Ozspots
Dampier - 'Jack'
March, 2008
Dear Nola
Attached are a few pictures of Jack and Molly. I will send some better ones
soon. Many of the "action" shots were blurred when I looked at them on
the computer - there is obvious some skill in photographing leaping kittens!
They are settling in well I think. The first night Molly was by my side all the
time while Jack watched us mostly from a little distance and was always trying
to hide if I approached. Overnight I let them follow me to my bedroom and they
slept at first separately on the bed. By morning they were next to one another
and Molly started to groom Jack. Over the next day 12 hours they bonded
incredibly. Molly has clearly adopted Jack as her own kitten. She allows him to
suckle at her nipple for long periods (one of her nipples is a little elongated
and red, but she seems to enjoy it). I presume this is comfort behaviour on
Jack's part as surely nothing will be coming out of the nipple.
They are now inseparable; Molly follows Jack around everywhere and goes running
for him whenever he squeaks. She even tries to pick him up by his scruff (and
sometimes tries to carry him via the front of his throat - I stop this if I am
there). She follows him to the litter tray and inspects his efforts. If anything
she is a little too possessive (eg. following him to the food when I put it down
and distracting him from eating by grooming him at the same time), but I've
noticed that Jack is beginning to elude her attempts at carrying him away. Soon
he will be too big to carry anyway. They play together beautifully and chase
each other around.
Jack is no longer shy of me and seems great. He loves the toys I have for him
and will play endlessly with me. He has lots of energy and has a good appetite,
especially this morning. Molly appears healthy and energetic with no signs of
soreness from her operation. However, she doesn't appear to be eating too much
at the moment, but the weekend was so hot (and I have no air conditioning), so
we were all just lying around. I will try to find out what her favourite food is
and keep an eye on her eating. Often when she starts eating, Jack squeaks from
somewhere in the room and she stops eating and runs to him. I guess all this
will settle down.
The two of them love the tree hollow scratching post and spend most of their
time sleeping in there during the day (as you will see in the photos). Jack
loves climbing it and launching himself off the top onto a toy mouse on the
floor.
I'll keep in touch re their progress. If you have any advice re Molly's
appetite, please let me know.
Best wishes, Christine
July, 2008
Dear Nola
Sorry for the delay since my last email. I have been trying to
"capture" Jack with the camera, but he is a tough subject. His
beautiful colouring actually makes the camera usually overexpose him. I'll have
to nail the settings. I have attached 5 photos of Jack (4-5 months old) and
Molly. They have continued to thrive and now love to explore the garden. Jack is
very good at climbing trees, much to Molly's consternation (she often climbs up
after Jack and tries to "encourage" him down). I panicked the first
time he went up a tree, but he is very good at climbing (usually motivated by
currawongs sitting above - as I tried to tell him, looking at him as a breakfast
snack ...). Jack is very good at stalking and hunting flies (so far).
Molly has gained a little weight while I am still feeding Jack twice a day, but
I hope she will lose that once I decrease the "meat" feeds to once a
day. They are still inseparable, but Jack is starting to show some independence.
I am trying to have him sit on my lap, but this is still a bit of a struggle. He
allows himself to be picked up often and seems to enjoy that. I think it has to
do with Molly probably not being a "lap cat" in the past, perhaps due
to her hostility to the other female cats. Jack of course watches everything she
does. I try to pick her up often and she now tolerates this without a struggle.
Molly is extremely affectionate in every other way and follows me around the
garden and the house. She loves being brushed - to the point of almost squashing
Jack at times as she rolls over so that I can reach her tummy. Jack now also
loves brushing, having (almost) learned that attacking the brush each time is
not necessarily helpful.
The local vet loves the two of them and they are celebrities each time they go
in as no one had seen an Ocicat before. Jack is now of course fully immunised
and they are both on Advocate which seems to do almost everything re fleas,
worms, ear mites (except tapeworms).
I hope that all your Ocicats are doing well.
Best wishes, Christine
Ozspots Dampier (Jack) and Merrydancer Molly
Ozspots
Darraweit Guim - 'Baci'
April, 2008
Hey Nola,
Thought we would let you know how the little one is going...great! Solid poos,
tearing up and down the house and playing all the time.
She is a bit of a whinger at feeding times,
but we absolutely love her! Her and Ju Ju are getting along better too. We've
attached some photos for you! Emily and Ili
L : Worst
behaviour@!!!!
R : Best behaviour :)
Little
Baci wonders if she will ever be as big as Ju Ju who takes up most of the space!
Ozspots Corinella - 'Mistress Miou' and
Ozspots
Alexandra - 'Sekhmet'
August, 2008
Hi Nola,
Just an email to give you an update and to send you some photos. I will send
several more emails with photos because our system won’t let us send them all
at once.
The girls are settling in beautifully. Corinella is now called Mistress Miou (Miou
was the ancient Egyptian word for Cat, and the crown prince Tuthmosis V had a
cat called Mistress Miou). She most often gets called “Miss Miou”. She has
spent hours cuddled up on each of our laps. She is so settled and comfortable
that you’d swear she’s been here for months. She is on my lap as I type
this. I have had to delete several of her additions.
Alexandra is now called Sekhmet. Sekhmet was represented by the searing heat of
the mid-day sun (in this aspect she was sometimes called "Nesert", the
flame) and was a terrifying goddess. However, for her friends she could avert
plague and cure disease. She was the patron of Physicians, and Healers and her
priests became known as skilled doctors. As a result, the fearsome deity
sometimes called the "lady of terror" was also known as "lady of
life". This so suits Alexandra. She can be an absolute terror (she has the
dogs completely whipped) but very affectionate (although she only does this for
little bits at a time). She adores Michael but is starting to come around to the
rest of us.
They have turned the house upside down! Yesterday was a very active day but
today has been spent in much sleep. Night times are spent in our spare room that
has a fold down sofa. Elizabeth spent the first night with them and I spent last
night and will spent tonight with them. By isolating them at night it means that
they have a sterile, contained environment where they can relax and not worry
about anything. They sleep under the doona on the bed with us.
All the animals have accepted them to one degree or another except for my girl,
Isis. She is a Siamese/Oriental cross. She has stopped hissing at them but she
hasn’t come out of the linen cupboard yet. I think she will be ok, though, as
we are giving her lots of love. Our Great Dane thinks they are the best thing
since dog crunchies! Our Staffy cross has become their protector. He follows
them around and growls at any of the cats that might hiss at them.
We are so glad that we got the two because they are such an item and that helps
them in this animal laden world that they have come into. Our Birman, Yum Yum
thinks she is the girls’ mum. They have trashed the house, taken over the new
cat gym, and had a great time. We have loads of ornaments which have had to be
moved: it has been like preparing a house for a baby.
Thank you so much for providing us with such beautifully socialised, robust
little girls. We will keep you posted as to their development
Best regards, Patricia
Ozspots
Nagambi - 'James'
September, 2008
Dear Nola, Nagambi (house name James) has
settled in fine. Took 3 days for him to get over his flight.
My daughter rang my Vet but they said that's normal for him to hide etc as long
as he was eating and drinking not to worry too much. He is now very much
part of the household. He has his own bedroom which he loves and already
has his favourite chair to sleep in plus a favourite toy he sleeps with too.
He has really taken to me and my youngest
daughter (much to the chagrin of my daughter Brittany who bought him). He
follows us everywhere and cries if he can't see us. he knows now which is
his room and we always find him sleeping on his chair. He's such a cute
little thing, I love him to bits already. Regards Janette
October, 2008
Ozspots
Romsey - 'Freddie'
November, 2008
Hi Nola
Our boy is getting to be a big lad and is now 4
1/2 months old.. He is just lovely and a pleasure to look at. We have both adjusted to each other and he is a
most wonderful companion. He is always investigating everything of
interest to him and interested in everyone who comes to the house. He
is, of course, an indoors cat, but interested in everything. And he is
very affectionate and very intelligent. . He also keeps to the house
rules, sometimes with a vocal protest. Yes, I think you can be very
proud that this lovely cat came from your kennels. I'll
keep in tough and let you know he is getting on.
Kind regards Annemarie.
December, 2008
Hello Nola, My Freddie (aka Romsey) and I wish you a very
happy Christmas and a prosperous 2009. Freddie is a very beautiful much
admired cat, full of life and constant curiosity. He takes an
interest in everything that goes on in the house, and is friendly to everyone
. And he obeys the few rules that apply to him. I'm delighted
to have him as my dear companion. He is now 6 months old and weight 3.3 kg.
This picture gives you an idea of what he likes to do.
He really is a credit to your 'cattery'.
Kind regards, Annemarie
