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

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.

Kai is Gotcha'd!

Our little Cousteau, now named Kai, is going to his new home in the morning (Friday morning) FOR GOOD! The mommy/foster mommy has been crying all day, because she's happy-sad, and the daddy/foster daddy is happy for him to be going to such a good home. :) We'll post pictures of him at this post on Friday afternoon (most cats' evening, probably just after 5:00 pm Pacific Time).

Kai's Catster page will stay the same: here. His new mommy promised us she'd keep it updated with pictures and the blog so everyone could see how he does in his new home and as he grows up! :)

UPDATE!!! Pictures are courtesy of his new mommy, with the caption:
"I think he's settling in well!"

On the coffee table, sound asleep wrapped in a throw

Happy Adoption Day, little Kai! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Kai's Wordless Wednesday

These were from Kai's home visit last Friday, on his new kitty tree that he took a short nap on!

Thanks, new Mommy!

Cousteau/Kai writes:

My new mommy gave me two gifts on my Catster page today! She gave me a kiss and a furever diamond! I am so happy to be so loved already by my new forever home. :)

Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy gave me a going-away present today: a new blue collar with my new name and my new mommy's telephone number on it. I'm still trying to get out of it, jumping and trying to scratch. It keeps following me, no matter what I do! My auntie Boo came running up to me and batted at the tag on it, which confused me. Why was Auntie Boo playing with MY new thing? And why did it still stay ATTACHED to me? My foster parents say that by Friday I'll have gotten used to it. Then my new mommy can decide whether she wants to keep it for me or not.

I'm getting so excited to be at my forever home for real!!!!!!

Cousteau got adopted!

Note from Foster Mommy: He goes to his new home a week from today!

Cousteau writes:

I met my new mommy today! Foster Daddy and Foster Mommy took me in the truck to meet her. I didn't like the truck ride, mostly because I had to stay on Foster Mommy's lap. :( I wanted to explore! I talked most of the way there and most of the way back, trying to climb over Foster Mommy's arms, but there was no way she was going to let me off her lap. I climbed onto her shoulder and watched out the window for a while.

When we got to my new home, my new mommy and her roommate were there. They held me and kissed me, then the roommate had to go to work. My new mommy carried me into the kitchen. I was scared, so I snuggled into her. Then she set me down on the counter, but I wasn't sure where I was. The wood floor where she set me down next was better. At least I recognized the surface. I went off to see what was around, and walked into something else that I didn't know. They called it a rug. I was afraid of it, so my new mommy got down on the floor with me and talked to me, telling me the rug wouldn't eat me. I touched it, but didn't walk on it.

Next, my new mommy carried me downstairs and showed me my new room. There's a small scratching post, a litter box, and toys. Oh, and a mat for my food and water, but my bowls weren't set out yet. There was another rug there, but it's called a carpet. It felt funny, but I wasn't afraid of it. I was carried into a bedroom and set on the bed. I tried to figure out how to get down, but it wasn't like the bed at my foster parents' house. My new mommy set me down, and I explored the closet while she talked with my foster parents. I played hide and seek with all of them around the closet doors, then my new mommy got into the closet with me and played shoelaces with me! She really loves me!

Finally, she brought me into the garage where the big kitty tree is set up. This thing is HUGE! There's a lot of space for me to climb and play, and more when I grow into it. I was tired and relaxed, so I washed myself and played tails with my new mommy's finger. Then I took a mini-nap! My new pictures are of me on this kitty tree.

I get to go back there to live next Friday. I will be 7 weeks old then, and weaned. I can't wait, and my new mommy can't wait either! I'm so excited!

Oh, and I got a new name! I'm now Kai.

Foster Friday/Photo Friday: Eyes

Cousteau and Tabby Boy write:

Being twins is fun! No one can tell us apart (except our mama cat) unless they look at our noses. Can you tell us apart?










Cousteau is the top picture and Tabby Boy is the bottom picture! Our personalities are different, but we look identical (except for a little line on Tabby Boy's nose, and slightly different shade of fur).

Cousteau writes:

I'm going on my home visit today! Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy are taking me to visit the lady and her roommate who want to adopt me. I don't know if I'll like the truck ride, because the other time I was in a car/truck was when I went on the horrific ride to the shelters and back, then to my foster home. I hope I'll like the lady, and she'll like me! I'm coming back to my foster home for another two weeks with mama cat, even if the visit checks out. All of us little boys are now 6 weeks old, but Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy want to wait until we're 8 weeks.

Little Bit writes:

All of my kids plus Boo and Michelle either have home visits scheduled or are in the process of having them scheduled! That's such good news, but no one has asked for me yet. I'm glad my kids will all have good homes, and that my little sisters will also, but sad that no one wants me to be their kitty yet.

My babies are being litter box trained at the moment, and I supervise every time Foster Mommy picks one of them up to put him in the box. There's two extra boxes set up now, each where they have been going potty. They're an Avon box lid and a tv dinner tray, with litter in them. Someone went poop and pee in the tv dinner tray one, plus others have gone pee right beside it (on a lap pad that's set up there). Cloud is adamant about using a spot underneath the couch, so Foster Mommy may set up another box there.

Boo and Michelle write:

We're going to a home together! We have a home visit scheduled a week from Saturday, and we're so excited about it!

Cloud and Tabby Boy:

We're going to have a home visit at the end of the month, and will go to a home together! We're glad we'll have each other to play with at our new home.

Squishy writes:

Foster Mommy hasn't heard back on times for my home visit, but she's got someone else lined up for me if the first lady doesn't come through.

Photo Friday

Cousteau's newest accomplishment!

Cousteau writes:

Foster Mommy, Foster Daddy, my mama, and the other cats in the household are all so proud of me! Even though I wasn't feeling well yesterday, and was extra-cuddly, I went potty in the litter around the big litter box all by myself! It even was diarrhea, and I made it in there three separate times to go potty, scratching first and then trying to cover it up! I meowed while I was going potty, like I was saying, "Look what I can do!" Then I ran out to my mama, who was watching, and she licked me.

I'm feeling better now, after snuggling with Foster Mommy for a few hours. Foster Daddy brought me in the bedroom with her, so I snuggled on her chest and then by her head. At one point, I crawled down by her neck, so she had Foster Daddy take this cute picture of us together. :)

Oh, and Foster Mommy has a pink sleep mask for the PhotoHunt.

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.

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.