The profile photo!!!

I just wanted to say this in more appreciation for my lovely boyfriend who stuck with me even that I was not spending much time on Catster and I am so far away, living in Africa - almost other side of the world from where he is, LOL!

I know that my brother and my three sisters changed their primary photo to most recent one at times, but there is no way ever I'd change mine!!! I just refuse. So, forgive me for that.

My main image is the design that my darling Little J. gave me, and up to now and always I don't see anything better in what mom has taken of myself that could be any better picture to represent my true me!!!

I love my Little J. to bits and that design means lots to me.
That's why I never change it. And I never will.

This design is so special to me and very artistic in it's sense and I'm very grateful once again, even if Little J. will decide that I'm not much of a girlfriend, being out of touch most of the time.

Did you know that boy-cats can have more than one girlfriend? Yes, we do. We also can have more than one wife also - and it's great, it's not anything to do with human standards.

So, if my love - Little J. will find a lovely girl to love as much as he loves me - I'd want to know that lovely person and be proud to share such special love. That's how we cats are. We understand being one in many...

Just to say that I miss my darling Little J. so much - which is entirely my mommy's fault.
So, I find comfort with my sweet brother Johnie who reminds me of my boyfriend a lot by character nowadays. But Johnie says to me that he can't replace my love, but just being a good friend...

Message to my mommy - pop on to Catster more often, and we want to stay in-touch as much as you do with your own stuff...
Or else - I'll not snuggle onto you in your bed anymore, LOL! I have a private life too!

Cane Rat

One day Janie was chasing that huge Cane Rat around the place.
We joined to look.

Boy-oh-boy, that rat was bigger then myself in body, and just slightly smaller than Janie (not counting it's tail)!!!

But then mom saw it and she was running after us to try to get us away from that rat, cos she thought that that rat would hurt us.

It was so funny with Janie chasing the rat, mommy running after Janie and all of us running after mommy.

So, eventually everyone was running in circles and we chased that rat into the house, where Mia (our dog) slept. She promptly woke up and chased that monster away from the property.

Later our vets said that Cane Rats are humble creatures and will not harm anything unless seriously cornered. But... that rat, if cornered, could seriously injure a cat, but not a dog.

So, Mia saved us all from that rat, cos she put such a scare in it and it never came back.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE!

I am so proud to say that I made it to be a finalist in two categories.

In 'climber': Vote Midnight for Best in Show!more: cats
and in 'scaredy cat': Vote Midnight for Best in Show!more: cats.



I want to thank everyfur who voted for me - It is only because of you that I made it!
And I also want to thank all of you for my family too. You made it happen for my sisters Janie and Ambie! Thank you so so much!

My sis Janie also came through to finals in two categories:

The 'captivated cat': Vote Janie for Best in Show!more: cats
and the 'scaredy cat': Vote Janie for Best in Show!more: cats!

Ambie is a finalist in 'stretch and yawn':
Vote Ambie for Best in Show!more: cats

We decided to vote for Janie in 'captivated cat' for best in show: this one - Vote Janie for Best in Show!more: cats

Please help her win if you like her picture.
Thank you so much once again and again for voting for us to all of you.

Love & Light to everyfur,
Midnight

Sorry for repeat to whoever read our story before

I must apologize to everyfur who has before read 'THE TALE OF HOPE' in a Diary of May.

Recently May said that it is my story more than anyone else's from our fur-family, so I must have it in my Diary.
So, we did that and May transfered the story to me and I excepted it.

See, when May hosted our story - we didn't have our own accounts with Catster. That's why it's been in May's diary.

So, once again, my previous post is perhaps something you already know. Our Story has not been changed.

Love & Light to everyfur,
Midnight.

OUR STORY (The Tale of Hope)

May thought that Our Story would be more appropriate in my diary.

So, here it is.
-----------------------------------------------

THE MESSAGE of JILL

I was called Jillie in my previous life.

I was only a little tiddy-bit stray kitten-baby of 2 weeks old then, abandoned by my own mother and dying from starvation. Somehow my brother and sister were not there anymore to give me some warmth and my mother stopped supporting us with any drink and food some while ago. I sometimes felt her from a distance, but she would not come, I cried and cried until my voice almost gave up and vanished. I was very scared by all hostile noises around, I was suppose to watch for some bogie-beings that would hurt me - my mother told us about them, but I still don't know what they were. I was stiff-scared, hungry, thirsty and about to die. That is when I felt lifted, and...

Later I remember being with a very nice old human-lady, who took me into a warm place, brushed me and fed me, and shortly after that she also ensured that I joined with a nice family who (joy-oh-joy) had my siblings - what a miracle!
I got well very quickly, my brother and sister loved me be back with them, most of other beings in the family were very friendly and understanding. I was very happy there and was looking forward for a long happy life.

But..., couple of weeks later, I had to give up my life in order to ensure safety of my brother and sister.
I knew I had to do it, because there was one bogey-being there that had threatened all of us. I felt very bad about that being, but also I felt a bit sorry for him.

If you want to ask who am I and why am I saying all this - I am an old soul, I am a spirit of love and compassion, though I am also a very playful and mischievous one, when I want to be, I must admit.

But now I am happy in my new body, my same human-mom loves me the way I am and encourages my being.

Now my name is Midnight and I am 7 month old kitten (and by the stated date of my diary entry - I am just about 4 month from being a glorious two-year-old).
I am well loved and cared for, but in size I am still a tiddy-bit girl. I chose to experience the start of this life that of my mother in my previous one, and I resemble her somewhat in this incarnation.

At the age of 2 month I ended up in the shelter, but by that time I already was underdeveloped and starved. I wanted to come back to the family I left, because they all were very sad when I went away as Jillie, and they called me to be with them again. I didn't mean to leave them then, but what I did - had to be done.

So, be it as it may, I am now back here.

The story our human-mom put together is an accurate capture of events that really happened from the human people perspective. Over to our mommy now.
______________________________________________

21st July 2009 Author’s note
 
This tale is based on a true story and dedicated to the stray kitten (she may as well represent so many more like her, being a child of ‘a mistake’ because of careless humans who would not spay or neuter their pets) – kitten about 4 to 6 month old, whom I never had pleasure to meet and who was in-fact the mother of my two beautiful babies (who were spayed and neutered 2 weeks ago) – silver tabby boy 6 month of age – enormously large kitten for his age, with emerald-green eyes (DSH*) and smoky-white girl same age – normal looking (size-wise) kitten for her age, with sapphire-blue eyes (DMH*); and also dedicated to their charming sister - a precious little smoky-grey girl with sapphire-blue eyes (DSH*), who, perhaps, is with us again – so I believe.
And as strange as it may sound – it is also dedicated to the unfortunate dog, who was never neutered and lived his miserable 14 years of life.
 
* DSH and DMH stands for Domestic Short Hair and Domestic Medium Hair being a description of a breed for cats that don’t belong to any known cat breeds.
 
All names in this tale are changed.
-------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------
 
THE TALE OF HOPE
 
Elderly lady woke up from an annoying noise – ‘Ahh, alarm gone off once more. Must be that cat around in the yard again’ – she thought. (Walls surrounding the yard were tall with cut-wire on top to some sides of it, and she had a beautiful orchard and vegetable garden inside, which she maintained proudly.)
Lady got up, reset the alarm and tried going back to sleep. As she was lying awake in the night, she thought: ‘how unfair it is that one has to set an alarm all the time, why some humans are so bad, wanting to break into other peoples’ properties… well, we have to protect ourselves then, don’t we?’
 
This lady didn’t have anything against cats – no, she didn’t – she loved cats, she had some special ones before in her life. But… a sound night sleep counted for a lot at this point. She was really tired and feeling sick from sleepless nights. ‘This is just not working’ – the lady thought. ‘I can’t keep waking up three to five times in the night due to our alarm going off, and I can’t afford to disengage it either, so I must stay awake and wait for calls of the security company which we have link with – we were robbed more than one can handle, we must have this security. But…, I will speak to my young daughter when she comes back, maybe she will think of a way to stop this disturbance’.
 
When the young daughter came home from work on Friday and was told all about the alarm, she decided that this stray cat must be gotten rid of – her mother cannot live like that anymore. She called local SPCA and they came with special cages and the bait inside them. They set all up and left.
 
Next few nights alarm kept going off and mother with her daughter just waited till the morning only to find cages empty and bait gone. SPCA told that they can’t help anymore and “washed their hands”, leaving the family to sort it out for themselves. They mentioned though: ‘Well, if you catch the cat – bring it to us and we will try to find home for it’. ‘Thanks for that…’ – lady thought.
 
For many nights alarm was going off and there was no luck in catching this cat, so, the daughter decided that this was enough – she got a rat kill, mixed it thickly into juicy meat balls and put them all around the place.
 
Cat kept coming for the following 3 months or so, setting off the alarm. Daughter and mother laughed to themselves, thinking: ‘well, the cat probably ate the rat kill, said ‘thank you’ and was coming for more’. But then – after all this time – alarm stopped going off. This was a relief.
 
Some months later they have seen a beautiful tom-cat around (smoky-grey, shiny coat, very large – enormous in size, in good condition, one eye was green and another was blue), he seemed to be like a cat that belonged to somebody, he showed up around couple of times from a distance, but did not set off an alarm.
Also, they saw a kitten-size stray scrawny cat going around. This one looked like tortie, mostly black though, but they were not able to observe it closer.
Later still, the alarm went off at night couple more times and mother with her daughter just left it be.
 
Some time passed…
 
One day the lady came into the house after her garden chores only to hear meowing noises somewhere around. Her brows went up and up hearing this; she went out into the yard again to see what is going on, only to find nothing. Going back into the house she heard noises again, she followed sounds and eventually they led the lady to her daughter’s bedroom… Guess what she found there?
 
Lady held her breath when she saw two baby kittens crawling on her daughter’s bed out of all places!
‘They must be just born not long ago! Where is the mother cat?!’ – she thought, but having looked closer, she saw that their eyes were quite open, and when they lifted their little faces towards her, lady thought that they might be perhaps about 2 weeks old by now. ‘Okay, - now, what am I going to do with you little ones?’ – Lady said – ‘no, my daughter will not be pleased about this, but especially not our good neighbour (who is a very sick old man, and our flats are not separated from the front), he will freak out if he finds out – he hates cats with all his might! And it is the rule in our garden flats that no pets are allowed – especially not cats! What to do? What to do…? Oh, you are such pretty little ones!’ – Lady thought and thought. Then she took the cardboard box, lined it with newspapers, put kittens there and took it into the garage for the time being, securely locking it. Lady decided against trying to handle kittens more for the fear of getting attached to them.
 
‘I know’ – the lady thought – ‘I will now phone my older daughter, who lives with her husband not far away from us. Though, they have two large vicious outdoor dogs there, but I know that 3 or so months earlier they have adopted from SPCA another puppy and a kitten! Puppy was eventually accepted by dogs, and nothing happened to their kitten! – Maybe she will take these two little precious babies too; after all – she said that she loves cats so much and in future wouldn’t mind to adopt more! These babies might be safer and have some chance there, rather than here anyway.’ So the lady did phone her older daughter.
 
15 minutes later the older daughter was at her mother’s gate…
She looked at kittens and was heartbroken about how young they were, abandoned by their mom, though, surprised that the mother cat had this courage and made such strange decision to bring her babies to the care of humans who did all they could to discourage cats from coming.
The older daughter was in turmoil, trying to decide what to do, she thought that young kittens as such will die with her without nursing on their mother, and she would not then be able to bare the loss of these little souls for which she would be responsible. The lady (let’s call her Mary) was very upset that her older daughter (let’s call her Hope) didn’t seem too enthusiastic to rescue these cutest babies. But… when leaving, Hope (feeling a strange pull in her heart) just turned around and grabbed that box with kittens and said: ‘well, if they die here or die at my place – what’s the difference? If they have no chance here at all (I know that you can’t keep them, though you want to) – then maybe there is some plan we can come up with at my place’. So, she left with two little puff balls sweetly sleeping in their first human-made bed.
 
Having arrived home Hope was already worried, thinking of how her little kitten Mara (precious 5 month old tortie who was about to be spayed) will feel about this. ‘How am I going to tell my husband about bringing in other kittens without having discussed it with him first?’ – thought Hope. (John and Hope went through a lot, trying to keep little Mara away and safe from vicious dogs they were looking after – especially the one who was not neutered male, – until Mara grew strong, fast and careful so, that she was able to keep herself safe, when going out into the yard).
 
When John arrived home he saw his wife being not herself. ‘What is the matter, love?’ – he asked.
Hope then went into her bedroom and retrieved the box with two sweet kittens sleeping there: ‘That is our problem now, John’ – she said – ‘and I had no choice in my heart, but to bring them here’.
 
After hearing Hope’s story, John responded in a way that a good human would – he said: ‘Well, I am against disposing of cats and we can’t just dump the kittens, but we also can’t yet have any more of them around – look what we went through with little Mara, having these dogs here! We decided to let these dogs live their lives, and after they are gone – we can think of adopting other beings. Think – how it 's going to be if a dog killed one of them?! Tomorrow you go to work, and I will take little kittens to SPCA so, they can take care of them and find them good loving homes.
Well, Hope was already attached to these little beings in a box, wanting to keep them, but a reasonable decision had to be made. After all, Mara was the only cat in the family and all had to be done to keep her happy and also for little kittens to be safe. Then Hope went and fed babies from little syringe with milk – she was pleasantly surprised when kittens sucked on this hard piece of plastic. She then put some food in front of them and all they managed is to just make their faces dirty. Mara simply took no interest in kittens, but Mickey (the chestnut mixed-breed puppy who was adopted together with Mara and they were best of friends from the start go), immediately took charge in mothering two little ones. She licked them all over, turned them around, cleaned their back sides and stimulated them into crawling around. Eventually kittens settled, nesting comfortably next to Mickey. Next thing – to the greatest surprise of Hope – little kittens crawled into the litter box, which was set up for them (left over from Mara, when she was little – Mara got a bigger one a while ago), so, they tried to perform there, only to dirty their fur, which Mickey-the puppy took care of promptly, licking them as clean as she could, but sometimes just smudging it all over one kitten’s longer white fur, which Hope had to go and wash up under the tap of warm water and then dry with a soft towel, with little one complaining bitterly about the water part.
 
That day at work was not very productive day for Hope, especially when John arrived back from SPCA with a box where two sweet kittens were wide awake now – they wanted food. Lucky for babies – Hope had a small container of milk and a small syringe that she took with her to work, not trusting what might happen, so – kittens clumsily sucked on the syringe, getting their little tummies full with some poor substitute for their mom’s milk.
John told Hope that he brought them back because people at SPCA said that (no matter how much they wanted to) they could not take such young kittens on without a mother (babies need constant attention), and being short of staff all they could do is put them to sleep for you. They also said that if you catch the mother – they will take them all, and later such cute kittens will certainly find homes, and with any luck – mother too will find a home. So, John just turned around and brought kittens right back.
 
Hope was relieved. She didn’t really know how it will affect little Mara having other cats in the family, but they took a chance. Later they took kittens to the vet for an inspection and an advice – only to hear that kittens are healthy and they could easily eat raw mince of different good quality meats now at their 2 to 3 weeks of age, and they should have an ad-lib kitten dry food put up for them, because they might be able to eat that too to develop their teeth, and of course, plenty of fresh water. Hope felt good, knowing that kittens will not die on them; especially that Mara had this kind of diet, and so it could be that little ones will eat the same. Dry kitten food being served ad-lib and raw mince added constantly wouldn’t be a problem, there would be no competition. Hope was happy about that, knowing that Mara, when eating, will encourage little ones to eat too by her example.
 
It happened that Mara was not all that upset with presence of new addition. Hope and John still paid same attention to Mara as always, though, attending to little kittens as well. Mara just stayed away from babies for couple of weeks, ignoring them, but later they became best friends. As for kittens – their other needs like their little tummies and botties being licked to stimulate them pass a poo – that was the job of Mickey.
 
So, little Josie - the kitten girl and little Jason - the kitten boy stayed, loved by everybody, having Mickey and two humans for a mother. And they were doing very well with these funny mothers.
 
Mary was happy and her younger daughter was delighted about kittens finding their home.
And this could be the happy-ever-after ending, until……………
 
Something else happened about a week from the time when Josie and Jason found their home.
 
Mary was sleeping peacefully without the alarm going off, when she was woken up by demanding meowing sounds coming from the car-port outside. She listened to it and decided – she will attend to this in the morning. Darkness of the night was replaced by dawn, and sure enough, meowing sounds occasionally continued, but from different places, Mary could not see anything making these sounds, no matter how hard she looked. She wondered – could this be another of the litter abandoned by the mother cat? She never saw, nor did she hear from that cat since Josie and Jason were found. So, Mary went and started looking around. She could see nothing. She then phoned her son-in-law to come and bring Mickey – the puppy girl, who cared for kittens so much. They came. But… not people, no puppy could find the other kitten. ‘Maybe the kitten died from starvation after all’ – Mary thought sadly.
 
John then said to Mary that please would she call him again if she, by any chance, found the mother cat with her kitten/s remaining or without – so he would take them to SPCA because they promised to take good care of them. Mary said: ‘Yes, of course, I will certainly do that’. Then John said that if there is a kitten or more alone – then please could she just let him know and he and Hope will take them as well. Mary said that she would do that too.
 
After all this elaboration Mary decided to engage her house worker in the search for remaining kittens and the mother-cat. So, one day, when Mary detected the faint meowing sound again – she sent her house worker to get that kitten out of wherever it was. And he went to do the job.
The outcome of this job was the following: he ended up retrieving the scruffy and starved gray kitten out of the bushes and so…, – Hope and John ended up with another sweet kitten-girl of the same litter. (Young sister suggested they called her Jessie – so it was.) They fed Jessie up and she was catching up with her siblings.
Mickey took her appearance with great joy, even though, being hissed at for some time.
 
Later still, unfortunately, the house worker also managed to catch the mother cat, in the process of which she scratched and bit him badly and, trying to keep her away from his face and not let her go - he killed her by accident, holding his hands around her neck too tight.
 
Mary was very upset about the mother cat. She buried her and eventually told Hope about it. She also said: ‘Oh, I don’t know how this poor cat gave birth – she was just a kitten herself, so small and tiny, looking 3 to 4 month old in size for normal kitten, but being a stray – maybe she would be as old as 5 to 6 month’.
Hope said – ‘well I wish all cats would have homes and these things would never happen to any of them, but I am grateful to this poor kitten-mother for giving me such beautiful gift of her children’.
 
Sure enough – three baby-kittens were loved so much by every being in the family, except for one…
 
…Ted was a large 14 year old dog, who lived with John and Hope along with his 12 year old sister Sera – they belonged to John’s son. When son had to leave for overseas with his family, he could not take his dogs with them – no matter how much he wanted to. So, with a heavy heart, he told his father that he can keep old dogs or put them down. John kept them. Hope never really came to love these beings for what they became to be. The female dog was spayed as a puppy, and the male dog was left intact for some reason, which caused these two poor dogs a lot of grief in their lives, and towards their advanced age – they were quite difficult to live with. Ted never got to mate with any girl ever, and Sera suffered from Ted’s demands all her life. In addition to that – Ted was encouraged by his former master (‘ssaa - get them boy!’ kind of thing) to go for and harm any other being in the past (perhaps that was fun and gave the master a pleasure of his strong dog being able to put down anything on his way, or perhaps he did it for security reasons). So, with age, Ted got very grouchy and impossible – he had not learned to live in peace with any creature other than himself, Sera and his masters, and now he was only able to catch and kill no other being, but an occasional little lizard. Later Ted even attempted an attack on John, who tried to play with him, giving the old dog some attention. Further, Ted grew to be the worst nightmare ever, he dug the garden, he basically made the veranda and walls of the house into his toilet, smell of dog urine was everywhere. He was so rough with Sera, that she started losing weight and hair on her body. John would not consider putting him down still; also, castrating such an old dog now was not advised by their vet.
 
So, Ted-the-dog always watched kittens from the corner of his unkind eye. When Hope was home – she always observed all animals and guarded kittens, hoping that Ted would warm-up towards little ones in future.
Ted could not do anything then, feeling being watched, pretending he was not interested – Ted knew that his attitude was wrong. When the door into the fully walled yard was open – the barrier was put in front of that door to prevent babies from crawling out. Even then, Hope would observe the entrance, either watching TV in the lounge, or playing with all four kittens and Mickey.
 
One morning Hope was at work, her phone rang. It was John. Voice breaking, he told Hope that little Jessie was dead. Hope went cold inside. She packed up and left for home. While driving, she pondered: ‘what have I done wrong?’, but then she thought: ‘I know it will be Ted, who is responsible, I shouldn’t have trusted him at all, I should have made a rule to have the door closed when I am not there’ … She was right.
On arriving home – she found the two big dogs locked up. Tears pouring, she wanted to go and kill Ted with her bare hands. Instead, she let Sera out, leaving Ted locked. John, having figured it out, told Hope what had happened: The door to the lounge was open as always, and the barrier put up while John worked in his office, kittens were sleeping in their bed in the lounge. Mickey was lying by John’s side. So, Ted saw when little Jessie crawled out of her bed and toddled close to the barrier. Ted was sitting by, waiting, watching… – he then took her out and killed her instantly…
 
John and Hope hugged and stayed still for a while.
 
To cut a long story short – the mutilated body of little Jessie was buried deep in the yard. Hope made sure that all appropriate signs were imprinted on a grave, so that spirit travels safely, – she made them out of stones, twigs and leaves at hand, John suggested that a small cross be put on the top of it. So this was done too. That evening Hope sat by Jessie’s grave for long, she spoke to her, mourning, feeling that this was her fault for not having provided enough for the little one to be safe, though John also felt that this was his fault as well.
As for Ted – he was taken to the vet straight away after Jessie was buried – and finally put down. Vet said that this was the only kind thing to do, because if a dog killed once, he will kill again and again.
That night a message came through to Hope – ‘Do not feel bad, everything is for a reason. Jessie knew what she was dong, she gave her life to save others, because her passing triggered the decision to eventually do away with the killer, and also releasing an old being of its misery.’ As silly as it sounds, to Hope it felt that this message came from the mother-cat. Hope didn’t tell this to anybody in fear of appearing ‘crazy’ in the least. Then she rationalized the message as that of an excuse, so she could feel better about herself.
 
Hope was crying for days. John was very sad and heartbroken for little Jessie and for old Ted.
Sera seemed to be much happier old dog without her life’s ‘friend’, even if she missed him (she never showed any sign of it though, but – who knows?). She started growing her hair back and was putting on weight rapidly – John and Hope had to cut down her food for fear of Sera getting too fat.
Mickey, as always, was looking after Josie and Jason and playing with Sera, making her happier old dog.
Two little toddlers were now growing stronger, running around, and eating their food well. Out of all beings in the family (apart from John and Hope) only Mara was not the same for quite some time – it looked like she knew what happened. Mara often went and sat still at the place where Jessie was killed. Hope worried about her and thought: ‘Maybe Mara saw the killing, and maybe she is communicating with Jessie’s spirit’.
 
Some time passed…. Everything returned to normal, it seemed. Though, Hope often thought of Jessie with teas welding in her eyes. John and Hope decided that there will be no other kitten in their family…
 
One day Hope woke up from a dream. In this dream Mara came to her and said that she’d seen Jessie who wanted Hope to know that she was all right, but Jessie did not want to come herself, so she asked Mara to pass the message. Recounting this dream Hope thought: ‘How wired – normally a soul of a being, who passed through Rainbow Bridge, and is not planning to come back any time soon, – will always put on an appearance in a dream of a person who cared. Why did Jessie send Mara, my 6 month old kitten to me with a message instead? Did Jessie think that no-one cared about her, or is she preparing to come back soon?’ Then Hope dismissed the thought, it was too much pain to think about that, and they decided not to adopt any more kittens after all. So, after sharing her dream with John, Hope just thought to herself: ‘Well, this is silly, dream is just a dream’ and let it be.
 
Two months later John and Hope were sitting on the veranda, playing with kittens, Mickey and Sera (all in the yard), and they were remembering Jessie, how she would be strong and happy with her brother and sister now.....
That is when Hope felt a strange sensation. It was like a strong presence of something, it felt very peaceful and sad at the same time, but good-sad… Suddenly air around was palpably still, tranquil, warm and comforting, so Hope just waited. Then a thought pushed through into Hope’s mind: ‘You are going to have another kitten very soon – I am coming home’. Hope was startled. Then she thought: ‘Okay now, be reasonable, it’s just my imagination, I had couple of drinks and we were talking about Jessie’. Hope decided that she will not tell John about this.
 
Next week, when Hope was at work, the phone rang – she jumped. (Since the time of hearing horrible news about Jessie Hope always reacted with fright when the phone would ring at her work – ‘so unfortunate habit’ – she thought). It was John on the phone. Hope was relieved when John did not come up with more terrible news. But what she heard was not much good either. John told Hope that he detected some noises from the next door neighbour’s house and looked over the wall – he saw that one of their dogs was very sick. He then phoned the owner and offered to take their dog to the vet – owner was grateful and her house worker opened the gate for John. So, when he arrived at vet’s place – the dog was already dead. Vet said that the dog died from a tick-related disease, which was not realized for too long. With permission of the owner John then took the body of the dog to SPCA to be buried (owners could not burry him on their property because other dogs would dig him out, and vet’s facilities did not accommodate disposals of bodies).
So, that was done, but John said: ‘I will come and pick you up when you finish at work, please come with me to SPCA – I just saw such lovely kittens there, and I know that we decided not to take anymore, but one is just like Mara – lovely bright tortie and so cute!’.
 
Hope went quiet for a while, remembering her experience from a week ago, and not knowing what to think. She said to John on the way to SPCA: ‘You understand, that we already have 3 cats and 2 dogs, and all kittens are cute if you think of it, we can’t just adopt anymore, think how much we will try Mara with adopting yet another new kitten!’
John nodded knowingly and said: ‘Well let’s just see them – shall we?’ So, having arrived at the adoption section, John and Hope went to the enclosure, where the very cute three-coloured kitten sat with its mother – the mother looked so much like the mother of Mara (Hope wondered – is it the same cat?). John said, pointing at the cute kitten: ‘that’s the one I liked a lot, last one left, but it seems that she is taken’. Then SPCA stuff attended to them and they said: ‘Yes, this kitten is already booked, but not yet paid for; and because you have adopted from us before, paid straight away, and your property was inspected and passed as very suitable – we will still give you preference’. Hope said: ‘no, this one already found home’ not really wanting to adopt any more kittens.
Then John pointed to the next enclosure and said: ‘look, this lovely one I also laid an eye on - she is the kitten I liked a lot as well – she is just like Mara’. (Looking like Mara meant a lot to John, because he loved Mara for her being the first and the very special cat in their family.)
 
So, this very cute kitten was sitting on the tree trunk in the large enclosure, inspecting visitors; but there was no mother to be seen. ‘Where is the mother?’ – Hope asked.
‘Oh, there is no mother for these two, these are orphans, both females and from different litters’ – was the reply.
Only then Hope saw another kitten – tiny, bleak-greyish-three-color-mixed in swirls, she was so small in size, but looked like older kitten by shape. She was just sitting at the back of the enclosure with no interest to anything around. ‘She looks sick’ – Hope remarked.
‘No, she is not really sick, but just quiet and not as outgoing, they both are about 6 to 8 weeks old’ – the man said. Hope shrugged: ‘Well they do look more like 8 to 12 weeks old by shape, and their tails look too long in proportion to their body for the age you say, and being ‘pinched’ at the start instead of looking like extension of the body – they look either sick or underdeveloped, but never mind’. John then said – ‘Well, let’s take this bright tortie that looks just like Mara, shall we?’
Hope sighed and said: ‘Okay, let’s go into the enclosure and see them closer’ – so they went.
The bright tortie was very friendly and she was easy to handle. When Hope picked her up – she just clung on to her, not wanting to let go. Hope asked: ‘So, if we take this one, then what will happen to the other?’ The man looked away guiltily and said: ‘No one booked them for a while… people are looking for kittens that will grow into large cats, you know, but we will wait longer…’ Hope then was not happy about this. She went to the other kitten to look closer, and… when the little one looked up, Hope froze – through the huge bright yellow-green eyes on a pointy skinny face, in a tiny body of bleak three-colour swirls, looking at her was Jessie, it was her for sure (though looking nothing like Jessie was); this feeling was so strong, something that Hope deep down was waiting for, no matter how much she denied her previous experiences.
 
It was decided. Hope said to John: ‘Okay, if you want this Mara-looking kitten, then we take both’. After a very brief hesitation John agreed, went and paid $25 for each kitten and they left. On the way home Hope said to John: ‘I wish I was ‘a filthy-rich lady’, so I could have a huge property with a beautiful garden, fish pond and plenty of trees around, so I can have more than 25 cats in our home. John laughed.
 
The bright tortie was named Amy and the swirl-three-colour one was named Missy.
 
After a bath, Missy’s coat looked beautifully unusual, and she displayed a lot of personality that of Jessie.
She was confident, stood her ground instead of running, hissed for a greeting to everyone, she traced all Jessie’s last steps, went to all places where Jessie liked to hide, Missy was at home.
Now, - Missy is the only one who is very understanding and extra careful, she stays with John and Hope inside most of the time, only to go into the yard for a short time to pay with others. Hope is quite happy about this.
 
For Amy it took about couple of days to inspect the new place. She then approved of it and accepted it to be her home. By now she is the most mischievous kitten of the lot, just like Mara was at her age, even more so. Amy is the one who unravels toilet paper, working it into a nice nest, makes most noise in the house at night chasing empty toilet rolls taken out of the dust bin, tears up the shower curtain to pieces, having found that it’s mostly successful if she hangs on it until plastic gives up; comes and kisses mommy in the night being very proud of her work, when it’s least expected, ignores little Missy, who tells her to calm down and wait until the morning, but anyway, eventually convincing all of other kittens into participating in such fun.
But, anyhow, Amy is especially attached to John and, in spite of all that mischief – he calls her his cat, ‘most sweet and innocent’.
 
Josie and Jason love so much having this addition to the family. They accepted Amy and Missy with open paws at once. They share with them any food they eat, any place they sleep, and any toy they play with. They often could be seen sleeping all together, hugging each other in one furry bundle. Josie started acting like a mother to them, for she has so much love inside her – enough for everybody and anybody else. Jason proved to be a big brother to them, the kind that anyone would wish for – a real friend. He brings twigs, leaves and insects into the house and lets girls take over and play with them. When his gifts get chewed-up and destroyed, they are cleaned out by Hope or John, so Jason brings some new ones, and the way it goes. ‘Cats can do no wrong, they have a reason for anything they do’ – is the attitude of the family.
 
Mara went around knowingly for some days, after which she proved to have a big heart and accepted new kittens into her clan. But until now no-one sleeps with Mara when she is having her day-nap on John’s bed alone, but Missy, who for some reason won a very special place in Mara’s heart. And the very best play-pal for little Mara is, of course Amy, because Amy is just like her and she follows Mara wherever she goes, learning everything she can from the older kitten.
 
Mickey-the-puppy girl was more than delighted to have more of children to look after, but she had to wait until new kittens stopped hissing at her, so in time, they eventually got to know that Mickey was only another large cat, though very dog-looking. And, boy-oh-boy – did these little ones make John and Hope laugh, playing with Mickey!
 
Old Sera acts very favourably towards feline beings around. Josie though (the silky smoky-white DMH), totally won her heart and you can often see how this little one rubs herself against the big happy hairy black bulk of Sera, though, respecting her privacy any time Sera just wants to be left alone.
 
Mary and Hope’s young sister eventually got to know the story of what happened to Jessie. They were very sad, but happy to see Josie and Jason so happy with new kittens.
 
Sometime later Mary’s good neighbour died of cancer. The mother and daughter had nursed him till the end.
The young daughter bought his flat as per his wish.
 
Mary now has her own kitten – charming silver-tabby boy (DSH with brown-yellow eyes), whom she has adopted not long ago, and who enjoys the beautiful garden Mary maintains. Elderly Mary and young Skipper share amazing bond between them. He follows her everywhere like a dog. Mary knows that she doesn’t really own this kitten, but he owns her, because when she went to choose a kitten from a litter – Skipper was the one who leaped onto her lap straight away and just stayed there. So it was – he went to be with Mary after being weaned at 8 weeks of age.
Mary already is making arrangements for the time to come (2 to 3 month from now) for Skipper to be neutered with the best veterinary surgery she knows. Mary always had her cats fixed, knowing that they live much happier and longer lives being neutered or spayed.
 
Later still, Mary went around to her neighbours to tell them about her kitten, so they would not hurt him for any reason in future, when he grows up and possibly will venture into their territory. All of them were fine with cats but one said: ‘I never will hurt a cat, but in the past I had buried two strays, that just appeared dead in my yard’. Knowingly, Mary said: ‘it might be our fault, because we are the only ones who used to put rat poison around to kill rats…., but we will not do it anymore, now that we have a kitten. Mary was sad and sorry for the unfortunate cats, but what was done – was done. She only hoped that this will never has to happen to any other cats in future.
 
Hope also went around and introduced her 5 kittens to neighbours, worrying that her babies might set off some people’s alarms, when wondering around, but only she was told that no, some neighbours around have cats of their own, and cats, who stay with humans they have adopted – do not go around that desperately, setting alarms off, and they respect each other’s territory. Also, if they are fed well at home – they will never go looking for anything strangers ‘will offer’.
 
In her mind, when sitting among her babies, more than once, Hope spoke to all kittens, warning them about dangers of going over to other peoples’ places, but especially dangers of venturing outside to the road. Hope believed for some time now that cats possess the gift of telepathy, among others, they just know things…; and as if they have understood, her grown kittens never go further than to the immediate very friendly neighbour’s property (up the tree and over the wall), where no dogs dwell, and they never attempt to venture out to the road, even from neighbour’s property, they didn’t really have a chance to investigate outside when they were very little, because John put up and addition to the bottom of the electric gate, where the gap was enough for a small kitten to get under.
 
The End.

EMERALD! - is the answer to my clues!

First, I want to wish everyfur Happy and Wonderful New Year!
Today we are in 2010, so let today be the start of better life for everyfur on Earth!!!

Okay, the only one smart person to win this clues of mine was RUBY!

And here is her prize

Emeralds for Ruby

Now Ruby has her clues going, so check them out!

Join us in this fun and good luck to everyfur!

Midnight.

My set of Clues for everyone to guess!!!

I won very interesting and cool clues from my boyfirend - Little J.!
And he gave me a very special prize (you can see it on my page).

Now it's my turn to make up my Noun Hound Clues!!!

HERE ARE MY CLUES:

1) We are not an animal or a place.
2) We are mainly green and can carry different shades of green and we possess the strongest example of the green ray.
3) We are beautiful as we are, but humans like to change our bodies sometimes to their liking and needs.
4) We can calm the mind and emotions. We can instill harmony, patience and love, lift depression and provide peace. Physically we can aid lungs and breathing. We are also good for eye problems.
5) We are often reflecting in what cats naturally possess, but humans pay lots of money to be in possession of some of us.

EDIT 1****************

6) re: clue 5) - Some cats reflect our ray of green through their eyes.

7) Our home is deep inside the Earth, where we are born, but often we travel to surface.

8) We live very long lives because our bodies are not made of organic matter.

**********************EDIT 1

In case there are new furs to play - here are the rules:

1. Tell me your guesses over the paw mail instead of comments to this post for others not to see possible correct guess.

2. I will keep my clues open for a week, and on or after Saturday the 2nd of January 2010 I will announce correct answer in my diary, the persons who guessed it, and the cool prizes I gave them.

3. Whoever reads my diary - this game is for you to play!!!

4. All furs kitties and doggies alike, who will guess correctly - can then post in their diary 4(four) or more clues as to an animal, a thing or a place for others to guess, and set their time for the duration their clues are open for guessing (normally it's a week, but if no-one guessed during the week - it's until the first correct guess).
You can invite furs to read your clues over the paw-mail.
And to the persons who guessed your clues - you give a cool prize of your choice.

Have fun in guessing my Clues!!!
Good luck to everyfur.

Midnight

CHRISTMAS TAG GAME IS ON!

I've been tagged by my pal Dew Myst!

Here are the five Christmas questions in this tag game with my answers:

1. What do you like to get in your Christmas stocking?
I'd love to get a furminator! And a laser-beam toy! And animated undercover mouse toy! But... sigh, they don't sell them here in Zim...

2. Have you seen Santa Paws this year?
Oh, yes, I often climb up our chimney and meet with him there!

3. Do you like snow, and have you been in it?
I don't know, I've never seen snow, but I think I'd love it (mom told us about it). I love all glittery and sparky things. And I love to catch flies in the air and mom says that snow looks like white flies.

4. What do you want for Christmas?
I want everyone to be happy and healthy and for Janie and Johnie not to go over the front wall anymore.

5. Have you ever posed in a picture with Santa Paws?
Never crossed my mind for our picture be taken together.

Now you've been tagged too, because you're special.
I'm tagging every friend of mine, who will read this entry.

You can copy and paste these questions to your diary or even make up your own questions and answer them. So, that I can also read what you have to say in this tag game.

Love & best Christmas wishes to everyfur.
Midnight

I'd love to tag you!!! Please keep it on, let us know what- you like!!!

I've been tagged by my charming boyfriend Little J!
This is the "2009 Get to Know Your Pals" Tag.

1. What color is your collar?
Sorry, everyone, I don't have one. Mom doesn't dare to even try putting one on me!!!

2. What kind of food do you eat?
Raw chicken, beef fat-free mince, raw fish occasionally, but mostly Whiskers dry food. I love that a lot!!!

3. What are your favorite treats?
No treats for me. We grew up without treats, and if offered - we hardly like any treats humans would offer.

4. Do you have a Valentine or significant other?
I've got not much to say - but my only love is Little J.
He is the greatest of all, to me he stands very tall.
He is so gentle and true, inspiring best in you.
He is so sweet and with this - to me he's no less but my bliss.

5. Do you get table scraps?
I've been offered, but sorry, I don't like what humans eat. Not for me, thank you.

6. What is your favorite toy?
My mom's hands, my bro Johnie's tail, all of my sisters' tails, and cat-nip toys too - I love the smell of them!

7. When is your birthday?
February 12th 2009 estimated. But I think I'm older than that!

8. How many times a day do you eat?
As many times as I want! Just like Little J.!!! Our food is always there for us.

9. Do you have a favorite color?
Definitely. The very fav of mine is deep blue - the color of Little J.'s eyes.

10. Do you hope all your pals put this in their diary?
I hope so, I'd love to see all my friends's likes. Because it's very important and special to me.

Now it's your turn! Copy these questions and type your answers - then post it on your diary!!! Please, don't forget to tag 6 of your friends!

I tag:

http://My Angel Buddie
http://Pigeon
http://Teddy Bears
http://Daisy Glass
http://Pia-Zadora
http://Ollie Popoki

I have a BOYFRIEND, Everybody, meowiiiiiiiii!!! I AM TAKEN- IN THE NAME OF LOVE!!!

I know it's gonna be a long write-up, and I'z hesitant to write before, but if I don't do it now - I'm gonna burst!!!

First thing is First. Many thanks to Catster from little happy kitten by the name of Midnight!!! Me & my family are so happy to have joined this meowiest site in the Whole Wide World!!!
And sorry for not thanking everyone for choosing me a DDP twice in-a-row!!! At that time I've not written much, and was simply stunned that people liked it!
BUT, if it was not for Catster - I'd have never met the Love of my Life - (kiss, kiss, lick, lick (((( LITTLE J.)))) lick, lick, kiss, kiss). Purring now.

Here it comes....................................................... .................................

Fancy that! Little & young girl like me has a BOYFRIEND now!!! And not just any boyfriend, but the MOST handsome Feline on Earth!!! And he is a Snowshoe!!! Such a rare breed.
And how in Haven's sake such popular boy picked ME out of all beautiful, charming and gorgeous girls on Catster?! And I am but only a tinny whinny little bit of a cat (size-wise) and I'm just a mixture of anything and everything breed-wise.
I am so touched and honored by how this beautiful boy thinks that I'm the greatest, loving me from the first sight.

(((LITTLE J.))) - what a coolest name! ( his page on Catster is: http://www.catster.com/cats/983983 ).
Please if anyone of my pal buddies, or my dearly loved angels care about me - support the love of my life - LITTLE J.

Well, if one takes a careful look at him - one will see that it's just impossible not to fall in-love with him right away. So charming and inviting and confident he is! And his whole family is so cool and charming too!

And his eyes are such shade of blue that I thought doesn't exist on this three-dimensional Earth - so deep, like a bottomless crystal-clear lake! I think I'm gonna drown in his eyes. (I think my angel friends will understand me best on this one.)

So, when he appeared 'out of the blue' and asked me to be his girlfriend - I was stunned at first, trying to digest what was happening, but replied to him politely in a positive way, purring my heart out. A thought crossed my mind that this might be not true, but is some joke. But it was not so, it was very true and I blushed a lot. I do that often, just thinking about him.

Even now I don't quite believe my luck. But I'm so happy that Little J. came my way (I must have done something good in my past lives to deserve such a boyfriend as Little J. is).
And if by any unlikely chance our relationship would have to end (we live on two different ends of Earth) - I will remember and cherish this experience forever and ever with all my soul, even into my future incarnations! I now know why I had to come back to Earthly life quick-quick.

My whole family liked Little J. a lot, especially my sis Janie, who has eyes almost like his (but not quite). I love my Janie to bits and she understands me best of all, and licks me away, when I share my happiness with her.

I am reflecting on what Little J. said about me in his diary entry and remembering that he first saw me on Coolest Cat/Dog Photo Contest.

Here I must acknowledge my dearest friend Pigeon (my deepest thanks to you my wonderful pal).
Handsome Pigeon is especially the best pal of my bro Johnie. His page address is: ( http://www.catster.com/cats/983983 ) Pigeon and his human mom were the ones who led me and my family to this cool contest and helped us around Catster! Without them I would not have met Little J. - the love of my life, perhaps, and therefore I'd miss on a lot.
So, special thanks to my lovely friend Pigeon!!!

I love you to bits my darling Jay Bear, no matter what!!!