Passports, buckets and spades - the Excellent Cats go on their holidays

[TheShellBeach]

The last thread filled up very quickly, mainly thanks to Gizmo's adventures. He is now a fully-fledged Excellent Cat.

And it's allegedly summertime so Ho for the Hols!

Well our friend who is cat sitting reported a scratching at the door this evening - and discovered an NMH. Hedgy is clearly channelling Gizmo 🤣.
I haven't seen a hedgepig on our street in years.
Also jealous

Did I tell you all about my NMH? If not, I really must. @RumNotRun what flea treatment did the vet give Vixen? I had to stop using Advantage, it stopped working.

My eldest boy (9) and I went to the cat café in Liverpool this morning. We had the best time. So much interaction from the beautiful cats, and a few very cheeky ones.

Now I know this is a cat thread but...
We have a different cottage in a different bit of Cornwall for our second week.

First morning here today. Went to open the kitchen back door and these appeared on the wall next to our garden, about six inches from our back door. 🤣
NMDs

You just attract them @Grumpyoldpersonwithcats .
You must have a lovely soul or pocket food. 😂

I feel I've missed a trick there (although I do have a vague memory of seeing this when I was a child).
Up in Boscastle for week two - just visited Truro en route from previous cottage. As an aside - Truro is gorgeous - but looking in an estate agent's window the house prices there are absolutely eye-watering 😱. Well worth a visit though.

Oooh @Grumpyoldpersonwithcats we live in North Devon. Love to pop to boscastle sometimes 😊 out of season is better for us though. Took the smallest to the witchcraft museum and got caught in pouring rain last time which was fun 😭😭

@coastergirl the flea stuff is called Felpreva. It's a shame that it can't be bought without a prescription. Lol oking at the leaflet there are three different size pipettes depending on the weight of the animal, so I'm sure most people would be able to work that out.

@HouseofHolbein My sister lives in North Devon (well, when she's not living in Mexico!) I like going to visit her area, but spending time in close quarters with my sister for too long causes arguments 😁

Our vet has just prescribed Bravecto Plus for Linney and Gizmo.

It works against worms as well as fleas and ticks.

It'll save us having to put two spot-on treatments on them.

@RumNotRun I'm near Westward Ho! which is rather nice. Planning a trip to Bude this afternoon 😊

Shell, this one is also for worms and fleas, I can't be doing with two spot ons or trying to give a tablet.

Holbein, that's near my sister. She lives in Northam. It is a beautiful area. When I visit we walk along the burrows and the beach to Westward Ho! Despite Braddock (Braddick?) buying the spooky house on top of the cliffs, I still would love to own it one day.

I can't be doing with two spot-ons or trying to give a tablet

Agreed.
I prefer not to have gaping wounds on my arms.
🤣

I've moved to Bravecto for Agatha, but I have to still take her in, and have the nurse do it, as I can't wrangle her on my own. I feel like such a failure as a slave....

Even my good boy Fred who is the most placid and gentle cat I've ever known (although v skittish and hates anyone coming into our house) shredded the skin on my arms when I tried to give him a tablet. I ended up giving in as he was freaking out, I was bleeding profusely, and I was covered in his fur!

Thrifty had a lot to say about spot-on treatments a few weeks ago, but we got away with all our skin intact. I'm just dreading if/when we have to treat Izzy. She is a dear little thing but panics at being held, and we know what cat panic does to human flesh.

We've just been honoured by a visit from two of the grandsprogs on their way to a football match. DS1 and DGS went off as planned, but DGD1 decided to stay with us to smooch the cats, who she hadn't met before. It was a huge tribute to Thrifty's temperament that she did not once retaliate when repeatedly poked with a catnip banana. (OK, DGD is 8, but she adores all animals just a mite too much. Kind of like me at similar age.) Izzy showed off her stick and blanket technique with help from DS (that's DS4, the one who lives here) and then watched meeces on Cat TV. Both cats eventually went to rest upstairs and DGD watched cat videos on YouTube until the others returned, whereupon DGD announced that when their elderly British Shorthair shuffles off this mortal whatsit she wanted a ragdoll. DS1 said he thought they would be getting a dog. No, definitely a ragdoll she said. I bet she wins as he can deny nothing to his daughters. He said I expect they're very expensive. I recommended he look for a breed rescue. Whose side should I be on? (OK, this is the Litter Tray, we all know what the answer is.)

@RumNotRun I actually live in Bideford and spend a lot of time in WWH. In-laws live there now. I might have walked past you at some point 😱

Anyway apologies for the derailment

You're practically neighbours with her 😁

If she frequents any of the many local free music events I've probably met her 🤣🤣

I think her and her friends are nearly always at various music things. Pigstock? Is that a thing? I've been to the Braddick's music festival in WWH with her a couple of times too.

She is very social so has more than likely spoken to you or someone you know at some point. Sadly, she is not a cat person, although since being in Mexico she has sent me lots of cat photos 😁

Anyway back to cats... Wednesday seems to have an issue with her tail... it's normally really fluffy but there is a patch at the base which is really sparse. Only noticed it today. Not sure if she has got it caught somewhere or I suppose possible over grooming?

I didn't do pig stock I was at work. I did one of the Big Sheep gigs last week Queen and ABBA. I was at the waterfront too. I go to the palladium loads as well

Toad gets a bare bit at the base of his tail when he gets fleas/if I'm late with the flea treatment. Maybe it's that?

(She left in July 23 so hasn't done festivals in Devon for a while)

I'll get a photo of her tail tomorrow. Or Monday depending on my work hours tomorrow 🤣🤣

They don't have fleas apparently but they were all treated with some new stuff from the vet on Wednesday so maybe it hasn't agreed with her?

It is very good. My two sit in the long grass (like cheetahs don’t you know) and attract ticks. My girl has quite a reaction, with inflamed skin. With Bravecto, they just die on her and there is no inflammation.

It tries her patience how long I take to keep moving her hair to get all the solution on the skin. Luckily, my OH holds her while I do it. I read somewhere some people shave a little spot on the back of the cat’s neck, so there is a baldy patch all ready to make the administration of the spot on a bit easier. Mind you, maybe it would be a bit of a challenge to get the cat to keep still in order to shave the little patch…

HC6 in Wadebridge today (very very friendly 😻).
Followed by a shot of NMLE (not my little egret) spotted while walking nearby.
Probably going to Bude later in the week.