Cats do smile.  Ok, so it's not like a human smile, but we do turn our lips up into a pleased expression when we are having something pleasing done to us, like a kiss or a belly rub.

For a cat to show it's teeth is a bit of a no no really to each other and especially to our humans. Humans don't like it when the cat-sharps come out and yet they constantly show us theirs as a form of love and laughter.  It is quite confusing on occasion and something that always make me think of a time when Faith was a kitten.

Faith loves sugar. I mean REALLY loves it and thinks nothing of stealing anything sweet. On this one particular occasion, she was snooping about on the worktop and came across a bowl of icing sugar.  There it was, all unattended and sweet and luring.  She dived in, sniffer first, licker second and of course as soon as her wet sniffer hit the sugar it started to melt, the licker came out and it made it sticky.  She started to panic, it was oozing from her mouth like a liquid torrent. This in turn made her look like she had a big gaping smile as the white icing sugar coated her lips and teeth and they both in turn gleamed like a pair of Bobby Dazzlers!  It's not something I would ever do of course, so I could only look on with sheer hilarity as this tiny black kitten tried to rid herself of her newly acquired smile.  She has always been a sweet girl!

KS =^..^=

On Monday, Lillibet was two years old!  It was, of course, the birthday of her Brother, Jamie & Sister, Jasmine.  On the morning of her Birthday, she had gifts to open and cards to read. There was a card and gift from her siblings and she received a beautiful necklace with a heart adorned with diamontes. Just right for a princess!

She went on to have a nice day, snoozing until the door bell went. She knew it was for her and was out of bed and racing to the door, like I have said before, if she could bark, she would!!!  Well, it was Dale the postie. He has a small package for her, again with her name on.  Dale enquires if it's her birthday because he has been delivering things all day with her name on?  She opens her gift on her own, tears into the paper to reveal a Yeowww fishy, a pink one and some dreamies and cat snax. She makes short work of most of that and goes for the catnip toy. It makes her legs go all silly and Faith then joins her, they have a squabble and during this, I pinch her Yeowww toy and make out with it on the carpet. I love them so much.  She them fights me for her Yeowww. Well. it is hers I guess.

Later she has a Garden party and everyone is invited.  Everyone on a harness and enjoying the weather.  She was not impressed with the new visitor that is J1. She decided that 'HE' actually wasn't invited and asked him to leave. He declined, so she got furious and pouted her lips at him, then drew them back and gave him her best impression of a Chocolate Mamba!  Faith was OK with the gate crasher until he sniffed her petticoat and that was all too much too. He called her names and she know now she will be a cradle snatcher in the future. It has made her a bit giddy!

I was a pure gent and helped finish up all of the left over fish cake. There was so much. Momma had made so much, Lillibet said she was on a diet and didn't want any but did blow out her candles and wished J1 would go back home and Faith had two servings, well, it's her favourite and J1 and I licked the dishies clean.  Well, us boys have to stick together!

KS =^..^=

HISTORY LESSON: In October 2012 we watched as the House of Fun was being erected, by that December the reason for the stud house very sadly left the Earth plane and became the Angel of TomFun. The Parentals lost all love for the 'shed' and it became the Maystar 'white elephant'. By March 2013 and the excitement of a new blue friend to move into the House of Fun became shattered dreams as TomFun collected up his play mate and took him to rainbow bridge, we thought that 'white elephant' was a terrible mistake and it became a half hearted office of sorts as it was specifically made for one purpose and that always made us feel sad.

But in June 2014, Mr.Zeus needed a place to stay for a few days while Liza took Billy to do his charity great north swim to raise money for Brett, who was at this time very poorly with cancer and now has sadly passed. (Gosh, I hope the shed is not an omen!!) Well, Mr.Zeus stayed in the House of Fun and had quite a ball. The place felt alive again!

Then shortly after that in July 2014 the Parentals rescued a litter of kittens 'Maystar Charity Litter' and the place was really alive and we swear we saw TomFun come back and 'roll on the floor' with happiness that his House of Fun had a use and it wasn't a waste after all.

Then out of the blue in August 2014, we received a phone call to offer us JayOne (J1) and so the renovation of the 'white elephant' has been taking place at a very steady pace. Once the kittens moved out it was a case of disinfecting the whole house and giving it a much needed lick of paint and to add the very much needed run.  All the wood and wire were here already, it was a case of making it all right and safe and cat proof as well as making it really easy for Momma to get to. Well, her back isn't what it used to be and we can't have her tripping over gravel and such like. Who would feed us? 

So, the House of Fun is back on and TomFun seems pleased that his old home will be used as it should be and that his heart light that the Parentals chose will be there to guide him home.  Momma has changed the colour scheme too. What was blue for boys has been change to company colours of red & black.  There is still quite a way to go and only 6 days to do it in, but a few hours a day has achieved an awful lot and we are not posting inside pictures until it's totally finished, so watch this space for the opening day of the 13th September 2014 - very very nearly Lillibet, Jasmine & Jamie's birthday!!!

KS =^..^=

Sleep is the kind of thing you really need to function correctly. It gives your body the chance to recuperate from the day's activities, such as hunting 8Leggeds or Thwakking. Apparently, scientists tell us, that we only burn around 50 kCal during sleep, that's like a handful of kibble, so note to self, never go to bed on an empty stomach is my moto. Even if that kibble is going to sit on your waste line, you don't want to wake up starving!

We have to sleep because it is essential to maintaining normal levels of cognitive skills such as meowing, remembering where that kibble went under the washing machine and innovative and flexible thinking (trying to reach said kibble!). In other words, sleep plays a significant role in brain development.  So I sleep to increase my brain power, cool, so when I wake up one day, I might rule the World after all - now to work on those opposable thumbs!

I like to sleep quite a lot. More so than the CatWomen. They prefer to be up and around and catch the odd forty winks swaying from side to side, pretending to be awake. Where as I find the comfy spot on the bed and snuggle right in. Momma usually comes and gives me a kiss and covers me over, I make gentle purring noises and prup prup as she covers me. Lillibet is a snuggler too, she likes to be VERY next to someone. This is awkward at times as some days you just want to kip on your own.  She gets grumbled at by Faith and to watch Lillibet work her way into a pile of cats is genius. Ears flat back, sneaking inch by inch into place in a totally subservient way so as not to rouse suspicion.  But if she lays on Momma, it's full flounce, tail wagging and purring so loudly your ear drums are at bursting point. 

Faith and I sleep together a lot. I love her, she is easy and she loves me too. We will gently kiss and she will just lay down, with the minimal of fuss and there we will stay, back to back or sometimes I cuddle her like 'cat spoons'.  She is sweet and doesn't snore!  Then along comes Lillibet, the stealth sleeper and it nearly always upsets the apple cart... well, three is a crowd right?

KS =^..^=

We really do not know what Momma is playing at.  Only last month Lillibet & I were locked out in the CatPod for a few hours in the cold and damp and now today the very same thing has happened to Faith. Of course, Lillibet and I were thrilled to see Momma's face at the patio door wielding noms left, right and centre. We forgave her stupidity quite quickly.

Faith though, takes things to the extreme. She is a highly delicate creature and holds a grudge.  She has this habit of dashing under the table and hiding in the box on top of the catposts and watching the birdies. She never makes a squeak and unless she is seen, it is presumed that she is in!

I remember once, and I am going back a number of years before CatPods and even CatWomen were here and I had been pootling about in the garden on a summers day and found myself locked out for a whole afternoon.  It was quite nice at first, lounging around in the Orb shine and then I needed a wee wee.  I was so good, I didn't go anywhere, but held it all afternoon until the Parentals came home to find me and my full bladder pressed up against the patio door in anticipation of being let in.  It was one of the nicest wees I have ever had. I was in the tray for ever, whistling away!

So, what to do with Faith now she is in a funny mood?  She was pressed in between the outer cat flap and the inner cat flap bashing away to create a din, squeezed into the wall cavity yelling her head off. In my opinion, why it took her two hours to ask is beyond me... but then again, the patio door is triple glazed and I bet she beat her tiny feet on that for awhile before hand? Momma opened the inner catflap. nothing?  She opened the door, nothing? Nope she was hiding again. GAH. She had spotted Lillibet in one of those 'it's behind you' moments and decided that Lillibet was an alien from outer space - well, I can see the resemblance.  They danced a dozy-doe and fluffed their tails at which point Faith was swept up and rubbed warm.  OK, she was already warm, but her tiny paws and huge ears were not!

We shall all wait with baited breath to see if her 'hypothermiated' body and fragile mind have recovered enough to recognise us when she wakes from her deep traumatic sleep!

KS =^..^= 

There is one thing that we all find more important than any other and that is quality time with Momma.  Ok, so ManSlave is OK, but Momma time is special.  It's the time when each of us has a special moment each day and it takes place when none of the others are around. It's quiet time and it's made just for us.

Lillibet starts the day with her time, usually in the morning, after the feeding and cleaning have been done early morning and Momma brings a cup of herbal back to bed and it's this time that Lillibet sneaks in and lays on Momma and snuggles right in and purrs. Occasionally, she might take her time, but as soon as the cover is drawn back, she nips over the top, stepping over the blankie and lays on Momma's chest or in the crook of her arm.  It may only last a few minuted with Lillibet, she is ever so busy and these moments are the ones I see Momma smiling at to start her day.  If Lillibet doesn't get 'this' moment, she takes another moment, a moment as the Parentals exit the shower and wrap their towel around and BAM, there is a Lillibet velcroed to their chests in a, well, strange leggie purring cuddle. It sure is unique!!!

Faith is the enticer. She is the one that will squeak and squeak and find things to 'entice' Momma up to the Kitten Room - her room! Be it a toy or just her standing on the bed wailing until Momma goes and checks on her, then she will stand on her head, Faith, not Momma, and roll about displaying 'love me' silliness and then she will trot after Momma and jump on the beds and want a quick 10minute cuddle, where she snuggles in and purrs and purrs until she falls asleep and Momma covers her with a blankie and she sleeps a happy sleep.

Now me, I am the true deserver, the others are happy with the extra hour of games each evening, chasing the 'Frenzy' or playing fetch, but me, I don't go In for such frivolities. Oh no, I like at least an hour all to myself and make quite a din until I am given what I need and what is essentially mine by right! After dinner Noms, I YAWP. This is when Momma makes their dinner and I YAWP the whole time until she is finished and then I run around YAWPING even louder until they have finished and I may even THWAK a the CatWomen if they are awake. Then as soon as the dishes are cleared away and drying up done, all of which I have YAWPED through, I get to have MY TIME! Kissing and cuddling on the sofa, keeping one eye out for ManSlave as he pfffts at me as I get kissed and kiss Momma. I purr and puff my whisker pads out and open my mouth a tIny bit to make it more audible and it resonates through the room. I am a champion purrer and kisser and paw padder - but only for an hour and then I am done for a whole night and I start again the following day.  If I don't get me time - their time is miserable!

KS =^..^= 

Sometimes you have one of these weeks where there seems to be no end in sight.  Well it's no different at Maystar HQ. This week has seen Uncle Paul in and out of Hospital after his big operation on his bronchial tubes.  he looks like he has been attacked by a great white shark! Well, that's the story I would tell if I had a wound that big, but come to think of it... I would just be shark bait!

Grand MewMew came up for a visit and stayed the night, I tried to get into her room, but fell for the 'snax' given late at night in the kitchen and forgot all about sleeping in with her! She was great company and even let Lillibet sit on the edge of the table whilst she ate her dinner. That's more than she let me, my reputation precedes me on this subject!

There were people looking at the Charity Litter and three of the kittens are now re-homed. They will leave us in a week or so.  On Friday, they were all neutered and microchipped.  Finally, no more kittens from this little lot in the future to get into trouble.  They were so busy when Momma collected them and they were under strict instructions not to race about- fat chance of that. They were crazy on their return home and even confining them to a small pen made them worse and they were literally climbing the bars to escape!

Momma has been on the Radio as well trying to get the litter re-homed.  There are 2 or 3 to go. Fly, Paw & Trout!!  Who could not love them?  Keep your ears to the ground in case one of your friends is in the market for a new pusser or two.

Momma is meant to be at a SPSCC meeting this morning and she has had to turn back due to torrential rain. Her Yellow Peril Chrysler was not at all happy paddling through the surface water.  ManSlaves car windscreen has a crack in it the whole length this morning too, so there was no swimming to Ayelesbury in that either.  Well, of course, we don't mind, we get her all to ourselves now and the thought of wrapping in a warm blankie with the heating on is much more appealing than watching the rain paste the windows.... Wonder if the Charity Litter may need arm bands?  Well, they have a litter tray, they could float about in that!

Well, I think a little nap is in order, it's been very hectic indeed and I can smell last nights Ribs on the re-heat, so a quick shut eye and then a YAWP fest to get me some piggie ribs.

KS =^..^=
 

Since these kittens (the Charity Litter) moved in, no one has been allowed out in the Garden. I love to just have a little wander and YAWP all the time if I can't go out. You can hear me all over the house yelling our of any open window or door and standing in the hallway, where I can make my voice go further and rattle the windows.  Then I race to where the parentals are, out in the Orb Light and hang on the CatPod door and yell as loudly as I can to get their attention.  I never used to do all this and climb the bars, but now I am so well on my new meds 'Atopica', I copy those CatWomen and everything they do as well as teaching them a few bad tricks too.

I just don't see why I am trapped in here when they are out there and those layabout kittens are in our day house. They have taken over the place.  Momma says it's because they have a virus, which they are over now and they are not contagious anymore, only if I dig about in their litter tray.  Well, I am not exactly going to do that am I?  She says that now they have had their tests for Kitty Parvo and they are negative, I can come out and sit on the sunbeds with ManSlave as long as I don't race off. The virus they have is most likely to be in most households and it's nothing worse than going to a show, but Momma is uber cautious because of me and my lack of vaccinations, so the rule is just NO!

I am good for around 10 minutes on the sunbed and then I get ants in my pants and I just want to go and investigate everything.  I can't help it - I am busy by nature but only really in my head. As long as I am close to the action, I don't actually have to get down and dirty with it.  But I like action and creating a stir.  I YAWP my head off at anything. If ManSlave leaves the house I YAWP until he returns. I am very vocal at the moment, I just love the sound of my own voice - it says alot about me.  It tells everyone I have a need - a need to feed! 

KS =^..^=

So, I am shouting "There, there" but no one paid attention to me as Hope scales the fence and trots along the House of Fun roof and vanishes into the undergrowth. I think, Ooops, that's gonna be funny when the Parentals find out!  This happened when Momma and her kind friend Penny were scrubbing out the House of Fun to rid it of bugs and stuff and I am not talking 8Leggeds here!  When they Had finished the inside they came outside to replace everything and there was literally NO HOPE!  I had watched her do her escape. Well, she is so wafer thin and just slipped right through the 3" gap in the gateway, even though it was blocked up? She should be renamed Houdini! Well, that set Penny and Parentals searching!

There was nothing, no sign of her until at lunchtime when we were all having chicken, Penny heard her mew. The search began again and as us cats do, they got close and she went silent. Momma thought she heard her over the fence 'in the wilderness' so she scaled the fence and sat on the top of the House of Fun and called 'boyz, boyz, boyz' a little term she uses for feeding the kittens and there, over the ivy, came a sweet little face and a little squeak.  She was but 5 ft from Momma, but couldn't seem to totter back, so ManSlave helped her down, she panicked a little, but he didn't let her go and received a few puncture wounds from her very very sharp feet. Never catch us cats with sharps like that!  After a bit of bleeding and hopping from foot to foot, she was safely popped back with her babies after her little 25 minute stint out. Well done ManSlave!

A little later on Lillibet went missing for an hour too. My oh my, why can't anyone just stay in one place?  She actually wasn't very far away and was found in the wardrobe, wrapped in a fleece. Well, it's only 25 degrees outside, she obviously must be freezing?  Ironically, no one had thought of looking in the wardrobe, because, well, it was only open for a split second and we can easily push the door open and hop out.  She was a bit miffed wen the door opened when Momma went to put some washing away. She just blinked and blinked and Momma tried to move her and she dug her feet in tight and screeched as though she was having her legs pulled off.  Now, that Hope, she didn't utter a word and ManSlave nearly did pull one of her legs off!

KS =^..^=
 

 

Most cats can spend up to 50% of their day tirelessly washing their bits and pieces, we are taught this from an  early age and if you have a particularly good mother, then you become a particularly clean cat.  I don't quite know where I fit in? I only use my licker if I really have to, well it's so darn rough that once I have gone over small patches of skin, I begin to turn pink.  I find licking boring and can think of better things to do with my time.  The CatWomen are great washers and wash each other, but girls lickers are much softer and wider than a big handsome strong male like myself, who was blessed with a thin sandpaper one. 

I like a bit of mutual grooming and enjoy ear washing, but the CatWomen attack me, especially that Lillibet if I rasp away too much ear wax. There was once a show report for Faith that said, "A worrying amount of hair missing from top of head." I hold my paws up, this was me, I wash her there between her ears over and over until she can take no more and I have voided her of fur and made her 'unshowable'! I don't think I ever wash behind my ears, it's just not enjoyable and very tiring. Lick paw till soggy, wipe soggy paw over the ear. All that happens when you have no fur is that your ears gets damp and clammy and that attracts cool breezes and cools them down.  Nope, I am not a fan of that.  There is one place I never allow my licker to get to and that is my nether regions, why bother washing down there when I get a bath once a month and Momma whips around with a face cloth once in awhile and gives the bottom a quick flash whilst she is there.

Now, I do like to keep my tail in order, that is a very important part of my body and if it is held for me, even better. That has copious amounts of fur on it too, so I don't feel like I have been scalped every time I lick that and I use my tail to communicate - it is my beacon, I swoon and swear with it!  There is also a place, just on my flank, that is within easy reach and often I will pass my licker over it, usually if some human thinks it appropriate to manhandle me and leave their scent behind. I don't do feet, no point, all they do is get dirty and it's ticklish anyway.  I do sort my nails out and take great pride in sharpening them only to have them snipped off again. YAWP.  So you see, washing is for hardened, furred felines with nothing better to do with their lives. Me, I shall spend my time waiting for deliveries, sleeping, watching rain on the windows and praying for Orb Shine and a bath free Summer.

KS =^..^=

Last Thursday we had a few things go on.  The first is very sad and we send our condolences out to the Nixon family and Mr. Zeus at the passing of Brett Nixon who lost his battle with cancer. We will never forget you Brett and we are here for back up and support should Mr.Zeus need a further holiday and give all our support to Liza and Billy should they need anything. 

Although, saying that, Mr. Zeus's holiday home, the 'House of Fun' is packed full of small fuzzy kittens who have been rescued from certain death when found by the Parentals in a rental house in Coventry.  They were brought home and a whole long journey for them has begun. They were so poorly with fleas and worms and Mum cat is trying to be well, but slips in and out of wellness, just due to the fact of anemia and the fact she is calling for a boy cat and it drains her already skinny body.  The Mum cat has been named 'Hope' by the public, she and her kits have drawn lots of attention as her little malfunctioned body saved that of her babies.  I think a week on and she has turned a slight corner to recovery and wants to survive, despite the odds.  You can read about their full story here on our Maystar Website.  they are worth saving and when you hear what trauma they have been through - worth giving a home to!  So please SPREAD THE WORD about the CHARITY LITTER.

There was also news on Uncle Paul that Thursday, he is to have a major OP on 30th July and being fitted with a Nissen Herzog technique of netting and rings to his trachea.  It's a German invention by all accounts and so we are nicknaming him 'Fritz'.  Oooh, he is going to give Momma a right ear bashing one of these days.. but whilst she can still fast walk and he is still out of breath - that will be a race worth watching!

That race with 'Fritz' might well be reversed sooner than Momma thinks. She is to have an operation on her spine and no doubt I shall blog about how we are all going to keep her full of beans and happy.  But you know Momma, strong as an ox and just as stubborn when it comes to beating anything. Apart from this time, she will be lying down.  Oh, we can't wait to torture her and withhold food and tease her, just as she does to us!  It's going to be excellent fun jumping from the wardrobe now...  We will have ManSlave trained to our every whim and regular orders from the pet store on his credit card. Poor ManSlave, he just won't know what hit him!

So, from one of the busiest Thursdays EVER, the 3rd of July will never be forgotten. My motto for this, is eat as much as you can, You never know what's around the corner! 

KS =^..^=

There is a muffled squeak that comes from Faith when she has something very special to present to you is second to non and often can be confused with calling or being stuck somewhere or having her legs sawn off!  The squeak carries on and on until someone goes to find out exactly what it is she has found, or tortured. She invariably brings it to the Parentals bed or the kitchen table and then squeaks and squeaks until she can present it to the right person. If you are not the right person, then even more squeaking ensues until the right one appears and this is usually Momma or Lillibet if Momma is unavailable. 

The gifts in the last week have been anything from a little leaf, tiny stick, flower petal to more exotic large bluebottles or huge EightLeggeds, newts and even a froglet. Every gift is precious and Momma lovingly strokes her and takes her gift and strokes her some more and says "thank you honey, all this for me?" Faith dances about on her tippy toes, weaving her tiny body around and tail held perpendicular and quivering. Tiny little mep mep squeaks come out and she takes Momma's hand and holds her fingers with her mouth and then falls on the floor or bed or table wrapped around Momma's hand and still mep mep mepping and then resumes a ritual marching dance akin to a top dressage horse in full piaffe passage all around Momma and touching, ever so gently, the little gift she has presented. 

We are not sure if Momma stock piles these gifts and occasionally, if it is really pretty, Momma will pop it on the kitchen windowsill for a few hours and then they mysteriously disappear into the ether - poof!  The live ones are released back into the wild with the odd leg missing and some never make it that far.  The bluebottles & EightLeggeds get too soggy and usually 'don't make a full recovery' but most of the froglets and newts benefit from a good licking and carrying to the highest point in the house. These, obviously, can't be placed on the windowill for 'show & tell', because well, they simply race off and the chase starts all over again.

Lillibet brought her first froglet into the house not long ago, but she doesn't have the enthusiasm for gift giving like her Mother. Faith has topped this ever since she moved in back in 2011. She never fails to amaze me with the things she finds pretty and worth giving. If she thinks you special, she will offer you a gift. This, I also find very odd, because Faith loves me and yet has NEVER brought me a gift?  Although, anything edible is eaten immediately and usually stolen from her, maybe this is why I am bottom of her gift giving list?

KS =^..^=

Ever since Mr.Zeus made his debut in the 'House of Fun' for a few days, it's been crazy ma here.  We don't know who is friend and who is foe.  I am also feeling frisky and my friskiness is rough and not at all soft and playful, more kill or be killed.
I forget that I am now a thundering 4.2K and throwing the extra 400gms about the place is making a difference.  I am strong and feisty. 


Yesterday, I raced from the CatPod at break neck speed from the lounge, which gave me more impulsion and as ManSlave opened the door, I was out like a flash, into the garden where I saw Ipek sunbathing on the chair. She called to me, so I ran over and Thwakked her, surprised, she rolled over and screamed.  I hate screaming, it's so whoosie, so I made her run and beat her up until she vanished over the fence. We were deep in the bushes, so it was hard for the Parentals to catch me.  But I came out, all happy, got a smack on the but and put back into the CatPod.  That's when it really kicked off.  Faith went for me tooth and nail and I was up the cat post like a pole dancer.  She followed and bit my ear, I yelled and tried to get her back, but stupidly, I ran and was found cowering on the windowsill behind the curtains with pooh dribbling down my leg. Oh the shame of it!

Well, today, I was not having any of her filthy looks and she was being so sweet and cute and kissing me and washing me - SHE thinks she is top cat now, well I showed her a thing or two. I Thwakked and Thwakked her and made her run all over the kitchen and pushed her off the high fridge and laughed whilst she toppled down into the dragon plant. Then I raced down and met her at the bottom and Thwakked her again - she was screaming at me to stop.  Momma shut the kitchen door to the CatPod to try and catch us, but we were out of the catflap and I had her in the chair, smacking her face over and over until she lay there in a heap.  I was airlifted to the Parentals room for time out.  I sat in the window for an hour with a face like thunder.

During all of this, little lillibet had hidden on the top of the kitchen cupboards and then under the sofa. It has taken her two days to come out and only then for noms and kisses with Momma.  I know what you are thinking, I am a bully.  This is what I did to Mr. Zeus and Mr. Zeus crumbled and now I am back on my health regime, it seems I am at it again. Some of it of course is jealousy, some is the need for extra love and some is because I CAN!

KS =^..^= 

Here is our very own Cat Sitter - Uncle Paul.  He has been very poorly but really we think it's just to get out of looking after us lot. You see he is booked in for future cat sitting sessions, but after we gave him the run around last time he visited, I feel he is laying it on a bit thick. He got himself admitted to hospital where we couldn't visit as only humans were allowed, so Momma went in regularly to poke and prod him for us and make sure he wasn't 'putting it on'.  Allegedly, he is not!

I am still not convinced?  The doctors say he had trouble breathing, well, he seemed OK to me the other week when he was bending down to clean the 'chocolate gold' from our trays. OK, so he was huffing and puffing a bit and having Lillibet jump on your back to help is enough to wind anyone.

The fact is, we can't believe that he had got sick at all, he is always busy and Meggie his dog keeps him active and we make him run around and play games with us when he comes here.  It's strange how you take health for granted.  When I have my allergies and my ticker is acting up, I get tired and worn out quickly and a tad grumpy.  Maybe that's what has happened to Uncle Paul, he got tire and grumpy?

Luckily, he is back on the mend and will soon be home.  All my friends on Facebook have been really lovely and sent him lots of messages which Momma printed out and took with her for him to read.  he was very grateful in deed and said how lovely and kind everyone had been.  That is one nice thing about FB, my worldwide friends really pull out all the stops when someone is poorly.  It will be nice to have him back visiting again soon. I am sure he didn't really want to miss out on feeding us and playing with us and it was all a rouse to get us worried and make me fret about being starved if the Parentals go away again.  Hey, we were lucky he didn't go into the Hospital when he did look after us... we may have starved then!

KS =^..^=

sometimes we get to sleep with Momma. Her legs get fidgety so she gives ManSlave a night or two off. On these nights we get a right royal evening of cuddles and fuss and vie for her attention.  I like to sit on her chest and look under her book and purr loudly. Faith likes to take her time coming to bed and has to take Lillibet hunting for rogue spiders and unsuspecting bugs.  Once the hunting is over they both come to bed.  That little Lillibet plonks herself on top of me. that makes a cat \ human sarnie with me as the filling.

Momma created a two pillow bed for us to share, it has a soft plush blankie on it, this is where Lillibet sleeps for the rest of the night, on her own I may add! She only stretches out to touch Momma's face and let's out a silent miow when she wakes.  I then snuggle as close as I can get, to the point of inhalation of her carbon dioxide.

Faith is more subtle, she is an armpit warmer and snuggles right in and purrs so gently that it feels like she is shivering. Not like my bone healing rumbling purr! She also touches Momma's face intermittently to make sure she is still there. Faith also likes having her paw held during the night which is tricky when she is shoved into Momma's armpit.

Lillibet thinks she has the best place to sleep and it does look comfy, but Faith and I have slept together for a few year now and having Momma in between us is more than perfect for us. Lillibet likes time alone and a few Thwaks and stares from her assures her a good night alone!

KS =^..^=

I can honestly say, this was the best Birthday I have ever had. It was good fun and not in a forced way and a little unexpected because it was tinged with a sadness as my Father, Castlerock Linford, had just passed away at age nine from a quick and acute kidney failure and my Mother being seriously ill with nasal cancer, I wasn't really expecting great things from the day.  But, I tell you, it was fab and the highlight of my year!

Now, I think it has something to do with the Atopica, because I just felt very jolly and quite the clown.  I was a bit perplexed as why exactly I needed a Birthday Bath, but I got one and instantly my skin felt cool and smooth and it washed of all of the crusty bits that had healed over and after my bath, it's like I had new skin. I had the power, I raced about YAWPING at the top of my lungs and unmade both beds in the house and then raced along every windowsill and performed the wall of death in the lounge where I came to a halt as everyone stared at me in disbelief. 
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Alright then." 
I resumed normal status of a slow stroll and the odd thwak enroute, then ran up the stairs again at full pelt, Yawping to my hearts content.

I had a special visitor as well, Pixie Love, she brought a toy for me that Lillibet has now taken charge off and added it to her collection under the bed.  She is a hoarder and has no qualms about stealing other folks stuff, EVEN ON THEIR BIRTHDAYS. I am shouting, because I think she is going deaf. Not deaf Momma says, just subjective hearing.  Any way, I digress. That Lillibet gets into every story and it's my day!

ManSlave came home early from work and brought me a special Yeowww toy, they are my favourite, I love the green striped stinky sardine. He makes my toes curl.  We all had to wear our collars too and this was exciting because the the little bells tinkled and that made us all frisky.  They were the special velvet collars, with the diamonds in, well, ok, glass!  ManSlave then went out at dusk and collected up some poor bewildered Daddy Long Legs from the garden and the odd moth so we could have a darn good frolic chasing them about the house. I am a bit concerned, we found most of the insects, but the moths all disappeared... watch out for your clothes Momma!     

The day was topped off with a special hand made fish cake each.  I love fish cake.  We didn't have candles this year, because last year I singed my eye brows trying to tuck in before I blew out my candles and with eight to blow out this year, it would have been like a mini inferno and I fear I would have lost more than my eyebrows in my haste to devour the cake. Faith also loves fish cake and ate Lillibets, she really isn't fussed with all this cake stuff, she is much more interested in how it's made, rather than how it tastes. I am with the latter, who cares how it's made.... it's cake!

KS =^..^=

You would not believe the way in which these two CatWomen conduct them selves around here.  I actually felt quite sorry for the Parentals this week, they were doing everything in their power to make sure we were all happy by bending to our every whim.  This was inevitable as they had just been away for a few days and we were making sure that they felt guilty for leaving us behind.

It all started when the Orb came down to grace us with it's warmth and that meant we could venture out into the CatPod and have a cool breeze race over our fur, well, skin in my case. It meant freedom to come and go and sit and ponder and watch birdies and chase flies and generally have a relaxing time.  It was great on day one of the Orb, but on day two and after seeing our Garden Cat Ipek out and about, the CatWomen wanted out too!  They were literally 'climbing the bars' to escape and anyone leaving the CatPod received a flying Devon Rex as a lucky charm to visit the refuse bin with.

With this constant bombardment on the Parentals lives and the constant screaming if they were left behind, Momma decided that a few minutes in the garden would do them both good.  I have to have strict supervision because I eat everything I find, so I was left behind! YAWP! But, as I watched Faith take the lawn in her stride and teach her Daughter 'just how it's done' as she walked daintily around and followed Momma and then took the lead when her confidence grew, I felt proud of them. I was especially proud of Lillibet, because I honestly thought she would get to the end of her leash and spin and twist to escape, but no, she walked behind or with Faith and Faith taught her how to be a lady.  It was a small miracle really, because she is one very determined little woman!

Now, because Ipek is usually in the garden, the timing had to be just when she had left to go home for her tea.  But on one of the evenings, Ipek arrived back in double quick time and strolled out of the bushes and right up to Lillibet.  The only thing separating them was the hose pipe.  I could hear Ipek making noises at Lillibet and in return, Lillibet had gone 'still'... too still.  I jeered at them for a fight, but Ipek backed off because the sight of a snaking chocolate wild beast was more than her sweet nature could take.  She is a gentle cat, but her and Lillibet have always been at odds with Thwakking through the CatPod door. This is Lillibet's territory and she will defend it and everyone in it.  She is a fighter and a warrior princess that one.

It sure did everyone good to have time out and none of us asked again. It seemed to be enough to just have a quick paddle about the gravel on leads and even I got a few spins out at the front whilst ManSlave cleaned the cars.  He let me sit on his tool box, which their old cat Dewie used to do.  I am prone to wandering of though, so it takes a bit of cat watching on ManSlaves part, but he is easily distracted and I am of checking out the stock for the plumbing or chasing the odd spider.

KS =^..^=  

Oooh, visitors that like us!  Well, I think they like us?  They sure did tolerate us. We tried really hard to impress Momma's Welsh relatives.  We cavorted and raced and hung upside down and raced again and made them laugh and in the early hours of this morning, I did me a major YAWP and the kitten room door was opened and I looked in on the rellies.  They giggled at me saying I was like a little Alien! Well, I am secure in my mind I have impressed them then - that is quite a compliment!

Momma hasn't seen her sister Mikki for a number of years and she brought with her a lovely guy called Ron. Ron is a cattle farmer and rather cleaver one at that. We liked him a lot and tried to show him just how much we liked him at breakfast, where Lillibet and Faith acted as look out for a stay sausage on Ron's plate, but they were all snaffled up.  Mikki, I found, was very charming and quite giggly, it must run in the family, that little giggle. She has kind hands and tried hard to understand my lack of fur. Ron was right in there where I was concerned, I guess I felt like a little udder to his seasoned hands. 

They are creating a home business that will have them renting out a converted farmhouse for holidays on their lovely farm near Chester and they think perhaps that good, well behaved cats and their owners may be able to have a short holiday away together, which will be great for us and of course, we will test it all out and let everyone know just how good it's going to be!

But, in reality, they are genuine people, with a real love for all animals, but I hasten to add, I think they are with the canine fraternity. Those woofers are just much more useful on a farm for rounding things up and barking at the postman and holding those daft sheep still.  But give us a chance, us felines are more than just barn mousers, we are the gin to your tonic, the pea to your pod, the bow to your arrow and the pain to your bum!

KS =^..^=

I noticed not a few days ago that the Parentals were packing their rucksacks. The rucksack packing means a longer time away from us.  It means it's not just a night or two away, but maybe a whole week.  

It's always a time to make sure their bags are checked and on more than one occasion, I tried to get into the bag so that they wouldn't leave me behind.  Lillibet thought it was great fun and Faith hates every second of packing and makes Momma's life a misery in the final day. We sure will miss them but also look forward to Uncle Paul coming to feed us.

Of course, the biggie here is that we are reduced to two meals a day and it makes it hard to adjust in the first few days.  Our stomaches are still expecting the four small meals a day and to be cut down to two meals a day is both confusing and hurtful to the mind. It's at times like this that I want to pick up the phone to CatLine to complain about our predicament, but I know from experience, that all they will say is 'tough'. You have three water dishes, two square meals a day, snacks in the late evening and games and toys to play with and warm heated beds to sleep in - think your selves lucky they will say.  I still feel unloved and starving.

I did make sure that I left copious amounts of sick for Uncle Paul to clean up and Faith poohed on the bathmat for good measure and yet, he still doesn't mind coming to care for us and Faith was just disputing the fact that Momma had left her.  Uncle Paul never gets mad with us and just tidies up and washes our blankies.  It's meant to make the Parentals feel guilty that they are off getting full on Orb, whilst we are left to compete for false love and the Cat Frenzie toy.

I sit now, looking out of the window waiting for the postman, the milkman, the bin man, Uncle Paul, but hopefully, the Parentals. Please hurry home, Lillibet is growing her fur and you are missing out!

KS =^..^=

Caught in broad daylight, the cereal stealer. This little beast really thinks she takes the biscuit when it comes to not getting caught (usually) however, there are thins that give away who the culprits are in the theft of items from the kitchen and today it was Lillibet that managed to dislodge the box from the worktop - which I have to add, was behind a series of plastic boxes and a very heavy pestle and morta. Yep, she is the queen of fury when she wants something to snack on in the night.  See, i am not the only one who steals around here, and at least mine is usually a quick swipe and go. Hers are calculated missions that benefit everyone... IF you like cereal!

Now, it's Lillibet that releases the the boxes and rips them apart, but just there, so that you don't miss the signs are tell tale Faith nibbles.  The frayed edges of the boxes and the tiny pieces of paper are all Faith's doing. She would rather this that the contents, unless the contents are sweet. The shrede wheat wasn't really that interesting a meal as it contains no added sugar and it's full of vitamins - far too healthy for us!

KS =^..^=

The Mini Cats were visiting the UK on their way to Arcachon from Cork. It's quite a journey for them but they are both as bold as brass and they have amazing family who love them so much.  Jamie is just huge now and weighs in at a tremendous 5.5K and let me tell you, he makes me look tiny!  He is solid muscle and all ripples and soft fur, he has paws like a panther and such a sweet nature and Eva calls him 'boy' with such love and devotion.  Jaz is just beautiful, earning her name of 'tiny beauty' and rides around on Davids shoulders and is such a determined young lady and so in love with her ManSlave!  

Faith & Lillibet wanted to travel out and pay a visit to their family, but Momma put her foot down as she only had the two seater to drive and it was too small and noisy for the few hours it would take to meet up. But I am sure in time the 'Madhatters' will meet the other half of the family again.  We are so grateful that Eva & David take time out to contact Momma and meet up with her so she can cuddle the babies and give Faith updates.  Eva brought us lovely little blankies which are very useful for keeping the cream bedding clean. She is so thoughtful.  When the parentals went out to Arcachon last Summer to visit the Mini Cats, Eva said she wanted a painting of Jaz and Jamie.  Momma painted them on the biggest sand dune in Europe and it was the very one that David had driven them all out to see. Such lovely memories and a perfect setting with Arcachon bay just behind them.

Jaz and Jamie are the luckiest kittens in the whole world. They get to travel all over Europe and love every second of it. Such well behaved and well trained children Faith has - she is very very proud of her eldest Daughter and Son.  Lillibet is a little envious that her Big Sister & Brother have all the fun, but she does send them toys occasionally and she wears her Royal Purple collar to match her siblings and closes her eyes and imagines she is traveling along with them.

KS =^..^=

I love a good smooch, especially with Momma.  She completes my World as I do hers. We are a team and a good partnership, it's just ashame sometimes that ManSlave is the head of the Pride, because I could quite easily take his place in a flash.

Well, as you can see, I am feeling a bit more sprightly and had me a little bath in my special anti-dandruff shampoo, the only down side is, is it's pink! Eeeek, I hate pink, that's for girls.  But none the less, it has made me feel good again and quite kissable it seems. Just the other day my skin hurt so much I couldn't bear to be touched and even to to the extent of hissing at everyone. I never hiss unless it's for a very very good reason, like a FURMOMETER! But, you see, it has been embarrassing to say the least. The little fur I already had, that covered my man selection, has dropped out. This has left me totally naked and feeling vulnerable around the nether regions. Who would guess that I could lose even more fur than I already don't have?

Momma said it makes me even more kissable, but I am not so sure. I like my furry boots and tail and fluffy face and my peach appeal.  If I was meant to be a Sphynx I wouldn't mind, but I am a very unique Devon Rex thank you very much and would like to add, that WHEN my fur grows back, it will be with a vengeance. I might have to resort to using caffine shampoo and boot polish to give me the desired effect and comb over everything I have to make it look like I am 'back in town'. Although, some of the ladies say that bald is beautiful - Momma just says I am beautiful, so I guess that's good enough for me!

KS =^..^=

I hate being off coulour and I have had my fair share of it lately.  It's just not good.  Last week my immune system decided that it didn't like me very much and gave me a gigantic sniffer to contend with and now this is the aftermath - a crusty, sore, weeping head, face and neck. My paws have taken a beating too with tender pads and crusty bits inbetween. I don't feel like washing anywhere, I hurt. Where Momma usually plants her kisser on my head, I hurt and duck a little in expected pain. The black bit on the top of my head is lumpy and raised and is no good for kissing.

I am to accompany Faith to see Simon the Vet. Faith has been under the weather - she has never ha a sick day in her life, but seems to just not be herself at all. It's all quite worrying really because on one paw the vets say I am not shedding any virus type things and on another paw Faith is peeky. Oh the shame this crustiness is bringing on the family. Faith isn't helping matters as everytime she goes to the vets, she is 'faking' a temperature - I mean, seriously, as if there isn't enough going on already and she has to up her body heat to stupid amounts making everyone think she is going to pop her clogs. She has had more FURMOMETERES this week than I have had in a life time!  ManSlave purchase a new one and Momma tested her at home - normal. What is going on?  Me thinks she is so stressed with me being out of sorts and hissing and thwakking everyone because I feel so hurty, that she has wound herself up. On top of this, the Parentals are decorating in the house and that is exacerbating everyones conditions.

Well, at least with this sort of thing - I don't need a FURMOMETER and anyone that thinks I do will have another thing coming! 

KS =^..^=  

Momma has been very busy 'cat sitting' and playing The Keeper at two very different households.  The first house contains a myriad of long haired curly Selkirk pussers with fluffy tails and laid back attitude. Although, they do have their mad 5 minutes and can really kick up the dust as they hoon from room to room chasing some other fluff monster.  They are beautiful and quite regal and sometimes chatty and sometimes quiet, Momma says.  I can smell the boy cats on her, so she makes sure to change her clothes as it makes me his and spit something rotten. Intruders all over my Momma.  But I don't mind the ladies one bit and I could show that Mimi a good time!

Momma's other visit is to a Devon Rex household, something much more familiar to us and no fur to be brought back on clothes and this time and no entire anybodies. They are all playful sweet neutered babies and very pampered. They want for nothing and have an entire room devoted to them with giant scratch posts and play things.  It's a form of kitty heaven.  I have smelled a boy cat called Eric, he is quite the dude and I think we would make good pals. They sure are a fun lot by all accounts and Momma had a good time taking care of them.