Daily Feline Prompt: Feline Phobia

Fears evolve over time. What is one fear you’ve conquered?

Thank you, BasicallyBeyondBasic, for suggesting this prompt!

“Do we have fears Fluffy?”

“No, of course not, although there can be some embarrassing situations.”

“I assume you are talking of your vet visits.”

“Oh yes, and they have been numuerous lately.”

“Tell me all about it Fluffy.”

“Tabby, I am trying to forget it to be quite honest. It seems I have lost almost 2 days of my ninth life this week.”

“But you are now drinking again.”

“I am thirsty, but am not yet ready for food.”

“Do you mean you are not going to eat that special bowl of expensive food that Mrs. Human brought from the supermarket especially for you today. You know it is the best quality.”

“I have not yet found my appetite Tabby, but i will.”

“So you will not be eating it.”

“I don’t think so Tabby. Why do you want to eat it?”

“Well if you don't want it, it is no good wasting such a nice plate of meat with jelly. Makes a change from the vitamin pellets.”

“I feel tired Tabby, am still recovering and will now take a rest.”

“Meow, glub, goo.”

“Tabby don’t speak with your mouth full, I cannot understand you.”

“i was just saying that the Sheba salmon in jelly was very tasty Fluffy. Oh, he is now sleeping. I wonder if he will find his appetite tomorrow, there is also a portion of chicken mousse of the finest quality waiting.”

Daily Feline Prompt: Feline Journey

Tell us about a journey — whether a physical trip you took, or an emotional one.

“No not that one again. Look Fluffy one of our excursions to Dr. Vet, the man with the jabbing machine.”

“Oh yes I remember Tabby. Mrs. Human put us in the car and I could sit on the front seat, so I saw all the nice landscape as we drove. Some nice trees and meadows.”

“Err, Fluffy are you in the real world? When we go to the vets it is not a pleasure trip, it is serious. We are tortured, prodded, subjected to humilities such as having something being inserted in a very sensitive place. Above all we have to sit on a machine and they tell us that we are too heavy or not.”

“But Tabby, it makes a change to get out and about and I find those ladies at the vets very nice. They give me an ear cribble and tell me what a good boy I am.”

“And then you spray them to show how good you can be?”

“Of course not Tabby.  I don’t want them in my territory. They are only doing their job and afterwards Mrs. Human knows that we are healthy.”

“And what happens if you are not healthy Fluffy?”

“Then I have some medicine and tablets to take and Mrs. Human always mixes it in some nice yogurt to hide the taste.”

“I remember when I had a sore throat. I was at the vets every day for a jab, no jogurt.”

“But you felt better afterwards?”

“Of course I did, but I don’t have to tell the humans everything. And we have our revenge eventually.”

“We do?”

“Of course, the more jabs and medicine we have, the higher the bill to pay. Mrs. Human says our vet bills are more than her doctor’s bills. Yes revenge is sweet.”

WordPress Daily Feline Prompt: Meow Association - home, soil, rain

This is mainly because Tabby and I had to visit the vet today. It was very cunningly planned by Mr. and Mrs. Human, they bribed us by pretending that everything was normal and then …..

“We were forced to leave our home, there was no soil and it was snowing so forget the rain and Fluffy, don’t exaggerate, I smelt the goose before it was cooked.”

“You did, why didn’t you tell me?”

“You were sleeping, it is your own fault.”

“I thought you were sleeping.”

“I never sleep when humans are moving, I always have one ear open. I heard Mrs. Human go to the cellar and I heard Mr. Human telling her to leave the cages in front of the door. Emphasis on cages, meaning more than one, and I knew that it was Vet time. My first action was to disappear under the bed. Mr. Human spoke a few profanities and he dragged me out. The cages appeared and before I could say “Garfield” I was looking through the bars.”

“I didn’t notice anything Tabby.”

“No Fluffy, you were sleeping, remember.”

“I only remember looking through bars suddenly.”

“And then we were off, moving through the streets to that well known place, the den of the vet.”

“But Tabby the nice ladies were there that give me an ear scratch and tummy tickle.”

“Fluffy it is all a trap, to lull you into a feeling of security. I saw you sitting in your cage while they put me on the  operating table with thermometer poised for my private parts. Ear scratch my paw, they were attacking me and to add insult to injury they emptied a full ampule of anti worm medicine in my body. As if I have worms, What an insult.”

“They did that to me as well, but the nice ladies said I was a good boy for being quiet and still. They said I had nice teeth and then I was given a manicure. Did they give you a manicure as well Tabby?”

“No Fluffy, they did not, I make sure that my claws are short, and sharp and whet them now and again. If you did that you would not have to have a nail cutting session at the vets. That was your fault.”

“Look I am quite proud, I have some photos of the action Tabby, but there are no photos of you.”

“That is no problem Fluffy, do you really think I want to be proud of photos of my indignation being shown all over the Internet. I tell you do not place your trust in humans. They are crafty and sly, and now let me sleep to recover from the exhaustions of the day.”

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Creative Challenge #288 Covered

It was a day like any other. I skipped (Mrs. Human says wobbled) to my food bowl and had a few bites of my special vitamin food. A fresh mouse would have been better, but you cannot have everything and Mrs. Human said vitamin pellets are good for felines, it makes their fur silkier. I find this a little confusing, as my fur is so silky, it could not get any silkier.

Before I could say Mickey Mouse, or Garfield, I was packed and thrust in a cage. Me, Nera the chief feline, put in a cage! Something was afoot (or apaw according to what you are). It was vet day, so I put on my special I hate vet attitude. The usual spitting and growling, eyes flashing and mouth wide open to show what wonderful pointed sharp teeth I have. Nothing helped; the vet ladies thought I was having fun.

They decided to see how heavy I was. This was an insult, a light footed dainty feline like myself. They said I had put on weight again. I gave a Nera glare and did a few spits showing how far I could open my mouth.

And then the final insult, they put me on the table. I was just ready to leave a long scratch mark on the vet’s arm and she put on gloves, not just gloves: leather gloves reaching up to her elbow. The next insult, was the insult of all insults. They covered me completely with a thick blanket, paw proof, just leaving my tender part free. I am a brave cat, prepared to fight all battles, if I cannot run away, but now I was fixed. This was cruelty to felines. Just as I was thinking about making a complaint to the Society for protection of feline rights online on my pawpad, it happened. They gave me a jab in my most tender part. I was ready for the attack, but they just put me in the cage again. I arrived home worn out by the battle I had fought, so slept for an hour or two, or three, or was it ten hours.

It seems someone had a bad conscience, as I had tuna fish for my evening meal afterwards. 

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Nera Went to the Vets

Daily Prompt done me a favour today by being late. I had time to pay a sudden visit to the vets with Nera, the chief feline. She had a suspicious eye that looked a little inflamed: nothing serious, but always better to check. The vet confirmed she probably just had a mild conjunctivitis in the eye. The diagnosis was the easy part. Then the vet had to put a contrast liquid in the eye to see if there were any injuries to the eye. There were none, but the vet and her assistant were near to injury. Yes, Nera needs two people to do the examination: one to hold her down by the scruff of her neck and the other to do the work.

The next problem was putting eye drops into the eye. I did not realise that Nera had such a look alike resemblance of vampire teeth in her mouth, all sharply pointed and ready to dig deep. What did the vet do? I think she crossed her fingers and hoped for the best trying to ignore the growls and hisses. She said that everything has to be done quickly with Nera, due to dangers. She decided there was no point that we put the drops in her eye at home, as that would definitely not work.

The next operation was an anti-inflammatory injection, to perhaps make it unnecessary for further eye drops. For this operation Nera’s head was completely covered in a thick cloth so that she did not see the jab coming. At the moment she is curled up sleeping and probably dreaming of how she showed us all. It is funny when I go to the vets with Nera, they always automatically make special preparations like organising an assistant and having special cover-up cloths for the head.

There was a lady in the waiting room that was convinced what a sweet little Kitty Nera is and was ready to put her finger through the bars of the cage to stroke her. I said perhaps it would be better not. My insurance does not cover feline injuries for strangers and finger decapitations..

It's a cats life - let's go to the vets

Yes, it was time for the annual visit to the vet for the feline jabs. As we have three cats, we have to split it. We had Nera done at first to get the worst behind us, Tabby and Fluffy are no problem.

"Excuse me Mrs. Human, but I heard that last remark. Are you insinuating that I am a problem feline". Nera was meowing rather loudly.

"No Nera, but you must admit that when we take Tabby and Fluffy, we don't have to go to the doctors afterwards for a Tetanus jab. I had to go when I took you about eight years ago, and Mr. Human had to go last week after you turned your head and bit him in the thumb for no reason at all. Not to mention the many scratch marks he had on his arms. That was not exactly combined with no problems."

"Mrs. Human that was a normal feline reaction. We do not like to be handled as if we were a piece of meat. We have feelings, in our tender parts, and having a needle, no three needles, jabbed into you back is to be met with resistance and warfare. That stands in the book of Bast." and Nera accompanied the last remark with a stamp of her paw to prove her point.

"Then tell me Nera, why did Fluffy not complain. She just sat still and let her temperature be measured and accepted the jabs with no problem. She is an example to how a good feline should be. No fuss, brave and obedient."

Nera glared at me if looks could kill and then she once again opened her mouth. 

"Mrs. Human, Fluffy lacks a certain feline respectful attitude. Selkirk Rex are very gullible felines, a fluke of nature. Or he thinks like a canine, believing that all human things are perfect. He probaby thinks that it is all for his own good. And what is worst, the vet now thinks that felines are subordinate."

"But Nera, look how  brave Fluffy was when he had his temperature measured."


"No hiss, no loud miaow and above all no scratching or biting. He just sat there like a good feline. He deserves an extra portion of tuna for that."

Did I noticed a red glare in Nera's yellow globes?

"Hissssss, Mrs. Human. She is a disgrace to the feline nation. I just hope that my litter sister Tabby kept some pose at the vets and maintained our reputation as a species to be respected."

"Well, sort of Nera" I said. She did give a little resistance to having her injections."


"Well done Tabby, at least you showed them what felines are made of."

"Not quite Nera. The lady vet grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and held me down. I was powerless, lamed, no chance. Then her slave jabbed the needle in my tender part. I had already been through a temperature test. Having a thermometer inserted in your most tender part is not exactly refreshing. Afterwards she looked in my ears, which was an insult. I always clean my ears every day. Then she examined my wonderful pointed sharp teeth. To end all insults they decided to see how heavy I was and put me on the scales. By then I was exhausted, my pride was damaged and I had no fighting strength left."

"Tabby, but you did try to sink your wonderful pointed fangs into her hand, just to leave your mark behind."

"Really Nera, I wanted to, but there was no chance. She was holding my neck all the time."

Nera was quite annoyed and her meow was more hiss than anything else.

"Felines I am ashamed. Today you went into battle and I expected a victory over the vet species. Instead you just  let them do what they wanted. Our feline respect has been damaged, how can we hold our head up high after this defeat. Now I know how Napoleon's feline felt after losing the battle of Waterloo. Totally dejected. I will need time to conquer this feeling of despair."

Nera even had tears in her eyes, she was ashamed. Then Fluffy spoke up

"Nera we never had a chance. Tabby and I are just not as brave and strong as you are. We now have another year, and I am sure you will train us to be as courrageous as you are and conquer the evil vet and her slave."

"Of course, Fluffy" answered Nera "and what about you Tabby?"

"Anything you say Nera, after all you are the leader of the pack."

Mr. Human put another plaster on his scratches and rubbed his thumb and I thought we are going to have fun next year when we go on the annual visit to the vets. Next time I think we will take each one separately.

The Vet, Politics and my Garden

Well I suppose the title tells all so let's start with the vet, although not so exciting.

"You can talk Mrs. Human, how would you feel if you was having a midday sleep and someone wakes you out of your tuna fish dreams and puts you in a cage" and Fluffy gave me an "if cats could kill" look.
"Fluffy I told you we had to go and see uncle doctor. It's all for the benefit of your good health. You know now and again you had some digestive problems and now he wants to check that everything is ok", although Fluffy was still glaring at me.
"That's not the point Mrs. Human, going to the vets is not in my calendar. I have my own routine and travelling in a lift down to the garage is not one of the appointments I had for today."
"But Fluffy, you seemed to be quite happy in the car and didn't make one disapproving miaow all the time. I was quite proud of you."
"I must admit a car ride is not so bad, but afterwards waiting in that vet's surgery until it was my turn was a bit degrading. There are all sorts of animals there, and they don't smell so nice either. I was glad to get into the vet's room for some peace and quiet. Although that was definitely not peaceful. First of all it stuck a needle in my back and ignored the fact that I had to jump when he did it. As if that was not enough he stuck another needle in me muttering something about more resistance and vitamins. Stupid doctor, a tin of tuna would have done the job just as well. As if not enough with degradations, he gave me an infusion and that is really not my sort of thing."
"But it is all for your own good, Fluffy" I told him.
"If you think having an infusion is fun, then I can tell you it isn't. It was only because of that infusion that I made the newspaper wet in my cage on the way home. And while we are talking, I do not like newspaper in the cage. It is so common. I prefer the cat litter, it is so much more discreet. In England you don't even wrap fish and chips up in newspaper anymore."
"OK, sorry Fluffy the next time I will put cat litter in your carry box ."
"Mrs. Human I saw you were taking some photos of the vet's parrot as well, so you should put that here just to show everyone what a nice parrot it is."
"OK, Fluffy, will do, but promise you will go to sleep afterwards."
"Am already nearly in Nirvana Mrs. Human."
And with that Fluffy made a circle, put his head down and slept. If only we humans could sleep as well as a cat.

Did I say something about politics. Well basically I try to avoid the subject of foreign politics. I like to go on about Swiss politics sometimes, but then I have to live with them and our politicians are not better than the others, although they seem to be fairly resistant. We have seven ministers, each with his own department and spread amongst the main political parties. One of them had a heart attack about a month ago, the finance minister. He had an operation for a bypass and other things and now a month later he is back at work. During his absence one of the other ministers looked after his department. We don't have a socialist, conservative, democrat or republican government, it is all mixed up. Of course what goes on in the houses of parliament is spread according to who got the most votes as in other countries (Kantonsrat). We even have a house of lords/senate or whatever you like to call it (Standerat here) and we do have a Federal system based on the American one. Anyhow America decided to go voting yesterday. Not wanting to get mixed up in who was the best and who won, let's just say they now have a president which can probably write his own speeches, which I don't think they had over the last few years, although John McCain was also probably capable of writing what he wanted to say. I decided to let America get on with it, after all it is not my government and they have to put up with it (but I am not unhappy).

And now to the garden. Yes, I have back ache, my shoulder was hurting yesterday and I felt very tired. I have just two small gardens, one at the front of the house and one at the back but they have to be put into hibernation for Winter. As we live in a rather cold climate in Winter, you can't just leave plants to get on with survival through the cold Winter months. They have to be covered up and wrapped in special warm insulating material. The Spring bulbs (daffodils and crocus this year) have to be planted and Mrs. Swiss has just taken a weeks holiday to get it all done. I am now almost finished with all, just have to get some fir tree branches tomorrow at the supermarket to cover up the remaining rose bush. I did buy some today, but they have already been used up on the two rose bushes in the front garden. I now have to protect the one in the back garden.

Mr. Swiss has made himself scarce during the garden work, although he was busy looking after the rooms indoors. Yesterday evening he was out for a rehearsal with one of his jazz groups and this evening again with another group. Yesterday I was left with a football match to watch on the television which I quite enjoyed, but this evening looks like a book evening. I am fighting my way through a book called "The Foucault Pendulum" by Umberto Eco. I don't like giving up on a book, but this one is really a bit on the difficult side (perhaps I should have bought the English version instead of the German one, but I don't think it would have made a lot of difference. Umberto Eco is a complicated author as I found in "The Name of the Rose" which I also read in German).

So that was a typical Mrs. Swiss holiday day and now I wish all my colleagues in England a happy 5th November with lots of Fireworks and bonfires and make sure you keep the cats indoors.
"Yes Mrs. Human tell the people that we cats do not like fireworks. We are frightened of the noise they make."
That was a little plea from all of my three cats.

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.