No matter where you was or what you was doing at the weekend it was impossible not to have heard anything about Eurovision. Love it or hate it people talk about it. I love it, I've watched it every year religiously since I was little. True it has got alot more cheesy and much more political but we still watch it.
I watched both of the semis last week, which admitedly I don't do most years but thought this time I'll see what I would be missing. Well not much!
As for the final on Saturday, well I've seen better and it did get a little dull towards the end. I wasn't impressed with France's opening entry, I think it's been a long time since France had a memorable Eurovision entry, which is surprising as they have so many talented musicians in France were they all busy?
Denmark did stand out as a possibility to win, it was an upbeat song but come on Sweden were hosting, it was bound to be a scandinavian country win right?
For me my favourites were Romania, what a stage show that was and what a surprise when he suddenly started singing really high. Maybe a little too different for Eurovision.
Strangely I actually liked Finlands entry, Ok yes it was extremely cheesy but that was a catchy song and the girl-girl kiss at the end, come on people this is 2013 let's show some equality for all.
As for our entry, well I didn't hold out much hope but dear did Bonnie murder that song, she sounded dreadful
I'd have liked to see more rock bands or just bands in general entered, we all remember when Lordi won what a year that was.
Whoever you liked or didn't it was certainly and entertaining night and Graham Norton was hillarious as usual with his commentary.
Monday, 20 May 2013
Monday, 6 May 2013
A Grand Day In The Countryside
Have you ever woken up in the morning and just wondered what to do today? Or asked yourself what do I want to do? Well yesterday when I woke up I was expecting it to be like any other Sunday, stay in bed until whenever, then walk the dog, make some dinner. So I woke up at just before 9am and thought I'd maybe stay in bed for a few more hours. Then my aunt called and said she'd be picking me up at 10:30 for a day in the country. My aunt moved to the Kent countryside just over two years ago and yet I've not seen her new place until yesterday. I'd heard her speak of the place but when we drove up the lane it was nothing like I expected. Her new house is like a chalet on a farm, well stables but the place is massive. I've been to a few stables before and they haven't been huge but this place was acres. Her home is gorgeous, she's so creative with how she decorates and the whole place looks really calm and peaceful. Her view looks over stables, fields and woods. It's like a totally different world. She told me there were 46-50 horses stabled there. I went for a walk in the field where the horses were grazing and it was incredible. I love horses and am not at all nervous (unlike my mum) and the horses were just calmly walking upto you to say hello. They were so friendly it was amazing. I finally got to meet my uncles horse Larne, who is a truly stunning horse. The time flew by so quickly and before I knew it it was time to come home to London. It was a lovely day though and even better because the weather was good.
The stable block next to my aunts chalet
The horses in the field, grazing
My uncles horse Larne (Left)
Ancient tree
Buddha shrine
The stable block next to my aunts chalet
Thursday, 2 May 2013
Website Back Online
My website is now back up online after a very long five month break. Basically I had issues with my Domain and hosting so have had to switch. I'm really pleased with the new look site, it has a fresher prettier feel to it and I'll be able to update it much more easilly. The new link is: www.teriwarke.co.uk let me know what you all think of it. As always you can still follow my daily ramblings on twitter @teriwarke.
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
Why the X Factor Is Ruining The Music Business As We know it
Written September 2010
With news breaking this week that yet another x factor contestant has been dropped by Simon Cowells record label. It makes you think of what damage shows like the X factor are really doing to the music industry that we all know and love.
Manufactured artists and groups have been around for decades but years ago the music industry was full of real artists who had to work hard for years to even get a record executive to notice them. Many would form groups as teenagers and spend most of their lives pursuing their musical career, some eventually finding success while others took the path of playing live in small pubs and clubs around the country. Many of these artists who were genuinely talented went onto have very successful careers in the music world. Once picked up by established record labels they had the type of backing that they needed to be a success and had access to better facilities like recording studios and legal teams. Just getting into a recording studio could take years of work and gigging due to studio hire costs which many new artists couldn't afford.
Fast forward to the early noughties when shows like Pop idol and The X factor appeared on our TV screens. When the first series of X factor started it seemed a good idea. The show was marketed as being a gateway for talented artists to get the exposure they needed for their careers and to show how talented they was and the winning contestant was promised a recording contract and a good start to their career. Originally the show was judged by three music professionals. Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne. All respected artist managers with years of experience behind them who were adequately qualified to advise artists on the best move for their careers. However as the series continued each year it was becoming more obvious that the X factor was doing more damage to the music industry then was ever expected. The winning contestants had a song written for them and had vocal coaching so that they could perform the song to the best of their ability. The winners first single always shot to the top of the charts usually followed by a bestselling album. More often then not after the initial album nobody ever heard much more from the contestants, their careers in music were mostly short-lived. Of course we have had a few successful winners like Leona Lewis who have had very successful careers which will continue for many years. But with so many winners disappearing from the charts it makes you wonder if x factor really was working out. Many of the winners were very young and many music professionals would say they still needed years of work and experience before ever releasing a single. But with x factor everything gets rushed and the artist isn't given enough support to cope with the industry. In my opinion the x factor lost all credibility when the judging panel changed, when they brought in Cheryl Cole as a judge. Fair enough she had to go through auditions and everything just like the x factor contestants, but does she really have the experience and knowledge of the industry to advise and guide artists through their career. With all the news breaking on rumoured new judges to join the judging panel all of which are artists who only have experience of being an artist. They don't have the experience necessary to advise and guide artists all they have is their personal opinion.
X factor contestants are dominating our charts these days and taking the resources away from real artists who have had to work really hard for their careers. So many talented groups/bands and solo artists get pushed to the side these days because the major record companies are only interested in marketing ready made packages who will make a quick buck. So if your an aspiring musician out there with dreams on being in the charts, don't go for the x factor route it'll cause you more damage then good. Instead work hard, make a decent demo and market yourself strongly. If you can get a team behind you even better. There are plenty of small independent music professionals out there with the contacts, resources and experience to push your career in the right direction.
With news breaking this week that yet another x factor contestant has been dropped by Simon Cowells record label. It makes you think of what damage shows like the X factor are really doing to the music industry that we all know and love.
Manufactured artists and groups have been around for decades but years ago the music industry was full of real artists who had to work hard for years to even get a record executive to notice them. Many would form groups as teenagers and spend most of their lives pursuing their musical career, some eventually finding success while others took the path of playing live in small pubs and clubs around the country. Many of these artists who were genuinely talented went onto have very successful careers in the music world. Once picked up by established record labels they had the type of backing that they needed to be a success and had access to better facilities like recording studios and legal teams. Just getting into a recording studio could take years of work and gigging due to studio hire costs which many new artists couldn't afford.
Fast forward to the early noughties when shows like Pop idol and The X factor appeared on our TV screens. When the first series of X factor started it seemed a good idea. The show was marketed as being a gateway for talented artists to get the exposure they needed for their careers and to show how talented they was and the winning contestant was promised a recording contract and a good start to their career. Originally the show was judged by three music professionals. Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne. All respected artist managers with years of experience behind them who were adequately qualified to advise artists on the best move for their careers. However as the series continued each year it was becoming more obvious that the X factor was doing more damage to the music industry then was ever expected. The winning contestants had a song written for them and had vocal coaching so that they could perform the song to the best of their ability. The winners first single always shot to the top of the charts usually followed by a bestselling album. More often then not after the initial album nobody ever heard much more from the contestants, their careers in music were mostly short-lived. Of course we have had a few successful winners like Leona Lewis who have had very successful careers which will continue for many years. But with so many winners disappearing from the charts it makes you wonder if x factor really was working out. Many of the winners were very young and many music professionals would say they still needed years of work and experience before ever releasing a single. But with x factor everything gets rushed and the artist isn't given enough support to cope with the industry. In my opinion the x factor lost all credibility when the judging panel changed, when they brought in Cheryl Cole as a judge. Fair enough she had to go through auditions and everything just like the x factor contestants, but does she really have the experience and knowledge of the industry to advise and guide artists through their career. With all the news breaking on rumoured new judges to join the judging panel all of which are artists who only have experience of being an artist. They don't have the experience necessary to advise and guide artists all they have is their personal opinion.
X factor contestants are dominating our charts these days and taking the resources away from real artists who have had to work really hard for their careers. So many talented groups/bands and solo artists get pushed to the side these days because the major record companies are only interested in marketing ready made packages who will make a quick buck. So if your an aspiring musician out there with dreams on being in the charts, don't go for the x factor route it'll cause you more damage then good. Instead work hard, make a decent demo and market yourself strongly. If you can get a team behind you even better. There are plenty of small independent music professionals out there with the contacts, resources and experience to push your career in the right direction.
Living With A Bombay Cat: Cat Breed Experiences
Written April 2012
It's been two years since Vixen our seven year old Bombay cat came to live with us. We rescued her from a truly awful situation, she had been neglected, abused and overbred by her previous owner. She's had countless litters of kittens and must have either been thrown out by her previous owner or left home of her own accord because she then started living in our garden. We tried to entice her indoors but she wouldn't come so we began to feed her. It was only when we had the bad snow in Winter 2010 that she plucked up the courage to move in. She was very nervous and wary of other humans and didn't get on too well with our Tabby cat Sox. Over time they formed a strong bond and are now inseparable. We called our Bombay Vixen due to her pretty pointy face and the name really suited her. When she was still adjusting to domestic life we nicknamed her demonically challenged as she could be a naughty demon, pooping on the duvet, always fighting with our other cat and generally being a little minx. She soon calmed down.
We'd never owned a Bombay before and did some research on the breed, we've since become very fond of the breed and would never hesitate to own another Bombay. Vixen is a lovely cat, she's very affectionate and will always happily curl up on the nearest vacant lap and puurr away for hours on end. She has a very motherly instinct and when we got our Labrador puppy Phoenix at the end of last year she became very motherly around the puppy.
Bombay cats are known for being very vocal and Vixen is definitely vocal, Bombay's do meow louder then most domestic cats we would describe Vixens meow as a loud whine. Often meowing for no particular reason. Some cat owners are put off by the noise that Bombay's can make but the meow really isn't that bad, we quite like it and to be perfectly fair our tabby Sox can make just as much noise.
Vixen is also very fond of her food. She can be very greedy but we put this down to her living outside previously. Her favourite food at the moment is Gourmet Perle. She has a rare stomach condition called Mega-colon which means she has to be kept indoors now as we have to monitor her toilet habits. Because of her condition she needs a lot of veterinary treatment. This isn't a breed trait and our vet said it is a rare condition usually caused by injury. She also has IBS so is restricted somewhat to what she can and can't eat.
Vixen can be very mischievous and among some of her most mischievous and curious tales are like the time we caught her disappearing up the chimney, just her hind legs and tail were left and we had to quickly pull her back down, and the time we caught her clambering into the tumble dryer, luckily it was switched off so now we have to always double check we know where she is before switching on the washing machine and dryer. She very nearly came to the supermarket with us once when she jumped into our shopping Hoppa and on noticing it was a little heavier then usual there was vixen sitting inside purring away.
Vixen is very playful and will play happily on her own or with our other cat Sox, she loves to play with toy mice and anything with a good squeak is a winner. She has lost some of her toys as she likes to hide them, two are still missing and we have no idea what she has done with them. She is also a very good hunter and has caught many spiders, flies and well any other household visitors.
She does tend to sleep a lot and lays in the funniest positions, usually you find her laying on her back with her feet in the air, she's also more happy if she can sleep leaning against you or with a paw on your arm.
Compared to our tabby cat Sox Vixen is a lot more affectionate, always happy to have a fuss and a cuddle, you can cuddle her for ages and she won't fuss at all.
Our Bombay has been a real joy, she keeps us entertained for hours on end chasing her shadow and getting the wind up her tail and going hyper. All things aside Vixen is a lovely pet, a true companion and a valued member of our family.
It's been two years since Vixen our seven year old Bombay cat came to live with us. We rescued her from a truly awful situation, she had been neglected, abused and overbred by her previous owner. She's had countless litters of kittens and must have either been thrown out by her previous owner or left home of her own accord because she then started living in our garden. We tried to entice her indoors but she wouldn't come so we began to feed her. It was only when we had the bad snow in Winter 2010 that she plucked up the courage to move in. She was very nervous and wary of other humans and didn't get on too well with our Tabby cat Sox. Over time they formed a strong bond and are now inseparable. We called our Bombay Vixen due to her pretty pointy face and the name really suited her. When she was still adjusting to domestic life we nicknamed her demonically challenged as she could be a naughty demon, pooping on the duvet, always fighting with our other cat and generally being a little minx. She soon calmed down.
We'd never owned a Bombay before and did some research on the breed, we've since become very fond of the breed and would never hesitate to own another Bombay. Vixen is a lovely cat, she's very affectionate and will always happily curl up on the nearest vacant lap and puurr away for hours on end. She has a very motherly instinct and when we got our Labrador puppy Phoenix at the end of last year she became very motherly around the puppy.
Bombay cats are known for being very vocal and Vixen is definitely vocal, Bombay's do meow louder then most domestic cats we would describe Vixens meow as a loud whine. Often meowing for no particular reason. Some cat owners are put off by the noise that Bombay's can make but the meow really isn't that bad, we quite like it and to be perfectly fair our tabby Sox can make just as much noise.
Vixen is also very fond of her food. She can be very greedy but we put this down to her living outside previously. Her favourite food at the moment is Gourmet Perle. She has a rare stomach condition called Mega-colon which means she has to be kept indoors now as we have to monitor her toilet habits. Because of her condition she needs a lot of veterinary treatment. This isn't a breed trait and our vet said it is a rare condition usually caused by injury. She also has IBS so is restricted somewhat to what she can and can't eat.
Vixen can be very mischievous and among some of her most mischievous and curious tales are like the time we caught her disappearing up the chimney, just her hind legs and tail were left and we had to quickly pull her back down, and the time we caught her clambering into the tumble dryer, luckily it was switched off so now we have to always double check we know where she is before switching on the washing machine and dryer. She very nearly came to the supermarket with us once when she jumped into our shopping Hoppa and on noticing it was a little heavier then usual there was vixen sitting inside purring away.
Vixen is very playful and will play happily on her own or with our other cat Sox, she loves to play with toy mice and anything with a good squeak is a winner. She has lost some of her toys as she likes to hide them, two are still missing and we have no idea what she has done with them. She is also a very good hunter and has caught many spiders, flies and well any other household visitors.
She does tend to sleep a lot and lays in the funniest positions, usually you find her laying on her back with her feet in the air, she's also more happy if she can sleep leaning against you or with a paw on your arm.
Compared to our tabby cat Sox Vixen is a lot more affectionate, always happy to have a fuss and a cuddle, you can cuddle her for ages and she won't fuss at all.
Our Bombay has been a real joy, she keeps us entertained for hours on end chasing her shadow and getting the wind up her tail and going hyper. All things aside Vixen is a lovely pet, a true companion and a valued member of our family.
Holistic remedies for your cat: How to use aromatherapy massage techniques to keep your cats coat looking in tip top condition.
Written February 2012
For many years I've been a true believer in the holistic remedies that we as humans can use daily for any number of ailments, from the simple headache to more complex serious conditions. After learning about the benefits that these remedies can bring to us humans I started to wonder if some or all of them could be used for my pets. I started to study various forms of alternative therapies and looked at how I could turn them into animal friendly remedies. That's exactly what I did and ever since I've treated all three of my pets two cats and a puppy using simple homemade remedies to treat anything from conjunctivitis through to a serious bout of cat flu.
Today however I'm going to write about how you can utilise simple homemade remedies to help your cats coat look healthy, shiny and immaculate. My cat Sox is now six and I started using this simple remedy when she was one. When I took her in as a 4 month old rescue cat her coat was coarse, rough and covered with dandruff. I didn't fancy traumatising her buy using expensive pet shampoos loaded with chemicals which are more likely to cause her more harm then good.
I looked for a suitable remedy for her to not only help her coat look more neat and tidy but one that would also treat a dry skin condition which was causing her dandruff. I considered a few techniques but the one I chose to use was aromatherapy and massage using essential oils. I chose to use Lavender essential oil as it is one of the most beneficial and gentle oils that you can use. To start off with I wanted to see if she'd like the smell of it, there's no point treating any animal with an oil that they can't stand the smell of as this will cause them distress and could put them off the treatments altogether. My other cat for example detests the smell of Lavender and gags at the mere smell of it. So I opened the bottle and let Sox have a sniff, she seemed happy enough so the next step was to put a drop on my hand and let her sniff it some more. Not only did she like the smell but she began to lick my hand which for me was a sure sign that she was happy with it. Lavender will cause your cat absolutely no harm if they injest it so do not be alarmed if they do lick in any amount.
Once your satisfied that your cat is happy with the smell it's time to crack on. So now I'm going to share a simple aromatherapy massage technique that you can work into your usual grooming routine.
You don't want to use too much oil as too much can be very strong. I recommend using one or two drops and no more. First put your one or two drops onto your hand and rub your hands together to spread the oil. Lavender is safe to use neat (without a carrier oil) and won't cause you or your cat any reactions. Now stroke your cat from the top of their head to the tip of the tail, do these four times. Then place your thumb and forefinger of one hand either side of your cats ears and gently rub clockwise four times. If your cat dislikes you touching them here then bypass it and move onto the next step. Next place each hand just above your cats shoulders and gently rub clockwise the same way as you rub a humans shoulders. Continue gently rubbing clockwise down to their ribs, being careful not to place to much pressure on them. When you get to the hips place a hand on each hip and gently rub around the joint again for four times then move upwards to the base of their tail. Next using your thumb and forefinger gently massage along their tail. Now some cats aren't happy about having their legs touched so if your cat is unhappy with this then don't do it. If they are like Sox who is happy to be petted anywhere then you can continue onwards.
Gently hold your cats paw and rub down their leg from their shoulder to paw, then placing your thumb in the middle of their paw apply gentle pressure and massage in a circular motion. Do the same for the other paw and on their legs. If your cat will happily rollover you can rub their tummy downwards from their chest. To finish off go back to step one and stroke your cat from head to tail.
There you are you've just done your cats first massage. By using this massage you have rubbed the oil into your cats coat and skin where it will be absorbed into their body.
If you have a cat who shows signs of distress tapping tail, growling or hissing whilst doing the massage then do not continue to do it. Only do this if your cat is contented and happy. If your cat really doesn't like it then you can just do step one of stroking them from head to tail with the oil on your hands.
Alternatively you can make a lavender water spray to use when grooming. Use a small plastic spray bottle which doesn't make a horrible 'spraying noise' like an aerosol. Superdrug stock handy sized plastic spray bottles. To use fill the bottle with cold water and add one or two drops of Lavender essential oil to the water. Then when you next groom your cat spray this directly onto their coat then brush through.
The benefits of this will soon become apparent, your cat will be more relaxed, their coat will be soft, shiny and healthy after just a few treatments. Sox always thoroughly enjoys her 'Lavender rubs' as we've come to call them. so go on give it a try on your cat today and see the benefits for yourself. Lavender is a completely safe oil to use and will not interfere or react with any medications your cat may be taking. If using this massage technique on a kitten younger then 6 months of age I'd recommend adding one drop of lavender essential oil to a small bowl of water rather then putting the oil directly onto your hand. then rub the water onto your hands as in the first step. If you also have dogs this massage technique can also be used on their coats too.
Lavender essential oil can be purchased on www.holisticshop.co.uk which is my preferred stockist as it's a brand I know and trust.
For many years I've been a true believer in the holistic remedies that we as humans can use daily for any number of ailments, from the simple headache to more complex serious conditions. After learning about the benefits that these remedies can bring to us humans I started to wonder if some or all of them could be used for my pets. I started to study various forms of alternative therapies and looked at how I could turn them into animal friendly remedies. That's exactly what I did and ever since I've treated all three of my pets two cats and a puppy using simple homemade remedies to treat anything from conjunctivitis through to a serious bout of cat flu.
Today however I'm going to write about how you can utilise simple homemade remedies to help your cats coat look healthy, shiny and immaculate. My cat Sox is now six and I started using this simple remedy when she was one. When I took her in as a 4 month old rescue cat her coat was coarse, rough and covered with dandruff. I didn't fancy traumatising her buy using expensive pet shampoos loaded with chemicals which are more likely to cause her more harm then good.
I looked for a suitable remedy for her to not only help her coat look more neat and tidy but one that would also treat a dry skin condition which was causing her dandruff. I considered a few techniques but the one I chose to use was aromatherapy and massage using essential oils. I chose to use Lavender essential oil as it is one of the most beneficial and gentle oils that you can use. To start off with I wanted to see if she'd like the smell of it, there's no point treating any animal with an oil that they can't stand the smell of as this will cause them distress and could put them off the treatments altogether. My other cat for example detests the smell of Lavender and gags at the mere smell of it. So I opened the bottle and let Sox have a sniff, she seemed happy enough so the next step was to put a drop on my hand and let her sniff it some more. Not only did she like the smell but she began to lick my hand which for me was a sure sign that she was happy with it. Lavender will cause your cat absolutely no harm if they injest it so do not be alarmed if they do lick in any amount.
Once your satisfied that your cat is happy with the smell it's time to crack on. So now I'm going to share a simple aromatherapy massage technique that you can work into your usual grooming routine.
You don't want to use too much oil as too much can be very strong. I recommend using one or two drops and no more. First put your one or two drops onto your hand and rub your hands together to spread the oil. Lavender is safe to use neat (without a carrier oil) and won't cause you or your cat any reactions. Now stroke your cat from the top of their head to the tip of the tail, do these four times. Then place your thumb and forefinger of one hand either side of your cats ears and gently rub clockwise four times. If your cat dislikes you touching them here then bypass it and move onto the next step. Next place each hand just above your cats shoulders and gently rub clockwise the same way as you rub a humans shoulders. Continue gently rubbing clockwise down to their ribs, being careful not to place to much pressure on them. When you get to the hips place a hand on each hip and gently rub around the joint again for four times then move upwards to the base of their tail. Next using your thumb and forefinger gently massage along their tail. Now some cats aren't happy about having their legs touched so if your cat is unhappy with this then don't do it. If they are like Sox who is happy to be petted anywhere then you can continue onwards.
Gently hold your cats paw and rub down their leg from their shoulder to paw, then placing your thumb in the middle of their paw apply gentle pressure and massage in a circular motion. Do the same for the other paw and on their legs. If your cat will happily rollover you can rub their tummy downwards from their chest. To finish off go back to step one and stroke your cat from head to tail.
There you are you've just done your cats first massage. By using this massage you have rubbed the oil into your cats coat and skin where it will be absorbed into their body.
If you have a cat who shows signs of distress tapping tail, growling or hissing whilst doing the massage then do not continue to do it. Only do this if your cat is contented and happy. If your cat really doesn't like it then you can just do step one of stroking them from head to tail with the oil on your hands.
Alternatively you can make a lavender water spray to use when grooming. Use a small plastic spray bottle which doesn't make a horrible 'spraying noise' like an aerosol. Superdrug stock handy sized plastic spray bottles. To use fill the bottle with cold water and add one or two drops of Lavender essential oil to the water. Then when you next groom your cat spray this directly onto their coat then brush through.
The benefits of this will soon become apparent, your cat will be more relaxed, their coat will be soft, shiny and healthy after just a few treatments. Sox always thoroughly enjoys her 'Lavender rubs' as we've come to call them. so go on give it a try on your cat today and see the benefits for yourself. Lavender is a completely safe oil to use and will not interfere or react with any medications your cat may be taking. If using this massage technique on a kitten younger then 6 months of age I'd recommend adding one drop of lavender essential oil to a small bowl of water rather then putting the oil directly onto your hand. then rub the water onto your hands as in the first step. If you also have dogs this massage technique can also be used on their coats too.
Lavender essential oil can be purchased on www.holisticshop.co.uk which is my preferred stockist as it's a brand I know and trust.
Puurrs Or Claws At Dawn: Introducing A Second Cat Into Your Home
Written: October 2010
Meow meow meow, I'm awoken early in the morning by the noise which has recently become a regular occurrence. After a busy night of chasing shadows, moths, or whatever else happens to be at hand my cat comes bounding up the stairs swings open my bedroom door and then "meow meow meow" But this isn't Sox the cat who I have had for five years, no, this is my new cat vixen. A new addition to our family. I've had Sox my first cat for five years now and always thought the idea of introducing a second cat into the household would cause nothing but trouble and mischief. You often hear people say "if you want two cats then get two littermates as kittens" or "ooh no you can't introduce another cat now, not after she's so settled" and like many people for years I agreed with them but then I was left with no choice. I didn't decide to get another cat. Another cat decided she'd just move in.
Vixan as we've come to call her had been hanging around in our garden for almost a year, she was always too nervous to venture inside and the slightest noise would send her hurrying off through the fence again. Until earlier this year she plucked up the courage to venture in, initially only as far as the kitchen where we'd feed her a small bowl of cat biscuits then she'd be off again. Then a few weeks later she wandered into the living room and in no time she was staying overnight.
My cat Sox who we've had for five years has always been very spoilt since she arrived, which strangely enough was a similar story, she appeared in the garden one morning and just never left. So by the time vixen started to venture more into the house I was becoming increasingly nervous that they wouldn't get on. Sox has always been very territorial and Vixan being so timid I thought it was going to be World War 3 of the paw kind.
At first Sox was slightly unhappy with the new arrangement, she used to sit up furiously when Vixan would walk into the room and Sox only had to make a slight noise and Vixan would be off on her toes. It was a bit of a cat chase for a few days with Sox assuming that Vixan was invading her territory and would chase her off but it soon settled down. One night about a week later I was in the kitchen with Vixan then Sox came out, made a cute welcoming "chirrup" noise, walked over to Vixan and they sniffed each other. I was nervous that they'd have a full blown fight right there on the floor but they didn't. Since then they've pretty much got on rather well all things considered. Vixan has been a very nervous cat, after gaining the courage to venture inside the house it took weeks for us to get her settled without her whizzing off at every slight noise or movement. I think Sox has helped her a lot as Sox used to also be very timid and I think once she got used to the idea that Vixan was staying she helped her.
It's not been all so easy though, after a few weeks we noticed Vixan seemed to have some digestive issues and have since had to put her on a completely different diet to what Sox is on. So at dinnertime it really can be like feeding time at the zoo. Trying to feed two cats, different foods at the same time is a challenge in itself and that's without both of them stretching up to the worktop and making so much noise anyone truly would think they were starving. Then placing their bowls in separate rooms so that they don't disturb each other whilst eating. That was another trick i learnt along the way. Vixan must have been living outside for quite some time so anytime she could get food she had to get through it quickly before any other cat did. So I noticed that she'd scoff down her own dinner then try her hardest to get at Sox's which unfortunately is something she still does if given the chance. The best tip: Keep both cats in separate rooms until they finish eating. Which can be tricky as Sox is the type of cat that will eat a little then come back to it later, whilst vixen is the opposite and will happily scoff it down within seconds. So the best plan that seems to work for me is to feed them both at the same time Vixan eats in the kitchen whilst Sox east in the living room, then once Sox has had her little bit and Vixan is finished I let Vixan back into the living room and just cover Sox's dinner until she's next ready to eat it. otherwise what's happened before is vixen will come back in and get straight into Sox's bowl and eat her dinner too which obviously isn't good.
Another minor issue has been playtime. Sox likes to play with interactive toys which we can both play while vixen prefers to play by herself now. Although at first Vixan would just sit and look on intrigued when it was playtime and I'd have to encourage her to join in. Sox was always friendly and would allow Vixan to join in, then once she did Vixan wouldn't let Sox join in. People have often said things to me like "cats are worse then toddlers" and "two cats are much more work" and I can honestly now say I 100% agree with them. As the months have gone on Vixan has engaged much more in playtime, now she has her own collection of catnip filled toys and she quite happily bats those around the floor, as well as anything else which happens to be around that she takes upon herself to steal and use as a toy such as; straws, receipts and recently my pink gloves.
Just over a month ago I bought a cat tower as i thought with two cats it would be a good investment. I chose one which has 4 scratching posts (even though I already have one scratching post) and it has two platforms so they can both enjoy it. It's been a brilliant buy as both cats spend hours on it, and it is really funny when there both on there playing with the toys and chasing each other. I placed it infront of the window and more often then not one of them is sitting on the top platform gazing out of the window.
It's been three months since Vixan moved in and although it has been a challenge, especially when i get woken by the cats chorus at the break of dawn and generally coping with two cats instead of just one, it's been well worth it. I did worry a lot at the beginning as the last thing I wanted to do was upset Sox who has been really settled but she's now really happy with her new friend. They don't share the same bed or sit together like litter mates do but they both get on and both seem really happy and settled. I'm certain Sox is pleased to have some company now. So nowadays when people say "you can't introduce a second cat now" I feel happy to say "of course you can but it does depend on the personalities of the cats" Some people may not be as lucky as I have been with introducing a second cat, but when I watch them both happily playing together there's not one doubt in my mind that I made the right decision to encourage Vixan into the house.
Meow meow meow, I'm awoken early in the morning by the noise which has recently become a regular occurrence. After a busy night of chasing shadows, moths, or whatever else happens to be at hand my cat comes bounding up the stairs swings open my bedroom door and then "meow meow meow" But this isn't Sox the cat who I have had for five years, no, this is my new cat vixen. A new addition to our family. I've had Sox my first cat for five years now and always thought the idea of introducing a second cat into the household would cause nothing but trouble and mischief. You often hear people say "if you want two cats then get two littermates as kittens" or "ooh no you can't introduce another cat now, not after she's so settled" and like many people for years I agreed with them but then I was left with no choice. I didn't decide to get another cat. Another cat decided she'd just move in.
Vixan as we've come to call her had been hanging around in our garden for almost a year, she was always too nervous to venture inside and the slightest noise would send her hurrying off through the fence again. Until earlier this year she plucked up the courage to venture in, initially only as far as the kitchen where we'd feed her a small bowl of cat biscuits then she'd be off again. Then a few weeks later she wandered into the living room and in no time she was staying overnight.
My cat Sox who we've had for five years has always been very spoilt since she arrived, which strangely enough was a similar story, she appeared in the garden one morning and just never left. So by the time vixen started to venture more into the house I was becoming increasingly nervous that they wouldn't get on. Sox has always been very territorial and Vixan being so timid I thought it was going to be World War 3 of the paw kind.
At first Sox was slightly unhappy with the new arrangement, she used to sit up furiously when Vixan would walk into the room and Sox only had to make a slight noise and Vixan would be off on her toes. It was a bit of a cat chase for a few days with Sox assuming that Vixan was invading her territory and would chase her off but it soon settled down. One night about a week later I was in the kitchen with Vixan then Sox came out, made a cute welcoming "chirrup" noise, walked over to Vixan and they sniffed each other. I was nervous that they'd have a full blown fight right there on the floor but they didn't. Since then they've pretty much got on rather well all things considered. Vixan has been a very nervous cat, after gaining the courage to venture inside the house it took weeks for us to get her settled without her whizzing off at every slight noise or movement. I think Sox has helped her a lot as Sox used to also be very timid and I think once she got used to the idea that Vixan was staying she helped her.
It's not been all so easy though, after a few weeks we noticed Vixan seemed to have some digestive issues and have since had to put her on a completely different diet to what Sox is on. So at dinnertime it really can be like feeding time at the zoo. Trying to feed two cats, different foods at the same time is a challenge in itself and that's without both of them stretching up to the worktop and making so much noise anyone truly would think they were starving. Then placing their bowls in separate rooms so that they don't disturb each other whilst eating. That was another trick i learnt along the way. Vixan must have been living outside for quite some time so anytime she could get food she had to get through it quickly before any other cat did. So I noticed that she'd scoff down her own dinner then try her hardest to get at Sox's which unfortunately is something she still does if given the chance. The best tip: Keep both cats in separate rooms until they finish eating. Which can be tricky as Sox is the type of cat that will eat a little then come back to it later, whilst vixen is the opposite and will happily scoff it down within seconds. So the best plan that seems to work for me is to feed them both at the same time Vixan eats in the kitchen whilst Sox east in the living room, then once Sox has had her little bit and Vixan is finished I let Vixan back into the living room and just cover Sox's dinner until she's next ready to eat it. otherwise what's happened before is vixen will come back in and get straight into Sox's bowl and eat her dinner too which obviously isn't good.
Another minor issue has been playtime. Sox likes to play with interactive toys which we can both play while vixen prefers to play by herself now. Although at first Vixan would just sit and look on intrigued when it was playtime and I'd have to encourage her to join in. Sox was always friendly and would allow Vixan to join in, then once she did Vixan wouldn't let Sox join in. People have often said things to me like "cats are worse then toddlers" and "two cats are much more work" and I can honestly now say I 100% agree with them. As the months have gone on Vixan has engaged much more in playtime, now she has her own collection of catnip filled toys and she quite happily bats those around the floor, as well as anything else which happens to be around that she takes upon herself to steal and use as a toy such as; straws, receipts and recently my pink gloves.
Just over a month ago I bought a cat tower as i thought with two cats it would be a good investment. I chose one which has 4 scratching posts (even though I already have one scratching post) and it has two platforms so they can both enjoy it. It's been a brilliant buy as both cats spend hours on it, and it is really funny when there both on there playing with the toys and chasing each other. I placed it infront of the window and more often then not one of them is sitting on the top platform gazing out of the window.
It's been three months since Vixan moved in and although it has been a challenge, especially when i get woken by the cats chorus at the break of dawn and generally coping with two cats instead of just one, it's been well worth it. I did worry a lot at the beginning as the last thing I wanted to do was upset Sox who has been really settled but she's now really happy with her new friend. They don't share the same bed or sit together like litter mates do but they both get on and both seem really happy and settled. I'm certain Sox is pleased to have some company now. So nowadays when people say "you can't introduce a second cat now" I feel happy to say "of course you can but it does depend on the personalities of the cats" Some people may not be as lucky as I have been with introducing a second cat, but when I watch them both happily playing together there's not one doubt in my mind that I made the right decision to encourage Vixan into the house.
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