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.

Yes, I think you might be right about that.

Yes, although I’d never really noticed before.

My tribe are slightly male biased. I wouldn't say male dominated as Ghostie, Raven, and Vixen clearly are in charge, but I do have 4 boys compared to 3 (2 3/4) girls.

I've had ten cats in my life, 2 girls and 8 boys. Never really thought about it - it wasn't planned.

When I applied for a rescue cat I didn't state a preference for either sex (not sure it even makes much difference with neutered cats?) and the rescue suggested two boys - so a boy it was!

Just thought it was funny with the talk of stag and hen dos - it seemed the stag would be much better attended 😄

We've had eight cats, four girls and four boys.

It was just chance, the way it worked out. They have all been rescues and we have always tended to get older cats, who fewer people seem to want.

I had cats growing up - must have had 6 of them overall at various times, and all but one was a boy.

When we were going to adopt a cat DH said he preferred a boy- I don’t think he had any real reason as he knows nothing about cats, but he had some idea that boy cats were easier. I didn’t care either way. Then our two became available and I fell in love with them. And then he decided having 2 sister cats would be nice because we have 2 daughters.

Where we live you can't take out a new insurance policy for a cat older than 5 (which is so stupid and something I hadn't realised before I got a cat) so I was lucky Kettle was estimated at 4 years old on his paperwork. Once you have the cat insured the policy can be renewed until they are 10 or 13 depending on the insurer but no insurer will take a new cat over 5.

I had asked for an adult without specifying age but in the future I'd ask for anything under 5 for that reason! Though hopefully this stupid system will be long gone by the time we are catless again - or indeed by the time Kettle is 10!

I fostered 4 boys & 4 girls before Kitty.

That’s awful, @Esgaroth, and especially unfair on older cats in rescues.

Exactly. It takes much more dedication than it should to take on a perfectly healthy 6 year old cat. Should be the perfect choice for many people, but when the animal is completely uninsurable... not surprising if people think twice.

I don't understand why none of the insurers have worked out there's a market for cat insurance without these restrictions. I checked them all.

Awww, I wrote a post yesterday about Benny enquiring about the stag do, but it refused to send. He's a bit of a lad, and up for a fight.

I reckon Walter might prefer the hen do tbh.

I'm surrounded by boys. Kids, cats, and until recently worked at a special school for almost 16 years and I think I only ever worked with 1/2 girls!

My previous rescue cat was a female, and as I have said ( on the rescue cat thread), she was the exact opposite of Herbie in size, temperament, interest in food etc.
In her younger years she did hunt a lot of mice so she was no easier than Herbie in that respect. She didn't fight, although there was a female bengal cat which attacked her which was terrible.
I must find an old photo of her and take a pic of it on my phone, she was extremely cute!
When it comes to teenagers I have found that DD and DS are equally difficult!

That is absolutely crazy! 5 isn’t remotely old for a cat!

To redress the balance I have 3 girl cats. I also have 4 daughters. The name Idiot Sisters refers to them all 🤣🤣

I have one poor outnumbered son.

2 lovely girls here! Mother and daughter rescues. Our previous 2 were sisters.

cough bridesmaids cough (but they don't have bonnets like the beautiful Idiot Sisters)

I bet the Idiot Sisters would be an absolute riot at the hen weekend!

The kittens say that if it’s a summer wedding they will be big girls by then and definitely not need chaperoning.

But I think Stripey will need a sensible older cat to stop her knocking the champagne onto the floor and pouncing on the glasses

We've had 6 cats, 2 boys and 4 girls, including our current two elderly ladies (both will be 19 soon 🤞)

They'd love to come on the hen do but will have to be satisfied with vicarious attendance and all the gossip instead

I think the boys will need a sensible older male to keep them out of Ljubljana prison.

Kitty’s currently irritated because I won’t let her go out on the windy rainy balcony.

I think the boys will need a sensible older male to keep them out of Ljubljana prison.

Well Basil will be 14 by then, even if I'm not convinced he's that sensible.
His dirty look might help keep some control though.

Basil looks quite formidable. Will he be able to keep the peace between Gizmo & Picard?

I very much doubt it 🤣

Girlcat says that all this talk of weddings & hen parties bores her. She spent her youth caring for her special needs brother until he passed, and is quite content at home with her toyboy Tobias worshipping her and her slave catering to her every need except not enough Dreamies or cooked meat as treats, and too much going out to "work" so not being available to sit being stared at for hours on end.

The guys may be well into a stag "do" in middle age, but hen parties are for the young and at around 11 years old she's been middle aged for a long time now. She thinks acting like a 2 year old (prime late teenage/early 20's in human terms) is well beneath her dignity as a Goddess Empress, and other middle ages females should be ashamed of themselves.

(I should note that she is a cat very much on her dignity, and I had to promise not to mention her addiction to squirming on the floor with a wild look in her eyes while I give her belly rubs, before I was permitted to post her proclamation above.)

Remember that Gismo and the Grumpy boys are old adversaries. I could see Gismo and Picard putting aside their current differences to gang up together for the honour of Scotland - and for the enjoyment of a good old scrap.

Don't discount Olli"s role in this. Will he be Gizmo"s ally or a deadly foe?
Only time will tell. 🤣