Tag Archives: #monster

So How Old Is He?

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When Daisy and I first met Monster in April 2018, we were told he was approximately 2 – 4 years old.  Our Shetland vet at the time and I disagreed with this estimate and thought he was more like 6 – 8 years old as Monster was one big confidant cat who did not look like he had just been around for a couple of years.

Meet n’ Greet – Day 1 at the SSPCA – on his throne

Does this look like a 2 year old cat to you?

First day at home

I don’t know. I suppose Monster could’ve been 2 – 4.  He had been a Tom cat (swiftly neutered by the SSPCA) and certainly built like one.

So that brings us swiftly to 2026.  By my calculations, we’ve had Monster for 8 years (of total joy, obviously) so at best he is 10 – 14 years old but these days we are all noticing that Monster is getting increasingly stiff when he gets up out of his many beds and I think he might be older than we were told – more like 16.

And I know there are supplements like Yumove for cats but they are all fish-based and he absolutely loathes all fish so I am not sure what the answer is.

Another Bed Saga

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A few days ago, there was the most God-almighty full on dog fight. It was not pretty and both dogs were equally to blame. Apparently, it was about the new dog-bed and it’s accompanying little cushion.  Pepper would not give up or let go while Ted gave as good as he got.  Luckily, there were no injuries and, once separated, I shouted at both of them until they understood that this behaviour was totally unacceptable.  I then ignored them for the remainder of the day disgusted at what had gone on.  To be fair, they did each apologise.

Anyway, this has resulted in a rather strained relationship between Pepper and Ted, while we all watch who has the bed and for any grumbling about it.

And, because Daisy is here helping, Monster needs a bed in her bedroom/study area. Of course he does. So we made him one next to his favourite place – the radiator – basically a folded up throw on an old wicker basket.  Perfect.  He spends many peaceful hours up there.

In one of her wanders around the house, Pepper found the new bed.

She was quite keen on investigating it.

So she hopped on and decided it wasn’t that great after all.

Phew, not another bed to have a fight about.

And anyway Monster always wins every battle with Pepper.  He got her on her way past just now.  So that’s us. The Bed Wars continue but are now being supervised.  We were all very shocked by that latest fight.  I think I made my feelings very clear as it has taken quite a while for Pepper and Ted to play nicely again together.

I Never Knew This

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The new bed should be renamed “The Bed of Contention”.

Everyone wants it at varying times of the day.

Even Monster has taken a shine.

And, as I was saying to Daisy at lunchtime, whilst looking on at Monster’s victory and Pepper’s longing, it was a great pity they couldn’t just share the bed together, even though that was not their sort of thing (as in pre-Ted when it was just Pepper and Monster living together).

And Daisy said oh, but they did share a bed.  No, I replied, I never saw that – I had been away during Pepper’s formative years looking after my mother while Daisy and OH were on puppy and cat (plus ponies/horses/ducks/hens/sheep) duty.  So I missed all this which was horrid but just one of those things. I was needed elsewhere.  Luckily, Daisy had photographic evidence which is very important for any wild claim.

Apparently, it started with Pepper making her intentions known but she was not sure quite how to achieve this.

She definitely wanted to be close to the fire.

And, as she was sort of being brought up by Monster who was her surrogate parent, she wasn’t sure if he would mind.

But put up with this, Monster did and I admire him hugely for that.

I think Pepper thought Monster was comfortable, if squishy, and they were most definitely a team.

So I am sad this relationship does not exist anymore because it would be incredibly sweet if they could still share nicely.  Monster has retained his squishiness and Pepper is only a little bit bigger.

Bed-Wars

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I popped over to see a friend this morning. She had asked me if I wanted a bed she had recently bought for her dog (a Border collie), which had proven to be a bit small.  I said, yes, please.  After all, there will always be someone in our house who can use it.

We placed the bed amongst the others and Ted liked the look and promptly plonked himself in.

Yes, this definitely had a potential lovely-dog-bedness feeling about it.

And Ted happily settled knowing this was now Ted’s bed.

Definitely Ted’s perfect bed for Ted and no one else because it belongs to Ted now.  Them’s his rules.

But is it, though?

The bed could now be Monster’s perfect bed.

Monster promptly made himself comfortable and, feeling a little too relaxed and happy, decided to make it his own.

He had a wash.

So, it’s Monster’s bed now because Monster has decided that is the way it will be (and now Ted hasn’t got his bed and I feel awful…. For a short while, Ted was so happy.)

Christmas Hobbies

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Every Christmas I buy a puzzle (1000 pieces usually) for Daisy to work on and hopefully complete.

Sometimes she has help.

Accompanied by good advice.

And bad singing!

There is a lot of involvement from every angle.

Aww, Monster loves his Daisy.

They are truly the jigsaw puzzle team.

Until it all went a bit wrong.  Monster was quickly removed when we discovered him thinking that the box of pieces could be a possible cat litter tray.

Absolutely no, Monster!  That would be a terrible Christmas surprise to find.

Meanwhile, in my shed, I am constructing my latest Lego model – a “Tuxedo” cat.  An excellent Christmas present from OH.

A cup of tea, a good play on the radio, and a Lego project is my idea of heaven (as well as my secret supply of Tunnock’).

I have a few.  Christmas bliss.