Introducing Tabitha & Fabio

[Elaine]

I'm still undecided about having another cat, though my house seems very empty without Tibby. At the moment, I am stroking any cat around here who will let me!
Seeing your two beauties really set me off longing for another Puss.
Cheers.

[retropants]

they are adorable!

Wish we could have cats, but we live on a very busy main road.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Chantal, how are the kittens doing, are they still into everything?

[Chantal]

Hi OH

They're not so much kittens as young cats now (thank goodness), they're growing as you look at them, especially Fabio.

They've now had every jab going and are chasing around the garden all day during the daylight hours. I'm keeping them in at night and intend to every night if possible as that's when they're at most risk from cars.

My chickens are rather off their lay, they are moulting, but I suspect having Fabio land in the middle of their food first thing in the morning isn't helping the situation. He doesn't try to kill them, just to play with them and to date they're doing lots of clucking in disapproval but still scattering all over the place which gives him great delight. If Rocky was there he'd have soon sorted things out!

Tabitha is still very timid (a trip to the vet on Saturday for booster shots put her back around a fortnight) but will sleep on me and sit on my knee. She's got the most fabulous "death stare" when she's grumpy and can make me feel guilty about just about anything (particularly visits to the vet).

Nights are a joy as they generally don't disturb me, despite sleeping on/in my bed. I was used to Rosie getting me up between 2 and 10 times a night in the past few years which was pretty wearing. Having said that, I'd put up with anything to have my darling girl back with me.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Chantal, i'm so pleased they are turning out to be such individual characters. They certainly wouldn't get anymore care or kindness shown to them from anyone, i'm sure.

Hope they don't wake you up several times tonight, as these things tend to happen if i mention them.

[Tigger]

They look lovely Chantal and I know they'll keep you on your toes!

[Elaine]

Hi Chantal. Lovely to hear the up-dates on Tabitha and Fabio. Would you consider making it a regular "feature" please?
On Wednesday night, I dreamed that Tibby was on my bed, purring away and was really upset and disappointed that it was only a dream! If only.....
Cheers.

[glallotments]

No clues then on which Fabio - is he a DJ, a chef, a graphic designer or an old boyfriend?

[Chantal]

I'll try Elaine, but I'm not promising anything I once dreamt of my Jodie who had died a few months previously, believed he was lying across me on my bed and when I woke up found tabby hairs on the duvet cover! No other tabbies in the house!!! It was very comforting to be honest, albeit a bit spooky.

As for the name, he's named for Fabio Casartelli, a dead Italian cyclist.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabio_Casartelli

Fabio's latest trick is climbing up a trellis onto the garage roof. As this is covered in virginia creeper, clematis and ivy, he's to be seen lurking in the undergrowth lying in wait for squirrels. I hope he frightens them enough to keep them out of the garden, they drive me crazy and eat all the bird/chicken food.

[oldherbaceous]

I wonder where Fabio has learnt to lurk in the undergrowth from, maybe his owner.

[Chantal]

OH, what a thing to say! I can't ever recall lurking in the undergrowth, I am always very overt

[Chantal]

We have another cat!

This one has been living in our greenhouse for the past month, we've done everything we can to find the owners, but as it's an unneutered male and has clearly been on the road for some time, I don't think they'll come forward now.

Anyway, Tim has agreed to adoption, provided we call him Diego (Maradonna), so he's been to the vet today for the unkindest cut and is now under my chair, purring furiously and warm for the first time in weeks. Fabio and Tabitha are reasonably OK with him as they've been together in the garden for so long, but we'll have to make sure there's no rivalry.

Diego is a huge tabby, the vet thinks he's no older than two years and incredibly friendly.

Fingers and paws crossed.

[glallotments]

So are you still keeping why Fabio a secret?

[Chantal]

No, I did explain a while ago, I think although the truth has lately come out!

Tim named Fabio and said it was in honour of some dead Italian cyclist, Fabio something or other. It now turns out that he's really named after Fabio Capello but Tim thought I'd not want our cat named after a football player, even if he is now England manager.

Now we have Diego, it also appears that Capello and Maradonna played for the same team at some time or other. I'm waiting for the rest of the squad to turn up!

[Elaine]

Hi Chantal. How lovely ...another cat! Cats are definitely not daft are they.......he knew exactly where to come to find a good home! He will love you forever!

That was how I got Tibby..she just turned up and lived under my front garden hedge for 3 months. I eventually traced her owner who agreed I could keep her and the rest is history. I always say, she knew exactly what she was doing when she ran away from her abusive home and pitched camp in my garden and my heart!

Can we have a photo of Diego and also of Fabio and Tabitha please?

Cheers!