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Pets, pets, pets

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Over the years we seem to have collected children and animals, to the point where I can’t ever remember it just being me and G. 3 children, 2 cats, one dog, 1 fish (although if Littlest asks there are still 2, ok?) and until recently we were bumbling along happily

50400015_0Some of you will have heard me talk of Matilda the cat – a 13 year old cat, who liked to sleep on my desk all day and has kept me company through all of my novel writing. Matilda has lived with us for 11 years now, she came from a Rescue Centre around the time of Eldest’s first birthday. She never played with toys, looked down on them in fact, preferring to watch and absorb and ‘just be there’. Two weeks ago she went out and never returned.

Having a cat leave has left us all unsure what to feel. We’ve tried neighbours, the Cat Rescue Centre and I guess we just have to wait, and wait.

Then, on the day before we last saw Matilda, Puss in Boots (our other cat) came home bleeding. Some of you will remember that he’d had to have his tail removed a couple of years ago, well that stump had opened up. The vet (again) stitched Boots back together and we kept him inside for 10 days (which was practically a military operation in itself!). Boots is slightly wonky, he dribbles a lot and and possibly thinks he’s a dog. He always wanted Matilda to be his best friend forever but she’d look down her nose at him and then hiss a ‘go away you silly boy’. If Boots’ tail stump opens again, it won’t be good news.

Then there’s Oscar the puppy, who is near to being 6 months old. We’ve had some concerns with the silver sparkle harness he was wearing as he pulls when he walks. I was told that his pulling from the harness was putting too much pressure on his shoulders and breast bone (which may affect his joints later in life). So we’ve been using a Paparazzi Puppy Lead and soft, adjustable collar that can be altered to fit as he grows. He’s now less pully, which is one less worry.

Added to this, there was the whole chewing thing that I blogged about. This seems to have been partly sorted by a range of puppy teething toys that he actually chews. (I don’t even think I have any more damage to add to my list!) His latest thing is a knickers fetish. He steals my (clean) underwear from radiators and mainly displays them for all to see. Also, I think he may think he’s a cat but I’m brushing that aside for now, unable to cope with pet identity crises on top of everything else.

And, finally, one of the fish died about 10 months ago, but no one has the courage to tell Littlest. If she asks, we say that one is hiding in the ‘Sponge Bob pineapple’ at the bottom of the tank. I know it’s only a matter of time before she realises…

Seriously, and you wonder why I’m sometimes stressed.


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