Coco and Chanel dilemma

[Lilith]

That photo reminds me so much of my Tess and Mouse ... when I first got to know them there was Charlotte the Harlot (she was such a tart she'd go with anyone) who had her kittens in a neighbour's house and was taken to the CP, pregnant Emily, Charlotte's adult daughter, who brought her five gingers across the street to me, Charlotte's sister Tess with the bellyful of little D'Urbervilles, and Mouse, kitten from a previous litter. When the dust (or the kittens) settled, and after the little D'Urbervilles left for the CP, I had Emily and brood in the back bedroom and Tess and Mouse in the bathroom, newly spayed, with the understanding that they were 'spayed and returned to site' and that I'd care for them whatever they wanted to do. It didn't take them long to decide. A kind neighbour (the one who'd taken Charlotte in) customised an old rabbit hutch which we put in my back shed, with warm blanket and warm milk each night and a tray, but Tess and Mousey soon came to my back door, and like C&C, found the cushion in front of the kitchen radiator and, no, we are NOT going to live in that shed ANY MORE, we are living with Emily and you!

And they did

[booktigger]

Yes, they do, don’t they Ruth? Part of my reservation is being confined to one room for so long, even though they don’t seem at all bothered, and rarely show any interest in the door. How long it takes to gain confidence varies from cat to cat, but these are clearly more stubborn, which you would expect with the Siamese background, and bizarrely females are harder to socialise than males, and it is easier if you only have one to socialise. The saving grace is that despite my reservations, they seem content with their lot, especially now they have the catio and that is the most important thing. Coco is still happy to eat part of her supper off my hand every night, how much varies depending on her mood! Sun night she wasn’t that in the mood (could have been my nail varnish actually), she lifted her paw and I said ‘no paws, just mouth please’ and she actually stopped, considered this, then put her paw down. She did end up hitting my arm, but then ate out of my hand. I think I am going to go for adoption, as even if they agree with long term fostering, they still have the ultimate say in what happens to them, and could overrule me.

[Ruth B]

They look happy and that is the main thing, i did hear of one cat that was in a shelter and lived 11 years in one room while they tried to find a home for it, cats are very adaptable and as long as they are warm, well fed, and have enough to stimulate them in the way of toys, climbing trees and windows they can manage fine in a small area as long as they get some human contact.

I'm sure that Coco and Chanel are far better off in your room than they would be in a lot of other situations and if you do adopt them you have the security that they are yours and no one can decide that somewhere else would be better, you now know the pair better than anyone else. It doesn't sound like the rescue has been overly helpful in sorting out the technicalities of a long term foster.

[booktigger]

Yes, it is the main thing Ruth. Wow, I’ve never heard of a cat in rescue that long, poor thing. I’m not sure how much these two would be bothered by a lack of human contact mind you! Unfortunately, it is has been an awkward year for the charity, with a move that took a lot longer than anticipated, and fortunately I’m experienced enough, and happy enough to pay for their stuff that I’ve been left to my own devices with them. We didn’t get chance to talk after the committee meeting last night, so will wait for them to remember again.

[Ruth B]

I saw an article on the news a while ago about the cat that had been up for rehoming for 11 years and kept in the same foster room all that time, and had just been offered a home, so while I believe it is probably true, or close to it, like anything you read on the internet there is always a pinch of salt ready to go with it. Unfortunately with the number of cats needing homes if there is one that isn't particularly pretty and is a bit shy I can believe they could be overlooked for that long.

Moves of any type take longer than expected and there is always more upheaval than anticipated so I can understand them being distracted. Bring the subject up when you feel the time is right, the only thing is that at least once you have adopted them officially there is no chance of suddenly homes being found that you don't think are suitable, particularly homes that separate them.

[Lilith]

I once knew someone who kept two cats from kittenhood, neutered sister and brother, in a room 12' square, with tiny kitchen adjoining. They weren't allowed elsewhere. I didn't meet the cats; they'd died in their mid-teens but from what I was told, the brother bullied the sister and although a small outdoor run was made for them in their later years, the boy forbade the girl to go outside. She outlived him by a year I think - bit of peace for her! The owner was a, shall we say, very rigid personality (sorry if that sounds bitchy, but they were) and I didn't want them near any of my cats without supervision; they were the kind of person who teased rather than played with or gave affection.

Compared to this, I think Coco and Chanel are on velvet, in clover! Confined quarters aren't ideal, but with love and affection and proper care, I think they can work, and a darned sight safer than the street

[booktigger]

I’ve known cats (especially in larger rescues where there is more choice) spend a few years looking for a home, but find it hard to believe over a decade with no interest, or the fosterer not wanting to keep the cat. At least they were in a foster environment, CP have a rule of cats not being with one fosterer more than 6 months, which I understand if they are in a pen environment, there isn’t much you can do to enrich things for them. The rescue Lucy is from took dogs that had spent 10+ years in a rescue that unfortunately just took dogs in with no efforts to rehome and no real vet treatment, at least 2 of them had to be PTS within a week with health issues that hadn’t come up overnight. Two had been given up as pups and spent I think 11 years there, so couldn’t be homed as they knew nothing else and were so timid due to a lack of socialisation, so they enriched one of their rooms and they were really happy, sadly both died recently (the second one this week actually). Wow Lil, makes you wonder why she had cats! Poor little girl, closed quarters and bullied! Yes, the girls are living the dream compared to those!

Yes, things never quite go to plan, and unfortunately it has also been a lot more expensive than we thought too! I’m not sure when the time would be right to bring it up, I was quite happy to just maintain status quo until this week, but now I’ve been forced to think about it I feel I need to go down the adoption route, while I would hope the manager would listen to me, she has forgotten the conversation about keeping them as long term once, and I don’t want to keep being in this position. I couldn’t bear the thought of them being separated either.

[Lilith]

I can't see that anyone in their right mind could take them from you now after all your devotion and hard work - to say nothing of expense! But good luck! x

[booktigger]

Little update, will post pics later as they are on my phone. Another good week with the girls, Coco is still happily eating part of her supper from my hand every night – she is even happy stretching over to get food from the palm of my hand, one day I used the opportunity to sneak a touch of her cheek, the first time I did it she sat back and gave me a ‘not sure about that’ look, the second time she moved away – I was just pleased there was no hissing or scratching! She has also got close enough one night for her paw to be touching my hand. She often drops them at the side of my hand and she has no issue with having to touch my hand to get those. Sat night she even came down to the middle level of the den for her supper. Wed night they took the rainbow cord into the catio with them, seemed sweet until I struggled to retrieve it! She has started asking to play in the morning now too, yesterday was hilarious, they both had one end so it was a bit like tug of war! I have a dilemma with the catio now, it is getting too cold to leave it open all day, my neighbour would come and shut it at lunch, but not sure whether they would rather be out in the afternoon or the morning, so reluctant to agree to that, but then the room does get cold. Chanel has been so funny, here is a pic of her asking to be played with! Thu morning she must have been really hungry, she’s never rubbed my legs as much while I’ve been sorting the food out! Yesterday she sniffed my head and then purred!!

[Ruth B]

A couple of thoughts for you.

If they are still using the Catio during the day and do they really mind it being a bit cold? They have nice warm beds inside and I assume the radiator is on when the window is shut in the evening to warm it up for over night. They might be fine with it open as long as it isn't making your house too cold.

If you do decide to shut it for half a day, would it be easier for a neighbour just to open it for them, rather than have the worry of trying to get them to come in if they are enjoying the sunshine outside.

Finally would it be possible to hang some of the plastic screening they use for open door ways when they want to stop the draft getting in. The type i'm thinking of is long fairly wide strips, I would guess there would be about 4 strips covering the window, and is clear or translucent plastic, its the type of thing we had at one of the factories i worked at when one of the doors was left open constantly. I'm sure both Coco and Chenel would be able to work out how to get between the strips of plastic to get to the open window, particularly if they were a bit longer and hung down over the closed part of the window, so they could get under them and then jump up.

They do sound like they are doing very well and enjoying life with you in their own little way, as all cats do.

[booktigger]

That was my comment when my neighbour said I shouldn’t have it open too long Ruth, not only do they have fur, warm beds and each other (they do often curl up in one bed together), but my heating is on a Honeywell system that is designed to keep the house at a certain temperature, so it will come on during the day, and while some heat obviously will go through the window, they have beds on the floor and on the windowsill that they will get heat from. The downside is that even though I shut the window properly (before I kept it on the trickle vent all the time), the room doesn’t seem to be heating up. I did contemplate her coming at lunch to open it, but they do like to go out before breakfast and use it as a scratching post… Yesterday I opened it, realised it was very wet and windy, and shut it again, first time I’ve done that (although when I was away my neighbour refused to open it one day because it was windy!) – glad when I got in the car to discover it was only 4 – maybe my rule should be less than 5, they only get it for an hour before I go to work. That didn’t work today, didn’t seem to bad, so was shocked to find the car said 2!!

[Lilith]

Perhaps you should invest in one of those long-armed tong things used by disabled people to pick things off the floor, to grab anything out of the catio that C&C take in.

Slow but sure does it. I'm now thrilled that I can stroke That Molly's face at last - after 7 years!

Still get bitten sometimes though!

[booktigger]

If they keep doing it, I'll have to. Came home early today but Coco didn't want to come in, was playing with nothing in the catio, you know how they get with wind in their fur.

Forgot about the pics I mentioned, here are some, including a light bottle I got at the weekend froma local charity x mas fair

1542396773586.jpeg (77.98 KiB) Viewed 408 times

[Lilith]

Oh those light bottles are good, now you can get fairylights that don't heat up; I made one myself, landscaping a biorb thingy (useless for fish) and filling it with lights, they're so effective.

C&C are getting confident - oh and love to Lucy too

[Ruth B]

Looking at those pictures made me think she looks just like a friends cat, another, alleged, Ragdoll. His previous cat had had to be pts due to cancer and he had sworn he would never have another as it hurt too much. He was taking an unused bag of cat litter back to the shop and saw an advert for a Ragdoll kitten that was being sold as the owner had found out they were allergic to her. Soon he was back at the shop restocking on everything else a kitten needed.

Seven years on she is a big, chunky, very fluffy cat.

As we're feeding her while he is away for the weekend I thought I'd add a picture so you can see the resemblance. (There's nothing wrong with her eye, its just reacting to the flash)

[booktigger]

Was a bit worried about Chanel on Sun, they went in the catio as I was cleaning the room, it was wet and windy, Chanel hated it! One shelf was wet and one was dry, you can imagine which one they chose! Chanel ended up cowering behind Coco and retreating into herself, luckily deli catz brought her round. She wouldn't let me help dry her, her tail looks fluffy again, trying to get her to show her belly to check that, I really hope she doesn't Matt- my friend commented last week how good her fur was, her ruff gets a bit scraggly but that's it.

[booktigger]

Took their beds out to wash ready to go with the new ones for Christmas, luckily one didn't fit in the machine, so they had to share it, poor things. Never mind, tomorrow they will have 5 between them - they aren't spoiled though. It looks like Chanel is thinking 'ooh, is she going to feed us' while Coco is thinking 'god, she's back again!'

[Lilith]

'They aren't spoiled'



You could have fooled me!

Lovely to see them as always, bonny lasses, and love to Lucy too x

[Ruth B]

Totally deprived and neglected, only one bed above the radiator.

They are looking great.

[booktigger]

Totally deprived and neglected, only one bed above the radiator.

They are looking great.

I know, better not show the rescue, they may change their mind about me adopting them! Chanel has been getting some matts recently, mainly after going in the catio when it's wet, luckily they fall out but I dread to think what she'd look like as an outdoor cat

[Mayday21]

Hi Desley hope you, Coco & Chanel had a great Xmas. They certainly look very contented girls on that mat. Fusses to the beautiful girls, Vivian & the Famous Five from Oz.

[booktigger]

Well, apart from having to out up with me spending more time with them and not liking their special food and treats! They are still refusing to use the new bed, glad the radiator bed didn't fit!

[Lilith]

Ha, I bought a radiator bed over 2 years ago and it has NEVER been used. Molly keeps her toys in it ...

[booktigger]

Slightly late, but paperwork has been signed, so the girls are officially mine, so let’s hope it was the right decision for them! Just waiting for the microchip details to be done. Chanel has been different since, not sure if it is co-incidence or not, but she keeps being a floozy, rolling over to show her belly, and stretching her paws out, although I’m not allowed to try and touch her back. She often gazes at me and purrs, which is lovely, and she has started to get really affectionate when I’m doing their food, rubbing against my leg, this morning she forgot herself and actually laid on my foot before realising and jumping up! Yesterday Coco was in the catio after I’d finished cleaning and I always give them treats, I put my hand through the window to put them on the shelf and she didn’t freak out, just watched me, then I heard her eating them when my back was turned. Not sure I ever shared this very first picture of Coco, while she was still at the rescue, but she is barely recognisable! They do seem happy and content with what they have, although Chanel doesn’t really know any different, and this may be the best home Coco has ever had. Chanel is looking quite scruffy though, her ruff seems massive and she doesn’t seem to groom it that well. She has started developing matts since going outside, luckily she has very silky fur so they drop out quite easily. They like the new bed now, although do favour the old one!

[Ruth B]

That is brilliant news.

It could well be that now the decision is made and the paperwork completed, you have relaxed a little, no more wondering what ifs, and they have picked up on it and relaxed a little as well.

Watch out with the mats. Blue used to get some which we could keep on top of easily, however one year he was going out and getting wet during the day and then hiding under the bed in the evening when the fireworks were going off, which meant we were rather distressed when we realised that both flanks were thick with mats that had formed in a matter of a few weeks. It took several more weeks to get them out through brushing and cutting them out (using a metal comb to protect his skin). It could have been done quicker at the vets but that would have meant sedating him so we decided slow and steady was a better option, and fortunately he didn't mind being handled.

I know your pair are far harder to groom due to their past, so I was wondering if one of the self grooming arches would work for them (assuming you haven't already got one and assuming they would actually use it)

Give them both a fuss from me (or as much of a fuss as you can, I don't want to upset them).

[Lilith]

Congrats on the ownership - both to you and C&C!

Coco looks like an owl ...

Ha - my Mouse with the short plushy/silky Siamesey coat has terrible matted britches and she's recovering from an enema so I'm not mauling her about with the brush atm ... what is it about this time of year - I thought they were supposed to moult in spring? Is it the central heating? Molly's shedding too and all her hairs seem to get up my nose ... then there's me, crinkly semi-dreads shedding - no, definitely don't need to find Lil-hairs in the pasta ... Shahi-python's a great deal more convenient; he just slides out of his.

[booktigger]

That could well be the case Ruth, and I also quit my voluntary work last month, so I have had more time for them and probably been more relaxed – I did wonder whether part of last week was with me going back to work after having 2 weeks off, Lucy was a lot clingier too. Luckily only Chanel is fluffy, I might try one of those arches, I’d forgotten about them. The girls amused me last night, then Lucy was being daft, it made me think that all 3 have ended up with me because they have issues that make them hard to home, but I’m lucky to have them. It is odd not having to get insurance quotes, they are the first in years that haven’t had insurance. Finally got a pair of them together, you can’t tell on this but Chanel is purring – only being a slight floozy though.

[Mayday21]

Hi Desley that’s good news after the start others have had to 2019. I’m sure you’re relieved no more hassles. Btw I have ‘issues’ can I move in too? Vivian

[booktigger]

Sadly no space for humans in my house Viv!

Managed to do this, a comparison between when they first came and a year on, the Sept 17 pic is the first time I saw Coco not in hiding, massive difference in her. Now she even asks for things (play, reading, treats!).

[Mayday21]

Definite change in attitude. Btw I pmsged you & re your comment about humans moving in. Years ago a male friend commented to me on watching me with Mayday “If I laid on your couch all day would you cuddle & stroke me?” “ Yep if you used the litter tray & ate cat food..” Conversation closed. Vivian