The week went so fast with warm days out in the communal garden which provides us with the opportunity to chase bugs and things.  This week was flying ant week and we really enjoyed those immensely, jumping and chasing them as they left their nest in the plant pot. I think Ikon ate too many as he was sicky after eating some.  Not surprised really, they have formic acid which is the simplest type of carboxylic acid with the chemical formula of HOOCH - oh, wait, I got that wrong, Hooch is a alcoholic drink, I think it's HCOOH, no wonder he was sick!!!!  Momma said because he was sick from eating far too many flying  formīcas he would be in great need of an 'AntAcid' so she gave him a little goat yogurt to sooth his tummy.  

On Wednesday, Momma rang the vets because I was a bit 'off' and just wasn't bouncing about being my usual happy self.  I was to see Vet Hannah this time as my lovely Vet Katie was off poorly. As usual, there was a carpark consult and I was taken in for blood tests as Hannah agreed I was pale and that my ticker has a whoosh, which was there on the last checkup and is thought to be linked to the Atopica where my immune system is being lowered with it's use.  At first, Vet Hannah rang Momma back to say they might have to snuff me with a bit of gas because I was so wriggly.  Momma explained that if you talk silly to me, I AM silly and wriggle and go all like syrup in your hands.  So Momma said to Vet Hannah she had to be firm and fair with me and say kinda sternly 'VIKTORI SIT!' - She tried it on the phone and I planted by butt down and presented my paw in a high five.  The blood was taken in seconds and I was whisked off by the nurses and Momma could hear them say "Viktori Sit, High Five." and then lots of laughter as I demonstrated my tricks. I was officially named 'Patient of the Day' and everyone loved me. Of course they did, I am pretty special.

I was sent home with a boost of vitamins to perk me up and my blood work revealed that my white blood cells were high and so was my blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was off too.  I always said I had the best BUN's in the house as Momma calls me sexy arse all the time!  This means that somewhere in my body is inflammation, which is possibly in my bladder again as I tiddled on the carpet on Thursday.  So on Saturday, Vet Hannah rang and put up some Metacam for me to take and already I am back up, racing about and enjoying ManSlaves Purrday today. ​

ManSlave got a new Robot Vacuum to tidy up out floofy bits and cat litter which creates much dust for his sensitive sniffer.  It was charging up, minding it's own business when I stood on it, well, it was warm there snuggled in it's nest.  It made me jump and zoomed forwards. I leapt back and then attacked it as I thought how very rude that it should do that.  I chased it and poked it and that brought my daughter, Tyga, and her Daughter, Robyn, to my rescue and they too jumped all over it poking it's tiny brushes.  Even Pearl had a go and later Ikon and Magnus.  We all looked very funny following it about and harassing it like a load of Mongoose with a snake.  We really do pack together in our clowder to help each other out..  ManSlave said it was the most expensive cat toy Momma had ever purchased, Oops!  We were very upset when it was sent back to charge up properly and we sat about staring at it telling it that we are in control here, not some litter sucker.  It is our job to spread the grey stuff about and I can see that the kittens will be spilling even more just to get the technology to tidy up so we can harass it some more.  Watch this space!

Enjoy your Sunday folks. ManSlave has a Tomahawk of beef for dinner. It is the lovely Simmental cows from Kenilworth Fields. Ooooh, more bones for us to chew later. 

Bow down all ye folks and bringeth joy to our ManSlave on his day of birth. From your Queen Vee. =^..^=

We shall start the week with the shock that Robyn had.  Poor mite. We get a significant amount of bees here with all the bee friendly flowers in the summer for them.  Unfortunately, this also brings with it the distinct chance that some one will be stung.  It hasn't happened for ages and was quite a shock as it happened late in the evening.  8pm and a very loud one monotone scream came racing up the stairs, closely followed by her entourage.  It was clear from her jumping and shaking that something was terribly wrong and then she held her paw aloft for Momma to see.  Oh my - a fat foot!  ManSlave grabbed an antihistamine and a towel with ice whilst Momma tried to calm her and find the exact place where she was stung and there, between her tiny toes was a big stinger pumping away.  ManSlave flicked it off with his credit card, she was given the antihistamine and cooled with the ice.  Her heart rate came down quickly which saved us racing her to the vets but she was very agitated for two whole hours, crying, itching, jumping about and generally upset.  Momma applied cold herbal compresses and this helped quite a bit as well as cuddles and kisses between the pain fluctuations. Luckily, her Mum Tyga soon took over her care allowing her to suckle from her for comfort. She eventually fell into a deep sleep curled up with Tyga.  He foot was still a bit fat in the morning, so she was given another tablet and she was soon racing about as if nothing had happened.  Sadly the bee dies from a massive abdominal rupture after leaving their two barbed lancet behind.  Momma berated Robyn telling her that a bee had been sacrificed.  

There is still much decorating going on here and we have been locked out again for days at a time. It is just not right.  Momma had glossed the entire upstairs and had to re-gloss the bedrooms and bathroom because the paint went yellow... pfft, well, this set the cat among the pigeons as ManSlave had to join Momma in the kitten room because the main bedroom was full of fumes.  It was so funny, Momma made up 'Tyga's' side of the bed for ManSlave and explained he would be sleeping with us.  I have my own pillow next to Momma's head so I was a bit more cramped.  Tyga was VERY put out and stared and stared at ManSlave, glowering with her hooded eyes and because his head was full of hayfever and paint fumes he was rattling away and she berated him at every opportunity with trills and squeaks.  She is a sensitive soul, my daughter.  Finally, she settled in between them and pressed her feet into ManSlaves back to make him move over.  All the while I slipped from my pillow, only having half the space, onto Momma's face and there I stayed all night pressed up against her left ear, my paw on her cheek.  It sure was toasty warm!  In the morning, Tyga woke ManSlave several times by standing on him and pushing him about and when he opened his eyes she was there, staring him in the eye again.  The look on her face was priceless. 

Our week has been busy, there is a mouse under the decking so the youngans have been out daily with heads tilted at forty five degrees to the deck outside the back door.  SaBreena is the most intriguing girl and quite the huntress like her Mother, Pearl. She has not moved and every evening Momma picks her up from her watching spot and carries her indoors. She looks back longingly wishing she was back outside and lets out a huff and a small squeal and immediately turns to liquid in Momma's hands and makes her way to the cat barrel on the landing, exhausted from her day she sleeps a 12hour shift.  Robyn and Magnus Rex race about chasing springs and things. I find myself caught up in the chase and enjoy pasting Magnus up and down the stairs. He thinks it's hillarious and can't run fast enough, then we tumble onto the landing and roll about in a tight embrace, where upon I was his face and ears and he laughs with delight.  Such a chatty kitten and so sweet natured.  I let his Dad, Ikon, take over then as they are put to bed in the kitchen with tunnels and treat games to keep them occupied.Robyn has crashed beside Momma and is reluctantly peeled away and so too put in the kitchen.  

Last week brought news that Bruno (Flaire's 2020 litter) had eaten or licked something nasty in their catproof garden. His parentals were beside themselves with worry as he was taken to the vets and left on a drip for the day.  He had a very upset tummy that just wouldn't stop being gloopy.  It was a real shame as he only just ventured out recently after having his niknaks removed. Luckily, reports are that he has bounced back after a day of fluids and is back playing with Tootsie and racing about and of course being super dooper loving and cuddly and had the very best home care a guy could want. Now back at 100% he has enjoyed the weekend tootling about outside again under very strict supervision and paws crossed he keeps his licker in his head this time!  Pfft kittens!!

More crazy news came from Ireland where Jasmine (Faith litter 2012 and first born Maystar!!) had a freak accident and had to go into major surgery, she was in the specialist vet hospital for a few days and now we hear she is home and safe again eating, drinking and using her tray. She too has THE best care with her doting family and nothing is too much for Princess Jasmine.  Her parentals took it in shifts to care for her and finally are getting some sleep again. At aged nearly 8yrs old, you think she would know better than swinging from the chandeliers! Sigh. 

We do have more news, but we are not allowed to spill the good news beans just yet. I am itching to tell someone, so Momma and I chat between us all excited. It is always nice to end the week on a happy note! 

Flaire has been so naughty this week and is screaming and screaming all the time.  It all started when ManSlave gave her a freeze dried ducky treat. Now she want want wants all the time and just won't shut up. If she isn't screaming for treats she is moaning and growling at everyone.  She is adamant that Magnus Rex, her own son, is a mortal enemy.  Well, in some ways it is not a bad thing, when she is calling he gets quite frisky in the little boys department! Momma picks Flaire up and pretend smacks her butt, this works for two ways, one to tell 'Queen too big for her boots' who is boss and the other it sort of makes Flaire more loving?  Go figure? The girl is a sadist.  Once this ritual is finished where Flaire screams in Momma's face and Momma smacks her botty whilst secretly checking her for lumps and bumps and anything that might be upsetting her.  Then, like a light switch, she calms and begins to purr!  WHAT, HOW, WHY? She is carried aloft like a show cat and exhibited in the style of a winner winner turkey dinner and presented to ManSlave where she proceeds to march about his head and dances on his chest and kisses his face and stares at him with her glistening blue eyes and he calls her his blue eyed girl.  Then she makes her way over to Momma's chair purring and snuggling and kissy and teeters back to her man, her one and only and settles on his lap, looking into his eyes and screams her love cry.  Honestly, it is sickly to watch. You wouldn't catch me doing all that lovey dovey stuff.... well, ok, I do it to Momma and when no one is watching and I don't need my botty smacked to love anyone! 

Today, the 2nd part of that piggy roast is going into the oven on super slow cook.  It was a tad tough last week, so this type of joint needs a slowly slowly approach.  We have a small portion removed and cooked separately as there is a strong deep flavour on it this weekend that is making my nose twitch.  There is nothing like a free range piggy to get your mouth all watery.  Well, except if you are a veggie or vegan - then it is totally repulsive I am sure!  Cats are not veggie, so it's all or nuffin and seeing as my skin problems stem from over processed proteins in cat kibble, I relish the opportunity to have a little fresh stuff. It out weighs the vile tasting liquid I have to take each night - shudder.  

I am your Queen Vee, your cat of a life time your cheerer upper.

Until next week loyal followers. =^..^=
 

    

Recently here at Maystar there has been a whoosh of DIY projects.  There is so much to do and Momma has been moaning for months about the dreadful paw prints around the walls and that we are filthy beasts, ManSlave has been batched in her moaning with his car oil and such splashes in the tiny hallway which is more like a vestibule really which is continuously full of anything and everything that should not live in the house or deliveries coming in that have to be quarantined and sprayed with SAFE 4 to stop the dreaded COVID-19 from entering the house.  This was one one of the last places to be decorated due to the traffic. 

On Thursday, we managed to be very helpy indeed much to ManSlave's distress. I was balancing on his back whilst he cut in the stairwell. It is such a great vantage point to watch Side Squirrels from. (That's the squirrels that feed at the side of the house.)  They are the youngsters that were born over the Spring time and are so cute and very adorable, but unless you are higher than the windowsill, it is difficult to see them properly, so ManSlave is a good perch!  I am always well behaved, not like SaBreena who once aloft with her svelte longness became unbalanced and landed squarely on the paint tray all four feet in it and the whip of her tail. Then she hopped forwards, shaking her paws, splashing cream paint onto the navy carpet. ManSlave swooped her up and we could all hear him trying his best to wash her paws. She was crying and he was trying not to let her escape.  After her impromptu bath, she headed down the stairs like a bullet and as she passed the hallway the doorbell rang.  She then proceeded to race around and try to hide from her own fear.  She went missing for 4hours and was found by her Mother, Pearl, behind the tumble dryer. Momma was asking us all if we had seen SaBreena and from over the fence came a chuckle from the neighbour that we might know where she was!! Well, he can laugh, sometimes we do! 

Later in the day a similar thing happened with Robyn and luckily my favourite follower, Karen Layflurrie, was visiting us to collect some of Momma's paintings for an online cat show and luckily she is a great cat lady and knows how to handle a wriggly baby cat and help wash off the paint.  It was really funny listening to ManSlave scrubbing the carpet upstairs where she had sat, full butt, hocks and tail in the tray then must have hopped about all over the place to rid herself of the sticky paint.  Momma and Karen washed her hocks and butt hole and fairy as all the paint had really got into every crease of her behind!  Silly baby. It was her first wash and it was like washing a worm with razor blades attached. It didn't help that everyone was laughing at her the whole time!

Momma hates waste and is always looking for ways to recycle anything. Last month, the neighbours had a skip full of decking boards he had lifted from the garden. OK, so they were a bit rough in places and Momma just couldn't help route through the wood to make a shelf or two for us. She was on the phone to her pal chatting about cat houses and out came the neighbour and made Momma jump.  He felt so sorry for Momma that he slipped a few brand new pieces over the fence for her to make us nice shelves. So, we get what we need eventually without ManSlave having to make anything for us. It has been so chilly of late and not much pigeon hunting time, however, the sun is shining today and it sure looks like a day of sawing and making us new cat posts to sit on and watch the world go by. 

Yesterday, a new indoor cat post arrived for the kitten room which has new plans for renovation too. It will aid kittens jumping from the bed at lemming age.  It is plush and chocolate coloured with a great scratch pad.  We all helped to put it together and build it.  Ikon liked the box a lot and Robyn was well into the screws and bolts. She had to check everything and ticked it off against the instructions which she promptly tore into tiny pieces, well, who needs instructions? Luckily, Crystal Clear Pet Products are great for helping out if you get stuck. ​  Once we had made it all we then spent the next few hours jumping and launching ourselves off the top and racing out and back again.  Magnus Rex got very tired and fell asleep on the base which is very thick and plush.  He knows a good thing when he feels it!   Now it has been used and abused, it is no longer of interest.  Well, I guess that's good as it might last until we have kittens again. Let us just hope no one pees on it! 

This morning Momma feels she would like to get these outdoor posts done. It is sunny and that means we can play out in the communal area as well as have all the doors open so we can run from one place to another without the hindrance of glass and brick.  I also saw a nice neat pork joint that ManSlave collected from the local piggy farm yesterday. So no doubt that will end up in the oven and I shall be on duty to make sure the crackling does it's thing. There are new potatoes in our mini bucket allotment, one of us will help collect those and no doubt get our paws in the soil and tread it all over Momma's freshly decorated house!!! 

I hold my breath for the "REALLY" as she spots our muddy paws on a wall. 
Happy Sunday all of my loyal readers.
Queen Vee =^..^=

This morning started like any other day until ManSlave said he fancied a walk.  That was it, Momma had two bags organised, cats collars on and kittens loaded into a bag each. Robyn was to ride with Momma in the black and white houndstooth baggie and Magnus in the Blue 'boys' rucksac. Magnus was a tad worried about his collar at first, it was a borrowed one of Lillibet's and it was purple nappa with white leather insert with five diamante twinkling away with a silver love heart displaying the words 'sister'.  He said he felt like a right sissy and began to yell and yell as Momma tipped Ikon out of the man bag and loaded Magnus into it.  He screamed and screamed and dug about in the bag just like his Dad did on his trip to England.  Then, after a few minutes he settled with a huff, slightly standing on his head and covered in a fleece. 

Robyn took to the purple collar borrowed from Faith, with a matching silver heart displaying 'Faith' and a bell that set her off racing about the landing jumping sky high and trying to catch it.  She was happy to be loaded into the carry bag and thought Magnus was hillarious trying to digging his way out. She sat all prissy waiting to be off. Then, the second we stepped from the house she began to wail and cry with a voice that was that of a giant lion. She roared so loudly that Magnus began his pitiful squeak to match her yelling and down the road Momma and ManSlave walked in step to the mewling.  They got to the park and turned around because Magnus was wailing pathetically and really it was just a tootle to try them out with something new. 

When they returned home, there was SaBreena waiting at the door.  She welcomed the two babies with a lick and then jumped into the empty manbag.  That was it, collar on and out of the door to complete their walk, they took SaBreena with them. Collar on and happily laying at the bottom of the bag which Momma carried on her front so she can see the babies and talk to them. SaBreena was very happy, she meowed with delight at being out and by the time they were at the park they turned towards the woods and she had her zip opened and collar attached to the internal lead for safety.  She was so confident and purred away when Momma stroked her head. She was so nosy when they saw pigeons and then crossing the stream there were Bull Rushes ready to sprout and all the blackberries needed sniffing as well as the weeping willow leaves and the wild flowers.  She was allowed to sniff lots of new things and coming up the slope it was windy and her ears flattened against the breeze.  When they arrived home, she leapt out of the bag and wriggled about whilst the collar was removed.  She said a polite thank you then ran off to tell everyone about her adventures. 

Because it was so windy when they got home, it had blown the clouds away and the sun had exploded through so ManSlave opened up the communal area for everyone to explore and sniff at the plant pots whilst he watered them.  The long green water snake waters away and the kittens race about trying not to get wet.  Us adults sit out of the way laugh at their naivety.  Because they were gone off into the woods for a short time, I was left in charge of the Welsh Lamb in the oven.  I was to make sure it didn't over cook and watch that the timer went off ok and nothing got too crispy.  I had a good view looking through the glass with my face pressed to it's warmth.  I was patted and had my ears caressed for being on point with the meat and once it was rested, I was allowed a little taste for being so good.  Luckily, lamb doesn't upset my skin!

It sure was a nice day with fun things to do. We now have a few springs to dance about the lounge with and after that a bit of a snooze in front of the TV with a nice movie. I hear Stuart Little is on today, that's a fun Movie for cats, especially as fluffy Snowbell has such a staring role coughing up fur balls .

I was meant to be having a cream tea with my Pal tomorrow, but she has had to cancel which is a real shame - all the more cake for us I guess? 

Love to each of you - Your Queen Vee. =^..^=

There is just something so glorious about the sunshine.  It is just so life enforcing with the hot stuff that you instantly feel alive and ready to face the world, OK maybe not the world as you sloth about in a perpetual state of wetness.  Although, us felines do not sweat like you humans and we only have a tiny surface to get rid of our moisture. We can only sweat through our paws, this is enforced knowledge as we leave tiny damp paw prints everywhere we go. Times that by ten and four paws and you have a veritable pool of forty something soggy feet getting on every surface in the house.  This is also compounded by some running on the cat wheel which is rubber surfaced and turns our sweat black!  Momma loves it - all that scrubbing I am sure she is smiling? ManSlave said it was a grimace! 

Cats, unlike you humans, can not absorb vitamin D through our skin, we can only get it from eating food.  So no amount of sun worship will get us that little luxury it is all hard earned chewing that does it for us.  To lose heat we can wash ourselves all over, making our coats damp and then lay in a cool place and catch a breeze. We can expose our underbellies and lay flat out increasing the surface area to be cooled.  It does help that we have an outside fan for such things and Momma regularly wipes us with a damp cloth. The kittens were not impressed AT ALL and SaBreena, usually delightful, hissed at Momma as she wiped the whippet of a body down.  Very hot cats have been known to pant too, but not us cool gang. We have copious amounts of cold water with ice in big glass dishes and combine that with the fan breezing over it all - we are just right.   

Those silly kittens still raced about in the heat though, you wouldn't believe it.  It's as "Hot as Hades" as Grand Mew Mew tells us and yet, there they are chasing bugs and butterflies around the communal area, dancing a jig in the heat and drinking from the fountain!  "NO" Momma shouts "Not fountain water kids, yuck."  Will they never learn?  Ikon is classed as a kitten, he still races about with the three of them and teaches them naughty habits, like eating leaves and twigs of which he deposits in lots of sick later on. He is a monster for it and very sneaky - Momma says he is a 'clawful' to manage.

Another Pride member is a bit nuts too - Flaire, she has taken over the cat wheel in this heat and is walking very slowly on it and snarling at anyone who tries to take it from her.  She walks about 2mph, just sauntering and moaning as she goes.  However, if ManSlave appears, she gees up a bit and her little lips turn pinky as she upturns her face for a stroke.  She is a tart! It is way too hot for such walking, but she likes to keep trim and neat and svelte and you would never imagine she had produced 4 litters with no stretch marks.  Unlike me, two kittens (well three, we lost a stripy boy) and there I am still carrying my baby weight!  Well, I just hate sit ups!  I also state that the medication I take daily makes me hungry! 

Pearl is a bit 'hot to trot' too and enjoys hours on the wheel.  Providing she can get her mother to take a break.  Once on, she can roam the countryside of her mind. She can travel for miles and miles and still she looks rotund and never seems to get that svelte look her mother achieves. She is very c'athletic and tries her very best to keep in shape and entice the boys. Lets just hope Ikon is into fat bottom girls?!  He can be a bit furmidable at mating time!

Of course, Robyn tried the wheel and Momma can't watch.  When she isn't watching (secretly is) Rbyn runs sweetly on the wheel, but as soon as Momma comes into view, Robyn gets way too excited and begins running so fast that the wheel sweeps her away and she lands with a clump on the floor.  I can hardly watch. I wince as she tries over and over again, each time jumping in mid air to catch a wave that slams her to the floor again.  I can't watch any more and shove her off and show her how it's done, you have to skip sideways to stop that wheel from spinning you off.  They can be lethal once you get them going!  Then the heat gets to me and I flop on the floor and Flaire takes over with a grumble and a thwak. 

I think it about time we all have a well earned nap and leave the sun worshiping for the hardy.  Like Lillibet who loves to roll about on a beach towel tanning her white bits! 

My devoted followers, much love to thee, your ​ebullient Queen Vee =^..^=

It is time to pucker up peoples, it's kissy kissy time!  I am, of course the best smoocher in the house and no one can smooch as well as I!  I am a rearer upper and a lip slider. I like to make sure my scent is all over my willing victim.  I have this look on my face as I climb up high on the chest of my selected one and stare them in the face, eye ball to eye ball until they relent and look at me - then I peruse their nostrils and chin with my whole face, working the tip of the nose and slightly grating my teeth along the proboscis.  That is real close up kissing!

Tyga, being my daughter, is also a good kisser.  She is more of a gentle kisser, she sidles up, all loving and gooey with her eyes on that of her chosen one, looking deeply and waiting for the 'kissy kissy' noise that allows her direct contact with the pursed lips of her human.  1, 2, 3, 4 gentle kisses on her upturned face. she pushes her whiskers forwards for those intimate moments...5, 6, 7... oh yes, she would do it all day.  Then she settles down, sliding about, still looking up and fluttering her eye lashes depositing eye candy kisses to great effect. Her human is subdued!

The very next best kisser is Ikon, he is smoocher and a crooner. He makes little ecstasy noises to draw in his person.  He looses them in his eyes and prip prips until they are close at hand then he pushes his entire whisker pads to breaking point to make a big flat kissable area for his person to land a smooch.  He only likes two and not from ManSlave, he is a girl kisser only.  ManSlave and him 'mind meld' heads pressed together in a calm union. 

Faith is a terrible kisser, she HATES it, even the receiving of them - point blank.  Lillibet likes to BE KISSED but not give out kisses, she squeaks and trit trots about willing you to kiss her furrless head.  Over and over and with each landed kiss there is a plaintive kitteny mew. 

Flaire is also a non kisser, she is a head winder and only has eyes for ManSlave. Round and around and around she goes making grumbly growly noises.  You know when she is ready and warmed up to pretend she wants to give a kiss as her tiny sweet mouth turns rose pink and her chocolate nose glows.  But she will only come a whiskers breadth to ManSlave and veer away at the last second with a meow of that of a Siamese tom cat!    She loves Momma when she is pregnant and ManSlave barely gets a look in for 2 months.  

Pearl won't kiss but she will curl her tongue into the cutest shape when she mews for attention from Momma.  She screams at ManSlave! Once she swiped him across the face, so their relationship has never been the same.  With Momma though, she is sweet and even though her manners can be a little terse, she is at heart a darling.  She likes to be kissed on her head and tummy.  Weirdo! 

Robyn is a shoulder rider and a busy kid.  She likes to be kissed all over at bed time and rumbles away as a reward, but as for real on the lips giving smooches, she is more likely to just blow butterfly kisses with her eyes and then in return the human gets their eyelashes washed and then she goes silly and starts biting the soft fleshy bits!  SaBreens is about the same, although she purrs just to look at her, but don't test that tortie temper!  Like her mum, she is sweet - with a twist!

Last but not least is Magnus Rex.  Considering he is Ikon's son and in actions is spitting image to everything his Dad does, he dislikes smooching or toe bean kissing - he surly will be tortured some more until he relents and makes a smoochy boy. Although, with his Mother Flaire's feisty behaviour it may take some hard work on the Parentals side!

Until next time smoocharoos - much slobbering from your Queen Vee =^..^=

I didn't manage to blog last Sunday as Momma and ManSlave had pulled a ten day stint at work, leaving us poor kitties to fend for ourselves.  On Sunday they put a huge shoulder of lamb in the oven before they left and walked out leaving me in charge to take care of it.  It was on low, so took quite some time before the rich smell traveled to my nostrils and woke me from my slumber.  I sauntered over, shaking my paws as I strolled along, it's my thing!  I peer in at the lamb and there it is, just mooching away in its juices with lots of time to go.  This is going to be a long day!

We have been left to our own devices for a number of days now and really it is not good enough.  I decided to ring CatLine and explain my predicament.  I was met with a rather 'computer says no' type who was not interested at the fact we have been abandoned each day.  Apparently, it is not abandonment if your keepers return home and fill your bowls with food and water as well as let you out to hunt bugs in the morning and cuddle you all night in bed.  I tried to explain that we have kittens here that were fading away and again this was met with "I am sorry you feel this way Miss Vee, but you have all you require and more."  What kind of a service is this anyway? They are meant to be on our side? Aren't they? 

Because the parents are out most of the day, each time they arrive home Ikon lets the side down by greeting them at the door each day.  He hears the car and turns into crazy mad goofy cat, racing about, throwing himself at the feet of ManSlave and  purring for Momma.  His son has now joined in and is ready to be greeted, well, he is a king you know, kings do not meets and greets their subjects so he waits on his chair to be fussed where he screams and screams for their approval.  Pearl has taken to sleeping aloft the cat post by the lounge door so she gets the next greeting and sidles onto Momma's shoulder for a purr and a cuddle, giving ManSlave the evils and the rest of us a growl for good measure.  

I am usually in the House Of Fun and race across the Sky Bridge, forgetting myself, I greet them with gusto. Pearl jumps down, I climb up.  Tyga awaits her turn. We all purr in unison which brings Robyn and SaBreena as they think it's milky time when we all purr.  I give them both a slap, they must know their place. Robyn joins her Mum and snakes around Momma's shoulders, purring and nibbling.  Tyga looks a little jealous.  I stretch up and and dig my claws into Momma's leg. NOTICE ME! A hand comes down, I rear up into it, pushing my wedge shaped head into it and she gives my ears a tweak.  Tyga jumps down, Robyn does once more around her shoulders then dangles her legs down her stroking arm, I hiss. It's MY ARM!  Robyn just giggles and tries to touch me, I jump back, spitting and bowl Flaire over who spits back, we have a fisty cuffs, she is weaker than me even though she is top cat, I am heavier. We part ways, Robyn still laughing!  Poor SaBreena gets a clout from her passing mother, Pearl, this sets Flaire off again and she lays into pearl. Robyn still laughing.  Momma swoops SaBreena up into her arms for safety. She growls like her mum, Momma tells her that's naughty!  

Usually, Lillibet and Faith stay clear of greetings, they stay all cozy on the bed upstairs.  The bed that now has a bamboo waterproof sheet under the countertop to stop the markers and widdlers from penetrating the mattresses.  It makes Lillibets and Faiths tummies all warm and sticky all that bamboo! Momma carries SaBreena half way up the stairs and deposits her safely on the window sill.  Tyga and I race up the stairs together with Pearl and Ikon in persuit. Ikon falls on his head at the first turn in the stairs, gripping the carpet he pokes his hind legs in the air. Momma rubs his belly, Robyn Giggles. Pearl jumps over Ikon with a growl and Robyn takes her leave at the top step.  I fall on the floor and roll about purring, Momma rubs me and Tyga jumps about all excited and Pearl turns tail and heads down stairs, jumping first Ikon then Magnus who is copying dad a few steps down. 

Momma finally makes it into the bedroom to check on Lillibet and Faith. They are fine, Lillibet chats away and Faith Purrs.  Everyone jumps on the bed, I jump on Momma's shoulders, Pearl reappears, followed by Flaire. Everyone is growling again and Lillibet starts to rumble like a bull elephant.  Everyone stops still. That rumble shakes the very core of every cat and man.  She is harmless, but we don't know that.  Momma does. She knows to stroke her head and calm her down. Lillibet mews like a kitten. We all resume milling about.  Flaire sniffs things we have all touched, Pearl sits out of the way on the newel post. Tyga starts plaintive mewling, I am riding high still, purring and rubbing my head on Momma's ear.   If we keep this up, she may open the cupboard where ManSlave keeps our freeze dried treats.  She is edging closer and closer as she changes her clothes.  I am asked to jump down with a click of her fingers, I oblige and rear up and down rubbing my face on her hand.  Tyga strolls over to the click. The kittens are all squabbling now and racing about, that's Ikon included, he too is still a kitten brain.  Lillibet jumps onto the windowsill everyone is in position for treats....will she.....won't she.....

That's a story for another day!

With love loyal subjects - your Queen Vee =^..^=

Here I sit, scratching my head with my hind claws just contemplating the joys of spring which have been rudely interrupted by yodeling!  It can only be described as such or that of a strangled Peacock or the song of our people.  It is the yell for boys or 'calling' as most interpret it or 'yowling' some might even stretch to 'mewsik'.  All I know is it is mind blowingly noisy around here and ear plugs might not go amiss.  I have decided to move my paws from scratching my head - to poking them in my lugs to dampen the noise.   I remember well when I used to sing - my Peacock sounds were 'simply the best', to quote Tina Turner, I had the best pitch and range and could hold a note for an age.  Not like these youngans who trill and squawk in random timbre.

I distinctly remember the stories of our Mother, Gracie, who was calling from a young age of 6months old.  She was a winter baby and as soon as spring hit, she was off in her monotone one voice. Unfortunately, it made her very poorly indeed and Momma was advised by the vet to mate her at 10months old.  There was, of course, a big hoohaa in the cat fancy, but thankfully her breeder stood up for Momma and look what we have today, Flaire and me.  I am, of course, neutered after my ordeal with Delvolostron and all my breathing issues. I was never going to have another litter after all my breathing difficulties last time. All the Drugs just finished me off!   

So, here we are again, not five years on and my daughter's daughter is doing the exact same thing!  Yelling for a king of her own and Ikon is willing to oblige, well, he would if he could but his urge has gone, rendering him a baby brain again on his Neuter-UM chip. So he scruffs and bites them which is enough to keep the girls quiet.  Then there is SaBreena, well, you read her story last week and know the pains of calling too early can lead to potential infections in the lady bits.  And since all her bloods came back negative with a slight raise on her C-reactive protein (CRP) levels to denote inflammation of some sort, not in her heart though Vet Ellie said. 

Where do we go from here?  Momma spoke in depth with Vet Ellie who had looked into injecting a Neuter-UM chip, or to try Delvolostron again. Momma had asked about the old cat pill Ovarid and Melotonin implants that can be purchased from the USA. or even tablet containing Melotonin. All these things most EU catteries manage with all over the world, except most are not licenced and there is a lot of  humming and arrhhing going on at the clinic as to their use. There is a big jump Vet Ellie says from studies on sheep to cats. 

Melatonin is a hormone that regulates the sleep–wake cycle. It is primarily released by the pineal gland. As a dietary supplement an hour before sunset it is used as a sleep enhancer and in cats it confuses the body into thinking it is still winter and reduces the calling rate of queens.  It is especially used in northern Scandinavian countries and sub tropical south for this very reason as they have much more daylight than us here in the UK.  Momma has a pot of 1mg tablet from awhile ago she never used.  So she tried it on Tyga and it reduced her call to 4 days.  Apparently you are to feed it every day for the length of time you require no calls.  Not sure yet about this.  We shall trial it on the babies next so stop them calling all together.  The reports in the cat community is they go on to produce babies with no problems.  Being natural, it might just save the day!  

Momma gave Pearl and Flaire a smidgen of the ovarid that was left over and just hope that they don't have the dreaded Pyometra.  They certainly can not have babies just yet, they only just had some!  It is forever a balancing act and one that is easily solved by mating the catwomen earlier in the end.  We prefer them to have a good distance between litters, but at what cost?  

This is the new normal, trialing different things to suit our Maystar Pride and chatting to other breeders who seemingly 'get away' with administering these bigger drugs.  The ones we have had issues with here, we are never sure why the issues occurred and what the solution is?  Melotonin may well be the way to go and for the time being it will be tablets instead of the chips as Momma would be 'on her own' to put those under the skin. Yikes. She doesn't fancy that just yet, maybe after the microchipping course? That could be easier? Tablets will have to do, hidden in tasty miamor for some and poked down the gullet for others! 

To that end, I shall sing you out with a lullaby of the green wriggly worm.  I shall carry him aloft in my mouth, mewling softly between green fuzz to bring you a rendition of 'Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, guess I'll go and eat worms'.

Much love everyone, from my heart to your heart.
Queen Vee =^..^=
​

This week has been some what of a drama.  It all started on Sunday last when we were waiting for the roast piggy to cook (Oh it was yummy btw).  Momma had to take SaBreena to Broad Lane Vets to see Vet Ellie.  She was found hunched on the bathmat with a searing temperature of 38.7.  She had been sick a few times and her tummy was upset.  It wasn't very nice sight at all and very worrying.  

She was whisked off into the surgery, Vet Ellie rang Momma to discuss the situation.  She agreed that her temperature was high and even had crept up another few degrees during travelling and that she was super slimlined for her 7month body.  She had been calling and calling for boys way too young in my opinion.this was her second big call of the springtime. then with all this calling this was the end of it!  She was brought back and placed the 2 meters away due to Covid-19 rules and Ellie informed Momma she had given her a shot of Meloxicam to bring the temperature down and if it continued to bring her back. 

Skip forward to Tuesday morning and yep, her temperature was back with a vengeance and she looked even worse than before, so bloods were going to be taken and sent to different labs to get results. To cover her for this period, SaBreena was given another jab of meloxicam to last a few days and a 5day course of antibiotics and Momma had to chose which bloods they could run.  "Anything you think" Momma said - how can you chose what to run? That's her little life - everything!!! 

Vet Elly was a little stumped as nothing was telltale about her symptoms really and having a temperature again wasn't looking great.  Vet Ellie mentions FIP and Momma's knees buckle.  Momma fills her in on the FIP history from 2012 and this helps guide the bloods to be run.  We know how that story ends and feeling they both arrive home, SaBreena wiped over and popped in the kitten room for observation.  Momma felt quite poorly by this time and got into bed too.  Maybe she picked some lurgy up from the vets on Sunday? 

It has been a long wait this week for test results for SaBreena and everyone has been enjoying the lovely weather, including SaBreena, who all of a sudden took a turn for the better and started to improve, eat, drink and do her doings a bit better.  She got better day after day and all the worry of the dreaded FIP faded away with each day hence. Then yesterday came the wonderful news that her first bloods were all quite normal, white, red and lymphocite counts all fine. Kidneys, pancreas etc. all fine.  clear as a bell.  And to make us all happy, Vet Ellie said very unlikely now to be FIP at all, so much so, she waited for the first results before sending off specific FIP bloods. What a relief.

To celebrate we had a BBQ.  It was wonderful.  We all had turkey done on the grill and even SaBreena tasted a tiny bit, preferring her kibble. Momma put out a pool party with toys in a glass dish of water. We drank loads of the water helping to hydrate us on a hot day as well as entertain Ikon in dipping his sniffer in it more than once and sniffing up the water making him sneeze.  Silly boy.  SaBreena joined in with the tapping and searching for toys and it encouraged her to taste the water and enjoy herself.  Since last night, she has been bouncing about like a crazy kitten, I had a good game of tag with her, she is good at that and she seems to be 95% back to old self with her coat all smooth and silky again.  

We are still awaiting some extra bloods for gut and stuff, so maybe that will shed some light on what happened?  There is just nothing that was normal about any of it!  Hey Ho - that's Maystar cats for ya, always something and nothing! But better to be at the vets and not thinking stuff might go away. We prefer and account of things and it also makes sure that if we are breeding, we are breeding from healthy stock!

All the girls have just stopped yelling for boys and now it's Tyga's turn.  Momma has been dishing out pills to shut everyone up - to no avail it seems! Tyga began her single serenade at 4am and then the 3 kittens, Robyn, SaBreena and Magnus were up with the lark playing with a spring at 5am.  Is there no rest for the wicked?  I am now in a grumpy bum mood and been hissing at Ikon and swatting kittens. I even growled at Momma when her head inadvertently wandered onto my bit of her pillow.  Momma is kind and kissed me and told me to hush my mouth!  I let out a bit of a purr in response.  Well, mustn't bite the paw that feeds you.

For now - another hot day and some fun around the pots hunting for frogs and bugs.  There is no roast today as there is nothing roasty in the freezer and it's more BBQ weather anyway.  Off to watch squirrels from the window in the cat house. 

​Lots of love from your Queen Vee. 

Now that the kittens have all left for adventures new, I now have time to get back to my regular blogs.  It was crazy mad here as every Sunday Momma was sending our updates and photos to the new families of 3 litters at one time as as the last of the litters left I had a twinkle in my eye as the computer and Momma may become free again for me to write my accounts of the goings on here at Maystar HQ.

It would be wrong of me in these strange times of 2020 to write of anything else but lock down and this dreaded Corona virus.  I mean, it is like nothing this planet has seen before.  Corona Virus is not a new thing, it has been around for decades causing the common cold in people and animals, except this particular strain of Covid-19, which is the disease.  The new novel virus, SARS- CoV-2, has not seen before.and it is this causing all the trouble in people around the world.  They are very smart viruses that sneak about infecting this and that in our natural world and are so called Corona as under the microscope they form little crown shapes and in themselves are quite beautiful. 

Cats have a type of Corona Virus it is called FCoV (Feline Corona Virus) This is the virus that causes the dreaded and incurable FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis).  Us cats have titre counts the same as people, it is a blood test in cats to see if we have been exposed to FCoV and in most cases we have and the reading is very low showing we have had a dose and fought off the virus and won, but could be shedding the virus daily to our cat family or we can never get it again. Then there are others of us who have a permanent high titre count and never shed the virus but just keep getting a dose of it from those invisible shedders in the house and this reads like a false positive.  Then there are some of the unlucky ones who have caught the virus and the virus mutates into FIP (like Covid-19) and kills us with no cure. 

  Each time we go to a show or the vets we are exposed to FCoV just like humans will be exposed to Covid-19 everywhere they go, except we can not wear masks or protect ourselves, we just build up a family immunity to it if we should be so lucky.  Each time we come home from a show, our show items are washed and we are wiped over with Leucillin or Safe4 which kill Corona virus.  But, this is not really how it is spread.  It is spread through our saliva, dropletts of nose vapor and more importantly, POOP!  Our chocolate gold is the biggest contaminant known to kitties and having a cat litter that coats our poops at least reduces the amount of it exposed.  But these little crowns are so minuscule, they stick to litter and then our paws, then we walk on the rug and spread them about with grooming and the next cat along picks them up on their paws, ingest them and hey presto - CONTAMINATED!   

I am sure human scientists have looked at the poo passing of homo sapiens and have made links there too, but luckily for you lot - you don't have dirt trays! I truly believe it is not just airborne! But I am no scientist, just a mere feline.  We can't wash our paws like you humans and washing paws would probably save many a cats life. Here at Maystar HQ every new kitty into the home has to be titre counted at our cost.  in 2012 we very sadly lost an imported kitten to this awful virus and it all happened so fast.  It was no ones fault, although, there is much stigma attached to the virus among cat breeders which I now find just a little ironic as now the whole world has it!  Does that make EVERYONE dirty, filthy, disgusting individuals?  No, but I bet in the breeders circuits, in the animal world, it still will be a terrible thing!  

To show solidarity, and primarily we already HAD THAT strain of FCoV among us, Momma got Ikon from the same cattery. No biggy, it has been seven years and we all stuck together, despite a rocky start.  Talking things over and helping each other is the way forward and it can be reduced in households, if not eliminated through PCR (Polymerase chain reaction).  FIP is scary and terrifying and we luckily only lost the one cat and only had one shedder, Mr Zeus, who now lives close by with Liza and can not shed to anyone here. Liza even wears clean clothes when visiting kittens, she is so good.  Because it is the same strain, we tested Ikon before he left Poland and like here it is present, but not rampant and hasn't been since 2013 when we became clear for the first time in two years.   I don't mind talking about it, my titre is always below 100 count and never moved and we don't have any sneezing, chesty cats, runny butts, well except Flaire and her rice allergy, or any of the other symptoms at vaccination time with kittens poorly with runny eyes etc. So yes, we can talk about it so others may learn or even feel confident it can be dealt with if properly addressed. 

Back to lock down.  For us, really, nothing has changed.  There are more of us, 10 now!  How did THAT happen?  Well, we kept three kittens from this years litters, one from each as insurance because we do tend to get neutered here a lot with pyometras, so Momma is taking no chances and by going out to a new established boy, we hope this will strengthen this part of the line.  We live in hope!!  Ikon had the 'Neuter-UM chip' in November 2019 so he could live inside with us all but he is a big pain in the proverbial, so Momma said we had better keep a boy to tide his boisterous behaviour over.  He is such a clump foot, heavy pawed and likes to pounce and throttle.  I DO NOT LIKE IT and spit at him and yell for Momma.  He has scared me and scratched me badly so now I keep a safe distance.  In reality, he is a sweet boy, just a bit heavy for such delicate catwomen!  Magnus Rex, his son, get on great guns together and he is teaching Magnus the art of wrestling.  Not my thing, I like running and chasing games. 

Well, with all this chatter about chasing, I must go and check the front window as it is a Sunday and the neighbours have taken to cycling out.  This means a good 15minutes where we all line up in the bedroom to get a good view of the inside of their immaculate garage and watch them wrestle out 4 bikes, pump tyres, check chains and  mess about with rucksacks and hats and such like.  It is such fun to see activity in the street other than the usual leaf, Blackbird or Pigeon rolling by.  It is the highlight of the week now and Bolo, the neighbourhood cat even comes from two streets away to check out the excitement.  

It is Sunday roast day too and we have one final piece of free range piggy left.  That has been popped into the oven already for a super slow roast.  Sadly, there is no light in the oven anymore so we can't watch it cook like the old days, we can only imagine it all succulent and follow our sniffers to the cooker door to get the odd porkie steam bath if it is opened and bask, eye masks on like a spa day,  basking in it's soothing aroma. 

Be safe, be kind and be full of life folks.

​Much love from your adoring Queen Vee =^..^=

Do you know how many folks write to Momma or send in forms that they would like to have an 'allergy sitting'?  Well, we get a couple a month and at first, we helped many people out with such sittings, then it became a bit daft as so many people were dragging their allergic other halves here because they desperately wanted a cat.   

Some of the visits went like this.... Allergic partner would come in, Momma would introduce them to a few of us sociable girls with the floofier coats and immediately they would stroke us and then, to our horror, rub their faces in the hands and scrub their eyes and after a few minutes of rubbing and groping about their persons, they would announce to the other half that they were allergic to this one too.  'Too', I think? So how many poor unsuspecting cats are you rubbing all over your faces?

On one of the visits, a woman dropped Faith because she felt 'itchy' and Faith's knee cap was dislodged after being dropped and hitting the hard decking.  They were escorted off the premises by ManSLave as could not stop laughing as Faith was screaming in pain and Momma was trying to put her knee back into it's slot.  They didn't even text or mail to ask if she was OK, then had the audacity to ask for another visit 6months later.  Foxtrot Oscar people. This is an itch free zone!

True allergy sufferers and true cat lovers do go together and Momma now asks more questions to those who have allergies.  The majority of them get bored with the questions and don't get back to us and others persevere and then they can have a visit.  One such sufferer was a small boy who was not allergic to their old Devon Rex but was to their new one?  So she had to go and live with grandma.  It came as such a shock as the poor mite was covered in a terrible rash.  But loving her so much, this young man persevered and never gave up and now, 3 years later, he takes much care loving his surrogate kitty and makes sure he washes his hands and doesn't touch his face.  That's real love.   The kitty was so unsure of why he was unsure that she always gave him a wide berth.  So animals do know I guess? Being older now, he understands the implications of loving the little cat and takes measures to enjoy her in their own special way. 

ManSlave, here at Maystar, is terribly allergic but he chooses to manage the allergy on a daily basis with antihistamines and HEPA filters.  Momma vacuums a lot and covers up the main beds so the fur and dander don't infiltrate the bedding or the pillows especially.  Of course, loving us as he does, he has a permanent blocked sniffer. Of course, he invites us into the bed for snuggles under his knees and he is often found rolling around the kitchen floor with Ikon or rubbing his face into kitten bellies and kissing them.  But if you love something, you get on with it.  And, as he says, unless he moves to the seaside or spain and stays away from every smell going, he will always have a bunged up sniffer!   

I don't help ManSlave at all.  Each morning when it's time for his shower, I leap into his side of the bed and wash myself all over, then roll all over his pillows and sheets.  Then, once he is dressed I jump onto his shoulder and rub my body against his head and ride about until he gets the freeze dried beef out.  After that I get my wiggly worm for some fast speedy playtime and stir up the dust in the lounge for him to breathe in.  Ikon, on hearing any bathroom door, will run to ManSlave and turn his butt to be picked up.  Ikon is floofy and so soft that humans can't help but kiss him and Ikon responds with air padding paws and purring.  You can hear the purring all over the house and in we all pile to the smallest room in the house with no filters and door ajar, to saturate ManSlaves breathing space. We position ourselves on his shoulders at his feet, in the sink, anywhere we can get purchase and smother him in allergens.  Oh, is it such good fun.  Outside you can hear Momma say. "Have you had your antihistamines?" 

When Momma brought Ikon on the plane home from Poland, the flight attendant went stir crazy saying she was so allergic to cats and made such a huge fuss about him being on the plane.  She went on to complain about others who could be allergic too and how she can't breathe so Momma said politely "So why are you still standing here?"  She was a nasty bit of cat hater and the nicer attendant said Ikon could sit out of his carrier and to ignore his moaning colleague, he has made her stay at the far end of the plane.  As it was, Ikon wouldn't stay in the carrier and had a tantrum at take off and during the flight would not stay in his carrier and had to be held as he was terrified.  The people around were fine and we had an extra seat.  Momma was pleased when all flights out of Amsterdam were delayed as she took Ikon on the train instead to meet ManSlave!  Silly anti cat people. Take a pill - a chill pill!

Of course, allergies are serious things and after King Slinky's demise we thought we would never see anything like that again, except, now there is also me in the mix with foods. Mainly fish to be honest, and if I kept my nebby sniffer out of the fish tanks, I too would have a break from itchy skin.  OK, OK, so I don't go fishing, but I am a particularly good thief!  Momma is terribly allergic to barley and wheat and it only just dawned on her that Lillibet and Faith's diet food has wheat in it and she keeps touching her face after feeding them and she kisses them lots and they will have washed themselves with wheaty saliva and in turn Momma's lips get puffy from the transfer.  I suppose, in these days of implants and collagen, just come and kiss a cat!!!

Allergies to cats can come in a few forms.  Allergy to saliva of the cat which is very common and tends to cause the awful skin irritation and blotchy red and itchy skin rashes.  Or, there is the dander part of us that comes from our skin, and yours by the way!!  This is the kind of thing that causes the breathing difficulties, blocked nose, itchy or watery eyes. A bit like hayfever.   Then there is the fur on us and although we do not shed very much fur at all, we still do shed and those little bits of fur get up peoples sniffers and tickle inside their heads.  Then there are just some folk that don't want a cat at all and make up such rubbish to get out of having one!  If you rub your eyes for 10 minutes solid, you too can look like you have an allergy to us!  GET OUT!! Be sensible people. Then there are those that have allergies and won't visit because you have cats - they are lying too, they just don't like cats!  Some folks are predisposed to allergens and just have to live with all sorts of stuff up their sniffers.  But should it stop you living your life without a cat?  I know for sure if I was allergic to humans, I would be very thin and hungry!  The stomach rules the cats universe, end of!  

Here is to all the cat floof sufferers
It's not nice and it's not funny 
to have your eyes and nose so runny
to scratch and itch all day
never to have a cat to play
Never to have a feline to cuddle
your immune system all in a muddle
To never have the love of a cat
to never be able to sit where we've sat
to come home to an empty house
over run with the odd mouse
It's us your body is craving
stroke a cat, send your allergies raging
give in and buy a moggy
and enjoy the fact your nose is soggy
take us to bed and enjoy your life
we are far better than a husband or wife
So what if you itch like crazy
just stay in bed and be super lazy
With a cat beside you as a life long friend
We can itch together until the end.

With love from Queen Vee =^..^=

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 ^..^=