Once the wedding was over, I went out to where The Kitten formerly known as Jewel was enjoying life on the farm with her mother. She was old enough to be on her own, and so I brought her home.
The first day she was here, it became evident that perhaps we had been precipitate in picking her appelation. In fact, we have large vase formed of copra that Jim acquired in the Philippines years ago. She insisted on climbing it, falling into it several times before we decided that perhaps it would be better if we turned it over.
She still likes to climb it — and everything else.
Interviewer: “Why do you climb the copra vase, little one?”
Kitten: “Because it is there!”
And so, she earned the name “Mallory” after George Mallory.
She has been here since Wednesday, and the relationship between her and Ruby is progressing.
In fact, she views Ruby as her new mother. It was very strange at first, as Ruby is the same color as her mother, and it apparently was very confusing that the furry warm being that was around had suddenly gotten so LARGE.
However, that did not deter her from viewing the canine person as her mother. And at the end of the day, she felt the need for a Mama fix. Oddly enough, Ruby was quite cooperative with this activity, much more cooperative than when the kitten was killing her tail or chewing on her feet.
I guess that the Mama fix was only comfort needed for the first few days she was away from her real mother, because today she hasn’t felt the need. But I thought it was awfully sweet the few days it was going on.
The copra vase : A vase made of copra – made to be climbed … then used as a scratching post … soon to become dust.
[Brought to you courtesy of DP definitions]
An excellent definition, DP. Probably scarily accurate. . . Except for the dust thing. She will be getting a cat tree soon and that ought to satisfy her desire to be UP.
Mallory eh?
The joy of kittens!
I may have mentioned this before, but I am a strong advocate of a water pistol as an aid to explaining what really MUST not be climbed, scratched etc.
Oh, me too. The most excellent training tool. However, we didn’t mind her climbing the vase, it was the “trapped kitten inside a hole she couldn’t get out of” cries that motivated turning it over. . .
Well, also, we have discovered that the kitchen utility spray bottle is superior to the water pistol because it has a larger water capacity and thus requires reloading less frequently.
The side effect of this is that when I use the same thing to mist the plants my boys used to get a paranoid look of “What have I done” when they heard the spray even though it wasn’t any where near them.
I can imagine their fear!
Our various cats all reached the point where we only had to head for where the water pistol was kept to stop whatever it was they were doing.
Who said cats were dumb? Miss Mallory has already figured out that she is not to chew on the ends of the rocking chair rockers.
A new kitten. I am so envious!
I know you still arent sure about getting a new cat. There will be one for you when the time is right. I’m sure they still make those in Oz.
I had forgotten how much fun they are.
love the pics of ruby and mallory! very sweet!
Too sweet. Ruby is very jealous, though, so we are trying to give her extra attention. There is a very wounded look she gets when we are cooing over and playing with Mallory.
Also, Mallory has not learned to hold her claws in and so when she is “killing” Ruby’s tail it is okay, but when she decides to go after those tempting feet and toes, it is “not okay”.
How lovely!
I think so too
Awwwww, the shot of the ‘mama fix’ is so cute. Ruby deserves an extra yummy dinner and her favourite long walk for being so accommodating
She’s pretty much decided the kitten can be weaned. But she is getting plenty of attention because even though she sort of likes the kitten, she is also very jealous of the attention it is getting.
Ms. HMH — that is one adorable kitten. xo
More adorable each day, too. The kitten stock in trade.
Cute
Ahh! She looks like a lovely kitten-cat! Glad she and Ruby get on so well.
That is too cute.
Oh, I love Mallory! This was such a nice post to read this morning, HMH. I especially love the breastfeeding shot…I can just imagine Ruby’s train of thought at that time, ha! Looking forward to future stories!