Trouble in Paradise......

Noodle is a bit jealous and a little mad at us, his parents. The most noticeable jealousy was at the food bowls. Noodle, who was a fussy eater, became a gorger when Alice arrived. He would steal her food if she didn't eat fast enough. Okay, big deal. We expected something like that. We just made sure that there was enough to eat for everyone. Noodle's appetite was better! We were pleased. Fast forward two weeks and Noodle has now gained like 5 pounds! He went from kitten to brute like cat in that time.

It seemed the kids were getting along. Noodle would lick little Alice,and we thought  it was so cute. He would lick 10 times and then came a well place bite on the neck. Sometimes the bites were stronger than a love bite, much stronger. But Alice seemed to fight him off. She is bold and quick. He is like 3 times her size, so most times there is no contest. He likes to walk over her and sit on her.

Next we found Alice closing her eye a bit, and acting lethargic. Somehow Noodle thought this was chance to attack for real. The biting got more ferocious and Alice was avoiding him. We began protecting her a bit, and then his jealousy grew a bit more. Maybe he bit or scratched her eye, as we noticed some swelling above the eye.  We gave her some well indicated homeopathic remedies and she seems to have picked up in energy and is opening her eye more.

Today during meal time they seemed to be into their own individual bowls and very happy eating. I went to take out the garbage and returned in like one minute. I went into the kitchen and Noodle looks up at me and there is a huge glob of green gloop running down his eye and he is looking at me with one eye with this pathetic help me look. I freaked out. Noodle must have attempted to eat her food and Alice must of swatted him. I ran and got him a remedy for injury to the eyeball. He slept the afternoon and I have separated them for the time being.

He seems to be better this afternoon. He is opening his eye....some. It is still mostly half shut all the time.

I don't think it is over yet. There is now a small war occurring here. We may end up with 2 cats with 2 eyes among them.

There is definitely trouble in paradise.

Paw To Paw

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL..........

Welcome to Alice. She arrived in a state of exhaustion and recovering from her operation and vaccination. She was so pitiful looking we nearly wept. After a few homeopathic remedies, she was up and about. We isolated her in one bedroom over night and then introduced the kitties to each other. The first introduction was through a glass door and they were very sweet. Noodle totally interested. Then we moved into the phase of them being in the same room. The advise from books say to wait a couple of weeks, but being the rash women we are, we proceeded in less than 24 hours. It has all gone swimmingly well. Noodle is fascinated with her tail and takes enormous enjoyment in swatting it. He likes to watch her, follow her and occasional take a swat. Alice can hold her own space and defend herself well.  We are having a ball watching them interact. She has gone through a number of funny phases, pacing and meowing, swelling in her belly, etc....but homeopathy has seen her through all the phases. Ahhhhhhh.

We have another name for our little boy. Now we call him 'Sweet William'. He was not so sweet this morning though. While I lay sleeping cozy in my bed he attacked my leg so energetically it drew blood and a scream from me. This is the rudest thing he has ever done. I forgive him (this one time) and will continue to call him 'Sweet William'.....if he does it again though......I'll change his name.

New animals continue to arrive in our house. This one we found in the outside pool room last night.  We were facinated and amazed to find him. Of course, one second after I saw it, I drew back thinking it was poisonous, checked out my Field Guide to Florida, and found out he wasn't. The offical name is 'Silver Argiope', or Argiope argentata. The web he makes is facinating, I've never seen anything like it. His back is all silvery, hence the name, argentata. Click on the pic to see it better.

Broward County said that we could probably come pick up Alice today. Hopefully, she will be ready.  Sweet William is as eager as we are to have her in our home. I explained the concept of 'sharing' with him and he said he understood, and that he would try his best.......... But promises are easy to give sometimes.

If Miranda had a daughter rather than a son......she would have named her 'Alice'. Hence the new name, for our new kitty will be Alice. Okay, her first name will be Alice and then we will add names as her personality emerges. Noodle has more than one name, so why shouldn't she.

Meantime we have been freezing our asses off in Florida! It got down into the lower 40's last night. Yikes, our house has no heat....though the sellers swore that the heat (which is in the walls of all things!?) was in working order. Beware buying a house in Florida in the summer time...well, I guess that is not too much of a 'beware'. For God's sake, it will be 72 degrees tomorrow. I trust we will survive.

We had company last night and a great menu was offered..........home made roasted tomato soup, asparagus and

stone crab claws!!!!  YUM ......Homemade Key Lime Pie for dessert.....served with Champagne, of course.

While I have been debating this '2 cat' or '1 cat' issue....I have been looking at the strays around town. I searched a number of places and saw a number of cats and kittens. Each one was easy to pass by. That is, until today. I selected this very sweet little girl kitten for our boy. But, I cannot take her home until Wednesday and heck, I forgot to bring my camera with me when I went there. That'll teach me a lesson! So, no pics until she arrives here officially....but unofficially, we are now a 2 cat home. She is some mixed up breed, but there is some oriental in her....pointy face, soft short fur, swirling greys on her body and white paws and white chest. And so sweet. That is what clinched it for me. She could even be sweeter than Noodle...well, maybe not that sweet, but real close. I asked Noodle about the situation and he was a little apprehensive, but finally agreed.

Slowly, we are making this new Florida area and house our home.

ADVICE REQUESTED!

What do you think we should do?

Last week we noticed Noodle chirping and purring away while sitting in the front window....we looked outside and there were 3 kittens and a momma cat hanging around the front of the house. We opened the door and they ran away for a second. Noodle stood behind the front screen door and watched for them eagerly. The little kittens returned and he started chirping to them again and then they came up to the door and they all sorta chirped and pawed and got acquainted. They eventually left and did not return. The whole scene was cute and touching. We then wondered, does Noodle need another cat type companion?

Three days after this episode I noticed that Noodle was doing that same type of chirping out in the back porch area. It was nighttime, and so I walked over to him to see what was happening. Outside the screened porch sat another adult cat. They were both just looking at each other and occasionally Noodle would do a little talking to it.

Yesterday the way Noodle responded to having a young girl around was astounding and heart-warming, but also led us to wonder.......wouldn't another cat be better to have around for him????????

Or, is this all crazy thinking? Twice the kitty litter, twice the trouble!!!!! What if they don't get along? What if they fight? What if there are jealousies? In other words, is there too many cats? Will one more upset the apple cart? ????????

Got advice?

A day of Firsts and Mysteries

Our little boy, Noodle, had a few firsts yesterday. Why these managed to be all in one day is one of those mysteries that will remain mazy.

The 1st first was climbing in a kitchen cupboard. For some reason this cupboard is empty. This is another mystery.  We can surely use the space, and the cupboard is a convenient place, albeit small, yet it remains empty, and always closed. For some reason unknown (another mystery), I opened the cupboard door and left it open. What a find for Noodle. He loved it. He found a number of different positions he could get in to savor all of its dimensions.

Noodles 2nd first was meeting a child. Our friend, Nan, and her 3year old little girl came over for a lunch visit, and Noodle met his first young one. Did he run away? No way. Noodle was totally fascinated by her. He followed her around and tried to reach out and touch her a few times. She was a bit scared of him though. He was polite and didn't try to be forward with her, but watched and followed her around at a distance. When she finally warmed up to him and played with him in a little, he was in heaven........

Noodles 3rd first was to get outside in the big old world. Noodle has been an indoor cat. Though, we have had outdoor cats in the past, we decided between the Iguanas, Hawks, Vultures, Dogs, and other creatures around here, that for his protection he would be an indoor cat.  We have the large screened-in area where he can run around and be outside at the same time....and be safe. Yesterday, he somehow got outside. I noticed at some point that we hadn't seen him for a while and searched the house. I searched again. I looked high and low. Sometimes he will nap in hidden places, so I just went about my activities, thinking he was napping.  When another good long time went by, my anxiety about him began in earnest and I began looking again. I finally went outside to  check the back yard. He was in the yard and came running to me with a look on his face that said: 'Yeesh, it is scary out here, please take me home now'. To think that he might off run made me anxious, to have him back home was a joy.

The Mating Game- Iguana Style

Click on the pictures to see them better.

This all occurs in the Autumn Season. The male turns orange

It goes out on a branch where he will be seen by many a gal....and then he shakes his dewlap and bobs his head up and down.

The bulges on the side of his head get all swollen.

For a long time the female and the male play a chasing game around the tree limbs. He is patient and slow. She does a little dance getting away from him, but he is persistent. Then he climbs on her back and bites the back of her neck....I am assuming to get her to stay there, but I 'm not really sure. I only observe and take the photographs, I am not an Iguana expert.

In a short time, like maybe 2-3 weeks you find this guy in your Rubber Tree.

And that is the story!