Wednesday 9 April 2014

Happy 2nd Birthday

Tonight I reminisce as it is the 2nd birthday for Snorfy and Mei Mei.

April 1st Birthday portrait of our Lord of the Manor
Over the 2 years, they have both grown from teeny things - say 1.5 kilos to pushing 6 kilos. Will they stop?

They are definitely in that teenager state. Snorfy is a boofy bloke who wants to be first, and he doesn't want to be mothered - by me. Although Ken can tickle him FOREVER. He is very active and easily bored. Wants to be into everything. I don't have any photos, but when Ken is cooking, he likes to sit up on the sink and watch everything! And he eats everything!  He is our bold little man who seems to think he is indestructible.

irresistible chocolate. He loves the smell. Got his head stuck in the bag, panicked, and chocolates everywhere! which, yes, we collected before he could eat.

Mei Mei is a goofy gal. She has a slight dysplasia, and so has a froggy walk and runs around like a bunny hop. It does not slow her down and over the past year her level of activity and her co-ordination has increased and improved. She hates tall adults looming over her, but every morning she hears my alarm go off and she bounds onto the bed for a tickle session. Then I can man-handle her and tickle her all over for the delight of us both. At least one of them comes to me!





Let me give you some differences between British Shorthairs and Domestic Shorthairs:
  • They are dense - although 6 kilos, it is all packed into one compact round body. Smaller ears, short tail, stumpy legs and big round dense 'cobby' bodies and heads. And Snorfy has really big paws - his legs don't taper. They are like short elephant trunks. 
Meisy Girl - a chocolate version of the Cookie Monster - no neck - just solid all the way.

  • not athletic or lithe.  They don't jump very high. or climb. Mei Mei cannot jump up to the kitchen counters. 

  • Minimal damage! no climbed curtains, shredded clothing, knocking things off the counters, no opening doors, chewing things, no stealing food. They don't 'bunny kick' anything - toys/each other.
  • They seem incapable of entertaining themselves. Look in the video. See the cat bed / basket thing? on top are all the rejected toys. They don't bat things around or chew things - only chase something that is moving independently. Preferably string.

  • Both are SOOOO quiet. Mei Mei barely speaks - once a month - if that.  No shouty, demanding hungry cats, no chatty banter - just silence all the time! nice.
  • I once read that these cats are "loyal" and that is a good word.  They want to be where ever we are and follow us everywhere. They will sit on the couch next to me. Snorfy RUNS to the door when Ken comes home and lives under his feet, following him from room to room. If I ever happen to get up off the couch, they both will follow me. Every thing in the bathroom is a spectator sport. 
  • They hate being picked up - all four on the floor please. 
  • they get hot really easily. Having the densest fur in the cat world means minor running around makes them puff - and they don't sleep on your lap or the bed. Play time is really short.
  • I have to do more grooming. They seem unable to reach around and wash their backs/base of their tails. So there is lots of combing. And Snorfy's fur all stands up on end - he is like a sheep or plush toy
    who dares disturb me in my lair?! No wait it is too hot and stuffy in here - I'm leaving.
  • They stick close to the house. They love watching the neighbours chickens, but Mei Mei won't leave the courtyard garden. Snorfy is more game and (this will freak out some of you - so take a deep breath and sit down) every Sunday morning I can walk him, down the street to a little park and he runs around!  
  • Maybe they are the beagles of the cat world (without the digging and naughtiness). They are so driven by their noses - they sniff out everything and go nuts over some smells (ummm ken's t-shirts? TMI?). And their sniffing is very loud and huffy. 
must be near that stinky t-shirt
  •  They are not overly affectionate. They don't want to sit on you, don't head butt, don't like being held / cuddled. Won't even take hand feeding. They will accept a tickle if I can reach across to the other side of the couch. And they like first thing in the morning / on the bed tickles.
So for two years they have provided Ken and I with fun, entertainment, interaction, affection and an added dimension to our life together. They have certainly been the easiest animals to manage I have encountered - come when called, sit politely, no noise, easy to train. Our relationships are better than 1 year ago, and I am sure the four of us continue to grow more close and fond - and bring more joy to our lives.

Once again - a thank you to Lorraine and Barry at the award winning Sharad Cattery - the breeders who do a great job bringing healthy little ones into the world and socialising them for me.

Sunday 20 January 2013

Easy like Sunday Morning

Snorfy is having a relaxing Sunday morning.



At 9 months old, he went to the vet this week for his last kitteny check up and FIV vaccination


Behaved very well and got a clean bill of health. He now weighs 4.5 kilos. Still more growing to do.

Mei Mei arrives to say good morning
I love that boys tail - it's darker and clearly striped - like the original Cheshire Cat


BONUS SHOTS:

"throw the ball, lady!"
Mr. Snorfy Sir Snorfsalot is a big boy now and only drinks big boy drinks - aka water. But tough water: from the shower, from the pond - and from the water bowl - but it's a dirty bowl! tough drinking only!

On the other hand, Mei Mei still enjoys milk. She enjoys it A LOT - all of it, all at the same time, and all over the place. I have experimented and she now gets her milk in a bread and butter plate. Lactose free milk of course.

How does this happen?? Neither of us are happy with this situation (note: under dishwasher ball barrier)




Mei Mei's also visited the vet and was pretty uneventful - she is weighing in at 4.8 kilos. I am hoping that the girly will stop growing soon! We discussed some of her goofier traits (e.g. she's a bit unco-ordinated when running around and far less playful than Snorfs) but she seems pretty happy and healthy, and the walls are surviving the crashings.

At least she helped me in cleaning up


Thursday 20 December 2012

Mei Mei is "helping" with the Christmas cards

Writing the Christmas cards has become a team sport


" I gives my special signature"
"I'z working hard"

"See - pre-mangled - for your convenience"

Job complete - time for sleeps


Wednesday 28 November 2012

Snorfy's Friend

Meet Snorfy's special friend


Updates: Today the Snorfmeister jumped up onto the kitchen counter for the first time. and the 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc. Geez Louise - it was like he had discovered this NEW AWESOME PLACE that we had been hiding from him and HE JUST HAD TO BE THERE.

Cat flap training has begun. Will only push for rabbity treats.

bonus Mei Mei shot - she's too big for this now!

Thursday 8 November 2012

Let the training begin

Remember this post - where I explained how Snorfy scored his name?

I revealed the danger of a steak TV dinner. Behold:


2 months on and progress has been made!

Where are the marauding kittens??
They now supervise proceedings

Never very far away ..... 



Much better behaviour

Very important steak is involved
This is what happens once the plate is gone.

We is getting bigger - so better had these thighs!
Extra bonus snoozy shot

"I haz a blankey" "I haz a pillow"
Bonus fact - went to Vet - both weigh 3.6 kilos - 3 times their arrival weight. Half the end result!



Sunday 28 October 2012

Discoverinks - Nip!

Today I introduced the kittens to the catnip bush


Mei Mei was all "meh - I'm outta here"


 Snorfy was all "what is this thing you call 'nip'?"
 

Then Snorfs decided it was THE MOST AWESOME THING EVA!!

" I shall help with pruning to keep the plant vibrant and bushy"
 
"I can lay in it like the most wonderful herby scented snoozy spot ever invented"
"I can suck on it's green fresh juicy delightfulness"

"I feel the nipular essence rejuvenating my soul, eradicating the 7 signs of ageing"
 
"I shall loll here in the valley of the magical elixer for all of my days and fear nothing!"

"BWAH HA HA HA HA - I AM SUPER SPINNY SNORFSMEISTER CAT AND I SHALL FLY FOREVER WITH THE RAINBOW UNICORN"
At that point Snorfy Sir Snorfsalot put himself in the chill out zone under the bamboo bush

bonus tonguage!
 I hope the bush can survive all the love



Tuesday 9 October 2012

Mei Mei in ...or out ... of focus

Mei Mei is getting bigger and stronger

She is becoming more forward, playful and vigorous

Things to chase are a favourite - we have 4 feather wands now - all beloved

She can get pretty worked up now

She's learning to pounce on things - including her big brother

But she doesn't do the "killer" kick (or "bunny" kick as named on the cute blogs! But there is nothing cute about eviseration)

I love the way she is sitting at the end of our little play session - feet everywhere!