Linda The Not-So-Crazy Cat Lady

16/12/2024

Could this innocent little face POSSIBLY be guilty of pulling the ornaments off the tree? You be the judge.

NB For those who aren't regular visitors to our page, before you jump on the bandwagon, Purrdy DOES NOT eat the decorations, tinsel, or lights she merely plays with them (and always has done so) by batting them around. She's never shown any interest in chewing anything except cat food.

Those who know us well will know we truly care about our cats and would never do anything to put them in harm's way. I've copped a tremendous amount of flack and abuse over the past few days for allowing my cats access to Christmas decorations.

I love my cats and I know them well. I know which of them can be trusted around Christmas paraphernalia and only those have access to the tree, and only under supervision.

I'm not going to deprive them of the enjoyment of Christmas for the sake of a handful of people who have no clue how our household operates, yet seem to think they have the right to abuse me.

I am well aware that Christmas can be a very dangerous time for some pets and I would never advocate that they be put at risk. I have some cats like that and they will never be allowed access to decorations.

15/12/2024

Agent Gina Ginger Knickers reporting.

I was gonna pose for a picture in the cat-mess tree but Purrdy asked so nicely if she could have a turn.
So, this is Purrdy sitting in our cat-mess tree.
As you can see, she's a little sad 'cos the colourful fairy lights aren't on our tree this year, only the plain ones.

Now, who'd like to see a picture tomorrow of Purrdy posing next to the real Christmas tree?

13/12/2024

Gina here.

This is not one of us, it's someone else's video but I swear this kitty was trained by my sister, Judi.

Whaddaya think? I reckon this is one of Judi's students.

12/12/2024

Agent Gina Ginger Knickers reporting.

Finally!!!

So, she's put up their Christmas tree and she's decorated our cat tree.

About time, don't you think?
I really dunno why we had to wait so long this year. I hope she'll get us nice presents to make up for it.

What do you think she'll get us? What are you getting for your kitties?

08/12/2024

Gina here.

If you're on my mailing list, you should have received my mewsletter with the update on Sweet Matilda.

Here's where she lives nowadays and I'm sure you'll see her there if you stop by regularly at Candy Co. Tell them I sent you, okay?

05/12/2024

Gina here.
I hope you like this video I found.
This is why it's called a catwalk.
I reckon I could show those models a thing or two, wouldn't you agree?

03/12/2024

Agent Gina Ginger Knickers reporting.

Today I learned Kawakawa.

Yup. It's a very special herb that grows here in New Zealand and it's got all sorts of medicinal properties.
We've actually got it growing in our own garden.

Now, the reason I'm telling you about the amazing Kawakawa plant is this:
My sister, Candy, had some acne under her chin and she kept skritching at it. In fact, she skritched away until she'd made a bleeding sore. And, to make matters worse, every time it scabbed over, she skritched the scab off and the sore got bigger and bigger.

But, I have amazing friends!
Candy told you about the beautiful collar she received in the post from one of our friends, right?
It's much better than the hard old plastic "Cone of Shame", don't you think.
Candy looks quite fabulous with her bright yellow buzzy bee collar.
And the best part of all is that she can't skritch her chin, which is healing up very nicely thanks to another of our friends who sent Candy some of her homemade Kawakawa Balm.
Candy says it's very soothing and she doesn't even feel the need to skritch anymore but Linda's insisting she wear the buzzy bee collar until her skin is completely healed up.

And now, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind heading over to Nix's page and showing it some love. She makes all sorts of lovely things and Linda says the shower bombs that arrived as a gift for her with Candy's Kawakawa Balm are just amazing!
Here's where you'll find more info on what Nix makes: Crafty Tart.

Nix is a champion kitty fosterer and has successfully raised tiny bottle babies. Do you remember the story of little Phoenix from Kitty Kingdom Wellington - Cat Sanctuary? He's one of Nix's babies.

BTW if you wanna learn more about the miracle herb Kawakawa, you can read up on it here:
https://herbs.org.nz/herbs/kawakawa/

02/12/2024

Candy here, again.

I lied, okay?

I'm wearing this collar 'cos I was a bit naughty.

I'm too embarrassed to tell you 'bout it, but no doubt, Gina will spill the beans tomorrow when she reports on her new amazing discovery.

I still think I look pretty fabulous, regardless of the reason why Linda put the collar on me.

01/12/2024

Candy here.

Whatever Gina's told you in her mewsletter about me, and this collar, don't believe a word of it!

I'm wearing this gorgeous buzzy bee collar as a fashion statement, okay?
Don't you think it suits me? Do I look stunning, or what?
I think Gina's just jealous 'cos she didn't get one.

The lovely Debbie Holland from Outpawed sent it to me.

28/11/2024

"No, I have NOT seen the turkey!" - Callie

Gina Ginger Knickers here.
Happy thanksgiving to all our friends in the USA. I hope you enjoy our favourite picture of my sister, Callie, looking as if she's just eaten the whole turkey.

What are you thankful for during this time of gratitude and celebration?
(BTW, anyone is welcome to answer that question).

We don't celebrate thanksgiving here in New Zealand, but perhaps we should. It would be nice to have a worldwide day to reflect on all the things we are thankful for. Wouldn't you agree?
I'm all for it.

And today I'm thankful I was rescued and adopted into a loving home and I'm thankful for all my dear friends, who shower us with so much love. 💞 Spare a thought for all the unwanted, abandoned, stray, lost and neglected pets (and people) out there who aren't as lucky as I was.

24/11/2024

Gina Ginger Knickers here.

OMIGOSH !!!
I've just realised it's almost Christmas.
I haven't even STARTED my Christmas shopping.

What should I get for Linda?
Any suggestions?

I was thinking maybe she'd appreciate a nice steaming hairball on Christmas morning but Moppy has already given her so many of those.
I'd like my gift to be unique and quite special this year.
What do you think?

22/11/2024

Gina Ginger Knickers reporting.

Today I want to tell you about another kitty, but I haven't forgotten the story of the old lady's cats. The rest of it will be in my mewsletter on Sunday, okay?

So, this is Freya, but she was known as Mulu when she lived with us. Freya is another of the Deanes' very happy fostering stories.

Who remembers "The Little Foster Family" updates in Cats of Wellington every day?

For those who weren't following the story at the time, Freya (Mulu) arrived just before Christmas 2019. As you can see from the pictures, she was a lot skinnier then!

Mulu was a very young mother. Her family had let her get pregnant and when they realised they couldn't afford to keep her and her four hungry kittens, they surrendered her to a rescue organisation and they came to Castle Deane for fostering. I'm so glad they didn't just dump them somewhere. At least they took them to a rescue organisation.

Mr. D fell in love with Mulu and wanted to keep her, but a very nice lady had seen the daily updates about Mulu and she'd also fallen in love with her.
She came to meet Mulu and the connection was instant. Just like the time Tina Toona met her forever hoomin. And Oaks and Ember and Bouie and Chianu and so many, many others.

Juli, the lady, who'd come to meet Mulu, already had two cats but she knew Mulu was destined to be hers and she arranged to adopt Mulu after her spay.

Mulu's kittens also found their hoomins, thanks to the daily updates but before they left, our Judi thoroughly schooled them in the art of naughty. Judi herself had only just arrived and she was more-or-less the same age as Mulu's boys. Together, they ran rings around Linda and got up to the most hilarious shenanigans.

The boys were neutered early in 2020 and left us to go to their forever homes. When they left, Mulu was spayed and Juli came to get her. She changed her name to Freya and Freya has been living her best life with Juli and family (hoomin, feline and canine) ever since.

Gosh!
I just love happy endings, don't you?
I wish all cats could have happy stories like Freya's and mine. Sigh...

21/11/2024

Agent Gina Ginger Knickers here.

I promised in my mewsletter on Sunday, I’d tell you what happened to the old lady’s three cats.

The little girl continued feeding them scraps from her plate and whatever else she could scrounge from the kitchen at home.
She managed to steal a few titbits like cheese and ham from the fridge.
She also saved her school sandwiches for them.
The cats would be waiting for her eagerly on the corner when she walked past the old lady's house on her way home from school every day.
They’d hungrily devour the contents of her lunchbox in no time at all, leaving not even a crumb.

They hung about on the property for a while, trying to get into the tightly shut, vacant house, but nobody seemed to care about them.
The little girl has no idea if anyone else fed them or took responsibility for them.

In the weeks after the funeral, first Bontes and then Rooies disappeared.
The little girl was unable to find out if someone came for them or if they simply drifted away in search of a more secure home.
To this day it haunts her.
Only Vaalie remained but he was getting thinner and thinner.

She wishes she’d done more to compel her parents and grandma to do something about the plight of the cats, but the adults were powerless to intervene.

When she was older the little girl learned that there had been a terrible feud raging among the old lady’s relatives over the disposal of her property, (and cats too are regarded merely as property by the law).
The fight involved lengthy court battles, trespassing orders, and nasty threats.

The old lady’s relatives who had not bothered to acknowledge her existence when she was alive now tore each other to pieces over her little house and meagre possessions.
Rumour has it that she’d had lots of money, but nobody can say for sure.

Sadly, the fate of Bontes and Rooies is unknown and therefore I can’t tell you the rest of their particular story.
The little girl likes to believe that one of the bickering relatives adopted them, because they were so friendly and so pretty.

However, I do know how Vaalie’s story continues.
The little girl told me, and I’ll tell you his story in my mewsletter on Sunday.
He was a very plain and ordinary cat and very shy.
He was wary of people and after the old lady died, the only person in all the world that he trusted, was the little girl.

21/11/2024

Gina here.

We are so proud of Linda's friend, the Cat Fixer.

I think I've told you about her before. She's the lady who works very, very hard to have as many cats spayed and neutered as possible. She started Feline Fix and she raises the money needed to subsidise the procedure when people can't afford to have it done for their kitties.
And she helps rescue organisations too whenever she can.

🌟 Next up: Te Tohu Maimoa Winner Annette Buckley, Founder of Feline Fix! 🌟

Annette’s work in animal welfare reaches far and wide. With a focus on controlling the stray cat population, she has helped desex over 760 since Feline Fix was formed. Her work includes running impactful Facebook campaigns and providing crucial support for urgent medical treatments, reflecting her dedication to reducing unwanted litters and improving the lives of vulnerable animals.

View all our 2024 Te Tohu Maimoa winners now at https://ow.ly/VetT50UarFj.

Join us in celebrating Annette! 🐾

Stay tuned as we introduce more winners later today.

18/11/2024

Chianu here.

Well, we're back at home, thank goodness!
The service at Castle Deane was APALLING!

I can't believe it's the same place we stayed at when we were foster kittens.
Gina says it's because we've been spoilt but I can't help it if I've gotten used to better things.
I've become accustomed to a better lifestyle and I expect nothing less.

For starters, the menu here sucks!
I really don't see why Linda couldn't prepare a freshly roasted chicken for us every meal.

And she locked us in our room the ENTIRE time!
I like to stroll about in the garden at my leisure but we were kept in the spare room upstairs all day, every day.
The air conditioner was on and it kept the room at a comfortable temperature, but still, nothing beats the fresh outdoor air, wouldn't you agree?

I don't know how Gina and her sisters can stand it here.
I give this place 2 out of 10.

PS Don't forget to check back here on Friday for the continuation of Gina's story about the old lady's cats, okay?
Gina's too busy to tell it tomorrow or Thursday, 'cos there's always lots going on at Castle Deane, but she'll do it on Friday (New Zealand time).
You don't mind waiting a little longer, do you?

17/11/2024

Bouie here.

As you know, we've been staying at Castle Deane for a few days while our hoomins were away.

I can't say I was terribly impressed.
Standards have slipped a lot since we were here for fostering a while ago.

The bed in our room was piled high with towels and sheets and T-Shirts and Mr. D's socks and other unmentionables belonging to both of them.

Why can't Linda simply fold the washing and put it away immediately after she takes it off the washing line or out of the dryer?
Dumping it on our bed overnight is totally unacceptable.
Am I really expected to sleep on a pile of underpants???
Can anyone point me in the right direction, please?
I'd like to report her to the authorities.

My sister will be here tomorrow to tell you about her experience and Gina says to tell you she'll continue the story of Bontes, Rooies and Vaalie on Wednesday.
You did get her mewsletter, right?
You can read the first part of the story there if you've missed it.

16/11/2024

Gina here.

I'm so glad you liked Aunty Deb's paintings of me an' my sister, Judi.

The picture of Judi somehow reminded me of something I once heard and inspired me.
So, I figured I'd tell you a little story.
Grab your coffee and put your feet up for a few minutes.

Once upon a time, long, long ago, and very far away, there lived a little girl in a house with her mother and father and her two sisters.
The grandmother lived with them too.
Next door to the little girl’s house there lived a very old lady with her three cats, Bontes, Rooies, and Vaalie.

Now these names may seem quite strange to you, but in the country where this family lived, these were not unusual names for cats at all.

Bontes simply means colourful or pretty one. She was a calico cat with patches of ginger, white and black.
Rooies means red one, and he was a ginger tabby with beautiful tiger stripes.
Vaalie means plain one or grey one. He was a uniformly dull grey kitty.

The little girl had always adored cats, but the family hadn’t had a pet since their last kitty had met with a tragic accident three or four years earlier.
It left a huge hole in the little girl's heart, and she yearned for the company of a kitty.
So, quite naturally, she was very drawn to the old lady’s cats, and they to her.

Every evening as the family were sitting around the table enjoying their meal together, she'd make sure the adults weren’t looking then she’d sneak little bits of meat off her plate and into her pocket.
After supper, she’d go outside, lay flat on the ground, and wriggle through the hole in the hedge right at the back corner of the garden, between her house and the old lady’s house next door.

It wasn't a very big hole, and it wasn't visible from eye level, but the little girl had noticed the cats popping through the hedge and that's how she discovered it.

Once she'd crawled through the gap and dusted the leaves and twigs out of her hair, she would quietly and carefully tiptoe about, looking for Rooies, Bontes and Vaalie in the old lady’s jungle of a garden.

She’d find the cats, one by one.
Bontes favoured the hydrangeas and was often found snoozing under them enjoying the cool of the evening.
Rooies liked to lie on the path in front of the gate where he could peep out from underneath it and spy on passers-by in the street.
Vaalie was usually on the garden bench under the willow tree.

The little girl would spend a few minutes talking to and petting each cat, then she'd reach into her pocket and give them each a special treat saved from her supper.
Afterward, she’d sneak back, squeezing under the hedge through the narrow gap, and be home just in time for her bath and bedtime story.

This continued for quite a while and the cats got used to it. They began to wait for her eagerly every evening on their side of the hedge.
The old lady was always inside her house, blissfully unaware of what was going on, or so the little girl thought...

Darn!
This story is going to be a lot longer than I had intended!
How about if I continue it in my mewsletter, okay?
Yes, that's what I'll do.

If you've emailed us before, I'll send you the rest of this story directly to your inbox in a few hour's time.
And if you haven't, but you don't want to miss out, you can email [email protected] and I'll add you to my list, if you like?

You don't mind waiting for the rest of the story, do you?

16/11/2024

Gina here.

Okay. Here's your second surprise.
Aunty Deb did this one too and I believe she's doing all of us.
I had a sneak peek at Candy's one a while ago.

You do know who this is, right?