‘Casey! Come here!’
‘What’s the matter, Gibbs?’
‘Look what Mum’s doing.’
‘What is she doing?’
‘Remember when I started introducing her to my artistic side?’
‘I think so.’
‘Well, you’ve obviously forgotten, so I’ll remind you. I dabbled with sorting out the wallpaper in the hallway and Mum freaked out.’
‘Oh, yes, I do remember that Gibbs. She didn’t seem very happy that you’d made some ‘inroads’, shall we say, into the redecoration programme.’
‘No, Casey, she didn’t seem very happy with my decorating skills at all if you remember. But now look at her, she’s busy doing her own redecoration programme. What’s more, she’s gone over the bits that I did.’
‘I can understand how frustrating that must be for you Gibbs, after all your hard work – which wasn’t appreciated at the time.’
‘It certainly wasn’t, Casey. If only humans had claws, they’d get the job done in next to no time. It didn’t take me more than a few minutes to strip that wallpaper off that section, over there.’
‘And she is rather making a complete mess of things, isn’t she, Gibbs?’
‘A bucket of soapy water, a sponge thing, her rubber gloves, and a funny scraper thing as well. What on EARTH is she doing?’
{Casey and Gibbs lie on the floor laughing themselves silly at the way Mum is taking off the wallpaper.}
‘Gibbs, that’s the funniest thing I think I’ve ever seen Mum do – apart from when she was going red in the face with that lady on the television, that time.’ {Casey wipes his eyes}
‘Oh my cats,’ Gibbs says, laughing along with Casey, ‘that was very funny. We thought she was going to ‘splode or something.’
‘Do you realise Gibbs, if Mum HAD ‘sploded, we would be having our dinner somewhere else?’
{Both cats realise the seriousness of the situation and calm down.}
‘Do you think we should offer to help Mum, Casey? If all three of us work together, the job will be finished in next to no time at all.’
‘It’s a noble thought, Gibbs, but suddenly I feel exhausted just watching her. I’m going for a lie down. Care to join me?’
Just 5 simple 'rules' to ensure your cat is safe throughout the summer months ...
PLANT DANGER:
It’s a good idea to check your garden for plants that could prove toxic to cats if nibbled. See www.fabcats.org for a list of those to avoid. Lilies are the most toxic – contact your vet straight away if your cat may have ingested or brushed against a lily.
CREEPY-CRAWLIES:
Bee and wasp stings are common in cats – stings in the mouth and/or throat can be really serious and immediate veterinary attention is required. Flies are another potential hazard; flystrike (when flies lay eggs in soiled fur or wounds/sores and the maggots bury into the flesh) can affect any animal and can be fatal. If you’re taking action against slugs, don’t forget to check the pellets won’t harm your cat – metaldehyde can prove fatal.
GARDEN ACTIVITIES:
Remember to check your greenhouse or shed before shutting up for the day as cats can make themselves at home anywhere. And if you have a barbeque, make sure coals and racks are cooled after use or your cat could receive a nasty burn.
SUN PROTECTION:
Skin cancer affects cats too and pale-coated kitties and those with minimal hair on their ears, are most at risk. Encourage your cat into the shade between 11.00 am and 4.00pm in particular, and apply a babies’ sunblock (or one designed for pets) to his nose and ear tips throughout the day.
OUT AND ABOUT:
The number of air gun attacks on cats increases at this time of the year, so be vigilant. An air gun wound is about 5mm in diameter, almost perfectly circular, with a reddened edge. If you’re worried, contact your vet immediately. Also make sure your cat has ID secured to his safety collar and preferably is microchipped too. You might also want to consider enclosing your garden.
Extracted from Your Cat magazine (July 2011 issue)
Ollie -top picture
Garfield - lower picture
"Dogs come when called. Cats take a message and get back to you."
"Of course, every cat is really the most beautiful woman in the room."
Edward Verrall Luca (essayist)