If not for my cats

[Jynx]

Aww @Patches59 that is precious! They're so cute when they're little, all full of zoomies and awkward pounce attempts haha. Would you ever go back into a cat foster/care role?

Yeah the stray mum was very skittish, took her a while to let me even get near her. I'd leave her food and she eventually started to come sit just inside the door. I have since taken her in to be rehabilitated - I think she may have been taken out to a farm to become a barn cat! All the lil mice she could ever dream of to pounce on hehe. 

[Patches59]

Hi @Jynx  place I’m moving to at start of October has strict 2 pets per household rule plus few other rules, rules that will mean I won’t be able to foster whilst I have my 2.  Know I would be lost without some type of animal for company.  Maybe many years from now I might go back to fostering.  So rewarding being involved with helping cats find their furr ever home

[Jynx]

omg 'furr ever home' that is too cute @Patches59! I've never heard that one before. Takes a special type of person to foster animals so I tip my hat to you 😊

Ach it's hard when you're renting and stuff hey. I was offered a spot in a sharehouse recently but they already have 2 cats and a dog so adding another 2 would have been too hectic there. I don't know where you're located but in Vic the recent changes to renting laws regarding pets was such a hugely beneficial thing - now landlords aren't allowed to deny renters having pets unless they've got a legitimate reason. Makes such a difference, our fuzzy companions are so important for our mental health. 

[Patches59]

@Jynx  I’m in VIC and own my own home.  I’m downsizing and buying unit in a lifestyle village. Smaller block of land including not having to mow front yard which currently gives me 1hour walking, smaller backyard with garden already planted. Streets not as wide as usual but it’s about neighbours supporting and helping each other plus has pre organised social activities most days.  Is a gated community and I will be living toward middle of the complex which I’m hoping helps improve various things for me.

very strict rules with somethings which I understand.  Restrictions were cars can be parked and washed for example.  Village is focussed on water wise and encourages residents to walk from their home to different areas of the village.

im buying a two bedroom unit.  With my 2 furr babies, my hobbies and couple of special pieces of furniture there will not be enough room to have another pet, even if it was possible

[Patches59]

I’ve always looked on a cats home as being their furr ever home, more so for the rescue cats I was working with @Jynx 

some could have been similar to the mum of your 2 little ones.

large portion were cats that had been trapped due to trying to survive on the streets.  Some were cats that had been rescued from breeding farms.

one specific guy that comes to mind had been living on the streets for years. When trapped and rescued was found to have fiv and arthritis.  During the few years he was at the rescue centre he slowly went from a very aggressive cat who trusted no one to eventually showing people his warm, loving, smoochy side who was also good with young primary kids.  He got to be quite cheeky not long before being adopted into a family where he will spent the rest of his years.  Who ever was patting him, if they stopped before he was ready he would gently try to pull the persons hand back to him.  This of a cat who was a senior cat who had not known human contact for many years, if ever.

To me the cats are similar to people who have been through a lot.  We get hurt or betrayed and lose our trust in others, looking for somewhere that feels safe and with the right care over time start to recover with our new self gradually appearing

[Jynx]

Oh wow @Patches59 that honestly sounds soooo nice. I truly believe in the power of community and connection, so I reckon you're onto something with seeking out a place like that. I hope it provides exactly what you need 💜

Aww perhaps others will have some fuzzy friends, then maybe you could have little play dates with purrfect pals! Hehehe

[Jynx]

And you're super onto it with your thoughts about cats being just like us with their needs for care and love. We're all just mammals in the end @Patches59 😽