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Post by greatbluehopeful on Apr 28, 2020 9:39:11 GMT
Thank you Helen...I'm comforted to hear you say this....
Similar to you, our last cat lived for 20 years, and knowing this, I simply couldn't face another two decades of trying to justify why we kept Spooky, when we absolutely said we would NEVER, EVER get another cat again.
It would slowly gnaw away at me and I would become bitter with disappointment and resentment every time she would arrive in with a new kill. We would be held to ransom by this little cat, and all our hopes and dreams for this new house, yet again, put on hold because we were too soft just to let her go.
I'm so conflicted and really upset about it all. Its going to be a tough day. I feel so guilty.
The whole experience these past few weeks has caused great anxiety, and it was further compounded by the timing of Spookys arrival and then losing 'Beaktrix' & 'Maurice' needlessly, when I was so hopeful for my 1st birds nest in a very long time...so all a bit of an emotional roller coaster.
Spooky was the most spoilt cat while she was here - she didn't want for anything. We did right by her and I'm proud that she came to us in her time of need.
We had her neutered, de-wormed, de- flead and we kept her safe and off the streets away from the vicious male un-neutured cats.
In this short time she has fattened up, and has grown bigger, and her coat is now glossy and filling out. She has lost her feral tendencies and is now socialised enough to actually be able to be re-homed. We gave her the gift of that. So that's make me happy.
We were lucky we had all these weeks of being at home with the warmth and sunshine, as having her outdoors didn't matter (albeit in a very fancy cat house) - but knowing me, I would crack the minute a bit of cold weather set in, and she'd be in the house in a flash - but then I would be miserable, and have to be confined to one or two rooms. Whats the point of that!!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2020 13:01:23 GMT
I doff my cap to you GBH!
I am no lover of cats if I am being really honest and my wife has a terrible allergy to cat hairs and some species of dog hair.
Having loved birds all my life I have seen too many needless deaths from roaming moggies. 25 years ago we moved to our brand new dream house with "blank canvass" garden which here on the Moors was devoid of birds apart from the odd Dunnock. It took me 4 years to attract a blue tits to my nestbox and cultivate enough fast growing climbers, trees and shrubs to develop a community of garden birds. Then as I may have previously mentioned it was constantly attacked by the sheer number of cats on our small development of 18 houses. The first pair of tits were both predated by cats as we watched in horror from our window leaving 8 week old nestlings to die.
Two residents kept over 12 cats and many more had one. They all seemed to want to visit and defecate on my garden and it was disgusting, their owners simply shrugged their shoulders when I complained and suggested they come over and remove their cats filth from my lawns and garden. I personally believe cats should be kept indoors or let outdoors in runs. Controversial I know, but in the 1960's the view was pet dogs should be able to roam anywhere!
Luckily for us there is only one cat on the street now as people moved away and the increase in Birdlife in the locality is phenomenal.
I apologise if my views upsets cat owners but I have witnessed too many awful deaths in my time.
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Post by Taz on Apr 28, 2020 16:47:27 GMT
That was a hard and brave decision, I feel for you but ultimately you have to balance up the pro's and cons, I think they were tipped more in the cons. You did your very best for Spooky  |
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Apr 28, 2020 16:56:14 GMT
Thanks Benn..... you understand my plight exactly so!!! We are at the stage now, that you were at 25 years ago when you bought your dream house. We have little tolerance for anything impeding that dream, after waiting go long and going to great efforts to finally get here! Well...she's gone and it was really difficult and I feel I betrayed her. Her little face....  But when I arrived home and saw the baby feathers still scattered all over the lawn, and was reminded of the carnage from the night before, my resolve hardened. I'll be upset for a few days, but as we get the updates telling us how she is doing, it will become a bit easier. If you were to see the house she has gone to - its a complete cat haven!! These people are nuts about cats, and felt that having ONLY 4 was not enough. They said they had a 'vacancy', so for once the timing was right on this occasion. We were very lucky to find her such a perfect home. She'll be fine and in fact, will live a better life than we were prepared to offer her. Time to move on.... thanks for the ear folks...nice to have someone to chat too about it. |
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Apr 28, 2020 16:57:41 GMT
That was a hard and brave decision, I feel for you but ultimately you have to balance up the pro's and cons, I think they were tipped more in the cons. You did your very best for Spooky Thanks Taz....I believe we did  |
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Post by suep on Apr 28, 2020 17:17:38 GMT
GBH, I think you’d should applaud yourself. You took on Spooky knowing you did not really want another cat, but the kindness of your heart would not let her be unloved or uncared for. You gave her love, and the credentials to be a wonderful cat for someone. You did not give up on her, you did the best you could and have given her the opportunity to have a comfortable and long life in safety and security. Spooky should be eternally grateful to you and your family. Sad though it may be right now, you will come to see it was the right thing to do both for her and for you. It would worse to resent her and live your life with her always hating her for her inbuilt instincts. I think you have done an amazing thing, putting her before yourselves and the fact that you now have a nest to watch is a just and rightful reward for your unselfishness in looking after her at this time. Well done GBH.
Sue
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Apr 29, 2020 5:16:15 GMT
Thanks Sue!!
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Apr 29, 2020 7:14:48 GMT
Hi all, No real update on the nest to speak of...I don't think she's bringing in any more material now. I did observe what I thought was odd behaviour this morning. This is a minute video of some of the activity, but she came in, with no material, and sat on the nest cup for over 30 mins.... I thought she was going to lay, but no, its like she was just having a rest? This was at 6:30 in the morning though? Here is the nest now, as she left it - I wonder what that white stuff is - it wasn't there before she arrived in....could it be a failed egg? Like some egg shell debris, that marks the start of the laying period, but as its the first one, it just didn't go right? (like the first pancake?!)  Here she is just sitting there....for ages and ages???  |
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Post by Beechnut on Apr 29, 2020 8:46:12 GMT
Watch that space GBH!
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hardy
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Post by hardy on Apr 29, 2020 8:49:14 GMT
While she is still coming to the nest I would be hopeful of eggs being layed.
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Post by suep on Apr 29, 2020 8:53:34 GMT
Strange one GBH, don’t know what to think it is! Hope she soon gives you that longed for first egg.
Sue
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Post by hfriel on Apr 29, 2020 9:02:12 GMT
Yes, I’d say you have your first egg........she usually come back in and sits on egg/eggs after going out first thing ....to regulate heat.  |
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Apr 30, 2020 5:33:38 GMT
1st egg....  For this season and my 1st egg EVER!!!  Got up early to hopefully catch the action...but must have missed it by minutes!!!  Edited to say: having read Benns post about having issues with viewing my photos... I decided to use the 'insert image' icon and use the 'direct link' from "post image" ....but even though I have selected the correct image size for forums...it's posting as a massive picture! Don't know why? I normally just use the 'post image 'url' link for forums and messageboards' instead but perhaps this was always the wrong method? Could people not see my photos before now? |
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Post by Amanda on Apr 30, 2020 7:57:26 GMT
 Yay congratulations
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Post by Beechnut on Apr 30, 2020 8:18:42 GMT
Good for you GBH - What time does the party start!!! Try using 320x240 image size, that's what I use. |
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Post by karenupnorth on Apr 30, 2020 8:42:31 GMT
 Congratulations on your first egg  I use post image and noticed the huge pics!
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Post by greatbluehopeful on Apr 30, 2020 9:54:47 GMT
Thanks folks - really quite excited about it...long time coming!! Now I don't feel such a fraud on this website having never had a finished nest never mind an egg!!!  Now...worst quality video EVER - sorry folks! Lighting is bad due to heavy clouds and rain today, but here is a little moment I captured between Viv and Gar - this is my 1st time ever seeing this feeding interaction between a pair in any of my birdboxes. A great day for firsts!!! It is a lot colder than recent weeks - so the shed is not a nice place to sit for long periods of time. Wish there was a way of bringing the TV image into my warm house so I could watch from there !!!  But beggers can't be choosers and hey, the curse of the Aldi box is now broken!!! |
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Post by suep on Apr 30, 2020 10:28:00 GMT
Oh GBH, I am so pleased for you. Brilliant, wonderful, amazing. Wonder how many Viv will lay? Hope the weather picks up again so you can watch in a bit more comfort. Fantastic, exciting times to come, and how lovely to be witness to it for you.  Sue |
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Post by springtime 66 on Apr 30, 2020 10:53:48 GMT
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Post by hfriel on Apr 30, 2020 11:30:36 GMT
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Post by Taz on Apr 30, 2020 12:25:48 GMT
Fantastic GBH, I'm so pleased for you, so deserved. The fun begins
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Post by elle on Apr 30, 2020 13:22:02 GMT
Yayyyyyyy  Congratulations Gbh so very deserved, Elle xx |
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Post by petesbox on Apr 30, 2020 15:41:31 GMT
Great stuff GBH.
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Post by WildlifePaul on Apr 30, 2020 16:33:51 GMT
Really pleased for you GBH! You honestly deserve this!!! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2020 16:35:48 GMT
Brilliant!!!!!! Congratulations GBH. At last!!!!!
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Yay congratulations 
Congratulations on your first egg 
GBH 
