Breeze up her skirts

When the wind gets behind the cat she tends to hurtle a lot and jump around like a baby goat.

Urchin and the door

Proof, if proof were needed, that she is a ridiculous beast. She climbed on top of the door (there's a curtain rod above the door, don't know why) and draped herself around it, threatening to fall on the head of passers by.

Urchin and the bonsai

Urchin can be a little menace sometimes. She has realised that gnawing bonsai branches is a very good way to make her father pay attention to her (she also knows it doesn't work on me). But we've never seen her get this carried away. This morning she decided to really get stuck into the bonsai pruning as a way to convince us that it was time for cats to be outside.

Urchin and the Towel

Urchin has a very set routine when it rains. She stays out until she is soaked through, then runs screaming inside. She goes to her towel, and then expects to be rubbed down while she stuffs her little face. Apparently being wet makes a cat very, very hungry. Then she curls up in an available lap to complete drying off. She doesn't mind if the lap gets damp.

Hirsute Pursuit

Urchin gets very excited when the fishing line comes out. She recognises the clicking noises the reel makes (which is inconvenient because my ipod makes similar clicking noises) and just loves it when Paul casts for her. She'll play this game for hours.

Urchin and the String

Even the bliss of a hammock can be improved with some toys. Urchin's current favourite is this ball of string - she absconded with it while we were using it for gardening. I can absolutely assure you that it is not the same ball of string that I used for trussing my chicken, although she has her eye on that one too.

Emotional blackmail

The downside of living with a vocal animal like a Maine Coon is that they tell you how deeply they are suffering. Even as I type Urchin is sitting behind my chair telling me that she is going to write to her MP about the cruelty that she is enduring. In this instance my major shortcoming is that I only let her have 15 minutes out doors this evening before it got dark.

But every weekend, when we sit in the conservatory drinking our coffee, we are treated to the most heartbreaking wails as she tries to dig her way to freedom. We generally last about 15 minutes before we cave in.

New Catnip Mouse

Urchin's Aunty Irianwen very kindly offered to make her a catnip mouse. She has access to fresh, homegrown catnip and a goodly supply of felt and thought Urchin may be amused by such a thing. I think the video shows that Urchin was very much impressed by this kind thought! She fell on it as soon as she saw it and gave it a good kicking.

I feel a bit irresponsible, letting my baby cat have access to drugs like that, but she does enjoy the occasional nip.

Urchin and the new fishing rod

Paul has a new fishing rod, which Urchin is helping him test. She's very generous with her assistance that way.

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.

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.

Urchin and the hose

The people who say cats don't like water have obviously never seen Urchin. The hose is her favourite thing. She has been seen to lie on it and rub her face on it and purr at it. She also likes sitting in the basin and drinking straight from the tap.