Early one Morning ..........

This morning I woke up and thought - ooh, at least 20 minutes until I have to get up! Then I looked at the alarm clock and discovered there was no time to waste. After having very late nights for three of the last four days, I changed the alarm clock's time by 30 minutes - and only 5 minutes left just not worth trying to have more rest! And Bracken, my cat, would start requesting food - no rest at times!!

The main reason I thought time was earlier than it was - dark sky with very welcome rain! It was too heavy for me to get to the downspout from gutters without being totally saturated, so I decided just to put a small container near my door to catch some - rain due for a few more days so shall have time to replenish the rainwater bin. The consequence of today's rain - highest temperature 22C - for about 30 minutes, just enough for us! Much appreciated by Bracken and myself. In fact Bracken has been beside me twice today already, which she doesn't do when the weather is too hot - after all she cannot take her fur coat off! Unfortunately she sometimes complains if I breathe, especially when my hand is touching her. Crazy cat!! So lovely with it, though.

So, we are back to our normal morning starting at 7.30 am, followed by 30 hectic minutes! Next Sunday I may try for 30 minutes more sleep, depending on how many late nights we have had, although some rainy days and lower temperatures generally mean my 9.45 pm bedtime will become the norm again. I really hope so!

Life Before The Kattery!

Before I returned to live in my home town, I had lived in a rented flat in London, where I was allowed to have numerous cats as long as other tenants didn't object.

The first one I acquired was  PIXIE, a large queen, black and white, who was very affectionate. Eventually she was joined by two other queens - PETRA and SHUSHU [named after Princess Shushila in MM Keyes book 'The Far Pavilions']. Petra was all black, whereas Shushu was a tabby/Burmese mix. The owner of Shushu's mother had been unable to spay her, so I was given the opportunity to adopt a kitten from the next litter - some grey and some black. Unfortunately the grey ones had abnormalities, so GEMMA, a black queen, came to join the feline family. And soon after PANDY, another black queen joined us, to be the last member of the family.

Unfortunately, Petra was unhappy with sharing the home with four cats, and showed her displeasure by weeing on carrier bags, magazines or other items on the floor. After discussions with friends who were also cat custodians, Petra went to live with a friend of theirs who ran a cat sanctuary in a flat. Funnily, Petra was very happy there - despite having to share with at least 20 other cats!

My Mum would often visit for a holiday, and one such time was very interesting. I had been to the pet store where I bought cat litter, and saw a new system which would cut down on time and mess. Based on a special tray with plastic pellets on top, meaning urine would go straight through yet solid stuff would stick on top of the pellets. Bought one tray and two bags of the pellets, removed the normal cat-litter tray and there were few problems through the remainder of the day. The next morning, before it was time to get up, I woke with an uncomfortable feeling behind me, and Pixie there as well. The cheeky cat didn't like the new system so she had wee'd on the bed between Mum and myself! Washing bedding, etc, and a frantic trip to the pet store, taking back unopened pack of pellets and having  our normal cat-lit delivered. A friend of a friend,  received the other parts. This episode came to mind after buying special cat-lit at the vets in order to retrieve urine for testing for my current cat, Bracken [24 July 2013].

Twenty years ago I realised that my arthritis no longer made travelling into London and then to Cambridge feasible, so had some very, very difficult choices to make, mainly about my cats. Moving into rented accommodation meant that I should be able to take two cats, so with a heavy heart I managed to have Pixie and Pandy re-homed. Shushu and Gemma, who took a lot of time to accept people, came up North with me. Initially we stayed with my parents, then we moved around for a few years before this house was offered to me to rent. That same year Juniper and Bracken came to live with us. The rest has already been recorded in The Tail of the Kattery!

Second Chances!

How things change very quickly!

Just a few days ago, I was convinced that I would be taking Bracken to the vets today and saying a very tearful 'Goodbye' to her. Then on Thursday morning I found she was very hot but, within an hour, her temperature was back to normal. From then on all she wants to do is eat and NOT the small cans we had changed to. But more than the pouches of wet meat she ate before.

Instead she wants a particular cat food - and is very pleased to have the same flavour all day!! That is a minor miracle as, until Bracken's change last week, no cats would ever do that!! In fact, she is eating more than she ever did before. Is my newly skinny cat going to pile the weight back on? Or, has she entered a new phase leading up to the end? Ah, if only I knew a vet personally so could get some answers! We shall go to the vets in the near future, but Bracken will return home with me. Thank goodness she doesn't seem ready to go to the Rainbow Bridge - yet. I am so happy that my lovable bossy-boots is staying around for however much  longer she is meant to be with me! 

Lasting just over 16 months longer than her brother so far, the runt is the strongest!!

She is back to normal when I take photos with my phone - posing like mad!