The Cat report (this week)

[above: photo of Buffy]

Another busy week in the cat room means a lot of turnover among the cats.

Mr. MARKLEY is still with us, and very much I think the room’s dominate personality. He went out on his usual walk and got a lot of attention (of the ‘if only I had room for another cat’ kind). Learned the important lesson that when he flops over belly-up he’s not asking for a belly rub but is just enjoying the cool feel of the tiles.  He ranged all over the store but had bad luck; it seemed wherever he went there was a dog there. Nice to see he's popular with the PetsMart staff.

Next out was dark calico BUFFY. Apparently recently a mama cat but her kittens are elsewhere. Only about a year old herself. Shy at first, she warmed up quickly, demonstrating her loud purr. When taken from her cage revealed herself to be a tree cat, moving around in the higher levels of the cat-tree. Very affectionate and very forceful about pushing her head against you to be petted. At one point climbed up on my lap. Eventually relaxed a little and even went exploring around the back part of the room. Cried at the end of my shift, unhappy to have to go back inside. 

The new bonded pair of ex-kittens (only about a year look but look like adult cats not kittens) were REMI and MIKE (black and grey, respectively). Remi is the braver of the two and came out for a while; Mike kept thinking about coming out but not doing it. When I went to help his dithering at once turned into a determination not to leave his cage. Remi is something of a talker, though not in Mr. Markley’s league.

Of the five kitten last week two are still with us: dark calico BISKIE and little yellow LOAF. They clearly felt they had to wait too long for their turn but thoroughly enjoyed being out. It was fun to watch them playing sometimes separately, sometimes together. It was not till the end of shift that I noticed the little spot of orange at the tip of  BIskie's tail. They too were unhappy to go back into cages and joined in the chorus.

Happy to say the cats were much admired, with lots of folks ooh-ing and ahh-ing and taking their pictures. Hope their turns at adoption come soon, esp. Mr. Markley.

Health concerns: none that I noticed.

—JR

UPDATE: Saturday February 12th

--Only the next day, and already three of the six cats have gone to their new homes: MR.MARKLEY, little BISKIE, and little LOAF. I'll miss our walks together, but I'm especially pleased that twelve year old Markley will have a place of his own.  --JDR