A River of Stones, Day Twenty-Two: Trespassing

I was just going out after lunch when I met a neighbour. She can be quite loud, and Not Cat loves her. After we had discussed various issues affecting life in the block – people putting plastic bags in the recycling and chicken bones in the compost – she told me that the ginger ninja had visited another neighbour’s ground floor flat, gaining entry via an open window.
He wasn’t actually seen, but he left a trail of muddy paw prints across the newly changed bed linen.
What am I going to do with him?
Here he is wreaking havoc at home earlier today.

The Ginger Ninja

Play Dates for Cats

My, how my boy has grown up. Here he is this morning, in a tree in a neighbour’s garden. He has his eye on something, but I don’t know what it is.

His social circle is growing with him.
He has a play date shortly with the little girl from down the road and her friend. Yes, really.

Hideous Toy, Dreadful Pictures

I knew this wasn’t going to be the prettiest of Not Cat’s playthings when I ordered it online, but the sheer ugliness of the colour really makes me wonder what the makers have against people who buy their pets toys.

I opened it up on the landing. It was an immediate success. Not Cat got into it, moved about in it, climbed in and out, went back to it, sniffed it, gave it an experimental chew. When I tried to move it, he claimed ownership.

I can’t quite bring myself to bring it inside the flat yet. He’s asleep on the sofa, so I may just have to fold it and wait until I am feeling stronger.

If his enthusiasm holds, I may get some better photos, in the meantime, I give you Not Cat and the Cat Play Cube:

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Hero Worship

Not Cat was at the far end of the garden playing with some leaves. He was in explorer/adventurer mode. You could almost see a gold ring piercing his ear and a bright sash at his waist.

I sat outside shelling peas for dinner. Not Cat raced up then down the cherry tree, then round it. Each time I got up to put more peapods in the compost, he came with me, taking the corner at a run and swerving round the side of the building. I was glad to see him using up his energy.

The peas finished, I wanted to see if I could get a photograph of Sonny before it got too dark. He likes to sit in the shadow of the wall or a shrub, and as he’s black, the photographs are often disappointing, though I did take some of him in full sunlight earlier in the year.

Sonny Tonight

Not Cat trotted over to see what i was doing and settled down on the path near Sonny.

On the Path

Next Door’s Cat

Minstrel Checks the Coast is Clear

He’s not my favourite cat, and Cat used to beat him up on a daily basis for most of his life until last year when Minstrel slowly worked out that his tormentor was not as fit and young as he had been. At which point, the worm turned, and Minstrel started to flex his also aging muscles.

Cats and dogs

Bear with me; it’s for a bit more techno practice…

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The dog is C, rescued by Cousin’s Son, but now living with Cousin. Toothless but with attitude. When you first meet him, he seems quite unattractive, but as you get to know him he becomes more and more endearing and you find yourself thinking he’s quite handsome!

The cat, P, is another of Cousin’s Son’s Rescues. She lives with Cousin’s Son, but commutes to the country for rest and relaxation and to intimidate Cousin’s Cat.

But Cousin’s Cat can have a post of her own because she is the sweetest purriest cat with a bent tail you will ever see.