Hi Everyone
Sorry it's been a while since my last report but a lot has happened in the last 3 months!
First of all, my human Dad decided he would visit his Mam in the UK in August. The day before he was due to leave, he got up, but there was no sign of young One Eyed Jack!! The Parents searched everywhere, calling for him but in Panagia village where we reside, most of the human residents don't seem bothered about us felines except our parents of course. Anyway, off Dad went leaving our female Parent to cope with us and hope for the best. She searched everywhere but to no avail. As Jack was her favourite, she was naturally distraught. All she could hope for was that because of his lovely nature someone had adopted him not realising he was one of us and maybe even taken him off the island.
Just two weeks before Jack disappeared he brought another young fellah, about 3 months old, ginger and white. Well, the last thing we needed was another cat, so the Parents were in two minds what to do. But as Pauline reminded our Parents it was the greatest compliment Jack could do to us – to bring a kitten. Maybe he knew he wasn't coming back?
So, that was the beginning. Human Dad returned home and we tried to settle down back to normal. Oh, no. The little one, now named Pip is a real 'worky ticket' as they say in the NE of England. He cried all the time, we - the rest of the feline family- all decided we didn't like him no matter how endearing he was, kowtowing to us to show he knew who was above him in the pecking order, but with no Jack to protect him. Still, he's making himself well at home and we don't mind him so much now.
Next thing, the Parents were due to set off on a long arranged trip to San Francisco for three weeks to visit friends and relatives. It’s been booked since January! I started to feel a bit off colour and to my horror, a little incontinent! So, two weeks before they were due to leave, off we go to the vets AGAIN, for me to give a urine sample. No way was I going to let the female Parent do it. Little did I know what the vet had planned! So, we get there and the vet gives me a sedative slyly as male Parent is holding me. What do I do - promptly throw up. Serves them right. Then she sticks this needle into my bladder. By this time the male Parent was about to faint!
The sample was sent off with a little of my blood and it came back to say I had kidney failure, which meant a special diet. Great, I thought, once again getting one over on the rest of them. But no, the dried stuff is 'orrible' and I'll only eat it with the expensive pouch food. It's costing the Parents a fortune. The other cats like it more than me. But I am feeling better now. Thank goodness. Although I am starting to feel the cold as it's very chilly in our mountain village these days. We had snow the other day but as you can see from the picture the Parents keep me well wrapped up!
We've entered into the festive spirit now, the Parents have put up the Christmas deckies and tree, a little apprehensively as to what Pip might do, as he's very playful but up to now it's still intact, Amazing.
Which reminds me of one of my exploits at this time of year when I was about 3 years old! Everything was beautifully decorated and the male Parent was sitting on the settee when he looked behind the tree. He turned to the female Parent and said "I didn't know we had a 'feathery owl decoration' on the tree, it's fallen off though." To which female Parent replied "we haven't." On closer inspection it turned out to be a dead rat! The parents disposed of it obviously, but weren't sure who to blame, although I think they were suspicious of ME. Anyway, nothing more was said.
When New Year’s Eve came the Parents were just about to go off out partying when I waltzed down the stairs, (the cat door is on our balcony), carrying in my mouth the biggest rat I could find. It was about the size of me actually - killed 1st of course. The female Parent nearly fainted. There they were, all dressed up, having to chase me round the house to catch me and get rid of it before they could leave. Ha ha!
Well, I will leave it there for now. I’ve brought you up to date with our traumas and dramas. Needless to say, have a great Christmas and New Year all my feline and human friends.
Remember kitties, humans don't appreciate 'dead rats as Christmas presents'. Tee hee.
Till the next time,
Floot
"Of all the [cat] toys available, none is better designed than the owner himself. A large multipurpose plaything, its parts can be made to move in almost any direction. It comes completely assembled, and it makes a noise when you jump on it."
Stephen Baker