This morning I was woken by a cat nipping my ankle through the sheet and summer blanket! No guesses as to which cat. A far more effective method than even an alarm-clock, let me assure you. Ginger was asleep, purring gently, between our backs at the time. When I awoke, so did she. She sat up, took one look at Bessie by my feet, jumped over Norman and dove under the bed.
As you know, we were away for the weekend, where we stayed at a very nice bed & breakfast inn at New Paltz. One remarkable point of interest was the fact that we were able to eat breakfast both mornings without having to defend our cereal bowls! How about them apples. Needless to say, things are back to where they were since our return home. Bessie is absolutely relentless and I suppose it's our own fault. But she's so cute!!! Daddy has a harder time of it than I do, because she insists on draping herself across the back of his neck and just laying there, virtually unremovable. She's only tried that once or twice with me and it doesn't work, so she has gotten off by herself both times........and both times has left me scratched on her way down.
Whenever I am at the kitchen table these days she comes to nuzzle my face, usually right across the newspaper or book I am trying to read. But it's lovely having her rub her face against mine. And I can hear a very quiet purring as she does it.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Thursday, August 21
I had an unbroken night's sleep last night. Now, that's not normally thought of as a rare event, but usually there is at least one disturbance. During the evening, as is normal, all was mostly quiet, although there was some banging-around going on in our bedroom while we were watching "The Sixth Sense" (Netflix!) in the den. Then, when we went to bed there was the usual growling and thumping-about downstairs, to the extent that I was about to go down and bash the heads of both feline protagonists.........when silence reigned.
I woke to find Bessie by my feet, as has become a more usual occurrence of late. Also routine these days, she keeps me company while I'm getting ready in the bathroom. When will she ever learn that she's supposed to use only the sink under the window and leave me the other one! Come to that, when will she learn that my making the bed is not to be seen as an occasion for her to play thereon? She sees the billowing of the sheets as an opportunity for her to dive-bomb.
When I was a child in London, a kid that here would be called a "vilde chaya" would be called a "lobbus." That's what Bessie is: an absolute minx, albeit an adorable one. You never know where she's going to turn up and she delights in darting out from wherever she's been hiding, to grab your leg or ankle. I have some scars to prove it! Not that she means to do harm, it's just that she certainly has sharp teeth and claws.
Daddy has been reduced to eating his breakfast while barricaded by cereal boxes, so that Bessie will not poke her nose right inside the bowl. I hold my hand over my yogurt and try to avoid the face that is poking right into mine. She knows that I'll let her lick out the dregs and I don't eat fast enough to her way of thinking. Daddy scoffs at the idea that I'm a real disciplinarian.
Bessie loves to climb onto Daddy's shoulders, drape herself around his neck and proceed to lick his ear, which Daddy hates! And he can't just shuck her off; he has to go over to the sofa in the den and shake her down. She only tried that once on me, luckily, because she scratched my back when she jumped off.
Making my lunch sandwich is a chore, in that I have to drop her off the counter several times. She's like a yo-yo: up, down, up, down, etc. The other day, she even absconded with the (luckily closed) bag of smoked turkey slices, jumping down off the counter and running away dragging it behind her, with me hot on her tail, literally.
She has a new favorite spot: At the kitchen window to watch me washing the dishes, and even at the sink, trying to get in to lick the water.
I love how she comes running to greet me when I get home in the afternoons. We're really going to miss her, although Cinnamon won't! He doesn't get on with her at all, but I truly believe that all Bessie wants is to play with him. He views her as a Dennis-the-Menace type and his age really shows. She loves to reach up to the sink when he's in the bathroom and bop his tail. Then he'll turn and hiss at her before diving off the sink and back under the bed, where she'll go for him at the bed-skirt (although never actually under it) and they'll have a set-to. Cinnamon has spent all these weeks mostly under the bed and I'm sure he's counting the days until she leaves. He's such a wuss!
I woke to find Bessie by my feet, as has become a more usual occurrence of late. Also routine these days, she keeps me company while I'm getting ready in the bathroom. When will she ever learn that she's supposed to use only the sink under the window and leave me the other one! Come to that, when will she learn that my making the bed is not to be seen as an occasion for her to play thereon? She sees the billowing of the sheets as an opportunity for her to dive-bomb.
When I was a child in London, a kid that here would be called a "vilde chaya" would be called a "lobbus." That's what Bessie is: an absolute minx, albeit an adorable one. You never know where she's going to turn up and she delights in darting out from wherever she's been hiding, to grab your leg or ankle. I have some scars to prove it! Not that she means to do harm, it's just that she certainly has sharp teeth and claws.
Daddy has been reduced to eating his breakfast while barricaded by cereal boxes, so that Bessie will not poke her nose right inside the bowl. I hold my hand over my yogurt and try to avoid the face that is poking right into mine. She knows that I'll let her lick out the dregs and I don't eat fast enough to her way of thinking. Daddy scoffs at the idea that I'm a real disciplinarian.
Bessie loves to climb onto Daddy's shoulders, drape herself around his neck and proceed to lick his ear, which Daddy hates! And he can't just shuck her off; he has to go over to the sofa in the den and shake her down. She only tried that once on me, luckily, because she scratched my back when she jumped off.
Making my lunch sandwich is a chore, in that I have to drop her off the counter several times. She's like a yo-yo: up, down, up, down, etc. The other day, she even absconded with the (luckily closed) bag of smoked turkey slices, jumping down off the counter and running away dragging it behind her, with me hot on her tail, literally.
She has a new favorite spot: At the kitchen window to watch me washing the dishes, and even at the sink, trying to get in to lick the water.
I love how she comes running to greet me when I get home in the afternoons. We're really going to miss her, although Cinnamon won't! He doesn't get on with her at all, but I truly believe that all Bessie wants is to play with him. He views her as a Dennis-the-Menace type and his age really shows. She loves to reach up to the sink when he's in the bathroom and bop his tail. Then he'll turn and hiss at her before diving off the sink and back under the bed, where she'll go for him at the bed-skirt (although never actually under it) and they'll have a set-to. Cinnamon has spent all these weeks mostly under the bed and I'm sure he's counting the days until she leaves. He's such a wuss!
Monday, August 18, 2008
August 18 2008
Forty years ago today, Ros and I arrived on a ship into Haifa port. David picked us and our trunks up and drove us to the ulpan in Givataim, where we lived for the next five months studying Hebrew. The ulpan was situated not that far from where Faybia and David were living at the time, but if we wanted to get in touch with them we had to walk there, because in those days people waited up to four years to get a phone installed, and they didn't have one. We started ulpan at the beginning of that September, with my parents arriving in Israel in December, I seem to remember. Had it not been for our going to Israel, I'd not have subsequently come to the U.S. and the whole of our own family history would have taken a totally different path. So it was worth going through nearly 4 1/2 years in Israel to be here now for nearly 36 years and counting.
August 18, 2008
Bessie has (another) new favorite perch: In the window over the kitchen sink, from where she watches me doing the dishes.
She is fast becoming a bratty cat - albeit an absolutely adorable one! We have been reduced to eating breakfast, especially, with a hand over the cereal bowl. I hope we can remember not to do that in polite company, otherwise we'll get a reputation for being weird. Need I explain that a covered bowl is required in order to not get a cat's nose in it. However, she doesn't take the hint, because I usually get her face right in my face, as if to tell me she thinks we should be on equal shares. She knows that she gets the (minimal) remains of the yogurt container........and I have to admit that I've been reduced to letting her lick out the remains from the bowl itself, after I manage to wrestle the rest of it myself. As Daddy sarcastically said this morning, "It's nice to see that you're such a disciplinarian."
This morning she jumped up on the bed as I was making it, as usual. I can't decide whether it's because she's a slow learner, or she's giving me the virtual finger (or paw, in her case), because she does this on a faily regular basis. I've tried to get across to her that she is only allowed on the bed AFTER I've finished making it, but no success so far. Anyway, Ginger, who was under the bed, happened to pop her head out from under the bedskirt just as Bessie leaned over the edge. Bessie got into a pouncing position, rocked back and forth on her haunches and launched herself down right in front of Ginger's head...then tore off into the guest-room, with Ginger in hot pursuit! From where she faced Ginger as if to say, "Nyah, nyah, nyah!" Then they both lay down, game over.
This weekend we'll be at the Maplestone Inn in New Paltz (look it up, it looks nice). I expressed the thought to Daddy that maybe we should have Michele Wadler come in on Saturday to check they're alright, since we've not left the three of them together for any extended length of time. He assures me they'll be just fine, so we won't be doing that. Still, I wish I could phone home and get Ginger to tell me they're okay!! It's a good thing I'm not the obsessive type.
She is fast becoming a bratty cat - albeit an absolutely adorable one! We have been reduced to eating breakfast, especially, with a hand over the cereal bowl. I hope we can remember not to do that in polite company, otherwise we'll get a reputation for being weird. Need I explain that a covered bowl is required in order to not get a cat's nose in it. However, she doesn't take the hint, because I usually get her face right in my face, as if to tell me she thinks we should be on equal shares. She knows that she gets the (minimal) remains of the yogurt container........and I have to admit that I've been reduced to letting her lick out the remains from the bowl itself, after I manage to wrestle the rest of it myself. As Daddy sarcastically said this morning, "It's nice to see that you're such a disciplinarian."
This morning she jumped up on the bed as I was making it, as usual. I can't decide whether it's because she's a slow learner, or she's giving me the virtual finger (or paw, in her case), because she does this on a faily regular basis. I've tried to get across to her that she is only allowed on the bed AFTER I've finished making it, but no success so far. Anyway, Ginger, who was under the bed, happened to pop her head out from under the bedskirt just as Bessie leaned over the edge. Bessie got into a pouncing position, rocked back and forth on her haunches and launched herself down right in front of Ginger's head...then tore off into the guest-room, with Ginger in hot pursuit! From where she faced Ginger as if to say, "Nyah, nyah, nyah!" Then they both lay down, game over.
This weekend we'll be at the Maplestone Inn in New Paltz (look it up, it looks nice). I expressed the thought to Daddy that maybe we should have Michele Wadler come in on Saturday to check they're alright, since we've not left the three of them together for any extended length of time. He assures me they'll be just fine, so we won't be doing that. Still, I wish I could phone home and get Ginger to tell me they're okay!! It's a good thing I'm not the obsessive type.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
August 14, 2008
As I told you, we clipped Bessie's nails yesterday. She was more or less compliant and I hope it means there'll be less bits of carpeting left around, and less stripping of that wooden tile in the living-room, on which she was wont to sharpen her claws.
She is so into playing! One of her favorite things is to grab an ankle as we pass by, while she's been hiding somewhere, then she runs away. Thankfully, she doesn't sink her claws into said ankle.
When I go into the guest bathroom each morning to give the cats fresh water and food, Bessie jumps up on the sink. It makes for a more difficult try at getting to the cold-water tap and putting fresh water in the bowls, but she couldn't care. Ginger usually goes in at the same time and Bessie loves to hang over the sink and watch her eating below, oftentimes extending a paw as if she might be able to thwap her from above. These days, even when Ginger espies her up there, she's usually able to continue eating with no growling or hissing involved. I think the fact that I'm in there alleviates the stress on Ginger's part. I also make it a point to give each of them a cuddle to show they are both loved equally.
Daddy/Norman added this yesterday:
"Bessie is in the litter box and Ginger is looking in. Bessie finishes and attempts to get out. Ginger growls. A skirmish ensues. Was human intervention required? I gave a shout and Bessie was able to escape. Ginger should be ashamed of herself!"
Some more photos have been taken, which will eventually be added to the blog. We know both of you will be interested to see how things are evolving here. Kinda two- steps-forward, one-step-back thing.
She is so into playing! One of her favorite things is to grab an ankle as we pass by, while she's been hiding somewhere, then she runs away. Thankfully, she doesn't sink her claws into said ankle.
When I go into the guest bathroom each morning to give the cats fresh water and food, Bessie jumps up on the sink. It makes for a more difficult try at getting to the cold-water tap and putting fresh water in the bowls, but she couldn't care. Ginger usually goes in at the same time and Bessie loves to hang over the sink and watch her eating below, oftentimes extending a paw as if she might be able to thwap her from above. These days, even when Ginger espies her up there, she's usually able to continue eating with no growling or hissing involved. I think the fact that I'm in there alleviates the stress on Ginger's part. I also make it a point to give each of them a cuddle to show they are both loved equally.
Daddy/Norman added this yesterday:
"Bessie is in the litter box and Ginger is looking in. Bessie finishes and attempts to get out. Ginger growls. A skirmish ensues. Was human intervention required? I gave a shout and Bessie was able to escape. Ginger should be ashamed of herself!"
Some more photos have been taken, which will eventually be added to the blog. We know both of you will be interested to see how things are evolving here. Kinda two- steps-forward, one-step-back thing.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
August 12, 2008
A tangent: We've had a resident groundhog in the back garden for a couple of years now. I named him Gus. However, this spring I noticed a very young groundhog accompanying Gus, so I renamed Gus: Gussie. I haven't gotten around to naming the offspring.
Yesterday afternoon Bessie and I observed in the garden the meandering and munching of a hitherto unfamiliar and humungous groundhog, whom I have named Horace. I guess he's the fat father.
Yesterday afternoon Bessie and I observed in the garden the meandering and munching of a hitherto unfamiliar and humungous groundhog, whom I have named Horace. I guess he's the fat father.
Monday, August 11, 2008
August 11, 2008
Bessie is made of quicksilver. She will materialize from who-knows-where to be exactly where you don't want her: She will climb into a drawer (small, medium or wide, it won't matter, she'll make herself small enough to get right inside); get into a cupboard, run down to the basement; get into the fridge (a new favorite); climb inside the dishwasher, etc. You can't be quick enough to stop her, either, you simply have to pull her out of wherever she is, or wait for her to come back upstairs. She has no concept of what "no" means, although I'm doing my best to teach her.
She's very quiet, doesn't really meow, except when she wants to get down to the basement because one of us is there, and the basement door is closed (hah!). She will then jump up against the door and try to push it open, meowing all the while.
Yesterday morning Cinnamon was drinking from the tap in our bathroom, with his rump to the door. In comes Bessie, who proceeds to up and bop his rump with her paw, not once, not twice, but three times. For the first two thwaps Cinnamon appeared to not notice. He did, the third time around, when he turned and hissed at her. She backed down. He resumed drinking and she tried to find a way in between the shower door and the side of the vanity to get up to bop him again. Not having the space to do so, she waited until he lay down along the windowsill, then jumped onto the sink. I stood watching, curious to see who would move first. Cinnamon looked at her, she looked at him, he turned his head away and continued relaxing. After a minute or two she made a move to him, he hissed at her, jumped down and ran under the bed again, with her in hot pursuit!
She has become very affectionate, although is not a lap cat. For the first time, this morning she woke me up, intentionally, by jumping on the bed and nuzzling my face. Then she moved down to the bottom of the bed, where she just stretched out. Luckily, Ginger was not on the bed at the same time.
She has a new trick: She likes jumping up onto the screen at the backdoor, where she hangs by her claws. We remove her, of course, because once her claws get into the screen, she can't effectively get herself down. What a mischief!
She's very quiet, doesn't really meow, except when she wants to get down to the basement because one of us is there, and the basement door is closed (hah!). She will then jump up against the door and try to push it open, meowing all the while.
Yesterday morning Cinnamon was drinking from the tap in our bathroom, with his rump to the door. In comes Bessie, who proceeds to up and bop his rump with her paw, not once, not twice, but three times. For the first two thwaps Cinnamon appeared to not notice. He did, the third time around, when he turned and hissed at her. She backed down. He resumed drinking and she tried to find a way in between the shower door and the side of the vanity to get up to bop him again. Not having the space to do so, she waited until he lay down along the windowsill, then jumped onto the sink. I stood watching, curious to see who would move first. Cinnamon looked at her, she looked at him, he turned his head away and continued relaxing. After a minute or two she made a move to him, he hissed at her, jumped down and ran under the bed again, with her in hot pursuit!
She has become very affectionate, although is not a lap cat. For the first time, this morning she woke me up, intentionally, by jumping on the bed and nuzzling my face. Then she moved down to the bottom of the bed, where she just stretched out. Luckily, Ginger was not on the bed at the same time.
She has a new trick: She likes jumping up onto the screen at the backdoor, where she hangs by her claws. We remove her, of course, because once her claws get into the screen, she can't effectively get herself down. What a mischief!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
August 6, 2008
Just the usual stuff going on. This morning Bessie was up on the kitchen table again (she knows our morning rituals) and she had her usual coffee yogurt. When Daddy was reading the paper after having finished his breakfast, she as usual stuck her rump by him and, before he knew it, was busy slurping up the dregs of milk from his cereal bowl.
Oh, by the way, this email just in to me from Daddy: "Walked through the kitchen before I went to minyan and heard a meowing. I looked under the table and the den chair - no cat. Then I opened the basement door. Presto! In a while, she climbed onto the kitchen table (no surprise) then proceeded to climb up me and ensconce herself around my neck. So I got her off, then proceeded to make an aluminum foil ball - I know, you hate that! I threw it, Bessie went charging after it - and so did Ginger!!! Out of nowhere. And so ... they come face to face. Bessie sits. Ginger sits. And then they just sat there. Finally, Bessie moved on. By the way, the foil ball is under some chair but I don't know which."
I hate the aluminum balls because they get hidden all over the place and turn up weeks later, usually having accumulated cat-hair in the interim.
Yesterday evening I made salmon croquettes, among other things, for dinner. Whenever I have done this in the past, Ginger and Cinnamon get a little sampling of salmon on saucers by the sink. Bessie being in the kitchen at the time, I decided to see if she'd like some. She did. And then along comes Ginger. What to do? I gave her some in her own saucer and put it a hand-span away from Bessie, stood back and waited to see what would happen. Each ate their own, although Bessie did try and make for Ginger's portion as well. Which is funny, because usually Ginger would try and eat Cinnamon's portion. They eyed each other but kept eating. When both had finished, and only then, Ginger decided to throw in a growl for good luck. I stamped my foot at her and she ran off.
I think by this time that Ginger's growling is more of a pro forma thing. Even though they both instigate skirmishes, there doesn't seem to be any real malice in it; neither has drawn any blood in the other. There are actually times when they are laying quite happily almost next to each other. Go figure!
Oh, by the way, this email just in to me from Daddy: "Walked through the kitchen before I went to minyan and heard a meowing. I looked under the table and the den chair - no cat. Then I opened the basement door. Presto! In a while, she climbed onto the kitchen table (no surprise) then proceeded to climb up me and ensconce herself around my neck. So I got her off, then proceeded to make an aluminum foil ball - I know, you hate that! I threw it, Bessie went charging after it - and so did Ginger!!! Out of nowhere. And so ... they come face to face. Bessie sits. Ginger sits. And then they just sat there. Finally, Bessie moved on. By the way, the foil ball is under some chair but I don't know which."
I hate the aluminum balls because they get hidden all over the place and turn up weeks later, usually having accumulated cat-hair in the interim.
Yesterday evening I made salmon croquettes, among other things, for dinner. Whenever I have done this in the past, Ginger and Cinnamon get a little sampling of salmon on saucers by the sink. Bessie being in the kitchen at the time, I decided to see if she'd like some. She did. And then along comes Ginger. What to do? I gave her some in her own saucer and put it a hand-span away from Bessie, stood back and waited to see what would happen. Each ate their own, although Bessie did try and make for Ginger's portion as well. Which is funny, because usually Ginger would try and eat Cinnamon's portion. They eyed each other but kept eating. When both had finished, and only then, Ginger decided to throw in a growl for good luck. I stamped my foot at her and she ran off.
I think by this time that Ginger's growling is more of a pro forma thing. Even though they both instigate skirmishes, there doesn't seem to be any real malice in it; neither has drawn any blood in the other. There are actually times when they are laying quite happily almost next to each other. Go figure!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
August 5, 2008
Is there something inherent in cats that they know to sit, plonk! right in the middle of the newspaper while you're eating at the kitchen table? Ginger has always done that and now Bessie has started doing the same thing. This morning she sat right in front of Daddy when he was having breakfast. It's not that she wanted to share the paper with him, it's that she wanted to share his bowl of cereal! So he was reduced to holding the bowl in the air just like I used to, before I got the idea of letting her lick out the dredges of yogurt from the container. Since he doesn't usually eat yogurt at breakfast, I guess he'll have to find another solution.
Ginger spends a lot less time under the bed these days. After more than two weeks of "suffering" Bessie, she must realize that there's nothing to be gained by her hiding any longer. Not that hostilities have completely abated:
Last night I was awakened by the usual growling on her part. I thought it would subside after a minute, so waited, but it didn't, so I got up, expecting to have to go downstairs to break them up. However, they were both in the guest bathroom - Ginger by her foodbowl and Bessie on the sink! In order for me to be able to go back to sleep, I picked Bessie up and put her in the hall, where she proceeded to tear down the stairs. I don't think she would have moved voluntarily. After all, she had the (literally) upper hand, so to speak.
Ginger spends a lot less time under the bed these days. After more than two weeks of "suffering" Bessie, she must realize that there's nothing to be gained by her hiding any longer. Not that hostilities have completely abated:
Last night I was awakened by the usual growling on her part. I thought it would subside after a minute, so waited, but it didn't, so I got up, expecting to have to go downstairs to break them up. However, they were both in the guest bathroom - Ginger by her foodbowl and Bessie on the sink! In order for me to be able to go back to sleep, I picked Bessie up and put her in the hall, where she proceeded to tear down the stairs. I don't think she would have moved voluntarily. After all, she had the (literally) upper hand, so to speak.
Monday, August 4, 2008
August 4, 2008
Bessie and I have a couple of new rituals: For me to be able to eat breakfast without her getting her nose into the bowl, I scrape out all but a smidge of the coffee yogurt from the container and let her lick the rest. I know, great discipline on my part. But she's so cute!
Secondly, we have a new game: She will dive-bomb my legs, usually when I'm in the kitchen, take off at top speed around the house, through the dining-room, living-room and den, then dive under the armchair in the den, where she will wait for me to play with her. She then pokes out her paws (which I have to be careful to avoid, since she still has her claws - even though she doesn't mean to hurt) while we play the "gotcha" game. She veers from side to side, still under the chair, hoping to beat me at it.
Daddy was having breakfast this morning when Bessie walked across part of the paper while he was reading it. He was still able to eat and read the article he was interested in, so wasn't aware for a moment that Bessie had not moved on (most unlike her, since she has the attention span of a flea (a flea with ADD, according to Daniel). On inspection, it turned out that Bessie was busy lapping at Daddy's glass of iced soy chai! She was promptly removed from the table and the glass was removed to the sink.
I keep hoping that the skirmishes between the cats are over, but even though there are times when Bessie and Ginger can lay quietly just inches from each other, there are still many occasions when Ginger is hissing and growling prior to pouncing. Although I have to say that Bessie is a right little instigator! We pretty much leave them to their own devices, and if I do step in at all, I have to admit it's usually to admonish Ginger to cut it out!
The other day I had to go down to the basement for something and of course, who accompanied me...Bessie! Daddy was down there and when he pointed out that I had let her down, I said, "And how would you like me to get down here, through the keyhole?". She will get through anywhere that is even whisker wide, so my trying to stop her going downstairs is pretty much a waste of time. Especially since she basically doesn't listen to "no" anyway.
She now gets on top of the bookcase in the living-room. For a cat who loves high places, this is about as high as she can get.
Secondly, we have a new game: She will dive-bomb my legs, usually when I'm in the kitchen, take off at top speed around the house, through the dining-room, living-room and den, then dive under the armchair in the den, where she will wait for me to play with her. She then pokes out her paws (which I have to be careful to avoid, since she still has her claws - even though she doesn't mean to hurt) while we play the "gotcha" game. She veers from side to side, still under the chair, hoping to beat me at it.
Daddy was having breakfast this morning when Bessie walked across part of the paper while he was reading it. He was still able to eat and read the article he was interested in, so wasn't aware for a moment that Bessie had not moved on (most unlike her, since she has the attention span of a flea (a flea with ADD, according to Daniel). On inspection, it turned out that Bessie was busy lapping at Daddy's glass of iced soy chai! She was promptly removed from the table and the glass was removed to the sink.
I keep hoping that the skirmishes between the cats are over, but even though there are times when Bessie and Ginger can lay quietly just inches from each other, there are still many occasions when Ginger is hissing and growling prior to pouncing. Although I have to say that Bessie is a right little instigator! We pretty much leave them to their own devices, and if I do step in at all, I have to admit it's usually to admonish Ginger to cut it out!
The other day I had to go down to the basement for something and of course, who accompanied me...Bessie! Daddy was down there and when he pointed out that I had let her down, I said, "And how would you like me to get down here, through the keyhole?". She will get through anywhere that is even whisker wide, so my trying to stop her going downstairs is pretty much a waste of time. Especially since she basically doesn't listen to "no" anyway.
She now gets on top of the bookcase in the living-room. For a cat who loves high places, this is about as high as she can get.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
July 31, 2008
Photos of all three cats have been added to the blog. Those showing Bessie and Ginger by the couch in the den were taken after a morning skirmish.
Bessie's control of the house entered the final stage last night when she actually stretched out on our bed, a heretofore taboo location. I was in bed and she was lying at the foot on Daddy's side, when Ginger popped up by his pillow, took one look at Bessie...and jumped right back under the bed!
Since Ginger and (especially) Cinnamon frequent the downstairs now on a much rarer basis, I have moved one of the cat brushes to our bathroom and this morning gave Cinnamon a good brushing, which he greatly relished. He left and then Bessie came in, and I took the opportunity to do the same for her, to not quite the same reception. She obviously has never been brushed (tsk, tsk), a situation which I am doing my best to rectify while she is with us. I've been using a brush whenever I can get hold of her. She's becoming at least resigned to it and I'm sure her fur is all the better for it.
One thing that surprised me this morning was to find Ginger asleep on top of the bookcase in the living-room. I haven't seen her do that for a very long while and thought that maybe it was because she's older and may not have the dexterity to climb up there from the stairs. But there she was, and as Daddy said, "it's a great vantage point for her to see where Bessie might be."
Bessie's control of the house entered the final stage last night when she actually stretched out on our bed, a heretofore taboo location. I was in bed and she was lying at the foot on Daddy's side, when Ginger popped up by his pillow, took one look at Bessie...and jumped right back under the bed!
Since Ginger and (especially) Cinnamon frequent the downstairs now on a much rarer basis, I have moved one of the cat brushes to our bathroom and this morning gave Cinnamon a good brushing, which he greatly relished. He left and then Bessie came in, and I took the opportunity to do the same for her, to not quite the same reception. She obviously has never been brushed (tsk, tsk), a situation which I am doing my best to rectify while she is with us. I've been using a brush whenever I can get hold of her. She's becoming at least resigned to it and I'm sure her fur is all the better for it.
One thing that surprised me this morning was to find Ginger asleep on top of the bookcase in the living-room. I haven't seen her do that for a very long while and thought that maybe it was because she's older and may not have the dexterity to climb up there from the stairs. But there she was, and as Daddy said, "it's a great vantage point for her to see where Bessie might be."
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
July 30, 2008
The trouble with cats is, they're nocturnal. Well, let me modify that statement: A certain cat, Bessie by name, is particularly nocturnal. Ginger and Cinnamon, being of mature years (14, and almost 14, respectively), need their sleep.
All the cats seem to sleep from about late morning until late afternoon. Bessie tears around from late afternoon until........well, who knows? There was one skirmish during the night, brief and fairly quiet, with Ginger. Then Bessie did her usual jump-up-and-perch-on-the-upper-window-ledge-like-a-parrot thing off and on. She was silhouetted against the window and did, indeed, look just like a parrot. She's most appreciative that, in this warm weather, we leave the bedroom windows and the blinds open in the night.
Last night, when I went up to bed, Bessie was in the guest-room and Ginger was next to the bed in our room. They were looking at each other, quietly, although Ginger's tail was swishing, but not fanned out (which usually means trouble). I was cautioning Ginger to stay calm when, all of a sudden, Bessie came charging at her! Ginger hissed and went to pounce, Bessie went charging down the stairs, Ginger lay back down, and Bessie, in the blink of an eye, was right back up the stairs, sticking her head around to look at Ginger. This went on 3 or 4 more times: Ginger hissing her down, Bessie back right up, etc. I think Bessie looked upon it as a game. Ginger was not so kindly disposed.
Bessie was in our bathroom this morning when Cinnamon ventured out and was about to do his usual morning thing of coming in and drinking from the sink, when he espied Bessie. He immediately slunk back under the bed, with Bessie right after him, sticking her head almost under the bed. There was a low growl and she backed away.
By the way, these days Bessie has almost complete run of our bedroom, as indeed she has of the entire rest of the house, whereas at the outset she was pretty much kept out of there by a sustained effort on Ginger's part.
I was able to eat all my breakfast on my own this morning, not without a fair amount of effort on my part. Because your cat has been so poorly disciplined, she doesn't know that she should not come up on the kitchen table. However, because I'm such a wuss, I don't discipline her either! She wanted to know what I was eating (my daily cereal with coffee yogurt and blueberries) and all but stuck her nose right in it. When I moved the bowl away, she simply lay flat out right in front of me. We nuzzled noses a bit and then I went back to eating, albeit with me holding the bowl in the air! After I'd eaten and scraped the bowl, she was allowed to lick up the remaining tiny bit of yogurt that was left. You have a very sophisticated cat: how many others would want to eat coffee yogurt!
This just in from Daddy/Norman: "I'm walking from the kitchen to the stairs which means I am passing through the den, when all of a sudden, I am ATTACKED at ankle-height by this ferocious killer cat who had been lying in wait for her prey to pass. She grabs my ankle, then, in a flash, darts away. She is on every horizontal surface in the house: entertainment unit, dining room table, window ledge facing the yard, this desk, in front of the screen, etc."
All the cats seem to sleep from about late morning until late afternoon. Bessie tears around from late afternoon until........well, who knows? There was one skirmish during the night, brief and fairly quiet, with Ginger. Then Bessie did her usual jump-up-and-perch-on-the-upper-window-ledge-like-a-parrot thing off and on. She was silhouetted against the window and did, indeed, look just like a parrot. She's most appreciative that, in this warm weather, we leave the bedroom windows and the blinds open in the night.
Last night, when I went up to bed, Bessie was in the guest-room and Ginger was next to the bed in our room. They were looking at each other, quietly, although Ginger's tail was swishing, but not fanned out (which usually means trouble). I was cautioning Ginger to stay calm when, all of a sudden, Bessie came charging at her! Ginger hissed and went to pounce, Bessie went charging down the stairs, Ginger lay back down, and Bessie, in the blink of an eye, was right back up the stairs, sticking her head around to look at Ginger. This went on 3 or 4 more times: Ginger hissing her down, Bessie back right up, etc. I think Bessie looked upon it as a game. Ginger was not so kindly disposed.
Bessie was in our bathroom this morning when Cinnamon ventured out and was about to do his usual morning thing of coming in and drinking from the sink, when he espied Bessie. He immediately slunk back under the bed, with Bessie right after him, sticking her head almost under the bed. There was a low growl and she backed away.
By the way, these days Bessie has almost complete run of our bedroom, as indeed she has of the entire rest of the house, whereas at the outset she was pretty much kept out of there by a sustained effort on Ginger's part.
I was able to eat all my breakfast on my own this morning, not without a fair amount of effort on my part. Because your cat has been so poorly disciplined, she doesn't know that she should not come up on the kitchen table. However, because I'm such a wuss, I don't discipline her either! She wanted to know what I was eating (my daily cereal with coffee yogurt and blueberries) and all but stuck her nose right in it. When I moved the bowl away, she simply lay flat out right in front of me. We nuzzled noses a bit and then I went back to eating, albeit with me holding the bowl in the air! After I'd eaten and scraped the bowl, she was allowed to lick up the remaining tiny bit of yogurt that was left. You have a very sophisticated cat: how many others would want to eat coffee yogurt!
This just in from Daddy/Norman: "I'm walking from the kitchen to the stairs which means I am passing through the den, when all of a sudden, I am ATTACKED at ankle-height by this ferocious killer cat who had been lying in wait for her prey to pass. She grabs my ankle, then, in a flash, darts away. She is on every horizontal surface in the house: entertainment unit, dining room table, window ledge facing the yard, this desk, in front of the screen, etc."
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
July 29, 2008
Bessie has taken to dive-bombing our legs. I'll be walking aruond, or standing at the sink, for example, and suddenly I'll get whomped from the rear! Then she'll take off at her usual 90 mph rate. You can almost hear her laughing.
This morning Daddy was sitting at the kitchen table when Bessie jumped onto his shoulders, draped herself around his neck and proceeded to lick his ear. He moved her away, so she moved to lick the other ear. He tried to dislodge her onto the table, but she wouldn't budge, so he got up, walked over to the couch in the den and dropped her onto it.
She loves high places. She spent part of the night perched on the open part of the big window in our bedroom and this morning she could be found in the same spot of the large bay window in the den, from where she jumped onto the entertainment center. She's always looking upwards: "Perhaps there's an even higher place I could get to?"
Last evening Daddy had to go up to the attic. "Wow," thought Bessie (you can just imagine how her mind works), gazing upwards, "they've got yet another floor for me to explore!" Except that I could just imagine her loping up the attic stairs, so a stern "No" put paid to any attempts on her part.
Yesterday afternoon I was in the hall talking to Daddy, who was in the study, when Ginger wanted to go into the guest bathroom. Trouble was, Bessie was already in there, eating. So I made Ginger wait, wanting to avoid yet another clash. Bessie came out, Ginger hissed and chased her down the stairs, then went and sat just inside our bedroom door. Bessie turned around, ran right back upstairs, took her front paw, thwapped Ginger on the nose, then ran into the guest-room. Ginger dove under our bed! What a riot!! Daddy said she should have been named Chutzpah.
Last night I came up to get ready for bed. I was talking to Daddy, who was in the study. Bessie walked into our bedroom, sat down by the tallboy and proceeded to clean herself. I was watching her when Ginger poked out from under the bedskirt but since she was looking at me, she didn't realize Bessie was there. I got Daddy's attention and we both stood watching what would happen next. After a moment, Ginger turned her head and saw Bessie. There was a frozen tableau: Bessie, with her paw in mid-air, didn't move a whisker; Ginger didn't either. We held our breath and Daddy asked if we shouldn't intervene. I was for letting them work it out. After a good, long minute, Ginger slunk back under the bed and Bessie resumed cleaning herself. Following which, she mosied over to the bed, whereupon Ginger let out a warning growl. Discretion being the better part of valor, Bessie decided to leave while the going was still good.
Remember how we always said that Ginger was "a quick purr"? I haven't heard Bessie purr yet, but when I picked her up at one point yesterday evening to give her a cuddle, I could feel her body reverberate and she actually almost purred out loud. Wow! Such progress.
This morning Daddy was sitting at the kitchen table when Bessie jumped onto his shoulders, draped herself around his neck and proceeded to lick his ear. He moved her away, so she moved to lick the other ear. He tried to dislodge her onto the table, but she wouldn't budge, so he got up, walked over to the couch in the den and dropped her onto it.
She loves high places. She spent part of the night perched on the open part of the big window in our bedroom and this morning she could be found in the same spot of the large bay window in the den, from where she jumped onto the entertainment center. She's always looking upwards: "Perhaps there's an even higher place I could get to?"
Last evening Daddy had to go up to the attic. "Wow," thought Bessie (you can just imagine how her mind works), gazing upwards, "they've got yet another floor for me to explore!" Except that I could just imagine her loping up the attic stairs, so a stern "No" put paid to any attempts on her part.
Yesterday afternoon I was in the hall talking to Daddy, who was in the study, when Ginger wanted to go into the guest bathroom. Trouble was, Bessie was already in there, eating. So I made Ginger wait, wanting to avoid yet another clash. Bessie came out, Ginger hissed and chased her down the stairs, then went and sat just inside our bedroom door. Bessie turned around, ran right back upstairs, took her front paw, thwapped Ginger on the nose, then ran into the guest-room. Ginger dove under our bed! What a riot!! Daddy said she should have been named Chutzpah.
Last night I came up to get ready for bed. I was talking to Daddy, who was in the study. Bessie walked into our bedroom, sat down by the tallboy and proceeded to clean herself. I was watching her when Ginger poked out from under the bedskirt but since she was looking at me, she didn't realize Bessie was there. I got Daddy's attention and we both stood watching what would happen next. After a moment, Ginger turned her head and saw Bessie. There was a frozen tableau: Bessie, with her paw in mid-air, didn't move a whisker; Ginger didn't either. We held our breath and Daddy asked if we shouldn't intervene. I was for letting them work it out. After a good, long minute, Ginger slunk back under the bed and Bessie resumed cleaning herself. Following which, she mosied over to the bed, whereupon Ginger let out a warning growl. Discretion being the better part of valor, Bessie decided to leave while the going was still good.
Remember how we always said that Ginger was "a quick purr"? I haven't heard Bessie purr yet, but when I picked her up at one point yesterday evening to give her a cuddle, I could feel her body reverberate and she actually almost purred out loud. Wow! Such progress.
Monday, July 28, 2008
July 28, 2008
Hostilities have abated considerably; we get a night's sleep as all sides have instituted a sorta nightly cease-fire.
Whereas Ginger is still attempting to exercise her authority over this young upstart, Bessie will not be cowed. After the usual hissing and warning growling, Ginger will pounce, chase Bessie down the stairs, where Bessie will disappear under the couch in the den, only to pop right out again and chase Ginger right back upstairs! Or they'll both be downstairs and Ginger will rush at her from the living-room and again Bessie will run under the couch, and repeat. This will happen over and over again. Bessie can be a real 'agent provocateur.'
Bessie likes laying siege to Ginger by positioning herself outside the guest bathroom when Ginger is in there eating. Ginger has taken to eating with one eye on the door! When she spots Bessie, she'll growl, but usually doesn't move. Bessie will then lay indolently, roll over a few times, stretch right o-u-t, as if to prove "I ain't scareda-you." This can end in one of two ways: Ginger will rush at Bessie, or Bessie will up and mosey along at her own convenience.
Ginger and Cinnamon spend a lot of their days under our bed. Used to be that Bessie would mainly stay out of our bedroom as each time she came in, Ginger would start to growl from under the bed-skirt. Nowadays, however, Bessie couldn't give a hoot, trots in whenever she feels like it, will take a walk around the room, lay down for a while, and just to push the taunting to almost over the edge, will put her face right up to the bed. Mostly there is quiet.
The other day, I opened the bottom drawer next to the kitchen sink to get out a clean towel and Bessie took the opportunity not only to jump into the drawer, but to climb behind it! I didn't know what to do for a moment, because I worried she'd get caught behind the dish-washer, or something, but in her own good time she climbed right out.
I have to be careful opening my closet in our bedroom, because she jumps right over the shoe-rack on the floor and plays in the back, where I have no chance of reaching her. Again, I just leave her to make her own way out. She is so quick, I can't even close the door before she has rushed in.
At night, she likes to sleep in the hall right at the top of the stairs, as close as she can get to us without incurring the wrath of Ginger.
This morning I came out of the bathroom after showering to find Bessie perched on Daddy's tall-boy! She likes coming into the bathroom and drinking from the tap. She loves running around downstairs from one window to the other, especially at the bay window in the den.
I tried taking a nap on the den couch yesterday, only to have her head pop up right into mine as if she was saying, "wha-cha doing?"
Remember how concerned I was about her NOT going down to the basement? Yeah, right! Open that door one millimeter and she's gone! So I just leave her to her own devices. Unlike our cats, however, who have been taught some manners, she does not come when called....
I have to say, her upbringing seems to have lacked discipline in general, hmmm. She gets up on the kitchen table to check out everything, and I mean everything, that we may be going to eat at our meals. I was just able to stop her the other day from eating the cottage cheese! I've also discovered she likes coffee yogurt (I knew she and I would get along!). I had scooped out the container into my breakfast bowl as usual, and she then proceeded to lick out the rest! When I'm sitting on the couch in the den, usually I have a glass of water on the little table at the side. After she stuck her nose in once and proceeded to have a drink, I'm quick to move the glass whenever I see her on the horizon.
She likes lying at the top of the stairs with her head just over the edge, so that when I go up, we rub heads together, just like Ginger and I always do.
She is so CUTE!!!!!
By the way, she continues to eat and drink from their bowls, even though she is provided with her own.
You don't need to worry about her not receiving enough affection, she gets hugged to pieces. And she is becoming more affectionate as the days go by.
It's been a long time since we've had such a lively cat in our house, given that our own are 14 years old now.
I doubt that the three of them will become buddies anytime; the most we can hope for is a permanent ceasefire. But so long as no blood is drawn, we can live with that.
This just in from Abba/Norman:
"Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Ginger keeps chasing Bessie under the guest bed and Bessie keeps coming out and standing up to say, ""nyah, nyah". Meanwhile Cinnamon comes out from under our bed to watch the goings on but when Bessie comes forward, Mr. Courageous dives back under."
So that's what's happening back in Lake Tilden, where all the men are lovable, the women are long-suffering, and the cats have taken over the house!
Love Mummy/Janice
Whereas Ginger is still attempting to exercise her authority over this young upstart, Bessie will not be cowed. After the usual hissing and warning growling, Ginger will pounce, chase Bessie down the stairs, where Bessie will disappear under the couch in the den, only to pop right out again and chase Ginger right back upstairs! Or they'll both be downstairs and Ginger will rush at her from the living-room and again Bessie will run under the couch, and repeat. This will happen over and over again. Bessie can be a real 'agent provocateur.'
Bessie likes laying siege to Ginger by positioning herself outside the guest bathroom when Ginger is in there eating. Ginger has taken to eating with one eye on the door! When she spots Bessie, she'll growl, but usually doesn't move. Bessie will then lay indolently, roll over a few times, stretch right o-u-t, as if to prove "I ain't scareda-you." This can end in one of two ways: Ginger will rush at Bessie, or Bessie will up and mosey along at her own convenience.
Ginger and Cinnamon spend a lot of their days under our bed. Used to be that Bessie would mainly stay out of our bedroom as each time she came in, Ginger would start to growl from under the bed-skirt. Nowadays, however, Bessie couldn't give a hoot, trots in whenever she feels like it, will take a walk around the room, lay down for a while, and just to push the taunting to almost over the edge, will put her face right up to the bed. Mostly there is quiet.
The other day, I opened the bottom drawer next to the kitchen sink to get out a clean towel and Bessie took the opportunity not only to jump into the drawer, but to climb behind it! I didn't know what to do for a moment, because I worried she'd get caught behind the dish-washer, or something, but in her own good time she climbed right out.
I have to be careful opening my closet in our bedroom, because she jumps right over the shoe-rack on the floor and plays in the back, where I have no chance of reaching her. Again, I just leave her to make her own way out. She is so quick, I can't even close the door before she has rushed in.
At night, she likes to sleep in the hall right at the top of the stairs, as close as she can get to us without incurring the wrath of Ginger.
This morning I came out of the bathroom after showering to find Bessie perched on Daddy's tall-boy! She likes coming into the bathroom and drinking from the tap. She loves running around downstairs from one window to the other, especially at the bay window in the den.
I tried taking a nap on the den couch yesterday, only to have her head pop up right into mine as if she was saying, "wha-cha doing?"
Remember how concerned I was about her NOT going down to the basement? Yeah, right! Open that door one millimeter and she's gone! So I just leave her to her own devices. Unlike our cats, however, who have been taught some manners, she does not come when called....
I have to say, her upbringing seems to have lacked discipline in general, hmmm. She gets up on the kitchen table to check out everything, and I mean everything, that we may be going to eat at our meals. I was just able to stop her the other day from eating the cottage cheese! I've also discovered she likes coffee yogurt (I knew she and I would get along!). I had scooped out the container into my breakfast bowl as usual, and she then proceeded to lick out the rest! When I'm sitting on the couch in the den, usually I have a glass of water on the little table at the side. After she stuck her nose in once and proceeded to have a drink, I'm quick to move the glass whenever I see her on the horizon.
She likes lying at the top of the stairs with her head just over the edge, so that when I go up, we rub heads together, just like Ginger and I always do.
She is so CUTE!!!!!
By the way, she continues to eat and drink from their bowls, even though she is provided with her own.
You don't need to worry about her not receiving enough affection, she gets hugged to pieces. And she is becoming more affectionate as the days go by.
It's been a long time since we've had such a lively cat in our house, given that our own are 14 years old now.
I doubt that the three of them will become buddies anytime; the most we can hope for is a permanent ceasefire. But so long as no blood is drawn, we can live with that.
This just in from Abba/Norman:
"Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Ginger keeps chasing Bessie under the guest bed and Bessie keeps coming out and standing up to say, ""nyah, nyah". Meanwhile Cinnamon comes out from under our bed to watch the goings on but when Bessie comes forward, Mr. Courageous dives back under."
So that's what's happening back in Lake Tilden, where all the men are lovable, the women are long-suffering, and the cats have taken over the house!
Love Mummy/Janice
July 21, 2008
Daddy/Norman sent a message to my office email just now:
"No cats have died since you left this morning."
When we went up to bed last night, Ginger, as usual at that time, got up on our bed. Bessie jumped up on the other side and Norman and I watched to see what would play out. Bessie just sat there, demure as you please. Ginger slunk over to her and got right up nose-to-nose, hissing a bit, then, when Bessie didn't budge, slunk back. Guess you'd say that was a 1-0 to Bessie!
I did get some sleep, there was a bit of hissing and growling (I'm sure all on Ginger's part) during the night, but not all that much. When I left this morning, Ginger and Cinnamon were under our bed and Bessie was loping from one opened downstairs window to the other, checking out the neighborhood. The landscaping people were already at work and she was really curious about all that noise.
She has her own food and water bowls by the tub in the guest bathroom, but I haven't bothered to set up the (new) litter box for her, since she only used the main one when she was here last time, out of sheer spite, I think.
We live in the hope that things will really settle down over time. About by the time you get back, probably!
Love and hugs, Mummy/Janice
"No cats have died since you left this morning."
When we went up to bed last night, Ginger, as usual at that time, got up on our bed. Bessie jumped up on the other side and Norman and I watched to see what would play out. Bessie just sat there, demure as you please. Ginger slunk over to her and got right up nose-to-nose, hissing a bit, then, when Bessie didn't budge, slunk back. Guess you'd say that was a 1-0 to Bessie!
I did get some sleep, there was a bit of hissing and growling (I'm sure all on Ginger's part) during the night, but not all that much. When I left this morning, Ginger and Cinnamon were under our bed and Bessie was loping from one opened downstairs window to the other, checking out the neighborhood. The landscaping people were already at work and she was really curious about all that noise.
She has her own food and water bowls by the tub in the guest bathroom, but I haven't bothered to set up the (new) litter box for her, since she only used the main one when she was here last time, out of sheer spite, I think.
We live in the hope that things will really settle down over time. About by the time you get back, probably!
Love and hugs, Mummy/Janice
July 1, 2008
Hi Daniel and Andrew,
I got home yesterday afternoon and who is laying at the top of the stairs, looking down at me? Miss Bessie! "Hi, Bessalah!"
She followed me into our bedroom, where she obviously knew that Ginger was under the bed (even though I couldn't see Ginger through the bed-skirt). Following took place:
Bessie, bounding over and crouching down: "Hi, coo-ee, wanna come out and play, huh?"
Ginger: "Growwwwwwwwwwwwwwwl."
Bessie: "Ok-ay, then, I'll just wait here for you to change your mind" (And proceeded to lie down right there.) "Hmmmmmmm, hmmmm, I'll just toddle off to the corner here and stick my head under, see what gives."
Ginger: "Hissssssss."
Bessie: "Geez, I'll just walk around to the other side of the bed and try again."
Ginger: "Hisssssss."
Bessie: "Oh, up yours, I'm outa here."
During the course of the late afternoon/early evening they all seemed to be able to at least avoid outright altercation, so we decided to let Bessie be free that night. Here's what occurred:
9:15p.m. I went to bed, being somewhat sleep deprived of late. All quiet.
11:30p.m. Woke up, realizing A/N not in bed; bathroom light still on. He had fallen asleep in the recliner. He came to bed and we fell back asleep.
About Midnight: Ginger threw up on our bedroom carpet (a hairball). I got up and cleaned it up, went back to sleep.
About 1:00a.m. Cinnamon(!) and Bessie yowling. Bessie chases Cinnamon(!!) down the stairs, with me following in order to stop any outright fight. Bessie comes charging back up the stairs. I fall back into bed, again.
About 3:00a.m. A/N having a bad dream, his cries wake me up, I rub his back to get him out of it; we fall back asleep.
5:30a.m. My alarm goes off. Ginger on the bed, Bessie just outside our bedroom; Ginger growls. Nothing happens.
I get up, sweep the bathroom floor, give all three cats fresh water and food (Bessie's is the only bowl that has been completely emptied of food. Question is, who's doing the eating from it, since Bessie seems to prefer to eat from their bowls!).
I get out of the shower, walk to the guest bedroom to get my clothes, see through the bathroom door that Bessie is in their litter-box, doing her thing! I said to A/N that he would probably find her litter-box to be pristine…..yup!
Bessie checks us out in the bathroom. I turn on the tap for her, she wants to use "our" sink, which the other cats know not to do. She is unfazed when moved out.
I start to make our bed, Bessie gets on and proceeds to start playing. She has not learned one of the ground rules of our house: cats wait until I've finished making the bed before they get on it!
A/N said at one point this morning, "Ginger and Cinnamon must hate the sound of that bell!"
Note to Daniel: If I don't get to win "Pinch, punch" today, I'M GONNA KEEPA YOUR CAT!!!
I got home yesterday afternoon and who is laying at the top of the stairs, looking down at me? Miss Bessie! "Hi, Bessalah!"
She followed me into our bedroom, where she obviously knew that Ginger was under the bed (even though I couldn't see Ginger through the bed-skirt). Following took place:
Bessie, bounding over and crouching down: "Hi, coo-ee, wanna come out and play, huh?"
Ginger: "Growwwwwwwwwwwwwwwl."
Bessie: "Ok-ay, then, I'll just wait here for you to change your mind" (And proceeded to lie down right there.) "Hmmmmmmm, hmmmm, I'll just toddle off to the corner here and stick my head under, see what gives."
Ginger: "Hissssssss."
Bessie: "Geez, I'll just walk around to the other side of the bed and try again."
Ginger: "Hisssssss."
Bessie: "Oh, up yours, I'm outa here."
During the course of the late afternoon/early evening they all seemed to be able to at least avoid outright altercation, so we decided to let Bessie be free that night. Here's what occurred:
9:15p.m. I went to bed, being somewhat sleep deprived of late. All quiet.
11:30p.m. Woke up, realizing A/N not in bed; bathroom light still on. He had fallen asleep in the recliner. He came to bed and we fell back asleep.
About Midnight: Ginger threw up on our bedroom carpet (a hairball). I got up and cleaned it up, went back to sleep.
About 1:00a.m. Cinnamon(!) and Bessie yowling. Bessie chases Cinnamon(!!) down the stairs, with me following in order to stop any outright fight. Bessie comes charging back up the stairs. I fall back into bed, again.
About 3:00a.m. A/N having a bad dream, his cries wake me up, I rub his back to get him out of it; we fall back asleep.
5:30a.m. My alarm goes off. Ginger on the bed, Bessie just outside our bedroom; Ginger growls. Nothing happens.
I get up, sweep the bathroom floor, give all three cats fresh water and food (Bessie's is the only bowl that has been completely emptied of food. Question is, who's doing the eating from it, since Bessie seems to prefer to eat from their bowls!).
I get out of the shower, walk to the guest bedroom to get my clothes, see through the bathroom door that Bessie is in their litter-box, doing her thing! I said to A/N that he would probably find her litter-box to be pristine…..yup!
Bessie checks us out in the bathroom. I turn on the tap for her, she wants to use "our" sink, which the other cats know not to do. She is unfazed when moved out.
I start to make our bed, Bessie gets on and proceeds to start playing. She has not learned one of the ground rules of our house: cats wait until I've finished making the bed before they get on it!
A/N said at one point this morning, "Ginger and Cinnamon must hate the sound of that bell!"
Note to Daniel: If I don't get to win "Pinch, punch" today, I'M GONNA KEEPA YOUR CAT!!!
June 30 2008
Dear Daniel and Andrew,
First of all, Bessie is: adorably, beautifully, completely DELICIOUS! And cute, to boot. Also, as Abba/Norman (hereinafter referred to as "A/N") said this morning, "She's a ballsy cat, probably has a tattoo!" She's a very East Village type of cat, definitely not of the suburban variety. She give new meaning to 'curious,' and loves tearing from one window to another (and we have many) to look out at what's going on. So, this is where we are. Saturday evening after you, Daniel, left, she checked everything out and more or less settled down. Not so, Ginger. Ginger has decided that it's a Hatfields/McCoys, Jets/Sharks, Crips/Bloods kinda thing. For the most part, Cinnamon is of the "I'm outa here, you girls work it out" frame of mind (although does hiss every now and then). Ginger says it's her club, she's the main member and Bessie can just sling her hook. She staked her claim to the territory by laying at the bottom of the stairs, thus denying Bessie entry, or across the door to the bathroom, with the same result. I would move her away so that Bessie could have some freedom of movement. Not that Bessie seemed particularly phased by any of this. Saturday night the humans didn't get much sleep, what with the hissing and growling going on by Ginger. At 4:00 yesterday morning I was Googling "The integration of a cat into a home with resident cats," which perhaps I should have done before she arrived! I learned two important things: (1) Cats [unlike dogs] are not pack animals; (2) Cats are highly territorial. I'd already realized that by then! The useful information I got was that the introduction should be made graaaaaaaaaadually; that the new cat should be segregated with its own food/water bowls and own litter box someplace else, and that it can take a while for integration to occur. Sunday morning (at a more respectable hour) A/N went to Stop & Shop and bought her a litter box. I then set that up, as well as food and water bowls, in the guest-room. Bessie immediately checked out the litter box, more or less disdained the food (her Friskies), and continued to eat from the other cats' own food bowls! The three of them more or less managed their existence during the day, with Bessie being quite blithe, even going almost nose-to-nose (in an absolutely friendly way) with Ginger, who growled but didn't lash out (nor has there been any lashing out). When we left for the Wolfs' lake house yesterday afternoon, we closed Bessie in the guest-room. We let her out immediately on our return and she bounded all around the house very happily. We decided we had to keep her alone for the night in order that we might get some sleep, but she wasn't very happy about that! She was crying, so A/N turned on a lamp for her! I reminded him that cats can see in the dark, but he felt it might comfort her. Around midnight, after hearing more of her crying, I got up and went in and cuddled her. She loved that! I also gave her a very little teddy-bear that we had received as a promotional gift somewhere, thinking she might want to cuddle up with it. She probably cried some more during the night, but I have to tell you that we were able to get 5 straight hours of sleep, so that was good. And Ginger slept on our bed as usual and was very happy about that. Not that she's been deprived at all of her usual cuddling. A/N opened the guestroom door at 5:15 this morning and Bessie raced around in her usual fashion. Ginger was on the bed and growled, but it didn't stop Miss Bessie from prancing in, walking all around our bedroom (prime gang turf, as far as Ginger is concerned), despite being hissed at by Cinnamon from under the bed (he's such a wuss!), following which she pranced back out, sorta giving Ginger the finger on the way! She even goes into the bathroom when Ginger is eating, and sits by the bath watching her. Despite being hissed at, she doesn't move. She's got guts! This morning I gave her the same food they eat, forget about the Friskies! I turned on the tap in our bathroom and she very delicately drank. When A/N cleaned out her little box this morning he said she had pooped, and that she got into the box while he was cleaning it out! This will take time, but we have great hopes that every day will be a little better. I already love her to pieces, and A/N thinks she's very sweet, too, so please don't think of trying to find another residence for her. You can't take her back now, because it will set everything back. She should stay with us until you return from China. Visiting hours are very flexible, and include meals (okay, yours too).
Love and hugs, Mummy/Janice
First of all, Bessie is: adorably, beautifully, completely DELICIOUS! And cute, to boot. Also, as Abba/Norman (hereinafter referred to as "A/N") said this morning, "She's a ballsy cat, probably has a tattoo!" She's a very East Village type of cat, definitely not of the suburban variety. She give new meaning to 'curious,' and loves tearing from one window to another (and we have many) to look out at what's going on. So, this is where we are. Saturday evening after you, Daniel, left, she checked everything out and more or less settled down. Not so, Ginger. Ginger has decided that it's a Hatfields/McCoys, Jets/Sharks, Crips/Bloods kinda thing. For the most part, Cinnamon is of the "I'm outa here, you girls work it out" frame of mind (although does hiss every now and then). Ginger says it's her club, she's the main member and Bessie can just sling her hook. She staked her claim to the territory by laying at the bottom of the stairs, thus denying Bessie entry, or across the door to the bathroom, with the same result. I would move her away so that Bessie could have some freedom of movement. Not that Bessie seemed particularly phased by any of this. Saturday night the humans didn't get much sleep, what with the hissing and growling going on by Ginger. At 4:00 yesterday morning I was Googling "The integration of a cat into a home with resident cats," which perhaps I should have done before she arrived! I learned two important things: (1) Cats [unlike dogs] are not pack animals; (2) Cats are highly territorial. I'd already realized that by then! The useful information I got was that the introduction should be made graaaaaaaaaadually; that the new cat should be segregated with its own food/water bowls and own litter box someplace else, and that it can take a while for integration to occur. Sunday morning (at a more respectable hour) A/N went to Stop & Shop and bought her a litter box. I then set that up, as well as food and water bowls, in the guest-room. Bessie immediately checked out the litter box, more or less disdained the food (her Friskies), and continued to eat from the other cats' own food bowls! The three of them more or less managed their existence during the day, with Bessie being quite blithe, even going almost nose-to-nose (in an absolutely friendly way) with Ginger, who growled but didn't lash out (nor has there been any lashing out). When we left for the Wolfs' lake house yesterday afternoon, we closed Bessie in the guest-room. We let her out immediately on our return and she bounded all around the house very happily. We decided we had to keep her alone for the night in order that we might get some sleep, but she wasn't very happy about that! She was crying, so A/N turned on a lamp for her! I reminded him that cats can see in the dark, but he felt it might comfort her. Around midnight, after hearing more of her crying, I got up and went in and cuddled her. She loved that! I also gave her a very little teddy-bear that we had received as a promotional gift somewhere, thinking she might want to cuddle up with it. She probably cried some more during the night, but I have to tell you that we were able to get 5 straight hours of sleep, so that was good. And Ginger slept on our bed as usual and was very happy about that. Not that she's been deprived at all of her usual cuddling. A/N opened the guestroom door at 5:15 this morning and Bessie raced around in her usual fashion. Ginger was on the bed and growled, but it didn't stop Miss Bessie from prancing in, walking all around our bedroom (prime gang turf, as far as Ginger is concerned), despite being hissed at by Cinnamon from under the bed (he's such a wuss!), following which she pranced back out, sorta giving Ginger the finger on the way! She even goes into the bathroom when Ginger is eating, and sits by the bath watching her. Despite being hissed at, she doesn't move. She's got guts! This morning I gave her the same food they eat, forget about the Friskies! I turned on the tap in our bathroom and she very delicately drank. When A/N cleaned out her little box this morning he said she had pooped, and that she got into the box while he was cleaning it out! This will take time, but we have great hopes that every day will be a little better. I already love her to pieces, and A/N thinks she's very sweet, too, so please don't think of trying to find another residence for her. You can't take her back now, because it will set everything back. She should stay with us until you return from China. Visiting hours are very flexible, and include meals (okay, yours too).
Love and hugs, Mummy/Janice
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