A Konfusion of Kittens

 Well, Irene knew what she was doing this afternoon. But I couldn't keep track. 

As a result there are lots of kittens for Terry to adopt tomorrow. And more to be desexed for the following weeks. 

Oreo and Gingie cuddled together (first time I have noticed them doing that). 

Oreo and Gingie

 But it might have been because Marmalade and mate were moved from Incoming to the stand alone next door that Lina has left. (She was picked up early!) They have rather short tails. Irene says they should be called "curly tailed" because of the shortness. But I think that sounds like a dog. Not like a cat!

Earl has been sent to a foster home with the young girl and her father who visited some months ago. I doubt we will ever see him again. When asked for a name for a grey kitten that had been popped into Lola's old stand alone, the lass said "Blue". And Blue he/she is.

Vollies stayed late and cuddled cats. Chip was tested for friendly-ness and was found very willing although rather HEAVY to cuddle!

Chip

 A new tower was donated. It had an instruction to erect it so that it could be photographed (?for sale). Lola moved in.

Too Tall Tower. . .but not for Lola

 I was asked to go to Safe early today to do the morning feeds. So I delayed the meeting between between Aslan and PC whom I picked up from his foster home yesterday because they are going away for a week. He didn't enjoy the last half of the drive home from Wollstonecraft to Avalon Beach. (I don't blame him). We will have to work out some way to break up the return trip next week.  Poor PC has been shut into his room all day. My return was delayed because I had to go to VetO in Manly Vale to get some more eye drops for him en route home. But shortly after they had their dinner I opened his door. 

Mutual ignore

As their diets are not identical, there will continue to be feeding time separations. But I hope they can get to remember that they were buddies at Safe.

 

Still here!

 Fugu is still with us. He was supposed to be picked up on Thursday morning. I left a message for his owner to come get him tomorrow morning. He is not happy being confined. . . even in a Palace.

Fugu

Heffer was happy because her visitor came this afternoon to groom and smooch with her.

Heffer's visitor

 He would have got into her condo if he could. He did spend a bit of time with her old cage mate, Ginger.

But Dawson was the one who lucked out. The woman who bought something from us on line and chose a free scratchy pole and something else came to collect her loot. She paid for what she bought and then had a look around. Dawson appealed to her so I drew up the poof and opened the door. It was love at first . . . not sight because he is blind. . . . perhaps at first smell. They cuddled and smooched. Unfortunately she has 3 cats at home who are from the same litter so he wouldn't be welcomed. (By the cats or her husband).

Dawson's favourite person

Will's name card has changed to blue. I put in a rainbow for him to celebrate with. 

Will

His neighbour Olive has two clients interested in her. One might have come this afternoon (but didn't). The other is definitely coming first thing tomorrow morning to collect her and take her north.

Olive

A new cat arrived late this afternoon. . . . Chai. She came with meds so had something done. I took a quick photo and quickly showed Tim. He said that bloody saliva is normal after a dental procedure. Not a happy cat but will be on "wet food only". 

Chai

But Tommy is still the unhappiest cat.

Tommy

 

 

 

New faces in Welfare

 India and China were adopted this afternoon by a young woman who really wanted Spagetti but she had been chosen already. After talking to her sister she decided that they really needed a pair of kittens. They came, they fell in love, they adopted.

And the young man who came on Wednesday looking for a cat to foster, came back this afternoon to take Eli home. So now that whole side of Welfare has new occupants. (Not including the Cody annex).

On the far left is:

Rory upstairs. His eye is well healed.

Rory

Below him (where Pepper used to be) is Brennan.

Brennan

And next door to Rory is Rain. (From Incoming but not pregnant after all).

Rain

And below Rain where Frankie was is Heffer who used to be in a double with Ginger but they really were not bonded so have been separated. (Even after an hour since Heffer left the condo, Ginger was not going to come out of his carrier on the bottom level).

Heffer

Ollie was moved to where India and China were. He was not easy to move. We had to call on Tim! I think he will be happier to have an enclosed space to hide in. . . eventually.

Ollie

Below Ollie where Eli was is Zena, aka Xena who is called Goldie on all her paperwork so we are going to revert to that name because ?. . . . she has no gold. Except for the cloth carrier bag that she came in by cat taxi which is on top of Cody's condo.

Goldie = Zena = Xena

 

Bent Lily

I refer to the Gymea lily growing in front of Block 1. It has bent over to face level in an attempt to get more sunlight. So, next time you come to save, walk past the mail boxes to get a close up view of a lily that is usually 3meters up in the sky. 

Another spectacular thing is that we have adopted out 2 dozen cats/kittens so far this month. But we only have 71 cats in residence at Safe Haven because we are expecting a deluge of kittens shortly. September is traditionally the beginning of the kitten season. But we have had a steady trickle of kittens all year.

Cats who got adopted since last week include Mickey who has been on our books for ?3 years.

Mickey

And Pixie a kitten who's sister Ecco, the last of that litter, was chosen by a woman today. She has to convince her husband that their Siamese cat needs a friend.

The man who came in last week came again and will return tomorrow to adopt Meika and Loki!

I did one adoption today of Garfield to a couple who picked him up from the foster home.

And the man who surrendered two of his family's 17 cats (!) was in tears this afternoon after visiting them. The cats, Heffer and Ginger, weren't happy either.

Heffer

Ginger

A busy day. Cherish got a bath and has moved to Darcy's condo. Darcy in next to Bass and Julie in an enclosure. I tried to take her photo but she is one wiggly cat! Ishi and Apricot got baths too. Sue and I got scratched. They are still in Isolation, waiting for a suitable condo in Welfare.

We have two new cats in Incoming. Sunflower and Rain. Neither of them ate much last night or today. I wonder if they came from the same place.

Sunflower

Rain

Not like Lola whom I caught snacking on the kitten's MBC food this afternoon.

Naughty Lola

No Chicken Kitten

 For the first time a kitten refused chicken.

Thor

His brother gobbled it up.

Eddie

Thor and Eddie are in the stand alone behind Le Clerc. Their sister, Ginger was with them until spotted by a mother and her daughter who were playing with the kittens in the Play Place when I arrived. They made friends with Tallulah (not an easy task) and fell in love with Celine Dion. But Celine has a slightly mucky eye. So when they saw Ginger, it was love at first sight . . . mutually. They took her home.

And another family, Dad and 2 small daughters came in to do the paperwork for Smudge and Xena in foster. They were such nice, polite, listening girls that I am sure those kittens will have a lovely life.

Archie doesn't seem to think his life is much fun. . . . so far. We will wait to see if Geoff's magic works on him.

Tommy's pad could do with an upgrade .. ... . perhaps after he gets groomed.

Tommy

Where Suki was are a pair of mismatched cats. One, Mad. . . is loud. The other, Zoe hides.

Mad. .

There are two carriers in the double condo which is enough to make anybody mad.

Zoe

Zoe looks pretty.

And next door to Chelsea are three kittens who were quite difficult to get back into their condo after they had been let out for a run behind the flattened Top Cat. They are Petal, Ziggy and Koa. Must have come from a foster home. They liked chicken.

Petal, Ziggy and Koa (not in any order)

I let Le Clerc out for a wander. He enjoyed it. He was very  easy to bribe back into his rearranged stand alone. . . .. all it took was a bit more food.

More ringworm

 Maggie and her kittens may have it. How did that happen?

They have been removed from the play place and installed, by Ark, into the Royal Cannin stand alone in Isolation. No more rocketting out at meal times to run like maniacs up and down the aisles.

I scrubbed, bleached and fogged the fungi out of the Play Place. Some Incoming cats where having a play there when I left.

A customer arrived with her husband. Her previous cat was a client of Dr Kim so she was fascinated to visit. Her name was Sue and when I introduced myself as Prue it took her right back to Kath and Kim days. She wants a cat who will be just like the previous one (always a mistake) and who will sit by her side as she works from home, help her do jigsaw puzzles and escort her around the garden, in fine weather. Ginger George is a no brainer. She liked him, and Gemini, and Maeve, and Ruby and Maria. She is going to think about it overnight. So you might have a customer tomorrow, Terry. The husband is the strong silent type who will go along with whatever she decides.

Davo was named after the Davidson Fire Rescue team. Geoff and he get on really well together. He won't let anybody else touch him. Geoff may be off to Canada in 10days to help with the continuing forest fires there. It seams that the peat bogs are still burning as well as the forests. He will be there for 5 weeks if he goes. (He won't be allowed to go if he throws another ringworm lession).

Can't imagine how I managed to stay so busy that I didn't think of taking any photos. Random photos: 

Thelma and Louise enjoyed their chicken. They are getting friendlier by the week.

Thelma and Louise

Melody lets Tim pat her.

Melody

And one of the Friday vollies is in love with Hanna who rather likes her too. They share treats and coos.

Lola will follow the sent of chicken for any distance. (And scream for seconds until I leave.)

Lola

She came

As promised to adopt Tiger and Maxwell. She brought her partner who had to sit on a stool because Tiger was on the guest chair! It will be interesting to see how they get on together. 

A woman arrived earlier to adopt Venus. But Venus hid in her carrier. Her condo mates/sisters were friendly enough but they aren't up for adoption. So I showed all the other available cats and the lovely lady feel for Lucky boy. I am sure they will be happy together as she is an experienced cat owner.

Robyn came to entertain the cats who were out. Helena usually runs around and plays but today Kate came out too. The toy was irresistible. Jagger needed it.

Jagger and Helena watch Kate play

Simon now jumps over the low barrier. He disappeared behind Opie's stand alone and pulled down his cover sheet. . . . just to annoy Opie.

Opie ignores Simon

 

While he was busy, his mum Ruby got head rubs from Robyn and was sent into a state of bliss

Happy Ruby

 

 

 

How many canines does Ginger George have?

I finished putting pockets for nametags on all of the aprons. It really helps to know names of vollies.

Missed out

As expected, several folk came yesterday to adopt Hank having come earlier in the week and not deciding on the spot to take him. They were disappointed. But we do tell folk that we don't "bags" cats. It is a matter of "first out or the house, best dressed."

 I didn't find time to sew the name tag pockets on the rest of the aprons this afternoon. I will try again next Wednesday. And I forgot my pinny so had to wear an apron, with my name on it much to the delight of the few remaining vollies and relief of the visitors.

A pair of young women came to spend time with the cats. Perhaps they came to us rather than go to the cat cafe over the hill on Eastern Valley Way. It is called Jiji's and charges $15 each to spend 20 minutes with their cats. These women spent at least an hour socializing with the cats who were out. They didn't get a cup of coffee though.

And a couple came to check out our cats. I gather they are fosterers and currently have a foster cat for just a few weeks more. They (she rather then he) is well up on our cats for adoption list as well as other shelters' lists. Are they shopping around for the nicest foster cat? Tiger gave them the regal swipe. Ginger George loved them. (But he doesn't need fostering. He needs a home. . . . and more food.)

Ginger George

Robyn caught Helena and Callie investigating his stand alone on Wednesday. (No surplus food there!)

Callie, inside and Helena in GG's stand alone

 

She also got a good photo of Leon who looks better than he did (believe it or not).

Leon

 

Aslan has a scratch on his nose. (When I went to take a photo and my camera battery went flat.) I suspect it was Simon because I'd put everybody else back in to let out Aslan after I let out Simon and Ruby who deigned to come out too. It certainly wasn't Lucky who was back in his condo and he wouldn't scratch a fly. (He made friends with both lots of visitors).

Lucky on Wednesday (Robyn's photo)

When I left Davo was having a wander and Geoff was in charge of the race of the Maggie brood.

Still no new bins

 And, the garbos came early! Must be a new crew because as well as being early, they were extra neat. But it means that the bins are already full of yesterday's bags and we will have to all take home a bag or the balcony will be overfilled by next week.

There were adoptions so we had condos to sterilize and cats to move.

Another Stones kitten, Mick, was adopted so only Jagger and Ronnie were left on the play place. They moved into where Rajah and Genie were as they were adopted separately over the weekend. Virgo and her 6 kittens moved into the play place. The kittens had a marvelous time running, jumping, climbing. They will sleep soundly tonight. Virgo found a nice corner to lie in and was quiet for the first time ever.

Marmalade and Duchess were also adopted yesterday. Their condo is now occupied by Narnia and Angel from Quarantine. Cammie had some trouble to get them to go into a carrier and ended up just picking them up and carrying them there. We did the same thing for Jagger and Ronnie. Big kittens are more tractable than adult cats!

Narnia and Angel

Cammy thought it would be a good idea to let out McQueen and Donatella. Previously McQueen played around outside and Donatella stayed in the stand alone. This afternoon she came out to play and had such a good time that she didn't want to go back into the stand alone. Ginger George played ball with them.

Tiger supervised the play

On the other side of the Top Cat barrier, Simon and Maxwell played separately (as long as there was somebody to twitch the toy.) Later Aslan came out, climbed over the Top Cat and settled back to groom himself. When I lifted him back into his condo, he felt damp.

There is a new kitten in Incoming called Roger. He is a mess.

but cute, Roger

Not yet

 The bins have not been delivered yet.

But this afternoon the woman who adopted Tibby and Tabby on Wednesday brought back the carrier that I loaned to transport them. ( I was not prepared for them to decide that they would put off adopting the cats because they didn't bring a carrier with them!) I, momentarily, didn't recognise her. She looked younger and happier. She said that Tibby and Tabby are still a little shy but are settling in well and are delightful.

Lola had an adventure yesterday. She has been allowed out at the end of the day to explore "Opies Room". Somehow, the Thursday person locked that door. When Geoff arrived on Thursday rather than on Friday he found Lola missing. And learned that she was locked in Opies room. So he climbed through one of the moveable tiles in the passageway ceiling, wiggled through the ceiling space, dropped down into Opies room so he could let Lola out and back to her stand alone for her dinner and medication. She is on thyroid meds which come in the form of a cream to be applied to alternate ears. I discovered this afternoon when doing the night feed, that she will only let you touch her ear if there is something particularly delicious in her dish. 

There are a new pair of cats on Better Row: Tori and Mabel. Where did they come from? Horrid photo with a flash because they hide.

Tori and Mabel

But, for some reason, Hana was out this afternoon. She needs to be brushed. That is the next big challenge!

Hanna

Mothers Day was having a preview this afternoon. A father and daughter arrived to check out the cats to find one who would go with their whimpy dog. Ginger George wouldn't have any problem with a dog.

GG trying to look innocent on the filing cabinet where the treats were stashed

 

Then a mum with her two teenaged daughters arrived to look for a cat. They liked Ginger too. And Maeve. So tomorrow might just be busy.

New bins

 Tim has organised a new rubbish collection for a twice weekly pick up of the garbage: 2 bins for this. And one bin for cardboard waste. Hurrah. Except that the bins didn't arrive as promised yesterday, or today. Perhaps tomorrow!

We comforted ourselves by adopting cats.

A couple arrived at 5 to 11 to adopt Delilah who was in a foster home in Hornsby. She arrived at 5 past 11. 

Then a lady arrived to look for a cat to replace her older cat who recently died. She had picked out Libby, Ginger George and Max from the web page. She met them all but didn't click until she met Maeve who was delighted to meet somebody who was prepared to give her all the attention that she wants.

At that stage another couple (mother and daughter) arrived looking for a pair of cats. I showed them the usual suspects and they fell under the spell of Tibby and Tabby. The mum said that her daughter really needed somebody to love. Perfect! And the mum is a doctor. Perfecter! And they live in a small apartment with no stairs. Perfectest! Done deal.

Then my friend Liz arrived to get a pair of cats. She wanted somebody that she could pick up.

Ginger George likes to be picked up

But who to pair him with? After introducing her to Vivienne and Calvin, the job was done. Her grandson will be delighted. As will her husband. (Thanks for the photos Robyn).

Calvin and Vivienne

Calvin and Vivienne's stand alone was cleaned for Hank and Princess. The sign says that you can get to the litter tray through the door on the side of the stand alone. Princess just came back from the vet.

 And Chia and kittens moved into Tibby and Tabby's condo.

Meanwhile the lady who loved Maeve, moved on to Maisy and fell deeper in love with her. She will be back on Saturday to adopt her. So much for wanting an older cat! It was mutual and irresistible.

Maisy

Meanwhile, in Incoming, I asked if the stand alone by the door had been cleaned this morning. Katie and Tim assured me that it was and that one of the torties there loves to play with water and flip the wet litter all over the place. What a grub. Her sisters are not impressed.

It was you