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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

The Very Eventful Lives of the Excellent Cats

994 replies

TheShellBeach · 27/10/2023 11:05

Calling all cats and their overworked slaves - join us as we grudgingly accept that every day is National Cat Day as far as our moggies are concerned.

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Catsmere · 01/12/2023 05:23

Phoebe's now also done a bit of seat-warming. (The serious expression is because she was watching my shadow move on the floor.)

The Very Eventful Lives of the Excellent Cats
YesItsMeIDontCare · 01/12/2023 08:35

@Catsmere 😂🤣

Like you, I remember it from "ye olde dayes", but it is so funny because it is so true!

"Wrap it in cheese" 😂😂😂😂

CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 01/12/2023 08:39

Wrap it… in cheese? Have I missed a post somewhere? I’m a decade older than my boyfriend so there’s a running joke about how ancient I am, but I wasn’t actually born in the Middle Ages or prehistory so I missed out on what I assume was seventies culinary weirdness? Or just wrapping a chair in cheese?

YesItsMeIDontCare · 01/12/2023 08:41

@CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau - Catsmere's post at 01:36. Click the link and scroll down to "How to give a cat a pill" 😂

CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 01/12/2023 08:56

Aaah, I see! Thanks :)

Original poster
TheShellBeach · 01/12/2023 09:15

SequentialAnalyst · 01/12/2023 01:43

I just read the more recent posts, well done Linney, excellent catting, annoying and amusing in equal parts, I imagine @TheShellBeach?

He's really got catting down to a fine art.
Grin

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Catsmere · 01/12/2023 09:38

@YesItsMeIDontCare @CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau 😂😂😂

@TheShellBeach and isn't it noticeable that even the cats who really don't seem to have a clue about how to cat, are somehow catting purrfectly?

twobluechickens · 01/12/2023 11:27

Munchkin is sat by the half-open window, looking very interested in going out. So I think we'll give it a try at lunchtime. My cat flap fitting is delayed until next week but I'm sure we can come to some sort of door opening arrangement in the meantime. She will have been here for four weeks tomorrow so it seems like a reasonable time to try. Wish us luck (me more than her)!

The Very Eventful Lives of the Excellent Cats
CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 01/12/2023 11:29

Thoughts and prayers for you. Once Munchkin catches on to the game of running around the house making your human hold the door open, you can never safely go back…

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 01/12/2023 11:36

Kudos to Linney - that really is top catting. 😹

Original poster
TheShellBeach · 01/12/2023 12:07

@twobluechickens Munchkin will undoubtedly return when hunger gets the better of her.

We accidentally let the late Buster out when we'd only been here for a day, and he didn't return for a further two days. But he found his way back eventually.

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twobluechickens · 01/12/2023 12:28

Yes, @TheShellBeach , she likes her food and I've been training her to come to me by shaking the bag of Dreamies and liberally rewarding her 😁

CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 01/12/2023 12:38

Velvet has, as I’ve recounted in the past, several times attempted to kidnap her Dreamies from the kitchen side, which she is NOT allowed on - my mother tries NO, my dad does a gentle push, but I always lift her down at which point she makes a terrible noise like a baby mole suffocating or something (don’t worry, I know how to pick her up comfortably and safely, but she’s not madly keen on it happening at all). But anyway, re the Dreamies, she always checks very thoroughly, fails to notice (or possibly care) that I’m in the room, then lifts them up and attempts to drag them to… somewhere? I’m not sure where she’s going or how she plans to open the bag as she tends to carry off her little heist and then get distracted halfway through. This poor cat is suffering a debilitating case of ADHD.

SequentialAnalyst · 01/12/2023 15:17

I found a sharp hiss worked as a deterrent, issued just as cat is about to act on the forbidden behaviour. Can't remember having to do it much, so it must have worked. Possibly may be how I "explained" that worktops were off limits. And she never did go on them, AFAIK.

Original poster
TheShellBeach · 01/12/2023 15:40

Two cats, uncharacteristically sharing a chair

The tabby is Buster and the tortoiseshell is McVicar

Both went ORTB two years ago

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CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 01/12/2023 15:44

Cute little furballs! I’m assuming McVicar was a queen? Distinctive name :)

YesItsMeIDontCare · 01/12/2023 15:49

Leroy sends Yuletide greetings for 2023 🎅🏼

@twobluechickens - I advise against letting Munchkin out now. If you do she will never lower her standards to a cat-flap and you will be on door duty forever.

The Very Eventful Lives of the Excellent Cats
Original poster
TheShellBeach · 01/12/2023 15:51

CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 01/12/2023 15:44

Cute little furballs! I’m assuming McVicar was a queen? Distinctive name :)

McVicar was a lady, who squashed herself into all kinds of small boxes. She also knocked everything off my bedside table each night when she jumped up to say goodnight to me.

We were talking to the vet about McVicar not long ago and the vet said that McVicar was one of the most memorable cat names she'd ever heard.

My sister, OTOH, disparaged the name and said that the cat was "far too pretty to be called a silly name like McVicar". (Her own cat was called Mog - I rest my case).

Just one of the many, many reasons why I went NC with my sister and blocked her on everything. Ugh.

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Original poster
TheShellBeach · 01/12/2023 15:54

.........................................but I wasn’t actually born in the Middle Ages or prehistory

That reminds me of DS1, who, when he was a mere 8 year old stripling, asked me if I'd received groats as pocket money "when I was young".

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CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 01/12/2023 16:20

Oh for goodness’ sake @TheShellBeach, the cat doesn’t care and being feline she’d probably rather have a cool name than a pretty one! The spirits of Mr Neutron and Surfing (she was a horse but hopefully counts due to also having a bizarre name) salute McVicar, or maybe they’re all hanging out up there together already! If so, I apologise because Mr N has probably smacked McVicar round the face already (he’s not very good at respect in interpersonal relationships). Give me Velvet any day. I honestly think I’m in love, she’s so silly, sweet and gentle. My problem is that I’m constantly worried she’s going to be taken away.

CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau · 01/12/2023 16:20

Sorry @TheShellBeach my irewas directed at your sister!

Papergirl1968 · 01/12/2023 20:08

My friend, who has only had dogs, helpfully suggested hiding a tablet in a piece of malt loaf or cake. Now Matt has in the past had a bit of cake, but malt loaf? I don't think that would go down well.
I also don't think she realises cats have small mouths compared to dogs and the size of the tablet is proportionally much bigger. I mean, Matt is a greedy bugger but even he would struggle to swallow a pill hidden in cake or cheese in one.
I've got him to have his pills in among a few dry biscuits.
It's not ideal because I'm trying to wean him off dry food completely, and it's not ideal that I can only get him to have his urinary wet food mixed with normal food at the moment, but I think the most important thing is to get his meds down him for now.

MadeOfAllWork · 01/12/2023 20:40

Papergirl1968 · 01/12/2023 20:08

My friend, who has only had dogs, helpfully suggested hiding a tablet in a piece of malt loaf or cake. Now Matt has in the past had a bit of cake, but malt loaf? I don't think that would go down well.
I also don't think she realises cats have small mouths compared to dogs and the size of the tablet is proportionally much bigger. I mean, Matt is a greedy bugger but even he would struggle to swallow a pill hidden in cake or cheese in one.
I've got him to have his pills in among a few dry biscuits.
It's not ideal because I'm trying to wean him off dry food completely, and it's not ideal that I can only get him to have his urinary wet food mixed with normal food at the moment, but I think the most important thing is to get his meds down him for now.

I’m just dropping in and out of this thread but has anyone recommended Giver Cat? It’s like meat play dough that you push the pill into. It works a treat. We give our girl a bit without the pill and then the bit with. She loves it.

Original poster
TheShellBeach · 01/12/2023 21:39

I've tried Giver Cat and it worked a couple of times.

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