Remembering Those No Longer Here

Events of 21st October 2015

Leo would have turned 5 today if he was still here...

One of my favourite pictures of him <3

At odd moments it strikes me that he's no longer with us and that four and a half years is not anywhere near long enough.

In saying that I'm eternally glad that I got those four and a half years and that I could be there with him during his last moments and help him through his pain and suffering in the only way I could.

It was a hard decision and one to this day that I still struggle wondering whether it was the right one but in the end I reach the same conclusion.

His future didn't hold the quality of life he had been enjoying before the two weeks of constant vet visits. 

Now, he's up there playing grumpy supervisor to the shenanigans of the foster kittens that never lived in this world.

Very fitting tribute that I got from here

Rosco (Missy's brother) who we lost at 7 months old to a hoon driving a car allowed the path for me to own Leo, I'm sure he's playing and romping with the kittens as a crazy uncle.

Picture Collage depicting the life of Rosco

Tabby the family cat we had for thirteen years is probably scowling at the kittens remembering once-upon-a-time when this place had been a single cat household.

Tabby the cat we grew up with as kids <3

In my mind anyone who passes under the care of this household moves on to a space or room reserved for this family to be reunited when we all reach our expiry date.

By the time I reach mine I think the room reserved for me to be reunited with all my family, fosters and permanent cats will be full to the brim.

The series of events seem to happen for a reason.

Tabby was called and opened the gates for Missy and Rosco, the first time we ever adopted two kittens.

They were so bonded.

For six months it showed me that I'd never survive not having any pet as not long after Tabby passed I officially began volunteering for the RSPCA.

When Rosco died at a short 7 months old he opened the doors to find and love Leo.

Baby Leo <3 (I see he is VERY similar to Rosco)

For four and a half years I had the pleasure of being responsible for an animal I'd adopted and signed the papers promising to love and provide for until death did us part.

When Leo passed he made room for Allie to walk into my life. (Or maybe strut is more the word?).

Allie (And Terra in the background)

I'll remember them all fondly and cherish whatever time I get.

Got image from here

Let the roses grow season to season in memory of the great souls that passed through our doors.

Leo's Rose

Tabby & Rosco's Rose

Image got from here

Medicating The Pickles

Events of 20th October 2015

Well, I kind of expected that...

Also my recollection of the events on the previous year are a bit sketchy because I didn't write down the days events on the day. 

*sigh*

All of the Pickles kittens are on medication.

Violet and Curtis have the worst little inflamed eyes and Dean is quite stuffy but even a few days after beginning the medications things are improving.

Little Curtis already giving me those big adorable eyes

If anything it is getting the kittens more accustomed to handling although Violet by far has the most swearing to do out of all of them.

Come any closer, I'll send my ninja's to get you ~ Violet

Lets hope they're over these sniffles soon.

I really like this toy ~ Dean

I'm a bit miffed with myself that I don't seem to have as many pictures of this litter as I thought I did.

Mumma Pickles and her Little Pickles

Omg Finally we're getting to kitten season of late 2015. Nearly into the current year! Only taken nearly this whole year to do so though.

Events of 7th October 2015

Always the way..

Go about finally returning things from the previous season that you don't think you'll need anymore and what do you know?

Kittens!!

Ahem.

More a along the lines of a mother and her five hissy, spitty little five week old (approximately) little babies.

Some sniffles going around as well so could be hissy, spitty, sneezy little kits.

Pickles was sneezing more than her kids and generally wanting away from her litter so I sent her out to the shelter with my father for vet check and in the end she got kept out there.

What was I thinking!? Get me out of here! ~ Pickles

Early weaning I guess.

Hopefully the kids don't get sick but knowing they've been exposed to excessive sniffing I'm not going to count my chickens before they've hatched...

Little Cara Pickles, a shy little black female kitten

Curtis Pickles, Slightly less nervous than his sister Cara

Dean Pickles, nervous little ginger is a mumma's boy

Marcie Pickles, this ones got attitude but its all bluff

Violet Pickles, has more front than all the others but it's total bluff.
I don't expect any different from a torie (Torti-tude)

Farewell Shy Kitties

I am still kicking, I just have a terrible record for sticking to deadlines. I hope I'll be able to report on current events sometime soon. In the meantime we're still flicking through the previous season's foster groups.

Events of 30th September 2015

Well, while the shelter was relatively quiet and before the boom of kitten season hit I felt it would benefit Bennyboo and Ellie to return. 

Never appears happy

Bennyboo has his eyes on me (Skeptical)

They had improved a little, I could get them both to come to the floor by bribing them with raw cat mince but Bennyboo was still very much 'I'll watch you from a safe distance and pretend I'm not here if you pat me'.

I'm not looking at the camera, I'm going for a pensive look ~ Bennyboo

Who knows, maybe he'll always be like that or maybe he'll take years to bond with someone.

Ellie however made much more positive steps.

On occasion I could get Ellie to purr and roll around accepting scratches under the chin and cheeks. I have a much higher hope that she'll blend seamlessly into someones family if given time to take things at her own pace.

Ellie air-kneading and purring

She still has a perpetual resting-bitch-face (scuse the language) and always looks cranky in photos but in person she is really quite sweet.

So bummed no pictures truly show what a pretty girl she is.

It did however get very awkward having an Ellie and an Allie in the house (although admittedly I kept calling her Joon in my head).

Allie is doing good although litter training is still a work in progress. 

She's piddled on dads magazines and also down the plug of the bathtub. *sigh*

MUM!! That's so embarrassing, no one needs to know that! ~ Allie

Every day she's getting a little bit more comfortable around us and has taken to shadowing Terra. At the moment its like Leo and Terra all over again but once Allie learns Terra is all bluff the wars will be on...

This is MY scratching post! ~ Terra

Ya hear me? MINE ~ Terra

So now its enjoying my new little fluff ball and waiting for the pitter patter of tiny paws...

The Waiting Game

Events of 25th September 2015

Well...

Zoe was curious from the beginning and didn't remain hiding all the time. She popped up beside me on the couch and purred.

The closest she's got to being a lap cat

At night she even dived under the covers for a little while.

I had already begun thinking of a permanent name and prayed to dear god that no one came in looking for a cat matching her description.

Legs just casually dangling...

She was already lightening the mood that had just gone dark when Leo's antics vanished.

Track ball? Where's the ball?

Mum! Where's the ball?

I'll wait here until you find where I hid it...

Stop laughing, I fit in this loop just fine, roll the ball this way a bit though...

For a very pretty little cat she was just a few straws short of a full pack and we all giggled watching her calculate jumping even small heights.

Such amazing eyes

As she became more comfortable she would flop where she stopped and it wouldn't be uncommon to see her with all four legs in the air flaunting her belly.

Stretched out in all her glory

One of her many, less flattering ways of sleeping/sitting/generally chilling

I will never know her history but I assume someone played roughly with her with their hands. She got over stimulated very quickly and would often try to bite any hands that reached to pat her.

Truce between the girls is still a work in process but this is a good sign...

Also after a few 'oopsies' it became clear this little Miss wasn't quite as litter trained as I hoped.

In looking up the definition of names trying to find something that fit I found this:

"An Allie is a girl who can always put a smile on your face.  CHECK

She'll make you laugh, and enchant you with her beautiful smile. CHECK

She's a clumsy girl, but that just adds to her charm. DOUBLE CHECK

If Allie wants something, she'll get it. DOUBLE CHECK

Allie has everyone happily wrapped around her finger. YEP TOTALLY

She is usually not an only child, and is surrounded by musical influences.

You will notice that she tends to pick on herself for silly, little things.

 Allie does not notice how beautiful she really is.

Of course I'm absolutely gorgeous...

*unimpressed face*

WARNING: ALLIE WILL STEAL YOUR HEART WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION. HANDLE WITH CARE.

(quoted from: here)

And it just fit. With her Alley-Cat toilet habits everything just fit neatly into place although now as time goes on I think she does know how pretty she is...

Stars Aligned

Events of 24th September 2015

I hadn't thought too much about adopting another cat. It was too overwhelming.

When I got Leo I didn't realize it at the time but I was technically looking for a Rosco replacement.

Rosco was Missy's brother who was hit by a car and taken from us at only seven months old.

So when I was given the approval to purchase my own pet I had specifications.

I wanted a boy

I wanted a grey tabby

So it was massively narrowed down in what I was after.

I was lucky I met Leo at 10 weeks old and he just completely fit those specifications.

Now that Leo was gone I only knew what I didn't want.

I wanted to avoid grey tabby.

Eventually I came to some kind of mental agreement of what I'd be looking for.

I wanted a short haired cat

I would prefer a male

I wanted to know the kitten from a very young age so potentially adopt a foster kitten.

Well the gods above just laughed.

I knew the moment I saw her that she was something incredibly special.

I was taking photos of the cats up for adoption when she was brought in. I had to go and check it out.

The lady brought in a stray seal point Birman with no microchip. They had kept her for a week or so hoping an owner would turn up but they didn't and the cat wasn't getting along with their dogs.

Wide eyed and scared

She was a shy little thing but once you could get your hands on her it didn't take long for her to purr.

Leaning into my hand and purring

She was tiny. So there was thoughts that she wasn't extremely old but also the possibility that she was pregnant from being stray.

She was then known as Zoe and I was completely smitten.

Such a lil thing

So adorable <3

Within the following day where I'd visited her again and found her not eating and seeming stressed I convinced Leanne to let me foster her. Well foster and trial.

Pretty much from the moment Leanne approved of it the little kitty was sold. I had my concerns about whether she would adapt or continually be very shy...

Socializing Shy kitties

Events of 8th September 2015

I often catch myself calling Ellie Joon.

If you haven't seen the movie Benny & Joon its a great movie.

I think Ellie is going to be the easiest to turn around. She's more open to pats and I can get her to purr.

If I wait patiently I can get Ellie to purr...

Benny however may need more time and might only truly show himself if he finds a nice patient home. For a big cat he can make himself very small in the corner and he completely lets Ellie tell him she's the boss.

I can pick him up (and man is he heavy) and he's more freeze than fight. It just seems like no one is really home and he's stuck in his head. When people turn up he tries to be anywhere but where he is either pretending 'you can't see me' or just giving in to pats or handling but with no actual positive response.

My brother holding Ellie who wants back in the safe room NOW

Dad with Bennyboo and Bennyboo pretending he's not there...

I've also tried bribing them with treats but so far I haven't found a winning treat.

Ellie getting more accepting of my presence every day.

Bennyboo still skeptical

Slow and Steady...