I am not sure if it is connected or not, but since the quake hit, I have noticed a remarkable change in the Burn Kitties. They no longer wish to hide (except when strangers are around) but the workers will be done with the build this Weds. Ever since the ground rolled under my house, the kitties are sticking quite close to me. Ashley now will get up in my lap and not claw or bite me. Magoo is content to come up, be brushed (he loves his brushings) and then he will settle down in my lap or by my side.

I was really apprehensive yesterday; I know the electrician is coming on Monday to fix all the electrical problems (and there are many). There is no place in the house where I can be absolutely sure the cats would be safe or non-traumatized. My only option was to put them inside the Introduction Cage in the main enclosure. I knew (or thought I did) that this drastic change in their environment would put them into a tailspin. But, I had no choice. Yesterday, I spent several hours preparing the cage for their four day stay. I put their tunnel inside, two of their litterboxes and blocked some of the wire so that the other cats when they came to investigate the new tenants, would only have a few social holes to do so. My challenge also was to prepare for this crazy strange weather we are getting right now. We should be entering the rainy season, but currently we have two weeks if not more of 80 plus degrees during the day. At night it does dip down into the 40’s so I ended up putting straw at the bottom of the cage, covering that with a sheet and putting their tunnel on top. They have plenty of food and water to last till Tuesday, in case they want to try to escape, I was just going to visit with them through the wire.

I was so pleased this morning, when I went to feed to find both of them out and about exploring their new home. Although it is a three-level cage and I can stand up inside of it, the cage isn’t that comfortable to step into. It was designed by Mike to my specifications to try to prevent escape artists from being successful. I was able to pick them up, hug them and say hello before leaving. That surprised me to no end. I would love it, if they could eventually get along with the four cats inside and visit out there among them.

I say that because when the workers removed the living room carpet, I was mortified by the condition of the floor beneath. Thirty years of rescuing feral cats showed clearly underneath that carpet. No one passed judgement, they just did what they knew to do to fix it. They were finally able to lay down the new flooring yesterday. I love it so much. I did discover with all the moving of furniture that happened; I have an active sprayer. I believe it’s Ashley based on where I found the new stains. It looks like when she is stressed, she will perch on top of a shelf or a bookcase and hang her bum over and let loose. If the sprayer was Magoo I would see the markings on the walls not only the floor. It would be nice if they could get along with the enclosure kitties to the extent that they could spend some time with the others and work off this nervous energy before being brought back inside. At least the new flooring is waterproof which will help.

I am grateful for this program that helped me to get where I am right now. It is not funded by taxpayer money, the program over the years has become self-sufficient. The monies put into the re-build will only be due if I sell my home or I pass away. There is a low-end interest on the loan, but it only exists for 7 years and then it goes away.

The workers have been so wonderful. They have managed to take a room that I spent my last hours with my husband in and turn if from sad to dark, to happiness and joy. Just removing his giant workstation that has set untouched in the corner since he passed, has helped me immensely. It was so big and cumbersome. Now the room is lighter, right now sparsely furnished but so much more open and welcoming.

They all loved Kota, I know he will miss them. He will miss tug and play, pets and love, and I know he will take up vigil every morning at 8:00 for quite a while waiting for that gate to open and his new friends to walk through. Even my feral cats were getting used to the guys, Salem walked by them yesterday and even let Russ pet her. One of the workers told me yesterday that Kota was spoiled. I told him, Kota is not spoiled, he is loved. All my animals are. My kitties will probably only be getting small amounts of wet food through the winter. At this point and time, it is the best thing I can do under the circumstances. They are loved as well-

I will share with you photos of my “new” old home. I hope you enjoy the photo journey. See if you can spot the cat on the roof? LOL!