The YouTube is especially for Ascender (see the comments section!)
Milo’s nails are getting a bit long and he’s not over keen on the “scratchy cat” I bought him – the little tyke prefers to scratch my kitchen dresser. So to try and pre-empt having to sand the dresser down, P and I thought we’d find him a log he could scratch in the backyard. At the side of the house we have a small enclosed courtyard (with a five foot high wall around it) which is a really safe place for him to sniff the air, feel the breeze ruffle his fur and explore.
This morning we drove up Salcombe Hill to the woodland to find him a log – chunky but small, was what we were looking for; something a kitten could really get his claws into! After much fruitless searching (too small, too thin, too big) P found the perfect log; notice the look on his face below when he eventually found just the right one! Glee!
Before heading back, we took a short stroll along the National Trust Coastal Path to see the view over our home town; it was magnificent because the air was so clear but with no heat haze. That’s Sidmouth shoreline you can see below.
We sat and enjoyed the view before P reminded me that it was the German Grand Prix and we needed to head back home in case he missed it. He’s an ardent fan of Formula One.
When we got back we introduced Milo to his new log! He sniffed it. He explored it, He climbed on it. He sat on it. He stood on it. He explored it some more. Did he scratch it? NO!!!! Such is life.
The boys are now watching the Grand Prix together (as I type this post) – and rooting for Lewis Hamilton!
Alfie: Born (approximately) 1st September 2008 (from Cat's Protection rescue centre)
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That was nice, thanks for sharing.
DS
By: Don Smith on July 20, 2008
at 11:59 am
My cats used to scratch the barn wood that was used throughout the house as paneling. When the Captain took down all the barn wood, he built them a “club house” out of it. They still scratch it, but now it’s all theirs.
By: Stacey on July 20, 2008
at 1:33 pm
Got such a chuckle out of your title. My daughter used to go to college near some “lumberjacks” and she would sing this song all the time. The kitten in front of the tv really shows how tiny it is
By: AscenderRisesAbove on July 20, 2008
at 2:50 pm
Glad you enjoyed it Don - it doesn’t take much to make us happy these days and walks and views are for FREE!
Stacey,
That’s a brilliant idea re the “club house” – trouble is I can’t see myself dismantling my beautiful Victorian dresser to make Milo a “play house” – he’s just gonna gave to get used to that log!
Hi Ascender,
I have to admit I briefly contemplated putting a YouTube of the Lumberjack Song at the top of the post – then I thought folk might think I was wacky!!!!
I wish I had now!I’ve just added it!Yes, it is hard to tell how tiny Milo still is in other photos because they’re all close up – he is still small and cute – and did I tell you he’s cute? LOL!
By: Author on July 20, 2008
at 2:54 pm
I love that picture of Milo watching TV…he is so cute!
My cats get their wood fix in our trees. Princess likes to climb the tree and get up on the roof of the house for a little peace and quiet when the kids are home. I think she likes the view.
By: spatulahandle on July 20, 2008
at 3:29 pm
Hi Melanie,
I’m hoping Milo will get his wood fix from climbing trees when he’s older too. But in the meantime, I need to protect my dresser! It’s in danger of looking like a cartoon cat has left deep cartoon gouges in the wood! LOL!
By: Author on July 20, 2008
at 6:05 pm
Is there anything you can put on the dresser that would not hurt the wood but keep Milo from scratching it? There is a spray that is called “No Scratch” that keeps them from scratching stuff up, but I don’t know if it would hurt your dresser.
We just this week had to find a home for our 4 month old puppy that we had. She was tearing up our walls…she would find the tape that goes over the sheet rock seams and gnaw and dig at it until she had it ripped halfway up the wall. We are renting our house and she has done that in at least 4 spots…to add to it we found holes dug in the bottom of the sheet rock. We gave her to a next door neighbor who treats her very well. We miss her, but she is next door and we can see her whenever we want to.
By: spatulahandle on July 21, 2008
at 1:26 am
Melanie,
It’s a shame about your puppy but the solution of him being next door, is you get to see him without the problems. Is he likely to rip your neighbours wall paper though?
I’ll look out for some “no scratch” and read the label re the dresser. Thanks.
By: Author on July 21, 2008
at 6:28 am
The neighbors knew about her wall chewing habbits when they took her…they didn’t seem to be bothered by it.
By: spatulahandle on July 21, 2008
at 6:35 am
Maybe the enought time to train her – or maybe they have painted walls! It’s a great solution for you though.
It’s always hard with a young animal to know if they will fit in. And the trouble is by the time you’ve found out they may not, you’ve usually bonded with them and it’s painful to let them go.
By: Author on July 21, 2008
at 6:42 am
My husband and I have decided we are Cat people. It was a very difficult decision to make to give the puppy away, we adored her. We are hardly home though, during the day, and it was hard for us to train her. She misses us just as much as we miss her. The neighbor kid brought her over last night for a visit and she about licked me to death, she was so excited to see me.
By: spatulahandle on July 21, 2008
at 7:07 am
Oh how sad! At least, next door you can see her regularly.
By: Author on July 21, 2008
at 7:12 am
Maybe poor Milo was intimidated by the statue (who? Shakespeare?) that you put that log next to? LOVE it when the pets watch TV; they must know it amuses the humans…
By: CuriousC on July 22, 2008
at 11:07 am
He is just the cutest!
By: divakitty on July 22, 2008
at 7:40 pm
CuriousC,
He loves watching the motor sport with his Dad – I guess it’s the fast moving cars!
DivaKitty,
I know! But so are you Sophia!
By: Author on July 22, 2008
at 8:15 pm
I love the photo of Milo watching the TV – it reminded me of a cat we had 30+ years ago. He used to watch the opening sequence of Snooker and ducked each time the snooker ball rolled across the table and into the corner pocket at the bottom edge of the screen.
By: Penny Southwell on July 23, 2008
at 4:36 pm