Two new foster cats!

[Crewella]

I took Baxter to the cattery yesterday as he's now up for rehoming, and collected a little black and white 3 year old girl, Jess. She's very shy, and the idea is that she goes in my spare room and gets some one-on-one time in the hope of socialising her a bit. She's lived in a house, but obviously never been touched as she's very scared. After 24 hours she's still in her crate and hasn't eaten or used her tray, so I'm just leaving her be for a couple of days.

I took this pic of her at the rescue about 5 months ago, so she's been in rescue for a while and definitely needs some help.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d154/ ... JessII.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Never rains but it pours, having just arranged that I got a call about a little 2 year old tabby that needed a place pronto, so I now also have her installed in the outside pen. Luckily, we'd just managed to fix the roof and install a new little house with a heater. Her name is Talouse, and she's a bit overwhelmed but seems friendly. I'll try to get a pic of her tomorrow.

[HRHFluffy]

Jess is lovely. She looks quite timid even on the photo. Poor little girl. You will work wonders with her. You will be able to transform her into an affectionate and confident girl. Looking forward to seeing a pic of Talouse.

The number of girls is increasing! Wonder what the boys think of that!

[luvmycat]

what a beauty..

[greenkitty]

Jess is lovely

I bet Daz can't believe his luck with all these beauties arriving

[Crewella]

I've caught both Daz and Merrick round by the pen peering at Talouse already, Daz has definitely cheered up no end!

Talouse didn't think much of her visitors and hissed at them both. She's actually a nice friendly little cat, but she's a bit scrawny. She's apparently had two litters of kittens this year and the litter in September died - she's only 2, so I'll build her up a bit before taking her in for neutering. I won't leave it too long though ..... she's been out since then so I guess there's a slight chance that she's pregnant again.

Jess ate her dinner last night and I spent a little time with her this morning. At first she was absolutely rigid, but her head suddenly dipped into my hand and then she raised her chin for a better scritch angle, so I'm sure she'll come round soon - she's not as scared as Teasel was.

I had another update on Teasel, too. Apparently she went downstairs looking for her new mum the other day and then rubbed round her ankles, which is just brilliant.

[booktigger]

I'd actually get her in for neutering asap - partly because she's been outside and could be pregnant again, and partly because neutering helps them gain weight, and the last thing you want is her coming in season.

[Crewella]

OK, good point - I'll speak to the rescue and get her booked in. Thanks for the advice. xx

[greenkitty]

Sounds like progress all round!

[Crewella]

And here is the lovely Talouse:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d154/ ... 030774.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Crewella]

Jess has settled well, she's in the carrier whenever I go in there, but I can see she's been lying on a cushion by the heater as there's black hair everywhere. Must be the stress of being moved - there are clouds of it coming of her.

She really does have no clue about being fussed, and I know she lived in a house but was never handled in any way, but when I stroke her she is leaning into my hand more and more, and this morning rolled slightly onto her side so I could give her a good old ear scritch. My attentions are still very unwelcome at first, but she's not hostile in any way. I got my first 'blinky eyes' this morning too.

Talouse, bless her, has settled in beautifuuly and has now sussed the cat flap on her little house. I had a clothes peg on it at first, just keeping the door open a little, but she's using it fine now. She seems to be a cat that takes things in her stride and comes running to greet me when I go round there already!

[greenkitty]

Toulouse is beautiful, what a striking girl

Sounds like Jesse is making progress too, a good ear scritch can bring anyone round

[Crewella]

It certainly can - Jess finally purred for me last night, and again this morning! She's taken to Teasel's old spot under the sofa and lets me stroke her there now instead of running for the crate.

[bobbys girl]

That's lovely news!

[meriad]

Go Jess girl - slowly slowly does it. Well done

[MarkB]

Sorry Helen,

I have been so wrapped up in my own stuff. Gorgeous cats - amazing what some TLC & time can do. Hopefully Jess will start to come out of her shell

[Crewella]

No worries, Mark - I know you've had a lot on!

Jess is doing nicely - she's still hiding under the sofa but is now really enthusiastic about being stroked. It's very sweet, actually - she doesn't know quite what to do with herself, but gets up, turns round, sits down .... gets up, turns round, sits down ..... over and over again, purring at full throttle no matter which bit of her I'm currently scritching!

There is soooooo much hair coming off her and you can feel that her coat is full of loose, dead hair (though not actually matted) - I can only assume she's not been grooming herself properly. I spoke to the rescue and they said her mum and sister were the same. The mum they managed to brush, but they'd not been able to get near Jess or her sister. So ..... I took a brush up with me last night and had a little go with it in the middle of stroking her. She seemed OK with it, for a short time anyway, so I'll keep going. Slowly, slowly .... bit by bit......

Talouse is off to the vet tomorrow, I'm sure she'll be fine.

[greenkitty]

Hector was a stray before he came to me and shed a whole Hector's worth of fur when he first moved in, his coat changed from a coarse, wiry mess to a lovely soft velvety coat over a couple of weeks, I put it down to regular meals and warmth

[Crewella]

We're slowly getting some of the fur off Jess as she's letting me brush her for a short while every day. You're right, Julia - I could get a whole other cat out of the fur that's coming off!

She's now letting me stroke her by just putting my hand down the back of the chaise - she doesn't move away at all now and purrs like a train. She's not keen on being approached directly yet, though. I tried pulling the couch away from the wall and she freaked and went running round the room looking for cover, poor little girl. No hurry, we'll keep taking it slowly, I'm sure she'll get there.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d154/ ... 030796.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thankfully, the vet didn't think that Talouse was pregnant, so she's going in for her spay in a couple of weeks. I have felt sorry for her out in that pen over the last few days, but I've taken her an extra heat pad out on cold nights and she seems to be OK. I have to keep telling myself how much better off she is, even in there, than she was before.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d154/ ... 030760.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Crewella]

Poor Jess and Talouse have been sidelined slightly over the last couple of weeks because Pugwash arrived and needed so much attention. Talouse is going in for her spay tomorrow, so fingers crossed for her please. She's put on a good amount of weight and has a nice thick coat now, so I think she's fit for the op.

Jess is coming along, slowly. She's started sleeping in a little doll's cot that I put next to the storage heater for her, and yesterday, for the first time, she stayed in it when I went in there instead of her usual leaping out and diving under the sofa as I open the door. She did the same this morning and let me stroke her in there too. She didn't look too happy and was practically rigid, but she stayed, bless her.

[bobbys girl]

How is Talouse? I hope everything went OK.

We've had power cuts here, off and on (so to speak) since last night, and I've been up to Derry today. I feel like I've been gone a week and my computer is all over the place. So I apologise if I missed an update somewhere!

[Crewella]

I've just got back with Talouse and settled her in her pen. She's doing fine, thanks. She'd not eaten anything at the vets, but was tucking into her dinner just now when I left her in her pen, looking very happy to be 'home'. I've put an extra heat pad in her little house for her tonight.

[greenkitty]

Please the girls are making progress, fusses to both x

[Crewella]

Talouse is the first foster that I've had spayed, and I can't believe how well she's bounced back, bless her. She was fine and eating well the next day. I can put her up for rehoming now, she's an absolute sweetheart and loves a fuss, so I really hope she finds a good home. She's not been much valued in her little life - even here she gets a bit overlooked as she's out in the pen and because she's so friendly and uncomplicated.

Jess is still not too happy about it, but now always stays put in her cot and lets me stroke her. I'm backing off from her a bit now, she's got used to the concept of being stroked, so I'll just keep giving her a quick scritch and take the pressure off a bit for a while. That worked well with Teasel.

My lovely neighbour came round with lots of chicken she'd used in making soup and was about to throw away - it was all lovely and soft (and warm), they all absolutely loved it! Seven very happy cats!

[greenkitty]

My cats would love a neighbour like that

[Crewella]

We're very lucky ..... we only have that one neighbour!

[Fran_ki]

Crewella you're doing a fantastic job !
What gorgeous girls and they seem to both be coming on do well. Loving the photos

[Crewella]

I took Talouse to the main cattery last night, as people keep calling up about her but don't want to travel out to where I am, especially as she's the only homeable cat here. I felt I was holding her back - it's much better that I take a potential long-termer with problems in the outdoor pen, and ideally one that's been living out. Apparently she has settled in fine, and already has someone booked to see her tomorrow. All paws here crossed for her, but she's such a sweetie I'm sure they'll fall for her.

Jess is still quite conflicted about people, she sometimes purrs, but sometimes still hisses when I approach her. She's quite a withdrawn cat by nature ..... she obviously needs more time.

[meriad]

Oh fingers crossed for Talouse tomorrow; that would be lovely if she's soon in her new forever home.

And hopefully it won't be long before Jess realises that people are actually OK - poor girl. Give her a gentle fuss from me

[Fran_ki]

Awww so excited for Talouse tomorrow , who could not love her. Hope the wee darling is curling up in front of a warm fire soon
Wee Jess is getting there, you're doing wonders Helen ! It must be soooo worth it when all your hard work pays off with the wee cats. Bless you xxx

[bobbys girl]

Fingers and paws crossed for Talouse tomorrow.