Happy Birthday Smudge!

Yesterday was a very important day here at The Malthouse, it was our cat Smudge's 5th Birthday.  Here's the Birthday Boy enjoying an afternoon nap! 



As we think this picture shows he can be a bit of a grumpy cat.  He didn't seem too impressed with the new collar he got for his birthday BUT he loved the birthday treats he had!  If you come to stay at our B&B keep a look out for Smudge, he's always around first thing in the morning for his brekkie or late afternoon when it's time for his tea.  Smudge loves his food so he's particularly friendly just before mealtimes BUT be warned if you stop to pet him don't take your eyes off him as he's pretty keen on nibbling fingers!  If he tries to taste your fingers don't take it personally as he often give us 'love bites' too!

Happy Birthday Smudge!

A very important member of the team at The Malthouse has celebrated their 4th Birthday this week. Here's the birthday boy, our cat Smudge!

If you've been to stay at our B&B you'll more than lightly have met Smudge. He's usually relaxing in our garden or if it's breakfast time or tea time he can be found near our back door waiting for his food! I think you'll agree that Smudge looks cute but BEWARE if you catch him in a playful mood he might decide to snack on your fingers! We think that he should have been born as a dog because he follows us about outside quite often and is always keen to get into a car boot given half a chance. WATCH OUT if you visit us you could find yourself with an extra passenger to take home!

SMUDGE THE CAT: One seriously fussy pussy!

Doing bed and breakfast can be stressful! Will you have enough sausages for breakfast?

Has the milkman delivered on time? Will it rain on the washing you've just put out?

BUT life is not too hectic for everyone at The Malthouse - our cat Smudge is the most laid back member of the team!

These latest snaps were taken yesterday afternoon.
It's tiring work having your photo taken! Time for a snooze.....

SAD NEWS

Yesterday was a very sad day indeed at The Malthouse. As you will know if you have stayed with us or looked at our blog we have two cats Flossy and Smudge. However we are sad to report that we now only have one cat. Flossy our elderly cat (aged around 20) had been unwell for a little while and unfortunately she had to be put to sleep yesterday. She had looked pretty frail for a year or two but had still been eating well and enjoying taking life easy in her old age.

Here is a picture of Flossy taken this summer in one of her favorite spots on our front lawn.

Needless to say we are devastated and already miss her terribly. The only good news is that Smudge (our youngster) is taking it all in his stride and still eating for England!

FUSSY FELINES

Meet our cats!






FLOSSIE: We celebrate her birthday in August each year, because we had her from a cat's rescue home during late summer 19 years ago. She's learnt a thing or two - such as how to cross the road. We believe her to be the only cat in Alton practicing the 'Green Cross Code'. She can often be seen looking left, right and left again before venturing across the road to visit "Auntie Carol" who lives opposite us.

Auntie Carol gives her really tasty morsels -fresh salmon was on the menu a little while ago. But horror of horrors - Auntie carol has just had a puppy! The little pooch is named 'Gizmo' and Flossie is not too keen. Will she brave the slathering beast for fancy food? We'll let you know.






SMUDGE: Another foundling we took in during the winter of 2007/2008. Black and white like Flossie but there the similarity ends. He's a bruiser and no mistake. An eating machine who's overtaken his big 'sister' in size. Mind you he has a healthy respect for her. She regularly puts him in his place if he oversteps the mark and dares to tap her tail with his paw or sidles just that bit too close to her. But he watches and learns. We think he's got the idea of checking out the traffic.

He's certainly very frightened of extra loud vehicles. The road sweeper came by a couple of days ago and Smudge ran for cover behind the dustbins. Later a helicopter flew over and he dived under the wheelbarrow so as not to be seen! Whatever will he get up to next!