Gracie on high

When I arrived at noon there was a great kerfuffle because Gracie had jumped out of her condo and retreated to the heights. I kept out of the way because there were plenty of vollies being directed by Irene. They caught her in a box (a favourite tool of Irene's) but when they went to put her back into her condo she took off again for the heights! 

Gracie on Wednesday

 The second capture was more efficient and she was soon back. By the time chicken came around she was behaving normally (for her). I hope she doesn't make this a regular Friday afternoon exercise.

The woman who adopted Midnight last weekend brought him back for his vaccination and to adopt his sisters Lily and Forget Me Not. She said "If two kittens is better than one kitten, then three kittens are better yet!" Midnight has been renamed Lunar and is a very relaxed kitten. Or maybe he was just stonkered to be back with his sisters. Lily didn't have a microchip even though Tim said that he gave her one. The vet around the corner checked her with his machine. None. So he added another. Let's hope that she doesn't now have two. 

And the woman came to adopt Harper. She will pick her up tomorrow when the workmen have moved out of her place and Harper can settle in undisturbed. And Clyde was adopted yesterday.

Camille was being charming when I cleaned out the condo below her that  Forget me not and Lily were in for a few days. Irene took notes and got a good photo so that Camille can go on the for adoption list. She is a lovely cat.

Joy took photos of 5 of the 6 kittens in the play place on Wednesday.

 I'll try to add their names next week. Ginger Roger and her kittens have settled into the stand alone in Incoming happily. She is a very friendly cat. Evidently she wandered into an appartment in a western suburb. The old man there was happy. She made herself at home but after a few weeks disappeared for a few days. Then she brought in her kittens, one at at time. All gingers. The man is quite old and not well so couldn't look after them. I doubt we will have any problems getting them homes.

 

 

Possible adopters

 A fosterer came in with Oliver and Billy, in tears. She has to go to UK for 8 days and doesn't want to leave the kittens to the tender mercy of her family so they are to stay with us. She wants to adopt them when she gets back. Her daughter (pre teenaged) was more stoic than she was. 

They are identical ticked tabbies but Ollie has a pink nose and Billy has a black nose. They are both unhappy.

A couple of hours later there was a phone call from a woman who wanted to know all about them because she would like to come in tomorrow to adopt them. Luckily, perhaps, we couldn't find the paperwork so couldn't do the adoption tomorrow anyway. Will it continue to be lost until the fosterer gets back from the UK?

 LeClerk has moved back to his station by the door so that they can have the quieter spot.

Le Clerk

 

And another woman came to visit with Harper, for the second time. She is seriously considering adopting her. I suggested she contact Irene to connect with Kym who can talk to her about Harper! (Kym could talk a cat hater into adopting a cranky cat!)

Harper's visitor

Missy was off being desexed today. And Emma had time out from her babies.

notice the tail.  . . . she wasn't so far away

Emma

Light on vollies

 But those who came were splendid and all the work got done in record time. Thank you.

Fiona got adopted. A young man came to adopt her at 3:30pm. He had seen her on our website and decided that she was just the cat to go with his 1 year old kitten who really NEEDS another cat to play with (so that he can get on with his work). We did the deed in record time. He went off with a borrowed carrier and her litter tray (with litter but without the poo!) which he will return asap. Fiona was happy to go because she had a turn in the Top Cat so was feeling full of confidence.

Sooty also had a turn. She is a girl. Funny, I always though that Sooty was a boy's name.

Sooty

Maybe she will get adopted tomorrow!

We had a couple of phone calls about Axel. But nobody came to give us their money and sign our paperwork. First IN, first served.

A mother and daughter came to find a replacement for a dearly beloved cat. They looked at all the availables. Pity that Ivy didn't play up to them. She is a kitten with a split personality. Sometimes she turns herself inside out to attract you. Other times she hides.

Ivy

Much like Harper and Emma. They only come out of their shell when their foster mum comes (with chicken) for them to love on. Then they are completely different cats. . . full of love and purrs and invitations to interact. (Not the reactions they show when I open their doors to take a photo!)

Emma in the bed that her foster mum will wash when she is adopted

Harper

Scout went first

I expected a busy afternoon because of the number of calls in the morning about Scout, Latte and Harper who were newly on our webpage. So while the team was doing all the work in the morning, I made sure that they looked clean and neat.

Latte, Scout, Harper (clockwise from the back row)

For most of the morning they were separated one to each level:-- litter level: Latte, lower hammock: Harper, top hammock: Scout. I decided, before 1pm which is OPEN for Adoption time, that I really should know who was Scout and who was Latte. I couldn't find Latte's microchip and he cringed under the lower shelf so that I couldn't run the detector over him properly.

The first folk who came for them were really more interested in something smaller. So the second folk who said "I just fell in love with Scout" adopted him. His new owner is the flat mate/great friend of the woman who adopted Sock some time ago. Sock is doing really well and they think she needs a friend. Scout is it.

The first folk really fell for Summer and Autumn and we sent a message to Steph so that she can approve that adoption. . . . or not. They liked other kittens as well.

The third folk arrived wanting a bonded pair. As they are experienced at fostering shy cats I showed them around all our potentially difficult bonded pairs. And they chose Latte and Harper who, by this time were cuddled together on the top hammock. Latte was so blissed out that I could easily run the microchip detector all over him and found the wretched thing which matched his paperwork. 

We have 70 cats in residence. No boarders. The two who arrived on Friday afternoon have recovered from the shock and horror somewhat. They Puss (B & W) and Scrat (Grey & white) are large armfuls of loving cat.

Puss

Scrat

The play place has been taken over by Leo, a Bengal. He was loud before I fed him but settled well after that. He did enjoy looking out of the window when I put him on the window shelf.

Leo

 

There are a pair of kittens under Snitty. I have only seen one. Catsie, who cleaned them, assured me that there are two squeezed into the scratchy pole.

Tinker and/or Mayka

And sad Jumi is near Tara and Bodhi who are both supposed to be 5 years old but one is twice the size of the other.

Jumi

 

Soxy's second chance

 First, go to yesterday's Adoption Tails to look at the lovely photo of Collette sent by her new owners. No photo of Candy, unfortunately.

They were two vollies down this morning at Safe Haven. Robyn to the rescue. She came in and helped Sophia who is a brand new vollie. Later in the day, Sophia brought her mother by to meet the cats. She cooed at them in Hungarian and all the cats understood every word she said. Pommie was particularly receptive. She is a girl, 5 years old, no history yet.

Pommie

 

 

Archie, next door was not quite so ready to make friends although he did warm to me later (or was it to my chicken fingers?)

Archie

 

Petal is without her cone as is Magnus. They both looked more relaxed. And Wilson was in the play place all afternoon. Initially when there he walked around growling. Today he was happy enough getting pats from me while I ate my lunch with him. But when I opened the balcony door and noises came in from downstairs he was a bit grumbly. I never finished my lunch because a mother and daughter arrived to adopt Spot and Smudge. They have always had 3 cats but are down to one so wanted males to get their numbers up to normal. The finger test didn't determine which was who. And they were equally friendly to their new family. Kittens adapt so well, sometimes.

Even Harper and Scout are more relaxed. Their sibling Latte is to be brought in tomorrow "from the wild". That might set them back a bit. Or, perhaps, they will tell Latte how delicious chicken is.

Harper and Scout

There are new kittens in Incoming called Quinn, Sidney, Yin and Yang. I could only see one.

Looks like a Yang to me

But the very best news of the day is that Brandon came, sat with Soxy for ages and adopted him. He has his flat all set up with the box that his fridge came in on its side with another box with a comfy blanket in it along with a litter tray etc in his bedroom. He works from home, on the phone, so Soxy will always have somebody nearby. He has had lots of shy cats in his 21 years.

Soxy meets his new owner

How do you made a cat a little horse?

Magnus

Well, if he is Magnus you carry him into the play place, take off his cone, let him groom all the bits that he can't reach with his cone on, and introduce him to the kittens on the other side of the transparent wall. He purred and purred and must have been a little hoarse when it was time to go back to his condo. As he hasn't really been out of it since his eye was removed, I think he will have to get used to his monocular vision. He certainly didn't try to jump up on anything. He mostly sat and PURRED.

We have new cats. Another grey one, Pommie has been surrendered. He is in hiding and not eating. By the look of his carry cage, he had not left his home in years. It looked as though it had been stored on the top of the shed out back.

There are four new "kittens" in Incoming. They might have been kittens when first noticed in the wild but they are quite big now. Two live at the bottom of a large igloo. The other two sit on a ledge, warily.

Hercules/Freddy/Molly/Tigger

Spot and Smudge have returned from being fostered. Spot is supposed to be the friendlier, leader of this bonded pair. When I presented my finger for them to meet me, they both came forward to sniff. Neither minded when my finger patted their cheeks. So I don't know which is which. I did move their stand alone wheely cage to the opposite wall beside the merchandise shelves. They seemed very "distrait" when on the opposite wall being exposed to doors and lights. Much happier in the afternoon. I swapped them with Cathy who is happy wherever she gets attention.

Spot and Smudge

Harper and Scout are still skitty but not as bad as last Friday.

Harper and Scout

And Ebony is back from foster care. It was always a temporary placement. She seemed interested to see us again rather than frightened or pleased.

Ebony