Regular readers of the Mewsletter may remember Emily & Maxine who have lived together since coming into the care of Lanarkshire Branch in April 2002.  They were both found abandoned whilst heavily pregnant and later gave birth to 10 kittens between them.

Both Emily and Maxine were re-homed together last year, but were returned back to the Branch soon afterwards.   Their playful fighting became more of a concern and it was felt each cat should be homed individually instead.  

It looks like a happy new year for Maxine though as Elaine from East Kilbride gave her a loving home towards the end of January.   Maxine has had 3 weeks to settle into her new home, and Elaine has just told us Maxine has taken her first steps out into the garden.   After a quick wander about the neighbours gardens, Maxine settled down under a tree to watch the birds.   This is the precise spot in the garden where Elaine's previous cat Midnight always sat.

Maxine gets on well with Elaine's pet dog, and Maxine can spend over an hour chasing a bit of crumpled paper round the room!   For treats, a tin of tuna is always welcomed, and last week some bacon went missing from a sandwich......

Then later in 2003 Emily was re-homed, ironically also in East Kilbride just like Maxine.  Owners Marie and Lachie wrote saying how well Emily (now known as Amy) had settled into her new home.   As Emily licked her lips, it was clear chicken was still very much on the menu!

Fosterers Focus - Lizanne from Motherwell  (Spring 2003)

Like many of the Lanarkshire Branch foster Mums, Lizanne has had her busiest year since becoming a Cats Protection volunteer. 

During 2002 Lizanne, from Motherwell, looked after many cats until suitable permanent homes could be found.   Some of the cats she cared for included Louie, Midnight, Midge and Simba.

Louie came into Lanarkshire Branch care with liver and kidney problems.   
A two week stay in Robb Vets in July was needed to deal with the liver and kidney concerns, and Louie’s vet visits went on to number double figures as he had skin allergy problems too.  The vet would often be growled at, but visit after visit the change was noticeable and around his 8^th visit the vet commented Louie had become quite laid back!  

 Lizanne ended up keeping Louie.  He began going out into the front garden when the weather was good in the summer, but he did not venture far.   Louie answered to his name and he had become part of the family.    One funny moment was when Louie needed a drink, and despite having a dish of fresh water waiting on him in the kitchen, he decided to drink from the toilet bowl instead!   On entering the bathroom all that could be seen was Louie’s tale – if only a camera had been handy.

Another cat Lizanne fostered was a black cat called Midnight.   He was re-homed in Glasgow to a couple whose teenage son had been looking for a black cat for 18 months without success.   One night the boy dreamt about an adventure with a black cat and announced to his parents over breakfast the next morning that his cat would be called Midnight.   Later that day the boys' Mother saw an advert in the Ad Trader Yellow Paper detailing a cat called Midnight being cared for by the Lanarkshire Branch – it seemed fated.   The home visit was a formality and 24 hours later Midnight was tucking into the first of many dinners in his new home.

Hope, Freedom, Amber & Flag

The USA World Trade Centre recovery effort has brought much sadness over the last year, but there have been many tales of bravery and survival. They include one very resourceful cat.  Beneath the decimated area where the New York World Trade Centre once stood, life was found in a forgotten basement. Rescuers discovered a blast survivor curled up in a carton of napkins. When the box was brought up, there were even more survivors-- three kittens.

The mother cat found her way into a safe, secure area to give birth to the kittens in a box of napkins, which couldn't be anymore safe, secure and cushioned for her kittens. Vets felt these little survivors needed names. Mum has been christened "Hope" and the babies are "Freedom", "Amber" and "Flag." It's very fitting for a family determined to survive despite the close call. Vets predict a full recovery for the entire cat family.

Flowerpot

British workers opened a sealed crate from Malaysia and couldn't believe their eyes as a kitten stared back at them. It had survived for over a month by licking condensation off the crate's walls. The tortoiseshell was tired and thin but instantly greeted workers with a friendly meow. Workers plucked the girl kitten from the crate and called the RSPCA. The kitten had crawled into the crate at the port of Penang and been sealed inside as it waited to be loaded to a ship. She then endured a voyage to South Hampton and lorry trip to Salisbury in England without food and light. The eight-week-old kitten was named Flowerpot and when she leaves quarantine a home has been lined up for her.

Smokey & Dotty

Thousands of plant-lovers travel miles to the Chelsea Flower Show each year, but none would risk their life to do so. However, four-month-old kittens Smokey and Dotty hitched a lift from their plant-nursery home in Hampshire to the showground in SW3 on the undercarriage of a lorry. For 60 miles they perched on a ledge only two feet from the ground, staying put even when it stopped at traffic lights. Ninety minutes later and three motorways later, the lorry finally came to a halt at the showground in London and the terrified cats were discovered.  Both cats have now fully recovered from their trip, and are owned by Rosy Hardy who has been exhibiting at the Chelsea Flower Show for the last 10 years.