Those Darn Cats

I am an animal lover, grew up surrounded by them, worked with them, played with them.  I have had birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, possums, ferrets (my favourites), one dog - though family had several, cats, LOTS OF CATS.  Every house I lived  in always seem to come with a cat. Some I was lucky to choose others chose me.

The two cats i have now I sort of chose, but sort of got chosen.  Minnie a tabby that lives up to HIS name, and Dude a bengal cross - father unknown.   Minnie was from one of 3 sister queens that were based at my dad's stables.   All 3 queens had kittens in the same month within days of each other in December 2008. First litter was a single kitten, who I called Basil as he was fluffy and had a bushy tail like Basil Brush. My daughter and i adopted him, found he was a rig when he got nuetered, which required a bit extra surgery. On the day his stitches came out he was stolen. Very heart breaking, 3 year old daughter very upset. I spent 3 weeks looking and put out notices and paid for adverts in the paper, but no joy.    The second queen had 6 kittens, dad had managed to home most of those apart from 2 he was keeping, and the 3rd queen had had one.  A FEMALE so dad thought, and because she was undersized he had called her Minnie.  When we went to pick her up she must of known we were coming for her because she walked out to greet us and basically said what took you so long.   

Minnie moved in and turned out to be the fussiest blinken mongrel, sorry cat, you ever came across. she turned her nose up at affordable food forcing me to buy expensive. But she is an extremely loving  creature, gentle with human babies, knew how far she could go with them, gets on the trampoline to bounce with kids. A really nice cat apart from being fussy.    She had her shots, and the vets thought what a lovely FEMALE  cat.     Took her to a different vet when it came time for the op. (my dad had an account with them - handy when your broke).  Vet took one look at Minnie and said sorry I dont spay TOMS I nueter them!!    Minnie was all male. My dad was embarrassed and I pointed it out to the other vets, and I must admit I felt a bit silly myself, having been brought up on a farm.  Minnie was another rig. but his testicles hadn't dropped enough for people to really be able to tell.     Funny thing is , the vet having said he don't spay toms, well he did this one. Minnie had to be both spayed and nuetered to get both testicles.   So I tell people he is my Transgender puss.

Turns out Minnie came with other issues. He had good reason for being fussy as cheap food hurt his tum and gave him wind. You could not be in the same room with him in that state.  He also picked up cat HIV and we nearly lost him at 1 year.  The vets were great and we got him well.   For a stable kitten that should of been able to eat anything, and be fairly robust, I got myself a dud, health wise.  We have had to have a few vet trips, but he is still here and still loveable, when he is not bringing in wetas.

I also tell people that Minnie is my dog. He likes to come on walks, and waits by the mail box for me to come home. He knows the sound of my car and always greets me when i arrive. If its another car he hides till  its safe to come out.

Now I come to my other cat and seriously the bain of my life - DUDE.    Dude's mum was a pedigree Bengal who liked to date strays.   My daughter wanted another cat and a fluffy one like Basil. I agreed we could manage 2 cats.  A friend offered me this LITTLE black and white kitten who she thought was going to be fluffy, and that he was  a laid back easy going dude. Hence the name.  I took the kitten who in turn grew to be a big boy weighing in at 8- 10 kilos and only slightly fluffy. This beast was/is an eating machine who suffers bulimia.  (I seem to attract cats that if they were called cars, would be lemons.)    Dude would eat till he over ate and then throw it all up. I had to find food that didn't stain the carpet (friskies was the worst for that) and also suited the other cat Minnie.    I asked the vet about it and it seems some cats are like this, not a lot you can do except clean up. He is perfectly healthy apart from that issue.

Right, you have the background of the two cats.  Minnie tiny loveable , good natured brings in wetas and drops  them by the loo at night, and Dude.!!  Sorry the rest of the blog is about DUDE.  

Dude from kitten loved to bring in camelias. He would bring them in all thru the night and meow as if he killed big bird. Not indusive of getting a good night sleep.  I would get up in the morn to a trail that starts by my bed and goes all the way out to the kitchen and the cat door.   If camelias wern't avail then it would be artichokes, taken from the house two doors down. Prickly half eaten artichokes.   Or cabbage tree leaves!  I would post on Face book about this cat and everyone would say "Oh he's showing you love, and isn't it better flowers, than birds or ......... rats?!         

Sorry but inbetween the flowers there were the birds, the lizards, and THE RATS!     

The following are some posts I did on facebook:

11 january 15.08

Feeling a bit knackered, dam cat brought in a rat last night. I thought it was dead till i tried to pick it up. Dont know who jumped the highest, the rat or me! the feline then caught it again and i chased them both outside. I SHOULD OF LOCKED THE CAT DOOR BUT BEING AN IDIOT I DIDNT cause that #$%^& came back in and let the still alive rat go again. It ran under the fridge. I couldnt sleep rest of night worrying about a dam rat in my house. Got up in morn to find it dead UNDER my bed. ANYONE WANT MY CAT.........

10 January at 19:38 ·

Dude just lying there in the GLASS bay window, looking like butter wouldnt melt. The birds then come along and poop all over my window hoping to hit him. Not surprised really as this angelic shit..e has been raiding their nests during the nights. He is the beast that found the white sparrow. Luckily he dont hurt them too much before showing me his prize so that in most cases I can rescue them.....at 3am. Oh he has taken a break last 2 nights from birds. Instead its PLUMS

( a wee note re the white sparrow, Dude found an albino baby sparrow, very rare and I was able to rescue it and take it to one of the local bird rescue places, and its recovering nicely)

15 January at 19:29 ·

Rat saga part 2. Seems the dead rat under my bed was not the original rat!! the original rat is behind my fridge. Dude has been hanging around it all day and there is a smell. Nuscience thing is i cant pull the fridge out as tum too sore BUT IF ANY ONE BRAVE ENOUGH wants to have a go your more than welcome. I will have broom ready . 

Luckily I was able to get hold of a brother, who managed to get the live rat out from the inside of the back of my fridge. It was not a pleasant job, and the rat had peed every where, leaving a big mess.  

I could lock Dude out each night and maybe get a good nights sleep but for the other cat Minnie!    Minnie  will knock on the cat door the whole night until I let them in and then Dude will  binge eat and throw up on my carpet as punishment for locking him out.      

Yes this is a bit different for a blog, but I thought you might enjoy a cat story for a change and also to show that this household just doesnt seem to do normal.   Thankyou for reading :)

MY VERSION OF A FAMOUS CHRISTMAS SONG:

On the 1st of Christmas my cat gave to me a dead bird on the lounge room floor!

On the second day of Christmas my dam cat gave to me 2 chewed rats and a dead bird on the lounge room floor,

On the third day of Christmas that bloody cat gave to me 3 dried up cabbage tree leaves 2 chewed rats and a dead bird on the lounge room floor ,

On the 4th day of Christmas the bloody mongrel gave to me 4 crawly cockroaches, 3 dried up cabbage tree leaves, 2 chewed rats and a dead bird on the lounge room floor.

On the fifth day of Christmas the flea bag gave to me 5 mangled camellias, 4 crawly cockroaches, 3 dried up cabbage tree leaves, 2 chewed rats and a dead bird on the lounge room floor .

On the 6th day of Christmas he is lucky to still be alive cat, gave to me 6 brown lizards (I rescued those) 5 mangled camellias, 4 crawly cockroaches, 3 dried up cabbage tree leaves, 2 chewed rats and a dead bird on the lounge room floor.

On the 7th day of Christmas that friggen flea bag mongrel cat gave to me 7 fur balls to clean up, 6 brown lizards (I rescued those) 5 mangled camellias, 4 crawly cockroaches, 3 dried up cabbage tree leaves, 2 chewed rats and a dead bird on the lounge room floor.

On the 8th day of Christmas that @#$%^***(^%$#$^&* gave to me 8 shredded net curtains, 7 fur balls to clean up, 6 brown lizards (I rescued those) 5 mangled camellias, 4 crawly cockroaches, 3 dried up cabbage tree leaves, 2 chewed rats and a dead bird on the lounge room floor .

On the 9th day of Christmas the 4 legged food eating machine gave to me 9 heart attacks (when he pounced on me in the middle of the night), 8 shredded net curtains, 7 fur balls to clean up, 6 brown lizards (I rescued those) 5 mangled camellias, 4 crawly cockroaches, 3 dried up cabbage tree leaves, 2 chewed rats and a dead bird on the lounge room floor .

On the 10th day of Christmas that weird nutter of a puss gave me 10 prickly artichokes (artichokes I tell ya , what the heck do you do with artichokes?) 9 heart attacks (when he pounced on me in the middle of the night), 8 shredded net curtains, 7 fur balls to clean up, 6 brown lizards (I rescued those) 5 mangled camellias, 4 crawly cockroaches, 3 dried up cabbage tree leaves, 2 chewed rats and a dead bird on the lounge room floor .

ON the 11th day of Christmas, your kidding right ? you actually thought I was gonna make it to 12??!! This work of art/crap was written by yours truly (assisted by mini boss) based on my years with said cat. The other cat only gets pooing probs and costs vet bills, this cat just drives me nuts.