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

Off constructing the cat-apult, no doubt.

Well, the new kitten is here, and he's adorable, of course. When I get a chance (later this week?) I'll post more about him in my journal. He and older kitty are getting along pretty well after nearly a week of hissing and growling on her part. All would be well if he just didn't have to JUMP on her.

But what's the point of being the new kitten on the block if you don't pick on your elders?

Good luck with your family building!

Actually, I have an *old* story, about the meeting of Rocket and Missile. Ahem....

Once upon a time, there was a stray male black fluffy kitten, who loved to play and race, hence the name "Rocket". Since he spent so much time alone while his human was at work, he grew lonely.

I couldn't decide what to do: He was a full-grown male, who hadn't been around another cat since he and his sister were "rescued" from under an apartment building, at about 2 months. I had heard that adult male cats could be very hostile or even harmful to a kitten, but I also knew how hard it would be to add another adult cat to a single-cat household. While I was vacillating, fate took a hand.

A friend of mine has a husband who is a notorious stray-cat magnet. This has led to multiple adoptions and much marital strife, since she'd told him if he brought home one more cat....which he did, a little tiny female tabby he had taken in and kept at his office for almost a week before he got the courage to bring her home with him.

I reluctantly agreed to take this little stray in to save their marriage, but only if it looked like Rocket would eventually take to her.

Over came the friends and a cardboard box to my house. She pops her tiny 5 week old head out of the box, and looks around. She spots Rocket. She does the "silent hiss". He comes closer, then he does the "silent hiss", both ears pointed at her. Then he takes a step back. Then another step. Within ten steps he's running to hide under the bed! This dangerous threat to little kittens was a wuss!!

All wasn't totally sweetness and light, there was a bit of chasing and hissing, but in 3 days time they were buddies. I named her Missile, since she's smaller and faster than he is.

I think he's very happy I brought her home, since he's not lonely anymore. So happy that, when she was little, he would groom and "nurse" her!!!
I have to say that, at first, I was genuinely shocked. This was not normal behaviour and after a websearch I still couldn't find anything about it. Now, this IS Southern California, but really!!! (And yes, he IS definitely a boy).

The upshot of this rather long story is that they seem to be totally devoted to each other, and while there have been mock fights, in the year and a half since I got Missile, I have NEVER seen them fight for real.

SC

I think, he decided is was time not to be lonely any more.

hi Space Cadette,

I brought home my third cat Azar when he was five months old. I rescued him from the street because he had a broken and mangled left front leg after someone had tried to kill him. At the time I didn't even stop to consider how he would get along with the other two (Lua, crankiest cat on four paws and her huge son Sunny who thinks he is a dog).

As I recall (this was eight years ago), Lua chose to totally ignore him, which she still does. But Sunny and Azar became friends almost straight away. I think Sunny was a bit afraid of Azar at first but soon they started playing and sleeping together. Now they are inseparable. They still play-fight together every day, which is good exercise for them, especially as they are getting older (Sunny is 10 and Azar is 8). It's quite funny to watch them chase each other from one end of the flat to the other and then tousle together on the floor. And they also groom each other, paying particular attention to each other's ears. It's very sweet to see them together.

I reckon that if someone decides they want to have a cat then they should always have two. It isn't that much more expensive to feed two cats and they get the benefit of having company when the Alpha Cat is not at home.



az

After days of rain, Cassie decided she would just have to put up with it and now loves it.

If you look out of the window from time to time she can be seen running up and then down the garden before disappearing into next door's garden, then she will reappear a little later doing the same thing.

She will eventually come in, soaking wet, shake herself thoroughly like a , find somewhere warm and cosy for a quick kip and dry off before she goes off out again.

Although it is fun to watch her, the muddy pawprints over the kitchen floor make me

I've been sick for a while now, and idgit has appointed herself as my hot water bottle. She curls up to keep me warm, checks on me every little while. It's entirely too loveable.


Of course, maybe she's just keeping HERSELF warm...

My Charlie has been much the same for the last couple of days. I have got the worlds worst cold (it's not flu) and he has been my little nurse/companion, only leaving my side when my b/f came home to take over the caring duties. All he asks in return is a tummy tickle and an neck/ear rub every now and then.

My Jake is the exact opposite and stays away from me - almost like he's afraid he might catch something!

send get well to lady in the tree. places the tree warth of inside.

I think cats have a special way of showing love and affection, and caring when one is ill, without *ever* making it look like they are being subservient.

You know, just in case their human starts getting a bit uppity and thinking it has rights! When we all know that our job is to look after cats and feel grateful for the priviledge.



az

Thank you pheloxi Having a cold is so depressing. You have cheered me up - in fact I have just re-read the backlog of this thread and have cheered up no end.

I cats.

to everyone else who does too.

hi Lady in a Tree,

Boy, do I love my cats. Even cranky old Lua. But it's funny that these days she is becoming way more affectionate, or at least, she always HAS to be right next to me. Like now. She is on a stool with a cushion, curled up beside me. With one paw over her face (you know how cute that is when they do that!)

She is still a bitch on wheels that one, but I can't help but love her anyhow.

Once when I was very very ill - about ten years ago - Lua actually looked after me every waking moment of my day. If I went to the toilet, she followed me there. If I went to make a cup of tea - there was Lua in the kitchen. When I was in my bed Lua practially sat on my head the whole time. Silly stupid bitch cat, eh? Maybe she was just concerned about the source of her cat food drying up. But I don't think so. She knew I was very ill. And she didn't let me out of her sight for an entire week. Then once I was better she went back to being her usual cranky self.

Cats are quite amazing, I think

az

Hi folks, well i have 2 `s. They are both rescue cats. Bonnie is the eldest (7yrs) and Freddie(3yrs)
Bonnie was hit by a car before i got her from the RSPCA and was lucky to survive. She had broken jaw and dislocated hock and hip plus us other things too. When I went to look at cats at the RSPCA there were loads in there all begging for a home. But Bonnie was all curled up in her bed with out a care in the world and caught my attention. They told me that she would not go outside and would be an indoor cat. . This suited me cause i work during the day.Bonnie is a cats that is scared of anything or anyone, it took over a yr for her to get used to me. if i`m sat down then she is fine but if i`m walking around she runs away. She is also petrified of the hoover.
Some of the things she has done have made me laugh but the scariest one was when she started sleeping on my bed at night.
She took to sleeping at the bottom of the bed which i thought was ok. But one night i woke up and sosomething was wrong i could hardly breath... i opened my eyes and there were another pair of eyes looking back at me scared me half to death . She was laid on my chest,, argh bl blees she must have been cold..

h carolt,

Your Bonnie sounds a bit like my Azar, who I rescued from the street after someone tried to rip his leg off. Eight years later he still runs away from any visitors, though I can pick him up and play with him all I like (now! took me three months after I brought him home to be able to touch him myself)

Azar still get jittery when someone makes a fast move, even me. What I do then is hold out my arm and point one finger at him, which he then focusses on, and then he calms down. Then I bring my extended arm and pointed finger closer and rub him on the nose. It works every time. If I try to approach him when he is nervous -even after eight years! - without first offering him the extended arm and finger, he just runs away. Weirdo.

What can I say? Kitten-hood trauma runs deep.

az

Well as i just said in above post i have 2 cats. Freddie was abandoned. they just upped and left him.
He has made a home for himself here I can tell you. Think he he should be renamed lord of the manor.
When i first got him I had to keep him in (which he hated)... but now that time is well over i cant keep him in During the summer i see him for 30minutes each day. He wont stop in at night. but during winter he is the exact opposite. Just out during the day( while i`m at work) then in the rest of the time.
Freddie has also got a facination(sp?) with running water. he does not like going out in the rain but quite happily jumps into the bathroom sink while tap is running. He also plays with the drinking water that i put down for them. The thing that he does all the time though is he will sit at the front door and cry to go out.. its weird cause it does not sound like a meow.. more like a baby crying. But this happens at all hours and he keeps on crying until i let him out. During the winter he will wake me up around 6am. which i`m up around that time for work anyway. but it`s annoying if if its any earlier which occasionally it can be I look at it this way though, if the power goes out and Freddie is still in at least he is my back up, alarm clock
I do love both Freddie(named after Freddie Mercury - the great pretender another story) and Bonnie to bits they are both full of character..
Since i got freddie, bonnie has started to go out ,she does not venture far from my home, in fact the first time she went out she was gone 11hours. just sat under the same tree Although she just goes out in the summer months. When its cold it affects her with her arthritus in in hip n leg.
Neither of them bring any presents home Which i`m happy with.

xcarolx

Az and Carol you are both wonderfull taken on cats like that

Hi az, well i have had Bonnie for over 2 years now, and she is still nervous around me. Am pretty sure that she has been abused at some point. She was a stray when the rspca got her
The person that run her over never stopped. She still has health problems,She is paralised on one side of her face and is blind in her left eye. The car hit her on her left side....I can pick Bonnie up at all she wont let me. She runs. I have to play "catch the kitty" when i need to take her to the vets or give her any tablets. Her breast bone was damaged in the accident too so its painful for her. The vets were very impressed with her. She does shake her bottom though, she has got what the vets call a pelvic walk.

I agree though that what they have gone through as kittens stays with them. Freddie my other cat is so placid n soft very friendly to others ( complete opposite of Bon). my neighbours think so, Freddie even walks into a neighbours home does and inspection and goes back out again...
they are funny animals but i love them.

xcarolx

Hi Phelox. I love animals and i guess is i`m a sucker for cats especially abandoned ones, i can understand why any one would abandon one on purpose. At least the RSPCA and other charitys accept unwanted animals.

I think my online sister chats to you?? Angelicaheaven.. if it`s not you ,, sorry she chats to so many,

xcarolx

oops that meant to say can`t understand why ppl abandon cats.