All this crazy mad weather has been hitting us a little hard over the weekend, not as hard as most but hard enough to have birds flying nearly upside down and dear old Horrible Horrace grabbed on horizontally to a branch, flying like aloft like a pennant in the high winds.  His wife and family were much safer in their dray and had called out for 'Just Eat' but Horrace being the sole provider decided that he would try his paw at a smart abseil and a quick hop and a spring over the fence to Maystar HQ but the poor guy was caught in an updraft and whooosh, fur and tail floofed out, here is was hanging on for dear life to a branch with his family yelling at him to come home immediately.  We are not sure what happened to him other than he reappeared later stealing more slate to sure up his tree apartment.  

As for us, we haven't been outside for days, well, except pearl who every morning swaps places with Ikon over the bridge and each evening, Momma calls her in and she billows over in a flurry of fur.  Ikon has stayed in for the last two nights, just in case we lose a roof or a sky bridge or even our electrics as has happened every night for a few days. We can't have our main guy getting chilly where it's frilly now can we?

6 days ago i started some new medication due to breathing issues. It tastes mightily disgusting and has given me quite the deli-belly.  However, in 6 days I have not had any issues breathing which is excellent.  Mind you, it is making me feel extra hungry and any opportunity I can grab, I am inside that kitten pen and thieving anything i can set my licker on, especially the late night tuna flakes that Flaire leaves around the edge of her dish. She is just so wasteful.  Flaire likes me around and trusts me to care for her babies, of which I have no intention of doing besides a quick wash on my way in. She never says a word and a few tuna flakes is a good reward.  Momma has now become wise to this and now has to sit with Flaire with every meal and seeing as this is every two hours during daylight hours, that adds up to easily an hour a day playing tickle tickle with the Flairelings and less time playing wiggly worm with me - I really did do myself two injustices.  Pfft. 

The house has been split a little since the Tygalings were born and even more so now Flairelings are here.  Flaire has just the kitten pen and the Mariachi band, so nicknamed because they march and remind everyone of those Mexican sombrero singing  guys with huge mustaches.  It is hard to describe, but it is hillariously funny as they sway and march about.   Ikon comes in during the day and the kitchen door is firmly closed to stop him widdling.  He does have his man pants on with a tenalady for good measure and he struts about high stepping hind legs in a waddling walk and enjoys an hour or so entertainment with the babies, who hiss, spit and smack him.  He never once smacks them back.  He is so kind and gentle, except for Bree, he likes to smack her lost and she likes to whallop him back.  Because of the split, Faith, Lillibet and Pearl have been forced to live together and bond a little more.  We tried to send Pearl to a new home and it lasted 8 days when she was sent home totally unhandleable.  What a real shame, she could really do with being a single cat on her own.  Never mind, she has gained some spunk and has decided to stand up for herself instead of being picked on by the neuters.  I do like her very much but unless she has kittens, she can be quite miserable. 

It will soon be Spring and we can all go outside and get away from each other a bit more.  We all certainly need it, especially us neuters as the fat is piling around our bellies and Lillibet being the laziest, is looking like a small suckling pig! I can say this because Momma sings her 'this little piggy went to market' So I tease her and sing 'to market to market to buy a fat pig - home again home again jiggedy jig' - she has a temper and it it quite imperative that you duck or have a mighty fist of fives in your face.

For now - roll on Spring a ding ding
​Lots of love from your Queen Vee =^..^=

It has been such a busy time here at Maystar and I just have not been able to to get to the PC because Momma has been doing accounts and year end and then doesn't want to sit with me and be on the PC even more!

The Pearlings have grown and flown the nest with the exception of Bree, who stayed here with us.  I really like her, she is lots of fun and plays hard.  But boy does she have a foul potty mouth! She sure is a red head and has a mind of her own. Typical tortie!  Her Mother, Pearl, hates her on sight and Bree smacks her Mum and spits at her. She also spits at Ikon, Flaire, Lillibet & Faith.  She tried to moan at Momma - that didn't work.  She has found purring gets her more attention.

Then there is the Tygalings litter, which Momma has nicknamed the Mariachi Band.  When they are let out of the kitten pen each morning, they come out in a line, stand in a semi circle and strike up their band.  She just can  not look at them without seeing sombreros, trumpets, vioins and guitar in paws and then they begin to march to the food in the bathroom and across the landing.  All Momma can hear is the Mariachi music in her head as they trundle, tails up, sombreros balanced into the bathroom.  Ok, so it's a bit nuts, but seriously, even ManSlave agrees that they are super funny, especially as Momma puts music to their marching and swaying and ManSlave rolls with laughter.

They have all been having regular photo shoots and behaved pretty well, if you can count swinging from the background, jumping on the lighting umbrellas and fighting between every shot. They look so sweet and innocent once that shutter clicks down.  

At the end of January there was the third and final litter for some time born to Flaire & Ikon.  She had 5 babies to start with, but we lost the teeniest member at 41gms, dear sweet Stix. So, now we have four fluffy teddy bears to contend with.  three boys and another tortie girl.  The colours have all been exceptional and are a mixture of Ikon's Burmese restriction colouration and Flaire's Colourpoint colouration making some really cute minky tonkinese coloured babies.  It will be fun choosing what colour is what.  All very exciting.  We will have to test for blood groups and decide which one to keep.  

I have also been to the vets yesterday because I had trouble breathing and been a bit stumbly.  Then, I started to piddle on the door mat and then the windowsill.  It was so difficult the vet said as to what to give me, if anything?  If I have my usual steroids I can not them have them in case I need Metacam.  So I have to be monitored over the weekend and absolutely no playing!  I mean, I love love love to play, especially with Bree and the Mariarchi band and even more so with Wiggly Worm, but it has to be the green one, not the purple one!

Ikon had to take time out after Christmas because he kept piddling everywhere and it stank.  So we used cat pants and he peed so much they leaked.  As long as he  doesn't see Flaire, he doesn't spray and he can come in the kitchen, pant free. Because all the girls are taking a break now, we will just have to manage Ikon and he really loves being in the house, although, he loves his cat wheel too and a mixed indoor, outdoor life with neuter girl company seems to suit his active brain and body. 

There is just one thing now after Flaire moved the kittens last night into the kitten pen herself is where do we put the Mariarchi Band again?  The landing served as a basic creche for a few weeks, so I guess it will be in bed with Momma then - providing they don't snuggle into her too much because i take right armpit every night regardless!  And shall I remind them not to sleep near her legs and feet as you are likely to be kicked from the bed with a thump.  I should know, I have thudded to the floor enough times.... Mmm, maybe i should let them know?

Right now, I am off for a further nap, I have watched birds for a few hours, all toys are away, so there is nothing to do but sleep. 

With all my Royal Love 
Queen Vee -^...^=
​

Really, I can not understand where the time has gone between my last post and now.  It seems that Momma has been super busy and I have done nothing to aid her in getting these blogs done.  The blogs are not for us - they are for you all but in total honesty, things were so sad around here for a few months, there was nothing jolly to write about.

However, looking back over the past few months, we can pick out hundreds of moments that we can smile about and all include a crazy kitten or two.  It is just these kittens, Pearl's litter to be exact, born on 1st October, have been so well behaved and cute that there isn't much to tell.  Their birth was very strange and long winded, spanning four days of extreme stress for Momma and Pearl.  To look at them now, there isn't a moment of it to regret. Originally there were seven kittens but we lost three. There was hand feeding due to missmatched blood groups and a birth that one day it was natural and days later there was a cesarean to take out the final 3.  We have 4 healthy babies now and Pearl, after much trying times with milk, finally switched on the flow a week after they were born!  Today, they are galloping around the house letting of kitten steam and causing us to take sharp intakes of breath every time they climb something.  I am good at looking after them and thwak them about a bit for good measure.  They make me giddy and silly which makes me want to play more. They are fun.  Ikon really likes them. He is super happy washing and jumping on them. He is a bit heavy pawed sometimes and ManSlave reminds him to be more gentle. 

Not 8 weeks into new babies, Tyga was due and had a further 7 babies, this time, Momma lost four and left us with three.  This has been an easy birth but stressful for Tyga who has little milk.  Well, she had loads of milk and got full on mastitis which started to open into a sore.  The vets were on it, a day later than Momma wanted, but on it and covered with antibiotics and this was all caused by milk not able to get out of the nipples?  It is still slow to this day and backs up.  Annoyingly, Pearl did not want to help and worse than that - neither did I!! I hissed and spat at Tyga and her babies and want nothing to do with her - she smells funny, end of!  Momma begged me to bring in milky as I did for Lord Darnley, but I just couldn't.  So, Momma helps Tyga out every few ours with top up feeds.  There is a black boy in there who takes all the milky from her so he doesn't need as much topping up.  There are all sorts of potions being mixed into her food to encourage richness in what she does produce.  But it is still a case of hand feeding.  These tiddlers are 3 weeks now and racing about the place.  It is amazing to watch them go - from a distance you understand!!  

I think I am a little bit jealous of all the attention the others get and have a hard time them taking attention unless it is a wiggly worm on a string, then I am anybodies!  I often want to sleep in the kitten, but Momma purrsuedes me to sleep in her arms.  I just can not be doing with the getting up and down whilst she feeds babies and get all huffy and puffy at the smell of them.  Momma begs me to try one next to me... I huff it away. I am not impressed and suppose not very useful at all as I promised I would be.  I have also put on lots of weight. Because Momma has been so buy with babies, she has not been using her static bike and therefor I don't go out with her and use my wheel.  We are both plump!

Talking of plump, Lillibet is a veritable hippo at the moment and she also could do with a run about.  Due to everyone being so busy, the food has been on tap and Man Slave doesn't follow house rules and fills our dishes to bursting making us all like kitchen sloths. Hugging radiators, eating our weight in food and never going out.  It is too cold to watch squirrels and too damp to sit out comfortably so we are not getting any run about.  We are not getting our lunchtime quota of wiggly worm play time either.  I feel some resolutions are required around here - to do more with us and get into a routine for better husbandry.  We should come first - we were here first. Not some weeny babies.  

My tummy is rumbling again, I suppose i shall go hunt out some kitten food.  I have access to their room through the flap and really should not go to munch spare offerings, especially with my skin.  But, oooh, look, if I just pop my paw through the door of their pen, I can grab a paw full of rich baby kibble and munch it down unnoticed!  Note to self - must not lick lips in front of Momma and give game away!

Here is to a bright new year to you all - we will remember the deaths of 2019 of kittens, friends and family and move into 2020 with our hearts filled and bursting.  

Much kindness to all

Your QUEEN VEE =^..^=

Sleep has been somewhat lacking in the house for some weeks now and just as you think you are about to get some - something else happens to remind you that sleep, although a naturally occurring state of mind and body of ten has no place at Maystar HQ.

The feeling of sleep coming over you is so wonderful.  Your altered consciousness and inhibited sensory activity creates twitches and muscle flinches all of which you do totally involuntary.   Your eyes go all blurry and you begin to sway and your surroundings go all whooshy and a warm feeling comes over you and before you know it, you have slumped sideways and are slipping into a deep and restful doze.

If only it were to last....  Of late, due to the kittens being born some 20 days ago now, it has become increasingly quiet from the upping and downing of Momma at all hours in the night.  It was no good for me, I couldn't take it. Sleep deprivation is not on my list of to-do's.  Nope, I like a good kip or I get grumpy.  Then, if it wasn't for Momma, then it's Flaire yelling her head off for boys and Ikon thinks she just wants to play so he jumps on her from a great height, like the WWE great SmackDown himself.  So on and on she yells and Ikon then bounces around the kitchen at 4am bounding into boxes and playing with his toys like a big kid.  The noise between her yelling and him throwing himself about into the cardboard is disruptive and darn right rude!  Then, without warning - he crashes one last time - fast asleep whilst we are all awake looking at the ceiling. 

I have tried many breathing exercises, Some use counting. In for 4, hold for 4 out for 5 whack for 6. The whakking is the best part, but is seems that is raising my Adrenalin and I shall never sleep with that surging around my body.   It is no use, I have to join in and the box bouncing looks fun to be honest.  I am good at playing and do enjoy it as much as sleeping.  

Tyga usually sleeps with me, when I allow her.  No one is certain that travelling Bonja managed to catch her, except, occasionally she lets off a funny smell and I have to whack her about the head for good measure.  She has become very aggressive towards Flaire, but to be honest, someone has to shut her up.  I have tried riding her up and down the stairs, whipping her backside and then we play fight a bit, rolling about kicking, that sort of thing - then it turns real and we both go stiff, snake a bit and slither away.  Don't wanna push that too far.  She is a lightweight anyway - gives in easily and I get super scared quickly. 

ManSlave says that his sleep is much better now he doesn't have any cats in his room.  We all sleep in the kitchen at night, because we are constantly jumping on the sleeping humans.  ALthough, Momma sleeps in the kitten room mostly, due to her silly legs that she can't keep still in the bed, so ManSlave benefits form those nights too.  At least someone is getting some kip.  Well, him and 4 happy fat kittens.  They seem to sleep at the drop of a hat.  No harm in that - they have to grow.  Except, at 4am, they do have a little gallivant about and try to wake Momma.  Then they are up at 6am trying again.  Broken sleep is the worst. But at least sleep has been achieved. 

Being a Sunday, it is acceptable to have a doze or two. Maybe get in the chair with Momma and drift off safe that she has my back.  Then, of course, I am joined by Tyga, she just has to invade my space and then kiss momma and lay on her squirming about like a kitten.  Then, low and behold, along comes Bubbah Fishy, well Faith to you all - she then shuffles everyone around and takes top place on Momma's left side after a good padding of the blankie and a growl or two in our direction for good measure.  Yep, this is how I plan my Sundays. Today if Beef SUnday and a small piece of Simmental from cattle at Kennilworth will sustain us all.  A small steak tarta for the lot of us will go down a treat. 

Next week is the supreme - I will be in my gold and red pen all glistening and waiting to be grumpy to everyone.  Momma is hoping I might have a nice day and be good - she is wishing!!!

Wishing you, my loyal subjects, a wonderful and restful Sunday too.

​Your Queen Viktori Vee. <3  

On the 30th August two tiny Maystarlings were brought into this world by Pearl and then, two days later two more born by C-section!  What a traumatic entrance into the world they all had and Pearl became a bit off colour with the pain of it all and stopped eating and when she stopped eating, the milky stopped. When the milky stopped the hand feeding began again in earnest to compensate for lack of nourishment. The pain killers went in and the food went in and the milk began to flow and once the milk flowed, the gassy tummies started from the dramatic changes from one to the other.  Then finally, nearly two weeks hence - we have milky in abundance and Pearl feeling much brighter and has also stopped playing musical kittens with the extra noisy ones.  Hoorah!  There are four Pearlings (originally 7) three colourful girls and one smart looking red boy.  They are big and bold and full of beans.  Some have more beans and some more cattitude, even at this young age, I can tell the ones who will be a challenge!  Pearl has come to the conclusion that she is fighting a losing battle and has decided to love them anyway, despite their loud mouths and bossy natures.​ 

Tyga, a few months ago, had a Pyometra, an infection of the womb.  We had hoped that Ikon might sire his first litter, but she called and called and he just carried on playing with his toys and hardly noticed her in full call rubbing herself all over him.  It happened over and over again, so we drafted in the help of Bonja again.  The Father to the Pearlings.  We were very lucky that this time Bonja came to stay as timings with babies was a bit of a worry and trying to get Tyga to Canvey Island at short notice was a bit crazy.  Tyga had been to the vets and had several treatments of Alizin and strong antibiotics to kill of any infection and expel any pus still in her uterus.  She was deemed healthy enough to mate on the next call.  Of course, as these things happen - it was the same day the Pearlings arrived.  She was very shy and it took her a good few days of crying at the window before he wooed her and got her to play house with him.  Just as well as Bonja's Daddy collected him on his way home from Birmingham and they had 3 days and nights playing happy families.  Lets hope it has solved her issue and kept her safe. 

I am terribly grumpy with everyone of late. Tyga went out to see her beau. That put me in a bad mood.  Momma was inaccessible with all the kittens so I helped her a bit hand feeding the newborns when they were crying through the night and Pearl was out of it.  I did my best, but every hour the light went on, the milky got warmed up, the babies cried and it all got too much. I didn't fancy helping out after all.  I thought I might like babies again after Lord Darnley, but it wasn't to be.  I think I just wanted Momma's company.  I got mardy and grumpy with the constant waking up - sleep deprivation does not suit me.  Ikon was being a total bully boy and he caught me one afternoon off guard.  He walloped me so hard on my head I have a big graze from his big fat claws.  I got scared and hid under the chair.  Silly, I know, but he is twice my size now and slam dunks you when you least expect it.  I thought he was here to mate us girls?  Makes me glad I am neutered now - He is a bit clumpy and can't keep still. Has no manners and never says please or thank you. I have been the only one to really keep him in his place - until he scared me. Now I don't even want to play with him, for fear of being beaten up again. He gets in a blind thumping spree and I don't have time for that sort of behaviour.

Flaire has been in call for 3 weeks on the trot and he doesn't care much about that either.  He would rather watch squirrels and play with his toys.   Talking of squirrels.....  We think our neighbours in our local area are having some garden work done.  We think they have captured, and trained Horrible Horrace's children to steal the HUGE bits of slate covering our garden and take them to their garden to begin the renovations.  Each day, two of Horrace's kids climb the 4ft outer fence, run along, up onto the 6ft fence in the side garden, race along, tiptoe throught the cat safety netting, along the roof of the House of Fun, shimmy down the bird feeder, grab a snack then drop to the ground, selecting a few massive bits of slate and reverse their trip, carrying the slate high in their mouths.  Then, they make the perilous journey across the road and into a neighbours garden 10 doors up!  Of course the neighbours totally deny any dealings with the squirrels and are as surprised as we are that their slate is being added to whilst ours diminishes.   Will there ever be an end to this ongoing drama of tons and tons of gravel first gone missing and now, slate, which is twice the size of any squirrel.  It has begun a gravel war as now Horrible Horrace has sired not 2 but 14 babies this year and all are in training for gravel thievery

Watch this space for further updates of Pearlings, matings & Squirrel antics.  Don't forget to come and see me at the Supreme Cat Show in two weekends time - I can not guarantee I will be in a good mood and may hiss at everyone and everything, but at least I will be there for Queen and country.  Some ambassador for Maystar and the Devon Rex Breed! Oh well - I am what I am!  Beautiful in every way.

​Lots of love from Queen Vee <3 

It has been a very busy week here at Maystar.  Flaire and Tyga have been calling and Ikon is very busy with them. Faith and Lillibet are staying out of everyone's way because the others fancy them and Pearl has locked herself away.  To be honest, I feel a bit unloved!   The hoomans have been so busy doing human things and working hard that I am not getting my usual look in!  No matter how much I drag my bright orange 'Wiggly Worm' around with it's bell jangling and place it in Momma's eye line, I am being shunned in favour of paperwork!  ManSlave is hardly here and comes homes smelling of paint and sweat and has no time in between his garden duties and work for a lunchtime play.  I feel the squirrels get more attention!!!

Then Momma goes from the office to the kitten room to check on Pearl, who is growing exponentially in there just like Violet Beauregarde, expanding into a lilac ball of fluff.  I can just see through the cat flap as she massages Pearl's belly and Pearl squeaks and trills with delight.  There I am, bereft at the little plastic window, with my lips parting slightly, letting out a plaintive meep meep, orange wiggly worm dangling from my mouth, it's body all limp and lifeless just like my heart. Oh woe is meeeeee.

Then, out she comes and I collect the orange wiggler from the lip of the cat flap where I laid him like an offering on an alter and off I trot, just behind her, as she heads down the stairs.  Damn this, I think, and in my silliest and happiest demeanour I jump forward to the step below her feet and roll and roll, belleh upturned for the same treatment as Pearl has just received.  She squishes my tummy with her foot, I grab it in play fight and bite her toes, she laughs and I roll down another step to get the full effect of her happiness.  I then race up the stairs, wriggle my porky little butt and jump for her shoulders and wrap my warm hard body around her neck, balancing gracefully on her shoulders.  "Ooooh Vikorious." she croons "My Vikatori-ori-ous, my ever so glorrrr-iousss, just a bit naughti-noussss, God save the Queen." I hum then "la-lalallaaa" and on she continues to sing and repeat the song and changing the words as I go all melty and kiss her face and purr so that her whole head rumbles to my tune.  

I then remember my orange pal and off I run, bouncing from her shoulders and up the stairs to find him.  There he is, laying where I left him, neck all twisted back and a funny smile on his face that is somewhat disturbing! I pick him up, his bell tinkles and again he comes to life and I trot, proudly holding him aloft and mewling through clamped jaws that I am arriving with a prized gift for my best friend and loyal subject.  I drop the slightly damp orange worm right onto the breadboard where Momma is making lunch.  He lays there all shy, so I push him with my paw to animate him a bit and it catches her eye and with one swift movement and the words I have waited for all day "F E T C H   V E E".  Off I scramble as he disappears around the door, me close behind, running like a cartoon character on the wood floor, back legs scampering to gain speed and leverage. He lands and slides heavily against the skirting board, tail upended and I try not to follow in his wake and just overshoot my aim and fall into a sublime rolley-polley on the lounge rug.  "Oh this is the life."  I mumble through a mouth full of carpet fibers. 

I trot back and collect his dizzy body from the skirting and together we make our entrance, big and proud and Momma calls "Bing-bing-bing Viktori" in her high pitched excitable voice that makes my legs go wobbly like those Retro wooden push puppets where you press the base and the animal falls into a crumpled heap - then bounces alive again!  Some of you may be too young to remember those!!!  Well this is how I look as my legs crumple and I go all floppy and can't stand, then i can, then I can't.  "Oh come on legs." I shout loudly and up I spring again and then Momma says it again "Bing-Bing Viktori." and those words send me all silly again and I can't quite make it to her so tap my orange pal towards her the best I can.  It's like laughing and not being able to breathe. You just can't do anything else but the basic movements.  She comes over and rubs me all over and I squirm and kick helplessly with my back paws. she picks me up and dusts the bits of floor from my coat and kisses me - I kiss her back. A smart headbutt to make her eyes water. One she won't forget - the Glasgow Kiss! 

After a few rounds of play time whilst she has her lunch, it is back to work and slightly energised and slightly worn out I pick up Wiggly Worm and we all head upstairs to the office and I settle down by her feet and Momma gets back to work.  I know she looks at me lovingly every few moments because my body goes all warm and I look up and sure enough she is looking at me and I curl into a tight ball whilst she showers me with love.  I feel safe enough to drift away and dream of chasing Horrible Horrace around the garden, comfortable in the knowledge that my heart is fit to burst and I am loved after all and there are always times in the day for each of us and we just have to find the time to notice.

Just like writing this to all my loyal subjects and followers, I make the time to brighten your day too.  Lets make the love go around and share what we have when we have it and give when we can and never forget that we are all loved. 

Your especially happy, Queen Vee =^..^=

Due to my skin being super dooper and very clear now on my new fodder.  This Queen Vee shall go to the ball!  What Ball you all say?  The BIG BALL of the cat world - the SUPREME CAT SHOW which will be held on 26th October 2019 at the NEC. 

I am already a Champion and I don't really like showing, however, you can just go on EXHIBITION, so that's what I am going to do apparently.  I am going to meets and greets my fans.  Something the late King Slinky couldn't do. Momma says I need to get out more and charm the public - so that is what i shall do.  I was invited to the area of 'meet the cats' but really, I am not very good being on a big table with strangers stroking me - I hiss and spit at everyone and moan a lot - not a very good ambassador for the breed.  But in a show pen, in my own space, I might just manage that part ok!

The theme this year is 'Cats on Holiday' - however, my pen will be adorned with everything queen like and not at all 'cats on holiday' for me - I shall leave that to the others.  I have King Slinky's crown bed, which was in fact made for Faith in 2011 and was the last time Momma took anyone to the Supreme herself as she is always working.  This year she has turned down all the working for exhibiting me instead and just enjoying the day as a spectator instead of a Judge or store holder. 

So, once I get my pen number I shall let everyone know where I shall be in the hall and so long as you bring me offerings of treats, I may even give you a purr or two?  No guarantees though, the last Pet Show I did with Pearl, I had lots of fun terrifying the children!  

Everything here at Maystar is going along OK.  Momma is waiting to take Tyga down to see her new boyfriend because Ikon is still very much a baby and she is constantly calling now for boys.  So on her next call, Momma will take her to meet him. 

Last weekend, Ikon & Tyga went to the last show of their season and came home CHAMPIONS, each one getting their final gold cards and very pleased with themselves!   We have kittens to concentrate on now, so showing has to take a back seat for a little while.  Well, Except me at the Supreme, that is just a jolly for Momma and I to get out and about and meet up with friends and fans. 

Pearls Belly is growing so much she has to squeeze through the kitten room cat flap with some dexterity. Poking the big side in first, then smoothing the little side through afterwards.  She certainly can not use the cat flap going out into the CatPods, she waits patiently at the door to be let in or out.  Other than a gentle walk on the cat wheel, she spends most of her time resting on the floor anywhere cool and mostly in the kitten room.  She has 8 small wet meals a day and munches on kibble as and when.  She seems so very hungry all the time - however, what goes in - sure does come out!! Why she can not go to the bathroom at normal waking hours instead of two am is beyond me.  She spends ages digging to china then making a mountain to cover up her doings.  The noise in the quiet of the night is deafening and the smell, well, indescribable on 8 mini meals a day!  

Just so everyone is in the know, there is a small holding not far from us who have saddle backs. They are well cared for and always happy racing about, this is where today's little tiny bit of pork comes from. You don't need much when the pork is free range because the flavour is amazing.  I am off to sit aloft on the fridge to keep an eye on it cooking.  We may all get a little taste as ManSlave trimmed it off as we don't like lots of sage on ours!  Oooh - sorry vegetarians - us cats gotta eat don't you know - can not survive on carrots alone!

All my love from Queen Vee  =^..^=

​#MeetTheQueen #QueenVee #MaystarMadness #SupremeCatShow

Horrible Horrace and his recently made family of squirrels have decided that it wasn't enough to remove 8 tons of gravel from our garden over a 10year period, he and his family are now digging into the newly replaced HUGE slate pieces and stealing those too!  

They have their little hands around a big bit, turning it in their tiny mouths, leaving a lick mark around its circumference until they find that perfect spot to clamp their tiny jaws around it and hop over the six foot fence to goodness knows where?  Squirrels, as you may know, make drays up high in trees to live in and can have a couple of litters a year.  Well, make that 4 litters for Mrs. Horrace!  We now have 14 squirrels and each is as cheeky as it's parents, some stay in the garden area and some move away to nearby woodland.  Horrace originally came from said woodland, but now, in his old age, he prefers to stay around our garden and do lots of chasing and yelling. 

We think he is making a retirement villiage with all our slate and gravel.  It must be a few stories high by now and very secure and exceptionally weather proof. It has to be big enough to have a nursey and a large pantry for storing nuts and seeds as well as a big kitchen for family dinners.  Horrace has always been a thin squirrel and I see in his offspring the same manners of those in his likeness - the fat ones are usually the women, with tiny pink nipples poking out of their fur.  They don't waste time removing gravel and slate or burying some of it in ManSlaves potato patch! Nope, the squirrel women really do concentrate on making babies and bringing them up not to be scared of us.  They sit, brazenly along the fence, just above the plastic roof, chattering at us and we at them. The excitement makes the air electric and it is usually the squirrels who break the stare!

Years ago we had Topsy and Bimbo.  Horrible Horrace would thrash Topsy and pull out his fur. Topsy was a brave squirrel and would thrash Horrace back.  However, Horrace still stole his wife and they set up home together leaving Topsy to retreat to the woodland, tail between his legs.  Bimbo was a good mother and nursed many babies into the world, but one cold winter, she didn't come for food and we have not seen her since - probably starved due to Horrace burying gravel instead of food.  This is when ManSlave started to put out sunflower hearts especially for them as they are rich in protein and fat.  Since then, our population has grown exponentially.  Momma worms them too, crushing panacur into a fine powder and coating the seeds and nuts. They sure are healthy squirrels health wise and genetically, possibly a bit inbred! 

We love having them about. They are fun and comical and keep us entertained for hours on end.  We all respect each others boundaries and accept that we can not chase them further than the edges of our CatPod and they, in turn, pull faces and blow raspberries as they race off across the branches into the wilderness.  They need us and we enjoy them.  Our garden looks like the opening scenes of Bambie.  Sweet birds, frogs, newts, mice, hedgehogs and our precious family of Sciuridae and the not so precious, but equally beautiful, rats who eat the eggs and steal babies.  We are blessed and know that we are helping, in a small way, to improve our environment and keep our wildlife safe in a world where hoomans are forgetting to look up and see nature.  Our haven is very special to us and as entertainment - it is gets top billing! 

.Kibble is noisy to eat. However, some of us are noisier than others.  I, of course, am THE noisiest eater and drinker in the house.  I chew and lap with my mouth open making a heck of a din that can be heard in the garden Even when I steal something, I am not quiet about it.  I am a bit of a messy eater too, food flying from the dish in all directions and I can be quite protective over my kibble and scoff at twice the speed, choking it down so no one else can get their lips on my fodder. I drop crumbs all down my white bib and have bits stuck to my whiskers for a snack later. 

Pearl on the other paw, is a silent eater and with a name like Regina Gloriana, I suppose it is inevitable she has more manners than me.  She eats with her lips tightly pressed together, a proper lady that one.  With her mouth closed, she chews with the required 44 mastications before swallowing.  Looking vaguely into space as each mouthful is chewed.  She even drinks silently, lapping the water as if drinking from a bone china tea cup, pinky out and fur brushed back from her powdered face. 

Ikon is a mid range eater, besides being like a speeding heffalump at every other task, he does eat with some decorum and is quite a secret snacker.  He enjoys his raw food and dances on his hind legs when Momma calls him for his evening meal, which he takes in his own room, sitting avidly when asked or he pounces on the dishy and usually the lot ends up on the floor.  So Momma is teaching him to be calm at dinner times.  He sits for a bit of vitamin paste too, but not for a ducky treat, those are snatched out of exposed fingers with gusto by grabbing paws. Sitting is way too hard for those, they smell so good.  ManSlave has to be quick with all of us snap dragons or he might lose a finger or two!  Ikon has had a bit of an accident with the auto feeders.  There was one on the kitchen table with his lunch in, but unfortunately, the table is oval, he stepped sideways as the lid opened and fell onto the floor.  Ever since then, he is has been a little concerned about the noise and loses his rag if you try to help him.  So Momma just left him to it and finally hunger got the better of him and he is using the feeding pod again, but only on the worktop, he gives the one on the table a wide berth. 

Flaire is a delicate and long winded eater.  She picks at her food and draws her lips back so her special tuna meal doesn't touch the cream fur around her muzzle and especially her delicate chocolate nose. She hates anything wet touching that.  She eats her kibble in the same way and delicately picks up the biscuit between her front teeth and like her Daughter, Pearl, masticates correctly.  When she drinks it sounds like a small mouse drinking from a bottle cap.  She is rather 'special' and a real aloof lady.  When she has babies, she will eat all wet food, but the day she stops lactating, she says NOPE to wet food and Momma has to start enticing her with kibble sprinkled over it.  She is a real tricky customer when kittens are about and will only eat in the kitten pen with the door closed.  Seriously, I think the door is closed so that I don't steal all the meat!

Tyga is a babe. She has refused point blank to eat the new ducky flavoured food that was purchased because my skin is itchy and held out a whole day, only eating one or two kibbles.  She was then sick from drinking water to fill her tummy, so Momma did a special next day delivery of the 'old' turkey kibble and gave her tiny baby food to eat in between.  These she relished and when her food arrived she suggested that the baby kibble might be better and she then wasn't going to eat anything else.  Sigh.  Momma managed to hide the adult stuff in the baby stuff and she began to get back to normal.  When she eats she chews the kibble but only swallows half and drops soggy wet bits back into the food bowl, making sharing with her a bit damps.  It is called quidding, however, she has had her teeth checked and nothing wrong, only that she has a teeny tiny Tyga mouth that is sweet and darling and who cares if she quids her food - more crumbs for me right?

Twice a day Lillibet has her 'Grab-Your-Pen-Tin' pills in some miamor, she will leave her food to take her pills.  What a good girl.  Her and Faith were on a special diet food.  It had reduced fat, however, Lillibet has begun to lose weight again after being quite chunky.  There is never an easy fix. She really likes the new ducky kibble and it has a little more oil in it to help her coat.  Because she shares with her mum Faith, Faith too is now gaining a little weight. You just can not win!  They are both terribly messy eaters and take kibble from the feeders and step back or to the side and crunch away, leaving a trail of kibble crumbs all over Momma's work top. These subsequently drop onto the floor and cause a slight crunch under hooman feet. Faith also likes a little tuna and eats at the proverbial snail pace, especially when we are all drooling for some too.  She is matriarch, so she goes first. If we are lucky, we might get to lick the bowl! 

Momma was judging again at a show in Cambridge yesterday.  It was very busy and had so many kitties to judge. There was a huge surprise awaiting for her too.  A little cat had been entered under Momma that she thought she knew.  It was only sweet Mishka that came home with Freja (Peishie - Veeling 2018) and had the huge operation to save her ruptured spleen.  She was super thin and very poorly and thankfully Marius & Trevor took her and have nursed her back to great health and confidence, then surprised Momma by entering the show!  She did very well, despite grumbling and pretend silent hissing all whilst purring away.  She has the most amazing eyes that despite her start, are so trusting and loving. 

Momma also took Ikon and Tyga to the show.  It was long drive which was pierced with Ikon singing the entire way there and back and just to add to the din, Tyga also joined in sometimes.  Momma drowned them out with music.  Then when we got to the show and Ikon was put into his pen, he kept grabbing momma's hair whilst she was putting bags away, dragging it through the bars and ragging her head with his claws.  He is a real hoot and doesn't like being left at first.  Then there was Tyga, grabbing the pen number from her cage and destroying it. Rubbing her entire body up and down the bars purring and squeaking.  Ikon was mouthy then and began to solo.  Numbers returned to the bars.  Both cats snuggles for 5 minutes each and then back to their tiny white boxes and off Momma went and watched them from the balcony for a second and saw them grabbing anyone that walked near the cages.  They then settle to polite well behaved babies and get on with their day then.  Both came home with a gold card each stating they are on their way to being Champions! (well, we hope so!)

At home, not much went on except that ManSlave had time to bond with Lord Darnley.  They had a snuggle in bed to begin with. Then he had brekki and a few kibbles.  He cam running when he was called.  he then spent a few hours on top of the fridge.  By the time Momma got home, he had been fed 3 times and loved ManSlave so much - he is one of those fickle pussers.  I spent the day caring for him, washing him and making him all sparkly.  Well, actually, Momma had made him smell funny in the morning. She groomed him and put powder on his cheeks and then sprayed him with show shine and smelly things to make him glow. Cleaned his ears, claws and chin.  She said it was good practice in case he wanted to be a show cat.   Ikon stood very still when he was poofed up as did Tyga, she had he chin powdered because she had made a spot under her chin quite sore. 

Whilst everyone was being spruced up, Lillibet slunk down, flat and slithered under the chair in the lounge.  Faith took to the fridge bed and lay as flat as possible.  I raced upstairs and got under ManSlave's legs. Flaire just sat quietly behind the curtain.  None of us wanted to go to a show.  Pearl never cares, she was happy to sit in the carriers as was Ikon and Tyga.  They don't mind going out for the day - even though they yell the whole journey.  It will soon be time to go on our hollibobs and have time at Amara again.  It is fun at the caravan and Tyga and Ikon have never been.  It isn't far away and it will be fun to go on the beach.   For now though, as the hoomans are busy, we have to make do with the garden which isn't so bad as there are birds and bees to watch as well as squirrels.  We even have new ones, 2 fresh baby squirrels.  They are so funny to watch and not scared at all of us cats watching them.  

Enjoy your Sunday.  We have a fresh bit of Turkey in the oven.  It smells so good as does the rest of it that Momma has minced into our raw food.  We have watched her closely and got some titbits for ourselves for being patient.  Now though, Ikon and I are keeping an eye on the cooked bit in the hope of a nibble later.  Darnley will be very busy sniffing about - more training for him not to jump ON the plates when full of gravy!  Sigh

​Laters super fans - your Queen Vee =^..^=

Lillibet is a few coppers short of a quid shall we say, very smart like a savant at one minute and then as stubborn as a donkey on a hot day. At 11months old she had blood poisoning which ruined her brain and then at 12 months she fell and cracked her delicate head on wood flooring knocking her out and then at 2yrs old she had a grand Mal seizure that changed her forever.  After the Grand Mal she was diagnosed with Hyper Esthesia which may or may not be related to any of the above - no one knows - so it is managed, mainly holistically, at home with 6monthly check-ups.   6years on and she has been experiencing more and more mini seizures, so Momma took her to Vet Marina where they talked about giving her a drug to calm them down and stop her skin from rocking-n-Rolling too as well as to stop her biting herself and attacking all of us, even her own Mother Faith.  It's called 'Grab-your-pen-tin' or some such thing that is totally unpronounceable to us cats.  Momma says it's Gabapentin and not that difficult really for us to wrap our tongues around it.  Luckily, I don't have to wrap my tongue around it at all leaving that to Lillibet.  

In the first week Momma cut the tiny pink pills in half and started with just that every 24hrs.  It was like a miracle, she stopped flicking and twitching within about 20minutes.  Her back stopped rolling and the Hoomans could go right up to her anywhere in the house and stroke her - not just on her preferred safe places of the en-suite, the wash bin in the main bathroom, the windowsill in the main bedroom and the worktop in the kitchen.  For the first week, she lay more on Momma in the evenings and was less fazed if we approached her from the back to whakk her!

The tiny little tablet just slipped down her throat so easily, it was a doddle in the morning time before breakfast.  One breakfast, Momma had left for a show very early and forgotten to give her the pink pill, so she text ManSlave who said he would do it.  At midday there was a text back saying he had tried really hard to give her the tiny 5mm across pink pill and Lillibet had clamped her mouth shut and began to growl.  Nothing he could do seemed to make her open it.  With the  pill disintegrating in his fingers he tried to wipe it on gums and she hit the kitchen roof then ran around the house as though she had been poisoned, foaming at the mouth and hiding under the lounge chair where she stayed until Momma got home..  He stood bewildered with a pink mush in between his thumb and forefinger shaking his head. He had seen Momma and Lillibet do this for a whole week with no trouble.   Finally, Momma came home and ManSlave said that Lillibet had become agitated after their trial at lunch time, so Momma got out a new pink pill and sat Lillibet on the work top, kissed her head, said 'Open Sesame' and she opened her mouth and Momma popped the pill to the back of her throat and it was gone with a stroke of her neck.  ManSlave stared in amazement.  "That's exactly what I did" he exasperated.  But we all know for certain, because we watched him, that he didn't kiss her on the head nor say the magic words!

After that fiasco, Momma and Lillibet have devised a way to administer a pill by crushing it on the worktop and pouring a little vitamin paste over the top of it and down the hatch it goes.  She now waits patiently twice a day now for her magic pink pills.  It had to be twice a day as she was inappropriately piddling on things and getting agitated at simple things.  After a week of two halves, she is now socialising with us and hanging out watching Little Lord Darnley playing on the landing with only a slight growl and will come and sit on the windowsill in the bedroom even when one of us is sat there too or even falling asleep on the main bed.  Quite an improvement.  

Yesterday, she had found a feather outside and even said that Ikon could play with it and touch it whilst she had it.  Momma watched in sheer amazement.  Ikon was a little nervous of her magic whakking paw and stayed just out of reach.  Smart lad. Lillibet carried on and even mixed with us watching bees in the wild geraniums. Tyga touched her by accident and she didn't do anything but moved away instead of the usual high jump in the air and a screaming growing frenzy.  It was quite a scene to see and one that Momma shall report to Vet marina when Darnley goes in for his Vaccination next week. 

That's all folks from your loyal Queen Vee. Enjoy the heat and suncream those ear tips! =^..^=

Little Lord Darnley is now nine weeks old and being a right proper boy kitten.  He is spoilt rotten and can throw quite the stamping paddy paw tantrum when things don't go quite his way.  I guess he has no smaller kits to play with so us big cats have to tell him how to act and being brought up by three CatWomen who were also spoilt is proving to be just adding fuel to the fire. I was an only child like LLD so I have no boundaries at all where people are concerned, I am in their face and will teach him to be as such.  Then there is his Mother who was from a family of four girls and at 11weeks old began to get sickly with a cat milk allergy, so she had to be hand fed to bring her back to health making her a right little madam.  When she screamed, ManSlave came running.  She is teaching LLD these traits.  Then there is Tyga, She was a litter of two girls and all the way through her kitten hood she was picked out as a show kitty and with these big ideas in her head she shows LLD how to play and be cute and look pristine all the time.  

There is one other cat in the mix, he is also a kitten himself, not that you would know it!  He is clumpy and bumble footed and crashes through everything. He has no manners and is so clumsy - all this because he is so BIG for his age.  Other than his size, he is also sweet natured and lovable and enjoys chewing LLD's leggies and giving him a good rough game.  I have to say about Ikon that his English is really good now, he still squeaks with an accent which sounds ever so funny compared to our trills.  He has grasped the basics  with NO being top priority for his biting and sometimes Momma says it in Polish and he REALLY knows she means it.  His biting has subsided now that neither ManSlave nor Momma play those games with him and use other toys to distract him.  He still tries to bit if you trim his claws - he in not one for a Mani-pedi and has a short fuse. 

He knows OUT, usually from the office.  He knows IN, usually from outside.  IKON COME ON - means he gets ducky treats.  IKON IKON IKON IKON means there is meat in the bathroom for him at lunch and dinner.  He is learning OFF, mainly from the kitchen sides as he gets pushy when Momma is cooking.  He goes all still and non bendy when the OFF word is used and a help down from the work top several times with an OFF is working.   He almost had Momma A-over-T on the stairs so now he has added DOWN DOWN DOWN to his repertoire of English words.  He races down like a good boy and waits at the bottom to attack the hoomans feet instead.  He wraps his body around their ankles and bites their socks and the Hoomans just walk along, dragging on one foot a Polish duster. He really is a hoot.  When he gets bored he makes this sound like a duck.  He wanders around slighting quacking until he finds something to do.  It is a really cute sound and nothing any of us have heard before.  

We have only really just trained Tyga to behave in a orderly fashion and being a girl, she was quick to learn and enjoys praise.  I went through a stage of hating her on sight and she didn't fit in at all and everyone picked on her.  Then I got sick and she came and looked after me.  Then she got sick ans I looked after her.  Sometimes Flaire can be very mean to her and Ikon is a bit heavy pawed.  She is very strong for a small cat and really wallops him.  He is two months younger and he is twice her size, but still she keeps him at bay.  Tyga is a proper little lady, not at all like me really, she is not in any way a tomboy, which I am glad of really.  She does have this funny habit of screaming in a high pitched wale to get attention and it is usually when she needs a quick cuddle. It is very endearing really.   Tyga is great at teaching LLD too, she plays really sweetly with him and lets him share her toys and gallops about in the cat tunnels at high speed.  She is the only one out of the three kittens to not stand on the computer keyboard and doesn't stand on the bread boards either.  I guess LLD, once allowed into the kitchen,  will be all over the joint! 

Speaking of joints, I can smell something yummy roasting away for lunch.  We all get a little nibble and I am guessing today is turkey!  I shall nip downstairs and poke my head into the hot pan when ManSlave brings it out for basting and I may get a sneaky taste if he is feeling generous .  He is always generous when Ikon is about, so I may train him to come with me on a Sunday to help seal the deal of a turkey snack.   Heavens above, my mouth is watering at the thought of it now.   Right....Ikon Ikon Ikon Ikon.....come hither me mighty pal and off we shall trot for a nobble of a noble turkey breast. 

Bye for now my loyal subjects and enjoy your Sunday roast too - be it meat or nut.

The eternally hungry Queen Vee ^..^=

Nothing moves faster than a sleeping hooman hearing a kitten about to vomit in their bed.  Darnley  had obviously eaten way too much for his dinner at 10pm the night before and pushing his Mother, Flaire, from her bowl in a bid to guzzle hers down too.  Seriously, for an 8 week old kitten, he sure can pack it away!  I watch him every meal time and he eats like a kitten possessed.

Momma woke up quick smart, collected up a heaving Darnley, swung her legs out of bed,  smashing her feet on the cat post at the end of the bed.  Holding a now emptying kitten over her left hand to be sick into, she climbs out of bed, untangling her feet from the scratch post.  The watery bit drips through her fingers and onto her bare legs. She can feel it running to her ankle rather than see it, because it it pitch black.  He heaves again and with not enough room in her hand she staggers in the pitch black to the hard surface of the kitten pen.  She curses, treading on a spring toy which immediately wrapped it's self about her toes.  As she flicks her foot to try and dislodge it she cracks her knee on the same scratch post as she heads for the kitten pen!  They makes it just in time, ish, for his second hewie which just misses the top of the kitten pen by millimeters and lands squarely on Momma's foot.  Well, at least it is not on the carpet!

Then again the poor little soul gives his last two ickies onto well placed bits of kitchen towel this time.  Then, he backs away at speed, Momma steadies him whilst walking on her heel to stop the kitten sick getting onto the carpet and wiping her shin at the same time.  He is empty - and once the light is on, not much damage really.  The extra bit of stolen adult food and some liquid is all. 

Momma squished his belly about and gave him some electrolyte water that was all ready made in the fridge and a dollop of vitamin paste for good measure.  He just ran about then at 3.56am until the birds began to sing sun rose at 4.43am.  Darnley didn't seem at all bothered about his recent emptyage and left Momma wiping and disinfecting herself and the surfaces everything had touched and washing her legs and feet in the sink with a small kitten following her back and forth with pure excitement of something new in the middle of the night.  

During all this time, Flaire, Tyga nor I even opened an eye or came to their aid. Nope. Not our problem. God job he was sleeping in Momma's arms and not in the kitten bed with us or we would have been subjected to the bout of watery mess instead.  We would have just decamped and moved beds and not said a word until wash day.  We think Momma is a hero the way she fumbles through the dark with her useless human eyes and doing the bumblers shuffle from foot to foot sweeping toys from her path.   For now, we close our eyes tighter and tighter against the light and tuck our heads under our paws so as not to be disturbed, all the while chuckling at her misfortune.  

Then, not two nights hence, Tyga throws a hurl whilst cuddled up with Momma.  This time she was unceremoniously plonked onto a feeding mat. We don't know why she was sick? It was just two heaves and watery mush and since then nothing. Only possible explanation is Momma was lazy and gave snax out of Flaire's food that evening and being made from potato, they don't suit every one or she does get very hot snuggled under the blankie?  But seriously.  Flaire was sleeping on that feeding mat too, she looked indignant and smacked poor Tyga on the head but Momma held her fast.  Flaire eventually gave in and moved.  Again, it was the crack of dawn and there is nothing worse than being woken for such matters, so I took Darnley into the kitten bed, with Flaire soon following and watched the merry dance in the dark and then the clean up from slitted eyes.  Tyga was happy to follow Momma about and feeling much perkier brought her ducky toy to play.  No one the worse for wear. Only the poor washing machine!

Of course, because we are rudly awakened so early, it is only right that just a few hours later, we invest our time and energy into waking Momma.  The only way to do this is either deliver chocolate gold into the nearest litter tray or begin a good game of chase which starts on the landing, the stairs, then around the kitten room and over a slumbering Momma and now Darnley is 8weeks old, he too can join in.  We make sure that each of us that jump over her uses her chest or full bladder as a spring board.  She will turn over then making the jump more fun and there is nothing better than bouncing from her shoulder blades or giving her a good scratch on her ribs as we pass.  It soon pokes the bear enough into rising and opening the curtains fully.  I say fully as we can only do a part job climbing and parting them.  Once she stretches and meows like a cat, I race over and stick my sniffer into her yawning mouth and she laughs and then we all fall about sleepily ready to settle for a quicky nap before breakfast.

There is much to be said for a lay in. It is OK for us, we can sleep anytime of day and readily do.  However, the fun is watching Momma sloth about for most of the morning cleaning up our nightly doings and setting the feeders for the day, coffee in hand, she opens the office and we are in like rats up drainpipes, to our stations for power naps and pen pinching!

Lots of purrs from your unsickly Queen Vee =^..^=

Life is like a box of chocolates as Forrest Gump expressed and to prove that Ikon had another superb weekend.  This time at the Merseyside Show, oooop North Momma said.  It wasn't quite as far as Poland for Ikon but he soon made his voice known the entire journey, which Momma said was a bit loud as he tried to out sing her many times.  

He didn't really want to be in his little show pen and certainly was a bit bonkers ripping his pen number from his cage door many times as well as scraping his bedding into a heap.  Momma walked away and watched him from a distance and then had to leave to start judging at which point he popped back to his bed.  

All day he was such a good boy and really played his crowd. He purred for everyone and lay in their arms as well as being a little live wire trying to dash from the judges table and yelling at full volume.  He was judged many times because, not only did he get his first place, but the Best of Breed too and then went on to the main ring to be judged for best of variety where he collected a special rosette for Section 4 Kitten.  He jumped about and yelled his head off telling everyone how excited he was and he was a winner winner turkey dinner.

He was also very happy, if not a little tired by now, receiving a special award from the President of the club who wished their award of a beautiful hand made cushion being presented to either a Colourpoint or a Devon Rex of which Ikon was both!! It really made his day and he presented this to ManSlave when he got home to put in the blue bedroom and then promptly lay on it.

To celebrate his day even further, award winning photographer, Shirlaine Forrest, was there taking photos of not pop stars and celebs, but our very own pussers and you can tell she has a real passion and drive for her work and certainly understands patience with getting that purrfect shot!   We would like to say a huge thanks to Shirlaine for some incredible images of Ikon and his pillow and rosettes as well as photos of him being judged on the table. 

Ikon is proving himself to be a good boy at shows. However, that did not stop him singing WINNER WINNER TURKEY DINNER all the way home and then getting in and yelling behind his bedroom door that he was the best and squeaking and yelling that his turkey dinner needed to be served on a silver platter now that he is twice Best of Variety Kitten and been photographed by not one but two leading photographers now!   I swear his head has puffed out even more and he will no longer be able to get in the litter tray, he will have to back in to tiddle. Having said that, he had taken to tiddling in the larger shower last week which ManSlave put a stop to! 

Momma says he must not forget his roots and keep humble. He will be humble once he has done 10 circuits of the house, rosette in mouth like some show horse doing a lap of honour at HOYS.  Once he has calmed down, eaten more turkey dinner, then he might be humble?  Momma said he has another show soon and not every judge is going to think his totally delicious and kissable.  Watch this space!

​Lots of love from your Queen Vee =^..^=

If you would like your cat photographed by Shirlaine, you can contact her via her website or look out for her at the GCCF Supreme SHow in November: -  https://www.shirlaine.co.uk/cat-shows
​

Well, I haven't posted for some time - huge apologies. Momma's shoulder still been playing up and typing is very difficult - Pfft, I have so much to say and no one to translate for me. It have been keeping all these exciting things from everyone and so much has happened.  If you follow our FB page, you will know everything of course, but for those who read the blogs, you have probably moved onto better things already.

There has been births, illness, new cats, show blogs and all sorts of Horrible Horrace updates and even hedgehog updates but what do I chose as important information?  I could start at the very top maybe, but that was so long ago, it seems like old hat - but, maybe just to me!?

OK, In March Momma traveled to Poland to collect the iconic Ikon of Blue Sun.  He arrived in a flurry of long flights and train journeys, problem French passport services and finally, 14hrs later ManSlave had them both safely home from Europe.  Ikon was a superstar and even though he began to lose the plot a tiny bit, he did ever so well for a baby cat of 6 months.  We all could smell someone new as he was put in with ManSlave at night time to do some male bonding!! 

Momma was in the kitten room with Flaire who was pregnant with Otta-Mans first litter and at Grand Champions both, it is a first for Maystar.  She gave birth to a handsome boy named Lord Darnley, a lilac velveteen baby who by week one was at the vets with some sort of blockage in his pooper channel.  It seems he was a guzzler and was drinking a huge quantity of milky, enough for 6 kittens! He got wind and subsequently, that maybe stopped poop from getting out.  After many Xrays, scans and poop busting liquids one end and tiny enemas the other end, he became free to poop on his own and all calmed down after about 7 days of intense de-blockaging.  He never, not once, stopped eating in all that time! He was about to pop for sure! 

Then, something really shocking happened.  I got really sick one morning.  I guess it was coming on during the week, but us cats hide our ailments well.   I made a big spew of blood in the kitchen, ripping my esophagus in the process.  I also had tummy ulcers from the steroids and all this built up.  I was having a scan and Xrays at the vets as Momma rushed me in first thing and there, for all to see was a HUGE closed Pyometra.  I was literally full of puss all in my uterus and tubes and all.  A £900 operation soon put that straight and I was home in a day with lots of different drugs in tiny syringes Momma had to inject.  My neck got sore, so Momma started poking my leggies too. Seriously, 3 a day! OUTCH!  I was to stay locked in a tripple cathut in the kitten room and Momma got to look after me and make sure I drank and ate.  

Then, not a week later, Tyga had come back from a show and two nights later she was sick and very poorly. Then got better over night, just before a vet visit. Then she came into call and she began to be really sick again, this time not stopping at all. She was a week on drips and Xrays every other day and blood tests. It was terrifying.  There was just nothing going on and all tests were clear and very healthy.  However, she just could not keep any food down at all.  Then the story started to unfold as on her last Xrays there was now gas filling her intestines and covering her tummy.  At first they thought foreign object, but held off operating as really there is nothing but the odd bit of leaf to eat here. Nope this was weird and still, on her paperwork it says, diagnosis unknown.  She was really really poorly and couldn't keep any food in. She was still on a drip and then the vets began to ring for referrals and Momma got a little firm and said she was sure they could sort this out themselves.  So they gave her a drug that "Will either make her better or worse".  Momma took the chance and hoped it would make her better - By 1am she was a very sick little cat and smelled really bad, like  a dying cat.  We knew the drug could be making her worse and then the only option left was exploratory surgery.  However, at 4am she exploded both ends with terrible smelly wind that came from the devils butt hole for sure and hey presto, a new and VERY hungry kitten emerged.  The relief was immense. Especially as there was no surgery.  She is still on Antibiotics now and is gradually gaining the 500g she lost in a week. 

Otta-Man has returned to Whimzeerex.  They would also like some Otta babies too now.  So he will stay there now and have a happy life as a stud cat back in his place of birth.  We really miss him.  Especially Pearl and Flaire who spent lots of time in his house visiting him.  The place is very quiet without him although the family of 'side squirrels' have had a ball not being grabbed at as they run past, it is not the same.  We call them 'Side Squirrels' because the main garden squirrels have Horrible Horrace in and Side Squirrels are only allowed at the side of the house and they only eat peanuts?  We think they are Horrace's kids and have made their own territory and are categorically NOT allowed in the main garden AT ALL!  Faith and Lillibet are, however, enjoying the Otta-man Palace and spend most morning out there watching the birds and of course Side Squirrels. They don't want to come in.  Pearl yells to visit Otta and is very miffed he is gone.  He did restore our faith in keeping a boy at Maystar again and we did have lots of fun with him.  He enjoyed racing up and down the garden once he found his paws and only took 6 months to train to come back - MOL. 

Ikon went to his first show and came home proudly displaying his Best of Variety Kitten Section 4 rosette.  He was a really good boy and Momma will look forward to taking him to a couple more.  Momma has also been busy judging and has taken a position of Assistant Show Manager.  So she will be at many many more shows to come learning the ropes.   Besides tripping over hedgehogs late at night, nothing very funny has happened to Momma.  But we all had a jolly good belly laugh! 

A quick note on Wiggy, who is now a PRINCE WIGGY with is new Premier Certificates and a message from Jasmine and Jamie who are half way across the continent as we speak, headed for Spain and the East coast of France on the border to spend their Hollybobs.  All the best kids - you deserve a long and hot sunny break with NO DRAMA this Summer!

Now the Spring is nearly over and I am neutered. We can hopefully go on Hollybobs?  Momma has signed a contract for a new professional cat sitter, but with us all being so poorly, she has held of using anyone until the house is stable and settled and everyone is in tip top shape again.  We are hoping to get a short break away in Amara and maybe just take some of us? I don't think 8 cats in a caravan is a good choice!! 

Love from Queen Vee - who no longer pees!! =^..^=

 

Maystar HQ have been under pressure for a few reasons and yet lots and lots of happy things come from pressure too, so it is not all doom and gloom. 

Momma took a hard stance and decided to campaign Otta and Tyga over the drab winter months as usually Maystar has kittens.  So it was really special taking them both out on the show bench to succeed in Tyga, at her last kitten show making BEST OF VARIETY KITTEN SECTION 4.  It was a wonderful surprise that my very own Daughter, MAYSTAREX QUEEN-OF-PRUSSIA, really excelled herself and has trotted home with six FIRST placings over some very stiff competition from other girl kittens in her class and once even beating her half sister from Whimzeerex.   I am so proud of her and her extreme confidence at being handled by anyone and quite often squirreled into someones coat in a fake "she is mine, we are stealing her" scenario.  

Otta excelled himself in the GRAND classes and obtained two BEST OF BREED certificates over 5 cats at one show.  A huge final to a great time out.  He did struggle a bit at the Champion level as there were always boys in his classes and often he was a little immature in his looks.  Then he flourished and took off getting his GRANDS in 3 straight shows.  He is such a kind and loving boy. So sweet natured and kind hearted.

We think the GRAND placings have gone to his head.  He may have sired a litter or two - so watch this space.  GOOD BOY OTTA and a huge well done - at nearly two years old, it was nearly curtains for his short career as a stud cat.  He does have a show home lined up once he is about 3 years old.  He does enjoy showing and enjoys laying about showing off his beautiful coat. 

We have some house guests too and Tyga and I have entertained them after quarantine.  One was Peishie, now named Freja and living with the Brown family and the other an 8mth old kitten that has had so many problems it would take ages to list them all here. Needless to say, Momma is caring for her and making sure she has a nice new safe home to go to where they know Devon Rex very well and have had them since the late 70's. She has been renamed Mishka.  She is sweet like a teddy bear too and will stay here until she is well.  

They were both in the HoF for a few weeks and I couldn't really see them, but knew Freja (Peishie) was family but the other little thing was not.  But she soon grew on all of us, especially Tyga who pops in to play with her.  I like her very much and have thwakked her into place.  She is bold, brave and very cute and can not help being a bit tortie too.  With her bright blue eyes she charms everyone. ​

We also have an exciting announcement - The Parentals flew to Poland in January to visit their new kitten ICON OF GOLD BLUE SUN *PL.  He was on hold until they got there to check him out.  Momma, especially, was watching him grow and he has all those special little bits that we do not have.  Most of all he has really wonderful ears and a lovely chin. 

Momma will fly to Poland to collect him whilst ManSlave does a mad dash to Belgium to collect them both whilst Momma flies to Amsterdam and then Brussels.  It is going to be quite the adventure.  WATCH THIS SPACE for updates and collection before the Brexit cut off. 

With Brexit in our minds, Momma has made sure we are eating and using English produce just in case Zooplus, our trusty shop, decides to hike up the prices from Germany. 

​Well, I really must go and check out what's cooking for Sunday Lunch and send you all my love and whiskery kisses from your special and unique - Queen Vee =^..^= 

The art of tripping up Hoomans has spanned decades and here at Maystar HQ it is no different.  Sometimes it is not intentional and takes dedicated training to make sure you skip in and out of legs at the appropriate time as not to kicked up the butt with a furry boot.  Tyga is the latest trainee and she is dedicated to the sport of 'Trippage'. She is honing her skills well and has Momma tumbling hither and thither trying her best not to fall.  Tyga has yet to define the 'change of direction' and does not watch feet carefully enough yet and is sent sliding along the laminate, furry boot glued to her posterior, as both her and Momma find firmer footing.  She is a 'cross over' kitten, pirouetting around ankles and then stopping mid pirouette to gaze lovingly into the terrified eyes of the flailing Hooman as contact of boot to tush ensues. It is Hissterical to watch!

Tyga tells me that she is also worried about Momma at night times and wonders why Hoomans don't open their eyes when heading for their litter tray?  They bumble through the dark, eyes tightly shut and feel their way to the loo.  It occurred to Tyga that Momma was in need of help, so she mewls silently, slapping her lips together so that Momma may follow the sound but not wake ManSlave.  She stays at the ankle and guides her to the bathroom and makes doubly sure she isn't going to take a tumble down the apples & pears.   She has been taking this role very seriously and during the short wait, she peers between seat and porcelain to make sure Momma's stream is steady then she proceeds to tapping the loo paper so momma doesn't have to struggle to find it.  Now in guide cat mode again, they both head for bed where Tyga is concerned something is seriously wrong with Momma's peepers and proceeds to licking the lashes and eye lids and rearranges her eyebrows fro good measure.  There is nothing that will prize an eye open like a sandpaper kiss from Tyga! 

There is a myth that cats can see in the dark, well, it isn't strictly true, in total darkness we can not see at all, but unlike hoomans, any ounce of light is pooled to the mirrors we have at the back of our eyes and we can see in the lowest level of light.  You often see a cat just sat in mild contemplation, we are actually admiring ourselves, inwardly, in our mirrors!  That is no Myth!

There are different types of seeing.  the Hoomans can see us when they leave the house.  They have 'IT'  - cameras everywhere, in every room watching our every move. The eye in the sky can see us eat, wash, play and sleep.  We can not get away with anything!  Even Otta has 'IT' in his house too, so that Momma can watch him with the ladies.  It is useful for when we have kittens, we can rest assured if we venture away for a nap with out them, someone is playing super nanny.  There is no better peace of mind for everyone.  When we sleep in with Momma, we can watch our kittens on the CCTV monitor beside the bed and only get up if they need us.  

Most of us adults have learned to keep well clear of feet, except when we are calling, then we sidle up to a foot or lay length ways across the stairs and don't move, even if we are pushed from step to step like a wet towel, taking the shape of the step like some cartoon character.  The Hoomans have to watch their step then.  One false move on either part could end in disaster and  ManSlaves words -" NO PLAYING ON THE STAIRS" ringing in our ears.  Believe me, it falls on deaf ears and chirruping minds. "give us a boy" we chant as we slither like water from step to step - our aim is simple.  Besiege the Hooman and lick their eye lids!

Much love & laughter from your noble Queen Vee =^..^= 

Weekends in the winter months are always busy with either show dates or kittens.  Well, very sadly, Flaire is just not getting pregnant after being so poorly.  So winter kittens are getting further and further away from our thoughts.

The weekend excitement was Otta-Man, the sexy hot chocolate guy made his finals and brought home 2 more Champion Certificates.  He only needed one more, so to bring home two was wonderful for everyone who attended.  His Breeder Miss Whimzeerex was so happy hugging him tightly.  He really is one of those fantastically calm and beautiful natured pussers.  We are all very proud of him because this time out there was competition to contend with, so always a bit more exciting. He even had a red card day at the Rex Show which was really fun.

Tyga did really well again, and up against a plethora of lovely kittens, she trotted home with two 1st places in both shows and contained her excitable nature and sat beautifully all day in her little white bed.  He judges loved her and said she was well grown for her age.  At nearly 2k at 4mths old, it is not bad for a girl.  She is built like her me, heavy and muscular but dainty and ladylike. 

Whilst those two were off gallivanting the countryside, we stayed home with ManSlave and helped him clean the fish tanks and sort out some hot Noms for GrandMewMew who is having her paw operated on soon and fancied ManSlave's ChookCurry to get better with.  We helped ManSlave decide which bits to put in the cooking and which bits we might want.  Don't worry GrandMewMew, we didn't lick any of your bits of Chook!  

We laid about and watched a movie and didn't do any much as it was so cold, none of us ventured over to the House of Fun at all.  Today the Sun is out and apparently, it is blue Monday - I guess the sky is blue and blue tits and great tits are blue so I see where they are coming from.  For me that makes it a happy day with blue in it! nod.  I feel better already knowing this. 

Faith and Lillibet have new food and it seems to be doing the trick on their waist lines.  They are both a lot more active and running about playing a little and Faith has even taken to laying on the bed upstairs again in the mornings with Momma and has been a bit naughty chasing Pearl about - just as well in a way as Pearl needs a little weight off too.  In fact, winter has made us all lazy and a few grams here or there wouldn't go amiss from any of us.  We are making sure we run on our wheel and have fun chasing each other around the place. 

Tyga now thinks she is wonderful with lots of rosettes to her name. She is trotting about interfering in everything and flying onto ManSlaves back from the counter tops, fridge or bed. She just leaps like I do - flying through the air and just managing to cling on - then she rides him around the house scratching with her back feet for him to play with her.  She is annoying me this week and I think Motherhood has well and truly worn off now.  At first I didn't let her out of my sight, but now, I can't wait to get out of hers.  I growl and thwak her and she doesn't care one bit.  Pearl and her are quite good play mates now and they thwak each other and play chase.  Flaire is still being her usual vile self to everyone.  She is a funny bird that one!

Just a synopsis on FLaire.  She likes to scare us and the humans. It doesn't work, we know what she is like.  She then won't be caught by Momma for her medication for her tummy.  She makes a fool out of Momma just skipping away at the last second.  Once Momma catches her she moans and wails making quite a din as though her legs are being torn off.  Then, put her down eventually after her meds, which she takes like a pro, and then she is all purrs and kisses.  I think she is a little sadistic? She will then go and find ManSlave and give him lots of kisses and walks around his shoulders purring.  She is a tart too that one - Momma calls her Girlfriend.  ManSlave gives her more kisses than Momma.  Pfft - it's OK Momma you have Pearl for that!

Talking of kisses, I have fallen out with Momma, I feel odd and happy, then if she has Tyga I get jealous. I can't help it - it takes me over like a wave.  Momma says she misses my cuddles and kisses and especially the purring.  I have lost my purr since all this throat stuff.  It just doesn't want to show it's self to anyone and I am in a hormonal grump.  Herrumph.  Life is such a hardship - Maybe this is what Blue Monday really feels like?

​Lots of non-purrs form your Viktori Queen Vee. =^..^= 

We are in the new year and I don't rightly know where the rest of last year has gone?  Momma had a poorly shoulder and I am not allowed to use her laptop on my own, so I have had to wait two months for her to get better before being able to blog.  It is a real shame because all of you have been missing out.  Typing, she says, has been the slowest thing to recover.  

Ah well, I am back now and able to update you on all things Maystar again.  But where to start?  

My kittens have grown and flown the nest. Well, that isn't strictly true, one flew the nest and one stayed here.  Don't ask.  It took ManSlave a little time to discover we are now 7 cats and this little extra mouth never flew the coop.  Tyga, as she is now named, has decided she likes living here with us and the unfortunate events that led to this happening only benefited our pride as she is a sweet kid and has fitted in well.  If you can count being smashed on the head by every adult fitting in well?

Flaire has been poorly a few times and we are hoping her recent visits to Otta-Man will produce kittens and stop her being poorly.  He is happy enough to do the deed, but no one is sure if his swimmers are swimming?  It is all a guessing game here.  Watch this space.  She is an odd one, one minute in love with everyone then grumbling at the world. You never know quite where you are with her. Vets give her a clean bill of health too. She can be so playful one second then in the middle of a good game of chase - she has enough and lays you flat.  I am the slightly nervous type and run of to tell tails.  She never gets shouted at, instead, she gets picked up and fussed - I swear this makes her worse, but Queen bee she is and with a name like Queen of Scots she gets what she wants - Best be careful there Flaire, your Daughter is named after Queen Elizabeth the first - It could be OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!? 

I have been to the vets again.  This time to get a Neuter-UM injection. It should last three months and remove the effects of calling for boys.  You see, I keep struggling for breath sometimes and it is very scary, so Matt the Vet suggested taking 'calling' out of the mix to give my Larynx and Epiglottis a rest from yelling.  TBH, I have been that scared, that my usual chatty happy self has been replaced by a nervous silent me.  No one is sure what is wrong with me, all my scans, Xrays and tests are clear and I am as healthy as a horse.   ::Shrugs:: It is a wait and see job really.   Momma may find me a physio to check out my nerves and muscles in my neck. Other than that, I am happy keeping an eye out for Tyga, who is growing fast and following in my pawprints of being a happy, beautiful, playful and funny little soul.  ManSlave is teaching her all sort of things and feeds us our treats and beats us with his socks. Life is good - I guess you don't have to shout about it or purr all day?

Lillibet and Faith are both on diets.  They have grown so rotund lounging about in the radiator beds all day that they are now becoming square bottomed.  Like a pair of skittles they sit and survey their radiator world and thwak any of us that dare to venture near them.  With this new diet food, they are now moving about the house more, thwakking us!  Lillibet has started to venture out to the House of Fun and began piddling on the wheel again.  Momma has a special cat flap that will only allow us clean kits into the HoF to run on the wheel and watch squirrels.  She will be allowed in with supervision to run and train with Momma. 

Pearl had lots of shows this winter, but she has been described by one judge as 'very well fed' so Momma has decided to retire her for the time being as 9 second places is getting beyond a joke. She does have one CC and as a kitten had copious amounts of red card days beating several kittens.  But it seems a litter of 5 boys has stretched her tummy so much it has given her a pouch. Oh well, you can't have it all - she is built like a brick pooh palace and is rather big boned as well as having just too much coat.  She proudly displays her 2nd place rosettes as here, everyone is a winner!

Otta-Man has settled well with us.  I have not met him purrsonally here at home, only smelled him on Man-Slaves Jumper.  He smells good and isn't at all a stinky male cat, so that's nice for visitors to his Otta-Mans Palace. Of course, when we were both younger, we practiced making whoopie at Aunty Karen's house.  Momma cuddles him and plays with his favourite toys and roughs him up and blows raspberries on his belly.  He is a soppy one for sure and Flaire really likes him when she visits.  He is very busy watching squirrels and birdies. He has his own Robin and his own collection of Long Tailed Tits that visit the feeders on the back gate which is right outside his window. So on cold days he can stay in and watch them and on warmer days, he has heated beds and an outdoor heated enclosure with birdfeeders for the hardy birds. Sometimes he is too busy for visitors and brushes them off in favour of twitching!

Our Christmas was very merry and bright. No one ate or climbed the tree and we all had fun chasing each other in the paper and boxes.  There were fireworks in the streets and we love those - I taught Tyga not to worry and we all sat in the windows watching them.  Otta and Flaire had a good view on New Years eve with front row seats, except they were in the back row - necking!!  We are now twelve days into the new year and so much to catch up on.  We are taking it in turns to be office cats and Tyga is in training as office junior.  She is allowed to hole punch and shred things and that's it.  Pearl has no idea how the wipeboard works and is her constant helpy self wiping it clean with her paws and pulling all the magnets off and running off with them.  I am a good Office cat and can file and sort papers and look pretty.  Lillibet is the best trained and I think she is going to take Office Manager soon.  She can really pack a punch when operating the printer, thwakking each sheet as it makes it 's way out of the printer - she has taken this job over from her Mother, Faith, who retired last year and only pops in for coffee.  Lillibet is also great at making sure every receipt and invoice is personally stamped with her paw print and after a hard days work, she snuggles into the in-tray for a nap under the angle poise lamp. 

We are  hoping to plan a trip away in the Spring, maybe see Amara the Caravan and get away for a few nights. We are all being good so we get picked to go - that is unless Flaire has babies - then we are all stuck here!  Sigh. 

Laters my posse - My loyal subjects - For Queen and Country
​All my love
​Queen Vee =^..^=

Initial concepts are proposed, changed, redrawn, rejigged, shifted and rubbed out until a finished agreed 3D model is computerised to show sizes and potential look.  It is at this point that function and layout of your design must work and that customers have a positive outcome to the experience you have created and to importantly understand the clients brand.
Final plans are drawn up and all those niggly bits reworked until the final designs are signed off by the chief of chiefdons and the deposit is paid and you are now rolling in it! ​

Your final job is to collapse in a heap somewhere, making sure your phone is on 24/7 so that you are on paw for any adjustments to lighting, niggly bits that won't stick no matter HOW much silicone you have squidged into it. You take your rest where you can, often in the back of a truck or if you are very lucky a bar somewhere within ear shot of your client.   

My poor Sister has been very poorly.  It is a stark reminder that breeding us Devon Rex, or any breed, is not all romantic, happiness and kittens.  Sometimes it is hard work and we keep the Hoomans on their toes.  Last Friday she began acting very strange.  For a start she was was very loving with Momma and went to sit on her and purred.  Although a really lovely thing to do, it is also very odd as she is ManSlave's girlfriend.  When she goes to Momma something is wrong with her.  She didn't have a temperature but seemed chilled and snuggled into a blankie which again, isn't her. She had some yucky stuff from her 'fairy' she kept washing off and was sort of contracting with her legs like she was having a baby. 

That was it - Momma raced her to the late night vets. Head vet Gabriel saw her and scanned every inch of her bowel because she also had been sick and had blood in her poop.  He couldn't find a reason for either and her gut moves beautifully. Momma, despite being worried sick, found it fascinating.  Gabriel did see that her uterus was open by a few millimeters.  She also had fluid in her lady bits but no filling up in the horns so not a closed pyo and possibly not even an open one?  He was happy to send her home with pain medications and things to stop her being sick and stabalise her for the night.  Her appetite was so low by now.  So Momma took her home and snuggled her into ManSlave's arms for the night.  By morning, she was super poorly and very leaky.  We at least had an answer! 

Off to the vets again, but this time, Gabriel had called Momma before she left and they had decided on a plan and with help from Aunt Shirley's vets (Gracie's Breeder) they managed to sort out a solution and Momma was sent home with antibiotics and stuff to inject into Flaire's neck.  The needles were really big because the liquid was so viscous and it took quite a poke to get it in her skin.  Flaire was stoic and has taken all her medications and felt immediately better and her lady bits began to really drain all the yucky stuff out.  Very sadly for Momma, all over everything! So much cleaning!  

Flaire is much better a week on and is already yelling for a boy cat.  Ridiculous really and almost impossible, but as always, she defies nature!  The reason she got sick was a very serious infection of the womb.  It's caused by the womb filling with pus and, if left untreated, it can lead to kidney failure, toxaemia, dehydration and, in some cases, death.  It is a very serious condition and really, having a good vet that trusted Momma and helped Flaire instead of rushing in and neutering her, was really magical.  It is also crazy as she was due to mate soon anyway to make sure this didn't happen.  She had kittens in January and she wanted more straight away and yelled for boys every week, so Momma popped her on the cat pill. This could have either caused it or saved her?  It is always a difficult decision to make and I guess, so long as she is healthy and at 3.1k she is a good weight after her last litter, it seems the correct thing to try to keep her well.  Mating is never a decision taken lightly. It is not about pumping kittens out - it is, for Momma, our health and the correct boyfriends for us.  

The good news is that dear sweet Otta will be coming to live here at Maystar very soon and Flaire won't have to leave home this time which will be nice and Otta will have a friend straight away to keep him busy.  The Hoomans have been making the Piddle Palace into an OTTAMAN PALACE. It will be so strange having a boy here as we love to spend time out there watching the squirrels.  He also has one of our heated beds - sigh.  We will have to share one between five whilst he lounges in total luxury! Pfft.  He has hammocks and shelves with beds on, lots of climbing places and although his inside bit isn't huge, he has a window and and outside bit that is toasty and warm and it is all covered and sheltered too.  Cool in Summer & warm in Winter we hope as it is all well insulated. Momma brought some great cat pants for him so he can come in the kitchen in the evenings.  I can use those piddle pants too. I am sure to start again soon! We have a pair each.  Otta also will hopefully enjoy the communal garden on milder days and at least see some of our world. We don't want him being bored and he seems to be very soft and loving so he should be easier to handle than crazy J1!!!  Momma said he might like our wheel?  Well, I can tell you - if he even steps one paw on MY wheel, I will mark it doubly double!!!

From the Queen of Piddle
Q Vee =^..^=

Horrible Horrace has been at the garden all Summer.  He has managed to move copious amounts of 20mm gravel from our garden and bury it all over the garden in the pots and the majority of them are taken to our neighbours who are confused as to why they all of a sudden have lots of gravel in their lawn?  He also buries them in our lawn too.  In fact, he burried that many in our potato boxes, we had more rocks than spuds!  

We are all very excited to see him and his kids going about their business. The Fiberglass screen has been removed so we can see right into the garden and Momma put up a new bird feeding station and this has brought nature within 2ft of our shelving in the CatPod.  We already have squirrel watch places in the heated House of Fun but this new bird station is incredible.  We are taking it in turns to lay as flat as we can on the shelves and hide in the cat tunnels.  We chat away in the hope they might not fly away and we could have a little nibble. The very best place to watch their antics in in the Piddle Palace indoor outdoor section. The birds sometimes hop inside and don't even see us all sitting there.  We might have an extension skybridge all the way to the Piddle Palace so all Momma has to do is open the cat flap. That could be fun. 

So what is reason we run?  Well, one is to wear off some of the crazy energy we have and the other is to get fit so if the need arises, we can chase those dastardly squirrels up and down the garden.  Although, watching them move, run and jump - we wouldn't stand much of a chance really. Those wiley, grey, floofy critters are made for speed and we are made for pouncing.  If we keep practicing, we might just be quick enough.  We also like to run after we have had kittens to get some of our weight off.  You get a bit soft laying about all the time.  

For two whole weeks no one has peed on the wheel either. This is a record.  I think some of the reason is that I am very busy with my MiniCats and Momma has been taking Lillibet into the office in the afternoons.  We also have a secure microchip capflap and anyone that piddles is removed from the catflap! 

Off I trot then, back to my kitten bed. I will soon teach them to run about and climb curtains. 
Your loyal royal Queen Vee =^..^=
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So many things have happened here at Maystar in a few short weeks and in truth, I have been up to my armpits in kittens.  They hang from me like two limpets and I can hardly leave the nest with out one complaining bitterly and screaming, so I have to lay down again.  I just have not been able to prise my body away to update you all.

So, now I have announced to the world on facebook that I have indeed had two princess like girls from that awful mating Momma put me through.  I shall never forgive her you know.  For two months I threw up every day and they called me the Duchess of Cambridge the whole time!  Finally, about a week to go in my pregnancy, I gave up being sick and started to eat really well and which was just as well as the nausea came back during my 18hr labour!  It was then a further two hours contracting like a boa constrictor to release no.1 daughter, Baby Hawise, who had been crowning for 40 minutes and Momma intervened. Holey Guacamole!  THAT smarted for awhile.  I lay like a wet rag, Momma mopping my brow and ManSlave reviving my floppy kitten.  Then all over again, the pushing and the heaving and out popped a very tired baby Emma, Daughter No2.  I have to admit, I did really well and didn't make a peep and trusted Momma. 

Momma started to feed them for me, even though I had lots of milky, the different blood group to my Beau, Barry White, meant that my babies could die if they drink before their tummies close off.  This means they don't get all my goodies and they get substitute from a syringe.  I had to wear a dire cat suit too. Grey is just NOT my colour.  It was tight everywhere and it hampered my breathing a bit where my throat is narrow. So Momma didn't leave me for 20hrs and fed my girls every time they squeaked.

You won't believe this. 20hrs into the feeding and I go into labour again, except Momma thought I was going to be sick, so she whipped my cat suit off and I trotted down stairs on wobbly legs and did THE best pee EVER!  I also deposited a decent chocolate gold there in the pay dirt!  ManSlave said to Momma I had litter covering my butt and to catch me.  Momma did and saw I was having another baby.  I was swiftly rinsed of filthy litter and popped into bed again.   It took two hours and LOTS of pushing to get No.3 out. It wasn't a nice feeling and he kept vanishing back up the shoot and I had to start all over again.  Momma grabbed his feet next time they came out and just waited until I could push again.  Together we finally got his hips out, then more pushes and shoulders came.  Unfortunately, he wasn't alive so I didn't have anything to push against and his head got stuck for quite some time.  Momma violated me yet again and had to pop her little finger in my butt hole and push him out that way as I was getting worried and weak.  It was a real shame.  My long labours had starved him of oxygen and his placenta was not alive.  We all felt really sad and I didn't want my own two wiggly girls at first. But Momma said they could suckle now and that helped me feel better.  Momma and I buried him with the rest of the Maystar Pride in the garden.  I washed him before Momma wrapped him up and we picked flowers together - it was an intimate moment and people say cats don't care, they are wrong, we do! 

So, quite the ordeal really, but in some ways, I was so strong and recovered really fast and didn't do any of that weird panting my family does which made it nice for Momma as it is less worrying.  I am an amazing Mum it seems and very attentive and incredibly, even my busy mind is OK with being in one place.  I wash them a lot and clean the blankets with my licker.  Both girls are sparkling and my whites are DAZ white! I haven't wanted to move them and feel very happy laid on the bed with Momma. Me in my Bubbah Da Hutt and her right next to me holding my paw and sorting out the girls for me when I am tired at night time.  I don't feel sick any more and have put on heaps of weight as have my girls.  They are SO fat and full of rich milky like seal pups they roll about, eyes like aliens staring into nowhere.  I love them so much.  Who would have guessed that all that horrible mating experience and the birthing thing - I would be so totally devoted to these tiny creatures. They are my world.

Long May I reign - from your honourable Queen Vee =^..^=  

Everyone has a dripping tap when they live in a house where the Hooman is the Plumber! Ours is no exception and who has more fun when this happens is Pearl.  She is a real water baby and I guess once you are you are!  I like to watch the toilet flush - that is the extent of my love for water.

When Momma goes into the downstairs loo, she is usually followed by Pearl. The first thing she does is jump onto the sink and want the tap running, not too fast, just a trickle.  She bends over and sips from the flowing water. Sometimes Momma has to leave her in there with the water dripping into the sink. She can then splash about in the basin and wash her feet.  She has to be careful because she isn't the most agile of cats, a bit of a bumble foot really and one slip results in a soggy bottom.

I do enjoy piddling, I guess that is water based entertainment?  Lillibet and I have been having a contest of who can pee the most on the wheel and just on Friday Momma caught her just 'finishing off'.  She looked pretty guilty too.  She had made quite the puddle.  Momma reached for Lillibet and held her with her nose close to the wee-wee and smacked her bottom.  "Meow-pirrip-pirrip" Lillibet said and stuck her butt higher in the air for another slap. It was so funny to watch her, she was meant to be in trouble but in reality was really just enjoying herself having a slapped arse.  She wiggled and waggled her butt everywhere, traipsing around Momma's ankles squeaking for another slap.  That really worked then?  Well, actually, it did for 3 days, there was NO WEE in that whole time.  Who knew that making Lillibet slap happy was the way to reduce widdling on the wheel?

I haven't piddled for a whole week. Mainly because Momma has put really uncomfortable things onto my regular surfaces, making it a little tricky to sit.  Who wants to sit on pigeon spikes on the newel post?   Certainly not me that's for sure.  My kitten room has been prepared and my cat flap set for just me to come and go as I please, so if any widdle is found in there IT IS MINE!  Well, I can leave the room really well, but getting back in can be cumbersome with my fat belly.  So I sit outside and whine to be let in again.  It is pretty cool though and great for watching the comings and goings on the landing. In the same instance, everyone looks in at me from the hallway.  It is like a special little window that only opens for the important ones!

So much less piddling that is for sure.  However, Momma found a long scoot mark that ran from the stairs to the bedroom in a perfect arc.  Well, I am quite full of MiniCats and can't seem to reach my butt to wash it - so I found scooting does the job very well thank you.  However, after a scoot a day my butt is a little sore and itchy now as the carpets are wool and I think I am reacting to the lanolin making my backside look like it has prickly heat.  Between this and the copious amounts of sick from the front end, both Momma and I are at our wits end.  Not long now though - just a week and a whole new set of trouble will start. 

Well, it seems to the only thing left here to happen is wait for my waters to break!

With love from your Queen Vee =^..^=