Page images can be clicked to view larger

  Please click here to contact us.          Gypsy's first year can be found here

 Entries will be made here when something "crops up" or when we have some interesting pictures. 

  31st October 2009

  Well, it's been a strange couple of months since Gypsy had her first birthday. She has had a trip to the vet for a check over and an antibiotic jab due to yet another fight with the local tom, will she never learn??

  The main change we noticed was that Gypsy changed her hunting habits overnight. She was always in by 10pm (well nearly always!!) and slept in her cradle on the radiator until we got up at 5am when she would go straight outside for a couple of hours before her breakfast and milk. One evening she didn't come home and so we searched till midnight to no avail. The search continued at 5am and again she was nowhere to be found. 7am and Gypsy toddles in as though nothing had happened! We thought this was just a minor glitch in her routine, but no, the same thing happened on the next two nights, the only difference being that on coming down stairs at 5am we were greeted by a family of mice (4) that Gypsy had brought in and herded into the corner of the hall. Well we managed to catch 3 of them and release them (unharmed) to a quiet spot in the meadow, but number 4 was proving a problem and once under the tumble dryer we didn't stand a chance. Gypsy by this time was just sitting in the corner "smiling", refusing to take any further part in the proceedings. That mouse spent 3 days in the house and refused anything we had put in the “live” traps surrounding the dryer and was only caught and released (a little battered and bruised) thanks to the fantastic suction power of the hoover!!

We couldn’t let this continue so decided to lock the main cat flap into the house (she can still get out) but leave the one in the back door open so she can get into the computer room, and also put a cat flap in the shed so she would have a couple of options of somewhere warm and dry to go during the day. The idea being was, if we “put her out” during the day she would maybe sleep at night. This has worked really well and she has cottoned on that if she leaves the house at night, she can’t get back in to the main part of the house. She is also pretty good on time as she has only once not come home before 10pm and therefore had to sleep on the chair in the computer room.

Food is giving us a bit of a headache too. Gypsy was really partial to a variety of “Whiskas in sauce” which the Whiskas Company have told us is no longer being produced. We have found a substitute (sort of) that she will eat but not with the great gusto that she did with the Whiskas one. Watch this space for the food updates!!!

Just one picture of Gypsy sticking her tongue out in this update.

   6th December 2009

  Gypsy has had her booster jabs (2nd December) a week later than planned due to the fact that she had been given antibiotics for yet another bite from another cat. This time the bite was at the base of her ear. Her yearly check-up and jabs went well, we were told that she was in very good health and no underlying problems.

We have solved the food problem, for now anyway!!! Gypsy had been eating "Felix Marinades" but only the fish one (the substitute we told about in the last update). This came to a standstill about 4 weeks ago when she refused to eat anything except mouse and dried biscuits.

We were given a little tip to try, a teaspoon full of tinned pilchard (in water, (drained off)) to a sachet of food, it works!!! a clean bowl every time.Here is to hoping it continues.

Pictures hopefully next time

   13th December 2009

   Some pictures for you. Taken on the 9th and 13th December.

   19th December 2009

  Gypsy has had another trip to the vet today. Early this morning we were woken by a massive cat fight, Gypsy inside and "fluffy moggy" outside. The cat flap had long departed, the hinges broken beyond repair. Gypsy this time appeared to be unscathed except for a little diarrhea (normal when she has been frightened). During the morning we noticed she was very quiet and was “spotting” from her rear end. The vet gave her a thorough check over and could find nothing abnormal. He came to the conclusion that she may have a problem with her small intestine and being frightened and stressed this had caused the diarrhea. Much to her disgust she was put on a bland diet of egg (boiled or scrambled) rice and boiled chicken for a couple of days.

    23rd December 2009

   On a real cold and frosty morning... Can you spot Gypsy??  (click the picture for a larger version)

I am glad to report that Gypsy is more or less back to normal now. She has had to have a slight change in her diet (no more cat milk or treats) as advised by the vet as these could be a trigger for her small intestine troubles.

Gypsy would like to wish you all a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year (and we do too!!!)

   7th February 2010

  After Gypsy's tummy troubles, we investigated the possible causes' and decided (with our vets approval) on a wheat free, "natural" diet. She now has 3 meals, (morning, noon and night) of either boiled fresh chicken breast with boiled egg, white fish fillet, scottish salmon fillet or prawns... or a combination of those!!! She also has readily available 24hrs a day, a naturally hypo allergenic complete food from "James Wellbeloved".

    "touching wood"...Gypsy seems to be thriving on this new regime and seems a lot more "settled" in her demeanour. She has put on all the weight she lost during her bout of tummy trouble and now weighs in at 3.8Kg.

   6th February 2011

   Well a year has passed without too much in the way of incidents.

We have a couple of cats now living next door to us and Gypsy seems to tolerate them very well (as they do her). We have the odd hissing and yowling sessions and the occasional spats but no blood drawn.

Food wise, Gypsy is doing well. We have had the occasional "don't want the chicken, beef, fish" etc. and she has gone hunting but after a couple of days has gone back to the nonmal eating regime. She always has fresh water and the "James Wellbeloved" nuggets available.

I promise to update again soon with pictures !!