Paws for thought

We had a run of unseasonably lovely weather for a few weeks here in the UK and Mabel took full advantage of the warm sunshine whenever she got chance. She has enjoyed playing out, exploring, climbing trees, sunbathing, catching leaves and visiting her friends, the chickens, in next doors garden. 
Luckily for the dry garden but unfortunately for little Mabel the weather has taken a turn this week and has gone back to the breezy, showery spring weather that we would expect for the time of year. So instead of being outside she spends most of her time indoors looking out. I sometimes wonder what thoughts go through her mind as she sits at the window gazing into the garden. I like to think that she's planning her next big outdoor adventure.

One year on...

A year ago today was the day our home was first filled with fur! I had waited (perhaps not so) patiently for a week from first finding her until we could pick her up but this day, 12 months ago, was the day we finally brought Mabel home. 

To mark this special occasion Mabel has her perfect day all planned out.

She thought she'd start the day with some morning cuddles with extremely loud purrs and extra headbutts before breakfast.

This will be followed by an action packed day of hiding in boxes, sitting on clean washing, lazing on the bed, jumping in the sock drawer and watching the world go by from the window.

A little bit later she'll play out in the garden with her friends 'the chickens' from next door, climb a tree, have a special dinner, a nice long brush and a sleep in a shopping bag.

Lovely!

Just over a year ago The Boyfriend was still trying to convince me that getting a cat would be a good idea and I was still unsure to say the least. Well, that year has flown by and now I can not recall what life was ever like without her. I have totally fallen in love with her.

She's a furry fledged member of our little family and has fit in to our lives so perfectly.

I feel so lucky to have her and she makes me laugh every single day. By my calculations that's a whole years worth of extra laughs and smiles that I would never have had without her.

Life is more fun now she's around.

Thank you gorgeous, fluffy, little Mabel.

(The best idea The Boyfriend ever had!)

x

Just wanted to...

...do a quick little post to say... it's a whole year today since we first met fluffy little Mabel.

a helping paw

We recently decorated the bedroom and, as with any other household job, little fluffy Mabel lent a helping hand paw.

Her list of jobs was as follows:

• oversee wall painting (between cat naps)
• make sure everything stored away in new boxes under bed is in good order
• check carpet is strong enough by giving it a firm scratch
• check each one of the new drawers is sturdy
• test new wardrobe is nice and comfy on the inside for an afternoon snooze
• push every single curtain ring off the table on to floor one by one, making sure to hide one of them under a rug
• watch innocently while humans search for 10 minutes for lost curtain ring
• check curtains once they are up by having a good tug on them
• give the window blind a few swipes
• run off at double quick speed when window blind then knocks a (luckily closed) tin of paint off the windowsill 

She was a very busy girl! 

Then, just when she thought her list of jobs for the day was finished, she had the difficult task of rolling around on the new duvet cover and pillows to make sure they were up to standard. I'm presuming they all were up to her very high standards because once she had got suitably snuggled and cosy she didn't move from that spot until breakfast time. Well, it's hard work making sure your humans are doing everything just right. 

kitty collars

At the end of March it will be a year since we found little fluffy Mabel.

I can't believe it has not even been a year yet, it feels like she has always been part of the family. She definitely wasted no time making herself at home and she rules the house just as I was told she would.

I can't count the amount of times in the last 11 months that I've said 'You never own a cat. A cat owns you'! When I do it helps to remind myself that I'm actually just there to play, feed, brush and clean up after the little madam! I do love doing it though. I never thought I would enjoy washing bowls with hard dried cat food or cleaning used litter trays but I am rewarded (when she's in the mood) with cuddles and kisses and the company of a wonderful furry little friend.

As it is still a month until the anniversary of the day we got her it is perhaps a little early to mark the occasion but I have never been very good at waiting! I gave her the early gift of a personalized cat collar. 

When we got Mabel we had her microchipped by the vet before she ever ventured outdoors but I still can't fight the niggling feeling I have about microchips. I think they are a great idea and I know that many relieved owners are reunited with their pets because of them. 

I probably worry far too much but 12 months ago I had never had a cat. I had never even heard of microchipping and if I had found a stray or injured kitty I would not have been aware of the possibility that it could have a little chip under its skin that would lead me to a loving owner.

A collar with our home information on, it seems to me, is a much more obvious way for someone to identify Mabel if she should ever go missing.

I have known several people that have fed or taken cats in with good intentions, assuming these cats were hungry, homeless strays. Now, I wonder if they were stray cats or if it was just impossible to find their owners. Perhaps these 'strays' were cats that were loved just as much as Mabel but one day kitty curiosity got the better of them and they wandered a little too far to get back home.

I know that some people disagree with collars but she doesn't wear it inside and only has it on when she's playing out. I have made sure that it has a breakaway safety clasp designed to snap open quickly incase she ever gets it caught on anything. I think it suits her and she doesn't seem to mind it at all so I take that as a Mabel thumbs up!

She now has a fancy blue collar and I have peace of mind while she's playing out.

I bought it from www.kittycollars.co.uk

Pictures

I thought I'd share some pictures because my phone is full of Mabel photographs. Well, she is my favourite subject!

Mabel licky-nose!

Mabel actually stayed still long enough to have her picture taken yesterday. She just sat there looking lovely and behaving very well...

 ...apart from a little bit of nose licking!

Oh Mabel!

When I try to take photographs of Mabel she wont stay still (unless sleeping) and when I want to take photos of something else she has to investigate!
This photo is supposed to be of a table I was hoping to put on ebay!

snow business

Yesterday was Mabel's first experience of snow. She was outside jumping around in it for hours. She was loving  it... until she knocked into a small branch and a lump of it plopped on her little furry head!

She soon dried off after a snooze on my knee in front of the fire.

zzzzzzzzzzzz

All my pictures of furry little Mabel seem to be of her sleeping but it's the only time she stays still!