I'm glad summer is nearly here....

.........as yet again the flap has got to be locked, at least during the day (in fact, as long as it's dry outside it'll be locked from now on) For the past three days I've had *my* lot, plus Jimmy, Dexter and to a lesser extent, Bolas friend from over the road in the house pretty much 24/7.

I usually let Jimmy *hoover up* any food left over, but that's a mistake as he's come to expect breakfast at least now. Dexter doesn't eat much, beyond a nibble of dry, but he's getting too comfortable downstairs and I've woken three times to find him asleep on my bed.

Ian

oh well it's taken him a while but he's just following the rest of them.

Teddy wrote:oh well it's taken him a while but he's just following the rest of them.

True enough, I probably should have done more to discourage him/them.

I set the flap to exit only before I went shopping just before 9.15 this morning and it stayed that wat till 5pm. I spotted him trying the flap a few times but he soon gave up, tho' barring the once, he only went as far as sheltering under my fir tree. The one time I hadn't seen him for a while and thought he'd gone home was this afternoon, but he came from nowhere almost as soon as I opened the flap, nipped in, had a few biscuits then ran out again.

I've not even played with him in my garden today, I know he was just waiting for me to pick up the fishing rod toy, but I ignored him and feel as guilty as hell for doing so as he won't know he's *doing wrong* by spending so much time here.

Ian

aaawwww the poor neglected soul, he's going to have such a complex because you're ignoring him, and he's been so good, poor poor Jimmy.

hahaha how's your guilt now??

I've been keeping my two out of the livingroom while we're at work, they would have this sofa in shreds if I let them in, but so far they seem to be ok about it, although I have to sit down as soon as I come home so Sophie can sit on my lap for 5 minutes, then she takes off happy as Larry.

Teddy wrote:aaawwww the poor neglected soul, he's going to have such a complex because you're ignoring him, and he's been so good, poor poor Jimmy.

I meant Dexter, not Jimmy, he makes his own amusement but Dexter never strays far from home (both of them)

hahaha how's your guilt now??

It's eased a bit as he's come in now (so has Jimmy) tho' I'm feeling a bit rotten about not putting any wet food down for them.

I've been keeping my two out of the livingroom while we're at work, they would have this sofa in shreds if I let them in, but so far they seem to be ok about it, although I have to sit down as soon as I come home so Sophie can sit on my lap for 5 minutes, then she takes off happy as Larry.

They're just waiting till you think it'll be safe to leave them alone with the sofa. Mine wasn't new when I bought it, but it was 100% perfect and for months I was shoo-ing them away from that and the chairs...............4 years later I've seen a whole lot worse but it's obvious cats have been on them

Ian

Unfortunately this new one has smooth material on the arms, unlike the cushions which are softer, if they clawed them you wouldn't really notice but clawing the arms and front of the sofa would ruin it, so far so good

oh go on give him some wet. then chuck him out.

I've had to start using a safety razor to clip all the threads they've pulled on the chair/sofa arms/cushions It doesn't do a perfect job but it's not bad if you're patient enough to take your time over it.

It looks like Jimmy went home last night, which is more than I can say for Dexter, he must have sneaked in and been very tired as he even slept thro' my trying to help free Fudges claw, and was still dead to the world when I got up today.

Ian

I don't know how he did it, unless he sneaked in while I was out bringing the wheelie bin back, but I found Dexter asleep on my bed earlier, tho' he's out now. I've just spotted Jimmy on next doors shed roof, I'm guessing he's tried the flap and found it shut as the first thing he usually does when they let him out is call here.

Ian

haha oh Jimmy, what a lad, maybe he was trying to find an alternative way in.

I'll be opening the flap shortly as they've all been out for quite a while now, tho' the first thro' it will no doubt be Jimmy

Ian

hahahaha I can just imagine a queue of cats with Jimmy first in line.

I was wrong, it would have been Dexter. He's been sat on next doors shed roof with Bola for a while now, long enough for my neighbours to have spotted. It must be annoying in that he's not been home for a day or so, tho' they must have a better than good idea where he's been and is safe.

Ian

As it's been damp and a bit chilly I opened the flap and Dexter wandered in for a snooze. He's had very little, if any, food here and gone out again now.

Ian

I opened the flap before lunchtime because Dexter looked so sad just sat under my fir tree waiting for me to open the door (then not letting let him in) In he toddled and headed straight for the dry food bowl in the living room as usual, but I'd deliberately left all the dry bowls empty as my lot have been more out than in today.

He settled for a quick snooze before wandering out, tho' if I felt bad anout the above, I felt worse by refusing to play with him, even tho' I was playing with the others at the time, I just stopped and went inside. I saw him sat under my fir tree again later, just as Debbie (my neighbour) was in her back garden and I would have asked if he was still coming home but she was on the phone.

I'd no need to have been bothered as Dexter heard her taklking, jumped onto their shed roof and strolled towards the door. I was really hoping he'd go in while I was there, then their bloody stupid dog appeared and wanted to say hello to him. I fully expected Dexter to walk away, but no, he eventually ambled into the house, so I know he *remembers* where his real home is.

As luck would have it, their youngest son, Jack, came round later and asked to borrow a can opener, so I took the chance to ask him if Dexter ever came in during the day, and that'd I'd been locking the flap from 6am to 6pm as he'd been coming in my house a bit too much. Jack told me he did come in, but not that often and they'd pretty much guessed where he'd be.

The truth is, if I didn't have Fudge, Bola, Buddy (and now Max) I'd love to have Dexter as he's such a fantastic cat. Jet black (always a winner for me) with the most placid, easy going temperament I've ever seen. He doesn't scratch furniture or carpets, nor does he beg for food 24/7 and is happiest playing or curled up on someones lap, purring for England. He reminds me so much of Black Tom, it's like having him back in the house again.

Ian

aaawww Dexter, oh I can see you melting here Ian, now with all thise cats what's one more (runs and hides before I get belted )

Teddy wrote:aaawww Dexter, oh I can see you melting here Ian, now with all thise cats what's one more (runs and hides before I get belted )

totally agree with you Kath *also runs and hides before I too get belted*

*Prince* wrote:

Teddy wrote:aaawww Dexter, oh I can see you melting here Ian, now with all thise cats what's one more (runs and hides before I get belted )

totally agree with you Kath *also runs and hides before I too get belted*

yip I can see it coming.

Teddy wrote:aaawww Dexter, oh I can see you melting here Ian, now with all thise cats what's one more (runs and hides before I get belted )

Belted? Not by me, but maybe off my neighbour, Debbie

Dexters the sort of cat even a hater would warm to, he's got the perfect mix of every good cat habit there is, not forgetting the cutest big round face

Ian

yip, I'm even more convinced

I can't deny I wish Dexter had adopted me and not Max, but barely a couple on months after Debbie accepting Max would rather be here, losing Dexter would be too much

Ian

Ian B wrote:.......he's got the perfect mix of every good cat habit there is.......

Ian

And a few bad ones, I've got a guitar case open and it's leant against a wall..........I've just caught him about to spray on the inside

Ian

oh the little oh well perfection is impossible.

I guess it's him who's been spraying against my guitar amps and other guitar cases, but at least it was on the outside so *easy* to clean. If he'd managed to spray inside the case it would have soaked in and the smell been there forever

Ian

Dexter must have gone home last night as he's only just wandered in here, how can anyone not love a cat who only has to sit next to you to get them purring like a train? I hadn't even touched him and his purring would have woken the neighbours if they'd still been there

Ian

he's a contented soul.