Looking after Bobinette

My neighbour called yesterday to say she was taking a ski weekend with her husband and her cat Bobinette needed a "cat" care person, so as it was only the door next to mine, there was no problem. Bobinette is now eight years old and a very friendly cat, at least she is with us humans, one small problem being that she doesn't like other cats very much, especially my Tabby and Fluffy. I don't think she has made her mind up about my Nera, the black one, as Nera likes to contemplate and think about things.

I looked in on Bobinette this morning before I went to work, but she only had one think in her feline brain and that was food. It was herring for breakfast in a special sauce, but first of all when I opened the door she rolled on the floor for a tummy tickle. Afterwards she miaowed her way into the kitchen where I gave her breafast. While she was busy eating I cleaned out her cat tray. I left afterwards to go to work. That is the advantage with cats, they don't really need a partner for conversation, at least they don't when they are already eight years old. They like to be their own company, and I am sure that Bobinette curled up somewhere in the home and slept most of the day.

When I arrived home this evening from work, I paid Bobinette a visit to see how she was doing, but it was the same thing as this morning. A tummy tickle and then a plate of food. She seemed to be quite content so I left her to her own thing. I did ask her if she wanted to pay my cats a visit for a bit of company, but she didn't really seem to understand what I said, so I left it at that. Her humans will be coming home on Sunday afternoon, so I think she will be ok until then.

Yes, we have mountains too

I was driving home from work and just got to the private road (which I am allowed to use) at the top of the hill where the local castle is. The weather has been strange for this time of the year. No snow, quite mild, and more rain than usual, although today was a clear day and even the sun came through this afternoon. When I saw the view, I thought now to take a photo or I will never get round to it. So I stopped the car and parked on one side (which is not allowed) and positioned myself for the famous picture.

I had to use the zoom and it was early evening, so it could have been better, but this is the result. The large building on the right is the local stables, where they look after horses and you can also have riding lessons. To the left you can see where I live, not quite that house but a little bit behind. The mountains are the Bernese Overland and about 2-300 kilometers to the South, taking about 2-3 hours to reach them on the motorway.

When our family was composed of kids and young people, like me and Mr. Swiss, we usually spent our Summer holidays in the Bernese Overland. We would rent a chalet, quite reasonable and spend the time going on long walks during the day and making excursions with the mountain railways down to Interlaken, Brienz and other larger towns in the area. I think I know every mountain, corner and village in the area. We left the actual mountain climbing to the professionals and did it all by train or with the binoculars The trip up the Jungfrau was quite spectacular, the train goes through the inside of the mountain. You just feel a bit funny when you get to the top, over 4,000 meters, as the air is a bit thin.

A Trip to the Vets - Fluffy's turn

Today it was Fluffy's turn for his annual injections. He was packed into the car on the front seat next to me, the driver, without very much fuss. He was very easy to catch and put into the cage and didn't give any resistance.

Nera: Looks's like it's Fluffy's turn today Tabby.
Tabby: Yes but he isn't making half the noise and fuss you made.
Nera: He will, wait until Mrs. Human puts him in the car.

My son once again took the back seat in the car and Fluffy was next to the driver's seat. He was quiet most of the time, only the ride in the lift down to the underground car park didn't seem to suit him. It was raining quite heavily this morning so he did get a bit wet when I carried him over to the vets from the parking space, but even that didn't seem to bother him. The vet was waiting for him. First of all he was weighed, as we decided to give him a injection against worms and it was necessary to see how heavy he was. Here he is on the weighing machine.

It didn't seem to bother him at all and he was quite happy having a sniff around and exploring the place. Although he is blind, he knows exactly what is going on. Afterwards he got his injections against the cat illnesses, and was very well behaved. He didn't make a noise or a miaow.

We were soon finished, so he was put back into his cage and I took him home again. When I opened the cage at home, he leapt out and had a sniff around to see that everything was in its right place at home.

Fluffy: Hi cats, I am back, now that was a nice change
Nera: A nice change?
Fluffy: Yes, well first of all I was carried in this lift thing which I didn't like but afterwards when Mrs. Human and I were on our way in the car, that was fun. I could see all the trees and fields passing on the way to the vets.
Nera: Well I don't see anything interesting in a few fields and trees.
Tabby: Nera, that was because you were not looking, but sulking with the head down at the bottom of the cage.
Fluffy: But you missed such a lot Nera.
Nera: I was not sulking, but contemplating how to show the vet that I did not agree to the visit.
Fluffy: I thought it was quite nice at the vets. Lots of new smells and things to explore. The vet gave me a cuddle and said what a nice cat I am.
Nera: I don't understand those humans, I mean what is nice in having curly fur. Looks like you put your paw in the electric socket.
Tabby: But at least Mr. Human doesn't have to cut the tangled bits out like he does for you Nera, not to forget the time when you had a complete haircut at the vets after they put you to sleep.
Fluffy: Oh yes, I remember, that was when Nera looked like one of the last Mohicans.
Nera: Fluffy, Tabby, is someone here with a death wish or something. Just continue the conversation and I can oblige.
Fluffy: Tabby do you think Nera is annoyed.
Tabby: Looks like it.
Nera: hisssss - no I am not annoyed, you two are getting on my nerves. Time to have some beauty sleep for the day.
Tabby: Well now and again you do make a good suggestion Nera.
Fluffy: I feel tired as well, must be the fresh air I got this morning on my trip out.
Nera: Well one thing cats, that is now done and done with for another year.

A Trip to the Vets by me, Nera and Tabby

Well it all started on the day before when I made an appointment at the vets for the annual cat jabs. It all has to be planned very carefully. I have a cat carrier and my neighbour also has one, so I am able to take two or my three cats together. I made an appointment for seven in the morning as I have to go to work afterwards and on the way to the vets I can drop my son off at work. The weather almost caused a problem as we had quite a bit of rain on Monday and as temperatures drop during the night it could have been very icy. I did not really look forward to taking two cats in the car to the vets on slippery roads. However it seems that the weather gods were being kind for once and nothing was frozen.

The actual operation started at 06.45 in the morning. First rule is do not tell your cats where they are going – you must always be a step ahead. I went carefully down to the cellar and got the two cages and placed them in front of the main door. I entered the home and my Mr. Swiss said “are you ready”, I answered “yes” and brought one of the cages indoors and opened the cage lid. Mr. Swiss packed big fat long black haired Nera by the scruff of her neck, put her quickly in the cage and before she could say “Whiskas” the lid was closed and she was in, giving high pitched miaows from herself, but she was in and there was no escape.

Unfortunately her litter sister Tabby watched this episode and decided “no way with me” and disappeared, to be found under the settee in the living room. She then escaped again but Mr. Swiss managed to catch her, I was ready with the second cage and she was in before she could looked twice.

Nera: This is below my dignity, seems like we have to put up with this once a year going for a drive to the place where we get jabbed again.
Tabby: I got you Nera, I am in the cage as well. Shall we make a lot of noises again like last year. I usually like to leave my mark in the cage, but there is always that newspaper at the bottom.
Nera: Tabby, I think the human’s have got us again where they want us, but just wait, my revenge will come.

I then went down to the underground car park with the cats and strapped them into the car. One at the front and one at the back. My son sat at the back. I was very careful driving as I just was not so sure whether the roads were frozen or not, but they seemed to be ok. First of all, to the sound of miaowing cats, I dropped my son off to work and then drove to the vets. Luckily enough the vet is only about five minutes driving from where I live.

I entered the vets and noticed that there was a new vet lady there. The boss vet always has assistants working for him. She seemed very nice and directed me to the surgery with the two cat cages. Tabby had to wait, as she decided we would first of all do Nera. She asked if they had to be dewormed, and I said it might be an idea. I usually give them Frontline, which you rub into their fur, but when I was at the vets I thought she might as well give them an injection to make it a bit easier.

Nera: Hey Tabby, did you hear that, no-one asks me, as if I have worms. I have never seen a worm anywhere near me.
Tabby: Nera, you don’t see them, but they are just there.
Nera: I don’t care, I live quite happily with my worms, they leave me in peace and I leave them alone. Perhaps I don’t want to be jabbed.
Tabby: Nera, I think what you want does not come into the discussion.

The lady vet asked me to remove Nera from her cage, but when I answered “no way” she looked at me rather strangely, so I explained that Nera does not like being touched and lifted about and can react under such situations. The lady vet seemed to think I was telling stories and tried to lift Nera out of the cage to put her on the weighing machine – you have to weigh a cat before giving worm treatment to know how much to give. After Nera opened her mouth as wide as it would go and literally screamed at the lady vet, the lady vet decided she would have to have some help and called in one of the assistants. The lady that came looked at me and said “Is that Nera in that cage?” as Nera always seems to leave people that she has met with a lasting impression. I answered in the affirmative, so she disappeared again and came back with an enormous cover and covered Nera up completely in the cage, just leaving her bottom half free for the injections. The lady vet decided Nera is about five kilo heavy, and gave up any idea of weighing her.

Nera: And then I really gave it to them, didn’t I Tabby.
Tabby: Well I supposed you did, at least we only heard your voice afterwards in the surgery.
Nera: I don’t like having needles stuck into me at the best of times, but that was just downright disrespectful. At least three of those needles and all in my sensitive parts. Remind me to scratch my human when I get back home.

Eventually Nera was finished, still spitting and growling the cover was removed and she was put on one side in her cage. I then brought Tabby over. Tabby was lifted out of the cage, absolutely no problem, she was like a little angel. No noise, just crouched there with her head down.

Tabby: You see Nera, you don’t have to make a fuss, I just sat there and let them get on with it. Didn’t even hurt.
Nera; No that’s where you do it all wrong Tabby. When we go again next year they will remember me as Nera, but they will just think of you as being my sister.
Tabby: That’s ok with me Nera, I wouldn’t want to be packed in a cover and have my head covered up and not know what is going on. The lady vet had a listen to my heart beat and gave me the injections. She even weighed me and said something like four and half kilo. She had to guess your weight.
Nera: Tabby, there are certain things that a beautiful, black cat with long shiny fur does not want everyone to know. It is not necessary that it is publicised everywhere that I am a bit on the voluptuous side.
Tabby: Is that why our Mrs. Human sometimes calls you Fat Nera
Nera: I didn’t hear that last comment.

And then I was given their vaccination books and took them back to the car for the journey home. I have a third cat, Fluffy, and made an appointment for him the next morning, same time same place. Fluffy is no problem. He is blind, poor thing, but never tries to escape when he goes into the carrying cage and I don’t have to plan the whole thing in detail. Eventually we arrived home and I carried the cats back into our home in their cages. They were released and with a Nera growl greeting she once again took possession of her territory. Tabby just disappeared somewhere where no-one could get at her.

Fluffy: Hi cats, back again, where were you. I felt all alone without you two around.
Nera: Fluffy, hold your whiskers and don’t ask. Hissssss
Tabby: Well Nera you could be a bit more friendly, after all it wasn’t Fluffy’s fault.
Fluffy: What wasn’t my fault, did something bad happen?
Nera: Just wait and see, it’s your turn tomorrow
Fluffy: What’s my turn tomorrow?
Tabby: So Nera, leave Fluffy in peace. Fluffy Nera and I went for an excursion in the car this morning to the vet, you know the cat doctor where they jab around at you and examine your fur and stuff like that.
Fluffy: Oh I remember, like last year. But that’s fun
Nera: Fun, fun being prodded and jabbed and insulted, you have a funny idea of fun.
Fluffy: Well I found it very interesting last year going to that place with all those interesting smells, sometimes you even meet another cat when you are waiting, and the doctor has such a nice parrot in the waiting room.
Nera: Well I didn’t see any other cats or parrots, they were waiting for us in the surgery. They even wanted me to leave my cage, but I showed them.
Tabby: As far as I could see you just showed everyone that you were scared.
Nera: Me, scared, I am scared of no-one I am Nera
Tabby: Remind me the next time a dog crosses you path in the garden.
Fluffy: Well I will let you two know how it goes tomorrow when I get back. Nera: Yes you do that Fluffy, perhaps you might meet a nice Alsatian in the waiting room and can have a conversation with him about whether Persian or Siamese cats taste better.
Tabby: Nera, you know what, just cool it and have a sleep.

My husband asked me how it went at the vets, so I explained how Nera once again pulled all the tricks in the cat miaow book and managed to leave a lasting impression on the vet lady, her assistant and the apprentice. She will not be forgotton. Naturally I praised Tabby as being a perfect patient and no problem whatsoever. I phoned my husband up a few hours later from work and asked how things were going. He said Nera has still not forgiven him yet for putting her in the cage and hisses in his direction now and again. This evening she seems to have fogotton everything and is her normal “I am the boss cat” Nera.