Listening to the Voices in My Head

Today was the end of a good weekend.

Called Jascarine to see how 'the kids' were doing. Simba as adapted and adopted his new home and humans so well, that he is already sitting in laps. Lucy, like usual, is still a bit shy, but it's only been two weeks. Also, Simba showed them something we had told them about. If the sandbox isn't clean enough, Simba will show them. He dug, swept and scooped ALL the litter out onto the floor, deliberately and with forethought. Then stood there waiting for it to be properly tidied and refilled. Jascrine was amused by this, and not fussed as they have hardwood floors. Was easy to clean up.

A friends' cat is recovering, and back at home.

Archery was pretty good today. We had the state coach wandering up and down the line.. well coaching. Funnily enough, he didn't stop and coach me, as I was using a horsebow, rather than a standard recurve. Telling me to stand up straight, or not hold the bow so tightly would have had me telling him "With all due respect, sir, if I did that, the arrow would fall off the back of my hand." But he did give Aikidomayland a good tip about something I had told him he was doing. When he starts getting tired, he tends to lift his shoulder. I guess he believed it coming from an 'expert'.

Aikidomayland and I had a hankering for pancakes, so that's what I made for lunch. He was surprised at just how easy it is to mix up. He likes watching me make this as I just do it, no recipe book, just get it ready.

Aikidomayland umm 'grew a pair' and told his mother that he likes his job and has not plans to quit, but if a better job offer came by, he would 'consider' it.

He and I also cooked dinner together. Was very nice.

Simba and Lucy knew something was up.

We packed up their 'haz a box' , some toys, and an article of clothing that each of us had worn. Then came the fun part of getting them into pet carriers. Who knew that Simba could be squirmier than Ziggy!

Arrived at the new home around 11am, and unloaded everything.

Simba was the first one to start exploring, but he would go back to Lucy if she yowled.



Then he started calling to Lucy to encourage her to come out and explore.



Simba enjoys some "CatTV"



Simba demands that this door be opened. It was, and he and Lucy explored the hallway.



He is really enjoying the view.



Widescreen "CatTV". Lots of birds, butterflies and other things to keep him entertained.



The house seems so diminished with them gone, as they weren't just cats, but a force of nature. I will miss them terribly, but even knowing then, what I know now, I would it all again.

Alison and Peter came over to check Simba and Lucy's rehab progress and has given two thumbs up on their being adopted. Also showed photograph of Simba when we first got him

This was when we brought him to the vet back in November '09



And this is Lucy on the same day:



Their coats were dull, sparse almost all over, brittle and they were terribly underweight and in extremely poor condition. Simba was so malnourished, he looked more like an Oriental cat than a Bengal, and Lucy wasn't much better.

This is what they look like now:



Alison and Peter took many photographs of them, and have asked me to email the photos of the vet visit, and others along the time line showing improvement as an example of a successful rehab.

"I haz a happy, but I haz a sad too."

J & C, adoption candidates for Simba and Lucy, came over for their interview.

Not only do they know about how Bengals behave, understand that Simba might have a few 'stress' issues with a move so there might be accidents, know that Lucy has a mild heart murmur that needs to be checked every 6 months, are 100% behind them being indoor cats only (J&C both loved the pet enclosure and were already making plans where to put one) they also passed the Simba/Lucy "Play with me" test. On top of that, Miss Priss Ziggy liked them, too. J&C would like to beat the snot out of the previous humans that were nominally Simba and Lucy's first home.

We are waiting to see if they repeat the behavior they did the first time a potential forever home couple visited. Simba and Lucy were stressed, and 'accidents' happened on a daily basis for a week, that started hours after the people had gone home. All the kitties did was hide after they had left.

This is what they did after J & C left:



Then they played, and climbed into bed as usual.

I haz a happy because we are sure we have found the perfect forever home people. I am sad because I will miss looking up and seeing them on top of the wardrobe looking down. I will be sad because Simba won't be climbing up the kitchen drawers as if they were a ladder to snoop at what was on the counter. Ah, the double edged sword of fostering needful and hurt animals.

Pardon me while I go wipe my eyes and make Loki wonder why I am hugging him.

I think we have gotten them to their 'wellest'. Haven't had any 'improper toileting' issues with them, and they are both in top condition now. Simba has not only recovered his health, but he has grown. I have a feeling his reaching adult size was delayed due to poor nutrition from his previous home.

Simba on the left, Lucy on the right. Simba is a spotted Bengal, and Lucy is a Brown Marbled Bengal. Both are pedigreed. They are half siblings, same sire, different dams. But this picture just oozes love.



Available for adoption by the right home. Visit Runmaok Bengals for more info. Can't be separated, as they are very closely bonded.