the top of my pillow every morning when I wake up, he proper loves his mummy!
Bacon loves to pin him down and clamp his jaws around his throat - it's only play fighting and sometimes he does bite a bit hard and Eggy squeaks in a really high kitten voice and so I have to break them up.
Bacon takes Eggy outside now around the back of the house and even in Next Doors Front Garden near the Main Road, but it seems Eggy knows not to go near the Main Road (for now anyway). Bacon guards Eggy and follows his when he is outside like he's his personal bouncer, which is very funny to watch.
Bacon is still Bacon Fat and the diet thing isn't quite working out, I have taken all the dry biscuits away from the bedroom and bathroom, and now only feed the cats in the kitchen (now the stray black cat has gone and doesn't break into our house any more) but he doesn't seem to be losing weight. I need to buy a new pet bed as he's so outgrown the one I bought him last year, plus Eggy keeps trying to climb in with him. This never works out and always ends in a fight.
OK here's a photo of Eggy in his favourite - a paper bag .. and also a sweet video I found online of a kitten falling to sleep. Laterz!
Over the May Bank Holiday weekend both Bacon and Eggy started to sneeze, I washed bedding in case of mites, but that didn't help. Bacon then had conjunctivitus, which cost £29.50 from the V-E-T because they charge a £25 consultation fee and the cream was less than a fiver! Bit peeved about this, but what can you do. You can't buy online without a prescription!
Anyway, a week goes by, and Eggy starts with runny eyes and nose and sneezing gets worse for both cats, I took them both to the V-E-T yesterday and Bacon was running a temperature and was listless, just letting the vet poke and prod him, even the thermometer up the bum didn't make him flinch! The vetlady thinks he has cat chlamydia and not cat flu.
Then it was Eggys turn, and he was bouncing around the table and the vetlady had to hold him down at the back and I had to hold his front whilst he had thermometer up the bum - he didn't like that!
BIG NEWS: When the vetlady was listening to Eggys chest, she diagnosed a heart murmur! This is when there is a small hole in the heart and oxygenated blood mixes with deoxygenated blood and may cause tiredness when he gets older, however she said it was a very small murmur and as he's only 9 weeks old his body is still forming and he could grow out of it. She also said the vast majority of cats that do have a heart murmur never show any symptoms.
So, when Eggy graduates with honors from the University, I'm going to nominate him for a bravery award and wear my best hat..... (lol)
Anyway, I guess you are wanting some new kitten photos? OK, here we go. More kitty blog next month.
Well, what a week. As you know I was bought into the house to keep the old cat Sandwich company, but she hated sharing a house with any cat, not just me, so she was adopted by a new Ma n Pa just 5 doors down on the same street. I was forever asking her to play but all she did was box me and hiss.
Ma said she would get me a new playmate, but I didn't expect her to bring something pintsize and hyperactive into the house. And he's ginger.
When I first saw him, I did not know what to make of him. I think he was a cat, but mini sized. He smelled different, sounded different and certainly looked different. He didn't take any notice of me as he was busy playing with Ma's fingers, which I thought confusing... Hello .. here I am .. look at me and be afraid!! Be very afraid!! - But the new kitten ignored me and wasn't bothered.
...Then, he noticed me, and came up to me, How Dare You! I gave a little snort and a half hiss, Hey I Don't Know You! Be Afraid!
But he wasn't.
Kitten was named Eggy and he had the bathroom all to himself with lots of boxes, kitty food, kitty milk and water, ping pong balls, kitty towers, 2 fluffy blankets and beds and a kitty litter tray. The door was shut for the night, and I slept in Ma n Pa's bedroom, forgetting about the whole thing.
The next morning, Ma opened the bathroom door and I followed her in, what's that!? That pesky furrball again, bouncing around the room like a rubber missile. I backed away as he made a beeline for me, but I was curious. Looks like this pesky kid is going to stay.... Hey! Stop Chasing My Tail! Hissy!
When Ma came back from work that day, I was hanging around the bathroom door, I could hear mews and scrabbles, I was pleased when Ma opened the door, I wanted to know more .. hey! pesky kid is coming closer.. hey .. nose touch. I smell him, I smell him again, I back away, unsure, but I am curious. I lie down and watch. I watch for hours, staying in the same place as this bouncy ginger ball ricoched off the walls and boxes, chasing imaginary mice and running in circles. What a stupid tiny thing.
The next day I came in the catflap and hadn't seen Eggy all day, why are they hiding him in the room? Ma says it was for safety and also to allow him to get litter trained and get used to a new home. I shouted at Ma to see Eggy - she gave me food. No, Ma, I want to see that pesky kid. She gave me milk. No! I shouted louder - Not Milk! I want to see the Pesky Kid!
Finally, she understood, and led me upstairs to the bathroom and opened the door. This ginger rocket fired towards me, colliding with my legs and nose kissed me, There You Are, Still Here Kid? Eggy squeaked and bounced off, I followed, and lay down to watch.
That night, Eggy was allowed in Ma's bedroom, oh he loved that, new things and a big soft duvet to bounce on and chase toes, he was so excited he wouldn't sleep, mew mew mew mew, it was driving Ma n Pa crazy. Ma locked him in the bathroom, but he screamed to be let out "mew mew mewww mew mew MEW mew" Ma shouted for Pa to let him back out after a few minutes, but Eggy was running around at 100mph and would not settle, back in the bathroom to ear-splitting MEWMEWMEWs
Ma then had a lightbulb moment.
I was lying in bed, on top of the drawers, when I could take the sound no longer and jumped down. Ma asked me if I would babysit for the evening in return for tuna in the morning. I shrugged and thought "sure" and sauntered off into the bathroom, allowing Ma to shut the door behind us. Immediately pesky Eggy quitened down, I jumped on him and faked biting his neck. That shut him up. I padded him with my paws, and he ran to his bed. I lay down next to him, Ma smiled and went to bed. All is quiet.
The next morning, Eggy and I played for over 3 hours, nose bombing, playfighting, I flop on top of Eggy and clamp my jaws round his neck, Eggy squeaks, and I let go, then box him with no claws. This is fun! If only he would stop jumping on my tail and fake attacking me when I am lying down. I'm going outside for a bit whilst Eggy takes a nap.
Ma's been acting a bit funny lately - some may say no more than everyday - but she is buying kitten litter, and kitten milk and kitten food.
Well, now Sandwich has been adopted by a new loving mum and dad, I have been crying to go outside, even though there is still the big black bully cat wating to ambush me. I want to go out that much in the sunshine, that I was take all risks and have started to stand up for myself even though this big cat is almost twice my weight and size. He's not keeping me from enjoying the fine weather outside!
Ma keep saying how much I would like a new companion, and it's true, I have made friends with a lady cat down the road, and we sit on a fence next to each other and watch the world go by, there is also a nice small black cat that I like to sit with, I don't want to fight, only to defend myself, and these friends are great to spend time with in company, but when I go home I am alone.
When ma n pa go to work, they have to put me in 'LOCKDOWN' and lock me in the house by locking the catflap, otherwise that big black cat comes in and sprays on the furniture, steals my food and beats me up. Ma is especially unhappy as she has had to throw away furniture that he has sprayed on. So I am so pleased to go outside now it's not snowing and the sun is shining.
I also was allowed on to the roof last week for the first time. This was KITTENTASTIC! I was so high! All the seagulls were closer and I did a little machine-gun fire chatter at them, but I did not leap off the roof because Ma was always making sure I understood that it wasn't good to look at the top of the garage 10 feet away (altough Ma said that 2 years ago Sarnie jumped from the roof onto the garage and she was fine)
Ma hopes that I will take to the new kitten better than Sandwich did to me. Apparantly, it will be all over Facebook next weekend...................
Sarnie hates me so much, she is unhappy with my presence, which is sad as every day I chirrup and ask her to play, but she hisses and swears and throws boxing punches at me to keep away.
Ma spoke to a friend on the same street where we live, his wife is expecting a baby and they wanted a cat, not a kitten, who does not hurt humans. That is Sarnie all over, she loves humans but hates other cats.
Sarnie is on a 2 week free trial, if it doesn't work out, she is back home. Unfortunately on her first day in her new home she went exploring in the airing cupboard, and the silly mare got stuck down in the wall trying to find a hole to hide. By the time help arrived (Steve, the landlord from the pub) and shelves were taken out, and she was extracted a little unceremoniously, she was a quivering wreck, and hid under the sofa bed on the landing.
Now called "Sarnie HQ"
Sarnie HQ stayed that way all day, until Ma came round to pay a visit and called her to come out. She recognised Ma's voice and was shouting back, a packet of ham that Ma bought round did the trick and she came out.
Me coaxed her downstairs, where she used the litter tray, and ate a little. New Daddy Mark was very very very caring and did his best to scratch her ears and love her, but she was having none of it. As soon as Ma went home, Sarnie went back to HQ.
The next night, as Ma came back from work, she called in again. Sarnie was in HQ, but as soon as she heard Ma's voice, she came down - without ham! She snuggled Ma and let Daddy Mark scratch and love her, and she seemed a lot better.
Today, Daddy Mark reported that Sarnie was fine on the bed with loves, but as soon as New Daddy and Mommy went to sleep, she went back to HQ.
Daddy Mark hopes she is OK in 2 weeks time as that's when his children come to stay, they are not babies, young adults at the age of 11 or so, he doesn't want them to get attached and then Sarnie has to move back out.
Look at me. I now stretch out half the length of Ma's bed. I love the tummy tickles and I give nibbles back. I still love stealing gloves, and odd socks, and even bath mitts. Ma was looking for her Christmas present scrubby bath mitt the other day, she was so gutted when she found it in the corner of the bathrooom floor where I had hidden it. I had proper killed it was well, there was no fighting back.
There's been a Bigger Boy cat coming though the catflap for that last 10 nights, Sarnie screams at him and it's a bigger yowl when she shouts at me. She uses different and stronger cat swear words, words I've never heard a lady say before, not even to me. I saw a scratch across her face and nose, and Ma finally decided she had had enough.
As I'm still only 7 months old, I've never had a collar, let alone a heavy magnetic thing for the catflap hanging, Ma took to law into her own hands with the help of a plastic egg flipping spatula. On Friday night, Ma secretly altered the catflap so it would only allow cats in, and locked cats out. Scarface Monster Cougar Cat Male Mr Man came in and and ate all our biscuits, but when Sarnie challenged him there was a fight with very loud miaows and he ran to get out.
But he couldn't get out. This was at 5:30am. Ma must have been listening as she came downstairs in her pink fluffy housecoat and no slippers and locked me and Sarnie out of the kitchen - we couldn't see anything. All we saw was Ma take the little plastic egg spatula out of the dishwasher .
I am now 7 months old and not frightened of Sarnie, and still love toes, and socks, and like to give Ma the Warm Mouth and Warm Teeth and Bunny Kicks when she wears fluffy socks.I have recently discovered the delights of Empty Cardboard Boxes and Open Drawers By Accident which I like To Lie In Wait [just in case there are monsters]
Ma said that she still likes to rub my belly and that I look like a stretchy boomerang when I am dozing off on her bed.
Hello and I hope you had a lovely time bringing in the new year 2010, as you can see I'm totally relaxed about the whole thing, on new year's day I got lots of treats including grated cheese from pizza, fresh salmon and even tuna mixed in with my kitty food.
Ma caught me sitting square on the bathroom scales yesterday, just before she weighed herself and sobbed at the weight she had put on over Christmas. I must be the same as now I'm 10lb in weight, about 4kg, and still not letting Sarnie have any peace, even though we now sleep on Ma's bed at the same time, and feed next to each other, she still won't play!! She keeps swearing and hissing and boxing me and all I want to do is play chase. Not fair.
In all the shopping that was done at Christmas I found my new favourite - brown paper bags!! They are brilliant! I have a collection of 3 so far, a Bench bag a Primark bag and of course a potato sack!! I jump in and out for ages, this pleases Ma as that means she don;t have to play with me when she comes in from work. In goes a ping pong ball and that's me set for 20 minutes at least, bashing about in the bag and chasing shadows..
Happy new year to you all, lots of love and kitten bites..
