Friday - still hot & humid

As I went to bed, I realized that I had forgotten to scoop the sand box. As I’m pondering whether I could get away with it – after all, I’ve just topped it up with a full load of clean sand – Ziva goes inside, and Lady Jane … outside! So there’s my answer: Her ladyship requires DAILY scooping. Nothing less will be tolerated.

This morning Mewthos decided once the alarm starts going, he’s entitled to augment it – so I’m up wonderfully early! So early, that Ziva went for an outside stroll.

The weather is being an awful tease: humidity and heavy clouds – yet not a drop of rain, yet. And according to the forecast, no rain this morning (humidity 79%); none this afternoon (humidity 84%); less than 1mm this evening (humidity 92%) and about 5mm overnight (humidity 93%).

This is terrible weather, you feel sticky all over and my left knee is playing up worse than it has in years! When Ziva came back this morning, wanting a lot of attention, I dared not go on the floor – for fear I’d do real damage trying to get back up! She stayed in reach, and even let me lift her onto my lap!

I’m reading an article here about people who get kittens, and when they outgrow the kitten look sort of loose interest. I don’t get that. Look at Ziva – she’s no longer a kitten, and yet she plays like a kitten! Ok, not as much nor as long as her Mips – and I’m glad about that! She wants affection – and learning that I’m almost always happy to give her lots of it – she’s happy with me and I’m happy with her! We share our responsibility for the Mips. We take over to give the other time-out. And we’re learning to understand each other! I can’t wait for the Mips to outgrow their babyhood and begin to develop into relatable adults!

I can’t imagine Mewthos ever loosing his adorable cuteness. It’ll change, but he’ll always be my goofy! And Lady Jane! I can’t wait to see what she’ll grow into! HaHa hopefully it involves inside-the-box widdling only!

Back at home I worked on the scratching post. I wrapped rope around the supports – and now it’s less stable. A bit wobbly. The Mips were unhappy with me taking apart this wonderful toy they were busy playing on, though – and watched what I was doing very closely.

I didn’t feel up to going out, so the Mips and Ziva stayed nearby as well. Rose, too, came up for her daily visit. She showed me photos of Lizzy – she’s giving her new mommy one heart attack after the other! Today’s photos showed Lizzy up on the roof!

As Rose leaves, the Mips explore the garden – though not for long. Less than half an hour later, Mips and Ziva are inside, playing happily! No complaints about the shut front door – yet! I’d like to take a quick bath, wash the humidity off – but the Mips and Ziva are playing so nicely together, in and out of the bathroom. I’m loath to interrupt.

Mewthos is terribly interested in what I use the toilet paper for. He is uncomfortably persistent in getting a good look at what I do. And then goes to the sandbox to show me “Look, I don’t have to abuse that lovely fun white play stuff!” I don’t know whether to laugh or just sigh in exasperation!

Well, Ziva is done playing, for now, and demands an intensive attention session. The only problem with that, is that she insists on lying on the floor – and I have to either bend over her, or get on the floor myself. And with my knee playing up in this weather, that’s not helpful.

A warm bath helped my knee, and I feel refreshed, with that sticky humidity washed off! Ziva, on the other hand, wants to go out. Now. I can hear thunder outside – I don’t think Ziva would enjoy getting caught in a storm! Fortunately she gives up after a minute and settles down to nurse her Mips.

Yes, at nearly four months old, they’re still nursing! I don’t think Ziva knows about weaning. We’re guessing she was orphaned very, very young. Either taken from her mother too soon or … we don’t know. She hasn’t learned any mothering, like picking up kittens by the scruff, patience to stay with them when they are babies or weaning. I’m not even getting cat kisses from her! I’ll be sending cat kisses to her – and she turns her head away.

I just got another update about Earl: He’s doing very well and shows every sign of happiness!