Personalities

posted by Bunnery on Thu 8th May, 08 at 21:26:34

Now that the kittens have settled in and got used to their new home - we are getting to know them better. They have turned out to have very different personalities.

Although Buddy is the smallest - he is the daredevil of the two. He will try anything! He leaps onto anything - even into the unknown. Kurt will watch him, weigh it up for a while, see if Buddy survives, then take the long way round. Buddy jumped onto the radiator today and balanced along the edge precariously. He squeaked a bit when he wanted to get down - but before I could help him he'd managed it by himself anyway.

Buddy won't leave you alone if you are eating something, whereas Kurt isn't bothered and will go off and play.

So far Buddy has discovered that he likes cornflakes and lasagne (maybe he is a distant relative of Garfield?) and tried to eat my chocolate raisins - but it seems that chocolate is very bad for cats. So we had to keep them out of his way.

Kurt sleeps much more than Buddy, although Buddy will cuddle up to him and look around the room while he is still asleep. he doesn't wake him up to play until he's ready.

Kurt loves his blanket - he either slides around the floor on it - or if he is tired just flops down on it and watches Buddy chase around.

Kurt will instigate fights - but after he gets bored Buddy will still try to keep it going. They must enjoy it?? I've found the best way to break it up and make them forget what they were doing - is to blow some bubbles around the room. They are totally freaked out by them. They just sit there wide-eyed wondering where on earth these things come from - and where they disappear to as they pop on the wooden floor.

I've discovered a handy tip! When the weather gets warm - don't wear crop trousers with ribbons dangling down - not if you need the skin on your ankles - ouch!!

Out at Work....

posted by Bunnery on Tue 6th May, 08 at 21:00:56

I was a little worried about how Kurt and Buddy would be today - as everyone was back at work. The lady at the charity had said that they'd be fine as there are two of them and they would keep each other company.

But what if there's no-one around to prise Kurt off Buddy's neck?? bghhopxiilhc

09ooooooooooooooooooooo~O

(Ooops - cat-like typing detected! That was Buddy - he just noticed L walking towards the kitchen and wanted to join her. The most direct route was over the laptop.)

Anyway - it turns out that they were just fine. L was home first and soon had a purring kittie on each side of her. They hadn't made a mess, hadn't pined away and Buddy's head was still attached ;-) They've had a mad half-hour and then a nice snooze on the sofa. Buddy stretched out on his side and Kurt in his characteristic pose - lying on his back, paws in the air. Sooo cute. I will have to get a photo of that.

Now that is is bedtime they've woken up and are stalking each other around the room. Buddy tried to pounce on Kurt when he was busy on the litter tray - and ended up with cat litter in his eye. I think we've got it all out now! I will give them their supper and retire to bed.

I don't know what they get up to in the [long word]

Kurt and Buddy have Visitors

posted by Bunnery on Mon 5th May, 08 at 16:08:50

Writing this while they are both asleep - just so they don't walk over the keyboard and send this off before I have finished!

Kurt likes lying on his back on the sofa, paws up in the air. Buddy has decided to drape himself across the back of the sofa - looking like he might fall down the back any moment. His balance must be very good - even when asleep!

Anyway - they've had a succession of visitors over the last couple of days. Something about kitties that seems irresistible! They have loved all the attention and enjoyed having someone else to bite and scratch - erm I mean play with :-) Who needs a TV when you have two very playful kittens who will chase anything around the room, to watch. They'll just use your legs or arms as diving boards to launch themselves off onto the coffee table.

( BTW: I did solve the problem of standing up to eat breakfast. I gave them a cornflake to play with - and they chased it and chewed it up into bits - while I finished mine in peace.) 

Bunk Bed News: 

Anyway - at one time yesterday afternoon there was a houseful of people and not a spare inch of room on the sofa - so Kurt, deciding that it was nap time -  ventured inside the bottom bunk.  He was soon followed by smaller brother Buddy and they happily spent the afternoon together snoozing away and ignoring Sharon's attempts to get them to come out and play again!

Since then Kurt has decided the bottom bunk is his - and pushes Buddy out whenever he tries to get in. Buddy did try the top one - but decided that he preferred to lie on the Sky Box digisender - as it was nice and warm - and it has a very handy sticky-up aerial that he can chew. 

Sorted :-) 

Homemade Kitty Toys?

posted by Bunnery on Sun 4th May, 08 at 12:22:44

Kurt is feeling better!

Well he's spent the morning careering round the house with his brother - and is eating well again. Either he is just a greedy boy or has a sensitive stomach - depends how indulgent I'm feeling!

So - while they are both having their afternoon nap I can update their blog! (Now that Buddy has stopped walking across the laptop and decided to join his brother on the sofa.)

Bunk Bed News: Kurt went onto the bottom bunk today - but only because I had hidden his ball in there!  He didn't stay.

This morning - to distract them both from sitting and admiring my breakfast, then trying to get closer to it, I made them a toy! It was a screwed up bit of silver foil placed inside an empty tissue box. It kept them both fascinated for ages. Buddy got it out first - and then they played football with it  for a while in the kitchen. At least I had time to finish my Shreddies!  

Other things they find fun to play with are a coathanger - brought downstairs  to fish out stuff that they've batted under the sofa - and a pen. The book I bought on Cat Care says that you make your own kitten toys - as they do get bored with their usual ones very easily.

Anyone got any ideas - anything work for you?

I would be grateful for any tips! 

Right - better go and do some tidying up now. Kurt and Buddy are expecting their first visitors today. Uncle DOM and Auntie Sharon are coming later - and if they are very lucky - maybe cousin Sarah will come to see them too!

Kurt visits the vet

posted by Bunnery on Sun 4th May, 08 at 12:07:31

Got back from work this afternoon and the kitties were playing around and seemed fine.

Then, without warning, poor Kurt started to mew loudly and was sick. poor baby. He slept a little - then it happened a few more times. We were due to go out - but I decided I'd better stay with the new babies. He sounded so pitiful that I decided to take him to the vets - just to be on the safe side. After all it is a long Bank Holiday weekend and if I didn't go today there would be none open until Tuesday. I popped him into the cat basket once more and we went over to the local surgery and the nice vet man had a look at him. His first diagnosis was that he is "very cute" I have to agree :-)

Anyway - he wasn't dehydrated and seemed okay - so he gave him an anti-sickness injection and an anti-biotic one just to make sure. He was very brave while he did this - and only squeaked a little bit. The vet advised me to boil him some chicken and rice - as this was very good for kittens with sensitive tummies.

The vet also said that the jabs would make him sleepy - and indeed they have! He is curled up next to me purring gently. Buddy was really pleased to see his brother back - these two are devoted to each other. He even let him bite his neck for a while! Kurt seems to have a little of the vampire kitty in him and goes for Buddy's neck whenever they playfight!

So hopefully the little guy will be okay now - I'll keep you posted!

Kitties arrive!

posted by Bunnery on Sat 3rd May, 08 at 18:38:50

We have been looking for a couple of kittens for ages - there have been none about. We tried the RSPCA, pet shop windows, the local papers - but no sign of any. Last week I called Iris Cats in Need and she took my name - and on Wednesday I was phoned by one of her volunteers - they had two black and white brothers, about 10 weeks old, in need of a home. Were we interested? Of course!

Our last cat, Cleo - who lived for a wonderful nineteen years  - was black and white too. Seems that we are destined to have black and white cats always -quite appropriate for Codex I guess :-)

So last night we put the cat basket in the car and drove to the lady's home. The place was full of cats - she has nine of her own - and there playing on the rug were two very cute fellas. One of them climbed over me - and headed straight for laura! He is the smaller of the two and has more white on his face.  The bigger, blacker one preferred to jump around and play. After forms had been filled in and the formalities completed we brought them home!

So what did we call them?

I always wanted mine to be named Kurt (remember PxC anyone?) and laura had to consult a few websites of black/white/male kitty names  (Oreo? Badger? Penguin?) before deciding that he just looked like her buddy - so Buddy is his name :-) 

We'd bought the bed, litter tray, toys etc months ago - so they spent the first hour or so just walking round the lounge and checking everything out.  Buddy tried to climb up the chimney and Kurt decided the most comfy spot was to drape himself across the back of the sofa. They both completely ignored the smart, bespoke kitten bunk beds in matching fabrics - erm maybe they'll come to love them in time!!

Thet seem well trained and very well mannered. They eat nicely and politely use the litter tray. Ah - so much less trouble than dogs. You don't have to take them out and follow them round with plastic bags!

They spent a very pleasant evening with us curled up on the sofa with their paws around each others - so cuuute. Hopefully we'll add photos soon.

This morning it did prove a little difficult eating cereal with two purring kitties climbing up your arm, trying to see what's in your bowl. Not even their favourite grey mouse distracted them. laura ate her breakfast standing [long word]