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Kitteh drama: Hack-enders
Jan. 4th, 2012 05:38 pmWe've had a couple of new toms circling the close; a lovely-looking ginger tabby, and a mostly-black cat with a white moustache.
Black guy managed a home invasion during our kitteh interregnum, got trapped via a one-way catflap and got thoroughly dosed with lavender water. He's steered wide of us since then...but he's still circling.
These are in addition to a beaten-up looking tabby we nicknamed Tom Jones for his singing showtunes at our doorway over the past few years. He's been looking increasingly old and worn-out and I think the newer arrivals are encroaching.
Both of them are marking turf, including around our flat entrance. We've had recent incursions from them testing the cat flap, and marking indoors - when we're away for a weekend, for instance.
The flap has a bell on it to let us know when it's in use, and to help us deter stealth visitors with sprayed water and other annoyances...if we can catch them.
Meantime, this week, we're looking after our neighbours' handsome Laurel and Hardy pair of tuxedo-cats, Clyde and Bunk. Clyde is a skinny playful clown who wants attention, and isn't terribly bothered about loves; chunky Bunk is in it for the loves and has a tiny 'mew' that doesn't seem to match his size. If you brush him, he'll just lie there and let you.
So we spent yesterday evening jumping at every ka-tink-tink-tink of the catflap, only to find that the intruder was Clyde, looking for company. We'd been over to his flat to feed and visit, so he was simply returning the favour.
We cannot seem to convince Harley that the lovely neutered and well-mannered tuxedoed gents are not a threat, compared to the big thugly tomcats who piss on our door.
She takes grave exception to us visiting and chatting with these lads, heading them off with stern words, and shepherding us out of the close, but she doesn't have the same confidence for facing down the toms - at least, we haven't seen any confrontations, the toms knowing they're not welcome. They are probably twice her weight, so perhaps it's just as well.
So I think I'll be spending the evening negotiating with a very persistent and goofy feline visitor and trying to soothe a jealous feline heart betweentimes.
Black guy managed a home invasion during our kitteh interregnum, got trapped via a one-way catflap and got thoroughly dosed with lavender water. He's steered wide of us since then...but he's still circling.
These are in addition to a beaten-up looking tabby we nicknamed Tom Jones for his singing showtunes at our doorway over the past few years. He's been looking increasingly old and worn-out and I think the newer arrivals are encroaching.
Both of them are marking turf, including around our flat entrance. We've had recent incursions from them testing the cat flap, and marking indoors - when we're away for a weekend, for instance.
The flap has a bell on it to let us know when it's in use, and to help us deter stealth visitors with sprayed water and other annoyances...if we can catch them.
Meantime, this week, we're looking after our neighbours' handsome Laurel and Hardy pair of tuxedo-cats, Clyde and Bunk. Clyde is a skinny playful clown who wants attention, and isn't terribly bothered about loves; chunky Bunk is in it for the loves and has a tiny 'mew' that doesn't seem to match his size. If you brush him, he'll just lie there and let you.
So we spent yesterday evening jumping at every ka-tink-tink-tink of the catflap, only to find that the intruder was Clyde, looking for company. We'd been over to his flat to feed and visit, so he was simply returning the favour.
We cannot seem to convince Harley that the lovely neutered and well-mannered tuxedoed gents are not a threat, compared to the big thugly tomcats who piss on our door.
She takes grave exception to us visiting and chatting with these lads, heading them off with stern words, and shepherding us out of the close, but she doesn't have the same confidence for facing down the toms - at least, we haven't seen any confrontations, the toms knowing they're not welcome. They are probably twice her weight, so perhaps it's just as well.
So I think I'll be spending the evening negotiating with a very persistent and goofy feline visitor and trying to soothe a jealous feline heart betweentimes.
