Just Chillin' and Domestic Chores

I am sure you if you have read any of this blog you will have worked out that I am somone who goes to great lengths to look after and care about their cats. So when the other human shouted through to say "did you put the cat in the freezer...?" a week or so ago I was concerned. Quite apart from the ridiculous nature of the question I felt I had to go through and check what was going on as I had been defrosting the freezer. There I found Magic happily ensconced on a warm towel inside the open freezer and toasting herself on the little fan heater which I was using to speed up the process. Who said cats are daft?

Magic has never been interested in open domestic applicances normally but Red is fascinated. Therefore since he came we always ensure the washing machine, dishwasher, cupboards etc are shut to ensure he doesnt crawl in or come to harm. Yet, even though in both of the pictures above I was standing beside him doing the housework he still managed to wrap himself in a toilet roll packet and sneak in the dishwasher just as I was emptying it. You can still see the dinner knife in the cutlery holder and the plate above as I hadn't even finished.

Never mind him using up his nine lives he is frightening me out of mine....

Changing Faces

As I am rifling through all my pictures of Red and Magic over the last few months it is clear how much the little one has changed. Magic stays the same but Red's little features have become more adult as the time has gone on from little scaredy curious kitten to a cat. So I thought I'd show some comparison shots of him changing and a couple of Magic as she deserves to be displayed beside him too. The picture with both of them is a bit of a con as neither can see each other over the folded over duvet. This means Red can get close to Magic but Magic does not have to see him- ideal!

One shot I havent got yet is of him under my study chair at the desk he is sitting at in the last shots. Because of his colouring when he peeps out he looks for all the world like a little barn owl. I'll work on getting this for the blog.

Christmas Presents

I admit it I am one of those soppy owners who buy their animals christmas presents. I excuse it as just coincidence as they were obviously needing the item/s in question and they just happen to be in the shops, but I think that is stretching the truth.

Magic is a dead loss to buy for. She likes her radiator seat and paper carrier bag handles and that is it. Here favourite thing is just to chill out or cuddle upThis is not much fun for a willling owner but she is so lovely and comforting to be with.

Red on the other hand loves toy mice, bag handles, bouncey toys, crinkly toys...you name it he likes it. He even loves the washing airer despite many stern tellings off adn fall from it. Anyway, with this in mind I bought him a snakey game where a ball rolls around a tube with holes in it. You can see it peeping out from under his crinkle tunnel in piccie two and in the end picture although it is a little fuzzy. And OMG (how teenage is that!) he loves it. Even now 6months on he will play with it for ages. He can hear it from any room in the house even if you accidentally kick it he comes racing in to see who is playingwith his best toy. The other human in the house often play with it with him and I dont know who is the maddest as they both try to out do each other!!! Exasperatedly, I often say "Dear goodness human, you know how this game works...you will not get the ball out...!" but I am told to shut up as they are both having fun. Well, that's me told!

Magic got a cat spa from the same company and neither of them like it. You can see it in the fuzzy picture. It has been nothing but an obstruction on the floor. I am going to donate it to the local cat and dog home for their play area that they let the cats into as hopefully somone will find a use for it.

They also got a drinking water fountain. I havent used it much as I hate having to take it apart to clean it out and I need to switch it off at night as the burbling bothers me. This is a little ironic as I've bought relaxation cds in the past that made exactly the same noise! Anyway within a few hrs Red had got the point and used it but Magic still looks at it like the work of the devil. I'll unearth it and try it again over the summer as the fresh, filtered water might be more to their taste in the hot weather.

Christmas Catch-Up

I know it is very late to do a Christmas catch up but better late than never. I havent even managed to see one of my oldest friends as Christmas was so busy we put our meeting off till the new year and still havent managed to see each other.

Red's first Christmas was a hoot. We delayed putting up the Christmas tree as he was very intent on exploring at that age and reluctant to give up on any kind of challenge. So we reckoned, rightly as it turned out, that the tree would be a victim. There were many instances of the tree wobbling and looking like it was having a seizure as he shinned up it. All attempts to drag him out or teach him not to do it were pointless. So we got used to the tree doing the salsa as we watched tv. For extra fun the shiny baubles became fab footballs to be dribbled up and down the house and the tinsel was some kind of festive monster needing killed. The pictures seem to tell it all.

Back again with the 'Tail' of the Cat

I cannot believe it has been so long since I last blogged. So much of my little furball's life has happened in a cacophony of everyday life beating at the walls and the humans. Suffice to say we have survived and so has little Red, who is getting decidedly not so little.

As I write he is here by my side playing with a bag handle. He is a joy to play with as his enormous tiger paws are velvet soft and he is always so gentle. You can lift up his paw and play with it and he never scratches or used his claws. Sometimes, if he is caught up in the game, he will take a little gentle bite but a soft "no bitey" warning does it and he immidiately begins apologetic licking.

So what has changed in all these months. Well, he hasnt got as enormous as we anticipated but he is certainly getting very tall and long limbed. So if he fills in his light little frame then he is on target to become a fairly substantial boy. His tail on the other hand seems to belong to another breed of cat, it is long, lustrous and about the same size as his torso. it is soft and silky with the exception of the end which is like the softest cotton wool ball you could imagine. This has earned him a new nickname of the 'Cottonwool Kid'. He still eats like a horace and tries to eat all of Magic's food to save his own for later as she never touches his bowl. He has also learned to come into the bedroom when I get dressed as this means he gets a share of Magic's sweet treat before I leave the house.

In terms of losses, his cutie tootie baby face has now gone to be replaced by a little grown up boy's face. I was really sad when I realised this as he was a truly adorable kitten. As an adult he will be no less special but I do miss the little face.

The other losses were his little 'ginger nuts' when he was 8months old. He will always be a house cat and we had no intention of breeding from him so it was planned he would be neutered. We were also wary of him becoming an adult cat and attempting to 'exercise his urges' on Magic as there was a fair to middling chance she'd rip them off without anaesthetic. As it was, we had to be away for various commitments and the cattery wouldn't take him as an unneutered adult so the time was upon us before we knew it.

He was a star at the vet's and charmed them all. Our vet is a very good one but it is unfortunately the most expensive in the area. At Red's pre-op booking they asked me if I wanted him fed post-op. I was a little surprised as normally making sure an animal, and a human, are ok post-op involves them resuming normal diet and fluids. Aside from this he had been starved for 14hrs and I wasnt coming back until after work. Of course I wanted him fed!!! I was then told in sombre tones it would cost 68p for his food...! I wanted to say that at home he eats his way through far more than that...but instead I said of course I want him fed as he will be hungry and it would be unfair to leave him.

When I came back for him he was terribly sheepish looking but delighted to see me which was nice. He is such an independent little soul that it is hard to know how connected he is sometimes as he seems entirely happy to toddle off and play by himself, or wind Magic up for entertainment. As the vet nurse was giving me all the post-op instructions she told me they had given him a couple of teaspoons of plain chicken and rice food which he seemed to have 'enjoyed'. She also said this should continue every few hours until tomorrow when he could resume a light normal diet. As I headed home, babbling sweet words to him till he fell asleep on the short journey, I thought I'd probably have to go out to either get him special food or buy chicken for our dinner to share. However, that was solved when I went home as he rocketed into Magic's room and cleared her food dish. So normal diet was well and truly resumed and his recovery went without incident. Some things never change.

Little cats are made of...?

Little cats are obviously made of fleecy, fur fabric of the kind used to make teddy bears!

This is a rather fuzzy shot but it shows off his tummy and curly chest wig very well. His paws are spread out as he was making to grab the camera as I tried to take the shot hence the blurry image.

beauty sleep

After all the fun and high jinks a kitten needs to make sure enough time is allocated to beauty sleep. Red takes this rule very seriously and when tired simply stops, sits down then keels over, sometimes with hilarious results as his head lolls about. These shots show him at his cutest when sleeping especially the middle one.

Tufty Club

The name of this post is a dreadful giveaway to my age. At school we had the Tufty Club to teach road safety, which officially identifies me as a fossil.

Anyway, all this is a digression, as Red looks like he will be a semi-longhaired cat I reckoned it was a good idea to begin introducing him to a comb and brush to get him used to being groomed. Right now his coat is just soft, angora-feeling fluff barely covering his fragile little bones and body but with time it will probably toughen up and need more care.

It is early days and not hugely successful as he generally chews the comb/brush or just wants to play which is no surprise. However, at the weekend both cat and comb were to hand and, as he was sleepy, I thought I'd very gently comb him to make the association with a soothing ritual. But then my wicked side took over and I very gently 'styled' his coat...! He really isn't impressed with his new Tufty look is he?

Legs Eleven

Red is growing, but not in any discernable order or pattern.These photos were taken at the weekend and show the length of his legs. Obviously the angle of the camera emphasises things but seriously the back legs have developed a life of their own.

Basket Case

This is the wreckage of our towel basket in the bathroom. The main damage was caused by Magic who loves scratching the basket. However, Red not to be outdone, reckons Magic is right on the money with this scratch post/ chew toy/ hidey hole.

My name is Red and I am a food-aholic

Yes Red still eats like a horse, no change there. However he is finally begining to answer to his name. He doesnt always do it though. Probably because if there is a juicy toy mouse to be murdered or a hidden creature in the play tunnel or under the sofa then he has a more important job to do. However, we are making headway with 'Red' and 'dinner'.

IKEA rocks and memories of little velcro

At my Christmas night out we were all catching up on what had been happening in our lives, and there was loads to catch up on. One subject was that a few of us had new comings and goings in terms of pets. There was a flurry of cameraphone activity as the beloved beasts were all shared and admired.

One very sad event was the loss of a little Cavalier King Charles. She was an absolute honey who had died following a short illness and is very sorely missed by her family. She is also sadly missed by those of us who had also known her. I was reminded by my friend that I had also once christened her dog 'velcro' after an evening at her house where the little dog spent the entire night glued the length of my thigh as I was sitting on 'her' seat on the sofa. I'd entirely forgotten about this but it was lovely memory to share.

Another friend recommended the pet tunnel from IKEA as her cat adores it and it folds flat when not in use. I made a trip to the store on Sat as I also needed some gauzy curtains to replace the ripped ones (the less said about that the better!) until the blinds man can come and sort them out in the new year. The play tunnel is a nylon and wire structure which has two crinkly sections and a hole in the middle to dangle a toy through. I also bought a jingly snake on a stick and 'three blind mice' from the supermarket.

Well, Magic had a good play of all the toys then, after her quality control role, went to sleep alternately in her radiator hammock or under the radiator in the hall. Red on the other hand, spent almost the entire afternoon and evening playing with all the toys rolling in and out and through the tunnel. He energy was inexhaustable. Magic eventually came back and, as it looked like Red was having a ball, she took up squatter's rights which lead to some big frights and some mad chasing. So, well done to my friend for the recommendation - the IKEA play tunnel does indeed rock!

The bluetack years

Something I'd forgotten from the early days of Magic's life with us. She was fascinated by things going over an edge, almost pathologically so, and though it rarely happens now she still occasionally indulges her passion. She very, very delicately and ever so gently advances the item millimetre by millimetre towards the precipice until inevitability and gravity take over and it lands with a crash.

This was the undoing of the three little halloween ghosts candle holder. They were referred to as the WhooHoo ghosts and were very cute. They had been bought at a candle party at a friend's house and were brought out each year. Now there are only two WhooHoo's behind the little candle holders. They were found one Saturday morning broken on the floor of the living room with no one around. After we'd discounted a localised earthquake centred on one corner of the tv unit Magic was in the frame. As there were only two left and the third was a mass of smashed porcelain we checked Magic had not sustained any cuts or injury and could find nothing. So the mess was cleared and the lost ghost lamented.

This was also the day the decision was taken to remove all moveable items and ornaments within her reach or to bluetack it. The clock was bluetacked to the tv, a couple of ornaments were bluetacked to some surfaces to take the empty look off the place, the tv zapper was bluetacked to the shelf at night so that it could be found the next day etc. We went through quite a lot of bluetack obviously!

This week as I watched Red run round the tv and poke his paw underneath it and begin to help some small items over the edge I recalled with dread and trepidation the first two years of Magic's life. The spectre of the WhooHoo ghost waved past my eyes waggling a pack of bluetack in it's hand and laughing heartily.....

Ah, Meeester Bond....

Last night the other human in the house came through to talk to me while carrying Red under their arm. I wondered why they were carrying him when he had been happily playing. The answer was that the other human didn't want to leave him near a loaded plate as the temptation would be all too much for him. Therefore the sensible precaution was never to leave him in the same room as any food. So thats why you look like the baddie in a Bond movie constantly stroking the cat.....

Sleeping Beauty

Red has been a little horror today. He has terrorised Magic and chased her from one end of the house to another and then sat staring her out. He is now getting bigger and she is so gentle with him. She obviously knows he is a kitten, but I am begining to wish she'd either give him a warning nip he might take heed of or just sit on him! Instead she climbs as high as possible and hides in a cupboard or on top of the wardrobe. This is fine for her but only likely to prove a tempting challenge to Red as his little legs grow.

His worst crime against Magic today was to slap her face or bottom as she tried to use her litter box. Her box has a hood and he sits on top of it when she goes in, leads over the edge and pokes and slaps her. The poor beast isn't getting peace to pee now let alone anything else. In fact at night when we head off to bed she looks at me as if to say "Thank Goodness that thing is in the other room. Finally I can just stretch out and relax".

He has also sorely tested the patience of the humans and is back to thinking his name is "Red! DOWN!". He has clambered over, under, into and through places no-one would have thought possible, he has shinned up the cheese plant behind the tv numerous times, he has attacked the ruined curtains again and tried to get in the washing machine AND the dishwasher. He is also a dab hand at clearing the bedside table in the room he sleeps in.

All in all, he has been looking like a candidate for rehoming today. Then tonight he got tired (halleluia) and the little face above made our heart melt - at least until tomorrow when the furry tornado gets his second wind!

PS: yes, those paws are as big as they look. I measured from his wrist to paw tip and it is exactly the length of my index finger. To put this into context, this is the same length as Magic's paws yet he is only 3months versus her at 6yrs old.