No TV, Just Life: The one that got away

Except for the early wake up from Ziva, I had a good night. I let her out sometime after five, turned over and slept until Mewthos came to play and cuddle and purr – after eight! We played for a while, but I wanted my coffee so I let him join me while I made coffee. He was quite well behaved, but he is a kitten, not yet a cat, so play is involved. I put down food for the Mip Mips, they started eating – Shadow popped in for a quick visit then Ziva returned.

It’s overcast today, with some sun – I’m not sure what I want to do today. I feel like going right back to bed to sleep some more. Tried it – not permitted. So I let the whole cat ‘n caboodle outside, cleaned the litter box, placed it in the sun to dry … when the sun is out. Clouds keep interfering with my drying.

Ziva brought in another bird, only – instead of eating it, she keeps parading it around. Why? Because it’s still alive! I guess she means to teach her kittens, but I’m having none of that! So I take it away from her. It doesn’t look too badly hurt, mostly in shock, so I wrap it in a towel and give it some water with a small pipette. I leave it wrapped in its towel on the kitchen counter and put a few bread crumbs within reach.

Cleaning the washing machine is a tricky job – cleaning up the water coming out the filter before it runs under the machine? But with four curious kittens watching and pawing at your every move? Cute, but tedious! I get it done, though.

I try giving the pigeon some more water, which it does gulp down – and then flaps its wings and starts flying around my kitchen landing on top of a cupboard! Shadow is on the counter in a flash! So I grab her and toss her out the door. Then I get a stool, and get the bird – which doesn’t fly away immediately. I carry it outside and let it go – it flies off to I know not where … Shadow racing down the stairs after it. A while later I catch Shadow on the kitchen counter again, looking up to where the bird had perched.

I’ve bought another pack of chicken wings for Ziva, so I cut two and put it in a bowl for her. She ignores it. The Mip Mips – led by Mewthos – try to tuck in. It’s a bit too much for their little teeth, but one by one they turn away from the mousse and go for the wings!

I went into the garden to collect whichever Sweet Pea pods had dried already – not many. Then I went to the rockery to see if there was some space for sowing, and to my surprise I collected some ripe tomatoes instead! Cherry Tomatoes, by the size of them. Tomato plants tend to ‘shed’ off lower leaf-branches as in: they start turning yellow. So I cleaned out hordes of yellow branches and opened up some of our succulents again! Then I filled the drum with errant Tecoma and sprouting thorns.

The whole cat family seems to have decided today it’s too hot to play – they’ve all been lying down, napping, for hours. And still are, even Ziva left her post under the Spekboom to grab a cushion (off my chair) and snooze on it.

Well, that was too good to last, wasn’t it? A quiet Sunday? Too much to ask for! When Rose came to visit they came out and went right out the door. Then they went down the stairs and through the cat TV into Rose’s garden! On their mother’s insistence they reluctantly returned – but Miss Quiz observed Shadow jumping over the fencing … a nugget of information she put to good use! I put a brick in front of the hole – so Quizzy Lizzy climbed up the fence! She was just about to get onto the gate post when I grabbed her – unfortunately I didn’t get a proper hold on her, and she got one of her claws into the underside of my forearm. That’s going to turn ugly, it’s already a bruise. After that experience she turned to Spitfire mode – all bushy tail and sideways walk, back arched.

I’m not keen on the kittens going much further from home. Their mothers encourage them to explore further and further and further each time. It’s their nature – they were both strays, with a territory spanning several blocks. But I do not ever want any kitten anywhere near the road!

As much as I hate the thought of advertising kittens, even though it’s the only way to find them a good home, I think I must get over my aversion and do it. I dislike doing so especially this close the Christmas.

Ok, photos are up on Facebook. Getting a lot of likes, but that doesn’t mean anything – EVERYBODY likes pictures of kittens! Let’s hope they find homes – as much as it’ll break my heart to let them go. Really. They’re still babies, they still nurse. They play. They come running when I enter the room, when I come home. They come snuggle up to me after meals. They’re my babies.

Well, it’s been another exciting Sunday. Another early night and hopefully a full night’s sleep. Enjoy the photos!

You know the old 'tie on the doorknob' message?
This is me messaging 'kittens loose in the lounge'!

This is my bedroom curtain - I was too late there!

Mewthos & Quizzy Lizzy at play

I'm afraid the bat did not survive

Front door capers

Ziva looking for attention! Notice the spec on her left eye? And the slight deformity of the pupil?
The vet reckons it's an old injury - but doesn't affect her.