Cotton's Tale

 Is almost over. He has been adopted and will be picked up tomorrow.

Cotton: does he look smug!

And today, amid the Friday chaos, Howie was adopted by a young couple. She was coo-ey but he was capable. Howie will have a wonderful life.

Howie

The chaos was added to by a couple of cat collectors who spent the day with us. They are very experienced with feral cats. So when Opie needed to be put into a carrier to go to be vaccinated at the vets, they stepped forward with aplomb and popped him into their carrier without any struggle. Opie behaved himself beautifully. The vet even said that he was a lovely cat.

Back at the cattery, we took advantage of his absence to clean his condo and change the covering sheets which reeked of urine. 

He is now available for adoption. And the visitors well and truely earned their day's experience with us.

 A tearful woman arrived early in the morning with a mother cat with her three kittens. (She and her daughter are allergic to cats and she needs to have an operation). She passed the mother from her arms to mine. The three kittens were in a washing basked. The mum's name is Snowy. The kittens have been given S names. This afternoon, Snowy was lying outside the bed box on the upper ledge hissing at the kittens inside the bed box. I think she was saying "That is enough sucking. Eat your people food. Leave me alone."

I think that Bella's kittens who were born in her litter box should be given names that are pet names for toilets, eg Toots, Dunny, Bog, Lew, Throne, etc, etc. But probably nobody else will think so. 

Hanna Holyday

 She was adopted today! The man who adopted her previously adopted Myrtle who unfortunately was bitten by a tick and died. Hannah will be kept indoors if she does not like being anointed with Bravecto. Sharon didn't realize that until she went to spend time with Hanna after doing two people's work in the morning shift. Gone!

We convinced Sharon that Billy need her "Hanna love".

Billy considers chicken

One of our vollies, Harper is moving to Perth to study so spent the afternoon with us to say goodbye. Rocky said that she could stay and cuddle him all the time.

Rocky loves Harper

I made new hammocks for the enclosures. Prue and Trude rejected theirs. No way were they going to lie on anything that smelt so NEW. But Elsa's kittens snuggled onto their new one. They are only 3 now, instead of 4. And Elsa's last two were desexed today.

Elsa's three big ones

Ark was in this afternoon. He reports that Opie and Pearl are doing very well. He was super useful in cleaning Cindy's kittens who might have got some aftereffect of her explosive poos on Wednesday. He had to time his cleaning duties between Cindy's feeding kittens times. He did very well.

Angus had an adventure after being let out that ended with Ark rescuing him from the top of the new enclosures.  Later he and Harper helped fill the Cousin's bins. Clean slate for poo bags tomorrow!

I got to cuddle with Jack (Luna is easy). He has a lump on his tail that feels as though it is bony. . . maybe a kink. And Elsa's black girl has a lump on her tummy (?post operative).

A lovely Liz arrived to spend time with Roxy and Trixie. She is very keen on them but needs to rehang the door to what will be to their safe room. 

A three generation girl group came (at 10 to 4) to check out our kittens. As they previously decided that they want a "white" kitten (ie before seeing any real kittens in the flesh, aka Elsa's 3) I suggested that they wait a while until Cindy's kittens are ready. I wasn't specific about how long that would take. And if Cindy et al goes to a foster home they are locals and can visit frequently.

Short time

 I was supposed to drive my husband to his eye doc this morning so only went to Safe to give everybody their breakfast. His doc called in sick and he didn't go after all but will go next week (perhaps).

Several adoptions over the weekend. Opie went home with Ark and his stand alone is occupied by Holly who used to be in Incoming above Tiger who she came in with. She settled down in Incoming very well and sought pats after a couple of weeks. But she doesn't like change and is hiding in a box on the floor of the stand alone behind a sheet.

Donatella and McQueen were adopted! He looks like he had some inkling in this photo that I took on Friday. Donatella will hide for a month! Billy is in their stand alone by the front door.

MaQueen

Maggie's kittens were STARVING, of course. Five minutes after bolting their breakfast they started to bounce off the walls of the play place. The R kittens in the Palace were mesmerized. I was still handing out breakfasts at the time and by the time I found my camera they had all settled down.

Raven, etc

Maggie's kittens

Britney was adopted and Billy is all by herself.

Britney

Billy

 Robyn reported later today the Billy was adopted this afternoon as well!

And in Incoming, Roger is looking much better but is still a messy kitten. (Thanks for the photos Joy)

Roger

A wink is as good as a kiss

 Despite there having been no adoptions listed on the website over the weekend, in fact adoptions happened. We had run out of space on the www/cloud/wherever so the website hadn't been updated.

First news:

Rosie and Callie were adopted, together of course. That was a huge shock to Jagger who, when let out for his afternoon run, tried to run into their condo but couldn't because it was being cleaned. He settled on Lyra's condo above Rosie and Callie's. Lyra wasn't too thrilled. 

Lyra and Jagger

I eventually enticed him out with some treats and got him back (via the top of the condos) to his own place.

Adele is between Lyra and Jagger because the two fluffy tailed kittens who were adopted before they got listed by a vollie have gone home. She wasn't happy in the morning. She wouldn't get out of the carry cage that transported her there to eat her breakfast. So I put a modesty cloth over the big window. Some time later she got up on her shelf to see what was going on. So I took the modesty cloth and the carry cage away.

Adele

Her kittens, Billy and Britney, are in the stand alone that loiters beside the filing cabinet.

Billy and Britney

That means that the only cats in Isolation are Maggie's kittens. Maggie, who is the only one with ringworm traces left, has been moved into Incoming near the wormy cats there. Her kittens went to Olympic Park for the Cat Show over the weekend. They had such a lovely time meeting and greeting the crowds that they no longer want to run out of their enclosure but just want to play and be freindly/fed.

Copper and Citrine were picked up this afternoon by a young couple who looked very happy.

Copper and Citrine

 As was Deleon (deaf Leon) who when home with a mother and her adult son who have an outdoor enclosure prepared for him. I was so thrilled to expedite their adoption that I forgot to print the contract. Katie will email it to them for them to sign. There is no way he will come back as they are bespotted already.

Best news last: Opie has been adopted. He will be picked up on Sunday. By our Ark! And will be best friends with Pearl.

Opie . . . he is winking!

 

D Leon/deleon

 Our new Leon has decided that we are OK and is willing to make friends. He doesn't like to be brushed though. Pats are enough, even tummy tickles. But no brush. He even tolerated pats from the small girls that a vollie brought to meet the kitties this afternoon. Should we call him Deleon for Deaf Leon. They are fancy cars. He might like that.

Carreras and Domingo were adopted this afternoon. The young lady just wanted one kitten and got the impression from Cat Rescue that she could just take one. But Tim confirmed that they are bonded. She phoned her mother and took them both. They will live with her in the granny flat. There is an adult cat and large dog who love each other in the big house.

The play place has been emptied so that our serial boarder Ginger Megs can have play time.

After his play time, we put Opie there. He enjoyed seeing the sunshine on the balcony.

Opie

This will be the last time Mischa boards with us. Her person is taking her to New Zealand.

Mischa

Melody is looking Magnificent. And she likes strokes before breakfast.

Melody

 Frank was named for his old blue eyes.

Frank

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.

Rootless

 I noticed today that the Morten Bay Fig that grows on the cliff opposite our verandah is not looking well. A section of it's leaves are yellowed. Morten Bay Fig trees do not loose their leaves in autumn. I suspect it might be happening because somebody, with a chain saw, cut through the roots that run down the cliff face to the gutter beside our driveway. This may have been a spectacularly stupid thing to have done. Time will tell.

In the meantime, two of Virgo's boys have been adopted. She looks much more relaxed than she did when she had five boy kittens. Here she is with everybody piled on top of her. Her daughter is wearing the collar.

Virgo +4

 And Jordan got adopted. Of course. 

Milo has a leave by date: June 24. He can't wait to get home.

Milo

Maeve has moved to above Chia et al. She might regret the move because they are a rowdy lot and she enjoyed the peace and quiet of the Boarding row. I didn't have any trouble moving her. She stayed in her box. If you miss Opie, he might be hiding in the blue box in the foyer.

Where's Opie?

Geoff spent some time trying to ensure that the Top Cat is safe for the folk who set it up. There is a cord at the top between the middle bit and one side that ensures that the "roof" does not fall onto somebody's head when it is swung over and that cord is not in place. If you disconnect the cord in order to make it a line rather than a 3 sided square, please put it back when the apparatus is stashed or the next folk might be brained.

Geoff might be whisked off to Canada to help with the wild fires there. The organisers are overwhelmed so it might not happen which will be good for us. But imagine what interesting critters he could rescue in the Canadian wilderness!

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).

Aslan, Auslan, ASL

 Aslan is old Turkish for a lion, Auslan is Australian sign language, ASL is American Sign Language. The picture tells a thousand words.

Aslan

I met him for the first time today. You only need hand gestures to become his friend. He has a wonky leg (back right). He probably broke it some years ago and it has "healed" in the wrong conformation. If it gives him pain, it might be kinder to amputate the leg. But, so far he seems happy. 

He has moved into Salazar's condo because Salazar succumbed to his heart condition and died yesterday. The last months that he has spent with us have probably been the best in his life. Always a lap and a hug, plenty of food, no street dangers, nobody making cracks about his lumpy chin or knobbly legs.

Salazar

Miranda had trouble with her Elizabethan collar after returning from the vet to be desexed. But chicken fixed that. (Paprika didn't turn a whisker when I put her's on.)

Miranda

And Champ has come out of the cat carrier. How did two cats fit in there! It must be Charlie still in the carrier because he is tabby and white.

Champ, on the ring

Opie wasn't as vocal today. He stayed in his hammock despite all the activity around him. He was whisked next door to Dr Kim's who couldn't see anything wrong with him. He ate a little chicken. And went back to bed.

Opie

Tiger would like to eat some chicken. But it is not on his diet. In the meantime, he will take hugs, especially from Arc who is strong enough to pick up his considerable weight!

Arc and Tiger

A recurring pattern?

Today Marmalade and Duke went to be desexed. 

Duke and Marmalade

They are both ginger,  have been with us since they were tiny kittens and it was just assumed that they were both boys. They came back Marmalade and Duchess! They had a lovely trip to the vet on a sunny morning. They haven’t, perhaps, ever seen or felt sunshine. They pressed their bodies against the door of their carry cage to absorb the warmth.

And we are not quite sure if Saffron is a boy or a girl. His/her tummy has the typical, desexed female sag/spare handbag. We did manage to remove the remaining clumped bits of fur from his/her side this afternoon with the rechargeable trimmer.

The fluffy pair of the C kittens originally named Clementine, Claudius, Cornelius and Cordelia and all tortie, to a greater or lesser degree, went to be desexed and came back to their sisters all with Elizabethan collars this weekend. (The vast majority of torties are girls and if they are boys they are XXY and sterile which would save us money.) A group of young folk who are about to move into a flat where they have permission to have a cat came to look at some of our older cats. Then they saw the C kittens and fell for them. They will watch the website like demons and come in at the first listing to claim one.

There was lots of mixing of cats in the Top Cat in spread out mode. . . ie rather than just being the extension of one condo, you can stretch the Top Cat so that is creates a ”fenced” area in Welfare. Most cats don’t seem to realize that they can scale the mesh sides of the condos and climb up to the top where they can hide amongst the carriers (which is a great relief. Even though Opie often clambers up there to lord it over everybody else). So we mixed Tibby, Tabby, Alfredo, Helena and Kate who all got on well. After we put them away, we wheeled in Lola and let her out. She hissed at some cats but eventually agreed to play with a fluffy wand toy. She put herself back into her stand alone after 20 minuets so I wheeled her out and rewarded her with the chicken remnants. She licked the spoon clean.
Outside the Top Cat, Tiger, Ginger George and Maxwell all enjoyed separate, stretchy walks to entertain the confined cats in that area. Opie disported himself in Incoming.

Opie on (Katie's) his desk

Maxwell is a very handsome boy. His squinty right eye is because that eyelid has had surgery to correct  an inward roll which made his eyelashes scratch his retina. It doesn't stop him talking. . . as long as there is someone  to talk back to  him.

Maxwell

Lockdown

 I made a mistake on my last blog. Chanel didn't die. She is with the vet being treated for something, serious. But kittens in Incoming did die of parvovirus: the two smaller ones in the stand alone beside the Royal Canine stand alone and one of the ones with Venus in the stand alone across the room. It seems that parvovirus is running rampant in the western suburbs and goodness knows where these kittens came from. They may have brought separate bugs with them. The Royal Cannon stand alone was moved out of Incoming yesterday. But Roxy's kittens were not looking very energetic and not eating (!) this afternoon. So they were rolled back into Incoming. The cats, McGreggor and Donatella who were moved out of Incoming on Wednesday were moved back there. And it is a no-go zone for all but a few staff/vollies so that we can try to contain the source of infection. https://pets.webmd.com/cats/what-to-know-about-feline-parvovirus has lots of good information.

Tim has vaccinated all the cats that he can in the hope that we can stop cats getting very sick. Kittens are more vulnerable than adults. So there is to  be no more random cuddling of kittens and no cats are allowed out to run around to play. Phantom was not happy at being shut in this afternoon.

Phantom

And Opie complained loud and long.

Opie

Some cats couldn't give a . . . . . like Chessie: who would rather be alone. Perhaps we should have called her Greta.

Chessie

Demi and Winnie were not so upset by the lack of attention but the fact that they didn't cuddle together in one hammock. The tie of the upper hammock came undone and they were forced to find other places to sit.

Here in the process of getting back together after I tied the bow again.

And we have a new cat, Simba. Don't know where he came from and I couldn't give him a welcome cuddle because we are in lock down.

Simba

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