19 October 2002
Yesterday evening I took Ellie down to London to her new home. She looked around and seemed to approve. She found some good hiding places under the bed and behind the sofa, and was very happy with me and quite rude to Kate in spite of the lovely toys and other goodies Kate had ready for her. I stayed for a couple of hours and Kate fed me (delicious!) while Ellie gradually got her confidence and climbed all over the furniture. This will be a very good move health-wise as Kate can keep her strictly to her diet, which I've been unable to do because of trying to make sure Ellis got decent food as well, and didn't end up eating the diet food, which he seemed to prefer. When I left, Ellie had taken possession of Kate's bed and seemed settled. However, when I called Kate this evening she said Ellie had jumped on the dining table and watched me leave out of the window, then cried and cried for quite a while. It's terrible to think of her feeling abandoned, though I know she's not frightened. Kate had a bit of a disturbed night as she kept waking worrying about Ellie, who was just asleep under the bed. She hasn't eaten yet, but she does have a large fat hump to live off, so that's not a worry. I'm sure her appetite will get the better of her before tomorrow! I know this is a better life for Ellie than the one she has here, and my other cats are a lot less stressed knowing that the 'attack cat' isn't there any longer, though they're a bit wary still. Ellis seems as phlegmatic as ever, and is getting lots of extra fuss. This evening he chased Teddy all over the downstairs, and I'm not sure quite what Teddy thought of that!
I went out all day today to the Kentish Cat Society Show - I didn't take any cats, but was doing a club table for the Old-style Siamese Club. We had a lovely day with lots of people coming up to chat. I sold a lot of the catnip toys that I've been making over the last couple of weeks, and when I got the chance I had a good look round and saw a lot of lovely cats. I was very grateful to another club member, Rebecca, who gave up a good chunk of her day to come and help out - it was very nice to have company, and it meant I wasn't stuck at the table all day. When I got home the babies were making up for their quiet day by doing their four-legged-tornado impersonations. I don't know how they don't hurt themselves, but it just goes to show how resilient they are. The best toy for today is the small climbing post - even Libby loves to play 'King of the Castle' on it.


20 October 2002
Teddy keeps going outside and getting sopping wet (yes, it's pouring with rain again!) and then coming in and expecting me to cuddle him. Yuck! I'm saying goodbye to the babies this evening as I'm going off to stay with my parents in Hampshire as I'm attending a course on Monday and Tuesday near to where they live. I hate the thought of not seeing them for the next two days...

21 October 2002
I'm not here! but I'm hoping Filza (my lodger) has taken some pictures while I'm away... Yes, she has! The first picture is of Libby with her lovely boys, and the second is of the 6 girls all together.

22 October 2002
Still away, but there's news from Kate (Ellie's new mum):

 Thanks for your call on Saturday... things have improved a little since then, she finally ate something late last night Sunday evening.. not very much but was so pleased that she actually ate something as I was starting to get worried, but as you said she is nervous and confused and will eat when she is hungry and she also has alot of fat reserves to survive from, she also drank some of the water...

She spends alot of the time at the minute under the bed in her little basket or in my wardrobe with my shoes... if I go to get her out she purrs and lets me stroke her then she will come in the lounge for five minutes or so have a little look round meow quite a lot then go back under the bed... she seems very scared by sudden noises people coming into the other flats and shutting the door etc... the tv, and even me coughing or sneezing... although she seems to be getting used to the tv and doesn't seem to be so jumpy as she was..I have turned the tv down a little so its not too loud for her ears...

Yesterday evening she was with me in the lounge for about half an hour playing with her little stick with the silver bits on... she loves that and was really pouncing on it and jumping all over the place... it was good fun and had me really laughing as her head was going side to side... and she loves being brushed... she rolled over a couple of times to show her tummy which I thought was a good sign... then when she decides she has had enough she goes straight back and hides under the bed...

She seems to meow and stay awake a lot of the night... did she do this with you... maybe she isn't that tired as she has slept during the day... although not sure whether its the dark she doesn't like... have tried to put her on my bed and stroke her... she stays for a couple of minutes then goes back under the bed.... when she is confident and I have picked her up, she does seem to like having her head kissed a lot as if I stop she puts her head up towards me until I kiss her again... this is quite sweet and she can be really affectionate, but it's not normally for very long, but I hope as she gets more confident and trusts me she will get more comfortable with me and her surroundings, she is such a beautiful looking cat and too lovely to hide away...

I am hoping she will eventually come and sit on my lap of her own accord and stay in the lounge and follow me around.... I'm sure it will take her some weeks or maybe even more to get used to everything... I am just a little worried that she will keep hiding under the bed and never come out.

Thanks for your reply... made a bit more progress last night... my friend Nicky stayed over who is mad on cats so she had attention from both of us... It took her a while to settle but when I got in I got her out from under the bed and stroked her until she purred then shut my bedroom door and brought her into the lounge..... she meowed for about ten minutes and kept wanting to go back in the bedroom, but eventually after just leaving her for a bit she settled in the lounge sometimes hiding behind the sofa but alot of the time coming out and playing games... then later on in the evening she sat on Nicky's lap for about 10 minutes without moving just purring and shutting her eyes... she looked very sweet... then she sat on my lap a bit later... I was so pleased as I love having cats on my lap when you're relaxing but she hasn't wanted to do much of this but she seemed very relaxed last night, I think keeping her out of the bedroom until bedtime is a good move as otherwise she won't adjust or come out from under the bed...

23 October 2002
Amelie...

I'm back, and boy did I miss everyone. I hate sleeping in a bed without a cat (or three) wedged up against me, somehow I don't sleep well that way. Vaccination day again, and all eight passed the health-check and got their jabs, plus some vitamins to pick them up as the cold weather is really taking hold. They were so lovely, just sitting in my arms and watching until it was their turn! Libby hs been scratching at a sore patch on her chin, so I've had to put her into a plastic collar, poor thing. Oddly enough, she didn't seem nearly as bothered by it as I expected, so I don't feel very guilty (yet). Peter Padfoot was horrified (look at his fuzzy tail), and spent hours trying to get it off her!

I have been away for two days doing a course for botanical artists (no, I'm not one, but I love doing this sort of drawing). I had great fun, and managed at last to work in colour - this has been a really big block for me as up until now I have only used ordinary graphite pencil and produce pictures that look as if they were done by a 4-year-old if I had to use colour. I'm quite pleased with my efforts (though the scans are a bit unforgiving)! Monday is on the left, Tuesday on the right.

24 October 2002

The babies are sometimes allowed out of the kitchen and music room, and then they tear about the carpeted rooms in the rest of the ground floor. Today, Ellis was also downstairs when they came rocketing around the room, and he was a bit disgusted. I hope you can tell which one is him, not just from the size, but from his blue points, which look very strange after all that brown!

25 October 2002
This is the week 14 rogue's gallery. Most people don't get the chance to see their kittens at this age all together, as they've usually gone to their new homes. Various things have conspired (not entirely against my will!) to keep this litter here longer, but I suspect this may be my last rogue's gallery. You can see from these pictures how much bigger Peter Padfoot is!