Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
Dedicated animal expert Marion Garnett, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair, continues her column
SOMETIMES when you get ready for bed, something suddenly happens and tiredness evaporates together with all thoughts of going to bed. This was one of those nights.
The foster carer was just going to bed when she realised labour had started. No, not for herself but for the pregnant cat, Queenie, she was fostering for Hounslow Animal Welfare Society ( HAWS).
Heavily pregnant Queenie had been with her for two weeks so the foster carer had been waiting for this moment. She had prepared three places for Queenie to give birth. One under the dining room table, one in the corner of the dining room and one near the fireplace in the kitchen next to a rug where she liked to sit and watch what was going on.
The foster carer had observed Queenie carefully inspect all three potential birthing boxes, trying them out and having a nap in them all. Rather like Goldilocks, she wanted to find the one that was just right for her.
Her final decision was the one in the kitchen where her foster carer spent most time.
The kittens arrived that night. One every half hour until by 3am, there were four. Although having been found as a stray and barely being more than a kitten herself, Queenie knew what to do with her newborn babes.
Since then, Queenie and one kitten have already been adopted. Sadly one kitten didn’t make it and, despite all efforts, he passed away peacefully from fading kitten syndrome.
That leaves Georgie and Louis waiting for a new home. They are both very friendly. Georgie loves cuddles and likes to perch on his foster mum’s shoulders.
He lets his fosterer walk round the house with him in her arms. Louis loves to snuggle up when her foster carer sits down and then stretch out and sleep on her legs. These two must be adopted together. If you can offer them a loving home, see details at haws-animals. org.uk or call 020 8560 5443.
For more pictures, have a look at the Facebook page “Biskit’s Mummy” where the foster mum has pictures of Georgie and Louis together with some of the other gorgeous cats she is currently fostering for HAWS who are available for adoption.
Finally, supporters of HAWS will be pleased to know HAWS have a stall at Ealing Animals Fair on March 5 at Hanwell Methodist Church W7 1DJ.
I’ll give more details later but save the date now. HAWS stalls always overflow with good things to buy.