As the weather has started to cool down I’m much more settled and happy at home, I much prefer the cooler weather which is strange coming from Cyprus. When it’s warm though you don’t wanna run about and chase things, climbing trees is just too much effort and all you want to do is sit around and wait for the sun to go to bed. Even if I did want to chase things, all the birds are just sitting in the trees, the insects are sheltering under the bushes and there’s no leaves to play in so nothing to do but sit under the trees. The mornings are still bright and sunny so I often sit out there with Peppar and listen to the day start and the world wake up.
Now though nature is out and about, the birds are nibbling in the grass and perching in the trees, the insects are buzzing around, mice are scurrying and there’s lots to hear and smell. The wind sometimes blows and I used to be scared of the big gusts but not anymore because I know mummy is there to stop me blowing away plus the gusts make things blow around which I can then chase and pounce on. Plus sometimes the excitement of the wind blowing around me sometimes sets me off into outside zoomies which Is great fun as there’s lots of space to zoom around as much as I like – looking out for the odd tree of course!
If it rains then this makes things smell different which makes it more interesting and unless it’s really heave I don’t mind, although mummy keeps saying it’s not fair that I shelter under the bushes when she has to stand out in the rain “Jenny” she says “It’s not fair, I don’t fit under the bush, if I’m out here getting wet in the rain taking you for walkies then you can be right out here with me” then I really have to come out from under the bush and join mummy in the rain.
So now it’s cooler then when we’re out I can hear the birds in the trees and so up I go, climbing higher, listening to their little chirps way out on the end of the branches. As I’ve become more experienced in tree climbing mummy lets me go just that little bit higher and further than I used to, just enough to explore a new branch and try that little bit harder to reach the birds. As this is one of my most favourite things to do I wondered how I could get mummy more involved rather than her just having to stand at the bottom watching me. So one day whilst I was sitting in the tree I thought wouldn’t it be fun if mummy was part of the tree climb so as I came back down I stopped at the point I normally turn round and reverse down and sat there meowing at her, “come on Jenny” she said “I know you can get down from there” and reached up to give me a little stroke of reassurance like she often does but this time as she reached up I put out my front paws and put them on her arm. Then she couldn’t move and before she knew it I walked along her arm and onto her shoulder, there I got a big cuddle and a “Well done Jenny, that was clever” from then on this is part of the whole experience.
Then after a good walkies and having run about and done some hunting and chasing mummy and I head in and then it’s time for us kitties to have some dinner. I’m normally starving by this time – it’s energetic work going for walkies so daddy sorts all our food out whilst mummy runs a bath. I’ve offered to give her a good lick clean before and during the day I do give both mummy and daddy a bit of an extra wash when I come across a bit of exposed skin that I can give a quick lick – just to keep them extra clean as you can’t be too careful these days. Once I’ve had some dinner I normally go and keep mummy company in the bath, I pretend I’m there to keep her company but I also supervise from the side of the bath to make sure she gets all the hard to reach places clean. In turn mummy plays damp hands with me so we both come out nice and squeaky clean.
Once mummy and daddy settle down for the evening then I have a little play of football with them and then go for a snooze, normally in one of the beds up behind the sofa where I can keep an ear out for anything going on. Then when it’s later into the evening I quietly come down the back of the sofa and very carefully creep onto mummy’s lap, make myself comfy and curl up. Her lap is nice and warm and I also get a gentle stroke from time to time as well. I’m not much of a lap cat but just between you and me recently I’ve found that I quite like it, specially when it’s a bit cooler in the evenings so maybe I’m changing my habits.
Sometimes wI curl up on mummy’s lap I hear mummy whisper to daddy “Jenny has got such perfect timing, she does this I’m just ready to go to bed. I can’t now though, how can you move such a cute, snuggly bundle” then daddy whispers back “don’t worry I’ll wake you up if you drop off on the sofa when I’m ready to go to bed”. Then I relax back into mummy’s lap and enjoy the rest of the evening together, warm and cosy.
On a very rare occasion I have even snuggled up with mummy on the bed when she’s been relaxing there in the evening. We both just sit there quietly, she might wrap an arm around me or give me a little stroke from time to time but other than that we just sit enjoying each other’s company. Maybe once I get used to mummy’s lap and snuggling with her I might give daddy’s lap a try but until then I’ll just carry on with sneaking a cuddle from him. Every once in a while when they’re both fast asleep and it’s the middle of the night I gently jump up onto the bed so as not to disturb them and snuggle down in between them so we can sleep together. Peppar is usually on mummy’s pillow and if we’re all feeling like a cuddle then Millie and Angelin jump up and snuggle down with us as well. The whole family all in one big snuggle bed.
It at times like these that I realise what a lucky girl I am being part of such a loving, caring family and that maybe, just maybe I’m starting to leave my street cat ways behind me.
Jenny’s Story 