STORIES FROM SUZIE – FEBRUARY 2010
Well, has the snow really gone? I’m starting this month’s blog with a very rare picture of me posing as a snow leopard- at rest!
Since last autumn I have been very sensible, staying inside within a pounce of the Aga and ear cocked for the sound of the gas fire being lit or the central heating timer clicking into operation. I’ve left it to Ruari to get cold, icy, wet. Ah, the young...Nevertheless I was persuaded to come out near the snow last month for this photo opportunity. I had been on the snow in a rash moment. I walked all the way down the garden but it was miserable – wet, cold paws that I had to keep shaking off. I’m afraid that even the thought of attracting the David Attenborough crew to this rare sighting was not enough for me to repeat the experience. So treasure the rare photograph.Those of you who have the delight of having adopted older cats know already that we are wise, drawing on years of experience in addition to our native wit. We know that snow is an alien environment for most cats and slush is particularly disgusting. Older cats are also calm, enjoy taking their time, respond to gentle massage and well mashed food with delicate flavours and plenty of variety. We don’t tear wallpaper or fabrics. We don’t climb curtains. We usually manage to get our way by persuasion, moral blackmail, in my case pitiful moans and the occasional well timed sickness to provoke sympathy.We also learn not to get locked into rooms or leap into empty houses or removal vans. Ruari has a long way to go yet in these departments. He won’t listen, of course – and sometimes I just keep my counsel and see what he will do. Since I last wrote, Ruari has got himself shut in Gill’s study overnight and beyond breakfast the next day. He does not shout like I would and does like playing hide and seek. Sandra and Gill were just about to start asking neighbours if they had seen him when they opened the study door and hey presto, out he came! I have to admire his bladder capacity as there was no mark at all – and he even managed breakfast before dashing out into the garden. We have new neighbours now next door and we have had to warn them that Ruari lives here and to look out for him. He had already been inside. Sigh....The snow, and the new baby down the road plus new catnip mice, has meant that we have seen more than usual of Oscar and Saffi. They have come in for long sleeps, running the gauntlet of Ruari’s rough and tumble. He loves to take on Oscar in particular in play fights and they both charge round the lounge before subsiding on different beds. Oscar and Saffi, being Norwegian Forest Cats, have paws like plates and long hair so manage the snow very well. Ruari is holding his own with them outside, up trees, over drifts and scaring the birds – as he will tell you later. He doesn’t seem to need as much sleep as they do (no small crying baby here – just me from time to time!) so he gets in some extra play with the catnip mice. It’s his official birthday again this month so we will have a special party again. Sandra is knitting....The heating has come on so I’m off to the radiator. Here’s Ruari in person.
RUARI WRITES: Apart from the study episode, I’ve had a great month. Daily challenges outside for an adventure cat like me, lots of playing with Oscar (and rebuffs from Saffi, sadly), discovering that I like Parma ham and Felix jelly trays in fish and meat varieties. I’ve also had great fun stalking the birds as we have been feeding them more in the cold. Sandra clears the path, puts food out, the birds gather – and I watch and dare them to come down until I get bored and let them feed. Once I sabotaged Sandra’s snow clearing by pulling the cleared snow back onto the path and covering the food. Neat, eh? Even Oscar was impressed.
Now, about my birthday...
