Next Door Kitty & My Ham-Mick

I think she likes it.

BFGC is not amused!!

Sooperdooperoony!!!

Well, Dad came home, and said he thought we at least should open the box to see what was in there, even if we didn't actually open anything properly.  Well, I wasn't going to argue with that.  And just look -

Talk about a haul - the box was full right to the top!

I wasn't sure which one to open first, but there was one that was coming undone so we opened that one, although we were a bit perplexed as to what it was.  Dad thought it was a blanket at first, but it wasn't.  Once Mum found and read the card, she realised what it was, and found all the bits.  Dad was then tasked with putting it together.

I snoopervised, of course.  And look, I got my very own Ham-Mick.  And it had been liberally sprinkled with Nip.

I tried it for size, of course.

And I've still got lots of other stuff to open, and there's a present in their for Mum.  Those guys over at Forty Paws have been so generous - thank you so much, again!!

BFGC is a very lucky kitty!

Gone all Christmassy

So, my blog's gone all Christmassy.  It's not very ginger, I know, but I can forgo a bit of gingerness for a bit of Christmasness!

Background from The Cutest Blog on the Block.

BFGC

My Secret Paws Package!!

OK, I know, same post as on the Secret Paws Blog.  I did tell her she wouldn't get away with that, but she didn't listen!!

This morning, Mum went to the Post Office to pick up a package, and there was a bit of confusion.  She gave the man the card, and he rummaged behind the counter and produced a box.  He was looking a bit confused.  He asked Mum what her name was, so she told him.  He then said "are you sure?"  Mum's looking at him like he's got two heads now, as obviously she knows what her own name is.  Then he says "do you know what this is?" - seems he's not going to give it to her until she comes up with the right name.  Then the penny drops.  Oh, she says, it's for the cat, it will be addressed to the Big Fat Ginger Cat!!  Obviously this is the right answer.  By now, there are 8 people queued up behind her, all of whom are laughing.  It's the cat's Secret Santa package, she says.  More laughter!  Mum comes home, very quickly.

Anyway, it's a big box, bigger than me even, and that's saying something.  Mum woke me up to have a look.

It's a heavy box was well, so it must be full of lots of fantastic goodies.

I've had a good old sniff, but Mum won't let me open it right now.  She says we have to wait for Christmas, or until Dad comes home, at least.

We've done a bit of detective work, so we know it's come from the gang at Forty Paws, all the way from Texas.  So, a big big thank you to them for sending their package all this way.

Once Mum has let me open it, I will tell you all what's in it.

Purrs and Headbutts

BFGC

Disruptions

When all this is going on..

It's time to retreat to the Kitty Cube and watch from a distance!

BFGC is keeping out of the way!

Boogie Mat

So, after I visited The Poupounette Gang and saw they had a Boogie Mat, I've been pestering Mum to get me one.  Luckily, it didn't take too many headbutts until she gave in. I waited for her to take it out of the bag.

It's very funky, with tassels on the corners and comes with a bag of Nip.  Most exciting.

I was keen to get at it, and didn't want to wait until Mum had taken it out of the packaging.

But she made me wait anyway.   Warning, major cuteness follows.

Then, in I went!

Bit of a paw, then a roll...

then in with the face!!

Then, more rolling..

before totally claiming it as my own.

No-one else is going to get a go on my Boogie Mat!

What do you think Dad?

Mum got it from Amazon, from a man called Jimbobs.  However, when she tried to unzip the zip to get the nip out, it was stuck solid.  Dad said he's open it, but I think that meant he'd break it.  Anyway, Mum e-mailed Jimbobs, and he is a very good guy indeed.  He said very sorry, we'll send you a new one, and please keep the one you have as well.  So now I have two Boogie Mats.

BFGC is a lucky kitty!

All Christmassy!

Much excitement in our house this morning.  Our Secret Paws package is all wrapped up and ready to go, we've posted about it on the Secret Paws Blog, and Mum has written and sent all the Christmas Cards.  I did ask her why our cards don't have a picture of me on them, like some of the others I have already got, but she didn't seem to know the answer to that!  Ours did have glitter on them, she says, so that must make up for it.  I'm not so sure!

Anyway, after all the excitement, I needed a sit down.

I'm disguised, keeping an eye out for next door kitty, who keeps coming in and eating my treats!  I'll share under duress.

Purrs

BFGC

New Blankie!

The BFGC is a lucky kitty, as I've got a new blankie.  Actually, it's not a new blankie, it's been in the wardrobe since Mum and Dad got back from their holidays.  It actually came off the plane, as Mum thought it was nice and fluffy and I'd like it.  However, when she got it home I turned my nose up and wouldn't go anywhere near it.  Now it's been in the wardrobe for a bit, it's all different now.  Here's my blankie (with me on it, of course!).

I sat on it for so long yesterday that Mum couldn't make the bed.  I didn't even move when the hairdryer came out.

You can tell Mum just woke me up.

Ok, Mum did cover me up for this one, but it was all warm and fluffy so I stayed there.

BFGC likes his new blankie!

Purrs

BFGC

Very Important Paperwork

At the BFGC's house, we have had to do some very important paperwork.  Namely, Dad's Tax Return.  Mum said that he should do it because if he'd rung up the people at the Tax Office when she told him to he probably wouldn't of had to do one, but he didn't, so we did.  Still with me?

In the end, Mum did most of it, and I helped, of course.  First I cleared the desk.

Then I helped get all the papers out.

Then I checked to make sure the pen was working and didn't smell fully.

Then I double checked the pen again, just to be on the safe side.

Pen seems OK to me!!

Dad said I was a big help!  Mum wasn't so sure.

Purrs

BFGC

Slack Mum!

My Mum has been so slack I can't even begin to tell you.  I have no idea what she has been doing, but she definitely hasn't been helping me with my blogging, that's for sure!   I may have to trade her in for a newer model - especially as she is always threatening to swap me for a black cat!!  So, there's lots to catch up on.

Firstly, thank you everyone for all your well wishes.  I have been back to the V-E-T, and had some kind of anti-inflammatory injection.  The V-E-T thought this would wear off after a few days, but I haven't coughed since.  So, we still have no clue what it was, but whatever she gave me seems to have done the trick, which is good news indeed.

On that subject, I am purring hard for GJ (Ginger Jasper), who is a bit poorly at the moment, so please go on over there and leave some purrs and headbutts for him.

Secondly, Mum has at least done something useful, and she's made my blog all ginger!!   And just look at that picture of me at the top - am I not ginger cuteness on a plate (even if I say so myself)?

As for me, the excitement was all to much, so I went off to explore the garden. Unfortunately it was raining, so I came back a bit wet.

Mum didn't seem too pleased when I tried to sit on her cos she said my paws were all muddy!  A lot of unnecessary fuss if you ask me.

Especially as I'm a big fat brave ginger cat who's not afraid of a bit of rain!

At least she says wet cat doesn't smell like wet dog!  I have no idea what she is talking about.

Much more to report later.

Purrs

BFGC

Secret Paws 2011

Only a quick post this morning, as Mum has to go to work and still has to iron her work shirt.

Excitement in the BFGC Household this morning as we just found out about Secret Paws 2011!!

All you kitties (and wooffies) can sign up here, so come and play!

BFGC

Update and New Toys!

Firstly, many thanks to everyone who left comments, purrs and well wishes.  The first lot of antibiotics didn't seem to do any good, so I had to go back to the Vet's yesterday where I got prodded, poked, had a very unpleasant encounter with that thermometer thingy and nearly got eaten by a big wet dog!!  I've got some new antibiotics to try - the Vet said they were flavoured and I should just eat them, but I soon proved that theory wrong and they had to resort to spiking my prawns!.  I've also had some extra strong wormy treatment, just in case.

Everything else is fine.  I haven't lost any weight and am still demanding stinky goodness on a regular basis, and the business end at the back is all fine.  It's just the cough.  Mum says its like when you've got a cold and you wake up in the morning and just need to cough it all up - sorry, trying not to be too graphic there!!

The Vet's theories are:

a)  Not asthma, as it would be very unusual to suddenly come on at my age.

b)  Possibly lung worm - I've had some stuff for that.

c) Bit of a virus/chest infection - got some pink pills for that.

d)  They are still not discounting something stuck in my nasal passages, even though they've had a good old rummage up there!

Apparently it's just a wait and see game!  The good news is, however, that Mum was obviously feeling sorry for me so I got new toys!!  She's such a pushover!  They came this morning.

I had a good investigate of what was in the bag:

A good haul - two packets of Cosmic Puff Balls (my favourite and I've lost all the others), some crinkle balls, and, a Kong Duckie!!  How cute is that?

It comes with a container of catnip, and you open the back and put the catnip in.  Now, I'm oblivious to catnip - has no effect on me whatsoever after the first 2 seconds.  I was really much more interested in the Kong Duckie before Mum took it out of the packet.

Anyway, she duly filled it with catnip, but it had no effect as you can see below.  I really like the way Mum keeps putting her finger over the camera lens!

Don't worry Mum, Next Door Kitty will probably like it!

BFGC

Mum needs some Advice

Puss' Mum here.  The BFGC has been a bit poorly, and I'd appreciate some advice.

The BFGC started coughing nearly 3 weeks ago.  It's a sneezy chesty cough, which sounds different from the sound you get when a cat is being sick, which is more stomachy - if you know what I mean.  He's never been a cat to cough up fur balls, which is surprising considering the amount of time he spends licking himself! This will come on for no apparent reason - one minute he will be asleep, and the next he will be coughing.  I have filmed him doing it (that really made me feel bad!) mainly so I had something to show the Vet.

So, of course, we took him to the Vet.  The first time (without the video), the Boy-Vet had a good prod and poke, but said he was inclined to leave things to see if it settled by itself.  It didn't, so a week or so later we went back.

This time we took the video and showed it to the Lady-Vet.  She said his chest, etc, sounded clear, but managed to get him to cough whilst he was there when she was feeling his neck.   She thought that he might have a bit of grass or something similar stuck behind his soft palate - this is quite common, apparently.

So, the following day, he went back to the Vets and was sedated.  They had a good look at his throat and up his nose, and took x-rays of his chest.  Everything looks fine - the x-rays were clear, apart from the fact they thought there was a bit more mucus in his nasal passages than they would have expected, although this wasn't discoloured in any way.

The BFGC has come home with some antibiotics, although the only way we can get him to take them is by crushing them into powder and coating prawns with it. He has been taking these since Wednesday, but is still coughing and there doesn't seem to have been any real improvement as yet, although maybe it is still a bit early.

He has to go back again on Tuesday, but obviously we're worried about him, and the coughing is quite distressing. In himself, he seems fine.  He's eating normally, the business end at the back is fine, and he's doing all the things he would do normally.  He sleeps a lot but no more than he usually does.  He hasn't lost any weight at all.

The Vet mentioned heart worm, but we don't think that's it.  There isn't heart worm in the UK due to the weather, and although he has been abroad, that was nearly 3 years ago and we feel sure we would have seen some other symptoms before now.

Our current feeling is maybe asthma, but we would appreciate some advice from the Kitty Blogosphere.   Video follows:

Thanks muchly in advance.

BFGC's Mum (and Dad!)

V-E-T

BFGC is not a happy kitty.  No breakfast.  Not allowed out.  And shortly, I have to go to the V-e-t where I am going to be made sleepy and someone is going to put a tube down my throat!  It's not going to be a good day.

I'm going to sit here and blend in - hopefully no-one will see me.

BFGC

Dad Time!

Now, I usually spend most of my time with my Mum, but sometimes, you've got to give Dad a bit of attention.  So, we've been doing some male bonding.

I'm really trying to get his spot on the sofa, but don't tell him that.

BFGC

The New Food

Finally, Mum got round to opening the new food the nice Sasha lady sent us.  I got quite excited when the parcel arrived - after all, it's not often the BFGC gets post.

All parcels need inspecting closely, of course.

I knows there is something good in here.

The bag smells good, if nothing else.

I mean, it smells really good!

Mum was trying to do one of those product placement shots, but I kept getting in the way.  Then she took the food out of the bad, but I was really disappointed as she wouldn't let me open it.   If only I had thumbs!

Then, after all that, she took it away.  I had to go and have a lie down to get over the disappointment.

I will find where she's hidden it, eventually.

BFGC

Good News & Bad News

Apologies for no pics today - Mum's posting from her laptop via the dongle thingy!

First, the bad news.  Yesterday, the BFGC got taken to the V-E-T. Mum was a bit worried as I'd been coughing.  Well, not really coughing, but that's the only word she can think of to describe it.  Like, you know when you're going to chuck up, you know you're going to chuck up, but this sounded like it was chesty.

So, I got bundled into the PTU and put into the boot of the car.  Then, the indignity of it all.  Strange boy VET prodded and poked, looked down my throat, and then did something most unpleasant with a thermometer.  BFGC was not a happy kitty, especially as I'd pretty much stopped coughing by then.  Anyway, the boy vet doesn't think it's anything serious and probably just a bit of fur ball action, but Mum's going to keep a close eye on me for the next few days.

The good news is that the Nutricat arrived from the nice Sasha lady. There was a bag of food, some info, and all in a nice little bag.  I was very interested in the parcel - Mum has got some opening pictures for later (she's been a bit slack and not bought the camera) - and I had a good sniff, although Mum wouldn't let me open it. I am quite excited about trying it, especially as the boy Vet said I was too fat!!   The cheek of it.  However, I am slightly compensated by the fact that the nice Sasha lady thinks I'm cute - of course, I knew that already!!

The nice Sasha lady has also left a comment on the previous post, saying that if anyone else wants to try the new food, they should get their Mum's to get in touch.  I won't put her e-mail address here - wouldn't want the nice Sasha lady to get inundated by spam e-mails for the rest of her life - but you know where to find it.

I would mention, though, that I am the only Big Fat Ginger Food Critic Cat round here!

Purrs & Headbutts

BFGC

The BFGC has Arrived!

We are very excited in the BFGC Household, as it seems the BFGC is on his way to being famous!  I have received an e-mail from a very nice lady called Sasha, who wanted to know if I would trial a new cat food.

Of course, I said I would, as food is one of my most favourite things.  Mum and Sasha have been conspiring, and it seems I am going to try the Light variety, as allegedly I am a bit bigger than I really should be, and Mums says it is difficult to get light cat food where we live, as there isn't much choice.  I have tried Iams, which I liked, but apparently it really makes me stink!!

The nice Sasha lady is going to send me some, and I will report back.  In the meantime, you can all read about Nutricat here - http://www.nutricat.com/.  I've never been asked to try anything before, so am quite excited.

So, after all the excitement, BFGC is going for a lie down in the nearest sun puddle.

BFGC

Mum's New Phone

So, Mum got a new phone which takes videos, which probably isn't very good news for the BFGC.  So, this morning she took the first one, and after 3 goes managed to get it to show the right way up!  It's then taken a further hour to figure out how to get the video off the phone and onto the computer, and then upload it.  BFGC is wondering if it is really worth it.

So here I am, in all my glory, purring and getting some chinny scratches live on camera.  You can tell she's waving her hand about to make it a bit more interesting, not that the BFGC in all his glory isn't interesting, of course!

BFGC needs a lay down!

Back to Normal

So, after a short, but nonetheless, enforced stay at the Kitty Spa, I am home again!  Actually, I've been home for ages, but Mum's been a bit slack!  I sulked for the required amount of time, and now everything is back to normal.

The banging has stopped, and Dad's made this.

I can't see any benefit for a BFGC, especially now they've blocked up the bit at the side I was using to get to the kitty door to the wild outside.  In fact, I'm a bit concerned that I could get stuck out there, but Mum has been very good and has been leaving the door ajar.  Kind of defeats the object a bit!

Still, It's a good game in the mornings.  Sit by the door and complain.  Dad comes along, opens the door - in fact, now he has to open two doors to let me out, as the BFGC won't use the kitty flap in the mornings.  Wait till he's opened both doors, then I decide I don't want to go out at all, and stroll back inside.   I usually get two or three goes at this before he give up!

Of course, I kept an eye on the proceedings, except when the big red sucky monster came out.

BFGC

Not a Happy Kitty!

BGFC is not a happy kitty today.  First, this arrived.

BFGC doesn't like it when they change stuff!  Then, this happened!!!

What's going on?  OK, it's only Dad, but what is he doing?  There was sawing and banging and lots of noise, so BFGC retreated to the top of the stairs to sulk.

Not only that, I swear I heard Mum mention the Kitty Spa.  BFGC is not a happy kitty!