A BUMPY BEGINNING

After all these years of fostering and the countless cats and kittens we've had in our home, Malvolio's arrival has been a very humbling experience because it's reminded us (me moreso), that every animal is an individual and that no two situations are the same.

Malvolio is now eating, drinking and using the litterbox perfectly - thanks goodness since those are always the things you worry after initially once any illness has been ruled out or brought under control. But he is surely one of the most frightened fosters we've had in a very long time.........so much so that you can just see the ticked off look in his eyes. At this stage, he neither wants our company nor embracing our attempts to befriend him - he is some kind of unhappy and mad; and his growling and hissing are clear indicators of that.

For now we're ensuring his guest room is kept clean, he has lots to eat, and his environment is as warm and comfortable as we can make it. We spend afew minutes several times a day going in to sit with him, talking to him gently and quietly, and will continue to reassure him that he's safe and noone means him any harm; hoping that eventually he'll realize and let us pet him.

PS: I was made aware by one of the readers to this blog that Malvolio is from Shakespeare - thank you again to that person for the information!!

EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED

This poor boy arrived here at Safe Haven in the last hour. Three years of age and recently homeless due to his owner surrendering him over because of health issues (the owners, not the cat). His name is.............Malvolio (say that three times fast). Hate the name, who pins that on a cat as cute as this?, but will hesitate to change it until we can determine if he actually answers to it.

He's here, he's terrified, but at least tonight he's in a quiet, safe place where he can begin to relax.

Just so everyone knows, we'll be fostering only males from hereonin, our boys have had enough of girls - Karma being the last straw. They are too domineering and diva like, and that just doesn't wash here. Of course being a woman - I say that with a smile :))

RELIEF & RELEASE

The young couple interested in Karma came yesterday morning. If this adoption had been based upon presentation, they never would have left here with our girl; blue hair, tattoos, and some rather poor hygiene seemed to be in abundance, but I learned a long time ago and reminded myself yesterday before I opened the door to these two, that I don't have to like them - I just have to know that they will love and care for Karma.

As it turns out, they were both young but also very animal loving and both very smart. The young girl loved Karma almost instantly, and when she took a moment to share with me the fact that her Dad had passed away from cancer when she was just entering her teenage years, and that her Mom had just overcome a bout with it as well...........my thoughts immediately turned to my younger sister Tanya and her two boys that she left behind when she succumbed to cancer 4 years ago this Summer. I would hope that if one of Tanya's boys were in search of a special friend, that someone else wouldn't judge them on appearance, but instead try to see inside on what might lie beneath.

"B" is a lovely young woman who wanted to offer a senior kitty a home because she knows how often they are overlooked. Karma was very affectionate with her and seemed to really like her; who was I to stand in the way?

Here's our girl in her new home.....

THREE'S A CROWD

Life at Safe Haven couldn't be more volatile if we tried. To put it simply, Karma HATES the boys and the boys HATE Karma. It didn't take us long to figure out that the vicious cycle were caught up in has Karma totally picking on Rocky, and then Silly totally picking on Karma. Since the latter is so out of character for our Silly, we can only determine that he's chasing/stalking and pouncing on her because of the way she's treating Rocky. It's okay for him to beat up on his little brother, but nobody else dare.

I also think that after about 5 fosters in a row or so now that have all been females (and all the glorious truths that come with that), the boys are basically saying ENOUGH! - no more bossy, princess, stuck up types. Rocky & Silly have really overall been good as gold when it comes to their home having been turned into a revolving door of strange fellow feline guests, but with their advancing age (Rock is 13 now and Silly is 11 by best guesses), and thus their lack of as many patience as they may or may not have had before; I think they are both giving the sign that strange cats okay, strange FEMALE cats - forget it!

It seems we've all heard them loud and clear as there was an adoption call for Karma as of this morning. Of course we have yet to determine if this is the right fit, but we're all hoping (some more than others), that that is just what it is.

Fingers, toes and hearts crossed..............may our little muffin be about to go home.

FANCY

I just submitted Karma's bio and pictures to the rescue's website. Hard to believe that two weeks since her arrival has already come and gone, but I think she'll be much happier to move to a home without other cats as she's not enjoying sharing her space with the boys at all.

She becomes a little more trusting each day, but is still quite quick to let you know if you're doing something not to her liking. Brushing her is proving an event all unto itself - I actually have to get hubby to help me since she's not a huge fan of the brush and always ends up rolling herself up into a tight ball and swatting at me for the most part when I try to groom her. Anyone listening on the other side of a door when we're brushing her would think we were killing her the way she carries on! I'm not sure if perhaps her previous owner was somewhat rough with the brush, or if the fac that she has that fine hair which knots so easily is more the cause of her displeasure? Either way, I can brush her out and not ten minutes later her coat will have her looking like a drowned rat all over again - very frustrating to say the least.

Her new thing is hopping up onto the bed with me at night and snuggling in beside me while I'm reading or watching t.v. She likes to lay in the crook of my arm, kneading and purring away.............so very sweet. I've begun calling her my little muffin. :))

PRETTY & CUTE

Karma is turning out to be a doll and a diva all rolled into one. She hasn't been here quite a week and I can report with full confidance that she loves to be petted - a real litte lovebug...............on her own terms. She's not shy about letting you know when she's had enough AND grooming her beautiful little self has uncovered that she has some issues with the brush (hence why her coat has become so unkept). She loves under the chin and down the front but go anywhere near her hind end or the lower half of her stomach and you'll be promptly told about it!

She is also a picky eater - preferring total crap over anything even remotely healthy; which yet again explains why her coat looks the way that it does. We may have a little battle of wills go on shortly (after she's feeling totally 100% from her extractions of course) - since Mommy isn't about to let her be adopted looking more like a ragamuffin than a princess. :)

COPY CAT

CeeCee was adopted just over a week ago and her new Mom has been kind enough already to bless us with updates/pictures. She's doing really, really well and they are both enjoying each other's company immensley. Doesn't she appear as though she blends right in to her new surroundings?

We've really missed her this past week so I was excited to see that there was a kitty just for us on the rescue list that went out last night. "Karma" is 9 years old and was recently surrendered with a couple of other kitties from her previous home (they are not bonded, hence why we're only fostering her) because evidently their owner could no longer care for them. I just read the release form the owner completed and they indicated "health reasons". I try no to judge these types of surrenders because for all I know the owner has been diagnosed with a terminal illness or is facing the end of life in a long term care facility - both of which is neither their fault. At the end of the day, it's done now and the main thing is to help Karma resettle and feel safe once more. Her previous owner did indicate that she's very sweet and loving AND evidently enjoys the company of dogs...........all ingredients to make her awesome adoption material!

Oh and I think I failed to mention that she's another calico.........this time long haired. I'm sure CeeCee would be delighted to know that our new guest is a rescue alot like her.