Thursday, May 20, 2010

cats and pigs

First there was Freycat - bought in Durham (North East England) market because the little cottage where we lived was infested with tiny tiny field mice. Cute little things, but they couldn't control their toilet behaviour, so had to go.

Oh and there was the occasional shrew - far worse so far as the toilet behaviour was concerned....

We didn't mind the little rodents, but they weren't viewed as pets.




Frey - short for Gallifrey, though we never called her that - was the sweetest cat in the world.



She moved south with us to Watford (North West London) - then to Greenwich (South East London) and lived to be an extremely elderly skin-and-bones sort of cat, sweet and lovely till the end when she tucked herself up in a neighbour's shed and died.




Then there were the guinea pigs.
Harley and Brandon, named after LG's cousins.



LG - 8 years old here - had just come back from a trip to the Ragged School museum. She didn't normally dress like this - she preferred it to her School uniform.

Harley and Brandon fought. Real fights, worse than their name-sakes. Ears were torn, blood was shed. They spent at least a couple of years constantly segregated by a fence of chicken wire.

Then Brandon died a lingering and very expensive death, and Marigold moved in, to keep Harley company.



She was the most placid guinea pig in the world.
And, as they didn't fight, we could let them roam about on the patio.





After Harley's death, Marigold moved back down the road, as company for another bereaved guinea pig delighting in the name Sendak.

So, she was a serial monogamist of sorts.

And now there is lovely lovely Logan who arrived about 16 months ago


as he was then

who is a delight


as he is now


Logan works on our current occasional tiny tiny house mouse problem (similar toilet issues)

between foot-fighting



garden prowling




and of course, napping.





25 comments:

Elizabeth Seaver said...

I do love the story of the procession of animals through your home. What lucky creatures to have mice to catch, gardens to roam and prowl and nice people to scratch them behind the ears. No wonder they can sleep so soundly! The pictures are charming and wonderful.

Betty said...

Fab post! You had me sighing, smiling and laughing - in no particular order.
Love the old photos of Frey. And she was named for a planet? Cool :D

Brian Miller said...

oh your new black is just divine...great pics. never had a guinea pig, though after watching g-force the boys i think rally want one...

mouse (aka kimy) said...

loved meeting your critters - what rich full lives they have/had.

the photos and stories are delightful. i felt as though i was reading a children's book ;)

xxxxx and belly rubs to logan

Giulia said...

Oh it's good to meet those darlings who preceded the adorable Logan. (Frey was quite something, it's obvious.)

My cousins had a village o' guinea pigs. I put up rather a fuss to have them, too. It was pointed out that under my care were: a Scottish Border collie, a cat (only one!), two orphan kittens-who-needed-homes, an aquarium, gerbils, mice (in cages). Then there was my garage intensive care wildlife unit: birds, bunnies, a particularly cheerful chipmunk...on & on. I remember asking a 'what's the point?' For which I had to go to my room. (Crime: cheekiness)

Marigold's resilience is particularly admirable. The name is on a short list for a redheaded pal for Julie (GG). Who is now pouting because she has a thing for Logan. (OK, I do too. That pink tongue-tip that sticks out when he sleeps is so cute...I think we've seen that behavior here before.)

Cheers from a finally sunny DC, Letty.

PS: LG's boots look like those I've worn over the years...the best pair purchased in London in 1986. It's an all-ages cool look. Off to the Ragged School museum, now.

Unknown said...

It's a cat's life! Gorgeous, gorgeous cat (and this from a non-cat lover!) ;-)

ArtSparker said...

The abstracted gaze of the cat chewing on something for the sake of chewing/interacting...

Somone captured it very well on redbubble (not me), it's here if you want to look

http://www.redbubble.com/people/mmawson/art/5197578-1-thumb-thing-to-chew-on

JGH said...

Ohmygosh, why have I never considered a guinea pig for a pet? They are so cute!! Logan is a beautiful cat too.

Betsy Brock said...

Logan is absolutely gorgeous!

Those guinea pigs are so cute!

Akelamalu said...

Logan is very handsome! :)

Ronda Laveen said...

That Marigold...she gets around...in a good way. Lovely pet pictorial. That was a great picture of the cat in the snow on the tree.

Gledwood said...

Those guineau swines are really cute! The golden one reminds me of a Norwich terrier %-/...

I like the white cat Frey as well...

e said...

Lovely pets and stories, Lettuce! LG was adorable and has become a beauty now. Head scratches and belly rubs to Logan!

Harnett-Hargrove said...

Wonderful menagerie. We had guineas that looked a lot like yours, a red and a blond. We named them Lucy and Ethe1 -J

Cheryl said...

Great stories of pets past and present. Your current baby is gorgeous.

Megan said...

Wow that tree picture. Wow wowie.

Mort would wave a paw at Logan if he weren't busy chewing on my feet...

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

awesome pets.

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

LOVELY! I am having SUCH fun reading the pet posts!

Your animals are truly wonderful. I used to say I did NOT care much for cats but NOW...I am completely smitten with the ones we have acquired since moving into the country side. AND, they are quite handy at removing the mice!

justherdingcats said...

Lovely and what fantastic photos - My pets are an ancient rabbit ( (10 yrs and counting.....) and a bonkers dachshund. I have managed to drown one hamster in the past ( dont ask) but when my son whose hamster it was was asked if he wanted a replacement he said "no its too stressful" I thought pets were meant to be relaxing!!

PattiKen said...

Terrific post and photos! Logan is a handsome devil!

Landscapers Web Design said...

Both are beautiful, Nice snaps.

Shammickite said...

My life is pet-free at the moment, but I borrow TessaPuppy the Mad Doodle for weekends sometimes. I miss my cats, there have been quite a procession of them.

Baino said...

I actually didn't expect to enjoy this topic as much but it's been lovely seeing who's got what. We looked after guinea pigs for a friend of Clare's once and one got out. Buggered if I know how! Beautiful cat . . so shiny! (sorry I have a thing about shiny stuff!) Did your cats actually fix the mouse problem? Mine never did!

Wanderer said...

i loved this post and it made me think i should write about all of my pets too...i often think about my first dog (when I was 6 or so we got her) and my first cat, my hamsters, lizards, frogs, turtles... they all had big personalities too.

i love marigold.
and logan

Subby said...

Mum remembers her black cat( named "Blackie", heh... ) Fantastic group here, luv :)