I felt Man kneel down beside me and I got out of the way and went to sit with my sister; because Man had the Squirter Of Dogs and I saw him pumping it quickly. I knew what that meant.
So did Red Cat Two. As soon as Man squirted under the car he was off. But Man chased him and gave him several more shots as he jumped the fence into his home. Shadow and I just watched and we rubbed our faces on his paw when he came back to us. Man must think Red Cat Two is crazy as well. Shadow and I walked taller for the rest of our walk, especially when we were hissed at by a big stripy cat and Man used it on him too.
Later, when we were safely in bed, Shadow asked me about Man using the Squirter of Dogs in Time Out under cars. I thought about it. I don't think cat rules apply to humans, I said. She thought this was fair enough.
27
Tonight I was a Bad Cat. My sister got lost on our walk so we had to go back and look for her. Eventually Man found her and told us we'd have to go back the way we'd come. So my dumb sister spoiled my walk.
I also found a bird on the footpath and I caught it and played with it for a while. Then it escaped, possibly because Man yelled at me to let it go. It would have been good to play for a bit longer, but maybe the bird didn't really want to.
28
It was hot and windy today, so we spent a lot of time inside. We watched Man put the Big Warm away in the corner of our room. So he obviously thinks it's really summer now, which will be great.
It got a lot cooler and less windy later, so we went for our usual walk and there was Red Cat Two waiting for us outside his home. Man didn't stop to ask questions. He just fired the Squirter of Dogs at him until he ran away. I think Red Cat Two is a slow learner.
29
Played Chasey and Ambush with my sister in the back yard. The green stuff is getting really big and there are lots of places to hide. Then we curled up on our bed and slept for the rest of the day. At least until our walk, which was very calm and pleasant except for one annoying barking dog, but we mostly ignored him.
30
Spent most of the day on the roof. It was good in the sun but I fell asleep and had to jump down in the dark onto the table out the back. Man shifted the chair for me so I'd have plenty of room to jump down, but I get scared jumping down. Come on, Dougal! I could hear him saying.
I walked back and forward along the roof but it was the same distance down no matter where I was. Come on, Dougal, I told myself. You can do it! So I jumped into the dark and felt the table under my paws. I don't understand why I land with such a thump. Shadow seems to land softly, even though she's heavier than I am nowadays.
I snuggled up against Man's paw and he took me into the Food Room. Everyone else had already had dinner and I looked piteously at Man. His lips moved sideways like they do when they want to tell you they love you, and he lifted down a plate with food on it that he'd kept on the stove hidden from my sister. None of us walk on the Hot Place if we can help it ever since Shadow almost put her paw in a hot dish there. So it's the best place to hide stuff. I sat down to eat in comfort.
Mrowl? I heard my sister say behind me. I sighed and prepared to have her greedy little nose come between me and my dinner, but Man picked her up and cuddled her so I could finish my meal in peace. I left a bit for her, though.
October
1
It's cold and wet again. I looked meaningfully at Man and at the Big Warm, hoping he'd bring it out again but he didn't. Shadow and I chased each other up and down the passage for a while and then my sister climbed up onto the Big Wooden Box where Man keeps his clothes. She likes being up there sometimes. I don't know if I could manage to climb up the way she does. She just launches herself at the bare wall and somehow scrabbles up to the top and hangs on with her front paws. Then she hauls up the rest of her and settles down there for day-long naps. She's very strong and I wouldn't fancy trying it myself. I think she needs somewhere she can go where I can't follow her.
I can understand that because when I sit on the chair next door I'd like to have it to myself, except that she comes and wants to share it and I finish up giving her a cuff on her ears. I'm hoping if I leave her alone when she needs Personal Space she'll do the same for me.
2
Maybe it's working! She slept on the Wooden Box and I slept on next door's chair. I saw her little face poke out our front door once but I looked away and she didn't bother me again until later in the day, when I came back and sat out front of our house. Then there was a little prrt? of greeting and my sister walked up to me. We touched noses and washed each other's faces. I think by then we'd both had enough Personal Space and wanted company again.
3
Man did a lot of changing stuff around today. I followed him round to see what he was doing but I couldn't see any sense in it. There isn't as much stuff in our room now. I preferred it when there was.
4
Woe!!! I could have sworn Man had given up putting gunk on the backs of our necks! He did it again. I know my sister has fleas but I don't because I sleep under the tansy. It's not fair.
5
Okay, maybe I'm fooling myself. Man combed my fur today and I didn't enjoy it at all but he pinned me down with his paw and combed out a lot of loose fur. Then he showed me all the fur and there really were a lot of fleas in there. Sigh.
6
The birds in our trees are getting very excited. What they're so excited about I have no idea, but it's probably because we're heading into summer and they're talking about all the fun things they're going to do. I'm just guessing, of course. I only got a few words here and there, and I don't really speak Bird.
7
A good day. My sister and I played together early, spent some time apart during the day and got back together in the evening.
Man brushed my fur again and I wasn't happy, but everything else went well.
8
Belladonna actually told me I should stop being a sook today! I could hardly believe my ears. I was complaining to Man about the quality of my munchies and all of a sudden I see her staring at me. She was sitting next to Woman at the table in the Food Room where she has a special place where no-one else is allowed to be, and she stretched out her paws reflectively and narrowed both eyes at me. She looked a bit scary and I asked what was wrong.
You complain too much, she said.
I felt like saying look who's talking but somehow I just didn't get around to it. I didn't think she would take that well and I might get a cuff on the ear.
Man loves you and he gives you everything you could possibly want, she told
