Finley is going home to the States

Alas, Finley fell in love with Kenya and has thoroughly taken to running about in the grasses and forest. Unfortunately his human companion has not had the same experience and has found that it is best to return to a place where human interaction is not a political maneuver, however not as pet friendly.

In researching everything, it appears Finley just needs a health check from the vet to go home and all is set.  He has not been here long enough for the rabies vaccine to expire.

Hoping that since he has done this traveling once, it will be much easier this time and he can sleep through it. Guaranteed, outward bound will be easier than coming here both by things which had to be done and by the way he will be taken care of.  Animals are a commodity here, not a pet.

Thank you for sharing in the little bit of his adventure.

What? Another primate in the house – and this one likes my scratching post???

I thought that I arrived in Kenya to meet other felines. What is with this primate business? Isn’t letting one primate pet me enough distraction from my sleep pattern?

Grumble, grumble.  I must admit, this primate is cute and he is nice when he shares the scratching post. He doesn’t move around a whole bunch when he sleeps either – unlike the other primate in the house……

It’s 3 AM in Eldoret- Do I know where my cat is?

Finley left the house last night. Since it did not happen through a door (we have a standoff when I go in and out at night), it would appear he left through the window in the wash/laundry room.  I leave the window open as this is where the litter box resides.

About 10:00 PM, while I was getting ready to go to sleep, I realized I could not find Finley but he likes to hide and so I did not panic.  When he is tired, he will crawl into bed with me.  At about 1:00 AM, I kept hearing him and called out to him as he was being a whiney baby. I got up and even walked around the house looking for him again.

His whine was not that of injury or pain, it was more playful and calm.

I went back to bed – the meow continued.

By 3:00 AM the soft mewling was annoying so I got up again and walked all over looking for him.  It was like playing Marco Polo. Finally, as I was about to give up the game, I looked out a side window and there he was on the outside of the window looking at me as if I were the problem, not the solution to HIS PROBLEM.

I let him in and immediately picked him up to hug him and warm him.  You would think that would have been what he wanted – oh, no, not at all. He was proud, arrogant, tough ‘outside’ kitty now and I needed to stop treating him like a little boy.

My friend Victoria Ndibo, who is Kenyan had told me that Finley would love Kenya, even though my experience had been that Finley so disliked the outdoors, he would scramble on me if I even took him out. Little I know about cats.

I am not sure how I feel about Finley being an outside cat here in the middle of nowhere. On the one hand, there is no danger of being run over by a car.  On the other hand, there are plenty of creatures that could cause him harm indirectly (sharing fleas, ticks, rabies) or directly (biting, chasing, kicking – gazelles, playing with – monkeys) so for now the stand offs at the door will continue and the window is closed.

Who would of thought……..

The Screaming Fantod Winds

Hark, I hear the screaming fantods........and they are scary as hell!

The first time I was introduced to the terminology ‘The Screaming Fantods’ was thanks to David Foster Wallace. The expression and its use in  Infinite Jest is the best description I have ever found of the use of this terminology.  Suffice it to say it is exactly the right way for me to express the howling winds here at my home in Eldoret – which at times sound like something straight from a horror flick where phantasms are being released from hell.

If  you think it is scary to me, you should see the look on Finley’s face when the winds start. He promptly jumps on me and his pupils narrow so he looks like a cat about to do some sort of evil deed.  His fur – including his tail, stands on end, something I have really only witnessed with dogs.

It is difficult to imagine in a cat mind what this sound may be although I suspect for all mammals, it is pretty scary.  I am trying to capture the sound on my iphone and plug it in here.  Thus far, no success at capturing the howl.

Awhoooooooooooo….

It’s All About the Head Count Now…

My second gift

Who would have ever thought Finley would turn out to be such a great predator?

Evening Salutation to the Setting Sun

What a different view from 2045 Clinton St.

First Gift – A Dead Lizard! I Feel So Appreciated

Freshly killed gift by head of bed!

Finley raised the bar this week going from small insects (invertebrates) straight up to vertebrates (8 cm lizard)!  The gift was quite impressive as it was hanging out at the house for a few days, running the walls.  I am positive it was tormented a bit  before its untimely death

Thankfully, the gift was left on the floor and not in my bed as it happened in the same weekend as the 58 hours of lost electricity. I don’t mind the dark – I just dislike mush on the pillow in the dark.

New Friends

Baby Chameleon - cute but doesn't move much, BORING!

We can share space, just stay out of the kibble

Two vacum cleaners.....

Something tells me it won't taste like chicken...or salmon

The regular garden type lizards here are about 10-15 cm in length but tiny in overall mass.  Occasionally they come under the door in the kitchen looking for I am sure whatever insect sustenance they can find.

I will smack them but not kill one (or worse yet,  deliver one to mom as a gift).

Hopefully we can all live in harmony as I know the lizards provide a major service in insect/spider eradication.

While I do  a great job myself, I am thankful for lizards.

Mom went  on a walk with  learners and found a young chameleon.  He is  now at home in a laundry basket turned upside down goes  out on the grass in the sun. He gets sun and plenty of insects.  It is very interesting to watch him change colors depending on what is put in the “cage” .

I don’t  have any interest in the chameleon when he is brought in at night – he moves so slowly that he is no fun.  Just a great vacum.

After I got adjusted to the little one, Mom found two big chameleons and brought them home and set the baby loose .

I have to say, chameleons do not smell like meat, fish or fowl…….

Am I Merely a Baby Lion?

The Deputy Principal, Henry Wanyama, had family over for his sons first birthday.   Since mom had to go to town that morning to drop off a learner to her parents as she was ill, I was to stay at home.  Mom told  three of the kids (5 and under in age) in the car that she had a   “baby lion”…..they were very excited to see me so mom showed them my pictures. Unfortunately mom was not home when they came by to visit me.

If my mom thinks I am a baby lion, wait until I grow.

Do I look like a baby lion?

Henry, one of the nicest humans I have met.

Just kidding, I am already 34 Kg.

Full Language Immersion for Finley

The question has been posed, so I shall answer it.

Swahilii is one  of the most beautiful languages to listen to. The sounds are much more like nature.  I am learning a bit each day and putting it to use.

I am also trying to teach Finley  how to understand Swahilii.  At this point he is dual language in yes, no, move and good!  I believe those may be the only words a cat needs, well, maybe “come here” (which cats ignore in any language) and” look, a treat” which seems to elicit a response for catnip and tuna juice.  Hapana (no), ndiyo (yes), songa (move – as in what you tell cattle and cats), bora (good)….

Interestingly, Finley responds the same to English and Swahili – he does not care to listen.