'Objects In Space'
[NAFDA] Spike-centric discussion. Lusty, lewd (only occasionally crude), risqué (and frisqué), bawdy (Oh, lawdy!), flirty ('cuz we're purty), raunchy talk inside. Caveat lector.
Happy birthday Sean!
WindSparrow, thanks. We may now have a deadline on this, as the guy who was looking after Merlin (the son of the owner who died) wants him outside as soon as possible - since that's where he's happiest - and is coming over on Thursday. Bit worried he'll take Merlin away with him if he doesn't seem to be adjusting by then. Gah.
If the owner's son wanted Merlin, why didn't he take the kitty in the first place?
I'm usually a pretty good faller, but I was operating on stress and very little sleep. I will practice when I am healed!
Seska, I agree with Zen. That seems like a totally unrealistic time-frame for letting an outdoor cat adjust to a new place; I, too, would think that the cat would just start heading back to Home, since the new place wouldn't be Home yet.
He doesn't want Merlin - he's leaving the country. He wants to make sure Merlin's successfully rehomed before he leaves, but that's in two weeks, and no one else wants him. Not even the local shelters (all very full) were willing to take an 11-year old cat. Very worried he's going to end up being put down. Surely a few weeks of not being well-adjusted here is better, since we're prepared to put in whatever work is necessary to make sure he settles in eventually.
Um, yeah, Seska. He'd better not make me fly overseas to cluestick him with my EVIL HAND.
Given some of the horrible things people have done to animals they've taken in, I can understand him wanting to be sure Merlin is being treated well and has a chance of adapting before he leaves, honestly. We all want to think that we are the people we know aren't the problem but the problem exists. He might want to see more progress than can really be offered at this point but I don't think he's a total bad person here.
Cass, of course - I don't think that. It was his mum's cat, after all. I just wish he had more time so we could make a more fair assessment of how it's going. Hopefully we can show him we'll do everything possible to make it work.
We've just put the other two cats in the kitchen (with access to the garden) and given Merlin the rest of the house to roam in, and gone to bed early, so he can have a chance to come out. I really hope he does. He has to be very hungry by now.
It takes many cats a while to adjust; I didn't think Gimlet would get used to Cosmo when I brought Cosmo home, but she did, after about 2-3 weeks. But I sincerely thought I might have to find Cosmo another home for a while.
Is new kitty chipped?
No, not chipped yet. Again, we told the guy we'd prefer to wait till he's chipped before letting him out, but he doesn't see the point. I have an old tag from one of Milo's old collars that has our phone number on. We can put that on Merlin's collar, if he insists on letting him out on Thurs.
Hrm. Seems like he wants to make a lot of decisions for people doing him a true solid. I understand worry and wanting to provide a good environment for kitty, but dude...