The Continuing Adventures of Miss Beowulf (aka Wolfe)

On Thursday afternoon Marius came home on an earlier bus from the site and we took Beowulf to our Vet.

She hated being put in the carrier - really went mad with gymnastics and then heart-rending howls - but she settled down when Marius out the bag on my lap and I spoke to her.  I ended up telling her a long tale about her own adventures - to keep talking and because I get bored saying 'it's okay Wolfe, you're alright'.  It's the quiet voice they need, not the words.

We were worried how she would cope sitting on the floor of the Vet's, waiting for our appointment with all the smells and dogs and cats and people.  She sat quietly and didn't cry.

When we took her in, we first asked the Vet to scan her and see if she had a microchip.  She didn't.  The Vet said there is no national data base  - they have one and possibly other vets have their animals recorded - so her previous owners most likely didn't think to have her chipped.  I was disappointed:  I'd hoped we would have found out something about her, even if we were unable to re-unite her with her previous family.

The Vet pronounced her healthy - no ear mites, no fleas, no signs of disease - and vaccinated her and gave her a couple of worming tablets.  She (the Vet) confirmed Wolfe is a female, as I had suspected.  And agreed that she had most likely been spayed as we hadn't noticed her going into heat.  She is estimated to be between eighteen months and two years old.

The Vet was surprised she was so healthy for a cat who had been on the street since April. And then we came up with a theory about her.

Wolfe has a notch out of the top of her right ear.  This is a universal (well, global) sign that a cat has been TNR (trapped, neutered and returned).  It is possible that she got swept up in a trapping program, spayed, notched and then returned to somewhere else.  Apparently the officials here are not too careful about who they trap or whether they are returned to the same place.

If this had happened, it would explain why Wolfe freaked out in the carrier initially - she may have thought she was going to be dumped somewhere else, again.  It would also explain why such a fine cat was ear-notched and why she was homeless.

The vet also said she thought Wolfe is a cross-breed, at least, if not a full Norwegian Forest Cat.  She might have some British Blue in her.  Wolfe's face is more pointed than the pictures we've seen of the British Blue.  And she does have an amazing purr.

We kept her in on Thursday evening as we were concerned she might head for the hills after her vet-experience.  She went out yesterday a couple of times and is currently lying across the entrance to the kitchen.

Last night she sat next to us on the lounge while Macc sat on the other seat - in sight of each other, not growling, and relaxing.  We are making progress.

As for the future - we are in limbo.  All our cats will be travelling with us if we move.
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An after thought:  when I wanted to take the cat to the vet, I rang up on Wednesday afternoon, my call was answered straight away (this doesn't always happen, sometimes the line is engaged), I had a nice chat with the receptionist about Beowulf being new to the family, and I was able to make an appointment for the following evening.  What a contrast to last week when I was trying to get in to see a GP for my wounds!

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Introducing Miss Beowulf Norse Woods Doyle

I think she has moved in:

under the kitchen table

There is still some grumbling on the part of Mr Macc, whilst Miss Ming is inquisitive and neutral, as long as She doesn't get to my sardines first.

We think Beowulf is a Norwegian Forest Cat, but we may be wrong.  According to wiki-wisdom, this breed is famous for its ability to climb and jump, and although faithful and affectionate, is free-spirited and outdoors-loving.  Hmmmmmm

Since she moved in on Saturday, she has not left the house.  I hope she discovered the cats' bathroom on her earlier explorations.  I open doors for her and invite her outside, but she meows sweetly and walks away.  Thank you, but I prefer it here.

As you can see, she is really a feral cat and has never been domesticated:

bliss!

And she doesn't much like cuddles:

too bad you can't hear my purrrrrrr

Beowulf is rightly wary of Macc and spends most of her time in the kitchen and laundry.  I discovered her hiding place this morning, squeezed in behind the washing machine.  Under all that fur she is pretty slim and well, Mr Macc is rather a fatso, even though he has been on a 'diet' for about two years.  He can't squeeze behind the washing machine and I'm not sure he has figured out that is where Wolfe goes.

As for the wounds ...

I finally realised that the redness I was worried about was my reaction to the fancy dressings my nurse-neighbour used.  The redness has perfectly straight edges, which would be odd for an infection.  And it is itchy.  Ergo, dermatitis from surgical adhesive?  The four deep puncture wounds are closing up - one of them has disappeared and the other three are improving daily.  No need to amputate at this juncture thank goodness.

As for the rest of our living arrangements ...  it is truly a stupid time to adopt another cat when our lives are in limbo.  Marius' contract ends in February and he is currently in the crowd looking for re-deployment.  Many debates are underway, yet strangely the wisdom or otherwise of inviting Beowulf in has not arisen.  Odd.

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Peacocks

This evening I was out feeding this chap:

Beowulf until we come up with a better name

who has been hanging around for about 6 weeks or so.  We are sure this cat has been abandoned as she (?) is definitely not one of the ferals.  To begin with, Floyd saw her off, and I used to feed her in secret, but lately they have been getting along fine, eating together and curling up on the doorstep together too.  Floyd has been AWOL for a few days - perhaps he has returned to his previous household?  A worse thought is that he has been packed up in one of the containers for international house moving, that have been littering our street in the last few weeks.  Anyway, Beowulf has been on her own.

Marius has done some research and thinks maybe she is related to the Norwegian Forest Cat;  she has a lovely nature, very timid but also very friendly once she trusts you.

I was sitting outside talking to Beowulf and feeding her when one of the peahens came by with two chicks.  Of course I didn't have my camera with me and by the time Marius had given it to me, they were spooked.  I chased them down the road and managed a few snaps:

Peachicks are quite ugly, prehistoric looking creatures.  They always remind me of baby dinosaurs.  Unfortunately in these pictures you can't see that they are beginning to grow their own little crowns:

The peahen escorted them across the street away from the camera and the trailing Beowulf:

Beowulf wasn't interested in stalking the chicks, rather she was interested in following and talking to me:

The peacock was bringing up the rear:

It is very dusty today.