h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Today I've taken another step closer to become the "Crazy Cat Lady Upstairs" - another Lair Cat has made her arrival

Leopardess is a four year old ocicat female. Chocolate silver spotted tabby I think the colour of her fur is called in English. That's OCI bs24 for those out there who, unlike me, are into the odd world of catteries and cat shows.

She used to live with a couple who after buying a house in a distant village and having a baby thought it was too much with both cat and dog. She has been a loved pet and is well kept. Her old Mum seems to be very sad, but obviously she thinks she has not enough time for her kitty anymore.

So far Leopardess has decided that my bedroom - where all her belongings are - is the best place to be. She hides under my duvet and peeks out allowing us to pet her a little at the time. She decides how much she will interact with the rest of us, and hopefully she will soon be curious enough to roam the rest of the Lair.

, , and lynx are very curious about their new "sister". They have inspected her bed, climbing frame, loo and food bowls very carefully. They have unanimously decided that her brand of cat food is more delicious than their own.

Leopardess is not a keen photo model (yet). There is one photo of her added to the Lair Cats' Photo album

I don't know how I ever lived without a cat,

my mother had 5 kids, so why shouldn't you have 5 s?

Wish I had a cat If I move house I think once things are settled down a cat will quickly join me (as I'll be in a suitable area or at least more suitable, for having a cat about)
So, hows the new family member getting on with the other feline members in the lair?

I love to stroke, talk to and give lots of cuddles. I love playing with my sisters kitten Simba and watching him dart around the house.

I hope that Leopardess is making friends with the other in the lair.

It's going better and better. The hissing and growling Leopardess has permitted princess to scratch her between the ears a couple of times. She plays with the feather stick, even if she must growls a little just for the sake of it.

Yesterday started bad though . I carried Leopardess around the Lair so she could have a look around, and watch the other Lair Cats from a safe distance. However, princess couldn't let her be alone and had to pet her, even though Leopardess clearly showed she wasn't in the mood of being petted.

So Leopardess exploded of fear and anger, bit me in the face and in my upper arm as well as scratched me somewhat. Naturally I couldn't keep her in my arms, so she hid behind a sofa and it took quite some time before we could get her back into the bedroom where she and I resides.

In the evening she was in a more friendly mood and inspected her territory thoroughly including hissing at "the other spotted cat" - the mirror of herself in the sliding doors of my wardrobe.

It's cooler in the evening so all the cats have waken up and started to eat and play after sleeping most of the day.



PS I've added some new piccies into the lair Cats' photo album on line (http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/dna/h2g2/brunel/U224233/ext/_auto/-/http://picasaweb.google.se/untameddragonqueen/LairCats?feat=directlink)