Check up time for two......my vet is great and sshhhh, a raw supporter, I think!!

Our big boy, Mont

I seem always to be getting reminders in the post for one of our cats to go for an annual check up and vaccination. Well this time I've managed to round up two of them into one appointment.

You know my feelings on vaccinations but I do have to reiterate them on the phone each time as last time the syringe was just about to be drawn when I reminded the vet that this was only an annual check up and dental check for the insurance to be valid on their teeth. We follow the protocol which is the kitten vaccinations, with the first year booster and then a three year boost after that, however I may just get them titer tested at that time UK Vaccinations

Catteries insist, as they do for support animals, for a full vaccination record. Insurance companies vary however, we are with Petplan and you are covered but not for anything which they could be immunised against in their annual vaccinations.............. in our case the cats are indoor with a cat proofed garden, no cats have got in so they have extremely limited contact with any feline which they could contract disease from.

Handsome Harvey

Well I have to say the consultation went really well. Monty our vast Shorthaired Curly Selkirk Rex, did as he always does play an Ostrich. Head down, eyes shut and loses the use of his limbs. The poor vet had to uncurl him, however the complements kept coming, perfect coat, bright eyes, great size.....what!!! I was a little worried as he his a big unit....but she said he is huge across the shoulders and the width between his hips is vast so he is perfectly covered for his shape. Just one tiny area of plaque on one back tooth but not bad at all. Harvey always gets comments as he is a Cream Colourpoint BSH and again he came out with an A*, just a little plaque again on a back tooth. Harvey doesn't mind the vets but it is not the place he would search out, luckily they are never stressed out that much as we transfer them via harness in the car, as they've done this since being kittens, a carrier would be most alien to them.

So the result is to do as we have been doing but I will just up the size of the chunks of muscle meat, sinew and bone in their food to ensure more chewing thus more abrasion on their teeth. It is interesting to note that the cats, in our household, that eat predominately the whole prey i.e. Docs and reptile frozen food mice have never had any comments made regarding their teeth i.e. Luna, and Bertie. White sparklers.

We do have our favourite vet, the partners in the firm are good however they do promote one specific company regarding food, loads being on the shelves, and the nutrition nurse obviously has been told to tow the line regarding being anti RAW, giving me the hell and damnation talk initially that they'll all have salmonella, get bones stuck in their stomach, lack a full range of nutrition and should not be around people with compromised health issues!!! I do however use human grade food prepared in a clean environment taking note of all hygiene procedures, they also have a short obligate carnivore intestine which allows raw to be processed through in a matter of 6 hours and not the dried plant proteined kibble that stays sluggishly in the intestine to fester and produce stinky problems after a long transit. I only give non weight bearing bones which are chewed easily from appropriate animals, I would not give them a beef leg bone, it is both weight bearing and the bone is too hard, a rib bone from a rabbit or  a chicken  (no bone ever cooked) would be chewable and suitable, no splintering. I continue to read extensively regarding feline nutrition , probably accruing way more up to date data and information than that which is given in the very few nutrition lectures provided by pet food manufacturers within veterinary school, and ensure supplementation and balance when and if needed.

A few Autumn photos

Loving Reuben

Or we could title this 'any excuse for some more cat photos'.

Shade at last

Luna through a tunnel

Tiger Harvey

Tiger Harvey

The weather has been kind to us this September so I have been out with the camera taking photos. The main subject being the wee beasties.......

Green eyed Bertie

Bertie's mane is growing

Luna in full coat

Monty with his lovely curls

They are still all in summer coat so not the thickest and lushest coats but looking pretty good, Luna's breeder actually stated that she looked like she was in full winter coat which I am now tending to agree as she is shedding and knotting like mad, normally we don't have to touch her!!

I'm finding my favourite photos hard to choose so this may be photo heavy.

Serious garden watching

Monty is just beginning to be more social, during the summer months he loves the outside probably because his coat is soooooo thick and massive. As the weather cools he comes in nudging your hand for treats or a scrunchy tickle. We don't tend to stroke him you need to go into his coat and give him a good hard scratch!!

Luna's eyes in the last rays of the day

Contemplating pond dipping

Bertie just melts people. He was a quite confident chap however after his broken leg he has become a little nervy. As the weather has changed though we are getting a few more evening sofa cuddles as he trills away, not really a meow.

Luna is as confident as ever launching herself on all the cats except Harvey. Reuben completely just lets her get on with it with no response, Bertie has a full on wrestle and chase. Monty responds to her launches but because he is soooo big Luna winges like mad.

Pounce ready

No squinting here

Warm rays

Monty

Monty

Bertie

Monty

Bertie full of fluff

Reuben

Harvey's best side

Reuben using the Apple tree for scratching

Luna washing

Yep that's my tail

Harvey knows in his mind he is the boss, one that should be above the others, however he does occasionally need to be taken down a peg.

Cute nose

Reuben will sort Harvey, if needs be, as will Monty, but neither are really into it. Harvey is very much focussed on me, he is my shadow. Reuben is also a shadow, he will be in the room I am in always, very focussed on food especially dried 'Thrives' chicken treats. He is a strange boy loving a stroke in the upstairs sink in the bathroom but quite adverse EVERYWHERE else!!! He does a particular good line in the stoke avoidance duck, he can bow his back neatly out of the way. However if he wants your attention he can be quite vocal.

Thank goodness for this lovely weather, a real chance of using the garden as an extension to the house and maybe some more photos.

Walking along the canal - Luna and Harvey

Hay Fever seems to be kicking in already, which is strange as I don't normally get it but sore eyes are the name of the game today.

The weather has been lovely the last few days and although Easter is said to be wet the other days should be lovely. I've just taken Harvey out for his walk and finally we are able to walk away from the roads along the paths which have until now been mud entrenched.

Sorry for my voice in the video, but she only wags her tail if you talk to her…….

Harvey having a stroll

Luna has even taken the odd walk as she is getting used to the noises and people. The noise which upsets her most is the canal boats going through the lock but as you can see she is also quite enamoured by them also.

The others show no interest in walking or going outside, Reuben is very content and Monty is happy as long as he has a few birds to chase. Bertie is shy, he would probably follow Luna but not have a need for outside walk.

This morning was so nice that I was able to catch a couple of nice photos. This was Luna managing to get herself up to the top of the cherry tree 

Mothering Sunday and a warm weekend

                                        OR An excuse for taking loads of photos : )

Bertie under the blossom

Casual chat

Luna in search of butterflies

Perfect set of teeth

After a dismal wet cold week it was lovely to behold a wonderful blue sky that promised and gave a warm sunny day on Saturday. Doors were flung open and fresh balmy air filled the house. The cats chased around and around the circuit of the back door and into the conservatory. The first proper early morning cup of tea outside on a warm morning.

My eldest had asked me what I wanted to do for Mother's Day, so it was decided that 'Venison Wellington' would be done as my treat. As a result we both headed off to 'Hiller's Farm Shop.' This is a great large farm shop having produce primarily from a ten mile radius. The meat is lovely coming from 'Ragley Hall' estate however we have recently not visited as they are rather too proud of their meat, if that is possible, and whereas I can chat requesting trim and offal from other farm shops they expected me to pay lean mince prices!!!

Bertie not quite fitting in his leg into 

Monty staring me down

The camera came out and the cats were very photogenic especially in the low morning and evening light.

 What it did highlight was the need for the garden to be dug over, fences sprayed and the drive pressure washed.

On Sunday we had the In-laws over, the FIL is going to be having Chemotherapy from Wednesday as some palliative care for his cancer, so they wanted to come over, hopefully to see me but I know it was to see the cats. They say they don't have favourites but between you and me Harvey just loves FIL and that is reciprocated and MIL adores Bertie who comes and squeaks at her in the morning when they look after the cats. It was a snack lunch of Scotch Eggs, Pork pie, ham and other bits and pieces with salad but I have to say we stuffed ourselves. So much so that the Mothering Sunday treat of Venison Wellington was put on hold for another time.

 When the In-laws went my eldest instead made a beautiful Tart Tatin using bananas and mango, yummy yumm and a really nice present. I also had a lovely card and an orchid as well, thank you : ))