Let's Do the Time Warp...

Dancer and Blitzen Claus, Christmas 2008Harry from Hogwarts, Christmas 2009Dancer Claus, Christmas 2008Harry from Hogwarts, Christmas 2009Blitzen Claus, Christmas 2008Harry from Hogwarts, Christmas 2009 Some things change, some stay the same:)

Favourite Foster Foto Friday

Blitzen
Dancer
Dasher

The lovely Claus Family Kittens:)

Fixing things up

I just wanted to clarify the post from yesterday. When I said the shelter decided not to open, I should have said not to open for adoptions. The adoption cages are seperate to the smaller, more secure area cats and kittens are housed in at night. Because the shelter didn't open for adoptions, they didn't move the cats and kittens into the bigger communal play areas. However, there were still people working there that day, and all the cleaning, feeding, and dog walking was done as it is on any other day. The shelter doubles as the pound, and during storms they get a lot more stray and escaped animals brought in, so there were people working there all day. I think perhaps staying in the one cage for a longer period of time meant that the predator had longer to plan and lock on, and to get in with the kittens, and the fact the staff were so busy with all the incoming animals meant they didn't have a lot of time to spend with the kittens. With the conditions, only actual staff were working that day, not volunteers who often do a lot of the socialising and enrichment work when the shelter is busy. It would have meant less activity in the housing area, and that probably made it more attractive for the snake. I'm angry and horrified at what happened, but I didn't want to give the impression that the shelter had been negligent or abusive in any way. I'm sorry to have done so.

Polly is staying another night to undergo more tests and observation. When I go to pick her up, I intend on taking flowers for the people who were so kind to Dash. I can't begin to say how thankful I am to them for ensuring that he got to his Forever home.

For the last 36 hours, we have been under a cyclone warning. This meant that all the outside furniture and planter boxes had to be moved inside. Otherwise, there is a risk of it being lifted by the wind, and becoming missiles.


Fui and Suey are fascinated with the whole arrangement, and have spent a lot of time investigating the new set up! The cycone has now reduced to a tropical low, so we're feeling a bit safer tonight.

Dancer Darling Claus

Some of you might remember the lovely foster litter we had over Christmas- the Claus family. I got some sad news today about Dancer.

When we take the kittens back, I watch them online via the adoption listings. When a kitten is taken off the list, I choose to believe that means they have been adopted. To the best of my knowledge, that has been true so far. We had asked to only be notified of a kitten that is sick or put to sleep if it has potential consequences for Fui and Suey. In a high kill shelter, the alternative could be too difficult, especially as we had only recently lost the Blossoms and Seamus.

While I was dropping Apollo off today for his hoohaectomy, one of the people let slip what had happened to Dancer.

We live in Far North Queensland, which means it gets very hot and steamy. Any kind of smell is magnified. To help with air flow, and to keep the animals comfortable, a lot of the shelter is open to the air. Rather than solid walls, there is a lot of metal mesh type stuff. This keeps things cooler, and helps keep smells down.

There is a flaw in this kind of arrangement that I never realised. One day a short while ago, we had had a lot of rain. The shelter chose that day not to open, because a lot of the roads were closed, and the vet couldn't get out there. Blitzen had been adopted earlier, so Dasher and Dancer were placed together in one of the central holding cages, where they are more secure than the adoption cages (the shelter has had incidents of animal thefts in recent times). The next morning when they went to get them out, Dash raced out, and Dancer was nowhere to be found. There was a dirty big snake in the cage though. The snake had attacked and eaten Dancer, and Dasher had broken his paw while spending the night fighting it off. They were going to euthanise Dash, but one lady insisted on paying his medical bills. It turned out to not be a bad break, and he was adopted a few days later by a family who knew what had happened.

I wish I had have given her extra cuddles and kisses, and played with her more. I am just crushed thinking how scary it must have been for her and Dasher. I wish I had have been there and could have helped her.

Dancer was such a pretty, darling girl. She loved snuggles and kisses, and was mad about the furry rat wand toy. She was always first to dinner, and kept herself so clean and tidy. Though she was the smallest of the Claus family, she could regularly be found doing her very best to pin Dash and Blitzen. I know that the Blossoms and Seamus will be taking good care of her. I just wish that they didn't have to yet.Dancer, you are loved, and you always will be loved. We will see you at the Bridge and hold you tight one day.

I would also like to ask for your purrs for Polly Smitten-Kitten. She is staying overnight to be checked by the vet, as she has not been very well. I'm very worried about her. Hopefully I will be able to pick her up tomorrow.

Happy Gotcha Day, Dancer!!!

Miss Pretty has found her Forever Home! What's more, she did so despite us having had torrential rain for the last 4 days, at the same time as two kind tides. Given the number of roads that have been flooded, and the number of people choosing to stay at home, she did very well indeed! Clearly, her lure was irresistable :)

My eye is looking better today. Fingers crossed it will continue!

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the butt print in my nap garden, which has sadly been washed away. I spent many hours creating him, he was my close companion. Once the ground dries out, I will go to work on butt print V2.0, but I will always remember my first one!

Shrews are Awesome!

Fui and Suey are good foster siblings! Do you know why?
They let us have a shrew from Goldie, Shade and Banshee to play with!! It was so much fun! Blitzen dived about, like you can see above. Dasher leapt through the air, like you can see below!

It was so much fun!


And guess what! My foster parents are pretty sure we got a nip buzz! This is rare in Australia, as cats here don't have the gene or something which reacts (or something, I'm small and don't really understand). Blitzen was especially buzzed. She even ran into a wall! This is Blitzen getting a shock when I pounced on her! MOL!

Afterwards, we had to have a big snooze! I was smashed!

Thankyou for sending such fun things to play with, Goldie, Shade and Banshee!:)

We are going for our 'ectomies tomorrow. Tonight we don't get to have any dinner, so we had a big lunch of our favourite fish flavour.
By

My Experiment

Hi! I haven't been allowed a turn on here for ages! I have a funny experiment. It involves my sister Blitzen. This is Blitzen's tail when not exposed to Fui.

This is Blitzen's tail on Fui exposure!

Hahaha! Her furs went 'poof'!

After a little while, her furs settled down again. I think they might even be making friends with Fui. I'm not sure what Blitzen herself thinks. MOL! See my joke?

I am 1.4 kilos today. Blitzen is 1.2kg and Dancer is 1.1kg. We will probably go back and have our special vet visit this week. We are meant to be over 1kg. I reached that a little while ago, but I got held back a little as the shelter was very full, and Dancer was not at the weight yet. Our foster mum thought she might as well just keep us together. I don't mind!

Guess what else! Pretty Daisy is nominated for Best Pet Blog in the 2008 Weblog Awards!! Isn't that cool!! Voting starts in a couple of hours, and you can click here to vote for her. Good luck Daisy!!

Bye!!

Oh My Goodness!

With the humans away, I thought someone should take charge. It's only fair, a bit of balance and order is a nice thing. But these kittens! They have no respect!

They decided to have a game of wrestle the Christmas Tree! All three of them!

They were chewing and climbing and falling and meowing and pulling and all the craziness!

Send help! Muuuuuuuummmmmmmm!!!!!

I don't know how much longer I can maintain my tenuous grip on control!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

It's the night before Christmas, and all through the house

Not a creature is stirring, not even Marty Mouse;

Fui hung his stocking on the cat tree with care,

In hopes that Father Christmas soon would be here;

Suey is nestled all snug in her bed,

While visions of tuna-plums danced in her head.

When out on the grass there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher!

now, Dancer!
now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of fishies, and Father Christmas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney Father Christmas came with a bound.

He was dressed in faux-fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of nip-toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
-Clement Clarke Moore (with adaptations by Fui and Suey)

Can we Carol on your Doorstep?

The first Noel the angel did say

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;

In fields as they lay, keeping their sheep,

On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel.

-Trad.

We're Back Again

Hi guys!
We have had such a busy 48 hours, let me tell you! First we came home, and had all our flea treatments and cleaning. That night, Dancer sneezed a few times. Our foster mum got really nervous after what happened to the fosters that came before. She had to take Dasher back to have his ear checked yesterday anyway, so she took us all back for a check up.

We had to stay overnight! They checked our temperature, heart rate, eyes, ears, poop and EVERYTHING. And we were given a clean bill of health. Dancer probably just had the sneezes because of the changes in environment.

This morning our foster dad bought us home. And boy were we happy! We played and played, we met a baby bean, and then I decided to have a good long nap.


Then it was time for a super fun playing session. This is my brother and sister playing with a wand toy. Can you believe it, a wand toy! We have never had one of those before.

My brother Dasher also had fun wrestling with some of his blankets. His tail poofed right out, which looked funny.

Dancer loved the wand toy. She wanted to play and play and play with it.

My brother and sister had to have a nap too, after all that playing.

Tonight we had to be wormed. We have left foster mum with some super scratches. She wont try that again in a hurry! We can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.