I serve my masters

Got to bed late, and to sleep even later – as the Mip Mips started playing like crazy! That disco light seems to be a standard feature now – I can close the curtains and stop it flashing around the room, but they still flash on the curtains themselves.

Woke up early to let Ziva out – who knocked over another flower pot when she came back in through the feckin’ fanlight in the lounge. Sigh – took half an hour to clean that up.

When I woke up again, I looked around and found all four Mip Mips sleeping on the bed. Mewthos right in front of me, the twins by my feet and Lizzy had curled up to lie on my teddy, Ernie! That was just too cute!

I left in time to get to the vet – who kindly put up the poster ‘advertising’ the twins – but don’t have any of the items shown in their e-store. Like the Mother & Baby Cat Iams – they only have the kitten Iams. Not much cheaper than the Royal Canin. And the largest bag they have is 2,55 kg. That will maybe last a week! But I did get the mousse. Oh, and none of the cat toys on their site. Just what’s in the bowl, so I selected two. One with feathers (which I’m sure Lizzy will love!) and a green mouse with catnip. No sand.

So then I went to Checkers, where I got the sand and the Purina One kitten food last time, which they like. Yes on the sand, no on the cat food. What is it with PE stores that stock completely inconsistently? I mean, if you are looking for something specific – don’t even BOTHER starting at the store you got it last time!

I see some more fun toys, though, so I get some more.

Next to Newton Spar to order the Platters for work – yeah, earliest I may collect is 10:00! And they don’t just deduct the 50% deposit – they take the whole amount. Really totally unimpressed, even pissed at the ‘service’!

I still need more cat food, though, because I don’t want to have to go again in the near future. So off to Pick n Pay. Got three bags (largest bag they stock is 1,5 kg – that’s one week!). While there, I also looked through their clothes and got some very different type of tops. Different, as in something I wouldn’t normally consider. Get to the cashiers – I have less than ten items, so I queue at the quick queue. Only. The guy in front of me is blocking me. He’s offloading his trolley, which is blocking the access to the second cashier – and I have to wait for him to finish his umpteen items before I can get to the free till! What an ass!

Two hours! I was driving around for two whole hours! For cat food and litter! Good news though: I was right, Lizzy loves the ball with feathers! It’s HERS and don’t come near her when she’s got a hold of it! She’ll spit, growl and even try to claw if you come near her!

Rest of the day? Chores: Scoop out litter boxes, as I’m doing that I see someone STILL widdles outside the box! So I get to clean the whole corner – again! Vacuumed the lounge (remember, there was an overturned flower pot!). Wash and hang a load of laundry. Then get the laundry hamper back from Lady Jane, who dragged it to the bedroom. Why? Well, it’s white and has strings … well, it does now, it used to have handles, but to prevent Mip Mips from strangling themselves, I’ve had to cut them. Next, pick up the next half roll of toilet paper Lady Jane dragged from the bathroom through the passage into the bedroom. Again! Feed the Mip Mips – only Earl and Mewthos want any mousse. Now I’m trying to decide whether I want to vacuum the bedroom – usually I lock the cats in the spare bedroom for that, but the bird is there now. Still doing well, by the way!

After looking around the lounge – an hour after I vacuumed = an hour of Mip Mip play – I decide not to bother vacuuming the bedroom today. So I wash dishes instead.

That green mouse I got at the vet’s? Guess who loves to play with that? Ziva! It is truly joyous to watch her finally play! I had a few minutes alone with her before I went shopping and managed to entice her in a mild version of rat-race. She won’t quite run after the stick, like the Mip Mips, but she does try to catch it!

I opened one window in the lounge just to get some air in – and had to close it, since Lady Jane decided to jump up onto the sill and attempt to move outside. If she falls, she probably won’t be hurt, as she’ll land on the roof over Rose’s porch – but her mommy doesn’t know how to pick her up and carry her to safety! So – better close the window.

I’ve turned into a slave! Five cats have become my masters, I must do their bidding – or else! Or else suffer the consequences, that is. My bedroom windows are permanently closed, which I hate! My bedroom is a playground full of toys, and other kitty stuff. I spend my ‘day off’ – as in every Wednesday – cleaning up after my masters! I haven’t spent any real time in the garden and I don’t remember when last I cooked myself a real meal, either.

The amount of work is proportional to the number of felines. I’ve returned the ‘loan’ to her proper servant – although she still visits regularly, helping herself to food and using the litter box. Don’t ask me why – it upsets Rose, too. In January – maybe even sooner – Lizzy will go to her happy forever home. Then I should be down to four – should, yes, plus Shadow. My problem is not so much the financial implications – though they, too, are not negligible – but the amount of time I am spending cleaning up after them. The amount of time I spend playing with them is at least pleasure, but the cleaning? That’s getting to be a bit much!

But watching Ziva play? That makes up for a lot! She’s a difficult cat, because up to now she’s had a difficult life. And as the Mip Mips get older, they’ll be less hassle – like now, for instance. While I’m writing, I’m also keeping an eye and both ears out for the Mip Mips, ready to jump when they do something they shouldn’t, like climb onto the table, or spring up on the curtains. Another plus: I’m getting a lot of exercise here, getting off the floor, jumping to keep them off whatever they shouldn’t be climbing on, removing whatever they shouldn’t have in their mouths.

Well, I’m going to try for a leisurely bath and then read for a while. Early night experiment, Revision x.