Happy Birthday to me

It is my birthday today, I am now 8 years old.

Slushy Snow & Squirrels

I woke up to snow falling with some settling on the houses and cars. The grass had turned white but the snow was very slushy. I spent some time outside checking what was going on but spent most of the day inside the house with David.

Here is proof I was outside keeping an eye on a cheeky squirrel. David apologises for the poor quality photograph but he wouldn't join me outside and took it through the double glazing, honestly! 

Igloo

A few weeks ago David brought home something new.  At first I was a bit suspicious as it looked like my carrier box and that this meant another trip to the V.E.T. I had a little look but didn't hang around just in case I ended up inside.
Well it turns out this is not a way to take me away but in fact a rather cosy bed. As the cooler temperatures are on the way I have given the bed a test run and think this could be a useful alternative place to sleep.

Six monthly checkup

As soon as I saw my personal carrier in the living room I new something was up. David had prevented my escape into the garden by locking the cat flap and after a little struggling I agreed to get in. We then got in the car and took the short drive (David was driving) to the V.E.T. Only a short wait before we went in to to see Jay. He gave me a good inspection and listened to my heart. All seemed OK but he did say I was slightly over my ideal weight, blooming cheek. I am currently weighing in at 4.8 KGs and it would be better to be about half a Kg lighter. Then I had my injection and got back into the personal carrier.

We were back home in no time and I spent a leisurely day snoozing and enjoying the September sunshine.

First Anniversary

It was a year ago today that I relocated from my temporary residence in Battersea to Staines. I had been in a small apartment in Battersea Dogs and Cats Home when David came along and kindly decided to give me a bigger home with a garden. (Strangely enough this is the same journey David undertook in 1999 when he moved from his small, 9th floor, flat to the house in Staines). Living in a house was a new experience for me as I had always been living in flats up until then.

After a few days in a single en suite room with food and water I started to explore the house more widely. There were lots of places to explore under beds and behind sofas but my favourite place was on a soft cushion on a chair in my room.

Sometime later I ventured into the garden which gave me a whole new set of experiences including grass, bigger plants and trees as well as birds and insects to chase. The garden has several spots I use to sunbathe and have some Al fresco brushing.

All in all it has been a good year and a good decision on my part to take David on to look after me.

Lost & Found

What an adventure!
Quite an unusual week for me and I'll firstly tell it from David's point of view.
All seemed normal on Tuesday night when David went to bed but next morning he could not find me. Unusually David was up late as he had to go to the dentist for a check up (I think this is a bit like a V.E.T. but for humans). Even though it was later than usual I did not reappear. After the dentist trip David returned home before heading off to work and I was still nowhere to be seen.
Later that day David got home from work and looked around for me in the house and garden. I usually meet David as he comes in as I am generally finishing my afternoon nap.

There had been no sign of me since David went to bed the previous night so he started to call on the neighbours to ask if they could check their gardens and sheds in case I had been shut in somewhere (like the greenhouse a few weeks ago!). Everyone he spoke to assured him they would check and let him know if they had any news. The only other things to do was to post a message on the local V.E.T. lost and found pages and the local NextDoor Website giving a description of me and when I was last seen.

There was no further news so after a quiet evening in the house David went to bed. It wasn't a good night's sleep as he kept waking up.

Then at 4 A.M. David heard a quiet mewing sound. He jumped up as I had decided to make a reappearance at the top of the stairs, non the worse for wear but a bit hungry. David seemed pleased to see me. After some stroking I had some food and settled down for the rest of the night. Today I am going to take it easy and catch up on some snoozing, back to normal then really!

Lost Found Cat

Well I have given David's view and as for what really happened? Well being a cat I am keeping that to myself!

On the mend

I have been feeling better over the last day or so, I haven't been sick again so it seems the injections and tablets are helping. My appetite is not fully back to normal but I have been eating a bit more. Judging by the weather forecast today I had better stay indoors and do a bit more recuperation.

Feeling Peaky

Over the last few days I have not felt myself, rather lethargic and not very hungry, I have also been ill several times and made a mess on the carpet! Also feeling tired and sleeping more than usual as well not wanting to go into the garden. David noticed this and this evening he got out my personal carry conveyance and took me round to the V.E.T.

It is only a short drive but I registered my annoyance with a few miaows as we set off but being a sensible cat I quickly quietened down. After a short wait we went into see the V.E.T. named Alice. David explained my symptoms and then I had a good examination. Alice could feel nothing wrong with me and my temperature and heart rate were fine. I may have picked up a bug that has upset my stomach over the last few days. I had two injections (Cerenia and Zantac) I also have some tablets (Zitac) to stop me being sick. Alice recommended some plain food (Hills Prescription Diet pouches) and to have very small meals for a while. David is going to keep an eye on me and see how I get on.

After David waved a small piece of plastic at the receptionist we left the surgery, got back in the car and got home quickly. I tried the new food and enjoyed it, I even ate the little white table David had mixed in. I now plan to have a quiet evening with a little bit more food and a good nap.

Hopefully, I'll get over this in the next few days and be back to full health, bounding up and down the garden, like this.

Solitary Confinement!

Well! what can I say?  There I was, being a dutiful cat, checking on the condition of the greenhouse (rather untidy and too much clutter by the way) when the door was slid shut trapping me inside. It was starting to get dark but I thought David would be back soon to let me out to continue my rounds. Nooo... he obviously enjoyed his supper alone, switched off the lights and went off to a cosy bed. For that was it for the night trapped in the greenhouse with no food or water, not even a comfy cardbox or blanket to settle down on.

All that night I had to make myself comfortable and wait it out. As it was a week day David was up early and at about 6:30 he (rather sheepishly) opened the greenhouse door and I was free once again.
I was ready for my breakfast by this point and David duly obliged with a Sheba soup followed by my usual breakfast. It didn't make a fuss or complain ( as a soppy dog might have done) but I have told David that it must not happen again.

TV Birdwatching

Here I am doing a bit of TV bird watching. I don't pay attention to much TV (prefer Radio 4) but when there is a nesting bird to spot then that gets my attention!

Watching the Sunrise

Here is a picture of me watching the sunrise (and waiting for my breakfast). 

Bernard Recommends - Faux leopard skin tunnel!

Another episode in an occasional series of recommendations for the discerning cat.  This time Faux leopard skin tunnel!

I didn't know what to make of this when it arrived as it took a lot of space. It is about 5 feet long and covered in fake leopard skin style patterning (I am glad is is not real because some of my distant relations are leopards!) . It is smooth on the inside with two look out points in the side.

After a day or two I started to get used to it and now I like nothing better (well apart from a good brush) than hiding or dashing through the tunnel.

It is easy to pack away the tunnel as it is a giant spring that can be squeezed together and secured with toggles, so far it has just remained on the carpet!

Inevitably, David has taken some photos of me using the tunnel.

Checking all is clear in the tunnel.

This is me keeping a lookout from the tunnel

This is me taking it easy but still on watch.

Check up at the Vets

Time does fly and I have now been with David for six months so it was time for a check up at the vets.

David had been out for an early morning haircut but when he came back he assembled the carrier box I had travelled in from Battersea. He had tried to be helpful by putting in some of my blankets to make it seem more homely but I wasn't too keen to be cooped up in there. Still being a brave cat I did get in with only a few miaows to express my displeasure.

Then I was put into the car and we had a short trip to the Willets House vets in Staines for my 9A.M. appointment. David put some music on in the car to calm me but, to be honest, I was more concerned about all the strange noises from outside the car.

Once at the vets surgery I hunkered down at the far end of my carrier to keep a low profile. Then after a short wait we went into see the veterinary nurse. There was nothing too bad to go through as she checked my weight, eyes, ears and teeth. There were no lumps or bumps she could find and my heart was beating at the right pace so I passed through the check up without any problems.

Once that was all over I got back into my carrier and David took me home whereupon I went for a snooze on the duvet.

Using a cat flap

This is a pictorial guide to using my catflap. 

Entering the house.

First thing is to check all is clear by having a good look through the cat flap...

Then use a paw, I prefer to use my right paw, to open up the cat flap...

Start to push through with aforementioned paw and nose...

 Give a push with your back legs and slip through...

 Bring your back legs in and you are done.

 Leaving the House

 Check all is clear outside and behind...

 Push through using your nose...

Slide through...

and push off with your back legs...

Make sure your tail makes it out and you are done,

Bernard Recommends - Cat nip birds

Another episode in an occasional series of recommendations for the discerning cat.

This time--- Cat Nip Bird (with feather tail!)

This is a great toy the CatNip makes me want to chase the toy all around the kitchen and the feathers tickle my nose.

Winterwatch - I'm a fan.

You may know I am a big fan of wildlife programmes on TV so I was keen to keep up with the latest news from BBC Winterwatch