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Monday, September 24, 2007

Heads or Tails Tuesday


Today's Heads or Tails Tuesday offers a choice of two themes, "Pets" or "Pet Peeves". I've decided to opt for "Pets", because if I start discussing my pet peeves, I'll be here until next Easter.

This first pic is of Liberty. At fourteen, she's quite an old lady now. She has kidney disease, so needs monthly steroid shots, daily medication and a prescription diet. She also has a misaligned jaw after an accident two and a half years ago, plus some missing teeth - and she drools a lot as a result. Liberty can also be a bit whiffy, as she has the tendency to pee and poo in places she really shouldn't. Her saving grace is the fact that she is incredibly affectionate, and demands to be cuddled several times a day. In fact, if I let her, her whole day would consist of one long cuddle. She's so affectionate, I have to fend her off on times, or I would never get anything done. Quite a tiny little thing, Liberty's a very shy cat, and loathes strangers. She hides if anyone comes to the house, but can be tempted out with chicken and tuna.

This guy's called Leo, also known as the Blue Meanie. He's seven now, a number which roughly corresponds to the number of dinners he demands each day. Big and muscular, Leo is a force to be reckoned with. Don't be fooled by the charming exterior. He's a fiend in a fur coat. His crimes include:

  • biting and scratching humans until they bleed;
  • attacking other cats;
  • stealing food, jewellery (UK spelling!) and other items;
  • murdering small creatures;
  • smashing and tearing household items;
  • howling in a loud voice at 3 AM;
  • attacking sleeping humans (who awake terrified, and convinced there's an intruder in the house);
  • walking over the kitchen counter;
  • sitting in the crockery drainer;
  • invading kitchen cupboards;
  • hiding in the bathroom so that he can attack the bare bottom of any human who uses the toilet;
  • drinking water from the toilet;
  • chewing house plants;
  • clawing the fruit in the fruit bowl (especially grapes);
  • opening the bathroom curtains at night, when the light is on. and the human in the bathroom is in a state of undress;
  • tearing refuse sacks open;
  • stalking the neighbours' toddlers.

Apart from that, he's quite a nice cat. Except on his biting days.


The rest of this post is in remembrance of two dear, departed friends. This big red and cream guy was called Tim. He passed on nine years ago, at the age of eleven, due to kidney failure. He was a magnificent fellow, large and fluffy, and resembled a Maine Coone in many ways, although his parents were just ordinary house cats. Tim had a fantastic temperament with humans, very friendly and confident, and also very loyal. I suspect he wasn't much of a lap cat due to his size - not many laps could comfortably accommodate him. He was a terror where other cats were concerned. If they didn't live in his house, they were fair game for a good thrashing, which he carried out with glee. Dogs also felt his wrath if they got too close. This pic doesn't show him at his best. He was a much nicer, more subtle red colour than this. All of my pics of him were taken with an old film camera, so in order to get his image on to my laptop, I had to take a pic of a pic, with my digital camera.

Last but not least, is Noddy, or Nod the Plod as most people called him, as he never rushed anywhere. He was a lovely, daft old thing, slightly lacking in the brain department, but very friendly and loving. In fact, I used to worry a lot about him, as he would happily wander up to anyone who said hello to him. One Christmas, he got drunk. I left a glass of Bailey's on the table, and went to the bathroom. As I was returning, the phone rang. So it was about ten minutes before I went to retrieve my drink. I found old Nod with his head in the glass, and most of my drink gone. A couple of minutes later, he started to sway a little, hiccuped a few times, did a silly dance, rolled around on the floor, burped, and fell asleep. Luckily, he was fine afterwards. Sadly, his kidneys also failed, in November 2002, just a few weeks short of his fourteenth birthday.

Liberty lived with both Tim and Nod. Leo only knew Nod. Tim was before his time, which is a shame, as he would have most definitely put the Blue Meanie in his place. This is the first time I've put them all together in a post - I hope you enjoy looking at their pics as much as I do.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

in spite of the kitty crimes, they are so adorable!! Liberty's eyes are gorgeous!

Barb said...

What I like about your post is that you point out that pets who have passed away are still so much a part of us.

I never heard of a cat getting drunk before. :)

Rebecca said...

What personalities they have! Absolutely adorable. Of course I had to laugh at Leo's crimes, although if my beloved did some of those, not so funny. ;-)
Happy H/T - mines up at http://anyapples.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous kitties! Tim reminds me very much of my Max. Max isn't really much of a people or cat lover. He's more of a one-person cat. He used to belong to my mother and when she passed, I took him in. He's transferred is very special affections to me! He's a big, fluggy yellow & white cat and when he lays on me...I know I'm being layed on! :)

Misty DawnS said...

I planned on pointing out my beloved pets that are now gone, but I changed my mind.
Your post was great. I loved reading it. I was cracking up at the kitty-crimes... hey that keeps us on our toes!

Deb said...

What beautiful kitties - all of them! :)

Shaz said...

They're not Kitty Crimes but "Right de passage" of a feline . . lol. Beautiful cats x x

Mo said...

wow..all your furry faces are just gorgeous! (altho, I think Leo is expecially handsome! I have a spot in my heart for those grey kitties!)

Thanks for sharin' those; it started my day with a smile

Linda said...

Beautiful cats. So nice to remember those that are no longer with you.

I had a Yorkie that got drunk one evening. He was so funny, but it was also sad that he didn't know what was happening to him.

Heart of Rachel said...

Thanks for sharing the photos of your lovely cats. I enjoyed reading about their traits and characteristics.

The little drunk cat story is amusing. :)

Thanks for sharing the memories of your wonderful cats who have passed away.

Stine said...

Hello!
What a beautiful gang!

The National Scribe said...

what sweet post about your pets...they are all beautiful.

bundle-o-contradictions said...

A very sweet post. Thanks for sharing! :)

Anonymous said...

I love the list of crimes...very funny. I love the orange cat the best. I had one named Freddy growing up that looked just like it.

Andree said...

Are you SURE that cat's name is Leo? Sounds a lot like my Mousie. Really. What a pill she is! And mean??? wow. She has this reputation with vets, even! They won't see her unless she is drugged. Does the toilet attacks, too. (She does shower attacks, too)

My sympathies on your sweet departed ones. I'm glad they enjoyed life with you.

 
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