I awoke this morning to the noxious scent of cat piss. I could smell it on the pillowcase – whether it’s the pillow underneath and now therefore the pillowcase as well or just the case itself I don’t know – and on the duvet cover near to where my head was positioned. The material wasn’t even damp so I must have gotten into it last night and dropped off too quickly to really notice it. I wonder if one can be damaged by breathing in animal urea while asleep? I told Mum and she said I was imagining it until she stepped into the room and was hit with the full force of this rather nasty feline-related pong, one that makes a wet and angry looking cat turd sitting in a litter tray seem positively fragrant by comparison. Not long after, Bramble got up and began sniffing all around the areas where I’d smelled it. Is anything worse than the acrid ammonia stench of cat urine?
Ailuromancy
August 8, 2006 at 6:36 am (Cats)
Okay, so I’m outside and I’m laying flat on my back looking up at the cloud formations in the sky. I peered to my right at the immense size of the eucalyptus tree in our garden and took note to get a disposable camera and take some snaps for Kim before we have some of it lopped to ease the mind of our neighbours whose greenhouse sits directly underneath the heavier looking branches. I’ll also see to it that I take some snaps of the allotment and of course, a few of me sans long hair and avec new designer spectacles.
It wasn’t long before both Klara and Bramble were sitting next to me. I watched her as she slinked off to sit beneath the swinging hammock while he chose to attack a low lying grass stalk. It was then a word came into my mind and that word was ailuromancy. I was convinced I’d made it up. I heard the familiar whistle of the kettle, poured the resulting boiling hot water onto the raspberry and echinacea teabags and came back upstairs.
I went straight to Google and typed it in and lo and behold, not only had I spelled it correctly, but it was a word, a real word. That was one thing but when I found out what it meant, that was entirely another. Bearing in mind, I had been observing the cats when it came to me. Ailuromancy (from greek ailouros), also known as Felidomancy, is a form of Divination which uses cats’ movements or jumps to predict future events (especially the weather). Amazing or what?
Cats & mice
August 7, 2006 at 10:18 am (Cats, Films, Health, Music, Nature)
I’m listening to The Ragpicker’s Dream by Mark Knopfler. A lovely album. It’s mid-morning here and my appointment at the hospital for my brain scan is 3.15pm so I’m not sure whether to stay up and feel like shit or try and get a couple of hours sleep as I woke at 9.00pm last night and haven’t been to bed yet. I managed to finish French Connection II this morning and what an ending. Absolutely brilliant. They were real films back then, it reminded me a little of a Spaghetti Western, not very much happening throughout but with an explosive ending. The actor who portrayed Charnier, Fernando Rey, did so brilliantly. You really wanted him to get his just desserts. The thing I like about older thrillers is the way the stories are structured, there’s a greater sense of timing and pace and when the violence comes, it’s shocking in its simplicity. There are no sweeping camera angles and special effects so with each shot fired or punch struck, you can feel the full force of it.
I managed to do 30 minutes on the exercise bike this morning before getting dressed, shaving and heading out for a walk. I passed the spot where I had seen the dead cat and saw some very heavy staining of blood still visible on the path. I followed the trail which led out into the road, getting wider and darker until there was quite a significant patch about 2 metres or so away. It was a continuum, there was no gap, so the poor animal must have been hit by whatever and most likely driven over before managing to crawl back to the kerb where I discovered it. If it had been picked up by whoever was driving the vehicle and carried to the side of the road there would have been a break in the blood flow and a dripping pattern but there wasn’t. Whether the person then manoeuvred the animal so it was more on the grass verge than the path I don’t know because it was placed very tidily by the road, perhaps a little too tidily. What I do know is the person in the car/van/truck would have felt the impact.
I carried on down and walked through Balmore Park and down the stone steps into Hemdean Road, dropped a package off at Blackphi’s then on to the corner shop a little further on, picking up a paper and a Fry’s Turkish Delight for Mum and a paper for myself before heading back. I was going to cut through where the doctor’s surgery is and up the hill and back along but just couldn’t muster up the energy so walked back past Blackphi’s place, up the stone steps and out into the open, where I espied a decapitated dormouse with flies all over it. It was in a right old state, with its bloodied head hanging off. I walked over to the bench where Blackphi (another mention) and I chatted some weeks back. I read some of the paper and got my breath back. The sky looked threatening and I felt moisture in the air, so I wandered back home only the sky still looks threatening and it’s some hours later. I guess it’s going to be one of those days.
Ever pick your feet in Poughkeepsie?
August 5, 2006 at 8:40 am (Cats, Health)
I sat down last night and started to watch French Connection II though didn’t get to finish it as I got waylaid by other things, namely feeding the cats and when I did sit down again they wanted my full undivided attention which I was only too happy to provide. I came upstairs some time later (at around 6.00am) and ran a bath, washed my hair and had a shave then got dressed and headed out for a walk.
I managed 5,000 steps by walking down into Caversham, past the library, along Hemdean Road, up Rotherfield Way where I chanced upon something that caused me to take a sharp intake of breath and recoil - it was a beautiful pussycat that looked on first glances as if it was sleeping, though a tad awkwardly, by the side of the road. It was only as I leaned in towards it that I noticed the blood in its eyes and pooling on the ground by its mouth.
I was genuinely shaken by it and just stood there not knowing what to do. I didn’t want to leave it like that but what could I do? I had nothing to cover it with nor could I move it, this was someone’s pet after all. I eventually left but kept looking back. It was then I realised that someone was going to be very unhappy today. Doesn’t bear thinking about.
I came the rest of the way home attempting to step over and under the spider threads dangling between bushes and from tree branches, got in and made my way up to see Klara, who was asleep on Mum’s bed and gave her a big hug and kiss and told her she was loved and gave her another squeeze and got attacked for my troubles! I didn’t care, I was just glad to see her and to know she was warm, comfortable and happy and not laying in the road somewhere lifeless.
I went downstairs and found Bramble and he got the same treatment. I wasn’t bitten this time though I could see he would rather have been someplace else. I love cats. I opened the back door and it wasn’t long before they were both stretched out on the grass, with not a care in the world between them.
I came inside, made Mum and myself a cup of tea and here I am, feeling a whole lot better for my walk and the chance to get out in the fresh air. Oooh, here’s Klara now. She’s jumped onto the stool beside me and is peering across with those deep, soulful and loving eyes. She really is beautiful. My sinuses are a lot better and that awful sick feeling has subsided. All is well in my world once more.
I can’t help thinking about that little kitty though…..
