Busy playing

Just in case you were wondering: No, Snowball didn’t savage me during his first night here. He just quietly slept – mostly in the lounge – and mipped to be let out in the morning. He did venture onto the bed a couple of times, but whenever he saw me looking he ran off – no clue why.

I haven’t written this weekend, because I’ve just been so caught up playing the Elvenar Adventure, which I’m leading the fellowship, and trying to keep up Metropolis play at the same time – with three to five cats being a tad difficult.

On Friday Mewly started dragging his leg along, rather than picking it up. No more clonk, clonk, but lots of zzzzzt zzzzt on the carpet. This worried me quite a bit, as his leg also felt cold to the touch. I thought about taking him to the vet Saturday morning, but then decided to wait till Monday. He also seems to really struggle to sleep, and he’s getting rather cranky as a result. He’ll come up to me, put his paw on my leg, and if I don’t jump to his attention, he’ll throw over the waste bin and stalk off in a huff! Or he’ll come mewling non-stop and not really wanting anything just sharing his unhappiness. He won’t let me pick him up, he won’t come and play, he doesn’t want to be stroked … he just walks around mewling. Until I give up and bribe him with food – that always works! I know, I know, he’s already chubby and it’s bad parenting. Well, he’s not really chubby, just a bit overweight for his current size, but he’s still got a lot of growing to do, and he’ll be wanting less food once I switch over to the Royal Canin.

I took him to the vet early this morning. The vet really would have preferred to keep the splint on a bit longer, but she asked how he was coping with it and when I told her that he’s not sleeping well and is now dragging the leg – although his appetite is normal, his activity levels are down, she decided to take it off – at least for a while. As is normal with a bandaged up paw, he developed some gunge between his paw – it’s from sweating without airing. She asked me to keep her updated on his progress, specifically whether he’s putting weight on that leg. She’s keeping the splint for now, in case we need it again. She also mentioned that he may need surgery further down the road, if his leg doesn’t grow properly, they may have to fuse … I think his wrist, but I hope I remember that wrong.

When I got him home, he just sat cleaning his paw – which is a bit swollen now. He wouldn’t let me help clean it, though. He did go out for a bit of a stroll, but spent most of the day upstairs, sleeping. Ai ai, he worries me that little one. The bandage rubbed some patches hairless, and it looks sore. But he seems happy enough, I saw him put his weight on that leg on a few occasions.

Our gardener was here today. He had wanted to come on Friday, but since it rained all day, he couldn’t. He did trim the hedge nicely, but it still needs to be leveled a bit more on the one side.

It rained last night and looks like rain again tonight – let’s hope it does! So far the rain hasn’t had much impact on the capacity of our dam, still under 10%.

Rainy Friday

After we had finally all settled down to sleep, it suddenly got quite loud outside – the rain came down in what sounded like bucket-loads! One of those “ooh, it’s good to be snuggled under the duvet with cats” downpours.

I was woken quite rudely quite early this morning: try as you might, you can NOT ignore a cat with a splinted leg stepping on your boobs! Sigh. The Mips were quite insistent that I should get up, I caught Lady Jane somehow crouched on the closed fanlight, trying her best to open it! Mewthos picked up my phone, dropped it on the floor and put his paws on it. Lady Jane was quite agitated, insisting she must go out, NOW! I found out the cause of her agitation, while I was making my coffee: She sat on the chair behind me and turned it into a litter box! Urgh!

I can’t really hold that against her, though. That new type litter I tried is not very good. It doesn’t do much to help with the smell, and even though I scoop it daily, I’ve noticed flies in the box. With the litter being dark, it’s also difficult to tell which is wet and which is dry, so you end up scooping more of the litter with every wet load. With the sand, I can let the dry sand trickle off so I only the wet clump gets thrown out. I really should have replaced the litter yesterday, but I got so caught up with the game, it got too late. So, overall: It may be cheaper to purchase, but since it needs replacing more frequently, it actually works out to the same price. I still have one bag of it, so I’ll use that next and then go back to the Ultra Fine Sand.

Well, my cats all sit by the door wanting to go out – but it is overcast, dark and I don’t want to let even Ziva out while everybody is still rushing to work. Especially since the roads are wet. I hold out until eight, and I must say, they behaved very well.

Once I open the door, Snowball comes running in! I’ve heard him caterwauling outside when I sat down for my coffee. He’s wet and hungry, poor thing. Romeo soon follows. My cats rush out excitedly when I open the door, but the Mips soon turn back in disgust when they realise that everything is wet and it is still raining! Ziva doesn’t care, she’s off on her rounds.

In the kitchen, I see that someone has thoroughly licked every bit of Mayo out of my bowl! I had made myself a chicken-mayo salad yesterday – and had a battle to keep Mewthos’ nose out of my food!

According to the weather forecast it will continue to rain most of the day, which is a bit of an embuggerance, since I should get my car back today and I had intended to go to Makro from there. But in this weather, who wants to lug 5kg sand bags from one end of the garden to the other? Maybe I’ll go anyway – I can always leave the heavy stuff in the boot until tomorrow.

But we need the rain, oh so very desperately! Our local dam is at less than 10% of capacity! Those 10mm odd rain forecast for today should help, but still, the water situation in PE is critical. And then there are still people who waste water!

Snowball is such a placid cat! I can hardly believe it was he, who was seen chasing The Terror down the road! Here, in my flat, he is such a placid pleasure – Mewthos can hiss at him to his heart’s content, Snowball does not react. When I give the Mips a treat, he comes to see – but doesn’t even try to get any treat, he just settles down at the kibble dispenser and starts munching while keeping an eye on what we’re doing. When I play with the Mips, he comes closer and watches carefully, but does not join in. He investigates without ever interfering or doing anything to upset either Mips or me. He’ll play with the catnip chaser – but only when the Mips are nowhere near. He’s just enjoying the company, not being all alone. As I’m playing with the Mips, I keep bringing the stick they chase close to Snowball – Mewthos has gotten quite close to him without hissing during play-time! I use the same tactic to bring Ziva and Mewthos closer together, try and stop her being so aggressive toward her son!

Poor Mewly, that splint seems to be getting heavy. Well it’s not getting heavier, but I think he’s running out of energy. He no longer lifts it when he walks, no more clonk, clonk. He now just drags it along.

Well, it’s official! This cheaper litter sand does NOT get the Lady Jane stamp of approval! Normally, when I re-fill the litter box, Lady Jane jumps in and starts scratching enthusiastically and happily while I’m still pouring the sand in! Today, when I filled it with this dark gravel she just sat there looking at me as if to say “You can do better!”

As much as we need the rain, it leaves my cats bored to tears! So I take out the wand and play with the Mips for a bit – Ziva is not interested. I have to play gently with Mewthos, since he can’t jump and shouldn’t run – but Lady Jane needs to burn off some energy. In the middle of our play my phone rings: my car is ready! So I put on a rain coat … and poor Snowball, I have to carry him outside! I tell him he can wait for me on the porch, where it’s dry – I won’t be gone too long. Would you believe that’s exactly what he does? I was gone over an hour and he still sat exactly where I had put him down, waiting patiently!

On a side note: Having a bored Mewthos in your home is not a recipe for mental health!

While I stood outside (well, actually, inside the garage) waiting to be collected, Romeo came by. He definitely tried to tell me something – either that he wants to eat and I should open the door, or that Snowball is waiting for me. He didn’t simply walk past or come for attention – he clearly came to tell me something.

It has stopped raining for a bit, so Mips and Ziva are happy to get outside for a while. For myself, I went and got everything I need for a lekka stew! So, I’m trying to decide how best to go about my cooking! And just what spices to add – breyani? Curry? Or a good old hearty German stew?

Well, I’ve decided on a hearty German stew, albeit with brussel sprouts (not a German vegetable!). But first I better wash the dishes to make some room. This is something I can only do between projects: Feel like a specific meal, go out and get the ingredients then make it the same day. During projects, the time it takes to get groceries cuts too far into my evening to still make an elaborate meal. It’s either or: either go grocery shopping or cook an elaborate dinner.

Around half six it was already late dusk and time to get the Mips indoors. Ziva came running in as well, so I was glad to have everyone inside. Only … usually Snowy goes home at this time, but I saw him doing his business in the garden where all cats love to go, by the washing line. And Lady Jane kept going back to the door, sitting crouched looking under the door – so I knew Snowy was outside. It couldn’t have been Romeo – he usually caterwauls loudly when he wants to come in. So I opened up and let him in – and Ziva took the chance to dash out!

For the first time Snowy looks something other than placid: he looks a bit … apprehensive? Like he doesn’t know what to think of being allowed inside after dark. He went to check out my bed, but when I took a peek around the door, he came running out. Now he’s sitting on the blankie behind me, looking around – not napping, just … sitting there. I’ve opened the door – to call Ziva – but he shows no interest in going back out. Let’s see how this plays out!

The Mips are making up for their ‘imprisonment’ by zooming around like pinballs! Both of them, Mewthos as well. They’ve got a lot of energy to burn off – and boy, are they burning off energy now! When they come cavorting too close to Snowy, he just looks up, startled, that’s all. No further reaction from him. He is such a placid, inoffensive and beautiful cat! I opened a tin of wet food when Ziva came back inside, and he sat and waited until my cats finished eating and left the kitchen, only then did he go and clean their bowls!

Mewthos, on the other hand, will stick his head into any bowl half-way through his share – which offends Ziva no end! She’ll give me a look, while I’m already pushing Mewly back to his own bowl. He also tore my lounge curtains quite badly today: he was on the window sill and stuck his head through the hole Lady Jane had made that time – and then he jumped, tearing it open all the way down! Sigh!

Well, my stew won’t be ready tonight, so I’m having some bread rolls now. It needs to simmer for 3-4 hours, so it’ll be ready by nine. No worries, though. Stew always tastes better the second day! I’ll add the veggies when I re-heat it for tomorrow.

Day four without a car

I don’t think my poor little Mewly gets much sleep. I had to pick him off the kitchen counter again, last night. The look on his face, when I go to collect him isn’t ‘Oops, I’ve been caught being naughty’ but more like ‘The lengths I have to go to get my mommy to pick me up!’ Which isn’t the case, by the way – he gets plenty of attention from me! Anyway, I carry him to the bed, but he’s not finding a comfy position and settles down on the floor again. Later, when I get back from the bathroom I find him in the spot I just vacated! He seems to have found a comfortable position, so I leave him be and fit myself around him and his tribe – ending up stretched diagonally across my bed. He stays there for quite some time, purring as I stroke and scratch him. Eventually he gets up and tries to get some love from Ziva – who seems to be in a good mood, since she starts washing him.

Stray thought popped into my head today: What if, every time we think of those who passed away, apart from keeping them alive in our memories, we also keep them anchored to our world? As in, they can’t find eternal peace (or whatever your belief promises) as long as they keep being pulled back here? Just a thought …

I tried calling my employer, to let him know about the repairs to the car and that the project is now complete. As usual, he doesn’t answer his phone. Well, when he gets the bill he may deign to answer when I call? I have a really strange relationship with my employer – it has its pro’s and con’s. One of the con’s is that he very rarely answers the phone when I call him – even though I only call maybe five times a year. I’ve stopped caring, as long as my salary is paid every month. He also makes little to no effort to find me another contract – I mostly find my own now. So, I don’t bother him and he doesn’t bother me. No worries.

On the other Facebook Game I play, Elvenar, a new round of Fellowship Adventures started unexpectedly – we thought it would only be available to mobile players, but here we are! This requires that someone take lead – do the calculations to decide which quests will get us the highest score. It also requires communication among the fellowship – and that’s where our fellowship fails every time! Anyway, I scrambled to prepare the spreadsheet for those who use it, and to give us at least some guidelines. That kept me quite busy – between naughty Mips, demanding Mips and everything else going on.

Still stuck at home

Awww, after I posted the blog last night, Mewthos came to lie on my feet! I think he can’t get comfortable on a soft surface with that splint, so he prefers to nap on the floor – but he wants to be close to me. It’s such gestures that keep me patient when he’s being difficult. He always was a mommy’s boy – always happy to see me, running towards me with that happy puppy waddle of his! Even the vet calls him a mommy’s boy! And then he goes and climbs on the kitchen counter again – I have no idea how he gets up there with this leg in a splint! But up he gets and clonk, clonks on my bread board! Why? There is nothing up there for him! Oh, yeah – he doesn’t know that, until he’s checked everything out himself. Sigh!

Now, if only I could get Ziva to stop attacking the Mips! She doesn’t hurt them, or attack them seriously – just swats, hisses and snaps at them. Especially Mewthos! And then, at night, she goes over to where they are curled up and starts washing them! Indiscriminately – sometimes Lady Jane, some times Mewthos, sometimes both! Sometimes I sit up and huddle close to them, just for the sheer pleasure of watching this loving scene.

Mewthos had me running to the kitchen twice before he would settle down to sleep. I keep catching him on the kitchen counter – with that “Who? Me? What did I do?” look on his face. But Lady Jane also comes scooting out the kitchen – so I suspect she is not as innocent as she’d like me to believe!

I got up around half eight this morning, leisurely coffee, Mips exploring outside. Then our gardener arrived – next door, though. But still the Mips come scuttling inside as if a monster is chasing them! Snowball was here for his daily nap, but found the place too noisy, when Mewthos tried jumping on the table and I whined at him to stop. Mewly is being … mewly. Crying, crying, walking around, looking at me, crying some more. I sat down with him – but when I stroke him, he cries. Sigh.

Our gardener is working on the hedge today – from my neighbour’s side. Not Rose’s, but the one where Shadow goes to eat. Shadow is doing much better, by the way. Her nose is still a bit swollen, but otherwise looking good.

Back to our gardener, he’s borrowed my loppers to cut all the top branches off that hedge and he’s now putting them in the drum – per my suggestion. I’m not going to fill that drum anyway, so might as well use it for the hedge. It’s looking much better already, now that it’s level with the wall – my neighbour’s front wall, that is. There’s no wall between us, just a rusted old mesh fence.

When I first started clearing out that jungle of weeds, thorns and Tecoma, he was not very happy. He feels that the thorn ‘hedge’ keeps him safe, because anyone can get into my property (and I know people do at night, at times) and if the hedge is gone, they could just jump over the fence. He’s got high walls all around his house – and unfortunately, that gives criminals privacy. They did jump over his back wall and held up his wife and maid at gunpoint about a year ago. Nobody saw or noticed anything, because no one can see through walls – and on my side, the hedge was still too high and thick. Well, once I’m gone, he’ll soon have his thorny jungle back! Those thorns are growing like … well, like weeds, which is what they are. And the fungi thriving in that jungle? Urgh! Half the Tecoma is dead already, rotting in the centre of that wide jungle, turning to mildew and fungus. Opening it up has released a lot of that mildew into my garden, I’m afraid. It killed every vegetable I tried to grow. Until it is all cleared out and aired, it’s no use trying to grow anything here. That is why I keep at it, even though I’ll never reap the benefit.

I called the workshop and they told me they are on their way to get the bearing, then she’ll call to arrange collecting me. I told her about the kitten situation, so she’ll give me enough lead time to arrange that I can get out of the flat.

Well, both Mips are here for their Siesta. Lady Jane is so cute when she stretches and holds on to her stretched leg like it’s her teddy bear! Mewthos is stretched out on the floor by my feet. He’s sweet when he isn’t mewling! I get up to make myself another cup of coffee, and come back to find Mewthos curled up on my chair! I carefully pick him up and transfer him to my lap – but that’s not comfy enough, so he settles on the chair with Lady Jane. She starts washing him lovingly! Which turns into a wrestle, and Lady Jane leaves in disgust.

I’ve just checked the Scoreboard and I’ve entered the Top 100 on one of those exceptionally rare Souvenir collections! Now to get the other one onto the list as well, and hopefully level up a bit to ensure I stay on both lists! Yay!

The workshop called around half two. They have tried everywhere and cannot find the needed wheel bearing – their last resort is the agent. Pricey! But it will need to be replaced sooner or later – and if it fails completely, it could lock up and prevent the car from moving. So it’s not an optional luxury – it’s essential. Oh, and if they order it today, they’ll get it tomorrow afternoon and can replace it Friday morning! Good thing I didn’t try to have the car repaired while I was still working!

There’s nothing I urgently need, except some bread rolls. I asked Rose to get me half a dozen next time she goes out – which will be tomorrow morning. Shame, she offered to go right away – needing bread implies starving, but I assured her I’ve got plenty of everything, except bread. I could always bake some scones, so no fear of starvation!

And anyway, even IF I was starving, it would take a long while before it showed! Last time I stepped on the scale it went over 100kg! I’m blaming my chocolate habit – so I’m cutting back on chocolate … drastically. So drastically, in fact, that I’ve been getting headaches from lack of sugar – which will go away in time. Oh, I’m not going cold turkey! Just cutting down to more ‘normal’ quantities. And when I crave something sweet, I have some fruit. I just stepped on the scale again, and it’s no longer passing the 100kg mark. Yay!

Shame, I’ve just sorely disappointed poor Lady Jane! She proudly brought in a grasshopper she had caught! I praised her hunting skills and let her know how proud I am – but asked her to take it outside, please. Which she did, with an excited Mewthos in tow! Only, she brought it back inside – and you know how they hop onto curtains! I asked her to take it out again, she did, again, and brought it back inside again. So I let it out the window! Lady Jane nearly jumped after it, in her excitement, but remembered just in time how she got stuck there last time. She came in and I closed the window … to two very disappointed looking – and acting – little Mips!

Well, I’ll be … moggadoored! Romeo just came in for a snack, and on his way out he put his paw on my desk, getting my attention. I thought that strange, he’s never done that before? So I go to look, and sure enough: the food bowl is empty! That was his way of letting me know! Anyone trying to tell me cats are dumb? Ha! Just because they haven’t watched any Lassie movies, and don’t use the Lassie-move to get us to follow, doesn’t mean they don’t communicate their needs – it’s not their fault if we listen in ‘dog’.

Rose’s neighbour came to talk to Rose, she’s concerned for her cat, The Terror. She just saw her being chased by Snowball all the way down the road – in the middle of the road! And she says both of them definitely belong to the house next to hers. She also says with both, Romeo and Snowball, spraying in her yard, her geriatric tomcat has also started spraying! Something needs to be done about this, they need to be neutered! Maybe Cat Care have some advice. But I can NOT afford to pay for even a single procedure – I believe I’ve done my duty to felines.

Ziva came in around six and I gave them a special treat: I shared my chicken dinner with them. Well, not that they got a fair share – just a share. They quite loved it! Of course, Ziva sat by the door growling at me to let her out again, so I gave them all some nippies and she went off to the bedroom grumbling! There’s no other way to describe it, she sort of grrr-meows as she goes!

Poor little Mew-Mew! Apart from this morning, he has been really a good boy. No further mewling, no clunking on counters or tables. He spent most of today napping, some outdoor exploring, but he was no nuisance today. He followed Ziva into the bedroom and has been napping there these past two hours. When Lady Jane went into cuddle mode, I eventually carried her through to the bedroom. Attending to Ziva as well as Mewthos. Poor Mewly! He tried to cuddle up to Ziva – and she hissed at him! I do hope that will come to an end some day. At least Lady Jane doesn’t reject him – she loves her Ouboet!

Playing Metropolis

I woke up around six but only got up around eight. I don’t know why I’m so sluggish in the mornings – I usually enjoy getting up before sunrise; at least last year I enjoyed that! And it’s not as if my cats are particularly morning-cuddlers – not at all, actually. They just lounge around by my feet looking at me to let me know ‘Get up already!’

So, I get up, I open the door – and it rained overnight. Not much, just a damp layer on the ground. That doesn’t deter any of my cats – yet they hang around me, under my feet, lounging and rolling around the floor and on the window sill.

Romeo comes in and goes straight for the food bowls. He is HUNGRY! He didn’t come in to eat at all, yesterday – far too obsessed with The Terror. Snowball also strolls in, but he’s more interested in the toys than food. Oh, he eats, but not really a lot. It’s that catnip chaser he is crazy about – he smells the catnip and wants to get at it. That toy is VERY popular with all cats – with and without catnip! The ball just goes round and round in circles, but it keeps them intrigued!

For myself, I’m currently obsessed with catching up on one of my Facebook games: Metropolis. I’m exploring cities like a maniac – but the funny thing is: I’m nowhere near top Explorer in the past 24 hours! Okay, so I explore and populate (two clicks) whereas the top explorers only explore – but still, I explore and pop maybe 2000 cities a day at the moment. Top explorer is something like thirty-odd thousand! Well, I guess they must have a better internet connection, for one thing. Anyway, I’ve collected enough favour points to be paid-up until February 2019. And I’ve brought a few more collections into the Top 100 lists. At the moment there are two very scarce collections available and I’d like to get them into the Top 100 lists as well. They have been available two, maybe three times so far (once, when they created them, plus now – I might have missed a third time, though I doubt that). They’ll be available until the end of May only.

Basically, it started out as a very simple game. You get a city (no moving graphics, though, just images – which is low on data requirements). Your city has people, who need jobs to generage income. And they should be kept happy. Over the years new buildings have been added, but the principle stays the same: some are good for income, some are good for happiness – and then there are buildings which improve your indexes (Education, Health, Crime, Fire Protection and Accommodation). You can also get people or happiness from visitors. So you want lots of people to visit your city to help it grow. You can connect with up to 1000 other cities. The connection has to be mutual – one sends a request, the other accepts (or declines). When the game first started, you could only connect with Facebook Friends – so you’d first have to send a friend request, and if they accepted, you could send a connection request. That’s where a host of my Facebook Friends come from. But now you no longer need to be friends to be connected, and a lot of us have ‘culled’ our friend lists. But people get bored with games, so every now and then you need to ‘cull’ non-active mayors … and hope you find active ones to replace them.

The minimum daily activity is a) buy buildings that keep your people happy and b) auto-pop all connected cities. And then, every now and again, buy buildings which employ your people to continue to increase your income. I usually wait for one of those special events called ‘buyers market’ when all buildings are cheaper than normal.

That auto-pop costs income, unless you have a membership. You can buy memberships with favour points – there are different types of memberships, but the better ones require a bit of real money, which I don’t spend on games. So I get the ‘Silver membership’. But for that I need 70 favour points per 30 days. Those favour points are also available in the game – free of charge.

A feature which made the game interesting again was added quite a few years ago: Souvenirs. When you go visit a city, in addition to populating or entertaining you can also explore the city. When you explore, you can either find nothing, or find people or some coins – or souvenirs. Every souvenir is part of a collection, and every time you get enough souvenirs to level up a collection, you get 5 favour points. So now you can go outside your connections (some fellow players have created lists, which anyone can access) and explore all cities for souvenirs! Your best chance is still with your connected cities – active players. The more Souvenir shops these cities have bought, the higher the chance of finding a Souvenir when visiting. So, that’s what I’m doing at the moment – going through the list (by country) exploring as many cities as I can for souvenirs, to level up my Collections and get favour points. I’m keeping 500 in stock, and whenever I reach 570, I buy another month’s membership.

Oh, of course there is more to the game, or I wouldn’t still be playing after 10 years! And I’ve met a lot of fun and interesting Facebook Friends through this game.

And a good thing, too, that I’m so obsessed with the game at the moment, or I would have lost my patience with Mewthos today! I don’t know what to do with that kitten! Last night he jumped onto the counter again – I don’t know why. I carried him to bed, but he stretched out on the floor. I went to sit with him on the floor for a while, after which he came to bed and curled up next to me. Today he is being impossible! Jumping on the table, then on the counters, on the kitchen window sill – and he’s crying, crying, crying and I don’t know what to do. He doesn’t want attention, he doesn’t want to be held, he doesn’t want food … I don’t know what he wants. So I gave him some catnip. That seems to have calmed him down a bit, since he’s now napping. Finally!

Lady Jane has also come up for their noon Siesta. So I have no choice but to quietly play online games – if I move, they will awaken!

Yup! I went to get some milk from the fridge, and everyone follows to see “What mommy doing?” It’s their favourite game!

Snowball is a strange cat. He just comes here to play with the toys and then settles down to spend the rest of the day sleeping here. He doesn’t eat much food, just the occasional nibble now and then, mostly he just naps. The Mips are not happy with this intruder, regardless how benign. He never growls or hisses at my cats, just ignores their growls and hisses. Rose suggested maybe he’s just lonely.

The workshop just called. They’ve replaced the CV joints, taken the car for a test drive and say the only thing they hear is an occasional misfire (spark plugs need replacing) and a ball bearing. Oh, and my right rear tire needs replacing. Well, let’s see how it sounds after that.

Around four, Snowball gets up, goes outside, sniffs my Alstroemeira. Sprays them and saunters off … probably home. Urgh does that stink! I’ve tried washing it off, but that seems to just have made it worse.

In anticipation of having to go to the workshop, I shut my cats inside – all three came to munch after Snowball left. But I’ve let them out again. It would cut a whole hour off their outdoor time – and I have no guarantee they will finish today. So, if they do call now, I’ll ask to collect tomorrow after rush hour. The Mips are used to being shut inside on mornings, and I so rarely go out after noon – no need to stress them unnecessarily. Mewthos gives me enough stress as it is – like when he lies on top of the wall outside my door with his splinted leg hanging outside! I am petrified of him falling off any wall with that splint! Yet I can’t shut him in, either.

Well, it’s past five and no call. So I guess they’ll call sometime tomorrow. Hopefully in the morning. If they call when the Mips are happily running outside, I’m gonna have a heck of a time trying to lure them in!

Mewthos is still being difficult. He cries for attention, but doesn’t want any when I sit down with him. Ai ai, an injured kitten is difficult! I wish I could give him pain killers – but I don’t want to experiment with exceeding the prescribed dosage. Cats are a pharmacological nightmare – they need their own medications, can’t use dog meds or any other animal’s meds. And with that unique pharmacological reaction, research is naturally limited. After all, people care more for horses and dogs than they do for cats – there’s not much commercial value in researching medication for cats. Same goes for food and toys – go look at any supermarket: you’ll find the dogs take up twice as much shelving as cats do – even though cats need more than dogs. Dogs don’t need litter or scratching surfaces or litter boxes, etc.

Well, Ziva came in none too late, so I divided up a sachet for them. Ziva still sits hopefully by my side, while I eat dinner, but she doesn’t beg nor does she put a paw out nor does she meow for food. She just sits there, upright, big eyed, watching me eat! And sometimes I give her a piece of meat or potato.

Well, let us hope today is the last day I’m stuck at home without a car. Not that I mind very much, I don’t go out much anyway – but it’s nice to have the choice!

Nui-Mew

I gave the cats a sachet of chicken in gravy as their evening treat – Ziva is becoming impossibly selective about what she considers a treat! As annoying as that might be to me, it is actually a very good sign: It shows that she has overwritten the memories of the time she was starving with the memories of living with me. Proof that she’s happy here. So happy and confident (not fearing rejection) that she’s letting me know her personal preferences! Considering how far she goes to accommodate MY preferences (like not bringing birds home) – I’d say it’s only fair; and I gladly spoil my kitties!

I woke around six this morning – and again made the mistake of turning over. It was half eight when I woke again. A bit too late for coffee, so I just have a quiet cigarette before getting dressed and taking the car to the workshop – distracting all three of my cats with a sachet of chicken in jelly.

Back at home, Mewthos is becoming a real nuisance – since he’s had his leg in the splint, he has developed this habit of sitting in the lounge mewling … and mewling and mewling! He’s not hungry, he’s not in pain, he won’t sit on my lap or across my shoulder … as a last resort I try just sitting on the floor with him – he doesn’t want me stroking his fur either. I just sit there, playing with his toys. And he’s happy! That’s all he wants: quality time with mommy! He isn’t comfortable on the chair next to me, nor on the bed, nor anywhere else – just on the floor. And he wants me to sit with him a while, every now and again. That’s no chore for me – he is such a beautiful cat (when he’s quiet, he he).

Our gardener is working for Rose today, so the Mips don’t feel ‘safe’ roaming the garden – funny that, all the cats (Rose’s as well) behave as if he’s a stranger! The Mips don’t usually see him – he’d work while they were shut in, when I was at work – but Rose’s have known him for years! And he doesn’t hurt or harm any cat. Yet they steer clear of him. But then again, it took over a year before Rose’s tom would even let me touch him! At least when they are this wary of strangers, there’s less chance of someone being able to steal them. Yes, people do that. They steal pets and then wait until you’re so desperate, you offer a rewards – then they come forward and tell you what how much the reward should be.

Regarding Snowball, I’m beginning to change my mind: I’m starting to think that he does have a home, where he is well-fed – though not otherwise much cared for (like being neutered!). Today he came strolling in and spent half an hour playing with the toys before even giving the kitchen – and the food bowls – any attention! And he’s quite happy taking his own noon Siesta here with me and the Mips. I did, however, hear a cat outside last night – from the sound I guess it was Snowball.

 

Uh oh! Snowball has gone to sleep with his head
resting on Mewthos' favourite toy!
His little wormie

This afternoon we’re having a Watermelon Party! A watermelon has turned up in Rose’s garden a while ago. At first we had no clue what it could be, since nobody has planted or thrown watermelon seeds in that patch – it just turned up! The leaves and flowers are similar to the gem squash I had. It had quite a number of flowers and then we saw what looked like little Zucchini or Cucumbers. None of them made it past that stage, except one – which just grew and grew so fast and so big! Our gardener has been knocking on it for the past couple of weeks to find out whether it’s ready – and today’s the day! The root part of the plant was already beginning to wither – it’s quite out of season, so she had it pulled out. And this afternoon we sat down and cut it into slices and each had our fill! I – optimistically – threw some of the seeds in my vegetable patch; after all, who knows?

 

A lovely large and sweet
Watermelon

Around the time of our watermelon fest, the workshop called – they haven’t even been able to source the CV joints for my car, yet! They asked if I would be okay without transport another day – I had been expecting that, but not on the issue of CV joints! Once they’ve replaced those, they need to take it for a test drive to try and find out what’s causing the noise when I’m driving between 80-90 km/h … THAT is what I thought would cause the delay. Well, we’ll see what happens tomorrow.

 

Poor little mite, looking all sad and forlorn!

Another new development in the cat opera is that Romeo has become obsessed with The Terror! He is chasing that poor female and mounts her every chance he gets – not deterred by her fierce fighting him off! Last night he apparently chased her into Rose’s bathroom! She NEVER goes into our homes, poor thing must be terrorized.

Around five it started getting dark, so I closed the door. Ziva was sitting on the wall, but she wasn’t ready to come in, yet. She came in around half seven – and I sat down with her and we played with the catnip spinner! She got quite involved, and she’s very clever. She managed to get her paws firmly on the ball – on both sides: the far side, by ‘hugging’ the toy, and the near side. That got the Mips into play-mode as well, so now they are having fun.

Arr Ho Mewthos!

I woke up at five this morning, but made the mistake of turning over. Next wake up was half past eight! It’s strange weather again, overcast, the occasional drops coming down, but not particularly cold. I let the Mips out – as is her new habit, Ziva doesn’t go rushing out but sticks around me for a while, getting her share of attention.

Lady Jane goes off exploring with Mewthos clonking behind. Shame, Rose got quite a fright the first time she heard the loud clonk, clonk, clonk on her wooden kitchen floors! Until she realized it was Pegfoot Mewthos. Lady Jane soon comes back upstairs for a cuddle session – that girl is such a cuddle-addict! She just can not get enough!

Romeo and Snowball come for breakfast, Romeo goes off again but Snowball flops down among the toys with a happy grin on his face. I have my coffee while I consider what I’d like to do today. Then Snowball leaves, Ziva come strolling in and I have all three Mips indoors! Quickly to the bedroom, to put on a bra – under close supervision from all three cats – then I dole out some yums and sneak out, closing the door behind me!

Grocery shopping. Afterwards I clear my belongings out of the car, since it’s going for repairs tomorrow.

Upstairs nobody shoots out the door as soon as I open it, although all three are sitting by the door expectantly. Ziva again, stays around for attention – which I gladly provide. Snowball comes back in – and there seems to be an uneasy peace treaty with Mewthos? He tolerates Snowball without too much hissing. Lady Jane, however, is quite wary of this stranger. She squashes herself as far away as she can, to come in, and as soon as she’s past she runs to me.

 

Lady Jane assesses the situation before squeezing past
Snowball. Mewthos is keeping a wary eye on this infiltrator
from under the scratcher

Snowball has no care in the world - the Mips can sniff and
watch and investigate to their hearts content, even hiss
he's not worried

Lady Jane curls up on the chair next to me
but only after a cuddle session

I think Mewthos may have bruised some ribs as well, because if I try to pick him up he fights like a champion to be let down. Or maybe the splinted leg is pulling on his shoulder when I pick him up? Either way, I’m letting him be for now. He also didn’t sleep on the bed last night, but stretched out on the floor next to the bed. He did come up and tried to find a comfortable position, he tried snuggling under the duvet, he tried finding somewhere on top of the duvet – and every time he stomped on me with that splint … yeah, poor Mewly!

Right now I’m enjoying the quiet peace of a leisurely Sunday. The Mips are holding their daily noon Siesta and Snowball is stretched out by the door. Only the odd bird chirps in the background, there is no traffic noise here, just the odd sounds of the city around me.

Well, I see Mewthos still runs at quite a speed, even with one leg in a splint! He followed Lady Jane to the end of Rose’s garden, where she stalked a bird that sat just outside the gate. When someone came walking down the street, he ran as fast as he could back to mommy! Whereas Lady Jane had gone outside the garden and just went into mine, next to the garage. That’s a bit of cause for worry – it means she explores farther than I’d like, and no longer comes all the way home when something startles her.

On the other hand, at least Mewthos can’t creep up on anyone now – or should I say: At least he now knocks before coming through the door?

I went to visit Shadow earlier today, her nose is looking almost normal again! A bit swollen and some spots still, but that’s a big improvement from the seeping, bleeding nose she had last Monday! Lady Jane mipped at me outside the door again (Shadow is still shut up in Rose’s bedroom) and I let her in – but she hissed at Shadow again, so I chased her out. Ungrateful minx! If it wasn’t for her auntie Shadow, she might not be alive today!

Clonk, clonk Mewly

I took this last night

Last night I got a call from an old friend and we had a lovely long chat! We don’t get in touch very often – especially now, with me living in another province – but, as always, when we chat or meet up, it’s always a lovely time and never dull.

Oh, and when I told him about this blog, he immediately added it to his favourites – so now I’ve gained another viewer! I’ve been writing this blog almost a year, and although I had about a dozen readers at first, it’s now petered down to between five and eight (now nine!) which is perfectly fine with me. This blog is not meant to win any popularity contests, and since it is simply about my day-to-day life, it’s not very exciting reading – which is perfectly fine with me. I’m a pretty dull, mundane kind of person – although rather witty. But the main purpose of this blog is to simply send the message that you don’t have to leave a mark, or have achieved some major accomplishment, or leave a host of offspring – to be fulfilled. A simple, basic, non-travelling, home-body life isn’t a waste, or anything cause for depression.

First thing this morning I packed Mewly into the carrier and took him to the vet. She took an X-ray of his legs, after sedating him. She can’t see any new damage, nothing broken, no fractures – hairline or otherwise – so we’re kind of stumped. She’s guessing that he may have jarred his ‘wrist’, so she’s put his leg in a splint. Last time she only applied a pressure bandage, but this time she recommended a splint. It extends past the tip of his paw, so that the leg is completely immobilized. And with the long splint, it is longer than his right leg – so I’m afraid it’ll be rather uncomfortable for the poor mite. I should give him a full dose of Metacam tonight and tomorrow night, then half doses for the next two to three days – and bring him back next Monday.

 

He's not a happy chappy today

I also asked the vet about nutrition, and she said that there is no need to add any wet food if they get good kibbles. That has been my experience with Mynx as well – my only concern is: I’ve been spoiling my lot, they are now used to getting a wet treat every night before bed – well, that’s not so much because I wish to spoil them, but to settle them down for the night. Cats tend to nap after a big meal, and I like to sleep at night – and not become one of their bounce-off’s for their pinballing zoom-around games. But, yeah, I’ll have to see whether I can ‘wean’ them off this habit?

I have to say one thing though, this vet is really, really good! She’s not at all clinically detached, or professionally distant at all – which makes it a less frightening experience for the animals. Except for today, none of my cats have ever shown any hesitation walking into their carrier when I point at it, nor do they ever show any signs of fear at the vet’s. Also – and considering how often I’ve been there since this invasion began – she does not overcharge! Ever! She gave me discount when I brought all four Mip Mips for their booster shots and with Mewly she always charges ‘follow-up’ rates, and doesn’t always charge for the consultation itself. Anyone living in Port Elizabeth, I can only recommend Pet Doctors on Pickering! I will be buying all my cat food there, from now on (since I’ve decided to stop the supermarket options). It’s the least I can do.

My poor little mite, he’s not at all happy about lugging this splint along. He comes and cries at me to take it off, make it go away. I pick him up and cuddle him, but he’s not content with that, today. Poor mite also threw up his breakfast – fortunately on the tiles in the kitchen, so it was easy to clean. Lady Jane was right there sniffing excitedly … but I picked it up before she could dig in! Sigh – I don’t know why they think eating each other’s vomit is some kind of gourmet meal! Possibly because it’s warm?

I’m also happy to report that the secret midnight crapper didn’t strike again. That leads me to believe it was Lady Jane letting me know that it was time to empty the crystals and re-fill the box with clean stuff – which I did yesterday. I washed the towels, and they’re all clean again. I did a cold cycle to get the blood out, followed by a standard hot wash and dry.

I usually hang up my laundry to dry, except towels. I’ve found they get rather stiff when they dry on the line, but when I tumble-dry them, they are nice and soft. Towels are the only laundry I tumble dry – everything else I still hang up.

Well, I just tried something different: all my cats were looking at me wanting a treat, so I tried giving them the Royal Canin as a treat. It worked! The fell on those kibbles like they were the best gourmet meal they’ve ever had! That is so cool! I will have to work on a strategy now, though – I had been leaving kibbles in dispensers available for them to nibble on anytime they like. Plus there are those two strays – Romeo and Snowball – who come for regular munchies.

On the continuing Soap Opera playing in my home, Snowball seems to like it here. A lot! He doesn’t seem to want to leave at all anymore. Mewthos is very upset about this – he keeps hissing at Snowball and hops a wide circle around wherever he’s flopped down to rest. I took the opportunity to brush him today and he doesn’t look neglected. No more than Romeo. There seems to be no friction between Romeo and Snowball though, they marched in side by side earlier this morning! But where Romeo just comes, eats, hopes for lovies and the goes, Snowball just settles himself down for an extended visit. It could be the Whiskas? Whiskas is to cats what McDonalds is to kids – flavoured and colourful cardboard! No nutritional value, but all junky taste. Perhaps they do have homes and are only using me to cheat on their diets?

 

Ziva doesn't want to let Snowball in

Then Romeo comes to Snowball's aid
and Ziva retreats

Poor Clonky! He doesn't approve
of these invaders

My new cat toys are all the rage!

But the scratcher I built is still everyone's favourite

Ziva also does not approve
of these intruders

Snowball, on the other hand, behaves
as if he's found cat-heaven!

Undeniably male, and
equally undeniably not neutered

A friend recently told me about a stray she took in, like Ziva she was pregnant and had her litter at my friend’s who kept two kittens. Then the mother disappeared … only to show up five years later looking smug and well-fed! She now visits my friend every now and then, but evidently has a home. That’s not unusual – cats will ‘cheat’ on their owners, visit neighbours and even keep several homes, alternating between them. And not all pet-homers are responsible – they don’t all neuter their males, simply on the basis that males can’t get pregnant, so it’s not their problem. And a lot of people WANT their cats to be low-presence, so they have no problem with pets who only show up every now and then.

I remember, when I stayed in a complex in Durban, some people moved in next door with two Siamese. Those two cats would terrorise my poor Mynx and they stopped eating at home and ate only Mynx’ food! When I spoke to their owners about it they just shrugged their shoulders and closed the door in my face! At that time I was financially challenged, and couldn’t really afford to feed three cats. But I had no choice – I tried to chase those cats out, but they were impervious. They just kept coming back, attacking poor Mynx and eating his food. Other neighbours also complained that these Siamese would steal food off their tables and counters – they knew it wasn’t Mynx, because it only started when those Siamese moved in.

Sadly, although there are many people who take full and true responsibility for their animals – we are still in the minority. If we weren’t, there would be no feral colonies all over the world!

Nonetheless, I’m still left with the dilemma of a new feeding strategy. Initially, my plan was to simply change the dispenser to the Royal Canin when they are empty. I still need some sort of ‘treat’, when I need to distract them from the front door for example. Not so much at night anymore, that’s more of a habit. But then again, what will they think if I stop giving them a good-night snack, after they’ve got used to that for the past couple of months? And when they’re getting the Royal Canin all the time, they won’t consider it a treat anymore. I got myself into quite a corner there, didn’t I?

Actually, if they get all the nutrients they need from the kibble, then I can treat them with anything they like! My one concern, if I were to go kibble-only is that my cats don’t seem to drink a lot of water. Maybe when I set up the new water dispenser they’ll increase their intake – but getting some supermarket sachets can’t do any harm and won’t put a strain on my budget. For now, however, I’ll treat them with Royal Canin.

Shame, poor little Mewly. He’s not a happy chappy today. I can hear him clonk, clonking on the kitchen tiles, mewling for I-know-not-what. He clonk, clonks down the stairs, tries to settle in the flower bed and Snowball insists on making friends – and when Mewly hisses at him, he chases him … clonk, clonk, clonky-di-clonk poor Mewly runs along the path! I’ve had to step in a couple of times, Snowball chased Ziva, then he chased Lady Jane, and now Mewthos!

Upstairs, Ziva is sitting on the wall so I call her in – even though it isn’t quite dark, yet. I’d rather she is upset at being shut in than feeling rejected for being shut out. I reward her with yummy kibbles – they are all quite keen on them! I’ve decanted some into Tupperware containers so I won’t have to lug the 4kg bags around every day.

Well, everybody has settled down – no clonk, clonking, no growling, no mewling. Of course, if I make my dinner now, that will quickly change – I’ll have three expectant, hopeful faces looking up at me! They are such gluttons!