Mewly's snip

I had just about the most exciting bath ever, last night! The Mips united in their curiosity to investigate what is wrong with their human? Does she really lie in water – all covered? Is it really water? I had one head after the other popping up over the rim like a Punch and Judy show! At one point Lady Jane jumped on the rim, and as it’s wet one leg slipped and ended up in the bath. Throughout the entire show I was apprehensive that one of the Mips would end up in the bath – and that would be very, very painful for me! Mynx once fell into the bath with me – that was about twenty years ago and I still remember! Anyway, the funniest thing was, when Mewthos tried to close the shower curtain – to hide the full bath of water!

This morning I had a full revolt on my hands: Ziva and both Mips were complaining bitterly that there was neither food nor water out for them, Ziva wouldn’t even go out but insisted I put food and water back where they belong! I had no choice but to put Mewthos in the carrier so I could put food and water out for Ziva and Lady Jane – both immediately sat down for a meal. Poor Mewly was crying piteously in the carrier. I couldn’t bring myself to drink coffee while he was being shut away like that – fortunately it was close to eight so I took him to the vet. Ziva ran out and Lady Jane watched with big eyes as she was being deserted.

I took Mewthos to the vet, poor boy lay curled up at the back of the carrier. At the vet’s the receptionist had made a sign saying “Welcome, Mewthos!” I thought that was so sweet of her! I like the elderly receptionist there, who works only mornings – she really cares for each of the patients and is always very lovely to chat with. I took Mewthos to his cage (sounds terrible, but they are quite large and there are pet beds in there and a litter-box. The receptionist suggested I take the carrier out – most pets associate the carrier with vet visits and fear them. Mine, however, associate the carrier with home, nest, safe – it’s always in the bedroom, their safety retreat, and they occasionally choose to sleep in it. I’ve put a blankie in there, one of my tops (for Mewthos to twirl) and his favourite pink feather. To Mewthos the carrier is ‘home’ – or as close as ‘home’ as possible in a strange place. If he’s scared, he’ll feel safe in the carrier.

I asked the vet to check his leg, as he’s still limping – she’s rather evasive about it, though. I’m not sure whether she’s just ‘sick and tired of an old problem she can’t do anything about’ or … what? I also asked her to look at that grey mark under his nose. I think, if I’m not getting any answer regarding his leg, I may take him to another vet. I just want to know what’s wrong. Whether it will heal in time or whether he’ll be limping for the rest of his life? I’ve noticed that his limp is always worse on the same days Rose’s knee’s are worst – when the weather is turning, when rain is forecast.

Back at home, Lady Jane is … upset. She won’t move more than one meter away from me and wants to be held and cuddled the whole time! Again and again and again. Then Romeo showed up and had his fill, followed by Ziva with a grasshopper! Ziva played only a bit with her grasshopper then left it in the lounge – now Lady Jane is occupied playing with it.

I’ve just cleaned up the overturned flower pot – sigh, what a mess! And it looks like liquid got involved in one spot, like someone widdled in the dirt? I shut Lady Jane indoors while I vacuumed – she usually runs out, and I don’t want her to get lost today. When I finished, I opened the front door again – and she shot out, though not far. I think I better grab a book and sit downstairs for a while, so Lady Jane can play outside. She’s eager to go out – but not alone! Ai, ai. My life would have been a lot easier if I had gone to work today! But poor Lady Jane would have had a traumatic day, and I couldn’t live with myself had I done that to her. She is such a curious, sweet, loving cuddle muffin!

I sat on the steps for about half an hour, reading my book – but the place is still full in the sun, and it’s too hot for comfort. So I’ve come back upstairs – with Lady Jane in tow. I was also hungry, so I fried myself some eggs. Lady Jane being around my feet, wanting to be picked up to see ‘what mommy doing?’ the entire time. Now she’s settled on the chair next to me for a nap – and I’m tempted to nap, too. That half hour in the sun has made me quite sleepy.

The vet’s receptionist just called: Mewthos is fine. He’s waking up. I can collect him after three, when the vet will talk to me about his leg. I want to get some groceries on the way – it’ll be my only chance to get away today. Sure, I could leave Lady Jane alone and sneak out – but I don’t want to do that to her. So far she has not moved further than one meter away from me since I’ve come back from the vet! She’s so cute when she’s sleeping – I just want to reach out and love her; but if I do, she’ll be up and back in full cuddle mode again.

I just had the piece of lemon cake Rose had given me. She’d told me how she caught her tom stealing from it when she had left it open on the counter – which was strange, as her tom has never done that before. She decided to give him some, and he ate that up happily! So I decided to try the same with Lady Jane – and indeed, she ate the lemon cake very happily!

Afterwards, I was puzzled that she was nowhere near – turns out she was stalking a Hadeda! I had to take some photos – look for yourself: that bird is bigger than she is!

 

See? The bird is bigger than
Lady Jane!

When it flew off, she ran after it!

After the bird flew off, she came back upstairs and promptly went to sleep.

I thought I could sneak out while she was asleep – I should have known better. It took some explaining to persuade her to stay inside and to let me go. I stopped at Spar for groceries and was at the vet’s just after three to pick up Mewthos. She showed me an x-ray she’d taken of Mewthos’ left paw today – and showed me that the bone structure is different. Something is wrong, something is different. There is no broken bone, no fracture – she said something about growth plates, which I’m afraid I didn’t quite understand. My knowledge of biology is extremely limited, I’m afraid. She wasn’t 100% sure exactly what was wrong, either, nor what – if anything – should be done. She said she’ll consult with another vet, then she’ll let me know. Sigh, my poor little Mewly!

 

Hey!? Where'd my balls go?

He was very happy to come home, and tucked into his food bowl with relish! I went downstairs to tell Rose what the vet said, Lady Jane is back to her normal self – no longer attached by a one-meter string – but Mewly stayed upstairs. I went up and carried him down – he entertained himself with one of the grasshoppers Ziva had brought. He kept pushing it behind my rear – Rose joked that if the grasshopper stops jumping, he’ll at least make me jump! Romeo came for another extensive feeding session – not trouble with either Mip.

A sudden light shower sent Rose and myself indoors. Mewthos wanting loads of attention – and food! He’s quite himself, happy, hungry, cuddly. While I’m writing this, he’s sitting by the door – as if he’s waiting for something? It’s when he sits with his left paw tucked under, that my heart goes out to him.

Lady Jane has settled on the box behind me, and Mewthos has settled on the scratcher.

As soon as Ziva comes in, Mewthos goes running after her! At first I thought he’d been waiting for her, but now he’s sitting at the door in the same waiting position, again. Oh, and when he came for cuddles? I noticed that his purr now ends in a high-pitched prr. He sounds a bit like Lady Jane when she’s chirping!

Well, I’ve given them an entire tin of tuna – and they finished nearly all of it! Ziva is sleeping on the chair next to me, Lady Jane is back on the box behind me and Mewthos is still looking expectantly at the door! Shame, and he’ll be stuck inside all day again tomorrow!