Nigel!

This dear little baby mancat is Nigel. Dad chose his name, and it fit him very well. He was a rather refined little boy who may well have been an aristocrat in a former life!
He wasn't quite as playful as my friend Dhoni (as Ailurophile pointed out yesterday, I forgot how to spell the name correctly!). Nigel really enjoyed sitting back and watching his sister play. He was also a great climber. Mum got a kitten fence in preparation for fostering. It took Nigel about 30 seconds to figure out how to get out!Dad thought Dhoni and Nigel could have been performers in a Kiss tribute band. Hahahaha!! Nigel wasn't a huge fan of cuddles when he first came home, but mum was successful at brainwashing him a little bit before he left. He was one of the most confident kittens we ever saw, right up there with the Oscar boys. Nigel was quickly adopted on his return to the shelter.

Mum has decided that we shouldn't foster in Sydney, though she would dearly love to. We were very lucky in Townsville to have a room we could set aside for fostering. We don't have that extra space in Sydney. Now that Suey and I live inside all the time, she doesn't think we would be too appreciative at having to share, when our territory is already so much smaller. She thinks I would be ok, as I liked to hang out with the kittens, but Suey likes to have her space.

Mum is now looking for a shelter to get involved with. She was hoping to volunteer at the Cats Protection Society, because it is no-kill. Unfortunately they are not looking for any volunteers until kitten season, and then there is a waiting list. They are very lucky to be in that situation, because our old shelter has to beg for help! Mum is going out hopefully next week (after her driving test!) to check out another shelter. It is a second chance shelter, that takes in animals at the end of the road at the pounds. They are not no-kill, but have a 65% adoption rate for non-feral cats and a near perfect rate for dogs, which is much better than what mum is used to. She is really hoping to be able to work more with adult cats with behavioural problems. Evie lit a fire in her, and that is what she is really passionate about.

Ellie and Angus are still on foster in Townsville. They are being looked after by an elderly couple who are the best foster people in the world! They are growing slowly, but surely must be ready soon!:)

Life is Grand

Hi! It's Stella! My sweet friend Nigel, Cory's brother, gave me this wonderful award!The rules for accepting this award are simple:
1. You hafta give 5 reasons why you think life is grand.
2. You hafta pass the award on to 5 more blogs.

1. Having such good friends makes life grand! Thankyou, Nigel!:)
2. My babies got to come to a home environment almost as soon as they were born. They aren't having to grow up in a shelter. By the time they are ready to go up for adoption, kitten season should be over here, meaning their chances for a great home improve exponentially.
3. The four of them are growing into strong little kittens. Their eyes and ears are open and clear, their teeth are coming through, their claws are starting to retract, and they are getting more and more co-ordinated all the time. 4. Fancy Feast in my bowl each night- need I say more?:)

5. I have time and space to raise my babies, and get strong myself. I also have time to relax, and get lots of chin skritches and cuddles.

I would like to pass this onto the following four kitties and a special woofie:

Siena and Chilli
and
Tama-Chan, Tommy their new sister Sei-Chan

We Are Home This Christmas!

I'll be home for Christmas;
You can count on me.
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree.

Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love-light gleams.
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.
-Kent, Gannon and Ram.

Pipi on the mantle, from l-r, Katie, Nigel, Archie, Basil, Trixie, Charlie, Rick, Bobby, Tom, Evie, Dohni, Manuel, and James. They all found their Forever homes this year.

Our First Fosters

Our first experience as foster parents came with Dohni, Nigel and Tom Kitten, who were dropped off at the shelter as an 'oops' litter. Dohni and Nigel were black and white, and Tom was a smokey tabby. We were told initially that all three were boys. They came dirty, hungry, and with fleas.

Each of the kittens got a bath on arriving home, which they accepted rather happily. I set up our spare room as the kitten room, with plastic sheeting to try and protect the carpet, and then put down lots of blankets and kitten cushions, as well as a mattress against the wall for them to hide behind and climb on. They LOVED having plenty of food available. Tom Kitten was protective of his food, and growled while eating it. To try and combat this, we took to gently stroking him and talking to him while he ate. He dropped this habit after about 10 days.

Dohni and Nigel grew fast, and were very rambunctious. Tom Kitten on the other hand, who was smaller than the others when they arrived, barely grew at all. The other two, while still sweet kitties, took to bullying him. Dohni and Nigel went back to the shelter to be desexed when they reached the magical 1kg mark. Nigel found his forever home 2 days later, and Dohni the day after that. Tom stayed with us for a while.

Dohni turned out to be a girl! I should have known really, she was a dainty little thing, and very happy to put lots of love on you. Both Nigel and Dohni got along really well with Fui. They loved to play with him and watch him, and he was fascinated with the kittens. Dohni was very clever. She was onto everything straight away. Initially, I tried using a baby gate to confine them to one part of the lounge, but she worked that out in about three seconds flat! Nigel was a bit more reserved. He would watch what was happening very carefully, and you just knew he was figuring it all out.

Tom Kitten thrived after being seperated from his brother and sister. When I took them back to the shelter, I bought home a second litter, Pipi Saurus-Rex, Charlie Brown and James Bond, and one other kitten Trixie. The first three were younger and smaller than Tom, and he loved having a chance to be topcat. He started to grow more quickly, and became more confident. Trixie was very gentle with him, and really helped him to come out of his shell. I absolutely adored him. It would have been very easy to keep him!

Tom was ready to go back to the shelter a week after his siblings. He was adopted 11 days later. He was a lovely little boy, and I am very proud of the way he grew and learned. The three were a great introduction to fostering, very laid back and happy. They were an absolute joy:)