Category: Cats

Weekend Update

We got some rain this week (as opposed to snow), and some of my plants are decidedly perking up.
Greenery
Violets

I didn’t do a whole lot in my yard this weekend, though I did finally decide which plants I want in the flowerbed under the window and weeded out all the sprouts of other things. I also spent about an hour sitting by the back door with it open yesterday and Dash finally ventured outside: he sat on the step for a while, then jumped back inside when I got up to go outside with him.

Dash still not outside

I got a second harness/leash last weekend so I could have both cats outside together, and also so I wouldn’t have to keep adjusting one harness to switch it between cats. There’s certainly hope for the together part working since Dash sniffed around where Talore was before going back for the door, but not yet.

Talore didn’t want to go outside today, but I suspect that relates to the events when she discovered the end of her leash. I’d put the harness on Talore first and had her leashed to the door handle while I convinced Dash that he was going to let me put his harness on too. Apparently Talore didn’t realize I’d hooked the leash on something and she decided she was going upstairs: she got a running start and jumped for the landing, and was in mid-air when she hit the end of the leash. She did most of a backflip, knocked a lamp over with the leash (I caught it), and ended up with the harness pulled half way over her head (pinning her front legs to her neck). I got her straightened out, but let her go hide under the bed for a while to recover.

Once I finally managed to get Talore outside she settled down quickly and nibbled the tops off a few plants.
Talore nibbling

I finally got around to looking it up: hummingbirds are expected in Colorado next month. So long as it doesn’t looke like it’s going to freeze I’ll just leave the feeder out till then.

Spring

It’s finally warmed up somewhat, so I’ve spent some time the last couple weekends messing with my yard. I noticed last weekend that some plants are sprouting, so I finally got around to at least partially clearing out all the dead bits from last year.

Last year I gathered a bunch of dead leaves and stalks, crumpled them up, and left them in the flowerbed under a window thinking that it would rot and make nutrient-rich soil for this year. I suspect it’s a bit dry for that to work so easily here (at least in the winter): I ended up with 2+ inches of basically dust, through which very little was growing. Now I’ve got a tub in my garage full of leaf dust that I’m not entirely sure what to do with. I don’t think composting it in my garage is going to work, but maybe I’ll spread it back in the flowerbed when stuff is already growing and the summer rains will break it down a bit. If that doesn’t work maybe it’ll deter weeds.

Also, the lilac is still being invasive, so I used my new trowel and clippers to dig up and trim back the roots that it had sticking out 3+ feet on both sides. Having a proper trowel, even if it is the 88 cent plastic one from Home Depot, sure beats digging with my hands.

Since I was spending some time outside I thought the cats might appreciate joining me. Talore tolerates the harness pretty well, and while she isn’t particularly enthusiastic about being outside she is content to sit in the grass and nibble on the tips of things.
Talore in grass

I even thought maybe Dash would want to come outside since he was sitting just inside the door watching.
Dash inside

He only meowed a little as I carried him outside, and when I put him where Talore had been sitting he stayed there briefly and looked around. Then right after I anchored the leash with a paving stone he bolted for the door.
Dash not wanting to be outside

I heard him get out of the grass, and when I turned around he was doing his best to drag the anchor to the door. When I let him loose he went right back to where he had been, except since he was leashed I left the door open and he got close enough to stick his face outside. Apparently that’s all the exposure to “nature” he wants. Maybe if I get another harness and have him out at the same time as Talore he’ll do better.

Dash almost outside

Since it’s been warm I hung the hummingbird feeder up, though it’s supposed to snow tomorrow night so I’ll need to bring it back inside. This is right outside and below one of the windows the cats look out so if any hummingbirds actually come to feed this year they’ll be entertainment for the cats, who will in turn probably provide entertainment for me (even if I have to clean up drool off the windowsill).
Hummingbird Feeder

Cat Beds

Short post since it’s late. Long story short I’ve been playing lots of WoW and Kerbal Space Program and not posting on my blog.

After Dash started sleeping in the heated bed I got for Talore I figured I needed to either get another bed of the same size for Talore or a bigger one for Dash or both of them. When I got to looking I discovered that the line of beds I’d gotten the first one from had apparently been discontinued in favor of a more colorful line that’s about the same thing. I ended up getting the larger size, but getting the one with higher walls. I’d say it worked out well enough:

I’m not sure why Talore puts her paws on the edge when Dash is in the bed too. In the last picture I took of them both in it (not posting since it didn’t turn out well) she had both front paws and her chin on the edge and that’s how she was sleeping.

Both cats fit in it comfortably at the same time (unless Dash disturbs Talore when he’s getting in: then either he gets chased off or Talore leaves). Alternately, either cat can sleep in it alone and the padding on the bottom fluffs up around them enough for them to be comfortable and warm. With the large bed on my desk Talore usually sleeps in the other bed and Dash sleeps in the large one.