Meet Magnus

I don't know his story. His left eye may be sightless. He is a big boy so the name is appropriate even though the Elizabethian collar looks a bit sissy.

I delivered two filing cabinets that have been stored in Barb Webster's garage since Ingleside AWL folded. They still have "Cats Adopted" signs and empty files. One has a shallow drawer and one file draw. I hope that will live where we can access pens, scissors, sticky tape, paper clips etc. The other is a two file drawer unit on wheels. It will soon be filled up. The Stephanie kittens who were new on Wednesday and were two girls and two boys are actually four boys according to the vet who desexed them. And three of them have been adopted already. Only one remains, Arne (who used to be Anne Marie).

My excitement for the afternoon was after a mum and her daughter came to visit and drool over the cats. They have a rescue cat whom they adore. But they think that she needs a friend her own age and species. The other fur babies in the house are a pair of middle aged caboodles who love the cat, who is their boss. They loved Christopher, Charles, Sunny and Pepsi. But. . . . there is a teenaged son who is doing year 12 this year. He says that he could not abide another cat in the house. It would be too much distraction. He needs . . . . to be the center of the family universe. . . So the mum and daughter will come back another day. Tim was busy in the annex with a visiting dignitary. I was carefully handing out grain free treats to the cats. It is a bit hard to do animal behaviour training when you really cannot touch any of the cats for fear of spreading flu viruses. But I told the cats how lovely they are and here is a treat. I opened Matty and Maddy's door and he bolted. Luckily I got to the door to the boarding/off limit area before he did. He ran a few laps around the main cattery and then scaled Lily's wheely to hide on the top of the bank of condos behind all the for sale litter trays. I gently took all the trays down to floor level. Matty retreated behind the potted plastic plant. I moved the large black, cloth carrier that lives on top of Lily's wheely on the other side of the pot. I got the black blanket from underneath Maddy who was having a peaceful snooze with that dratted brother gone away. I covered the carrier with the cloth. Matty walked into the carrier. I zipped up the door. And let out a long-held breath. Putting him back onto his condo was no problem. I just had to put all those wretched litter trays back on top of the condo. Sooty was fascinated by all this. She watched from her condo across the way from Matty and Maddy.

And Lily wasn't phased by a ginger boy climbing up her walls. Her eye is back to normal after being fluey weepy on Wednesday.

Wendell adopted

He just needed the right stratchy pole to sit on to look super adorable to get adopted.
Emily also was adopted this weekend. I made new hammocks (as the others were hairy and there were no spares. . .. that huge pile at Ingleside has probably been recycled: they were all cotton so will rot and replenish the earth) So Eden has two new hammocks in his enclosure. He chose to sit on the pink one. The other is blue. In Victorian times, boys were dressed in pink and girls in blue.

Eden

 The A kittens got new hammocks too. But there is only room for three on two triangles. I will have to make some square ones. They should all be desexed by next week in time for the big Adoption Day at Mona Vale on Feb 15.

A kittens

A kittens

Elsa had an exciting night. Her litter tray was completely overturned. I noticed, when on the chair to talk to her, that she grooms her bed. You can just see, in the photo, the combed/tongued patches beside her head.

Elsa

Just before we left, a young woman came in and was impressed by Melody and by Peanut. I told her that he was the colour of her hair when he arrived (a slight exaggeration as she is redder than blond). Then Catsie told her what a lovely colour her hair was on her way out. She is to return with the boyfriend.

Happy Catmas

Yesterday afternoon, Catsie and I went to Safe Haven because we felt guilty that we couldn't be there this morning (Christmas Day). It was a good thing that we did because Rod, the volunteer, wanted to get away and Tim had to go to the vet in Brookvale.

So we entertained the cats and tried to figure out the kittens.

Boarding is almost full of adults: some vocal, some cross, some shy, some needy but all lovely.

There is a new surrender, Wendell who is definitely pissed off. He is in a kitten sized condo so doesn't have much room to vent his spleen.

Wendell

I still don't know who is Kit Kat and who is Maggie. They are 9 years old and very friendly.

 Angelo and Annabelle

These two are Angelo and Annabelle (according to the condo signs). Easy to tell from the rear.

Arnie is the spotted  silver and Alex is the spotted brown. Both are asleep after much fun and games. Not so easy to tell.

Arnie and Alex

 There are now four Melody kittens (again). The fluffy one has reappeared with a shaved rear end. We decided that he should be called Mikado. Monty has more ticking that Mozart and so is greyer. It is easy to pick the fluffy Mikado.

Melody's kittens

Shivers is back with us for boarding. But he is in with "our" cats. His coat is looking splendid.

Shivers

At home for Christmas Day the family had a lovely time around the table while the dogs played in and out of the house and the cat, Cody, was shut in the quietest, downstairs room available.

Jessie of the green smile is just a bit ball obscessed