I'm Back! Same Cat, New Location

First Henry, now me!

I've been away for awhile while my Peeps moved house.

I'm now getting settled into my new place, and my secretary can now take my blog dictation.

So watch this space for more of my adventures!!!

Little Bird is In the Tree

I heard some rustling up there in the trees. If I stay really still, maybe the Little Birds won't see me down here. There's lots of leaves from the big storms we've been having. If I was a Calico cat I could camouflage myself with them. I'm hoping The Drop will be enough...

Running in the Garden

Hello my Peeps...

Flat Face Learns to Hide

Today I went searching everywhere for Flat Face. I could smell him, but I couldn't find him.

He finally has learned how to play proper Hide and Seek! Hooray!

Eventually I spotted him peeking out behind the bushes. He was very proud of himself for doing such a good hiding job.

He didn't even worry about getting his hair messed up. We are definitely making progress! He may turn into a proper Man Cat yet!

Flat Face's Turn to Hide

It's Hide and Seek time again! Yippee!

Today it's Flat Face's turn to hide ... but maybe I need to do a better job at explaining the concept of hiding, because his first hiding spot is kind of obvious. I think I'll pretend I don't see him and go off exploring other parts of the garden and before I come back to find him.

I think he's worried about getting his long hair matted and dirty. I guess I don't blame him as it must take a long time to look after. But if we are going to progress to the next level of hide and seek, he's going to need to stop being so precious and be willing to get a little dirty. Diving behind bushes is the best part of hide and seek after all!

Hello...Meow...

Hide and Seek with Flat Face

Today Flat Face and I played hide and seek. Next to birdie tag, hide and seek is one of my favourite games to play. Flat Face likes this game too, so I am lucky like that.

I chose a hiding place that I thought was kind of easy for Flat Face to find me. It was kind of out in the open, but used just a little bit of camouflage. I thought it was better than hiding completely in the bushes and scaring Flat Face or worse, him not being able to find me. He gets sulky if he can't find me right away, and I don't want to upset him too much today. He's been in a good mood recently and he's much more fun to play with when he's cheerful.

I hope he finds me soon though...

Crouching Tiger in Action

Little Bird and I played tag yesterday. Those little birds are very good at tag ... or more precisely at not getting tagged.

I put my stalking skills to the test, deploying both The Drop and The Crouch, but to no avail. LB won yesterdays game of tag...again.

Stalking Tips: Use Camouflage

Camouflage is a more advanced hunting technique, which is difficult for some cats to master. This is a skill that cats are either born with or not and depends on your environment.

Yesterday, I was convinced there was a bird hiding somewhere in this tree so I hid myself near the wall in the hopes that I would blend in and the bird would give himself away not realising I was there.

A Ginger Cat would stick out like a sore thumb in my garden, but may be able to conceal itself in a pile of leaves. It takes a bit of practice to hone good camouflaging skills.

Stalking Tips: The Drop: Hit the Ground and Get a Burst of Speed

Unlike The Crouch, which is a more general purpose fact finding approach, The Drop is best deployed against feathered-friends and small rodents.

Step one, is to drop immediately to the ground, trying to smoosh yourself up as flat as possible. Little fellas might not see you if you get yourself flat enough. The key is to maintain good hind leg traction with the ground, to enable you to push off with a burst of speed. Like a fighter-jet launching into the air from an air force carrier, The Drop can help you to get maximum acceleration when properly executed. This is a good stalking maneuver to use when you want to surprise your friends.

Stalking Tips: The Crouch: Stay Low and Move Slowly

When something catches my attention, I get quite curious and want to go check it out. I can't just run right up to it, though, as I might scare it off or it might hurt me. So I stalk it. Sometimes stalking requires a quick drop to the ground, other times just a good low crouch, like this one, is sufficient. I like the low crouch because it enables me to move very slowly towards the object of interest. Sometimes, the object turns out to be a leaf, sometimes a moth, other times it's Flat Face. I find the crouch an effective all-around investigative maneuver.

Watch Cat

I'm keeping watch out over the garden.

It's mine it's ALL mine!!!

Flat Face and I Have Words

Flat Face popped by again yesterday. I'd like to say that I was happy to see him and that we had fun playing together...but I'd be lying. See, Flat Face is always in a bad mood when he comes by and this is starting to bring me down a little.

I, on the other hand, am a rather happy catty. I love my life, my garden, my Peeps, and my furry animal friends. We play games and have a laugh... but not Flat Face. He just sulks. He is big and tall and hairy and very posh, and he just complains. Yesterday, I had had enough and got angry at him.

You can really see it in my face, can't you? I'd scare myself with a face like that! And look how big I was able to puff my tail out? Ha! Ha! I look like a real meany! No wonder Flat Face apologised! The good news is that we are still friends.

Kitty Limerick: Minnie the Cat

For those who have not already seen it, Kitty Limerick has written about me and my adventures.

Check it out!

http://kittylimericks.blogspot.com/2008/07/minnie-cat.html

The Garden is Not Just Mine!

After successfully scaring Flat Face off last week, I successfully chased a big calico cat out of the yard as well. Riding high on confidence, I wasn't about to be deterred from protecting my turf from yet another four-legged friend that turned up yesterday afternoon.

While it didn't dissuade me from my task, the fact that it was a fox I was trying to scare off terrified My Feeders. Perched high on the wall, I gave the fox at the other end of the garden my evil eye. My Feeders looked on helplessly from the other side of the Lattice; not even the lure of chicken treats could pull me away from my mission. When the time was right, I deployed my long-range hiss missiles.

This did the trick and off he went.

And off I immediately went back inside, shaking like a leaf. I was happy when my Feeders locked the door. My Feeders were not happy with me, but sometimes a cat must stand her ground.

You got to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em.

Good-Bye Henry. The Garden is Mine!

Henry and his family moved house last week. I said my goodbyes. It is always sad when someone has to move. Moving is not fun. The boxes and wrapping paper that go with moving are fun...But moving is disruptive to one's habits. I don't like moving particularly, so I know how Henry feels. But everyone has to move sometime and it usually means you get to go on an adventure and meet exciting new friends. Like me: while I miss my old home and family, I would not have met My Feeders, Flat Face, The Bees and Wood Pigeons if I had not moved. I don't want to make a habit of it though. You can have too much of a good thing!

Henry's movers made a lot of noise but wasn't long though before their place was empty and the garden was (mostly) mine! While I miss watching Henry play in the garden, I have five less mammals to share it with! There has been a lot of activity in the garden recently, so it's not like I have the garden entirely to myself now that they're gone.

Has Anyone Seen My Socks?

As I may have mentioned, I like it when doors and drawers are open for me to snoop around in. When I can't get access the traditional way, I will find a Supercat way of gaining access.

Occasionally, there are mornings when I feel a sudden need for a nice pair of knickers...or socks...or shirt. And when one isn't readily available out in the open, I go snooping for it in My Feeder's dresser drawers.

These are often closed tightly, so I have to resort to digging through the gap provided in order to find what I'm looking for. I pull out socks, bras and underwear until I find that purrr-fect piece of clothing that will make me feel special throughout the day. Sometimes, I pull out half the drawer and STILL haven't found anything acceptable.

This is when I flatten down all my fur and squeeze myself through the hole to rummage around deep within. Luckily for me, the socks I was looking for were near the top, so I didn't need to make that much of a mess.

You may not know it, but a lot of work goes into looking this pretty.

A Feather for My Feeders

Having decided to keep the black Wood Pigeon Feather for myself, I duly went out and found another feather to give My Feeders.

It wasn't hard, since I had scared the feathers off the Wood Pigeon myself a few days prior so I knew where some extras might be lying around. Luckily for me, Flat Face hasn't been around much lately, so the feathers were right where I left them under Mt Lattice Tree.

Now if My Feeders still think the bird "accidently shed" two feathers in the same day they are delusional. They should know by now that I am SuperKitty! I can hunt down even the biggest of foes...with a little practice.

This was the closest I've gotten yet! I've scared the feathers off the birds! Not long now until I get my little paws on them completely. I've started sharping my nails on the sofa so that I'm ready to pounce when the occasion strikes.

I've Got a Real Feather

As a thank you to My Feeders for giving me proper food again, I brought them this beautiful feather. They are not sure whether I plucked it from the Wood Pigeon myself or if I just happened upon it loose in the patio. Do they not know how much I've been practicing?!? Ahhh, Duh! What's the Feather-on-a-Stick for?

Regardless, I went wild over it. Grabbing it in my mouth, licking it and making sure it barely left my paws. It's better than Cat Nip!

Ummm do you think My Feeders would mind if I kept it? I think I like it too much myself to give away.

Must think of another gift...

Catnip Ball Hide and Seek

Ok, I'm going to close my eyes and count to three, then come find you. Ready? One....















Two...














Three...















Ready or not hear I come...

Uncle Jim Joins the Club with Chica

So many people I know have recently joined the cat bandwagon. I like to think it has something to do with me!

I do know My Peeps love me very much and talk about me constantly. Of course, I understand why they feel the need to do this: I am wonderful and my wonderfulness needs to be shared with everyone! But, enough about me... If I can help people to think that cats are wonderful and that they too must join this special club, then I am happy.

My Uncle Jim, who lives in Spain, joined the club this spring by taking in a stray. He's named her Chica, which is spanish for Girl. I don't know very much about her yet, but stories are starting to filter over the channel. She kept showing up at Jim's back door for attention and, eventually, food. She's a little bigger than me (most cats are!) and, as you can see, she is very stripey ... kind of like me! Jim is looking after her now.

Apparently, she's an outdoor cat. At first, I was a little baffled by the concept of an 'outdoor cat'. See, My Peeps only let me outside at certain times. I can't come and go as I please. Chica, however, can go chasing moths and birds whenever she wants. I thought I would prefer that way of life, until it was pointed out that it rains a lot less on the Spainish coast than it does in London! So I get the best of both worlds. I'm looking forward to hearing more about Chica and her adventures in Spain.

I love having new cat friends!

Chicken Treats Rock!

Can I have a chicken treat?

Pretty Please?

I have been a very good kitty. I promise I won't have a Mr Whippy if you let me have a treat!

I love Chicken Lickens.

Yum!

Auntie Pat's Feather Tree

Auntie Pat has invented a fun new game for me.

She takes my feather-on-a-stickand puts it in a potted plant to create a Feather Tree. At first I don't notice that there's a feather in the air...but then when I do it's a complete surprise!

I get to attack it from atop the arm chair, stalk it from the other side of the room and jump up in the air to try to knock it down.

Even better is that it's a game I can amuse myself with, without having to have My Feeders drag the feather around after them.

I love this new game!

Food War is Over! Rejoice!

My Feeders are now realising that I am much more unhappy and uncomfortable not eating the medicine food than I was eating my normal food and serving up the occasional Mr Whippy. They decided that I can go back on my normal food. Success!!!

The Battle of Wills has been won!

I'm so much happier now. Auntie Pat is visiting, I'm gettingproper food and I am happy. Auntie Pat can play with me any day she wants!

We spent most of the day out on the patio together, where I impressed her with my hunting and climbing skills. I showed her how to stalk Pigeons and even showed her how to climb Mt Lattice! She thought I was a great cat before; but now she thinks I'm Super-Cat!

We got a call from the vet and I've been given the ok. They don't know what happened, but apparently they can't find anything wrong. Success again!!!

Food Wars: Day 4

The Food War is dragging on longer than I anticipated. I underestimated My Feeder's resolve.

They went away last night and have a nice cat sitter looking in on me today. Fools! I will not be tricked by this diversion. If I won't eat for My lovely Feeders, I certainly won't be eating for some strange cat sitting person...even though she was nice and played with the feather with me for a little while.

Was not the same though. I miss My Feeders. My Auntie Pat comes to look after me tomorrow for the weekend.

Food Wars: Day 3

The hunger strike drags on. I am beginning to feel lethargic, but my resolve is strong.

I am sensing weakness in My Feeders. They are concerned that I haven't eaten in more than 2 days and have gone back to the vet to get a different, presumably better tasting prescription diet food. While I appreciate the expense My Feeder's are incurring for the world's most expensive cat food, it still does not change the fact that it smells and tastes foul.

Would My Feeders eat Spam? I think NOT.

My hunger strike continues not only for me but for all cats out there who are being forced to eat bad tasting food in the name of medicine! Bring back the good food .

Food Wars: Day 2

Looks like this is going to be a battle of wills. They think they can starve me and I will eat a pile of grotesque mush.

It's not going to happen! They don't know what they're in for. I'm not eating it. And that's final!

Food Wars: Day 1

My Feeders tried to get me to eat the specially formulated anti-allergenic crap they are claiming is food. It doesn't smell like food to me and it certainly doesn't look edible either. They said it's vet's orders. Well, I am having none of it. I don't take orders from anyone. I want my regular tasty cat food and I want it now! I have decided to go on a hunger strike until I am fed properly.

The Return of Mr. Whippy

My Feeders had to take me to the vet again. It was not very nice. The Aussie vet man was very kind to me at first, but then he shaved my neck and stole some of my blood. There may have been an incident involving my backside too. I didn't like it much at all. In fact, I have been sulking all day.

I've been told I can't have my yummy food until they find out why I'm serving up Mr. Whippy's in the litter box. I don't like this idea one bit. I'd stage a dirty protest, but that seems to be what has landed me in this predicament to begin with.

My New Hiding Place

I have found a wonderful new place to go exploring. The patio shed!

Sure it may look full of boxes and cobwebs, but down closer to the ground, this makes for wonderful fun. Would you mind opening the door for me?

My Feeders know how much I don’t particularly like closed doors. Once I know that something is a door, closet, drawer or anything that might remotely be considered to be a closed container of any kind, I need to be able to access it at any time, or else I get anxious.

Please open the door for me?

Not fast enough. I’ll do it myself.

Brute, kitty power activate.