Burglar Cat

The Dinner itself was very, very nice – unfortunately, the South Africans kind of spoiled it. First, when I complimented the chef, comparing his specialty favourably to the same meal in Pretoria – he immediately asked “So, I can charge Pretoria prices?” And I’m thinking “Er, no? You don’t have Pretoria clients, you’re not paying Pretoria rent, you don’t even have parking for your customers, etc.” Then listening to some of the South Africans talk about their wives – not pleasant. Another guest spent half an hour on a cell phone – hello? That’s the worst kind of manners! Then, in response to a funny drunk story I told, someone else had to top it … his punchline? And then he puked. That’s it. I have no idea what was supposed to make that funny. So typical, and such a pity.

Back at home, it would seem that climbing onto the curtain rail is the current thing – I’ve had to pick three of the Mip Mips off the curtains and smack them. The only exception? Mewthos!

Well, it’s after ten … gonna be a short night!

Well, short and long night in the end. Ziva woke me even earlier than usual – it was still dark when I let her out. Then the Mip Mips started playing at some point, I didn’t check the time, I was just too tired.

It was after seven, when I heard Ziva ... outside the BEDROOM door! I’m thinking ‘Did I forget to let her out? Had I locked her in the lounge all this time?’ And then I found an overturned flower pot. That cat must have somehow got up to the window and through the fanlight! All the windows are closed, only the fanlights are open! I am on the first floor! And there are stairs outside Rose’s – so that’s another ½ floor. That cat somehow managed to get up 1 ½ storeys and then up to the fanlight! I am stunned, just stunned.

Well, I did get up – eventually – had a really strong coffee and dragged myself to work.

Back at home, Rose tells me Shadow gets toys for herself now. Apparently she caught and killed a bird – but unlike Ziva, she doesn’t eat it, she treats it as a toy! Spreading feathers around the room with every toss and tumble.

During Rose’s visit, Mewthos comes past with some red liquid on his nose – looks like blood. Not much, though. I grab him and clean his nose, can’t see any actual cut under the fur. He might have dashed head first into one of the sharp corners at the back of the stove – but I looked again a little later, there’s no trace on his nose.

I’m feeding the Mip Mips, distracting them from the front door so Rose can leave without any Mip Mips dashing out leading us a merry chase again. I’ve mixed their second dose of Pro-Biotics into the food tonight.

Ziva is in and out. At one of her ‘In’ times, I sit down to fuss over her – she needs attention, too – when I see a white flash in the corner of my eye. Yeah, my fears were correct: A Mip Mip got hold of my underwear and was zooming off with it, chased by the whole tribe! NOT how I like my underwear being used.

I’m pretty tired from the sleepless night, so I just wanna bath, eat and sleep. Not sure how much longer the Mip Mips – now plus Ziva – are going to keep playing. Yes, Ziva is actually playing!

Sigh, as I type this, I see another white flash from the bathroom to the bedroom: Lady Jane has got the end of the roll of toilet paper in her mouth and is dashing around with it … rolling off more paper as she runs! I tore it, so they’re not unrolling any more – but they’ve all settled down to eat the paper now. Seriously? First they ate the litter, now toilet paper? Well, I’m definitely shutting the door while I bath!

Shutting the door was the easy part – getting Ziva and the Mip Mips out before shutting it? Not so easy. Whenever I’m in the bathroom, Ziva feels compelled to sniff the litter box and get busy covering … or faffing around. I don’t know what she’s doing. Once I got the door closed, I watched kitten paws doing their best to come in!

Now Ziva is sitting by the front door, insisting on going out – it’s dark, so my answer is: No! Ah! I just discovered the reason: Shadow is sitting outside the door! Yeah – still: No! So I used food to lure the whole lot into the bedroom – and shut the door! So I can cook and eat my own dinner in peace!