Cat on a chimney

Posted on March 1, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Bird, Cat, Chimney, Garden, LifeLeave a comment

sketch-1551441776284 I’ve seen squirrels up there, but never a cat on our neighbours chimney. In fact thinking about it I’m surprised I haven’t seen one before. The back of the building is where an old shed and outhouse used to be. In the way of these things someone had converted the back into a bathroom but had pretty much left the roof and chimney in situ. The only change being that they have capped the chimney with a large slab of concrete. I guess this is a pretty good vantage point for cats. There is increased activity from the birds so they are prowling around looking to chase things.

This is not one of my cats which both live entirely indoors. But our garden does attract a lot of the neighbours cats Luckily there is no sign of feathers to indicate birds have been taken, but it is a worry. I also saw another cat high up in our privet hedge this morning. It was very wobbly. Any bird would have flown before it could be attacked. _20190301_115628

This, believe it or not is a blue tit in the garden. It was too far away to get much detail. It’s waiting to fly to one of our numerous bird feeders.

Happy cat

Posted on February 27, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Blog, Cat, Fun, Life, Mat, Poem, Poetry, PurrLeave a comment

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The cat lay on the mat,

paws curved under his chin.

Soft black and white fur.

Ready to purr ….

His eyes are sharp

His claws are sharper

A miaow of satisfaction

comes from his mouth

Asleep, but ready for action.

Looking out

Posted on February 26, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Birds, Cat, Cats, Garden, Life, Temperature, Warmth, WeatherLeave a comment

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When a cat wants to look out of the window they don’t care what’s in the way. A few days ago I found one of my cats with their back half on the box of bird food and their front paws on the window ledge. The bird activity at the moment is quite busy because of the warm weather we have been having. It was 18 degrees Celsius yesterday in this area and has been 19 degrees in the Midlands today. The highest temperature in the country today was 20 degrees the hottest since records began for a February day. The normal temperature is about 5 to 8 degrees at this time of year. Last year when the beast from the east was here we were getting lows of minus 5 degrees.

Part of the reason for all this is the fact that Britain is in a temperate area. We have winds that arrive from all directions, and depending on the direction we get lots of varied weather. At the moment we have had a high pressure area situated over us so we are in a quite stable situation. There is a big dip in the jet stream so warm air is being pulled up from the south. We are actually in warmer air than in Greece at the moment. The pressure is due to reduce and we are expecting cooler air and some rain later in the week.

Anyway I was talking about birds but got distracted. My husband bought a woven birds nest yesterday that wrens can nest in. We are expecting blue tits to nest in the garden this year and we also get blackbirds that nest in the hedge and the ivy on the house. The only problem is this warmth is bringing insects out but their food plants are not flowering yet. We need it to be cooler for at least another month .

The cats enjoy watching the birds, chattering at pigeons and sparrows. I’m glad we don’t let them out in the garden. But we have many cats that visit so we try and keep the vegitation cut enough but leave some cover for birds to hide in.

Anyway I’m feeling pretty bad at the moment with tonsillitis so I think I will just leave this ramble here.

Cat watching

Posted on February 20, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Animals, Cat, Cute, Feline, Funny, Learning, Life, Lion, Photo, Play, TVLeave a comment

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In 50 years of owning or being owned by cats none of them have ever properly watched TV. Oh Yes they have stared at it in a disinterested way. If they happen to be facing in that direction, but nothing stirred them.

That changed with my female cat which I have had for a couple of years. She started by watching little things like birds and mice, but she really did get interested when we watched cat programmes. Now she seems really into things like lions. I got a few photos a couple of months ago of her standing up and looking at the screen. How does she know, or not, that there is a genetic linkage with big cats? Do they move in a similar way? Was it the noises they were making….. I don’t know. I think it’s cute behaviour and I also think she’s a lot cleverer than her brother.. . You should see her play.

Cat in another box

Posted on February 12, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Animal, Blogging, Cat, Humour, Life, Scratches, TummyLeave a comment

This rascal likes to get in boxes and I often put one in the kitchen so he can sleep in the warm.

I can stroke his cheeks and nose, but try giving him a belly rub and the claws come out. I don’t know if it’s because he’s being terratorial or if he’s showing me he’s boss He doesn’t mind my partner tickling his tummy.

He’s not scared of me and is usually purring loudly when he attacks. I think it’s play fighting. My hands have been clawed these last couple of days though. Then I read all the diseases you can catch off cats….. Maybe that’s what’s up with me?

Sitting here

Posted on February 12, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Bed, Blog, Blogging, Cat, Late, Life, Reflections, Rest, Sleep, TiredLeave a comment

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With one of the cats, it’s 2am and I’m still not sleepy. Just had a decaff coffee and a yoghurt because we had our evening meal 8 hours ago and I’m more than a little peckish.

I keep thinking I will go to bed early. Like in that old saying about ” early to bed early to rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise”. I guess I’m none of those. I will go up in a bit.. .. All this started over a year ago when my partner had his new (then) motorbike stolen. We tracked it down and got it back (now there’s a funny story) but ever since I have listened out most nights to the traffic and footsteps of people passing. Its not good for me I know. So here I am again (starting a sentence with so) (but that was OK in the sound of music?) … Anyway. Its dark and I find now I do actually want to sleep. Perhaps I have bored myself to sleep!

Goodnight x

The cat got the cream

Posted on February 12, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Bad rhymes, Cat, Cream, Food, Fun, Humour, Poem, Poetry2 Comments

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How smug he is,

this grinning cat,

He ate the cream

He’s getting fat.

He purrs and purrs,

And stirs and stirs

The creamy bowl

While on the prowl.

His paws delights

In pudding bites

In pastry domes

And ice cream cones.

With cheese

If you please

And butter

In a flutter

But meat?

He won’t eat!

Watch the birdie

Posted on February 11, 2019February 11, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Birds, Cat, Feeding, Fun, Inside cat, Life3 Comments

I just went into the kitchen, the cat had been sitting on top of the tub of Bird food but he had moved and had his paws on the window ledge, crouched down and looking out. So I crept up behind him and saw what he was looking at. We just got a really large bird feeder and the birds love it. I guess there will be a lot more birds in the garden.

I’m glad he’s an indoor cat. …

He also likes scratching his claws on the settee although he has two scratching posts. Being the cats mother is an interesting job.

Wedgewood artisan market

Posted on February 10, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Art, Barlaston, Blog, Cat, Crafts, Design, Fun, Life, Pottery, Something to do on Sunday, Staffordshire, Wedgewood, Wedgewood artisan market4 Comments

It was a fairly bright morning once you dodged the rain showers so we decided to visit wedgewood artisan market (2nd Sunday of each month). It’s at the Wedgewood factory, near Barlaston,, Staffordshire. We had a fine potters full breakfast in the dining room there (with beans and oatcake). Our friend from Yorkshire was visiting so it was good to show him one of the local attractions. Once we had eaten we went round the outdoor and indoor stalls. Charis Jones with her Sculpted Steel was there, together with Pat Myatt and her potteries art work. Other stalls included whisky fudge, crafted wool blankets, various cheeses and cakes, you could even buy your own fairy kit to make a fairy like the ones at Trentham Gardens. My partner bought me a kit and I bought him a wood turned pen. We also went inside the wedgewood visitor centre and I spent a happy hour trying to create a cat design plate. The pens and pencils they had were not very good but hopefully the image on the plate (a lithograph) will be OK.

I took a couple of progress photos but not one if the finished design. It might take 6 weeks for it to be delivered though…

Cat scratches

Posted on February 9, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Animal, Blog, Blogging, Cat, Claws, Friend, LifeLeave a comment

This is Gracie my little cat friend / fiend. She does insist on coming to greet me by stratching up and clawing my lower legs and knees. Seamus her brother jumps up and kneads my knees with his claws out. Consequently I’m covered in tiny puncture wounds.

Cats are characters, just like people. They have their own foibles and ways of doing things. No matter how I try and discourage her by disentangling her claws she keeps coming back and doing it again.

Anyway here is Gracie , looking sweet. With machinations in mind.

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Cat