I seem to be picking Newboy up tonight......

[cozietoesie]

Currently in the middle of making arrangements to meet - he's a breed rescue - and yet to check over the house for 'breakability' issues etc. (He's only young - and it's a good few years since I had a cat that could potentially leap living with me.)

Yikes!!

Mr C is neutered, technically. But his pompoms were so big they sort of, stayed. Have been the subject of much comment among the vet and staff, neighbours, friends and family.

'Phwoar' 'Who's a big boy' 'Kinell they're like grapefruit' among other regrettably lewd interjections have graced my genteel spinster's home.

Yes he is marking his territory. He rubs me all over before I go shopping in case I am stolen by another, larger, tabby in Tesco.

Nope. He's a tough one.

We had words earlier today as well when he attempted a bad thieve for the second time in the same place. He took it rather to heart and has been even more standoffish.

Tomorrow is his first vet appointment also. Gawd help me.

Well, you've got to lay down the law a little bit, otherwise anarchy (ie the cat) reigns fully. Actually cats who do reign generally rather than entirely are quite reasonable, benevolent dictators, but you still have to eat.

Mr C is eating potato salad in front of Harry Potter. Technically, this is theft, but it doesn't count as I am 'also watching the film and cannot see him''.

Massive good luck at the vet. It will be over before you know it, and then you can both chill out.

'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times etc etc but it was always time to eat'. (I deliberately misquote.) Never known to refuse food, that's Newboy. I'm hoping to speak to his new vet tomorrow re his weight.

The boys going to vet for their boosters tomorrow Cozie, so they send sympathy and stoicism to Newboy.

Lordy, am thinking of you both now!! It's all go here - so many people have walked out of the charity that the shops aren't opening so guess who is volunteering.

My pricing is AWFUL: Sweet young customer (brandishing real Ossie Clark) - how much Me: (airy) can you afford a pound madam :)
I warn people to wait 10 minutes every time I do battle with the till and offer to make them a cup of tea while I tackle The Beast :)

Actually I'm a bit better than that, I made them a fortune spotting first editions in the rag bag, so we're a few quid up at least.

Newboy may be an anxious eater, Mr C was. From N's pov, he's making the most of a new situation. Also snacks can be v calming.

How did it go?

Not been yet. Shortly.

Disastrous. Blood everywhere and a ruined downstairs sitting room. (The blinds in particular.) He was nearly kept in.

Eek. What happened? Is the vet alive?

It was too soon. He decided that the Creature from the Black Lagoon (me) was going to finally do for him in som unspecified but horrible way. The vet is fine - he was OK at the surgery. (They decided not to give him a chip, though.) I'm scratched in strange places and the poor lad has wounded paws and mouth. The blinds will have to be replaced.

Let me guess - rather violent objections to being caught & put into the carrier?

Boycat really didn't want to be caught for his annual MoT a few months back. When vet was faced with a panting terrified cat, he was as quick & gentle as he could be but still warned me to keep an eye on him the rest of the day as he'd obviously been so distressed.

Ah X-post.

Poor Newboy! (And poor Cozie too). At least with Boycat the damage was only psychological in the long run, though he still slinks under & inside the sofa if I shut them in the front room for any reason e.g. someone at the door.

Indeed. He was throwing himself off walls, poor lad.

Poor you too C. Are you all right, you might need a little tot and a crap film to get over the shock.

Newboy might have had a panic attack, I swear cats get them. Horrible but harmless. He will take your lead in calming down. Poor little cat. He might have panicked that he was going back to Bad Home. How miserable for you both. But at least you've done it.

Look, I know this is the most annoying remark ever, but one day you will laff about this. Maybe rather a long time away, but still. What did the vet say? They won't have been that ruffled, presumably, or they'd have sedated and kept him in.

Get some pix of the ruined blinds & keep the hard bits so a blindmaker can dupe them more easily. There is a brilliant man on ebay you can send broken shreds to and you get blinds back. Keep the pix as a precious family memento.

Thinking of you.

Thanks, Lana. Yes - I'm in a state as well. A very large tot, I think?

Crikey! A very large tot (or three) is in order.
Some cats like a fight/demolition site. I have scars on my shoulder from trying to get a young cat back in his pen at CP a couple of months ago. Looked like butter wouldn't melt but jeeeez. There is often a back story to all these things which as mere humans we don't know.
Our own Vinocat however no claws or biting. I think vets like her as the risk of their blood being drawn rather is minimal!

He hasn't bonded with me yet - that's the sum of it. And Siamese are ferocious when they're angry. I fear that this episode may have set us way back - he hasn't eaten or used his tray since this lunchtime. (In fact, I have no idea where he is. )

Have a massive drink at once. 2 aspirin as well. Child 44 is on film 4 now, supposed to be v good.

Newboy will need time to calm down as well. He is cooling off somewhere. No one ever died from missing a meal, although no cat would ever want you to know that.

Today wasn't a setback - it was necessary progress. He has to go to the vet at some stage, and it was never going to be a picnic. Mr C's first time was a fiasco. Yes it was awful but you've done it now and you don't have to go again for ages.

Have another massive drink in a minute, try to decompress.

Oh Cozie You poor thing. It had to be done eventually though.

You'll get there, you know cats much better than the rest of us put together.

I'be found him. He's not eating but he's still alive.

That bottle of gin (well, those bottles actually) is looking very tempting.

You've got 1. gin 2. cat, that's all you need for tonight.Well, that's all one needs in life generally I might add :)

Of course he's not eating
He needs you to know exactly how cross he is
Open the gin give him a shot of it