Alan's Rambles: Dunedin: Calcifer and Hermione

For ages now Sabine has wanted a cat. This goes back to the days of living in the UK even. But its kinda rare to find rented accommodations that allow pets.

Our landlady gave us permission to get a cat, so long as it doesn't destroy the furniture. After that go ahead, Sabine bought many things in preparation of owning a cat. Firstly we got a whole bunch of matching blue loose carpets to completely cover the floor of one of the spare rooms, now considered our car room. The single bed was taken out and put in the shed, leaving 100% floor space for cat things such as a cat tree, a cat cave, a cat bed, assorted balls, litter trays, feeding bowls, and other things like a springy mouse and a discus ball-rail play thing.

We have a litter tray and another huge cat tree in the living room too.

Anyway, last weekend, exactly one week ago from when I'm posting this, Sabine and I picked up two kittens from a lady from the other side of town. Sabine was in contact with her via Facebook. However she proved to be highly unreliable during the few weeks prior to getting the cats because she hardly responded to our questions, and last Sunday when we agreed we would pick them up, she didn't respond to us much and in the end we had to wait until 9pm before we could pick the kittiens up. Officially, kittens need to spend at least 8 weeks with their mothers before they can be sold or given away. Over this past week we have come to realise that our smallest cat, Hermione, is younger then her brother Calcifer. She doesn't use the litter trays very efficiently, and has numerously pooed on the carpet. In fact its pretty much a daily occurrence.

Our cats are half brother and sister, we think. They have separate mothers, that's for sure. Calcifer is a pure ginger boy. He is named after the fire star character from Howls Moving Castle. Hermione is a tortoiseshell cat with white paws and a ginger leg. She is named after a character from the Harry Potter series.

Calcifer was taken to the vets on Tuesday after Sabine got home to find his eyes and nose very crusty. They were already bad on Monday but Sabine insisted he be seen too as quickly as possible. I had just arrived home from work when I saw her driving out our driveway. I hopped in the car and followed. At the vets it was confirmed that he is suffering from conjunctivitis, most probably caused from the move to our house and the stress caused from the ordeal of it all. The vet also said that when their front top two teeth come through, this means they are 14 weeks old. We'll see. We bought some eye ointment, to be put into their eyes three times a day. Both cats will be infected with the same virus causing the conjunctivitis, its just that it showed more prominently with Calcifer.
Over the next few days, Hermione started showing signs of being sick too. She keeps sneezing. Luckily since using the eye ointment, no further symptoms show up on her. Even Calcifer is okay now.

Calcifer is very much a boy. He loves running and climbing. I would say he has grown somewhat this past week. He loves running around chasing after his mouse toy that's on the end of elasticated string that we move around. I've tired him out numerous times using this toy, and other similar toys. I've even made him follow the mouse up and down the cat tree to tire him out.

Hermione is more affectionate and softer in her actions. This is due to her being obviously younger than her brother. She likes climbing onto my lap when I'm sitting in the room. Today I even had both cats in my lap, purring and trying to sleep. It was very adorable!

On wednesday we introduced both kittens to our living room/kitchen space. We had to watch Hermione like a hawk in case she tried to poo or wee on the fitted carpet. To be honest from now on we wont be letting her out of the cat room until she has learnt how to use the litter trays. We had Calcifer in the living room earlier today but he was just meowing and looking for his sister nearly the whole time.

On Thursday, Sabine took both kittens to the vets to have their first shots. The vet was reluctant to give Hermione her shot due to how small she is, but we needed it done regardless due to timings with the cat hotel that we have booked near the Eco-sanctuary, for over the Christmas period. The shots need to be 4 weeks apart and the cat hotel only accepts cats that have had at least two shots. Besides, Hermione has been fine.

Hermione is hard to photograph or video. At least on my phone. Its because she has a lot of black fur. Calcifer is a ginger so its easier.

Calcifer growls when killing his mouse toy. When he catches it, its the cutest thing; he trots off to a corner with the house in his mouth very pleased with himself. Hermione caught the mouse today and started coying her brother by growlling sinisterly too. it was hillarous!