20 February 2009 Hurrah! I have read cat books in the past that claim cats hate change and particularly pieces of furniture, which they can sometimes reject and 'spray' in protest. I am relieved to say that Fred has taken to our new sofa without any bother. In fact, I can't get him off it!   16 February 2009 Hi gang - How are we all? Fred's got a new friend! I'm a bit nervous, because cat's aren't supposed to share their territory with other cats, but it seems the little kitten next door is 'hanging out' with Fred on and off. He must be around seven months old now and quite often I see him sitting up at our kitchen window or outside the catflap waiting for Fred to come out to play. He runs when he sees me (most people do) but Fred seems to tolerate him for a while at least. I think he must be lonely as his human is out a lot. Not sure whether to shoo him off or not. It's all very well now but it could be a problem when kitty grows into a big unneutered male - know what I mean? One for our behaviour expert methinks. X   23 December 2008 Hi all. I hope you are all ready for Christmas? Got everything you need from the shops, got over the various bugs and flu that seems to be doing the rounds, got your pressies wrapped, got family and friends to share Christmas with, and more importantly - got the Alka Seltzer to hand? As some of you may know, my dad died a few months ago and this is our first Christmas without him. Rest assured we’ll raise a glass or two on his behalf. Whether you like your Christmas rowdy or restful, here's hoping you, your families and feline friends have a happy and Christmas and a healthy 2009.   02 December 2008 Brrrrr it's chilly in jolly old Arundel today folks. My garden looks a right old mess at the moment. Very drab and full of fallen leaves. It doesn't help that most of the plants have finished and been pulled up, which leaves very little cat cover around. Sadly, I had to pull up my prized catnip plant. It has long since flowered and dried up, but in doing so it is sending a message to all the cats in the neighbourhood to come and visit our garden...usually at 3.30 in the morning. It's Fred's territory after all and seven different cats in two days is a bit much. Never mind, at least I have a good supply of dried catnip now and can refill all of his toys, so he'll still benefit from the plant after all.   18 November 2008 Fred's been lovely lately - something to do with the cold weather and dark nights I think. Come the spring - I won't see him for dust, but right now he is spending time indoors, next to me on the sofa. Ah bliss! Winter is not so bad after all.   30 October 2008 I've got a question for you. Once a male cat has been neutered, should that stop it....'getting the vibes', or do they still get the vibes but are unable to do anything about it, so to speak? Just wondered. My boy sometimes has a little hip action going on and I wouldn't have thought that a neutered male would still want to get jiggy with it! Blimey!How many metaphores can a girl use in one blog? Answeres on a postcard...   21 October 2008 Say what you like about the winter, what with changes in daylight hours, drops in temperature and so on - it is the friend of cat owners. Why? Well because in the summer months we cat lovers rarely see our little friends, while they use the place like a hotel. When winter arrives and the weather turns, cats know where they're best off an tend to come indoors. Then, at last, we get to snuggle on the sofa beside our little feline friends. Sure, they've only come in to wallow in the warmth and a dry, soft snoozing place or two, but who cares, they back in the fold. Bless them - I love winter.   08 October 2008 I've got as little problem. You may remember me saying that there's a lady who lives up the road from me who has 8 cats. Well one of them seems to have decided that it would rather live with me and has spent the last two nights visiting and sleeping in our garden. Fred doesn't mind her too much, fortunately. However I'm not sure she's well. She may be old - or she may be ill as the bones in her back stand out. I can feel her hip bone too. I'm not sure if she's getting enough food with the other cats all living in the same flat, or it could be something more serious. I went up to where I think she lived last night and knocked on the door - but nobody answered. So I've got a little problem. She's obviously not happy and she keeps coming to me. More on this later...   02 October 2008 Hello all! Brrr it's a bit chilly today. I have finally put the central heating on for a quick warm up in the morning. It's not as snug as a cuddle with Fred in the morning, but it'll do! The last time I wrote it was about a hedgehog visiting my garden. Sadly, over the past two days, the food I have put out for him/her hasn't been eaten. This could be because I've moved the dish to a hidden location and actually, Fred had been eating the grub all the time, or it could be that dear hedgie has already gone into hibernation, albeit a month or two early. So perhaps Fred has been eating the hedgehog's food (it is cat food after all). This reminds me of when mum used to put a mince pie and a glass of sherry out for Santa at Christmas and I believe he had consumed it. Pah - fooled again!   11 September 2008 Morning all! It’s been a little while since I wrote a blog as you can see. Life has been in a period of turbulence lately following a family bereavement, but I’m back online now and I’ve got a question for you. I am honoured to announce that I have a resident hedgehog in the garden, who likes to leave me little cigar shaped parcels around and eat Fred’s leftover cat food. I’m honoured, because the nature lovers among you will know that hedgehogs are part of our endangered British wildlife and the fact that one has chosen my garden to visit is a lovely thing. You see I was right not to do all that gardening! Now, I have bought little hedgie his own specially made house and put it in the best, sheltered location – which happens to be next to Fred’s cat cabin. My question is – is this okay? As there any dangers or diseases passed between hedgehogs and cats? Aside from the odd spine in the nose of a curious feline that is!