Wrongfully accused

I feel it's important to clear the name of Sticks - a neighourhood cat who was accused of spraying on my oven trays. Poor Sticks was not the culprit - it's just that she was the doppelganger of the cat we call 'The Creature'. They look identical, except that the creature has larger ears. Sticks shouldered the blame gracefully, and then sadly died of a heart attack on Christmas day. It was so terrible and strange, I was outside her house talking to her owners about her (clearing her name) and she literally just passed away in the garden right in front of us. She was lying in the sun and seemed really peaceful. I liked you a lot Sticks and I'm glad it wasn't you. We will all miss you around here.

I also wanted to note that it was not even the creature who was doing it - we locked the cat door one night so that once you came in you could not get back out. Sure enough the creature came in and we thought boomshaka laksa! Lewis splashed some water on the creature and then let it out. It had huge balls. Then in the early hours of the morning another cat came in and began to panic. I went out to see what the commotion was only to find it was Zack from 2 doors down and, from the very distinct aroma, it was clear that he was the culprit all along. It was so early I just let Zack out with no punishment.

So, we have two wrongfully accused identical cats - one of which has died and the other of which has been unfairly punished with water. Then we have one offender, who has been allowed to run off scott free, but has not returned regardless. My only hope is that The Creature will forgive us, I miss seeing its kangaroo ears.

Update

It's a very hot time for cats.

The Mooch sleeps next to the open window on a new bed we call 'the cat's pillow' (different to Pachuco's 'king pillow' - a large cushion that is no longer in favour). Pachuco hogs the bed during the day and at night moves down to the end so he can receive love kicks from a sleeping foot. Sometimes he's so motionless I get afraid and check his breathing, but he's always just resting.

They have both been rejecting the moist towelettes that were accepted so gratefully last summer. However, our housesitter Dan had some luck when he placed the towels in the freezer and then transferred them to the cat.

I've been spending a lot of time at home resting too and we all sprawl about in the lounge on the cushions and rugs together thinking about niceness and striving to be loving and happy. Sometimes I bring them a little snack so they won't have to get up. I am learning the benefits of their ways.

Seeing in the dark etiquette

Dear Mooch, is it rude to turn off the kitchen light while you are still eating?

Pachuco goes outside

The creature

I've had to lock the cat door ever night and day now for weeks because a creature has been invading the catspace. At first we saw it eating from behind and it looked like some kind of possum or kangaroo because it's huge with really big floppy ears. It's all black and doesn't wear a collar. I extended a welcome initially because I felt sorry for it. It is so timid and afraid, but yet so brazen. The other cats didn't seem to mind sharing their food with it, in fact it worked out really well because the creature would get rid of their unwanted scraps and then they could always have a nice fresh serving. They leave most of their food and then never want to return.

However, when the creature began spraying all over my oven trays and salad bowls, in my brand new special oven-tray/bowl cabinet I didn't feel very welcoming. It smells like old man's socks! I thought about catching the creature and taking it to the council, but they'll only kill it. Then I met my neighbour, who admitted he was the owner and that the cat's name is Sticks. He took it in as a stray and it's so traumatised that it has to live outside. It keeps pissing on his back-pack, he said.

So now I just have to try and lock it out. The Mooch got constipated at the beginning because she couldn't get outside, and kept spewing up, but now she is used to it. They sit out there and look sadly through the little window until we are kind enough to let them back in. The can get out, but not back in again.

Today I have bought the Mooch a top grade crunchy for 'sensitive stomach, mature'. She took one look and started a throw-back session at the bowl. I hope this will soothe her system. She's so angry at the moment, she shouts at any slight movement and has bitten Lewis on the hand twice.

I

Also

Last night I kicked the cats out of bed because Pachuco sneezed on me under the covers. I made them a bed in the lounge with their own duvet and everything. Then I felt bad and invited them back in. They were good after that.

Not much been going on

It's been pretty quiet in the cathouse, with all the foods getting eaten and the going to bed each night and day. Pachuco and Lewis have been really getting along well, Lewis has been taking close-up photos of him. Pachuco is like that, for a long time you will push him away, thinking 'gross' about his cat snots. But then if you just let him, he will mesmerise you with his cuteness and especially his kind niceness. We love you Pachuco xoxox

Supercoat

They have changed the recipe and made the pieces smaller and now the Mooch is satisfied with them.  She can throw them back in her signature style.  Glad about that.

cute pachuco

Mooch and Pachuco take a break at the Westin

It was a big operation.  The house was infested with LARGE whitetail spiders and possibly funnelwebs on the front porch so I got it fumigated.  I took the cats down to Weston St to visit Lewis for the morning so they wouldn't get fumed out.  They had a good time there, we all went to sleep for a couple of hours and then Pachuco woke up, jumped onto his legs and said "maow!" and it was time to go home.

Pachuco's retirement

On the advice of a good friend, Pachuco has decided to "put down the blackberry" and focus on what's important.

Claw in the head

When I came home last night there was a collection of fur on the front path.  Black and white fur clumps.  The Mooch had a sore eye but  I diagnosed her as fine.  Later on I was patting Pachuco and I found there was a claw sticking out of the top of his head.  I had to pull it out!  It was stuck in there pretty far.  He is fine now.

Bonnet torture

little bini bini

We found some more photos of her on the computer

Bini Bini on the fridge

I don't have many digital photos of her because she died before we got a camera.  She also was a bit of a loner, not a poser like the mooch.  She kept to herself, mainly in the towel section of the laundry cupboard.  She lives on the fridge now, keeping watch over all the food.  She loved food the most out of any cat.

Our cat shrine

Tribute to Rufus and Sardinia

Here are some photos of little Rufus and Sardinia when they were babies

glossy moochi

The Mooch

The Mooch is very thoughtful at the moment.  She doesn't appear to enjoy food.  Perhaps it's the heat.  I said I wasn't going to buy those $30 packet of crunchies from the vets anymore, they're too expensive, but she went on a hunger strike.  Of course there's nothing else she likes to eat - Optimum is now inferior and Supercoat's pieces don't give her room to use the throw-back eating style she is fond of.  They are too big to throw back.  She won't eat any meats - the only things I'm able to give her as treats are eggs, which she laps us from a special bowl, and a spoonful of cancer food left over from times of sickness.  It's like pate.  Can a cat be a vegetarian?  She is snoring right now.