Pitter Pats of Baby Cats

I Feel a Hiatus Coming On

2012-01-28T18:08:00.000-08:00

I've learned to listen to myself when I start to feel the least bit stressed about blogging.

So I'll take a little time off, tend to the Grables, and let you know when they're ready for adoption.

Once they finally started eating, they thought it would be a good idea to get the sniffles, so they'll be here for a bit yet.

I hope you'll check back now and then! Shouldn't be too long.

Thanks for following my dear little dear ones. We all appreciate you, each and every one.

What is it, Boy?? What's in There?

2012-01-25T21:25:00.000-08:00

Oh, it's Gilda! Git her, Rufus!!

A Room With a View

2012-01-23T19:47:00.000-08:00

Me personally? I prefer the view indoors.

Change of Venue!

2012-01-22T15:08:00.000-08:00

Just when I commented that the videos were starting to look a little too much alike, lo and behold the babies graduated to the living room!

I'm able to close a couple of doors to limit access to the back of the house. It's where I spend most of my time anyway - kitchen, t.v. room, kitten/office room. The living and dining rooms are generally off-limits, due in part to the fascination that some of the youngin's have with light-colored puffy rugs. And by 'fascination' I mean - well, let's just say that the one I have now is not the original. {Ahem.}

The result is that excursions to the living and dining rooms require constant supervision. (At least in my brain they do.) But really, this is only an issue with the real teeny tinies. The Grables are older now and so well-behaved. No problem at all.

"So let's mix things up a little, kittens!"

Sisters Times Two

2012-01-19T23:00:00.000-08:00

Honestly, sometimes I think that my posts are so similar that I risk redundancy. But it's a risk I'm willing to take. It's what I'm fortunate to see day after day and it never for a minute gets old.

And so...

Rosie and Minnie - of course - Gilda in the foreground and Mimi trying very hard to engage Rosemary in a rousing game of Patty-Cake.

Now a little back story. When I brought the Grables home on December 20th, it was assumed (how silly) that they'd be short-timers. Gilda was already at 2 pounds and the others had only 3-4 ounces to gain before they could all be scheduled for surgery.

Well.. under the heading of "You-never-know-what-to-expect-with-these-foster-babies-even-if-you-think-you-do", they all decided right away that they would eat nothing. Nothing.

I tried endless brands of cat food from fancy to Friskies; canned and kibble; even the old stand-by Gerber chicken for babies. Human babies. They ate nothing.

They all lost weight. I resorted to syringe feeding and supplemental sub-q fluids. Still, they wouldn't eat. They lost more weight.

The magic elixir finally came in the form of sauteed boneless chicken tenders. Yes, I had to slave over a hot stove to get these guys to eat, but boy did they eat!

Rufus, who had always been the smallest, was so excited that his little tail puffed way up like a Christmas tree and he snarled and spit lest a sibling grab even a tiny morsel of this long-awaited feast! Eureka! I'd found it.

This discovery was made a couple of weeks ago, and since then they've dined on four or five substantial sized packages of chicken tenders, they've fattened up to their original size and then some, and learned to eat regular cat food like good little babies. Thank the heavens above.

I had scheduled them for surgery next week, but Mimi has developed a little bit of a runny eye, so we'll wait until it resolves. I want to send them all in together and am in no hurry. It's the slow season for kittens and I'm so much enjoying having the Grables around. Gilda is really quite huge as foster kittens go - rapidly approaching the 3 pound mark. Imagine! Three pounds!

So that's the story to date. I think there'll be a couple more weeks of The Grables and The Girls. To heck with redundancy!

Addendum - Have I ever mentioned that Rosie has asthma? I just watched this video again and realized that you can hear her breathing. It's so 'normal' to me that I forget that it's not.

Snow Day

2012-01-18T17:35:00.000-08:00

We're slackin'.

"It's Cold Outside, Mimi. Come Here and Snuggle."

2012-01-17T15:55:00.000-08:00

At Last! At Long Last

2012-01-16T20:14:00.000-08:00

So many of you have asked after Iris and requested some updated photos. As much as I'd have loved to oblige, she's been even more elusive since the big floor refinishing project a few months back.

Iris has always been timid and easily spooked, but the upheaval - however temporary - of the life she'd settled into caused her to regress and she's not yet back to her 'normal'.

She divides her time between two big, squishy beds. The nice heated one in the kitchen is a favorite. It's situated right next to the basement door so she can quickly scoot to her 'safer' spot, another bed down the stairs.

She spends her time alternating between the two. She's not at all unhappy, just especially cautious. If I move a little too quickly in the kitchen, down the stairs she goes until she feels safe again.

I've tried a few times to get some photos of her in the kitchen, but the visage of me creeping up on her with the camera is not one that she approves of, and I don't want to subject her to anything that makes her the least bit tense.

So when I spied little Rufus with her today, I knew I had to try. I didn't dare get too close, and the photos are a little blurry, but I was so happy to be able to once again memorialize my beautiful, blue-eyed Iris.

I do love her so.

Very Wise Words of Wisdom

2012-01-16T12:07:00.000-08:00

“Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake.

Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”

~ Martin Luther King Jr.

Winsome (Sleepy) Mimi

2012-01-12T20:28:00.001-08:00

Go Gilda! Go Gilda!

2012-01-11T20:46:00.000-08:00

Miss Mimi (making a cameo appearance) is slightly more - shall we say 'understated'.

Lovey Dovey

2012-01-10T14:52:00.000-08:00

Don't be concerned. She's not concerned. She only looks a little concerned. Doesn't she?

She hasn't a care in the world. Other than how best to distract her siblings from the lunch counter.

My Big Sweet Lug of a Tiny Man

2012-01-09T14:04:00.000-08:00

The sound you hear is one that I often wake up to in the wee hours of the night. Tiny sleeps right next to me, and I swear he purrs all night long.

I love my giant guy so much.

xoxoxo

The Return (Again) of a Classic, and a Blog Address Update

2012-01-08T12:31:00.000-08:00

Here we go again! Kittens playing under and around the bathroom door. It's a ritual in these here parts and I hope you haven't tired of it. I could watch them for hours on end. Truth be told, I have.

I can't tell you which kitten is which, other than it's Rufus, Gilda and Mimi. I can tell them apart when they're side by side, or sitting still. Rufus is the tiniest and has a little bit darker coat; Gilda is the largest, and her fur is a little longer; Mimi's features are more delicate and petite.

But when they're in a pack and in motion, it's a challenge. I gave up trying. It's pointless.

Here goes!! Let the games begin!

Silliness. Kittens are so utterly, wonderfully predictable.

As for the blog address update, I've shortened the domain name to www.pitterpatsofbabycats.com, deleting '.blogspot'. You should be automatically re-directed, but to eliminate the possibility of problems, you may want to revise your bookmark or link if you have one. I'd hate like heck to lose you!

Rufus, You Goofus

2012-01-04T18:07:00.000-08:00

Looks like Minnie's getting a little facial massage. It also looks like the masseur is the one getting r-e-a-l-l-y relaxed.

: )

2012-01-03T13:19:00.000-08:00

It's a Litter!!

2012-01-02T18:27:00.001-08:00

It's true! I have multiple kittens who are actually, really related to each other! It's been ages and ages.

Regular readers know that I have a mushy soft spot for singletons, and for the last quite a while, I've brought home little else. A pair here and a pair there, but mostly blended families made up of little lone kittens.

I can't wait for you to meet the Grables, so let's do it!

Miriam "Mimi"

Gilda

Rufus

and Lovey.

Happy New Beginnings!

2011-12-31T10:59:00.000-08:00

May you have as much joy as all the kittens have brought me.

Minnie

Rosie

and their beautiful mama.

Good News!!

2011-12-28T18:20:00.000-08:00

I've been so distracted since Monday wondering how Fisher and Monroe are doing. Thank goodness, Laurie sent their new mom an email asking how things are going. I know we were both more concerned about Monroe than Fisher.

Here's the lowdown from Emily:

We've named them Miles and Cordelia and they're settling in quite well. Miles spent Monday under the bed, as we figured he would. But yesterday he started coming out and letting us pet him and today he actually came up to me and started purring when I came in the room. He seems to enjoy laying on us, purring, and then licking our noses.

Cordelia is a spitfire. She plays, eats, and occasionally passes out for a few minutes and then gets up and plays some more. She thinks that batting at my hair is the best game ever. The two of them are getting along just fine and spend a lot of time chasing each other. It's incredibly adorable.

Our older cat, Cleo, is a bit perturbed but seems to be accepting things. We've still got the kittens confined to the guest room, but we'll probably let them start venturing out into the rest of the house tonight. We'll see how it goes.

:)
Emily

SO much better than I'd have dared hoped! We knew this was the perfect family. We just didn't know how perfectly perfect they really are!

Thank you Emily and Ty for your kind and gentle hearts. Miles and Cordelia knew instantly that their new home is a place to feel safe and protected. Cleo will come around soon. I know it. She just needs to make sure the little ones know who is in charge.

This one's way up there on my list of favorite adoptions.

My Sweet Little Snuggler Has Left the Building

2011-12-26T17:40:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's true. Fisher is in her new home. She has the most amazing new mom and pop, older kitty sister, and only slightly older brother - Monroe! I know that lots of you follow the IBKC, but I'll bet there are a few who haven't heard the good news. Check THIS out!!

Yep, Fisher and Monroe are officially siblings! Fisher can help Monroe relax and bring out his playful side, and Monroe will hopefully teach his sister some manners. (She's a spitfire, this one.)

Laurie over at IBKC wrote the most heartfelt, in-depth post about her little guy. You can read it HERE. She and I both feel so strongly that our kittens be matched with a home befitting their temperaments, and she wanted his new family to have all the information they needed to make the right decision. For themselves and of course, for Monroe.

He's such a dear, and is still working on coming out of his shell and trusting the world. He's come a very long way in the time he's been with Laurie and Craig, and we're confident that having Fisher around will help build his confidence. The five of us - new mom and pop, Laurie and Craig, and I - know that this is a match that was meant to be.

This is the first time Laurie and I have matched our kittens to be adopted together, and I must say I think it was a stroke of brilliance! I can't think of a single aspect of this adoption and the new family that isn't exactly what these kittens needed. HOORAH!!

The little ones left us this morning, so there will be no purring kitten nuzzling my neck tomorrow morning. I'll be a little bit melancholy, but only a little. I'll have Tiny Man next to me, and Rosie and/or Minnie under the covers. It's nice to have some time to focus just on my grown ups.

Here's a parting video of Fisher with Minnie. We've been promised lots of photos, so this won't be the last you'll see of this kitten.

Thank goodness.

Happy Holidays from Huck and Finn!

2011-12-24T21:15:00.000-08:00

Recognize anyone? That's Huck on the left (Lamar), and Finn on the right (Otis).

This photo became their new family's Christmas card and what better way to share my good wishes for all of you as well. Santa himself couldn't have delivered a better family for the boys.

Whether your celebrate a religious holiday, the winter solstice or maybe just spend this time of year to reflect and look forward to new beginnings, I wish you all the love and comfort of family and true friends.

And peace. Mostly peace.

~Sue

Post-Surgical Convalescence

2011-12-21T19:36:00.000-08:00

Fisher's doing just fine. And her name is still Fisher.

Well Then.

2011-12-20T17:27:00.001-08:00

So I go to pick up Fisher from his neuter surgery today. The procedure is done at an independent local vet hospital.

I walk in the door and the smiling woman behind the counter says, "You know she's a girl, right?"

Insert image of me. Dumbstruck.

"Well, we spayed her!"

You little scamp.

Stop laughing! It's not funny.

Bye Bye, Little Guys

2011-12-18T23:09:00.001-08:00

*sigh*

Hot Bellied Fisher

2011-12-14T20:12:00.001-08:00

The bathroom register is a favorite place in the morning. The heat is on and I'm usually in the general vicinity.

Fisher is taking full advantage.

That's the water running in the background. I didn't want to risk reaching past him to turn it off lest I lose the moment.

Lots of Adoptions ~ Not Much Time to Post

2011-12-13T18:28:00.000-08:00

Nancy and Mikey have a perfect home together! We may now call them Gracie and Potter.

Ernest and Mitchell have an equally fabulous home together! We may continue to call them Ernest and Mitchell!

I'd hoped to find the time to put together an update post, but it's going to have to wait. There are some others that I want to include as well, so please pass the time by admiring these two little guys.

Oh, and Fisher's still here, too!

Caught Between a Pillow and a Soft Place

2011-12-11T23:03:00.001-08:00

It's not so bad, really. Kinda comfy.

Fisher and the Fireplug

2011-12-07T18:44:00.000-08:00

Otis is a stout little lad.

Same Sweet, Different Day

2011-12-06T20:15:00.001-08:00

Me and the girls, we just never get tired of it.

My Happy Little Elves

2011-12-05T20:04:00.000-08:00

Being oh so helpful while I sew up some pet beds for the shelter.

What's that saying about, "More hands make light work?" Not necessarily where kittens are concerned.

To heck with the pet beds. I'd rather just watch the babies anyway.

Ernest and Mitchell on the Mend

2011-12-01T21:45:00.001-08:00

In spite of a little help from their friend.

The surgery went well, the boys are fine. Nancy did her part to make them feel at home.

Hey Anne B.! Remember When You Asked, "Who is Lamar?"

2011-11-30T17:46:00.000-08:00

It's time for the whole, unvarnished truth. Lamar is Otis's brother!

And this time they're real live brothers! Actual littermates. Imagine!

So here's the current line-up: Mitchell and Ernest who were neutered yesterday; Nancy and Mikey who are scheduled for surgery on Friday; little Fisher-Man; and Otis and Lamar.

Two of these babies have been spoken for. But I'm not telling which. Why? Because I'm messin' with ya.

Can You Even Stand It?

2011-11-29T17:24:00.000-08:00

I thought not.

Hang In There, Little Dudes!

2011-11-28T17:12:00.000-08:00

Ernest and Mitchell are getting their snippin's tomorrow!

No takers for these guys yet, so they'll be coming to work with me on Wednesday and Thursday in case a perfect adopter happens by.

Fingers crossed, my lovely lads!

Frances Then and Now

2011-11-27T16:38:00.001-08:00

My sweetly timid, unabashedly gorgeous girl.

Enjoy Black (and white) Friday!

2011-11-24T15:08:00.000-08:00

Nancy

2011-11-22T18:26:00.001-08:00

Or as she's known around here, Mrs. Pants.

I'm so proud of this girl. Although she's been a bit of a slow grower, she's been healthy since day one.

This isn't always the case when taking on teeny tinies. You may recall that she was all of nine ounces when she wiggled her way into my heart. I pretty much expect some issue or another when they're that small, but she's been a very good kitten.

Mrs. Pants is up to 1# 12 oz. now - steady as she goes.

Bottle Baby

2011-11-21T19:18:00.001-08:00

Brotherly Dearly Love

2011-11-21T09:44:00.000-08:00

Mitchell (l); Ernest (r)

He is Quite a Catch

2011-11-18T13:10:00.000-08:00

Brought to the shelter by the nicest woman who found him in a downpour. In a closed, very wet cardboard box. With a hunk of salmon.

About a month old, eating a little on his own (not salmon), mostly wanting a bottle. No bath just yet as he got flea treatment before coming home with me.

His name is Fisher.

Of course.

Whozat??

2011-11-17T22:44:00.000-08:00

Are You My Mommy? No Wait, Are You?? No, Wait..

2011-11-16T18:50:00.000-08:00

The Frolicsome Foursome

2011-11-15T18:21:00.000-08:00

Now That's a Tabby of a Different Stripe!

2011-11-14T07:42:00.000-08:00

Some may think that a tabby is a tabby is a tabby. Au contraire! To wit:

Here's Ernest ~

Here are his stripes. Very broad; almost indiscernable in places.

Here's Mitchell ~

His markings are called "agouti". Very handsome.

And Mikey ~

Lots of his stripes are more like spots. Lovely little man.

It all adds up to a nice little variety pack.

Nancy, on the other hand is a torbie. That's a whole different story.

Sure it's Nepotism!

2011-11-13T11:04:00.000-08:00

Here's what my sister Jean commented on the previous post. Cracked me the heck up!

"I am the sheriff of Teeny Tiny Tabby Town and you're all under arrest for excessive public cuteness. I will have to hold you in the teeny tiny jail cells...which are my pockets. You are being sentenced to multiple smooches. Any attempt to escape or resist is futile."

And since I'm doing the nepotism thing, I may as well go all out. Those of you who appreciate super groovy vintage stuff should check out her etsy site - http://www.etsy.com/shop/HipKittyVintage

Teeny Tiny Tabby Town

2011-11-11T14:01:00.000-08:00

Holy good golly, they're cute.

Boys Are Heat Hogs

2011-11-09T20:45:00.000-08:00

I just got home and turned on the furnace. That's Mitchell in the front, Ernest in the middle, then Mikey.

For the record, Nancy was busy being a food hog.

Mikey and Nancy Sittin' in a Tree

2011-11-08T14:39:00.001-08:00

P-u-r-r-i-n-g . . .

There's No Such Thing as Too Many Tabbies!

2011-11-07T19:11:00.001-08:00

Mitchell completes the foursome!

Hey Mikey!

2011-11-06T15:34:00.001-08:00

For those of you less than a half century old, here's the reference. And yes, Mikey's a new arrival!! Ain't he just handsome?

One More Little Secret..

2011-11-03T21:38:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago I brought home a mama kitty. Such a beauty. I called her Bliss.

She'd just had four tiny babies.

Mamas with babies are not what I normally foster, but she needed to find a spot right away and I couldn't bear to leave her. I brought her home knowing I would not have them for the duration, but they'd be warm and comfy until another foster home could be arranged.

Roughly two weeks later, they went to Mary's house to stay until the babies were two months old and ready for adoption. She and her husband took such good care of Bliss and her family. They were brought back this week, all spayed/neutered - including mama - and have long, happy lives ahead.

I saw Bliss at the shelter today and spent some good, loving time getting reacquainted. She rolled, and rubbed, purring and smiling. I like to think she remembered me. She'll be made available for adoption tomorrow. Her babies had a head start and are very likely already in their new homes. Bliss wanted a little time to decompress, so that's what we gave her. She's doing just fine and is as lovely as I remembered.

A few minutes of their time with me:

Did you hear that purr? Such a good mama.

Finally! I've Exhaled.

2011-11-02T21:09:00.001-07:00

I've been holding out a little somethin' somethin' from you guys. It's time to come clean.

Richard and Verlene found their new family just over a week ago. They stayed together - it was a deal breaker. They are so fond of each other, there was no way I'd separate them.

I'm just enough of a worry wart that I'm never completely sure that all is well until that first contact after the adoption. Plus I wanted to have an update for you along with their adoption news. I knew Becki would fill me in. I didn't say she had to do it RIGHT AWAY! But I've been holding my breath just a wee bit anyway.

No more. I got the sweetest email yesterday, and I can't wait to share it. Let me first tell you that Becki has an adorable 2-year-old Schnauzer named Delilah. From everything she said, I knew the kittens would be fine with their new sister. Becki knew how best to introduce them. But still.. Until you know, you don't really know.

Becki also lives with her brother and their work schedules are not the same, so the kids are rarely by themselves. Perfect.

Here's her message:

Hi Sue!

I just wanted to give you an update on the kittens. They are doing GREAT! Their new names are Pebbles and Potter. :)

They had their check up at the vet on Wednesday and passed with flying colors. Pebbles had a shot and they were good. I gradually introduced them to Delilah, about 10 minutes at a time for a few days. Pebbles was hissing quite a bit and Potter wasn't quite sure what to think.

They are doing fine now. Pebbles and Delilah even napped on my lap together. Delilah is giving them any space they are requesting but does try to play with them if they will let her. If she comes at Pebbles too quickly, she will hiss and Delilah immediately backs off. I think it will take a little bit of time for the family to blend, but I am not concerned at all.

Potter is so curious! He wants to check everything out, climb under anything he can and he loves the curtains! Ha ha. Pebbles loves to climb us! The second she gets an opportunity, she runs, jumps, lands somewhere near my waist and climbs to my shoulders. It is really really funny! I thought I adopted a cat, but parrots are fun, too! LOL.

Thank you so much for meeting us and letting us bring home these adorable little fur balls. They make my heart smile. I will continue to be in touch.

Love,
Becki, Delilah, Potter and Pebbles

This photo arrived just as I was sitting down to write this post. My heart skipped a little ol' beat. Sigh...

Here's one more little video of Pebbles and Potter. Well, mostly Pebbles, as you'll see. He's so tolerant of her nonsense.

They've carved out a little niche in my heart.

Thank you so much, Becki! I for one cannot wait to hear - and see! - how your beautiful little family grows up!

"My Name is Ernest"

2011-11-01T17:19:00.002-07:00

"Ever so pleased to meet you."

Verlene the Cham-peen!

2011-10-31T10:50:00.000-07:00

Hands down.

My Guest Post!

2011-10-27T20:28:00.001-07:00

A little while back I was contacted by the editor of a really great pet blog asking whether I'd be interested in contributing a post on fostering animals. Are you kidding me?? I'd be honored and proud to!

Julia is the editor of RPO - Responsible Pet Ownership Blog, sponsored by CANIDAE Natural Pet Food Company. I know many of you are familiar with their quality pet food products and to have been asked to be a part of their blog was a thrill!

I received notice today that my post had been added, so without further ado, click here to read it.

Please be sure to take some time to scroll through previous posts as well. There is so much good information on a variety of topics that relate to our beloved pets. You may even want to do as I have and subscribe so you don't miss a thing! You could win a 6 month supply of high quality pet food. Now, that's hard to beat!

Thank you so very much to Julia for her interest in spreading the word about the joys and benefits of fostering, and for allowing me to be a part if it. I can only hope that our combined efforts will result in a convert or two.

Maybe you? Hmmm??

And now, a post is not a post without pix so let's have a look at Richard. Beautiful, fluffy-pants Richard.

She's This Big

2011-10-25T21:24:00.000-07:00

She's ballooned up to 15 ounces!

Little, Lovely Debbie

2011-10-24T22:27:00.001-07:00

Precious little Debbie was chosen by her forever home so quickly I hardly had a chance to take her picture! She was still a little shy, but had come so far. She found a home where she'll be a very happy girl forever and ever.

What a pleasure to have known you, little one.

Be happy, munchkin. I love you!

Come and Get 'Em!

2011-10-21T15:33:00.000-07:00

Verlene and Richard are surgurized and ready to meet their family! We just don't know who that is yet.

I'm posting them on the shelter website with a link here. If this doesn't reel them in, I don't know what will.

There now. It should only be a matter of time.

What's Black and White and Pink All Over?

2011-10-19T21:12:00.000-07:00

Debbie's So Determined

2011-10-17T22:19:00.000-07:00

Rosie's so, "What ever."

A Little Perspective Before She's COMPLETELY HUGE!

2011-10-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

Did you notice the AA battery? I wanted to use something you'd likely be familiar with.

Nancy is a whopping 11.5 ounces today! An ounce a day makes a very good girl. No guarantee that she'll keep it up of course, but I am very encouraged and very pleased.

Have I mentioned how she purrs? Boy, does she!

Nine Ounces of Nancy

2011-10-13T19:44:00.001-07:00

Togethah! Forevah!

2011-10-11T22:02:00.000-07:00

BFF's Shirley and Puddin' Head

They really are a pair, these two. Their temperaments are so much the same. Same high energy silliness; same loving goofiness. I wanted them to stay together and sho nuff they did.

They've been gone just over a week now. I've been holding off sharing the happy news in hopes of having a report from their new mama. Not yet. Maybe this will be the impetus she needs. ; ) ; )

Let's watch some parting videos while we wait. Fingers drumming.

Bye-bye beauties. Take good care of each other. And let me know if your mom forgot the address, okay?

Okay.

Awww...

2011-10-09T17:34:00.001-07:00

Richard's sleepy.

HAHAHA!!!

2011-10-05T21:23:00.000-07:00

I hoped that this one wouldn't have static. It does. Turn off the sound and watch it anyway. It's funny.

Verlene

2011-10-04T20:57:00.001-07:00

She's so cute it's darn near ridiculous.

Here's Something You Don't See Every Day

2011-10-03T23:11:00.000-07:00

In fact, I'm not convinced I saw it at all.

Hello Debbie

2011-10-02T15:30:00.001-07:00

Aren't you a sweet treat.

The Dance

2011-09-29T22:24:00.000-07:00

Richard and Verlene are doin' it.

Slumber Party!

2011-09-28T22:55:00.000-07:00

Two little girlies came home with me today. They're headed off to NOAH in the morning and needed to be coddled and spoiled for the night. Only about three weeks old, they're not yet eating on their own, so some bottle/syringe feeding was in order until their chauffeur picks them up at about 10:00 tomorrow.

They're freshly bathed, their bellies are full, and they're trying to stay up way too late! Some things about little girls and slumber parties are mandatory, I guess.

As you can see, one was a bit more willing to pose for posterity, but trust me they're equally cute. This old foster mom had to get to bed, so there was no time to try for the glamour shots.

Take a peek and say goodbye! Someone at NOAH is anxiously awaiting these little bottle feeders! How wonderful is that?!

Bye-bye! The pleasure was all mine.

Puddin' Head Spies a Fly

2011-09-27T19:44:00.001-07:00

Oh my!

May We See Those Pretty Little Spots, Verlene?

2011-09-25T07:50:00.000-07:00

You mustn't be shy. You must be proud of every little thing that makes you YOU! Now let's see...

Stunning. Absolutely stunning.

There's a Giant Dust Bunny Under the Couch

2011-09-24T16:47:00.001-07:00

It's got beady little eyes and is eating my slipper.

Puddin' Head and Richard: Your Weekend Double Feature

2011-09-22T19:17:00.000-07:00

The kids and I wish you rest and relaxation. We're going to get as much as we can around here. It's been a long week and there's another one on the horizon. Kitten and couch time is in order.

See you next week!

Shirley Shares Her Dots

2011-09-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

Thank you, my lovely. Those are some of the finest I've seen to date.

Richard Does Some Research

2011-09-20T11:21:00.000-07:00

He's considering the hair trade and thought he'd have himself a look-see. Intruiged at first, ultimately he found it to be a snoozer.

Verlene

2011-09-19T07:59:00.001-07:00

And so completes the current lineup. Four little singletons - my weakness. Shirley, Richard, Puddin' (she's a girl) and Verlene. Each one cuter than the rest. They're all pretty close in age and size, so sending them off in pairs should be a breeze!

Posting will be less frequent for a bit - maybe every other day. But I hope to provide you with such delectable fare that it will hold you over quite comfortably until the next serving.

Verlene is just such a belly full, no?

Puddin'

2011-09-18T20:20:00.001-07:00

Puddin' Head

Say "How Do!" to Richard

2011-09-15T19:21:00.001-07:00

He sure is pleased to meet you.

Shirley You Jest

2011-09-13T18:35:00.001-07:00

I'm not kidding.

Happiness, Thy Name is Miles

2011-09-11T19:27:00.001-07:00

I don't know if Miles could be any happier than he is in the video to follow, but something tells me this is only the jumping off point for bigger and better things. He has gone to his forever home with the nicest couple - and his new kitty sister Bella!

I was working at the shelter on Saturday and decided to bring him along to charm the bejeebers out of some potential adopter. That didn't take long, did it?

I received a page that there was someone interested in adopting and knew instantly when I met them that they were his peeps. You know how you can tell right off the bat when you meet someone you instantly like? Well, there they were. Grinning.

They'd already decided on Bella, an adorable 2-year-old tuxie girl! Adoption counselor extraordinaire, Frances called her a bowling ball with legs. (Bella could lose a pound or two...) They'd interacted a bit with Miles still in his kennel and knew even before visiting him that he was their boy. It only took a minute in the Meet and Greet Room to seal the deal.

And so we say good bye to this little one. It was a bit tough since I'd had him for a while by himself, but he promised to write and I've got my fingers crossed that it won't be long. Of course I'll let you know right away.

{There's a bit of my signature 'static-sporadic' on this one, but it's not too loud so if you can stand it, it's worth it to hear the rattle of his puffy paper toy.}

Bye-bye sweetness. What a joy you have been.

And Then There's Fran

2011-09-09T06:57:00.000-07:00

C'mon, Milesie. Don't Be Skeert.

2011-09-07T19:23:00.001-07:00

They're so little. You'll never miss 'em. They're just excess baggage, anyway. You'll be fine. I promise.

That's my brave boy. I love you.

Yes, it's that time. Miles goes in for his snippin' tomorrow. My dear friend Monica will take good care of him until I can bring him back home.

Mea Maxima Culpa

2011-09-06T21:38:00.001-07:00

I have ever so gently been reminded that I've yet to post updated photos of Alvin. Let's not waste another minute.

We begin shortly after Alvin's arrival at my sister Jean's house - his new home. While the idea had been that he would be a playmate to young Zoe so she'd quit pestering her older brother Felix, things didn't work out exactly as planned.

Zoe was not pleased. She hid. Kinda.

Alvin, ever naive and never giving up, eventually won her over. Kinda.

He used his staggeringly good looks.

His clownish sense of humor.

His come hither charm.

Then he rested.

Truth be told, He's become a bit of a nuisance to poor Zoe. I'm afraid she's getting her comeuppance for years of tormenting Felix.

Alvin reminds me of Rosie. He loves everybody and assumes they love him right back. He simply cannot be convinced otherwise.

So dear Zoe and Felix have a bothersome little brother to put up with, and they pretty much do. Even Felix who can't even stroll across the kitchen floor without the loving arms of Alvin thrown around his neck. But he saunters on, dragging the boy behind him.

Alvin's greatest love is the great outdoors. He goes to the back door, reaches for the doorknob, then stands very still while Jean puts on his harness. Well, that is until she's trying to buckle it. Then he can't wait any more! She tethers him up in the back yard and he spends hours on end gaily wrapping himself around trees and shrubs, rocks and tomato plants.

This was taken early on without the harness. I think you can see how happy he is.

He's not even fazed by the occasional bee sting. See how fat his foot is? There have been two. So far.

Yes, he's found his kingdom. Jean loves him beyond words. He's uniquely beautiful, uniquely charming and completely irresistable. Wouldn't you agree?

Miles and Miles of Miles

2011-09-05T22:37:00.000-07:00

This is How the Girls Sleep on the Bed at Night

2011-09-01T23:27:00.000-07:00

Now, I don't take a camera to bed with me. That would just be weird. But since they've been doing this since they were widgets, I've had ample opportunity to immortalize.

The love of a sister. I'm twice as lucky because I have two.

How to Deal with a Dearth of Babies

2011-08-30T17:12:00.000-07:00

The girls find themselves without the usual gaggle of kittens to bathe. Heaven knows Miles has been spit shined to perfection. What to do, what to do?

There's only one option.

He's Brilliant, I Tell You. Brilliant!!

2011-08-28T19:34:00.000-07:00

And so I find myself with one lone kitten. Miles. Beautiful, brilliant Miles. He showed his true colors once Hedda left. No more hiding this light under a barrel.

Here's the story. Very often once the kittens have had the run of the place for a while, they will at some point venture up the stairs with me and discover the bedroom. It's a big room with a bare floor, so this revelation results in much ruckus and frivolity. It also results in tiny kittens on the bed at night, either under the covers or burrowed into the belly of an obliging adult cat. That would be Rosie or Minnie. Tiny Man is always at my feet but will not tolerate the little interlopers.

For whatever reason, this last group preferred their own company at night and didn't come up. There are lots of options for sleeping piles of kittens downstairs and I think they utilized them all. That's okay. The big kitties liked the extra square footage.

Hedda would sometimes fly up the stairs to holler for breakfast when she heard me get up; Melvin followed along a couple of times; but Miles never did go up. Not once.

So.. While I'm happy to let them do whatever feels best, I did have a small concern once Hedda had left that Miles would be downstairs at night all by his fuzzy little self. I didn't want to bring him up to an unfamiliar place while I was sleeping. Besides, there's a railing around the stairs that has been the "downfall" of more than one kitten. The posts are just far enough apart to allow an inquisitive little guy to push through and take a pretty scary tumble. So I left him downstairs that first night.

And so we arrive at the brilliant part. Not only did I wake up in the morning with Miles in the bedroom, he was curled up with Rosie acting just like it had been his routine all along! Now mind you, he's still very small. Not only had he figured out we were up there, he'd found his way up the stairs, down a short hallway to the bedroom, and up onto the bed!

What did I tell you? Genius.

That's right, ladies. Brains and good looks. A most lethal combination.

Someone Else is Leaving Today

2011-08-24T22:37:00.000-07:00

The longer they're here, the more I love 'em. Hedda's been here a while...

She has so much love in her little torbie body. Her new family has a wonderful future with an endearingly persistent kitten either at their feet demanding to be held, or on a shoulder purring and rubbing like she just won the lottery.

Actually, she did.

Then There Were Two

2011-08-23T21:30:00.000-07:00

But not for long...

Kitty Tube!

2011-08-22T19:26:00.000-07:00

If you've got kittens, you really should have one. It's long, it crackles, it has string-y things at one end and - oh joy! - a hole in the middle to pop your head out!

Melvin leaves tomorrow. Hedda, Miles and I will surely miss his fluffy goodness. But we'll still have each other and he'll have Eleanor!

{Lots of videos lately, I know. They're so much easier to capture than good still photos. I'll get back to those one day.. Meantime, I hope you're enjoying the action.}

Mr. Melvin Wigglesworth

2011-08-21T11:55:00.001-07:00

{Turn down the volume - there's a fan in the window.}

Monday is surgery day for this little charmer. Then off he goes to Seattle to join our precious Eleanor! Yep! She was the first to go home. Not sure yet when Melvin will join her - there are logistics involved. But it will be one day this week.

Sigh..

The Comfort That is Rosie

2011-08-18T20:13:00.001-07:00

Little Hedda had her surgery the other day. While the kittens always snap back amazingly quickly, it does take a while for the anesthetic to wear off. And I'm sure there's some discomfort.

Hedda chose Rosie's ample belly to snuggle with while she recovered. I can't say I blame her. I do it sometimes myself.

Minnie and Miles

2011-08-17T21:30:00.000-07:00

They're yummy.

Playmates for Life!

2011-08-16T18:12:00.000-07:00

Yep!

Eleanor and Melvin will have a couple of decades to romp and cuddle and romp some more. They've had the great good fortune to be chosen by Sara and Chris, a dear couple who go the extra mile - and then some - for their beloved kitties. These two have found the pot of gold - 24 carat.

One left the nest today; the other needs to gain a few ounces.

No, I'm not telling you which is which. Not yet.

This is how I lure you back.

Snips and Snails

2011-08-15T18:44:00.000-07:00

...and a goofy little tail.

My Sister Made a Very Sweet Card for Me

2011-08-15T11:19:00.001-07:00

Thank you, Jean. Little Andy will forever be basking in sunshine.

Sugar and Spice - Not So Much

2011-08-14T19:22:00.000-07:00

The girls are getting into mischief.

He's Little, He's Happy, He's Miles

2011-08-10T20:07:00.000-07:00

Eleanor!! Those Eyes!

2011-08-09T13:52:00.001-07:00