Christmas with the Excellent Cats

[TheShellBeach]

......... Silent Night.........

Well, maybe not so silent when there's a cat about who wants to be fed.

Join us in the run up to Christmas 2023!

I did (briefly - excuse the pun) get TC in antlers one Christmas. I think that was enough.

Was it me who dared you to do that?

I rather think it might have been 🤣

It doesn't surprise me that it was one of the long term posters like you! It's like a game of dare when you're at school. What else can we dare Grumpy to try with TC?

Found this on the Still Game FB page

If I hadn’t have done it I’m sure Super would have.

I tried a shower cap on Velvet and a little draping of tinsel. Neither succeeded. And don’t worry, I was super conscious about her breathing for the all of two seconds before a contemptuous swipe got rid of the cap. Her nose is free even if it doesn’t quite look like it in the picture.

I've seen an advert for a knifed powdered wig for cats. I'd love to get one for Cheddar. But think it would suit Penelope better, however she would probably murder me in my sleep.

It may happen anyway, so probably best to accept your fate and put a wig on her.

In my living room, I have a very large l-shaped sofa big enough for 4 large adults, and with a wide back that is a good size for cats to sleep on; there are 2 sheepskins thrown over the back too. I also have 2 dining chairs and a PC chair, an ottoman with fleece throws on it, a cat igloo, Tobias's covered box, his 2 other boxes, a radiator cat bed and a large cat tree with 3 platforms and 2 cave sections.

There is of course also access to the bedrooms; mine has a king size bed in, theirs has a double bed that has another igloo and a doughnut bed on top of it.

The entirety of this furniture is available to the cats 24/7 except on a seat at one end of the sofa which is where I sit.

So guess where Tobias has decided the only place for him to sleep is? I nearly sat on him when I got in from work tonight very tired, but at least he'd warmed the seat up nicely for me!

@Allergictoironing The tribe have a similar choice of places to sleep but tonight I had Frankenstein in "my" place so I was sitting to the side/in front with Toad and Raven on my legs and Vixen around my shoulders. The grumbling and complaining if I dared to try to move was ridiculous. Not from Frankenstein, he is a little angel, but his big brothers and sisters are assholes.

Little ball of Velvet (on her favourite blanket which is a large cat face).

And now the actual facepalm photo.

She is so brave but she hasn’t managed to sit on anyone’s lap yet. She loves fuss and is the only cat I’ve ever me who won’t scratch if you tickle her tummy. Living for the day she can realises that she can curl up right next to us and stay nice and warm and protected too. She likes to sleep by my feet but I wouldn’t mind her sleeping on my lap or whatever (hope that photo shows how tiny she actually is - that’s the narrowest of IKEA single beds).

@CeciledeVolangesdeNouveau that photo shows off her beautiful markings, she is just gorgeous..

BTW I have PM'd you.

Cecile, Velvet is a beautiful cat.

Finlay is enjoying that Friday feeling as I finish work earlier so he gets let out of crate earlier

The night (tonight) we are taking the tree and trimmings down Finlay is well enough to play

Yay Finlay! And good camouflage by him as well :)

OK big news guys: Velvet is having her first proper visit to the vet tomorrow. Just a worming, fleaing and checkup with a couple of minor concerns to chat about.
First concern: obviously it’s not going to be very fun and V is pretty unintelligent even for a cat so I’m worried she’ll associate me with bad feelings. She gets scared being held, restrained etc and I often get told off for not telling her to scratch. So I’m worried about even holding her on a bench for a worming and if she’ll hate me.
second: my boyfriend was over and preferred the door to my room to be shut and I haven’t seen her, and this sounds awfully mean but she’s often snuggling at my feet by now and what if she’s with my mother and decides she prefers her? Maybe V already hates me.
Third: just general worry. She’s had her meals and I haven’t seen my bf for a fortnight while I have had V on my bed for about 48 hours solid prior to today.
just don’t want her to hate me, I want her to have a good and happy life.

Cecile, there is no reason to think she's going to hate you. P&D hate going to the vet and howl all the way there, just as all my previous cats have, whatever their levels of intelligence, and they get over it when they're back home. Yes, it may take them a while to settle down, but they do.

Sorry, I’m having a moment of insecurity mostly because of being hugely insecure but also because she hasn’t come to sleep with me yet and due to the troubled family dynamics I’m a bit worried she’s going to become my mother’s cat because I’ve done something awful to her.

I know your mother keeps pushing this even though she doesn't much like Velvet (am I understanding that right? I haven't been on these threads all that long) but this is her playing mind games. And as I said, cats aren't about to hate their human just because of a vet visit. A cat keeping to herself at times doesn't mean she hates you. Hell, Phoebe and Daisy are in my bedroom at present and completely ignoring me. They'll demand attention when it suits them. (Daisy has a new big paper tote bag to sit on, that's more attractive at present.)

I've taken all my cats to the vet's and none have hated me.

Thank you for your lovely replies. If I wake up with her I’ll feel a lot better. It’s the mental game of “have they started hating me yet”. I’ll obviously be there to comfort her and she shouldn’t need a line in or anything but particularly since she’s a rescue baby and I don’t have much else to do, being off sick, I want to enclose her with love and care. She’s not just beautiful, she has the sweetest of natures. I just really want to take care of her.