It has been a busy week of us being Office Cats.  It is quite a dull job and there isn't much to be done but wait about until the work is finished.  We are very helpy when the shredder is turned on or the printer fires up.  Lillibet and Faith have been true office seniors, overseeing all the youngsters and their antics.  SaBreena and Magnus have been deemed blinking useless and although they tried their very best, they were not invited back!  Magnus is very clumpy and too big for every surface. He slips and slides all over the place and doesn't even fit on the windowsill becoming all slithery and silly pushing all the sewing boxes off onto the floor.  SaBreena was almost worse with her long Cheetah legs and tiny paws.  She stood on a slippery plastic pocket full of receipts and that was those all emptied out and mixed up. Momma put them back in the pocket and SaBreena was at it again with her feet and legs everywhere as though she was on four wheel drive trying to get purchase and bam, the lot was on the floor again with her following as though on roller skates, legs darting this way and that, like bambie on ice!  Nah, she won't make it as an office cat any time soon either. 

Being an Office Cat is regarded as a special task. You are to be sedentary and well behaved. Never to touch the key pad on the laptop like Robyn, who was also not asked back after her work experience.  Like her half sister, she was all legs and feet and pressing this and that with her busy paws.  A quick purr as an apology to Momma for calculating things all incorrectly and all was forgiven until next time.  I think these three will be on beverages only with occasional light filing duties in the future.  They don't know their A's from their Z's so that will be interesting!  Now, I am very good at filing especially the zeds, I can fit many of those in on my filing mat. Zzzz..... Sorry, I dropped off there for a second!  Many years ago, King Slinky wrote a Blog about Faith and the printer, now she could care less if it prints all day and night. It's not as exciting as the first time she heard it.  She leaves that to the under two year old kitties who are still fascinated with the hum and trundle of the paper flow. Tyga and Ikon still get a kick out of it!

Momma has a new office machine arriving on Wednesday. It cuts all sorts of things and crimps, slices, trims and creases.  It will be a great addition to our enjoyment of office life and give something else for Momma to tell us to keep our paws out of!  Included in this grand purchase is a new filing cabinet which will free up desk space for, yep you guessed it, a cat bed!  The desk is currently covered in archive boxes which we love to sleep in the tops of and this makes and endless daily struggle gaining access to the files.  The days of ease of access are gone and a new streamlined office must happen and that means ManSlave has to learn where to look for stuff and even put it away?!  I shall take charge and show him around especially as the new filing cabinet will be very tall and I will need a ladder to gain access to the top.  Where there is a will, there is a way! 

To make room for the new contraption and cabinet there has been much reshuffling in the bright neat bijou room.  It has to double up as a craft come space with sewing area and card making section as well as an office that run no less than 5 businesses that Momma looks after so the archiving and filing is very strict and purging of nonsensical items is required.  Anyone looking at this tiny 8ft x 9ft space would be baffled at it's walls which are full of paintings and collected bits and pieces of important meanings with boxes filled to the brim of useful and needed things and cupboards full of important documents which has to be in cupboards as we love to tip things up and stand on papers and chew the corners and holepunch where they shouldn't be.  It is quintessentially unique and bespoke and tailored for a crazy cat house full of busy felines.  

The working week is now over and our day of rest starts, except, we are going to be busy cats today. We have Mishka's family popping up to meet us all.  It will be a lovely day and yesterday ManSlave trimmed up a bit of Welsh lamb in preparation for their visit. We were hoping for warmer weather so we could show off in the garden and play about and show off our tribe of Horrible Horraces.  We are trying to find good homes for them as we have 17 of the furry grey jobs and I see from the lady ones, there is another batch on the way!  I wonder if Mishka's folks might want to take some home later today?  We have lost nearly all the slate that was laid last summer, that's two tons vanished into the wilderness and all I can see is squirrels racing too and fro with mini wheelbarrows piled high with OUR SLATE!  They must have a complete Horrible Mansopn out there.  I hear real estate is going up in this area. No wonder if they are hiking up the prices and making a mint selling slate dwellings to hedgehogs, badgers and birds.  They will need retrospective planning soon and who will pay for that?  Us, out of our cat food fund probably!

I must dash, I have to get ready for visitors and we have to be brushed and ears cleaned as well as a quick Mani-Pedi to complete the look.  I am sure we will all have to wear our Sunday best collars and look the part and get ready for cuddles and kisses, especially Tyga, who is feeling very bright and happy. 

Until later folks, your eternal Queen Vee =^..^=

Honestly, this week was like a whirlwind after a very fun weekend in the sun.  Lillibet visited Vet Tudour to discuss her FHS (Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome).  He took one look at her and said "Would you mind me testing her for fleas?"  YIKES, Momma's heart began to beat very fast as he picked out lots and lots of black flecks from her furless patchy fur and sprayed them with water.  Momma knew in her heart of hearts that it wasn't fleas and that she had been rolling about in the sunshine outside.  Of course, it wasn't fleas, but it did stop Momma breathing for a second or two!  He went on to discuss the medication and has decided the Gabapentin she is on is not quite the right dose and has added in a new huge horse pill with L-Triptophan in it.  Now, L-Triptophan is a very clever amino acid which is found in chicken, turkey, lamb, beef etc. She isn't so much lacking in it more that she could do with a bit more so that it can create niacin, which is essential in creating the neurotransmitter serotonin which in turn reduces anxiety. All of which she needs in copious amounts.  

Ironically, looking into serotonin production a little deeper got Momma thinking about Pearl and her anxious behaviour and her B12 deficiency.  The B12 acts as a cofactor in synthesis of serotonin and dopamine affecting her mood and high strung emotions.  So with this in mind, Momma will speak to Vet Aidin on Monday to ask if injections are better for her as the B12 is being given orally and her absorbion rate in her gut is poor and should we add in L-Triptophan whilst she recovers which might reduce the hissy, spitty fits she produces if anyone looks at her.  I know quite a bit for a cat don't you think?

Tyga was home by 10pm and tucked into the kitten pen with a hot pad and lots of love and attention all night from Momma.  I thought she smelled really bad and still have not got over this and hiss at her continuously, even a week later she is annoying me being a soppy kitten, following Momma about like a lost lamb and wanting me to Mother her.  Nah, she isn't the same and I feel a bit jealous of all the attention is getting. Pfft, although we are all very happy she is alive and well after a dogdy few days of sickness.  Vet Aidin trusted Momma to have her at home with continuous fluids.  She kept her canular in just to make sure.  Each day she has gained in strength, sleeping next to Momma and squeaking like a new born for attention.  During the day she stays in the kitten pen until she is allowed to jump. She is so doped up on medication, she just sleeps and recovers.  Now 5 days post op, she is out and about and trying to get Robyn to suckle from her.  It really is such a shame as she is an excellent Mother.  We hope Robyn picks up the baton now as Tyga was already 6 years of hard work on her lines.   
 
I traveled with Tyga to have her canular out and went to my appointment to have my Bladder poked with a BIG NEEGUL.  I had some whizzy juice to sedate me a bit as as usual I was exceptionally wriggly.  I also hissed at the nurses and then felt a bit bad, so fell about on my head purring and pressing myself into the nurses to apologise for being rude.  It made them all laugh as you never know what a hissing cat will do next, certainly not be all silly that's for sure.  I like to be different and take folks by surprise.  All day, once we were home, i was silly and soppy, rolling about and squeaking to get lots of attention and making the Parentals laugh so much despite the sad outcome of my daughter, Tyga.  Later in the week Vet Hannah rang to tell Momma my results which were excellent.  My urine has reduced from a huge 8.5 to a neat 6.0 acidity.  thank heavens all the grit has gone and I feel so much better, except the food which I have to change because I am having terrible breathing issues.  However, I will stay on the Atopica and keep on the Cystease and the FLUD paste for a while longer to make sure my bladder stays calm and stress free whilst we change the food to the Animonda Intergra Rabbit & Potato.  It won't be easy but at least I can tolerate rabbit better than fish and the product works for Flaire and claims it keeps urine levels to 6.5.  I live in hope of being free of all these issues soon. Watch this space. 

After a week of looking after Tyga, who has gone from strength to strength, there wasn't much time for anything else. In honesty, we are not sure where the week has gone, except there have been a few racings about outside for the rest of us in the warm weather and manSlave has done lots of outdoor jobs and Momma has painted the stud house and repaired and replaced shelving to make new and wider places to sit and watch Horrible Horraces from.  There was a delivery too of a new cat wheel.  This time a plastic one as it it much thinner and washable and fits neatly into the outside lower section of the house.  Magnus and Ikon have been trying it out for a few hours a day and it is a big hit with Magnus, Ikon was not sure and kept rolling about under the heat lamp instead. They should be quite comfy out there eventually.  Slowly slowly though as they are so used to being indoors.  They are enjoying racing about in the length on the side of the house and learning how to climb and jump about.  That way, once they do have to move out, they have an enriched life out there to enjoy and we hope that they will get on and keep each other company. 

Today is a warm sunny autumnal day, the sun isn't strong enough to warm our bodies so we lay behind the plastic toasting ourselves. I have spotted a piece of pork heading into the oven.  This week ManSlave had to go all hunter gatherer on us and do a shop from Tesco online.  So in short, it's not our usual fare of free range local piggy as they are all out this week, ManSlave was too late to the farm. Hey ho, we will all still get a tiny bit each once it is cooked. It is my job to make sure everyone is gathered for a titbit, well, all except SaBreena who only has one tastebud!  Ikon just piddled on th emain bed, luckily the bamboo encased duvet was saved it's fate of a wetting this time.  He is being a bit of a bully cat and still picking on me and now smacking Tyga who has lost her top cat status.  It's all going on here don't you know!

From a very humble and grateful Queen Vee.  =^..^=
​

Well, what a wonderful Purrday adventure we all had last weekend.  Thank you to everyone for taking part and congratulations to those winners winners turkey dinners!  Momma and I are organising your winning gifts ready to post. 

Let me take you back to the the Wednesday, the day of my Birthday Bash, when ManSlave found Pearly in a fit of peak. She was passing copious amounts of blood from her bottom. Momma had set my virtual cat show in motion and bundled Faith & Flaire into the car for their vaccinations when ManSlave raced out holding a very bloody Pearl.  She too was popped in the car, but the vaccinating vet couldn't deal with the emergency, so Momma raced Pearly across town to the big vets where they took her in right away and examined her.  Pearl is quite the red head at times and she can be quite feisty, except for today when she was a model patient.  She tried several times to climb into Vet Hannah's pocket and when having an internal investigation of her bottom, she was very accommodating, standing on her tippy toes and purring?  Go figure, strange little cat, who enjoys the furrmometer, let alone a vets digit? She then went on to have bloods taken from her neck and didn't even require restraint.  She sat like a happy bunny!  Once she was brought home, she was out of the carrier and smacking everyone, growling and spitting like a cobra.  She really is a stress head living here with us all.  We found out over the weekend that she has a Vitamin B12 deficiency which causes vomiting and an upset tummy, the blood was just from straining from being poorly both ends at once.  Poor kid.  She is still undergoing treatment of Cobalamin for at least three months, then she will have to be retested. She is also on lots of probiotics because it causes all the gut flora to die off and she has nothing to digest her food properly and has lost weight very dramatically. 

Momma has been trying to catch my wee wee in a pot for the vet to test my crystals but I slam my butt very tightly to the cat litter and stop piddling when I see her coming.  We have played this game for four days now. She tried to catch it in special wee litter, but I wouldn't use it and went on the carpet next to the tray to protest!  What made her think I was going to use THAT and make her job simple?  Now I hear that I am booked in on Tuesday for a urine sample direcly from my bladder with a HUGE NEEGUL!  YIKES, gimme the pot Momma! I really messed that up didn't I? 

Lillibet also has an upcoming trip to meet Vet Tudor to look at the next stage of her FHS (Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome) because she has been piddling again.  Our lovely Vet Marina has moved and is only on surgeries. We will know more soon. 

Also, whilst I am on illnesses, Momma has been poorly, some sore throat something, not the dreaded C-19, so Tyga and I have cared for her each day when she gets into bed for a nap.  It is very important to look after out hoomans and make sure they are fit and well and able to keep our trays clean and feed us. Of course, it's all about us!  Seeing as she has been home, each morning Momma has been adding bits to the new kitten pen which is slowly coming together with kitten bumpers and new floofy pads that fit the house.  All the exciting things are being stored behind doors and draws that we are trying to pull down and out, especially Ikon who has worked out a way to remove the lower door and squeeze through into the cupboard.  He is a determined young man. 

It's my party and I will cry if I want to....cry if I want to ....CRY IF I WANT TO!!!!  OK, I didn't cry on my Purrday, well, maybe just a little mew because Momma fitted a new wormie to the Flying Frenzy, a nice bright yellow one especially to match the gold on my crown, so I mewled and whined and wibbled until ManSlave gave in and whacked it about the lounge a few times, it took my breath away.  I turned four this year and Momma said it feels like forever. I am not sure if that was meant in the best way?  I got a new water fountain in lime green, I hate it, pfft, a water fountain - that's like ManSlave buying Momma a kettle!  Never mind, there is always Xmas and I don't suppose I should complain, there are hundreds of thirsty cats out there, including, it seems, Pearl!

The best part of the days celebrations was to invite all my loyal followers from around the world to both enter and judge my QUEEN VEE'S BIRTHDAY BASH. Far flung followers and judges from New Zealand, Aus, America and good old blighty!  There were three main classes, one for Knights of the Realm (boys), Ladies of the Court (girls) & Knaves & Maids (kittens).  Then that dear crazy cat lady, Shirlaine Forres Photographer extraordinaire, judged a spot class and I had my say in our most active TOP FAN and follower Avallon and his Mum Catherine Blundell.   

So, I know you are all champing at the bit to know who has won what??? So, here we go and can I just say, what a turn out with over 300 cats of all shapes and sizes and some real beauties.  The classes will be awarded as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Very Highly Commended for the main three classes.  The judges sure did express they had a really difficult time and all said they were trying to choose cats that they felt looked a bit fun and were a tad gutted there was no cuddling to be done. Sigh...That's C-19 for ya - no touchy feely!  Below each class is a file you can download to print or keep as a memento of our lovely few days together.  Just a moments thoughts for Uncle Paul, who is in hospital having his throat messed with again and couldn't join us as Judge & Jury and to folks who stood up to the challenge.

CLASS ONE - KNIGHTS OF THE REALM
1st awarded to Walker's MURPHY - ​What a beautiful fluffy coat with piercing eyes in the luxurious black fur. My kind of cat. 
2nd awarded to Murphy's TEDDY  - Cute face and lovely colouring and an unusual curly coat.
3rd awarded to Duffin's MONTY - Gorgeous expression and beautiful markings. He looks like he is wearing his tuxedo. 
VHC Collins DAVE - Love the expression of this boy, he looks like an Egyption God!
VHC Bates' ZIGGY - Beautiful fluffy coat and expression.
​VHC Lovell's JACK - Gergeous face and inquisitive expression.

CLASS TWO - LADIES OF THE COURT
​1st awarded to Findlay's KITTY - OMC! How hard to choose, but choose I must and Kitty just made me smile and laugh and smile again. What a pose, she really does know she is the boss care cat and the fact that she gives so much love and pleasure to so many tugged my heart strings and I would want a Kitty to look after me if I was in a home. 
2nd awarded to Brown's NYX - Incredible markings on this statuesque lady with her sleek and elegant lines all blended with different shades of brown and that little white chin. Delightful.
3rd awarded to Sales' GOOSE - Oh what a sweet looking little face with that button nose and amazing red and white colouring.  Just love her inquisitive cheeky look.
VHC Camilleri's AMBER - Little poser, really loved her and her bright ginger red colouring. Cute, cute, cute.
VHC Stalker's MIMI - Awww, the expression on her kind face and those sparkly eyes just spoke to me.
VHC Murphy's MATILDA - I just fell in love with her pleading expression - feed me treats NOW!

CLASS THREE - KNAVES & MAIDS 
1st awarded to ​Coupland's WILLOW - I love the attentive look on Willow's face, bright eyes and ears up as if to say 'What's next?' The way her face colouring highlights her features and then fades out to white, I love that too.
2nd awarded to Lovell's MOLLY - Molly looks really regal and her coat is unusual as well as THAT tail, it goes on and on, just looks amazing.
3rd awarded to Camilleri's ROCCO - Where's Rocco? What a bundle of blue eyed cuteness. 
VHC Walker's SPUD - Over all look of this robust little cat who wears his socks well.
VHC Ziggian's KIMI - What a little wild cat look you have Kimi, just beautiful markings.
VHC Duffin's MALAYA - Oh Malaya, you look like a really good listener.

"Honoured to be guest judge on another virtual cat show, I could get used to this (although it's rather frustrating not being able to give all the kits a good snuggle, you know just to be extra sure they're adorable)" Shirlaine Forrest 
1st awarded to Thompson's TEENA BALLERINA - This was the hardest catagory to judge, they were all adorable, but how can you not fall for those ears?  They are designed for whispering adorations into. 
VHC Brooks' ELLIE - Her Puma colouring is gorgeous. I was surprised by her age too, she looks so youthful, just beautiful.
VHC Plumb's SOOTY - I love his fur, you just want to run your hand through there. He is so relaxed yet has an aware expression.

There you all have it, Quite the selection and we all know would have chosen something different each time and there are just not enough prizes for everyone, especially as Momma and I were only expecting about 20 entries to each category.  See, you never really know who is watching secretly from the side lines to our strange and quirky little family!  And to that end, I have some amazing followers who, I have to admit, were KS followers first and foremost and I must not forget old Slinks in my great success.  However, I have gleaned a healthy number of followers since my 'High Five' escapades at the Supreme cat show in 2019.  I have the odd stalker too... shhhh.  There is a fancy button you can now select called TOP FAN and lots of you have chosen that on FB and with that I have awarded a special one off TOP FAN certificate to my fave cat in this catagory and especially to their human.  This particular follower always has lots of questions to make Momma scratch her head and think quite a lot.  There isn't a week that goes by that Ms Blundell trundles out with another inquisitive forthright question.  Now THAT's a true follower!  So congratulations goes out to AVALLON & CATHERINE for TOP FAN. 

Well, Momma rang New Zealand at silly O'clock to get the latest news from the Judge, Nathan Hawkins or Nat The Cat as Momma calls him.  Nat is catless and used to look after us when the original pussers Dewie & Boosby were alive back in the 90's.  Momma and ManSlave adopted Nat the Cat and he is forever our CatBro. When he took one look at the final candidates for the show last evening his gasped and ummed and aghed at the choice.  He picked one and then the other then settled for.... wait for it.... KITTY - Owned by Michelle Findlay.  Kitty is a THERAPY CAT and I think once he looked into her exquisite little face he kept cooing "Awwww (sounds like Pikkachoo) Those whiskers." He announced. "Beautiful eyes, Awww, that white tummy and dinky white socks." He starts laughing "Ha, ha, ha what a pose. I wish I could have a cuddle now, she is so relaxed. I want her."  Well, I think that was game, set and match.  HUGE CONGRATULATIONS!

I really hope you have enjoyed my Birthday Bash?  I know many of you follow the blogs and watch our youtube channel already. For those that don't feel free to sign up and enjoy a weekly update of all things crazy cats.  Right, after all this excitement, Momma will be in contact with the winners to collect addresses for small token prizes for the first places etc. It was more for a bit of entertainment and fun and I really hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

For now, I am off to check on a little piece of beef that ManSlave ordered from the Simmental breeders in Kennilworth.  Their meat is just yummy and this week we will all get a taste of the raw trimmings the nice butcher sends with it.  We are a terribly lucky pride don't you know!  There is a life times worth of watching the oven heat up, the light shine over the foil and you could live off the fumes.  I will press my sniffer to the outlet and doze in the warmth hitting my face.  You know what it's like, waiting in line to be first in the queue.  I have my sleeping pouch, pillow, food and water and will camp out until it's done.

Enjoy your Sunday folks and see you all next week. 
Your gracious and glorious Queen Vee  =^..^=