Sunday, April 27, 2008

A Sad/Happy Story of Marrakshi Cats

This story starts out sadly.
When we returned from America, we were looking forward to seeing Ollie and Mimi. But only ancient Mr.B on the roof was there to greet us.
We assumed the others were out and about in the medina and would reappear in a day or two- if only for food.
Cats travel from rooftop to roof top - which is how Mimi arrived in the first place. They go hang out at other people's houses......they usually come back sooner or later.
We kept the kitty litter - unlovely as it was - on the stairs. We waited.
We asked questions to which there were no answers.
Every time I passed the wretched kitty litter, I felt miserable.
Mr.B isn't allowed in the house.
I said to Robert, "Do you think if we got rid of the kitty-litter, Mimi and Ollie would come back?"
On Friday, I put the kitty litter tray, and the big plastic tray it rested on, in the derb. They soon vanished and the (clean) kitty litter sat in a pile in the street.
The stairs looked better.........
I met Ismail on the street and said I still hadn't seen Ollie and Mimi.
On Saturday morning, very early, I heard cat noises in the derb and there, right out side our door was........



a basket containing a mama-cat and three kittens............
I haven't the least idea where they came from.
Most people here would probably say "From God".



I called Robert downstairs and he said, "Do what you want. I'm sure you will anyway...."
And proceeded to play with them.



So the cats came in. A bit later I put them out again, but children in the derb were playing with them.........not to mention the mopeds......



The mama-cat looks watchful, making sure everyone is behaving themselves.



Which, being kittens, they are not - merely exploring and wandering about....



and sneaking up on things.........



We have not given them names.......we do not want to get too attached.....we are foster parents only this time.
If anyone would like to adopt these little lovelies.........

15 comments:

Marja said...

Hi Elisabeth, The kittens look adorable. What a nice gesture. We have a new kitten and we all love it.

this is my patch said...

That was one surprise you had on your doorstep, the kittens are lovely. I haven't held a kitten since I was a child on the farm, where we would have many litters. I would love a cat. I got too attached to a cat who visited me, and I still miss him to this very day, he was such good company. x

Anonymous said...

Awwwwwwww! How lovely! I'd adopt them, if I was in Morocco... I rescued a kitten when I lived in Syria. God him strong and then had to let him try and make on his own when I left. I think he's probably re-populated most of Damascus by now.

Anonymous said...

That was meant to be got, not God!!!

sukipoet said...

I'm sorry about your missing kitties. My cat, chocolat, disappeared never to reappear last spring. I just threw away her vet records today. she's the first cat that has disappeared.

Meanwhile, such adorable kitties you have found. How can you not keep at least one??? I love cats but my last three were grownups either adopted from a vet or just ones that came to me from the universe. I now have two.

Kate and Roger said...

It is always sad to wonder what happened to your cats. I hope they found new fun parents. I like to be optimistic. How lucky to have kittens. Don't let my stern uncle be too mean to them (ha--he's as big a softie as his brother!)

Suburbia said...

Absolutly adorable. I wish I could help foster!

Come Away With Me said...

Kittens are irresistible to me! I could spend hours entertaining them with bits of string or whatever is at hand. Your "gifts from God" seem quite healthy and happy to explore the house.

Tess Kincaid said...

Aww. Such sweet, sweet faces. We had a series of cats when the kids were growing up. Brings back fun memories.

Claudia Schmid said...

Will they let me bring 'The Lodgers' back to London with me?

High Desert Diva said...

Awwww....I loved the basket presentation.

Anonymous said...

They're lovely little creatures.

And the carrier basket is genius for a cat with kittens.

PS: Cats often take sore offence if their owner(s) leave them and go on holiday so yours are possibly sulking somewhere until they've cooled off.

Anonymous said...

Very cute!

Paz

Anonymous said...

Isn't this the same mother cat from the market that you posted about earlier?

Anonymous said...

Dear Elizabeth,

I have just realised that you are friends with David and Susie, who are friends of my mother...! Anyway, I live in Marrakech with my husband and I was wondering if I could ask for your advice on something? We adopted a little kitten a couple of months ago and I'm seeing a vet in Gueliz at the moment, who seems fine, but the kitty recently got that third eyelid thing and the vet doesn't seem to think there's a problem. Being the neurotic mother that I am I wanted to get a second opinion and I wondered if you had a good vet that you could recommend?

Thank you for any help you can give,

Tatiana