QUICK UPDATE, NO PICS, ALL GOOD NEWS

Re-homing.

Yesterday two male cats were adopted by a couple of professional gentlemen. The cats -one black, the other tabby, both friendly- were in separate pens but I'm sure they'll settle down together as the black cat already shared a pen with a less friendly tabby.

Today a charming young policewoman came through from Newcastle and left with 8 week old Bombino whose photographs have been featured heavily in this blog. 

Now every time I have to put a cat or kitten in a carrier I wonder to myself: Is it going to be easy or is it going to be hard? Usually it's easy.

With Bombino it wasn't just hard, it was nearly bloody impossible. He seemed to sense something when I first picked him as he began to struggle violently and after clawing my flesh I finally had to let him go. I went into the kitchen to get a towel to wrap him in. It still took a while as he ran up and under furniture before I trapped him in the conservatory and even then it still wasn't easy. He wriggled out of the blanket but somehow I kept hold of him and ignored the pain of his claws shredding skin before I managed to get him in the carrier. I wish I was making a joke of it but I'm not. This was one of the worst experiences I've had of trying to get a cat into a carrier and I've the claw marks on my hands and arms to prove it.

Still, it was worth it to get him a good home where I'm sure he'll settle down just like his grey and white sister has at her new home.

Tiger.

Tiger the skinny tabby (see previous post) is a much happier cat and eating regularly. I'm still giving him the treats but the bulk of his diet is dried Go-Cat. Just a few minutes ago he ate several slices of cooked ham. 

He's still spending most of his time in my bedroom, as does Aelfric with whom he seems comfortable -no signs of aggression from either cat. I'm very confident that he'll settle in properly and be very happy here.

Lily.

She's one of the two cats I brought with me from Weldon Avenue when I moved here earlier this year which turned out to be a mistake as she never settled. A grey nine year old with diabetes, she was frightened by and aggressive towards the other cats which came in and she compulsively urinated all over the house. She's been back home with Susan for over a week now and is much happier, spending a lot of the time lazing in the sun on the patio. And I'm now not having to watch where I put my feet in the bathroom and no longer having to go on all fours as I sniff for strongly smelling urine on the carpet and the house smells a little less funky.

THE THIN OF IT

Tiger before-

Tiger after-

Recent and regular readers will know that Tiger is a stray cat I took in just over a week ago and that I've been very concerned about his lack of appetite. He was checked out soon after and vet Wendy thought it was probably just stress at being in a new place with other cats. But he still kept eating little and I kept being worried. His long fur being full of tats, he needed to be shorn so I booked him in for today and also asked for his blood to be tested.

Last night he actually ate a little more than usual and of regular food -GoCat dried- instead of the meaty strips and the expensive dried stuff from Whiskas in a small cat head shaped box- which was encouraging, but still...

He came back this afternoon, his blood tests were clear, and he tucked in to a small bowl of dried Go-Cat. It's also clear just how close to emaciation he really is. Hopefully he'll keep on eating steadily and start to put weight on.

Molly the nine year old tortoiseshell also went to the vets today where she had her teeth descaled and polished and one removed. She's fine now.

Re-homing.

Two people went to the re-homing centre on Saturday but unfortunately both wanted the same cat, Millie the pretty grey-tortoiseshell who ended up going with a nice young couple for whom it was love at first sight (with Millie, I don't know about them).

Another couple are visiting tomorrow, so fingers crossed.

Kittens.

The two young kittens are getting very adventuresome (sorry no new pics) and beginning to cautiously explore their environment. Earlier today I picked up the black one who, when he saw that his mother and an older half-brother were also trying to get on my knee, settled down and went to sleep. They are currently curled up asleep together in the small space between my computer desk and CD shelving.

The older two are now tearing about all over the place as they investigate and attempt to destroy everything they come across. Quite often they'll hang about on the settee when I'm sitting there and settle down next to me. Here are some more photos of them. The first one guest-stars Aelfric whom they now completely accept.

KITS & PIECES

New arrivals update.

When Mollie's not on my computer chair, because I'm sitting in it, she's usually to be found just a few inches away sitting on top of my printer. Her feeding station is also next to the computer desk. She will roam around a bit more but only when Aelfric isn't as she's not keen on other cats and growls a lot. With me, she's very affectionate and will let me know when she wants attention and, truth to tell, I'm growing rather fond of her.

 

When Tiger ventures anywhere from behind the settee it's to sit in the sun  on the window.  To be honest, I'm worried about him. When I took a couple of a fosterer's cats to the vets for their first flu jabs on Tuesday I took him along because he's hardly eating. Wendy thought it was just the trauma of finding himself in a new place with other cats but two days later and his appetite still hasn't improved. I'm taking them both for their first flu jabs tomorrow and I'll get them both checked out. Mollie doesn't eat a lot either but it's more than Tiger.

Kittens.

Bombino and Tiny are, when they're not sleeping, racing around, chasing each other, destroying anything they can get their teeth and claws into, and climbing over me like a piece of furniture. I used to think that Tiny was the friendliest of the two but around ten last night Bombino climbed into my lap, stretched out and went to sleep. Whoever ends up with these two will get kittens which are well adjusted, socialised, and friendly. Tammy (aka Brian), the homed grey one, is already playing with her two new older friends and delighting her owners.

The younger kittens are now around four weeks old and taking an active interest in their surroundings, though they're still a little way off climbing furniture and are a bit wobbly on their feet. 

ANIMAL KRACKERS' FASHION SHOW, FRIDAY 12TH JULY 2013

While we didn't get as many people as previous years, there was still a good turnout and a nice buzz to the thing with everyone getting into it and enjoying themselves.

Massive appreciation of Anne Steabler and Susan Hardy, without whom... Big thank you to everyone who helped get it all together and, as someone who was involved, trust me it took a lot of hard work and effort. And thanks to everyone who came, had a good time and, most importantly, spent money.

The photos I took were better than the last time but that isn't saying much. There's an annoying brief delay between pressing the button and the actual photo being taken which meant the subject was either blurred, out of shot, or had turned their back. I've let the photos speak for themselves and are presented in the order I took them beginning with  Stephen the Verger of St.Aidan's Church, our liaison and master of ceremonies.

A TALE OF TWO KITTIES: EARLY DAYS

Sometimes you just want to close your eyes, open your mouth and go-

Arrrggh!

Within the space of 17 hours I found myself with two more cats in my house and on my hands.

Okay, one was expected. I'd made arrangements with a lady who had taken in a stray that if she had it vaccinated then I would find a place in our re-homing centre. However, her oldish rescued nervous terrier was very stressed out by the cat so I agreed to foster the cat for a week before its second and final vaccination.

I have to say that initial impressions suggest that it won't be going anywhere as it ticks a number of boxes for being an Ian's cat. It's a tabby. It seems to be very friendly and even sat briefly on my knee that first evening (yesterday). And he's male. As he didn't even hiss at Aelfric who came nosing up to his cage, I let him out and gave him the run of the living room. Since then he's spent most of the time behind behind the settee.

And did I mention he's absolutely gorgeous?

Been busy this morning, as has everyone in Animal Krackers as it's our annual (raise lots of money we hope) fashion show in the local church hall. I've driven several vans full of boxes, which I first helped load and then unload, from shop to church hall. Returning to the lane at the back of the shop from my penultimate trip, I found Susan and Andrea at the end of the lane talking to two representatives of the RSPCA. Apparently in the house on the corner was a, technically, abandoned dog and cat. I saw the dog, a sandy short haired friendly lurcher bitch in the back yard which came to lick our fingers through the fence. Susan asked me if I'd take the cat which, seeing as she'd just told me off when I told her I wanted to keep the cat above, was a bit of a cheek. No, I said and went off for the final run.

When I got back, they had been joined by the tearful owner who didn't want to give up her pets but was forced to by circumstances. Animal Krackers was taking the dog. Susan asked me in front of the tearful woman cradling the cat if I'd take it in until it could go to the re-homing centre which wouldn't be for a few weeks. What do you want me to say, I asked her. Say yes, she said so I said yes and took the cat home.

Where I put her in the vacated cage in the living room. She's nine years old and growls a bit when I stroke her. Haven't been able to get a decent photo of her yet (see below).

Tonight, no doubt, I'll be on the door as usual and taking lots of photos which I hope will be better than the last ones I took. If I'm in the mood, they will appear in a write-up of the event tomorrow. It was also discussed there'd be a guess Ian's weight competition. Oh the humiliation if anyone even comes close! If there is one I will, to my shame, let you know what it actually is.

More new kitten photos.

MORE ABOUT MY KITTENS

Aoife's babies are coming along nicely.

Three older kittens asleep on the top of my settee. The grey kitten was homed on Friday.

Aelfric my big soft pedigree British short hair is fascinated by the kittens and likes to visit the conservatory. Aoife is used to him by now and rarely even offers a token hiss. Aelfric will also follow me around the house and will stay in any room I'm in.

Other news.

Millie, a friendly tabby was re-homed from the re-homing centre on Saturday to be replaced today by Ziggy the black and white cat I'd been fostering.