Ten Cats by Graham Harrop for March 02, 2015

Uh Oh,

Its only Monday.

….so I thought it would get better if I looked in the hole in the wall.,,,,

I also like boxes. Mebbe I jus like to hide!

Phew, that was big adventure, I take a nap now.

Looks like Oliver has been exploring again!

Thank you all for your kind messages yesterday, I can’t believe it’s been a year since she went.

@Beth Peterson (from Yesterday)

‘How did you get the cat door in brick?’

Good question Beth. It came about because I had the old (rotten) wooden conservatory replaced with a plastic one which had full length glass doors instead of a half-and-half glass/wood door which had the cat flap in before.

What I did is fit the flap into the outer skin of brick with an extension to the ‘tunnel’ between the inner and outer section of the cat flap. You can see the extension plastic sections in the picture below of the outside wall (seen behind the Mognificent Robson [RIP] ).

What I did on the inside was cut the inner brick layer away (cavity wall) and framed the access. This can be seen in the second picture with [the Late] Thomas just in front.

This way it meant that the cat flap tunnel was only a few inches longer than normal, the cats had no problems using it, although Thomas, and Jodie (being on rather the large side) used to have to breath in a bit ;-)

It was a good idea to have tiles on the inside as you can see the mud the hoard brought in over the winter months!

Why is it always Annie’s fault, Chesney? Keeping up with ten cats can’t be easy. 2old – very pretty Oliver kitty pictures. And your comments just totally make the pictures. I like the ‘only Monday’ one.

I think Oliver somehow got into the wall.

A friend of mine built a potty box attached to the outer wall of her downstairs bathroom. Out the cat door, and down a carpeted ramp to 2 cat boxes that are cleaned from the outside. A roof keeps it dry, no liter is tracked in, and it’s painted to look like part of the house.

To jessegooddoggy and all migraine sufferers – my daughter read an article about magnesium and headaches. She started taking it and in a few days had no more headaches. She is still headache free after 3 weeks. I took it because it helps absorb the calcium I take and maybe that is why I haven’t any migraines for years now. It is something your body needs and it is pretty cheap – I buy it at Costco. Might be worth a try

@More Cats than Sense – I was sorry to read about your Chico yesterday. She seems like a wonderful little girl.@Gweedo – building a fenced enclosure is not really an option. She is never allowed out unless she is on a leash and is with either me or Paul.o everyone else, @Queen – glad to hear Hoppy II/Tuffy is with you for now.@Dream – hope everything works outRuth, glad to see you back. Hope you get good results from your tests.To everyone else, have a good Monday.

Oh, Oliver, what have you gotten yourself into? Chesney, do YOU know anything about this?? You look a trifle guilty to me. And perhaps protesting too much! Using offense as a defense?

Blue dug a big hole under my fencing and crawled out in the last hour!! Bad kitty!! I happened to look out the window and saw him out in my front yard, so thankful I had the gate closed. He is now safe on my bed but this will be an interesting problem to solve. I have never had a cat dig under like a raccoon.

Good morning. Current report on Tuffy: He’s doing great. Using his box, eating and not fussing to come out. Our Scooter, on the other hand, is being pill. He kept pulling the towel out from under the door and talking to Tuffy. Tuffy had nothing to say in return. He likes to be up on the counter rather than on the floor in the bed. I did put a folded towel on the granite counter to keep his belly warm.

There is a very small window up high with a narrow window sill. I keep the window cracked for fresh air even if it is raining, snowing or we have the heat or a/c on. When I went in this morning, the window was open all the way. Don’t know if he did it or if Brad did it. I’ll find out when Brad gets home this afternoon. Just in cast Tuffy did it, I closed it all the way because it has a screen on it and I don’t want him trying to get out that way.

I might move him to the den later today. His strong urine smell is going away.

Jessegooddoggy; NAUGHTY KITTY!! I have never heard of a cat doing that, either.

I had a guy named Tuffy back in Boston. He and his brothers were born in my back yard back in 1983. He was a gray and white shorthair – so cute. I could hold him in my arms like a baby.

The fencing is about 30 feet long. Looks like I will be hauling home large rocks for a few days. There is no access to the fence from the outside so I will be heaving them over one at a time (when the kitties are indoors), can’t bring a wheelbarrow full up the steps and into the house. At least there are plenty to choose from in this valley. I had one other cat flatten himself to go under a fence, but he did not dig the hole and once I placed a rock in the hole he never went under again. Blue will be stuck in the bedroom while the rest enjoy the sunshine as I will be gone all day with Freddog.

Queen of America – You Rock!Jesse, good luck. I had a digger, and finally just let him cruise. He would figure out how to descreen a window in a heartbeat. He was neutered so I didnt worry about that, and traffic where I live is not an issue, so Billy Boy was a free man. There is no way in h-e-double hockey sticks I would let any of my cats roam freely now.Mr. T is truly a blessing and I am so glad we found him. The girls just love him and my house mate Ramona thinks he walks on water and would spoil him unmercifully if I let her.Cats rule this house. – sigh -

Coyotes live in the woods and fields nearly across the street, and I feed the birds in the winter, so roaming will not be allowed. A digger!! Who would have thought??

@Jesse….you are sure to prevent Blue’s digging out what with all the fine suggestions today plus your own great idea.

My back porch is steel. I surrounded it with mesh so my guys can’t get out….nor can the occasional raccoon get in. Once the Con Edison or National Grid reader unhooked the mesh ‘gate’ and left without securing it. That’s the only time one of my guys (Oliver) spent a few hours exploring my neighbors yards….until my son spotted him. We no longer allow Oliver onto the porch after dark in case he remembers his ‘sweet’ escape over a year ago.

How in heck did (Oliver?) get into the wall? Someone has some ‘splainin’ to do. Mr. Jack Soames and Chesney look adorable with their head hair standing on end.

MCTS…..great cat door. Wish I had one leading from the kitchen to back porch. We are constantly doing doorman service. LOL

I think we have found Oliver!

Great pictures everyone. One of these days, I will post some like I used to do.

Those stories about escapees were great!

jesse – I hope you shook your finger at Blue and told him why he has to stay in prison for a while and doesn’t get “yard time”.

Karen just called to see how Tuffy is doing. She’s going to come an visit him on Thurs.

Awesome photos! Thanks for posting.

I hauled home about 20 big rocks today, carried them through the house and out the door to the fence. Blue watched me the whole time from his perch on the air conditioner. I had enough to cover the area where nothing is currently growing, the rest of the fence line has lots of devils grass and he may not be able to dig through it, although I will watch him and finish with the rocks in the next few days. I grow my tomatoes on the outside of the fence and will be pouring vinegar along the inside to kill off most of the crab grass roots, but only turn the soil on the outside. It’s already March and I am so far behind in my gardening already…

Good news on the adoption front. A young couple called me earlier and wants to adopt the last kitty we have at PetCo, Daisy. She’s a beautiful. soft grey/white tabby with a sweet face. I’m meeting them at 10 in the morning. That just leaves 4 or 5 that came into the shelter last week and got fixed today. They’ll be ready for adoption on Friday. YAY!

Loved frames 1 and 2 Graham, well said. Made me laugh.