Very Late 2nd Birthday Thankyous!!

First I must apologise for the time it'staken me to thank my friends for their lovely messages and gifts for my 2nd Birthday.

I blame it on my typist!! She's been very busy with human family, trying to get used to the new Catster and is complaining that the white background hurts her eyes when she types a lot on it!!

I had a lovely birthday with my favourite Gourmet Gold turkey pate for supper and mum gave me a new catnip mouse!! Within 10 minutes I'd taken off its tail and whiskers and nearly chewed it to a pulp! MOL. I get so excited when I get a new toy - mum says it's 'cos I didn't have any when I was a kitten!!

Thankyou so much to my friends for my lovely gifts:

Roger, Humphrey and Greta for my beautiful birthday cake and rose.
Lil' Muppet, Nakita, Sampson, Chico, Armani and Krikit for the delish pink cupcake.
Tilly for the pretty tulips.
Dusty Miller for the lovely rose.
Hazel Lucy for the delicious lemonade.
Sylvester (my look alike) for the rose.

Mum says now I'm 2 years old I shouldn't be as naughty and mischievous - Hasn't she heard of the terrible Twos!! MOL.

Rosie
xxxx

Whoopee! I've been Valentine tagged!! Sort of!

I wasn't tagged first actually but, 'cos my brofur Alfie had already been tagged, our lovely friend Jake said I could play instead!

Here I go:-

1. Do you have a Valentine?
No I don't - nobody's asked me! Mum says it's because I'm too naughty and would be a handful for anyfur to cope with!

2. If not... do you wish you did? ... Is there anyone particular?... Or would you rather be single? ...Why?
My Valentine would have to be someone like me who understands I'm not naughty at all, I just like to help my mum organising everything in the house - the laundry, dirty dishes which I lick to clean, making sure my brofurs and sisfurs can get out of the catflap with a helping hand when they go out (smack on the bottom), re-arranging the flowers in mum's vase, organising ornaments and lots lots more. My work is never done!
I think Newman would be the one for me but his mum says he can't date until he's 21 years old - so I guess I'll just stay single!

3.What's your favorite Love Song?... Who sings it?
"I love you like a fat kid loves cakes" by 50 Cents. Mum says that's not very romantic but it is to me 'cos I just love my food!

4.What would be a Perfect Valentines Day for you?
A yummy supper, perhaps tuna, turkey or chicken and a few tummy rubs from Mum. I like her to rub my tummy but if she tries to kiss it I get my smacky paws out! I don't like kissing at all!!

HAVE YOU SEEN MY NEW TITLE!!!!!!!!!

Whoopeeee!! I'm staying with my mum and she's finally decided to keep me! My title has gone from 'Temporary Resident' and 'Permanent Resident???! to ROSIE - NAUGHTY BUT NICE!!!!.

I'm so pleased as I just love my mum and living here. I told her I'm going to try to be more nice than naughty in future - that's if I can! MOL.

From Rosie's Mum:-

Yes, I've finally caved in and decided to let Rosie stay here - she's still more naughty than nice but the other cats are more accepting of her and Justin (who she plays with) really approves of her - they're partners in crime!!! That aside, I'm very fond her and have come to an arrangement with a friend of mine. Here's the story below:-

Doreen, a very good friend of mine fell in love with Rosie after she'd seen her quite a few times and decided to adopt her. I was over the moon as Doreen lives quite near and I could keep in touch with Rosie. Doreen's much-loved cat Penny died about 18 months ago and she said she could never replace Penny and didn't want to. Penny was a beautiful black long-haired cat I fostered when her owner died. She was 8 years old when she went to live with Doreen and lived to the ripe old age of 20!

When the Cat Rescue group closed down in my home town, all the foster cats except one were living in the house and I subsequently adopted them as they were deemed unhomeable and no-one even came to look at them with a view to fostering. Pippa was the only one living in the outdoor rescue house when the Cat Rescue came to dismantle it. Pippa was totally feral and I was worried where she would sleep. Doreen came to the rescue and insisted on buying a home for Pippa -hence the beautiful outdoor cat cabin (or Pippa's house as I call it!). Pippa lived in there for 2 months - until Guy Fawkes night - when she flew through the cat flap and into the house, terrified by the fireworks. She then stayed in the house (just going out occasionally) until she died in her sleep 6 years later. By then she was adorable and a very happy and much-loved cat.

When Rosie had been spayed and vaccinated and was ready to go to Doreen's, Doreen received a bombshell!! Her son and daughter-in-law, who had lived in Spain for 20 years, were coming back to Yorkshire for good and wanted to stay with Doreen for about 12 months until they bought a house of their own. They have a much-loved dog, who, despite them trying, is not at all cat friendly, so Rosie could not go to Doreens. Doreen was really upset as she'd so looked forward to having Rosie, but it was not to be. Even when her son had a new house he would still be visiting.

Doreen came up with a proposition. If I kept Rosie and she could visit her often, she would pay for Rosie's keep and any future vet bills.

So now, the naughty little Rosie is staying here furever!! The only time she's really naughty now is at feeding time - she would fly at the other cats and try to pinch their food and hiss at any who dared to come within 4 feet of hers. I solved this problem by buying her a small dog crate. I feed her first in the crate, then the other cats can have their supper in peace!! She actually loves her new little 'house'. There's just enough room for a comfy bed, food and water. When all the other cats have been fed, I let Rosie out so she can use the litter pan. She then goes in her little 'house' and sleeps in there all night (with the door open). In the daytime she often goes in there for a sleep too and considers it her own little place. It was so funny the other day, a friend of mine called and put her handbag on top of Rosie's 'house' and Rosie shouted at her and stared at the handbag. My friend had to take her handbag off immediately - Rosie then gave a little chirrup and laid on top of her house with her arms stretched out in front and purred and purred!! She's such a character and lots of fun!

She's so affectionate and adores people. She makes it quite clear that visitors must admire and pet her as soon as they arrive. If I go out shopping or anywhere, no matter how long I am, Rosie greets me like a long lost friend when I get home and is so pleased to see me back. She purrs and quivers because she's so happy. After an initial love, she now realises that her siblings need my attention too, especially Alfie who's very attached to me, and she steps aside. Something she didn't do at first - she would push her head into my head when I was trying to stroke and make a fuss of the others.

In the end, "the best laid plans of mice and men" do not come to fruition as I was so determined that I would not keep Rosie when she had recovered from her infection and operations. However, I think Rosie had other ideas!! MOL.

Rosie's been spayed - and update!!

Rosie was spayed on Wednesday 22 May and is now recovering from her op. She came into season only 8 days after her op! I asked Terry, our vet, why she wasn't spayed when she had her ceaserean section but he said it would have been too risky to do both at once. It was more difficult than a normal spay due to her recent caeser as her womb would be 10-12 times larger than normal. She's back on more antibiotics, just as a precaution really.

Her awful previous owner has now moved and, although she found out I had Rosie, she never even enquired about her. Poor Rosie has been through so much! First living outside in the worst weather we've had for 20 years, then a bad bowel infection, ceaser section and finally being spayed.

When she's fully recovered I'll find her a loving home as an only cat. She still doesn't like other cats at all and would be so happy in a home where she has 100% of the attention. She's just adorable with people, so loving and gentle. She's very possessive with her toys and woe betide anyfur who tries to play with her with them! She just loves her kitten pen and regards it as her own little home within our home. She goes in there for her naps during the day and sleeps in there at night voluntarily. She also uses her litter tray in there and will not use any of the others in the house!

She's such a fesity little character and I would have loved to keep her but feel it's not fair on my other cats. Queenie and Lucy are in fact really frightened of her and she has picked up on this and teases them whenever she gets the chance!
------------------------------

Unfortunately her little black & white boy kitten didn't make it and went to the Bridge last week. He didn't suffer and passed away in his sleep. The little tabby & white girl is making good progress and we're all purring and praying that she continues to do so. She's a pretty little girl and is going to be semi-longhaired.

UPDATE ON ROSIE AND HER KITTENS!!!

Rosie is doing fine after her ceserean section and her wound has healed nicely. She never did bond with her kittens, as I had hoped, and is back to the feisty little madam she is! She's confined to indoors, so I have to have the catflap on 'in only' for the other cats, who love to have a play in their garden, and let them out individually when they ask!

Rosie is back to her 'catflap duty' and sits by the catflap and won't let anyone in - and if they dare to come in and go past her they get a tap on their bottoms to guide them on their way!

She's an extremely affectionate little cat with me and all visitors and loves to sit on your lap. She'll follow me from room to room and looks adoringly up into my face and wants undivided attention. I'd love to keep her but it's not fair on my cats who are still very wary of her, especially Alfie, who's not happy at all about all the attention she's getting.

Unfortunately she came into season yesterday - so soon after having her kittens! She's walking round with her bottom in the air and chirruping to any cat who dare go near her. All my males are obviously neutered and they look really puzzled by her behaviour.

As soon as Rosie has fully recovered from her op, which shouldn't be too long, she'll be spayed and a loving home will be found for her where she can be the only cat.

Update on Rosie's Kittens
--------------------------------
Rosie's kittens are 9 days old today and are doing really well. Their eyes will be opening soon and they'll start being much more active. They're such pretty kittens and look as if they are going to be semi-longhaired.

They are really good feeders and are down to 4-hourly feeds during the day and just being fed once during the night.

They have now gone to a lady who used to help me hand rear kittens when I had more than one litter, when I was fostering for our local Cat Rescue which sadly closed down. She adores kittens and really wanted them. They will be very well looked after and it will give me more time to devote to Rosie and my cats, particularly Minky who isn't well at the moment.

Thankyou for all the lovely pawmails and gifts for Rosie. If I've forgotten to thank anyfur, please forgive me as it wasn't intentional and each and every message and gift was very much appreciated.

P.S. You can tell by the look on Rosie's face on her main picture what a little character she is! The photo was taken by my daughter (Titch & Bruce's mum) who's a very good photographer.

Update on Rosie and her kittens!

I collected Rosie and her 2 kittens from the vets yesterday teatime. The poorly kitten just didn't make it and died before I could take it home.

The 2 remaining kittens are a black & white boy and a tabby & white girl.

Unfortunately Rosie just will not accept her kittens and thinks they are nothing whatsoever to do with her! The nurses at the vets tried to introduce them to her but she flatly refused to have anything to do with them and hissed and growled at them. I thought it was because she was not feeling well after her ceserean buy it looks now as if she's not going to bond with them at all. I was advised against leaving Rosie with her kittens unless she hurt them.

Fortunately, the kittens are a good size and seem very healthy. They are being syringe fed 2.5 mls of cimicat every two hours and are very content babies. The little boy is very hungry and just loves his cimicat and wants more than he should have just now, as it's important not to overfeed at this age, whereas the little girl takes it more slowly and carefully. They have a heated pad in their bed and are sleeping soundly inbetween feeds.

Rosie has been in her bed in the kitten pen all day resting. I left the door open so she can stretch her legs when she wants and she's kept having a walk around and then going straight back in. She's on a further course of antibiotics for 10 days (antirobe) to prevent any infection and is eating well. She's very affectionate towards me and loves to be stroked and scratched under her chin.

Thankyou everyone for the lovely messages, gifts and kind comments. I'll thank efurryone as soon as possible.

ROSIE AND HER KITTENS NEED PURRS!!

Rosie had still not had her kittens this morning, so off to the Vets we went. It was decided yesterday that a cesarean section was the only option now and I had to leave Rosie with Terry, our vet, and was told to phone about 1.30 p.m. I was 'on pins' all morning and rang Terry just before that time.

Rosie has had her op and is doing well. She has 2 kittens which appear to be healthy and a third kitten for which it's 'touch and go' over the next 48 hours. Rosie had a dead kitten which had become lodged and was blocking the way for the others to be born. The dead kitten was deformed and had a cleft palate.

Because I took Rosie to the vets 10 days ago with 'the runs' and she was prescribed a 10-day course of a broad-spectrum antibiotic, she hasn't become infected with being so long after her waters broke, so in a way it was a blessing that she had diarrohea and I took her to the vets when I did.

I'll get some Simikat from the vets just in case I need to help Rosie and supplement her kittens with botttle feeding until she's feeling better.

Rosie is such a character and loves people but just detests other cats. I don't think it's because she was pregnant but we'll have to wait and see if she improves or I'll find her a good home on her own. Even when Terry was examining her this morning she purred and rubbed her head against his face and gave him a kiss. I think she'd adore being an only cat with all the attention she craves for.

She was so funny last night! I gave her a dish of chopped chicken breast and she ate all of it except for one piece, then crawled into her bed for a rest. Queenie (aka greedy guts) saw the piece of chicken in her dish and tried to hook it out through the bars of the kitten pen. Rosie (who I thought was asleep) saw this and charged out of her bed at about 100 miles an hour and hissed and growled at Queenie. Queenie just wasn't expecting it and jumped nearly 6 feet up in the air. Rosie then calmly ate the remaining piece of chicken, looked at me and chirruped and then slowly made her way back into her bed!

I'm going to collect Rosie and her 3 kittens in a couple of hours. Terry thinks the kitten who is not well will stand a better chance with her mum than if he keeps her/him in the hospital. I don't know the sexes of the kittens, or even their colour. I never thought to ask because my main concern was how they were.

Please keep your paws crossed that things go well for Rosie and her kittens. I'll keep you informed as to their progress.

Finally, thankyou so much to everyone for the kind pawmails and gifts for Rosie - they were appreciated so much! I'll thank everyone personally later.

I had to go to the V E T S !!!!

When Rosie went to the vets on 21 May for treatment for her 'runs' Terry said she should be having her kittens soon and if nothing had happened by Tuesday 28 April he wanted to see her.

On Monday her waters broke and I expected her to have her kittens during the night - but by Tuesday morning there were still no kittens!

Tuesday evening and back to the vets we went! Terry gave her a thorough examination and said her cervix was slightly dilated and she was in good condition and could see no reason why she wouldn't have her kittens soon - probably during the night!

Wednesday morning - still no kittens! Rosie seems well and is eating well too - something they usually go off when their kittens are due. I rang Terry with a progress? report and have to take her in Thursday morning if she's still the same.

Rosie may have to have a caserean tomorrow if her kittens haven't arrived - Terry and I don't want this to happen but we may not have a choice and the longer time goes on with no kittens there's a chance of infection.

Please all purr for Rosie to have her kittens soon.

Update on Rosie and Unfortunate News?

Rosie has been living with us for almost 2 months now and her character has surfaced!

She was very wary of me at first and I suspect she had been abused. When I have my shoes on she gives me a very wide berth and I can only assume that she's been kicked - the poor little mite! One day I came in from shopping and she was on the kitchen worktop asleep - when she saw me she cowered down as if she thought she'd be in trouble for being up there.

She's gradually got used to me and is very affectionate - loving her tummy tickled and following me round. She's always the first to greet me when I come in - something which poor Alfie does not approve of!

She just doesn't like the other cats and views them as a threat, growling and hissing at them still after all this time. She has never attacked and most of my cats are just starting to ignore her. You can just see what they're thinking - "what's up with that mad kitten cat!"

I took Rosie to the vets a few weeks ago for a check up as I suspected she was pregnant. Unfortunately she was and should have her kittens quite soon now. It was difficult to tell at first as she was so thin and hungry and devoured everything in sight and obviously started to put weight on. It's too late to have her spayed - something I've always wanted to do but dare not in case her 'owner'! saw her in our window with her shaved side and her Elizabethan collar on. I was frightened she would cause trouble and, although she's never enquired about Rosie and must know she's moved in with me, she might have said "how dare you spay my cat"- or even worse! Her neighbours say she's moving soon but it's difficult here to evict residents from rented accommodation.

Rosie has been tested (to ensure my cats are safe) and is fine and as soon as she's had her kittens and weaned them she'll be spayed and vaccinated. Surely her owner will have moved by then!

When she's ready I'll find a loving home for Rosie, as an only cat, which she'll just love and also vaccinate and home the kittens. Terry (our lovely vet) thinks she's having 2 kittens, certainly not more than 3. He didn't charge me for Rosie's check up and gave me wormer and a small Feliway spray to see if that would help her.

I've bought Rosie a kitten pen (see pictures on her page) and it's made a tremendous difference. She just loves it and regards it as her own exclusive territory and keeps going in for a sleep in the daytime. I put her in her pen with her supper at bedtime and she happily sleeps there all night. My other cats think it's just the best thing ever and gives them more peace and a relaxed night!

I'm looking forward to Rosie's kittens now and I think she'll be a good mother to them.

It's years since I've had kittens - not since I fostered for a local Rescue Centre (which sadly closed due to lack of volunteers). I nearly always got the pregnant strays and orphaned kittens. I've fostered some beautiful kittens but never kept one for myself because they were easier to home than the mothers or the older cats. I've often been tempted but managed to resist when I've thought of the unhomeable ones who deserve a loving home just as much as the kittens.

I'll keep you posted on Rosie's progress.