Working Monday

Woke up much earlier than yesterday, with three cats snuggling my feet. Ziva went out as soon as I let her – quite eagerly. The Mips went ballistic in my flat – repeatedly jumping on the kitchen counter, kitchen window sill. Both of them. While I was having coffee, Mewthos dragged my pyjama pants through to the lounge – I have no idea why? Or could it be that they are beginning to associate “Work” with “home alone all day”? Like I said, I’ve been making a point of telling them on such mornings, that I have to go to work.  I now distract them with a ‘treat’ while I get out the front door.

I’m always a little upset by their apparent indifference to my home coming. Ziva greets me at the garage, and lollops around my feet all the way – flopping down, rolling around for belly-rubs. She stays with me – after the essential food bowl inspection – until she’s had her fill, whereas the Mips first go outside ... then stroll back for a bit of a ‘Oh, it’s you’ just sort of hanging around without showing real interest. Now, I KNOW they are happy to see me, and I always express my happiness to be home with each and all of them – but they seem to feign indifference. It’s only their initial response to my home-coming and doesn’t last long, but still.

So, today, I tried a bit of a different approach – I stopped at the door to greet the Mips. No change. They did, however, come running for cuddles when I was in the garden soon afterwards! Our gardener has made a new bed, along the west wall. Rose had planted the odd geranium along there, and the garden disservice would randomly mow some down. So now there’s a bed, with a border of rocks. Rose has emptied her entire stock of cuttings she’d been keeping in her courtyard, as she’d decided to go from green to multi-colour – she’s put Alyssum, Cosmos and such colours in there now. Our gardener also relocated all Alyssums from the garden into the bed. He likes beds. My planting Gazanias in the middle of the grass always upset him, he’s never given up the hope that I’d let him transplant them into beds one day.

Romeo showed up as well. Rose says he’s been around most of the day, even dared to explore her lounge – until her tom chased him out! He came upstairs again, helped himself to all the food that was out – he cleans out the wet food bowls very nicely, I must say! Then he sort of hung around in the kitchen. He no longer attacks any of my cats, but there’s still a lot of tension. He started caterwauling in the kitchen! I sent him out – not chased, just sort of moved around so he got the idea. He went out … and when I stepped away from the door, tried coming right back inside! Eventually I shut him out – and he caterwauled a bit, but it quietened down fairly soon.

Lady Jane is quite fearless! Earlier she chased a Hadeda in Rose’s garden! Actually ran up to the bird in attack mode! I’m glad he flew off, and didn’t kebab my kitty! Yesterday she also approached Romeo quite fearlessly – he actually backed away! Today, it was also Lady Jane who approached Romeo. Well, not counting Ziva, since they seem to have an understanding. There’s the occasional spat, but mostly they get along. I’m still wondering what’s up with him – does he or doesn’t he have a home?

Well, upstairs, I found my pyjama top in the lounge as well. Since it is white, and now has a hole in it – I’m quite sure that was Lady Jane! What is it with her eating clothing? Cats are carnivore – they don’t need fibre! Yeah, I know, that’s not the ‘fibre’ nutritionists mean, anyway – just had to put it out there. But seriously – why EAT bits of my clothes? It’s not clawed or just a tooth gone through – there’s an actual piece missing. A small piece, this time – but the purpe top she actually ate quite a lot! Yeah, I know – I really do have the weirdest cats!

Oh, and Mewthos has some sort of patch on his face – it’s a little grey patch just over his mouth. Looks a bit like half a mustache. He’s had that for a while now, it feels a bit rough, but not sore. And none of his whiskers have fallen out – I’ve no idea what it could be. I’ll ask the vet when he goes in for his snip – if he still has it then.

What I didn’t get around to, is taking the rubbish out. I didn’t exactly forget – I just didn’t feel up to it. Well, I’ve done everything else that needed doing – even re-filled the sandbox … which was greeted with an enthusiastic drop followed by equally enthusiastic covering by Lady Jane. Followed by Ziva, and I’m pretty sure Mewthos got a turn as well. Getting the new bag of sand was a bit tricky, since I keep them outside the front door – I open the door and three felines come running! All wanting out! Not such a good sign, is it? Does this mean when I get a place where they can come and go at their leisure that they’ll go out every night? Ah, well, not something to worry about today.

Ah well, everyone is napping now, so hopefully I get a chance to sleep soon, as well.