Adoption tails: Miranda Purr

 The previous owner of Miranda Puss rang yesterday to find out how she is getting along. Unfortunately I couldn't check the calendar where that information was because the internet was not connected. I told her that somebody would let her know and texted Irene.

Miranda Purr 773 adopted Oct 14, 2021

Miranda Purr

1 day: Miranda is doing well. She is not scared at all. She has been prancing around her new place getting cuddles from her owner’s sisters.
1 week: Miranda is very affectionate and talkative. She happily sat on her owner’s back the other night.
1 month: Her owner said "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to adopt this bossy girl"  followed by a very cute photo of the two of them.

Bodhi and Tara were adopted the week after her. Theirs is a different story but, we hope, will have a similar outcome eventually.

Bodhi

1 day: Bodhi and Tara are settling in slowly. They hid away for quite a long time but then came out and wandered around in the evening and were happy to be patted and scratched. They are eating and using the litter box.
1 month: The owner finally managed to register Bodhi and Tara in person. They are getting more settled every day. Bodhi is pretty happy but Tara is still very skittish.

Tara

Computer failure

 It is not a long way to the limit of my understanding of computers. When the screen told me that it was running out of battery I jiggled all the wires that I could see, turned it off and back on again. It worked for long enough for me to process Bodhi and Tara's adoption and then turned itself off again. Thank you computer. Tim is sure that he can fix it and that the fault is just the new desk and the new set up on Sunday. The desk is closer to the front door. . . . . just beside the poster with pictures of paralysis ticks. I think I should move that so the our visitors can see it more easily.

Bodhi and Tara were adopted by a couple who fell in love with their photo on our web page. Turns out that they used to have a cat who looked just like them except that he had a mark beside his nose that looked like he had a runny nose. Our Bodhi and Tara do not have that. They are perfect. And behaved perfectly. The husband was sent to "do the deed" because if the wife came "she would have adopted every cat in the shelter". I showed him our other pairs but he was fixated on B & T.

Magnus has gone. . . . . to foster with Fiona. Perhaps to adopt if he gets on well with Windsor. Overnight signs are all good. He will be missed in the shelter. But I must admit that the cleaning gets done quicker when he is not in need of somebody cuddling him while his condo is straightened. Once Fawny gets his eye sorted (he has the same problem as Schnitty had. . . . an in-turned eyelid with the eyelashes scratching his cornea) we will be able to dispense with one vollie per session!

Yesterday afternoon we accepted a 14 year old cat, Kitbells whose owner has been moved into a dementia unit and nobody in the family can take her. She is in shock, of course. But this afternoon when I talked to her (she had not eaten her breakfast) she rolled over so that I could tickle her tummy.

Kitbells

I didn't take up her offer. Even a 14 year old can change her mind in a flash.

Naughty corner is now naughty row. Two of the cats, Max and Gus from Incoming who hid in a carrier in the two story stand alone have been moved there. I expected there to be two cats in the box when I stuck the camera into their condo. Wonder where the other one is hiding?

Max/Gus

Their "mum" Willow is under Tiger, who came out for a chat today, again! Willow does not want to talk to anybody.

Willow

Bigger chickens needed

 I ran out of chicken to share by the time I got to Jet who didn't hiss when offered chicken. We are almost full. There are 12 cats on the website ready to be adopted including 5 bonded pairs.  In anticipation of a VERY busy day tomorrow, I assembled the remaining cat carriers. I have got it down to 3 minutes per carrier which is a huge improvement on my first one which must have taken 25 minutes to get together.

We have two rabbits as well. Tim can't find a vet who is prepared to desex a young bunny so these two sisters (who don't like each other so need to be in separate bunny runs) may be very cheap. [Forgot to take a photo. I will add one next week]

We got a delivery of some street cats including a small kitten whose mother cannot be found. I think s/he is about 5 weeks old (long hair slows them down). Tim thinks 4 weeks. I woke him/her up when I opened the door to take a photo. Katie is to take him/her home to make sure s/he gets fed every 4 hours. My camera calls him/her "unnamed" but I am sure that s/he will have a name by tomorrow. S/he is almost as loud as Suki.

Unnamed

 

Tara and Bodhi still have signs saying that they are both 5 years old. But they are such different sizes. Bodhi is a boy but surely he shouldn't be that much bigger? Neither wanted chicken. ?Bodhi wanted cuddles. ?Tara wanted a place to hide.

? Bodhi

?Tara

Jumi, next door, has got over his shock and is all about the head butts and cuddles. He is a handsome lad (2-3 yo).

Jumi

Below Autumn and Summer (Steph still hasn't chosen their new owner) is Miranda Purr. . . . such a neat name for a beautiful, mature (8yo) tortie.

Miranda Purr

And there is Bibi who didn't want anything, no chicken, no pats, no nothing, thank you.

Bibi

 

And the kitten season hasn't started yet!

Scout went first

I expected a busy afternoon because of the number of calls in the morning about Scout, Latte and Harper who were newly on our webpage. So while the team was doing all the work in the morning, I made sure that they looked clean and neat.

Latte, Scout, Harper (clockwise from the back row)

For most of the morning they were separated one to each level:-- litter level: Latte, lower hammock: Harper, top hammock: Scout. I decided, before 1pm which is OPEN for Adoption time, that I really should know who was Scout and who was Latte. I couldn't find Latte's microchip and he cringed under the lower shelf so that I couldn't run the detector over him properly.

The first folk who came for them were really more interested in something smaller. So the second folk who said "I just fell in love with Scout" adopted him. His new owner is the flat mate/great friend of the woman who adopted Sock some time ago. Sock is doing really well and they think she needs a friend. Scout is it.

The first folk really fell for Summer and Autumn and we sent a message to Steph so that she can approve that adoption. . . . or not. They liked other kittens as well.

The third folk arrived wanting a bonded pair. As they are experienced at fostering shy cats I showed them around all our potentially difficult bonded pairs. And they chose Latte and Harper who, by this time were cuddled together on the top hammock. Latte was so blissed out that I could easily run the microchip detector all over him and found the wretched thing which matched his paperwork. 

We have 70 cats in residence. No boarders. The two who arrived on Friday afternoon have recovered from the shock and horror somewhat. They Puss (B & W) and Scrat (Grey & white) are large armfuls of loving cat.

Puss

Scrat

The play place has been taken over by Leo, a Bengal. He was loud before I fed him but settled well after that. He did enjoy looking out of the window when I put him on the window shelf.

Leo

 

There are a pair of kittens under Snitty. I have only seen one. Catsie, who cleaned them, assured me that there are two squeezed into the scratchy pole.

Tinker and/or Mayka

And sad Jumi is near Tara and Bodhi who are both supposed to be 5 years old but one is twice the size of the other.

Jumi

 

Tomorrow will be a beaut

People keep ringing or emailing about adopting this or the other kitten and making a date to come tomorrow. Tim will be busy. I pottered happily on my "animal behaviour" duties this afternoon. I cleaned empty carriers, refilled empty spray bottles, fed the littles, handed out cooked chook. Then my lovely Chinese couple who want a companion for Salt arrived. They had a good cuddle with Douglas who was relaxed in their arms. We almost got his paperwork out when I remembered that she wanted a fluffy kitten. When they were at Safe on Wednesday, Skylar's fluffy brothers were at the vet being desexed. (She was sent back, unfixed because she was less than 1Kg in weight. Long haired kittens put more energy into growing hair than putting on weight). I mentioned these boys. They looked. She fell in love. We then had to figure out who was boy and who was Skylar which wasn't very difficult because the boys had shaved nether regions and she didn't. They chose Socks whom we only identified by his michrochip number.

Instead of bits of BBQ'd chook I had given them cat milk earlier which they had all enjoyed.

The adoption was done. I hope Salt enjoys his new brother. While I was busy cuddling kittens with them (such a hard job!) Tim dealt with a bloke who wanted an older long haired cat also. I think he wants a pedigreed cat at our price! There are new cats including Sabrina, Oscar, Luna (another one!) and Rosie (yet, another one) who seem quite tame. They are where Tara was. Tara is doing well. She ate the meat that was bought especially for her.

The three big kittens under Gracie (the grouch) are quite shy. They wouldn't each chicken but did lap a littl milk. Cooper and Chloe are the grey tuxedos and Lily is the tabby. But should she be called Cily instead? Her stripes are very dramatic in good light.

As is drinking

In his excitement to get a bit of BBQ chicken this afternoon, Magnus knocked over his (full) water bowl. Perhaps he was trying to wash the salty-ness of BBQ chicken down. His downstairs floor was flooded. I don't think it diminshed his enthusiasm for chicken. The bandage on the end of his tail is off. He went to Dr Chris to have it looked at. All is well. The eye needs a specialist appointment. But before that, when I arrived, before touching any fluey cats, I wanted to give Tara lots of love. She hasn't been eating her crunchies and only eats her wet food slowly. So I took the brush to her which she thoroughly enjoyed. She even let me brush her tail (which had knots) and purred throughout. We had a lovely time. She wouldn't eat a bit of chicken that I gave to her as a "thanks for the cuddle" but, I noticed that she had eaten it when I came back later. I came back because a young, red headed couple came in looking for a kitten. They work from home so want somebody to be a lap cat and play thing. We have a lot of cats available at the moment. Olsen/Olsanne is available as are Candy and Collette (but not on the website yet).

I can't get a photo of them together because Candy doesn't like Collette and Collette is more interested in running than people. Starmoon is available. And Amber, Opal and Jet will be up soon. I think they need to be separated to be "humanised".

Bridie isn't, yet. But she is prepared to have pats, and chicken.

The young couple looked at everybody. They liked Christopher until we got to Tara who turned on her purr and charmed them. They think that she sounds like a frog. Of course, they have to get permission from the strata body to have a cat. The landlord is willing. They know that Tara will sulk for weeks, if not months, at the change of venue. But it looks good to me. I put Mia and Bella in the play place. They rather liked it. . . Mia more than Bella. But the liking was associated with chicken and cat milk. Mia was easy to take back to her newly redecorated wheely but Belle had to be extracted somewhat forcefully from her hidey hole. They are to go as a bonded pair. Perhaps a dependent pair would be a better description.

Six de sex ed

I packaged up six kittens at 8:30 am to be whisked off (by Terry) to various vets to be desexed this morning. There was the beautiful bengal-ish kitten of Lillian,

the three H kittens below Salt and Pepper, Leaf (the luscious lone kitty) and Sunny of Mum + 1 out back whom we named Sunny because we didn't know whether it was a boy or a girl. Turns out he is a boy so can perhaps be renamed Sonny. Irene delivered them back shorty before 6 pm. They were all hungry except for Su/onny. At that stage of the day I wasn't prepared for him to decide to eat in his carrier. I put him back in with his food and his mum. And his mum ate his food. She is a bit of a bossy boots. While I did that, Irene took the opportunity to give Peggy some love.

Earlier in the day, Peggy thought that I was Irene and smooched up to my hand. She then realised her mistake and backed off smartly. I was prepared to be friendly but Peggy has definite preferences. Not like Salam who is anybody's friend. See how much better his eye looks.

The woman who rescued the kittens closest to the door rang to ask after them. They have been desexed and should be ready to adopt sooner. She said that she "kissed them 50 times each day, gave them baths, played with them, loved them". They certainly replay her love to anybody who opens their door.

As opposed to Tara who was adopted over the weekend. Went to her new home. And would not eat. She was returned yesterday. And did not eat overnight. But she did eat something today after I cooed to her and she purred back to me. Some cats need a "no return until 1 month of trying" clause.

Chicken magic

We need to make a recording of Tara's purr. It is distinctively lovely. Anybody who heard it would be prepared to take the probable months that she needs to settle into a new home. Dobby thought my finger was part of the chicken treat and bit down on it, hard. Luckily it was the finger next to the one that I sliced while cutting up the chicken. Having bandaids on consequitive fingers took me back to childhood. Suki loved her chicken. She is actually putting on weight and growing so much hair that it needed a brush. I found the softest one I could because she must still hurt from all her weight loss. She doesn't scream so loud since Gracie moved to quarantine corner. This seems successful now that there is a sheet of cardboard behind her wheely to stop the escaped kittens (from both sides) running under the cage. Peggy liked her chicken until I got too friendly and she swiped at me. Luckily she missed or I would have had a slash to match Tim's cheek. (More later). The chicken worked magic on Rosie who actually stood up, got out of her igloo, wanted to be stroked and made loving eyes at me. She has forgotten, perhaps that she is heartbroken at being abandonned with us and will give love for chicken.

Tim's cheek was the take off point for the back legs of a kitten who is (probably with a friend) in the condo above the computer. I didn't see inside because they have a modesty cloth. Next door to them are three tuxedo kittens (black and white is definitely the colour of 2020/21). I think we got them by mistake but they look sweet.

Tim weighted kittens to work out a desex schedule. He doesn't like the naming part of this job so Katy and I helped. Katy had brilliant ideas for names. I have forgotten them but Tim wrote them all on a bit of paper . . . . . .

Not happy

When I arrived at about 10 to 10, Cass was already in action out front and Tim had taken some cats to the vet. He had fed the mums and bubs before he left but everybody else was STARVING. It was making Cass's job hard because even the nicest cats were cranky. So I fed them all and peace reigned. Then he came back to report that Lilly and her L's have the ringworm. Willow's worm corner has been reinstated with the kittens two by two in the little condos and Lilly in a wheely cage facing them. Don't think she likes to be so far away from the source of the food.

The good news is that Lucia's kittens have been passed as ringworm free. So they were moved to the other wheely cages as all are now available. Lucia was overwhelmed even though I picked the prettiest sheet for her cage cover. Even the boys were imobilized by the change. That won't last long. Neither will they. One has already been bagsed.

Steph delivered her four cats back into our tender loving care. The girls immediately rearranged their bedding to make a hidey hole. Venus is under the covers while Petal waits her turn.

I cleaned out Lilly & Lucia's condos. That took some time and lots of wiggling, on my part. Malley was entertained.

He will move as soon as he has been vet checked into Edward's condo who moved to Waffle's condo because she got adopted! Tara was out being desexed. I checked on the mamma cat and she was attending her kittens and was not happy to see me either!

The Young Ones

All Willow's kittens have now been adopted. As well as the last two (Harold and Hayley) of Harriet's. And Bowie  . . . . of course, as he was the littleist. Leonard and Larry (Lucia's kittens) are still in quarantine with the ringworm. They are full of energy. One was chasing his tail so energetically that he fell off the shelf.
Another photo missed was when one of Lily's kittens climbed onto her back for a piggyback.
Bosely is everybody's favourite. . . . he is the boss-cat.

Bosley

Poor Angus had to put up with hammering from next door or above today. It put him off his breakfast.

Angus

Adam and Eve were not getting on in a condo together. So they are in separate, but adjacent, wheely cages. Adam is much more interactive and engaging. Eve is more reserved.

Adam

Eve

 Morty looks good with pink.

Morty

Milky just looks good. He is a honey of a cat.

Milky

But Tara still doesn't want to know. . . . anybody.

Tara