No more Mip Mips, just Mips now

I’ve had just about the worst night ever since Ziva has walked into my life! The worst was when Ziva disappeared but last night is a close second! Ziva absolutely would not settle down! She kept meowing and trilling and chirping and waking me up should I doze off – for hours! She clearly wants reassurance, yet at the same time won’t come too close to me. I felt like such a traitor: she trusted me with her family and I make them disappear one by one!

Mewthos and Lady Jane, too, are subdued – but not too much. I tried every way I could think of reassuring Ziva, she won’t cuddle, she won’t let me touch her – when she does allow a touch, and I stroke her, she runs away like I’m distasteful to her. By around midnight I tried to get her settled with more food – I took the open can of mousse from the fridge and put it in her bowl. She greedily wolfed it down – only to throw it right up again! Which didn’t stop her from wolfing down more – which she also threw right up again!

Mewthos and Lady Jane ate happily, then played a bit more before settling down on the bed to sleep. Lady Jane slept next to my shoulder – but as far from me as she could. Curled up right by the wall! Mewthos curled up near my feet – but also as far from me as he could. Also curled up by the wall.

Neither Mewthos nor Ziva woke me up this morning and I overslept horribly! Ziva was curled up next to my head, Mewthos and Lady Jane hadn’t moved. Mewthos and Lady Jane were around my feet so much that I picked Mewthos up to show him how I make my coffee. Then they went and played with the curtains – sigh! Lady Jane was stretching to climb up them and I ended up having to shut them in the bedroom. I lured them there by re-filling their kibble dispenser.

I have made one decision, though, and that’s final: Lady Jane will stay. There will be no more cats disappearing from my family! Lizzy was not so traumatic, since I had know she’d be leaving and that she’ll be going to a wonderful and definitely forever home. And that I would be getting regular updates how she’s doing – and I can visit her anytime I like. The latter is also true for Earl, the difference was that I had less than 24 hours notice!

Earl is also in a wonderful and definitely forever home. I will also be getting updates and I can also visit him anytime I like. He’s gone to a home where he not only has a lot of new friends, but where he also has a really, really amazing enclosure (so he’s safe from cars and any other outdoor hazards) with a multitude of special furniture, including trees, where he can play, climb, hide, race and do everything he needs to fulfill his cat instincts! I want to go visit sometime, because I would love to see what they’ve done! Maybe get some ideas for my own cat-house! I want to re-furnish my home so that my cats no longer want to go out. Provide everything they need.

I am somewhat worried about Ziva, though. She is getting quite fat and her behaviour is becoming stranger than ever. I think her high intelligence is working against her here. With that intelligence, she is capable of worry, which in turn results in stress. She clearly wants attention, but at the same time she won’t let me give her attention. At night she’ll go outside on the window sill, calling, and when I call her she eagerly comes – but not near enough for me to even touch her. Over and over and over until I give up. At night she no longer even wants to come into the bedroom, but wants to stay curled up on the chest behind my desk. I have to carry her into the bedroom every night – and she does not like being picked up. It is almost like she is ‘waiting for the other shoe to drop’ – expecting something bad to happen to her. I don’t know how she came to be homeless, so I don’t know exactly what memories haunt her – and I don’t know how to reassure her.

I just got a call from Earl’s new human! He is settling in beautifully and slept curled up by her neck all night. She says she’s had to re-name him – he’s now Taz – because one of her cats has a name very similar to Earl. Since he’s only been Earl for a month, that shouldn't be a problem. As I write this, tears well up in my eyes again and a part of me wants to call her back and say that I made a mistake, he must come back home! But he IS home. Whereas Ziva, Mewthos and Lady Jane are just with me – not in a permanent home. I’m talking about my nomadic lifestyle.

I had moved the cat fountain into the bedroom – but since it must be connected to electricity, it’s near the sand box rather than by the food dispenser. And I’m afraid they are not taking to it, after all. Lady Jane in particular – when I place her in front of it, she just stays petrified staring at it. Mewthos will drink from it, but they all prefer the familiar source of water. It was nearly empty, so I just added a glass of water, for now. Let’s see whether they will adapt to the fountain! I read online that cats prefer a fresh source of water, since they have very sensitive taste buds – but the reality proves that wrong. Rose and I both agree that cats will drink from the weirdest sources – despite having clean, fresh water available. Ziva used to prefer the stale water in the watering can in the garden, where snails died, grass and ants floating on top. Shadow and Rose’s tom will drink from the bird bath. I watched Mewthos drink from the bottom tray under the flower pot. This would indicate they find the fresh water tasteless.

And, back at home, Mewthos and Lady Jane prove my point!

It was so funny, the way Mewthos climbed on to of the flower pot to get at the water in the tray underneath!

We had quite some entertainment watching Lady Jane trying to figure out how to get at the water underneath the pot (which is still dripping) without getting wet. She tried to pull the water out with her paw – but was not impressed with said paw getting wet in the process. She tried sticking her head under the tray – but was not impressed with the dripping on her head.

That was the sitcom of tonight’s cat TV schedule. Next we have an action show.

Rose’s neighbour’s terror has decided Mewthos and Lady Jane have outgrown the ‘paws off babies’ safety. I hear some growling, so I go to investigate. I find Mewthos at the bottom of the stairs, bushy tailed, growling. I find Lady Jane in the path next to the stairs, also bushy tailed – I can’t tell whether she is growling. And smack in the center, facing both my babies, Rose’s neighbour’s terror. Bushy tailed, crouching – seemingly trying to decide which of my babies to attack?!? So I’m flying down the stairs shouting ‘Home’ and pointing the terror in the right direction.

After action we have a happy family show.

Lady Jane is showing off her climbing and balancing skills – which nearly stop my heart! Her and Ziva change places on the wall – with Lady Jane walking underneath Ziva! Ziva is quite sure footed, naturally, but Lady Jane? She is still learning! As I’m bending forward to pet Mewthos, who’s looking at me with his loving brown eyes, Lady Jane takes this opportunity to move to a less dangerous surface: my back! From there she hops down to join Mewthos and we all hug – happy family!

After happy families, we watch an adventure show.

Mewthos comes running, paws up on my legs. No, he doesn’t want to be picked up, he wants me to follow. I think he’s learning ‘Show Me!’! So I get up and we go outside. I don’t see Lady Jane anywhere, so I start calling and searching. Neither Ziva nor Shadow are nearby, so I begin to doubt that Lady Jane is outside. As I’m about to turn back and look for her indoors, I see movement in the tree: Lady Jane! Seeing how far out on the limb she can go! She’s having an adventure all by herself, exploring new territory! As I see this, Ziva and Shadow come sauntering back from the far end of the garden! Although, instead of coming to check on Lady Jane, they decide to sit down right where they are and let Lady Jane enjoy her solo adventure!

We follow the adventure with a cooking show, although, since no felines are involved, it’s strictly speaking not a cat show. We close the evening with a mystery!

Still the same mystery, though: I start scooping the sandbox – when Mewthos climbs in, sits down and blissfully stares into space while he relieves himself! He was peacefully napping in the lounge – he appeared like magic as soon as I bent over the sandbox with the scoop. Seriously – does anyone have any clue to this mystery?

And that’s all for tonight. Thank you for watching!