Long termers moving

 Today a woman came to adopt Willow. She left her thoroughly self-rubbed-over T-shirt in Willow's bed for the cat to get used to her smell. She will pick her up tomorrow afternoon and take her home to her very own room, etc, etc. Willow is just like the cat they used to have, so they want to reproduce their happy days. I hope Willow will fill the gap.

And I brought home Toby. Luckily Irene's husband Peter (aka the cat wrangler) arrived just as Irene failed to get Toby into a carrier. Peter practiced on all our difficult cats in the move from East Roseville to Mona Vale. Toby is now in his own room, with a view of the table that I have trained birds to come to for almonds. He will have his own "cat TV". Otherwise it is very quiet here and that will probably suit him. After being enclosed in a small condo for about a year he will need to learn to jump and run.

Joy's photo of Toby in April

 

Cathy and Heathcliffe went to be desexed today. Poor Cathy was off her face on pain meds this evening.

Cathy on her feet

Cathy rolled over

 

The bloke who visited Vulcan on Wednesday returned with his partner. She is just as crazy about the kitten as he is. 

Vegas and Vulcan

And Little Pebble has been moved into the stand alone with the cats she lived with at "home". Dinner times may be a little fraught.

Little Pebble asleep with her friend (while her other friend was upstairs hissing at me.)

 

Dream Team today

 Everybody worked so well together that the work was done in record time. There were enough bodies to hold an H kitten each so their condo could be cleaned.

Later when a couple arrived looking for a kitten, the H's were looking spruce and were relaxed enough to enjoy strangers' cuddles. The couple will be back with small son tomorrow afternoon perhaps. On their way out Minette distracted them and purred like an engine in their arms.

The woman who chose Oreo came in to do the paperwork. She will pick him up on March 14 from his foster home. And Freya has been adopted. Don't know when she is to be picked up

 

Freya

Willow is back from the vets. She is on soft food only so must have had some teeth removed. I think she likes her new digs. It is quieter than being opposite the food desk and she can watch Marmalade and Cookie if she wants to be entertained. (They don't have any sign of the leg lesion that a vollie noticed a couple of weeks ago. But are still "under observation")

Willow

 

Early mark

 Sue took pity on my post cold croaky-ness and sent me home early. Even though I tangled up with the school traffic, Aslan is thrilled. He reckons that he will be able to get two dinners if he eats the first one fast enough. He has a mouse that he prefers to play with.

Aslan

Which means that I didn't take any photos today. There was opportunity when Roxie's kittens and the three left-over kittens had a lovely frolic in the Top Cat. But I missed it. I was sorting out the Willoughby bins that didn't get collected until this afternoon. But the Couzens paper bin was emptied this morning.

So back to Joy's superior photos from last Wednesday. 

The lovely Willow has decided that people are not all scary. But she is not prepared to come off her cloud most of the time.

Willow

 Freckles and Rosie have been moved from the back corner of Boarding to the Welfare floor. They are getting less spitty. One of them is quite calm, most of the time.

Freckles and Rosie

They are next door to Bubble and Squeek who are still shell shocked at their move. By the time they have chewed their box to pieces, they should be settled down.

Bubbles and Squeek

 In November, we averaged one adoption a day: 30 for the month. Well done us!

Geoff is home

 He had trouble getting home after 6 grueling weeks living in a tent and fighting fires in a very small town in Saskacthewan (300 residents plus 60 Aussie fire fighters). They were out fighting not only burning trees but burning ground under the trees every day. Only the heavy snow cover of winter will put the fires out permanently. The trouble getting home was Air Canada. Don't use it. His is the second disaster I have heard of recently. They did get home eventually though and Air Canada will be charged for the excess baggage that United Airlines charged them!

I did the quickest adoption this afternoon. A woman came in to adopt a cat from foster home for herself. She had previously adopted a cat for her mother. So she knew the routine. 

I asked Rong to count the carriers and the condos. We have 122 carriers and 61 condos. So even if there is more than one cat in a condo there will be enough carriers if we have to exit in a hurry. 

I didn't take any photos because Joy spent time photographing cats on Wednesday and her photos are beautiful.

On Better Row: 

Yahtzee plus 3

Geoff was very impressed with the blond kittens. (He has a weakness for Burmese-ish cats).

Willow

Geoff was delighted at how clean and relaxed her downstairs neighbour Archie looked. He promised to make Archie a new box/bar. Even Tommy looked sprucer to Geoff. But not as sparkling as Archie.

In Boarding: 

Bree

Who looks as though butter wouldn't melt in her mouth but she has a very solid right fist full of claws.

Callie

Who is getting more used to people now that nobody is trying to give her medicine.

New in the Enclosures:

Sterling and Dorian

Who used to be on Better Row and then went home to Irene for some months. They are still shy.

In Welfare is Cody who has magnificent furnishings but is not availble yet. . . still.

Cody

And Rain who came in as a possible pregnant but failed to deliver

Rain

Is Autumn in Incoming going to be another?

Autumn

Thanks Joy for the lovely photos. 

Lilly + lot have left

 A woman came in this morning. She had come in on Monday to adopt Lilly but she had already been adopted. She came back today to adopt Tinsel. But he doesn't want to be a cuddle cat. And as soon as Lilly's last kitten Milly was put into the adopters arms is was mutual LOVE. The woman's pug will have its nose out of joint (! if a pug's nose has a joint!) but only until Milly wins him over. . . .. three days, max.

We have some new cats on Boarders Row.

There is an unfortunate fellow, Brandon who has had both of his eyes removed. He seems to find the litter box, definitely finds his food bowl (especially if it is put up on an upturned bowl to make it easier from him to get his cone around) and his water. He enjoyed being brushed for a little while.

Brandon

 His neighbours are the four Scaredy kittens. They are getting settled and I got to pat each one this afternoon with no hisses. Names L to R:

Flynn, Greta, Ebony, Frankie

Greta is the friendliest. Should they be the Geff litter?

And a new Teddy arrived this morning at 9:45. He is a bit shell shocked at being surrendered but will be a love bug soon. He has the celestial single in Boarding.

Teddy

His neighbours are still not happy.

Minty

Rascal

But around the other side on Better Row, Willow seems to be settling back into her old digs.

Willow

Ash gone

 Only one adoption this afternoon. As it was Mum, Dad, Son and son's mate (who looks after their cats when they are away) . . . it took a while. They had two female cats. One has recently died of old age (18yo: much the same as the Son) so they came to find a companion for her. 

When I arrived on the scene they were lusting after Tank. Too energetic, says I. Much better to have an adult to go with the 15 year old. So they moved on to Shadow and Ash. After lots of pats and discussion they chose Ash who has made amazing progress from a hissy, scardey cat when he first arrived a month or so ago into an attention seeking sook. Shadow took two years to make the same transition!

 It seems that Ash was very friendly when he was a colony cat. He just didn't like being put into a condo. He should be just fine, given time, in his new home. Seeing him walk around, he has a small body and a big head which is either a sign of exceptional intelligence or a result of having been desexed as an adult who didn't get enough food when he was a teenager.

After they left, we invited Turbo and Hiccup to step out of their condo. They declined, again.

Turbo

Amie is available. She is a sweetie.

Amie

And Pikachu likes being in Mickey's condo. She seems much more confident today.

Pikachu

And Emma's eye socket must feel less painful. She is back to her cuddlebug self.

Emma

We moved Willow back to where she used to be on Better Row. It wasn't easy. She escaped out of her condo while being "boxed" and hid under the stand alone. She was gently persuaded to walk into her own cat carrier with the broom handle.

Which reminds me. I bought a new broom for the Welfare area. Not before time!

Adoption Tails: 48 in January

 Adoptions that is. 48 is an all time record. Well done us. 

And today there were 3 more: Celine Dion (she will be beloved) and Dorian and Sterling together, at last. 

Not only that but the people who adopted Suki Sioux the "Siamese" rang to say that she is "going really well with everything."

Willow's kittens

Scout

3 days: He's as happy as Larry! Very confident and settled in beautifully! Couldn't be happier. So purry and lovely. The owners have not decided whether they will change the name yet so he is Scout for now.

1 week: He's great, currently sleeping in air conditioned comfort! Very playful and affectionate.

Scout

1 month: Scout is going really well, gaining weight and lengthening before the family's eyes. He had his final vaccination just last week and the vets are very happy with him. He's a cutie and very affectionate!

Maple, now Nina

 

1 day: Maple is settling well. She’s eating, drinking and using the litter tray. The owner has renamed Maple to Nina (after Nina Simone). She’s definitely got a loud and constant purr. Nina is actually having a nap at the moment.

Maple, not Nina

1 week: Nina is doing well! Settling into her furever home. She met her housemate, Nico and they're slowly getting along with each other.

No 1 month response.

Hunter and Pippa - Both adopted on the same day but Pippa was picked up 4 days later

1 day: no response
Hunter’s 2 week & Pippa’s 1.5 week: “We have decided to keep his name. It’s very fitting, they are both adjusting well and are confident moving around the house now”

Hunter and Poppa

 1 month: “They are amazing. Hunter and Pippa have really come out of shells, Hunter is a proper alpha cat and makes sure to hunt down any pesky flies. Pippa is just the sweetest little thing and cuddles up every evening.”

Ranger

1 week: “Ranger has been settling in so well at the moment, on day one we had him in his little safe room but our resident cat just wanted to get to know him and they've actually been getting on so well! They love sleeping next to each other at night and playing through the day so I think he's settled in amazingly. He has eaten and used the litter tray and drinks heaps of water so everything seems good on that end. I actually think we're going to keep the name as well!”

Ranger and big friend

1 month: “He's growing so fast every day. I wish he could have stayed little for a little longer but he's been doing so great”. His owners recently moved places. “we were a little worried the adjustment for both cats would have been tough but they were excellent and really kept each other company the whole time and helped each other become comfortable in the new space. They're getting on so amazingly and love playing/sleeping/grooming each other”

Cricket, now Pepper

1 day: “She’s very happy and bonding very well with my daughter. She is eating and drinking and has used the litter tray (for all functions). She is playing and exploring the room. She has been very affectionate with my daughter. We have renamed her Pepper. We are absolutely thrilled with her. She is adorable!”

3 days: They found fleas on Pepper so they will be giving her a flea treatment. “She’s still a bit skittish and wary of noises but she is settling in. She’s been snuggling up with my daughter.”

Cricket

1 week: She dashed out of the daughter’s room into the owner’s room and explored the owner’s room. She’s also followed the daughter into the bathroom. “We’ve let her out for short periods into the living area. She runs back to the bedroom if she’s startled. If there’s anywhere with dust she managed to find it (under my bed, under the buffet, under the TV)”. Her owner thinks she is very comfortable and happy. She came into the lounge room this evening. She sat on the owner’s daughter’s lap and fell asleep. Pepper meows if she wants the owner’s daughter. “They are a beautiful pair!”

1 month: “She’s doing very well. She has us well trained already. We really love her and she seems very happy. She pretty much doesn’t let my daughter out of her sight. She’s definitely found her home!”

Oscar (not one of WIllow's kittens)

1 day: Oscar's been great and started to eat/drink when he came home. They will keep his name.

1 week: He's been wonderful!

Oscar

 1 month: Oscar is great and the hot spot is drying up after a vet visit with some medication.

Coco

 Again, thank you Tuesday for schlepping out all the bags. But Willoughby council only emptied one of our trash bins! The other is full already. I put the empty one in the garage and left the full one where it was put along the pathway down the hill. Who put it there? It was with all the rest on the gutter when I arrived. The mysteries of trash collection!

Coco, our frequent boarder was in the play place when I arrived. She wasn't happy. Eventually I thought that she might be happier back in a condo where she is usually happy. I talked her out of the multi-storey climby thing to somewhere I could pick her up. I think she couldn't figure out how to get out if where she was. The story is that her owner, a SAFE member, had a heart attack on Saturday and Coco was to be with us indefinitely. Later in the day, we had a call from the owner to say that she would pick Coco up this afternoon. She duly arrived and Coco was overjoyed to see her. I held her carry case up to the condo and Coco walked straight into it. Easiest cat to crate in existence! 

Lola kept trying to get into Incoming. Eventually Sue gave her a new bed on the table in Opies Room and she was a happy cat snoozing the afternoon away.

Lola

Josie's kittens have names

Jake

Josh, no longer holding up a sore paw

Several calls came in about Ricki. All from the family of the neighbour of her foster carer. They wanted to reserve her. But we don't do that. It is "first in, first served" at Safe. But by the time I had heard the sad story of the neighbour's lovely cat having died yesterday, and how much they loved Ricki, and that they really could not get to us this afternoon, and that they will be at Safe at 10am tomorrow. . . . I said that if any other customers came this afternoon, I wouldn't show them Ricki. Luckily, no customers came.

Ricki

Sue had me writing bios of the cats who are not available for adoption that she can use when she needs instant bios. It is not easy to do. For example what do you say about Willow except that she has hidden for 4 months and seems to be coming out of her shell now.

Willow

Or about Harley and Quinn who have only been with us for a week and in that week have changed from scardey cats into coy young girls who long to flirt with you.

Harley and Quinn (or vice versa)

Or about Stardust who was one of three crazy cats in the Palace who is now a pussy cat as a single.

Stardust

Camera fail

 I took some quick photos late this afternoon to remind myself of new names. And the camera is on the blink. I will have to use my iPhone, I suppose. Or rely on Joy's photos which are much better than mine anyway.

Was delighted to find that Magic has disappeared. She has gone back to her foster home. Strangely enough, Willow, who is in the next door condo to where Magic was, was much more outgoing (or outcoming as she has consistently hidden in her cat carrier in her condo until today). She must have got some "keep away" vibes from Magic.

Magic's condo was occupied by four pretty kittens that I drove to a foster home in Avalon on my way home this evening. The fosterer lost her Burmese beloved over the New Year and is pining for more kitty love. These four should do it. The calico is reluctant but the others were friendly.

Stevie has been declared recovered from her desex wound (or from the treatment of iodine and honey). She is back with her brothers. Sabrina, their mother has disappeared from the Adoption list as well as from her condo so she must have been adopted!

And Gemma got adopted.

And Dexter got adopted. 

    But Tim was a bit dubious about that adoption. With good reason it transpired because Dexter came home to a beautifully spring cleaned condo this afternoon. The bloke who adopted him said that his flat mate really wanted a dog not a cat! 

And we got new cats as well as the 4 kittens for foster. There is Mouse, a small, 3 month old, all black boy. He adapted quickly to his new spacious digs in Gemma's stand alone.

Mouse

And Violet who is wearing one of our collars. Which is strange because I can't find them and Elsa has been desexed and doesn't have one on. (She would have had to be under anaesthetic for me to attempt to put one on her!) Likewise Gracie in Isolation has a new desex certificate and no collar.

Violet

And today two of Pickles kittens, Brine and Dill were adopted . . . to two separate families with (not too) young children. They are lovely kittens. But perhaps it is their catchy names that appeal. Geoff came this afternoon and installed a scratchy pole in their enclosure. Which meant that they had to be taken out of it, put into a carrier, entertained with bits of my lunch, until all the screws were tightened, the enclosure was reclad with cloth and put back in its cleaned position such that the litter tray fits. . . . Geoff is a treasure.

Pickles in the before enclosure

 AND, there was a telephone enquiry about Yang! . . .. or Ying

From black to white

 Yesterday Terry adopted out Smoochie. Hurrah. She will be so much happier in a house. 

Smoochie

Her new owner looks happy too.

Smoochie and her new owner

Tofu was adopted from his foster home. A couple of folk were interested in him.

And today, Tommy and Mia's kittens Bonnie and Lemmy were adopted together.

And best of all, Willow was adopted. I hope her new people are very patient.

Willow

Gifts from everywhere

Instead of counting cats when I arrived, I took the 18 bags of rubbish out to the garbage bins before the garbos arrived. Success! Then I counted 77 cats and 1 rabbit. Coco is back. I had buried the rabbit hutch so deeply in the store room so that she wouldn't be a foster fail but she did not get on with the other rabbit in the house so is back with us. 

Coco

Yesterday when Tim was feeding the naughties next door, Max or Gus came out of his condo and stropped against Tim's leg and generally made a fuss over him. While he was wending his way around Tim, tail raised, Tim had a good look and discovered that he is a she! We thought the white one was one of the boys! According to the bloke who surrendered them to us and just happened to phone today to find out how they are getting on, she was always friendly. So, she is now in Willow's condo.

Willow

And the tabby who we have called Willow for months is back with his brother. Neither seem too happy about it. Both are hiding.

?Max

Frankie was posted on the website last night so I had an early call for him from a mother of 3 boys who has put off getting a kitten until she got all the windows in her house screened. She wants an indoor cat. She came early with her 6 year old to meet Frankie. It was love at first sight.

But she wasn't my first visitor. A young woman and her mother arrived to find a cat for her. She asked which of the available cats had been with us the longest. I like people who ask that. She took her time and eventually decided that Tori would be best for her apartment. She liked Mr Magoo but he would have wanted to go out. And Maple was a bit stroppy. So she took Tori who was quite difficult to get into her cat carrier.

In the meantime the kid decided that Frankie was the one and I couldn't find the paperwork. I phoned Tim to ask where it could be. They decided to come back tomorrow. Just as they were walking out the door Tim phoned back with the info and I unearthed the paperwork. They took Frankie home. Small boy and small cat had very happy faces.

Later the woman arrived who had received the gift voucher that I wasn't able to process before Christmas because I had no idea how to do it and the gift voucher giver wanted it TODAY. But evidently it was done because there it was on her phone. Neither did I know how to spend it for her. But we managed it and poor Tim will have to work out the details tomorrow.  

This woman grew up on a farm in New Zealand at the end of a track where people dumped their unwanted cats. She has grown up with cats. At one stage she had 8 cats of her own. She met everybody: both the ones available now and the ones who would be coming online soonish. But that voucher was burning a hole in her pocket. And she chose Maple!

But really it was Maple who chose her. Just as in the case of Tori and her new owner. I thought I would have a struggle to get Maple into a carrier. But I put a just bought carrier into Maple's condo. She walked into it. I shut the door. Magic!

And another woman arrived with a huge pile of mostly dog food to give to us. She has a group of friends who have decided to do something charitable. Another lady rang to ask what she could send us. I said litter trays, pooper scoopers, etc. She made an online order that will be delivered to us.

And Daphne is boarding. Her name is Tilly now. She looks quite plump.

Daphne