Happy New Year!!!

From all of us to all of you:
A Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

From all of us to all of you,
a merry, merry Christmas!!!!

More snow!

It's been snowing like carzy the past days and it's really cold. The cats love to play in the snow, especially Truls and Battus. They are running around, jumping in the snow, digging and just playing :-) Bekka and Beverly joins them for a couple of minutes but then they find the weather to cold and they run inside again.
This is Truls this afternoon.
//Katharina

Let it snow, let it snow...

Battus loves to play in the snow!

Thanks, Father Frost!

Father Frost has arrived. It's cold, about -7 degrees. This means that there will be no more earthworms on the kitchen floor for a while :) Beverly, Battus and Truls love to catch the worms from the catyard and bring them to me as a gift. I am not to happy about that, to say the least. So I say "Thank you Father Frost! I hope you'll stick around for a while!"
//Katharina

Halloween

It's Halloween and the weather is very typical for the season: grey and damp :-( But the cats don't mind unless it's pouring down.
Next weekend it is time for Beverly to take her bath. That'll be fun... I think she screems loudest of them all...

This is Bekka about a month ago.
//Katharina

The tent

The other day we bought an small children's tent for the cats to play in. And they love it! I had a hard time putting it together as all four cats were hanging in all loose ends and climbing all over me and the tent.
It rustles (great, if you're a cat!) and they can run in and out of the tent. Or like Battus here to the right. He likes to sit on the roof to look out for his mates.


And this is Bekka and Truls playing inside the tent.
//Katharina

Not a tasteful snack...

We've had a sunny and beautiful Sunday today! All the cats took the chance of playing outdoors, in the sun.

They keep on bringing in earthworms. And Truls even eats them :-( It's so disgusting!!!
But maybe he learned his lesson. He got sick and vomited all night after eating an earthworms. We weren't fast enough to toss it out before he had swallowed it. The next morning I found the leftovers in vomits... Not nice at all!!!
So now he's on a Hill's i/d diet to soothe his stomach.

This is Beverly last week.
//Katharina

Oh no... more earthworms!

The autumn is here for sure and the cats spend more and more time indoors, in a warm and cosy corner. But a couple of times a day they like to go out in the catyard, unless it's raining like crazy :-). And it does somedays. With the rain comes the earthworms, crawling up onto the wooden deck. Beverly has taught Battus and Truls how to catch them. So now we have three cats bringing in slimy worms into the kitchen... They love it, I don't!

Speaking of worms... The worming went well, I guess. I hope all possible worms or parasites are dead and gone for this time.

Poor Battus is still very thin. I hope he will gain some weight soon. We are feeding him Hill's i/d for sensitive stomachs. So far it seems to work for him.
//Katharina

Time for worming

It seems like poor Battus has got worms. And if so, it's no wonder considering all the insects he's had during the summer :-(

So now we've started to worm all the cats and we've cleaned all the litterboxes, spades and everything else that goes with the loo department. I do hope the worming medication is effective and kills the creepy worms. And that our lovely Battus will get better soon.
//Katharina

Bekka & Beverly won a photo competion

Just wanted to share with you a wonderful moment with Bekka and Beverly. This photo (from September 2, 2009) won an online photo competition a couple of weeks ago. And no wonder, with such sweathearts!!!
//Katharina

On the move

Ah, luckily we still have really nice weather. Yesterday the cats could spend all their time outdoors, in the sunshine. It's exciting now for them as the wind makes the leaves and balls move around randomly. There is always something on the move, so to speak.
This photo of Truls is from yesterday.
//Katharina

The wild look!

This is Bekka September 19. I love her look now as her coat is in full bloom. It makes her look wild, just like the Norwegian Forest Cat she is :-)
//Katharina

Bekka took a bath

Today it was time for Bekka to take her bath. Not a very popular game, according to her. But she did very well :-) Battus accompanied her into the bathroom. And as soon as Bekka started to complain, he started to howl, loud and clear. Battus, who was on the other side of the shower (and the water), howled twice as loud and twice as much as Bekka did...
Oh, what a howling circus we had in the bathroom.

But all's well that ends well. Bekka soon forgave me for the bath and went out in the warm sun to dry. This is she on the photo, this afternoon.

//Katharina

Is this freestyle???

I have no clue what Truls mean by posing like this... Maybe he's worshipping the sun :-)

Well, the sun is shining today and especially Battus has been wild and crazy all morning. He's been running around, picking fights with his mates. Just fun fights but still annoying to the others. And when there were no one to wrestle with he complained loudly. He howls like he's the last cat on earth...:-).

It's silent now, in the catyard. Maybe they all have their morning nap. Good, then I'll get something done in the house.
//Katharina

Catnip robbery

Cats looove catnip! And so do our four furry friends. The other day I forgot a box of catnip on a table in the catyard. It was properly packed and everything.

But of course someone couldn't resist the box and later I found the paperbox in one corner and the inner plastic box in another corner. Empty of course.

Battus is the suspect of the catnip robbery. As you can see he loves catnip. Here he nibbles on the paperbox, hours before the great robbery :-)

//Katharina

I don't like diet, oh no...

Bekka doesn't like the diet idea at all! She sulks and is watching the kitchen area closely. Oh, it's hard when you can't explain to them why!!!
We try to play with her as much as we can. Hopefully she'll stop sulking soon and finds other interests in life other than food :-)

BTW, yesterday evening I found a green leg on the bathroom rug. I hope grasshoppers grow new legs when they loose one...

This is Bekka on August 27.
//Katharina

A grasshopper came by

This morning a big grasshopper came by. Battus noticed and ran off to the bathroom with his catch in his mouth. Truls and Beverly ran after him to see what he got. Bekka was sound asleep and didn't notice the green guest until later.

The catch was really interesting and they occupied the bathroom for quite a while :-)
As usual I had to rescue the green visitor and it is now enjoying the garden, far away from the cats.

This is Truls BTW, on August 26.
//Katharina

Ladies diet club

Bekka and Beverly need to go on a diet. So says the Vet. Since their neutering their apetite has increased - a lot... Especially Bekka thinks of nothing but food nowadays.

So from now on there will be no free food supplies, only meals measured for each one of the cats, served four times a day. Not a popular decision so far :-)

But we hope they will get used to the new routine. Excersise is part of this. Every evening I try to make them run and climb as much as possible. Thank God for the laser beam!

This is Beverly and Bekka on September 2.
//Katharina

Cute Bekka

And here is another furry friend that loves to take a nap:-) This is Bekka yesterday afternoon. She really loves to sleep outdoors!
//Katharina

The Siesta Man

Like all cats Battus likes to take a nap now and then during the day. This is yesterday. The sun was shining and it was a warm late summer's day. He could stand the heat for about 5 minutes, then he went indoors to cool himself :-) But then , he has a VERY thick coat.
//Katharina

An unexpected visitor

A big catepillar found its way into the catyard today. All four cats were overwhelmed by excitement! They had never seen anything like it and they didn't really know what to do with it :-) But we came to its rescue and took it to a grove nearby. There it lives happily on a green leaf :-)
//Katharina

After a long afternoon nap...

... it's really nice to groom. Beautiful Bekka, how cute she is grooming!!!
//Katharina

Battus about 1 year ago!

And this is Battus, also about one year ago. Now he is a big guy, weighing about 5,6 kilos!
//Katharina

Truls about 1 year ago!

Gosh, they grow fast! This is Truls about one year ago, still living with mom, dad and all his cat siblings.
Today he weighs about 7,3 kilos!
//Katharina

Happy 1-year Birthday Battus & Truls!!!

Truls and Battus are 1 year old today!

Happy Birthday darlings! We will celebrate with fresh chicken wings. Yummie!

//Katharina

Talk, talk, talk...

Beverly has turned into a VERY talkative young catlady. She talks all day and all night: when she wants company, when she wants to play, when she has caught some insect or worm, when she wants to be cuddled with, when she wants a snack.....

She is the cutest and most playful cat you can ever imagine :-).
Beverly has gained some weight and weighs now about 4,6 kilos. A good weight for her, I think.

Earlier I thought her coat was turning more brownish. But I take that back. She is a bit tanned but otherwise I think her coat has the same cold silver and black as before.

This is Beverly on August 18.
//Katharina

Bad weather is no fun!

Today we have gusty winds and some heavy rain. The cats ran indoors, yelling at me for causing the bad weather. Now they are all asleep, waiting for the weather to get better. And so am I :-)

This is Battus on August 11.
//Katharina

Is she still spotted?

Bekka loves food, especially after being neutered :-) She's grown during the summer and she weighs 5,7 kilos. But she's not fat, only big as a Norwegian Forest Cat should be. Her head is large and beautiful and her collar has grown really beautiful! She's like a little lioness :-)

I wonder about her coat pattern though. She is registrated as spotted but maybe she is ticked now, I don't know. But I don't see her spotts as clear as before. I better ask her breeder.
This is Bekka on August 6.

//Katharina

On the lookout

Thank God we've found no more strings from Truls. A happy end to that story :-)

The three furry mates are on the lookout for something veeery interesting on the lawn. It could be one of the deers that often come to visit.
//Katharina

Don't like the enema!

Yesterday we found out the hard way that Truls likes to eat strings...! He tried to but couldn't go to the loo to do #2. So we figured that he was constipated and I gave him liquid paraffin. But in vain. Nothing happend in the loo. The vet told us to give him the enema. Have you ever tried to give a cat enema??? Well, it's not a walk in the park... But we succeded after a while and Truls was quite chocked, poor guy. But after five minutes he rushed to the loo and did #2. And out came 30 cm of string (from a toy).

So from now on all string toys are locked in a box and we only play with them when a human is around. And all other toys are removed from their tails and other string-like things. Just to be on the safe side!
//Katharina

Intense grooming

Beverly seems to think her sister needs an intense grooming. So she jumps on to Bekka's back and grooms her. Not sure what Bekka thinks about it though...
//Katharina

A nice place for a nap

This is one of Beverly's favourite places for her afternoon naps. It's on top of the sofa and it gives her a perfect view of the catyard and of the livingroom. I think it makes her feel safe. Sometimes she wakes up and then she "talks" a lot. Beverly is a very talkative lady, I must say!
//Katharina

True predators!

As soon as the sun sets the hunt begins. It is mostly flies and bugs of all sorts that falls into their trap. But the other day a poor frog was almost caught by the four predators Bekka, Beverly, Truls and Battus.

The frog had somehow sneaked into their catyard and I found them all four hovering about it. But with some assistance from me the frog managed to sneak out again. It was with great relief I watched the frog leap away across the lawn.

The cats have also discovered the dragonflies. It's their time of the year now and Battus and Truls caught one yesterday evening. They draged it into the kitchen, played with it until it died and then they left the body for me to pick up. Nice!

This is Truls BTW, a month ago.
//Katharina

The new catyard

This is lovely Bekka enjoying the new extended catyard. She (and the others) spend almost all their time out there, chasing flies and sun rays :-) They only come in to eat and to go to the loo.
This photo is from yesterday.
//Katharina

Showtime!

Tomorrow it's time for Battus to emter his second show. Truls was supposed to join him but we've decided to let him stay at home due to his stomach problems earlier this week. He is allright now but we want to be on the safe side.
The show will take place in Väster Haninge and is arranged by Järva Cat club.

//Katharina

Stomach ache

Poor Truls suffers from some kind of stomach ache or infection. It started yesterday when he couldn't keep his food. We consulted the veterinary and decided to wait and see at home as he is very alert otherwise.
So he's on a chicken diet now. I was up all night just to make sure it didn't get worse.

It doesn't seem like he has swallowed anything, it's more like he got some bacteria or ate some bad food. We'll keep a close eye on him!
//Katharina

Drying in the sun

Battus had a tough day yesterday. It was time for his bath and we spent an hour or so in the bathroom schampooing, rinsing, combing and fixing. As his coat is really thick it took quite the effort to bathe him!

Battus, like most moggies, doesn't like taking a bath. He doesn't see the point. But at the end of the day he survives and is really happy when it is over and done with :-) And I must say he was so brave!
Here he is sitting in the sun, drying.
//Katharina

Moggies taking a break

During the afternoons the cats likes to take a looong nap. This is Truls and Beverly on the sofa last Saturday. Arn't they cute together!!!
//Katharina

Hot summer days

We've had some really hot summer days, +31 degrees in the shade! This is Truls taking a nap.
//Katharina

Life in a body suit is OK after all

Yesterday Bekka and Beverly got to leave the sick bay for the entire day. The sun was shining and the two furry ladies were quite happy. This is Bekka enjoying the sun on the wooden deck. The body thing is NOT what it may seem. It is a body suit for babies that she wares to protect the wound, mainly from herself. She wares this instead of the plastic funnel. Beverly hates both the funnel and the body. So as from today we will try to leave her without anything during daytime. Let's hope she will let the wound alone.

And BTW, today Battus and Truls are 10 months old! Happy birthday guys!
//Katharina

Watching over his pride

Truls has been worried about Bekka and Beverly. He's been visiting the sick bay on and off the past days as to make sure the ladies are OK. He's been watching over them like a lion watching over his pride.
//Katharina

The boring sick bay

Bekka and Beverly were neutered two days ago. They find life in the sick bay boring by now. This is Beverly, an hour ago, taking a break from the plastic funnel she has to wear to protect the wound. Today we will make them a body to wear instead of the funnel. With the body they can spend some time outside the sick bay. But the trick will be to keep them from climbing or jumping. And wrestling with Battus and Truls is simply out of the question. Well well, let's take one hour at a time...
//Katharina

Beverly & Bekka neutered

Yesterday Bekka and Beverly were neutered. Everything went well, at least so far. For now they have a room of their own and I am watching over them, closely. They don't appreciate having to wear a funnel/collar but they have to, to protect the wound. Outdoors, the sun is shining again. Finally!
//Katharina

Ideas taking shape

We finalized a small extension to the temporary extended catyard yesterday evening. And the cats loved it! Our ideas for the permanent extended catyard are taking shape. Next step is to specify and try the details. And last but not least: to find the time:-)

This is Beverly a couple of weeks ago, watching over her realm. As you can see she is transforming from a pure blacksilver into something brownish. It will be interesting to see where she will end colourwise.

//Katharina

What if this way? Or that way? Or maybe like this...?

Our lovely Bekka taking an afternoon nap in the catyard (May 17). She loves being out here :-). We are thinking about how to make the current extension more proper and a more permanent one. There are many things to consider though. It needs to be safe, look proper, have access to the house, be large enough etc etc. I guess we'll need to go to the sketch board. But not today.
//Katharina

Friends or foes?

Well, I honestly don't know. Sometimes it seems like Battus gets along really well with the females, especially with Beverly. I even suspect he has a crush on her :-) But then, other times he picks a fight with them - all the time... And then Beverly gets pissed off and starts a fight and then hell breaks loose. Oh, I do hope they will get along. Bringing fours cats together wasn't as easy as we thought it would be.
This is one of the rare occasions when Battus and Beverly are having a cosy moment together.
//Katharina