POTTED PLANTS AND POTATOES

Today I finally got round to a job that had been on my list for a long time: to repot my plants that live in the kitchen. I found a small bag of compost and crouched on the floor surrounded by brightly coloured cyclamen, empty pots and compost. I was soon joined by two furry friends - Tommy and Mitzi, who were most curious. They watched closely as I deposited the plants into their new homes and spooned in the earth. They came and sniffed and also sniffed the discarded leaves. I think they might have thought I was preparing a new dirt box for them, I just had that feeling! Bless them. And Binky and dear Kitty too. Binky is curled up in front of the monitor and talking to me and Kitty sat on the bed beside me earlier.

OLD POTATO
When I had finished my tea today I gave Binky a little bit of fish, then she jumped down and finished off an unwanted roast potato. She left half of it on the carpet. Kitty arrived next, sniffed the potato, licked the plate and waddled off. I then replaced the potato onto the plate. Finally Tommy appeared and made straight for the potato, lifting it off the plate in his mouth and devouring it on the...carpet

NIP AND TUCK

Well the dreaded day arrived at last, the one I had been worrying about. When Tommy was to come home a little lighter and Mitzi the same. I took them in one carry box and sat in the back seat of the car whilst Martin drove. They weren't too happy but didn't meow, well, only once. We took them into the vets where they were weighed and temporary paper collars stuck round their necks with their names on. Mitzi trembled as she tiptoed out of the carry box.

We left them early in the morning and a couple of hours later I was relieved to get a phone call saying everything was fine and that they had just had something to eat. We picked them up at tea time: Tommy looked shell-shocked and Mitzi tired. Tommy's fur was ruffled round his eyes. I asked if his fur had got wet. Oh they have their eyes opening during the procedure so we put drops in their eyes" was the explanation. Poor Tommy Fudge.

Brought them home in two boxes. Tommy couldn't wait to get out and Mitzi took her time. They both are fine and Mitzi has a couple of stitches which will need removing in ten days' time. Luckily she is leaving them alone and not pulling at them.

I think Binky and Kitty realised something was up earlier in the day when the kittens weren't around; they seemed a bit jumpy, a bit spooked. But now all is well and my little furry family are back home, where they belong.

SAUSAGES

Well for many weeks Martin has been complaining of a nasty smell in his orifice, or should I say: office. Like most of the house, his office is full of stuff - computers, records, 78s, paperwork, etc etc. So it is impossible to search every square inch for t*rds. The other day he proudly announced that he had something to show me. He produced a huge tray of cat t*rds: brown ones, long ones, short ones, curly ones - even white ones. He had collected them from a dark corner of his room. I think Mitzi Bitzi has been secretely secreting under one of the chairs.

Anyway, he cleaned the area thoroughly and waited for it to dry. Only to find another deposit left this morning. So - there is nothing for it but to take all the computer cables off his door and manage to make the door actually shut, to keep out little furry bottoms (apart, of course, from his own)

Was upstairs today when Martin marched into the room brandishing what looked like another curly t*rd. Oh, thought I, not another one, the man is obsessed! Only to be told that he had just caught Kitty, Tommy and Mitzi red-handed (or red-pawed), having all pulled a cooked cumberland sausage down from the kitchen worktop. Martin said that Tommy Fudge was the one who was tucking in the most...

A LOVELY AFTERNOON IN THE GARDEN

All the pussies had a lovely afternoon in the garden on Wed 9 Sept. They enjoyed the Indian summer. This is my idea of paradise: being surrounded by my four furry loves int their own little Eden

TOMMY SUCKLING

SO TIRED

TOMMY SAYS: LET IT RAIN

PRECIOUS BABIES

Was in the garden the other day and Mitzi took great interest in a bright green caterpillar which was crawling across her path. She bent down and sniffed it and slowly began to eat it. She looked up at one point and it was hanging out of her mouth. Then with one final scoff it was down her little furry gullet...mmm

Martin and I did some catflap training for Mitzi: she could get out but we weren't sure if she could come back in. So Martin was inside with a cat treat and I was on the outside and we did a push me pull you system, handing Mitzi back and forth with the occasional treat proffered as a reward. A while later Martin started the noisy lawnmower and Mitzi soon moved her little furry butt and dived through the flap into the safety of the house

The other night it was wonderful as Mitzi, Tommy and Binky were sleeping on our bed at night. I woke up to find Binky by my head and Tommy and Mitzi sleeping on my chest. Bliss...

Tommy apparently got stuck up next door's tree the other day. Martin reckoned it was 25 feet up! I think he was probably trying to get at the two fat pigeons who live in the tree. Fortunately he eventually made his way "gingerly" back down

LITTLE MONKEYS

A couple of weeks ago my sister Annie kindly had the two babies for the week whilst we went away. She said it was fun but hard work as the kitties were all over the place and were trying to get outside with Tommy at one point hiding under a parked car.

When I got the babies home they made a bee-line for the garden at 4pm and I had to round them up and bring them in at 9.30pm! They absolutely loved being outside.

TOILET TRAINING
Am so pleased! Martin put some of the used cat litter onto the mud outside and now Tommy has started to use it. Don't think Mitzi has yet though

YUMMY
Those two babies have unusual taste in food, especially for cats. Tommy was eating some of my tomato sauce the other day and Mitzi can't get enough of my marmalade on toast. Which is strange, as usually cats absolutely hate citrus flavours. I have to hide my toast at breakfast time. This morning Martin caught them both in the kitchen up on the freezer tucking into a bag of frozen (defrosted) chicken fillets. They had knawed through the bag!

Tommy is very adventurous and seems to know little fear. Today he got up on the fridge, which is taller than me. He was about to jump down onto the work surface. Naughty boy!

PROGRESS
I am so pleased to say that Binky is getting better with the babies, slowly but surely. Last night all three slept on our bed. Binky was next to me all night and spent about an hour under the duvet at one point. Martin had to put the babies out at 6am because they were jumping around so much. My next mission is to train Mitzi to use the cat flap so she will be able to go to the toilet outside. At the moment she is the same as Binky was - she can go out but isn't so hot about getting back in again

JUNGLE CATS

Today the babies wandered further into the garden. They usually stay around the patio but Henry and I were working on the lawn. So they came and found us. Tommy tore around like a mad thing and thought it was absolutely wonderful when he discovered the long grass! He ran around so much in the sunshine that he began to pant like a little dog. I hope that was all right, I have never heard of cats doing this. You could even hear him panting. He had never seen the sun before either as it has been raining for so long now.

They are now dozing in cardboard box under my desk. Mitzi kept losing me, she would stay on the patio and meow plaintively at the top of her voice, calling for me. When I went up to her she would look at me as if to say, well I can see you but I don't know how to actually get to you Mummy! So I would pick her up and take her over to us on the lawn. She is a dear little loving thing and I am pleased to say that Binky is gradually getting better with the babies.

ALL GOOD STUFF

The kittens had a lovely weekend away staying with their Aunty Alice and Aunty Annie. Felt sad leaving them when we went to Skomer but they were definitely in very good and loving hands. They were thoroughly spoilt, with Alice buying them toys and extra cat treats and cat milk. Pete even made them a special toy.

Annie and Alice didn't want them to come home but are looking forward to having them again when we go away.

When I got them home today I let them out for the first time, officially, that is. They loved exploring the patio, sniffing plants, watching bees and playing hide and seek under the garden chairs.

So the babies were in the play area (patio) and the girls (Kitty and Binky) were lying on a large piece of cardboard at the other end of the garden. Great stuff. I laid with the girls for a while and it was bliss.

PROGRESS
Was so pleased, as Binky was having her tea and she stayed when the babies came in the kitchen and ate theirs from another dish. Then she spent about 10 minutes eyeing them from the other side of the kitchen, hovering near the safety of the door for a quick getaway.

The babies are absolutely exhausted now. Tommy is asleep in front of the pc monitor and Mitzi is resting her head on my wrist. Luckily she is light enough not to cause rsi...

I have put Binky in the bedroom and hopefully she will join me in the bathroom in a little while.

It gave me such pleasure today to see them all in the garden, my little brood, all of my four babies.

SLEEPING TOM

I was so surprised the other night; Martin called me downstairs to witness Tommy hopping out of the catflap and a short while after popping back in again. Apparently he had been watching Kitty do it. Goodness me!

SHARING KITTY

Well I was so very pleased and touched that Kitty shared her tea with Mitzi last night. Kitty started to eat and Mitzi came along and joined in and Kitty was fine. So sweet and touching :)

SMILE

BEDROOM BABIES

SUCKLE

SWEET SIBLINGS

ME TOO!

BOTTLE BABIES

Today I saw Tommy trying to suckle Mitzi. He was purring, kneading the dough, as it were and sucking very hard on her chest, making her all wet. So I went out and bought a feeding bottle for baby animals and some special milk for cats. I thought he might be missing his mummy and thought he would like it. Well they both love it!

PROGRESS

Well we are making slow but very positive progress with Kitty and Binky. The other day I bought some very tasty cat treats (well I presume they were tasty) The babies were on the bed and I lured Kitty in with the promise of a sweet, which she loved. She had a few sweets and eventually stayed for over an hour, on the bed, less than a foot away from the babies! They all fell asleep and at one point Tommy awoke and pretended to stretch just so he could inch his way on his belly over to get a closer look at Kitty, whom he adores. They both adore her and can't get enough of her. Sometimes they follow her without her realising, then she turns round and takes a swipe at them!

Took them to the vets last week. Tommy is 1.1 kg and Mitzi is o.87 kg. Which is funny because Mitzi appears to eat more than Tommy. Surely it can't be all his long fur which weighs so much? Glad to say have now got the flea situation under control

The other night the babies were asleep in the kitchen and I was doing a jigsaw at the table. Binky came in and actually sat in the jigsaw box, which was great. She eyed the babies suspiciously from a distance, but all was well. Well until Tommy eventually stood up and stretched and suddenly leaped across the divide. All hell broke loose - I screamed in surprise and Binky took off, shooting jigsaw pieces assunder. Oh well. It was nice while it lasted.

BABIES IN THE BASKET

A BREAKTHROUGH!

I am so thrilled. Binky stayed in the bedroom last night. She came out from under the telly stand and stayed with us on the bed for ages before disappearing under the telly again. In the early hours she jumped up into the "boudiour" - the padded window ledge behind the curtains. When I pulled back the curtains at 10.30 this morning I realised she was still there! Great success. We will try again tonight.

At the moment the two babies are fast asleep in the washing basket. So sweet.

WASHING BASKET

Lol I put a pillowcase in the washing basket in the kitchen and then realised that there was someone in it. I pulled the pillowcase away and found dear little Tommy asleep amongst the clothes! Now, for the past couple of days, both the babies have been sleeping in there, so cosy!

Tonight we tried a new strategy for Binky. She is still so very terrified of the two little ones. So Martin put them in their room, I got in the bath and he brought Binky up. We gave her some nice tasty fishy food which she devoured. Then she wanted to come out, but I ignored her. So she jumped up onto the windowsill and had a wash, just like she used to. When I got out she came into the bedroom but didn't really settle. She has squeezed herself behind a row of video tapes and is resting underneath the telly stand.

BAD HABITS

Dear oh dear Tommy Fudge has some bad habits, I can't believe that he knows that a glass contains drinking water! I have just caught him trying to tip over a plastic beaker. First of all he tried to do it with his mouth and then his paw. This was after putting his head in it. Now Binky (and Lilly did) always tries to drink out of a glass. But - shock horror - to have one so young who has worked out to push them over - well that is just plain awful!!

Lilly used to occasionally tip glasses over, but not often. I wondered why he had droplets of water on his back, he must have got them from another receptacle. But which one..

Mitzi is sitting on my lap as I type and has just done a very smelly blow off...

TEENY TINY PAWS

PROUD MUM

BEAUTIFUL BOY

"Close your eyes,
Have no fear,
The monsters gone,
He's on the run and your daddy's here,
Beautiful, Beautiful, beautiful, Beautiful Boy" John Lennon

BIG BED, LITTLE BABIES

Yesterday evening I came upstairs and went into the bedroom. And there they were, two little darlings asleep on Mummy's big bed. They looked so sweet.

SMELLY!
Yesterday I noticed a horrible smell in one of the bedrooms. Now, it was either:

a) A dead mouse
b) poo

I sniffed and sniffed and eventually found an overnight bag which was a bit smelly, it was on the floor and somebody had done a wee in it. Well, I knew it wasn't Martin, so it must have been one of the babies! I cleaned it out and emptied it (something I should have done when we came back from the Dutch monkey park).

But today the smell was much, much worse. Still couldn't track it down. Until - I looked in the cupboard which was open and found a small coil of poo. So smelly! It looked like one of those joke shop poos. So we cleaned it up. A couple of hours later there was still a smell and I realised there was another poo nearby so now everything smells sweet. For the moment...

Felt so sad last night, Binky was so afraid and we brought her upstairs when the kittens were tucked up in bed but she wasn't having any of it. Sigh. But I talked to her today as we sunbathed together on the warm patio.

I am commissioning a lovely lady in Australia to paint two portraits of my dear Lilly, who recently passed away. Holley is emailing me the different stages of the first portrait; I can see Lilly appearing and growing. It is as though she is coming back to life. I cried this morning when I saw the latest progress.

This evening I decided to spend some special time with Binky. I gave her some special expensive cat food (which Kitty duly came and scoffed) and then she jumped in the jigsaw box whilst I did the jigsaw. She even purred, which was great. Then I heard the tinkle of a little bell, and Tommy appeared, closely followed by his loyal sister. Binky was not happy, her eyes as wide as saucers and she promptly disappeared off into the garden. Sigh. The kittens then greedily devoured the rest of the posh cat food and some more besides.

CHEEKY MONKEYS

Mitzi got a bit tangled up in her collar, it ended up fitting more like a sash so I removed it. Tommy still has his, it sits quite well amongst his thick fur. I figure that if I can hear his bell then Mitzi won't be far behind. They did their disappearing act again last night. So I crawled on the floor and could just make out Tommy's little face peering back at me from under the shelves. I guessed that Mitzi was probably curled up behind him.

When I went out today I left their door open as I thought they wouldn't wander too far today, they usually seem to end up back in the comfort of their playroom.

When I got home they were in their doorway and pleased to see me. I brought them into the bedroom but they didn't want to stay, they soon scampered off. But later they loved playing around my feet when I was at my computer.

A couple of funny things happened today. At teatime we were in the kitchen and Binky was sitting in the jigsaw box (as I have trained her to do) on the table. I heard a hggggggggggggg - (Mitzi just typed this) I heard a crunching sound and looked down to discover two little cheeky monkeys chomping away at Kitty and Binky's food! Binky looked shocked and startled. When we had our tea in the lounge the babies came in briefly, much to Binky's wide-eyed astonishment. She wasn't too happy but at least she didn't hiss or growl.

After tea Martin called me and it was so funny because Tommy Tippee had fallen asleep in my bowl that I carved, which is on the landing. It is my Nature Bowl and is covered in carved butterflies, flowers and leaves. He looked so sweet and cosy!

I had completely forgotten how scared kittens can get. Any sudden noise and they go all wide eyed and jump, even if it's just a floorboard creaking.

Well Tommy has been in the bowl for quite a while and Mitzy seems a little lost. I cuddled her on my lap but she mewed and mewed, I think she wanted her bro. Eventually he woke up and she went to him and now they have disappeared off together. Aw...

BIG MEETS LITTLE

Phew. Was worried last night. The kittens were having a ball, being able to go where they wanted. They stayed upstairs mainly. I managed to bring Binky into the bedroom, amongst great caterwailing from her, she was so scared. I calmed her down and she sat on the radio times on the bed. Then I had a bath and could hear scratching and rummaging in the bedroom, I presumed it was the babies. I was so pleased so see that Binky was still in the bedroom, perched on top of the stereo, as usual. When I got out she was eye-ing the babies from a great height. Her awareness was heightened. But she wasn't angry. Later on she went off.

I went to get the babies only to find that I couldn't actually find them. I went round the whole house twice, calling, to no avail. I was worried. So I found two old collars and trimmed them down to size. I went back in the workshop and looked under the shelves and saw a little tiny tommy face looking back at me. They were both there, having slept, I think. Honestly, I had been calling at the top of my voice, I thought they would have woken up and started mewing! They came out and I put on their collars. Aw they look so huge on them but now at least I will hear their bells and know where they are.

This morning I brought Mitzi into my office and she slept on my lap. Then Kitty trotted in, meowing. Which attracted the attention of Tommy, who came tripping along the landing. Suddenly Kitty espied him and hissed. He almost jumped out of his skin and became all bristly. There was a stand off for quite a while until Tommy had had enough and fell asleep! He looked so funny all puffed up, as he is already quite a puffball. Kitty emitted a low growl and eventually they sat facing each other until she had had enough and waddled off again.

THEY'RE OUT!

Well I've been thinking today that the babies want to come out so I bought an extra litter tray on the way home for downstairs and we let them out. Got a bit worried as it looked like some blood stains on their pillow. But it turned out that Tommy Fudge had stood in something red. Phew...

They were keen to come out with Mitzi first. They are now wandering around the landing. Not sure where they are at the moment, will investigate. I think perhaps I had better put their new collars on so I can hear their bells. It does seem a shame to shackle them so soon but they are so small, especially Mitzi.

Right now they are charging around the landing, chasing each other. I will go and find Binky to reassure her, she is still so frightened.

And now as I type they are charging around my office. There is a smell in here so I hope that it is the smell of tiny furry farts and not a poo...

6.10pm
All is quite as I creep up the stairs and enter the babies' room. Mitzi is curled up in the basket and Tommy is lying beside her on the floor, with his back foot up on the brush. They are zonked out, exhausted after their first foray into the "jungle" that is our house.

NEW ARRIVALS

THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE HAVE FLEAS
Cats are my life, they are my babies, my passion.

Dear Lilly cat passed away two weeks ago. She was a beautiful, soft, wonderful girl. Although not perfect (she could be quite grumpy and hissy) she is greatly missed. She passed away quite suddenly, unexpectedly. Very sad.

We have two other beautiful girls - Binky Boo and Kitty Cat.

And now we have two new arrivals!!! Roll out the red carpet, ring out the church bells - two new bundles of fur and whiskers - a pair of beautiful bonny babies.

TOMMY FUDGE
Is seven weeks old today. We got him yesterday along with his sister, Mitzy Gaynor. Tommy is fuffy and ginger, with blue/green eyes. He is a doll, a furry ginger dolly

MITZI GAYNOR
Tommy's sister is a beautiful little tortoiseshell kitten. I have always wanted a tortoiseshell, probably ever since being a child when our next door neighbours had one called Fizz

IMPORTANT DECISIONS
I had been umming and ahhing for a while about the possibility of acquiring some more furry friends. At first I was against the idea but gradually I succumbed. So here they are. I found an advert in the pet shop, phoned Linda on Friday evening and me and Martin went round yesterday morning to be greeted by three lovely little cats. Mitzi, her sister, Tommy and another slightly larger pussy from another litter. Mitzi stayed on my lap and purred and Tommy ran round, occasionally disappearing under the furniture.

After about an hour we popped our precious cargo into a cat carrier and got supplies from the pet shop - kitten food, worming medicine, pretty sparkly colllars (for later), cat litter and of course, toys. I proudly carried my new babies around the pet shop in their carry case. A little girl spotted them and got quite excited (I was glowing)

We eventually got home and I went in the boys' room with the carry case. I sat it on Henry's bed and opened it up. The kittens were fast asleep, what with their journey and meeting their new parents. I sat for ages gazing at them. Eventually Binky appeared, jumped up beside me. It took quite a while for her to notice them. She sat up and stared. And stared. Then after a while she settled down by me. It was a very contented scene, me, Binky Boo and the new kittens, all relaxing together.

Kitty had been the first to see them, she was on the landing and hissed and then waddled off.

After a while Martin tidied the upstairs workshop and we put the kittens in their new (temporary) home. They stayed for ages in their carry case, fast asleep. When I returned they were out and tentatively exploring. I put in Kitty's old bed and lined it with a soft fleecy blanket. They also have a dirt box and eating area.

Grandad came this afternoon and met Tommy and Mitzi. He said Tommy looked like his old cat Fudge, so we called him Tommy Fudge. And Mitzy is named after the singer in South Pacific.

Later on Alice and Annie popped in, much to Alice's delight. We all watched as little Tommy Fudge mewed and mewed until a huge turd popped out into the dirt box, to a round of polite applause. He had to lift his little bottom up to get it out!

Grandad

SUNDAY 27 JUNE 2009
Seven weeks old today! When I went into their room they were curled up together in their cosy bed, so sweet. They love to play together and sleep together. Sometimes they fight and Mitzi usually ends up underneath Tommy, with him lying on her head. If one of them bites too hard then the other one soon shows their disapproval by mewing loudly!
Binky is afraid to come upstairs, she knows something is up. Kitty has no such qualms. Martin reckons it's because Binky might think that there is a large cat behind the door, not two tiny kittens. So Martin has been bringing Binky upstairs into the bedroom and then she is fine, she stays with me for a while, as per usual.

MONDAY 28 JUNE
I gave the kittens my home-made scratching post today and attached a toy mouse. Tommy seems to like it. Hope they use it as the others have always turned their little wet noses up at it. I sat on the floor with a blanket on my legs (they slide of my legs and scratch them to pieces). They have started hopping on and sitting on my legs. Mitzi fell backwards and ended up sleeping on her back - oh so sweet. Sometimes I come in and Mitzi is in the basket with Tommy on the floor next to it, or they are both in the carry case, or more recently, both stretched out on the blanket. This evening was a bit worried as they were both nowhere to be seen. Eventually Tommy appeared from behind the shelves and it was quite a while until Mitzi appeared. Phew! This afternoon Tommy suddenly appeared on the landing, he had got out as the door was ajar, closely followed by his sister. So now I make sure the door is securely shut. I can't wait until they can come out properly but I think it is a bit soon. Our house is so big!