Birthday girl

Elbereth is four months old today. We have celebrated with two long walks in the forest, one with me in the morning which included a swim and one with Tom and me in the evening when she was allowed to run free for about half an hour. Then she was served ground beef with yoghurt for her birthday dinner. She finished it all- which is unusual, she rarely cleans out her food bowl.

Elbereth enjoys to chew at dried muscles. They last her a long time, and when she is through chewing for some time she stores the muscle in one of the sofas or armchairs where she retrieves it later when she needs to chew some more.

She also tries to bury treasures she finds - like old, worn socks - in blankets or under pillows when indoors. Outdoors she digs holes for food she doesn't feel like eating at the moment. Watching her shuffling soil over fresh chicken bits is not very inspiring for the one trying to train her.

Growing, teething and swimming whenever possible

A couple of days ago I discovered the first "missing" tooth in Elbereth's mouth, but she must obviously have lost a few before that. And now it seems that there are new teeth every day. Yesterday we were worried that two of the new front teeth in her lower jaw seemed to emerge behind the old ones, but today Tom managed to pull the old ones out while playing with her.

She doesn't seem to be chewing or biting more than usual and I am happy to say that the scratches I now have on my body are not from her teeth, but from Xyzzy's claws.

Elbereth has now outgrown her first car cage. Here she is after her last trip in the old cage. Sunday we installed her new one - which presently is a bit on the roomy side.

The young dog and the sea

Yesterday Elbereth went to sea. We all, cats excepted, went down to Mågerø in Vestfold with Tom's mom to visit my parents who spend hot summer days at their boat there.

Elbereth settled easily on deck and slept most of the day at our feet. Occasionally she sat on Tom Ivar's lap and stared at the waves and passing boats. No barking! When we achored up at three-four meters deep to go swimming for the boats platform, Elbereth wanted to join us. She was obviously not aware that there would be no ground underneath when stepping into the water, and went totally under for the first time ever. Then she swam a few strokes before being hoisted on to the platform again and was very happy to be dried off.

Hot days, a new cat and new siblings

The last couple of weeks have been hot. Elbereth prefers to stay indoors and sleep most of the day, except for the occasional plunge into the garden pool where she drinks and wades at the same time. It is too shallow for her to swim and the water stays very cold, but on the hottest days she bends down to get her chest wet. And then she runs back to the house, attacks her towels and insists on getting rubbed dry.

A week ago we inhereted Xyzzy, a fourteen year old female cat, from a friend of Tom Ivar's who died recently. Due to unfortunate circumstances, she was operated on before Tom found out where she was and could tell the vet that she already was neutered - thirteen years ago. Now all we have to do is to get Xyzzy well, and then get the three cats and Elbereth used to each other.

Last saturday new half-siblings of Elbereth was born in Germany, four males and two females. Leon is the father and Smilla the mother. Congratulations!!! One the males will go to live with Leon's family.