Wednesday 29 May 2013

What's new, pussycat?

After two days plumbeous skies and the none too infrequent heavy downpour, it was a grand and unexpected moment when this fellow appeared. His miaow, his gait and his expression each gave me genuine, if fleeting joy. And when I spotted his collar tag, he was only ever going to be named Tom Jones. And this post was only ever going to get one title.

Streetmog number: 189
Streetmog name: Tom Jones
Actual name:
Favourite Location: Door step
Preferred stroke: Ears, back, chin...the lot.
Character: Loveable cuddle-bag
Other: It's not unusual to see mogs hanging around on the doorstep, waiting to be let in. Once again, a feeling of guilt washed over me as I was powerless to appease this particular puss. Nevertheless, Tom was a simply lovely mog who greeted me with the most raspy yet endearing miaow. He purred like a legend and was happy to be fussed over for a few minutes, despite my inability to grant him his wish.



Cat Cymraeg?


Ok, much as I'd love to write more about streetmogs, it's time to crack on with my GCSE & IB Spanish exam marking. Ah yes, there might be more to your local postman than one might think...

Sunday 26 May 2013

Lotissement des lots of chats

Two more felines for what's left of the bank holiday weekend. On Saturday I returned to Raynes Park and found myself back on the pussy-rich estate where I had previously met four lovely mogs. As it happened, I saw these very same cats again: Nougat, George Bush, Jaffa Cake and Big Foot are clearly used to hanging out together and it was great to see them and say hello again.

Streetmog number: 187
Streetmog name: Roland
Actual name:
Favourite Location: Wall
Preferred stroke:
Character: Sceptic
Other: Roland watched me approach, and I watched him watch me approach. It was a cat & mouse affair, although I was not a mouse. As I got as closer he moved down the wall slightly, away from me, and I surmised that this handsome yet disdainful tabby was not going to be party to some petting. His loss.



I see you looking at me, Mr Postman, and you shall come no closer.

Streetmog number: 188
Streetmog name: Garros
Actual name:
Favourite Location: Anywhere on her patch
Preferred stroke: Spine scrunch
Character: Busy body
Other: It's not often a Siamese is this friendly so it was a surprise when she jumped off the wall and headed my way (of course, there was no shortage of mog-attracting noises). She was very energetic and fairly antsy, but she allowed me to fuss over her for a bit and had a lovely deep purr. A few minutes later there she was again, basking in the morning sunshine, but she was quite happy to wander over and say hello again. Those blue eyes are just fabulous. What a splendid Siamese, happy to please!







Thursday 23 May 2013

Two Teasers

Once again, there's been a slight lull in streetmog sightings but things are sure to pick up; the kittehs will continue to turn up in their furry numbers as the summer establishes itself. Just two mogs for today's post, and two cracking ones at that.

Streetmog number: 185
Streetmog name: Greyson
Actual name:
Favourite Location: Side alley & garden
Preferred stroke:
Character: Insecure
Other: Greyson appeared as suddenly and as unexpectedly as the sun, and both were a fillip. This handsome fellow was very vocal and seemed to be beckoning me over. However, each time I approached him he moved off, only to sit a small distance away and miaow pitifully in my direction. I think he was a little wary, a slight attention seeker, and certainly a little bit cheeky.


Streetmog number: 186
Streetmog name: Autumn Bonbon
Actual name:
Favourite Location: Path & shrubbery
Preferred stroke: Tummy rub
Character: Floozy
Other: Oh man, Autumn was a sight for sore eyes at the end of a long day. She was a beautiful kitty and she jolly well knew it, parading her charms for the world (me) to see. As can be seen by the pics, she didn't keep still for too long. After some exhibitionist rolling, and a mutually enjoyable white-fluffed tummy tickle, she removed herself to sit and pose au plein shrubbery. She owned that shrubbery, in fact she mog-rocked it.




Thursday 16 May 2013

Top Cat & Officer Dribble

I came up with today's streetmogs' names as I was fighting the wind, hills and traffic during my peddled commute home from Wimbledon. It made me smile but at the same time I admitted to myself that it was pretty sad to be thinking of cats when I should have been paying attention to the road, or planning dinner, or something. Anyway, here are the two mogs in question:

Streetmog number: 183
Streetmog name: Top Cat
Actual name:
Favourite Location: Roof terrace
Preferred stroke:
Character: Lordly
Other: I'd met Top Cat before, but back then his location was not as lofty, nor was he acting as lordly; he was hiding under the car and I didn't manage to get a decent photo. Back in the previous post, I commented on there being four cats at this residence, so I've now met two. And yes, that big, black, loud dog was still behind the fence, directly below our beautiful mog, who merely gazed down at said canine with a look of superiority, as cats do.


Streetmog number: 184
Streetmog name: Officer Dribble
Actual name:
Favourite Location: Driveway
Preferred stroke: Chin rub
Character: Keen bean
Other: This funky fur-ball was such a sweetie. He was sociable, affectionate, and showed both interest and disinterest - he was attention seeking but was also happy to wander off and flop down for a rest. He purred like a trooper, and was so happy when being petted that he dribbled. I loved this cat. He was also a follower, accompanying me to the next two houses along, which was a fair plod as these were residences of the moneybags kind, with long their driveways and sprawling gardens.







Saturday 11 May 2013

Feline Five

It's been a week since the last post and that just won't do. Time seems to race by these days, and I'm never sure if that's a good thing or not. Here are five lovely mogs from the week's labours. It wasn't the most productive week for cat spotting, due in part to a heavy workload but mostly due to the unseasonal squalls that have been ripping through the home counties. Cats don't like squalls. But cats do like fussing. Read on...

Streetmog number: 178
Streetmog name: Hersheys
Actual name:
Favourite Location: Driveway
Preferred stroke: n/a
Character: Sit-offish
Other: Hersheys was a funny old bean. He just sat there unmoved by, and uninterested in, my presence. I tried to get nearer, with care and caution, but I just knew that if I got too close he would bolt it. And he did. He was a gorgeous fellow though. I particularly liked his expression and his almost cross-legged stance.




Streetmog number: 179
Streetmog name: Raven
Actual name: n/a
Favourite Location: Driveway
Preferred stroke: All of it
Character: Tart
Other: Raven was a tart. She knew what she wanted, she went for it, and she got it. End of.





Streetmog number: 180
Streetmog name: Tres cuartos
Actual name: n/a
Favourite Location: Porch
Preferred stroke: Side head scrunch
Character: Trusting
Other: Oh man, cat-o-three-legs melted me. I know, he doesn't need sympathy but he broke my postie heart when he hopped over to say hello. He desperately wanted to be let in, a wish I could not fulfill, but I dropped the mailbag and showed him some serious love. Tres cuartos, you have tres cuartos of my corazon.




Why won't you let me in, Mr Postman?

Streetmog number: 181
Streetmog name: Jason
Actual name:
Favourite Location: Shrubbery
Preferred stroke: n/a
Character: Indifferent
Other: Jason was just not feeling it. Nor was I. A big security fence separated us, and I didn't have the time nor inclination to attempt a closer reunion, so this was all I got. In retrospect, he was a beautiful kitteh and I would be glad to make his reacquaintance one day soon.




Streetmog number: 182
Streetmog name: Pirate
Actual name:
Favourite Location: Street & pavement
Preferred stroke: Back stroke
Character: Demanding
Other: Pirate gave me a scare when he trotted across the road without a care in the world, nor attention to any potential traffic, to say hi. Luckily the street was quiet, thank goodness. He was very vocal and full of energy, weaving around my legs and being pretty insistent that I administer some nice strokes and cuddles. And how could I resist?





Saturday 4 May 2013

Two In The Bush

Today I was treading a new part of town, the delightful Raynes Park. Let's just say I prefer working near Wimbledon Common or the All England Club to where I found myself this morning, right next to the A3 and a railway line. Despite the location, the streets themselves were quite peaceful (if you could ignore the noise from the aforementioned road), with no through-traffic and as such were a decent place to find mogs. The funny thing about today's is that they were all scaredy-cats, each one hiding from me in either the bushes or under a car. What is it about cats and cars? Anyway, I sensed that they weren't used to being befriended by strangers, let alone being fussed over, and unfortunately I didn't get close enough to pet any of them. Their loss, and mine, but at least our paths crossed and for that I am blogging grateful.

Streetmog number: 174
Streetmog name: Nougat
Actual name:
Favourite Location: Away from postie - under car
Preferred stroke: n/a
Character: Skit
Other: I actually saw Nougat on three separate occasions as she was roaming around various parts of the estate. This is as close as she'd let me get. She was more interested in exploring than me, and that's fair enough.


1st cat under car

Streetmog number: 175
Streetmog name: George Bush
Actual name:
Favourite Location: In bushes
Preferred stroke: Would like to have found out
Character: Insecure
Other: George Bush initially gave of an air of casual indifference and with it a possible willingness to allow a meet and greet, but as I tried my very best to approach softly he decided to slink off into the bushes, where I caught up with him to say hello and grab another photo. He had a very lovely miaow and a very beautiful face and I'm sure he's an affectionate mog, just a tad nervy.



1st cat in bushes

Streetmog number: 176
Streetmog name: Jaffa Cake
Actual name:
Favourite Location: Street/away from postie/under car
Preferred stroke:
Character: Major skit
Other: Jaffa Cake was a gorgeous ginger who looked even cuter when the wind whipped up and blew his fur around. He wasn't going to hang around for long, what with the wind and the annoying postman on his tail, so he duly went to sit under a crappy Nissan Micra. By this point I was getting tired and no longer in the mood to chase mogs, so I let him be.


2nd cat under car


Streetmog Number: 177
Streetmog name: Big Foot
Actual name:
Favourite Location: Under car/in bushes
Preferred stroke: 
Character: Bundle of nerves
Other: Oh Big Foot, what can I say? You fabulous feline fluffmeister. In keeping with today's theme of skittishness, he was also fond of hiding from the postman under, you guessed it, cars. Oh, and he had a penchant for absconding into the bushes too. Perhaps these moggles knew something that I didn't?


2nd cat in bushes