Happy birthday to my kits!

Mama Little Bit here:

A year ago today, I gave birth to four boy-kits:  Cloud, Cousteau/Kai, Little Guy/Tiger, and Squishy!  I had to learn how to be a mama cat to them, but my mama, Boo-Boo Kitty, helped a lot with showing me how.  My people didn't take care of us, so when my kits were three weeks old we went to live with our neighbors, who taught me that I was supposed to feed my kits every couple of hours and stay with them until they were done nursing each time.  After I learned that, I was a very good mama to my baby boys!

I love them very much, and am so glad that Cloud, Kai, and Tiger have awesome homes.  They were adopted a short time after they were weaned.  Cloud and his mommy send us pictures every once in a while, and he looks a lot like me, except a lighter grey.  Kai's mommy works at a vet clinic, so she takes very good care of him.  Tiger was originally adopted to a man living alone, but his grandkids loved Tig' so much that they re-adopted him!

Unfortunately, soon after Squishy was adopted out, his new family took him to the vet for his poopy problems and the vet said that he would never get over them.  His system didn't function right, something that our vet hadn't diagnosed but the new vet did.  Squish had to be put to sleep.  He always had a look to him that Foster Mommy thought may mean that he wasn't as well-formed as the rest, and she was right.

I am so glad to have been able to take care of my baby kits and see them weaned and off to their homes.  I'm wishing them all a happy birthday today, at their new homes and Squishy's celebrating his at the Bridge!  Happy, happy birthday, babies!  You are now official mancats!

Tiger
Cloud
Squishy
Kai's new mommy decided not to have a page for him
Group page (with their first baby pictures)

Us, when the kits were 3 weeks old

Cloud as a baby

Cloud now

Kai (heading off somewhere), Tiger, Squishy, & Cloud

4 weeks old

Kai napping in Foster Daddy's shoe

5 weeks old

Kai in his favorite napping place:  his new mommy's purse

8 weeks old

Squishy and Tiger just before they went to their new homes

Squishy squished :(

Squishy writes:

I'm stuck in the litter box room! Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy won't let me out, no matter how much I tell them I want out! Mama and brother aren't doing a thing about it, either; they're playing like nothing is the matter! They came in to check on me once, but now they are acting normal!

Foster Daddy first noticed me squishing (what they call diarrhea) on Sunday afternoon. He didn't think anything of it then, except to clean it up. By the time Foster Mommy got up from her nap, her comforter had to be washed because I was up there. She put me in confinement!

A couple hours later, Foster Daddy gave me a bath. It felt so good to be clean, and I was very well behaved during my bath. But then it started up again. :( I can't help it, and can't feel when it starts, so I don't use the box for it except sometimes.

Foster Mommy gave me a roundworm dewormer and will get tapeworm tabs today. She took me to the vet and I got to meet all the nice people there. I also got to meet the cat I am named after! He's so big and fluffy! He only has one eye, but he's so nice; he sniffed me and I sniffed him, then he sniffed me some more. The receptionist got a few pictures of us together and will e-mail them to Foster Mommy when she gets a chance. They all were so happy to meet me: Squishy Jr., and to know that their Squishy has someone named for him! Dr. Bob had my fecal sample (which I gave while waiting for my appointment) sent for testing, and will have the results sometime today.

Foster Mommy writes:

We learned something with this! Do not put a cat (especially a kitten) with diarrhea in a room with a clay-litter-filled box. They will get it stuck in their fur, paw pads, everywhere, and it will take a good bath and stiff brushing to get it out! We stopped on the way back from the vet to get World's Best litter and switched the box immediately upon arriving back home. Now the others have the clay litter in their box and the bathroom box has the corn.

Former Foster Friday

Little Bit and all her kittens have finally found good homes! We are pleased to report that, although Squishy is still having poopy problems, he has found a home with people who are willing and able to care for him and pay his vet bills so that he gets consistent medication (which stops the problem). Little Guy has changed his name to Tiger, and is living with a neighbor of our friend Erin. His new daddy also had taken Squishy, but couldn't provide the needed care after he started squishing again, although he was also the one who found the new home for Mr. Squishers. Tiger will do just fine being an only cat, and Squishy will adjust all right to being an only cat once he figures out no one else is there. Tiger loves to watch tv, and sits with Erin's son when she comes over to clean the apartment.

Cloud has grown to be a big guy! He still has his bobcat-like face, but has almost grown into his paws. He loves snuggling and playing with his mommy, and running around the upstairs when he gets the kitten crazies. He is starting to get used to downstairs as well, and treats the carpeted steps more normally.

Kai is doing great in his home, and had his neuter surgery just fine. Boo and Michelle are still charming their family, and are scheduled for their spays soon.

Little Bit is living with her sister Smokey, her new mommy Erin, and human brother Jarek. It took about a week for Smokey to figure out that Little Bit wasn't going to challenge her right to be alpha cat, but after Erin went on vacation for a day and left them by themselves in the apartment they sorted things out and have been pals again ever since. Little Bit is going to have her spay soon, when we can schedule it. It may not be until the beginning of the year. We're going to help Erin out with that. Little Bit still loves to talk, and comes rubbing up and purring to Erin whenever she sits down for a second. Most of the time when I talk with Erin on the phone, Little Bit's trying to get in the conversation as well!

So, kitten season's over, and a good one it was this year! Have great lives at your new homes, everyone! We'll have periodic updates on Smokey, Little Bit, and maybe Tiger.

Foster and Former Foster Friday

Kai's obviously doing well at his new home!

His new mommy says the purse is his favorite spot, and she takes him everywhere in the car with her, so no wonder!

And tucked in bed, snoozing away. He also does his share of playing with her and following her around the house, of course!

Cloud is adjusting well to his new home now that his new mommy consolidated his world to just the upstairs. He was having a hard time getting used to all the space and two floors! He got dewormed, and was so relaxed that he fell asleep at the end of getting his claws clipped for the first time! So he's definitely in his forever home now!

We don't have pictures of Boo and Michelle at their new home, but they're doing fantastic and have been permanently adopted by their family! They play all day and snuggle all night with their new human sister and brother.

Little Bit's enjoying her "me" time now, but she continues to nurse Squishy and Little Guy (even though they're now 11 weeks old)! She's taken to snuggling in bed with Foster Mommy at night, purring up a storm. She also has started pushing against knees to be picked up again, and playing more. She loves playing with a shoelace when one or both of her boys are at the other end of it, and they all will play for about 30 minutes like this! Last night, she love-bit and groomed Foster Mommy's hand as she was going to sleep, and fell asleep purring with her mouth around Foster Mommy's thumb.

Squishy (picture last Wednesday) is growing into such a handsome boy! His nose is starting to grow longer, but still looks kind of persian-like. He's got more white around his ruff than we thought, which makes him look like he's wearing a grey-tipped collar, and is reminiscent of his Auntie Michelle's white fur spots.

Little Guy (pictured with Cloud last week with the bucket) has become quite the leader. He's definitely learning from watching his "auntie" Rori and "uncle" Skylar! He follows his foster parents everywhere, and won't let Foster Mommy get ready to go someplace (climbs up her jeans leg for attention, which behavior we're trying to stop).

Little Bit, Squishy, and Little Guy are still up for adoption. We hope to have some serious inquiries by the beginning of September.

Squishy's better!

Squishy writes:

Yesterday evening, there were NO squishes on me or around in the bathroom two hours after Foster Daddy gave me a bath! They were both so impressed! They checked me again in another two hours, and still no squishes!

So, I was let out into the rest of the house. It's now about 12 hours since I was let out, and still nothing! :) I've been sleeping a whole lot. My brother was trying to get me to play first thing, but all I wanted to do was inspect the house to make sure it was the same as when I left it. I even crawled under to check that Starla was there. Then I curled up in the chair for a good three-hour snooze, because I'd spent most of my incarceration screaming to be let out. I was a very tired boy!

This morning, I'm playing with my brother. Foster Mommy is giving all of us the FortiFlora now, for good measure.

She's taking me right now to the groomer for a real bath and a trim on my pants.

UPDATE: Squishy just went diarrhea, but it was in the box! So he has a little way to go until full recovery, but is getting soooo much better!

UPDATE AGAIN: Just got back from the groomers' at PetsMart. He squished on me there, but I think that's because he didn't have a litter box and needed to go. He did awesome with being brushed and toenails clipped, screamed during the bath, and tried to run away from the shaver. Now he's home playing and eating.

Foster Friday

Cloud writes:

I've learned where Foster Mommy sleeps! Yesterday, Squishy and I followed her after she used the human litter box, and she went into a room we'd never been in before. She climbed up this big white thing, so after a while when I wanted to snuggle I climbed it too. I found her feet, and walked on her until I got to her shoulder. She felt me, so she put her hand up to pet me. I settled right down for a snooze. After a bit, I wanted to cuddle under her chin like I do with Foster Daddy, but since she was on her side I couldn't. So I tried something different: sleeping on her head. Human hair is slippery! I slid off first one side, then the other. Foster Mommy laughed and kept me from sliding completely off, then put me up over her head on the pillow. I settled right down again and napped there for a while.

We all napped on Foster Daddy later on, all four of us tiny kittens!

I have a lady interested in adopting me! She is in L.A. at the moment, but she will get back around the time I'm ready for my new home. Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy will meet with her and see if she has a good home for me. I hope she does! She might also adopt one of my brothers (either Cousteau or Tabby Boy) to keep me company.

Tabby boy writes:

Our foster parents still haven't figured out a name for me yet. I'm such a little cuddle-bug and a licker. I snuggle with feet instead of climb up to them, and I love to groom anything and everything that moves that comes close (kittens, kitties, and humans). When I'm sleepy, I find someone's feet or I go cuddle with my brothers or my mama. If anyone has an idea of a name for me, I would appreciate it. Right now, I'm being called "Little Guy" and "Brother".

Boo writes:

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(I typed that all by myself!)

Squishy writes:

I have two people who want to adopt me! Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy are going to schedule a home visit with the first lady in the next couple of weeks. If she looks like she has a good home for me, then I will go to her when I'm ready. If not, then they will meet with the second lady.

Cousteau writes:

I adventured into the bedroom as well, and met the big white cat who lives under the dresser. She didn't want me under there with her, so she backed out and hissed at me. Foster Mommy couldn't figure out who she was hissing at, so she took the bottom drawer out to see. I was all the way in the back corner under there, and Starla was curled halfway out trying to get away from me, growling very low! Foster Mommy says she doesn't quite know what we are, so she is afraid of us. How can she be afraid of little me? I wouldn't hurt her! I was just trying to see who she was! I went under there again, but Foster Mommy caught me and brought me out with my brothers.

Michelle writes:

Boo and I have had a lot of fun with the cardboard tube from a paper towel roll. It makes a funny sound, and we can bat it all over the living room!

Little Bit writes:

I'm working on weaning my kittens more and more each day. Squishy decided he wanted to play with me while I was feeding my smallest tabby boy, so I pinned him down and groomed him. That way, the little one could eat in peace. I'm letting everyone nurse still, but getting up and walking around after they're about half-done so they'll get the idea. I then lead them over to the food bowl. I'm letting the littlest one nurse more than the others, though. He needs it more than the others.

World Cat Day 2009

Let us all celebrate ~ World Cat Day.

Celebrate kitties in your own special way.

Those here and near, and those now above,

all the kitties so dear, all the kitties we love.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

During the last year, we've had so many cats & kittens come and go through the household, and some stay to become forever friends with us. So, this World Cat Day, we are celebrating connections: with our friends in the CB who have read, shared, and commented on the trials and tribulations of Little Bit & her kittens and the joys of every new visitor to the Trailer Kitties' food bowl; with our fosters and former fosters; and between those of us who are the resident cats.

Boo-Boo Kitty's family have all gotten homes this year except for herself (dumped in Troutdale), Little Bit (still adoptable), Squishy (still adoptable), and Little Guy (still adoptable). Smokey is doing great with her new family after moving to their new apartment a few weeks ago. Boo & Michelle are having a blast with their teenage sister and brother, and their new mom loves "the girls". Kai is traveling everywhere with his new mommy and sleeping in her purse so she won't forget to bring him along. Cloud is still getting used to his new home, but loves his new mommy so much that he climbs up into the bed to snuggle with her every night. Starla, Little Bit's cousin, is having a hard time adjusting to her new forever home with us, but she is now playing with her kitten-cousins. Everyone is either fixed or going to be fixed, so this family's story now has a happy ending. All the adoptees found homes through ads placed on Craigslist plus links to their Catster pages, and we hope that the three who need homes will find them that way too.

Our lady of the house, Lydia, left us last October, just before her 9th birthday. Our "permanent foster", Sara Princess Kitty, followed in January. Mommy wrote the hub article "Cats who have Owned Me" in honor of all of us in the household, plus the two angels.

Trailer Kitty Tux came back home in June, possums and raccoons came by and had their pictures taken, and life in the back yard continued. The ferals come and go, drop by when they need supplemental food and human semi-contact. The neighborhood cats come around and bring their friends. Moms of all species bring their babies to the porch bowl and teach them manners and how to get along well with the rest of the crowd. Mommy wrote "The Joys and Perils of a Feral Cat Caretaker" in honor of them all.

Then there are those of us who are the current inside residents: Rori, Skylar, Carbon, Tabby, and Starla. Mommy and Daddy take good care of us and we are their babies. We also care for them. Skylar snuggles with Daddy just like his sister Lydia used to. Rori is now big kitty of the household and watches out for everyone. Carbon still gets into everything, but has become a snuggle kitty, sitting with Mommy every day for at least a half hour and sometimes even sitting with Daddy. Tabby has an important job as a therapy cat for a nursing home, and models in her spare time. Starla was mentioned above, and spends most of her time underneath the dresser. She comes out to go potty and play with Little Guy & Squishy, but she has her food and water bowls under the dresser plus a ball to play with. It's a self-imposed "fortress of solitude" where she can defend herself from all comers (namely Tabby). She also sometimes comes out to snuggle with Daddy when he gets home from work.

It does our hearts and souls good to know that when we write something, it is read, and when you write something, we can read it and share in a little bit of your life as well.

Thank you all for being our friends!

Squishy's Window Views on Thursday

Foster kitten Squishy likes to lay in the window like "Uncle" Carbon, his mentor.

Window Views

Foster Friday

Little Bit, Squishy, and Little Guy are still here. No one has called or e-mailed about them yet! Squishy and Little Guy are now 13 weeks old, and having a blast! The couch disappeared and a recliner now has taken its place, so Skylar, Starla, and Little Guy spend a lot of time curled up together on it (with or without Daddy/Foster Daddy). Little Guy will seek out Skylar for cuddle time; it's so cute!

Little Guy's advertisement is going to be changed, because we think he'd be perfect for training as an emotional support/service cat and/or a therapy cat. He's got the personality for it, checking up on everyone and everything, snuggling, not vocal unless he's playing, using "soft paws" instead of claws when touching humans, etc. All the hallmarks of a good service animal or a good therapy companion pet!

Kai's new mommy has updated pictures on his Catster page. He's obviously doing well there.

Cloud has learned to ride around on his new mommy's shoulder! His page will be transferred to his new mommy once she responds to the e-mail.

Award! And update on Squishy

First our new award! We have been awarded the 2009 Cool Cat Site of the Day award from Pet Supplies Place! Thank you!

NOTE: We do not know how legitimate the above site is, because it looks like they just opened shop, have no products on their site, and don't even have their website properly set up yet. We personally would not order anything from their site until they have more up and tell about themselves (like maybe put an address, phone number, and have products in stock). But it's cool they found our blog and liked it enough to try to promote their new site with this award. :)

Ok, now for the news around here!

Squishy writes:

I'm still locked in the bathroom and still squishing. Foster Daddy went and got some special food for me and other stuff from the doctor, then Foster Mommy came in and gave me another pill. I take my medicine just like I've seen "Uncle" Skylar do! I don't even complain, just let her pop it right in. Then she opened a packet of very yummy-smelling stuff and let me sniff it. I immediately wanted in the packet and tried to bite the top of it! She said it was called FortiFlora, and it's a probiotic to help my intestines deal with things better. I get a packet of this a day until I have solid poops again. She poured the powder on my food, and I chowed down, not even stopping to rush the door when she left the room! I love the FortiFlora!

The result of the fecal test came back negative, but Foster Mommy saw a tapeworm segment on me and the doctor says that's probably what caused this in the first place. So that's why I got the pill. Now it's just getting my system back to normal again, so the FortiFlora plus a bland diet should do the trick in a few days. We all certainly hope so!

Foster Daddy's worried that my time in confinement might psychologically scar me because I scream now whenever I hear voices, wanting out or wanting them to come in to give me attention. Foster Mommy thinks I'll probably be ok, but is worried too. The only other option besides confinement in the bathroom (where I can't see or hear the other cats) is to put me in a medium-sized plastic carrier (dog crate), but then I would have to be bathed two or three times a day at least because I wouldn't have room to rest except where I squish. So Foster Mommy thinks the bathroom is better than that. Foster Daddy wishes they had an area where I could have the room I need but be able to see the others so I wouldn't feel so lonely.

They come in during the day and night and clean my butt, clean the floor where I've squished, and pet me, but I still call for them and everyone. My mama cat came in today and inspected every inch of my new living quarters while Foster Mommy was cleaning it. I think she approved, because she used my litter box and licked me, let me nurse for a few minutes, then told Foster Mommy she wanted back out again. When I cry, she doesn't come running to the door to see what's going on, but she gets to check on me once a day. Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy both make sure that my room gets cleaned so that there's only a few spots before it's clean again.

I can't wait until this is all over and I'm back with the rest of the household! I also have to wait until I'm better before I can be put up for adoption again. :P

Squishy's Wordless Wednesday

Squishy is still squishing, so he's still mostly confined to the bathroom, and not happy about it. He purrs when Foster Daddy gives him baths (and screams when held by the running water, but purrs while he's screaming). The doctor prescribed medicine, and it's helping little by little.

Mini Mancat Monday

Foster Daddy with Cloud, Cousteau, and Boo.

Boo is obviously a girl, as is Michelle, but Little Bit's kittens are all four little boys. Introducing... Cloud (grey kitten with white paws), Cousteau (tabby kitten with white chin), Squishy (black kitten with "pushed-in" nose and faint grey markings as "sideburns"), and "tabby boy" (who needs a name).

Cloud is an investigator and a snuggler. Pick him up and he starts purring, finding a place to cuddle in. He will climb up your leg to have some one-on-one time if he decides he wants it.

Cousteau is the most adventurous. He was the first one to climb out of the nesting box, and the one who never would stay in afterward. He figured out that the bathroom had water so he thinks everything in the bathroom gives water, so he makes a mad dash in there when he's thirsty but stops to try to eat the litter. Yesterday, he climbed up Foster Daddy's sweatpants on the inside, hooking his claws into the fabric. Foster Daddy let him climb to see how far he'd go, and let him out at the waistband!

Squishy is a go-getter and loves to play. He will stand right in front of the other kittens and bat at them, trying to get a reaction. He is the largest of the kittens, and still pushes the others away from his chosen place at nursing time. He follows Foster Daddy and Foster Mommy around the house, and has tried to dash out the door (but not made it that far yet).

The other little tabby boy likes to play with his littermates and the older girl kittens, but is more of a follower than a leader. He has not shown a distinct personality yet. We will keep you posted on him, and will give him a name when his personality emerges.

Foster Friday

Squishy's all better now, and has been thoroughly enjoying being out and about with everyone again. He and Little Guy have learned to jump onto the kitchen counters, the bathtub, and the end table. Their new favorite activities are getting into the garbage, carrying the bathtub plug around like prey, and playing hide-and-seek with the shower curtain.



We now think Rori and Little Guy (and also Kai) are half-siblings. As Little Guy's coloring gets more pronounced, he's looking a lot like Spongebob and like Rori (see above pictures).

Our newest babies are two male tuxedo kittens. They're not classic tuxies; more like our feral Dot and Tux. In fact, one of them has a black fur patch on his nose just like Dot. These two are bottle babies, so we have been doing feedings every two hours. Little Bit may step into an "auntie" role, but she's not interested in nursing these two. Little Guy wants to comfort them when they cry, and this morning he almost climbed in with the pink-nosed one. Squishy thinks they might play, and bats their heads with soft paws then looks at me when they don't respond.

Foster Friday

We're still looking for homes for Squishy, Little Guy, and Little Bit, but here are some cute pictures of everyone from this last week.

Remembering our family at the Rainbow Bridge

We remember today our furry family members who are waiting for us at the Rainbow Bridge.  We will always love you, and every day we miss having you walk with us in body.  We know you are and forever will walk with us in spirit!

 Skylar

Oct. 26, 1999 - July 23, 2010

Lydia

Oct. 26, 1999 - Oct. 13, 2008

 Sara Princess Kitty

1991 - Jan. 5, 2009

 Baby Chiba

April 15, 2008 - Dec. 2008

 Spooky 1/Nyx

June 2007 - March 26, 2008

 Squishy

May 27, 2009 - Nov. 2009

 Baby-Tuxie

Sept. 1, 2009 - Sept. 22, 2009

 Baby-Dot

Sept. 1, 2009 - Sept. 21, 2009

Spooky 2

July 2009 - June 6, 2010