Betty not so well

 At 3:15 she was OK. But by 4 pm there were 2 big vomits and 2 skinny poos. Plus the kittens bedding was wet. So I changed it all. There was a little chicken left for her tummy.

One of Pickles kittens was adopted today: Caper, the champagne medium haired one. Sue did the adoption. . . .. and had the same problem with the program that I often have. I call on Tim to "fix" it which he invariably does by pressing "reset". Sue did the same, twice, and it worked. Cranky computers!

So now Pickles only has 4 kittens. I changed the signs on her condo in Isolation just in case somebody, over the weekend got into a panic about a missing kitten. These are the four left. Their names are Brine, Cucumber and some other picklish names.

I don't know who is who. And am not prepared to open the door to take a photo because they are all crazy to get out.

Tinkerbell is on the website. Has been all day without being adopted. What is wrong with them out there!

I was a bit late and all the work had been done. I had to go home at lunch time to see to my cat who has a urinary blockage problem which is not uncommon in boy cats. He had surgery yesterday and I wanted him at home to recover so I borrowed a cat cage from Bronwen. She reports that Max is fine. I didn't get to see him although he was just outside. His favourite sleeping place in hot weather is in their basin in the en suite. Thelma and Louise were hiding so the only critters I saw were the two madly barking alsatian dogs. I might get to see Max when I return the cat cage.

Thelma and Louise adopted

A young couple came today because she fell in love with them on our website. And she is a twin just like they are. I hope they will be very happy. But Venus and Muffin missed their upstairs mates when I pushed the Top Cat up to their condo this afternoon.

Where are they?

 

This was after Luna tried to find a way out of the Top Cat.

Got to be a hole here.

I had moved the Top Cat away from Jane's condo (still upstairs). Geoff positioned it there because Jane had climbed up to the top of the condos and was looking anxious about how to get down. She couldn't figure out a way of getting back into her new condo via the Top Cat. So I wheeled up Yuki, in her stand alone and Jane found a way home.

I can jump down from here

Geoff installed the rope wrapped pole prototype in Prue and Trude's enclosure. They weren't pleased at the attention and hated the drill noise. They hadn't tried the pole when I left. 

Geoff couldn't stay because he has been called to fire duty in Cessnock. He shouldn't be there too long. He has 4 more poles to wrap and install.

There are strange things happening to the Morten Bay Fig tree outside our balcony.

Furnishing the new enclosures

 Two cats need two hammocks. So I added one to Logan and Angus's condo.

Slow adopters

And to Trude and Prue's enclosure.

Trude and Prue understand "one each"

Blossom and her kittens didn't have one. So far, they don't know what to do with it.

Cherry and Peanut prefer the bench (Mum Blossom on floor)

And I wasn't quite brave enough to put one in Mia's enclosure. She'd had enough of this changing houses malarky.

Mia

 I also moved all the litter trays to the front of the enclosures because when the cats dig, with enthusiasm, the litter goes everywhere including out of the enclosures. If the litter tray is at the back, that means there is litter behind them which is difficult to clean up.

Pickles had her babies (5, I think) over the weekend. I installed a hammock for her to give her a roof to her box bed. She must have had the babies in her previous hammock because it is in the box.

Pickles plus newborns

 We left Lola in charge when the storm drove us home.

Lola

She can visit with Thelma and Louise who will have a night in the Top Cat (sounds like a glamorous club)

Thelma and Louise

Dexter is back

 He was adopted around Christmas last year having arrived at Safe in September, 22. Everything was going well until his owner had to move back home with mum. Mum has a spadoodle. Dexter took him on. The dog ended up at the vets. Not a happy family.

Dexter

He is wearing a collar on Better Row. As are two big cats who are in Incoming. They came from the local "pound" which is full to bursting point. They seem sweet, although shell shocked.

I gave Thelma and Louise a go in the top cat this afternoon. Louise ventured out but Thelma (the dark tortie) stayed in the bed box. She was the more outgoing when they were on Better Row. 

Louise looking

Later Venus and Muffin had a turn. Only one came out again.

And Lola wouldn't come out even though I pulled up a scratchy pole to make the jump easier.

Lola staying put, silently

Then my camera battery ran out of battery. But I did manage to take some shots of Champ and Charlie cuddled up together in bed with the Safe mobile phone for Vicky to use for their joint profile.

Talking of the phone: the wall phone rang twice. Then the mobile rang. A woman wanted to find the stairs to bring us a donation of two large, lidded litter trays. Her two Tonkinese cats recently died, of old age and she is very sad. I had to go down the stairs to guide her up to us. She tried to donate the litter boxes that look good as new, to various pet shops in the area and they directed her to us. I imagine she will be back now that she knows how to avoid the lift.

Photo pairs

Joy spent time today trying to get good photos of our paired cats. The new website only has one photo per cat or pair of cats. So it is important to have a good photo.

Thelma and Louise

Mable and Tori

The R cats in the Palace

Kate and Helena

It is impossible to get a good photo of Arlo and Annie. He is either sitting on top of her or she is behind him or squashed on the self below. Vicky took videos of me giving him a good cuddle to prove that he is an affectionate cat. All I can say is that he has very sharp claws. This was after a worm was discovered in their litter box and before they got a worming pill each. He is 5.2 Kg. Check the FB page.

I got a photo of Venus and Muffin who both came out into the Top Cat eventually.  Not up to Joy's standard!

Muffin and Venus

The bolder of the two came out first and was interested to meet Jagger (who kept looking up to his old condo as though he wanted to jump back there but he went into the supermodels condo instead.)

Reluctant Louise

 Now we know who is who of Thelma and Louise who have been on Better Row for months. They are ready to be adopted and have been moved to Leon's condo. Thelma (the friendly tortie) was no trouble to move. Louise escaped to under the food shelves. She came out from under for chicken. Gradually I enticed her back into her condo and put the carrier in there just in case she fell for that old trick. No way. When Tim tried to grab her she escaped to under the food shelves again.

We let her settle down and did something else. 

Eventually she was in a place where Tim could grab her with the big blue gloves. She managed to bite through the gloves to his finger. 

We let her settle down and did something else.

Then she escaped into the main room behind Sparky's stand alone. We encouraged her to move towards her new condo. Eventually while she was looking at me in front of her, Tim grabbed her from behind and hoisted her up into her condo. She fell into Thelma's arms. 

It may take her a while to trust us again. Chicken will help.

Thelma and Louise moved

 

Davo was not trouble to move below Billy. He was having a lovely play just before I snapped this photo.

Davo

 Astra and Zaria who were in Davo's condo are now in the stand alone by the filing cabinet with Roman.

Lola has another new position. This one has a bankie. She looks like she is winking at me but I think she has a sore eye.

Lola

I learned Hugo's history. He was a street cat who had trouble breathing. A pair of kind souls took him to a vet who discovered that he had a diaphragmatic hernia. . . . ie a hole in his diaphragm which let his guts move into his chest. The vet operated. The incision was from pubic bone to breast bone. His innards were put back where they were supposed to be and he was sewn up. The two kind souls paid the astounding vet bill but didn't have anyway to keep him. So we took him. 

He LOVES chicken.

Ahchoo, choo, choo

 The flu train has come to Safe. When I arrived this morning to do the early feed, Maggies boys in the stand alone by the filing cabinet were sneezing in chorus. I wheeled them into isolation. Before I left, with Tim's agreement, I folded down Adele's crate and moved them against the wall. There is a new cat in the opposite stand alone but I don't know her story. Blossom and her kittens seem to be recovering from their flu and have finished their meds.

Lola joined me in the foyer from Opie's room where she spent the night. Good thing to be out of sneezing range. She hopped back into her stand alone enticed by a pot of grass.

Sidney and his condo mates are sneezing. The R kittens in the Palace are sneezing. Kat is sneezing, Thelma and Louise are sneezing. Good thing everybody has been vaccinated.

Sydney was adopted by a woman who checked with her flat's agent if it would be OK to have a cat. He said it would be fine. She already has a dog. But the owner said that she couldn't have a cat. So Sydney came back. In the meantime Ainsley, who has fostered Sydney for the past ?9 months, took Shadow home in the hopes of getting rid of his skin condition. This morning when I left early to take DH to the eye doc, Ainsley was cuddling with Sydney so that the vollie could clean around her. Sydney never has liked strangers.

Lyra was adopted on Monday too.

Lyra

Third time lucky?

 For Max!

Max

This afternoon Bron came in to do the paperwork on Thelma and Louise the two cats who were surrendered by Robyn's mother-in-law and whom Bron has fostered for the past year or so. After we did their paperwork she said "and I can take another needy cat, or two. I run a retirement house for difficult cats". Tim suggested Max and mentioned his personality traits. "Fine" says Bron! Max was popped into a carrier, covered with a towel and we did his paperwork too. She adopted him. 

He will love living in her backyard in a spacious shed with lots of windows and a screened porch. The kids will play in the yard and pool. There are lots of ibis and other birds to watch as they live on the water. They have a new German Shepherd to play with their older German Shepherd. And I will be able to see him when I walk past on my morning walk! 

I wonder how long it will be before he is living in the house with them, just supervising. . . .  everything.

A young couple came to look for a friendly kitten as first time cat owners. Don't know why they didn't fall for Pixie who relaxed in their arms. She is the only available single at Safe (apart from  Lyra and I don't like the look of the spot by her right eye). I suspect that they had looked at the web page and spotted Marguerite who is grey. So I gave them Irene's addy and they will visit foster homes.

I could have suggested Jagger but he was hiding out in Rosie's carry cage. As soon as his condo door was opened to let him wander this afternoon, he shot next door to Rosie and Callie's condo and went straight into the carrier. I think he misses Ronnie. I think Callie misses being number one kitten in Rosie's life.

Rosie sheltering Jagger

 

Callie

At about ten to four, as I was starting the evening feeds out back, I could hear cooing coming from the main cat room. A young, female in biking gear complete with a helmet was cooing at the cats. No other people around. She was talking simultaneously with her mum by phone (in Cantonese). They are about to move somewhere where they can have a cat. They want a really friendly cat. Just one. Most of our cats are paired at the moment (except Pixie. But I decided that Terry needs Pixie to keep his adoption numbers up for tomorrow). Besides she didn't notice Pixie. I introduced her to the friendly kittens from the fabulous fosterer who have yet to be desexed and she will return when they are ready. If I hadn't hustled her out the door she would still be there, cooing at cats.

Ruby RIP

 It was noticed that Ruby was breathing with difficulty yesterday so she was taken to the vet instead of the three C's in the play place who are overdue to be desexed. When Dr Chris examined her he found a lump in her abdomen, had trouble with the anesthetic so X-rayed her to find that her lungs were riddled with cancer. The abdominal mass was cancerous as well. It was kindest to put her to sleep. We can console ourselves with the thought that her time with us must have been sweet compared to life on the streets. And her son Simon is safely adopted.

Ruby in March

Fluffy went to the vet too as he was thought to be sluggish on Thursday and Robyn's friend wanted to adopt him. He came back with a clean bill of health. And Robyn and her friend Kathy came this afternoon to adopt him and Little Monster. (I have such an aversion to that name that I can never remember it. I had to check Shelter Buddy just now and I did the adoption this afternoon!) I think Kathy should change her name to Monica and his name to Flavian.

Kathy bought two harness with leads so that "Monica" can get out for walks and so that "Flavian" doesn't miss out either. To demonstrate/try out the ones for sale, I put one on Ginger George who was sitting on one of our two visitor chairs, supervising the adoption (Robyn had to sit on the poof). 

Ginger George's chair

He graciously allowed me to harness him and obediently walked out through the door into Incoming and back to his chair. What a star!

Robyn sent photos just now to show how well they are settling in:

"Monica" on Kathy's lap and "Flavian" finding his comfort zone

An hour and a half later she has "taken over the house":

A granny came to do the paperwork for Pavarotti who is in foster. I shut the granddaughter in the play place with the C kittens while we did the deed. She needed to be pried out of there when we finished. He will be a happy cat.

Robyn's photos are from Wednesday (as I forgot to take any today). She had time to take them while Kathy was falling in love with "Monica" and "Flavian".

Thelma and Louise (R to L or L to R)

Billy (chanelling chicken)

l

Bassuria and Julie

More ringworm

 Maggie and her kittens may have it. How did that happen?

They have been removed from the play place and installed, by Ark, into the Royal Cannin stand alone in Isolation. No more rocketting out at meal times to run like maniacs up and down the aisles.

I scrubbed, bleached and fogged the fungi out of the Play Place. Some Incoming cats where having a play there when I left.

A customer arrived with her husband. Her previous cat was a client of Dr Kim so she was fascinated to visit. Her name was Sue and when I introduced myself as Prue it took her right back to Kath and Kim days. She wants a cat who will be just like the previous one (always a mistake) and who will sit by her side as she works from home, help her do jigsaw puzzles and escort her around the garden, in fine weather. Ginger George is a no brainer. She liked him, and Gemini, and Maeve, and Ruby and Maria. She is going to think about it overnight. So you might have a customer tomorrow, Terry. The husband is the strong silent type who will go along with whatever she decides.

Davo was named after the Davidson Fire Rescue team. Geoff and he get on really well together. He won't let anybody else touch him. Geoff may be off to Canada in 10days to help with the continuing forest fires there. It seams that the peat bogs are still burning as well as the forests. He will be there for 5 weeks if he goes. (He won't be allowed to go if he throws another ringworm lession).

Can't imagine how I managed to stay so busy that I didn't think of taking any photos. Random photos: 

Thelma and Louise enjoyed their chicken. They are getting friendlier by the week.

Thelma and Louise

Melody lets Tim pat her.

Melody

And one of the Friday vollies is in love with Hanna who rather likes her too. They share treats and coos.

Lola will follow the sent of chicken for any distance. (And scream for seconds until I leave.)

Lola

Grass is greener

 When it is on the other side of the fence.

Simon

Notice that he is outside the area that usually contains him. To get him back to where he belonged, I lifted the tray of well chewed grass over the fence.

Kate and Simon

And Kate came out of her condo to try some. She usually stays inside while Helena roves around looking for any dishes that might have some left over breakfast in the open condos.

Helena, I think

Virgo has moved to where Coco and her sisters were, next door to Chia. Coco and one of her sisters (Muffin) were adopted over the weekend. The last sister, the shyest one, Venice, is above Thelma and Louise on Better Row. She spent the entire day in her litter box. No way was she moving out of it to let us clean it, or to eat breakfast, or dinner. She is Miserable without her siblings.

Venice

Maggie and her five have moved into the play place. They like it and are masters of the big, ring thing already. While I cleaned their area, Maggie forgot herself and rubbed up against my legs. And at early dinnertime her fluffy tuxedo was so jealously guarding a small toy, growling away his brothers and sisters, that he missed out on dinner. I told Tim who offered to give them a second dinner later.

Maeve returns

 Geoff brought her back. He dismantled the chest of drawers that she was hiding behind, sat beside her quietly for a little while, picked her up and put her in his small carrier. The woman who adopted her is in hospital with a cat bite. She has had lots of experience with cats, possums and bandicoots but has never been bitten before. 

By Maeve! 

Our purrball Maeve! 

Perhaps Maeve really wanted to be back with us and this was the only way she could manage it.

Maeve

Geoff decided that some of the back cats should have a wander while he did the feeds tonight as the usual suspects had a fine time out this afternoon. Maxwell was out in front. He settles down on top of Ginger George's stand alone after a short stretching walk.

Maxwell

Thelma and Louise ventured out but popped back into their condo when anybody approached.

Thelma and Louise

I really must find out who is who.

Geoff was going to give Pearl a wander as well as she is food motivated. Ginger Meggs is still not interested. There are two new cats on the other side of Gingi: Little Monster and Fluffy. No prizes for guessing who is who in this bonded pair!