kitty updates

wow I haven't posted in so long! So much has happened in the last few months!

Zelda turned one in Dec 2013, Marshall Turned 2 in Jan 2014 and Marshall won some more rosettes at the last show!

I have made the decision to not continue with showing though. The last show proved to be very stressful for Marshall and he really didn't enjoy it, it broke my heart to see him like that and it was my fault for putting him in the show. He is my pet first and foremost so his happiness is my priority! Thankfully he didn't fall out with me after the show and he's still a mamas boy!

On to the visuals! i know you all like kitty pics!

Zelda at 1 year old!

Mr Bravestarr at 2years old!

so comfortable mr Bravestarr!

Marshall likes to photobomb my yoga sessions

"oh you just made your bed! Let me sit and clean my mr parts on it!"

Catnip zelda pie

squishy zelda face

yoga kisses from zelda

silliest faces from these two

morning cuddles

keeping me company

Recently Marshall has taught Zelda how to open doors and pull out the kick board in the kitchen,,, double trouble indeed!

the effects of catnip

Marshall and Zelda LOVE catnip, they go mental for it and its so entertaining to watch them wriggle about and rub up against the toys or scratching mat I put it on ( who needs tv eh!)

zelda in full flow catnip bird killing

and poor Marshall on his catnip downer

xx

How time Flies....

Marshall and Zelda ( especially Zelda) have grown so much over the last few months. I didnt notice so much as I see them everyday but looking back at pictures its awesome to see the difference in how they have grown up. 

Zelda is a big 11months and 2weeks old now... almost 1 year! Given her small start in life part of me is a little surprised she has made it this far and turned into a stunning little lady! She is still short legged ( i do tell people she has t-rex arms) and is very petit in stature compared to her peers, but her personality is the size of an elephant! She is full of tortie-tude and EVERYTHING has to be done on her terms! 

here she is the day she came home at 13 weeks and how she looks now! 

as you can see she has gotten very light and very ginger! her mane is huge and her muzzle makes marhsall look like hes chewing a sour sweet! she also has the meanest face known to man!

Marshall has just gotten bigger and bigger and his eyes have changed from amber to pale green ( my biggest wish was to have green eyed kitties) his lynx tips are uber long and his markings are really nice. 

Marshall also had his 2nd Adult show on the 2nd of November. I was very surprised but he got his 1st place in his open class getting his premier certificate ( his 2nd) but the poor boy was so miserable all day I felt awful for showing him and have decided that I wont put him into anymore shows in the future as its just not fair on him. 

Both get on like proper brother and sister... one minute its cuddles next they are wrestling on the floor!

I wouldnt change them for the world!

x

"helping"

Maine Coons love to help. They are such a thoughtful breed always looking for opportunities to make life easier for you! Marshall and Zelda love to "help" me tie my shoe laces and here they are in action!

Zelda

Just Zelda!

Marshall and zelda update

Marshall and zelda both had their visits to the vet, good news all round Marshall's heart is 100% normal and Zelda's post op check up shows that everything is healing well, just the muscle is a little swollen in the area but will go down eventually! So relieved and happy that both are doing well and we have no major concerns!

Unfortunately this post also comes with sad news as I found out that zeldas mum, Kendra, sadly passed away yesterday. It was out of the blue and a shock to all of us. Kendra was a beautiful silver tortie with the most amazing temperament and she will be greatly missed.

I also had a mini cat adventure today! I am on the committee for the Ulster Siamese and all Breed Cat Club, our next show is on the 2nd of November, so today we went to the new venue to take some photos for publicity and to present a cheque to the children's hospice. Shadow my breeders Maine coon came along to and the public were just amazed by him, he also totally loved the attention! 

The Fur

Marshall has a thick coat, he's neutered so his coat doesn't drop in the summer time. Unfortunately this means that if we are lucky to get nice weather its a big pain for marshall as he gets too hot.

This summer we had a heatwave, its also my first summer with Marshall as a big boy ( last summer he was a fuzzy kitten). The heat has played havoc on poor Marshmallow and tomorrow we will be visiting the vets to have his armpits, belly and trousers shaved down as they have some major matts in them. This also means we will be missing the september show as he will be so bald underneath ( we hope we can still make the Ulster Siamese and all Breed show in November though!)

A Maine Coon's coat consists of a fluffy undercoat and a longer, heavier but silky top coat. Its the undercoat that causes the bother! Its like cotton wool and so soft and fluffy, but with regular movement and the heat it just matts up. I brush Marshall and Zelda everyday to help get rid of the loose hair but I think from now on we will be getting summer haircuts to help as little me on my own against a huge cat its pretty impossible to cut them out myself.

Marshall will also be going for a heart Xray tomorrow. Just over a week ago I came home to a very quiet and pathetic looking Marshmallow who had been sick in the hallway. He curled up under the living room table and wouldn't move, he didn't even want cuddles which is totally unheard of for my boy.

Eventually he came up for cuddles but he was trembling so much and breathing really heavily and fast. A trip to the out of hours vets confirmed that he wasn't doing too good and they gave him some shots to stop the nausea and some antibiotics to fight any bugs and calm his temperature. The next day we went to our normal vet who checked him over and put him on a two week antibiotic to help his temperature and general miserableness. Thankfully Marshall has totally picked up but both vets were concerned with his heart rate. Maine Coons can suffer from heart problems and in his blood line there have been a few issues with hearts so and Xray tomorrow will see if there is anything we need to be concerned about.

Zelda will also be going to the vet on friday for her post spaying check up. The opp hasn't phased her at all, she's actually even more mental than she was before! the area is a little swollen but that is to be expected. Yesterday and today she has finally taken some rest time and even come for snuggles!