A sad anniversary

It's one year ago today that Poppy died. :o((


~ Never forgotten...sleep tight 'Poppy cat' ~

Purrrrr!

Ditto, strange little creature that she is has, in a very 'un-catlike' manner has never uttered so much as a single, solitary purr,
in her entire life!

Cats purr when they are happy and are also known to purr when in pain but under no circumstances has she been known to emit this singularly feline sound.....that was until this morning!

This morning at around six o'clock, as I gradually dragged myself from my state of overnight unconsciousness I was aware of a very familiar sound emanating from somewhere close by, the sound of an impressively loud purr. It took me a few moments to come too and remember that this could not possibly be Poppy who was a lifelong happy purrer, for a moment even, I wondered if it could be somehow, or if I was imagining it and then, as I sat up to investigate, I was met with the sight of 'small cat' lying on her back, completely relaxed at the foot of the bed, purring the loudest purr you ever heard!

Yayyyy for Ditto, at three and a half years old she has finally found her purr! :o)

Birthday

Today would have been the 'Poppy cat's' seventeenth birthday.

(Image clickable)

'Happy birthday old puss'.

Fat cat!

I was always given to understand, and experience taught me, that cats, unlike dogs do not over eat, they eat what they need and no more, left to their own devices and with a constant supply of food they will control their own intake. Certainly in the cases of Poppy and gemmak, no matter how much in the way of high class 'cat fare' was on offer, once they had eaten enough the remainder would be abandoned to a later time.


Ditto it seems is the exception to the rule of late and appears, since her trauma of last week, to be flying in the face of that long held understanding. I know, as winter approaches cats eat more, in the past I could almost tell when the temperature was about to drop significantly by a sudden upturn in Poppy's appetite but Ditto has begun to eat in earnest and as yet no dramatic drop of the mercury has been detected!

Her summer days of padding around her territory indulging in her usual antics have been hampered by rain and she has taken to lounging more often indoors, pursuing activities of a much more laid back nature, all of which would suggest she needed a lower intake of her favourite menu's but no, she is eating like there is no tomorrow and is rapidly turning from 'small cat' to 'fat cat'!


I'm not sure yet if this is a case of comfort eating, boredom, though she has plenty to entertain her, or just a more relaxed cattitude but whatever it is, if she doesn't get a grip of the situation herself soon, a much closer system of dietary monitoring will have to be put in place and adhered to!

Bugger!

Just when you thought you where getting a grip what happens? You find a 'Poppy whisker' under the bed....and yes, I know it's a Poppy whisker, for hers were massively longer than the Ditto version!

Sod's law, inevitable I suppose for a time, little unexpected reminders from out of the blue. I'm sure it's just her way of making absolutely sure we don't forget her....like we could!

:o(

Ok....... so where is she?

It seems that 'small cat' might finally have realised that she who provided entertainment by way of something to stalk, pounce on, chase and torment, namely Poppy, is missing and is not merely away for a short holiday!


For the first week not a sign did she give that she felt anything was amiss, not a sniff, no investigation of Poppy's usual haunts, nothing, from the moment Poppy departed Ditto's little life was for her completely unchanged. The last day or two however her behaviour seems to have changed somewhat, she has been seen wandering around the flat slightly aimlessly, she won't go out, or at least only for very brief periods and she has, by her standards, become somewhat clingy. She is most certainly not poorly, her appetite is more than fine, her colour is good and her temperature is normal but something about her has changed just a little. Hell, she has even made half hearted attempts at playing with her toys, an activity usually met with disdain, afterall tormenting 'old puss' was much more fun! It seems that perhaps Ditto is now wondering where poppy has got to and her little face looks really quite confused.

Something will have to be done and that something is likely to be a new kitten. We always knew we would get another, it's just a matter of timing, we can never replace Poppy but we can have the pleasure of another little feline personality. Whilst I am still not sure if it is too soon PG is convinced that to have a kitten to love and take care of will be good for us and hopefully, once the initial 'territorial spats' have passed it will be company for Ditto. Afterall he insists, we are a 'two cat family'.

Maybe.....some days I want one now, others I still feel it is too soon, we'll see but at least I have got through two whole days now with only one small snivel!

Realities and practicalities

The realities of life are sometimes not quite as we would wish and the practicalities even less so. It seems that now and again a situation arises that isn't anything like we would plan it but just cannot be avoided.

I couldn't post this until now but as the week has gone on things have got a little easier where Poppy's death is concerned and so today I can.... and today is the appropriate day to do so.

Those of you who are squeamish might like to abandon this post at this point, I promise there is no 'blood and guts' but it is a little less than a delightful situation and I can be a little direct.

It is a week today since Poppy was put to sleep and as a consequence it is not likely to be the easiest day for us but the anniversary is not the sole reason. It is compounded by another situation that is not one we had ever imagined or anticipate but has made the last week more difficult in a strange way

Poppy it seems died at a very inopportune time, in fact, to be precise about 3 hours too late. Apparently out here in the sticks all services, even those we are not aware of, are affected to some degree by logistics and deliveries to and from anywhere are few and far between in comparison to a town, this also includes pet crematoriums it seems!

Long before last Wednesday we had decided that when the time came Poppy would be cremated individually Yes you have a choice! For those of you who have never had to deal with this, there is a whole business in pet 'funeral' arrangements and that includes everything from oak caskets and marble headstones to burial plots. We don't have a garden to lay her to rest in and so cremation seemed the best solution. I couldn't bear to think of her just 'going off' and not knowing where she had ended up and so, like gemmak, whilst we couldn't consider the 'big hoo ha cat funeral' kind of affair we decide on a single cremation and to receive her remains back to scatter somewhere nice. This is usually completed within a week.

Not in this case, in our case (wouldn't you know it) the pet crematorium had just made their 'pick up' from our local vets, who incidentally are wonderful, three hours before Poppy died....and only visit once a week! This is where it has been particularly difficult for us....for a week we have known that she is still in the vets just a few miles away, still looking like Poppy, still as she was when we last saw her. The temptation to go and see her one last time has been strong though we knew that for reasons that I won't go into here, it would not be wise. Had she been taken away sooner it would have been so much easier but today, finally, she will be moved and I'm kinda dreading it and relieved all at the same time. Knowing she is no longer so physically close will be easier.

It will be another week now at best, until we get her back and can find a nice place to finally say goodbye....damn logistics!

If it wasn't all such a palaver and so sad it could almost be funny!

A little on 'small cat'

'Small cat' seems to have been decidedly un-fazed by the sad goings on this week.

In the first instance I was concerned that when the time came for the dreaded vets visit on Wednesday she might be a little unnerved by it all, cat's being, in theory at least, very sensitive creatures we decided to shut her in another room whilst we concentrated on Poppy. We were also a little concerned that knowing Ditto's 'everything is a game' attitude to life there was a distinct possibility she might just blunder in among Poppy's last few minutes in a very inappropriate manner.

In the event she seems not to be feeling, even slightly, the massive void that PG and I are. Not once has she behaved unusually, not once has she sniffed around in that investigative manner that cats are usually so obvious with, she hasn't attempted to use Poppy's now very vacant bed, nor shown any other sign of feeling that anything whatsoever in her little life has changed!

All to the good, bad enough that PG and I feel as we do without small cat being miserable too, though a tiny part of me would liked to have thought she at least noticed Poppy's absence.

Today was my first day back at work, post 'very sad event' and in all honesty I was dreading it. My first work day routine without Poppy to greet me almost before I had stumbled bleary eyed out of bed, without Poppy sitting in the bathroom 'talking' to me whilst I showered and my first day coming home to a flat devoid of her insistent meowing for some attention the moment I walked through the door.

So it was I set off at 6am telling myself the 'chin up and best foot forward' stuff and deciding I had to find something positive to focus on. My positive focus was that Ditto can now have biscuits and treats, something she could rarely have before because the Poppy cat would thieve them and without teeth then choke. Lunch time I decided was the time to hit the supermarket and find some 'Ditto treats'

The first couple of hours at work were difficult, everytime someone said something kind, or asked how I was, I would begin, despite all attempts otherwise, to snivel. Gah. Eventually I 'got it together' and as the day wore on I discovered that, loathed though I am to admit it, the distraction and company of being at work was a good thing. Add to that Poppy was obviously never at work with me and so it is not a place where I miss her being quite the same.

Lunch time came and I made my way to a supermarket and bought up one of almost every conceivable crunchy and chewy cat treat I could find.

Home time arrived and I set off on my drive in part dreading going home to no Poppy but also looking forward to offering 'small cat' all her new fare. I made it indoors successfully (almost) distracting myself from the lack of Poppy, sat down on the floor with Ditto and began unwrapping her treats.

You know of course what happened don't you. One by one she sniffed, one or two she gave a cursory lick and then she promptly turned her nose up at them all and walked off....not one did she eat! Pffttt.


~ Sleep tight Poppy cat ~

By yesterday afternoon......

.......PG had decided in his wisdom that it was more than appropriate that I get out of this flat for a time....my usual state of 'hermit' was not doing me good, a shoehorn was applied forcibly to my rear, I was ejected from my big fat leather chair in front of this machine without further ado and 'invited', without option, to partake of a 'mystery tour'.

I wasn't enthusiastic but duly complied, only too well aware that sitting moping and sad 24/7 was not healthy.

Thank heavens for PG's insistence, despite myself and my sadness the evening turned out to be very special, I forgot myself for a time, actually felt happy briefly,though of course in my obtuse way I felt guilty for doing so at the same time, guilty that I was enjoying myself when Poppy was so recently gone.

I was driven along country lanes to our destination, rabbits, birds, pheasants, beautiful Highland cattle and newly cut wheat fields lifting my spirits a little as we went.
Images clickable

Our destination was a little fishing harbour not far away. A place I have always liked but somehow rarely visited. PG had been there with a client in the morning and there had been at least half a dozen seals wallowing merrily and lazily. His hope was that they would still be there, I have long wanted to see them but thus far, despite it being a reasonably common occurrence, hadn't.

We parked the car up and made our way in the wind and sea air to the best fish and chip shop in the area, by the harbour. Suddenly, for the first time in days I was ravenous, no wonder really having not eaten more than a biscuit for best part of thirty hours!

Fish and chips were duly purchased and off we set to 'seal watch'.

Success....immediately it was apparent that the seals he had seen in the morning knew this fishing harbour was a wise spot to remain in, seal snacks a-plenty were readily available and to move on would be and unwise decision on their part!




And so we sat, chips in hand marveling at these such large and apparently ungainly looking creatures, big doleful eyes and shiny backs, wallowing, rolling lazily on their backs, barking happily to one another and intermittently catching the odd fish for their own supper. It was amazing, against the backdrop of the clam harbour, the rougher seas beyond the harbour wall and a dark blue falling dusk we just sat and watched and laughed at their 'performance', for a time all sad thoughts forgotten.


Darkness fell and we set of on our homeward journey, somehow rejuvenated a little, the respite from feeling sad lifting our spirits....it felt good.

The evening did not end there as circumstances would have it. We had barely walked through the door when a friend called begging for help with a computer problem....and asking could we call round sometime to fix it. Having enjoyed the distraction of getting out, my suggestion was that we do it now, it was only 9.30 and only a 15 mile drive, Off we set again, this time in the opposite direction.


I used to work with this couple, in fact blogged in support of one of them a while back, they are the nicest, kindest guys you could wish to meet, fab and hilarious company and two of those people who despite not having seen them for months you just kinda fit right back in with. Suffice to say the computer repair was hastily attended too and late into the night was sat chattering, playing games with the dog and catching up.

All things considered, and most unexpectedly it turned out to be a good days end, sadness temporarily put to the back of our minds, nature at it's best and the company of good friends.

As we fell into bed in the wee small hours of course, I gave into a small snivel but the feeling that a little corner had been turned was still there.


~ Sleep tight Poppy cat ~

Thank you

A big thank you to all of you who showed me such care and support yesterday in your comments and emails, knowing that so many people were thinking of Poppy yesterday and caring about her made a genuine difference and is greatly appreciated. I will, I promise, get to reply to each individually but for now I still can't quite face it.

Half of me this morning wants to talk about Poppy, the other half wants to try and not think about her, I have run the gamut of emotions, few of them nice, since yesterday afternoon, I thought I had long since prepared myself well for her demise, in the event it was another case of pride coming before a fall.

Suffice to say that most of the day dragged by in a blur, I have eyes like plumbs and one very small cat has left a very big gap both physically and emotionally in our lives.

I'll blog 'Poppy' when I can, there is so much I want to say about her but right now I can't.

This morning this flat feels very, very empty.............

The hardest post

We made the decision. The Poppy Cat died this afternoon in her own home and in our arms.

Sleep tight Poppy Cat.......you will always be in our hearts.


Poppy ~ October 1988.


Poppy ~ September 2005

Poppy ~ update

Sadly things are not looking so good this last week where 'Poppy cat' is concerned.

Almost a year ago when her kidney failure was diagnosed the vet gave her a few months if we were lucky, we didn't anticipate her making it to Christmas 2004

but she rallied spectacularly and did. From there on in she seemed to defy her expected prognosis and whilst she was obviously very old she pottered on happily.
Alas, the situation has changed quite dramatically this last week. Her weight loss and state of dehydration are more marked, her coat no longer even attempts to gleam and trying to get her to eat more than a tiny scrap is a feat of endurance. Standard cat food is now no longer and option, she will only consider entertaining 'people food' and then not often or with much interest. I have presented all manner of delicacies for her but even tuna fish meets with no interest the last day or two.

She has barely moved unless prompted, she has slept for 23 out of every 24 hours, she only purrs rarely, and whilst she can still perform an adequate enough jump to perch herself in the sun on the window sill, the 'quality of her life' issue is becoming uppermost in our minds.

Each time I got out or go to bed at night I say a quiet goodbye to her, half expecting, or maybe hoping, that she will just fall asleep and not wake up but I know that given the specifics of what ails her, that is highly unlikely. What is likely is that we are going to have to make the final decision. Cats just don't die in their sleep of kidney failure, it just doesn't happen. Her heart is still strong and her symptoms will become intolerable before the heart even considers enough is enough.

She is old I know...almost 17, I checked her birth date last night and I had got it one year out, she is not 18 as I thought but no matter, she has still done well, particularly considering how ill she was when I rescued her. Now thought, unless she rallies again which maybe she will, but on which I am not counting, I think we are talking days, if we are lucky perhaps a few weeks at best. The decision isn't going to be taken out of my hands much as I would like it to be and trying to decide when enough is enough for her is something I am struggling with. I couldn't consider leaving her miserable just so I don't lose her but ending her life and being sure it is not premature is not something that I am finding easy or simple.

Fcuk.

Look who's talking!

She may be almost 18 years old, she may be not in the best of health and there may be only one tooth left in evidence but Poppy can still make her feelings only too well known!

What a performance!

This is most certainly not a post about some wonderful West End stage performance or anything even nearing it, it is in fact about 'two cats' who should know better and who on the occasion of this recent holiday created mini mayhem between them!

Bear in mind here that Poppy in particular is a very well traveled cat indeed, she has done countless car journeys of hundreds and hundreds of miles and never been a moments trouble, Ditto for her part whilst not as widely ventured is more than well versed in the rules applied to car travel.

But nay, it was not to be, rules were not adhered too on this occasion and the whole 'cat in transit' issue consequently fell to pieces rather spectacularly last Sunday

PG was charged with the task of taking said cats to the cattery for their holidays whilst I was at work, thus enabling us to leave on our travels in the wee small hours. This is a much practiced 'carry on' though usually performed by the two of us as negotiating cats into boxes is not always without incident. Happily there were no incidents at this point in the the cat transport operation and both duly allowed themselves to be deposited on nice, clean, cosy bedding in their respective carrying equipment and off they all set.

Almost immediately things began to degenerate from there with Poppy deciding that now, in the close confines of PG's car, it would be a good time to hone her projectile vomiting skills and in her endeavors, created a new design of interior car design 'stippling'. The man was not amused but duly stopped the car, did the best job he could of a clean up operation and they continued on their way.

Barely was the engine running again than Ditto decided that not to be left out of the proceedings she would do her best to make the short journey memorable by making new use of her travel compartment in the manner of a litter box! There was little to be done and a rather less than amused PG was forced to drive the remaining miles with sun roof and all windows as wide open as he could get them! Eventually himself and said, now disgraced cats, arrived at their destination where 'very nice cat lady', full of sympathy for the cats, rather than PG's trauma, whisked them out of their various unpleasant surroundings and began the clean up process. Why does that happen? I have to admit to being just very slightly amused, PG doesn't 'do' animal nastiness where it can be avoided, rather leaving such tasks to yours truly and here, when I thought he would be forced into some action someone comes to his rescue, had I been there no doubt it would have been down to me!.

This was not to be the end of the cat troubles.

Home at last!
On Friday a good friend kindly offered, as he always does, to collect small furry creatures and deposit them home enabling us to arrive home late and therefore miss the traffic.

On Friday evening, still in London we received a phone call from 'very nice cat lady' saying she had retained Poppy for a further night whilst Ditto has been collected by aforementioned friend to be taken home. Given that in her elderly and less than well state I was already concerned about how Poppy would fare on her 'holiday' I immediately went into silent panic mode as PG took the call. When he eventually got off the phone I discovered that rather than being a panic situation it was a 'stubborn old cat' situation, Poppy in her annoyance at the whole malarky had refused point blank to be incarcerated in her travel box and no amount of gentle, or less gentle physical persuasion was going to budge her! Both our Friend 'L' and the cat lady are well practiced at this maneuver but nothing was going to beat old puss and eventually she began to hyperventilate causing a rapid cessation of all attempts to get her securely 'jailed'.

It was thus that we arrived home, as mentioned, to only one small confused cat in the small hours of Saturday.

Immediately we saw what the problem had been with Poppy. The carrier that Ditto had been 'packaged' in was the big one we have...... which meant that attempts at inserting Poppy had been into the smaller one, usually inhabited by Ditto. One has to understand the specifics of cat life here and know that Poppy just does not go in the small carrier, it is not an arguable point, it just doesn't happen, we know that, she knows that but it had never occurred to us to tell anyone else, we just assumed that as they arrive in that manner they would come home in that manner.

So yesterday morning we set off on the Poppy rescue mission, BIG box in hand, upon arrival we were met by verbal protestations uttered loudly in 'cat-eze' by 'someone' having been left behind an extra night, despite it being her own fault it suddenly became our fault! Her behavior had caused much amusement once she had stopped her overbreathing lark it seems, and much was said of her ability, despite declining health to dig her heels in when she chooses. She was duly and happily placed in her big box with no nonsense, and off we set happily homeward.

You thought that was the end? Well you are wrong! As a final act of defiance, this cat, who had traveled thousands of miles over her lifetime without any incident now, on this 15 mile journey decides that she must have the last word so to speak.....and followed Dittos lead of a few days earlier by making inappropriate use of her carrier as a litter box!!

Feisty old bag!

The annual tussle

This morning I was forced from in front of this machine at an unearthly hour to make the annual trek to the local vet, two cats in tow, for the much hated booster jabs.

This is not a favourite trip as you might imagine, both for myself or for small cat and big puss. As ever the trip is preceded by the annual tussle to prise both into detested cat carrying contraptions. We have a well honed method, whilst PG holds said carrier in mid air I eject required cat from a faux-cuddle and into the opening, there is nowhere for cat to go, nothing to stand on and it is my proven method of operation. It is usually a succsessful method, however, whilst Poppy generally acquires a sulk on her face but obliges Ditto this morning adopted the 'spread eagle cat' position and required almost unending maneuvering of various limbs to complete the task in hand. Finally, a few scratches and much hissing and spitting later, she was suitably incarcerated, scowly faced, and the 5 mile drive began. This was, it goes without saying, accompanied by the expected duet of howling and wingeing.

Things began to go further downhill upon arrival, we discovered that our 'you don't need an appointment just turn up, vets' had evolved into the 'you do need an appointment' setup. We plead ignorance and I did my best 'oh please just this once' face and 'Mr very kind cat doctor' agreed to take the now silent and jammed into the back of their carriers cats, there and then. Things were looking up.

It was Ditto's turn first and having played merry hell whilst we tried to get her into the box she now dug her heels in and of course wasn't for coming out. No surprise there then! She was consequently ejected unceremoniously and was prodded and poked in the usual manner, her heart listened to and pronounced in excellent health, the feared needle was inserted neck-ward and she made her escape, this time with absolutely no protest, headlong back into the previously hated box.

The came Poppy's turn. This is the bit I dread. At almost 18 years old and already with failing kidneys I just know I am going to hear medical information I do not want to. Her heart is good, her lungs excellent but her kidneys have deteriorated further, she is now showing signs of dehydration and her weight loss is more pronounced. Hell, I know these things, I can see them for myself I just hate to have them confirmed by a professional!

We discussed my 'non intervention' decision of last year and it was agreed it was still the kindest route but the reminder that she is not immortal and that 'things are progressing' is not something I want to listen too.


She received her hated jab, made appropriate growling sounds and fled like a kitten back into her now considered safe, carrier amid warning from the vet that having just paid for a years protection it would be appreciated by all if she could possibly see her little way to making use of at least a fair proportion of it!

So now I'm sat here, heavy hearted, knowing the inevitable will happen probably sooner rather than later and questioning my non intervention decision. I always do this. In my heart I know that to feed her a special and likely hated diet, to stop her drinking her milk and to no longer feed her a myriad of tidbits is not the way to go, that to allow her to carry on happily as she always has is the right route and to let her enjoy whatever time she has remaining....... but right now the temptation to do all the 'life prolonging stuff' is hard to resist. I know though that ultimately to put her through nasty food, more vets visits and more prodding is no joy for her, merely my wanting to hang onto her as long as possible and that at 18 it's not fair, in the end her life would likely only be extended by a few months and they would be less happy months for her, so I'll stick to my guns, but this time I very carefully didn't ask for timescales, last time they said a few months, that was almost a year ago and I don't want to know now, what will be will be.

Why do cats with kidney failure so adore all the high protein foods that do them the most harm?! Gah.

*Sniff*

It's windy.....

....and as ever this state of affairs takes it's toll on Ditto and as a result on Poppy, who rapidly and much to her chagrin, becomes the focus of Ditto's pent up energies.

Ditto has a particular dislike for windy conditions, she will happily pad about in torrential rain if it seems to be her only option, she will tread carefully in snow, bask in the sun and tolerate freezing temperatures but wind...no way, forget it, you have more chance of platting fog than of ejecting small cat out into wind!

Any attempts to persuade her through the door results merely in her cowering on the doorstep with each gust, more persuasive techniques such as a gentle 'prod in the rear' with a slippered foot elicits a small growl and a rapid about turn! This behaviour would of course be acceptable if it were not for the fact that within five minutes she is back at the door howling for escape and necessitating a multitude of repeat performances.

eventually of course she gets the message, her little mind just takes it's time in realising that this is a state of affairs that is likely to persist at least for a few hours but settle she does not. Instead she becomes manic, one minute apparently resting quietly the next racing around the walls and requiring almost to be peeled off the ceiling. Her normal feline ability to judge space and distance desert her, nothing is safe as she bowls headlong into one thing or another creating small havoc.

There is of course her favorite pass-time during the oh so boring spells she is incarcerated due to the prevailing and most unsuitable weather conditions..... Ambushing poor Poppy!

Too much temptation

Small cat waits with head down and bottom wriggling in anticipation of her quarry around every corner, she sneaks up on her, and pounces with monotonous regularity. She races towards her in her less well planned and over excited ambushes and at the moment she is about to engage her enemy, springs vertically in an impressive display of vectored thrust, landing squarely intop of her!

Poppy, it is no surprise to discover at 18 years of age, is just not up for this 'game' but surprisingly despite her lessening weight and ageing joints, in a most aggravated and intensely annoyed display, is still able to cuff Ditto smartly about the ear and attempt to sink her remaining tooth into the nearest offending 'Ditto part'.........Small cat in turn seems always most confused as to quite what she did wrong! After all, she reasons, is Poppy not there soley for her amusement when inclement conditions prevent her from 'playing out'?

Having been severely reprimanded for her carrying's on and having been removed from one innapropriate place or another and having incurred the 'wrath of Poppy' for her antics, she moves onto the indoor version of her most favoured outdoor pursuit.... a game of 'chase the tail'. Not her own tail of course but Poppy's, who has a rather unfortunate habit of losing track of quite where her own tail is. Invariably it is dangling somewhere that is just too utterly tempting for small cat and who cannot resist a little 'stalking the tail activity'. This game usually results in a little 'eating the tail activity' and of course more trouble ensues.

You will understand why then that Ditto is currently 'enjoying' half an hours time out.....shut in the bedrom alone!

Peace at last.

Crossed paws

I wonder, is Poppy is trying to attract a little luck in adopting this position....it just cannot be comfortable, particularly at almost 126 'people years' of age!

(Clickable)

Paws crossed for luck?

Poppy power

Well, the old girl has rallied again, in fact she has been a joy to watch over the last few days, she still worries me, I am not kidding myself that she will last forever but her behaviour has changed quite significantly over the last week and it seems I should be attributing this to one thing....Whiskas cat milk!

(Images are clickable)

With purpose!

Poppy has always had a passion for milk, unfortunately it hasn't had a passion for her, as is the case in many cats she has a lactose intolerance and even a little watered down milk causes her to have a rather 'unfortunate' rear end problem. Hence it is a once in a blue moon treat.

However, a week or two back I noticed in the supermarket something called 'cat milk', little tiny bottles, massively overpriced but I can live with that, of something that looks to me like old fashioned condensed milk. it is apparently whole milk with the lactose removed and other nutrients added. Hmmmm, I thought, I'll just get one of those cute little bottles and see if she likes it for a treat.


Keeping an eye.

Likes it??? ....she would kill for it! From the first moment the lid came off the very first bottle she has been obsessed with the stuff. She does of course eat her regular food but she 'requests' very noisily, this stuff all day long, nothing else will do. I can offer her any number of treats but she staunchly carries on wailing until she has her milk. She will drink any amount of it, we are currently going through two bottles a day and seemingly it has no ill effects, quite the reverse.

Since her rapid consumption of this new addition to her diet she has begun actually asking to go out and pottering around with Ditto for a fair time. This of course requires me to go out with her to 'supervise' in case she should become embroiled in any conflict with strange cats, she is most definitely still up for battles of a territorial nature but her little old bod is not! I have noticed quite surprisingly that if she is out, small cat always remains with her, apparently keeping an eye on her, though I suspect she also views it as another opportunity for torment given that Poppy has her tail regularly stalked on these excursions!


Tail torment

It has been heartwarming to see her enjoying herself so much, she has pottered around the perimeters of the field, sunbathed, played 'chase me' with little flies and even made one attempt at stalking a bird! She has displayed again a lifelong preference for choosing the most uncomfortable spots in which to park herself, here she is, the Scottish countryside in all it's glory at her feet, soft, lush grass to lie in but no, she chooses shingle...it was ever thus!


A comfortable spot?

Added to her new lease of outdoor meanderings she has also re-acquired her ability to jump, if very carefully onto the bed, she can hoist herself onto the windowsill and has been witnessed running, yes I said running, though rather inelegantly, around the flat.

Happy days, long may it continue but if it doesn't, right now she is having a ball and that's good enough for me under the circumstances.

Scaredy-cat

Ditto, young cat of small proportions, cat of brave heart, cat of hunting prowess and cat that screams incessantly like a banshee if 'her' door is not opened at the appropriate time for her daily meanderings, seems to have had a sudden and extreme change of heart!

Five days ago you couldn't keep this cat in, well not without the aid of ear defenders at any rate. At any and all opportunity she pottered around the fields staking claim on her patch and finding us the little (normally squealing) treats she so horribly kindly and proudly bestowed at out our feet.....and now, without apparent reason, wild horses wouldn't drag her across the threshold!


First adventure ~ August 2002.
(click to enlarge)

Mid evening five days ago we had allowed her out for slightly longer than usual without checking her whereabouts, none the less she had only been out perhaps an hour and we had heard no usual 'scratch on the door' request for entry. I went to see where she had got too and on opening the door she almost fell through it and appeared to stagger for maybe one or two steps. We checked her over, no sign of anything untoward and forgot the small incident.

The following day she didn't ask to be let out and still we thought nothing of it, by yesterday, four days later, not once had she ventured out! She hasn't accompanied me to the dustbin or on trips to hang washing out as she normally does, she hasn't once asked for an exit and when on a number of occasions we have left the door open, she has cowered under the bed.

And yet she is in otherwise excellent form, still eating like a horse, still running round the walls, still tormenting Poppy and not a single sign of a scratch, a bruise, or an illness is there.

I have absolutely no idea what has turned her, overnight, into a scaredy-cat. She has in the past had one or two 'run-ins' with a very big, bad, black cat and on those occasions has arrived home post haste sporting a battle scar and proceeded to 'rest' for maybe a day.... but never once has she been in for five whole days since sh

Strawberry milkshake

For an old cat who would have us believe she is incapable of much exercise nowadays, Poppy appeared to manage remarkably well in navigating her way along the sofa, making a significant leap onto the desk and in picking her way through items thereon....... to obtain access to the remains of a strawberry milkshake PG left unattended!

And they say cat's don't have a sweet tooth!


The cat that got the 'cream'