In addition to beehive yarn skeins, there has been other distractions. Once the moggy discovers dangling yarn,
it is 'attacked' and 'killed' and 'eaten' or 'sucked'.
Mackie is the newest member of the family. We adopted her from the Hounslaw Animal Rescue after an interview and a house visit.
I am now totally smittened. I've wanted a cat for years, but couldn't commit to the time. She is a lot of work. I now have to frequently vacuum to control the cat hair and soil (she's constantly digging up my houseplants... and the soil gets everywhere.). We're going to have to get the decorators in, as she's scratched** a big hole in the lining paper (in a very obvious place), not to mention that we have already taken off the fireplace surround once, when she tried to make a escape up the chimney and managed to get stuck when she came down behind the surround.
Perhaps we ought to have named her moneypit, as I am only just beginning to understand the financial commitment! I'm not talking about the obvious like, the vet bills, (£10/month of de-worming and de-fleaing and £45 annual boosters) food and cat milk, but the cost of replacing things that get broken and the bottles of wine (for the neighbours when she sets off the alarm in the house, must be jumping in front of the pet sensors or swinging on the chandelier)
Mackie is a Torbie and she's around 1 year old. gorgeous, no?
**Declawing isn't an option, since we plan to let Mackie outside. I don't think that it would be fair to keep her inside all the time. If she goes out, she'll need those claws to deal with the squirrels!
Discuss the issue of cats and milk with your vet.
I know adult male cats tend to get urinary infections if they drink milk; I don't know about females.
She's gorgeous! A year old is no more than a baby really so she still has all those kittenish ways. She'll settle down eventually. I often have Ophelia on my lap when I'm knitting and she's no trouble now.
Posted by: mrspao at September 27, 2008 11:06 AMPlease research carefully before considering de-clawing, it can be debillitating for the poor puss. Very traumatic and painful. She's lovely, and IDA is right about pets making a house a home.
Posted by: Lee at September 25, 2008 05:09 PMWell, no, inside/outside cats shouldn't be declawed. Especially if you have raccoons in your area. Do you have raccoons in the UK? or is that a North American thing? Raccoons and kitties, a bad combination.
Posted by: Alyson at September 24, 2008 11:19 PMWell, no, inside/outside cats shouldn't be declawed. Especially if you have raccoons in your area. Do you have raccoons in the UK? or is that a North American thing? Raccoons and kitties, a bad combination.
Posted by: Alyson at September 24, 2008 11:19 PMI LOVE kitties! I have Gracie, George, and Earl Gray. Good suggestions above - scratching post and the furminator pet comb. Mine love to get inside boxes or paper bags, suitcases, whatever - they climb right in and "make biscuits" (knead with their paws), settle down and take a cat nap. Kittens are a lot of work but are so fun to watch! Enjoy!
Posted by: Robin at September 22, 2008 09:50 PMI've found that a layer of heavy pebbles - not gravel - keeps my cats from digging in the houseplant dirt. You might want to review the plants you have in the house to see if any are poisonous to cats; my cats will chew on anything that's green.
Often I'll buy them a square of alfalfa grass (the kind they sell for juicing) for them to snack on. They're inside only cats so giving them access to greens, other than houseplants, is part of their diet.
He sure is a cutie!
Posted by: CC at September 22, 2008 09:25 PMGorgeous gorgeous ! We have 3 cats and I highly recommend a good scratching post. Hand on heart every now and then one of them will have a go at the furniture but they all use the scratching post by preference every time they pass it. As I understand it, lots of vets refuse to declaw cats unless medically necessary. They come with claws - it's part of the package ;0)
Posted by: Heather at September 22, 2008 06:50 PMIt's been along time since I've had a cat in my house, but look up something called "The Furminator" on Amazon.uk. Really helps with the pet hair (I have THREE black labs and wooden floors everywhere). Moggy might even take a liking to it.
As for the scratching, you might want to consider de-clawing in the front, only. Another expense, I know, but a real furniture saver - and if Moggy is an indoor only cat, no safety issues. This is not a popular issue with all cat lovers, so consider carefully. Either way, she'll likely calm down when she gets more secure. My mom's cat is not declawed, and scratching is not an issue for Kiki (although eating too much is!).
Moggy is a beauty though. Love that face!
Posted by: Alyson at September 22, 2008 03:57 PMI must invoke Napoleon Dynamite: Lucky!
Mack is gorgeous and it sounds like she has a lovely personality. No good to have a shy & retiring cat!
Congrats congrats! I'm seriously envious. (We have deadly allergies, which does save the furniture.)
xo Kay
Posted by: Kay at September 22, 2008 02:18 PMWhat a cutie!
Posted by: Bettina at September 22, 2008 01:33 PMLovely Mackerel indeed! Beautifull, deep eyes...Congratulations for the new member of ATU familly :-)
Posted by: Stéphanie at September 22, 2008 01:19 PMShe looks a little too interested in your knitting! My parents' cats only go after my yarn when I dangle it in front of them and it moves. She's cute. Better hurry up with that crochet!
Posted by: dawn at September 21, 2008 09:03 PMGorgeous, yes! She is absolutely irresistible, she could even be forgiven for playing with the stash.
Posted by: Louise at September 21, 2008 08:49 PMShe's a beauty! Congratulations on your new baby!
Posted by: Debi at September 21, 2008 08:40 PMShe is adorable... I hope she will bring you much more pleasure than troubles in the years to come.
I belive its a cat that turns a house into a home..
IDA
What a gorgeous cat! Congratulations Polly hope you all have fun. I wonder if M. will leave you presents like dead mice...
Love Sarah
Posted by: sarah at September 21, 2008 06:53 PMOh Polly, those eyes! She is an absolute smasher (in more ways than one!). Enjoy each other's company. And can I borrow her when I need someone to sort out the mice?
Posted by: Helen at September 21, 2008 06:21 PMI have never, ever wanted a cat....until now!