Cats, Kids and so on

Teacher: Ali, if you found a wallet with 100 thousand Dinar, would you report it? Student: If I know that it belongs to a poor man I would definitely hand it in. - Shakira, the golden yellow cat with one kitten of the same colour and two black ones (a bit older) that she adopted (as far as I can judge) looks well after her little ones. From time to time she leaves the basket to stretch her bones, but quickly returns. I check the kittens' eyes, which they open for the first time after approx. 9 days, yet sometimes the eyes get sealed again, with bad luck even filled with pus. Luckily I know how to handle this, something I learnt from a neighbour (first Physiol chlorure de sodium a 0,9%, clean eyes gently, then Pommade Ophtalmique). This time I discovered a walnut-sized swelling around the belly button of Shakira's little one. Before I could ask the vet (weekend), the baby kitten disappeared. I looked everywhere. There can be only one conclusion that I don't like very much. Mother nature has occasionally strange solutions. A sick/weak baby can endanger the whole family as it may attract the enemy. I experienced it once, when a dog gave birth to more puppies than I counted the next day, 2 weak ones had disappeared.(I tried very hard to find them, all in vain.) Shakira continued to feed and clean the black kittens. One day she walked out, in nature the mother has to find food and the little ones remain quiet, waiting for Mummy to return. Gloria, the other cat mother from time to time (as the kittens get a little bit older) goes for a walk, relaxes and leaves me to baby-sit. She trusts me fully, nice thought. Well Shakira did not return, I waited for 15 hrs and then decided to check whether Gloria would be prepared to adopt the black kittens. She did,   great mummy, guess what, 2 hrs later Shakira returned, looking for her kittens. It may be wrong, but I decided, as it wasn't certain after all, which cat is their actual mother,  to leave them with Gloria and her other babies.  They seem to get on very well and Gloria is the more experienced mum. I gave Shakira some food and water and she stayed over-night to sleep. On the next day she seemed to be looking for the black kittens again, went out and returned after a few hours. At times like this I wish I could explain the situation and get a reply from my cats. Well, we live and learn. Saladin, my lovely skinny Persian cat requires special food from the vet as he suffers from chronicle diarrhoea, always hungry but not putting on any weight. He tries to eat from all other plates on the floor. after a while I discovered that he's a good actor, pretends to eat and then spits it out again. He likes his food served in my hand, at least I can then control how much he then actually eats. I have to soak his croquets and hide them from my other cats, who are only to keen to have it as well. They even open doors for it. I am now prepared, lock the room door. Having had several cats operated (family planning forced onto them), I thought I could spare my Amelie (lovely Persian cat) the operation, as she lives in-doors and all tomcats have been operated. I had no previous experience with female cats and wasn't aware that when they are on heat, they suffer quite a bit when there is no admirer (tomcat) around. Similar situation with my other lovely ladies, Cinderella (white cat, darker coloured part of her face, her tail and paws, blue eyes) and Diana (Thailand cat, turquoise eyes, markings similar to those of Cinderella). All these beautiful little darlings I found right here, there are more outside but I can't provide shelter for more. Where do they come from? I feel pretty sure they or their parents/grandparents had a home before and the families moved away or gone abroad. Before the revolution I never viewed such a lot of gorgeous cats, many were then rather skinny, I guess cats can nowadays find better food outside (more/ better food thrown away?). My cats motivate me to get up really early in the morning, it's great, all the little trouble makers are fast asleep and we can enjoy a peaceful breakfast, only occasionally some dogs arrive, luckily well behaved and they disappear on my command. Dinner time is a different matter, the kids here love to spend every spare minute playing football, yelling at an ear-splitting level. Their balls fly in all directions against the  walls of the houses, onto the roofs, inside the yards, making even newly decorated walls look dirty, tatty. Due to oh so many bad experiences, cats fear these hooligans (as I mentioned before, stones are their favourite  toys, cats aren't even safe underneath cars). The children regard the streets as their home, including pavements, etc. why should I  have the right to feed cats on my pavement or get angry when their balls or stones hit/ damage my property or even worse, frighten or injure my fur friends? - A neighbour parked his car at  the side of my house, it has been there for quite a while now,  perhaps some folks believe it belongs to us. Anyhow, 2 tyres are now flat, one window is smashed and various parts are getting loose, attempts to dismantle by bored ignorant hooligans, one door-handle is missing, the owner hasn't got money for the repair and soon it will be beyond repair. The hooligans lack all feelings of wrong doing, they are difficult to catch as they learn from an early age onward to run fast and deny everything, even if you see them with a so-called smoking gun,. (apart from the running bit, isn't this what Donald Trump practises every day?). -  Prices have gone up, some items 10% , others between 30 and 50 %. Not easy for those who have no or only a low fixed income. A tailor told me she can't pay for the medication that her doctor prescribed for her. The flea markets with lots of clothing from Europe ruined her trade. Hardly anyone orders a new dress or other items,  the usual customer wants alterations at a low price as he/she didn't pay much in the first place for the respective item. I've been told the government intends to protect the local market and stop the influx of cheap second hand clothing from Europe. Many items were donated in Europe by persons who mend well, aid for the poor. The other aspect detonators are often unaware of, (a share of the clothing remains in Europe and often gets sold or given away by charity organisations) a large amount is sold in a big bulk to Africa. No domestic clothes store or tailor can of course compete with those flea market prices, a problem also in other African countries.Talking about selling, I found it surprising that bananas on the market are from South America (not Africa) and apples mainly from Europe (e.g. Tirol), not Tunisia, but at least oranges are and some other delicious fruits. Tinned fruit is rare and expensive, but who needs it? African leaders are meeting now aiming to make African countries support each other more, a bit like the European Union? (Exploitation, land grabbing, corruption keeps many countries poor.) By the way all posts on this block are solely written by me, also those stating a different writer. - While the winter doesn't seem to be prepared to leave Europe, even though it's spring time, we enjoy lovely sunshine, more than 30 degrees centigrade and there are more such days to come. Great to see the sun, hopefully healing many colds and flue attacks, my little treasures have been sunbathing on the roof, they love it and several are also trying to get rid of their cold. We are all welcoming the sun. Tunisia is blessed with better weather than many other part of the world who are less fortunate. At present a warm wind from the dessert (Sahara) is blowing gently.

More about Cats continued

Kitty is a beautiful black, orange and white coloured cat, about 5 months old and a regular visitor to my cats' table, well one day I discovered her indoors, eating out of a big bowl, among my other domestic little tigers as if she  belonged to my indoor fur-family. Since the other cats tolerated her, I decided to welcome the new member. While I concluded that my capacity (space and money) is exhausted, I was in for a surprise, as spring started. One day I discovered a golden-yellow coloured baby cat on a reserve cat's bed in the small corridor between my 2 entrance doors, a cat must have brought the baby cat there without me  noticing. I  tried in vain to find out which cat is the  mother, so I finally  decided to test whether gorgeous Gloria, who lately gave birth to 3 golden-white and 1 black and white kittens would accept the addition, well she did, either because she can't count up to 5 or because she has enough love to provide for 5 kids; it would be just like her, this gentle little darling.

That problem solved, there was another surprise awaiting for me the next day. Underneath my yucca plant I noticed 2 sweet black kittens. As before, no answer to my question, which cat is the mother? There aren't many black cats around here, besides the little ones may be looking just like daddy. I tried to bottle -feed the kittens (one third cow milk and two thirds mineral water). Not easy, they obviously prefer the real thing, a cat mum with  her milk. Next day I found another golden coloured kitten in front of my entrance door, this time in the company of 3 pregnant looking cats, 1 golden-yellow, 2 white with a bit of black and yellow, 2 acting as  if they are the mother. I carefully picked up the baby and put it in a cardboard box waiting how the 3 cats will react. I placed the box in front of my Studio door, so that the main entrance won't be blocked. The golden coloured cat picked up the kitten and returned it to the previous door. Then I found a good solution. I took a plastic basket and converted it into a bed for a new cat family, 1 golden and 2 black coloured baby kittens and a golden coloured mummy (hoping I picked the right mother). It worked, the little ones are happy and so is mummy, happy little family. My husband hasn't noticed yet, guess he'll say I am overdoing it, I can't save all the cats in the world. By the way, before this happened a neighbour told me he viewed a golden-yellow cat with her baby in her mouth coming to my entrance door, presumable waiting for me, after a while she walked away with her baby kitten. Not all stories have a happy end. Eliza's kittens all died, their mum moved them 3 times, not good choices, they had to spend cold nights on cold tiles, in a place where I couldn't reach them. I think the cat didn't have much experience, but did her best to protect her little ones against the hooligans here and other dangers. So sad. A boy, approx. 12 years old, approached my house with a big black dog, I think a mastiff, the dog was on a leash, but it looked as if the dog was walking the boy. Such a dog needs a man not a boy to take him for a walk. I just started to say don't take your dog near my house, when the dog dragged to my entrance door where 2 cats were sitting and within less than a second he snapped one of my fur friends. The cat was fighting for her life, a nightmare to watch. I tried to pull the dog away from my little gentle darling, teens started to kick and beat the dog, which he totally ignored, he just wouldn't let go of my cat. Later adults also tried to stop the dog, all in vain. I asked why isn't the dog muzzled, the boys answered he doesn't like it. The dog finally walked off, still carrying my cat like a prey. The following day kids told me the dog ate my cat (doesn't the family feed him?). I got really worried a similar incident could happen again and attempted to find out the address f the owner or at least get the message to him that such a dog is too dangerous to be outside without a muzzle, he could even attack children. Various persons stated the family doesn't live in the near neighbourhood, we don't know them. The standard excuse, " bad folks come from a different area", nice try to cover up, but unfortunately not very helpful. Later on  I heard a different story.  A worried father spoke with the owner. As it wasn't the first time that this dog showed his aggressiveness, the lady owner decided to have him put to sleep. The dog isn't to blame, people made him like that, either through special breeding or abuse. From time to time I view up to 4 dogs, golden retriever and different types, same size, as well as a smaller one approaching my house, carefully watched by the cats, but thank heaven, they are gentle, I don't need to throw stones, get a stick to frighten them, just say a couple of times "shirr", which means something like go away/ get lost. they halt, look at me and then walk away. -The tiny kitten, approx. 8 days old, that I had found inside my house and added to Gloria's little ones, unfortunately died three days later. Many kittens die very young, but it always makes me sad.

More about Cats

1. Two women talking: It is not easy for her, she had quadruplets, just image 4 babies at the same time. Cat overhearing the conversation, thinking: But that's normal, nothing special, just wonder how many she'll be allowed to keep. - Cats aren't stupid, they know their names, (I gave to them) even those without a home, several know how to open a door, if I e.g. don't want too many in the kitchen while I'm out, I have to lock the door as otherwise one of the little darlings will open the door for all who wish to enter. My 2 black ladies (fur like
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   velvet), Lilly and Felicitas, knock on the sitting room door whenever they want to join me there. They are the best of friends, frequently sitting together on my lap, one of my other cats joining. One could think they are from one family, but they are not. By the way, cats generally don't like closed doors. Filou used to sit in front of my bathroom door and complain if I left him outside. He knew how to open my fridge and sometimes helped himself to food that was actually intended for him anyhow. But for opening tins he still needed me. A very sad day when he passed away. Saladin, a Persian cat, suffers a lot from colds, diarrhoea, always hungry (checks all food plats on the floor), but when the cold really hits him, stops eating. The vet explain that cats won't eat what they can't smell. She suggested some rather expensive special diet (Gastro Digestive Support) to stop his chronic diarrhoea.This nutrition turned out to be of great interest to all my little treasures but Saladin and I have to make sure they don't "steal" it of him. The cats here haven't got a good immune system, generally speaking, don't think they possess the so-called 7 lives, their teeth and gum is frequently in a bad state, the poor water quality with lots of scale takes its toll. When it gets really bad they can't eat and if this continues will die. My vet recommended "Vet aquadent, anti-plaque" a bit expensive (37 Dinar) but it lasts a long time and hopefully will improve matters. By the way, our doctor advised us not to drink the taped water and this is also what tourists are told. (Tunisia could really do with a water-treatment plant.) Luckily the mineral water is fairly cheap. If one can afford it, a better choice for cats too. Those who live out on the road or where ever, as they are without shelter, drink from puddles etc. unless kind folks put some water outside for them. - Eliza, a mainly white cat and regular visitor at my cats' table, gave birth to 4 sweet kittens during the night in one of my flower pots, next to my yucca plant, near my entrance door, it was a real surprise. The little family is well protected behind the metal fencing, but unfortunately difficult to reach (in case any help is needed). At least I can put food and water underneath the yucca plant, the dedicated mummy seems to be grateful for that but she makes at the same time sure that no one gets too close to her babies. On the whole cats are always on the alert here, the result of bad experience with even very small kids, teens and adults. Their brainless stone throwing and other abuses cause quite a few injuries and death. Lately I viewed a youngster kicking a cat like a football (making the cat pay because his parents don't love him and he dropped out of school?). It made me so angry, I hit him with my shoe to show him my contempt. The next day, another disturbed young man tried to beat a cat with a string, "just for fun". I informed him that his IQ is like that of a loaf of bred, hope it'll make him realize how stupid his action was, nothing to be prowd of.  What happened to this new generation, why are some so ugly? Tunisia urgently requires laws for the protection of animals and of course employees who ensure that children and adults abide by the law. This would also make Tunisia more attractive for Tourists who are not at all happy to watch the abuse of animals. I am not saying that animals are always well treated in Europe, but there in particular cats and dogs are often seen as a kind of family member and folks really enjoy their unconditional love and friendship. Kids with a disturbed attitude, who believe chasing animals, throwing stones at them, is normal, have no feeling of wrong-doing when they injure or even kill them, really miss out, besides, are they likely to become good citizens one day, loving parents? There are of course also children from good families who love and respect animals. One mother told me, now that her son got a cat, he is so much more relaxed, another mum that her little one cried all night because the cat disappeared. They were so happy when they discovered the kitten underneath a blanket. I regard animals as a present from heaven. The money that I was intending to spend on travelling to various African countries, I now use trying to protect and help cats and I don't regret it. They are so wonderful, these little darlings. People here unwittingly made me change my plans. I try to also make the kids think twice before getting up to no good, besides, no sweets (or other presents) for throwing stones. This is what "Madam Bonbon" (appears to me my new name here) says. Tunisia can be a great country, this requires not looking the other way and speaking up when necessary, educate the ignorant, children also have brains they can use, don't apologise everything.