My Tonkinese Cat Club magazine arrived the other week. Well, I say 'magazine', more a 20 page booklet really, but full of interesting 'stuff'. Particularly of interest to me was an article on allergies... allergies TO cats as opposed to cats' allergies themselves, but there were some interesting bits about reducing the build up of allergens in the home and so on.
How's that for timing? Really, I couldn't quite believe it when I opened it up!
I'm guessing allergies - people allergies- are something a lot of people have to deal with. The teenager has a nut allergy and is inclined to eczema, has been since a tiny baby. Allergies are part of life now aren't they, but it is good to know there are things you can TRY at least, if they start to interfere with your life. Apparently I have asthma, although I suspect it's more that I'm just overweight and unfit- with a dusty house!
if you're interested in the Tonkinese as a breed itself, (and don't feel like you 'should' be, I don't belong to a Birman club, although I have Theo...) I really would recommend joining a breed club. It's not just for showing, although clubs do organise shows of course, they are also involved in welfare and, in the case of the Tonkinese, the future of the breed itself. There aren't a lot of Tonks about, and so breeders (the experienced ones, not beginners like me) are very aware of the need to extend the gene pool and create new bloodlines.
It only costs £6 per year to join, £8 for a joint membership, so well worth it if you are interested in keeping up with what's happening in the Tonk world :)
Friday, 29 April 2011
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
All Dressed Up
Photo by S.P
Here's Alfie, looking very dapper in his Easter finery! He kind of looks like a grumpy pre-teen doesn't he, saying 'Awwww do I HAVE to wear this?' He also looks very like Indigo in this picture!
Loving the updates, it seems such a long time now since they were all here and I suppose it IS a long time. Alfie, so I'm told, is over 3kg now and even more affectionate than ever. Looking at his picture, I can see he's just starting to lose that roly poly 'kittenish' look, there's a new maturity to his face. It's really quite exciting!
Tuesday, 26 April 2011
Ava Disapproves
I've got really pale skin, and what with the glorious weather we've been having lately, and my spending time at the allotment, (it being in a state of general neglect from when I had kittens here, who were far more interesting, let's face it, than digging a load of wet mud in midwinter...) I've been wearing a lot of sun cream recently.
I'd clearly not washed it off properly the other evening, because Ava, advancing for her bedtime knead and purr session on my chest, several times sniffed my arm and backed away, with a horrified expression on her face.
After a few false (and incredibly funny) starts, she got up close, and sniffed my arm all over. Clearly having decided my personal grooming was substandard, she then proceeded to lick my arm thoroughly, shooting me disgusted looks all the while as though I was little more than a grubby and troublesome kitten in need of a bath.
Well, once I'd stopped giggling and seeing she had no intention of stopping, I had to get up and wash my arm myself, as suncream is fairly noxious stuff and I didn't want her giving herself stomach issues! On my return there was a repeat of the sniffing business, but this time I apparently passed the test and Ava seemed quite happy once again.
Not every day a cat criticises your personal hygiene though! Sorry Ava- puss.
Sunday, 24 April 2011
Lisl Update!
Had a lovely update in my comments recently... here it is!
Lisl (Hope!) is adorable, and has been very happy on the roof terrace with the plants on the sun and cuddling up to us. She gets more gorgeous each day... [Lisl and Boo...] still fight a bit. Boo does lick her a fair bit though, but won't let her lick him - strange.
I'll bet all the kittens are enjoying the sunshine this past week or so aren't they? I know my cats are, Theo is loving his walks and the girls are splayed out in front of the windows lapping up the rays at any opportunity. Really, it's a cats life isn't it? Snooze, eat, sunbathe, stretch and repeat. Perhaps a mad half hour with toys or catnip or dashing about in the evening, and then more snoozing. Very nice!
Lisl (Hope!) is adorable, and has been very happy on the roof terrace with the plants on the sun and cuddling up to us. She gets more gorgeous each day... [Lisl and Boo...] still fight a bit. Boo does lick her a fair bit though, but won't let her lick him - strange.
I'll bet all the kittens are enjoying the sunshine this past week or so aren't they? I know my cats are, Theo is loving his walks and the girls are splayed out in front of the windows lapping up the rays at any opportunity. Really, it's a cats life isn't it? Snooze, eat, sunbathe, stretch and repeat. Perhaps a mad half hour with toys or catnip or dashing about in the evening, and then more snoozing. Very nice!
Thursday, 21 April 2011
More Mess
So I'm in the middle of a Really Good Clean-Out And Declutter at the moment, in the hopes that IF Indigo turns out to be allergic to dust I'll already be halfway towards knocking the problem on the head. I've never been bothered by a bit of dust as it happens, as my kittens' new families will know having seen my house themselves... and with four cats things to get a bit hairy at times. I'm not naturally a super- houseproud kind of person, is what I'm saying. So there's definitely room for improvement and I'm confident that IF the issue is dust (or rather, it's dust mites, not the dust itself isn't it?) then it's something we can deal with.
If this doesn't help, I'm thinking of some bigger changes. An air filter for the living room maybe, or getting rid of the sofa and replacing it with something less dust collecting. Probably something inexpensive, as having cats there's little point in spending huge amounts! But that's not a priority right away.
Of course you know how it is with big clean-ups... it gets worse before it gets better. I'm currently trying to tackle our monster book collection and aiming to cut it down by at least a third in the hopes of keeping the top shelf of the bookcases, where Indigo walks, dust free... which they absolutely are NOT right now! Which is why my living room right now is covered with books. Why is it so hard to get rid of books? Old favourites, childhood classics, all night long 'couldn't put it down' books... Ah well, Indigo is my princess, she's worth it :)
Not that she's at all appreciative. She's been yowling at me crossly all day for daring to disrupt the house so much!
Of course the tests will come back now and show it's not dust that's the issue... *grin*
If this doesn't help, I'm thinking of some bigger changes. An air filter for the living room maybe, or getting rid of the sofa and replacing it with something less dust collecting. Probably something inexpensive, as having cats there's little point in spending huge amounts! But that's not a priority right away.
Of course you know how it is with big clean-ups... it gets worse before it gets better. I'm currently trying to tackle our monster book collection and aiming to cut it down by at least a third in the hopes of keeping the top shelf of the bookcases, where Indigo walks, dust free... which they absolutely are NOT right now! Which is why my living room right now is covered with books. Why is it so hard to get rid of books? Old favourites, childhood classics, all night long 'couldn't put it down' books... Ah well, Indigo is my princess, she's worth it :)
Not that she's at all appreciative. She's been yowling at me crossly all day for daring to disrupt the house so much!
Of course the tests will come back now and show it's not dust that's the issue... *grin*
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
Something In The House
Is what is bothering Indigo. So dust, mould, something of the kind...
Pollen, grass etc isn't affecting her, nor were the other things tested for... all that came back negative. So it's nothing I seem to be bringing in to the house, it's something that's here already.
I've given the go ahead to more tests which will hopefully narrow it down further- hopefully they can use the same blood sample.
I wonder if her habit of crawling right into the sofa cavity is affecting her? Of course I stuffed the cavity when she was heavily pregnant, didn't I, and then unstuffed it once the babies were on the move because I was concerned they would crawl in anyway and become stuck, and that fits with the dates her head got better and then got worse again... could that be it?
Pollen, grass etc isn't affecting her, nor were the other things tested for... all that came back negative. So it's nothing I seem to be bringing in to the house, it's something that's here already.
I've given the go ahead to more tests which will hopefully narrow it down further- hopefully they can use the same blood sample.
I wonder if her habit of crawling right into the sofa cavity is affecting her? Of course I stuffed the cavity when she was heavily pregnant, didn't I, and then unstuffed it once the babies were on the move because I was concerned they would crawl in anyway and become stuck, and that fits with the dates her head got better and then got worse again... could that be it?
Monday, 18 April 2011
Looking Down Her Nose
Probably at Theo. Theo seems full of the joys, at the moment, and is terrorising his sisters at every possible opportunity. He wants to play, but his antics haven't been going down too well with the girls... hissing and much arching of backs has ensued!
Saturday, 16 April 2011
Itchy
When every single vet in the practice has seen your cat for the same issue at some point over the past 6 months, you know it's been going on for far too long. Fair enough it's not a huge practice, but there's 5 or 6 vets that work there at various times!!!
Anyway, so I took Indigo back in yesterday. She's had a blood sample taken to be tested, a highly expensive test that will possibly narrow down the allergen a little (so is it dust related, is it pollen related, etc...) which will lead to further, more specific, and no doubt more expensive tests to try and narrow it down still further. She also had an antibiotic and an antihistamine, so is a bit battered and bruised at the moment.
I'm hoping the insurance will cover it (must get onto them) but if it doesn't I'll find the money because being constantly itchy must be horrid for her.
Anyway, so I took Indigo back in yesterday. She's had a blood sample taken to be tested, a highly expensive test that will possibly narrow down the allergen a little (so is it dust related, is it pollen related, etc...) which will lead to further, more specific, and no doubt more expensive tests to try and narrow it down still further. She also had an antibiotic and an antihistamine, so is a bit battered and bruised at the moment.
I'm hoping the insurance will cover it (must get onto them) but if it doesn't I'll find the money because being constantly itchy must be horrid for her.
Friday, 15 April 2011
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Yes....
Indigo's head is sore again. And so is mine, from thumping it on the wall in despair. It's the vets for her!
Monday, 11 April 2011
Nocturnally Speaking
Well, I had planned to go to the cat show but have been felled by some sort of sickness followed by several very sleepless nights instead. I much preferred the original plan, I must say!
So I can't tell you about that. It has been a good opportunity to see what my cats get up to at night though. They don't sleep a lot either, it seems!
Sofia, as expected, IS the one who opens the teenager's bedroom door at night. She also spent a considerable amount of time trying to break into the cat food cupboard, despite it being exactly the same food as in her, well filled, food bowl. She's not daft though... she doesn't try to open the living room door, there's an Indigo on the other side of that one!
Inds herself occasionally scratched the door and howled mournfully. I feel bad that she's stuck in there, but face to face with Sofia she'd yowl at the top of her very considerable voice and pee all over my bed. *sigh*. But I do feel bad.
Theo occasionally presented himself to be patted, and accompanied me on every bathroom... ah... excursion. Which was oddly comforting! He seemed a little nonplussed that I was up and about at such an ungodly hour. I'm a little nonplussed myself. Two and a half hours sleep last night- bah!
As for Ava, she's spent most of the time on or close to me. I don't know whether that's because I've been poorly, or whether she does that normally! Very sweet, though! It's certainly helped to break up the hours till morning, she's such a skittish thing normally, but lying in bed, she'll completely relax. of course if you then move the merest muscle she's off.
All three (excepting Indigo of course) spent some time running up and down the corridoors, and I think Theo spent a lot of the night in the teenager's room.
One mystery solved though... I've been finding odd bruises on my legs, with no idea where they came from. I do now. Sofia jumping on me from a great height, that's blooming well where!
So I can't tell you about that. It has been a good opportunity to see what my cats get up to at night though. They don't sleep a lot either, it seems!
Sofia, as expected, IS the one who opens the teenager's bedroom door at night. She also spent a considerable amount of time trying to break into the cat food cupboard, despite it being exactly the same food as in her, well filled, food bowl. She's not daft though... she doesn't try to open the living room door, there's an Indigo on the other side of that one!
Inds herself occasionally scratched the door and howled mournfully. I feel bad that she's stuck in there, but face to face with Sofia she'd yowl at the top of her very considerable voice and pee all over my bed. *sigh*. But I do feel bad.
Theo occasionally presented himself to be patted, and accompanied me on every bathroom... ah... excursion. Which was oddly comforting! He seemed a little nonplussed that I was up and about at such an ungodly hour. I'm a little nonplussed myself. Two and a half hours sleep last night- bah!
As for Ava, she's spent most of the time on or close to me. I don't know whether that's because I've been poorly, or whether she does that normally! Very sweet, though! It's certainly helped to break up the hours till morning, she's such a skittish thing normally, but lying in bed, she'll completely relax. of course if you then move the merest muscle she's off.
All three (excepting Indigo of course) spent some time running up and down the corridoors, and I think Theo spent a lot of the night in the teenager's room.
One mystery solved though... I've been finding odd bruises on my legs, with no idea where they came from. I do now. Sofia jumping on me from a great height, that's blooming well where!
Friday, 8 April 2011
More Alfie
I promised you more Alfie didn't I... lol sorry about that!
I can't work out how to flip the photo I have. I'm told I can't edit it because it's read only, so can't flip it, so it would seem, so I won't repost it here, but suffice to say he is doing very well.
His peeing issue has resolved itself... he's responded to a little gentle redirection there, there's no litter box avoidance, he just got confused a couple of times.
One of his new people had family round last week. They weren't really cat people, but apparently Alfie had won them round in about 15 minutes! Nice one Alfie :)
I'm hoping to get to the Essex Cat Club show this weekend! Now I'm not a big showgoer, I got to two last year and none the year before. And obviously I don't have a cat eligible for showing. But I'll let you know what it was like, if I go :)
I can't work out how to flip the photo I have. I'm told I can't edit it because it's read only, so can't flip it, so it would seem, so I won't repost it here, but suffice to say he is doing very well.
His peeing issue has resolved itself... he's responded to a little gentle redirection there, there's no litter box avoidance, he just got confused a couple of times.
One of his new people had family round last week. They weren't really cat people, but apparently Alfie had won them round in about 15 minutes! Nice one Alfie :)
I'm hoping to get to the Essex Cat Club show this weekend! Now I'm not a big showgoer, I got to two last year and none the year before. And obviously I don't have a cat eligible for showing. But I'll let you know what it was like, if I go :)
Thursday, 7 April 2011
Horrid
When I was small, I had reddish gold curls, and my parents used to chant a rhyme at me:
There was a little girl
and she had a little curl
right in the middle of her fore'ead
When she was good
she was very, very good...
but when she was bad, she was horrid!
Which sums up my feelings today when I noticed my gardening coat had fallen off the peg. I noticed, as I caught Indigo slinking away from it.... having just weed on it.
Gaaaahhhhhhhh! Someone remind me why I have cats!!!!!
There was a little girl
and she had a little curl
right in the middle of her fore'ead
When she was good
she was very, very good...
but when she was bad, she was horrid!
Which sums up my feelings today when I noticed my gardening coat had fallen off the peg. I noticed, as I caught Indigo slinking away from it.... having just weed on it.
Gaaaahhhhhhhh! Someone remind me why I have cats!!!!!
Monday, 4 April 2011
Sleepy Lotti
S and K, Kensey and Lotti's new family, have taken some lovely videos of the kittens. I did just want to share this one with you though. This is SO like something Indigo would do...
Enjoy, and thanks S for sharing it with me!
Edit- hmph... it's not showing it all- offcentre and cutting out the top and the side. Click on it to watch it properly in youtube, and if any bloggers know how to fix it, I'd love to know!
How Much Do The Kittens Weigh?
Had an email from Alfie's family today, saying...
'I've weighed him again last night and he's very close to 2.5Kg which I think is a good weight but not completely sure...
Do you know how the other little ones are doing in terms of weight?'
So, over to you! Has anyone weighed their babies of late, and if so, how much do they weigh?
Here's a site with a good weight chart for comparison http://www.moggies.co.uk/articles/lifestyle.html - as you can see Alfie is doing rather well! I like that they show different averages for boy kitties and girls on here too.
I've got more about Alfie to update you with... tomorrow!
Saturday, 2 April 2011
One Annoyed Ava
Sheesh, lady, will you put that camera DOWN!
Actually she's not annnoyed. She's purring, and giving me that slitty eyed look o' love she does so well. But she looks really ticked off doesn't she?
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