Cat Hampurr Surprise

An exciting thing happened today.  When you’re a cat, you take excitement in small doses.  Too much all in one go doesn’t sit well with our equilibrium so we’re happy to have our excitement meted out in bite sized chunks.

That said, this morning brought some surprises.  The post man knocked and Mum embarrassed herself by rushing out in her dressing gown (it’s seen better days- as has she) and opening the door.  Steve, our post man smiled at Mum – probably looked at her dressing gown and thought ‘the poor woman, that she’s come to this’ – before handing her two parcels.

They both had Mum’s name on of course, because she lives here so they would, wouldn’t they? But the second one – the bigger one had ‘Cat Hampurr’ on the sides so Mum knew that technically it wasn’t for her.

I was busy at the time.  Every morning after breakfast I go berserk on the round scratchy thing which has a white ball that goes around the outside of if you push it and then I climb up onto the tower which is in an alcove by the window.  Apparently Ollie and Sam loved it up here and I can see why – you can see for miles, well, down the garden at least.

Once I’d finished looking out of the window I got down.  Mum seized the opportunity and took the Cat Hampurr box into the other room and just undid the top bit of it.  ‘Casey!’ she called out to me, ‘quick! Come here!’  Of course, I had to see what the matter was – you never know with humans – they’re so needy, aren’t they?

But she was sitting on the sofa with that infernal camera at the ready.  My interest was piqued by the box which was open with some lovely purple paper covering up some interesting goodies.  I knew they were interesting because I could smell the catnip.  I jiggled my paw under the wrapping – I didn’t want to spoil it as it might come in handy for something else – and I felt feathers!  Someone had sent me my very own pet bird, I thought?

Mum gently lifted the purple tissue paper off the goodies and there were lots of wonderful things packed inside the box.  It wasn’t my very own pet bird, sadly, but it was a card with three round ball things with feathers attached to them and Mum wasted no time in freeing one of the balls with feathers and rolling it to me.  I looked at her.  ‘What am I supposed to do with it?’ I asked her.

‘Oh, I forgot you don’t know how to play,’ she replied, kindly, ‘don’t worry, Casey, Mum’ll help you have fun.’

She picked the ball thing with feathers up and wiggled the feathers near my face.  I looked at her. ‘And?’ I said.  She then gently rolled it to my paws but I moved away and walked round the other side of the Cat Hampurr. She picked up a tube of something which rattled when she shook it.  She took the lid off – it was something to eat – now you’re talking!

It was 90% chicken and 0% nonsense and Mum said she liked the sound of that. I wasn’t bothered about the sound – I was only interested in the taste – and the taste was excellent.  There were other things in packets and pouches of edible bits and Mum let me taste some wonderful salmon flavoured nibbly things as well.  The other things she said I could try later.

There was another toy which scared the bejeezus out of me.  It was a long dangly mouse thing, garishly dressed in all sorts of colours with a bell that jingled when Mum moved it about.  I ran and hid under the sofa and Mum thought I was playing so she kept moving it slowly up and down by the sofa.  I retreated to the far wall in the corner and waited for the nightmare to end.  Eventually she got the message and put the mouse back in the box with all the other surprises.  I came out and sniffed the box again and then I sat next to her on the sofa.

She stroked me for ages and told me what a beautiful boy I am.  I suppose I am really but when I was a kitten no one played with me or gave me toys to play with so I don’t know what to do or how I’m supposed to do it. 

I think Mum is going to get me another Cat Hampurr in a month or two’s time and she’s going to explain to the nice folk, Kelly and Gareth, that put the Hampurr’s together, that dangly toys frighten me and perhaps they can let me have some catnip mice to play with instead.  I still don’t know what I’m supposed to do with them but it will be fun finding out.

And I’d just like to thank Kelly and Gareth for their wonderful surprise this morning.  It really was a great start to my day. 

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