Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat General => General Cat Chat => Topic started by: Dawn (DiddyDawn) on April 23, 2007, 19:56:53 PM
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Got some more cats that I have to sort and I've just been to where they are on the way back from the vets, one is pregnant and one has just dropped kittens somewhere :censored: This is getting to be an utter nightmare :censored: I've got 3 booked in on Thursday, one from the scrapyard, one of my feral males and I was hoping a female from this place.......I hate all these bloody decisions :censored: I obviously can't get the one that's dropped kittens in but what do I do about the pregnant one :Crazy: There are also 2 males there that need sorting so they're gonna have to be sorted next week unless any go in my traps on Wednesday. My head is scrambled with them all this week but I can see I'm going to have the awful decision to make again :'( :'(
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Hi DD
Wish i can give ya advice what best do to hun, me love and thoughts are with you and i know you will do what's right for them all hun :hug: :hug: :hug:
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It would be great if I could just wave a magic wand :'( I think I feel worse after the 4 that I took in last week and the fact Minnie isn't well.........with a few things going on, I think it makes it harder to deal with and makes you feel more vulnerable :'(
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Fingers crossed you can come to a good solution Dawn.
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Fingers crossed you can come to a good solution Dawn.
I know the decision I should be making, but the question is, can I :'( :'( My head really won't deal with it this week :'( :'( I need to see how far gone she is really or do I just take her.........I knew this was going to be one of those weeks :censored: :censored:
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i would see how far gone she is personally - but do you have space for a pregnant cat?
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Space could be made but part of the problem is taking her away from the colony. She would have to be away a good few weeks and introducing her back again may be a problem :'(
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So sorry I cant help cos you seem overwhelmed at the moment. I am sure you will make the right decision for all concerned .
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Ah right - that does make it tricky then.
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Awww Dawn, I'm so sorry to hear you are having a rotten start to the week! :'( I'm sure you'll make the best decision you can with all the facts and information you have. :hug:
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Dawn, better to have the kittens in a safe environment away from danger and you always can squeeze in one more and if the introduction back to the colony is an issue I'm sure you could find her altenative digs!!!!
Good luck in whatever you decide and as always its a hard decision but you will make the best on for the circumstance no matter how much it hurts as you always do :hug:
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I think you have to take the pregnant one in Dawn -
She needs somewhere safe to have her babies and then at least you can get her spayed and safe her going through this again.
Good luck hun - you do a fantastic job
xx
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Dawn, regarding our telephone converstaion earlier. I think in these circumstances you have to be a realist, I know how much this takes out of you emotionally but you cannt save them all, sadly. I know people think that kittens are wonderful but they do grow into cats and there is a possibility that they will end up homeless like so many others. We all know that there are way too many cats and not enough people to care for them. One more does make a difference, especially if its one more thats pregnant. Space is limited, funds are limited and potential good homes are limited. It may be easy for me to sit back and say all these things but I know how much you struggle Dawn and I know how upset you get for all these poor creatures. Some times you have to let your head rule your heart and be practical with regards to what is best for the cat, the colony and your own emotional and financial resources.
I am so sorry that you have to go through these difficult decisions and wish I could be of more help to you, you will always have my support and my admiration for what you do.
You take care chum xxx
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Thanks Lainey, I think I've made my decision already :'( :'( I'll be going over tomorrow to trap a couple of them from the colony and hopefully one will be her. If she's too far gone, then I'll have to have a rethink and see what Sean thinks. I know it's easy when you are not involved to say save them all.........I repeatedly say this to myself but sadly it's not possible :'( :'( I am struggling financially and also emotionally, I don't think peeps realise how much doing rescue actually gets to me........I have been in floods of tears tonight over Minnie and also trying to wrestle with my emotions dealing with pregnant ferals :'( I have to think of the cats and put my feelings aside.........I am totally against abortion, human or animal but the trauma of caging a feral is much worse than having her spayed. If she's early on, she can go back home next week and enjoy life as she should.......I will just have to deal with my emotions as I have any other time :'( If I allow her to have the kittens and leave her where she is to trap her at a later date, anything can happen.........I've done this before and kittens have disappeared or been found dead, this is another side to it you have to deal with :'( I also have another female in this colony that I have to do this to as she's already had her kittens somewhere, hopefully they will all remain safe until they are caught in a few weeks. Last year, I would have took in every pregnant one or found placements for them but that was always my heart ruling my head and because I wasn't strong enough to make the "right" decision.........after seeing so many ferals physically shaking after they are caught, I feel awful putting them through the trauma of them keeping their babies, just to ease my conscience........I have decided I will do what is best for her, not what will make me feel better.
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Dawn
Everyone respects what you do and the decisions you make and in the feral world you make a difference you try and help them and that takes a special person and hey kid thats what you are!!
Ferals ae never the easiest things to form a bond with but you have a special way with them as we do thats why we have 20 in our mob and 2 pending to become ours.
Financial constraints and emotional aches can even take out the strongest person and as Lainey says we can't save them all no matter how hard we try, but anything firtunate to come your way will be a special baby and have all the love you can give it even if it does shred you and thats sometimes the nice ones!
Dawn you are a wonderful person but even you need time to mourn your special ones and perhaps saying no breaks your heart but even you wear your underwear under your clothes!!
Take care and and our thoughts are with you during this time and always
Liz and the Mob :hug:
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Thanks Liz :hug: I've taken the traps over this morning and left them with food in and the guy is going to give me a ring if any go in. I've seen the pregnant one and she looks to be big so sadly she will have to be caught to have her babies and then try and release her back again. If she'd have been just showing, then it's easier to deal with.......nearly full term is still something I can't deal with. I will have to see how she reacts to being caged when I get her and take it from there. I will update later if I manage to catch any of the little blighters, there are 2 toms there and a kitten that's about 5 months........hopefully they will go in later and they can all be done.
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Dawn you are more than welcome, even the nastiest feral will calm down took our Hissy Holly 3 weeks to learn bed for sleeping grit box for other!
She was then let out the cage and mastered living inside with us for a very short 8 months but catnip and treats helped this wonderful hissy feisty tabby.
Diva took to it she was a Mum with 3 kittens and she is still with us, her kitts are now in wonderful homes and Watson and Sherlock the boys are sweethearts, Moriarty now called Jadzea is a Klingon queen and shreds all who look at her but another fosterer thinks she is the best thing in her life so all 4 landed on their paws and you will as always do your best for you and the feral lady!!!! :hug: :Crazy:
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I've managed to catch the pregnant one and she doesn't look to be too far off giving birth. She is gorgeous and is the sister of Georgie who was one of the kittens I rehomed a couple of years ago....an absolute babe :Luv: :Luv: I've been chatting to a lady who feeds the cats as well as the other people, she has told me one of the tom cats visits her house every evening and actually goes into her kitchen with the mum cat. The mum has been spayed but the grey tom was one that I never managed to trap when I was doing the others........he is gorgeous but wild :Crazy: Also whilst there, I saw a long haired scraggy ginger, I've never seen him before and apparently he's only turned up in the last couple of weeks. I've made a few enquiries and up to now, I haven't found an owner......he's very timid so may be a feral, I'm going to try and trap him and check to see if he's been done.......if not, he can go in for the chop as well.
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Poor scruffy ginge xxx Wishing you all the very best at trapping them and getting them seen to. xxx :hug:
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The scruffy ginge is absolutely gorgeous :Luv: :Luv: :Luv: His fur looks quite matted but what a beautiful cat :Luv:
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Dawn hon if you need a maternity ward feel free to yell me I have the time room and patients plus am up all hours to mop furry brows lol. Seriously though if you need a place for one of the expectant mums I can help out with space.
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Dawn hon if you need a maternity ward feel free to yell me I have the time room and patients plus am up all hours to mop furry brows lol. Seriously though if you need a place for one of the expectant mums I can help out with space.
You may regret saying that :evillaugh: I'm still so undecided on the latest I've trapped, she looks so petrified bless her :'( :'( I may take her in and get them to see how far gone she is :( She may be deceiving as she's fluffy and both her and the other cat that's just had kittens do look quite big generally.......she isn't hissing or spitting but her eyes look soooooo frightened :'( :'( It's such a shame that I can't feel her tum, this would make things so much easier :'( :'( I think I need to go to bed and have a think in the morning..........I've not managed to trap any of the others this evening so poor Otis will be going in in the morning if I can con him into the cage :sneaky: The traps will be set again at 7.30 in the morning so hopefully I will have one or both males from the colony but sods law, they will be inconspicuous by their absence :censored: It's amazing how when you want certain ones, they never show up and the one's you don't want end up in the traps :shify: I've been trying to trap Otis since I came in at about 11.45 and I've had every bloody cat in the house in the trap apart from him :rofl:
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It's now 3.26 am and this is doing my head in, I'm knackered but feel soooo wound up :censored: :censored: I really don't know what to do :Crazy: My heart is telling me one thing and my head is telling me another :'( :'( I think I may take her in, and if she's x number of weeks, tell them not to do her :tired: :help: What do I do :'( :'(
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By the time you read this I hope you've had some kip and your head feels clearer altho I doubt it if you were setting traps at 7.30am. I use Nytol (the one tablet variety) to take the edge off and help me sleep on occasion. You need to give yourself some time to grieve.
Bring her in to Sean and see what he says. All I know for sure is that you have done the right thing trapping her altho I realise it must be upsetting seeing her look so scared. Head really must over rule heart in these circumstances. I so admire the work you do Dawn. My 85 year old auntie does similar work on a much smaller scale in N Ireland and has to make heart wrenching decisions too but quite rightly recognises it is for the greater good in the long run.
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Well as you will have realised, I didn't get a lot of sleep last night :tired: Otis managed to escape capture last night so poor Clyde has had to go instead. He wasn't due in just yet but I'd already got 3 booked in so sadly he was the chosen one as both the traps that were set were empty as well :( I'm sorry to say I wimped out on the decision on the feral cat and have left it in Sean's hands........I feel sick thinking about it but I know he will do what is best for her and not for my conscience and he can detach himself where as I can't.
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Aw hon ((((hugs)))) your a true gem to these cats even if it costs you in all ways, my offer is always there for maternity,nursery nights up bottle feeding house training jeesh the list is endless lol but I think you get the gist of me saying if I can help with any of the pregnant ones just call, I know how hard the decision is and how heart breaking it can be but your only doing what is best for these cats.
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Just got back in now and both Clyde and the feral seem fine. The feral was spayed which I expected Sean would do.......he said he would not have liked to be in the position I was in and could understand why I find it difficult. She seems okay and I'm pleased that she won't have to spend weeks caged up and that she can go home next week. I will take some piccies once she's settled down a little bit..........I've bought them a fresh cooked chicken for tea, hopefully this will make up for the trauma at the vets.
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I'm soooo glad I bought the chicken.........Otis is a sucker for it and fell for it, he is now caged ready for his chop tomorrow :evillaugh:
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Dawn glad to see bribery is alive and well in your house we have 3 ferals - 1 ok, 2 not okay - need to chase them down to box them and the nice one of the bunch the Phsyco I couldn't get anyone to adopt at 9am on Sat!!!
Glad about Mum feral and as we say alls well that ends well and now Otis can get his bits off to!
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Am glad that you have managed to come to a decision Dawn, and at least she wont be petrified now, and glad you have managed to get Otis in!!
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Thanks Des, I was a wimp and put it onto Sean.......he's practical and I'm way too soft to be making these decisions. I knew which decision he would make but I have to think of what's best for her and not me.
Liz, Otis is a buggar up the back :rofl: When I got the chicken out to give them, everyone else appeared, even the one's from upstairs.........Otis, nowhere in sight.....lol. He then appeared trying to grab some from my hands so I threw it into a carrier and he legged it in after it........what a sucker :evillaugh: He's now eaten some more chicken but he's not a happy chappie.......I just wish I had thought of that last night as I spent hours trying to get the little buggar :rofl: At least now my youngsters will be safe from him.........his hormones are raging away and I keep hearing squeals off the smaller kits and Otis then looking so innocent as if he's done nothing wrong :shify:
Mum cat will be fine, I'm just trying to not to think of it too much but I know it's best for her and best in the long run. The father of the kittens could well be her brother anyway, he's the grey one that I've not managed to trap yet. I think Sean has spayed her underneath which is going to be a nightmare to check. Do they tend to get problems when they are done that way? I've only ever had them done on the flank so I just don't know.
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You must be knackered Dawn!
Time for feet up and a few glasses or wine and A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP!
You are a hero :Luv:
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:hug: Mark, I am knackered and I'll be getting an early night tonight......I've only got Otis booked in the morning so I won't be checking traps etc, he's spent the last hour giving me the evil eye bless him :evillaugh: Sadly as far as a drink goes, I don't really drink but the way it's going, I may just start :Crazy:
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Oh well, a BIG bar of choc then :evillaugh:
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Oh well, a BIG bar of choc then :evillaugh:
That will do nicely..........but I've ran out :censored:
I'll treat myself to some tomorrow :Luv: Here's a pic of the gorgeous Otis, he is a grey tabbie.......such a stunner :Luv: I'll have to take some better pics of him as this pic doesn't really do him justice.
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aww, he's gorgeous Dawn! You know, you really should take up a hobby, it would relax you :rofl: :rofl:
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aww, he's gorgeous Dawn! You know, you really should take up a hobby, it would relax you :rofl: :rofl:
I thought cats were meant to be relaxing or so everyone keeps telling me :rofl: :rofl: Talk about theraputic, mine will be the death of me :Crazy: :Crazy:
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yes Dawn, CATS are relaxing, untamed mini tigers are not!!!! :rofl: When you die can I have your maine coon? :evillaugh:
No you bloody can't you cheeky mare :censored: :censored: :rofl:
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Don't know what happened there but my post is on yours :Crazy: :Crazy: :rofl:
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I wish I knew how do do that - could cause all kinds of mischief :evillaugh:
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I wish I knew how do do that - could cause all kinds of mischief :evillaugh:
:rofl: Not really as it puts your name on the bottom so they know who's been fiddling :shify:
The feral cat has eaten her chicken bless her, so I've given her some more.........I'm so pleased as at least I know she won't starve herself through stress. Hopefully I can get some pics of her tomorrow without scaring her too much :Luv: :Luv:
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How the flaming heck did you manage that???????? :Crazy: :Crazy:
You're no fun :P :rofl:
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How the flaming heck did you manage that???????? :Crazy: :Crazy:
You're no fun :P :rofl:
I think when I clicked on quote, I pressed save rather than post :Crazy:
When I say my cats will be the death of me, you should say "awww no", not can I have your Maine Coon when you die :sneaky: :rofl:
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I wish I knew how do do that - could cause all kinds of mischief :evillaugh:
:rofl: Not really as it puts your name on the bottom so they know who's been fiddling :shify:
The feral cat has eaten her chicken bless her, so I've given her some more.........I'm so pleased as at least I know she won't starve herself through stress. Hopefully I can get some pics of her tomorrow without scaring her too much :Luv: :Luv:
Spoilsports :(
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Otis is stunning Dawn!!
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Otis is stunning Dawn!!
I have to agree with you on that one Des.......he is one that will be staying :Luv: :Luv: You wouldn't believe it but Otis was Minnie's brother :Crazy: He's never allowed me to touch him but he's full of character and spends all his time causing mayhem :rofl: He's now in the vets being denutted :evillaugh:
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Otis is stunning Dawn!!
I have to agree with you on that one Des.......he is one that will be staying :Luv: :Luv: You wouldn't believe it but Otis was Minnie's brother :Crazy: He's never allowed me to touch him but he's full of character and spends all his time causing mayhem :rofl: He's now in the vets being denutted :evillaugh:
great to se you are still living up to your name as the De-nutter :rofl:
Otis is a real hunky lad.
My heart goes out to all these poor homeless babes, when I think of how much mine have and spoilt they are xxxx
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great to se you are still living up to your name as the De-nutter :rofl:
Otis is a real hunky lad.
My heart goes out to all these poor homeless babes, when I think of how much mine have and spoilt they are xxxx
You know me and nuts Gail, I can't resist them :shify: Cracking them that is :evillaugh: :rofl:
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Ive just had to read through a heap of posts as i saw the pic of otis and didnt think he could be feral, he looks so calm and relaxed having that pic taken..he's lovely.
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He's a pretty laid back sort of cat unless you go near him :) He keeps his distance from everyone apart from when his hormones are raging and he's having his wicked way with my younger babes, and the little monkey will carry on in front of you looking all innocent.......this is usually when you can get closest to him :Crazy: I'm hoping once he's been chopped, he will calm down a little or at least let me have a sneaky stroke........for so long I've wanted to get near him but the only way of doing this is when he's caged and he really doesn't appreciate it :doh: I'm sure one day he'll tame down a little.......I love him so much but I just can't get through to him that I just want to cuddle him :Luv: :Luv:
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well i'd think before he sits as calmly as that even if he doesnt like you close i reckon he must be a fairly hopeful candidate for taming.
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Some of the ferals are strange little characters :Luv: I've got one here called Boston. For so long he was a feisty little buggar and used to give you a whack at 100 miles an hour :rofl: He used to venture into the kitchen at night with Tiger and Bailey who are also feral, and he'd sneak in between them whilst I was giving them a fuss but he always kept his eyes shut :Luv: :Luv: He used to have me in stitches, as soon as he opened them he would be off like a little rocket.........2 minutes later, he'd be back again :rofl: Eventually he started opening his eyes whilst I stroked him but would always be on the hop, one slightest move wrong he would be off. Now he will climb on my knee and have a long fuss, and if I'm fussing any of the others he will swipe me to get me to show him some attention..........he is absolutely gorgeous. Another I've got here is Jasmine, she's a dark tortie/white but was a definite loop. She is obsessed and I mean obsessed with my Maine Coon Billy..........she gazes and flirts with him so lovingly and he totally blanks her :rofl: The only time I used to be able to get near her was when she was rubbing herself against the uninterested Billy and I did it sneakily. Once you started fussing her, she goes into ecstasy but it's taken a few months for her to allow us to fuss her when Billy isn't in sight or she's not eating........she is still a little wary but if you manage to touch her before she runs off she will let you fuss her all day long........she's a funny little madam :Luv: :Luv:
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I've just spoken to the vets and Otis is now nutless :evillaugh: He's fine and is now recovering so I can pick him up later :Luv: :Luv:
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Yay! :yayyy: :yayyy:
Another pair bites the dust :rofl:
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Hi Dawn
I'm sure Otis is much loved for who he is but perhaps the fact that he is Minnie's Bro makes him that bit more special at the mo.
Hope losing his nuts will in time turn him into a cuddle monster. Your Boston sounds so much like our Billy Whiz who, 12 months on, is still only approachable when his tail is raised or his eyes are half closed and then only with care. I remember so well the warm feeling when he first allowed us to stroke him but it was initially only when we stroked Aslan RIP babe. Hope Otis now home and recovering well :hug:
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Dawn - dont go down teh alcohol route, means you cant do as much driving in the daft hours!!
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The gorgeous Otis is absolutely fine........I don't think he's quite forgiven me yet but he was pleased to be home, he came out of the carrier as if he had a rocket shoved up his behind :rofl: Rosella, I fell in love with Otis the first time I laid eyes on him.......I adore grey tabbies and yes, I suppose he is that bit more special now because of Minnie :Luv: :Luv: I'm not sure whether he'll ever quite become a cuddle monster but the way Boston is with us a few months down the line, there is hope :Luv: Sometimes they take weeks, others months and in some cases a couple of years. Tiger, one of my other ferals is an absolute babe now, I've had him about 5 years and he adores his fusses and dribbles for England........he is now the typical mither bum and he's heart warming just to watch and see how happy he is. He is definitely top cat but all the others adore him.......he is usually the instigator when it comes to wanting a fuss and then the shyer one's eventually tend to follow suit. I'll get some more piccies of Otis the next couple of days.
Des, I'm only joking about the alcohol :evillaugh: Me and alcohol don't mix, one drink and I'm usually p***** so it is extremely rare that I do have a dabble. Even on the very rare occasions I go out with my mates, I usually drive anyway to avoid getting tempted..........I'm a boring cow really as I hate hangovers and I like to remember what I've been doing, not that I do anything anyway but just in case :evillaugh:
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Here's a pic of the now nutless Otis :Luv: :Luv:
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What a handsome lad. Hopefully he will calm down and be a soppy lap cat now ;D
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He is very handsome bless him and he knows it :Luv: :Luv: I think he's got that look that's saying "mum, what have you let them do to my bits?" :rofl: It has had the desired effect though, at least for the moment........I've had no more squeals off my younger babes since he's had the chop :evillaugh:
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Otis is a real looker Dawn :Luv:
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:Luv: :Luv: :Luv: :Luv: :Luv:aww he is lovely
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Otis is gorgeous ;D