I had to bring the recycling bins out of my office, through the house so they could be left at the curb for pick-up. Unfortunately, I didn't notice that Saffy had cunningly managed to sneak past me and get into the office. More unfortunately, I left immediately for my walk which takes half an hour.

On the very lucky side, Randy didn't go on the walk with me, so he was here when Zoe began to beat the crap out of Saffy. He raced into my office and had a terrible time getting them apart. Then Tosca had to help him find where Saffy was hiding.

By the time I got home, Randy was deeply upset. He said it took him fifteen minutes to get Saffy calmed down again. She appeared fine by the time I saw her. Neither Saffy nor Zoe seem to have any injuries, but I sure hope this discourages Saffy from doing that again. As for Zoe...I'm really thinking I should find her a home where she could be an only cat.

I weighed Pippin this afternoon. He's down from 22 to 21.4 lbs. I'm hoping this is actual weight loss progress and not some natural variation.

I've cut back Zoe's doses of Amitriptyline by half and am watching closely to see how this goes. It's only been a couple of days and no fights so far. I really don't want to keep her on tranks indefinitely.

I came home last night from a wedding party and found that my office moggies had left me a gift -- a baby rat. I don't which of the girls did her duty, though I'm guessing it was most likely Jetta or Tosca. We can rule out Kate, who doesn't do much these days except sleep. Jetta is incredibly fast on her feet and loves to chase things. Tosca has previous experience as a hunter. Zoe would probably be up to it if not for the tranks. I praised all of them just the same.

When I took the rat outside to the garbage bin, I saw a large skunk in the yard, with his two white stripes and big fluffy tail. He waddled off in a hurry when I came out of the door. After smelling them several times over the past year and a half, this is the first time I've actually sighted one.

Zoe stands by the thoughtful moggy gift.

Pippin loves to "help" me do my stretches in the morning. A few months back, I had severe tendinitis in the Achille's tendons of both legs and had to do stretches twice a day. I've continued doing that and added some additional stretches.

When I do the stretches for the Achille's tendons, I stand up braced against a wall. Pippin will stretch up the wall toward me as though doing the same exercise. When I sit on the floor in a split to do more stretches, he cruises from one of my feet, across my face, trailing his tail under my nose and rubbing against the other foot.

The basic message is, "I love you, but I would love you even more if you'd stop stretching and go downstairs to get me some food!"

Jetta has done a good job of shredding her favorite toy, the plush "tentacles" on a stick and string. She is lightning fast chasing it around and once she's satsified with catching it, she proudly carries it off with the stick trailing behind.

I replaced it this weekend with a new one and it occurred to me as she paraded around the office with a mouthful of plushy tentacles that she looked very much as though she had just caught and was about to eat Cthulu.

And a fitting end for an Elder God, if you ask me.

Kate has been terribly upset and out of sorts lately. I did come out to find Zoe harrassing on one occasion, but I've found Kate in a state of mind where she's growling at everybody, including Tosca. She'll sit inside her enclosed cat bed and growl for minutes on end. But then later she'll come and have treats alonside the cats she was growling at. I don't know what I can do for her really, but I hate to see the old girl this upset.

Along with the crows, bluejays, sparrows, finches, towhees, chickadees and squirrels, we have a bold Norway rat that comes out into the back yard to grab peanuts and seed. Below you see Pippin, Opal and Sapphire lusting after the rat. If only the invisible barrier wasn't in the way!

Her Ladyship Opal holds court...and she is not amused.

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