Clawde - The Social Cat-terfly

Most people wouldn't describe cats as being social butterflies or creatures that seem to care about others - either cats, dogs, humans or anything in between.  Previous cats in my life certainly haven't been terribly social with people or animals that they don't know, and sometimes not even with those that they do know.

Nip was a one-person cat, and she chose to make herself scarce when other people were around. She did love her brother, Tuck, although they had a typical brother-sister relationship, and would go from grooming to fighting in the blink of an eye.  She learned to tolerate guinea pigs, cockatiels, dogs, and especially Shawn. Sometimes she would bestow her attentions upon him, but more often than not he was greeted with an icy f-you stare as he dared enter her general space.  She was an anomaly though, and most other family cats have been affectionate, but still cautious.

Nip - letting you know exactly what she thinks of you.

And then we got Clawde.  Clawde LOVES his family, and yes, that needs to be in capitals because he really does love everyone in his social sphere.  The dogs are always greeted with head boops and a groom and ear clean with a rough tongue.  He doesn't just walk over to them if he decides he's missed them, he trots over to give his affections, often much to the confusion of the dog, who has just walked into the house.

Clawde knows he's pretty special

Clawde loves Purrkins too.  When we first brought Purrkins home, Clawde could not wait to groom his soft grey fur.  Purrkins was younger and much preferred to have a wrestle, but he submitted to Clawde's affection and seemed to enjoy it.  Clawde would then expect reciprocal grooming and quietly bow his head in front of Purrkins, waiting for his turn.  Purrkins is more a taker than a giver, and usually decides after about two token licks that a body tackle is more appropriate.  Clawde tends to go flying across the room with Purrkins' paws wrapped around him and his teeth sunk into his neck.  Not one to give up, Clawde rights himself and attempts to groom Purrkins once again.  And so it has gone on for years.  Purrkins has increased his groom time from those early days, but he still loves a good wrestle.  You can just see the frustration on Clawde's face as he waits for his fair share.

Best buddies - what Clawde wants to do.

What Purrkins would prefer to be doing.

Clawde's love extends to the humans too.  He is a very affectionate cat, not necessarily always on your lap (except in winter when he soaks up the warmth), but usually in the same room as you, and he always has a soft chirp and a slow blink when you walk by him.  He likes to maintain an aura of aloofness, but in fact, he's a big sook.

He loves his people.

If we have company over, or anyone visits the house, he either goes to check them out outside, or comes into the room to see what's going on.  He has to be in the centre of it.  A seat at or under the table during a dinner party is a requirement (not to mention everyone thinks he is 'so cute' that he often gets little nibbles gifted to him - his favourite being salt and vinegar chips).  That cat knows how to play the game and exploit our weak spots.

We also have to be careful if we have tradies around to do work on the house.  Clawde is famous for jumping into their ute or van, thoroughly inspecting their tools and supplies.  We always ask them to check their vehicle before they leave because one day he will probably end up locked in the vehicle and departing on an adventure.

Even in his humiliation, he has to hang out.

The various dogs that we pet sit aren't immune from the attentions either.  It's probably a bit unsettling for those that aren't raised around cats, but if you need to socialise your dog to a cat, Clawde is the best option.  He likes to let them know he's boss with a steely stare and a puffed stance, and then once they submit, he rubs his scent onto them with a gentle head boop and sweep of the tail.  needless to say, this can be very confusing to a dog, but they soon are fascinated.  Our current boarder, Benson the Labrador, is enamoured of him, and spends most of his time staring at him while wagging his tail, crying when he gets ignored and checking out Clawde's bottom with his nose.  I'm not sure what confuses him more -  when Clawde ignores him or Clawde goes for the rub and the groom.  Whatever, it keeps them both entertained.

Clawde having a whisper to Chamois

I've never had a cat quite as social as Clawde, and maybe never will again.  I'm sure his mission on earth is to love everyone and welcome them into his home.  And that is definitely his home and family, not ours.  I like to think that, as a rescue cat, he is forever grateful for his good fortune, and wishes to pass the good karma along.

Manu not quite convinced of Clawde's love.

Friday Follies - 10 Reasons We Love Australa on Australia Day

Happy Australia Day!
Looking past the debate over the date and all of the cultural issues, let's just celebrate Australia in all of it's glory.  Here are some of the reasons why Australia is great and should be celebrated, not just on 26 January, but every day.

1.  The Beaches
Honestly, Australia has some of the best beaches in the world and I've only seen a few of them, relatively speaking.  White sparkling sand going as far as the eye can see, quaint bays surrounded by imposing cliffs, gentle waves undulating in water that goes from turquoise to the deepest violet - we really are spoiled.  When I lived in Canada, all I ever wanted to do when I went overseas was to go somewhere with beaches.  Now that I live in this blessed country, beaches are not my overseas holiday priority because I have amazing ones right on my doorstep.

75 Mile Beach, Fraser Island - one of my favourite spots

2.  The Weather
People always think that Australia is warm and sunny all the time.  In fact, the weather across this vast country is more varied than people overseas realise.  We get snow, we get hurricanes, we get blistering heat, we get cold (okay, definitely not as cold as Canada or anywhere near it, I'll admit that), we have dry air, we have humid air, we have it all.  It can feel like you have travelled to a completely different country when you travel domestically, nothing beats the variety.

Weather Diversity

3.  The Wildlife
Australia is home to some of the most unique wildlife in the world.  Whoever thought up the platypus must have been enjoying some pharmaceuticals, I think.  You don't have to go far to see the wildlife either.  Wallabies and kangaroos are often spotted in suburban areas, and the most beautiful birds are at your back door.

What are you looking at?

 

Rainbow Lorikeets 
We see this in our yard every day.

4.  The Scenery
Like the weather, Australia has some of the most diverse scenery in the world.  From gorgeous ocean vistas to sweeping, endless views of red sand dunes, stretching to the horizon.  Uluru rises out of the desert, the monolith commanding attention from every angle.  Rainforests in the north are lush and flowing with water during the rainy season.  The Outback is either very dry in drought, or extremely wet during the rare rains, with plants and flowers greedily raising to the sun from the rare treat of water.  You can drive two hours in any direction and the scenery will change.  It's fascinating and hypnotising.

Uluru - nothing compares

5.  The Great Barrier Reef
It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.  It's accessibility makes it a tourist staple, and whether you dive, snorkel or view it from a glass bottom boat, there is always something to see and be amazed by.

Magnificent!

6.  The Food and Drink
Politics aside, the Australia of today was built on the back of immigrants.  Their desire to leave their homes and build a better life has made the country what it is today.  They brought their traditional food and drinks with them, and we are richer for it.  You can get any kind of food that you want, and of course our beer and wine industries are booming (I like to help the economy in that respect).  You can't go wrong with an Aussie wine or beer (and our beer is 100X better than that American stuff).

Mmmmm, two of my favourite things

 

Just a very, very small sample of beer available

7.  World Class Cities
I don't think that you can fly into Sydney and not have your breathe taken away.  The Harbour Bridge and Opera House shine like jewels in the harbour, with sailing boats and yachts dotting the bays.  Flying into Sydney is one of my favourite things and an iconic view.  Melbourne rivals any major city in the world, Brisbane is a big city with a country heart, Perth and Adelaide enjoy almost a boutique feel, Hobart has a great historic vibe and Darwin is a unique mix of cultures sweating it out in the tropical heat.  Our nation's capital, Canberra, was purpose built as the centre of government.  Apart from the big cities, the country is littered with quaint small towns with big hearts.

Iconic Sydney

8.  Big Things
No other country has embraced 'big things' more than Australia.  We have the Big Prawn, the Big Banana, the Big Pineapple, the Big Guitar, the Big Sheep, the Big Gumboot...the list goes on.  The make 'em big in Australia!  Apparently my butt is starting to follow in the great Aussie tradition....partially due to #6.

Big Banana

 

Big Prawn

 

Big Gumboot

9.  The Language
The Aussie twang is recognised around the world, and the slang is colourful and sometimes undecipherable to outsiders. 

10.  The People
Anywhere you go, the place is only as good as the people.  A friendly smile and a G'day are common.  Sure, we have nasty people here - bludgers, criminals and the ever-present asses, but overall, Aussies are good people, willing to lend a hand, give it a go and embrace you.

Have a wonderful Australia Day, whatever you are doing.  I will be on the beach enjoying the sun, sand and surf, and maybe a sneaky beer!

Caproghagia - It Makes You Un-Poop-Ular

Hi.  My name is Christine and my dog is a poo-eater.  Not just a poo-eater, but an avid poo-eater.  Manu does not discriminate.  He will eat his own poo, Chamois' poo, the cats' poo, the chicken poo, duck poo, and I'm sure if he had access, horse and cow poo too.

Um, no.

If I want to sound a bit posh and like my dog has some trendy affliction, I'll say he has coprophagia, which means the consumption of faeces.  Actually, consumption sounds better than eating, chowing down, having a feed.  Consuming.....like he is helping the economy.  Yes, I think I like this term.

Manu has consumed faeces of all types since we adopted him at 18 months.  It's not uncommon for me to get home and drive through the gate, spying him hunkered over, pushing out a big one in the corner of the yard.  Before you can blink, he turns around, sniffs it and starts con-soo-ming.  Oh, I can feel the disgust coming off you, and I can't disagree.  It is gross.  Grosser than gross.

And that's why we call Manu 'The Recycler'

Now if Manu was a rabbit, this behaviour is normal and in fact necessary.  When a rabbit does a poop (we used to call them 'marbles' growing up, because they would roll across the floor as Twitch was having her exercise in the house) the first time it comes out, it is a substance called cecatropes.  This is produced through a fermentation process in part of their digestive tract and contains more protein, less fibre and some essential nutrients.  It is beneficial to rabbits to eat this type of poop.

Manu is not a rabbit.  It has no benefit for him.  Well, maybe pleasure - he does seem to enjoy himself.

Dogs can indulge in this type of behaviour for many reasons.  It may be a physical or medical reason or it may be behavioural.  Manu's caprophagia falls into the behavioural side.

We do know that Manu's original owners didn't do him a lot of favours early in life, and while probably not abused, he was definitely not socialised enough and we believe that he was left alone in the yard a lot without much attention.  This would explain his obsessive and needy behaviour.  Maybe his first owners reacted loudly and often when he ate poo as a puppy, as puppies often do, and he realised that he could get attention this way.  Perhaps he had accidents in the house or inappropriately, as puppies often do, and was not trained correctly about where and when it is acceptable to do your poo's and wee's.    So now we have a sort-of explanation about why Manu might eat his own droppings.

But that doesn't explain his equal love for the droppings of other species.

Apparently cat faeces and chicken and duck poo is very enticing to dogs - I'm not sure if it's the taste, or the smell or the texture, and I don't care enough to investigate - but I do know that lots and lots of dogs like cleaning up after cats, and they also love eating and rolling in chicken poo.  We get a double-whammy from Manu on that one - he loves to have a roll in chicken poo.  Daily.  Sigh....

I hear you ask how does one break this habit...I know that you are only asking out of curiousity and for research in case your dog does it one day, not to point out that maybe, just maybe, I should be doing something about this. Well, you need to be right there at the moment he is about to sink his teeth into a turd.  I work, we live on acreage and I'm not about to follow my dog around to give him positive reinforcement if he turns his attention to me instead of  the steaming pile.  I have heard of some people having success with dousing the doo-doo with hot sauce, but again, that involves catching it in its fresh state.  What would the neighbours think if I ran around the yard pouring hot sauce onto my dogs' turds?  They already think we are lunatics....


Other than the 'ick' factor, I don't see it as one of the more harmful behaviours, it's just revolting.  A lot of things revolt me - I revolt myself sometimes (have you ever experienced what happens to your guts after a night of fajitas and beer??), but you know, I live with it and move on.

Sometimes he'll catch you off guard as you let him in to the house, his face split into a wide grin and panting with excitement.  And then it hits you like a slap as the poo-breath wafts up to your nose. 

I don't smell, do I?

'Oh gross, Manu, you disgusting dog', you screech, while he looks at you wagging his tail.  He knows it's worth it, and that actually you still love him very much. 

Just no kisses please.

Perhaps this is the answer.



Friday Follies - Musical Memories

While conducting my housekeeping duties last weekend (yes, I lead an extremely glamorous life and I am very sure that you are all jealous.  Is this the stuff we dreamed about when we were teenagers, wishing with all of our might that we were adults?), I endeavoured to make the chores less painful by listening to music. 


Oh, those were the days.





As I was cleaning out the toilets (I told you - it's pretty exciting!), an old 80's favourite on my playlist pounded into my ears through the headphones - Thunderstruck by AC/DC.  The familiar beat and anthem almost stopped me in my tracks as the memories flooded into my head of my nightclub days.  Barry T's, Glory Days, Goose Loonies, the Purple Onion (although to call that place a nightclub is a bit of a stretch - Loonie Hour was the attraction there - cheap booze and lots of it!), and the Thunderdome, which always played the thumping course of Thunderstruck at least twice during the night.  And then, without warning, my eyes welled up with tears as I was overwhelmed by the happy memories of going to these places with my best friend.  Man, we had some fun.  And no, none of those stories will be shared, and quite frankly, I am grateful every minute of every day that social media did not exist then.  We dodged the proverbial bullet there.

Anyway, that moment got me thinking about the power of music and how it can take you back to a particular moment in your life, or a particular feeling.  It's powerful stuff.
I'd say that probably one of the earliest musical memories that I have is the Tony Orlando and Dawn song, 'Tie a Yellow Ribbon'.  Not that you ever hear it any more, but it brings back memories of my very, very early life, and Mum singing it in our basement suite in Skunk Hollow, Edmonton.  See Mum, your singing is memorable!

ABBA was big during the years in the mid-70's when we lived in Australia, and an ABBA song will evoke memories of our life in Wollongong - beaches and picnics and warm days playing outside.  Fleetwood Mac makes me think of Australia at that time too because the Rumours album was huge, and I can remember that record always being on when Mum and Dad had friends around.

Ew, those tight white pants.....

As my ever-suffering husband is very aware, Christmas music has a very powerful hold over me.  It doesn't matter what I'm doing, how stressed I am or how crazy my life is, a few bars of a Christmas song automatically calms me.  I can actually feel my breathing and heart rate slow as a smile comes to my face.  I love Christmas music.

Ahhh, heaven.

Then there was the 80's.  So many songs remind me of the 80's and my time in junior and senior high school.  38 Special singing 'Caught Up in You', The Cars, Billy Idol (of course...no soundtrack of my life is complete without Billy), ELO....there are too, too many to mention, and if I start thinking about it, the list would be huge.  The soundtracks to movies like Footloose, the Lost Boys and Fame are forever etched into my brain.  

Any excuse for a Billy picture.

Country music - I know, I know, it's very polarising - you either love it or hate it.  Calgary Stampede has a lot to answer for, and there were a lot of good times spent at Stampede, all wrapped up in country music.  Stampede is another time that I am very thankful that there was no social media - but they will definitely be good stories for the old folks home!

No Instagram please!

All of these songs take you back to a time and place, you it can also make you remember what you were doing, the smell, the taste and the feelings.  It's pretty amazing really.  Sometimes you'll hear a song or a piece of music that you had completely forgotten about, and it evokes memories you never knew existed.  If you look at the role that music and song has played in every culture, you realise that it must be an innate part of being human.  If you want to know more about how songs and memory are linked, this is an interesting article.  I wonder if other animals that utilise song, such as birds and whales, must use it in the same way.

I think cats would sing songs about themselves.

Despite the power of music and song, Purrkins has still not learned that my singing to him is special. He has been known to put his paw on my mouth when I sing - more than once - and the look he gives me usually says it all.  I must get more tolerant pets.

Welcome Home - The Vacation Aftermath

Welcome home!

I'm back!  I had a wonderful break over the holidays, and we enjoyed some time away beach camping.  The only downside is that I couldn't take my pets with me.  I think that they are still recovering from their 'abandonment'.

Not that they were abandoned - all were in very good care.  The dogs were in the kennels that they go to a few times a year.  Granted, they don't love going there, but they come out in good shape, they are well looked after and safe, and the owner and staff know them well - it's not like we leave them with strangers.  The cats and chooks are visited and fed by my parents every day, so they get cuddles, plus the comfort of being in their own, familiar home.  The chickens don't really like being locked up in their coop the whole time either, but they are safe from foxes.

 

I'm sure this is what my dogs think when we leave them.

As we got closer and closer to home - tired, sunburned and not looking forward to the clean up that beach camping involves - I could feel myself getting more and more excited to see my pets.  To say I  miss them while I am away is an understatement, and I feel like pieces of me are missing.

I'm pretty sure that they feel the same way too, judging by their reactions when we are all reunited. Yes, even the cats...their desire to portray an aura of indifference is overcome by desire for cuddles and attention.  They aren't as aloof as they would have you think.

As we drove up to the house, it was obvious that the cats were inside as they didn't rush for some cuddles.  I could hear the Harvey Henbanger and his harem quietly chatting to each other, happy to have been let out earlier in the day by my mother, as they foraged for tasty bugs and indulged in much needed dust baths.

As the door opened, two very happy cats came running, vocal in their admonishments for leaving them yet again.  Tails quivered with anticipation as Clawde made sure to flop dramatically in front of me, blocking my progress into the house, as he presented his belly for overdue scratches.  Of course, I fell victim to his behaviour and did his bidding, as all good slaves do.  Purrkins is a 'rubber' and he re-scented my legs with a succession of rubs and head butts.  Ahh, I think the three of us were in heaven, and felt our hearts fill up once again.

Please never leave me, Mum.

Unpacking and cleaning were hampered by frequent interruptions, with both of them wanting reassurance that we were indeed home.  Shawn was not immune to their charms either, and had a few chats with them while they assisted him with the unpacking.

Our reunion with the dogs was delayed until the kennels opened again later that afternoon.  It's always an ordeal picking them up as they are super...SUPER!....excited about seeing us, and it's a test of wills to get leashes attached to collars amidst the jumping, twirling and face licking (which, as stated before, is to be avoided by Manu The Poo-Eater at all costs).  Finally attached, they dragged us up to the car and joyfully jumped into the back seat.  As we drove home, the tiny Corolla rocked about like a car on a roller coaster as the dogs bounced back and forth, licking at our ears and necks.  All I could see in the rear view mirror was two huge yellow heads with grins spanning from ear to ear.  Our dear Chamois was more subdued, as she always likes to be 'cool' more than Manu, who couldn't hide his emotions even if you promised him 20 big, juicy bones and a never-ending belly rub.

Manu's life goal.

Fortunately it is a short drive home, and we quickly let the dogs free to run around the yard.  The first point of attack was their fluffy squeaky toys, to be presented to us in thanks for our reunion.  Once inside, Clawde was delighted at his doggies' return and immediately walked over to groom their heads.  Clawde loves ALL of his family, and hates being separated from them.  Purrkins was a bit indifferent to the dogs, his focus completely on the humans.

Chamois, not caring that we are home.

The next few days are always a trial for us because all of the pets (except the chickens) become quite needy.  Manu was more clinging than normal and Shawn couldn't go anywhere without Manu closely behind.  I, on the other hand, have my cross to bear, and it's name is Purrkins.  Purrkins was everywhere that I am - even if I went outside briefly to hang clothes on the line, he was there.  Sleep was somewhat more difficult for me than usual for the first few nights as Purrkins slept either on my face, purring furiously and drooling, or nestled in the crook of my arm, curled up into a fat, grey ball, with his paw draped across my arm, clinging on for dear life.  Even then, he still purred the whole time, sometimes putting his head up to my face so that I can kiss the top of his head.  Purrkins was NOT aloof.  Purrkins is probably the most attached cat I have ever had.  Don't get me wrong....I love it too.

 

Hold on tight, never let go.

A few days at home usually sees a decrease in the desperation to be near us (and Chamois, true to form, is the same as always - too cool for school.), but the cats ramp it up to another level.  They don't need cuddles all night, but they do apparently have to give us constant 'gifts', their ratting/mousing activities increased to a new level.   I spent half the night running to shut the cat door (that I keep forgetting to shut before bed) as I hear that distinct cat vocalisations outside my bedroom door announcing the delivery of a 'treat'.  Once their access to the inside of the house had been cut off, they decided that they will walk around the house continuing to announce their cleverness and generosity for the next 45 minutes or so.  Sigh, sleep is an elusive partner at these times particularly.

Truth

As annoying as all of this can be, you have to admit that having beasts that love you that much, no matter how tired, smelly and untidy you are after ten days camping, is quite special.


Besides, I think that maybe us leaving them at home and in kennels helps to make them appreciate what they have a little bit more.  Or not.