Sjoe, I don't know what my problem is, well, not quite true, it has a name: Tynx. Ha ha! She wakes me up during the night and then I oversleep in the morning - but I can't remember being woken during this night?
Anyway, I woke up at half past six! Sent the message to work and got up. On the way to work, I got lucky and heard a traffic report about a road closure ahead ... and I decided to take an alternate route avoiding that interchange - which turned out to be a good thing! When I came past the other end of that road, the traffic was queued bumper-to-bumper as far as I could see! If I had taken that interchange, I would have been another hour late. As it was, I was only half an hour late.
I finally made the appointment for Tynx' sterilisation - unfortunately, the earliest available appointment is on 17th September! Yikes! But - beggars can't be choosers, I really, really can not afford to pay full price! It's still a good chunk of cash, but affordable. I need to bring her in between 8:00 - 10:00 on the Tuesday, they do her on Wednesday and I can collect her on Thursday after two. The operation is done by students under supervision - well, it IS a teaching facility and all vets have to learn somewhere, somehow. And they confirmed that, IF she happens to be pregnant, they will abort. I'm afraid I can not possibly raise another litter - and even if I could, where would they end up?
By that time, she should also have grown confident enough to know she isn't being abandoned, so the three days apart should not be too hard on her. And at least I won't have to remove all food & water from all my mippies - they'll manage that there. Shame, though, with mine, I brought them to the vet in the morning and collected them the same afternoon.
I explained why I couldn't make the appointment earlier (well, strictly speaking, I could have made one for end of August right away) and they said they'd make a note of that so that, if they have a cancellation, I may get an earlier appointment. I also mentioned that she's in heat at the moment.
This morning, when I made my coffee, I had all four of them letting me know that their share of milk is not optional ... and then I had the amazing pleasure of watching all four drink milk out of the same dish! Even Ziva! She was right next to the mini and for the first time, she didn't let that bother her! In the past, when Tynx arrived, Ziva would stalk off in a huff. I watched her last night, too, making hesitant attempts at sniffing Tynx - though she withdrew when the little one got too close, but still! She IS a very clever cat! She knows Tynx is here to stay and she's doing her best to come to terms with it. So is Lady Jane, by the way - she's also been making sniff-overtures.
After work, I got home, let my mippies out - it was Janey's turn to keep watch over me tonight. Mewthos was stretched out just outside the gate, Ziva had gone for a long walk and Tynx was running up and down, to and from me, to Mewthos, to Janey, to me ... and then Mewthos wasn't there anymore. Not to worry, he probably went for a stroll in the field behind the spekboom. Time to call in my mippies ... only Janey and Tynx come. Still, no worries, Mewthos was late yesterday as well and I don't worry too much about Ziva anymore.
I gave out a sachet - no Mewthos! Another sachet - still no Mewthos! Now I'm getting worried! So I go outside and call and call and call ... no Mewthos! Now I'm seriously worried! I get the torch and start looking for him! Nothing! Then Ziva comes strolling along, so I take her inside and go back out to look for Mewthos!
I walked and called and looked for him the best part of an hour! Nothing! At one time I saw two cats sitting at the far side of the field - one could have been Mewthos, but since he didn't come when I called, I figured I must be mistaken. I'm no longer worried but getting frantic! I'm convinced that something must have happened - Mewthos is such a mama's boy, he doesn't stay away! He is also such a greedy chops - food is his master. And I've been calling munchies, mippies, Mew-Mew - nothing!
With tears in my eyes and a heavy heart I finally gave up the search and went inside. Eventually I went for a smoke break and ... lo and behold, there are two cats sitting at the gate! The ginger and one that looked just like Mewthos - though I can't be 100% sure, as it's dark! I opened the gate and went outside, slowly, I could hear a growl that sounded just like Mewthos - yet, as I slowly approached, both cats strolled off across the grass under the trees!
It's now two hours past the 'indoor' time and still no Mewthos. I'm not frantic anymore, as I'm convincing myself that it really was Mewthos I saw an hour ago at the end of the path. That ginger cat - male, I should think - has somehow got Mewthos' full attention, I don't know why. I think he's the reason Mewthos has been sitting 'guard' at the window - and I'm thinking it's just possible that tonight he simply decided to go 'all the way' and solve the ginger problem once and for all. I don't know whether he's just following him or what he means to accomplish ...
I was just about to write how that's the only way I can possibly sleep tonight, when I thought I heard something ... and my mippies were acting strange. I opened the passage door - which started a cat fight in the lounge! Yowls, growls, scrabbling claws on the tiles: Mewthos and the ginger cat!
In German we say that a stone dropped off my heart - which pretty accurately describes the sudden relief when your heart was heavy with worry! I just made sure nobody followed me into the lounge, then slowly moved towards the front door. Mewthos and Ginger were facing each other, growling, just outside the door. This time, I did not follow, but quietly sat down to have a smoke. I softly called Mewthos - but he ignored me. No matter which endearment I used, I got no reaction. Eventually I used the magic word: Munchies! Finally a reaction! It still took quite a lot of coaxing to get him to come inside! I shut that door so fast behind him, I nearly caught his tail!
Eight o'clock! It was past eight when I finally had him safely inside! He had me worry for two hours, going from upset to worried to frantic - even tears! And he doesn't even give me a cuddle! He's sitting by the lounge window again!
Well, I decided to take the bath I had planned - but cancelled when Mewthos wasn't home. Afterwards, I softened - only a little, though - and gave my mippies, including Mewthos, one last treat. I had also planned to prepared a bread to bake tomorrow - that's not happening, though, as it's too late, now. It's ten past nine.
What an evening! I hope I never, ever, ever, EVER have to go through that again! Really! Of all my mippies, Mewthos is the one I worry about the most. Ziva is experienced - I worry, but she knows how to avoid danger. Janey is very nimble. Although I've had to rescue her - remember that time she fell out of the window onto the ledge? When she was too little to jump back up? But she is a very thorough planner - if she was human, I wouldn't want to play chess against her! Tynx survived in an industrial traffic area. But Mewthos? I mean, he has fallen off the arm of my armchair! And he's all heart - not big on strategy or planning. Very big heart, though - everybody loves Mewthos!
Well, at least I WILL be able to sleep tonight!
By that time, she should also have grown confident enough to know she isn't being abandoned, so the three days apart should not be too hard on her. And at least I won't have to remove all food & water from all my mippies - they'll manage that there. Shame, though, with mine, I brought them to the vet in the morning and collected them the same afternoon.
I explained why I couldn't make the appointment earlier (well, strictly speaking, I could have made one for end of August right away) and they said they'd make a note of that so that, if they have a cancellation, I may get an earlier appointment. I also mentioned that she's in heat at the moment.
This morning, when I made my coffee, I had all four of them letting me know that their share of milk is not optional ... and then I had the amazing pleasure of watching all four drink milk out of the same dish! Even Ziva! She was right next to the mini and for the first time, she didn't let that bother her! In the past, when Tynx arrived, Ziva would stalk off in a huff. I watched her last night, too, making hesitant attempts at sniffing Tynx - though she withdrew when the little one got too close, but still! She IS a very clever cat! She knows Tynx is here to stay and she's doing her best to come to terms with it. So is Lady Jane, by the way - she's also been making sniff-overtures.
After work, I got home, let my mippies out - it was Janey's turn to keep watch over me tonight. Mewthos was stretched out just outside the gate, Ziva had gone for a long walk and Tynx was running up and down, to and from me, to Mewthos, to Janey, to me ... and then Mewthos wasn't there anymore. Not to worry, he probably went for a stroll in the field behind the spekboom. Time to call in my mippies ... only Janey and Tynx come. Still, no worries, Mewthos was late yesterday as well and I don't worry too much about Ziva anymore.
I gave out a sachet - no Mewthos! Another sachet - still no Mewthos! Now I'm getting worried! So I go outside and call and call and call ... no Mewthos! Now I'm seriously worried! I get the torch and start looking for him! Nothing! Then Ziva comes strolling along, so I take her inside and go back out to look for Mewthos!
I walked and called and looked for him the best part of an hour! Nothing! At one time I saw two cats sitting at the far side of the field - one could have been Mewthos, but since he didn't come when I called, I figured I must be mistaken. I'm no longer worried but getting frantic! I'm convinced that something must have happened - Mewthos is such a mama's boy, he doesn't stay away! He is also such a greedy chops - food is his master. And I've been calling munchies, mippies, Mew-Mew - nothing!
With tears in my eyes and a heavy heart I finally gave up the search and went inside. Eventually I went for a smoke break and ... lo and behold, there are two cats sitting at the gate! The ginger and one that looked just like Mewthos - though I can't be 100% sure, as it's dark! I opened the gate and went outside, slowly, I could hear a growl that sounded just like Mewthos - yet, as I slowly approached, both cats strolled off across the grass under the trees!
It's now two hours past the 'indoor' time and still no Mewthos. I'm not frantic anymore, as I'm convincing myself that it really was Mewthos I saw an hour ago at the end of the path. That ginger cat - male, I should think - has somehow got Mewthos' full attention, I don't know why. I think he's the reason Mewthos has been sitting 'guard' at the window - and I'm thinking it's just possible that tonight he simply decided to go 'all the way' and solve the ginger problem once and for all. I don't know whether he's just following him or what he means to accomplish ...
I was just about to write how that's the only way I can possibly sleep tonight, when I thought I heard something ... and my mippies were acting strange. I opened the passage door - which started a cat fight in the lounge! Yowls, growls, scrabbling claws on the tiles: Mewthos and the ginger cat!
In German we say that a stone dropped off my heart - which pretty accurately describes the sudden relief when your heart was heavy with worry! I just made sure nobody followed me into the lounge, then slowly moved towards the front door. Mewthos and Ginger were facing each other, growling, just outside the door. This time, I did not follow, but quietly sat down to have a smoke. I softly called Mewthos - but he ignored me. No matter which endearment I used, I got no reaction. Eventually I used the magic word: Munchies! Finally a reaction! It still took quite a lot of coaxing to get him to come inside! I shut that door so fast behind him, I nearly caught his tail!
Eight o'clock! It was past eight when I finally had him safely inside! He had me worry for two hours, going from upset to worried to frantic - even tears! And he doesn't even give me a cuddle! He's sitting by the lounge window again!
Well, I decided to take the bath I had planned - but cancelled when Mewthos wasn't home. Afterwards, I softened - only a little, though - and gave my mippies, including Mewthos, one last treat. I had also planned to prepared a bread to bake tomorrow - that's not happening, though, as it's too late, now. It's ten past nine.
What an evening! I hope I never, ever, ever, EVER have to go through that again! Really! Of all my mippies, Mewthos is the one I worry about the most. Ziva is experienced - I worry, but she knows how to avoid danger. Janey is very nimble. Although I've had to rescue her - remember that time she fell out of the window onto the ledge? When she was too little to jump back up? But she is a very thorough planner - if she was human, I wouldn't want to play chess against her! Tynx survived in an industrial traffic area. But Mewthos? I mean, he has fallen off the arm of my armchair! And he's all heart - not big on strategy or planning. Very big heart, though - everybody loves Mewthos!
Well, at least I WILL be able to sleep tonight!
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