Quick Quiz and Bios

Question: Which of these two cats – the ginger or the white one – are feral cats?

Well, the answer is both of them – they are brothers from the same litter. It would probably be more accurate to say they are ex-feral cats, as they have been domesticated and live in and around the house.

Their mother who I have named Mimsy is extraordinarily fertile and unfortunately for us, too savvy to get caught in a cat cage so that we can have her desexed. She lives at the back of the family property in a cat shed which my generous and kind hearted father built for the coterie of ferals we have living on the farm. Mimsy is a tortie and white cat and has given birth to many multi-coloured offspring, which I will gradually introduce you to over the upcoming weeks. Some remain here with me and others have gone to loving homes with various good-hearted cat people. Unlike their intelligent mother, these two wandered into the baited cat traps (loaned to us by the Animal Welfare League) when they were about eight weeks old. We promptly brought them to our rumpus room which we have converted to a rehabilitation centre and home for cats. The rumpus room is set away from the rest of the house and has a tennis table and old furniture in it with lots of places to hide for the newcomers who need a feeling of safety and security in the first instance before they begin trusting humans. It's warm in the winter and cool in the summer if you open the windows and doors.

It took about three days to have Saffron and Snow purring and in my lap. They were the second lot of cats I had taken in. The socialisation period can take between 24 hours and three weeks, depending on the age and temperament of the cat in question. These two are exceedingly gentle and very placid in nature. Snow is so relaxed when you pick him up that you think there is something wrong with his muscles. He elongates and drapes over your arms as if he is a droopy piece of material. In summer I need to put sun tan lotion on the tips of his ears and nose, as white cats are particularly vulnerable to skin cancers. He also has a distinctive walk that reminds me rather ironically of the Peggy Lee "Peg" dog character in Disney's Lady and the Tramp (watch the YouTube clip below right to the end to see the walk I'm talking about).

Saffron is slightly more shy in nature but enormously affectionate. He is one of those cats who is never any trouble and he loves being in on the action – he goes walking with the dogs and my sheep (singular) when we troop around the farm in the morning to do chores.

Many people have wanted to take Saffron and Snow home with them but it's never going to happen – we adore them too much. I do not sell or trade animals. The only thing I do is find good homes for some of the kittens I look after. If I didn't the cat population would be double on the farm. And by the way, the interview process for the people wanting these kittens is tough!