ARFON THE SIX MONTH OLD GINGER-WHITE KITTEN IS NO MORE

1.

His name has been changed to Squeak.

Arfon, as a name, was what I call a place-holder. I gave him the name on a short-term basis when I intended to re-home him, knowing his new owner would just change it anyway. Much to my surprise, that turned out to be me. As I wasn't all that keen on it anyway, I waited until something else cropped up and ended up calling him Squeak which is not the most original name for a cat. So, why? Because I'd be sitting here typing when I'd hear a squeak, look down, and see him at my feet wanting to jump on my knee and be cuddled. And there you go.

Except for some more photos of this totally delightful, playful, loveable, affectionate kitten-cat.

2.

This has been one of those weeks where I've been quite busy but there's nothing to write at any great length about. This is how the re-homing's been going.

Five cats and kittens have been adopted this week and we have several more solidly reserved and provisionally reserved. 16 have been adopted in total for August and there are still two days to go so we're having a good month. If you want to see the details check out this link to my list of cats/kittens adopted in 2014- http://catsrehomedarchiveanimalkrackers.blogspot.co.uk/

And, of course, there's the regular list of those available for adoption with photo and description at-

http://catsneedinghomessunderland.blogspot.co.uk/

3.

Very rarely, and only when we're absolutely desperate, do we temporarily house cats and kittens upstairs in our charity shop. Currently we have two kittens and one pregnant cat. As the kittens are old enough for adoption I doubt if they'll be there much longer. The photos below are courtesy of Lauren F to whom my thanks. The first is the adult followed by the kittens. (Like, duh!)

4.

This bit has nothing to do with cats but it's my blog, so there.

Went to my doctor's yesterday for a checkup and she told me I have the blood pressure of a young man's. She didn't specify whom.

Just had Sky removed and Virgin installed. This had the unexpected bonus of having my landline moved into the living room and right next to the tv with the clutter of cables in my lobby removed. Result!

For anyone into good music I'd like to recommend Lucy Ward and her second album-

She's an incredibly talented 24-year old folkie slash singer-songer writer with an amazing voice and a big personality. Check her out on You Tube. I'll be writing about her in more depth on my Freethinking blog sometime soon.

LITTLE GINGER CAT IN MI KITCHEN (WHICH NEEDS MI FLOOR CLEANIN')

 And Rikki

I suppose I'd better explain.

I'd been swimming but because of several nights of poor sleep, after pottering about, went back to bed for a nap. The phone by the bedside woke me. Someone wanted a five month old kitten taking in. I sleepily gave him Carole's number and put the phone back down. She rang me a few minutes later. She couldn't take the kitten (she had an important but none of your business reason for refusing) but was concerned about it and wanted me to take him. I explained I had a problem with a rather vicious cat. She could help me with that if I'd take the kitten and so that's what happened and why I have a five month old ginger-white kitten settling in. He's going to be neutered tomorrow and I've dosed him with Frontline. In about three weeks after his second flu jab he'll be off to Ferry Farm, if I haven't already re-homed him. 

His new name? Arfon. It's the Celtic forename of a folk singer I found on a compilation CD Beginners Guide to Celtic I own.

Cats found homes.
Three cats went on Wednesday. From my house Jeff to the student I originally got her from. And from Ferry Farm, Misty a fluffy young torty who recently arrived and Alfie a tabby who'd been with us for several months which is particularly pleasing. I've got someone coming on Saturday to look at a couple of cats with a view to taking one so fingers crossed (not that that's going to have any effect on events but, apart from the problems with Tilly, this isn't a bad week week at all).

GUESS WHO'S GOING TO BE A TV STAR?

No, of course it isn't me! What kind of a world would this be if something like that could happen?

The BBC Comes To Animal Krackers.

It's Andrea.

A small team of two arrived to follow Andrea around to see what AK did with regards rescuing, concentrating on dogs. We were just one of several rescues they were filming for an hour long documentary to be shown on BBC1 in either the 8.00pm or 9.00pm slot. Susan did mention me and the cats to them but was informed that it makes it more accessible for the audience to focus on the fewer people the better. Which was fine with me. AK getting tv exposure can only help us and is all that matters.

Anyway, last Friday morning I was at the re-homing centre to meet a potential adopter. When I arrived I checked my text messages and sure enough the person I was due to meet had already found a cat. sorry and all that. Oh well, it happens. 

I'd also brought a load of Fiprospot and Drontal was fleas and worms so I decided to make a start on spotting the cats on the back of the neck. I was just about to get the stuff from the van when Andrea and the BBC people (who were both very nice) turned up. The BBC consisted of a bearded guy in his (and my apologies if I've got it wrong) forties who was cameraman, producer, and interviewer with a young woman (no, I'm definitely not going there) whom I assumed was the researcher/assistant/whatever and they wanted to see the cats as, it turned out, they were both cat people and the assistant had even read my blog. She thought it contained some very perceptive observations about cat behaviour. I restrained myself from asking if she was sure it was my blog she'd been reading. Anyway they thought it would be a good idea if they filmed me and Andrea putting the flea stuff on the cats and then doing a joint piece to camera. So that's what we did.

Whether any of this actually appears in the finished programme only time will tell, if, indeed, it even does get shown. Nothing is certain in the world of media until it's actually happened, so I'm not holding my breath.

I did shed some blood though as a cat who, one moment was licking my chin and purring loudly, the next attacked my hand.

We're Full.

I was back again the next morning to take in two cats two occupy the final two available pens. That's because, after averaging one re-homing a week, we haven't re-homed any in six weeks and I'm getting pretty sick.

Here they are.

This is Milo. He knew something was up because he'd been avoiding his owner all week and two visits had to be cancelled because he disappeared. The lady who owned him had to give him up because her younger son developed a massive allergy (I saw the photo) to him. Needless to say, he was very nervous and I made the mistake of picking him up. This turned out to be the equivalent of sticking an electric prod up his bum as he went wild with claws flying in all directions and ripping open a wound down my chin. His owner was mortified and even rang me later to make sure I was okay. But it was my daft fault. A while later he'd calmed down which was when I took this photo.

And this is Max, a recently neutered stray of unknown age, the final arrival. As he was growling I just left him alone.

This is the pretty girl who licked my chin then attacked my hand. I like to think the latter act is out of character.

The Cat In The Conservatory.

As in my conservatory.

He was dumped on meby Susan, despite my reluctance, last week. So far all he does is eat, sleep, sit, pee, crap, and growl at me if I go anywhere near him.

He's called Tut but I can think of other names for him which I won't repeat in this blog.

Kittens Re-homed.

If Moustache hadn't happened to find a home I wouldn't be stuck with Tut.

Also re-homed is one of Aoife's kittens, the little grey one. To be honest, I wasn't sure if this would take but it's been about five days now and I've heard nothing which I'm cautiously assuming is a good sign.

The Kittens (and One Cat) In The Shop.

I called in at the shop a week last Sunday morning after going for the paper and within five minutes I had all three simultaneously climbing all over me and purring loudly.

The one at the top has a slightly deformed front right leg. It's shorter than the other and the claws are turned inward. It doesn't stop him getting about but I hope whoever gets him keeps him as a housecat. All three would make delightful pets.

More Kittens At Carole's.

These five were found in a box dumped by the side of the road. All female, all tortoishell.

Another Cute Photo Of Fifi and Aelfric.

Fifi is ever vigilant.

GINGER KITTENS

I mentioned in the previous post that I'd be featuring some new kitten arrivals. What I didn't know at the time was that they'd be ginger (plus a couple of black ones). At the bottom is another photo of the kitten whose poorly eyes seem to be well on the way to healing and who is much livelier as a result.

But if you love ginger kittens, prepare for a feast of them.