Door bell

Perhaps Santa will leave us a bell from his sleigh. This morning, I got to SH early because of no traffic. (One of the positive side effects of a COVID cluster in the Northern Beaches). Unfortunately, the garbage trucks benefited from the lack of traffic as well. I only got one trolly load of bags out to the curb before they came. And there was more space for the last few in SH. Bummer. So I got busy and as it was so early, I locked the front door so that I wouldn't have to worry about odd folks wandering. Sandy came early and banged on the door. I couldn't hear her from outback. She was drowned out by hungry cats telling me their sad tales of starvation rations. Panic ensued when she told Sue and Sue got Tim out of bed. My phone wasn't on (of course) and Sandy went home. Sue phoned Rod who arrived just a bit early, after I had remembered to unlock the front door. SO it was all sorted out and Sandy, herocially, came back from Mosman to slave away. She had to sterilize boarding condos because more cats came in than expected. And some went out, unexpectedly. Others came in unexpectedly early. . . it was a busy morning. There was an email asking for more photos of Patchy than what was on our website. She is so sweet.

I noticed that Suki has a short tail as well as an emaciated body.

And I took a photo of Sultan so that Liz can see how relaxed he is without her.

Joy took some photos that I will add. Cecily has the greenest of eyes. She doesn't act jealous. She is an absolute sweetie. We can't imagine how she was surrendered.

Star's kittens have been divided up to the three littles that stay with her and the two hunking fluffies that used to greedy all their food. For example:

Silky's kittens are getting to be just as demanding/loud as she is.

This morning I managed by some quick hand work to separate Rara, Mimi and Macey into separate areas to feed them. Macey took her time to eat every morsel. Rara is inclined to "help you finish that" in double quick time.

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.

Not sisters

I had a visitor today. He came to look for a companion for his 15 year old Burmese boy whose brother has recently died. I, of course, said that he would need a girl to go with his boy and showed Hera and Diamond who I said were sisters. Because I have always thought that they were sisters. He said "Why is one 1 year old and the other is 2 years old?". I looked up the paperwork and it is true: Hera's date of birth is 22/1/18 and Diamond's is 28/4/19! No wonder they were quarreling about food. Old(er) sisters are so bossy! (say's Prue who is the youngest of four daughters).

I showed the visitor around the available cats and he fell in love with Ollie. He will be back tomorrow morning to do the deal but couldn't do it today because he was working all day and has to set things up correctly, as per our web site, to introduce the "new" cat to the resident cat. I think that Ollie will take it in his stride and a Burmese is always ready to welcome a new slave.

Patchy's Spotty and Tippy have been adopted. They were renamed PJ and Penelope for adoption. And Charlie found a home. There is only one tiny kitten of the four who has survived. Tim takes him home every night. The others are thriving.

The biggest, fluffiest two of Star's kittens have been separated from her family to give the little ones a better chance. Luna's and family had a fabulous play in the play place today. At one point I looked around to see a kitten hanging from the mesh ceiling. It dropped to the floor. . . . at least 7 feet, landed on its four feet not on its mother and ran off to play some more! I don't know about Luna but my heart stopped. We have a new cat called Cecily. She is in boaring at the moment but should be moved as she is available. She is the sweetest green eyed girl.

Christmas Cheer

I was late to SH this afternoon because we had our break up lunch for Friday morning tennis. As I got there Tim left with his two tiny kittens and another new cat to Chris the vet. Irene was still doing stuff so I got to my appointed task of taking photos for next year's calendar. I was not very successful. Ollie was more interested in being brushed and/or patted than posing by a prop.

The Ra family was trying to find the food hidden in the tree.

We tried out Mia and Belle in the play place. They were happy enough to be stroked, had a little explore but spent most of their time huddled together in the corner. Not a merry Xmas photo.

Earlier in the day, Irene had put Mini/RubyG and her grey kittens into the play place. They had a marvellous time. The kittens climbed to the top of the green labyrinth thingy. It did Mini/RubyG the world of good. She was very happy to have lots of pats later in the afternoon from me rather than hissing at me. As Tim was away at the 2:30 feeding time, Irene served the mums and kittens. Luna's lot had a lovely wander but never strayed far from their condo.

But Zelda's kittens made friends with all their neighbours, especially Claude.

A lovely boarder, Luna was lying peacefully, on her back, in her carrier when a person came from next door to "groom" her. She came back an hour later, shaved and still wet around the legs. Poor baby, I couldn't bring myself to take a photo. Tim got back at around 4pm. His kittens may have giardia and the other cat doesn't have a thyroid problem.

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.

Family reunion

Now that we have a play place for our cats the logical player is Rara. He has got into the habit of reacting with frantic when food appears. But he has the reputation of being a softie. When I suggested that he go to the play place I asked Tim to carry him there because he reacts with frantic to me. But once he was there and I sat with him he was lovely. All about the pats. He ignored the few crunchies that I found on the ledge outside his condo. He was just concerned with cuddling up with me. So it seemed a good idea to introduce Mimi and Macey to the play place. I carried Mimi and Tim carried Macey who is not so used to being held. Macey immediately went up to Rara. They touched noses. He started to groom her. Awwwwwww. Then Mimi strolled by on her investigative survey of the play place. She and Rara touched noses. He started to groom her. Awwwww. We left them there. Rara and Macey hung out together.

And Mimi found a nice hidey hole.

They didn't explore much but were happy to be together or with a person (me while I ate my lunch). So we decided that they should condo together in the up/down Ingleside condo. Which meant that I had to clean their condos, move Ollie and Felix, clean their condos and then move in the M-family.

Other movements: Silky has gone into Rita's condo out back. Her kittens don't seem too pleased at the move.

And Silky is horrified.

The tiny kittens are being cared for overnight by Tim. . . he who never sleeps. They have their ups and downs.

Sue asked me to collect photos for next year's (2022) calendar. I am to save one photo a month. Please tell me which photos you like best.

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.