In which all positions are now full

[rolanni]

The number of supervisors at the Cat Farm has varied over the years since its establishment in Maine.  We've had as many as six, and as few as two.  Recently, we've made do with three active supervisors, with the fourth slot held open.

Today -- well, actually, yesterday, we filled the fourth slot and are now at Full Capacity.

Pray for us.

Some of you may know that the various animal shelters in Central Maine have been experiencing a surfeit of cats.  They've valiantly been trying to find homes for everyone, and have been offering a number of "deals."

For instance, right now, at the Waterville Humane Society, there's a special on kittens:  Adopt one kitten for $100 and you may have your choice of a second kitten for free.

The shelter has also been waiving the adoption fee for all cats over one year of age.  You must be a member of the shelter for the waiver to be in force, but considering it costs all of $15 to become a member, the price couldn't be better.

We here at Cat Farm have long supported animal shelters.  Despite a late-developing taste for Maine Coons, most of our cats over the years have been shelter cats.

So, anyway, yesterday as we were out and about, we thought we'd stop by the shelter out on Webb Road to see if anybody Needed Us.

Our last few visits to the animal shelter hadn't turned up anybody in need.  Which was fine; the fourth position stayed open.

Yesterday, however, we had an embarrassment of riches:  No less than five worthy felines put themselves forward.  We spoke to Whiskers, a grey-and-cream gentleman with an easy-going way about him; Gorilla, who very much wanted to sit on my lap and purr; LuluAnne (or possibly LuluBelle), a high-white with grey long-hair lady who was a little shy at first, but once she'd been coaxed out from behind her pillow was very vivacious and affectionate; Telly, a silky-furred black with astonishing amber eyes, who wanted to be mine, all mine!; and Icarus, an older orange gentleman, who displayed the graceful manners of a bygone age.

We also spoke in passing to Brinks, a lively orange-striped fellow; Baby, a perfectly charming calico; and Ziggy, who ran up to greet us, and who would have qualified as Candidate Number Six, save he has a partner from whom he will not be parted, and we only had one slot available.

It was tough call.  In the end, we decided to offer the position to Whiskers (this is, you understand, his surname by which he was known to Shelter Admin; we expect to discover his call-name by-and-by).  He accepted, and we brought him home today.

Here's Whiskers, in Steve's office window:

Whiskers

The reaction of the three Senior Supervisors has not been Unqualified Delight, but we expect them to come 'round in a few days.

Scrabble could scarcely believe her eyes.

Trooper was not impressed.

Mozart continued his nap.

Comments

[margotinez.livejournal.com]

Trooper's expression is priceless! Thanks for sharing.

[oneminutemonkey.livejournal.com]

Congrats. Yesterday, we accepted a new member for the Feline Supervisory Committee. We're waiting to see how he does before we make formal announcements, but he has thus far scored extremely high in the categories of "Eating All The Food" and "Sleeping On Things" and "Purring."

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

It sounds like he's a shoe-in.

Whiskers, alas, has made a regrettable misstep in re Respect to the Elder Cat. He's currently in the bathroom, with a comic book, some celery sticks stuffed with cream cheese, and a glass of orange juice, until he calms down.

This was, I'm afraid, our fault. It's been a while since we've had a Very Junior Cat -- the best guess for Whiskers is that he's somewhere between one and two years old. We've become more used to dealing with cats who have already developed savoir faire. He was so calm that we forgot how very young he is, and neglected to give him timeout before his courage frayed.

[oneminutemonkey.livejournal.com]

Whoops! Poor Whiskers. He needs to learn the proper mode of conduct. Junior Cat to Elder Cat. Respect to one's Delm. :)

Our newest, Gideon, waltzed out of the cat carrier and immediately made himself at home. He found the food bowl and ate. He found the catnip toys and immediately got stoned. He found the chair and settled in. The others are... assessing him. (He's about a year old, 11.4 pounds, and looking to become large and fluffy. So we'll see what happens.)

[cgbookcat1.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! He's gorgeous.

We just adopted our second this week, and the original hissing and growling has evolved into alternated sniffs and complete indifference.

determining full Cattage capacity

[rose bordett (from livejournal.com)]

My home with the adoption of two young littermate scamps of the current age of 10 or so months to add to the calm but loud and constantly affectionate 4 year old Alice is full up. My previous assessment of proper cat to human ratio had been one cat to one human but the kittens and their young supervisor are so active it often feel full to overflowing with Catdom and not peopledom(currently numbering 3). I feel this young scamp may shake things up a bit more than wiser and morenefficient supervisers. Congratulations by the way both on Whiskers and Trooper.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

Glad you acquired a shelter cat.

[kk1raven.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on filling the open supervisor slot. I've always thought that four was a good number of supervisors for a household.

[nlbarber]

A hearty welcome to Whiskers--the clan increases.

[threeringedmoon.livejournal.com]

Whiskers is a lucky cat.

[starrcat.livejournal.com]

Welcome, Whiskers. Much health and happiness to you all.

[topayz4.livejournal.com]

Welcome to Whiskers!

[attilathepbnun.livejournal.com]

Indeed, the clan increases! Many congratulations on the new member!
*offers celebratory treats*

He's a cutie

[capricchio.livejournal.com]

How do you have laps for them all? :)

Re: He's a cutie

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Not all of our cats have been lap-sitters. Of this current group, Scrabble Does Not Do Laps -- and never has. Mozart prefers to sit beside, rather than on, us. Trooper is a big, ol' sloppy lover guy who will happily lie in your arms for hours. Right now, of course, Whiskers wants All! The! Laps! We expect this to change, as he becomes acclimated.

[hildy.livejournal.com]

Why hello Whiskers!

Trooper continues to look like he's part something larger -- and Scrabble has the affronted "Oh god there's *another* one I have to get used to" look. While Mozart enjoys his cat nap. As you do.

Welcome Whiskers!!

[catherine ives (from livejournal.com)]

We await him telling you his real name. Or else he might tell the other cats first.

Scrabble's reaction very funny: "Oh ghod....here's another one"....I hope when Mozart wakes up he won't fuss too much.

Glad you are supporting the Waterville Humane Society. Hopefully some of your many fans will take advantage of their 2 fer offer on cat adoptions.
As we say out west: together we can Save Them All.

[aspidites.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on achieving full staffing, and welcome to Whiskers! I know he will be an asset to operations.
Four cats is perhaps the ideal number. We have gone so far in the past as to have a staff of five, but it was not the most harmonious household. We currently host four, and every time I am tempted to add a fifth staff member, I simply remember the Law of Carroll: "We cannot do with more than four, to give a hand to each."