New paintings and regular art updates.
Somehow the outdoor cat has worked out how to get the cat flap to open outwards (it’s set to let him in but not out). Over the last few days he’s cracked the cat flap panel and bashed it so hard trying to get out that he managed to turn a little wheel round that stops it from flapping. What worries me is that our indoor cats will sneak out with him…..
Some cats must be related to Yo-Yos! In, out, then in again, a bit of food, out, in again. A wash, sleep. Now our outdoor cat has sussed how to get in through the cat flap he’s busy using it..
But it’s raining, so each time he comes in he’s as wet as an otter! There is shelter in the shed or under the bicycle covers, but he likes mooching. No doubt he will be back in soon…
I just noticed that the outside cat (seen here inside) is almost as big as my trumpet case. This gives you an idea of the scale of him! He’s got used to knocking on the cat flap now. He could walk through it as we have it set to coming in only, but I think he would struggle to squeeze through!
Tonight he was lying on the two arms of our armchair, on a cushion placed between the arms. He had his paws and his face on my hand. He was dreaming and his head and ears were twitching, his claws stuck in my hand at one stage. Then he woke up and went to the back door. He only stays in for a couple of hours, unless he’s deeply asleep. No doubt he will be back in an hour or so.
X
he moved!
So I couldn’t get the right shapes on his fur, I had to try and remember. I also decided to simplify the pattern on the mat.
Our outside cat really does seem to appreciate us. Often he puts out his paw and touches me as if he is confirming to himself that I am real, that I exist. It is somehow a gesture of reassurance. Trust, acceptance. I feel so privileged that he seems to know we care about him.
This photo was just taken. He wants to sit between us on the armchair arms. My hubby pats the cushion on the arms and he jumps up. He’s now resting his head on the arm. Soon he will be asleep.
My indoor cats still get attention, I see the look of love in their faces, slightly closing their eyes in a look of pleasure, but I guess our outdoor cat needs that extra bit of care. He was rejected and abandoned by his previous owners and its taken about three years to get him in and really gain his trust. We love him.
I’m convinced our outdoor cat thinks the cat flap is a door knocker! When he wants to come in he rattles it (it’s locked to keep our indoor cats in and other cats, that roam the garden, out).
Tonight I was washing up and rattle – bang-rattle-tap, tap, tap! I didn’t open the door straight away so the cat flap did another bang and crash…
Then, outdoor cat scoots in, eats two pouches of food, some cat milk, some cat treats, then the emploring look ‘can I go out again?’ no doubt he will be back later….
Since the middle of winter our outdoor cat has come in every day, and most nights he sleeps at least a couple of hours on the bed. He’s a big cat, and waking up with him lying on your chest is a bit startling. Then he reaches out one or both front paws in a gesture of trust. He’s not very keen on being touched. His nose has been scratched by other cats several times (no real animosity between him and my other two cats though). But he’s well fed now and you can see he’s greatful… And he’s like skippy the Bush kangaroo (a reference to a 1960’s kids TV programme…) he points at things. He looks at his bowl when he wants food, the door if he wants to be let out, but more than that, his body language communicates, and if I tap somewhere on the bed with my hand he will go there… And being touched by his paw on my hand is so sweet.
Outdoor cat update
He sleeps on the bed
I get up to let him out
I get up to let him in
I have to move my legs
To give him room
I get up to feed him
I love him
How did that happen?!
Two am…
Two am, or three am or four am….. He wakes up on the bed and asks to go out. Well actually he comes and lies on top of me, then taps me with his paws. That’s fine, I’d rather he asked than had an accident. My indoor cats have litter trays but he doesn’t like that. I can’t open the cat flap or my indoor cats might get out.
But then, at seven am my little girl cat gets her claws under the duvet and scratches at me! I’m under the thrall of my cats! Goodnight!
Where do I go? Where do I fit in? I’m twice as big as your other two cats hooman and yet they are my bosses! They sniff me and check me out. But if I sniff back they don’t like it. Sometimes I raise my paw to say no. But you tell me off hooman.
I sleep on your bed now cos I sort of trust you. And sometimes I sneak up on your chair or climb on your chest. Then I tuck my paws under to keep warm. You tickle my chin and I stretch a paw out to touch your hand and reassure myself. Tonight I’m sitting between you and the other hooman. I’m purring but still a bit nervous. Will you be going to bed soon? I’ll sit between you but if the other hooman with the big heavy paws strokes me too hard I will get off and go back outside for an hour. You are gentle and don’t bother me. But if you don’t love me enough I will get up and go out again… Decisions…. But first, a snack…
