What's all this? I knew my sniffer and that of my house mates were working overtime on some faint smell of kittens. The Parentals hide their trips well and never let on to us that they are off visiting tiny creatures of the cutest variety.  Nope. Nope a peep! Until now and I catch Momma oohing and aarhhing over this little piece of, what can only be described as, trouble!
Oh yes, I know trouble when I see it, believe me and as much as she has the most beautiful name, I can tell that this one is going to be somewhat demanding. 

So where has all this come from?  How has all this happened. There were just the three of us, happy and contented, Faith on her 'NeuterUM' chip and Lillibet without a carrycot and me without a will to live with two CatWomen to contend with. THEN, along came J1, I didn't get it at first, he sounds like a girl, but he has these AirBags? Now I get it... OH boy. My life is going to be made miserable by 3 CatWomen and a CatMan. YAWP!!!!

It's all that nice lady at Esperanzas fault you know, well her and fate.  You see, Momma had visited a cat show in Bristol in early 2012, not really wanting to be working there at all as Maystar had been experiencing the worst luck ever.  Momma met on that day Shirley Churches, in person, for the first time. Social media is all OK, but there is nothing like a good Meets & Greets.  Shirley knew of Momma's dilemma and was the only person to really 'feel' Momma's anguish at being there. She gave Momma the biggest hug and said, "My Sonya has just been made up to Champion today - one day I will make you a special baby."  True to her word, Shirley text Momma weeks before Sonya actually had babies just a few months back and said "Sonya & I are making you a baby."  Now, timing, like everything could not be worse with Momma's pending spine operation, but really, what better time to have a purpose too? So it was agreed in principle, without ManSlaves or our knowledge, that one of the pending litter would become a Maystar baby.

So, this weekend the Parentals packed up and headed to Cheddar Gorge for a look about and to meet Grace and the rest of Shirley's extended family to make sure everyone was doubly certain that we were going to fall for Grace. Grace herself is a very important baby and like Faith, a singleton.  Momma told me the tales of how this little lilac and white kitten took umbridge at Momma's camera and spat and hissed and growled from the bottom of her tiny toes.  Oh, see, I told you she would be trouble!  That was it, ManSlave laughed and Momma picked her up and cuddled her and finally little Gracie fell asleep in Momma's arms. Now, thinking back, this story is very much like when they met Dewie back in the 80's.  Hissing, spitting and sleeping in their arms.  Mmmm. All too certain to be right then!  Don't get me wrong, Grace is a well rounded and very well handle little lady, but her spirit is young and the Parentals were her first strangers and her Mother had taught her not to talk to strangers!

I can imagine what the future is going to be like and what better time to introduce a baby to the house but exactly the same time a very special TomFun left our lives.  I can see him rolling around in Rainbow Bridge, excited at the prospect of having a new baby. I am not so sure the CatWomen or I shall be showing such frivolities.  But it will be the festive season when she arrives so I must not be ba-humbug about it all just yet!

Shirley kept her word like all honest folks do, even to the detriment of her own breeding plans. But as she says "it's destiny. I know you will love her as we do." Enough said.

KS =^..^= 

On American Independence Day the Parentals found the Charity Litter and eight weeks later they were re-homed to four amazing families who will give them all the very best chance in life.  There really was a kitten for everyone and each one was a meeting of fate.

Momma had taken three kittens into the BBC Local radio station and everyone had oohed and ahhed at them and one lady 'just popping through' from her morning shift as a producer, set eyes upon tiny Tortee and instantly said, "We have been talking about getting a cat for our daughter, I will be in touch." And in touch she was, Vanessa came and met Tortee again and also fell in love with her Mum Hope. She said that her 5yr old had always wanted a cat called Poppy and that Meg would suit Mum.  So that was it. Perfect home in a calm and loving environment with gentle people and a real family for the two young cats to settle into, their home is so large, we hope they don't get lost!

Agnes and her family were strolling through the Pet Show at Stoneleigh where Faith and Lillibet were on show and asked about the Charity Litter from a poster that was displayed and immediately they selected Ginge and said "Could we come and visit?" It was love at first sight and Ginge just loved the children, all the other kittens just hid away.  He was meant to be homed with his brother Fly, but little fly was having none of it... his home was waiting just a week away and he must have felt it in his whiskers!  Ginge just walked into his new home, ate the other cats lunch and declared it home!

After advertising them for the first time, we had a phone call about the big boys, Trout & Paws. The incredible duo who just loved each other so much - always washing and playing together and what could be more perfect than a delightful family with two young boys of the same gentle nature as Paws & Trout!  They were finally named Albie & Jango which really suits them both and we hear that they are now settled in well after a traumatic day when the Parentals delivered them of Jango hiding under the sofa!  He is now out and about and both boys are enjoying play time and fuss.  They will make such lovely big cats.

And finally, little man Fly, the tiniest and sweetest kitten of the litter. He was also a terror and VERY independent. Although when people came to view him, he hid away and Momma wasn't happy and therefore he didn't go to that home, but when Ken and Mazi turned up, he showed them a little of what he was like. He is a real peoples cat and likes his humans to be quiet and gentle and this retired couple just floated his boat. He is now keeping both of them on their toes and running rings around them and up to no good! The second he walked into their plush carpeted home, he said, "Oh yes.. this will do very nicely, thank you." It was a match made in heaven.

It takes a considerable amount of time and patience to bring up young cats, make them sociable and the last 8 weeks have been up and down and if it hadn't been for the people on social networking and cat clubs and vets and sheer will power on the Parentals part, they wouldn't be here today, in their new homes, safely delivered with toys and litter and food.  It was a little miracle that they all fought so hard to live and each family is so thrilled with their new babies and the Maystar Gang is thrilled for them and a little sad to lose such well adjusted and gentle babies.

The House of Fun is quiet. It lays empty once more. No thundering of tiny paws, no one to greet you on a cold morning and no one staring at you from across the CatPods. It sure is weird and Faith is saddened that she didn't even get to play with them, but Momma is a stickler for hygiene and they were barrier nursed the whole 8 weeks of their stay. It's all because of me and my lack of immune system!  

But... do I hear rumbling of a newby? Watch this space!

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 =^..^=
 

There is some serious growing going on in the House of Fun.  Those Maystar Charity Kittens are just growing and growing.  They have oodles of food carried in and none of it seems to pass through the house even for testing, which, in my opinion, is unfair!  It seems that it doesn't need testing!  It piles in and piles come out in the form of little nappy sacks full of chocolate gold!

The Momma cat "Hope" who has now been renamed MUMMY MEG has stopped her advances towards me, she is no longer in the running for a stud muffin and has turned her attentions to Horrible Horace who has been stealing gravel and digging it into Momma's veggie boxes.  She can't keep her eyes of him and Horace, being horrible, knows how to tease her!  He runs along the roof of the House of Fun and then tiptoes down the fence post, right into the 'spray zone', pinches his rock of choice and runs along the side of their CatPod carrying his trophy and promptly digs it into a pot - right outside the window!  GAH.  He is one teasing dude! Meg "Hope" has her eyes set firmly to excitement as he goes about his chores, her vision of a pure white love puppet with a black ear and moustache is no longer on her agenda, she has a rodent fetish! YAWP!

Faith is insanely jealous of the babies and wants one desperately.  She has tried, on a number of occasions, to sneak out of the CatPod and claim one for herself.  She croons to them all when they are playing and chirrups at Meg "Hope" and Meg chirrups back.  Well, she is just a baby herself and Faith does put on quite a show.  In reality, I don't think a meeting would go down too well. Faith would grab the babies and run! She is that type of woman.  I am sure she would have brought milky down for them at a moments notice.  Talking of milky, finally, Megs milk has dried up and they are no longer sucking too much from her.  It will take time and so will she to heal, but being homed with her daughter will keep her happy.

Tortee has a new home with her Mum and will now be called Poppy, this suits her SO MUCH! ManSlave calls her and she comes running and she lays and has her tummy tickled now, such a change from that scared little missy.  Ginge also has a new home and will go to live in the next town.  The other three big boys are still searching for their forever homes and it needs to happen soon as they are getting big and bold.  They are now 12 weeks old and have grown so much - I don't think I would take on a pack of pipsqueaks, on or two yes, but a pack - no way.  I have seen what they did to ManSlaves private parts after they were neutered!!! ::eyes watering::

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 =^..^=
 

 

It has been a very busy time here at Maystar HQ. We have barely seen Momma due to the fact that on Monday all the 'Charity Litter' Kittens went for their first vaccinations and by Wednesday Morning, they felt very peeky indeed.  To top this of, Hope went in and had her Spay on the Tuesday only to find during surgery that she had a ruptured colon and needed urgent surgery on that!
Mum had to be kept from babies because she was on antibiotics and bed rest and kittens had to be kept away from Hope because they have sickness and poohey bums.  In fact they have been so bad they have gone back to original weights they came in at two weeks ago in just two days.  What they have is very contagious at the moment, so it's better that we all stay our distance and just Momma goes in and out and helps everyone get well to stop any cross contamination. That way we get to beat up ManSlave and pretend we have missed our noms! This hot weather has not helped either and Momma is topping up fluids and creating a concoction of fatty 'gloop' to aid digestion and rehabilitate them.  It's a very slow process.

There is a routine you see which we watch from the windows with humour. Momma goes out, adorns rubber gloves, strips off, adds white coat and enters the House of Fun. She then spends ages wiping up 'this & that' and then gets down to the dreaded task of hand feeding everyone, except Hope she is managing fine. Then it's tray time and everything goes into nappy sacks and these go into a bin in the airlock. In the airlock are products to wash dishes and hands and faces and feet and exposed areas and then rinse with the hose. Then dried. Then shoes are sprayed top and bottom and then clothes removed and returned to water tight box. Respray shoes, hands and dress in indoor clothes. It's all a farce really but quite necessary if things are to be kept spit spot.  Nothing goes back indoors and all bedding is washed in virkon at an empty cat free house currently. It's akin to camping, someone said, and the weather sure is giving her a run for her money in the night shifts! It sure takes dedication and one that I am glad I don't have to do - all I would be thinking of is germs and washing  my paws too many times like OCD and perhaps spraying just once more - but luckily I just get to watch and YAWP if she misses anything out. 

Babies should be up and about in a few days, Hope is out now with her kids and this has perked everyone up.  What would perk me up is more time with Momma!

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 =^..^=

Maystar CatWomen and CatBoys are so unpredictable! I say Maystar, because Faith, herself has a different upbringing and is a complete angel.  Lillibet, Jasmine and their brother Jamie, on the other paw are incredibly bold and just a tat outspoken.

We hear fresh from France that Jasmine is a complete and utter madam with a capital 'M'.  She was taken to see her vet for their 'arrival' check up and claw clipping after their long journey from Ireland and Jaz disputed that she needed to see a vet at all and complained to Eva & David that there really wasn't any need. So, to prove her point she threw a tantrum at the vets and bit the vet!  Bit him I tell you, clean through his hand.  Jamie is not an innocent in all this either, he has on more that one occasion taken out his frustrations on the vet and only recently he had to go in for a check up too because he literally 'swims' in his water dish and it upset his constitution somewhat and he 'gave out' to the vet too!  Momma was horrified that they should behave like mini hooligans, but Jaz was even more outraged that Momma said she needs to visit and re-train them!

Lillibet has always been a hot head too, not quite as much as Jaz though, oh no, she is determined, but wiley all the same. Just the other day (and that is another story) Lillibet ate too much (as I say - another story) and her derriere was a little, lets say, unclean! Momma unceremoniously washed her behind and Lillibet was good, really good and momma went with her as she walked forward on tippy toes so as not to distress her too much.  Then Momma had to hold her for the last bit and Lillibet hissed!  Well, it was the funniest thing you ever did hear, this hiss.  It was quite a feeble hiss, but she did mean it.  She also wasn't quite sure where exactly that hiss had come from and looked around for the cat who had done it. This was Lillibet's very first hiss since she was a tiny kitten.  She looked totally perplexed!

Well, later on that day and with new found confidence, she hissed again at Momma when Momma asked her to come out of her food hut.  She didn't want to come out of her food hut just yet,(she was dozing) so she hissed!  The thing was... that hiss scared Lillibet so much that she shot out of the food hut and then returned on her stomach to investigate who had been in there with her? She then spent the following hour stalking the food hut until she fell asleep, with one eye open you understand!

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 =^..^=

OOH LA LA AND ALL THAT JAZZ:-
I knew something was wrong when I saw the orange ruck sacks being packed, this usually means a longer trip away for the Parentals. The overnight bag is black, I am one smart cookie when it comes to what the Parentals are up to.  Include in that a visit from Uncle Paul... Bingo - holiday. Traitors!

Well, it concludes that they left for the South of France to visit Faith's Kittens as all three, Jasmine, Jamie & Lillibet are a year old today!  They took a few choice items with them, namely collars and catnip, both of which I got to try for size.  The catnip fitted very nicely thank you!

Jaz and Jamie are full of beans, Jamie often writes to me about all sorts of things but mainly how well looked after they are.  Momma just had to see it for herself and she wasn't disappointed at all!  They are fed better than we are, have a balcony, toys and get to go out in David's Jeep and Eva cooks every night for them and they live in the lap of luxury.  They don't drink water, but Champagne from cut crystal flutes and dine on steak, racks of lamb and salmon brought in especially from their homeland of Ireland.  They prance about in Velvet collars and speak fluent French.  I really don't think there is any more to say about the fact that they are spoiled rotten and are doing very well at lapping it all up.

Lillibet on the other hand is like a small urchin having the leftover chicken occasionally and just plain old kibble.  I haven't told her how her Brother & Sister are living or she may start to want more.  She is happy not knowing.  Momma made her a special cake with a candle and she blew it out and mad a wish.  I only hope she didn't wish for the Salmon Eva sent home with Momma... It's gone!

KS =^..^=   

TOO CUTE!
The Parentals have been away because it was ManSlaves Birthday and they came back smelling of these cute things. Kittens!  They had gone to Cardiff to see Chance and his brothers & sisters, but unfortunately, as is the Maystar's luck, Chance just isn't quite right as a showing / breeding kitty and ManSlave didn't want a pet kitty again, so Chance won't be coming to live with us... but this cute little bit of fluff will be staying at Lexifers to carry on a very nice line of curly coated Devon Rex Babies... Her name is Polly and she is such a poppet!

When they came home, we all expected a kitten welcoming party, but Momma explained that for one, they are too small to bring home and we don't need any more babies in the house, they have me!  The cheek of it.  

Uncle Paul had done a grand job of looking after us whilst the Parentals were away and he follows everything to the letter - Faith, of course, pretended not to each much and as soon as they were back, she ate everything Momma gave her.  Uncle Paul said, she was holding out for a fishy!!!  I had been good and quite well and my skin looks better and my eyes look better and Lillibet & I had put on a little weight and Lillibet had even grown in a few days.  She is hooge and her fur is growing, sort of sporadically, all over in little tufts.  She looks a bit moth eaten and a bit gangly to me, but the last time I said anything, she THWAKKED me really hard on my head!

Well, I can smell Kippers today, don't know what's happening about Sunday grub, but the whole place stinks of fish.... Mmmm I must go and YAWP at them to hurry up, I am feeling a little peckish and a bit of Kipper would go down nicely.  Perhaps if I am sneaky about it I can get Lillibet to go into the bin and hook a skin out for us whilst the Parentals are busy with the toast!

KS =^..^=

BRINGING BACK MEMORIES

Momma has been cleaning the kitten room today, apparently, we will be having human visitors, big and small and from all over the world.  It will start with Momma's Sister that she hasn't seen for 12 years and then ManSlaves Sister from Sweden and then Momma's friend from Arizona that haven't seen each other for over 20 years! So whilst Momma was cleaning and packing away the kitten pen Momma remembered all the naughty things these naughty trio and Faith got up to!Momma washed the lamp, the one that Jaz scaled at only 6weeks old and proudly sat on the top of it waving at the others.  Faith went mad and berated her for being naughty! Another time Jaz scaled the lamp and her and the lamp toppled over giving her a free ride to the bed! 


Momma took down the curtains to 'de-dust' them.  This is when she found little holes in the lining, this was Lillibet racing up and down the scratch post and swinging on the curtains once she reached the top. all these signs will stay around for ages!

On Momma went to clean out the kittening box and there she found a little piece of fluffy fur hidden right at the back of it.  This was James's favourite toy and could Momma find it when he left home? Nope.

Faith, of course, has been directing the proceedings and making sure that things are put away correctly and in the right order. All the kitten items are stored in the bed base, Faith had to investigate this also and went under the bed to make sure there was room.  She also helped collect all of the cable ties which hold the pen together, she had about four or five in her mouth and was squeaking to ask Momma where she wanted them.  She is so helpful and Momma is happy to have such a happy little helper.  

KS =^..^=

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

It has to be said that preparing for a New Year is nothing grand in our home and in fact this year it will be nothing short of non existent again!  Every year ends up the same, all of us piled on the sofa, snuggled into the Parentals warm blankies whilst they recover from, not a hangover, but the lurgy! We cats like a good celebration and we like to caterwaul at all of the explosive fireworks that light up the midnight sky, but I personally, can feel an early night of lemsips and hot toddies instead.  I dread the morning when ManSlave runs around the house 'pinching and punching' everyone shouting 'White Rabbit, White Rabbit... No returns'. I for one am going to hide unless Momma can ambush him and we finally get our own back for a whole years worth of 'pinching & punching'. 

Since my huge trek to Pembroke in ManSlaves car on Thurday, to take the MiniCats to their new owners, I feel like I was the only cat again, well if only for a short while, well a day and a night.  We traveled from Pembroke which was a four hour journey onto the Parentals - Parentals another few hours up the coast.  It was here that I had a crazy thought that I could possibly be the only cat in Wales... Well, I YAWPED and YAWPED to see where everyone one was, but no one answered.  I knew those MiniCats had left for Ireland and that's where the plot thickens.  There was, all of a sudden, more food, more love and more dressing me up in 'Noel' socks! I really could be the only cat around and I didn't mind one bit - I just lapped up the love and with my sweet nature I head-butted and kissed everyone and everything until I was asked to fill in for Momma a Wii Sports - then you didn't see me for dust!

So my New Years Resolutions will be:- Wash behind my ears more, be more discrete when stealing food, never step backwards when in the litter tray. Happy New Year to all my fans.


KS =^..^=

THE TERRIBLE TWOSOME

The MiniCats have enjoyed Christmas Day and have ransacked the lounge and everything in it.  What they create in two minutes, takes Momma most of the morning to clear up!

These two little rapscallions have always played together and raced about together, so on their very very long trip to Pembroke by car and then onwards to Co. Tipperary by Ferry, they should be very well bonded indeed.  It isn't long and I can see the preparations already.  I have spotted not only the Parentals big black bag, but my little case with all my things in too... but only mine?  Does this mean that I too an going to be shipped off to Ireland or does it mean that we are visiting the Parentals - Parentals in Wales?  I hope it's the latter as I would soon be returned!
I go and check that all my food has been packed correctly and that my special Blankie has also been packed and that my litter tray is washed and clean and full of new litter - I do so like to mark that around half way on our journey, that should make them pull over!  I don't travel particularly well, but I will be a good Uncle and check on those little MiniCats and reassure them that's life of car travel is a breeze.  The other end is always lots of fun and you can usually set your own boundaries, so I shall make sure they go with this advice in mind.  I am sure they will adapt well into their new home.

The only thing I am not looking forward too is all the blubbering that will ensue. What with TomFun going to Rainbow Bridge and now the MiniCats leaving home, Momma is in quite a mess.  She knows they will be fine, but she will all miss them thundering around the house and ManSlave will miss the cuddles, Jaz & James had really taken to him!  Oh well, time for me to step up to the mark and fill in the spaces and make myself larger than life when we arrive at our destination.


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A STAR IS BORN

Here is another Sunday and this Sunday is special because our Kiss-Mouse tree was put up and decorated.  It's not something we are allowed to participate in and it becomes a watching party of eyes.

Zeus and I sit poised, high up for a good look at the top of the tree and egg each other on and dare to see who might make it up there this year.  Mr.Zeus said that he 'didn't want to be the Fairy this year' so we will have to wait and see who or what will have special pride of place.

Well there we are, us wise ones, just waiting when along comes James and totally ignores our shouts of 'No.  Not yet!'  he just piled in and chose himself the biggest star in the Christmas box.  We all sigh. 'We will never get to see Faith dressed in a tu tu now.' 

We were both looking forward to seeing her dressed in a little pink chiffon ensemble waving her magic wand and granting our wishes... but instead James holds up the shiny star to Momma and Momma takes him in her arms and kisses him and tells him how cleaver he is and lifts him high into the tree to place the star on top.  GAH.  The MiniCats have even taken over Christmas it's just not right, there is an order and THAT IS NOT IT!

But reflecting on the little mans performance - why didn't I think of that?

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A NEW GENERATION IS BORN

The thing about babies is they seem to copy everything their Parents do.  This new litter of kittens are no exception, they are copying everything Faith is doing and the traits of her life are rubbing off and influencing these mini cats.  Take young Jaz for example, she looks, act and could be Faith in miniature.

When Faith was little she used to frequent the shower and steal the drain cover and take it out using her paws and then play like a crazy thing.  She would always sit and watch the water flow down the plug hole or even sit and wait for you to pull the sink plug out and wait for the water to fill the shower tray.  It's an infatuation that actually started with Mr. Zeus who is Faith's half Brother, he taught Faith to 'water watch', but never had he stolen the drain cover! 

Well just a few years on and Jaz is applying the same learning to the drain cover at only 11weeks old!  Already she has watched Mum flick her paw in a certain way and remove the cover and then stick her paw deep into the shower trap and remove the internal hair trap, after this she dangles into the water and comes out with a very wet paw and you know they have been in the shower as it looks like we have a number of one legged cats walking around leaving paw prints all over the bath mat!

It's been a strange Sunday, normally the early roast would have made the oven, but today the Parentals decided that this morning they were busy, so lunch became dinner and my tummy turned upside down when they started with hot peppers stuffed with feta cheese and then summer Rhonda lamb.  Now for a change, because I had been exceptionally good, I had me some succulent tasty non fat lamb in my little dish at tea time - everyone else had fish! Ha, suckers! 

KS =^..^=

ALL EARS

With thirty-two individual muscles in one ear alone I can hear that the kittens have been let loose in the main house. 

Being a cat, I can listen with both ears to different sounds, so I can hear kittens racing around trying out new things in the lounge as well as concentrate my other ear on what might be on offer in the kitchen!  Anyone watching me might think that I have some sort of headache as one ear is focused forward and the other twisted backwards towards chopping and stirring sounds coming from the kitchen. 

Since these little beasts have been let loose, the house hasn't been the same. Nowhere is safe from the marauding miniature felines and the thundering of tiny paws up and down the laminate causing everything in their wake to tremor with aftershock.

Being a Sunday today, I thought there might have been a little smidgen of chicken for us all, especially me because I have been YAWPING since the morning when I first saw that chook head for the oven.  Alas, there is nothing because the Parentals added chilli to the illustrious featherless beast to devoid us of a tasty treat.  I would obviously still eat the chilli chicken, no problem there, but I don't want to add to my already delicate constitution.  So, ears at the ready for snippets of useful information, dropped morsels or a chance to rule over the minicats!

KS =^..^=

WE LIKE TO BOOGIE

There is a sound not unlike people chatting continually, then blasts of funky music coming from the kitten room.  I think it's the old DAB work radio in action.  ManSlave said that kittens have to learn how to dance and what better way to teach them, by introducing them to a bit of music!  It certainly is doing the trick, it is really getting the tickles out of their toes and the sound of thundering feet as they learn their dance routines is synonymous of 'Strictly Come Dancing.'  I am sure as the door was opened this morning, Lillibet and James were doing an Argentine Tango across the bed, I am sure I spotted a backward ocho, wrap & Lean with sacada atras and a carousel finish.  I can't wait for the Christmas show under the Christmas tree - but not 'up' the tree!.

We now have the sounds of the brass bands playing out for Remembrance Sunday, all kittens are now marching around the scratch post as though it were the cenotaph, laying their toy mice and bits of paper in honor of lost animals of war, it is good to teach them young about their respect and honour. We are all now giving our two minutes silence to remember every one. 

Being a Sunday of course, we do get a decent smell of the Roast and today it is a free range Simmental forerib.  I can taste that smell already as it slowly cooks it's self into a tasty and meaty roast.  The light has gone off in the oven so I can only guess what it looks like as I drift into a dreamy sleep of beef filled air.  Let me tell you, it's a darn sight better smell that TomFuns pheromones!

KS =^..^=

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

It may come as some surprise that the the Bubbas just can't keep still AT ALL!  They are off, zooming from hither to thither expressing themselves with chirrupy squeals of delight as they race, full tilt up and down, stretching their legs and their minds.

Trying to photograph such zoomsters is causing Momma some heartache as she would like them to pose gracefully for their photographs and their history book, but no.  It's not to be. Momma has resorted to cellotape and blue tac to make sure that there are some shots that pass as acceptable.  What will they be like next week?

Everyone is munching really well and I am sick and tired of seeing the even larger quantities of noms vanishing into the kitten room, never to be seen again.  At first there was no extra noms, now there are these little pink packets of 'cutsie' kitten meats and biscuits just evaporating before my eyes.  There are squeely noises and crunching going on in there.  My tummy is rumbling - it's just not fair!

KS =^..^=

HOW DO CATS COMMUNICATE?

A mew, a meow and a YAWP in my case is how we speak to the stupid Parentals that miss all the subtle signs of cat intelligence and communication.  Well Faith has surpassed herself this week by entering into a deep conversation of squeaking and paw touching to make her wishes known.  It all started when Lillibet required her top-up feeds and was now suckling properly from Faith and gaining weight on her own, she did still need a top-up, so Momma took Lillibet & Faith to the double bed and nursed Lillibet onto Faith to get an extra 5mins without the other two knocking her off the best nipples. After the extra feed, Momma would put Lillibet back into the kitten box and Faith would wash and clean everyone and feasting ensued!

On Monday morning, Momma usually goes to the office, but she though, well another week in the kitten room wouldn't harm so set up laptop, servers & phones on the bed.  Faith came and laid next to her for a few minutes then she disappeared into the kitten box, then looked over the top and squeaked, screwing her face up in that adorable way.  That made Momma get up and check the babies, where upon, Faith mouthed, Lillibet and then Mouthed Momma's hand and then shot off to the bed and laid down, squeaking of course.  Momma, being a bit thick, didn't do anything, so Faith repeated the process and Momma clicked that she would like Lillibet to have her top-up.  Yep, she was happy then.  Well after Lillibet had her 5mins, Faith raced to the box front and called the other two kittens, who came crawling to the edge of the kitten box, then she ran to Momma and took her hand again, squeaking and then ran to the hole and mouthed the kittens.  Oh my, she wants them all on the bed.  Momma dutifully moved the little family and they had 3hours on the bed sleeping and eating and dozing.  When Faith had cleaned everyone again, she asked to have them all put back.  Momma knew this because she went to the box, peeped over the top and squeaked and squeaked until Momma took them back.  She is such a funny girl and so smart.  She has never moved a kitten on her own and leaves them for Momma to move.  Even at 8days old, she can call them to the hole and Lillibet will creep out and she lays topping Lillibet up then calls her back in again for dinner with the others.  It's a remarkable thing to watch and hear on IT the Bubba Cam, but she is an amazing creature to have Momma and now ManSlave wrapped around her paw.  She feels safe when Momma is watching over the babies and she sleeps really deeply knowing that everyone is cared for including her.

Yet again I watch and watch as the magic of kittens grow in front of me and can't wait to meet them all now.  I wait outside her door like a little white angel, all glowing and hoping and Faith waves at me and blows me kisses when the parentals open it.  She is still so sweet and gaining her svelte figure again and looking trim and fit.  I do hear her in the evening playing fetch with a crinkle ball up and down the stairs, she likes to let off steam!  I know she misses me because she chirrups when I call her. I miss her too, we are such good friends.  Not long now.

SUCH A HARD LIFE!

Finally, all the squeaking has stopped, all milky top ups have stopped and all is well in kitten land.  TomFun is a little sad that the milky leftovers are not coming his way and he has been 'mewling' rather than YAWPING for some.  It's quite pitiful really and I have Thwakked him about his earholes to calm him down, we don't do 'mewling' only YAWPING in this house.  It's all or nothing!

As I sit and watch the kittens on IT or more aptly named 'The Bubba Cam' I can see them growing before my very eyes.  It's like some magic trick.  They twitch and fidget whilst in a deep sleep and I swear you look a few moments later and they have grown.  I am starting to worry again, soon they will be big enough to eat my food!  There are all sorts of tasty morsels being offered to HRH Faith and all bowls are coming out empty, well except the bowl of tuna ManSlave took to her, she looked at him and said "Did you poison this?" Needless to say, she didn't eat it and rang down for some steamed salmon.  That girl and poor ManSlave, he tries his best.  He did bribe her today with some ham, she forgot herself and delicately took the tiny pieces he was tearing off for her.  See ManSlave, she does like you!  MOL

So now that little Lillibet is feeding on her own and James (as he is now to be called by his new slaves, Eva & David) is not taking his top ups and Minimii has sorted out which nipple is finally hers, all is well in the kitten box.  Lillibet has graduated up to the big kits end of the milky bar and has ruled the roost now pointing out to the others that after she has drunk her fill on nipple no.6 on the left, then the other two may have a look in.  Poor James, that was his favourite nipple.  He now squeaks and squeaks, tyring to get her off, but her limpet tenacity is winning out.  Minimii is determined that no one is coming between her and the No.6 right nipple, she made her stand with Lillibet and a cruel scratch match ensued... Momma and ManSlave trimmed everyones feet!  Poor Faith was so worried that they just wouldn't stop arguing and left them for 3hrs, when she returned, they all just latched on any where and didn't argue once. Good little Faith, treat em mean, keep em keen. I have to say, that she did watche them all that time from the table looking in.  So cute.  Phaaa, cute, what am I saying? I must be going soft with all this kitten talk!

ManSlave is just weighing them in tonight, well he does have a love of weighing things and enjoys this part of his kitten duties.  He played Cat Wrangler today to try and get some photos.  That was a funny sight, talk about a flustered lion!  I could have done a better job, nothing a good Thwakking would't have solved to keep them in check!  next time it's wrangling duties, I think I should at least be consulted.
 
KS =^..^=