Ring Out, Wild Bells! As 2025 approaches, the Excellent Cats raise their game with a discussion on Tennyson's poetry

[TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne]

And while the cats are thus engaged, their human slaves are still finishing the turkey and Christmas pud, and idly placing bets on whether or not Kitty will use her new cat tree.

I'd say he's managed it. Well done, Gizmo!

@TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne
"Good morning, Gizmo's Grooming Services - would you like an appointment with Mr Guillermo or Mr Linné today ...? "

Whitecat is continuing her assault on her jacket and made worrying progress overnight. The hole is on the side where the stitches are. The stitches are still covered by the jacket but if she keeps on at it she will likely make it big enough to expose them

We are on day 6 post-surgery. She is meant to be in the jacket till day 10.

What should I do? I could buy another jacket but I don’t fancy trying to get her in it while she’s conscious.

Might see what the vet thinks.

I think talking to the vet is a good idea. They might recommend switching to a cone or might decide the stitches have healed well enough to be ok.

I'm fairly sure that when my cats have been spayed in the past they haven't needed a jacket or a lampshade anyway.
Is this a new thing from vets?

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I've no idea why, but I can't help feeling that Gizmo would be more likely to run a protection racket as his business of choice...

Grumpy, the grooming business is a front for the real business at hand

I think it depends on the cat. A couple of my fosters absolutely needed lampshades.

The vet wants her to come back later today to get a new jacket or switch to a cone.

She will probably chew through a second jacket too - but it might take her more than 4 days.
On the other hand if she is in a cone she will be even sadder and her sister may helpfully wash her stitches for her. So I’ll have to talk it over with them.

Poor little thing.

On the other hand, Stripey made the bold decision to stay on my lap last night after her stitches check and discovered to her own surprise that she really likes sitting on laps and having cuddles. This is a big turnaround for a cat who was up till a week ago dubious about anyone sitting next to her on the floor.

A new delivery of Molly's Mice has arrived. Toad is rolling around killing one of them. I'm not quite sure what bit of him is where in the photo.

Not at all impressed with the new arrangement.

She still manages to look cute though @stormsandsunshine !

How long will she have to wear it? Herbie wouldn't even keep a normal collar on, and managed to lose about 6 in a month. I don't know if he was holding out for a particular colour or style of collar that he would consent to wear!

Toad has thoroughly soaked one of the Molly's Mice. It was a lovely pale blue/teal colour before he slobbered all over it.

Till the 10 days post surgery are up - which is annoyingly on Sunday so I can’t get the all clear from the vet till they check the photo of her stitches on Monday.

She is resting on the sofa forlornly at the moment. Stripey tried to help her by attacking the cone but that just resulted in Snowcat being biffed in the face. Fortunately Stripey has now given up trying to save her and is grooming her leg for her instead

I'm not surprised she's unimpressed. She is extremely cute though.

It sounds as if they have a really lovely relationship.

Hope she can have it removed on Monday, she'll be so delighted!

We have a saying in our other language that means "as lively as a male cat". It rhymes but I think that's the only reason people say it because here is DH being as lively as a male cat (those are his legs), with lively male cat for reference.

You can't really see his legs unless you click the photo... but they're not the cute bit anyway 😆

Herbie is also being lazy as usual.
I am planning to watch a film at 9. On film 4, "The electrical life of Louis Wain", it is about a victorian illustrator who painted cat pictures "which helped society warm to the idea of felines as domestic pets".
Benedict cumberbatch stars, but I am hoping there will be some cats too.

I've got a handsome man sitting next to me on the sofa.

Argh I forgot this was on! Going to record it on film4+1, thanks for the reminder!

@EmpressaurusKitty I find their relationship very touching (and an example to my children who are not always as kind to each other). I hope they don’t stop liking each other when they get older.