Adoption Tails: Tibby and Tabby

 Tibby and Tabby

1 day: They are doing well. They came out from under the bed to explore after a couple of hours. They have used the litter tray, drank and eaten. They will be keeping their names.

1 week: “They have made themselves right at home”

1 week

1 month: Tibby and Tabby are doing well.

1 month

 

Not yet

 The bins have not been delivered yet.

But this afternoon the woman who adopted Tibby and Tabby on Wednesday brought back the carrier that I loaned to transport them. ( I was not prepared for them to decide that they would put off adopting the cats because they didn't bring a carrier with them!) I, momentarily, didn't recognise her. She looked younger and happier. She said that Tibby and Tabby are still a little shy but are settling in well and are delightful.

Lola had an adventure yesterday. She has been allowed out at the end of the day to explore "Opies Room". Somehow, the Thursday person locked that door. When Geoff arrived on Thursday rather than on Friday he found Lola missing. And learned that she was locked in Opies room. So he climbed through one of the moveable tiles in the passageway ceiling, wiggled through the ceiling space, dropped down into Opies room so he could let Lola out and back to her stand alone for her dinner and medication. She is on thyroid meds which come in the form of a cream to be applied to alternate ears. I discovered this afternoon when doing the night feed, that she will only let you touch her ear if there is something particularly delicious in her dish. 

There are a new pair of cats on Better Row: Tori and Mabel. Where did they come from? Horrid photo with a flash because they hide.

Tori and Mabel

But, for some reason, Hana was out this afternoon. She needs to be brushed. That is the next big challenge!

Hanna

Mothers Day was having a preview this afternoon. A father and daughter arrived to check out the cats to find one who would go with their whimpy dog. Ginger George wouldn't have any problem with a dog.

GG trying to look innocent on the filing cabinet where the treats were stashed

 

Then a mum with her two teenaged daughters arrived to look for a cat. They liked Ginger too. And Maeve. So tomorrow might just be busy.

New bins

 Tim has organised a new rubbish collection for a twice weekly pick up of the garbage: 2 bins for this. And one bin for cardboard waste. Hurrah. Except that the bins didn't arrive as promised yesterday, or today. Perhaps tomorrow!

We comforted ourselves by adopting cats.

A couple arrived at 5 to 11 to adopt Delilah who was in a foster home in Hornsby. She arrived at 5 past 11. 

Then a lady arrived to look for a cat to replace her older cat who recently died. She had picked out Libby, Ginger George and Max from the web page. She met them all but didn't click until she met Maeve who was delighted to meet somebody who was prepared to give her all the attention that she wants.

At that stage another couple (mother and daughter) arrived looking for a pair of cats. I showed them the usual suspects and they fell under the spell of Tibby and Tabby. The mum said that her daughter really needed somebody to love. Perfect! And the mum is a doctor. Perfecter! And they live in a small apartment with no stairs. Perfectest! Done deal.

Then my friend Liz arrived to get a pair of cats. She wanted somebody that she could pick up.

Ginger George likes to be picked up

But who to pair him with? After introducing her to Vivienne and Calvin, the job was done. Her grandson will be delighted. As will her husband. (Thanks for the photos Robyn).

Calvin and Vivienne

Calvin and Vivienne's stand alone was cleaned for Hank and Princess. The sign says that you can get to the litter tray through the door on the side of the stand alone. Princess just came back from the vet.

 And Chia and kittens moved into Tibby and Tabby's condo.

Meanwhile the lady who loved Maeve, moved on to Maisy and fell deeper in love with her. She will be back on Saturday to adopt her. So much for wanting an older cat! It was mutual and irresistible.

Maisy

Meanwhile, in Incoming, I asked if the stand alone by the door had been cleaned this morning. Katie and Tim assured me that it was and that one of the torties there loves to play with water and flip the wet litter all over the place. What a grub. Her sisters are not impressed.

It was you

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

Tummy rubs

 The parvo load is lifting at Safe Haven. Arc took the Royal Canin stand alone out into the corridor, took it to pieces, scrubbed it, disinfected it multiple times and reassembled it. It has never looked so good.

I shared some chicken this afternoon which made the cats happy.  Ruby and her little jewels are in the Palace and Max was in the play place. And some were allowed, separately in the Top Cat constrained area. Tibby and Tabby were allowed out to "run" first. Tabby has lost balance by being confined. Then Phantom had a "run". He too does better with regular exercise. Then Ginger George was allowed out because he has been grumpy. He had a lovely time visiting all his condo mates.

Bassuria extending a paw to Ginger George

He played with his toys like a kitten (with a short attention span).

And he sat at my feet wanting head rubs.

Ginger George

Another who wanted rubs was Milo. When he first arrived he hid (sulked) on the bottom of his stand alone. After a week he sat there. On Wednesday he has made it to the lower shelf. Today he was in the triangular hammock so I put in a square hammock near the top of his stand alone, hoisted him into it and he became the friendliest cat ever! Rolled over and invited me to tickle his tummy! Couldn't get enough cuddles. What a change!

Marvelous Milo

The Secret room has been vacated. I understand that this is our TV.

GGG is back

 Georgous Ginger George is back. Somebody in the family is allergic to cats. He was grumpy today. He swiped at (and damaged) a vollie. But when I went later to tell him how pleased I was to see him, he forgave me and let me take off the collar, with a bell and fluorescent stripes. He is happier now. 

Gorgeous Ginger George

And he has Salazar for a neighbour two doors up, Mia below, Rosie and Callie coming out of seclusion below left.

Rosie and Callie (in front)

There are new cats too. Couldn't get a photo of Charlie and Champ as they were hiding in their carrier. Don't know where Simon, Alvin and Ruby (the mum) came from. They are sticking together in the smallest space in what used to be Rebel's condo. Perhaps his grumpy aura lingers!

Simon, Alvin, Ruby

 Sydney has gone to foster with one of our fabulous vollies.

The wobbly scratchy pole in the Top Cat has been replaced by another of the humungous cat trees that sits by the front door. It fills the Top Cat and is a bit cumbersome to maneuver. But if you slide it around and put it close to the condo doors after opening them and then quickly put the Top Cat frame around it before the cat in the condo makes a bolt for it. . .  it works a treat.

Chika did come out when TDs tempted

The wobblers enjoyed it while it was in the middle before dinner time.

Tibby and Jolene at play

NB: If you let Phantom out while Tibby and Tabby's condo is open, put the food onto the upper level. He is not supposed to eat anything by ZD and Tabby sometimes leaves some crunchies for later.

And there are new big kittens in the "Meet and Greet" Stand alone. Didn't take note of their names. They are more friendly with other cats than with people.

Phantom and phrends

 

Chanel died of parvovirus earlier this week. So we are anxiously watching all the cats for symptoms. 

Late in the afternoon a very nice man came to adopt Aladdin and Jafar. Unfortunately, Aladdin had been adopted the day before. He really wanted two more male kittens to go with his male kitten at home (!) I tried to convince him that a girl kitten would be a good idea but he adopted Jafar and has taken him home. He will be back for another boy kitten when one is available.

At Last

 The verandah is empty. When I arrived at 10am the garbage men had not yet come. So I rushed to get the last bags from the verandah out to the bins. But there weren't any there. Helen came yesterday and took away a car full. When I went out at 1pm to collect our bins, they hadn't been emptied yet. So I rushed back to get all the morning's full bags to add to the bins. So the verandah and both bins were still empty when I left! (The bins were emptied some time in the afternoon). How good it that! And a car load of litter was delivered.

Empty

Jolene has been moved to the main cattery. We let her out for a bit of exercise this afternoon. She mostly hid under the shelves at the end but when Tabby and Tibby were let out too, she couldn't resist investigating their condo. Tabby was more interested in getting food out of Vicky. But Tibby inspected the visitor.

Jolene meets Tibby

This was all watched with interest by the other cats especially the supermodels who are getting to be big girls.

Helena and Kate

Also new in the Welfare area is Leon. I will find out why he isn't in Incoming on Friday. He certainly looks older than 2 years old or he has had a very rough time so far.

Leon

On Sunday there will be a big fuss made of Midnight because he was our 1000th adoption. Don't know if Pumpkin was 999 or 1001. Neither do I know if she is coming with her son and person to have photos taken, etc for posterity.

Biggest donation ever

 When I arrived at half past noon, it was not the usual state of mayhem. Two of the trainees didn't come at the last minute: one had covid (thanks for staying away) and the other had a house inspection (good idea to stay home). A woman looked lost so I asked if I could help. She explained that she came to look at Archie whom she might foster from next weekend if he doesn't get adopted in the meantime.

Archie

She has to set up things at home. She might bring in her housemate to meet him during the week. I said that we would put a carrier in his condo that he can hide in and make the transition easier.

Then a man came to adopt a kitten from a foster home. This is the second cat he has had from us so he was in the system and he knows the routine. It was the quickest, smoothest adoption that I have done. 

Then a woman came in with a humongous donation. Arc had to go down to get a trolley-load of stuff three times. There is a teetering tower of clumping litter in the junk room. If you use it, please take a box. Or tell your fosterers to come and get a box or two. There was lashings of food in boxes and bags. I got so confused trying to find space for it all that I added a pair of boarders food to the general pile. Luckily Tim sorted that out. The lady benefactor was shown around by Tim and Katie.

Then a woman came in, scantily clad, to adopt a kitten from a fosterer. She had the kitten with her because it needed a shot. Tim attended to her. (It seemed to take much longer than my adoption earlier.)

Rosanna has devised a new way of using the Top Cat. Geoff approves. Tabby and Tibby had a lovely time playing there with Amber. Later Helena and Kate wandered around. In the meantime Ginger George had been let out to wander and his condo door was left open. H & K both went in and rolled on his bedding. Won't he have a surprise when he is put back!

Open top Top Cat

George loves to plop in front of me

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.

Yuki adopted this morning

 Which leaves Chi Chi all alone in the condo. And already she is out of the carry case and eating chicken out of Rosanna's fingers! Yuki must have been dominating her.

And Lumi has gone from his foster home. Being a rag doll, even though a short haired rag doll, he didn't last long on the list.

And Archie is at Safe Haven rather than being in a foster home. He looked glum this afternoon.

Archie

Ginger (George) had a couple of wanders this afternoon. 

Ginger's late wander

 Earlier Beans was in a collapsible carrier on his way back from the vet. He had an eye removed and was looking quite sorry for himself until Ginger George wandered over and introduced himself gently. Beans is now where Margot was . . . on top of Joni and her four boys. (I was wrong. She is Joni (Mitchell) not Tina (Turner). But Katie has claimed "Tina" for the next wild child who comes in.)

It is a pity that Dexter never seems to get a turn. Even Opie had a go. and he was easy to entice back into his stand alone with TD's.

Dexter

I asked after Nancy's Sid who went to a foster home. It seems that he left the building quite soon afterwards and hasn't been seen much since. Wonder if he compares escape stories with Romeo?

I  am sure that the morning vollies cleaned Tibby and Tabby's condo this morning. But I also cleaned it  this afternoon. . . . twice. Tabby sure knows how to wreck the joint! She is also equipped with 20 very sharp claws that go in all directions. Rosanna required bandaging when she picked up Tabby. I tried to wrap her in a cloth to trim her nails and got slashed as well. We have decided that the vet can trim her nails when she is under anaesthetic next week to be desexed. We will just have to keep them short.

A scrappy afternoon

 I forgot to take a bar of soap for the downstairs lady's loo. I will bring one on Friday. But I did meet a woman in the lift who was looking for the fabulous sale of silken garments that she had on her phone. The address was unit 16, 30-32 Barcoo. That is the Aus Silk place at the other end of our corridor. I told her to come get a cat if she had any money left. She didn't come.

Over the weekend Pluto was adopted and three kittens from foster homes, Cleo, JJ and Pippy.

We have a new mum (herself a kitten) and her four kittens (3 boys and 1 girl). They are in the play place. All very friendly.

Sue with new babies

I was too busy to take more photos because Barb Webster and her carer visited. Barb wanted to cuddle all the kittens. Tiger and Penwing were the most cuddly ones.

Penwing and Barb

 

Barb and the Play Place girl

Barb enjoyed the wobbly cats Tabby and Phantom who performed for her. 

Tiger smooched

 I will add some old photos. And I added Lucy to the Adoption Tail of last week that featured her bother Eric.

Hero in Incoming is still shy

Mickey is still pissed off

Gia has moved to Pluto's stand alone. Her hammock is uneven. I didn't have time to fix it.

Chester has moved to Taylor's condo on Naughty Row. We will have to change the name soon.

Strangly enough, Barb's carer has a black cat call Mia who is a bit of a tyrant also.