Greetings Humans!

It is hard to believe that the café has only been open for a few weeks. So much has happened in that time. Richelle and Ken are getting better at cleaning up at the end of the day, but I still wait a long time in my carrier while they dither over trivial things like the coffee machine. Many of you have come to visit and it has been nice to see you. It makes me happy to hear that you like the café and enjoy playing with me and my cousins. I wish to take this chance to introduce some of them to you.

First, let me tell you about the borrowed cats. Outpawed and the other organisations brought some of their home cats to work in the café for a while. It has been like a big family get together for lots of us since many of us were fostered in the same places or come from the same original colonies. T.J. is the top male here. He is a long, lean, mackerel and white tabby. Next to me, he is the boss, but he is so easy going no one minds that he gets to eat first and sleep wherever he wants. He can jump really high when he wants to but most of the time he just enjoys being petted and playing with you. Chenzo is the next oldest male, but he gets bossed around by almost everyone. He is black and white and good looking like me but that is the only family resemblance there is. At least he is friendly. Clover is a lovely, permanently relaxed champagne ginger. She sleeps most of the day, but does not mind playing or being petted when she is awake. Harley and Ivy are sisters. Ivy is still staying in a box bed all day but will tolerate petting. Harley enjoys being petted on occasion and even comes out to play and explore.

Next, I should talk about the ones who will stay here longer. Ken and Richelle have adopted these and will decide after Christmas which ones will be adoptable to other families. One of the oldest cats is Sharon. She’s 12. She has had a hard time recently, losing her human and brother at once. So far, she stays in the cat privacy room but is happy to receive petting from the Neko Ngeru staff. Mischief, a tortoise shell calico, is less mischievous at the café. She likes to sit in the privacy room on the top shelf but will come out in the afternoons to play and be petted. She competes with me for Ken’s affections but does not come close! Her daughter, Momo, is my playmate at home. She did not cope with the café life so Richelle and Ken brought her to their house. I have told you about her in another letter. I know she needs to find a forever home, but will miss playing with her. I wonder if Tonraq is jealous? Molly is a striking grey and white female of indeterminate age. She has a rough way about her and will tolerate no nonsense. She lets the humans know when she has had enough but never means to hurt anyone.

Willow, a grey and white tabby, grew up in the same place I did. We experienced such freedom and were never denied a thing. I think it spoiled her a bit since now, she likes to play rough with the humans. Fortunately, some humans like a feisty kitty and will risk their hands to her teeth and claws to get a chance to play with such a cute, young cat.

Poppet, a brown swirl pattern tabby, is another young cat but with such a different temperament. Even I do not understand how she can be so patient! She loves to snuggle up on the gentle humans’ laps to sleep and can play almost all day long. Pickle, our newest young male, is quite brave and confident. All the cats seem to like him and the humans are always exclaiming over his Bengal like good looks.

With only twelve of us, we all know we must work a little harder. We look forward to the new cohort of kittens that will get their operations and vaccinations soon. When we get enough, the borrowed cats will return to their home humans and we will decide which cats are going to be permanent in the café like me. It will be our job to keep the new cats in line as they learn the ropes of this very important job. Not every cat is cut out to give play and petting therapy!