The Cats Of 2026

Perry and Jamie at the back together, Isla and Choo

Luther and Archie in this photo as well. 

Archie

Luther

Jamie's Day Out

A visit to the "Doggy Doctor" for Jamie today, and then he went to visit Mum. Some widespread arthritis, (joints and spine) but for a "Geriatric overweight cat" (Vet Beth's words, not mine!), he's in pretty good order. Thankfully, the noisy breathing is in his throat, and his chest is clear. He tried to bite Beth a couple of times, and paws and claws came out at times as he felt she was taking liberties! LOL

We discussed loxicom, but at Jamie's age there are risks of long-term use without checking his kidney function. To do that they would need to take blood, and Jamie was not having that. Beth said she could do it under sedation, but she believed that as he's not ill, the risks are too high. She's given me a small bottle of loxicom for him, she said, 'Trying it for a few days wouldn't do any harm, and we could at least see if there were any benefits for him.' 

Anyway, Jamie, who has never been in anyone else's house, was very happy to go and visit Mum, and after a good look around he relaxed and settled on the sofa. Now we are home; Jamie has had his dinner and is now chilling after a very busy day! 

That Cat

Hi Rhian This cat turned up around 3/4 years ago, i feed it a couple of times a day, can just about get close enough to give a quick rub on the head.. i have tried asking villagers who owns it but no joy.. Ali 

*****

I think it’s a he also ( i call him Hazel cat )! He sleeps in my house some nights/day and around with my cats it seems 24/7, i have 4 and only 1 the bengal is male and they are only now just about tolerating each other 😵‍💫 I am happy to feed/keep a look out.. 

We are just down the road from you..

If an owner comes forward that would be good but if not i am happy to let him be, he seems in good health.. We are were the yellow vw van is parked.. ( we have just sold it actually)

I'm so pleased he has a warm place to live and sleep in the winter, but he's welcome to visit us anytime he likes! 

Cat In The Sun

No morning sunshine today, but yesterday the cats were all out in the sun. I missed Luther lying full stretch out on the bench; he heard me coming and got up. Jimmy Choo was sat on the pig, and Archie, as ever, was running around and climbing trees! At the time I took these, no doubt, Perry was still eating, Isla was around, and Jamie would have been on the bench in the yard. I'll try and get photos of them all next time.

Isla Day

I was trying to sort out some clothes for the charity shop this morning. These two using the bed as a wresting ring was not part of the plan, but they are so funny together.

This morning I attended the hospital for the nerve conduction studies test. A strange experience, he warned that it wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't too bad to be honest.  At first, the guy doing the test was a bit quiet, but I noticed he was wearing socks with dogs on them, so I commented on it. He told me that back at home in India he rescued a 4-week-old puppy, whom he named after his grandfather. The dog now lives with his parent, but when he goes home, he hears him coming on his motorbike and still gets excited. After that chat, the ice was broken, and we had a giggle about my cold hands, (I had to stand with them in a bowl of warm water for 5 mins before he could do the test) and the fact that he couldn't do the test till I relaxed .. Which, as I pointed out to him, since he mentioned it was "not a pleasant experience" it was impossible for me to relax! Anyway I should hear from the hospital within 2 - 3 weeks, if I don't he's told me to contact them. 

A Facebook memory today reminded me that it was 13 years since Sharon sent me the first photo of Isla. It had only been a month since my beautiful Riley had died following surgery to remove a lump they'd discovered in his pre-op check before neutering. Riley had FIP, which the vets had never seen presented that way before. With hindsight, we shouldn't have proceeded with the surgery, but he was only a kitten so we do what we can, don't we. 

A farmer had taken Isla to the vets to "get rid of her."  She was about 4 months old, and though I'd said I never wanted another female cat, well I just couldn't say no. She's a lovely girl, though you all know the stress and heartbreak she caused during 2020 - 2021 - a mystery of a lifetime! 

I'm so glad I went against Steve wishes and bought Isla home, and so is he, he absolutely adores his "Princess!" 

Traitors And Torsion

 I just want to thank Ian, Katrina and Jane for convincing me to watch "Celebrity Traitors"  recently. Having found it gripping I decided to give this recent series a go, surely it couldn't be as good? Well I can honestly say it's one of the best think I've watched. I don't do Strictly, Big Brother or it's like ... but I love I'm a Celebrity ... but Traitors, well it's in a class of its own, grippingly brilliant! 

On a more serious note, a friend's dog recently had a Torsion/GDV (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus) luckily he survived and is doing well. I was lucky, Blade survived, twice, many are not lucky. Anyway I've got a bee in my bonnet about it, people are still calling it "Bloat,"  Torsion and bloat are different and knowing that could be a lifesaver for your dog. Bloat (gastric dilatation) is the swelling of a dog's stomach with gas or food, while torsion/GDV (gastric dilatation-volvulus) is a life-threatening, emergency condition where the bloated stomach twists, cutting off blood supply and trapping gas. Bloat is serious, but GDV is a rapidly fatal, surgical emergency that requires immediate intervention. Bloat can and often does lead to torsion, but being aware of the difference is paramount! 

Symptoms of torsion can not be missed, it's obviously to the owner that something is wrong and Veterinary intervention is required, as GDV can be fatal within a couple of hours. "Symptoms including a visibly swollen/hard abdomen, non-productive retching, excessive drooling, extreme restlessness, and collapse. Other signs include rapid, shallow breathing, pale gums, and a fast heart rate."

Loki had many episodes of bloat, but luckily for us it never progressed to torsion, so his stomach filled with gas, but it did not twist. If he "bloated" we never left him alone and on one occasion I stayed up for hours with him to make sure he was safe overnight. Whilst he was unsettled and distressed, he was not drooling on trying to vomit. He would take a biscuit and we allowed him small drinks. Eventually things settled. All I will say is, I may have been unlucky to observe torsion in Blade and Storm (Who died of complications after surgery) but I was lucky to understand the difference when it came to Loki. If you ever have any doubts then get help, instantly! 

Wind And Beti

 Well it sure has been one of those days when you think maybe, just maybe, moving downhill to live would be better. The wind and rain has battered us. We'd heard the wind, though slept through it until we were woken before 6am with something banging on the bedroom window. We both got up and braved the storm to go out. I was out with my dry robe and wellies over my PJ's. Something had come partly off the shed roof and was battering the car and the side of the cottage, including the window. Thankfully no damage to the window, but sadly a fair few scratches on the bonnet of the car. I suppose it could have been worse! 

The cat have opted for another day of doing nothing, well who can blame them really?

Just as it had healed, Beti has been scratching the sore by her eye, taking the scab off and now a lot of hair. I really hope I haven't made matters worse by putting Sudocrem on it, but I've used it dozens of times before with positive outcomes at home and the rescue centre. The way it looks now, I really wouldn't show Beti, let's hope she leaves it alone to heal, there is a week before Manchester Ch Show. If we go to the show, I'll take Meerah with me. The boys are getting very interested in her, though she's not at the peak yet. I think it would be safer for everyone if she was not left at home in Mr S' care. After all, you get no education from the second kick of a mule do you! LOL 

The Laptop Is Dead

RIP Asus laptop, you have been murdered in plain sight by the order of Archie Stanley. 

Good thing I love you little chap.  

Currently "running on" the old HP laptop which is still on Windows 7, so bare with me! 

Some Thoughts

The volume is increasing in the mornings again, it's only 9 days since I noticed Meerah was bleeding, but Orin has been unsettled from about 5am the last two morning. He's not at a stage of going off his food or anything, but I'll have to watch him, and his knob head brother now! 

I'm still considering trying chemical castration with Zeus. The effects of the implant last about 6 months, which should give us time to see if it helps, or makes matters worse. The benefit being, that if it makes matters worse the effects wear off, if I go ahead and neuter him and have regrets, then it's too late to go back.

I'm not quite sure what's going on with the cats. Perry has always been a dirty bugger for spraying in the house. Yesterday I could smell cat pee in the middle room and I stripped all the cat bedding but as the house warmed the smell increased. Anyway, I eventually found the source, some bugger had peed in Orin's bed. I was none too pleased, but kind of think it wasn't Perry. To be honest, though I have no proof, I wondered if it was Jamie. Maybe the old guy simply found it too cold to go out? Well, he'd be forgiven! 

Jamie day

Happy Jamie day everybody. Photos taken 4/12/09 and 4/12/25 There are cats, there are special cats ... and then, in a league of his own, there's Jamie!

We Won

Online shows started during covid - they are just a bit of fun, still it's nice to win! 

Ross and Jamie are proud, lol 

Jamie

I couldn't resist taking this last night. Our precious old man will be 16 next month. When he joined us I still worked at Freshfields, we had a very different family of dogs and cats then. Asha and Mikey were the youngsters, and of course Louis was still here, among other cats Tia, Billy and Oliver were here too. The years fly past, he's a constant presence that can not and should not be ignored. As Steve says, "You gotta love the guy!"

Ticks

Last night I got 7 ticks off Luther, yes SEVEN. They were all small, just starting to fill, and were all around his neck and head. No, I won't use chemicals, I pull them off and kill them. I've not found any on the other cats, but I did get one on Beti's face last week. Where had you been sleeping yesterday my lovely Luther?

New Cat Beds And Holes

The cats love their new beds, no we didn't need them but there's more to life than what we need, we wanted them and we love them, they make me smile. Apologise to Beti, as Carrie got the original for her, but she doesn't mind!

It seems Nico's genes live on in Meerah, so it's back to don't leave treats in your pockets Rhian! Laugh or cry, so laugh it is!

Perry At Bedtime

It was hard to pick the best bedtime photo last night, so I may as well share all three of Perry watching his world. 

30 Years Here

This morning I lay in bed thinking, well it was too hot to sleep. 30 years on and I still get excited about this beautiful palace that I'm lucky to call home. Last night there was a full moon and I stayed out waiting to see it. I had hoped to see it come over the Nantlle Ridge again as I had done the previous night, but with animals going in and out I missed it. It was lovely to be outside 10.30 - 11pm. The bats were busy, flying just over my head and the cats seemed to be having a social get-together before going their separate ways. Apart from the odd cow it was pretty silent out there and I honestly felt really blessed.

Back to this morning, the dogs had all been fed and been out and as Steve snored I sat on my bed with a cuppa looking through Facebook and reading "instructions" from my brother of what to say when I take my Mum to the doctors, I guess suggestions is a better word! LOL Mum has now got the Attendance Allowance, so will be able to pay someone to go in once a week to help with cleaning and shopping. This is not means tested so no poking noses into what she has and hasn't got, but at just over £70 a week it will be a huge benefit to her and to us knowing she can pay a third person to help out. We've already sorted out someone to go in for the cleaning/shopping and found a window cleaner for her ... so that's a start.

I'm still sat on the bed thinking, 30 years in this cottage, more than half of my life. Every Blanik litter born here and every dog I've ever owned has lived part of their life here. I moved in with Blade, Pepsi, Nikki, Don's dogs Sultan, Captain and Robbie, and my cats Lux and Jasmine and Don's cat Boots. (Oh and Don of course)  Happy times they were not ... but I fell in love with my home on the hill. 

In 1996 the "A" litter were born, Seffe and Dexi were mine and Rocky came back at 6 months old. By then Don, taking Robbie with him had gone, I'd taken Boots to my place of work, (to live with the boss of the Ozanam Centre) Captain had been re-homed and Sultan moved into the house. I remember meeting Carrie and Glyn in the July at The North Wales Show, and Frank and Linda in the September of the same year. Carrie had her precious puppy GSD Yanto, and Frank and Linda took Rocky into their homes and hearts. Friendships that began back then, and we are all still close 30 years later, well 29 years LOL.

Yes still sitting on my bed, yes Steve still snoring, I think of Blade and Lux, I think of meeting Steve in 1997 and his reluctance to come in past 4 GSD at the gate and how within months he adored them and how he's been my backbone, my everything. 

So today I'm getting my head together, positive thoughts Rhian. Let's try and look to the future, let's be grateful for what we have and plan ahead for Blanik. Crossing everything for our "N" litter and another Orin baby in due course. 

https://talistails.blogspot.com/2015/06/pen-y-cae.html    -  click on the link and have a read ... 

Junior

With lots of things going round and round in my head, the difficulties with Mum, Steve's very gradual improvement, stud dogs, my dream of a van I can't afford, my hands, my sight, and the endless list of negativity, I'm basically an emotional wreck. But last night's dream was very unexpected. I was sat on the floor among building materials and tarpaulin, when the fabric started to move, I remember thinking, well which cat is this now? I remember expecting it to be Jamie, OMG it was Junior, crystal clear and looking so well. He stayed for a few minutes in my dream, it was so vivid that this morning it felt like I had actually seen him, touched him and talked to him ... I saw his long sleek body, and looked into his eyes. Yes I saw Junior and I'm so glad it happened, it actually did mean a lot to me. 

Cats Two X Two

Isla and Luther, Archie and Choo, Jamie and Perry 

 

Uterine Blockage

 A friend's cat has been going through exactly the same as Luther, so that's the third I've heard of in a short time. Male cats are more prone to urinary blockages than females because their urethra is longer and narrower than that of females, making it more susceptible to blockages. Here's hoping little Tommy makes a full recovery but I would like to know what is the cause of it? Is it something we are feeding them? I know cats should have plenty of wet food as dry can cause problems, but some cats, Luther being one of them, will leave the wet food for the dry! 

Happy 6th Birthday Luther