Catmint Sky

Play Mates

2008-03-30T11:26:00.000-07:00

I like playing with young mice. I love the way they move and I love tossing them up in the air then press them on the floor. I like to tease them with my claws and oops I crush them unintentionally.

Peno

Sleepy Afternoon

2008-03-30T11:14:00.000-07:00

I enjoy having a nap on my own chair (padded by a huge cushion) in the south-facing living room. Zzz...

Peno

We miss you, Misty

2008-03-25T17:52:00.000-07:00

Misty has left home since 15 Feb and there is no sign of her return. Mummy is sad and worried about her. And I miss her companion too. Misty, please come home...

Peno

Happy New Year!

2008-01-27T15:34:00.000-08:00

Papa, Mama, Misty and myself spent some quality time together over the Christmas, but the festive atmosphere seemed to fade away very quickly. Soon we are in late January and heading towards February. Papa and Mama have been terribly busy at work since the launch of 2008. They even forgot their 6th wedding anniversary!

Misty and I grew to like the gift that Mama gave us (though we didn't quite understand why this cat was so stiff). Anyway, we soon learn to appreciate that it is the content carried by this funny blue cat that counts! And I am glad that its bottom does not smell.

Peno

Cat in Box

2007-12-18T15:23:00.000-08:00

I know I have the whole town house available to me and those lovely cushions, but every now and then, I love getting inside the box. Think of me. Think of recycling...

Peno

Christmas Gift

2007-12-18T15:06:00.000-08:00

Here comes the season of Christmas carols. The nights are so dark and chilly and the neighbourhood is silent. Misty and I are staying at home for longer hours nowadays as our social life calms down.

No, don’t mention about my boyfriend because he is no longer a permanent resident in this neighbourhood. He seems to return every now and then but he kind of have lost his magic call. It is cold out there so I am not thinking much about love lately.

Last Friday, Mama brought home a brown paper box. I sniffed it and examined it with care but I couldn’t tell what exactly is in it. It is definitely not something edible I am sure. It says “Alessi” on the box though.

Mama said Misty and I could only open it on the Christmas Day. I don’t understand why the hell she is so serious about it since we haven’t even got a decorated tree. My curiosity could run out in any minute…

Peno

Hair Raising

2007-11-06T14:32:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had any hair raising experience? I bet in the mundane life of human beings, it is rare. The chance of a literal hair raising experience is even closer to nought if you have a pony tail like my Daddy’s. Just imagine the gravity your scalp muscles have to fight against, oh-la-la, you are talking Einstein.

I do though, occasionally, have hair raising experiences. You can expect a cat’s life is never ordinary.

In summary, I raised my hair for both conscious and unconscious reasons.

Hair-raising Incident No 1
Category: Unconscious

In a tranquil evening, when I was meditating upon the grass flies in the garden, Peno’s boyfriend “Mr. Patchy” (yes, the black and white guy) suddenly stormed towards me in a Kamikaze fashion out of blue (yes and in darkness). In great terror, I leaped and rushed home in lightening speed. As I forced through the cat flap, Daddy spotted me “hair-raised”, leaving few drops of wee, in the name of terror. In such circumstances, you can’t blame me for not being able to control my hair nor my bladder.

Hair-raising Incident No 2
Category: Conscious

Rusty is a brown tabby – almost identical to Peno from the distance – and she lives in one of the houses in front of mine. While Peno’s fur is so Bangle-y of vivid black and lovely brown, Rusty’s is kind of indistinctive and of a variation of reddish brown. She is a petite cat like Peno. Though I am a timid adorable cat at home, I have the nature of a true street fighter. Here’s a picture of me, approaching Rusty in the threatening, heroic manner. (GRUNT)

(Misty: I am nasty...)

(Rusty: I am nasty too...)

(Misty: Come on...who is the nastiest mama...)

Misty

No cuddles!

2007-10-23T15:20:00.000-07:00

I love Papa and Mama. My heart resonates with pure joy when I am at their side. Every morning, I see them off as they go to work. Every evening, I welcome their return. I am always there by the staircase, waiting for a caress. When Papa and Mama use the Internet in the evening, I sit quietly in-between their warm laptops. And I purr. I am simply content when they are with me.

But there is one thing that I do not like, and that is to be cuddled. And when I am cuddled, I moan!!

Peno

Wish you were here

2007-10-21T15:33:00.000-07:00

My Mama(by birth) left home when I was only few weeks old. I never thought that I would see her again in my life.

I supposed that you have also heard the story about my exiled black Papa. So I was very, very surprised when (my current) Papa and Mama brought me a picture of my other Papa and Mama from Rome.

How did they get there?!

Peno

Where is my Romeo?

2007-09-25T13:51:00.000-07:00

Mr. Black-with-White-Patches has not turned up on top of the bin at the front door for days. Neither has he been calling my name in the back garden in the evenings. The nights are turning dark and cold earlier each day, but there has been few traces of him.

I understand that my boyfriend is not always welcomed near the house. When he woos with his high-pitch, trembling, masculine song, Chris (our loving neighbour) would shush him and try to scare him with rattling sounds, flying tomatoes and occasionally tennis balls - or honestly, any object nearest to him. It is odd that human beings feel offended by our love acts. It is only natural for the male species to spread their seeds – for Mr. Black-with-White-Patches, that is on the bin, along the fence, by the door steps, on my back…and any household he could sneakily get into.

But at the moment, where are you, my Romeo? Everywhere I turn, there are thoughts of your presence.

Peno

Pink Private Part

2007-09-18T14:51:00.000-07:00

Few days after the injections, my swell had finally gone away. The wounds now turned hard and dark red. I no longer scratched and bit my lower back as much but the bald patch still looks obvious.

The hair around my most feminine part had gradually grown back as well. Though most of you have missed the view of my pink private part (at its worst times), herewith a sneaky view of my latest recovery (it's looking good!) for all the faithful readers of catmintsky. Don’t blush!

Misty

Menapause

2007-09-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

Mama did not realize the severity of my skin condition until she came home from a business trip on Thursday night. She found strokes of grey fur here and there in the house. She carefully examined my back and found that I had a finger-long strap of baldness near my lower spine. Just weeks before, I developed a bad habit of biting both ends of the base of my tail. They itched terribly while I was covering from my previous injury.

On that night, Mama found there were brown spots on my naked skin and a swollen patch. She made an appointment the next morning and there I was with the vet again after months of behaving myself.

The doctor told Mama that I licked and bit myself so much that the skin was torn and got infected. The doctor also believed that I had a hormone problem which is common for a neutered kitty like moi. He turned me over on my back (how dare he!) and showed Mama that I had lost hair around my private part. Mama then remembered that she did wonder why I looked so pink down there a while ago when she caressed me.

So I had two injections and the doctor said that if it did not get better immediately or that the condition reoccurs, I need to visit him as soon as possible.

Days after the visit, I think am still losing a bit of hair here and there. I am afraid that I might need to see the doctor sooner than I would hope to. NO, I AM NOT HAVING A MENAPUASE!

Misty

The baby changing room

2007-08-22T10:22:00.000-07:00

We were carried to the "Baby Changing Room" in a rush as soon as Papa's car stopped at the service station in Oxford. Mama quickly locked the door and Papa immediately filled the basin with splashing water. Before I could even have a second to recover from any shock and disgust, I was soaked in soap and water against my will.

"WHY..........."

"WHY.............."

"WHY ME............"

My deep cry of misery resonated in the cold night air and across the Oxford service station through the "Bay Changing Room".

"WHY.............." (Sobbing)

Herewith I dedicated this song to the traumatic incident.

"Midnight, Not a sound from the pavement
Has the moon lost her memory?
She is smiling alone
In the lamplight
The withered leaves collect at my feet
And the wind begins to moan

MISTY, All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
Life beautiful then
I remember
The time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again

Every street lamp
Seems to beat
A fatalistic warning
Someone mutters
And a street lamp gutters
And soon it will be morning

Daylight, I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I mustn't give in
When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And a new day will begin

Burnt out ends of SPARKY days
The stale cold smell of morning
The street lamp dies
Another night is over
Another day is dawning

Touch me,
It's so easy to leave me
All alone with my memory
Of my days in the sun
If you touch me
You'll understand what happiness is
Look a new day has begun..."

(To be continued)

Misty

Bum-py country road

2007-08-20T14:09:00.000-07:00

Rumours say that cats do not travel. Well, I have actually travelled a bit before I settled down in this town north of London. Believe it or not, before I came here, I have actually made a round trip between Gloucestershire and North Finchley, twice. Twice! I almost lost one of my lives!

It happened when my sister, Sparky, and myself, were about 1 year and half. Papa had an unpleasant incident and decided to join a relative in London for a couple days. He made this sudden decision so we had to pack and leave at “midnight”. My Papa is a descent man but what urgency on earth made him set us off travelling at midnight, in a cage? I could only described the Papa at that time was as mad as a cat in heat.

The upheaval of the country road was a torture. We protested, “Meow!!Meow!” But Papa did not stop the car. We moaned, “Meow!! Meow!!” He continued. “Meow!! Meow!!” We screamed. “Meow!! Meow!!”

As our journey persisted in the dark country road, I quieted. There was only us and the smooth classic FM in this expedition. In this weird tranquillity, Sparky made an abrupt funny voice out of the blue. Her “Meow!!Meow!!” was gentle but they actually sounded more like “Blur!!Blur!!”.

Mama cried, “Listen to that funny noise, Papa!” Papa and Mama burst into laughters. How naïve...

Little did they knew that Sparky was saying, “Mama, Papa, I am swallowing my sick.” Her “meow” was distorted because she was trying to inhale her sick.

Papa and Mama did realize – a few seconds later - when my miserable cry for help “Meow!!” echoed in the car simultaneously with the burst of Sparky’s roast chicken dinner, on my bum! I could not help but cry like a human baby as this was the most humiliating moment in my life. It stunk! The odour of Sparky’s roast chicken dinner filled the air . “MUAOW!!!!”

Before Papa could find a service station, Sparky started to lick her puke from my bum.

“No…” Mama cried for help, but there was nothing she could do to stop Sparky redigesting her roast chicken.

(To be continued…)

Misty

Family weekends

2007-08-19T14:15:00.000-07:00

I like weekends because Papa and Mama stay at home on weekends – most of the time. We enjoy few family weekend routines. For instance:

1. Mama collects and washes the bed covers and sheets, and I find a soft spot in the white duvet mountain for my nap. She does not like the fact that I leave fur on the duvet but she is too kind to say no especially when she sees my happy face.

2. Papa eats packs of fresh prawns (because neither of the hungry parents can be bothered to cook lunches), and I have my share. I can detect the smell of fresh prawns as soon as they come out of the fridge or from the shopping bags. Papa says that they are too salty for me and often only give me a few. But I am absolutely crazy about prawns and I would eat every bit of it – even the empty shells if Papa doesn’t stop me.

3. Most important of all, being a family means that we enjoy being underneath the same roof, even we just do our own things. I enjoy sitting in-between Papa’s and Mama’s laptops. I enjoy Mama resting me on her shoulder, and I enjoy having a duel with Misty. And when I am happy I purr like an Italian scooter.

Peno

The story of a bed

2007-08-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

I remembered the day when Papa and Mama welcomed me, and my sister, Sparky, to the home in Tewkesbury. They prepared a little bed that was soft and blue with printed grey and brown kittens just like the pair of us. At the time, we were less than a quarter's size of the bed. We cuddled our tiny bodies, slept and played together in it.

The little bed eventually could not hold both of us as we grew and grew. We had to take turns sometimes, yet, I never grew out of my attachment to its comfort and protection.

I had slept in it, wrestled and won numerous kitty fights in it. Occasionally, I buried my head underneath the bedding and passed liquids and solids in it when I was desperate or distressed. I had taken drug in this bed and vomited. At those nights without Sparky, I embraced it, thinking of her. This little bed in blue was mine, mine, mine until Yuki came and gave birth to Peno, and Peno gave birth to her first four babies.

The little bed was washed again and again. Time after time, it became ragged. One day, I made a mess in it again - because I was particular that I would either shit in open air or in this little bed. It was a no fake-sand day. And on that exact day, Mama decided to retire the little blue bed that had seen my transformation (enlargement) over the last five years.

Bye bye, my sweet little bed.

Misty

Piles of sick

2007-08-16T14:53:00.000-07:00

Papa and Mama came home a bit later than usual. Mama caressed me affectionately as I opened my arms and legs while Papa walked into the kitchen just about to prepare some meals. Suddenly, he cried to Mama that N had left a note.

"Hi Mrs. XXXX,

Just to let you know, one of the cats had brought up sick (or something) and there were piles around the house.

Ground floor

As you walk in front door by radiator
Computer room on chair + on floor

First floor

By radiator near cats water bowl

Second floor

By tall mirror in bedroom

I’ve cleaned it as best I could but you might want to try some stain remover too. (PTO)

I cleaned it up with toilet paper + flushed it down the toilet – your first floor toilet doesn’t appear to be flushing properly though.

Hope this is all ok + I hope you are still happy with my cleaning – please let me know if there are any problems.

Enjoy weekend! See you next week.

N... X"

Papa and Mama convicted me of mess construction. “Guilty,” they declared. Hey, but there’s no greater agony than holding back a sick.

Misty the Innocent

Being fabulous

2007-08-15T13:13:00.000-07:00

Being fabulous is exhausting. Being a fabulous cat yet demands the acquired taste of indulgence. To prove that point, I lingered in bed in my own posh style while Papa and Mama got ready for work in slow motion. It was a cool and wet morning.

Mama gave me a bowl each of Purina and Whiskas milk. As I a am lady who is mindful of her figure (you have to if you had given birth to two litters!), I have just a bowl of special P (Purina goes extremely well with my alter ego whose name is also P!) for each meal. I am a bit fed up with the Chicken & Rice flavour recently to be honest. Papa knows that Salmon & Tuna is indeed my favourite.

Just before Mama shut the door, I fled through a narrow gap to welcome the sprinkling showers outdoors. If the cat flap were not half shut, I would have dashed in and out through that secret portal between the rain and no-rain zones in frantic manner. Being a fabulous cat is exhausting.

Peno

The black seed's blog debut

2007-08-14T13:29:00.000-07:00

Mama said that my debut would deserve a headline in The Big Issue as the story of my birth was darker than The Star Wars.

My name is Peno, le fils de chat, Noir. I am the biological descendent of Public Enemy No. 1 from the Block, the flap-breaking gangster whose whereabouts had become a mystery. It was said that he lost in a severe gang fight and exiled to the North.

Papa knew what he feared had come true on the day I was born. He speculated that my biological mommy was offended by this dark lord – and my feet, as dark as the night sky, confirmed his suspicion. And my hind legs, at later day, do prove to be of feisty nature.

Peno

"Mio amore!", he sang.

2007-08-14T09:14:00.000-07:00

Papa forgot to close the back door tonight. After midnight, Mr. Black-with-White-Patches (Peno's long term boyfriend) came and sang a loud love song. Papa woke up in desperation and had to erase the remains of his love act with bleach.

Mama could not believe that I would stay at home with the back door wide open. Papa said that I had turned homey but speculated my aging process or fear towards Peno's boyfriend. I just particularly enjoyed the comfortable cushion that Mama bought me from Pier tonight.

Misty (August 13, 2007)