Hera the hero

Yesterday I picked up a carload of litter from way out west and delivered it to Safe Haven in time to chat to Liz and Cass. They were fighting over the right to cuddle Tiny Tim. Cass lost because she had cleaned the ring wormers. Liz had a lovely cuddle. Tim (the big) told me that Gracie's kittens have ringworm. They were in their own, tight quarantine area around their condo. He was worried about how to move them somewhere else when nobody could be moved because everywhere was full. This morning I arrived to find that Hera was adopted yesterday. Lucky adoptees! Lucky us. We had a spare wheely cage. So I cleaned and reorganised so that now we have an expanded quarantine corner with better access to the scales and fogger shelf. With Rod's help I moved the humungous scratchy pole out into the foyer so that there is room to move in the Rita/Gracie quarantine quarters. A couple came to find a replacement for a cranky, unpillable cat to go with their lovely lady cat. He really liked Mia. But Mia and Bella are billed as a pair.

Another pair of young women came to look at one of Mini/RubyG's long gone greys. They rather liked Mini/RubyG.

And liked Elona except that she hides.

And REALLY liked Luna who cuddled up to both of them and is so small and sweet. But is not on the website yet.

The folk who fostered Zelda and her kittens brought in the pair that they adopted to board today. They couldn't resist spending some time (quite some time) with Zelda who loved their attention. They said that they felt angst every time that they read that one of Zelda's kittens was adopted by another family. They wanted to keep them all for themselves.

Coincidence or Psychic?

Around 10:20 this morning I thought "I should phone Tim to see if there is anything I can pick up before I go to Safe Haven this afternooon". Five minutes later he rang me to ask if I could come in early because the third vollie did not show up. I asked if he wanted anything on my way. He answered "No thanks." Soon after I arrived a family came to find a companion for their difficult cat. Irene, eventually, handed over Dobby who played beautifully with the young girl. They went away to think about it. It was a good thing they didn't put their noses into Dolly and Dobby's bed box. They were moved to below Mimi and Macey yesterday. In that time they managed to poo twice on their bed and saturate it with urine. That pretty, pink, fluffy bed is now in the rubbish. No way was it going into my washing machine! Shortly after the family, the woman who rang about Hera on Wednesday arrived with her daughter. They were going to come as soon as a parcel was delivered. It didn't come until 5pm. Hera was not very friendly until I offered her some crunchies. In the meantime the chatty couple met all the other cats available. They have been following the webpage closely and were pleased to meet Apricot's brother Marmelade.

Marmie, of course, is not interested in anybody but Tim. They loved Macey and Mimi because they are so pretty. The daughter especially spent lots of time playing tootsies with Macey. They, eventually, went away to "think about it". They know there are lots of kittens in the pipeline but want a more mature cat for the elderly mum who wants a companion who won't bolt out the door or get underfoot. And Lauren arrived with Miles to adopt one of the cats that she has been fostering. Miles was a great help keeping Mimi/RubyG's kittens inside their condo while I cleaned them.

Even the boy came back from the vet with a collar. (I put them in their carrier cage on Wed morning before being savaged by the littlest). ((My thumb is fine, thank you)). Eventually all the visitors left and I could continue to clean condos. A couple of boarders had play time in the play place. They are big cats so appreciated being able to stretch out.

I cleaned Rita and co. Only the little silver and white tabby is still poorly. The other three are full of beans. I made some towelling cloths to line their hammocks out of left overs from sewing some new hammocks. Being germy from cleaning them up, I left at my usual time.

Home alone

Mini/RubyG's day started early. She and her kittens were due to go to a vet in Manly Vale to be desexed. So that Tim could sleep in, I elected to get to Safe Haven early and drive them there. That went well. I was ready to pop them into a carry cage at 7:15am. But her smallest kitten had other ideas. S/he did not want to go. S/he refused. S/he bit and scratched me S/he ran me around the room. I dripped blood while the rest of the family sat happily in the carry cage. When s/he decided to hide behind Lucky's condo, I decided that we had both had enough. S/he won. I put some food beside this bolt hole. Gradually, I moved it towards Mini's condo. Eventually s/he followed her/his nose and I could close the door behind her/him. (Would it be OK to use "it" for a genderless preposition?) I got to Manly Vale in record time (thankyou lockdown) and they were in the dark. Yesterday's storm had knocked out their power. We decided to leave Mini and co there because the sparkies said that the power would be back by noon. I explained that they had one less kitten to desex today. Later in the morning the vet rang to say that the sparkies wouldn't be able to fix the power until 4pm. So Mini and co will stay overnight and get fixed tomorrow. . . . hopefully. Irene was scheduled to pick them up at 4:30. I emailed Peter to let Irene know but he "never reads his Safe email". So Irene arrived to be told the tale. Fortnately, she said, it was on her way home anyway. She will pick them up tomorrow. In the meantime, I hope the smallest grey kitten doesn't miss its family too much. And that my thumb stops swelling! Apart from that drama, it was the normal, frantically busy day. When Lily is home alone she shreds her corrigated couch.

I noticed that one of Rita's kittens has been playing with scissors. Half of its whiskers are short. The other half are long. How did that happen?

Robyn's news is that Isabella had five kittens on Sunday afternoon while she and hubby went out for a walk! She missed her chance at being midwife. She has changed Isabella's name to Belle because the cat is so loving it is easier to coo Belle to her. Robyn will make up lots of B names for the kittens who are very cute. She has taken at least 100 photos alreaady.

I put Mimi and Macey in the play place this afternoon. Soon thereafter a family arrived to find a kitten. We don't have any. Shadow and Elliot were adopted over the weekend. Everybody else available is bigger. But the family went into the play place and found that Mimi is much friendlier that Macey. Macey eventually learned how to play with them. They may be back, or might hang out for a younger kitten. My computer is 10 years old and suffering from age related obscelence. But I have managed to upload some photos. Would have uploaded more if I had had time to take them.

Wretched man

Didn't come back to adopt Ollie! His loss, of course. Somebody else's gain, eventually. The man who adopted Patchy's PJ and Primrose returned our carrier. When he adopted them he brought a brand new, cloth type carrier and they absolutely freaked out. There was NO WAY they were going to go into that carrier. Makes you wonder what happened to them before they arrived at Safe Haven. They have settled down beautifully with the man and his family. He bought a scratchy pole for them and we gave them two of the free, cardboard house thingies. He said that his wife is keen to get another cat, already!

A young woman arrived with a large amount of almost/just expired kitten food. She has intriguing tattoos and studs in amazing places BUT the kittens let her trim their nails. Even Mini/RubyG let her cuddle her and trim those ferocious nails. All were accomodating except Mini/RubyG's hissy kitten. S/he would not be mauled. S/he escaped and ran in circles until we corraled him/her back into Mum's condo. Because of more food, I was appointed the arranger of the food. On the top shelf: the adult food is on the left, the big kittens in the middle and the 2-4 month kittens food is on the right. On the next shelf is the Baby cat (never enough) and the surplus special diet food. How long will that organisation last? Perhaps until next Wednesday. I took a Xmas photo for next year's calendar:

Cute enough? There have been movements. Dobby and Dolly are in the condo bank between the desk and the front door. Dolly does not look pleased.

Elona, Elliot and Ezra (with a white spot on his nose) have been moved to the main floor. The kittens had a fabulous time in the play place this afternoon. They should be adopted this weekend. If the Northern Beaches are shut down, there will be a rush for our kittens and cats!

And the wild mum plus 1 have moved out of boarding so that the boarders can fit. Need space for Sultan the Magnificant.

Family History

Last Wednesday Joy took photos of RubyG's lovely grey kittens. Today, the woman who rescued them came in with two full shopping bags of food for them. To her, RubyG is Mini.

Mini is the mother of Silky (so the grandmother of Silky's 4 kittens)

and also the mother of Sooky.

I don't know if Sooky is the father of Silky's kittens. So there is a plan, when Silky's and Mini/RubyG's kittens are grown, I will put Sooky, Silky and Mini/RubyG in the play place together to see if they recognise each other. By that time, we hope, the Ra's should be out of the upstairs-downstairs condo. Patchy's Spotty and Tippy have been renamed PJ and Penelope. (Tippy is PJ)

There are three kittens next to the two kittens in ex-Q. They are fraidy cats but we will win them around with Baby Cat. Their next door neighbours already know that we are the good guys.

Our Laurie (ie Lily's Laurie) is in boarding. His new name is Claude not Clawed.

Zelda is back from foster care. Her kittens are enormous and hefty. They will be desexed next week.

Charlie had a go in the play place. He was happy to get back home but will probably like it the next time.

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.