Cats

Saturday

We went to the Cats Shelter - we had registered a few months ago, but today was Adopting day :-)

The staff remembered us, and were very friendly. They said they didnt have many to choose from, as one room had been closed due to a few poorly individuals, but we were shown round the rest.

In the first room, there was a lovely young friendly tabby, but we were told she wasnt up for adoption until the New Year. There was a long haired moggie that seemed very friendly, but kept hissing at the other cats, so we ruled him out.. then we were introduced to a black and white cat chilling out on a chair. He seemed quite friendly. The staff advised us that he had teamed up with another inmate called Fliss, also black and white but very nervous - a right scardey cat, so if Billy went, Fliss went too.

We had a look at other cats - there was a young tabby and white cat, who had recently had kittens. She was available, but the kittens wernt. I thought it would be nice to have a mum and kitten, but thei little ones were not available yet, and the staff didnt think homing mum and baby together would work out well.

Finally was a very large gentleman, who I would have named Bustopher Jones
(Reference Possums book of Practical Cats by TS Eliot) he is seen as "A fat cat, a "twenty-five pounder." Dresses in a snappy tuxedo and spats. Respected by all, as the upper class "St James' Street Cat." (Quote from Wikkipedia)

Having seen our choices, we decided that Billy and Fliss -black and white, Jelicle cats.. depicted by Eliot as common black and white cats whose daytime nature is peaceful, pleasant and restive — but who possess an active love of nightlife. We have re named Fliss - she is now Lilly, so we now have Billy and Lilly!!!

At present they are really scared.. hiding under our sofa, and being very quiet and invisible, but they have eaten (and used their litter trays) and ive just spent 20 mins lying on my back, arm stretched into the sofa with some prime roast beef on fingertips! Billy was brave enough to eat a little, and he submitted to being stroked, but Lilly is still being the shrinking violet.

Its early days yet - we have with time and love Im sure they will both come out of their shells (aka sofa) and make friends with us properly :-)

We are willing to wait.