CAT REPORT: ZODIAC KITTENS

 So, last Friday I finally made if back in to the cat room after several weeks away, during which time a lot of cats came and went. I wrote up this report at the time but have been remiss about posting it; decided to go ahead and post this now, following it up with an update tomorrow.

Little LIBRA

The only resident cat when I arrived was little LIBRA, the four month old black and white (mostly black) Zodiac kitten. As the only cat there, he got lots of attention for the first half of the shift. I can report that he’s a great kitten, who loves the string game and the laser pointer. He’s not so fond of being held but will tolerate it for the time it takes to be picked up here and set down there. I wanted to see if he was a prospect for walking but he wdn’t accept a collar, much less a harness, and did a sort of backwards flip to get out of it. He talks —not chatter but when trying to get your attention, as when he wanted out of his cage.

A fellow volunteer came in and was a great help, filling out the cat information cards that go on the outside of the glass. Having two of us there was especially helpful when the rest of the cats arrived. Their fosterer brought in four more, all part of the same litter (or possibly two), as indeed is Libra. The newcomers are

GEMINI (torbie)

AQUARIUS (calico)

SIRIUS (tabby)

PISCES (black & white, v. like Libra). like him, a talker.

We put Libra back in his big cage, while the foursome got the entire bottom row (all four sections connected together). I’d sprayed these with Bliss Mist for newcomers, thinking it might help them adjust. 

They all wanted out, so I had Libra stay in his cage for now and let all four of the others out. They proceeded to explore and play like only kittens can. I was glad to see that Libra sometimes joined in and played some by reaching down through the bars. Favorite games included string, the little red dot, a feather duster, and a catnip sachet. I thought they might enjoy the sachet but had to take it away: they set to playing with it with such enthusiasm that I was afraid they might rip it open.

There were lamentations when it was time to go back in their cage but I’d have to say this is a really great bunch of kittens, winsome and well-behaved. I can’t imagine they’ll be with us long.

—John R.

P.S. In the photo above that’s Aquarius to the left, Gemini to the right, and Sirius in the middle

UPDATE: Little Libra got adopted the very next day. And a few days longer saw Gemini and Aquarius (two sisters) go to their new home together. The two brothers, Sirius and Pisces, are still with us, but the way things are going I suspect  it won't be for long.

More tomorrow.

--JDR