Meet Boris

Boris's diary so far -


Hi, I'm Boris. That's me on the bench.

Mistress says I don't photograph very easily because I'm black. I didn't know I was black. It's funny because the cat that lives in the mirror is black too.

I live with Master and Mistress and a Rough Collie called Amber - she has a blog too. She's supposed to be a puppy but she's four times my size. How big do they grow? I hope she doesn't grow any bigger than Bonnie who lived here when I came. Amber's great fun and we get on really well but she does have a habit of splatting me on the floor with her paw if I don't move quickly enough. Chase and hide is our favourite game.

13th April 2006
Took Mum a present this morning. I haven't caught a bird for ages and ages, so when I caught a Robin early this morning I took it right up to the bedroom and left it beside the bed. Her reaction was rather strange, she made a fuss of me but didn't seem too pleased about the present. She put it in the bin where they put a lot of really interesting things. I don't know if she realises that every week some men come and take it all away.

23th April 2006
Thought you might like to see a picture of me as a kitten.

Cute was't I?

5th May 2006
Went away for the May Bank Holiday weekend in our motorhome. I love it, there are so many nooks and crannies, especially above the cab. It's a whole year since I last went. Amber normally goes with them but I usually get looked after at home by Auntie Kath. Auntie Kath's puss-cat, Ben, is black like me - he lives next door - and he's really old and wise.

So, how did I get to go this time, you ask? Well I had a bit of a disaster the week before and smashed one of my back claws. Mum had to bathe it several times a day and kept putting pink tablets in my food. She smashed them up, but I found them. I had to go with them so that she could keep bathing me and giving me pink tablets. The only downside was that I couldn't go outside on my harness and lead because I had to keep my paw clean.

26th May 2006
Hello again. Paw's doing nicely thank-you. The family are at it again - they're packing up the 'van for the Bank Holiday and my things have been left in the garage! I usually stage a sit-in in the holdall at this point but Mum has already put stuff in it. Never mind, they don't usually leave me for long.
I bet they'll take Amber. She get's all the fun. I don't really want to be left with the responsibility of looking after her so it's probably for the best.

3rd June 2006 - a tribute
Sad day today. They told me Ben has passed away. Remember I said how old and wise he was? I'll miss him. Thought I'd like to write a tribute to him because he was my Mentor.

When I came to live here as a small kitten, it was Ben who taught me how to deal with invading cats from outside 'our' territory. He used to make really good scary noises at first, and that usually frightened them off. If they stayed to fight, he soon got the upper hand, even though he was probably several times their age. Then he gradually advanced in slow motion as they retreated until he got to our 'boundary' and then he would sit there keeping watch.

While all this was going on, I used to keep a few steps behind him all the time. Didn't think it was wise to get too close. Recently our roles seemed to have reversed. Ben often left me to do the macho bit. I suppose that was what he was training me up for.

The other day Mistress came out just after I had seen off another cat and she commented how much I looked like Ben, sitting on guard on exactly the same 'boundary'. That was quite a compliment.

When I was little and wouldn't leave him alone he was very patient. He flattened me a few times to teach me a lesson, but he never really hurt me. I spent many hours just sitting not far from him outside our houses. We accepted one another, and were quite happy to share territory. I really appreciated the input he had into my young life and I know I will really miss him.

12th August 2006
Hi, it's me again. Had a good laugh this week. Amber pinched one of Mum's favourite cardigans and raced round and round the lawn with it. Mum spotted her from an upstairs window and she got into trouble. She was a good sport though, and didn't tell Mum that I'd been lying on it!

Mum dashed downstairs and hurt her foot today. When she went to the hospital and the nurse examined it Dad had to go out because he felt funny. While Dad was outside they cooked up a plan - the nurse told Dad that Mum hasn't got to do any houseworkd for 6 months and that retail therapy with someone else's credit crad works wonders for a broken toe. He didn't fall for it.

She really does have to rest it for a while though so that's okay by me because I like cuddling up by her.