The vet graciously took care of Toby as well when I brought Judy in for her checkup. She says that Toby’s injuries are consistent with trying to climb under a chain-link fence. She has a bit of a fever, so we have antibiotics for her, and we’re going to try some thyroid pills to fatten her up. (Maybe if she gets those hormones balanced, it’ll be easier to keep her indoors.) I am so overjoyed to have her home and on her way to recovered health. I might get a bag of potato chips that she can have all to herself. . .

Nobody minded being woken up early to see her. . .

I had been considering volunteering for one of the local animal rescue groups, encouraged by the mother of one of Audrey’s friends who’s a member herself. With all the cats underfoot, there wasn’t all that much of a rush, but when I realized that I could help save cats by raising them at least for a while to be indoor cats (when my own started disappearing) I finally filled out the papers. This group will take animals that the shelter won’t take – contagious disease (even a cold), too old, ugly, or otherwise “unadoptable” – and also take animals out of the shelter that have been scheduled for euthanasia to save them from being put to sleep. They get quarantined with a vet until they get a clean bill of health, get neutered if they’re old enough and scheduled for it later if they’re not, and then they go into volunteer homes to become socialized.

Well, I got a pair of 10-week-old little boys yesterday. The girls named them Edgar and Alfred. They’ve been hissed at a bit by the older cats, but not much, and Judy thinks she’s their mom. She was very happy today because they let her wash them. Alfie warmed up right away, purring when he was picked up or petted, but was still nervous about being approached. Edgar became pretty secure about the environment by the end of the day, but was still keeping his distance.

This morning after the kids left, I laid down on the sofa and fell asleep. When I woke up, Alfie was snuggled up behind my knees, and Edgar was on the pillow in front of them. I said their names, and they both got up, purring, and walked up me to rub their faces against my hand. Both of them are sticking their tails straight up when they hear their names, and both will come to be petted if I get down close to the floor. There’s an adopt-a-thon on Saturday, but I don’t know if there’s space for them this week. If there is, I’m sure they’ll charm the pants off of someone and find a home right off.

Edgar is in the back, with large patches of color on his sides. Alfie has small spots in rows. Aren’t they handsome?