The Fog

When I went to bed last night, the girls followed and settled themselves – Ziva came to snuggle under the feather duvet for a bit, to get some loving before she got up and settled on top as usual. But Mewthos had stretched out on the mat in the passage – so I got up and carried him to bed. Ziva growled at him, but later on she gave him a good wash. I’ve given up trying to understand this love-hate relationship between Ziva and her offspring. I guess she’s trying to tell me that it’s time they left home, like Lizzy and Earl, so we can go back to the quiet, peaceful home we had before these hyper-active, needy, and boisterous lot arrived.

I admit that at times, like when Mewthos is mewling for I-know-not-what or when Lady Jane demands cuddles while I’m writing, the thought is attractive. Ziva really is a very low-maintenance cat – she’s happy to spend the day outside and to come for naps and cuddles when I’m home. She prefers the garden to the litter box and I don’t have to worry about her falling. The Mips are quite high maintenance – but that’s how I raised them! They are used to lots of quality time with me, and I don’t want to alienate them. Ziva also puts a lot of effort into fitting into my home – like she learned what a litter box was, she learned that I don’t like birds indoors, she learned my work times – seeing me off and welcoming me every day. And – although this took her a long time – she learned to accept that once it’s dark outside, I don’t want her to go out again. She’s now learning to accept that I shut the door earlier now than I did in summer – because it gets dark earlier. Unfortunately she has also learned to stop ‘ringing the doorbell’ – she used to call when she wanted to come in and the door was closed, she has toned down the volume of that so much, that I have to really keep an ear out for her. Sometimes I don’t even hear her at all, and it’s only the behaviour of the Mips that alerts me to her presence outside the door.

This morning I woke up to find the world blanketed in a thick fog. I haven’t seen such dense fog here in ages!

 

The trees on the far right are next door to Rose!

I also found another surprise-dollop in the kitchen! At least it was on the towel and not on the seat, but still. What worried me most about that, though, was that there was some blood in the stool. Again. I had found a similar pile on another chair yesterday morning, also with some blood. Also semi-liquid. I suspect it’s Lady Jane – I must confess I should have emptied and re-filled the litter box on Tuesday. Bad mommy, I know.

I’ve had an interesting soap opera playing out here this morning: Snowball inched his way inside, being hissed at by Mewthos and closely watched by Ziva, Lady Jane and Mewthos. It took a while before he inched his way to the toys, where he stopped for a bit of play – he likes the wiggly worm, the mint stick and the catnip chaser – then he went to the kitchen for a munch. Afterwards he settled down on the Scratcher – and I could get close enough for a bit of a head scratch.

Romeo

 

Snowball

Snowball is reluctant to leave - he's watching Mips and Ziva ...

That's Ziva's "Oh, golly! Another photo?" expression

Romeo has also been for his morning munch, bit of play – and I brushed his coat again, which he absolutely loves! Then Romeo went out again and some time later Snowball came back. First cautiously inching under the scratcher and then he went to explore the flat. While he was exploring, with Mewthos in tow – who got hissed at for his friendly gesture – Romeo came in for another quick bite. Those two obviously know each other, since there was not so much as a look of hostility between them! They pretty much ignored each other – taking the other’s presence for granted.

Well, I’ve emptied out the crystal – and overall, I don’t like it. Sure, at first it was nice that you could simply scoop only the loads, and that the liquid would just be absorbed – but I never liked the dust created by the scooping. I always felt covered in yuck afterwards and couldn’t wash my hands fast enough. And by around day 5 the liquids started clotting as well and had to be scooped out. Overall the 2kg, which costs nearly double the cost of 5kg sand, didn’t last any longer than the sand. And a lot of that crystal got scratched into the box-bottom – I couldn’t clean it completely. Well, the new litter I got is very cheap, so I suppose I shouldn’t complain that it doesn’t look like the image outside. The image shows white gravel, the label claims it is ultra fine and inside is mostly brownish gravel. Lady Jane went in to investigate, but it doesn’t look like she approves. Sigh, I hope she will at least use it!

Strange weather today! The fog had cleared for an hour around noon and the sun had come out – but now the fog is coming in waves as thick as smoke from the sea! It’s like living inside the clouds!

I don’t believe it! I just looked out front and there’s Mewthos sitting on top of the high wall! My heart nearly stopped! But I see his putting most of his weight inside, so that if he slips, he won’t fall down the long drop. Still – I called him back, I don’t like to know he’s on that wall.

 

This sight always frightens me!

Well, the fog has lifted again and now it’s a sunny afternoon! What strange weather today!

The first week off work has been – leisurely. In true holiday-style I’ve done very little but spent a lot of money!

And I’m afraid I’m about to spend some more … Mewthos is still not putting any weight on his leg, so the vet wants to x-ray. Rose suggested what I had thought as well: maybe he’s jarred his shoulder? Well, I’m taking him to the vet tomorrow morning, and we’ll see.

He never puts that paw down ... it always stays up
And when he lies down, he flops straight onto his shoulder to avoid
putting weight on the paw