Friend or foe?

I can quite categorically say that there are opportunities to learn every day.....some lessons are easier than others and many appear to be extensions of those already learned.

For instance, steal one of the other's cat treats, I get a closed claw slap from the offended cat, do it a second time and it's accompanied by a spit or hiss.  Should I venture close enough for a third attempt, its all out war.......I have therefore learned once bitten, twice shy!

That said should any strange cat dare to wander into our territory, its all for one and one for all.....with me at the back of course.  I can't damage these good looks on unnecessary squabbles, particularly when the others are so good at it.

The first time caught me quite by surprise.  Up until then I had thought everyone and everything to be a friend.  It just goes to show how naïve a kitten can be.

Luckily Ngaire was sitting about a foot away and chased it off.  Obviously brains weren't quite it's forte as it returned about an hour later when I was sunning myself on the decking.

Either that or he thought I was easy pickings (whatever that means).

I thought it quite impertinent that it should try again, especially when it had been warned so eloquently but after opening one eye I espied it sniffing around the rabbit pen.  Not quite sure what to do and after casting a surreptitious glance about to see if any friends were on hand, I decided discretion being the better part of valour, to just run like hell!

Of course I came to a screeching halt when it actually had the temerity to chase me into the kitchen, almost slap bang into Jet, which on reflection wasn't the best plan ever.

Not only did we wake him up from his afternoon snooze, the stranger also physically bumped into him, something I avoided as luckily I had seen him and managed to jump over his recumbent form.

To say Jet was annoyed was putting it mildly.  In fact he spat so loudly that I thought they would hear him at the vets.  Anyway the next thing I knew, Jax & Ngaire were there and all hell let loose.

Suffice to say we never saw the tabby stranger again.

The Family.......

I have two brothers, Jax & Jet (meaning Jax & Jet) and a sister, Ngaire (pronounced Nyree)
meaning 'Silver Fern' - and yes, you've guessesd it, the name is from New Zealand.

Jax is my best friend.  I'm proud to say I've learnt everything I know from him, so you can't really blame me if I do anything wrong - its really down to him! He's patience personified for much of the time and has guided me through many an adventure.  It's really only when he needs to snooze, as age befits him, that he has a tendency to stop me in my tracks.
I find a small, half head butt usually suffices but on occasion I have had to resort to all out hero-worship and bribery (the latter of which I'm not beyond if it gets me back in his good books).  

 
           (This is the four of us, looking particularly relaxed even if I do say so myself)

Jet is the larger of the two and has quite the mouth on him when he wants to. He's also pretty swift at dishing out the odd slap or three...  I have no idea why I'm on the receiving end quite so much but I'll let it pass as he's older and wiser (or so he tells me) and who am I to argue.

Ngaire is the pretty little tabby & white girl but don't let looks fool you, she's fast and can give me a run for my money any day. I particularly enjoy chasing her. Of course, she'll tell you its her chasing me but I just let her think that. In fact it was Ngaire that taught me the five step jump onto the top of the kitchen units, a trick I learned at a young age, although I still haven't mastered the jump from there onto the top of the open door as she does.  She sways beautifully and never misses a beat before jumping down onto the island in the middle of the kitchen.
I, on the other hand have to retrace my steps, stoically refusing to lock glances with anyone due to sheer embarrassment.

I know I still have a way to go before I can overtake any of them in the intelligence stakes but I can certainly take the top slot for being pushy and getting into trouble!

Before & After.......

Before I get ahead of myself, I should show you my before and after photos.

Of course these consist of me as a particularly cute kitten

 and the stunningly attractive adult I am today

Of course if rumour has it correctly (& the woman is to be believed).....I cried and bellowed my way home, from setting foot, reluctantly, in the cat basket to being manhandled out of it at the other end.

It can't be argued that I have a fine voice, in actual fact I believe it can be heard (with all doors and windows closed) at the other end of the road where we live.

No mean feat let it be said.

Tane's Introduction....

Before I go any further, there are a couple of things I should like to say in my defence......

I may looked asleep, but,  I'm completely alert & ready to go at a moment's notice.

I appear quiet and chilled but I am very active and have a lot to say!

I am pristinely white and red in the right places, but, it does take time & effort to look this good!

Now that's all out of the way, let me begin by introducing myself, 

I'm Tane  (pronounced Tarnay)

My name comes from somewhere called New Zealand and it means quite appropriately

'God of the Forest'.  I need to clarify that because depending on which day it is and whether I'm being good or bad, sometimes I originate from England or sometimes NZ!

My vaccination certificate has God of the Forest written on it, so it must be true....