Grandcat having extended 'sleepover'!

meritaten

oh poor Scrappy - and poor your mum! what a shame they cant talk and tell us whats wrong! could it be 'habit' you think? I knew a parrot once, that had a skin condition and pulled all its chest feathers out - and even though the skin condition cleared up, he still used to pluck them out - vet said it was habitual then and they still haven't really stopped it. Though he doesn't do it as much now.

was in all morning and it was lovely and sunny so Barnes kept me fit by wanting 'in and out' of the garden.
The grandtwins are here for their sleepover - so Barnes is happy. Kids to sleep with tonight - I doubt if I will have the pleasure of his company now! They are watching a Christmas DVD but will be going to bed when it finishes in about ten mins.
I just realised that I had forgotten to give him his supper - he hasn't complained, but was tucking into his dry food (quite noisily!).

I got him a pack of cheap cat toys from poundstretcher for one of his Christmas presents - I am debating whether to get that game they are showing on the adverts - the one that mimics a mouse under a cover? he does like to pounce on fingers or toes that move under the bedcover so he may like it. but £15 is a lot of money if he doesn't!
got to take grandtwins to bed now.

nonnie44

I've bought it for my two but I'm a bit worried that sam might destroy it if he sits on it lol. He is on a diet but he gets so grumpy and swipes at his sister when he gets 'deprived' of food :rotfl:
So it'll either be good for him or it'll be broken by Boxing Day but it does look quite fun xx

meritaten

Sorry no post last night - but, I was watching both Strictly programmes and by the end of it - I was too tired to plug in the computer! and I hate using the tablet to post, it comes out as complete rubbish! some may say 'no change there then!'
I have been trying to catch up on Christmas shopping, and now, apart from the fresh food, i think I have it covered. its meant that Barnes has had to amuse himself, but he doesn't seem to mind that much. as long as I adhere to his timetable of food and G&T and playtime, he allows me a lot of free time to do as I wish.
I still haven't made up my mind about that cat game nonnie, I may go see if one is on display somewhere and have a listen to how 'noisy' it is. he absolutely hates a lot of noise (so does OH) and that may well be the deciding factor!
I must do some present wrapping - Barnes loves that! he very helpfully sits on the end of the wrapping paper, he rounds up stray bows, and chases curls of ribbon around and hides them under the settees. he also likes to personally inspect and approve each gift to be wrapped. he has tried writing the labels for me, but as OH was using the pen at the time he got shouted at! lol.
I must be better - he hasn't waited on the stairs or the bed to order me to get into bed last couple of nights. although, just as I was contemplating getting back up and getting a hottie bottle for my feet last night, he did come and curl up on them! Psychic Cat does it again! I sleep so much better if he is near me too.

his_missus

I do wonder if Scrappy's hair pulling is a bad habit, like people who chew their nails (I used to). The Ovarid did seem to break the cycle last time so I'm trying that again. I did wonder whether he doesn't like being left alone and that is what is causing the stress but being at mum's should have sorted that as she's almost always at home these days.


I like the idea of Barnes helping to wrap presents. Mine seem to have no interest in Christmas whatsoever this year.

meritaten

hope it works again for Scrappy his missus.

We did some pressie wrapping tonight - 'helped' by Barnes of course. OH gets a bit annoyed with him - but I think its funny - which annoys OH even more!
Strange thing - OH got the bag of kids pressies from Smyths down and was getting them out when he said 'Did you pick this up'? This was one of those little footballer models. 'No, I didnt'. now how on earth did it get in the bag? we cant work it out. and the weirdest thing is, is that its youngest grandsons favourite football team (Chelsea). it isn't on the receipt either!
Was up early this morning and Barnes was eager to go out - but it was still pitch dark! he wasn't happy I made him wait until dawn (or what passed for it on a cold dank morning). he stayed out for ages and I could see he wasn't happy that the wind was ruffling his fur! Point made Barnes! so, I put the fire on so he could be toasty warm when he came in! he hasn't ventured out since though, lol. He wont sit in front of the fire because I have a sheepskin rug there, and he avoids it like the plague! he HATES the feel of it! OH suggested getting him a nice cat bed to put on back of his favourite settee - but, he is rather fussy about fabrics. sheepskin and microfiber are anathema to him and most of the pet beds have either one or both!

his_missus

My three don't venture out much in this weather. Far to cold, windy and wet for them. Casper's out all day but I think he may have adopted some little old lady as we never see him until 7pm, almost on the dot everyday. I'm imagining this is when she sends him home so she can tootle to bed
Tikka stares out of the cat flap and occasionally pokes her head out then changes her mind and Scrappy goes out, does his biz and is back in within a minute.


Roll on summer when they can lounge in the sun all day...

meritaten

oooh - I miss summer! hate being cold, hate being wet, hate the wind blowing me about! the only thing I like about winter is being tucked up in a nice warm bed with a storm raging outside!!! Is there a little feline in me do you think?

More pressie wrapping this evening, Barnes did his best to help, but got told off by OH for his efforts. so he went up and 'helped' DS1 who was wrapping up his gifts in our front bedroom. lol.

its been another miserable day weatherwise - even Barnes was a bit reluctant to go out first thing. and he wasn't long either - couple of minutes and he was back inside! and only put a paw outside briefly after lunch when it stopped drizzling for a few minutes. then he came in and had a 'mad half hour'.

I did the last of my shopping when OH came back from work - its done now and anything I have forgotten can stay forgotten. I wont set foot in the shops tomorrow. I have the day planned with almost military precision.

his_missus

Meri, I think there's a little bit of feline in all cat owners, their habits must rub off on us.


I hope you, Barnes and Mr Meri all have a wonderful Christmas xxx

meritaten

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Been so busy I have just about made it to bed, the last couple of nights, without falling asleep before I got there!
Christmas Eve went like clockwork, for a change! Christmas day - my plan of action worked and I was only ten minutes late putting the grandkids dinner on the table..............that was 'first sitting' as my dining table (and dining room) physically cant accommodate 14 people.
Barnes had a lovely Christmas day too. I got up at 6.00am because tummy was acting up again and me and Barnes had a lovely cuddle on settee while painkillers kicked in. then when OH got up we exchanged pressies. Barnes was most interested in his! the box of cat toys he was delighted with - I opened it and poured them all out at his paws and he started batting them about and chasing them! Then I shook his other pressie.................so he immediately abandoned his toys as he heard the distinctive sound of hundreds of dreamies being shaken! (I had bought him every variety -including some he hasn't had before and I think he is looking forward to trying them all).
Barnes then got groomed much to his surprise! Well I knew it wouldn't get done at his normal time - so he had an early morning session and we finished of with a rather long game of 'catchthedreamies'.
DD brought him a pressie too - some more balls for him to play with and he has played with those today - entirely his option to do so too!
lol - his favourites out of the box of cat toys are these little furry mice things - but they are exactly the same colour as my carpet downstairs so I cant see them and keep treading on them!

meritaten

Very quiet relaxed day today! Not much to tell you really - except that Barnes has only been out once today.............too cold for him? We didn't get the promised snow - which I was looking forward to as he has never set foot in snow before and I wanted to see his reaction. But, I will be careful what I wish for here! don't want to end up 6 foot deep in snow for weeks on end!

Grandgirls sleeping over - so no nice warm Barnes to warm my feet or my back.