A thread for dog and cat lovers

[boatlady]

First topic message reminder :

I'm noticing several of us seem to enjoy trading stories about our four-legged companions, and wondered if people would enjoy having a dedicated thread for this - possibly to include photos of them if people want to show off the beauty of their particular animal friend.
 
Having been for many years owned by a series of cats, I one day took charge of a couple of Yorkshire terriers whose owner had just died - I'm now a complete dog convert - but still love cats. The Yorkies are long gone, but have been replaced because I found I just couldn't do without dogs.
 
Currently, my four-legged family consists of Jennie, a Jack Russell bitch who is more intelligent and more lovable than most of the people I meet, and a terrier cross named Jimbob who embodies enthusiasm and never fails to bring a smile.

[boatlady]

I love the way cats can continue to hold a grudge - for years and years and years ----

[Phillip J H]

I love the way cats can continue to hold a grudge - for years and years and years ----

Our two box each other at times but still can be found sleeping on the bed together at others!

[boatlady]

Oh well - a feud's only a feud, but a comfy bed - now that's something worth having - even if you have to share

[Phillip J H]

Oh well - a feud's only a feud, but a comfy bed - now that's something worth having - even if you have to share

It's not worth us having at times because those two take up most of it!

[Phil Hornby]

Latest Poll Results...



" Don't you feel that Mr Cameron is just purrrrfect...?"

" Nah - he's barking..."

[Phillip J H]

Latest Poll Results...



" Don't you feel that Mr Cameron is just purrrrfect...?"

" Nah - he's barking..."

I used to love foxes until i caught one stalking my cat in the garden the other day

[stuart torr]

Do not tell Cameron or he will shoot it Phil.

[Phillip J H]

Do not tell Cameron or he will shoot it Phil.

Urbun foxes are a bit of a worry though. They are becoming a lot more brazen, that's fine but they must NOT stalk my cats, else there will be hell to play.

Bit like my neighbour who is a cat hating/racist/daily mail reading crappy Tory/UKIP person!

Our housing association warned us about him prior to us taking on this tenancy, as he'd cornered the housing officer and said no blacks or asians!

.....We had to bid for the property, but he didn't say anything about two gays moving in!

[Phillip J H]

My partner saw him poining out our window bill to his daughter when he was opening the blinds this morning!

Yes...I also knew that it would wind up the stupid neanderthal!!!!

[stuart torr]

Do not let idiots like that worry you phil as they are getting less so you and doug should give him two fingers when you see him peeking out the blinds.

[Phillip J H]

Hey!

He's the sensible one devoid of most political issues!

[Phillip J H]

EDIT:

My partner is a sensible person. He doesn't agree with direct politics on a local level!

Thank fook for that!

[boatlady]

Can we try to keep to the topic please - personal chit chat like this should be via personal messages (the clue's in the name really)

[boatlady]

The further adventures of Jennie and Jimbob

Jennie and Jimbob have had an  exciting Bank Holiday weekend and are very tired.
On Sunday, they had a day out on the boat and a visit to Grandma, who gave them a very little bit of chocolate and a handful of carob drops after their dinner. They had a lovely prance on the river bank and helped us to finish the picnic lunch.
This afternoon, they had an unexpected visit from Jimbob's very best friend, a little girl who was only 5 when he was born and who he loved playing with until she moved away with her parents 2 years ago. She visited with her parents and played with him again and fed the fishes (Jimbob really loves fish food so he helped her)
Now they are curled up on the sofa with their daddy and dreaming sweet dreams.

[boatlady]

Jennie and Jimbob thought, as everyone is so upset and depressed about the politics, that people might like to hear about their weekend activities - which they enjoyed very much.

They went on the boat for a very short voyage on Friday afternoon and then had a weekend-long picnic on the riverbank near Oulton Broad, with a lovely soft blanket to sleep on in the sun and lots of nice things to eat. They had several lovely walks and explored some lovely smelly ditches, then they went back to the boat where they had lovely things to eat (turkey, chicken, cheese, biscuits, jerky and some naughty ginger snaps, washed down with several cups of tea)

On Sunday morning they got up and had some bacon and egg, then were taken on a visit to Grandma who gave them a lovely tea.

They've come home now and said hello to the fishes and all the neighbours and now they're having a lovely snooze in their armchair waiting for bed time.

Jennie and Jimbob really hope hearing about their weekend helps to cheer everyone up

[Phil Hornby]

So much better than all the other matters competing for attention just now...!

[boatlady]

That's what I hoped - we all need a rest every now and again

[oftenwrong]

Earlier this year we had to replace a wooden board which had rotted, on the end gable of our house. Within a short time of the job being completed I became aware of a tremendous cafuffle from a bluetit repeatedly flying at and pecking the new wood just under the eaves. Clearly we had blocked the entrance to a nest.

Peace was restored when we drilled a 50 mm hole, and I was subsequently pleased to learn that the Law actually obliges us to do precisely that in all such circumstances. Three cheeky young birds now treat my garden as their own, but have so far not offered to pay any rent.

[boatlady]

Bird life in the garden is worth a bit of inconvenience, isn't it?

[oftenwrong]

Cats, dogs and birdlife are no better at living together in peace than are components of the British political system.

We enjoy seeing the birds foraging and frolicking as the seasons pass, they include pigeons, blackbirds, bluetits, sparrows, robins, wrens, crows, and other common sights, with the occasional pheasant and grouse straying from a nearby hunting chase. Highpoint this year was a solitary heron that rested here for a few minutes.

Unfortunately we also see domestic cats moving around the locality, associated with the odd bird corpse found on our lawn in the morning. Not inconvenient, but definitely distressing when it occurs.

[boatlady]

Years ago, when I was a mad cat lady with four cats, there was a blackbird nesting nearby - every single year, my cats made it a project to slaughter each and every one of her chicks - she never seemed to learn, but she expressed herself on the topic with great force and passion year on year.

Now, in a very small walled town garden, I mostly get gulls, who have an eye to the fishpond - so far, we're OK but I confidently expect they will eat one or more of the fish any time soon.

[Ivan]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CqNEKk4UkAATlZf.jpg

[boatlady]

Yes - that's about right

[Ivan]

Tamaskan husky Raven was taken to a shelter to pick her own kitty to grow up with


http://linkis.com/www.boredpanda.com/h/SWv0Y

[oftenwrong]

We have a pair of cats, via a rescue service, who are sisters though not particularly "close" emotionally.  The Gordon Setter treats them equally with disdain, but cannot stop himself from the occasional points-scoring.  If I have a cat on my lap, Iain will dislodge it with a casual but effective side-swipe of his muzzle. The dog and cats have to be fed at different times and locations, so needless to say there are no photos available to complement the previous posting.
(sigh!)

[Phil Hornby]

Please reassure us that the cats are not called Duncan and Smith...

[boatlady]

My two have a very traditional attitude to cats - when Katie, the cat, got too old to jump up to the top of the fish tank, she had to go into a retirement home at my mum's, where she enjoyed several more years before fading away genteely

[Ivan]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C19MRD4WQAAmzQ2.jpg

[boatlady]

[Ivan]

Source: Twitter

[boatlady]

The 2017 adventures of Jennie and Jimbob
Jennie and Jimbob have had an eventful couple of weeks. Last week, they had a lovely young man in the garden to do some hard landscaping - what fun they had distracting him from closing the gate so they could have a lovely run all around the neighbourhood!
On Monday they went off for a few days on the boat where prancing and sleeping were practised in a most effectual way. Jimbob had a long walk with Boatman but Jennie felt that long walks were definitely something for the younger generation so stayed quietly on the boat, helping out with the chores by mostly staying out of the way on her chair.
They have returned home to find the conservatory full of bags left by Boatman's brothers (no sign of brothers) which smell WONDERFUL - so they are feeling really rather glad.
Personally, I can do without unexpected visitors - but who asked me?

[oftenwrong]

Our daughter's family have acquired a lovely barmy dog from an animal shelter, and he has settled very well into a pampered existence, with a single exception, which is that you can't leave him tied-up anywhere or under any circumstances as he creates a personal world war three. The presumption is that he must have been abandoned by the previous "owners" and didn't enjoy the experience. He needn't worry about a recurrence of any such situation, but of course he will.

Why is it so easy for people to abandon an animal they have presumably chosen?

[boatlady]

my first dog, Pippa, was given to a young couple as a house warming present. They dealt with her puppy quirks by
1) locking her in a dark cupboard whenever she was naughty
2) cleaning her coat with the hoover
3) never ever taking her for walks

She came to me, aged 4 months, with severe separation anxiety issues and an ungovernable desire to escape - eventually after the loss of a bed headboard, a full set of seatbelts in my car, a rather expensive sofa and the respect and positive regard of everyone I knew, it seemed the only solution was to rehome her with my mum, who, being retired, was able to provide her with the stability she needed to get on with her life.
Couple of years before she died, I had the pleasure of taking her on several walks in the Peak District where she behaved in an exemplary manner - I hope she will be waiting for me on the other side of the rainbow bridge

[Ivan]

When you lied on your CV about having previous sheepdog experience........


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DKkByxjXUAAeKl8.jpg

[boatlady]

[oftenwrong]

Such a picture might just as easily accompany a story about the feelings of a newly-wed husband after the honeymoon is over.

Just sayin'

[boatlady]

I'm thinking that dog is busy making lemonade (having been issued lemons from the commissary of life)

[Ivan]

You don't have to be the same to be the best of friends.


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DLdsX_PW0AId-eF.jpg

[boatlady]

Golden retrievers have the knack of always looking proud and happy - whatever the circumstances (and just a bit as though they would like a snack)

[Phil Hornby]

(Bordeaux expats)

[oftenwrong]

I would just like it to be known generally, that if there IS an afterlife, I would like to spend it as an English domestic pet.

Thank you.

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