Cripes what have I gotten myself into!

[Feline Costumier]

Overwhelmed, not full. The kitten season has dragged on here (still going) and the shyer ones are not able to get the attention they so need to be put up for rehoming. Due to my restrictions on numbers I am the "home" experience.

I really appreciate the advice and absolutely listen to all of it. I also take the advice of the other fosters, the rescue co-ordinator and today the vet nurse I saw.

[Desley (booktigger)]

IF he is carrying something airborne, he can transmit it just being in the cage while you are there. I know you are taking problem cats in, but i thought this kitten was coming to you because of no space, not because he has been in the rescue a while and not been rehomed?

[Feline Costumier]

He's been at the vets for about a week, was de-sexed, vaccinated and flead and wormed while there also, I've got his little passport thing and checked it when I got in the car at the vets. Also, he only sits with us (in cage) while I'm about, he goes back into isolation if I leave the house.

I understand your concerns Desley and I wouldn't keep them together if he was fresh off the streets or wherever he had come from. I am being given the more problem cats who have come into the rescue and for whatever reasons they haven't settled with human company so generally they will already be some time into their rescue experience. I'm the finishing school if you like, I get them good and healthy just in need of one to one work.

[Desley (booktigger)]

Shona, there are other reasons for keeping cats separate than just how they are going to react - there are also health implications, you dont know if he is harbouring anything, unlike the other two who had already been in care. I would really consider isolation for 2 weeks just to make sure he is fine - was he wormed and de-flead at the vets?

[Feline Costumier]

I am a very content cat lady right now!

I picked up the new boy and he's a very sweet looking little thing. He's grey and white and very much like Bond when he first arrived and we all know how that's going Bond I have to say has been an absolute star. I popped the new boy on the floor in his carrier while I put the tray in the cage and some water and he went up and introduced himself ever so politely. No hisses from either of them. So I put him in the cage and decided to leave the spare room door open to see what happened. Milo and Bond have had a good sniff and bless him, Milo has been trying to get him to play through the bars

So now the new boy is in his cage in the lounge to keep warm with the rest of us with the fire. He has visibly relaxed through the day and has had a good feed, nothing wrong with his appetite!

Looking at Bond asleep on my feet I think it may soon be time to find him a forever home. I'm very sad, he's a lovely little boy and in different circumstances I would absolutely keep him, he's one of life's very special little puds

[Cheesecat]

Wow Shona you are taking to fostering so well and so quickly!    Good on you!!

 I bet the rescue are really glad they found you to help take in one two  three kitties 

Milo looks like a cutie, you'll have to turn her into a poser so we can see more piccies 

[CC & The Pussycat Guys & Dolls]

She looks lovely 

[Feline Costumier]

Oh no, she's fine now! just when she meets strangers she pretends she doesn't car but after about an hour on the first day she turned into a cuddlebum and has been the same way since. Spends most of her time wrapped around my ankles which makes for some interesting noises coming from both of us! She's lovely

[Kittybabe (Ruth)]

  I wondered how long it would be before you got another.

Milo is gorgeous. Well done on the intro between the two. Certainly sounds like she would suit a home with someone who is home most of the time who can see her personality. Lexy is similar in that she doesn't tend to cuddle up until much later in the day and can appear aloof.

[Feline Costumier]

I think they are working on their own website but technical ability is lacking. One of the other fosters asked me if I knew how to build websites, sadly that is not in my repertoire!

This is a not very good picture of milo! She's a bit camera shy, a back tunrer when you point the camera in her direction.

[Desley (booktigger)]

That sounds interesting - I wonder if they would do well with their own website as well? Hopefully now that Milo is with you, if someone does enquire, you will be able to give a better description of her, and she wont be waiting long.

[Feline Costumier]

We use Trademe, sadly a little like the tree site but not quite as bad. Nowhere near as many unscrupulous breeders and uninformed owners it would appear. The reality may well be different. All rescues seem to advertise on there, even the SPCA. Also no-one does home checks over here although they do answer a questionnaire and sign an agreement of care and commitment sort of thing. Have yet to see these obviously as have yet to rehome anyone.

[Desley (booktigger)]

That sounds a good set up - how are the cats advertised? We have had cats in the rescue for a while, and we have more success at rehoming when they come to me, I havent worked out how yet - although the best one was someone ringing up for a pair of tabby kittens and they took a 13yo tabby instead.

[Feline Costumier]

My safe room only has two big boxes in it, one of which is empty and the kitten cage so no nooks and crannies in there at least! Actually, I don't really have any nooks or crannies in this house, Bond never hid anywhere other than under the sofa and bed. Bond is still a kitten but Milo is young too and they seem to be very good with each other, who knows when my back is turned though

People come to us to view the cats/kittens as it is just us in our own homes looking after them. The two main fosterers have their fosters caged just out of sheer numbers and necessity, which is why I'm being given the "problem" cases. Give them more of a "home" experience to bring them out of themselves and hopefully make them more homeable.

[Desley (booktigger)]

Glad that the two adults are getting along - how does your rescue rehome them? Will people come to look at them at yours, or will they go somewhere?

Fingers crossed with the kitten - if he is skittish, they will try and get in the smallest places possible, and I remember my first kittens getting in a place I had looked at and thoght, nah, they will never get there, they are too big!!

[blackcat]

 

[Feline Costumier]

Yep, very short. They are a new rescue too so you'd think they wouldn't be so overwhelmed but they are. I have managed to recruit a colleague too So there are two crazy cat ladies at work and I'm working on a third, she's adopting her second kitten this year today and she comes to me for advice

Having made a quick call to the vet today to let them know I'll be picking up the kitten tomorrow I now have a little more info. He's not used to being handled at all, hisses when you pick him up but enjoys a quick cuddle. so I have to work the same magic I did on Bond.

Incidentally Bond is now a total cuddle bum. Still a bit skittish and you can't touch him unless he comes to you when you are sitting or lying down. But today we had a nap on the sofa and he was all over me, he is also a purr machine, purrs whenever he's coming to you for attention, little charmer.

[blackcat]

Think you are going to have to get a green star soon Dancer!! It sounds like they are desperately short of volunteers there. Wellington was actually quite off-hand with a friend of mine who offered to foster. Funny how regional differences work ...

[Feline Costumier]

So I started with Bond. Now I have Milo who I picked up on Thrusday. I can't understand why she can't find a forever home, she is a complete cuddlebum and so laid back. I've hardly had to bother with introductions, they had a sniff, she had a half hearted growl, separated them while I was at work on Friday and now they are pretty much non-plussed by each other. The easiest introductions I have ever seen I think both of these are bomb proof as far as other cats go.

So Milo can't find a home as she doesn't show off her personality to strangers, only once she has been round you a little while (say a couple of hours), so who knows how long she'll be here.

Now the cripes bit I get a phone call this morning begging me to take another one. I'm not allowed as far as my landlord is concerned but as he doesn't manage his own properties he never really comes round. he's coming tomorrow morning to drop off a dryer but that should be it really. So I have said yes to another kitten who is currently stuck at the vets waiting for a foster home. I don't know much about him really so will definitely use the safe room for him and separate him.

But my goodness, three in a week! No more I tell you, no more!

Oh, Bond is coming on great guns, came up to me on the sofa for a cuddle last night which he has never done before and he now sleeps at chest height on the bed. Getting very confident and I actually think Milo arriving has helped him as I think he is a wee bit jealous of her and the way she demands attention so it has prompted him into being more forthright in getting my affection.