Cat Drama

There are rumours in the neighbourhood that we have a fox den which may explain the huge teeth marks in Cherie’s butt.  The poor little tyke had to go to the vet as the bite marks were starting to smell rather too much.  Thumper started growling at his brother and there were fights in the night and in the morning Cherie was hiding, shivering, in the bathroom.  Poor baby.  The vet thought it most likely that it was another cat, which I did myself until I saw how far apart the bite marks were . . . they looked very far apart for a cat.  So he said it was possible it could be a fox.  Oh, oh.  As you know I had read an article about foxes around a chicken house.  Foxes are sneaky little devils, they can monitor a chicken coop for weeks before they make a pounce.  While some of the hens are molting right now I still get palpitations when I see feathers in the chicken run.  So far so good.

It is so very true, nature is cruel but nature is true. 

Thumper and Cherie come from the same litter, they are brothers, but typical male cats they are not too appreciative of each other when it comes to sharing their mistress.  Thumper is bigger so he gets to sleep in the bed, he will hiss at his brother when he wants attention focused on himself but when I am gone they cuddle up together and have naps sprawled all over the bed.  They are none too happy when I try to squeeze in for a nap myself.

One of the best things mankind ever did was domestic cats and dogs.  What would we do without our pets?

My Little Cherie

Over the last couple of days I have noticed my cat Cherie has not been active, he’s been hiding in corners and essentially not being himself.  This morning he let out several big meows and since he is the non-verbal cat I knew there was something very wrong.  A call and a drive to the vet’s confirmed my fears, Urinary Tract Infection.  As I left my little fellow with the doctor I found myself covered with nearly as much fur as my baby boy, which indicates that Cherie is much more stressed than I am.  I’ve been busy writing all morning but every once in a while I stop and think “what’s the little guy doing now” or “what is he thinking, have I abandoned him again”?

       This little boy was supposed to go to a home 8 weeks after he was born but one night with the scary Michelle and her psycho cat brought him back to me.  The morning Michelle handed him back to me his eyes were round and frightened but when he saw me his little paws stretched out and he meowed “Mama” in desperation.  He clung to me for the rest of the day and since then he has been my baby.  I have felt dreadful putting him through that trauma (believe me, I am not exaggerating) and since he’s never been away from home in the last 9 years this is a scary time for the little fellow.

       Poor little guy, I hope the operation goes well and he will be home with me tomorrow night.

My boy's best side.

What's New in the Zoo

My critters have become so accustomed to my mother that they come wandering in and out of the house at all hours of the day.  I have to admit, she has a way with animals be they horses, dogs, cats, birds, you name it.  I can only imagine what she could have accomplished alongside Jane Goodall in deepest darkest Africa.  If I believed in another life I would suspect her of being a snake charmer.

       It’s strange to consider her affinity for animals when we were never allowed to have pets while we were young.  She always said she would have to be the ones to care for them and she didn’t want to.  And the minute we finally did get a pet (when we were in our 20’s) she stole them!

       I have to say that I simply love animals and when I see the way a dog or a chimp looks up at a person, so much intelligence and trust in their eyes, my heart simply melts.  I cannot for the life of me understand how anyone could be cruel to an animal.  I feel so upset when I watch the commercial on the abused animals even though I realize we are being manipulated for money.

       These days both of us are doing a lot of bird watching even though we still have a lot of trouble identifying what it is we are seeing.  Fortunately, with my new glasses I am less likely to mistake a shovel handle for a bird!

Arch Rivals

You’ve heard of a one man dog but generally when a person talks about a cat they will say that they are aloof, snooty or disdainful.  My family has always thought that all my cats (and I’ve had plenty of them) have been odd in the extreme because they never see them!  I have always assured them that my cats are extremely affectionate and loyal to me.  Indeed, they will come when I call them (as long as no one else is around) and they recognize my car motor from miles away and come running home when they hear me arriving. 

       My guests have occasionally caught a glimpse of a tail as it rushed down in the basement in order to avoid being caught by a Stranger.  My brother lived with me for 18 months and only managed to pet the least shy one a few times.

In fact, I have been rather proud of my cats’ standoffishness as I felt it was a sign of loyalty towards me.

       Silly me.  My mother has both of them, yes, both of them, wrapped around her ankles!  They come in the house when she calls.  They come for snuggles and pets.  They are verging on the impossible, they are prepared to sleep with her, should she ever open up her door at night!  When I am on the sofa watching a show, Mom is on the loveseat.  I find myself suspiciously (dare I admit it, jealously) observing the cats stop first at her feet before they wander over to me.  Excuse me, did I cough?  Was that what lured my faithful companions over to me?  Have I sunk so low?