Grandcat having extended 'sleepover'!

meritaten

you all know by now that Barnes doesn't DO lapsitting. he will however, give lovely cat massages. so I lay back and settled down, and sure enough Barnes appeared and gave a very brief cat massage - and then proceeded to settle down on my tummy and go to sleep! I couldn't believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't move a muscle for at least fifteen minutes - good thing 'escape to the country' was on! I like that and wasn't tempted to get up and find something interesting to do! then he stirred and started grooming his paws - I held my hand in front of him - but it must have offended him because he jumped off me!
jeez - whats next? he is affectionate and I finally have him anticipating his 'groom' time. he goes and sits on the mat and waits for me to appear with combs and treats. he doesn't mind me stroking his belly if he is stretched out (just don't have a comb in my hand, or he disappears usually, unless he is in a VERY good mood).
He only occasionally swats me 'upside the head' - if I am ignoring all his squeeks and yowls! lol.
he knows now, I don't like him sleeping on my head - so he sleeps on a pillow, encased in a lovely satin pillowcase, at the foot of the bed, or on the windowsill. rarely, he will cuddle up to my back or my front! but that is rare! usually on stormy nights! or a few times when I have felt poorly.
its coming up to six months since Barnes came to live with us - and I adore him - he means so much to me!

Lifeforms

He is changing his ways, he's become very comfortable with living in your household, and it obviously suits him very well! I really do think at the start they do wonder if this is the forever home, and after a time of being comfortable and getting used to family life, they realise that actually it is, and actually this is quite nice. Thing with cats is, you can't force them to do stuff, but they really do do it themselves after a while.

I think he is very happy where he is, and allowing you to see it, and I think with both your OH (even on the sly!) and yours attention with him is more than he needs. Your son shouldn't ever feel bad or sad that he had to give him away, but more should feel great that he gave up a loved animal to a better home. Plus it's enriched your life now as well!

duchy

I think it is very clear that Barnes in your life has just very simply made you happier Meri. It's win win all round.

meritaten

thank you Lifeforms and Duchy! Yes I think he is 'settling down' nicely! he is a lovely cat and everyone who meets him falls for him. My son loved him too - but his household is very different to mine - I am so grateful to Atrix for recognising that Barney wasn't happy and needed a quieter home and to be an 'Only' cat. Underlines that every animal is different, with different needs and that although the owners are wonderful people and love their pets very much - sometimes it just isn't the right environment for that animal. it takes a lot of love and sacrifice to then let that animal go to a different home. in this case its worked out beautifully - Atrix still gets to see Barney! and I get the best cat in the world!

meritaten

my apologies to everyone who expected a Barney update last night - I was feeling a bit poorly and went to bed very early. I never even booted up computer yesterday! that's almost unheard of for me!

I think Barnes knew I wasn't too well - I not only got the cat massage he settled down on me for a sleep too! must be his way of 'healing'! lol. wouldn't work for me - I don't think Reiki clients would approve of me 'napping' on them!
seems to work though - I feel much better today!
Perhaps I should offer 'Barney Therapy'? a five minute cat massage followed by a fifteen minute 'catnap'? literally!
rofl - jeez - might work out in California - but not here in sunny south wales! besides Barney might not want to become a 'working' cat - puhlease - he is 'aristocatry'!
He is on his very best behaviour! being such a good cat! what can I say except that - I am really blessed. I have wonderful children, grandkids and BARNEY!

meritaten

Barney is getting very 'mouthy' - he now demands attention from OH by sitting and yowling at him! lol - OH says 'What you want now Barnes'? I strongly suspect that when I am not around OH takes Barnes toys out and plays with him. In the evenings OH likes to watch TV and Barney usually settles down with him. either on the back of the settee or OH has a habit of piling up all the cushions - so Barnes settles himself down on those. But earlier - I did see Barnes jump up and rub his face along OHs arm..........Awwwwwwww, which earned him a stroke and a 'Oh, I didn't put the soft one on top, sorry Barnes, Here you go'! rofl!

I am BETRAYED! Barnes is sitting on OHs lap! or rather curled up on it! just went into lounge to get my other specs (these are my spare ones and they are a bit 'tight') and Barney is curled up on OHs lap! hmmmm - I wonder if he will now lapsit with me? patience meri! Barney has the measure of OH - perhaps he is making OH feel special?

meritaten

its Tuesday so its Grandgirls day! Barney loves this - he normally gets a 'playtime' with them and today was no exception! After they had baked a cake (Toffee Loaf Cake - Delish, and thiers had a better 'rise' than mine!), Barney played 'pingponguppastairs', then had a fine time chasing hazelnuts round the downstairs - I expect I will be finding them in odd places for weeks to come!
OH doing his 'on call' week and was out until five minutes ago - Barney is missing his TV buddy! been looking for OH and waiting in the hallway for him to come in!

meritaten

I think I am winning POO Wars! lost count of days now - its been months since he pooed in the bath! still not confident enough NOT to boobytrap the bath though - and even OH is doing it automatically when he has showered!

I may have found the source of fleas! I did the whole house with the household spray didn't I. well, I was sorting out some old books I um, 'hid' in the spare room wardrobe and one jumped right off the page at me! I never thought of the little bu99ers hiding in books and wardrobes! So the wardrobe got sprayed inside! (hope they choked!), and I am going to spray all 'new' Charity shop book purchases in the outside porch (the one that doesn't have an entrance to house. Oh, that sounds silly, but I mean the old rear porch which we blocked off when we got patio doors!), and leave them there for hour or so!
actually, I just caught myself thinking I should spray all purchases - but that would be silly wouldn't it? Paranoid thinking there meri!
but, then again it would horrify some of you if you had seen the state of some of the stockrooms of some retailers I have worked in!

btw - Barney is fine today - but, I really must weigh him again. his coat feels a bit coarse and I am wondering whether he is due 'worming'. must dig out the old calendar and have a look.

Slinky

If it was off a book it could have been a paper flea rather than a cat flea.

meritaten

Slinky wrote: »

If it was off a book it could have been a paper flea rather than a cat flea.

Not taking any chances Slinky! I had so much trouble getting rid of the last lot!