We've had our Travis overnight. His mum and dad were going to Gloucester, to a party, and Peter was working over the weekend so he came to us.
Travis is mostly white with a few black spots (more like flecks) on his legs and dark brown patches over his ears and eyes. He was looking distinctly grey, especially around the bottom area, so we decided to give him a bath. He hasn't got a bath at home, his mum and dad have a shower room without a bath, so he doesn't get anything more than a hose down when he's really filthy.
We got him in the bathroom and I filled the shower/bath with warm water. I put the rubber non-slip mat in so he would feel more secure and wouldn't scratch the bath. Nik, meanwhile, undressed him (took his collar off) and, after a few abortive attempts, picked him up and plonked him in the water.
We used to have dog shampoo, for our Jet, but we gave it to Travis's mum when Jet died so we used the mildest we had - L'Oreal Kids' Mango Shampoo. It's Laura's. Travis was wetted and shampoo was rubbed in while he sat there like an angel. When every inch of him had been lathered we showered him with warm water while letting the bath water run away. The water was brownish and full of grit.
Once he was suds-free he was invited to jump out of the bath on to the towel-strewn floor (all the towels were due for a wash) and he was rubbed down with Jet's old towel. Being short-haired his shaking wasn't too much of a crisis and he was allowed to run downstairs and sit in front of the gas fire. He smelled lovely.
His bed was put in my room for the night but he didn't sleep there; apparently the end of Nik's bed was far more inviting. He got up with her at 8.30 and left my room for the poor cat, who is convinced he wants to eat her.
Nik and Laura did a car-boot sale today. They had loads of games and jigsaws of Laura's to sell, plus some curtains of mine that I no longer want. They had to go at 10.45, leaving Travis with me. They did quite well, taking a total of £31 which, after the cost of the table and tea and toast, gave them a net profit of £17.
Travis and I entertained my brother and his wife, travelling up from their flat in London and calling in for an hour, then we spent the afternoon together. Every car that passed the house had Travis with his paws on the front window-sill, looking for his mum and dad. At 4.30 they arrived and Trav duly went home, shiny white and coat feeling like velvet.
Maddy, the cat, has come downstairs again. She lives up there when Travis is here. Tinker, next door, hasn't ventured into the garden since Travis chased him over the fence but, hopefully, we'll see him tomorrow.
Travis is now ensconced, once more, with his own cats - Bonny and Clyde and young Rufus - and happily chasing them or being rebuffed (depending on which one). We miss him - and his doggy grin.
Travis is mostly white with a few black spots (more like flecks) on his legs and dark brown patches over his ears and eyes. He was looking distinctly grey, especially around the bottom area, so we decided to give him a bath. He hasn't got a bath at home, his mum and dad have a shower room without a bath, so he doesn't get anything more than a hose down when he's really filthy.
We got him in the bathroom and I filled the shower/bath with warm water. I put the rubber non-slip mat in so he would feel more secure and wouldn't scratch the bath. Nik, meanwhile, undressed him (took his collar off) and, after a few abortive attempts, picked him up and plonked him in the water.
We used to have dog shampoo, for our Jet, but we gave it to Travis's mum when Jet died so we used the mildest we had - L'Oreal Kids' Mango Shampoo. It's Laura's. Travis was wetted and shampoo was rubbed in while he sat there like an angel. When every inch of him had been lathered we showered him with warm water while letting the bath water run away. The water was brownish and full of grit.
Once he was suds-free he was invited to jump out of the bath on to the towel-strewn floor (all the towels were due for a wash) and he was rubbed down with Jet's old towel. Being short-haired his shaking wasn't too much of a crisis and he was allowed to run downstairs and sit in front of the gas fire. He smelled lovely.
His bed was put in my room for the night but he didn't sleep there; apparently the end of Nik's bed was far more inviting. He got up with her at 8.30 and left my room for the poor cat, who is convinced he wants to eat her.
Nik and Laura did a car-boot sale today. They had loads of games and jigsaws of Laura's to sell, plus some curtains of mine that I no longer want. They had to go at 10.45, leaving Travis with me. They did quite well, taking a total of £31 which, after the cost of the table and tea and toast, gave them a net profit of £17.
Travis and I entertained my brother and his wife, travelling up from their flat in London and calling in for an hour, then we spent the afternoon together. Every car that passed the house had Travis with his paws on the front window-sill, looking for his mum and dad. At 4.30 they arrived and Trav duly went home, shiny white and coat feeling like velvet.
Maddy, the cat, has come downstairs again. She lives up there when Travis is here. Tinker, next door, hasn't ventured into the garden since Travis chased him over the fence but, hopefully, we'll see him tomorrow.
Travis is now ensconced, once more, with his own cats - Bonny and Clyde and young Rufus - and happily chasing them or being rebuffed (depending on which one). We miss him - and his doggy grin.