In Heat Females

 I took six cats to be fixed in Salem yesterday.

Turned out two of the girls were in heat.  Yikes.  I guess it is, after all, end of January, and kittens start popping out in March some years.  Gestation for cats is about 60 days or so.

Still, it freaked me out.   Shelters and rescues are already full.   And this is before kitten season hits again.

I said to the clinic staff, "so there will be no appointments in February?"  They'd sent an email out to that affect, reason being they are switching computer systems.   "No," the receptionist tried to explain, "there will be appointments.  We just can't schedule them."   I tried to look through the haze of these words to find some glimmer of hope to grab onto that I'll get some appointments.  The haze stayed stubbornly in place and the receptionist didn't say anything else.

I felt like offering "How about using pencil and paper, to schedule.  We used that method not so long ago."

Scraggles from the state park property and Jasper from the trailer park in Albany were the in heat girls.

When I returned Jasper, the lady told me there were still two unfixed cats in the park.  I'd gotten a few fixed there in the last year already.  But, she continued, in the next trailer park there may be 60 or more needing fixed.   I both nearly fainted to hear that and got all excited, to thnk of a big project.

I told the woman to have the next door trailer park lady immediately contact FCCO for appointments.  

The problem with these situations often is the party involved never gets information on how to solve it.

I next headed up to Lebanon to return the four cherished cats.   They are mostly outside and even though Morris, I was told, is only four, he looks 14, from too many unfixed years outside roaming.   He has the look of a 40 year old alcoholic who looks 70, due to hard living.  Morris needs a dental.  I told the folks to take a trip to the coast and gave them the name of the clinic I adore there, that is affordable.

Sweet Morris, who needs a dental

Mama Wizer, a tiny bobtail girl

Peewee, still a kitten at heart really

Preacher, who has attitude and already a limp, maybe from fighting

Jasper, in heat already, in January!   I'm so glad she could be fixed!

Scraggles, from the state park property, just a year old, already had one litter and was in heat again.  Thank goodness she's now fixed.

After I returned the four Lebanon cats I stopped by my friends place in Lebanon, on a whim.  She wasn't home, however.   But this pair seemed to be waiting for her to get home too.

And when I got home, this greeted me---big orange boy atop my roof and cat yard.   I need to get him fixed.   Neighbor feeds him.  Seems so sad and tired all the time.

I guess there was a killing the 24th on a nearby street.  A woman shot her boyfriend in the head and he died.  That was the day I took cats to Portland and was gone all day.  I suppose I would have heard all the sirens if I had been home.

I read that this morning on the news site.

I wasn't following this boy, I swear, in next photo.   Ok, when I saw him running up the sidewalk I did make sure I got a photo because he's been fighting on this block too and isn't fixed.   This was three blocks away I saw him.

Yesterday, while the cats were being fixed, I made a red curry with what was left in my frig.  I had some carrots, and shredded them to put in it.  I cooked some lentils and also used the bok choy I found at Wheeler Dealer.  Usually I'd use spinach.  The bok choy was excellent in it. 

 I also baked two chopped beets, a cubed turnup and a cubed sweet potato to later use in soup.  Food prices remain extremely high.  Wheeler Dealer wanted $.60 per beet and the beets were small.   They wanted $.60 per sweet Potato but yams were $1.29 each.   For one!   I don't know how people survive.   

I had the curry then for lunch and dinner yesterday.  It was delicious.  I still have enough for today and tomorrow dinner but for lunch I'll have salad.

It's nice to get six cats fixed.  I only overnighted Scraggles myself and have to get ready now to return her to the ranger who caught her.   Yikes, it's after 8:00 and he'll be ready for her at 9:00.  I better get moving!