As the weather gets colder there are more cats coming around regularly in search of food. It is hard to police who is eating what and at the end of the day if they are hungry they should eat, although some of the cats that come by here do not look like they lack regular food. I find myself wondering if, like hobbits they are after second or third breakfast...

The kittens are coming along slowly, despite mostly eating well and drinking too they seem to be taking forever to put on some condition. That of course could be my impatience for them to get bigger and stronger and be better equipped to cope outside in the wide world of cats here. The two tabbies still have mild symptoms of cat flu with runny eyes and the odd sneeze although this is not severe, I suspect it is getting in the way of their thriving. They are constantly seeking contact and cuddles and would spend most of their times perched on me like little parrots if I would let them..

The two white and ginger kittens are strikingly different in their progress. Squeak has gone out into the big wide world, appears confident and gets up to goodness knows what during the day, but comes back to snuggle up with Bubble at night. When back Squeak also demands extensive tummy rubs and cuddles too! Bubble I am more concerned about... for the last couple of days Bubble has been really whiny and clingy and I don't know if this is in response to Squeak disappearing for longer stretches, or perhaps having caught dose of the flu from the tabbies or something else altogether. I am monitoring Bubble for the time being, who sticks around close to home with Edmund and Hillary (the tabbies, so named for their love of climbing me).

As for forever homes for these guys, nothing seems on the horizon at the moment :-(

My more pressing concern is having to leave the gang for the holidays; something that was pre arranged. I have been lucky enough to have a local friend offer to come up every day and put food out which is fabulous. I have arranged food for her to put out and also had an offer from the lovely man at the supermarket that if it runs out while I am still away, she can come and get what she needs and I can pay him when I get back. He's a lovely guy but he also does well out of the cat lady ,-p

The older cats will cope outside I know... it is the kittens that concern me. Today I have constructed a cat cave in a sheltered spot in the outdoor area complete with plastic sheeting, tarpaulin, wind break, old pillows and the familiar red blankets the kittens have been using which I had bought on Air Asia flights a few years back. Tonight will be the kittens first night outside together; it has to be done some time...

Wish us luck!!
Thanks again for all your wonderful encouragement and support.