Happy cats

I've decided that next time around I want to be a cat. Well, one with kind humans to look after it of course, there are a lot of poor cats around that have to fend for themselves and make their own living in a dangerous world. But if you are a pampered cat, teh world is your oyster.

Our two are just in seventh heaven with this latest spell of hot weather, they are in and out of the house about a hundred times in the day. When indoors they spend their time crashed out in an air conditioned spot on a cool parquet floor or - in the mornings - the tatami. Well rested and with a belly full of food they head outdoors to spy on the enemy - the bad cats down the lane - and sometimes to pick a fight with them. Then it's off into the long grass to terrorise the local bird population.

This afternoon Tora strolled home with a live frog to show us. It headed off pretty fast under the shoe box in the genkan as all frogs do, attracted by hopes of safety and cool shady tiles. Later we coaxed him out and Kodemari carried him into the cool shubbery by the front fence; he seemed OK.

Pero has taken to going out on walks with us around teatime this wek, down to the river and back. She's not the first cat I've seen that takes walks with her humans but I love to see her tail up like a flagpole as she heads through the long grass. She can bound like a tiger too - comes leaping out of bushes at us just for fun.

Yes, August seems to be a good month for felines.