A Purr-fect Spot

Hello, it's Chloe again . . . have you a moment to spare?

I've been thinking about what I said to you last week, and I realised that there was something I'd forgotten to add . . . something very important.  In fact, I feel quite ashamed of myself for not having mentioned it.
So let me get my paws on the computer and put things right.


When my Mum adds something to one of her letters I've noticed that she calls it a PS.
What does PS mean?  I'm not really sure.         Let's call it a Purr-fect Spot to make things clear.

You'll remember that I'm a PAT Cat who works for the Pets As Therapy Charity . . .  I gave you examples of all the different things I do, and the interesting places that I'm lucky to visit.

But, oh dear me, what I forgot to mention was how much everyone really appreciates these visits . . .  and what this means to me and my Mum.


Just look at this photo . . . do you see the smile on the face of my good friend, Ian, at the nursing home?

Aren't I a lucky cat to be able to make someone smile like that.

And remember how I was asked to go to the Phobia Clinic to see Elijah, the small boy who was scared of cats?

Well, as I told you before, on that first visit he finally came into the room and stroked me, and everyone was so, so surprised and happy.

What you don't know is what happened when my Mum took me for a second time . . . shiver my whiskers if he didn't let me sit on his lap!

And how delighted they all were . . .Elijah, his Mum and the Clinic's doctor.

Yes, it's true, I'm a lucky cat . . . and a grateful cat.
And, let's be fair, I mustn't forget my Mum.  She means well and always does her best.

But I expect you can guess what it is that really makes me purr.

You can?  That's right!

It's when my Mum brings me home after our visits and my boyfriend, Blue,  comes down the steps from where he lives and welcomes me back to the garden.

That's a Purr-fect Spot to be if ever there was one!

Cat In Demand!

Hello, it's Chloe here . . . phew, do I need a good rest!  Writing to you will give me an opportunity to relax.

I can never remember such a busy start to the year, my paws have hardly touched the ground,  In fact, I think my most useful Christmas present was my new diary.

What's been going on?  Let me tell you.

As you'll remember, I work for the Pets As Therapy charity . . . and a very good charity it is.  They phone my Mum to tell her who's in need of my services, and she then acts as my chauffeur and takes me where I'm needed in our car.

Well, I've been visiting the patients at our local nursing home for years, and they're always very excited to see me, but last month my Mum had a very different request.

Did you know that some people are afraid of cats?  Yes, I know, I found it hard to believe myself.  But it seems these people have what's called a 'cat phobia' and cats simply terrify them.  The doctor from the local Phobia Clinic was in need of help for a small boy named Elijah and, well, you know me, I'm always ready to be helpful.  So off my Mum and I went to meet Elijah.

When we got to the Clinic he wouldn't even come into the room, he just peered at me through a window, looking really scared.  I don't want to sound boastful, I'm not a boastful cat, but by the time we left he was actually patting me on the head and wanted to know if I could visit him at Christmas.  The Clinic is so pleased with my visit that it's booked me to go back twice this month . . . two more dates for my new diary.

Then, shiver my whiskers if there wasn't yet another call on my services . . . quite a different kind of request this time.  It seems that a local church has acquired a family of mice.  Speaking for myself, I can't see why the mice shouldn't be there.  After all, they're all part of God's creation.  But the vicar wanted me to walk around inside the church so that my scent would discourage these mice from staying.

I was perfectly happy to oblige, and, as you can see, had a very interesting time exploring the church.  Although I must say that I'm rather surprised the mice should have wanted to live there in the first place, it didn't feel very cosy to me.

So, there you have it. 

Can you see why I'm in need of a rest?

Believe you me, it's a demanding world if you're a co-operative cat . . . you human beings need such a lot of help. 

What a relief that, when each visit is over, I can come home, go into the garden, and share my thoughts with my good friend Blue.

Thank heaven for understanding cats!

My good friend Blue and me!

For want of a lead!

Hello, it's Chloe here . . . may I share some thoughts that have been niggling me . . . thoughts about the ups and downs of having a boyfriend?


As I've discovered with Blue, having a boyfriend in your life is a very good thing.  I'd be the last cat to argue about that.
It makes your ears prick and your whiskers quiver with excitement . . . oh no,  I certainly wouldn't want to go back to being on my own.

But, for all that, I must admit that boyfriends also present problems.


Now, unlike Blue, I'm very lucky to have a harness and lead . . . and a co-operative Mum on the other end.
Thanks to my lead, I have a very full life outside the garden.

I travel in my Mum's car . . .  we go visiting . . . my Mum takes me for walks in the country . . . I get out and about and thoroughly enjoy myself.

When I'm with Blue in the garden we play.  We have great games together . . . and can sometimes end up feeling quite exhausted.

But Blue is convinced that it's my lead that enables me to go through the garden gate and do exciting things in the world outside.

And, as you'll see in this picture, he wants the lead for himself.
He does his very best to grab it so that he, too, can go outside the garden gate.

But, just between you and me, I'm not at all certain that this would be a good idea.

Wouldn't you agree that there's something rather special about being the only cat in the company of a lot of highly respectful and helpful humans?

Would it be the same if Blue was there as well?
No, I'm not at all sure that it would.

True, I love to sniff noses and play with Blue in the garden. 

But, when it comes to being appreciated by a crowd of humans at a pub lunch . . . being admired on a country walk . . . or bringing pleasure to the patients at the nursing home  . . . well, and don't tell Blue I said this, there's a lot to be said for being a celebrity cat on your own!

Thank you so much for sharing these thoughts.  You've helped me make up my mind that, although it's great to have a boyfriend, they're best kept for games in the garden . . . and without leads!

In the palm of my paw!

Hello, it's Chloe here. . . my Mum has just gone out, so may I up-date you on my relationship with my boyfriend, Blue?
I'll be as quick as I can before my Mum gets back.

Well, between you and me, what I'm learning fast is that there's a lot more to this girlfriend/boyfriend business than I originally thought
. . . much, much more!

It's not just a simple question of kissing noses and sitting together on the garden seat . . . oh no, far from it!

True, we do kiss noses when we meet, and that's nice . . . there's nothing like a loving kiss to put a quiver in your whiskers.

But, if he wants to continue kissing when we jump up  together on the seat, well . . .  no girl wants her kisses to be taken for granted, and I tell him so!

A playful biff on the nose gets my message home loud and clear!

As well as playing together, something we both enjoy, I encourage him to come with me and my Mum when we explore the garden.

We find all sorts of unexpected things, and you'll never guess what we came across the other day.
My Mum says it's a lion, and I suppose she knows what she's talking about.  But I must say it took me by surprise!

If lions can stare, I said to myself, then I can stare too!
Mind you, I think Blue was a little worried, he thought I'd found a new boyfriend!

Every morning, when my Mum and I go into the garden after breakfast, Blue is waiting for us by the garden gate.


I'm really very fond of him, and I know that I'd miss him terribly if he wasn't there.


Nonetheless, there's no doubt that a boyfriend needs to be told who's in charge . . . and, as a good girlfriend should, I always try to do just that!

Wouldn't you agree that I've got him firmly in the palm of my paw?
Let's hope so!

Advice on Offer

Hello, it's Chloe here  . . . have you a moment for a chat?

I thought that perhaps you might like an up-date on me and Blue     . . . and how we're getting on.

I'm delighted to tell you that our friendship is growing by leaps and bounds . . . particularly when I leap on his tail and he bounds away!

I don't want to sound smug, but, well, after my experience, I thought that perhaps I could offer some suggestions to anyone else with a boyfriend.

Not only on how to get to know each other, but on how to make sure you keep his interest going .  . . whilst remaining in charge of the situation!

The most important thing,  or so it seems to me, is to demonstrate that your feelings are genuine, but that you're no pushover.

As you can see, a kiss on the nose when you meet conveys all the right intentions.

After that . . . well, you can play with each other as much as you like.

You can also enjoy a brief cat-nap together when you start to feel tired.

Mind you, not all Blue's ideas are good ones.
I've found that he can sometimes over-reach himself and be more than a little cheeky.

You'll never believe what he did the other day.

He took my lead in his mouth and had the nerve to try and take me for a walk!

Was I going to let him get away with such impertinence?
Not on your whiskers!


So,  here's what I'd recommend to anyone with a boyfriend in her life.

Let him gaze at you as much as he likes, but don't always satisfy him by gazing straight back . . .  let him know that he's got to work for your affection.
Then, turn and look at him at the very moment when he's giving up hope
. . .   it always works!

But I must go . . . it's time for my Mum to take me for a walk in the garden.
I wonder . . . do you think we'll see Blue!

A Me Too Cat!

Hello, it's Chloe here.
I'm sure you're far wiser than me, but I've discovered something recently that has certainly got my whiskers twitching.

Would you like to know what it is?

As my Mum is out of the room at the moment I can keep my paws on the computer and tell you all about it.

What's been bothering me is the fact that this boyfriend/girlfriend business is far more complicated than I'd realised.

Yes, as we agreed before, Blue is the perfect boyfriend . . . he's handsome, persistent and polite, and there's no doubt he's very fond of me.
I'm not arguing about that.

But, sad to say, he also suffers from what seems to be a very common male delusion . . . he thinks that he's the one who should always be on top.

True, we kiss noses as equals when we meet.
But, when we go on to play together, he's convinced that he should be the one who leads the way up the tree, or up the steps, or up the wall . . . enjoying a higher position from which he can look down on what he hopes will be his admiring and subservient girlfriend.

What he doesn't seem to know is that, nowadays, girl humans make a lot of fuss and come together to say Me Too when they think boy humans have been unfair.

Quite rightly, female humans won't let themselves be left at the bottom of the tree, or down at the bottom of the steps.

I share their feelings, and Blue has now discovered, in no uncertain fashion, that his new girlfriend is most definitely a Me Too cat!

Up the steps he went the other day, fully expecting me to remain politely and admiringly in his rear.

Not on your whiskers!
I soon let him know that, where Me Too cats are concerned, it's the girl who leads the way!


It didn't take very long and, after I'd made my point . . .  well, you should have seen the difference!

There we were . . .  me up at the top of those steps with Blue below me.  What's more, he was gazing up at me with a newfound respect in his eyes.

Not only that, he rolled over on his back to prove just how much he accepted my superior position.

Do you see what I mean?

And there's one more thing, something of which I'm quite certain . . . Blue finds a Me Too girlfriend to be far more fun than a subservient and passive one!

You ask him!

Progress on the home front!

Hello, it's Chloe here.

I promised to up-date you on my friendship with Blue . . . have you been wondering what  happened?

Well, I'm sure you'll share my purrs when I tell you that it's a story with a happy ending!

As my Mum's out of the room at the moment,  I've a chance to get my paws on the computer.  As quickly as I can, I'll let you know all that's been going on.

You'll remember that Blue ticked all the important boxes . . . he was handsome, persistent, and very polite.

And, yes, just between you and me, I did find him extremely attractive.

But boy cats need to be kept in their place.
As I'm sure you'd agree, we girls can't allow ourselves to be taken for granted.

So, when Blue found me sunbathing on a seat in the garden the other day, and jumped up to sit down beside me . . . well, as you can see, I lifted up my left paw and put him very firmly in his place.

Nonetheless, how can a girl be really indignant when her boyfriend reacts so politely?

Wouldn't those penitent, gently quivering whiskers melt any cat's heart?

So, I blinked to let him know that we were friends, that he was fully forgiven, and we sat there, side by side, enjoying the sunshine together.

And, just between you and me, I did find him the perfect companion . . . particularly as he was gazing at me with such admiration.
My Mum never looks at me like that.

Since then, whenever we meet in the garden, I make a point of trotting up and sniffing him politely on the nose in recognition of our friendship.

You think I'm a lucky cat to have such a handsome, persistent and polite boyfriend?

Yes, I fully agree . . . I am!

Now, forgive me if I hurry off  . . . who knows, when my Mum comes back we may be going out in the garden!

A therapist in action!

I must admit that this development was something I didn't anticipate . . . . yes, I know, Chloe has been a therapy cat for six years, but to turn her considerable therapeutic skills on me?

Ever since finding the lump in my breast, and receiving my appointment for the hospital tomorrow, Chloe has made sure that she's  the dominant member of our household.

At her insistence, there's no hanging around.  We're up early and out in the garden by eight-thirty every morning, where we spend at least an hour-long sojourn.

Our second visit, which was previously after lunch, has been brought forward to around eleven-thirty.
To satisfy her enthusiastic demands, a third one is squeezed in at around mid-afternoon.
And, something quite new, we make a final tour, coupled with a keen search for field-mice in the ivy, at around half-past five.

Am I being afforded peace between these walks?  Not on your life!

No time to feel anxious for tomorrow when a small cat is winsomely demanding a game, a meal, or a good brush.
Little room for anxiety when a toy mouse arrives at your feet for attention, chicken needs chopping, or a litter-tray is in need of being cleaned.

Even the act of writing this 'letter' is being squeezed into a brief lull in Chloe's demands . . . I may well have to drop everything in order to satisfy the next instruction!

A therapy cat in action . . . ?
Aren't I fortunate!

Birth of a Sun Bengal

Hello, it's Chloe here . . . I've had such an exciting week, have you a moment for a chat?

Just between you and me, I find it very hard to forget that I'm a Snow Bengal, and that my ancestors came from high up in the snowy mountains.

I'm purr-fectly happy for most of the time, but every now and then, and you can't really blame me, I do get a bit homesick for all that snow.

So, when I looked out of the window last Thursday morning . . . oh, was I excited!
I couldn't believe my good luck!

There it was . . . snow, wonderful snow . . .  snow covering the houses, snow covering the ground, and snow covering the trees . . . snow everywhere!
A beautiful blanket of white . . . just what a Snow Bengal dreams about!

I couldn't wait for my Mum to put on my harness and for both of us to get out into the garden.  The thought of that crisp snow beneath my paws had me rushing down the stairs so fast that my Mum couldn't keep up.

Oh, what fun I had . . . it was every bit as good as I'd expected!
 

There are, of course, one or two drawbacks to snow . . . for instance, no-one ever explained to me how you can have a successful toilet dig in such conditions.   But that's a very small thing compared to all the fun.

Someone had helpfully built a great big snowman on the lawn . . . perfect for a cat to climb up and get an excellent view of the snowy garden.

After that I made my way along the branches of one of the snowy trees . . . although I must admit that this wasn't a total success.  An icy branch was a little more slippery that I'd expected and I slid off and fell into a snowdrift.
Luckily, I don't think my Mum was looking.

But, oh dear, with all this excitement, and so much to enjoy, I wasn't prepared for the terrible disappointment that came when I woke up two days later.

I poked my nose out from the covers on my Mum's bed and the air smelt warmer.  This was a very bad sign, and I was worried.

You'll never believe what had happened.
Rather than stay here, giving pleasure to everyone, that selfish snow had decided to thaw!

My whiskers quivered with shock when we opened the garden gate and walked down the path.

Everything had changed.
Instead of a lovely carpet of shimmering snow, the ground was muddy, and puddly, and slushy . . . and look how the great big snowman had shrunk!

So here I am back home, curled up under my Mum's jacket and trying to sleep.

Sad to say, it seems that, for most of the year, a Snow Bengal can only get the snow she needs by closing her eyes and dreaming about it.

 But, wait a minute, I've had another idea.
What if I called myself a Sun Bengal . . . just until there's another fall of snow?

A computer-minded Cat

Hello, it's Chloe here.  If you're not busy, may I ask your advice? I don't know what you do with yourself in the winter, but it can be a very boring season for an active cat. It's cold and wet in the garden . . . and, when I do get out, the squirrels and mice are sulky and they won't come and play.

As for my Christmas presents . . . well, even with my very favourite ones, the excitement does wear off a little.

The one thing that really gets my whiskers quivering with excitement is the computer. And this is my problem . . . believe it or not, my Mum doesn't trust me not to mess it up. It's really quite absurd because, between you and me, I'm far more enterprising on the computer than she is . . .  and I'm sure the computer has more fun when my paws are on the keyboard.

Actually, it was my Mum who introduced me to the computer.  She goes on something she calls Skype to meet her friends. And, when she does, she holds me up to the screen.  This means that they can see me, and I can be part of the get-together.

How her friends ever manage to squeeze their heads inside the computer I've no idea.
It's all a bit of a mystery.  But there they are, nodding and smiling at me.

Well, I'm a very well-mannered cat, so I try to be polite.  When I see the faces of Mum's friends I always say "Miaow!" For some reason they seem to love this and they get all excited . . . I enjoy going on Skype.

So, as you can see, it's quite inexplicable why my Mum won't let me play on the computer on my own.

Take this morning as an example. My Mum was in the kitchen getting her breakfast, and I was feeling rather bored. All at once I noticed that she'd left the door open to the computer room. It was the perfect opportunity.  I went in, jumped up on the stool, and put my front paws on the keyboard.

The screen lit up beautifully and I had a wonderful time.  I even found some music, I think it's called iTunes, and this was playing away as I enjoyed myself.

Actually, as it turned out, the iTunes wasn't such a good idea as it was rather loud and my Mum heard it in the kitchen. She came rushing in and you should have seen the unnecessary fuss she made!
It seems that, in addition to being clever enough to find iTunes, I'd created a hundred-and-thirty-two new folders.

Wouldn't you have thought she'd have been proud of such a clever cat . . . one who could create folders as quickly as that?

Not on your life! I sometimes think my talents are wasted on my Mum.

So can you think of a way I could persuade her to let me play with the computer?

It would only be for the winter.  Once the rain stops I'll be out in the garden with the squirrels. And, believe you me, when it comes to quickness and cleverness, squirrels beat computers any day!

But I'd better be off before my Mum comes back.

Advice, please. . . and thank you for sharing my problem.

Lots of loving purrs from your devoted friend, Chloe.

Merry Christmas from Chloe!

Hello, it's Chloe here . . .
I know you're busy preparing for Christmas, so I won't chat for long.  But I did want to share something with you.

I want you to meet a very adventurous cat named Rosie.

Just click here, and you'll see what I mean.

Rosie was much in my mind the other morning, when my Mum and I took our friend, Ian, for a walk in Richmond Park.

The sun was shining and it was very, very cold.
As I led the way along the path my paws slid on the ice . . . I even got frost on my whiskers.

Just purr-fect for a Snow Bengal Cat!

But the big surprise came when we reached the pond.  Do you know what we found?


The water wasn't water any more . . . it had frozen into solid ice!
And the ducks and moorhens . . . well, they were sliding and skating everywhere, positively dancing on the ice!

"Just like 'Swan Lake'," said my Mum, "only it's 'Duck Lake'!"

If Rosie and her friends had been there I know they wouldn't have hesitated . . . they'd have gone skating too.
And, believe you me, I was eager to follow in Rosie's pawsteps.

But would my Mum let me?
Not on your life!
It was all very frustrating being stuck out there on the bridge.

Humans seem to feel the cold more than cats, so, after our walk, we went to a nearby hotel to get warm.

 Whilst my Mum and Ian had their lunch, I entertained the hotel staff and gave them my opinion of their Christmas decorations.


True, it was all very enjoyable,  and I must say that it's always gratifying to be admired . . .  but I couldn't help feeling that it wasn't half as enjoyable as skating with those ducks would have been!

Now you're busy and I must go . . .  there are squirrels waiting to be chased in the garden, and I'd hate to disappoint the squirrels at Christmas time.

I'm sending you lots of festive purrs . . . have a wonderful, wonderful Christmas . . .  see you in the New Year!

On full whiskers alert!

Hello, it's Chloe here . . . and I really need your help.
You know my Mum, so could you please have a word with her?  I'm sure she'd listen to you.

Let's put you in the picture.  I'm sure you've noticed the leaves changing colour and the trees dropping their nuts.  Conkers are coming down from chestnut trees, acorns are coming down from oaks.
Now, and this is the important bit, hungry squirrels feed on conkers and acorns, and field-mice feed on the chewed up bits of nuts that the squirrels leave behind.

Do you see what I'm getting at?

Our garden has lots of chestnut trees and oak trees . . . so, at the moment, it's full to bursting with hungry squirrels and excited field-mice.  And I need to be out there, paws on, keeping things in check and making sure they all know who's boss!


The problem lies with my Mum, she will insist on bringing me indoors for what she calls 'cat naps'.
'Cat naps' be blowed!  Have you ever heard such nonsense?
She just wants more time with her computer, that's the truth of the matter!
Any conscientious cat, with the needs of the garden in mind, must be outside in the autumn . . . and it's a full-time job!

To show you what I mean, I actually caught three field-mice last week.
Well, I did and I didn't . . . the trouble was that my Mum tried to help me!

I asked her to keep quiet, and stay in the background.  But what did she do?
She grew all excited and, each time I lifted a mouse out of the ivy, holding it carefully in my mouth, she stuck her fingers between my teeth.

A cat's mouth isn't big, it can't possibly cope with mice and fingers simultaneously.  So, when this happened, I promptly dropped the mouse.
Off they went, scuttling away to tell their friends and families about lucky escapes and clumsy cats     . . .  believe you me, I could do without an over-excited Mum trying to help!

However, when it comes to the squirrels we're tackling something quite different.

Squirrels are tricky.  I don't like to criticise my fellow creatures, but, unlike well-behaved cats, I must say that squirrels are noisy and cheeky . . .  very cheeky!
And do they respect my need for privacy when I try to dig a toilet hole?  Not on your life!

My Mum and I met one of the cheekiest squirrels last Friday when we were enjoying the sunshine by the pond.
I was stretched out on the ground, eyes closed, minding my own business.  It was all beautifully peaceful . . . 'tranquil' is the word I think my Mum would use.

All at once, a pesky squirrel came rushing out from under my Mum's seat and do you know what it did?
On its way to the oak tree it leaped right across my backside!
It then shot up the tree, positively jabbering in triumph!

"What a nerve!" exclaimed my Mum.
She took the miaows right out of my mouth.


So, as you can see, I need to be on 'whiskers alert' in the garden to keep those cheeky squirrels in check . . .  and to tell the mice in the ivy that I've got my eye on them.

And I'll tell you something else, all this activity gives a cat a very good appetite!

But I can't stay here chatting . . . those conkers and acorns are still falling and I must round up my Mum.

So, please . . . now that you understand the importance of the situation, will you have a word with her?
Full-time in the garden, remember?
There's more than enough time for 'cat naps' and computers in the winter.

Many grateful purrs from your loving and very busy friend, Chloe.