Grandcat having extended 'sleepover'!

his_missus

Nonnie, has your daughter tried putting an empty box near her when she's studying? They do say empty boxes attract cats...

meritaten

just a quick post tonight!
Ava and her brother are sleeping over - just got Ava down to sleep and her bro is watching Diary of a Wimpy Kid 'Dog Days'. so no idea if I am going to be left in peace for a minute or an hour!
Barnes has already headed upstairs, but I only left the door open a crack so I can hear if she wakes - he isn't allowed to sleep with them as they are not used to 'co-sleeping cats'.
as it wasn't very warm this morning I suspected Barnes would have a lie-in - and he did! gone 10.30 when he finally surfaced and the sun was warming up his patch by the gate.

nonnie44

Thanks His Missus, that's a great idea I'll try that tomorrow! xx

I think the colder weather has definitely affected my two also, the lovely dome shaped bed that santa bought is a lovely ornament normally but Sam has been using it as its really cosy so that's a bonus, doesn't seem like quite such a waste of money now lol xx

meritaten

sorry -late post. one of the grandkids has been hogging the puter! Yes, I do have another shift for sleepovers. Started out with three tonight but the little one announced she didn't want to stay tonight as soon as she came in - and she stuck to that - she even phoned her mum when my back was turned! so she went home and I just have the twins now - they are watching MIB2 - and will be heading up to bed when that's over.
Barnes is not looking that great today - and I cant figure out why? something is not right, but I cant put my finger on it. he has hardly been out - but its downright COLD today, not to mention damp! and he hardly touched his lunch and has not even looked for his supper. eaten some dry food though, and drank water.
he was also very interested in Ava this morning, he watched her intently, tho he did keep his distance (not to get grabbed again) and was sooooo pleased to see the grandgirls this afternoon.
and he hasn't stopped scratching his neck area! he had a spot on from the vet a couple of weeks back - but it wasn't his usual 'brand'. I cant see any signs of irritation or fleas - but why scratch so much?

meritaten

Well, Barnes is eating, sleeping, peeing and pooing normally! he just seems 'off colour' as he has spent most of today sleeping and ignoring the grandgirls. apart from when K got his grooming stuff out and he heard the Dreamies bag rustle! THAT got a reaction, he virtually leaped over my head to get his Dreamies! he got a 'bit' of grooming and a 'lot' of treats, lol.
its sunday so its a busy day for me - and I go up mums for a few hours (that's enough for me - she drives me nuts!). Barnes didn't even come to greet me when I came in - just raised his head, gave a low yowl and went back to sleep!
I could really have done with his usual affectionate wait by the door, yowl happily on seeing me and rubbing against my legs - then pick him up and have a 'snuggle'! oh well, that's cats for you.

tlchimera

Hi Meri!

Over the last week (two, three weeks?) I've been reading through this thread - it's really cheered me up over a trying few weeks! So glad you've kept up your diary of Barnes - he is such a darling! (Bar the whole poo in the bath thing, having to set a trap all the time would drive me bonkers! You have the patience of a saint - as do most Welsh mams I find.)

Hope you're enjoying your Monday - they really are the best day of the week! I always try to make sure I have a Monday off work, they're my most productive days.

A wee bit about me:
I'm getting married in a month (I became somewhat panic-stricken when I read it was raining in early June last year on this very thread - I truly hope that doesn't happen this year! I'm getting married in Cardiff and live not far from Pontypridd, so the weather is accurate to the location unfortunately!)

No pets as yet - but we're planning on getting a miniature schnauzer after the wedding. Fiance is not a cat person! I was brought up with loads of animals - at one point we had guinea pigs, two dogs and three cats, now that was a house full! All have sadly passed away now. I loved seeing the video of Barnes playing "Catch the Dreamie" - he is utterly stunning! What a darling.

I hope you can cope with a no-cat-as-yet imposter on your thread, because I do love reading about Barnes! (Plus you sound just like my mother-in-law - which always makes me smile. She was brought up around Porth and is a true Welsh mam!)

meritaten

welcome tlchimera! as long as I don't have to share Barnes in 'real life' - everybody is welcome to become his friend on here!
Funnily enough, I know people from Porth and my own DD lives a couple of miles outside Ponty! That's the valleys for you! everyone has a 'connection' to each village in them!
yes, he is a darling and thanks for watching 'his' video! OH isn't really a 'cat person', but within days Barnes had charmed his way into OHs heart.


He seems ok today - apart from runny eyes! he has just decided to go out in garden despite it being a bit wet. I did warn him he would get rubbed dry with his towel (I don't believe I did this - I have it warming on the radiator for when he gets in! rofl!). he sits under that little mini willow, totally oblivious its not an umbrella and he gets wet!

meritaten

Tuesday! Grandgirls day! dunno what I have done to upset the youngest but she didn't even come in! but, she does like to have Mum and Dad all to herself.
the Twins wanted to make biscuits - so a quick look through cookery book and mental inventory of my supplies and they decided on 'Melting Moments'.
got stuck into making them (supervising really as they are capable cooks) and C suddenly noticed that it was belting down outside and asked 'Is Barney in?' 'I think so'. put the bickies in the oven and I am sat on settee when this soaked bedraggled cat appears at the French Doors! Sh.......oot! He was out! tell C to let him while I run for his towel - and Barnes, who knows what,s coming, streaks past me and upstairs hotly pursued by the twins! K caught him and brings him downstairs, and he is swaddled in the towel, and K sits with him in front of the electric fire and dries him off - much to his disgust! we all crack up laughing when she finally decides he is dry, my word - talk about 'Fluffy'! Bless her - she gets his brush and his dreamies and grooms him back to normal!


btw - I hardly ever eat biscuits as I don't have a 'sweet tooth' but had one of the melting moments with a cuppa before the girls went home - and frankly, they were divine! told the girls they were the best bickies I had ever tasted and I meant that!

nonnie44

Aaww poor Barnes, will that be you in the bad books?

Mum used to always make melting moments and they were delicious....must be tired tonight though as twice I read the word as brickies instead of bickies and wondered why you were talking about bricklayers :rotfl: :rotfl: oh dear off to bed I think!

PS Gave dd a cardboard box for Charlie to use in her room and right on que in she jumped - then proceeded to try and pee in it :eek: that cat would piddle anywhere!! Lol

meritaten

Atrix came down today and I mentioned about Barnes scratching his neck area since I applied Spot-on. but he investigated and its 'Ear Mites'! So sorry Barnes! I didn't realise it was your EARS itching you! Thanks Atrix! experienced cat owner there!
tbh - his ears are VERY furry and I didn't notice the signs as I couldn't see them!
and he does NOT like drops in his ears - he got really annoyed and went so far as to yowl swear words at me! had to bribe him with dreamies AND treat stick before he forgave me! the drops seem to have helped though - he isn't scratching as much.
What an awful day - wet and miserable mostly, but fleeting glimpses of sun which made it worse! Sun comes out and Barnes wants out, and ..............it hammers down! Barnes gets totally P'd off after being towelled down twice and doesn't want to go out. he did manage a good half hour out this evening when it dried up a bit - and the wind dropped. but right now - he is 'in bed'. retired early!