Saturday, April 9, 2016

a thoroughfare for cats

Tootsie has returned for another visit.


It goes like this: my brother feeds them in the morning, shutting Dolly in his room to eat so Tootsie can come up for a while. Before he goes to work, he puts her back downstairs. After I've dressed and eaten breakfast, I put Dolly in somebody's bedroom and let Tootsie upstairs again. I need to get in the basement to do laundry and get food from the pantry, etc. After two or three hours I put her down there again and let Dolly out.  This goes on all day, trying to be fair to both of them. 

At least, that's the plan. Today when I put Dolly in the spare room she cried after just a few minutes. I can only ignore this for so long. I actually decided to let her out and see what happened. They went nose to nose and Tootsie got disturbed. I put Dolly in my brother's room. She cried to get out. I waited a while and let her out again. That was okay for two minutes, when I grabbed her before Tootsie could jump on her from behind.  Into the bathroom she went, in the window, where - believe it or not - she was quiet for quite a while. Till I switched them. It's going to be a long FIVE WEEKS. 


There is a nice tuxedo kitty who appeared at our front step earlier in the winter. Suddenly there he was, a cat we'd never seen, on our top step, looking at the house. We gave him food, of course. And he comes back every three or four weeks in the same way, suddenly on the top step looking at the front door. 


There's something nice and quiet about him.


I had fabric on the kitchen floor the other day and Henry came along to help me by batting around the piece of soap I was using for marking. Thanks, Henry.





This afternoon I stepped outside to shake a throw rug (we have plenty of those). I quickly realized I was shaking dust onto Sweetie, who was on her "porch" taking the air. 


I quietly turned the other way to do my shaking, and she watched me.  

It's Cat Central Station here. 

13 comments:

  1. well. that's a lot of cats! hang in there with the 5 weeks. hope it gets better! :)

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    1. Thank you! I do love cats, but they seem to be everywhere all of a sudden. :)

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  2. LOL! I'm thinking it's going to be a loooooong 5 weeks, but you'll get through it. :-)

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  3. This seems like such hard work for you both! I hope things get easier for you :)

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    1. So far, it isn't bad, Clare. I'm almost afraid to say it. :)

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  4. PRECIOSOS GATOS!!!!
    TENGO 4..
    SALUDITOS

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    1. All gatos are precioso! :) Four - I hope you have a big house, Alicia.

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  5. You and your brother have such kind hearts.♥ The cat hotel under the stairs is a really lovely idea--and it's marvelous that it is actually being used! I loved your little video of Tootsie. But, goodness, it does seem like you have a lot of work ahead of you the next few weeks. That tuxedo cat does look like a nice, calm kitty. LOVED this post and all of your kitty photos.♥

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    1. Thank you! It isn't under the stairs, it's right on the side of the house near the driveway, in full view, which is why cats are always stopping by. :D But Sweetie has main dibbs on it.

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  6. When we invited Johnny-Cat to move in with us it was touch and go for so many weeks. Segregation with much pitiful crying. Supervised visits. Sneak attacks thwarted. I hope your weeks pass smoothly, or as smooth as possible. I love cats so the idea of the more the merrier is appealing, but that is a lot of personalities to juggle and a lot of attention to spread around! I'm pleased that now six months on Johnny and Ginger seems to tolerate each other quite well. They might prove to be friends yet. I caught them exploring my craft room together the other night.

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