Updates at 11.50pm: A dear friend says she will adopt Raven! She has a black kitten, aged 5 months, named Bagheera, who will be a perfect companion for Raven. I am truly grateful. I shall wait until Raven heals from her mange before sending Raven to her new home. Sobs…I miss Raven already, but am so glad she will have a very, very loving home.
The original post:
Yesterday, Raven sneaked into the room when the door was left open for a split second, made a circle and quickly scuttled back outside.
She was quite pleased with herself, but it created quite a surprise for everyone at Bunny’s Place. And this was followed by increased spraying and marking by Cow.
Raven has been coming to the grille to make friends with everyone.
Of course Tabs is the friendliest.
Yesterday, we tried this…
And this morning, we let her make another round.
Her mange is much, much better now. I’ve managed to remove practically all the flakes and now it’s waiting for the new fur to grow back and she will be nothing short of a Black Beauty!
I’ve tried virgin coconut oil, grapeseed oil with sulphur, but after all the trials, Johnson’s Baby Oil works best for Raven’s case. With each application, I could see improvement.
I’ve promised my family that we would stop at 7 cats. While Raven would make a good playmate for Tabs, her presence might also create a big hierarchy problem to the super-alphas, Cow & Bunny, and the other alphas, Cleo, Pole and Indy. I’ve got six alpha cats (only Tiger is not). Tabs, fortunately, is “alpha” in a “good” way, ie. she is confident and super-sociable, the perfect host. Cow, Bunny and Indy are alpha in a territorial way, with Bunny leading the way as the top “Mafia Godfather” in Bunny’s Place (on hindsight, I should have named this place Tiger’s Place!).
So, back to Raven now. I will continue with Raven’s mange treatment, her vaccinations and get her spayed. After the bitter experience with Bosco and the thank-goodness-it-ended-well experience with Snow White, I don’t think I want to let Raven be a community cat.
If Raven could be like Rosie and Ginger where they do not go into people’s houses (or so I think), then it’s fine. But how can we be sure of that? We cannot tell a cat what to do and what not to do.
Raven is still so young, and I am not sure how she would behave when she is older. She might roam. She might go into people’s gardens and homes.
Pole was a community cat for 5 years in my old neighbourhood (after she was driven out of the house by Cow & Bunny), and she had a few houses to go to every day. But one neighbour did complain about Pole going into her house. Indy became a community cat after he got angry with the Blueys and “ran away from home” to 4 doors away. The lady of that house also complained that Indy sat atop her car. That is why I was frantic in getting the Blueys rehomed.
A few days ago, I sent an email to my community e-group to enquire if Raven is anyone’s lost cat. From some of the response, I think I cannot let Raven be a community cat after all. As in all neighbourhoods, there will be animal-lovers and there will also be those who don’t like animals.
I’m not in any hurry, but if anyone of you would like to adopt Raven, she is available for adoption. I would be much comforted if one of the readers of this blog adopts Raven. At least you won’t be a “stranger”. I’m not very good at vetting adopters (that’s a skill I don’t have).
It pains me to write this, but considering all factors and some others which I shall keep in confidence, I’d like to find a good home for Raven (but no hurry). I’d really appreciate your help too. Thank you.
Comments
One response to “Raven’s “Orientation Programme””
Hi Kah Yein,
The last 8 paragraphs of this post is exactly what i am going through now too. Last 2 weeks, i picked up a male ginger kitty (approx 6 weeks old). He was found inside the drain, and being the season for the “Nine Emperor Gods Festival”, it will rain cats & dogs, and “kittens” every single day. I can’t just leave the little fella out there to defend for himself and mommy was nowhere to be found as i was told by the people around the car workshop that this little fella had been on his own. He will bound to fall into the drain/mowed down by passing traffic. So, i took him home. Now, with my plans of moving to Australia in another 3-4 years time, i can’t afford to take in another cat as moving a cat over will cost approx RM10,000++ (big hole in my pocket). I am already saving up the $$$ for my existing own 2 cats.
So, him being so young, i am worried for his safety too. Getting an adopter and vetting one are 2 major obstacles which i am not good at too. That’s why i try not to rush the adoption and make huge mistakes, as i did with my very 1st rescue. I am still not over that episode.
So, i totally understand your predicament now. Hope Raven finds a good home and i hope my little rescue kitty would also find a good home too. I will put him up for adoption once he completes his 2nd vaccination booster jab just to make sure he is strong enough. Whether it should be a better decision after 3rd jab, then i would need to seek my vet’s advice.
Kah Yein, as you would always say, one thing at a time. So i am taking one day at a time now and shall decide when the time comes…… 🙂