Infestation

We had heard about the red dot greeblings that seem to infest many cat
homes, but we had never seen them. We figured our climate is too cold
for them to survive here.

But today, one of them appeared here! First Caliban, then Viktor, and
then even Miranda got into the chase but none of them could catch it and
kill it. The chase went on for Bast knows how long, and always the red
dot greebling managed to avoid pouncing kitty paws.

At one point it went round and round and round, and Caliban went round
and round and round after it until he was all mixed up, and still he
could not get his paws on it.

Finally it ran under the desk and disappeared. Caliban sat waiting for
it a looong time, but it never reappeared.

--
Marina, Miranda, Caliban and Viktor.
In loving memory of Frank and Nikki.

On 06/21/2012 12:48 PM, Marina wrote:
We had heard about the red dot greeblings that seem to infest many cat
homes, but we had never seen them. We figured our climate is too cold
for them to survive here.

But today, one of them appeared here! First Caliban, then Viktor, and
then even Miranda got into the chase but none of them could catch it and
kill it. The chase went on for Bast knows how long, and always the red
dot greebling managed to avoid pouncing kitty paws.

At one point it went round and round and round, and Caliban went round
and round and round after it until he was all mixed up, and still he
could not get his paws on it.

Finally it ran under the desk and disappeared. Caliban sat waiting for
it a looong time, but it never reappeared.



Years ago (when TuTu was young) we had that problem. She did not hold
out for long because she sensed it was useless. Best wishes.

Marina wrote:

We had heard about the red dot greeblings that seem to infest many cat
homes, but we had never seen them. We figured our climate is too cold
for them to survive here.

But today, one of them appeared here! First Caliban, then Viktor, and
then even Miranda got into the chase but none of them could catch it and
kill it. The chase went on for Bast knows how long, and always the red
dot greebling managed to avoid pouncing kitty paws.

At one point it went round and round and round, and Caliban went round
and round and round after it until he was all mixed up, and still he
could not get his paws on it.

Finally it ran under the desk and disappeared. Caliban sat waiting for
it a looong time, but it never reappeared.

Oh, poor confused Caliban. He is nothing if not persevering.

It does sound like everyone had a good time, including you!

--
Joyce

Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he
grows up, he'll never be able to merge his car onto a freeway.

Marina wrote:

We had heard about the red dot greeblings that seem to infest many cat
homes, but we had never seen them. We figured our climate is too cold
for them to survive here.

But today, one of them appeared here! First Caliban, then Viktor, and
then even Miranda got into the chase but none of them could catch it and
kill it. The chase went on for Bast knows how long, and always the red
dot greebling managed to avoid pouncing kitty paws.

At one point it went round and round and round, and Caliban went round
and round and round after it until he was all mixed up, and still he
could not get his paws on it.

Finally it ran under the desk and disappeared. Caliban sat waiting for
it a looong time, but it never reappeared.

Aww, poor Caliban! He is nothing if not persevering.

Sounds like everyone had a good time, including you!

--
Joyce

Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he
grows up, he'll never be able to merge his car onto a freeway.

"Marina" wrote in message
...
We had heard about the red dot greeblings that seem to infest many cat
homes, but we had never seen them. We figured our climate is too cold for
them to survive here.

But today, one of them appeared here! First Caliban, then Viktor, and then
even Miranda got into the chase but none of them could catch it and kill
it. The chase went on for Bast knows how long, and always the red dot
greebling managed to avoid pouncing kitty paws.

At one point it went round and round and round, and Caliban went round
and round and round after it until he was all mixed up, and still he could
not get his paws on it.

Finally it ran under the desk and disappeared. Caliban sat waiting for it
a looong time, but it never reappeared.

--

I do wish that Boyfie would like anything that you all say your cats like.
I've got him cardboard boxes, all sorts of toys - he isn't interested. I
swear he thinks I am weird.
"would you like to play in the cardboard box?"
No, why would I?
"How about this toy?"
Yawn.
Probably being able to go out satisfies his instincts. He sharpens his
claws on my trees and has the opportunity to hunt ratties and mousies. He's
a bit of a wimp about rats. He only gets the very young ones, and I don't
blame him - have you seen the huge brown chisel teeth on the big ones that
are a foot long?
If he sees a big one he decides he need to wash himself to ignore it
(saw him do this often) Sensible cat.

Tweed

Christina Websell wrote:

I've got him cardboard boxes, all sorts of toys - he isn't interested. I
swear he thinks I am weird.
"would you like to play in the cardboard box?"
No, why would I?
"How about this toy?"
Yawn.
Probably being able to go out satisfies his instincts. He sharpens his
claws on my trees and has the opportunity to hunt ratties and mousies.

I'm sure that has a lot to do with it. But I wonder if it's true of all
indoor/outdoor cats? Smudge was a lot less interested in playing during
the time she was indoor/outdoor (mostly outdoor), but that could have
been because Licky was in the house, which dampened any playful impulse
because she was alert to any intrusion from him and wouldn't let her
guard down.

Does anyone have an indoor/outdoor cat who still likes to play with
non-living kitty toys?

He's
a bit of a wimp about rats. He only gets the very young ones, and I don't
blame him - have you seen the huge brown chisel teeth on the big ones that
are a foot long?
If he sees a big one he decides he need to wash himself to ignore it

I love that image.

--
Joyce

Whenever you feel anger, you should say, "May I be free of this
anger!" This rarely works, but talking to yourself in public will
encourage others to leave you alone.

On 22.6.2012 12:48, Bastette wrote:


Does anyone have an indoor/outdoor cat who still likes to play with
non-living kitty toys?

When we're out on the island the cats are not at all as interested in
playing with toys as they are when we're in town. They do go out here in
town, too, but only in the enclosure. They can hunt insects there, and
watch the birds that tease them outside the netting, but that's all. On
the island, there is always something live to attract their attention.
Sometimes, I break off a long strand of grass and pull it along the
cliff, and Caliban will run after it, but not for very long.

They do enjoy a good box on the island, too.

--
Marina, Miranda, Caliban and Viktor.
In loving memory of Frank and Nikki.

On Thu, 21 Jun 2012 21:48:35 +0300, Marina
wrote:

We had heard about the red dot greeblings that seem to infest many cat
homes, but we had never seen them. We figured our climate is too cold
for them to survive here.

But today, one of them appeared here! First Caliban, then Viktor, and
then even Miranda got into the chase but none of them could catch it and
kill it. The chase went on for Bast knows how long, and always the red
dot greebling managed to avoid pouncing kitty paws.

At one point it went round and round and round, and Caliban went round
and round and round after it until he was all mixed up, and still he
could not get his paws on it.

Finally it ran under the desk and disappeared. Caliban sat waiting for
it a looong time, but it never reappeared.

Hmm. Must need new batteries. It's also unfair when they climb to the
ceiling.

"Bastette" wrote in message
...
Christina Websell wrote:

I've got him cardboard boxes, all sorts of toys - he isn't interested.
I
swear he thinks I am weird.
"would you like to play in the cardboard box?"
No, why would I?
"How about this toy?"
Yawn.
Probably being able to go out satisfies his instincts. He sharpens his
claws on my trees and has the opportunity to hunt ratties and mousies.

I'm sure that has a lot to do with it. But I wonder if it's true of all
indoor/outdoor cats? Smudge was a lot less interested in playing during
the time she was indoor/outdoor (mostly outdoor), but that could have
been because Licky was in the house, which dampened any playful impulse
because she was alert to any intrusion from him and wouldn't let her
guard down.

Does anyone have an indoor/outdoor cat who still likes to play with
non-living kitty toys?

He's
a bit of a wimp about rats. He only gets the very young ones, and I
don't
blame him - have you seen the huge brown chisel teeth on the big ones
that
are a foot long?
If he sees a big one he decides he need to wash himself to ignore it

I love that image.

--
Joyce

Whenever you feel anger, you should say, "May I be free of this
anger!" This rarely works, but talking to yourself in public will
encourage others to leave you alone.

Lindy (RB) was indoor-outdoor, and she played with toys a lot. OTOH,
Pickles and Waffles are indoor only, and they rarely play.

Joy

"Bastette" wrote in message
...
Christina Websell wrote:
He's
a bit of a wimp about rats. He only gets the very young ones, and I
don't
blame him - have you seen the huge brown chisel teeth on the big ones
that
are a foot long?
If he sees a big one he decides he need to wash himself to ignore it

I love that image.

It's the equivalent of walking away whistling, although I wonder if he does
it for my benefit because I've seen him ignore the big ones, and needing a
wash desperately is a good excuse for "was there a big rat? Really? I
didn't see it, it must have passed by when I was sprucing myself up.."

I'm sure he ignores them all the time when I don't happen to be in the
garden with him, and like a very sensible chap walks away without having to
save face.
Those very big rats are even a challenge for the terriers sometimes, which
are absolute killing machines. It's almost impossible to not get rats if
you keep chickens as the food is available all day for them and any rats
spot that fact and then live under your huts.
Boyfie does his best with the little ones, and I am very pleased with that -
after all, a little one doesn't grow into a big one.
I always praise him when he runs home with a deceased baby rat. It went to
his head one day and he brought me 7 in two days. Good lad!

Tweed


Tweed