Neat morning, messy afternoon

When I arrived at noon there was a family with two small children after a kitten. They chose Kimmy (and vice versa). Then the woman and her daughter who wanted Kimmy on Sunday came in after getting permission from her landlord to have a cat. While Irene was checking out Kimmy, they decided that Chilli really was the better choice for them. They are Spanish speakers and will change his name to something unpronouncable. She has had cats forever so knows what to do. While I checked out Chilli, Irene introduced a woman to all the quiet cats in residence. She had a problem choosing between Soxy and Marmalade. And finally chose . . . . . MARMALADE!

She paid her money and went away without him but promised to be back. She came back at 3:30 having set up her house with everything that he will need . . . . lots of hiding places initially. But we think that they will be a good match. They are both quiet, aloof, self contained folk just aching for somebody to love. And then Robyn came in and talked to Tim about Belle's condition and dietary needs. While she was doing this (and Irene was processing Marmalade) I introduced a woman and her two teenaged sons who really had wanted Kimmy, or a Kimmy-like semi-long haired kitten. I introduced her to the longish haired ones in Incoming. We think that Petite and Norma are the longer haired girls. And then to the delicately grey Lucy and the longer haired of her brothers in Mia and Bella's stand alone. I suspect that the boys will go for Lucy because she will be ready earlier. They are desexed. They just need a vet check and microchip whereas the ones in Incoming need to be there for another week and then go through the vet check, etc. Those boys need a kitten while they are in lockdown to replace the much beloved cat who died last year. They want a longish haired cat because their old cat was. But they don't want a matted cat. I tried to convince them that if they start brushing the kitten while it is young, the cat will enjoy being brushed all its life. I suppose this is true.

They certainly like to cuddle up together. Robyn and I processed Belle and she went home with Robyn. I thought it was warm at Safe Haven today but the cats didn't. Ginger and Lechusa shared a box.

Now that we have spare condos, we have assigned separate condos for Bobby and Doel. While they came as a bonded pair, they have been quarrelling all day. They have gingivitis so are on TD's. A better solution is daily brushing, of their teeth. What's the chance of that while they are cross with each other?

Phantoms and angels

When I arrived, early, the phantom streaker was singing in the shower. I can now report that he is a male to match his long footprints. The angels arrived throughout the morning to fill in and help out. Thankyou especially Catsie and Ros. Because of all of you, I was about to take it easy and leave on time with the cattery looking tidy as well as clean. Riley thought the ghost of Christmases to come had caught up with him when a decoration got caught around his neck. We cut it off and he relaxed.

When I arrived Harry and Harley had been in the play place overnight. Somebody else's turn. So I wheeled their stand alone cage into the play place, put their breakfast into it and waited until they were busy eating to close their door. During the day Bobby and Doel had a turn. Bobby loved it. Better yet when somebody sat with him so he could get more attention. Doel seems to resent the amount of attention he gets but was quite happy to be patted.

Harley the girl, had a lovely time and welcomed company of patters. But Bridie didn't like it although she did put up with cuddles to compensate.

There are new cats in incoming including five big kittens only one of which is on show. You can see another guarding the entrance to the communal box.These are the kittens of Santa Maria who is very shy and is in Incoming as well. She didn't eat at all today.

There is George (ginger) and Lechusa (tortie) where Bobby and Doel were. She stays mostly in one box or the other.

There is a family of four kittens who have moved to where Mia and Bella were:

Because Mia and Bella have been adopted. Their people returned the dog carrier they borrowed to take them home. It seems the cats have decided to hide under the buffet . . . . in a space smaller than a mouse. I gave them a feather toy to entice them out. If that doesn't work I gave them the left over chichen necks from today. If they had been in residence there wouln't have been any left overs. And Mimi was picked up this morning. She went into their carrier without any fuss. (Admititedly, I had not given her any crunchies at breakfast time but scattered some in their carrier. It might have helped). So it has been a fabulous weekend for adoptions with homes found for Anthony and Cleopatra, Cooper, Miyuki, Lillian (foster home), Lily, Mia, Bella and Mimi. Roll on the lockdown.

No news

I still have the cold so didn't go to Safe Haven today. There were no adoptions recorded on the calendar. So I will just share a couple of Joy's photos. Lillian is really interested in food these days. But distrusts people still.

Kate and Kimmy (Kendra's last pair) should get adopted this weekend.

I understand more cats were due into Incoming but know no details. Perhaps Irene could do a guest post tomorrow.

Lockdown = Adoptions

Joy tells me that Coco has moved in and taken over her friends' Barb and David's lives and appartments. They can't believe that she is 9 years old. She is so active. Since she was adopted on Friday, Dudley, Luke and Rosie, Misty, Rosco, Sylvi, Sprinkles, Ken, Kosta and Murphy (today) have been adopted as well. A group of teenagers came (with parental approval) to get a small boy and Murphy chose them. It is amazing how much teenaged boys love kittens. But they have no idea how to hold them or cuddle them. I had to teach them. . . . its a hard job. Then an older couple arrived with their autistic, adult son. He had chosen Chloe from the web site. The parents thought they should come see. Chloe hid as far away in the play place that she could get, of course. Cooper was interested. After I went in and picked him up, cuddled, handed him over, he was quite happy with them. But the son was fixated on Chloe. So we looked at all the other young adults available. They took photos of the ones that he liked. They have gone away to think about it. Such a nice family group. Then an Indian family arrived looking for a dog/puppy. I told them to email Steph. Which got me to 3:30. I threw dinner at the cats and brought my sorry, cold infected bones home. With all the adoptions there have been movements. Lucky is below Ebony. She is not in the carrier, which is a surprise. And Joy said that she didn't spit when cleaned up.

Valentino is next door and wants to step into the arms of anybody who opens his door.

The lovely Riley remains in Incoming. He has lost his terror but is still a little shy. Joy has discovered that he loves playing with a ping pong ball.

Diagonally below him is a new young cat, Daisy who is a love. She has a suspicioulsy swollen belly.

The kittens in Quarrantine are Spot and Smudge. Don't know who is who as they both have spots. They have been in a foster home and are super friendly (and hungry).

Begone the other Coco

We got our Covid tests on Thursday morning and by Friday morning our results came back negative. But at Safe today, everybody wore masks. Including Joy's friend Barbara who came to choose a cat. Irene and I twisted her arm and she chose Coco who has just become available over Miyuki who tolerated being held by me but skedaddled to her upper shelf when Barb tried to take over and Peggy who was prepared to be patted by Irene but gave Barbara THE KEEP AWAY LOOK. (Peggy is available now too). It was a no brainer and they will live happily every after. We will get regular updates from Joy and in the meantime Coco (of C & Mason) is happy to be the only Coco at last.

Sandy reports that Ashleigh finds all the narrowest, darkest places to hide in her room. She will take a long time to realise how lucky she is now. Belle is looking much better. She is almost plump. I gave her a tiny bit of chicken this afternoon because she usually misses out. Let's see if it upsets her tummy.

And Apricot is getting friendlier. After her bit of chicken I picked her up and felt stitches. It is ages since she was desexed. So Tim removed them and let's hope that she cleans up the scar which looked a bit scabby. Chilli and Murphy had a great play in the play place followed by Sabrina's two. We decided that she would be happier to have their condo all to herself. She actually enjoyed getting ALL THE CHICKEN.

Masks on

I should be on my way to the SAFE fundraising performance of Blythe Spirit. But when I got home from SAFE this evening, hubby Jo sneezed and confessed that he has a "cold". He has been out and about in Sydney in the past 10 days and has had one AZ vaccination. We are not taking any chances and will stay at home tonight, get tested tomorrow and . . . . . . ? In the meantime, at SAFE today, a lovely young couple came in to find a friend from the 6 yr old cat that she adopted a couple of years ago from a shelter. He was repeatedly paired with a little kitten, had a lovely time playing with the kitten, then the kitten got adopted. She took pity on him. He was shy when he first went home with her but soon became a playing crazy. He needs a cat to play with. There are lots of cats and kittens available at the moment. They met them all and finally, assisted by a cup of coffee offsite, selected Haymitch. So the Googly Eyes kittens have all found homes. How nice is that! I had moved him into Baxter's condo first thing so that I could free up the play place during the day. There was a succession of feline frolics helped by Robyn's step daughter Kristie. In Incoming there is a cat named Cat. . . . after our Catsie? who also came to help clean and wash up. . . . she definitely earns angel points.

and a kitten called Riley who refused to eat Baby Cat or anything else, all day.

Marigold has been moved to where Mini was. She seems more friendly there. Mini is in the wheely cage. Tim noticed that she had not moved from the bottom layer. He transferred her water bowl down to that level. She drank for 20 minutes. Today, I put her food one layer above where I had tucked a towel. She jumped up for food! I think we should change Sooty's name to Soothy (with a lisp). Her tongue always shows. Maybe she doesn't have any front teeth to keep in in?

Harry and Harley usually lie together in their hammock. I struck me that they only have one hammock. They usually have a argy bargy about which bowl of food is the best. So I put in another hammock. They had a lovely time, one in each, batting and playing with each other. Watch and learn.

Chicken lick'n kittens

I defrosted the chicken that I had not finished some weeks ago in the microwave. It has a "frozen dinner" option which I tried. Mistake. I checked it after 2 minutes and the middle was frozen and the edges were boiling. So everybody who had a nose knew there was chicken and had to wait. Kendra in the Boarding area is the furthest away from the kitchen and she was keen for food/chicken. Meanie me didn't give her any because despite being on a strict ID diet, her tummy is bloated to pregnancy size yet again. All her kittens are together again, out of isolation. They didn't get any chicken either, just in case.

Everybody out back loved their chicken. I gave Silky, Petey and Pearl a good pat and Ebony and Casper ate from the dish that I held (the first step)

Ashleigh would have done the same but she has gone. . . . home with Sandy who has a spare room just waiting for a foster cat. Lucky Ashleigh. The Hungergame kittens went wild for chicken. But they go wild for any kind of food. I took advantage of having chicken sticky hands to give them all a good cuddle. They then spent 15 minutes licking themselves and each other clean. While I was with them, Mimi, who has been moved to the corner on the other side of the door, wailed for her share of chook. When I gave her some she not only let me pat her but she purred. It is the chicken, not my magic touch.

Sooty and Tammy will not play the love chicken/love me game. And Marmalade would if only I was Tim. But Soxy loved both chicken and pats, as did Bridie. And Matty and Maddie only play give me the chicken or I will rip your hand off. They are going to a foster home tomorrow. The fosterer is coming on the bus. Irene has, I hope, arranged for a vollie to drive them all back home to Maroubra.

The one small containter of chicken didn't last very long which was good because I had to leave early to attend my nephew's daughter's naming ceremony at a synagogue in Woolhara. The container was scrupulously cleaned by Harry and Harley.