Mischief Monday - Ummm, Some Excuse - by Styx

 Hi friends, hi friends, hi friends!

The Lady promised we were going to have lots and lots and lots of time to catch up with your blogs yesterday and then she got a call to go help catalogue cats in a colony who need to be re-homed and she did that and then spent 2 hours going through the pictures to make a profile for each of the 18 cats. The people say people keep dumping cats near their house and they have been trying to take care of them. 

She said you would all understand. 

Here are some of them. 

sigh! She really is being a crazy cat Lady

Styx

Remeber that Time We Accidently had 12 Cats?

 I turned and said that to the Man last Wednesday, when having newborn kittens was fresh and we were both tired and I laughed and laughed and he gave me the look. 

This is how this happened.

We knew Friendly and Austin were being picked up for their forever homes on Friday the 11th. They stayed an extra few days because Friendly was getting spayed on Monday and we didn't want her to have to move right away. We moved them into my office, to make space for Celeste, Acorn and Oakley, who were coming as soon as they were caught (it took almost a week for this to happen). We knew we would have 8 cats for a few days.

Then when Celeste gave birth, we had to move Acorn and Oakley somewhere and the only space was the bathroom (our house is very open concept). they are staying in the bathroom for now as my office is really not ideal for kittens.

So for 3.5 days or so we had 12 cats.

Tigris, Styx and Lanie

Friendly and Austin 

Celeste and 4 newborns

Acorn and Oakley

I am going to be honest, this was a lot. I do not recommend. 

Friday we said goodbye to Friendly and Austin. We wish them all the best with their new family and hope Austin escapes getting dressed up by little girls (although I don't know if he will).

The first day after spay, she slept on me all day

The Other 2 Fosters

As we mentioned yesterday, Celeste came in with 2 kittens, who were not hers. Originally, they were part of 7 (there mom is very, very feral), 4 the SPCA took and 3 who were left. Sadly, one was killed before it could be rescued.

First up is Acorn. Acorn is a spitfire cat, who is all play and cuddles. Her attention span is a millisecond. She has had a little eye infection that is healing. 

Before the birth

She has the cutest spotted belly

Next up, is the elusive Oakley. We believe she is also female (we only got a quick look during the moving process during the birth stuff!) She had seemed to be coming a little out of her shell that first day (she was actually caught after Celeste and Acorn and brought to us later in the day on Monday). However, us having to chase her around the room to get her out, damaged some of the trust and we are working to get it back. She is starting to come out to play if we are in the bathroom (yes, they are in the bathroom, why, find out on Thursday!) We know she will need some time, but we are here for it.

Before the move

These are the fosters who are requiring play and attention, but overall seem to be doing well. The Man takes them to the vet today as I am transporting a load of cats for a spay and neuter.

Celeste and the Cosmic Kittens

 We interrupt our regular scheduled posts to just catch you up on foster life! It has been a week.

We will start with Celeste and her cosmic kittens.

Celeste (and 2 kittens not hers, who we will introduce  tomorrow), came in to our care on September 7. They had been living on the streets and the person who was feeding them caught them and gave them to the rescue. 

No one knew just how close to birth Celeste was. Tuesday night, just as I was falling asleep, Man yelled, we have kittens.

We were not prepared for this. So after a few minutes of panic (getting the other kittens out of the room, contacting the rescue and the internet), we took a breath and let Celeste do her thing. I must admit was my only help was moving the first born from the box to the tent where she had moved. 

Between 10-11:30 pm on Tuesday, September 8, Celeste welcomed 4 kittens to the world. I stayed with her, dozing on the former guest bed, until about 3:30.  I only knew we had a new kitten when it mewled. Since then, we have been checking in a few times to make sure all the babies appear to be doing well, Celeste is well and she has lots of food and water and to change the litter.

So far, so good! It has been amazing to see how fast these little kittens have grown.

4-5 hours after birth

5.5 days later - pardon the litter, it is not time to clean the room yet

We have finally given them names. It will be hard for you to see as I am respecting Celeste as much as possible. It was hard to pick gender neutral names.

The Cosmic Crew are:

Eclipse (all black one)

Quark (black and white one)

Orbit (grey one with a little white on the side)

Velocity (the other grey one)

While the Man had specifically said no pregnant cats, and I know that likely won't happen again, I am really enjoying this special time and watching Celeste be an amazing momma to very fast growing kittens!

Stay tuned for more kittens!

Mischief Monday - Is It Over?

 Hi friends, hi friends, hi friends!

First, we have not got to visit you like we have wanted to, because we are busy, busy, busy. Lady says we may not blog 5 or 6 days a week for the short term, but you will hear from us a couple times a week.  She says, things overall are just rolling along and there isn't much to talk about.  We are boring, boring, boring, in a very good way. 

Enjoying the last of the summer sun. 

Now, perhaps the most important news for me, your Styxy. The kittens have all been adopted. While some are still in our house, they will all be to their forever homes in the next day or two. 

California is going to a lovely young couple who said goodbye to their calico earlier this year and are ready for another one. 

Austin and Friendly are going to a family who have always had cats. They will live with 3 kids. They will get lots of love and not from my, my, my people. 

Together forever - Friendly and Austin

We have also heard from Phantom's (now Eva) family that she is settling in and they love her already. 

I stopped to look at the kittens yesterday, and I did not, not, not like it. I had to growl, growl, growl at them.  I am hoping having intruders will be over, but I heard Lady tell Man, she is working with the rescue to figure out the best fit for the next cat(s). We will see. I think Lady has done enough with Lanie and these kittens to help the Cat Redistribution System.  She says no, no, no. 

Styx - who isn't sure he likes new cats in his house and wants it to be over. 

Caturday - And Then There Were 3

 We are happy to report that Miss Phantom has left for her forever home! 

For the organization we are fostering the adoption process goes like this. People apply to adopt the cats. After a pre-screening, their contact information is shared with the foster family. The foster family sets up a time for the potential adopters to come and visit. This is relaxed, but the foster family is encouraged to look for red flags/get a sense of the people. The foster family reports their impressions to the person supporting this adoption. If the potential family wants to go through with it, they let the organization know. After 48 hours (to try and stop impulsive cat adoptions), the adopters complete paperwork and payment. Once this is done, the foster family arranges pick up. Each of the cats leaves with a small bag of treats and toys and a quilt that has been handmade by one of our volunteers. 

Phantom is going to a lovely couple with a 12 year old son (who clearly loved to play with kittens) and a 13 year old cat. The family seemed warm and caring and clearly wanted a kitten (the lady admitted to having starting to buy new toys for one), so we know this was not impulsive. 

We will miss her and wish her all the best in her forever home. 

During our short time with Phantom she was playful and cuddly. A bit unsure about new things at first, but after a few moments, happy to join in or check them out. She also gave the most kisses. 

Wordless Wednesday - The Watering Hole

 

Caturday - Foster 4 - Week 2

It has been almost 2 weeks since the fosters arrived. Hopefully, as you read this, all 4 kittens will be available for adoption. Friendly had her follow up yesterday and once she is healthy enough  to get her first vaccine, she will be ready. Her sneezing has improved. Austin was neutered this week and is doing great. 

People have asked why we decided to foster.  First, Man, has been bullied into this. This is not his dream. My dream is actually to foster old dogs, but this was not something Man wanted as I need a co-foster parent for when she works late etc I pivoted to cats. I also have the dream of becoming a crazy cat lady, and this allows me to do so in a more reasonable way. I know I am going to be sad to see them go, but also joyful. How lucky am I to get to be a small part of these wonderful cats lives, even for a short time. 

Here are some of the fun pictures for this week.

When vacuum came out

Caturday - Foster 4

 Hello,

Welcome to a new feature on the blog where we share about our foster kittens and cats (when we have them). We are fostering for TNR La Peche (the same organization I have been transporting cats for spay and neuter for).

Last Monday evening, we got a call asking if we could take 4 kittens that were in a barn. We said yes and it has been kitten overload every since. These kittens never stop purring.

Introducing . . . . 

Austin - He is the oldest and only male. He is about 5 months old and weighs about 5 lbs. Austin is super chill and didn't even flinch at the vet getting his shots. He is going to be the perfect compassion for someone who wants a buddy to sit beside them on the couch and watch TV. He likes to be beside, not on people. He also loves to play and run and wrestle. 

Austin will be neutered next week

Phantom - 4 month old Phantom is a cuddle bug. She weighs in at 4.4 lbs and is the most vocal of the kittens. Phantom loves to give kisses. She does not love when Austin plays too hard. She got her name for her colouring, her grey fades to white and it made me think of a Phantom. 

Phantom the kiss queen

Friendly - She got her name because she is the lap cat of the century. Always pushing the others out of the way, this 3.14 lbs purr machine has a bit of a respiratory infection and fever. You wouldn't know it because it hasn't impacted her play. She, and her likely littermate Phantom will be on antibiotics for a week, to treat the sneezes.

Friendly

Last but not least - Miss California

At 4.5 months old, this 4.4 lbs beautify rarely stays still for a picture. She is the most playful, loves to chase toys, hold the others in headlocks to lick them and she is the biggest scratcher.  In the moments she is still, she does love a good cuddle too. 

As this is our first time, we are not 100% sure what the process will be. We will continue to love them, transport them for medical appointments, and provide care as long as the rescue requires us to. They are a joy. We will continue to share their progress and joy. I am so excited to have this chance to love them and be part of the journey. 

If you are wondering how Tigris, Styx and Lanie are with them - well the kittens stay in the cat room (where Lanie lived her first 2 months with us), and will likely continue to do os. Tigris will go hiss at the door, and Lanie has taken to spending more time in our bedroom but otherwise no significant change from the chosen 3.