Simon's Cat - Catnap

Art Class - Hedgehog

I am taking an online art class - would love to be able to draw my critters some day - long way to go but here is a first attempt at drawing a hedgehog.....

Noise

Noise - the critters make lots and they react to different noises in funny ways.

Lets go youngest to oldest - Miss Maddie is a fraidy ferret when it comes to noises - she doesn't like anything out of the ordinary and will run and hide if she hears something she thinks is scary.

Nigel - he is totally noise oblivious - he could care less.  Not afraid of noises.  Most times he doesn't even bother to wake up for noises.  He is a brave little guy.

Clooney is pretty noise oblivious as well - he is not afraid of any noises that I can think of.  He too is a sound sleeper.  He doesn't love it when the dog barks and will high tail it out of the area - not out of fear I don't think - just because she is loud.

Phoebe is a fraidy girl - she doesn't like anything loud and will run and hide under the bed.  She is torn though because she is the most curious of the bunch so she wants to know what it is.  If it is a soft noise of some sort she will investigate.

Ollie - he used to be a big brave stray cat not afraid of anything.  Not so much anymore.  He doesn't like outside noises so much - like cars and trucks that drive by when I have the screen door open.  He is not a fan of the vacuum either.

Zoey - totally could care less....not afraid of any noises - not interested in the slightest as to what is making noise....

Aggie is not a noise lover at all.  In fact - her reaction to the Ziploc steamer bag squealing in the microwave was the inspiration for this post.  She hates noises and is quick to run away when something loud happens.

And then there is Emma.  My dear, sweet, slightly neurotic Emma.  She is a total freak about noise - thunder and fireworks put her right over the top.  Other noises cause her to bark like a maniac such as the doorbell.  Her hearing is off the charts so she is not a fan of loudness of any kind.  Poor girl....

Nigel - bear

Sometimes the pictures I take prompt some sort action on my part....for instance - the first shot showed that Mr Nigel really needed a bath as his ears were all gunky.  I, of course, retouched the photo - no hedgehog wants internet fame with gunky ears.  The other thing I find handy is looking back if there is some sort of health issue.  Since I take pictures every week at a minimum its easy to look back to determine when something started.

The Water Cooler

Okay - so its really not the water cooler, its the water bowls but each of the critters does something funky.  We have the water dispensers - they look kind of like this:

Each of the furries does something different when getting a drink.  Madison and Aggie are probably the most "normal" of the bunch - they go in, get a drink and go on about their business.  Phoebe consistently puts her toys in the water bowl - not sure why she likes it but I often find balls, mice, etc floating in there.  Oliver puts his paw in (I think to find out how deep it is) and keeps it in there while he drinks.  He also bites the side of the water bottle - one time he even put a hole in it (thank goodness for Mighty Putty).  Zoey often sleeps with her chin on the rim of the dish - this way if she wakes up thirsty all she has to do is put her tongue out.  Clooney scratches at the water - again I think this stirs up the water so he can see how deep it is.  He gets water all over himself and the floor when he does this.  Nigel doesn't drink from the main water dishes very often.  He has a mini version in his cage and he is cute - little paws up on the rim while he drinks.

And then there is Emma.  We have had these water bowls for like 5 years and still she flips out when the bottle makes the glug noise.  She flips out and runs away....sigh.  Neurosis #22....

I put colloidal silver in the upstairs water bowl whenever I refill it for general health for the babies....

Random Shots

Here are some cute shots to kick off April:

Naughty Little Ferret Girl....

I came downstairs to find a gigantic mess courtesy of the baby ferret.  Not only had I forgotten how much energy little baby ferrets have - I also forgot they love dirt.  Little Miss had un-potted my two lime trees, spread dirt all over everywhere and left little muddy ferret footprints on the walls.  What a brat:

I don't think she hurt the plants themselves - I have repotted them and moved them to the porch where they are in a safe ferret free zone....