It’s been a busy day here at Joyce Towers involving sorting, chucking, cleaning and a trip to the tip. Most satisfying, but we have a lot more to do.
Excellent news about Mouse, too! As I write, I have three cats sitting on my lap. Mouse is sandwiched between Milka and Percy and they’re all contentedly asleep. I’ll know she’s totally settled when I spot them washing each other. Nearly sorted.
I couldn’t get all three in one picture, so you’ll have to be happy with Percy draped over Mouse.
No ACAD for a couple of days, because I’m poorly. It’s a regular event for me to fall ill as soon as I relax during the school holiday. Plenty of teachers will agree that as soon as the pressure lets up, their body lets them down. Anyway, as long as I’m well again in time to go back to school …
‘Shut up moaning Fiona, how is Mouse?!’ I hear you cry. ‘She’s fine and dandy’, I reply. Mouse has got John pegged as the push-over provider of foodie treats (he buys chickens to roast, makes a couple of sandwiches, then feeds to rest to the cats). She has dared to explore part of the house beyond the living room and can cope with the other cats coming right up close to sniff her. She still growls sometimes, but has stopped panicking.
Sorry for today’s pictures; my head and hair are in all of them, but I thought Mouse’s original family might like to see how much she was enjoying being stroked this afternoon.
Florence, pictured this morning. She was looking for some gentle petting and I made sure she received it. She really does have the best whiskers in town.
Mouse is eating heartily now, but still hostile to the approaches of the other cats. We just need to be patient.
I have spent the day at school again today, even though it’s the Easter holidays. I’ve been trying to get all my (200+) pupils’ books marked right up to date. With a new marking policy and paperwork to be completed and glued into every book, it’s proved to be impossible to do in two days. After 7 hours of wielding my pen and a glue stick, I regretfully gave up and brought the rest home.
I arrived to hear that Mouse has been eating and drinking, using her litter tray (to my relief) and having plenty of cuddles with Isobel. However, she still hasn’t explored far.
I’ve decided that I’m going to pick her up tomorrow and take her on a tour to see the sights of our house. Percy, Milka and Willow are still fascinated by Mouse, but she growls at them when they approach. Florence hasn’t been closer than about 3 meters. Scaredy-cat.
Milka and Percy have finally realised that Mouse is here. They spotted her under a coffee table this morning and the hissing, growling and bottle-brush tails began.
Isobel and Ted have supervised all day, to make sure things didn’t get past grumpy, but it’s been fine. Mouse continues to enjoy human company and has spent at least 2 1/2 hours sitting on laps. She’s currently sitting on the back of Isobel’s chair, on the alert for approaching felines.
The two photographs show Milka’s magnificent tail when he was over-excited this morning. The other is from this afternoon and shows him sneaking up behind Mouse on my lap, so he could have a surreptitious sniff.
Things are progressing well.
We collected Mouse at 9am this morning and she has spent the day in the living room with us. We’ve kept the door closed, so she could get over the first shock without having to contend with other cats.
Mouse has hidden behind an armchair or under a table the whole time, as is to be expected. However, we have lifted her out and cuddled her a few times and she has been very calm and happy to be handled.
Half an hour ago, we opened the door and Milka and Percy came dashing in. The complete dopes know something is up, but they still haven’t found Mouse! I will report tomorrow on what happens when the resident cats finally understand that there is a new little stranger in their midst.
ACAD is back, and for a very special purpose.
Isobel and I have been to visit Mouse, who is going to come and live with us tomorrow. We thought it might be best to bring her to our house first thing in the morning, so we can give her breakfast and have a full day to settle her before we go to sleep.
Mouse is a pretty lilac point and was very friendly with me and Isobel. She’s a shoulder-cuddler and generous with her purrs.
Milka is not as fond of cuddles as he was when he was a kitten, so it’s a treat when he comes to sit on me.
We’re worried about all four of the cats at the moment, because they are not very well. They are coughing/sneezing (sometimes it’s hard to distinguish one from the other in cats), they’re bleary-eyed and are not eating as enthusiastically as usual. Percy is the worst; since this afternoon, his nose seems blocked and he’s breathing through his mouth. Furthermore, I’m worried they’re feverish, because they all feel warmer than normal. I will ring the vet first thing in the morning and make appointments. Percy and Milka are top of the list, then Florence and Willow, who don’t seem as bad.
We recently turned the central heating on for the first time since March and as a consequence the cats are sleeping in lots of new spots. Willow snuggled up on the dining table to be near the radiator. He also lay on the patchwork and leather bag I started in August and plan to finish at half term. Thanks, Willy, it’s all furry now.
Milka fancied a shower this morning, but I wouldn’t turn the tap for him.
A Cat A Day 