What's the Story in Dalamory » Cat http://www.freda.org.uk Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:37:04 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Priorities http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/12/31/priorities/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/12/31/priorities/#comments Fri, 31 Dec 2010 19:06:08 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=4201 Continue reading →]]> I’ve written before about the traditions that surround Hogmanay. Of course it all depends on upbringing and what has been passed down through the ancestors. Mine were a funny lot, being a mixed bunch varying from Baptist tee-totallers to those who embraced anything which would give an excuse for a party.

There were a lot of things which led into superstition. In other words, if your house was clean and you got rid of all the dirt it meant good things for the coming new year. Similarly, it was traditional for bills to be paid. In my own case, I liked to get my desk clear and in order. Yes – I’m the kind of person who feels better when the bits of paper are filed away and the to-do trays are emptied as far as possible.

As our cat, Fox, came to the end of his life this year, it seems appropriate to show him in one of his favourite poses. The other one, was sprawled on top of the computer keyboard. He was a fine cat: good at mousing, too good at catching birds and in his elder years becoming more and more stubborn.

Isn’t it strange the way that superstitions can creep into our lives even when we know intellectually that there is no basis for them in actual fact. Yet I have to confess to having this terrible propensity for “touching wood.” I’m not bothered by the throwing salt over the shoulder when you’ve already spilt some. And as for ladders, I look for the best option – ie under the ladder or round it, whichever looks safest.

But here we are on the last day of the year and the urge to clear up, dust, pick up dog’s toys, empty the rubbish………… are all high on the priorities and things to do list. Well, this Hogmanay I am instituting a new regime. Take things as they come.  All the best for 2011 to you and yours.

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]]> http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/12/31/priorities/feed/ 5 Nora the cat http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/07/10/nora-the-cat/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/07/10/nora-the-cat/#comments Sat, 10 Jul 2010 07:59:10 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=3408 You might have seen this. If not – here is the link, specially for anyone who likes cats or can’t believe they are intelligent.

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]]> http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/07/10/nora-the-cat/feed/ 4 In Memoriam http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/05/24/in-memoriam/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/05/24/in-memoriam/#comments Mon, 24 May 2010 06:51:37 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=3150 Continue reading →]]> Sad to say, Fox the ginger cat has been unwell since before Christmas. He came to the end of the road a few days ago. His end was peaceful and quiet.These are a couple of photos from happier days.

He always liked being where the action was……..

or chilling out altogether……..

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]]> http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/05/24/in-memoriam/feed/ 4 Change of roles http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/02/06/change-of-roles/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/02/06/change-of-roles/#comments Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:53:52 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=2867 Continue reading →]]> Dalamory has a problem.

The cat has taken to begging for food and eating dog food. The dog is bemused and getting a little bit stroppy. So far it is 1 all.

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]]> http://www.freda.org.uk/2010/02/06/change-of-roles/feed/ 0 Only in Argyll http://www.freda.org.uk/2009/05/30/only-in-argyll/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2009/05/30/only-in-argyll/#comments Sat, 30 May 2009 06:39:49 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=2284 Continue reading →]]> Yes – Argyll is one of the few places where the temperature goes from 10.5 to 22.5 overnight. Never mind, the sunshine is supposed to last for a few days. Lots more barbecues I guess. The cat and dog like them too!

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]]> http://www.freda.org.uk/2009/05/30/only-in-argyll/feed/ 0 Update on Misty http://www.freda.org.uk/2009/03/07/update-on-misty/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2009/03/07/update-on-misty/#comments Sat, 07 Mar 2009 17:24:52 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=2100 Continue reading →]]> Misty, the cairn terrier, went to the vet recently for her vaccinations and check up. Did I mention that the vet said she was “rather sturdy” – (For the sake of clarity it is Misty that is sturdy, not the vet) – anyway, at the weigh in it transpired that the little dog was 8.1kg – noticeably more than her ideal breed weight of 7.5kg. Well, Misty has taken it to heart and has already lost 0.2kg.

The cat didn’t want to be left out so he got weighed too – he is only 5.1kg. His weight and age had to be entered onto the online petmeds people. They want to be sure they are dispensing the correct pills and potions. Amazing really.

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]]> http://www.freda.org.uk/2009/03/07/update-on-misty/feed/ 0 Update http://www.freda.org.uk/2008/10/11/update-3/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2008/10/11/update-3/#comments Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:01:54 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=1880 Continue reading →]]> What a busy week it has been. What with visitors, being away, coming back, watching the financial crisis unfold and so forth, there seems to have been little time for sitting at the computer. Best of all though has been the story about our dog and our cat. (Misty and Fox). Fox is 12yrs old now and believes he should be treated with respect. Misty, of course, thinks this is nonsense. So this week has been the battle of the two baskets.

Fox had taken to settling himself into Misty’s basket, much to Herself’s annoyance, so the answer seemed to be to buy a new bed – slightly smaller and made of fluffly sheepskin. One bed placed in the original place in the dining room, the old one in the sitting room. So which one has Fox decided is his by rights?

Both!

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]]> http://www.freda.org.uk/2008/10/11/update-3/feed/ 0 Quick thinking http://www.freda.org.uk/2008/03/26/quick-thinking/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2008/03/26/quick-thinking/#comments Wed, 26 Mar 2008 06:58:11 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=1657 Continue reading →]]> When one sees the dreaded cat of Dalamory parading round the back of the house carrying a dead mouse, the quick thinker dashes to the cat flap (in the front door) and snibs it shut.

Foiled again, Fox.

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]]> http://www.freda.org.uk/2008/03/26/quick-thinking/feed/ 2 A brace of mice http://www.freda.org.uk/2008/02/22/a-brace-of-mice/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2008/02/22/a-brace-of-mice/#comments Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:47:16 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=1619 Continue reading →]]> Yesterday was happy feet day – the regular visit of the chiropodist. But happier still were the feet that did not tread on the mouse of the night. Fox has obviously found a regular supply of rodents and wants to share his bounty with us.

But I have to admit to being horrified that there was another mouse last night, laid carefully between the bedroom and the bathroom where unsuspecting bare feet are to be treated to the horrors of dead animal fur on feet. Yuck! Thankfully, Him Behind the Wheel did the necessary although he failed to spare me the details of it being half a mouse that time.

Sometimes I wonder why I keep a cat. Then I remember that he is a good patroller of the inside of the house too. I just need to get him to understand that dead presents of food can be left on the doorstep outside the house.

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]]> http://www.freda.org.uk/2008/02/22/a-brace-of-mice/feed/ 0 Collecting Fox http://www.freda.org.uk/2007/10/25/collecting-fox/ http://www.freda.org.uk/2007/10/25/collecting-fox/#comments Thu, 25 Oct 2007 06:28:22 +0000 freda http://www.freda.org.uk/?p=1504 Continue reading →]]> Today Fox will be released from the trauma of the cattery. Hope he is in a good mood when he gets home. He would probably have enjoyed the hens, the ducks, the turkey, the other cats, the horses and even the dogs…… He will just have to make up to Misty. By the way, she has a new sheepskin jacket. More photocalls are due I think.

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