Entries Tagged 'Humphrey' ↓

It’s only the middle of January and already I’m wondering if we’re going to get toms sniffing round our Portia again.

It seems like that might be at the root of Humphrey’s odd behaviour.  At the moment as I write this he’s downstairs asleep tucked under a chair.  It’s a beautiful morning – the kind you’d expect him to be out there sniffing the air and checking out progress towards Spring.

Not a bit of it!

But Portia has been out and when we checked on her she had her attendant in waiting sitting near her on the patio.  She’s not a bit bothered.  Such a lot of hassle we had with the toms last year; I’d rather not go through it again.  It felt like we were always chasing them out of the garden so she could have some liberty out there.

This year she’s even thinner, even more deaf and even less interested, if that’s possible.  Can’t understand why they’re wasting their time.  You think they’d realise wouldn’t you.

Meanwhile back in the ranch – Humphrey ignores the lot of them.

I was watching Animal Watch from Longleat on BBC2 during the week. They had on lots about tigers in particular the death of an old lady tiger.

It was so sad. The keepers who had looked after her for over 20 years were in pieces when she had to be put to sleep. I know it’s not ideal keeping them in captivity(though conditions out in the wild aren’t too helpful) but even accepting she was a wild animal to the end there was definitely a bond between the keepers and her.

Sometimes I know in these blogs it sometimes sounds like I shout at Humphs a lot but really I love the bones of him. He’s such a conundrum; sometimes naughty and wild and sometimes the biggest wuss out.

Because it had been so cold one evening we had the door almost closed between the living room and the dining room and a rug stuffed up to the gap under the door (if I say it’s an old house you’ll understand). For five minutes Humphs sat behind the door and cried because every time he pushed at the door he met resistance.

In the end rather than push harder he went and curled up on a dining chair.

All to make me feel guilty I guess! We’ve seen more of him this week with the cold than normal.

Next week probably he’ll ignore us because the temperature is set to rise I understand.

But to go back to the tigers, when I see Humphrey at full stretch in the garden or racing in pursuit of his quarry he’s my mini-tiger.

When Humphrey comes in and sleeps during the day, then you know it’s cold.  And he’s been in so many times during the last few days.

He’s a better weather indicator than seaweed!

At the moment he’s under a chair in the living room curled up tight.  He has been out this morning but that didn’t last long.

But while he was out there was a confrontation with the big bad tabby.  So in defence of our homestead I took up the brush and chased the cat out of the garden.

Still it’s important for Humphs to scent his territory every day – can’t have the tabby thinking he can have the run of the place.

It’s been good over the past week with Humphrey sitting close to me if not on my lap.  He makes a lovely hot water bottle even if he sheds fur all over me.  I have different wardrobes like most women but one of mine is what’s fit for Humphrey to sit on.  It doesn’t matter how many time I brush him he can’t help shedding.

Or coming in dirty.  Last night he had a late run out then came back in with dirt all round the ruff at his neck.  He must have been rolling around somewhere.

Oh well let’s see what the next week brings with the weather.  From the long range that I’ve seen I think Humphrey will be spending even more time inside.

Well I realise now why Humphrey has been so anxious and twitchy lately.

We’ve discovered a new cat on the block has arrived.  A big, fierce tabby.

The other night my sister went to see if Humphrey wanted to come in before she locked up for the night.  She heard some growling and there was Humphrey sitting on the wheelie bin near the kitchen door.  He wasn’t growling.

As she turned her head she saw where the growling came from.  THE TABBY.  I’ve capitalised it because the way she told the story the moment deserves capitals!

Then it turned nasty.  NASTY.  Because the new cat came towards her and wouldn’t go away.  So we have Humphrey cowering on the wheelie bin and my sister menaced by the beast.

Sounds funny but she was quite scared and she’s not a woman who scares easily.  In the end she had to use the yard brush to scoot him away so that she and Humphrey could beat a retreat into the house.

We haven’t seen him since but it would account for why Humps is so nervy if the cat is roaming the garden.  It reminds me of when I lived in Sandiacre in the 1980s.  The lady in the bungalow next to my house was lovely; helpful, funny and kind.

Her cat was a different matter.  She called him the bad un.  Not a tabby but a very fierce ginger tom.  And large.  Several times I had to shoo him off my back door step with a brush.

I’m not sure if Humphrey has been chased during the week.  It’s quite likely given he ends up where he probably shouldn’t.

The reason I’m thinking so, is that he’s very jumpy at the moment.  More so than usual.  Even if I raise my voice a fraction he cringes.  As if I’m about to hit him.

Now I accept I’ve been a bit tetchier than normal this week.  So much work to finish before I can switch off for Christmas but that doesn’t really explain it.  Such a sensitive boy which you don’t expect given his size and general behaviour chasing anything that moves in the garden.

I’ll just have to be extra loving with him for a few days.  We bought the cats a special tin of food for their Christmas day lunch on our last shopping expedition.  I’m sure they’ll snatch a bit of ours as well; there’s some lovely beef and fish to come.

Well this is my last update before the holiday begins… or maybe yours already has.

Whatever is the case, Humphrey and Portia and I wish you and your cat/s all well for the season and a happy and healthy New Year.

Sorry this is rather late in the day.  I try to write this update after breakfast then I can forget about it.

But I had such a busy week that my breakfast was delayed by my late rising and everything else then was shunted together.

Humphrey meantime has been in and out, in and out, in and out.  Demanding food on every in stroke and then collapsing in the comfy chair in the living room.  Poor soul what a hard life.

Between them the two cats had cleared a tin by the time we had lunch at 2pm so it’s obviously going to be a 2 tin day as opposed to a dozen tissue movie.

I certainly thought he was luckier than me yesterday when  I was in and out all day getting wet not food on every out stroke.  I loathe winter days like that.

still coming in to a deep thoated purr of welcome was some compensation.

So busy week, cats okay, Christmas shopping now done and cards written so we’re all okay.

What a beautiful morning.  Of course I haven’t ventured further than the back door yet but

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Last night we were just about to sit down to our meal when Humphrey appeared on the window ledge.  He sits there or Continue reading →

I had a moment of pure pleasure this week when I saw

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I came across a quote recently – on catquote.com about the way cats look at you.

I was reminded of it when I was telling Humphrey off this week about wet paws on clean kitchen floors.  I think to be honest that his expression mirrored what happened when I was told off at school for not wearing some item of uniform.  I must have looked downright mutinous because I then got a comment from the teacher about dumb insolence.

That’s always struck me about cats.  Dogs often hang their heads when they’re told off.  Cats never.

And unlike me with the teacher, often with cats there’s a comeback.  I might have gone away muttering about all the things I might have said, but didn’t.  Cats usually find a way of getting back at you.  Like they store things up till you’re in an unsuspecting state.

Then they pounce.  Sometimes literally.  From a great height.  My other cat, Sam, the one before Humphrey, used to enjoy leaping on my naked shoulders as I sat on the edge of the bath.  Very painful.  And what do you do with four claws when you have no defences!

The ultimate defence is a closed bathroom door maybe you’re suggesting.  Yes but how did I stop him yowling all the time I had a bath.  Mistake when they have the run of the house isn’t it.

Till next week