Catty updates

After a few tries I managed to capture on camera what I could see easily. Bib ghosting it by the neighbour cat's dinner bowl.

Bib took the warm spot.

Must fit onto box...

Bib melted completely.

We'd learnt the lesson of not leaving Darrel Lea chocolates or liquorice out when they were both kittens. Simon forgot and paid the price.

Rainy day cuddles

Bib says I will be working sideways on this cold rainy day.

This is already becoming painful but at least I'm warm.

No, you will not work now. You will cuddle.

Do we understand?

Good morning!

Unable to move for cat - his claws are in my face and neck - I'm starting work typing on the sideways laptop with my one free hand. Oh, the other cat is sitting on my ribs.

Please hold while we warm up...

The rain is going sideways and our noses are freezing. Planning on a hot crumble but I refuse to move at the moment and so do they... 

The daily cat: hugs while updating and morning wake up meow

Late last night while I was tinkering on the back end of the blog I realised I hadn't posted something on my cats in a while, most posts having ended up on facebook. So here's my cats now.

Bob was keeping me company while I did the above late night tinkering.

It isn't exactly helpful but company is always loved.

Even if he decides to zap a thought into my mind.

"What? I can only just hear you."

!! "Alright, alright, I get the message!"

This morning's message went something like "Mom, get up. Why aren't doing normal things? We can't eat breakfast until you're normal."

"How long is she going to take?"

"Is she broken? Maybe I can kiss her awake?"

Queue kisses on the nose and purring until I can't deal anymore and have to get up.

So it was an early morning back at the tinkering.

And while I hold up breakfast

There's a cat pile forming.

Best anthropomorphic and zoomorphic cats in fiction

Best Anthropomorphic Cats.

The Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

Puss In Boots from Histoires ou contes du temps passé by Perrault.

Garfield from (you guessed it) Garfield by Jim Davis

The Cowardly Lion from The Wizard Of Oz by Frank Baum

Favourite Cat (Just Plain Cat)

Horse from Footrot Flats by Murray Ball

(The cat who reminds me of my first cat and is one of the twin pillers of what makes a cat catty to me. Cute little fluff-balls have their place but I like them with tempers and personality.)

The cat from Simon's Cat by Simon Tofield.

Best Zoomorphic Cat

The Cat from Red Dwarf as played by Danny John Jules.

Cat update: Rainy day cat pile hug

First I got buried under cat (the term for multiple cats acting with a singular thought - this one being "lap"). I had been working...

Then I got stuck providing hugs for entwined cat.

Then the pencil dropped on the floor and I couldn't get it back without smooshing entwined cat.

The pencil turned out to be lost forever under the couch and I have a new one.

But now we three are back to stage one. I am being eyed...

Cat lesson: The passive aggressive search for a hug

This is easy.

Search out whatever is taking attention away from you, sit on it and wait. This will ensure that a lap is made available for you.

Note: you may find yourself shifted about as your cushion will randomly decide that it is uncomfortable. Patience is required but if that fails to stop the cushion shifting then claws may be applied. 

Today's cat compromise

Bob doesn't look happy but he's purring like mad. I think the annoyed look is because I keep typing and disturbing his lazy time. Oh well, I have to keep on working.

Cat Lesson: The gentle art of bullying

A lesson from one of my cats.

His name is Bob or The Great Lump.

 First edge close.

And closer.

Pretend you aren't begging. You just happen to be there.

 Stare your message through. Really drill your thoughts into their mind.

When caught, pretend you weren't looking.

Receive consolation pat with much gratitude but refuse to move back so they have to pat you again. Any attention will lead somewhere.

 Finally, sit on the computer or other object gaining more attention than you.

This should result in rewards, namely food and cuddles.

Marmalade Cat

Today has been governed by two things. The first is Bonzo or Neighbour Cat as we call him. This is my spot and he's been here since this morning. I am currently sitting at the very edge of my spot, my back getting sore, wondering why I haven't thrown him off yet. Answer: I'm a sucker and well, the weathers cold and so was he and I felt sorry for him and he took advantage and he opened the door by himself which shows he really, really wanted in and yeah, I'm a sucker.

The second is this: I made marmalade from a full bag of oranges and one lemon. More than most recipes call for. I cut the amount of sugar in half too. Made an effort to slice the rinds super thin and I kept the pulp out so it is really clear. Very pretty when you look at it up close. It is still cooling and will probably take a few hours more.

Conclusion: Today is an orange day.

Now, back to business. Get rid of the headache and get back to editing.

Cat cuddles: The reason I stopped writing

I got trapped by Bob. The demand for hugs was enforced with purrs.
I don't know where his brother is at the moment and there's no way to look.

My reprieve from the cat versus writing battle

Too cute. Had to put this up here for you. Bib (white socks) was losing his mind and running about the house so I plunked him on top of his brother in hope he would calm down. This only sometimes works as he's as fascinated with heights as Maru is with boxes. This time it did. Happy is the writing me.

Cat tales: Today's writing companion

This cat is not my cat. I believe his name is Bonzo... I've been calling him the less than inspired names of Neighbour Cat and Not Our Cat because I'm not sure of his real name.

For some reason he adopted us. Probably because I started to feed him when he decided he didn't want to go home. There were two new puppies at his house. He's a touch of a nuisance, a bit of a garage cat, pushy and a loner. Also, he's 13 years old and has super sharp claws so I don't mess with him too much. Still, he's nice and a little sweet under the gruff and untrained outer shell. I've mostly forgiven him for eating some of my birds. Mostly...

Not that you can tell he's still somewhat in trouble.

Lion attack!

I was researching and ran across these... If that explains anything to you.

This picture just keeps popping up in my searches today. Makes me laugh every time. It is from an old newspaper, roughly 1895-ish London. Hope he didn't actually go that way.

Why you should never open a lion's cage. Or better yet, why you should never cage a lion in the first place. He's going to chomp you one day.

I also ran across this one.

He is Lionel, the Lion faced boy who, yes you guessed it, ended up exhibiting in the circus. Or is it, an exhibition in the circus? Either way there is a myth about him seeing his father eaten by a lion when he was young and imprinting from the event - thus the hair.

The daily cat news

Today the compromise is that I do my writing lying down, with one arm wrapped around Bob (which he thinks is a hug that shifts annoyingly but is actually me trying to reach the keyboard). It is all very pleasant though. No claws this time.

Note: The other cat Bib (Bob's brother) is on top of the shower railing again... I'm waiting for the sound of scrabbling claws that means he's tipped over the side and is hanging on for dear life (again - this is also becoming a daily routine). When I do I'll have to run up the stairs to catch him.

This explains itself

You've seen a picture of one of my cats slowing the typing process. I should mention there's another cat about this house. So it is definitely double trouble when they both decide to demand hugs, attention, food etc at the same time.


If it is lap time I usually have a cat purring happily less than an inch from my nose. He usually looks very content while I'm reduced to the role of pillow.

Today's writing frustrations

1. Cat flopped and sleeping right over one arm, trapping me in place and making typing difficult. He's holding on with his claws even as he snores.


2. Neighbour directly next to us has decided blasting London underground music is a good idea.


3. Across the street a chainsaw is being used.


Thinking past the second two is extremely difficult and typing what does come to mind is made slow by the first.


Need I say more?

The daily cat versus keyboard battle

Compromise was eventually reached. Bob got to hug my arm and use it as a pillow so I could still see the screen and type with both hands, albeit one partially trapped.