Gertrude's Glorious Victory, Or, Basil meets His Match

[liadnan]

This is entirely blatant cat-blogging. You have fair warning

We started, tentatively, letting the cats out recently. Frankly, they're still a little nervous: .

Meeting Startled Cat went reasonably well, though it did elicit a noise vaguely remiscent of a Clanger from one of them (I'm not sure who: ours tend to make bizarre sounds, but more like budgies most of the time). Basil, on the other hand, was somewhat more diffident:

Well, I've been "working at home" this morning. (Waiting for Majestic to deliver the mixed case I was suckered into ordering the other day on doubtless false grounds of economy, actually.) So I thought I would open the windows. Cue, first, Campion leaping from the upper window and entering into a staring match with Basil. Once he had made his way back in through the kitchen window and the unlatched security gate, Basil decided to follow, and saunter upstairs, which is the place Campion and Gertrude regard as theirs above all, Campion choosing to slumber on top of the sofabed while Gertrude lurks beneath. (When not sitting on the bookcase and impersonating Ceiling Cat that is: )

This started a new staring match, and somewhat pitiful sounds from Basil (who weighs in at about as much as our two put together). Eventually I decided it was time to evict His Gingerness, and got a swipe for my pains. As I was wearing only a t shirt and nothing on my feet they were indeed pains.

Campion boldly squeaked at him and both he and I received another swipe. And that was when all hell broke loose. Gertrude had retreated far, far under her sofa while all this was in progress, but this was too much: she does have some maternal instincts after all, and the air became full of screeching hellcat.

Basil, who has read about discretion and valour, decided that on balance he really didn't want to lower himself to this and fled to the stairs. That, however, was not enough for Gertrude who launched herself onto him and took them both bumping and scratching down the stairs. At the foot Basil extricated himself and moved swiftly for the other stairs to the kitchen and the way out.

Unfortunately the security gate was not held open, just swinging freely, and he swiftly discovered he couldn't actually fit his head through. The end result was a large ginger cat hanging on to the top of a gate and swinging sadly back and forth until he ungraciously accepted my assistance. I think he's feeling a little chastened.

Comments

[aella_irene]

You have adorable cats.

[chiller.livejournal.com]

Cats! Are brilliant!

[ankaret.livejournal.com]

Thank you, this has brightened my day immeasurably.

[nicnac.livejournal.com]

Good to see that she's standing her ground :o)

[deililly.livejournal.com]

This is entirely blatant cat-blogging.

World needs more of it I say. Especially my friends list part of it!

[sierra-le-oli.livejournal.com]

Hurray for Gertrude!

[pashazade.livejournal.com]

Mi Gertrude! Go Mi Gertrude! *shrieks joyfully*

So we can let Basil in *so long as* he doesn't mind being beaten up by a ladycat half his size.

Gertrude! Gertrude! Rah rah rah!

[liadnan]

I did feel quite sorry for him actually.

[pashazade.livejournal.com]

I feel sorry for him too, the poor sod. But I can't help feeling a wee bit amused that he was chased off by a small cat weighing approximately four pounds.

I hope that we will be able to let him in again at some point - I hate leaving him outside when he cries to be let in.

[hano.livejournal.com]

So much for Basil's reputation as a fearsome bruiser. I suggest you (occasionally) tease him mercilessly for being beaten by a girl...

[pashazade.livejournal.com]

I did look for him last night so I could apologise but he was nowhere to be seen. I suspect that he has decided to abjure our home and company after yesterday's insult.

[eccles.livejournal.com]

Haha, welcome to the fold.

[lizw.livejournal.com]

more like budgies most of the time

Our cats seem to cut out the noises and just communicate with the budgies telepathically. It's quite unsettling to see a budgie trying to get a cat's attention if you're not used to it, and only marginally less disturbing when the cat comes to let you know that one of the budgies is ill and would you please do something about it?

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

Since when did cats carry a warning?

[sobelle.livejournal.com]

Cats are very strange creatures. I miss mine.

[dr-lovely.livejournal.com]

teee heee! I think it's cute