The Great Escape Artists

 When the workmen were here yesterday, we were so careful with the cats. The workmen were installing a new air conditioner, so they had the big window open so they could go in and out to fit the air conditioner. I was relieved when they left, and the window was closed and locked. The windows are like sliding doors, and even though they are heavy, the cats can open them.

After lunch, I was in my room, the only other room with air conditioning. I spent the afternoon reading! At about 4 o'clock, I went to check on the cats. They all seemed alright, but I couldn't find Mama. I looked everywhere, even in the litter boxes! After about an hour of checking everywhere twice, I realised that she had somehow gotten out, but how! 

Later in the evening, I was explaining this to David, he said that it looked like she had pushed his screen door off the rail a bit and got out that way! He had his window open but had taped the screen so it wouldn't slide, but somehow Mama managed to move it enough to get out!

Mama came back this morning.

Mama, this morning.

I think she was hungry!

Today, Toast found the same way out! I hope he comes back soon!

Stressed Cats

 Yesterday was flea medicine time!

As always, the cats ran away and hid when we were trying to do it! Then they sulked for the rest of the day!

Today we had workmen in to install a new air conditioner. Because the big window had to be opened, we moved the cats to the tatami room while the workmen were here. The cats were not happy at all!

David decided to give them a treat for lunch, a mix of canned food, which had been in the fridge overnight, so it was nice and cool (it's really hot here, 35℃ today) and dried food, with bits of chicken thrown in.

As David was mixing this up, the cats were getting very vocal!

But once they were eating, it was incredibly quiet!

I Lost Fluffy

 All of the cats have their favourite place to hang out.

Seven of the cats love to be in the dining area; the kitchen/dining area is one long room. In the cooler months, the cats would be near the windows or curled up on the sofa. Now they've taken over the table because the fan is blowing across there.

Where to eat?

Alfie stays in the tatami room. He likes being by himself or with just one other cat, either Toast or Fred.

Fluffy, however, changes her favourite place every few months!

When it was cold, she would be in the kitchen a lot. I put a small, round table in the kitchen, which is a similar height to the counter. My idea was to use that for my cookbooks or iPad, a place to have the books without them getting covered in food or being in the way. But Fluffy took that over! That became her perch! Until a couple of weeks ago!

I came into the kitchen one morning, and Fluffy wasn't in her usual place. I didn't think anything about it. After a couple of days, I realised that she was stalking me when I was cooking chicken or meat. That was unusual.  I decided to see where she was. This house isn't that big, and there aren't that many hiding places, but after two hours of searching, I was very worried. I looked under things, in things, I had moved furniture and opened cupboards, but no Fluffy.

I was worried that she had somehow gotten out or was sick and hiding somewhere. Either one of those scenarios wasn't good.

When everyone came home, I asked them to look for Fluffy.

My oldest son said she was in his room, but I had looked in there.

He said look up!

I found Fluffy balanced on the curtain rail!

Fluffy is balancing on the curtain rail.

My son said that she had been sleeping up there, but keeps falling down!

I wonder where she will go next time!

How The Cats Will Make Money

 Out of all the expenses I have, keeping the cats is one of the highest.

Because some of them have had problems with peeing, we feed them expensive food that stops crystals from forming in the urethra. At first, we thought about buying separate food, but soon realised that the cats would eat from the wrong bowl. It's just easier to feed them all the same food.

Then there are the other things that we need to buy, flea meds, cat litter and the occasional trip to the vets. Plus, replacing things that they have broken or peed on, it all adds up.

So I've been busy setting up an Etsy Shop to sell print-on-demand T-shirts inspired by my love for cats and Japan.

Here is the link JackiesNekoTales - Etsy Japan

Have a look. I hope you find something that you like!

One of the images I made

This was the original photo

Alfie

Alfie is my other grey, black and white cat.

Alfie

 Of all my cats, he is the most catish! 

He doesn't like people too much. He will endure some pets, but always on his terms. Once he's had enough, he's off!

He doesn't hang out with the other cats that much either; he will tolerate being with one other cat, but most of the time, he is by himself. At the moment, 7 of my cats are in the dining area, curled up together. Alfie and Fluffy are in the tatami room. This is normal!

He's quieter than the other cats, but if he gets upset, everyone knows it. We've had neighbourhood cats come around recently. I don't know if they are strays or if they belong to someone. But whenever they come around, my cats start fighting more, even laid back Alfie has been known to hiss and yeowl!

Just a few photos of Alfie.

In these photos, he is with Toast, the black cat or Fred, the other grey, black and white cat. He seems to get on with these two cats the best. 

The Cats Are On The Table

 I was rather surprised when I went to the dining room this afternoon. Six of my nine cats were on the table.

At first, I couldn't figure out why they usually get on the windowsill or the kitchen counter. 

I then realised that I had left the fan on, and the table was a nice and cool place to sleep on.

Today was very hot, the high was 31℃. I know that compared to Europe, it isn't that bad, but this is just the beginning of the summer.

I'm looking for some cooling treats for the cats. I'm looking for some cooling treats for me as well!

Before anyone comments on how bad it is to have the cats on the table, I know that. I tried to stop them, but that is impossible. So I disinfect and wipe the table with very hot water before we eat. It takes a lot less energy to do that than to stop the cats!

The Cats And Rain

 We are in the middle of the rainy season here in Japan. It's been raining almost nonstop most of the week. 

I've noticed that the cats are rather lethargic and fighting more than usual.

I checked online and found out that cats are also sensitive to the barometric pressure. I know that when the pressure drops, I get awful headaches and have very little energy, also I get very short-tempered. The cats are the same. 

Another thing that upsets the cats is the sound of the rain. The storms we've been having are very intense, the noise of the rain hitting the house is very loud to me, I think cats with their extra sensitive hearing must be really suffering!

I've put extra boxes around the house so that the cats can find a place to hide. I hope it helps. 

Fluffy is still up to mischief. She stole my chicken and water the other day. Yesterday she swiped the last piece of hamburger from my plate!

That's my last bit of hamburger!