Grandcat having extended 'sleepover'!

his_missus

Hi Meri!

My brood are back together again. Blackie seems quite settled, thankfully, and Casper is clearly happy to have his snugle buddy back.

Scrappy is less settled. He's very clingy and he even peed against a cardboard box I'd left at the bottom of the stairs yesterday!He's spent the past 2 nights on our bed - either clambouring on top of us or trying to suck my pj top, duvet or pillow. He's back on the ovarid as of today.

That bully cat was sat on the shed yesterday so I commanded the dog to "Go get the black and white cat" He must have only heard "Get black" as he flew out of the door straight up to a sunbathing Blackie and nudged him right in the ear with a very wet nose:rotfl:

Hopefully though, the bully cat has seen the dog and will steer clear for a while.

meritaten

hi lifeforms - glad you enjoy reading about Barnes - I enjoyed reading about your rascal!

hi his missus - family all back together now then? poor Blackie, having a wet dogs nose in your ear isn't much fun!


Barnes is really enjoying all this sunny weather - we went out into garden again this afternoon and spent a couple of hours out there. I figured if I moved a bit of very solid wire 'caging' against gate I could relax as Barnes couldn't get out,,,,,,,and it worked! I sat and read for ages and Barnes had a lovely time exploring and napping and chasing bees and wasps. He really does have a 'thing' for that box plant, OH clips it into a square (his idea of a joke - its a 'BOX' - geddit?) he sniffed it, rubbed himself up against it, sniffed it some more and thrust his head into it again! I had a look later just incase some poor unsuspecting bird was in there - but I cant see anything except box plant! ) I want to get him used to the idea of going out into the garden but not venturing from it. I really enjoyed it too - it was absolutely lovely today!
Barnes sat in front of his food bowl at lunchtime and yowled loudly - that means he fancies wet food - so he got some. he ate most of that - but left some for Ron which had gone by suppertime. so he got more wet food. he is asking for a wet food lunch more often now so I must get some more in, or I am going to run out before I do his monthly food shop! I am wondering about this 'leaving a bit for 'Ron' thing he does with his food......is it something his Kittymama taught him? like always scatter some litter outside the tray to ward off evil spirits? or clean your face before meals? before he got on a plane and came over here? or is it he trusts that as he is an 'only' cat, he can afford to leave some for later and nobody is going to wolf it down before he can get back to it?
perhaps I will never know. but if he prefers wet food - then wet food he shall have.

his_missus

Meri, my cats tend to leave a small amount of food in the bowl but then they all go and see what each other has left and finish it off. This week, if they don't clear their plates the dog does it for them Tikka got revenge last night though and gobbled some of Tommo's food, he was most unimpressed!
Hopefully we're all back together for good, will have to see how Scrappy is in a few weeks.

meritaten

well, Barnes has polished off a pouch of chicken and liver and a tray of Sheba lamb and veg and a good portion of dry food today. he seems to be getting his appetite back - but it isn't going to do my bank balance any good - I need to go Barnes food shopping a week early!
oh well - anything for my 'Persian Prince'!
I let him into garden today - he wandered round and casually sauntered down to the bottom of the garden.......and tried to jump over garden wall! unluckily for him, I was expecting it and caught him virtually in mid-air! rofl - his face was priceless.
he chased a wasp around and batted it on to the decking where it disappeared down a gap, he looked for it for ages while I was giggling away. the look of puzzlement on his face......oh dear, it made me laff. he also made an Olympic style leap to catch a butterfly about six foot in the air - and managed to get a paw on it, but it escaped - much to his disgust!
he is really loving 'outside' time.
I want him to have outside time - but cant take the risk of him getting out of the garden. I don't think he can get over side fences, but the bottom fence and gate are fairly easy for him to jump over. I have to re-design them to be 'Barney-proof', before I can trust him out on his own.
Barnes has always been an 'indoor' cat - he isn't street savvy and our street isn't safe for him. besides which, he is an obviously expensive pedigree cat - a target and 'easy money' to some people. he must be kept indoors or in a secure garden. so, how to make my back garden escape-proof while not looking like a maximum security jail!

Natty68

Meri can I ask who this "Ron" is that Barnes leaves his food for? I think it's so sweet

Oh and I've been reading your thread from day one and absolutely love it Barnes is a real character

MrsAtobe

Natty68 wrote: »

Meri can I ask who this "Ron" is that Barnes leaves his food for? I think it's so sweet

Oh and I've been reading your thread from day one and absolutely love it Barnes is a real character

I'm guessing it's Ron, as in later-on

his_missus

meritaten wrote: »

so, how to make my back garden escape-proof while not looking like a maximum security jail!

My neighbour got some plastic "spiky" strips to put along his bottom fence to discourage my cats from walking along it. Apparently, cats can't get a grip on it but it doesn't hurt them if they try. It worked in that they didn't walk along his new fence - they just jumped over our adjoining fence and then the fence that adjoins his to next door but one's :rotfl:

Perhaps something like that will discourage Barnes from climbing over? http://www.primrose.co.uk/fence-and-wall-spikes-strip-p-365.html

Natty68

MrsAtobe wrote: »

I'm guessing it's Ron, as in later-on

Aaaah didn't think of that one...lol

meritaten

Natty - yes its 'Later-Ron'! but thanks for your kind comments and I am glad you enjoy reading about Barnes.
thanks Mrs Atobe!
his missus - thanks for the link - but it wont work on my back wall. I will try to take a pic and show you all what I mean tomorrow - any thoughts will be appreciated!
It has been a beautiful day here again - Barnes has had a wonderful afternoon in the garden. he even forgot to come in and demand lunch! There was a bee buzzing around 'his' box plant - and he sat watching it and 'cat-smiling'..............hmmmmm I wondered what he was thinking, until he went into 'stalk mode'. he crept up slowly, very slowly and POUNCED! and the dam bee buzzed away! and to add insult to injury another bee flew straight past his nose!!!!!!!! I couldn't help it, I was laughing my head off. so His Highness stalked indoors and went up for a nap on bedroom windowsill. until a bird landed in the corkscrew hazel - I heard an almighty thump and he thundered down the stairs and rocketed through the hall, dining room, living room and out the French Doors...........and the bluddy bird flew away! one livid cat! roflmao! I couldn't help thinking it was a good job the French Doors were open the speed he was going!!!!!

He came in and stopped. thought a minute and decided it was time for groom and treats - which he enjoys (mostly) now. so he sat in his grooming spot and yowled even more imperiously than usual.
I had run out of webbox treat sticks - so had the corner shop last night so he had to have 'Whiskas' ones. jeez - they feel like plastic! but he did eat them. at least he had his 'dreamies'.
we sat out in garden again this evening - the breeze had got up and he came and leaned against me (stealing my body heat?). I got a bit teary because my last cat Nicki loved to come out in the garden with me, but he felt the cold and would come and either lean against me or creep onto my lap and cuddle in. Nicki was a British long hair, ginger and white and their temperaments are similar. Nicki though had FIV and was near death when I 'found' him. but he had three and a half good years with me and OH. strange how random events can bring the past back like its yesterday. I have missed Nicki a lot but Barnes is certainly keeping me entertained!

his_missus

Ah well, Meri, it was just a thought.

I'm beginning to think Scrappy may end up at "Grandma's" permanently. We thought he was ok but caught him threatening to pee against a bag that had been left on the floor last night. Further investigating found 2 more bags in the spare room (packed up for a car boot sale in a few weeks) had also been peed on. I'm asuming it's him - they were ok when I put them there on Sunday.

Mum said when I take the dog back, I can take Scrappy too to see how he goes. Thing is he's always fine at mum's but I don't know if she wants him permanently. (We were never allowed cats as children because we lived on a busy road. That busy road now has a motorway junction round the corner and a primary school so it's a really busy road. Although she has said she's never seen Scrappy round the front...)

Do you think I should leave him with us for a while (he's back on the ovarid which is at least stopping the overgrooming) and see if he settles after a few weeks then ween him off the ovarid?