A Zoo in the House

And I thought I made this for me!

2009-10-13T08:40:00.000+01:00

Cats never miss a trick. The jumper I was making was on the side waiting to be fnished and Rumple decides it is a comfortable, warm pillow.

Who's boss around here anyway?

A new toy?

2009-09-13T09:05:00.000+01:00

Now, Rumple Teaser has never shown any interest in the washing machine before, but she sat and stared at it for 10 minutes or more. Her head turned one way, then the other. Here she is having a closer inspection. She must have finally decided, like the rest of the female population, the fascination with washing machines soon disappears. She hasn't been near it since!

Oooo, Pressies

2009-09-12T08:46:00.003+01:00

I love pressies, look at all this paper. I can jump and slide in it all.

Now where's my pressie, the boys can't have it all.

Why can't I play with Misty?

2009-09-03T07:41:00.002+01:00

Both the younger cats are fascinated with Misty and she is quite happy to run up and down the cage to annoy them.

Tugger found to his cost, she has sharp teeth when he decided he would stand on the top of the cage.

Appropriately named, Rumple Teaser, has yet to learn this lesson. You can see she knows she shouldn't go near Misty, but there is always the battle between what she knows is right and what instinct is telling her she should do.

Cat in the bag

2009-09-01T07:11:00.000+01:00

Whatever I do, Rumple Teaser has to get involved. She's always chasing the needle, catching the threads, swinging on needles or wool, or even killing the ball of wool or spools of thread. Yesterday, I got my own back. Yes Tugger, you see right-Rumple Teaser is well and truly in the bag.

I think that must mean I have done enough rounds, it surely must be big enough now.

Now maybe, the next project should be a crochet cat bed!

Bubbles, bubbles everywhere

2009-08-31T07:04:00.003+01:00

Isn't it strange in this time of technology, that the simple things bring so much pleasure. The boys had been to a party and came back with a small container of bubbles each. Not sure who enjoyed them more, the boys or Rumple Teaser.

She was always so surprised when they popped, but it didn't stop her trying to catch them.

It didn't matter how many times they disappeared, whenever the bubbles came out, she was there trying to catch one.

Can I come out now

2009-08-05T09:11:00.002+01:00

Most mornings will see Tugger and Rumple chasing around the front room. At a year old, Tugger just can't keep up with the youngster, so he goes to hide. Now he knows how Kashka felt when he turned up, and she's 16! About half hour later, he starts slinking out. "Is it safe to come out, or will she pounce on me again?"

Are you sitting comfortably?

2009-08-03T07:18:00.001+01:00

Well, Rumple Teaser certainly is. It's definitely a cat's life!

We're Friends

2009-07-20T08:46:00.003+01:00

When new animals come into the family, it is always a concern how the resident animals will take to them.

Kashka, our old lady, will tolerate any new arrival, as long as they don't want to get too close.

Now Tugger, being a youngster himself, we were hoping would be friends with Rumple Teaser. Within a couple of days, they were chasing each other round the house. They especially found 4am a good time to play, using my bed as a means of getting from one side of the room to the other. Tugger was very gentle, and played with his claws well away.

It has taken Rumple a little more time to learn that it is much nicer to play with claws away. Though she is good most of the time, she will forget from time to time.

Now the breakthrough in their relationship has came this week. Not only do they play together, they now sleep together. They are quite often found sleeping together, which is what we wanted. Long may this friendship last.

Up to Mischief

2009-07-08T07:43:00.001+01:00

Now usually, when the boys have their heads together like this, it usually means some mischief is being planned or in progress.

Not to be outdone, Rumple Teaser thinks she can join in too. Nothing is too big for her to take on.

A newbie in the house

2009-06-30T06:54:00.003+01:00

Please welcome Rumple Teaser, hopefully to be friends with Rum Tum Tugger. All you Cats the Musical lovers should know where we are going with cats names in this house. I knew Tugger should have been Mungo Jerry. Teaser didn't seem at all bothered by her journey to her new home. It started on Sunday when she travelled through three Welsh villages from where she was born to her overnight stay.

Monday, she travelled from South Wales to Birmingham New Street train station by car. From there, it was a train journey to Sheffield. Once we arrived at Sheffield, it was a short walk to the bus station and a half hour bus ride to her new home.

On the way she slept, ate, drank and slept some more.

And after such a busy day, what more can a girl do?

What do I do with this?

2009-06-28T06:46:00.002+01:00

I received some gorgeous cherries in my organic fruit box this week, and as the boys weren't here to share, I thought George and Misty might like some, well, one.

As you can imagine, when it comes to food, the rat wastes no time in getting stuck in. However, George seemed a bit confused. The first bit to be tried was the stalk. Now, this isn't my idea of a treat, but maybe if you're a chinchilla.......

After eating most of the stalk, he finally found the tastiest bit. Maybe he was just saving the best for last.

I like mice

2009-06-09T06:57:00.003+01:00

But I can't eat these ones!

Tugger just has to get in on everything.

Anyone for a cuddle

2009-05-11T21:23:00.002+01:00

When mum is busy, who is the next best thing for a cuddle?

Teddy, of course!This is what I saw when I finally got upstairs for a bath yesterday afternoon. As you can see, Tugger is perfectly comfortable and wasn't going to move for anyone. He stayed there for hours. Oh, if only he was always this peaceful!

I can do it

2009-04-01T09:15:00.003+01:00

I can smell it, I know it's there

I can get it, just need to stretch a bit

I can feel it!

I knew I could get it

Gotcha! This is tasty, but next time why don't you just put it in my cage

A new toy

2009-03-22T09:10:00.002Z

No, the sewing machine was not the new toy, even if Tugger thought it was.

It was out to make something for him though.This little stuffed pouch has catnip inside and some jingly bells and as you can see, Tugger just loves it.
Something else for him to kill.

Who's been in my garden?

2009-02-03T22:20:00.003Z

There were lots of these little prints in the garden today. In the front, they looked as if the owner of the prints was trying to jump their way through the garden without touching the snow.

As you can imagine, this isn't to Tugger's liking. His friend from next door doesn't like it either.

The result is one little kitty with lots of pent up energy.

How does he use it?

By seeing how far up the curtains he can jump!

Needless to say, I am looking forward to the thaw.

Told you I was clever

2009-01-25T15:22:00.002Z

Looking all innocent when really what I want to do is this: Don't you just love the way the ears go forward as if joining in the attack

I love cross stitch

2009-01-10T13:23:00.002Z

I can think of nothing better to do in the evening than to sit on my mum's lap. It's so warm and snugly and if I'm lucky, she will get out her cross stitch. Oooh, I love it and tonight I am in luck.

Look at that needle disappear through that hole and the sound of the thread. The loop is getting smaller, I better catch it quick.

Oh dear, she's put it away! Maybe she doesn't like claws in her finger.

I wonder if I'm quiet, curl up and pretend to be asleep, she will get it out again. Oh, I hope so.

I'm getting to be a big boy

2009-01-06T19:00:00.002Z

This is Tugger's usual position when I'm at the computer, cursor watching! Now he is growing, he can really get in the way, but he's lovely with it. Even when he adds unnecessary letters to what I am typing.

Now he is getting bigger he has learned to use all the cat flaps. This means he now can go in and out as he wants. Only trouble is, like a mother and her kids, I can't settle to sleep at night until I have heard him come in. Hopefully, I'll grow out of it when Tugger gets older.

Cat Flu takes it's toll

2008-12-27T15:47:00.002Z

Just an update on what has been happening here.

A few weeks ago all the cats got cat flu, starting with Pickles. Both Kashka and Tugger managed to pull themselves through it but Pickles has succumbed. In the middle of one night, she took herself off and didn't come home.

The children found it difficult to understand why cats take themselves away to die, when it is warmer and cosier inside. We are so pleased that the kitten recovered, as that would have been so much harder to come to terms with.

It was lovely yesterday watching him run round the garden with next door's kitten, chasing the rabbit. She is still bigger than him and chases him too.

I want company

2008-12-12T12:27:00.002Z

Even being on the computer will not keep Tugger away. If he can't get to my lap, he'll sit on my arms. At least he is still too light not to press any of the buttons when he walks over the keyboard! It is quite amusing teasing him with the pointer on the screen though.

Can we all join in?

2008-11-23T12:21:00.002Z

Here is Tugger deciding if the bath is a good place to swim! Yes it was full, and occupied, and the water far too hot for a little kittie.

I think we have found ourselves another cat that likes water. I just hope when he does jump in, the water will be cool enough not to burn him.

You know it's cold when...........

2008-11-22T18:00:00.003Z

The cat has to wrap herself in the duvet!

And no, this wasn't set up for a photo. Kasha took herself off this morning and this is how D found her when he came home at lunchtime.

Just what has she got under there

2008-11-20T16:05:00.003Z

The other night it was a bit chilly before I went to bed, so I made myself a hot water bottle. Then I decided there was something on television I wanted to watch first, so it I put it under the blanket. Tugger was not sure what to make of it at all!
There's something strange under there, it moves and makes a gurgling noise?

Wonder what happens if I jump on it?

It's warm, and wobbly, and it's gurgling!

Shall I kill it or help her with her cross stitch?