Door bell

Perhaps Santa will leave us a bell from his sleigh. This morning, I got to SH early because of no traffic. (One of the positive side effects of a COVID cluster in the Northern Beaches). Unfortunately, the garbage trucks benefited from the lack of traffic as well. I only got one trolly load of bags out to the curb before they came. And there was more space for the last few in SH. Bummer. So I got busy and as it was so early, I locked the front door so that I wouldn't have to worry about odd folks wandering. Sandy came early and banged on the door. I couldn't hear her from outback. She was drowned out by hungry cats telling me their sad tales of starvation rations. Panic ensued when she told Sue and Sue got Tim out of bed. My phone wasn't on (of course) and Sandy went home. Sue phoned Rod who arrived just a bit early, after I had remembered to unlock the front door. SO it was all sorted out and Sandy, herocially, came back from Mosman to slave away. She had to sterilize boarding condos because more cats came in than expected. And some went out, unexpectedly. Others came in unexpectedly early. . . it was a busy morning. There was an email asking for more photos of Patchy than what was on our website. She is so sweet.

I noticed that Suki has a short tail as well as an emaciated body.

And I took a photo of Sultan so that Liz can see how relaxed he is without her.

Joy took some photos that I will add. Cecily has the greenest of eyes. She doesn't act jealous. She is an absolute sweetie. We can't imagine how she was surrendered.

Star's kittens have been divided up to the three littles that stay with her and the two hunking fluffies that used to greedy all their food. For example:

Silky's kittens are getting to be just as demanding/loud as she is.

This morning I managed by some quick hand work to separate Rara, Mimi and Macey into separate areas to feed them. Macey took her time to eat every morsel. Rara is inclined to "help you finish that" in double quick time.

Christmas Cheer

I was late to SH this afternoon because we had our break up lunch for Friday morning tennis. As I got there Tim left with his two tiny kittens and another new cat to Chris the vet. Irene was still doing stuff so I got to my appointed task of taking photos for next year's calendar. I was not very successful. Ollie was more interested in being brushed and/or patted than posing by a prop.

The Ra family was trying to find the food hidden in the tree.

We tried out Mia and Belle in the play place. They were happy enough to be stroked, had a little explore but spent most of their time huddled together in the corner. Not a merry Xmas photo.

Earlier in the day, Irene had put Mini/RubyG and her grey kittens into the play place. They had a marvellous time. The kittens climbed to the top of the green labyrinth thingy. It did Mini/RubyG the world of good. She was very happy to have lots of pats later in the afternoon from me rather than hissing at me. As Tim was away at the 2:30 feeding time, Irene served the mums and kittens. Luna's lot had a lovely wander but never strayed far from their condo.

But Zelda's kittens made friends with all their neighbours, especially Claude.

A lovely boarder, Luna was lying peacefully, on her back, in her carrier when a person came from next door to "groom" her. She came back an hour later, shaved and still wet around the legs. Poor baby, I couldn't bring myself to take a photo. Tim got back at around 4pm. His kittens may have giardia and the other cat doesn't have a thyroid problem.

Family reunion

Now that we have a play place for our cats the logical player is Rara. He has got into the habit of reacting with frantic when food appears. But he has the reputation of being a softie. When I suggested that he go to the play place I asked Tim to carry him there because he reacts with frantic to me. But once he was there and I sat with him he was lovely. All about the pats. He ignored the few crunchies that I found on the ledge outside his condo. He was just concerned with cuddling up with me. So it seemed a good idea to introduce Mimi and Macey to the play place. I carried Mimi and Tim carried Macey who is not so used to being held. Macey immediately went up to Rara. They touched noses. He started to groom her. Awwwwwww. Then Mimi strolled by on her investigative survey of the play place. She and Rara touched noses. He started to groom her. Awwwww. We left them there. Rara and Macey hung out together.

And Mimi found a nice hidey hole.

They didn't explore much but were happy to be together or with a person (me while I ate my lunch). So we decided that they should condo together in the up/down Ingleside condo. Which meant that I had to clean their condos, move Ollie and Felix, clean their condos and then move in the M-family.

Other movements: Silky has gone into Rita's condo out back. Her kittens don't seem too pleased at the move.

And Silky is horrified.

The tiny kittens are being cared for overnight by Tim. . . he who never sleeps. They have their ups and downs.

Sue asked me to collect photos for next year's (2022) calendar. I am to save one photo a month. Please tell me which photos you like best.

74

I just counted the number of cats we have at Safe Haven, from my memory. There are no boarders, unless you count Nom. It was a busy day with the new feeding schedule. I made myself a timetable which was much easier to follow than the previous cat type schedule. I left the copy there. . . it may well be changed by next week. While I was busy being anal, Joy took lovely photos. Of RubyG and her kittens:

We fed everybody chicken necks. The kittens were the most enthusiastic. . . and Rara, Mimi and Macy.

Luna and her kittens still pile on top of each other but Joy caught her and a kitten sitting up tall.

Mimi and Macy are so photogenic and mad about food but not frantic.

We have a new surrender called Rosie.

Star and her kittens had a lovely time in the new play place.

But Ollie didn't like it at all. He prefers life behind glass.

Weight lifting

When I arrive in the morning I leave all the doors open so that the pong de chat can dissapate. Imagine my horror when I went through to the feeding station to see Buddy and Petey's door wide open, again. I rushed back to close the doors and then approached their condo. They were sitting together in their carry cage. Petey has learned to jump up to the higher level. My heart beat went back to normal.

Later when I was bathing the face of the dark tabby kitten (to the right of the desk) I heard Peggy hiss. I looked over my shoulder to see Macy stopped in her tracks on the gutter outside Peggy's condo. Perhaps Macy wanted to visit Rara. Mimi was watching from the open door of their condo with a worried expression on her face. I just turned Macy around with one hand (the other was holding the above kitten) and she walked back home. But it may be the eyebrow marking that makes Mimi look worried. Because later when I was washing the gummy eyes of some of Gracie's kittens, she watched with concern. I went to take a photo and my camera said "Charge the battery". Sue had three new volunteers to train this morning and Robyn is still nursing a very sore arm so took it gently. There were plenty of helpers. And then the men's shed arrived. They call themselves a community shed these days because there are women as well as men involved. They wanted to attach the brackets that will support the walls and top of the play place. And they the brought bits to fit.

We thought that they would be able to work around the stack of litter bags. But no, they had to be moved from where I put them yesterday. Luckily the community shedders did the moving, not me. I did it yesterday. And we had to move Hera, Diamond and Octavia because the litter bags are now behind Octavia where the scratchy poles used to be. They have been moved to the foyer beside the ones for sale. Really Octavia and Lily should change wheely cages. Octavia's only has three wheels and a peg leg. Lily's has 4 wheels. Maybe tomorrow. The community shedders will be back tomorrow or Friday to finish the job. By the way, I think Hera and Diamond are happier in separate areas rather that bunking in together. Patchy and her crew were happy when I rotated them so that I could mop their area.

We have a new, nameless, label-less mum with four grey kittens. She is a frightened, hissy mum. But she has a collar on. So she must just be really pissed off to be with us rather than a wild child. Later when It was quiet I noticed Star's tail hanging out of her condo. And when I looked at the photo there are two kitten tails hanging out as well. . . . cute.

Where is the box?

The kittens in condos are cute enough to be on a chocolate box. The pair happily played in an empty box until if fell off their upper shelf. They are a bit hissy but will soon associate folk with food.

Sue has worked hard to price all the new/good-as-new donated items for visitors and vollies. I bought Cody a tall scratchy pole because the one that Catsie gave me is getting a bit scruffy and it perhaps too short for him. His first reaction was "where is the box?"

[Notice the grass in pots being revived in the rain on the table outside. Tim says that they just need to be sprayed with water to keep them watered in the condo. But some cats, eg Felix, don't like the sound of a spray bottle even when used across the aisle.] His second reaction was "This one is just the perfect size for me."

His third reaction was "What new scratchy pole?"

Some of Dolly's kittens may be ready for adoption this weekend. Tell your friends. While I sewed a patch on the mesh of the condo below Rara's he came down from his upper shelf to keep me company and play paws. His boofy, big boy head is too big for his body which is still a teenager's undernourished, fast growing, leggy, thin tailed cat-astrophy.

PS: I spoke to the lady in Mona Vale who adopted Taylor (of Buffy and Taylor fame). She says that Tutu (aka Taylor) is the love of their life and is exceptionally affectionate to her and her husband. But if anybody visits their home, Tutu vanishes. She will not come out until they disappear. If you remember, when I visited them shortly after I delivered Taylor, she hissed at me and dove into a closet. Now I feel better knowing that she treats everybody apart from her beloved parents in exactly the same way.

Hair in the air

Tammy 6 has been adopted. A couple came from Parramatta and fell in love. Let us hope that Tammy does not equal Lil's record of adopters. Vinnie is almost ready to go. We are just waiting on his medical history. . . those hips. A couple came this afternoon and would have taken him if he was ready. They have a 6 month old girl kitten. He would love having a little sister to boss him around. They didn't know the word "sooky". They will if they adopt him. Rara has gone to be desexed.

His girlfriend Mimi is quite friendly but growls when you pat her, in a friendly way. Or perhaps she is growling at Billie who thinks any attention to his neighbour should mean more food for him.

Their kitten is quite shy but is settling down.

Below them is Gracie who may be pregnant.

I moved Angelique into a wheely cage (which came with Ebony). She didn't like it much at first but chasing a ping pong ball helped.

Patchy's kittens are Tippy (spot on tail) and Spotty (spot on nose) and PJ (dark = tortie). Hard to tell which is dirt on nose or a spot. And the one with the spot under the nose has a spot on his/her leg. So I think that one is Spotty. But the truth will be told by the tail.

Get your cuddles in with Steph's cats. She may have a home to move them to soon. They are shedding and love to share their hair.