In all my years of Christmas treeing and cat ownership, only once has there been a cat who was destructive. Though several have enjoyed lying under the tree in the middle of the Christmas village...
In all my years of Christmas treeing and cat ownership, only once has there been a cat who was destructive. Though several have enjoyed lying under the tree in the middle of the Christmas village...
Hmm. Maybe I should carefully put up the tree and see if it is ok, then add lights…
Our cats at home were safe with Christmas trees. The only threat one year came from my youngest brother when he was employed as a woodsman in a pine forest. He came in with a chainsaw and asked Mum (jokingly) if she wanted the tree trimmed.
So who go outside and climb real trees don’t seem to want anything to do with indoor ones, especially fake ones! Can’t speak for indoor only cats, who might be so bored they can’t resist….
Mochi climbs trees in the garden but last year (her first year with us) she did not attempt to climb our real Christmas tree. She did sleep under it, and chewed on the occasional pine needle.
There was no tree climbing by our late kitty, but she liked to bat the balls around, so I put plastic ones on the lower branches she could easily reach. I would pick them off the floor several times daily and replace them on the tree.
Our cats were only dangerous around Christmas trees when they were kittens, and even then only occasionally. We’ll see what happens when daughter brings her parkour-obsessed kitten home in a week or two.
We’ve never had problems with previous cats. We’re not too sure about the new cats for whom everything seems to be a cat toy.
They arrived just before Epiphany last year and hid in the basement for about a week so they never encountered the Christmas tree (one of them is on my lap as I write this - they did eventually emerge). So we’re about to find out… We were going to use dried oranges as decorations last year for reasons unrelated to cats (but never got around to drying the oranges) but I gather cats really don’t like the smell of citrus so we’re going to experiment with this this year. Fingers crossed!
My cat, Smudge, used to climb up the tree and sit on a branch looking out at us. 🐾💕
I suddenly wonder if our old Shipmate (have not seen them in a long time, maybe just on the old boards?) has or had a cat named Boogie, just for symmetry?
Our first Christmas tree had a bent branch from where our first cat Sooty had perched herself. We no longer have that tree and a few cats later we have Monet who isn't so much a climber, but likes to hide underneath and quite likes to bat at the decorations. Husband has the tree up on a low table at present, but I've indicated that I think this might not be the best decision. I hope it will be intact tomorrow morning as it's too large for me to move.
OMG my babies are famous now! They show up at 0:39, 1:51, 2:17, and 2:39!!
I'm the one being groomed on the right at about 0:39 in!!
It's Shirley Serban's parody of the Friends theme, but about pets, and she asked for people to post pictures and videos on her Facebook page, so I did...
The grey/white one is Stormy, and the orange calico is Sunny! They're sisters from the same litter...
Our first Christmas tree had a bent branch from where our first cat Sooty had perched herself. We no longer have that tree and a few cats later we have Monet who isn't so much a climber, but likes to hide underneath and quite likes to bat at the decorations. Husband has the tree up on a low table at present, but I've indicated that I think this might not be the best decision. I hope it will be intact tomorrow morning as it's too large for me to move.
He certainly does @ChastMastr, but I have friends that visit regularly that would say he leaves no impression at all! He is such a scaredy cat that if anyone comes to the house, he heads for the furthest bedroom and hides (preferably in a wardrobe). He doesn't come out until he knows they are long gone.
Some of my friends have only ever seen him in a photograph, despite him being part of our family for about 12 years!
I love my Grandkitties, and am always ready to give ear scratches and pets. When they were all younger, I think they assumed I was going to make kitty stew out of them, but in the last few years, they have allowed me to be close to them for some love! None of them has ever jumped into my lap. Until today!
Loki surprised me by not only getting on my lap, but stayed there purring for almost an hour!!!
That is a special gift @jedijudy and I imagine you enjoyed it just as much as Loki! I love that cat cuddling is a kind of enforced rest and meditation while they have their relaxation, especially when things are busy at this time of year.
Monet the invisible will not sit on a lap to be patted, but will sit on the writing slope that I use for my netbook table. I am not sure whether it's because at times it must be warm, or whether it's just that he gets overstimulated if sitting directly on my lap. Perhaps too he gets hot, but I do prefer him sitting on my table, not like the other feline who insists on being a pirate cat and perching on my shoulder!
He certainly does @ChastMastr, but I have friends that visit regularly that would say he leaves no impression at all! He is such a scaredy cat that if anyone comes to the house, he heads for the furthest bedroom and hides (preferably in a wardrobe). He doesn't come out until he knows they are long gone.
Some of my friends have only ever seen him in a photograph, despite him being part of our family for about 12 years!
Poor baby!
(The “impression” thing was a joke, referring to the painter.)
Our cats have discovered the “delaying bedtime” game. We lock them out of the bedroom at night because they make a nuisance of themselves at odd hours. But last night as I’ve closed the door and am about to go to bed Calico* emerges from under the bed. She heads for the door and as I open it as she makes a bee line back for the bed. Now instead of zero cats in the bedroom we have both Calico and her brother on the bed. Bedtime exit of both cats finally accomplished after a few minutes of head scritches for Calico with her brother looking on. She is a very nervous feline who is only really at ease when her humans are not on their feet, so perhaps this is all planned and intentional…
I may be reading too much into this...my anti-social tendencies may be rubbing off, but curious as to thoughts...
Our 3-and-a-half year old dog is isolating more than usual. Out the back a lot, or in a different room. Not always, at night he sleeps with me (though goes out back throughout the night to bark and explore...) Just an odd change of behaviour for a dog that spent most of his time near us.
Molly weighs 20 lbs; she loves Max, a large English lab. They play together now and again in the dog park. Max walks by our house every day. Molly runs to the window and makes a little whining sound. I always know it is because she sees Max. Today, she made the whining sound, but then it became a growl. I looked out the window, and Max was paying attention to another female dog who lives one street over. Oh dear, jealousy has raised its head, I think. I hope that when Molly and Max meet up again, she will not hold it against him. I told her he was just being polite, and the sniffing did not mean a thing.
My cats have been realizing that, if I fall asleep at night in the living room chair, they can make me alert by first jumping on me, and then climbing on the nearby stacks of comic books that need to go into boxes. They don't ever climb on them otherwise...
Indeed, Piglet, I think all cat owners are trained very well by their feline masters! Cheery husband tried to get our cat to beg for his treat, our daughter won't give him one unless her performs. He just gave husband a hard stare, flicked his very fluffy tail and walked away!
We have located our Christmas tree in our front window where the cats like to nap. So far we are doing pretty well, I have seen the decorations being batted from under the tree, but they are all still on, so far. I tried to take a nice photo of the cats under the tree this morning, but too much mess in the background!!
@ChastMastr I do hope your comics will survive the assistance given by your cat librarians!
Indeed, Piglet, I think all cat owners are trained very well by their feline masters! Cheery husband tried to get our cat to beg for his treat, our daughter won't give him one unless her performs. He just gave husband a hard stare, flicked his very fluffy tail and walked away!
We have located our Christmas tree in our front window where the cats like to nap. So far we are doing pretty well, I have seen the decorations being batted from under the tree, but they are all still on, so far. I tried to take a nice photo of the cats under the tree this morning, but too much mess in the background!!
@ChastMastr I do hope your comics will survive the assistance given by your cat librarians!
Yes, this could be a crossover (like in Marvel Team-Up!) with the Keeping a Tidy Home thread, lol…
My daughter and son-in-law had to give their almost sixteen year old Tortie the last kindest and most difficult gift. She became ill just one week ago, and was taken to the animal emergency hospital. The very kind and compassionate vets and techs had her on IV fluids and medication, but she was just too miserable. They gave her a pain injection and allowed her to go home for one more night and morning of cuddles.
We know that our hearts will be broken eventually when our beloved furry companions become part of our families. We will continue to love them and keep them safe and happy. But it hurts so badly.
Say hello to Maudie. She'll be 4 in January. Our last GSD, Yannie, who crossed the rainbow bridge a couple of years ago, is her great-grandmother. Maudie has contracted a fungal disease which caused discospondilitis, a neurological and cervical pathology. JCU Vet say that young female large breeds, esp GSDs, up here in the tropics are at risk. It took the vet a while to diagnose, and now they have 4 other young female GSD patients. When she was first diagnosed, we (and the vet) thought that we would be staying goodbye to her back in June. But she has responded really well to a pharmaceutical cocktail, so much so that one of the vets is commencing a PhD study on the back of her presentation.
The cocktail is expensive. We have some idea of what citizens of third world countries (like USA) without universal human health care endure. If @Clarence or I were prescribed the same pills which Maudie takes, the cost under Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits scheme would be a fraction. Unfortunately, Maudie doesn't have a Medicare number 😕
It has been so lovely to watch her regaining her mad Maudie puppy personality because of the treatment. It will take a few years of continuous treatment before we can say that she isn't still a palliative pooch.
My daughter and son-in-law had to give their almost sixteen year old Tortie the last kindest and most difficult gift. She became ill just one week ago, and was taken to the animal emergency hospital. The very kind and compassionate vets and techs had her on IV fluids and medication, but she was just too miserable. They gave her a pain injection and allowed her to go home for one more night and morning of cuddles.
We know that our hearts will be broken eventually when our beloved furry companions become part of our families. We will continue to love them and keep them safe and happy. But it hurts so badly.
Say hello to Maudie. She'll be 4 in January. Our last GSD, Yannie, who crossed the rainbow bridge a couple of years ago, is her great-grandmother. Maudie has contracted a fungal disease which caused discospondilitis, a neurological and cervical pathology. JCU Vet say that young female large breeds, esp GSDs, up here in the tropics are at risk. It took the vet a while to diagnose, and now they have 4 other young female GSD patients. When she was first diagnosed, we (and the vet) thought that we would be staying goodbye to her back in June. But she has responded really well to a pharmaceutical cocktail, so much so that one of the vets is commencing a PhD study on the back of her presentation.
The cocktail is expensive. We have some idea of what citizens of third world countries (like USA) without universal human health care endure. If @Clarence or I were prescribed the same pills which Maudie takes, the cost under Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits scheme would be a fraction. Unfortunately, Maudie doesn't have a Medicare number 😕
It has been so lovely to watch her regaining her mad Maudie puppy personality because of the treatment. It will take a few years of continuous treatment before we can say that she isn't still a palliative pooch.
Prayers for Maudie and Yannie and all who love them. 🕯
Last night my husband, playing around on his phone, discovered he could get our Ring doorbell to bark. I'm not quite sure how, but the sound was triggered on approach, rather than by pressing the bell.
Violet, our neighbours fearless cat, strolled past in the night, was startled to hear a dog barking and decided to investigate. She couldn't locate a dog, but came back later to investigate further. Her curiosity was clearly piqued because she made several repeat visits.
My husband slept in this morning after a night of broken sleep, caused by Violet triggering the thing. It captured some nice photos of her, though.
Last night my husband, playing around on his phone, discovered he could get our Ring doorbell to bark. I'm not quite sure how, but the sound was triggered on approach, rather than by pressing the bell.
Violet, our neighbours fearless cat, strolled past in the night, was startled to hear a dog barking and decided to investigate. She couldn't locate a dog, but came back later to investigate further. Her curiosity was clearly piqued because she made several repeat visits.
My husband slept in this morning after a night of broken sleep, caused by Violet triggering the thing. It captured some nice photos of her, though.
Gosh pets make such a big difference in our lives! We'd be lost without them. I've just done the two litter trays this morning, and have been told that my breakfast offerings were unsatisfactory.
Fortunately Cheery son is about to give the cats a walk on their leads and hopefully we will have redeemed ourselves.
Oh goodness, @North East Quine , Mr NEQ sounds like he would be good friends with Mr Cheery, he loves doing things like that and couldn't wait to get one of those doorbells when we moved to our new house. I will not be telling him about the barking thing!!
Molly, who at one time hated the word bath and would run and hide, for the first time, when I said bath, jumped into the tub on her own. So much easier for me than having to lift her in.
Over the past 14 months, my daughter and son-in-law's older kitties died. Onyx was not a surprise. What was a surprise to their vet, was that he had lived so many years with diabetes. The vet often let D-U and her hubby know that it was a testament to the extraordinary care they gave him. The little tortie, Ember, was a surprise. She always acted like a young cat and was very active. I really thought she would outlive me!! She finally started showing the signs of being very sick the last week of her life.
They still had Loki and Drax, their Ragdolls, who are very large (especially Drax) love bugs to us, but wrassle each other like brothers tend to do! Pretty, but still (neutered) boys! My kiddos were missing the other two cats, so decided to adopt through the cat cafe they help to support. Her name is Toffy, and she's a tiny, three year old gorgeous calico who can out-eat the boys!! She has blended into our family so well...except my little granddaughter still startles her a bit!
Our furry companions are definitely well-loved members of our families!
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Hmm. Maybe I should carefully put up the tree and see if it is ok, then add lights…
They arrived just before Epiphany last year and hid in the basement for about a week so they never encountered the Christmas tree (one of them is on my lap as I write this - they did eventually emerge). So we’re about to find out… We were going to use dried oranges as decorations last year for reasons unrelated to cats (but never got around to drying the oranges) but I gather cats really don’t like the smell of citrus so we’re going to experiment with this this year. Fingers crossed!
I suddenly wonder if our old Shipmate (have not seen them in a long time, maybe just on the old boards?) has or had a cat named Boogie, just for symmetry?
Unless the Smudge on the Ship WAS your cat...
It is 🙂
But Mr Boogs doesn't like cats so we just have dogs.
Our cats have loved to hide under the tree.
I'm the one being groomed on the right at about 0:39 in!!
It's Shirley Serban's parody of the Friends theme, but about pets, and she asked for people to post pictures and videos on her Facebook page, so I did...
The grey/white one is Stormy, and the orange calico is Sunny! They're sisters from the same litter...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Azj1tTITg2M
I bet Monet leaves a good impression!
Some of my friends have only ever seen him in a photograph, despite him being part of our family for about 12 years!
Loki surprised me by not only getting on my lap, but stayed there purring for almost an hour!!!
I call this a special gift!
Monet the invisible will not sit on a lap to be patted, but will sit on the writing slope that I use for my netbook table. I am not sure whether it's because at times it must be warm, or whether it's just that he gets overstimulated if sitting directly on my lap. Perhaps too he gets hot, but I do prefer him sitting on my table, not like the other feline who insists on being a pirate cat and perching on my shoulder!
Poor baby!
(The “impression” thing was a joke, referring to the painter.)
How lovely 🐾💕
*not her real name, but an accurate description…
Our 3-and-a-half year old dog is isolating more than usual. Out the back a lot, or in a different room. Not always, at night he sleeps with me (though goes out back throughout the night to bark and explore...) Just an odd change of behaviour for a dog that spent most of his time near us.
Oh, wait a minute - they're cats - you couldn't train them to do anything. Rather the reverse in fact ...
We have located our Christmas tree in our front window where the cats like to nap. So far we are doing pretty well, I have seen the decorations being batted from under the tree, but they are all still on, so far. I tried to take a nice photo of the cats under the tree this morning, but too much mess in the background!!
@ChastMastr I do hope your comics will survive the assistance given by your cat librarians!
Yes, this could be a crossover (like in Marvel Team-Up!) with the Keeping a Tidy Home thread, lol…
We know that our hearts will be broken eventually when our beloved furry companions become part of our families. We will continue to love them and keep them safe and happy. But it hurts so badly.
The cocktail is expensive. We have some idea of what citizens of third world countries (like USA) without universal human health care endure. If @Clarence or I were prescribed the same pills which Maudie takes, the cost under Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits scheme would be a fraction. Unfortunately, Maudie doesn't have a Medicare number 😕
It has been so lovely to watch her regaining her mad Maudie puppy personality because of the treatment. It will take a few years of continuous treatment before we can say that she isn't still a palliative pooch.
It's amazing to read about Maudie's therapy and how it's made such a difference. she looks a very good girl!!
@ChastMastr I love the idea of a pets/tidy house crossover, I can't imagine what the result might look like, though!!
Prayers for Tortie and all who grieve for her. 🕯
Prayers for Maudie and Yannie and all who love them. 🕯
Violet, our neighbours fearless cat, strolled past in the night, was startled to hear a dog barking and decided to investigate. She couldn't locate a dog, but came back later to investigate further. Her curiosity was clearly piqued because she made several repeat visits.
My husband slept in this morning after a night of broken sleep, caused by Violet triggering the thing. It captured some nice photos of her, though.
Fortunately Cheery son is about to give the cats a walk on their leads and hopefully we will have redeemed ourselves.
Oh goodness, @North East Quine , Mr NEQ sounds like he would be good friends with Mr Cheery, he loves doing things like that and couldn't wait to get one of those doorbells when we moved to our new house. I will not be telling him about the barking thing!!
They still had Loki and Drax, their Ragdolls, who are very large (especially Drax) love bugs to us, but wrassle each other like brothers tend to do! Pretty, but still (neutered) boys! My kiddos were missing the other two cats, so decided to adopt through the cat cafe they help to support. Her name is Toffy, and she's a tiny, three year old gorgeous calico who can out-eat the boys!! She has blended into our family so well...except my little granddaughter still startles her a bit!
Our furry companions are definitely well-loved members of our families!