Adoption Tails: Gigi, Ash, Jade, Jasper and Apricot. And Lucky

 Gigi

Gigi's owner would not like this adoption shared but rest assured that she is very well settled in and is a little foodie!

Ash aka Winston

3 days: Ash is doing really well. He’s homed happily in the master bedroom with litter and food separate. He’s eating his morning and evening meals and is drinking some water. “There’s lots of beautiful purrs and sleeping. We’ve renamed him Winston after much family debate.” While their resident cat has been locked in another room, Winston has been out to explore and smell before returning to his safe room. “Both cats now aware of each other and we’ll look at having them on the same floor later in the week.”

1.5 weeks: “Winston is doing amazing.” The introductions went well and both cats are now living alongside each other. “Our older cat just watches Winston play and run around with toys. We have a large cardboard box that they both sit in and peek out of which is super cute.”

Tigs and Winston

 1 month: “Winston is doing great. Loves playing, is eating really well and has beautiful loud purrs when snuggling.” Despite having separate sleep blankets in the lounge, he sleeps next to their older resident cat Tigs.

Jade 6691

1 day: "I'll say it right now Jade is the perfect kitten." She's confident, playful and so affectionate. She followed the owner's son around all night and spent most of the evening hanging out in his bedroom chilling. The owner left her in her quiet room to sleep the night because she started to get more and more playful as it got later and they wanted her to have her rest. Jade had her breakfast this morning at 7am and came back to burrow into the owner's bed to sleep some more together. She's used the litter a few times and loves her food. The family won't be changing her name as she seems to be responding to Jade. "We definitely won the lottery with her."

1 week: Jade's really settling in well. Definitely has her energy spurts especially since the family were away all day for work/school but the owner is working from home on Thursday and Friday so the two are enjoying each other's company. As soon as she switches the lights off at night, Jade settles down and either cuddles up for a sleep or goes off and does her own thing but settles quickly. She's still food crazy so they're just controlling that. Otherwise she's wonderful.

1 month: "We are totally smitten"

Jasper & Apricot

No follow up as adopted by foster carers.

 

Lucky

2 weeks: Lucky is happy. He is eating and using his litter box. Lots of rubs and purrs for the owner but he doesn’t like her husband much. He mainly stays in his owner’s room and sleeps on their bed. He’s still cautious about going into other parts of the house and is starting to play as well.

2.5 weeks: Lucky is settling in and making baby steps towards being confident. “Loves his food!”

 40 days: He lets them pet him and play. He sleeps on the bed and “eats like a horse”. He won’t let them pick him up. He is getting used to the rest of the house and loves his sunbeams. He’s settling in but his owners wish he would be more cuddly.

 

 

Adoption Tails: Lucky (girl)

  Lucky

1 week: “She is still very very shy and didn’t eat for the first day. She’s since come around and is eating and using her litter tray regularly!!” 

She’s still in her own room with the door closed but they have a cat camera in the room. 

“I can see Lucky has changed her comfort spot a few times (cupboard, under wardrobe, in a washing basket with clothes) and even comes out while we’re at home walking around!”

2 weeks: “Jordan and I were both just really just waiting for the right opportunity and time to adopt after moving in together. We both had been keeping our eye on the Roseville SAFE adoption page for a few weeks till one Saturday we decided we would go in.

 We both went in with very open minds and our only criteria was that they had to be toilet trained. After finding out they all were toilet trained, we spent all morning being introduced to ALL the kittens and cats at the shelter. When we got to lucky we both recognised her as one of the longer term residents and stopped so we could say hello. She was curled up in the corner staring back at both of us and we just fell in love. We were told Lucky is a very timid and shy gal but jordan and I were overjoyed when she came out and ate some treats that we offered to her. After we saw all the beautiful cats and kittens we always kept coming back to Lucky and sitting with her to feed her treats. We (finally) left the shelter on the Saturday afternoon but we’re back by Sunday ready to adopt Lucky.

 We’ve had her for 2 weeks now and we’re still earning her trust but love watching her slowly come out of her shell. during the day when we’re not around she loves to roam around in her big room, and to sit by the window soaking up all the sunshine. She’s made herself very comfortable in our washing baskets of clean clothes which we do not dare to disturb and have sacrificed for the time being!”

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.

Picture perfect

 Barb Webster is a great fan of Deb's paintings of cats. She asked me on Thursday to take photos of the paintings that Deb delivered on Wednesday afternoon. As I was too busy/distracted to take other photos this afternoon, this is the photo element of this blog post!

If you want one, get onto it fast because Arc has contacts with galleries that may want to hang them (and they charge much more commission than we do).

Why was I busy? 

There were visitors. A couple arrived to pick up the microchip specific feeder that Cammy tested on Wednesday and found that it worked. Somebody uploaded it on Thursday to the Facebook page. And the new owner came to pick it up this afternoon. They brought with them a bed to donate. I declined the bed (Cammy will be pleased about that). And an electronic weighing device that is accurate from 200gm. That I accepted with delight. Tim won't have to schlep the Incoming cats out back to weigh them. He will have his own scales if he can only find a free, flat area to put it on (that Opie hasn't claimed as his own)! They, of course,  wanted to visit with the cats.

Then the folk who fostered Lucky boy came to visit him. (He is in Lucky girl's condo). At that time there were various other cats wandering around and they asked why Lucky boy couldn't be out too. I said that we would let him out on his own in the Top Cat later. When I went to introduce myself to him with chicken, he hissed at me. (At least he didn't spit). I think their visit upset him.

Lucky boy

Yin and Yan have gone to a foster home. As have Charlie and Champ. Their condo has been taken by a pair of cats who came from a foster home. All the family came to drop them off (including the foster puppy who will be adopted on Sunday by somebody from Mittagong). Can't remember the names of the cats. . . do you blame me?

And a couple arrived at the same time to check out our cats for a replacement of their dear boy cat. They want a girl this time and rather fancied the Stones black cats. But who can tell who is the girl and who is the boy? I don't like your chances of getting near them with a microchip reader just yet. (At least they didn't chomp on my finger at chicken time this afternoon.)

Bassuria's left eye has gone a funny colour. Chris, the vet, thinks that it might have to be removed. He was feeling better today than on Wednesday. . . . he claimed all the chicken as his. Poor Julia is back to being No 2.

Bassuria's left eye

And boarders arrived . . . . . except for Jolene who was due to come but hadn't arrived by the time I left at 4:15pm.

And Steph visited with her foster cats. (We gave her the dog bed, Cammy).

Fingers crossed

 Yesterday a young couple came to meet Jane. And met Lucky as well. They couldn't decide.

Today they came back and adopted Lucky. Doesn't she look smug.

Irresistable Peach

 They came back early to get Peach today. She didn't really want to get into a carry cage but luckily Tim did the adoption and the transfer so no blood was shed. Here is the proof:

"Please Clean" on Pearch's condo

You can tell it was in the later part of the afternoon because Yin and Yan are out on observation duty. There is a plan afoot to move them to the pair of condo's with the connecting hatch currently occupied by Lucky and Suki.

A couple came in today looking for a "bonded" pair. They were after Midnight and Pumpkin but as they don't want the cats until Feb 20. . . . that train has left the station. They will keep an eye on the website between now and then now that they have met everybody. 

If the move of Yin and Yan works well, I suggested that Sydney be added to the mixture so that that family of boys can be reunited. 

Chikka has been moved to next to Max (on the other side from Libby)

Chikka

She was a bit shocked. She had been in boarding and Rosanna let her out for a wander this afternoon. Salazar spotted her and chirruped in a very suggestive manner. 

Archie was adopted yesterday (or Thursday) by the person who was going to foster him. Chessy has moved into his condo. She has had some changes in the last week or so! (From male to female, desexed, moved).

Chessy

She is now next to Rebel who was playing with his ping pong ball after chicken time.

Rebel

A pile of cat carriers went to the vet for check ups this afternoon: Jolene, the little kitten in Incoming with the underdeveloped legs, Tiger with the funny tummy and Puss with no teeth.

Exchange Row

 The Naughty Row needs a new name. This week I suggest Exchange Row, or The Exchange. It is where things change from bad to good for the cats who come in. 

For example, remember Chester? He came from a vet with various other cats and was said to be desexed. He was in Incoming first and was withdrawn/shy. Then he moved out back and started to become much more friendly. Then he started to call out to other cats. Then Tim had a good view of his back end and realised that he is a she and that she was coming into heat! So Chester is now Chessy and will wail until she is really desexed.

Chessy

We had the minimum number of vollies today which was still good as Sandy arrived in the afternoon to help clean up out back. And one vollie brought her sister who stood and watched the cats until I found her jobs to do. . .. the boxes of plastic gloves are stored in the bookshelf behind Opey. There are only two packs of toilet rolls left there (hurrah!). Next I asked if she like putting things together. She did. So I got her to assemble the pingpong roller track that had been left on the drying table.The idea was that it go into the play place. But it was too big.

She made is half as extensive and Jasmine and her kids will learn to play with it. And we will get used to it looking like a reticulated python.

There were visitors. One came looking for a young cat (not a kitten) for her unit. She is expecting visitors in a fortnight to the room which should be the cat's safe room. We decided that she should delay her decision until those visitors leave. She rather liked Lucky! Fingers crossed.

Other visitors came with donations and got to visit with the cats by way of thanks: one lot adopted Tom and ? 2 years ago (and changed their names immediately) from us and are very happy with them. Another came with donations because their cat died of urinary failure. They will be back when they are ready. Another brought in a splendid crate and a bag full of ? mouse hidey holes (too small for cats) that can be suspended!

We have a kitten in Incoming who needs physio on her back legs. This entails gently pulling her back legs every afternoon. She is getting much better. Her name is Jolene.

Jolene, nothing wrong with her appetite

Phantom will have company perhaps.

Phantom's funny way of sitting

And finally, I don't know why Demi and Winnie are still with us. Such loving cats.

Demi and Winnie cuddle

Timless Friday

 He had a day off today. Friday is a good day to choose. The training of a new batch of volunteers always adds an element of chaos to the morning. But all the washing up was done by 12:30 this morning. (And overflowed to the floor again).

It was a busy afternoon with visitors.
The first batch arrived to look at kittens because Santa had left all kinds of kitten gear while they were away on Christmas Day. Slight complication is that the daughter has displayed allergy to cats. But she says that it was just certain cats that make her sneeze which is why they had to come to test our kittens. I sat her down with a Cleo kitten and her younger brother with the other (which they kept swapping) for 10 minutes. She should have been sneezing if she was allergic. But she didn't with either of them. And Mum fell in love with the calico. Then I sprayed her hands with F10 and she sneezed. She didn't sneeze at Earl but did sneeze at Midnight and the F10 lotion. So they went away to talk to dad.

Then a mother and her son came to donate us cat stuff. I didn't ask the details but think that their cat had recently died because of what she gave us. They has a short look about.

Then a prize winner came to pick up her raffle loot. She volunteered with us when she was let go when Covid struck. She gave us up when she got another real job and then got her old job back. She was very pleased to meet the new cats and did recognise Stella who has been with us for way too long. I mentioned that we are always looking for foster homes for our long term residents.

All these visitors were a fine audience for Ginger George who strolled around and introduced himself to everybody (in the hopes of more treats). Later Phantom had a lovely roll in some cat nip. He is moving better and his movements are more solid now that he is on ZD.

Even Tabby is surer footed. Perhaps the antibiotics that she is on for her tummy wound is good for her balance?

Lucky was the Top Cat and hypnotized me into feeding her a tube of treats. We left her there overnight and opened Nada's door in the hope that they will not tear each other to pieces overnight. They may as well be friends as they are both on weight reduction crunchies and their condos have a connecting hatch. (Remember when Diego used to force open the flap and end up with Nada overnight?)

Nada + Lucky = ?

Daisy came back to board after her people took her home for the night on Wednesday.

Daisy

Our Daphne (their Tilly) is back in boarding and has settled down quickly.

Daphne/Tilly

Joy worked the morning shift in Incoming and was happy to get more photos of Jasmine's smallest kitten who is doing much better now. He eats everything and his tail is a curly as a piglet's.

Jasmine's piggy

There are ringwormy kittens in Incoming so vollies who work there cannot linger elsewhere after their shift. I don't know if these are they as Joy took the photo.

Lucky or Lizzard

 This morning while putting on my sandals which I keep outside by the front door, I was hissed at by a fat tailed gecko who was sheltering under my walking boots! The lizard sounded just like Lucky.  It this an example of convergent evolution?

She was lucky to get a special treat today

We have another wobbly walker. His name is Phantom and he is a delightful fellow. He had a fine time exploring the play place and loved the tunnel. . . so much so that I carried him in it to get him back into his condo. (He had made a big mess there so it was easier to clean with him not in it.)

Phantom

Later in the day we let him wander around the main cat room. He was having a quiet time with Robyn when he saw a friend and staggered over to meet Yin.

Phantom + Yin

 Tibby seems a little steadier on her feet. She is probably getting more exercise with us.

Pluto is back. I don't know why. She seems a bit sad.

Pluto

And Leo is a new surrender. His owner had to go to Israel and reduced everybody to tears when he was delivered on Saturday. He came with an enormous elephant toy and has refused to eat anything since he arrived. He even refused my chicken which I brought in specially for him.

Leo

A woman came in to do the paperwork for Phoebe who is in foster care at Claire's. She checked out everybody else just to make sure that Phoebe is the one she wants. She is. She is also the mother of Diego and Dora and is a tiny cat with a normal tail. She is to live with a boy cat as big as a Maine Coon. Unfortunately the computer decided not to open Shelter Buddy when she was there. But I took her money and gave her forms the others will have to be generated and emailed tomorrow. 

Later on a mother and daughter came with a donation of Bravecto. Their cat died two months ago and they really need a cat. They looked at everybody and the daughter eventually convinced mum that JJ would be perfect and that they really needed to take her home today. Mum checked with her vets about the snuffles and sneezes. One vet said that they would have to don complete PPE before attending to her! Another vet was not so frightened of cat flu.  By the time they made their decision, the computer was almost working again. So JJ has gone to a loving, experienced home . . . . . wrenched away from the loving arms of all my volunteers!

We left Ginger in the Top Cat overnight. He just wants to chat. Robyn and I think his name should be changed to George. He is playboy regal.

Ginger George

Opie is a pussycat

 We have new cats.

Luigi is friendly but desperate to go somewhere else. He tells us that he doesn't belong here. He needs to go. He has burrs caught in his rather grubby fur.

Luigi

Tiger is a surrendered Ragdoll who is very thin. He is on a special hypoallergenic diet. We are feeding him often to try to build him up. He has lovely green eyes, no stripes and is quite chilled out. .  or is he just weak?

Tiger

Chester is new in Incoming. Don't know his story but he looks as though he might tell it.

Chester

And Michelle who has supplied us with cats before, brought in a cat who has recently joined the cat colony that she looks after. She finally managed to trap him last night after 6 days of not feeding the colony cats in order to get him hungry enough to go into the trap. Tuna did it today. He is black and was being picked on by the other cats in the colony. . . . probably because he is an entire male and the colony's dominant male saw him as a threat. He is a good looking black boy but didn't want his photo taken. I called him Mickey.

 

I pushed the Top Cat to Max's condo but he wouldn't get out of bed to come out. So I moved it to Lucky's condo. She stuck her head out but stayed in.

Lucky

 

 

We were more successful with the play place. Tried out Macy who didn't mind it but prefers to be paid homage to in her stand alone.

Macy

And Opie was wheeled in. He walked all around, looked out the window, and as soon as I appeared with some crunchies, hopped back into his stand alone so we wheeled him back to his corner. 

Later on he made a dash for freedom, shot out of the hall door with me in pursuit. While he was trying to decide whether to make a dash out the front door or to explore Incoming, I shoved him back through the hall door and closed him in. He investigated the desk. I walked around it and picked him up and popped him back into his stand alone. He is not such a bossy boy.

Opie