tried again sent them to upload and then it just froze on me saying something
on the lines of error....I have had enough for tonight.
Thanks

Funny thing is he hates his belly rubbed ;-)

one of my favorites

Never forget that day

Just by looking at her you can tell she is stubborn

Hi Clare,

Got some great news we visited the cats and wow were they all great.  A
family were there before us and have got 2 gorgeous kittens (there first cats)

All the kittens there have all been re-homed - no surprise there they were
lovely.  However we are so pleased with the ones we chose....My husband said
to me yesterday that he would love a black cat...This may be because his
sisters cat Jazz who has HIV is so lovely.  The good thing is he held a black
long haired one called Porcha who is only 2 and smiled...yes he said I want
her....Of course I said no problem. The good thing is black cats struggle to
get re-homed so we have helped one...No need for superstition!
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This tends to be the way with kittens. I suppose that most people see them as
young & feel that they can mould the kitten around their lifestyles, I guess?
I'm delighted that you managed to get down there today too, so that you got
first pick of the rest of the cats, that you have decided that will be
joining you. Actually, you sound worse than me, Lol...walking out with half
of the sanctuary.. & why not if you have the love and expense to share with
them?!!

I tend to believe that the best cats, are the ones that choose you. As you
say, if Pocha decided to bat her eye-lids @ your husband, then there was a
spark between them which bodes well. Great news & I am so pleased for you all.
Did you ask if there were any behavioural problems, or physical problems that
you might need to take into account by any chance? The only reason that I
mention this is because you pointed out that your sister in laws cat has FIV?
If this was the case, however, I feel sure that the rescue centre would have
pointed this out to you, because they are aware that you have a multi cat
household. if you didn't it is not too late to check now. Don't let it stop
you adopting the cat though, it is simply something that it is best to be
aware of.. I think a few people here have cats with FIV, so there will be
plenty of advice "IF" you needed it. the first one that comes to mind is
Lynne, with Levis. Now she has done a brilliant job of coping with it! Anyway,
it is all "IF's right now, not "when"...

( I'm sure that they would have mentioned this to you though.- I would!)

Brill re: black cat superstition too. it is ridiculous really. They are
brilliant cats!!!! ( in time you will meet Meeps, Jodie's cat. she is an all
solid black & has a super character to match)

I have had 2 black cats so far, & both of the were super cats. Big Puss &
Little Puss ( how original, lol!! ;o). One died of a tumour on his bladder, &
the other one decided that he didn't want to move with us, within the same
village,. We tried to get him to stay with us for over 4 months of collecting
him every other day from our old house, but every single time we let him out
again, he went straight back to underneath his favourite Willow tree. In the
end, he was adopted by our neighbor when he was 12. It broke my heart in a
way, but OTOH, @ 10years old, I worride that one day he would get run over
making his way back to what he considered as home, which meant crossing a
quite a major road... so I knew it was for the best, but I didn't like it at
all. In the end, I did what I thought was best for Big Puss, & he lived to a
grand old age of 22 years old!!

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My 6 year old
looked and stroked a lot of them of course it was hard, but you know don't
you?  Two had only been rescued yesterday from a flat (8 months old) a ginger
and a black one...Tempting but I was drawn from the beginning and was when I
met them to yes are you ready...I got my Charlie and Chester...I am sat
smiling now coz we are homing 3 lovely cats all 2 years old.  Charlie and
Chester had been re-homed once and brought back :-(  The lady is pleased that
we are homing them....What a great day.  We are getting them on the Tuesday,
day after bank holiday Monday :-)
If you visit the link in a previous post Mayflower Sanctuary you will be able
to see them...
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Oh dear, I do feel for him, however, it might set a president for him in the
future. you never know!
I imagine he just wanted his own kitten? Never mind, I am more than certain
that you will find that once they all come home with you, he will be
enthralled with them all.

I understand the temptation, but I am glad that you went with your head &
with your heart too. Charlie & Chester seem to have chosen you as their new,
forever - slave, & this can only be a good thing, Lol :o)

I went straight into the link that you provided for us, & see exactly why
they called to you. My guess is that Chester & Charlie batted their eye lids
@ you too? Porcha was ever so pretty too!
There is nothing like a good leg weave & head but to convince your potential
new slave that you are the best choice they could possibly ask for. I wonder,
did you ask why they were returned to the shelter @ all? It would be
interesting to know what the problem was, & why they felt they had to return
them. It could be something as petty as they didn't get on with the Dog, to
they were an expert little Houdini's . @ least if you know why, you can be
aware of the problem  ( IF, there was one, that is) & be alert for any
signals that they might display.

I bet they were delighted that you offered 3 homes. I know that I certainly
would have been.. It isn't every day that someone walks in to offer what you
have, & a huge success for both you, the cats & them homing them as well :o)

It sounds like an excellent day for all concerned. You have time to prepare
for them, The shelter know that they can take another 3 cats or kittens &
mentally, you need to be psyched up ready for them all. You also need to be
prepared for some hostility on Rover's behalf though. Remember, this is his
pad & Slave's that we are talking about here, so he might not quite so
enthralled as you all might be- that is not to say that he will, but be ready
for it, just in case. They need introducing slowly. Anyone here will be able
to help you introduction details. I will email you privately with tips that
we use to introduce our cats to one another. It isn't hard, it is just
consistency really, & being prepared for it all.

I have a cat that looks just like Charlie ( @ least I think it is Charlie
rather than Chester?)

Meet Ringo Super star- He moved in with us, & is my son, Ross's cat.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/sheelaghmadden/RINGOTHESPICEMOG
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We have got to keep them in for 3-4 weeks to get used to us and there new
environment.  Charlie and Chester have not been out so any advice on this?  I
know cats can stay indoors, but I am used to letting them out...
I am so excited and I know Donny will be pleased that we have rescued 3
lovely cats in his memory.

That sounds like a good thing. they will need at least that long to give
cats time to settle down, & share their real/ true characters.

Ooohhh...- Ummm!!
This is a very controversial subject on here. I can see it from both sides of
the fence though.
As you know, in the UK, we all tend to let out cats out, install a cat flap,
then allow them to come and go as they please. It is also exactly what I used
to do too. However, since allowing them to roam where they wished to, after
all, they were neutered & spayed... Ringo, my Ginger male (or I should say,
my son's cat!), went out a few months ago, & was shot by a BB gun, just below
the eye, @ point blank range as well. It cost him the sight in his eye, & me
a terrific Bill @ the vets surgery too. Since, that happened, we also heard
news of one of our kittens being shot under similar circumstances, & it cost
Jack,( the blue colour point Ragdoll), his life :o( It was a terrible thing
to go through, so we decided that the best thing to do, was to build our own
cat run in the back garden, so that we could allow them as much freedom as
was reasonably possible, but contain them so that no one can ever get the
chance to hurt any of them ever again.
You must bare in mind that, this was my personal choice, & that you must do
whatever is best for you & your family... Not what I feel was best for mine,
OK?

OTOH, I think that it would be best to keep them in for the duration of the
first four weeks. don't feel guilty about it, after all, they have been far
more contained as it were since they have been @ the shelter. They need this
time,  to get used to you, Porcha, & Rover as well. Once you have got to the
stage where they accept one another, then they need to bond with each other.
by keeping them in, you are speeding up that process, & not forcing Rover
into a situation that he didn't ask for, want or expect. Have you ever heard
of Feliway? It is a cat pheromone that makes cats feel @ ease. I think a
diffuser might come in handy here, to allow them to learn to feel relaxed in
one another's company. I will go in to detail about Feliway later for you, ok?

I'm not sure how Cat Kb works, but you can get my email address on here, by
following the instructions on how to unlock the email address, & then you can
email me if you wish to. OK?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please check the pictures out on the link previously given a few days ago and
you will smile.  I feel great I got 3 more to make 4 cats in total.  I am
confident that Rover will be fine as he is the eldest and the boss LOL.
Thank you for reading this and I promise to keep in touch.
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I have had a second comparison, & I'm ever so pleased for you. Of course, it
made me grin!!
I'm certain it has made loads of us grin actually. Not everyone posts all the
time- preferring to read, & only contribute when something close to their
hearts appears. So loads of people will see this & think of you, which is why
it is always so good when people come back to tell us how things are going.
Remember, it doesn't matter what time of the day or night, if you want to
talk to someone about anything that is worrying you about them, then just let
your fingers do the talking, & someone will respond usually.

it looks like your little lad has a lot to look forward to (as do both you &
your husband too;o)...
We can't wait for the photo's, stories & news of course too- And thank you
for taking the time to read this as well
Best of luck, hope you enjoy your hols, & can't wait for more news on you all,

Sheelagh >"o"<

You've done very well indeed Clare & the 3 kitties look like they will be
great additions to your family. I would be asking the shelter why Charlie &
Chester were returned just to know for your own information, but trust your
judgement on your own impressions of them. The 2 beauties I have right now
were both previously adopted & returned - Little Devil, my tuxedo boy was
dumped in a box & left out in the rain late in the night in my vet's parking
lot & was found the next morning. And Coco, I'm his 4th & final owner & he's
kind-of cream & white colored & I got Coco(puff) when he was around 4-6
months old. Both of these kitties are wonderful & I can't imagine why their
previous owners didn't want them. Well, Little Devil is a high-energy devil
but he's adorable.

Take your time introducing them & many people here can advise you if you need
some help. Looking forward to hearing about all your cats. BTW, I've also
always gone & got a new kitty after the death of any of my cats & all mine
have lived at least 15 years. You can see Little Devil & Coco on webshots
http://pets.webshots.com/album/547068108fIJykY  or by searching on webshots
under my screen name mariib  
M.