Rainbow felines

Wuppie was my first feline love! The first time I saw him, he was just a little ball of fluff and so adorable! He grew up to be a large, rather dumb tom, but still adorable. I could never be angry with him for long. Even when he grabbed the steak off the table or the sausage from the fridge! When I had to leave him behind in the Netherlands, I cried for so long, my parents had to come down to console me!

Mathilda came along with Wuppie, because I didn't want him to be on his own. She had her own quirks: out of all the cats, she never miaowed, unless in trouble (like being locked in the airing cupboard). She was outgoing, friendly and always wanted to be petted. She would never sit still long enough to take a photo, because as soon as you moved, she thought she might get attention and was on the move as well. 

Sophie was a little farm cat that had definitely not been socialised enough. She was a bit of a scaredy cat and especially in later life, was very prone to being bullied by the others. Which in turn meant that she was allowed to spend her nights with me in the bedroom. The one time she tried to climb a tree was not a good experience though: I had to get her out and after that, she didn't go outside, unless I was out as well!

Julius came to live with us and was such a loving cat. He loved playing catch (actually bringing the little cloth ball back to me, sort of) and could play that for hours. Unfortunately he contracted some bladder problems, after which he stopped using the litterbox. In the end I had to take him to the shelter, because I just didn't have the time for him anymore. Never again though!

Linette was an outside cat that was hungry. And every day she got closer, until she was inside and I closed the door on her. Nobody seemed to own her and nobody wanted her, so in the end we kept her. She always was a very thin cat, especially in the summer, when she would stay outside for days on end without eating. She had a special relationship with Wuppie, needing a lick on her head every so often and being happy after that. 

These were the five cats I owned before Miss Oswin came into my life. They are still very much missed!

This post is for the Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, which actually took place yesterday. Blame it on the time zones!

Linette

She first came into my life when I saw a nose peeping around my garden door. But she vanished almost as quickly as she had arrived. It took a about a week before she set a foot in the door. After about a month she had made her way to the kitchen where she would eat before scooting out again. Until I one day closed the garden door and trapped her inside. From then on I tried finding a home for her. I already had three cats and that was enough.

A few people could envisage having her. Mr Pepperfly fell in love at once, but alas, they had another cat that didn't tolerate strange cats in the house. A colleague would be willing, but the chances of her ending up mangled in a farm machine were too large. So, I finally named her, took her to the vet and she became my cat. Linette.

When I moved to Norway, she couldn't come. She was going to be living with Pepperfly and Mr Pepperfly. And might be coming to me later. But her disappearing for three weeks left her so thin and skinny that when she was due to come I got a firm no. Which I totally got. 

A year and a half after she finally moved to live with Mr Pepperfly (and Pepperfly), she became poorly. She had never had a great set of teeth, but basically by now she had only about two functional teeth left. One lung had stopped functioning and her weight had fallen again. The vet gave the news that it was a done deal. She would not live to see the summer. 

Last week, Linette became incontinent and the decision was made to humanely euthanise her. Pepperfly had taken her and was surprised and happy to see Mr Pepperfly arrive at the vet's, having raced all the way home. 

She is very much missed!

Letting go of Linette

01st April 2002 - 09th May 2014

The prodigal daughter

Wuppie

I used to have four cats. Wuppie, Mathilda, Sophie and Linette. Sophie was sick and I made the very difficult decision to have her put down in July 2011. And then a few months later I came back from Canada and Mathilda was sick and again the difficult decision to put her down. So, I had two cats left: Wuppie and Linette. 

Mathilda

I had to make another very difficult decision in October last year: take them or leave them. I chose to leave both of them in heaven (ie Pepperfly's household, which is the closest they can get to heaven). After the initial difficulties (which fortunately were virtually non-existent), they settled in nicely, enjoying the attention and the good life. 

Until only a few weeks in: Wuppie decided he would go wandering. Nobody knows where he went, but it took him all day and a lot of frantic searching and worrying. Since then he stayed close to home. 

Sophie

And then there is Linette. She has always had a wandering spirit and while living with me, she had on occasion been out for three days on the trot. I could see her in the garden at times, but she refused to come in when I called. So, when she left for the day, nobody worried too much. And when she stayed out that first night: no problem. Nor were the second and third day. But when after a week, there was still no sign of her, the worry crept in. The vet was notified, as was the local pound, the not so local pound and the national chip-service (if any chipped animal is found, they can find the owner very easily, provided the address is updated of course). To no avail however. 

Linette

After three weeks we all knew it was over. She would not be back. Perhaps she had found another home, or she had been had by either animal or vehicle. It is after all farm country! 

Until Mr Pepperfly opened the door last Saturday to let out the youngster of the house. And guess who was miaowing in the garden? Exactly: Linette. It took them another day to get her in, but she is back home. Skinny as a rake, but home. 

Sleeping the sleep of the innocent

Leaving part 2

I always knew there was a chance I wouldn't be able to take my cats with me to Norway. If one of them had failed the rabies test for example. My friend Pepperfly then said that I needn't worry: there would always be a home for them at her place. Fortunately I found out that there was no need for a rabies test anymore and both of them could come. 

Fast forward a few months and I had a job offer. Starting on December 3rd, moving a week before that. So, I phoned to ask about the procedure and was told that 'unfortunately no animals are allowed to fly to that destination from November until March'. The reason is the small plane and the non-heated hold which might result in the freezing of two loved cats! So, Pepperfly it was!

Today she came to get them. We both cried (I still am) and now they are on their way to their new (hopefully temporary) home. I know they will have the best home they could possibly get apart from my own, but still! 

I miss them!

'Attractive'

Well, it was a choice between him and her, but in the end I chose her. She is always good for a lovely photo and I especially love her eyes. Here she is in a neighbouring garden, just relaxing in the sun!

This is my 36th entry for Photo Theme for Thursday. Why not join?

An apple a day

It was time for the annual trek to the vet again. Even if I have seen the vet nearly every single month this year (and have the vet bills to prove it)! A friend of mine was supposed to come over to drive us there, but she phoned half an hour before we were due at the vet and she had a 45-50 minute drive to do first! I took my bike.

Of course the cats didn't like it when I got the cat carrier out and decided they would try and stay out of my way. As if that ever helps. Linette usually flees and if she doesn't flee, she will make herself as small as possible: that way I can't see her! Yeah. Wuppie is easily duped as well: just open the garden door and he will come down. By the time he realises that he is not going out, he is already in the carrier. 

Not a recent photo, that's why is ear still looks good.

I strapped the single carrier to the bike and rode to the vet. After only a few moments (admiring a chihuahua puppy, so cute) I was called in. First of all it was Linette's turn. Now, she has always been a bit of a skinny Linny (see what I did here?), but she does stay more or less at the same weight. Her teeth were fine, her breathing was fine, no fleas, in with the vaccinations and back she went into the carrier.

Then it was Wuppie's turn. A bit bigger than Linette, but it turned out he had actually lost a bit of weight. About 4%, which doesn't seem a lot, but he is of course a cat and not an elephant (imagine having an elephant on your lap). His ear was clean and again the vet told me he was going to leave it as is. His age, his not being too bothered by it and the massive operation all going against it. As long as I keep his ear clean: not a bother.

So, I got them back home again, gave them some worm-medication and opened the garden door again. They are pronounced okay for another year!

PS: they don't like apples, perhaps a wriggly worm, but not apples!

Not happy!

As if I hadn't fed her in over a month while poking her with hot irons! That's how she sounded when I wouldn't let her out! She was definitely not pleased and miaowed a great deal to let me know!

However, when the dark clouds became really dark and the thunder started, she resigned herself to the fact she definitely wasn't going out and settled on her little bed.

Rabies

Wuppie when he was small and cuddly
(he is now big and cuddly)

In January I had taken the monsters on a trip to see the vet. They had to be vaccinated against rabies ànd tested before being allowed into Norway. Since they could only be tested at least four months after the rabies shots, I had to wait until this week for the blood to be drawn. I had written it down and on Wednesday I made the appointment with the vet.

Today I stuck my two lovelies in the pet carrier, balanced it on the back of my bike and cycled off into the sunset to the vet. The vet who had given them the rabies shots in the first place was there and immediately said that she was sorry! Apparently they had tried to phone me on Wednesday to say I needn't come in, since Norway had lifted the bloodtest from their requirements for pets. Unfortunately by the time they had phoned, I had been at work and this morning I had been out in the garden.

Never mind though, since I was there, I could still get Wuppie's ear seen to. As you no doubt remember his ear had a hematoma in it and I was told it was to go away on its own accord, leaving a cauliflower ear. Well, the hematoma is gone, but his ear is now very hard and still quite thick. No blood in it anymore fortunately, but it still isn't good. So, instead of drawing blood from both cats, I took both of them home and several boxes of medication. Something against fleas and ticks, another one against worms and then the three boxes for Wuppie alone!

But the best news is of course: both cats are coming to Norway with me!! Yippie!!

Well, that's new!

Ever since two of my ladies passed away (Sophie and Mathilda), the remaining two monsters have been acting a bit different. Linette has become a bit more vocal now and will let me know that she doesn't want me to walk around at home: she wants me to sit on the couch and have her on my lap! If I am behind the computer she will every once in a while come up, miaow complainingly and then go downstairs again. She is a silly puss!

Wuppie of course has had to deal with his ear being all funny. After I came back from London it was still very thick and it had started to smell as well. And to ease the pain, he had started scratching his ear, which did not result in a nice look. When I came back from the visit to my sister, the ear was oozing: both blood and I guess some pus. I was able to squeeze it all out though, which was good. And now the fluid is mostly gone. There isn't room for it anymore, since his ear is really thick and hard and tough. He has stopped scratching and the ear looks a bit better again. Apart from it being thick and hard and tough of course!

The thing he does now if he doesn't get enough attention: he stands on his hind legs and puts his front legs on my legs: I want attention!!

Off to see the world

First of all I have to start with Wuppie of course. Well, his ear is now as big as it can get and filled with blood again. According to everything I read and what the vet said, it's a matter of letting it go its course, ie: the blood has to drain away naturally again. I think it is bothering him somewhat, since it's blocking his hearing a bit. But then again, he has never been one for listening attentively to me...

Linette deserves a mention of course as well. She is doing fine. She has found a new place to sleep: on my shoulder! That way, I can move about a bit and she will still be comfy. *Sigh*

War cemetery near Ypres (Belgium)

But of course talking about my monsters doesn't explain the title of this post. On Thursday I was told (not asked, told), that I will go to France on Monday morning. For five days. Normandy to be exact. So, I spent all day today (well, about three hours) looking at the routes and at where we're going. As long as I know the word for cemetery (cimétière) I will go a long way I think, because we will be visiting museums and cemeteries and Omaha beach. Most of it to do with WW2, some with WW1. Even though the destinations are pretty grim, I am looking forward to it, since I have never been to Normandy before and have wanted to for quite some time.

So, if my posts are a bit non-existent next week: it has all to do with my trip. I will be gone for five days and I will take my camera so I can show you all. Au revoir!

Monstrous Monday 13

I think I may have passed on the telly watching bug to Linette! Although she specialises in small things flying across the screen!

Monstrous Monday 9

Where is Linette?

Monstrous Monday 5

Hello there. I am Linette. I am eight years old. I love to roam outside. And I love sleeping close to Mara.

Snow monsters

There's nothing else for it: I have to show you some photos of my monsters in the snow! After all, this is the second time in such a short period that we have so much snow and the chances of that happening again soon are pretty slim. The first one I want to show you is of Linette. This was her first time out in the snow. Last time I kept her indoors, but this time she was allowed to experience the white stuff as well. She didn't like it one bit! She cowered underneath the garden chair and she would only step on the snow free zones!

Sophie had been out before, but didn't much like it. This time however, she made her own way out and even walked into the garden a bit. It was really funny to see her though, because after every step she would shake her leg to get the snow off...

Wuppie loves being outside and takes the snow in his stride. He seems to be thinking: 'Hey, I'm outside, who cares what the weather is like?' He doesn't seem to mind the cold, or the wet. If he could he would probably be out there for ten minutes every hour! (You have to snooze and sleep and rest in the warm as well don't you know)

Even though Mathilda is quite an easy-going lady, she did feel the cold at one point. So, there was nothing else for it but put her on my shoulder. Of course it made it hard taking a photo of her, but I think we managed reasonably okay. The reason I am holding her is not that she would otherwise fall off, but to keep her in the shot!

PS: there was 8 centimeters this morning (about three inches). But it's still snowing now...

Feline Friday 30

Whose scratch pole is it anyway?

Strange goings-on

Sometimes you do have to wonder. Why do cats prefer cardboard boxes to nice and soft blankets and baskets (Wuppie)? Why do some cats lick you over and over and over (Mathilda)? Why do some cats like to sit on your lap, but only if you've got a towel on your lap where she can sit on (Sophie)? And why oh why do cats have to pee on your lovely couch cushions when there is a litterbox in the hallway (Linette)?

Result of last night: one scatter cushion in the bin and one sheepskin in the bin as well (this morning) and me slightly worried!

Don't you just love cats?

Feline Friday 29

I'm keeping an eye on you!

Feline Friday 28

I've always felt those little box thingies are a waste of material, since none of my cats ever used them. And then, about a week ago, I saw Linette asleep inside! And a few days later again. So, I got my camera and managed to get a nice photograph. Well, I think so anyway!

Feline Friday 26

Whenever Linette overnights outside she has to sleep somewhere. She tends to stay close to the house though, especially when she gets a bit hungrier and might be let in by me. This pile of old grass and leaves makes the perfect 'bed' for her!