Comfy?

 

I mean we've only got about ten cat beds, two cat trees, a cat cabin, dining chairs, beds, a squashy sofa and goodness knows what else... clearly Inds is happy here though. It doesn't look terribly comfortable.

 

We're all much the same really... Indigo and Sofia have been mildly antagonistic but nothing major. It's a bit too hot for arguments!

 

 

 

Mine!

 

 Ava and Sofia are pretty sure they need some of what I'm eating...

Morning! Oof, it's hot. Well, it's sticky anyway. I'm sure the cats are holding me personally responsible for this, given the glares I've been getting as they melt into puddles on the floor, the bed, the sofa and pretty much anywhere else they can find. It hasn't sweetened anyone's temper either, and Sofia and Indigo have had a few run ins over the past few days.

I've been going through old posts and labelling them properly, over the last few days. When blogger changed its design (grr) it became less easy to do this, or rather, it isn't hard, but the label setting is hidden and you have to click on it, which I rarely remember to do. It's not hard but it is a good deal less instinctive, I suppose I am saying. Anyway there was about 18 months worth of labelling to do.

Which of course took me right through the whole reintegration shenanigans, thinking Indigo couldn't possibly stay here, as things stood, and Ava getting thin as a rake with all the stress. Many times I was ready to give up... but nearly a year on, we've reached, touch wood, a more or less peaceful existence. And Ava, I think, is a normal weight. She hasn't been weighed for a while, but she looks normal for her- skinny rather than anorexic.

So a few cat fights isn't likely to bother me. Indigo is off the Ovarid now though, and we're waiting for it to leave her system so she can go into heat. That always provokes a few fireworks (and pees... or worse... grr) so we'll have to see how the shaky truce bears up.

Chaos

The teenager's bedroom is currently being redecorated. He is sleeping in the living room, which is, still, a living room. All his stuff, however, is in my bedroom. As you can see.

This includes the cats. The teenager doesn't like cats in his room, and given that it is his room, I am not going to insist (although I do occasionally let the better behaved cats in for a break if things get a bit tense.) We've also had the walls in the kitchen and bathroom bleached and repainted with anti mould paint (damp... sigh) so those rooms have been out of action too. The hall is full of mattresses and not yet put together furniture. So they really have been all thrown together in the one room.

It's been interesting really. Six months ago, I couldn't have considered it, of course, Indigo would have had to go to a cattery. Now... well they have all coped. Remarkably well, actually.

It hasn't been ideal. Poor Ava has found herself out in the hallway at night as Indigo won't let her near the bed, (which she naturally insists in being in ALL NIGHT, under the bedcovers, and my goodness, how comes one normal sized cat takes up about 75% of the bed?) I have quite a long scratch from Indigo as she launched herself at Ava one evening whilst having a cuddle. There have also been several 2am yowling matches with Sofia, and Theo has taken to spraying the door, just to let everyone know it's HIS room, actually. It's upset their little equilibriums (equilibrii?) enough to say Indigo won't be getting full time bedroom access any time soon.

 It's funny to think I used to have to keep the two sets of cats totally separate. It seems a long, long time ago, but it wasn't really. I'll still be using a cattery for holidays away- they all get along, sort of, if I am there to referee, but I dread to think of the shenanigans that would ensue if I wasn't about. But still, it's promising.

The Circle Of Life

It's been a fraught couple of weeks. All is fine with the cats, and my title, sorry, doesn't indicate there are kittens on the way. Life's been in the way though, so I thought I'd go a bit Lion King for a moment. All together now..... from the day we arrive on the planet....

A friend of mine, V, has been fighting ovarian cancer, the same cancer that struck her mother and her sister; and like her mother and sister she lost the fight. She was buried last week in a quiet ceremony with many tears. It was early, as relatives had to fly back, the snow fell gently, it was bitterly cold.  Ovarian cancer is one of those cancers that is virtually undetectable until the latter stages, and survival rates are not good. It's made me incredibly thankful for my grandmother, still with us after her own brush with this particular cancer 19 or so years ago.

V had always admired my gardening shenanigans. I'd planted some flower bulbs, in the hope of bringing her a steady supply over the summer. They were the first thing I planted this year.  I'd say something trite and comforting at this point if I could, but I don't believe in an afterlife. She won't be able to see them anyway, sitting on a little fluffy cloud and twanging a harp (she was more of a wine and cigarette girl anyway!). I do believe she knew she was loved though, flowers or no flowers. I hope that was a comfort to her in her last days.

On the day of the funeral, later on, I visited my friend Y to meet her very new grandson. It was a perfect antidote to a funeral. There's something very healing about baby cuddles, and seeing the love and happiness all around. And another new life, in a way... between my friend's death and funeral, a dear friend was married. I was bridesmaid, and despite being incredibly nervous AND managing to fall up the church steps (yes...) it was a lovely day. Funny how things balance each other up.

And move forward. Today I was delighted to see the flower bulbs, V's flowers, have begun to sprout. The sun came out today so I took myself out front to plant the garlic, and there they were, little green and purple shoots, tentatively poking through the soil. Perfect.

Oh, and because no entry would be complete without cats, I thought I might just share with you that this happened...

Briefly. Before they resumed trying to murder each other. But still, for a brief few moments there was purring, there was butt sniffing, there was even the touching of noses. OMG!!!!!

Bad Girls, Bad Girls...

 

Ava looks THRILLED doesn't she? Hehe.

 

Yes, I have all three girls in one picture. For about 30 seconds. The camera never lies they say, but it can be deceptive. This is how it happened.

 

Indigo got into bed with Ava.

 

Ava made some not very happy, growly noises.

 

Sofia sidled up, sniffed Ava, and settled down on her other side (not in the bed though).

 

I took a photo.

 

Sofia thought better of it, and sidled off.

 

Ava decided she wasn't happy either and stood up.

 

Then Indigo bit her in the leg, and it all descended into anarchy!

 

Oh well!

Battling The Bulge

I went for a bridesmaid's dress fitting today. I've put on four or five pounds since the last one and... well anyway. The dress will have to be let out somewhat. The dressmaker announced to the bride and other maids that I'd eaten too many mince pies over Christmas... oh it was embarassing. Fortunately the bride, my friend J, loves me for me and not the narrowness- or otherwise- of my hips!!!

She said what now????

Indigo is also struggling to keep her weight down. Ok, I am, I don't think she cares one way or the other hehe.

In order to get Ava's weight up I've had to make sure there is food available for her at all times. She isn't a big eater and will graze rather than make a big meal. Unfortunately this means there's food around for Indigo all day as well. Indigo goes into the lounge overnight with half a sachet of wet food- which she gobbles straight away- and a dish of water, she has no other food until 9 or 10 hours later and absolutely no treats. She gets plenty of stimulation and is an active cat but even with all that reducing her seems an unattainable goal.

*sigh*... I know the feeling. Sofia now, she seems to have settled into a slightly plump middle age. 18 months or so ago she was really quite chubby, so perhaps there's hope for Indigo? Me, I think I am beyond redemption. Bring on the pies...

Speechless

Oh my. Oh my, oh my, oh my.

Entry written several days ago- have managed to upload photos another way but NOT COOL blogger, please to fix your upload function asap!

Yesterday, Indigo did this...

Nope... you aren't seeing things. Indigo was faffing around on my desk, tromping over the mouse and keyboard as she does and acting like she wanted something. I thought she wanted to go on the windowsill, which, being lazy cats, they find unable to do unless I hold the curtain up for them. Of course when I am out of the room they manage just fine without any help. Little... dears.

Anyway, that wasn't it. Inds then very carefully got into the cat bed whilst Ava was in it. They were actually touching. Truth be told. Ava looked appalled, and neither of them 'relaxed' as such. Inds was twitchy, they were watchful and their ears were alert- Ava's were somewhat flattened. I say watchful, they glanced round at each other regularly but were careful not to make actual eye contact.

They stayed in there for a good ten minutes. I suspect they might have been there longer if I hadn't needed the loo, Ava clearly wasn't happy about staying there if I wasn't there too! Plus there was a new cardboard box on the bed she hadn't investigated yet. So up she got, but again, there was no hissing or smacking.

As if that wasn't enough, Sofia watched the whole proceeeding with interest, and snuggled down a metre away on the bed!

 

Ava and Indigo used to be close. Indigo had a rocky beginning here as a kitten, it took a LONG time to integrate her but she did develop quite a strong bond with Ava, snuggling in bed with her and Ava used to wash her ears. Ava has a thing about ears.Then Indigo got big and bolshy and it all deteriorated from there really. Inds is nearly 4 now though, could she possibly be mellowing with age?

Hah- the way she'd behaved today, somehow I have my doubts!!!

Peace On Earth, And Goodwill To All Cats

Whoops... this was meant to post on Christmas Day. Oh well, better late than never...

 

 

I walked in on this shocking scene the other day. I can't say either Sofia or Indigo were precisely relaxed, both were obviously still on their guard, but they weren't growling or yowling or facing off.

 

I nearly keeled over fromm the shock... but ran for my camera instead.

 

Must be all that catnip.

Ten things about Sofia

Sweet silly Sofie!

1) She loves to drink out of taps. Any tap will do. Yes, they have several dishes of water available at all times... lol

2) She also loves to hang out in the sink. I clean my sink a lot, it's usually hairy!

3) If you leave an unattended glass, she will drink from it. If it's too empty for her to get to the water, she'll stick her paw in and lick the water from that. Sometimes she'll knock it over, accidentally, whereupon she'll run away, with a 'wasn't me' air, but frequently will return- spilled water is easily drinkable!

4) If I am in the bath, she likes me to trickle water onto her head (are you sensing a watery theme here? I'll write some non-watery things next)

5) Sofia's first name was Batman, they thought she was a boy. Needless to say I didn't keep that name!

6) Sofia loves to rub her head against you and wrap your leg in her tail. She's not cuddly, but she's very affectionate.

7) Unless it's slipped my mind, I think Sofia is the only one I've never had a health worry with- all her appointments have been routine matters. She's a bit portly but that's all. No, Fate, i am not asking for any health issues thank you...

8) Sofia's a demon with the feather teaser. She loves to play.

9) She was the runt of the litter, noticeably smaller than her siblings. You wouldn't guess to look at her now!

10) Sofia trills sometimes, and purrs loudly, but rarely have I heard her meow. The first time she did was when she was having her temperature taken. Rectally. I don't blame her for protesting, really!

Just About

returning to the land of the living. Yesterday was the first day in about three weeks where my brain has actually felt like a brain, and not a tangled mass of unravelled knitting.

We've been ill, and it's all been rather unpleasant. 'Something viral', including protracted snuffles and- er- bathroom issues. To be honest I always feel a bit outraged when I succumb to anything like a vomiting bug, I always think surely I'm too old for this malarkey? It's like getting a spot- such things should be relegated to the realms of childhood and adolescence and not be allowed to spill over into adult life!

Anyway enough of that. There's been exciting times for the cats. I have two biggish rooms, side by side, those who have had a kitten from me will have been in the biggest room, which used to be my living room. The smaller one next to it was my bedroom. Well, I've switched them over. The new living room is empty, or rather at the moment it is full of boards as a plasterer does his thing- it's had soundproofing put into the ceiling. There's going to be a point to this ramble, so bear with me...

 

Sofia and Indigo shooting hate rays at each other... but at least they aren't fighting...

The hope is that this will cut down on any potential noise issues with the neighbours. The new lounge is surrounded by my bedroom and my L-shaped hallway, it does not border onto anyone else bar at the ceiling, which now has a false ceiling and a nice thick layer of rockwool in it to mop up sound. Frankly, I couldn't afford to have the room soundproofed properly, such an undertaking would have cost many thousands of pounds, and it isn't as though I plan on using it as a studio or anything! Furthermore, this new living room is under the upstairs neighbours' living room, meaning that when Indigo howls at night, the noise won't be in their bedroom nd disturb their sleep.

And now I come to the point: this has all been rather disturbing for the cats and they've all reacted in their own way to it, but the cat it has possibly made the most difference to is Ava. Once I'd opened up my bedroom to Indigo, Ava had taken to living in the hallway, she wouldn't have come into the living room, 'Indigo's room', at any cost, and for a while it looked as though she'd been ousted from the bedroom too, except at night. But switching the rooms about has had the effect of wiping the slate clean, terratorially. All the cats, including Ava (eventually) now use both the bedroom and the living room.

Indigo has felt the loss of 'her' territory, and has been a bit difficult, but rather less bumptious, which is altogether a Good Thing given that none of them currently have access to the living room at all and have to put up with each other 24/7. Once it's ready, Indigo will be put back in the living room at night though. She's in my room currently, and while she isn't fighting all night as she would usually have done, she is being a little territorial and yesterday left me a little 'gift' on a pile of clean towels. She absolutely knew what she'd done though, and ran and hid when I shouted and pointed and stomped my feet- she hasn't done it again.

So there you go... all you need to do to bring peace into a multi cat household, at least temporarily, is totally rearrange your living space, or alternatively move house. Simple eh? *rolls eyes*. I wonder if the peace will last?

 

bwahahahahah... you've got a hope, lady!

Ignore The Mess

... but there are FOUR cats in this picture and no-one is attempting to murder anyone else...

Can you see them?

Ava and Indigo on the bed, Theo in the cat tree 'hammock', Sofia up the top. I am absolutely astounded. What is more, they've been like it for over two hours now...

I've never quite lost hope for Ava and Indigo, you know. They used to snuggle, before Indigo got big and bolshy, and Ava used to call to Indigo a lot when they were seperated. I've seen them sniffing each other a lot recently. I've also seen Inds being an outrageous bully so I don't set that much store by a few sniffs, but it wasn't long ago when Indigo would shriek and posture on the merest sight of any other cat (bar Theo) so we have moved on. Somewhat. Ava would love to be friends I suspect. We'll see.

OMG!

Ok, it's a rubbish photo, but I would like to draw your attention to the fact that I have three cats- Indigo, Sofia and Theo, in close proximity and no-one is trying to murder anyone else...

This state of affairs won't last. Indigo is in heat, and is currently wandering restlessly around howling her whiskers off- she can be SO noisy, this kitty. And that is all she is focused on. Sofia could not exist as far as she is concerned. All she can think of doing is shouting her head off and grabbig the attention of all the intact Toms (and some that are not, eh Theo??) in the neighbourhood, who then proceed to pee up my wall in an attempt to woo her. Tell me why I have cats again? Horrid beasts!

Sofia is totally baffled by this and has taken to following Indigo about, staring at her, trying to provoke her into doing something... and Inds won't, she's off on some higher plane (or down in the gutter thinking filthy thoughts more likely given the way she's flirting and presenting at Theo) and isn't playing ball.

It's all absolutely hilarious. I'm sure Inds will go back to her usual posturing in a few days, but it sure is nice to have a break from their usual 'disagreements'.

Ava is back at the vet tomorrow. I don't know when I'll have the results as this lot have to go off to another lab... but I'll be sure to let you know as soon as I can.

Staring Down The Enemy

Lots of fighting today... just when I'd been lulled into a false sense of security!

Winning

 

I'm still in charge...

Things are calmer on the whole integration front. There are still multiple bust-ups per day but they are shorter lived and far less likely to turn nasty.

The moggy sisters' boundaries have extended. Sofia will come into the living room now, and I've even seen shy Ava in the hallway. Admittedly she's most comfortable, they both are, when Inds is in her room for the night, when they don't have to watch out for a nasty look or a spitting face off, but they are all shaking down together nicely.

It feels like we are winning, slowly but surely.

Theo, on the other hand, is indulging in a veritable spray-fest, so I must target him for some particular attention. On that note, I'd best take him out for his walk as the skies are looking grey.

......... and I thought I'd posted this already! Skies now blue and sunny! Another walk, Theo?

Hold your breath...

Last night both Sofia and Ava poked their heads into the living room. Inds soon saw them off, but it felt like progress...

TODAY, on being released from the living room, instead of immediately chasing Sofia up the cat tree, Indigo stood near her, within whacking distance, but no whacking commenced. Instead they had a mutual sniffing session and then just sat next to each other. I was amazed. Indigo then hissed a bit and walked off and Sofia- SOFIA- gave her a thwap on the way lol.

Ten minutes later, Inds turned into hellcat again, chased Sofia up the cat tree and was back to her normal hissy growly self. Oh well, baby steps!

3, 2, 1...

 

Round 637...

Trapped!

 

Indigo has taken to 'trapping' one of the girls- almost always Sofia- in some high place, then sitting, troll-like, underneath. Which effectively means Sofia can't get down without being attacked.

 

 

 

Horrid little brute. Isn't she looking smug here?

 

Honestly, Indigo is being a pain. I've clipped her claws, so she can't do a lot of damage, but even so, it's pretty unpleasant at the moment, and all the cats are relieved when, at night, she gets put into the living room and the door shut. 

 

Reintegration is going swimmingly then. Someone tell me why I started this?????

Uh oh

 

This is not the companionable scene it looks...

 

*glare*

*hiss*

*spit*

and other unmentionable language...

 

Indigo makes herself as big and as intimidating as possible by hunching herself up and yowling

 

This is a typical scene, Indigo is always the aggressor. But she doesn't get it all her own way. In the above scene, Sofia lay there and growled, glared, spat etc, in response to Indigo's most unladylike language, but she wasn't about to budge. Indeed it was Indigo in the end who had to back down, slinking off to the bed to wash herself in an attempt to preserve her dignity.

 

Sofia rarely backs down... she just holds her ground and growls.

 

I have to say my sympathies are entirely with Sofia, and I'm glad she's holding her own. There were some nasty fights yesterday though, and I'm going to need to clip claws, well Indigo's claws anyway. Today seems calmer, although of course I couldn't leave any of them alone together. Indigo and Ava even had a tentative butt-sniffing session earlier, which was remarkably friendly considering, but then Indigo spoiled the mood.

 

Speaking of Ava, she's lost a further 200g, despite me attempting to feed her up :( Vets next week, she's getting a bit bony now despite seeming fit and well. 200g in a month is a lot to lose for a cat who was thin to begin with...

My Bed

(with apologies to Tracey Emin!)

 

Well they may be occupying the same space...

 

 

But the attitude is far from sisterly!

 

 



Well, much as I'd love to say how swimmingly well its all going, and how they are all snuggled up together happily, well frankly no, it isn't. But, you know, it's OK. Indigo is starting as many stand offs as she can, but the other two are holding their ground and not letting her bully them.

There have been yowls, growls and hisses aplenty. Purrs have been a bit few and far between though. Hoping for a few more of them soon.

Ummmmm!

 

 

Yes... that's Ava and Sofia, in 'Indigo's' room....

 

We've been on holiday, and Ava and Sofia, as the well behaved residents of the household, were permitted to stay at home while I was away. (Ok, so one of them puked on my bed, but that's small beans compared to what Indigo managed the one- only- time I left HER. *shudder*) They were given the run of the house, and they loved it. It's made me feel bad all over again for keeping them confined.

 

And to be honest, it's very awkward pandering to the whims of one awkward Tonk. I mean, I don't mind, but it's a pain, and I'd rather not. She isn't the only one in this household!

 

So, when Inds and Theo come home from the cattery tomorrow, I'm going to have another shot at reintroducing them all. Indigo has been making concerted efforts to get into my room of late, and stakes out the shut door... and Sofia does the same when Inds door is shut. Ava calls to Indigo through the door, and... oh I don't know. Maybe they've all grown up enough now to get along better?

 

So tomorrow, I'm off to stock up on the Feliway, collect the cats, and... see. I'll still seperate them at night and if I go out, and I expect Indigo will spend most of the day under my bed anyway. Sofia will spend it up the cat tree, and if they both spend a few hours sans food, then they can both live with that lol.

 

You just know it's all going to go wrong, don't you?

 

We'll see.