Percy Thrower eat your heart out!

Well, Sunday today, and gardening duties call. The sanctuary has a small garden once you come down the steps from the street, in the form of planters and tubs going down either side of the wall. The boss said "... you do garden today, ci?" Hey, I do as I'm told. With us just coming through spring the plants are just coming back to life, but there was still some bugs and stuff to spray, not to mention dead plants to remove and some new ones needed bedding out. I have it on good authority that the garden looks lovely when in full bloom and I can beleive it. The cats love to wrap themselves around the planter tubs and just laze in the sun. It's a cool thing to see a big old cat squeezed into a tub 2 sizes too small for him to fit.

I also had an audience whilst working as the cats lovely come and see what you're up to. They getting used to me being around now each day so don't seem to skitish. They also know I'm a good source of stroking and occasionally food.

I've learnt today it is an honour for volunteers to go into the archelogical area. Apparently if tourist wish to come into the area it has to be arranged through the goverment they charge people around a THOUSAND EUROS a time. And I get to wander round and pick up the litter and crap for nothing! You wouldn't believe the stuff people throw over from the street into the area. I've been told they've come across furniture, whole sets of clothes (often new), and more. Today I found a boot (just one) a freshly discarded nappy (yes, it was full... nice!) and a half-a-rubbish-sack of free newspapers which had blown down from the street. The biggest hazard for the cats we need to be on the look-out for are broken bottles and plastic bags.

Didn't get to spend any time with the cats today until 5pm, due to doing the plants and filling the feeding stations. There's a funny tail (yes, I know!) there. To get to one of the underground feeding areas you have to go through the food storage area and I was told not to let any of the cats into the storage room ("..they pee" I was told). So what happens? Yes, one of the cats sneaks through my legs into the storage area. With both doors shut, the cat can't get out on his own, so I need to get him out. I debated asking another volunteer for help (it can't have been the first it had happened?) but figured, how hard could it be to scoot a cat from a small storage room maybe 20 feet square? Well, the bugger was crafty and if I wanted him to go left, he went right, and as I chased him down one aisle he went up the other. I got close, he ran. 30 minutes later I was on the verge of giving up and all the cooing and sweet nothings in the world hadn't got him to come to me. Then just as I am about to give up, he sits down, licks a paw and lets me pick him up! Turns out he one of the regular guys from indoors. He'd been playing me all along.

Didn't see Tomistocle today, think he was hiding. I got a great reaction out of Baloo who has only been in the sanctuary less than a week and had an operation , not sure for what. Anyway he is in one of the cages and has hardly moved all week out of his box. I was told it helps to get him to eat if you stroke him. Well, he's a scraggy looking small ginger fellow and not one of the most popular cats when it comes to visitors... they usually go for the cute and/or amputees. But today, after several minutes stroke and coaxing he purred and started to show me his stomach and pawed at me for more. Ten more minutes of petting and guys gets up and eats nearly a half a bowl of grub! The most I've seen him do all week. I also made a point of stopping my a little black-and-white guy who has had one of his ears removed as it has cancer. Again, not a big hit with the tourists so I make a special effort with him... it's okay until he keeps rubbing his stumpy ear on you hand... oooooooh!

Anway, I've got a ton of photo's to post of the blog but they will have to wait until I get home, so do drop back, even after I'm home, as I'll post them up over the course of a week and try and put some commentary with them.

Kingdom of the cats

It was clean-up day yesterday after the rain on Thursday. Keith and I were given the duty of hosing down the main steps and visitor reception area - not all the work is exciting or cat related! It was pretty wet going, but thankfully the sun came out and it ended up being very enjoyable. A couple of cats watched our antics with great interest. After that it was a tour of the archaeological area to re-fill the food and water stations for the outside cats [ some guys don't mix with human and are happy to spend the time in the ruins]. We also did litter duty whilst out there. One of the ruling cats from the site is currently in the nursery, recovering from an eye infection. His position as head honcho has now been taken by a 3-legged ginger & white cat. The cat followed us around as we worked, meowing for attention, but a little too nervous to actually come close enough to be petted. Not sure what will happen when the other guy come backs out....

Later in the day we went back out snail hunting. Keith says the snails hide near the feeding stations and get into the food and water and can spread disease to the cats out there... they tried to hide but couldn't escape! We found a bunch on them under a sly rock/slab encampment and cleared them out! Job done!! We also had to sweep out some of the storage areas with dirt floors. Sounds like and exercise in futility, but makes some sense when you understand that keep he loose dirt down stops it blowing up and into the water containers. Must say, it is the first time I have swept up dirt, from a dirt floor.....

Cat-wise no real news yesterday, it was a busy day for visitors so most of the cats got lots of attention and petty which everyone seemed to like. A new cat came into the nursery from the recovery area. He's [?] had half his ear removed and a few scars on his back. He looks pretty forlorn, but appreciates a stroke and a kind word. Baloo is a sad little fellow, skinny and ginger with scruffy fur. He needs to be stroked/petted to encourage him to eat.

Friday night is pub night! Everyone goes out for a drink after work to unwind. If you have the impression it's all grey-haired little old ladies, think again! There are people from across the social strata and there's artists, students, computer guys, the works. Yes, some are retired, some have relocated to Rome from Australia, England and America, but they all have one thing in common... a love of cats.

Back in the land of the moggies

Well, we're back. Weather isn't too great, intermittently over-cast and a tad nippy.

The sanctuary is going strong, various empty cages this time round, which were full before, so on the one hand that is a good thing, on the other, due to the cold weather they haven't started to have their influx of this seasons kittens yet and I've been told the cages can be empty one week, and the suddenly full the next. Current the sanctuary has around 250 cats, both permanent residents and those awaiting adoption. Adoption numbers are good and I have only just arrived in time to say goodbye to our own 3-legged adopted-from-afar cat, Temistocle, who is off to live in New York very soon. Looks like I am going to have to find someone else to sponsor.

I have been put under the wing of an ex-Australian/Brit named Keith - the men have to mentor the men, the women mentor the women! Keith gave me the grand our today and it looks like I'll be on litter-patrol, rubbish patrol [more litter, but this time it's the crap that is created by humans: stuff that is thrown over in the sanctuary at night such as cans and bottles] and filling up the food and water bowls out in the ruins themselves for the next 2 weeks. Keith been there for over year and has retired to Rome from Australia.

The place was spruced up today, with a small lawned area getting cut and the workman drafted in to paint some of the cages in the holding area to tidy them up. The place down have running water, but still no santiation or drains.... any water we run down the sink[s] ends up in a bucket and be emptied. They have been promised a working sewerage system by the council 'very soon', but in Italian speak that could be years! 

Nearly there...

Okay, so less than a week to go now. I meant to add a post earlier than this, but March has been a mad month, lot's to do at work and at home.

Am I excited? Getting there. I guess now we're in the final straight I am feeling a buzz welling up inside. Apprehension? A little. It all looked like a big adventure planning this back in November, but as D-day approaches the reality of 10 days alone in a foreign country starts to weigh on me a bit. But hell, I'm gonna be surrounded by a zillion of cats the whole time, so what's not to look forward to?

I have to just finalise my travel and accomodation arrangements over the next couple of days with emails and stuff, but that's pretty much taken care of. Good old blighty's got snow scheduled for this Easter weekend and the prospect of warmer temperatures look even more appealing now.
Rome, here I come!