BEARCAT

BearCat digitally mastered!

Here is KimmiKat’s painting of BearCat. For those interested , it is done using Artrage2 which KimmiKat says she loves. I think it is a very good likeness of Bear. Bear is not sure, but I think he likes it!

Oh I do. Ido!

Hello BearCat!

I am flattered that Kimmikat has painted me. Now all she has to do is the girls, which will be a real challenge because they are both black and look the same.

Yes, but they smell different…

Yes, but paintings don’t smell. Kimmikat will try to get their faces, which are quite different.

Ah yes, I suppose so. Hasn’t KimmiKat already done one of Jemima?

Yes, I think she has.

We’ll ask her to put it on here for us then.

That just leaves Millie now.

Ah…but Millie had a poem written about her!

Maybe we could get KimmiKat to put the poem up too?

Hello you two. We have already put the painting of Jemima on the blog, somewhere near the beginning. Maybe the poem can be added later. We’ll see.

I hope you like your painting BearCat. Remember, the more I practice, the better I will get!

It’s very nice KimmiKat Thank you.

Ok, It’s time for my bed. What about you two?

Yes, I think so.

Yes, I’m ready too.

Night night everyone!

Happy Birthday BearCat!

Happy Birthday BearCat from all of us!

It’s BearCat’s birthday today! Happy Birthday BearCat.
He has been very quiet today. Currently he is out in the garden as it’s very sunny. KimmiKat says he needs some fresh air because he was in most of yesterday and last night. But I know that she is worried about him being out. The reason he has been in all that time is because he has been poorly, and the reason he has been poorly is because yesterday morning he had another fight with the tom cat! He really went for him, and came back a little later with bloodied fur and a bit of a limp. He wouldn’t let KimmiKat touch him, so she just let him sleep it off. He seems ok this morning. I am getting worried about him now though. It is not that he is old, but he has cataracts and I don’t think he can see the other cat too well, hence getting wounded. But he NEVER gives up. He is a cat full of courage.

So don’t fight today BearCat. Have a nice peaceful day!

By the way, KimmiKat has not finished his portrait. She did a painting of him but was not happy with it, so she intends having another go.

I think I had better go and see what BearCat is up to!

Bye for now …Jiffers.

Cats like reading too…

…if they get help with the words! KimmiKat reads a lot and says that some of her favourite books are about cats. I doubt they could be as interesting as our cat family, but I suppose, with KimmiKat’s help I could try. Here are some of the books she has suggested.

(All covers taken from Amazon)

I like the look of Tom Kitten. I might have a look.

It has been a very quiet day today. Nothing happened apart from getting wet in the rain, and KimmiKat trying to dry me with a towel. I escaped. I don’t like being rubbed with a towel. The indignity!

Bye for now. See you tomorrow.

Jiffers.

ANOTHER VISIT

Tom cat tries again!

That horrible scraggy grey and white tom cat has been around again. We were very lucky because BearCat was here and he saw him off. KimmiKat doesn’t like it when BearCat fights with him because he gets ill afterwards, but I think it was alright this time. I don’t think they actually had a fight.

The new shed is up, and AberCat has nearly finished staining it. It has a funny smell…the stain. Makes my nose wrinkle. One good thing though, its easier to jump onto the new shed roof, though I haven’t tried it yet. I will have to give it a go in the next few days.

KIMMIKAT is disappointed because her daughter was going to come up and stay with us for a while, but she was poorly, so she couldn’t come. Hurry up and get well JayCat. KimmiKat is going to go and see her next week. Actually, Kimmikat went to bed twice this week in the daytime as she said she felt sick and had a headache. I am not sure about headaches, but I have been sick lots of times and it’s not very nice. KimmiKat says she has recovered now.

BearCat is getting impatient as he wants KimmiKat to start his portrait. She has been very busy (and poorly), so hasn’t had a chance, but she says she will try very hard to have it ready in time for his birthday on Tuesday.

Gosh, I am tired. Must be the nights getting darker earlier. I will try and write some more tomorrow. Sweet dreams…

(This is what I dream about…click here to go to the website.)

THOSE WALKING STICKS!

KimmiKat has four legs!

KimmiKat has come home with four legs and not two. Apparently the sticks are like legs, but KimmiKat says she needs them to balance with, and help keep the pressure off her bad knee. I wonder if cats get sore legs…

This is speedy who has a website at http://www.geocities.com/speedykitten/index.html. This photo was taken by Jack Leonard for Lancaster Newspapers, Lancaster, Pensylvania. Speedy had several carts as he grew. He was a lucky cat to have such caring owners.

KimmiKat said she found several pusscats who had similar leg problems. This is a picture of a rabbit who needed a cart…

This bunny is featured on this website http://www.doggon.com/currentcontest.html

KimmiKat says it depends on the owners whether some animals get the help they need. It’s a good job there are places and people that do help.

I will sign off now, because BearCat has asked if he can have a go. See you later everyone,

Jiffers

HELLO!

(No need to shout BearCat! KimmiKat)

Oh Sorry KimmiKat. I haven’t been on a blog before, although I have had my picture on the web before now, as I am such a handsome fellow…(curls whiskers). No, really I am very modest, but I thought it would be a good experience for an old cat like me.

‘An old cat like me’…you are not old, BearCat.

I am eleven years old this month, which reminds me. Do I get a special birthday celebration?

‘Well I hadn’t thought about it, but I don’t see why not. Cats like to celebrate too. The problem is that we don’t know what day your birthday is, just that it is in July. There isn’t much of the month left. What day would you like your celebration to be?’

How about the last day in July, or is that a long time away?

‘It’s about a weekand a half away, not this Tuesday coming, but the Tuesday after. Not very long to wait’.

Oh goody!

‘What would you like for your birthday?’

Peace and quiet.

‘Yes, I am sure you will get that, as you are not a party cat, are you? What I meant was what presents would you like?’

Err…well…err! Can I get back to you on that one?

‘Of course!’

Oh, but I would like you to paint my portrait, KimmiKat. Do you think you could?

‘Well I could try, but it may not work. I will have a go. Meanwhile let me know what else you would like. A new collar perhaps? Oh, he seems to have disappeared. I wonder why. Perhaps he doesn’t want a new collar!

BEARCAT. WHERE ARE YOU?

Well would you believe it. He’s asleep! All the writing on the blog must have tired him out. Oh well, I will have to go and do some work. I expect Jiffers will be back shortly. Bye folks! KimmiKat.

KIMMIKAT IS BACK!

KimmiKat is back…

with a pair of walking sticks, which she keeps waving around. BearCat just ignored her for the first two hours, but now he’s claimed his seat next to her, and pushed me out of the way. I think this is very unfair, since I really missed KimmiKat, but I suppose she did make a big fuss of me for the first couple of hours when she got back.

AberKat has been busy erecting the shed, which came on Tuesday afternoon.It is very big and very smelly as it has some sort of stain on it to keep the wet out. AberKat says he will have to stain it again, because he couldn’t do it properly the first time, because the rain kept washing it off!

Well that is all the news so far. I am just glad that KimmiKat is back.
Jiffers Purr Purr.

LIFE’S LITTLE IRONIES

Well that’s a turn up for the books!

Yesterday, KimmiKat and AberKat were busy cutting down bushes in the garden and when they were clearing away the debris, KimmiKat spied something pink on the ground. Pouncing on it, she discovered it was a cat collar and thought it must be the one Jemima has just lost. When she looked at it she found that it was the pink collar that she had made Jemima about a year ago. The collar was fine, a bit grubby, but still intact, but the bell had gone rusty, as had one of the rings. KimmiKat gave the collar a good scrub, and washed the identity tag (which is the cutest mouse) and when she has put another bell on it, the collar will be ready for Jemima to wear!. Wow…what irony…that’s a word KimmiKat used, so I thought I would use it too. I will post a picture of the newly found collar when KimmiKat has taken a photo.

Meanwhile…

Remember some time ago I told you we already had a cat artist in the family, KimmiKat’s daughter? She had painted a picture of BillyCat, the cat who bullied me. I know he was a lovely cat, but he wanted to be boss all the time. Anyway, KimmiKat’s daughter said I can post the picture of her painting, (thank you BirtKat), and this is it. Billy is very handsome don’t you think?

Well. I have to go now as KimmiKat is about to go away for a week. So no more posts until she comes back. Have a good week everyone…

Jiffers.xx

STRANGE GOINGS-ON…

Something’s a-paw!

I am not sure exactly what is going on in our house, but KimmiKat said she will be leaving us for a week as she has to go away. Something to do with her knee (it looks okay to me). So KimmiKat is going to leave our other human , AberKat to look after us. He is quite happy to do this as he is very fond of us, but I suspect we might get one or late suppers as he forgets to buy our food in someimes and has to dash off to the big shop and get us something. AberKat always buys us fine things, which pleases KimmiKat. You’ll be pleased to know that we are using our new feed trays and I must admit I quite like helping myself whenever I like. As you know we cats are seldom greedy, and usually eat sensibly. Jemima has found a way of getting the dry food to come down the tunnel thing, if KimmiKat has not noticed the dish is empty, but she won’t tell us what she does. I will have to watch her, and then copy.

Neither Bear or Jemima’s collars have turned up. KimmiKat says she will make some new ones when she can.

I can hear AberKat banging something with a hammer outside, round the side of the house. There was mention of a new shed being put up, although it hasn’t arrived yet, unless they’ve hidden it! So AberKat has been clearing a space of ground which I think must be where the shed will go. Interesting. Another place to trap micicles!

Something special!

KimmiKat wrote a poem about me. Well, sort of about me, as I have never actually had a girlfriend, or any kittens, but it’s fun to pretend. Here it is. I hope you like it.

A Feline Romance.

Jiffers was waiting, one day, by the gate,
hoping to persuade Sukey Su on a date.
He was hunky and smart in his black and white suit,
and he hoped she would find him adorably cute!

He waited and waited, but gave up in vain.
(Besides he suspected it was going to rain).
So he returned to the house and asked to be fed,
and then curled up tight in his comfortable bed.

Next morning was sunny and he climbed up on the wall.
There wasn’t much booked in his diary at all.
So he thought he might doze for a while in the sun,
then maybe go hunting and look for some fun.

Just as he nestled down, closing his eyes,
He heard a loud shriek and jumped up in surprise!
And then more squeals, a squawk and a whine,
scarily raising the fur on his spine.

He thought that the screeches denoted a fight,
and that his duty was definitely to keep out of sight.
But then in the garden at the back of the wall
he saw something that almost caused him to fall.

For there, right in front of him, Big Ginger Tom
shot out of the bushes as if hit by a bomb.
Jiffers shrank back, and fled the long wall,
as he had no intention of joining the brawl.

The fight then resumed, with an ear-splitting sound,
Jiffers was sure he could hear his heart pound.
He was not a brave cat, preferred his life quiet,
The last thing he needed was noise and a riot!

As he listened (in safety, behind the old shed),
he wondered if really he should have instead
stayed to see who it was that was unlucky enough
to meet up with that gross fur ball of fluff.

It was probably Albert, the young tom from next door.
Now he was bigger, he loved to explore.
He had probably found Ginger when doing his rounds
of the garden he shared with his family, the Pounds.

Jiffers relaxed for a moment and thought,
‘Albert is strong, with young muscles so tort
that any assailant would have a tough time,
fighting a cat who is at the height of his prime’.

But supposing it isn’t the cat from next door.
Hadn’t he better go back, check the score?
Furtively he clambered out of his hole;
he could always pretend he was out for a stroll.

Carefully mounting the far end of the wall,
He peered into the garden, taking care not to fall.
Big GingerTom stood with fluffed tail, arched back,
Ready to fight should there be an attack.

He was watching a colourful bush of spirea,
but what was in there, was not very clear.
Jiffers could see cream blotches, and brown,
But bright sun in his eyes, made him blink and then frown.

Suddenly a loud screech, piercing and long
rendered the air, signifying something was wrong.
Jiffers knew it was neither Albert nor Ginger,
So who was the cat the tom wanted to injure?

Suddenly a movement of light coloured fur,
clawing and growling, so fast, just a blur,
hurtled passed Jiffers and he recognised who…
‘My Goodness’ he gasped. It was … Sukey Su!

With a gargantuan leap and a snarl and a growl,
Jiffers jumped in. Sukey Su gave a howl.
‘It’s ok, said Jiffers, I’ll sort this one out,
And turning round sharply, he gave Ginger a clout.

Big GingerTom looked around in surprise,
As a black and white canonball dropped from the skies.
‘Jiffers’! he thought. Whats he doing here?
Jiffers was one cat he’d learned to revere.

Jiffers was friendly, tolerant and kind
but his soft disposition was often maligned,
The neighbourhood felines, thought he was a coward,
until they’d been chastised and then overpowered.

You see Jiffers was basically a laid back cat,
He didn’t like arguments, fuss and back chat,
But occasion demanding, he could fight with the best,
Biting and scratching like a demon possessed.

So when Big Ginger Tom had a minute to breathe,
he decided that now was the best time to leave.
Turning tail and sprinting, he attempted to run
knowing that Jiffers bite that was second to none!

Jiffers followed , but decided to stop.
He’d already caught Ginger Tom on the hop.
He’d stay away now, Jiffers reckoned, for sure,
They had quickly and efficiently shown him the door!

Sukey Su siddled up, looking suitably coy,
her considerable skills she was keen to employ,
But her small Siamese frame was no match for the cat
so she accepted an ally in agressive combat.

Jiffers rubbed noses with Sukey and sighed.
‘What’s wrong?’ Sukey asked, and Jiffers replied,
‘Nothing at all. I am happy, and proud
to be of service to you.’ And he bowed.

When passing the gate on your way to the shop,
Be sure that you take care and remember to stop.
Because Jiffers is always quite close by the gate,
and next to him always, is Sukey, his mate.

If you pause and wait patiently, prepare to be smitten
at the gradual emergence of one little kitten.
He is always the first, but followed by five others
three little sisters and two bigger brothers.

Their parents are proud, but diligently guard,
, making sure that the kittens never leave the back yard.
‘Uncle’ Albert visits often, helping lick kittens clean,
And Big Ginger Tom? Well he’s never been seen!

© DF 2007

I rather like the idea of having a family, but I’m getting a bit old for that now.

Oh! KimmiKat has just told me that it’s not possible as I have been ‘done’, whatever that means! Hmm…so thats what that trip to the vets was all about.

I think I need a nap after all this excitement. See you all later.

Jiffers.

OH DEAR!

OH DEAR!

Jemima has lost her collar now. BearCat has not found his, so two brand new collars gone! KimmiKat is seething! She doesn’t blame Bear and Jemima, as she says it’s just one of those things, but it was a complete waste of money. So I think she is going to try and get the sewing machine out and make the collars like last time. They are the same, with the same safety buckles, but more cost effective! I’ve had my collar for ages; KimmiKat has even washed it and scrubbed it a couple of times, and Millie has had hers for just as long. Did I tell you about the little fluorescent fish I have on my collar? This is a photograph that KimmiKat took yesterday so that I could show you…

He’s cute and he shines in the dark. On the back he has KimmiKat’s telephone number in case I get lost. Kimmikat says she wishes she could find some more charms like him. Sometimes she gets engraved tags, but if the collar is lost, it’s expensive to keep replacing them.

My mum has started to use the cat litter tray at last. And we have all sniffed the tunnel and tentatively gone through it. KimmiKat put a swingy mouse on it to tempt us, but so far none of us have felt inclined to play. Maybe later.

The big grey and white tomcat was in the garden this morning, and was fighting with someone. We thought it was jemima as she was the only one out, but KimmiKat called her in, and she didn’t seem to be involved, just watching. But we know it was the evil tom cos BearCat sat on the windowsill watching him and yowling at him. He only does that when it’s the grey and white tomcat.

FAME AT LAST!

Look at this! KimmiKat has finished my portrait. I think it’s great, but she says that although she is happy with it as a first attempt, she hopes she will improve as she practices. She says my fur is not very good, but she is going to do lots of practice ndrawing and painting fur. Well I like it. I hope you do too! (Don’t I look handsome?) The only thing I am not happy about is that my fishy collar is not showing. KimmiKat said she will try and get it in next time, but I was sitting in such a way that it did not show.

All the other cats want their picture done now. I feel very priviledged as bear is top cat and he should really have been done first, especially as he has such an unusual coloured coat, but KimmiKat says it is a matter of how and when she feels inspired, and that sooner or later she will paint us all. Bear is very accepting of this. He is a very tolerant cat.

Well, it’s time for my nap as I have been awake far too long. Kimmikat says she has to go and put the washing out (which means Millie will follow her out into the garden…she always does!).

Catch you next time.

Jiffers

Whoops!

WHOOPS!

Oh dear, BearCat is in trouble. He has lost his collar! KimmiKat is not best pleased. She had a quick look in the garden but as it was wet she didn’t search for long. She didn’t think Bear had been out today anyway, so perhaps it’s in the house somewhere.I hope so, because bear is not in Kimmikats good books!

PORTRAIT.

I am going to be a famous cat as KimmiKat is painting my portrait. I have had a peep and there is definitely a likeness. I can’t wait for it to be finished. I am the first one Kimmikat has painted. But there is another artist in the family who has already done a cat portrait, and that is KimmiKat’s daughter who did a lovely picture of her cat Billy.

This is a photo of Billy, who is a great big giant of a cat. I didn’t get on very well with him as he used to bully me, but he lives with another friend now, so we are both happier. I will ask KimmiKat if we can post her daughter’s painting of Billy.

Well, I think I will have another nap. It’s hard work writing this.

Meow ’til next time.