The Collective Fear Of The Hoover.

 Cat and dog unite!

It isn't often that I haul out our hoover but when I do there tends to be pandemonium in our house. Firstly, I take the two carpet runners outside in order to give them a good shake-out. This action alone, no, actually my picking up the edge of a carpet, makes Mausi bolt for dear life. She knows what action follows the lifting of carpets!

Maxi is still slow to the carpet signal mainly because he can't see too well. A bolting cat should give him a clue! Once the hoover is hovering above the floors, and often with a loud fanfare, even Maxi tries to gauge the safest way to escape the cleaning monster.

How come they are both so afraid of this hoover? Mausi has even learnt to define my actions and when they are over. She knows that I have to un-or rather re-plug between the lounge and the kitchen thus correctly interpreting the silence between the two stages as only a short break. The evil machine is still to be used in other rooms! About a minute after I have switched it off a second time she comes hither from where she was hiding, safe in the knowledge that this bit of torture is over. 

Maxi tends to wait it out a bit longer. This is one of the only times where he goes through to our bedroom and safety. As if I would ever try and hoover either of them up. Even a loud noise from the tv won't budge them from their perspective beds as much as the fetching of the hoover. Should Mausi see me looking behind the bedroom door ( a perfectly good storing space ) she bolts. Clever little Miss.

Perhaps the answer is to get a cordless hoover as they don't make such a noise and no cable is being dragged over various floors. Or, of course the ultimate comfort for the little darlings would be the return of using a broom. Before the invention of hoovers, floors have been dusted and cleaned the old fashioned way, with a dustpan & broom. Truth be told, at times I think that this method is far more successful than the old hoover and quicker too.

Biggi

The Brave And Wonderful Adventures Of Parsley Our Feral Cat.

 A brave little soul.

Parsley, who has only recently become aware that we are his people and that getting cuddled by us is the best thing since sliced mice, is getting more and more adventurous. Most days he strolls with Maxi and I on our walks but only for about a hundred meters or so.

Well, this morning he again followed us with his peculiar gait and guttural voice. He doesn't meouw but more hums out of his throat with the pleasure of being included. Maxi knows his sound and enjoys his company. So much for fighting like cat & dog!

So this morning, a morning where we ( or rather I ) decided to walk the pond route ( about 1,5 kilometres ) the faithful Parsley was right alongside us at the start. The turn we took was new to him but he hopped along behind us until he realized that we were heading into unknown territory and I could almost read the indecision in his little face. Should he turn around or follow us?

Brave as a lion he decided to follow us but made sure to mark his path along the way. Maxi and I have quite a pace and every few meters I stopped and turned to call him. Gosh, he loved that and galloped to close the gap to us. A quick cuddle and on we went. The whole way around the pond, skirting forests and fields and the unknown, which must have been quite scary for Parsley. Yet, follow us he did.

The whole way he focused on us and didn't waver or get drawn into the attraction of a new bit of forest. The mice were diving under rustling leaves but he kept on the straight and narrow, always a few feet behind us. Eventually we got back to our house and once he noticed the familiar driveway he sprinted up it, straight to his food bowl. Yes, he was hungry after such a long and brisk walk.

Needless to say that after a hearty breakfast he passed out on the grass, recuperating in the sunshine and catching many ZZZZs.  Such a darling, such an adventurer and such a brave little one...

This is a photo from January, as I didn't have my camera with this morning. Parsley, slinking along with the gait of a bouncer! He is a big cat that can fight tooth and nail with the other tomcat but has a heart of gold...

Biggi

Hoovering, At Pets' Displeasure.

A united front.

Isn't it funny how one little move sets them off? For Mausi it is the point when I lift the carpet runners off the floor in preparation for a hoover. From the deepest of sleeps she awakens and dashes to safety from the big bad hoover wielded by her mum.

Since the boy has moved in it transpires that he too, is far from fond of it. How does he know? Well he can hear it but see it he can't. The moment I push the on button his little head lifts up and within moments he does a dash to another room. Anywhere but here! Too funny.

The irony is that I don't like the hoover either. Not because of it looking and sounding nefarious but more mundanely due to it translating to a bit of housework. Hoovering followed by mopping the floor. Of course once the two of them are aware that the hoover has gone back to its hiding place ( behind the bedroom door ) they get very excited by the cloth being pushed forward and backward on the floor. A new game?

Maxi only has one functioning eye and at times, especially during the hoover-affair, it tends to turn into a beady eye watching my every move. Gosh at times I wonder if I should even go close to him...but no, he is as good as gold, only a bit afraid of the machine.

So, in order not to upset our animals too much I tend to limit my hoover excursion to a minimum! Oh, what parental sacrifices one does...

Biggi 

My Feline Bodyguard.

An early morning excursion.

Maxi and I headed out before sunup but thankfully the lingering halo of the full moon cast enough light to walk comfortably down the darkened neighbourhood. Just in case I had a torch with me.

Maxi was doing the usual hovering in the beginning and that is why I heard the soft voiced arrival of Parsley, our domesticated feral lodger. A mix between a meow and a throaty moan. He who is bigger than Maxi and he who has a heart of gold. Enough time for a quick cuddle before Maxi ran along. Normally Parsley accompanies us for a few meters before heading back to our front steps but this morning he toddled along.

Each time Maxi stopped to either lift a leg, stare at the sky or whiff at the calling cards of his rivals, I looked back and there the cat was not far behind. Sort of slinking along until he saw me look back at him. Gosh, then he upped his peculiar meow along a quick sprinted  gallop towards us. Too cute.

Maxi seems to also have gotten used to having a cat along for our walk. At times he stops, turns his head sideways ( the good eye side ) to look for Parsley and once he hops along bumping gently into him, he carries on. Comforted.

Today was the first time this lovely cat followed us almost all the way to the main road. I got worried in case it would get lost or even worse, head into an oncoming car. No, that wouldn't do. Maxi and I changed our route and turned around walking Parsley safely home.

Along the way Maxi suddenly barked madly at a tree and only when I shushed him enough and wanted to carry on the walk did I see another cat hiding under the low hanging branches of a fir tree. All I saw were big eyes and a small white face. Gosh, Maxi despite being half blind has his instincts honed to perfection.

There is something so special being witness to the unfolding character of a pet. To some a cat is a tool to keep the yard rodent free and to others it is an affirmation that all beings have intellect, feelings and a unique personality.  Seeing the various personalities of all of our pets makes me so glad that I don't eat animal products anymore. Just as Parsley, Maus and Maxi are unique, clever, cheeky, loving, funny and adoring, so too are pigs, cows and chickens!

Biggi

My Picky Feline Children.

 Such different characters but all alike!

Our feline princess, a.k.a. Miss Mausi, is known to be a fussy eater. Picky to the extreme and responsible for making me dread her dinner and breakfast time. Will she or won't she? Over the years I have learnt that she goes through cycles therefore I can never bulk buy ahead as Murphy's Law she'll dislike a hitherto favourite food.

The duo outside, the grey Madam, Fluffy, and the formerly shapely Parsely are gearing up to follow in Mausi's footsteps. Parsley is still living each day trying to shadow me and in the process has become rather hefty. When he first become tame and friendly he was a solid yet streamlined tomcat, one that was extremely popular among the feline neighbourhood. Well, not so much anymore and I am partly to blame for it. Feeding him too much!

At first the two outside were more than happy and keen on the cheap dry cat food. Ample but obviously not the caviar type. During the last few months so, I have started to give Mausi's uneaten lot to the cats outside and thus I think they have acquired a caviar taste!

The other day they left their portion of dry food awaiting for better vittles. Yikes, once a while ago when I had run out on their food I had to resort doling out Mausi's lot and I suppose that did it. Once one tastes the good life, there is no going back. Even nature's food is left running freely past their noses. Mice are of no interest to them lately. I only have myself  to blame...

I can hear you mumble about being more consequent and leaving uneaten food until eaten, but with cats that is impossible. They will rather starve than eat something they don't care for. It also doesn't help that  they are so darn cute. Every time I step outside the front door or come home through the gate, the two cats outside run up to me, lean into me and look up at me with their cute little faces...

Miss Fluffy, wise beyond words....

Parsley not leaving my side and to think that only last year he was so feral that neither Bob nor I could get within two meters of him!

Biggi

The Nocturnal Shenanigans Of Our Feline Child.

 Miss Mausi tops herself.

Usually she strikes at the same time. A time when I have finally immersed myself in the adventures of a dream, climbing mountains, visiting places or floating through space...until she decides to pull me back to her reality.

When we do fall asleep, a certain routine has been established. First she cuddles for a few minutes with Bob and once he turns over to sleep she jumps ship and settles on my stomach. Every time, without fail. The last thing I am aware of is her warm little body breathing in unison with mine...until she decides to have some fun.

She must have found a more exciting adventure chasing a mouse or fly or ant because suddenly I get made aware that she is no longer next to me. Last night she filed her claws acoustically on our door frame before jumping gaily back on to the bed and me. Ouch, she ain't a lightweight no more! Stupidly I opened my eyes to see and that was that. The clever minx can see in the dark and without a moment's hesitation she came up to my nose.

The purring, as cute as it sometimes is, was annoying and very loud at that time of the night. Shooshing her doesn't work and in any case, she had a different agenda. First she stretched out her front paw to try and pull back my duvet. She deemed it cold enough to come underneath it but even that little manoever takes several tries until she decides where and how to settle down.

Resistance is futile. If she wants something, she gets it. By the time she finally crawled under my blanket I could feel Bob almost surfacing from his dreams. But, gloating over her win Mausi started to  purr loudly under the blanket coupled with sharpening her claws on the bed sheet! No, what a rascal.

So, nothing for it but to get up and migrate to the lounge. A move she had in mind all along because before my feet even hit the floor she was already running through to the lounge, jumping on the window sill waiting for me to settle in. I can hear a few of you ( those without cats ) tell me to just ignore the gal or shut her out of the bedroom. Yes, not a bad idea until you hear the miserable meowing outside the door coupled with energetic door scratching.

Is she spoilt? Of course, immensely so but then again, she is our little darling and part of our family and we all know that family isn't always perfect! Love this little feline madam...

Biggi

This Spurt Of Warm Weather Is Lulling Us Into A Modest Winter.

Could the coldest part of winter be over?

Granted, it is still a bit on the chilly side but once the sun gets high enough to work its magic while moving the barometer up to a lovely 15 degrees, one might be forgiven to think about spring.

Bob and I finished stringing the rest of the wires this morning and I couldn't help but notice the apricot tree's branches sporting buds. Buds that usually appear around spring time. When I mentioned rather euphorically that I believe the end of winter is nigh, Bob burst out laughing and counted out the rest of the three months of cold left over. Spoil sport although he could be right. Tomorrow a cold front seems to be on the radar.

I tend to count winter time by how many bags of pellets we use to keep our house nice and cozy during these colder months. On Friday we have to go to Lagerhaus to purchase our second pallet of pellets. Had to wait until almost the last packet is used because otherwise we don't have the space to store the bags. Finicky lot they are; can't let any moisture get to them and the contents because a swollen wood pellet would clog up the delicate firing device in our oven. Ah well, another three months and this winter is behind us.

Early on while we were in the vineyards we spotted or rather heard a couple of older men walking up the hill. I think they walk together a few times a week and it was great to hear them chatting the whole way. So, it isn't just us women who chat for the fun of it!  I have a notion that both these men grew up in the village and have been friends for ever thus having endless topics for conversations on hand. Everything from schooldays, via wives to grandchildren. Nice.

Our outside rascals, a.k.a. Parsley, Grey and Trouble are enjoying winter as well. Can't help but enjoy it when we feed them delightful morsels being well aware that catching mice is that much harder at the moment. It feels as though Parsley has put on a few pounds and has lost his sleek physique...

The life of a well fed cat! Isn't he gorgeous? Parsley follows me everywhere and even comes along when I walk Maxi. Who would have guessed that this feral who wouldn't let us touch him six months ago, is now glued to our side and house?

Biggi

 

The Selective Tastes Of Our House Cat.

 Mausi perfects her fussiness.

There are times when every meal provided gets eaten. Blessed times, marvelous times which sadly don't feature too often.

This last week she has driven me crazy. Each and every can of wet food I have opened for her, she has deigned beneath her. One sniff and that was that. With forethought I have made sure that the dry food she can eat throughout the day is of the highest nutritional quality because that is what is sustaining her at the moment.

Look, she isn't overly thin but I do worry about her. Jealousy must play a part as at the moment Maxi gets a lot of attention. Gosh, he loves his food. Mornings and evenings I have lately had to give away her unwanted vittles to the rascals outside. They of course think that it is Christmas, twice a day all week long and what is more worrying is the fact that one of the outside rascals has started to turn her nose up at dry food. What to do? I can't really throw Mausi's food away because that is wasting and let's be honest, there are starving cats somewhere.

I tell her all the time but it falls on deaf ears. Who doesn't remember being young and having to hear our mothers' telling us about the starving children in Africa who would love to eat spinach, broccoli and liver. Honestly, I can't remember whether mum's trick worked or not...

Lately I have even gone so far as to speculate that perhaps the pet food companies have changed ingredients in their formulations. Could be that nefarious products have been used and let's be honest...none of us would be any wiser because let's face it, cat food isn't something we can judge or like to eat.

Biggi

Coming Home After A Three Hour Stint In Oberwart.

 A welcoming committee of note.

  Just like Bob and I know the sound of my parent's car even with our eyes closed, so too our pet family know the sound of mine. Before I even slowed down to turn up our driveway, the first kitten appeared.

Gosh, he almost jumped with joy and ran ahead of the car while out of the corner of my eye I espied another kitten, well cat actually, sitting atop her feeding place. I swear one of them gave me the hairy eyeball, wanting to know why I took so long. Cheeky lot.

Over the last five months I have started to acquire routines. For Maxi because being almost blind, he needs routine and sameness. So, once I have parked the car and closed the gate I let him out of the house. No leash. He loves it when I get back from anywhere-gets up to greet me ecstatically at the entrance and then goes back to his basket. Too cute and the order of the day is that he can hop outside whilst I bring in the groceries.

Today he took a flying leap over the tomcat hovering at the top stair, trying to smuggle himself inside the house! Unbelievable how youthful Maxi can behave when he wants to. A real sprinter! Anyway, he ran around the garden followed by his adoring fan, the tomcat. Both are the same size and seem well on the way to become besties. 

Mausi is equally happy to have me home and takes turns sniffing out the various produce peeking out of bags and baskets. Nosy little parker likes to inspect everything. She then walks with me to the back bedroom, also known as our larder and fridge abode, and watches me put everything away. As each bag empties she climbs into it, trying to find the perfect hide and seek place! Often she wriggles herself into it so successfully that I don't see her and only when she moves about do I know her whereabouts. 

Granted, I have been a bit naughty by giving them a treat each time I come back from the weekly shop and perhaps it is the lure of the impending treat more so than mummy coming home that makes them hop about with such happy and gleeful abundance.

Biggi

Our Feral Tomcat Has Taken A Shine To Maxi.

 An interesting friendship?

Maxi has been with us for well on four months already and in that time he has yet to take notice of Miss Mausi, a delightful and pretty feline who lives with him in our house. They sleep only meters apart, they see each other being fed and more importantly, cuddled by us. But no, not an inch of wanting to get to know her.

Once we go outside for a walk, interests change. Suddenly a cat takes on importance. Well, he can't but fail to take an interest as they are habitually stationed within a meter of our front door. All three of them, although only two ( the new grey female cat and my feline admirer ) are ardent front door watchers. All feral of course.

Not a move goes unnoticed and often when it is dark I have to be careful of my footing as my feline admirer lives to cruise and lean into my calves. Well, until a few days ago because now he has shifted most of his affection to Mr Maxi.

Once Maxi hops down our two front steps, he is met at the bottom by a friendly cat cuddling its nose into his face and fur. Gosh, they appear to be kissing, and Maxi shows no fear. Remember, he can't really see the cat and mostly goes by feel or smell. It is too cute to see them cuddling. They are both about the same size and possibly weight too. This cat is massively built, slender but powerful.

As the cat is an outside camper, I am a bit worried about fleas jumping ship and setting up house in Maxi's fur. ( To be on the safe side I bought some flea muti today and shall apply it later on. ) 

Seeing this budding friendship is so precious. There is this cat who until he came here has not had human interaction but from watching my interactions with the grey run-a-way, he has become bold enough to seek human contact. Now he can't get enough of it. Little does he know of how obsessive humans can get with cats. Our pandering over and to Mausi, being a case in point!!!

Each morning, early morning when we go for our first pippi outing, the cat comes along for the walk and after the last few days of taking note, has perfected the signals of our walk. Maxi is a creature of habit and said habit is on the first neighbour's lawn. Whilst he is busy doing his business, not wanting to be disturbed, the cat sits and waits patiently for him to finish and only then will continue to walk next to him.

Maxi doesn't like every animal, be it cat or dog. Some he barks and bares teeth at, some he cuddles with and others he  ignores. Well, I am jolly glad that he has found a new friend. Life with pets is fabulous, never boring and oh so educational...

Biggi

Hiding From My Feline Admirer.

 My every move is being watched.

From being skittish to the extreme-couldn't even look his way before he ran off-to now being in love with me. Yes, one of our feral housemates has taken a shine to me. A big shine, one so big that he lies in wait for my every move.

He obviously sleeps with one eye open and very close to our front door because the minute I take Maxi for his early morning constitution, he comes bouncing along in order to rub his cheek against my leg. He is a strong feral tomcat and isn't even aware of his own strength. I have to watch my footing lest I trip over him.

It is cute and I am not complaining, well in a way I am, but I think I told you that the other week he twice tried to bite my calf. More of a love bite ( that's how he meant it ) but still a bit sore. Coupled with mum telling me about the perils of cat bites ( she saw a documentary where someone got bitten by their cat and almost had to have half their hand removed ) it isn't any wonder that I am very careful around him.

Since discovering the joys of being cuddled and stroked, he can't get enough. Yesterday Bob watched this whole love procedure and asked me to step back as he wanted to try and give the cat a cuddle. Ha, no success as it seems that he is only fixated on me.

A moment ago I got back from somewhere and there he was, greeting me the minute I stepped out of the car. As he is constantly doing figure eights around my ankles while I am walking, I am doubly careful that one of those eights doesn't turn into a quick nip at my heel. For him it is just a declaration of love and also of wanting to have all of my attention -just like a man!

Somehow I am going to have to find a way to placate him without being in danger of his extreme show of affection and I am sure that I will figure out a working solution since he hardly leaves our property ( in the past he only showed up for his dinners ) at all during the day and I suppose night as well.

Of course I am jolly pleased that he has taken a shine to me, as it is so heartwarming to witness his realization that people aren't all bad and at what he has missed out on all those years....life, isn't it nice?

Waiting for me...

Biggi

Bits And Pieces Garnered From My Walks.

The normal side to life.

 At the start of one of our walks we got waylaid by a friendly feline...the new addition to our family. We haven't named her yet and tend to call her grey cat.

A bit of friendly banter between Maxi and her.

When you see her like this she looks rather too well fed but when you see her standing up, her extreme slenderness emerges. A most loving soul.

The fog this morning was tremendous and all inclusive. Deutsch Schützen was submerged in a thick layer of fog and couldn't be seen from a distance.

The sun was helping to dissipate the fog. A nostalgic Kellerstock sets the scene.

A field of sunflowers living up to their name by cheering up all and sundry who passed by.

A look behind the sunworshippers! The same flower from the photo before seen from behind. Surreal to see such a vast change by merely looking to my right.

The sun chose to grace us all day long and a nice Sunday was had.

Biggi

Little Milestones.

 A kinder vibe?

Yesterday afternoon when I was feeding the troops, an amazing thing happened. One of our feral tomcats who normally bolts when I only glance at him, despite loving our grub, came towards his food bowl while I was filling it and then let me stroke him while he ate. Wow.

Cats are cleverer than we give them credit for. This male cat, the same one that keeps fighting with his brother, has been watching my interaction with our newest rescue, a.k.a. the grey cat, with deep interest. She follows Maxi and I on our early toilet walks, she lets me cuddle her whenever she sees me and she stays as close as possible to our door so that she won't loose us.

Well, this male tomcat has taken it upon himself to follow Maxi, the grey cat and I on our early walks. He now sleeps between our two front doors. He stays close to this door all day long and now, he has let me stroke him for the very first time ever without flinching or bolting. Amazing.

Even now, as I write this, all the outside cats are assembled within viewing distance awaiting an early supper. Apparently I have morphed into the family cook as earlier when I went to take the washing off the line, I noticed a dead mouse lying next to Bob's van. A gift, a toy, who knows. But what I do know is that our cats have become so lazy and spoilt that a formerly yummy treat and one they spent hours catching, is now not even worth their while to eat.

Every week I tell Bob that I am going to stop giving these cats wet food and only feed them dry pellets. Getting jolly expensive and in any case, many people only feed their cats with dry pellets. They might revolt a day or two but then, hopefully, get hungry enough! Maybe I'll start this week....or maybe their cute little glances of pity will have me get some more wet food for them.

Biggi

Mausi Keeps Us Entertained Well Into The Wee Hours Of The Morning...

 A hunger for food or fun?

Lately Mausi has taken to sleeping next to me again. Whenever I am semi-wake, there she is glued to my side, stomach or top of my head. Not complaining, as it is rather nice. Well, last night she must have moved too forcibly because I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep.

To the lounge we headed, Mausi and I, only to join a snoring Maxi. Yes, his basket is in the lounge and that's where he mostly sleeps. Last night he tried to venture into our bedroom, but I nixed that idea because when I get up in the middle of the night I don't want to accidentally step on him!

So, the three of us took to watching tv and at 12. 55 am, the only show to watch was Medical Detectives. Eventually we all drifted off until of course her Highness forcibly jumped off the couch and quickly honed in on an object. My worst fears were confirmed the more animated and boisterous she got and the louder the little squeaks were!

A mouse in the lounge. Goodness me, she was chasing this tiny little thing all over the lounge and truth be told, I didn't want to get up to sort this business out, because then Maxi would want to go outside. Let sleeping dogs lie...of course he wasn't sleeping as I could make out his little head following the dash and lunge affair of his new sister. Somehow I wouldn't have been surprised if he too was sacred to step paw outside his basket. How was he supposed to know what made those squeaks of panic?

All this time I was worried that Mausi might take it into her mind to come and show me her new toy. Jumping atop the couch even with a morsel between her jaws is child's play for her. In the dark there would be no way of knowing if she dropped a gift for me until said gift might dash up my face to safety.

Eventually morning arrived and with it the ability to go and switch on the light to purvey the crime scene. Thankfully nothing on show which meant that she stopped short of killing her toy...toy still on the loose in our house and I think I saw it flit under Bob's rucksack. Not going to look. These mice are amazingly agile and fast. I did tell Bob about it but I don't think he listened...only time will tell if I was right!

Biggi

The Cat Lady.

 Wherever I turn...

Somehow the numbers keep growing. It used to be just the one and now it is just the four. Yes, we are  parents to four feline sweeties. How they managed to find us, nobody knows. Well, as you know the one and only princess, Princess Mausi, we brought home from the pound but the rest showed up and rang the bell.

The two feral tomcats have adopted us full time it seems. Despite the odd cat fights or should I say hissy-fits because that is what it sounds like, they seem to get along fine. A moment ago I went to fetch the washing from the line and there they were, side by side under Bob's van, waiting for supper. Cute as can be.

The new addition, our grey one, follows my every move and loves nothing better than to sit and watch me take the washing of the line. Somehow the minute I get there she pops out from her sleeping quarters. Honestly, it does melt the old heart and makes me wonder what to do about winter.

The two tomcats are used to roughing it, but she seems more delicate and refined. Bob and I will have to make some fort for her, a warm little haven complete with warm bedding and a roof. Perhaps a door with a lock too because these two tomcats have cottoned on to the fact that she gets preferential treatment and like to hover about where she is.

Although Bob did tell me that the other day when the two boys were starting their hissy-fit, the grey cat sprinted up to where they were having their duel and started to hiss at them. Perhaps she is their mother after all and has just become more friendly in her old age. Kind of like Tigger used to do.

Ah well, that is the beauty of living in the country...one can keep cats, dogs and a flock of birds.

Biggi

Trying To Outsmart A Couple Of Pets Is Far From Easy.

So much for being the adult.

I had a plan. Don't most stories start like it? This morning I had planned to take our new cat lodger to the vet in order to be scanned for a micro chip. All was ready for the trip. The carry case ( one of those cat carriers with the lid on top ) had nice bedding in it and all that was missing was the cat.

She tends to follow me wherever I go and was investigating this carry case in the middle of the driveway with interest but when I picked her up ( still very docile and loving ) put her into the middle of the case wanting to close the lid, all hell broke loose and so too the cat. No one got injured but the cat high tailed it to safety somewhere in our barn....not been seen again for ages. Clearly, a trip to the vet was out of the question.

Maxi has been scratching himself a lot lately which clearly was a warning for me to get him some flea muti. Might as well go to the vet after all I thought, and stock up on dog and cat flea medicine. From experience I know that those drops bought in the supermarket hardly dent any flea population in a cat's fur. It needs to be from the vet. Which I got this morning for all two of them.

The vet arrogantly told me where to put the stuff, despite me mentioning that Mr Maxi wasn't too fond of being medically cared for. In fact, I don't think he gave a hoot, even going so far as to opine that woman owners are the cause of little dogs to be a bit overly fond of nipping at all and sundry. He might have a point, but that doesn't help me, does it?

When I got back home I tried the dog first mainly because the cat was still missing! A tiny tube to be squeezed onto his neck. Two or three seconds at most but therein lies the rub. He must have a sixth sense because as soon as my hand hovered over his neck, he started to twist his head baring his little teeth at the same time. Yikes, what now. Should I be firm and shout especially after the vet's opinion about the weak willed rules of female owners or should I just let it go? Still deciding on that one and for the moment the easiest option will be to wait for Bob to come home!!!

As for the cat outside, if she ever trusts me again, I will have to put the contents of the other vial onto her neck as well. If only they understood that it is going to make them better and stop the horrid itching caused by fleas. Gosh, life with pets is never dull and makes for good stories.

Biggi

The Drama Of Two Rodent Intruders.

 Sleep, what's that?

Both of us are intune with the sounds our little princess makes as she gets ready for bed...or not. Usually as soon as we go through to the bedroom she hops onto Bob's side of the bed and settles with him until he's asleep before hopping onto my side and whiling the night away, snoring in between making sure she doesn't get squashed when I turn over. Ah yes, a cat's life is far from easy.

Then there are those sounds Mausi makes where we just know that trouble is on the way. Once the shoe rack moves, the writing is on the wall. For some reason she heralds or leads any stray rodent or insect intruder into the vestibule and gives them a sporting chance to hide among the sea of shoes. More fun for her it seems as she loves nothing better than to pounce on the various pairs of shoes not caring a fig if they fall down noisily.

That's when we know that sleep is out of the question because she can go on all night and for all we know, eventually place an exhausted little rodent on our pillow...just for the fun of watching us wake up! Last night it was my turn to see to the commotion. Yes, it turns out that she had chased a little baby mouse through the house and it had taken refuge inside my new shoe. I only found out when I tipped it over and saw it crawling away.

By that stage, Bob gave his input on how to dispose of it. As if it were so easy. As soon as I got my wits about me, it ran merrily under our bed with an excited cat on her tail. The only thing I could think of to catch it was a newspaper which of course didn't work. Naturally Bob told me to get an old tupperware but chose to stay put in the safety of the bed! He even had the audacity to tell me to move faster!!! Luckily for me, Mausi was kind enough to pick the rodent up in her mouth and wait patiently for me to fetch a suitable container. Yes, honestly. When I hastened back with a container she dropped the almost dead mouse on the floor. 

One mouse taken outside, one cat praised and fed with feline treats ( ironic seeing that I just disposed of one ) hands washed and back to bed. For a couple of hours until I heard a repetition of Mausi flitting all over the place. Our wooden floor are perfect sound conductors!!! Nothing for it, I had to get up and migrate to the lounge as sleep was out of the question.

Didn't need to wait long. About five minutes after I settled down, in she struts with a tiny tail hanging out the side of her mouth. Yes, she had caught another intruder. Gosh, is there a mouse family below who sends the little ones up one at a time? Anyway, off the couch I jumped, fetched the infamous tupperware and set about collecting this mouse. Couldn't have been easier as Mausi made sure to drop it perfectly in front of me with nary a growl. 

The minute she saw me dispose of it out of the one window without a fly screen ( didn't wan't to wake up Bob by opening the front door ) she took up station on her feeding box, waiting for her next treat. Very proud of her catching these intruders and let's hope for a break tonight...

Biggi

Tulips And A Brave Cat.

 A cheerful and colourful combination.

The magic of watching a tree come to life is even nicer when viewed against  the backdrop of Eisenberg.

Look who decided to sun herself atop a  budding cherry tree! Too gorgeous and too funny. I wasn't sure whether she was stuck or not and thus baby-talked her into a hurried escape.

The tulips are out again making the neighbourhood shine and cheerful.

A purrfect model for the catwalk....striking the pose!

Tulips really are amazing and these beauties have resurfaced in their usual spot again. The war memorial.

All's well and this darling cat has safely descended her tree all the while keeping an eye on me...

Life is beautiful when we choose to look closer and notice the little things...

Biggi

A Touch Of Tough Love On Our Feral Felines.

 A short and sweet affair.

At the moment I am reading a most fascinating book on human evolution by Daniel Lieberman - The story of the human body- and as per usual I tried to translate some of the gist of it into normal life. Well, the cats were first in line as I can just about imagine the not so silent protest Bob would make if I tried out some ideas on him...

One of the main points about the human evolution is the fact that since the Industrial Revolution almost everything is done for us when it comes to food. We don't have to grow, harvest, chop any of it. We don't have to hunt, skin or portion meat and we often don't even need to stir the old wooden spoon as a lot of us merely heat up pre-cooked food or go out for a meal. Not good for our bodies as we don't use up energy in doing all those chores that industry has done for us.

So, on to our feral darlings. Everyday I hasten to feed my two darlings with a generous bowl of dry cat food and a nice big can of wet cat food shared between them. Most kind and with hindsight most energy saving for them. They don't have to hunt their meat anymore and in fact mice and birds have morphed from tasty feline morsels to entertainment. Yes, these two feral boys are getting lazy and large. Not on my watch!!!

Famous last words...two days ago I chose to only give them dry food albeit an extra generous helping of it. Well, that went as expected. Not well at all because the two boys thought that wet food was still to come and sat there waiting ad nauseam for it. Knowing that millions of cats only get dry food ( often more nutritious though not tasty ) I turned a blind eye to their antics until yesterday afternoon. 

I had just filled up ( yes, hardly any eaten ) their food bowls for supper when I happened to glance out the kitchen window and see the one of them sitting almost in front of it, looking ever so cute and adorable and pleading. What is a mum to do? My good intentions lasted only a day because I got a can of cat food, rushed out and filled each bowl to the brim.  Honestly, I wonder who's educating who...

As for any further plans to implement some of the books ideas, I must play them wisely as I am sure that our princess would throw a loud and mutinous veto along with her dad...

Biggi

The Story Of A Cat And A Rug.

 The power of signs.

Every now and again I the mood takes me to hoover and wipe the floors. A gargantuan undertaking - in my view at least - and one that  I am not the only one who abhors it.

We have a two rugs, one in the lounge and one in the vestibule, that are my first port of call when a dose of hoovering is in store. They get bundled up and taken outside for a proper shakedown. Lord knows that our cat is far from happy to hear the old hoover being fired up and she knows the signs of when it is.

Take today for example. It was so horribly windy outside  ( gosh, almost stormy ) that I cut short my walk and made the decision to substitute a bout of cleaning instead. Once I got home Miss Maus performed like a toddler wanting to go outside for her walk but as a parent I deemed it too hazardous. The buoys of wind would twirl her around like a toothpick.

 Meaouw, meaouw, meaouw....

...until I bent down to pick up the first rug. Gosh, I have never seen her dash so quickly into her hideout. Ears back, tail tucked in and off she went. As if the hoover had ever come close to her! Clever as she is, she has worked out once the coast is clear and her nemesis put into the corner. 

The cord isn't long enough for all the rooms so that halfway through my bout of hoovering I have to unplug and re-plug at another plug. Even though there are a few moments of silence she will only reemerge once the second lot of noise is over.

  Don't worry my sweet gal, this hoover incident won't be repeated for a long while!!!!

The joys of housework with a cat for audience...

Biggi