Mum's the word

Hello fellow Anipals! We've been away from our blog for some time now. This is mainly due to my scribe looking after her Mum as well as the business. The upside of that is a blog written by our guest at Alphapet Towers. It's a bit heavy on the pussy cat side methinks, but I'm not bitter... So over to my human Nanna:

I'm in charge

A View from Alphapet Towers

How did I inadvertently leave my bedroom door open last night? But while I might have forgotten to click the latch, there were two pairs of bright eyes who noticed and started scratching and pushing 'til the door opened and two cats slithered in. A big black cat; completely black all over, which makes him look quite wicked sometimes.

Me? Wicked? Butter wouldn't melt...

His partner in crime was a beautiful young ginger kitten who is so intelligent it's amazing. They always say ginger cats are different, and he certainly is. When I first came to stay here I went in the bathroom to clean my teeth and a streak of ginger shot through the door, jumped on the sink and drank as much water as he could, then pulled up the plug so he could see where the water was going to. Fascinating!

Yeah. That's me. Intelligent, good looking, lovable etc etc

The other cat (the black one) is a lot older; about 16 years, and is not so madly active. He is just very friendly, always wanting to sit on your lap (anybody's). Of course the family also has a dog, a lovely Labradoodle. She has a lovely nature. They all get on very well. It is a very happy home with animals and humans living in perfect harmony.

I'm doing a little recuperating myself after a night on the tiles

I, as a visitor and family member, have felt so at home and welcome and am recuperating from a fall with all their help - animal and human!

Runaway Baby

Young pretender to the Alphapet throne, Archie Smart, turned six months this weekend. And how did he celebrate this auspicious occasion? Took off on a jaunt around the countryside and disappeared without trace for two whole days.

Six months old, me. So there!

Well - my human friends were frantic. Called at all the neighbours' houses, searched the farm next door, walked up and down the fields, through the woods, along the road. You name a part of the countryside, and they searched it. Well, didn't worry me. I quite enjoyed being able to stretch out in front of the fire on my own for a change.

Looks like a snuggle, but he's hogging the fire actually

Then just as suddenly as he disappeared - he was back. Just turned up on the doorstep. Just like that. None the worse for wear. A little scratch on his face the only clue as to his two nights on the tiles. I bet he's glad he came back when he did cos we've had nothing but wind and rain since.

Relaxing in the sink after his big adventure.

There's been lots of speculation as to why he disappeared. One theory is that something he was hunting took off, he gave chase and lost his bearings. The other theory involves lady cats, tom cat hormones and an operation that he is now booked in for.

Ahhh. Poor Archie. If only he'd known the consequences of his actions.

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Summer's time

Well. What can I say. Summer will be officially over tomorrow and summer's time will be well and truly up. The last few days have been brilliant with wall to wall sunshine. Evenings bring a chill in the air though, and the fire has been lit for several nights running. That new-kit-on-the-block, Archie Smart, has been trying to nick my warm spot in front of the fire. But I'm not giving in.

There were two in the bed and the little one said...

The trees are getting a definite autumnal look about them and, although the nights will draw in and the days will become colder, the trees will look stunning in their coats of many colours. Albert Camus (who?) got it right when he said 'Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower'

Going over to the dark side - eventually

It's this time of year when the farmers are mega busy getting in the harvest, which makes for some spectacular scenery.

View across to Blairdrummond Safari Park

Back at Alphapet Towers we have been busy with our own harvest... Combining our best products, baling some of the older ones and cultivating lots of shiny new ones. Including these stylish cat collars, lovingly chosen by the ginger ninja, Archie. Coming very, very soon.

We were even at a trade show when we could have been welcoming the brilliant Andy Murray back to Dunblane. The sacrifices we make for our customers eh? Ah well. We might bump into him or his Mum at M&S...

Well, that's all the news for now. Must go and herd my toys. Can't bear to see them scattered all over the garden. OCD? Moi?

A tidy garden = a tidy mind. Nuff said.

L8rs bloggettes. Mwah!

Gold post

What about the Olympics?!  A-maz-ing or what? I'm not usually one for sitting in front of the TV and watching people trying to hop, skip and jump faster and higher than me, but I have to admit I found all those exertions compulsive viewing and barked myself silly (OK, silly-er then). 

From a purely selfish point of view, Andy Murray winning gold in the tennis was the highlight for me. Well, he's from my neighbouring city of Dunblane so I got to visit the Royal Mail post box that had been painted gold in his honour. Wowzah!

The Paralympics start tomorrow (Wednesday), so let's hope there's another gold post box coming to the Stirling area.

And I thought post boxes were just for peeing on...

I think new-kit-on-the-block, Archie Smart, was inspired by our medal winning equestrian team. So inspired that he attempted some dressage moves on poor Max - who was not amused.

Do I look like an 'orse?

It's only been a few weeks now since Archie Smart landed at Alphapet Towers, but it seems like he's been here FOREVER.

Butter wouldn't melt

He's even got Teddy-cat running away from him now but he's got a LOT of growing to do before he'll be a match for me.

I like to live life on the hedge...

So, that's all for now. Gotta go and help unpack our new stock of bone shaped dog bowls. Hmmm. Like the look of them. Wonder if I could acquire one for myself....

Also available in red, pink and white

Olympic hopeful

I has been inspired by the Olympic torch relay, that I witnessed last month to do a bit of Olympian training myself.

On your marks...

Not for running up and down the street applauded by hoards of admiring spectators - I do that every day. No, this is for two new categories of Olympic competition, strictly for us canines, namely; frisbee and hydroplaning.

Got it!

Now, regular bloggettes will know that the Hydroplane and the HoverCraft are my favourite toys (and human friend's too, cos they've lasted so long - at least a whole year - and are, therefore, 'value for money'). So I've had lots of training and am definitely Gold material.

Hovercraft

Suffice to say, I has been training hard all year for these events and can honestly say, paw on heart, that I am the best I have ever seen. Well, OK. I haven't actually seen any of my other four-legged friends actually performing the same tricks, but that's just semantics.

 So listen up Lord Coe and co. I'm Olympic ready and panting for that gold medal. Bring it on!

Take me to the river...

 

The tail of three kitties (and a dog)

Oooh! Mega excitement here at Alphapet Towers this month with the arrival of Archie Smart - a mini-version of Teddycat.

A bit of a scaredy kit...

Of course, I had already met Archie at the farm where he was born so he was kinda used to seeing me. He had six brothers and sisters, but he was the only ginger tom - as you can see.

There's one missing, but am I bovvered?

Max and Teddycat weren't too impressed and there were quite a few warning hisses going on.

 

Is that what I'm gonna look like when I grow up?

Anyway, little Archie didn't let his (un)welcoming committee trouble him and by the end of the week he was running about, sleeping on my bed, giving Max's tail some grief and sneaking out the back door.

Oi! Are you listening to me?

Blimey! Teddycat must've shrunk in the rain.

Well, he smells like a cat...

It's not easy keeping up with Max

Anyway, I was bored by day three cos it's not easy trying to chase Archie when he keeps going under the sofa. So I had a little excursion to see my Mum and a couple of my siblings (this year's models).

I've got a bigger tongue than you lot..

(I'm wearing my Ruffwear Hoopie collar in red currant.)

Then it was back home to the day job. Yowzah!

I'm wearing my Spencer Corduroy Collar

Groomin' brilliant!

Well this week I has been mostly getting myself looking beautiful, (well - more beautiful), with another visit to my stylist, Jennifer Brennan at Doggy Dooz Grooming. At least this time I knew what to expect and didn't mind human friend taking photos of me at various stages of my titivation.

How can she possibly improve on this look?

Human friend was horrified when Jen pointed out that my lugs needed a good clean. 'So that's why she hasn't been able to hear me very well,' she said. Ha ha. It's actually selective hearing. You know - 'would you like to go for a walk' no problem hearing that one. 'Leave that alone' however, doesn't seem to make its way down the ear canal. Anyway, human friend even took a picture of one of the offending ears. Yuck! (Viewers of a nervous disposition look away now.)

 

Do not try this at home...

Feels really good having all that gunk hoiked out though. Then it was into the bath for a good scrubbing with the seaweed shampoo.

Errr. Are you sure I need a wash?

See. I told you I wasn't fat!

 Then a quick rub down with a fluffy towel and on to the drying table to meet the hand held and super-sized floor standing dryers.

Seconds away, round five

Oi! What you doin' back there?

I had a shorter haircut this time, which I think really suits me. Well, it will keep me much cooler in the hot weather (if we ever get any).

Ooh. Suits you!

Gotta keep looking good when you're a top model like what I am. Although I did get a bit worried when human friend showed me some of our new stock. Luckily, it was too small for me. Anyway, I'm not a pink kinda girl...

Loveshack dog harness and matching lead