Urchin and the carpet

Some days our hall runner grows paws and attacks your ankles. Fortunately the enormous bushy tail that the hall runner sprouts is a pretty clear indicator of those days.

Urchin and the (toy) Mouse

Urchin has a toy mouse (or had - I haven't seen it in a while) that makes chirping noises when she rolls it over. But it isn't as interesting as I am when I have a camera. There are many more extreme close-ups of a hairy and curious nose than there are beautiful supermodel poses. This is a pretty characteristic picture.

Urchin and the plastic

She was still quite a nervous little baby in April last year when she decided to show this piece of plastic who was the boss. Now she prefers toys that move so she can chase them. We're thinking about getting a little radio controlled car for her; we may even cover it in faux fur to give her a real thrill.

Silver tortie-tabby with white

Apparently Urchin's colour scheme is officially known as silver tortie-tabby with white. She would like to draw attention to how well she matches a slate floor.

Rainy Days And Mondays

What is a cat to do on a Bank Holiday Monday when it is raining too hard to go outside? Pretty much the same as most other days actually. But with a bit more wanton abandon. Look at how she peeps out from the arm of the chair, calculating whether she is going to have to defend her tummy from an onslaught of tickling!

Urchin and the Watering Can

For a while after Urchin first came to us we were worried about her fluid intake. As advised, we kept her on the dry food that her breeder had given her, but she wouldn't drink any water.

Then she let us know that she was more than happy to drink water. Just not out of a dish. She sticks her whole head in the watering can - we have to keep it full enough that she doesn't have to squash her ears completely to get out of it.

She will also drink from the bathroom taps, and rainwater in puddles, and from Paul's glass if he leaves it next to the bed, and she will drink cat-formulated milk from a saucer. Bet never, ever water from a dish.

Urchin and the Bag

Here's another classic from the archives. This was March 2009, and Urchin was demonstrating how well she had settled in to life at our house. This has also set the tone of the following year - she just loves being in the conservatory while Paul potters with his plants. In typical cat fashion she gets into everything, and provides important assistance with anything messy or dirty.

Lying in the shade of a tree

Fur Face is a very discerning lounge lizard and only likes the very finest dappled shade. She finds optimum comfort in the shade of a few bonsai'd maples.

Mischief Managed

It took a few days, but she did it! Urchin prised the bird box off the walnut tree. She was very disappointed to discover that there were no birds or eggs in the box, but now she sits next to it, hoping that the coal tits will continue to visit it on the ground. No chance with that enormous hairy lump sitting there!

Carrying out her evil plans

Having spent several days in reconnaissance, Urchin put her plans into action. She climbed the walnut tree and tried to get her paws behind the bird box, to try to lever it off the tree.