How time flies. Almost five years ago I bought a cat carrying basket, two comfortable beds and food as we had decided to "adopt" two cats. They were born in a nearbye village and the day had come when I could fetch them as they had reached the age of 12 weeks and could be separated from their mother. I arrived at their home where they had been living with their mummy cat and two other sisters/brothers (not sure).
Nera looked exactly like her mother - black fur, but not as long as it is today and a short black tail. Tabby looked really like no-one in the family so we all assumed she must resemble her father who had never really been seen by anyone except their mother. Nera was picked up and put in the cage, but Tabby dived under the sofa and it took some time to get her out. Eventually after biting her previous owner in the hand, we managed to catch her, put them both in the carrying cage and I put them into the car. It was about a 10 minute drive to home and they naturally miaowed all the way to home.
My husband was waiting at home and when I arrived we opened the cage to see what they would do. They were quite nervous of course, being separated from their mother and familiar surroundings for the first time in their life. I remember them both going on their first journey in our home. They kept nicely to the wall and walked all around. Eventually they found themselves a nice cozy place behind the television cupboard. First problem - how do we get them out again. After shifting the cuboard forward we managed to free them (although there would have been enough room) and decided it would be best to block the sides to stop them hiding behind in case anything would happen to them.
Every time we came near them they sort of stepped sideways and avoided us. We were quite proud of them when they found their cat tray for the first time (although that is natural for every well educated cat). I remember the first night. They both hid together under the armchair and in the morning were still sleeping there together.
Their next shock seemed to be the vacuum cleaner. As soon as I plugged it in and switched it on they were off to the next best place to hide. They were again behind the television cabinet. So we moved it forward again and got them out. For the next few days we put them in a separate room when hoovering just to be sure. Gradually they seemed to get used to their new home and partners (being us - we learnt quite quickly that we were not cat owners, we were just allowed to live with them). They were almost inseparable when they were small. The photo shows how they were always together. Now and again they would have a playful fight, and chase invisible mice through the home. I remember as they were growing up I could even carry them around, one in each arm. Nera enjoyed that, but Tabby always looked in the opposite direction as if to ignore me.
Before they came we had made a few rules. We decided they would not be admitted to the bedroom or on the beds and at night they would be kept in their own room. After the first night this was all forgotton. They were given admittance to all rooms at nearly all times (except for the bedrooms at night). The first visit to the vet was made with no problem. Over the years this problem grew and today the vet is the most hated man alive according to our cats.
With time they were allowed out. At first they had a harness attached to a telescopic dog lead fixed to a pole in the garden which meant they could roam all over the garden, but not disappear. With time we gave them their freedom, but they nearly always came back - actually they do always come back, but sometimes their walks take a long while especially during the night.
I remember the first mice they caught espcially as they always brought them home to show us. We managed to teach them that this was not exactly a wonderful present for us, so now they just "play" with them in front of the window. They have had their childrens complaints. Nera has gone through blood poisoning, meningitus and once swallowed 20 cm of string - basically it is a wonder she is still alive, but thanks to our vet and him being quite near she managed to get over it all. She is actually the boss and likes to show it. Tabby has had quite a healthy life, although she did have conjunctivitus a couple of times (eye inflamations), but she is very independent and 200% cat. She likes to sleep 23 hours a day and spends the other hour looking for somewhere to sleep, although it has been known that when she goes for a walkabout she may only come back 7-8 hours later for food. She is also allergic to any strange cats that may wander into our garden (even if it lives next door) and although a small cat, has quite a bit of courage when she goes after a cat head and shoulders bigger than she is.
And now they are five years old. Looking back I can say, they moved in, took over the home and tell me and hubby what to do. If you want to sit on a chair and a cat is asleep there then you sit somewhere else. If you are eating fish or meat for dinner then you quickly have a cat nearbye waiting for something. If you eat icecream, then don't forget to give the cat some as well. At the moment I have just let Nera out for the evening and Tabby has just come home and is making her way to the top of the wardrobe where the cats have their "beds". They love to sleep in high places and keep their eyes on everything.
So just to repeat
Happy Birthday Nera and Tabby
Did you notice - I like cats
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