Photo Friday: Big and Small

Tabby and Rori demonstrating this week's theme of "Big and small". This picture was taken when Rori was a kitten, almost two years ago. It's being used this week on the front page of Catster as an advertisement for the Snuzzy blog! Mommy also has put it on cards and posters in her Zazzle shop.

More Photo Friday posts

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:

56
+-**.-3+
32*******************3
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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.

Feral Friday by the Trailer Kitties

Food bowl rollcall:

Shadow, Spongebob, possum, raccoon, (and we think Tux has been by, from how Carbon was acting).

Carbon told us someone interesting was out there, so we think Tux has been coming regularly as well. Shadow saw that we had all the kittens one time when the door was open, because two of them tried to run at her! She just kind of sniffed, and then the lady picked the kittens up and shut the door, opening it a few minutes later to put food out.

It's been really hot out, so there's a bowl of water as well.

Poops around the house

Little Bit's babies are getting bigger and bigger. They're now 5 weeks old, and all eating dry food and drinking water from the bowls. Little Bit's still letting them nurse, but not for as long each time.

Since they're eating dry food now, we're starting to find poops. They're being good about it, picking spots that aren't really noticeable: under the couch, behind the kitchen garbage can, under the desk. They're also scratching afterward, so if we are nearby we can know when they've gone potty and pick it up right away.

Now, about a week more and they'll begin to use the litter box. I've already set out the following system for them, which is litter in a toddler plate. The scoop is from a hamster potty set! It's just the right size, though. I made sure the litter is ok for them if they eat it, which they've been doing. I've also put each of them in the big box and let them sniff the other cats' poop so they know what the box is for.

Carbon's Wordless Wednesday

Rori's Tummy Tuesday

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.

Tuxie Mancat Monday

Tux writes:

Today, I saw my man and lady drive past the house where I've been spending a lot of time. I was lounging out in the front yard. The truck slowed down, and they both pointed and waved at me. I looked right at them, so they figured I'd seen them and maybe recognized them.

I still eat at their bowl at least one day a week, but I spend most of my time at a house across the street and south of them. They think maybe the people there are the ones who have been taking care of me these past three years.

I won't tell! ;)

PhotoHunt: Flags

Norse Hall, the home of the Portland, Oregon, USA, chapter of Sons of Norway.
Photo taken on Norway's Constitution Day, May 17, 2009.

PhotoHunt

Photo Friday: Debris

Just south of Long Beach, Washington

More Photo Friday posts

Foster Friday

We're just going to let the pictures and video speak for themselves today! Little Bit's kittens are growing so fast, and the two older kittens are enjoying the company and trying to play with the little ones as well as everyone else.

Boo

Carbon with Boo and Michelle

Michelle

Little Bit's babies are eating the crumbs from the big kitty dry food now! They're still suckling too, but being weaned well. The ones who are eating the dry food are learning how to drink water out of the bowl by watching the rest of the crew. This morning, Mommy got woken up by Rori and the bigger kittens trying to tell her something, and came out to the kitchen to find Skylar with his best "What's going on?" look. The kitten pictured above was sitting in the food bowl eating! So now there is that bowl with the crumbs, and another one with the regular-sized pieces for the adults and older kittens.

We have figured out the sexes of all but the tiny black kitten. The others are three boys.

Daddy has cut a door in the nesting box now, and the kittens are taking full advantage of their freedom: running around the house, sleeping in the cherry bed, and following everyone (cats and humans). Little Bit still prefers to nurse in the box, but will let them suckle elsewhere if she's already sitting down.

Feral Friday by the Trailer Kitties

Food bowl rollcall:

Possum, raccoon, Shadow, Spongebob, Chubby, Precious.

Wordy Wednesday

Another kitten has learned how to climb out of the box! It's the other tabby kitten. He/she climbed out yesterday morning, and had a good walk around the kitchen and living room. She even played with a zip tie! The others are trying their best to get out, too. The black one made it to the top of the box, only to come face-to-face with Rori. The kitten quickly backed down; I don't think it was expecting a giant cat to be there!

We're not sure of the sex of three of the kittens, but the first one to climb out (on Monday) is definitely a boy. It's tough to tell when they're so small.

Rori's taken quite an interest in the tiny babies. Whenever one is trying to climb, she's right there watching. I think she thinks of herself as a second mommy to them, so she's stepping into the auntie role quite well.

Starla has decided it's ok now to zoom out from the bedroom dresser to the living room couch now, making a stop at the litter box on the way. She is followed by the older kittens, of course, so we put special food and water bowls under the dresser for her.

Speaking of the older kittens, Michelle and Boo now are playing chase and toys with Tabby. We see and hear them running all around the house three or four times a day! The favorite game for the three of them is to run from the hallway through the living room to the kitchen, at which point Tabby jumps up on the dishwasher and the little ones skid to a halt just before the door, looking up at her until she jumps down to start the game again.

Rough & Tumble Babies

Little Bit's babies were playing this morning! So, here's your "cute" for the day. :)

Mancat (in training) Movie Monday: Late-Breaking news for baby boy!

Mommyday

Little Bit writes:

My babies are growing so fast! They are much better at walking, and can almost cross the whole box by themselves without falling down. I have been encouraging them to climb the box by sitting outside meowing them on, while they try to scale the side to me. My grey girl and one of the tabbies have succeeded once, but only got about 6 inches away from the box before I saw them. They know the humans, and cry at them when they see them above the box, because they like being petted. The humans, who I'm learning now are called Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy, have even held my babies. Of course, I have to supervise this, and get anxious after a couple minutes so they let me have my babies back in the box after that. But they are very gentle about holding them, and it's good practice for my little ones to be on human laps. I myself am now allowed on the couch and on the computer chair to sit with the humans.

I don't like being in the green house, and I've rung the bell to go outside many times. Somehow, the doorbell trick doesn't work like it used to. Very confusing! I resort to meowing at them then, but they say I need to stay in with my baby kids.

The other cats in the house are interested in looking at my baby kids, too. Rori sits on the kitty tree staring down at them. Skylar walks by and peeks over the top of the box, as does Tabby. Carbon sniffs at the box. My little sisters look over the edge with their front paws on the top, trying to see the baby ones. My cousin Starla is afraid of everyone, and usually stays under the dresser in the bedroom.

My grey girl and my boy (one of the tabbies) are the most adventurous and the loudest.

Happy Father's Day!

Comments by ZingerBug.com



Happy Father's Day to everyone! We love our Daddy soooo much! And, no, he doesn't sleep all the time, but he hates getting his picture taken so Mommy has to sneak pics when he's sleeping. ;) That's Lydia (now an angel) and Carbon napping with him.

PhotoHunt: Creamy

Starla's main color is a creamy-white.

PhotoHunt

Feral Friday by the Trailer Kitties

Food bowl rollcall:

Little Bit (before she came inside permanently), Boo-Boo Kitty (before she got dumped), Shadow, Spongebob, Chubby (the orange kitty), raccoon, Precious, Tom, Marble.

Tom actually belongs to a man on the street behind the green house. The lady found that out when she was talking with the neighbor about the kittens, because one of Boo-Boo's grey kittens went to him.

Of course, the big news is Little Bit, Boo-Boo, and all the kittens. See previous posts if you missed that!

It's getting to be only Shadow, Tux and the grey kitten that are true ferals; all the rest are friendly neighborhood cats or strays. We're still going to post them all for "Feral Friday", though.

International Box Day!

This post is dedicated to International Box Day! We love, love, LOVE our boxes here at the green house! Mommy is an independent Avon sales rep., so we get boxes every two weeks. Yay! In addition, sometimes we get surprise boxes from things Mommy and Daddy buy, or at holidays (like Christmas and birthdays). So here are some of our box pictures, past and present, with captions below each picture.

Little Bit and babies in their box on their first day as fosters.

Little Bit's babies on their first day as fosters.

Little Boo today playing in a box she found.

Rori on Avon delivery day.

Carbon on Avon delivery day.

Skylar taking catnip-scented tissue paper out of Carbon's Christmas box, December 2007.

Foster kitten Spooky asleep, 2007. He loved to sleep this way!

Foster kitten Spooky discovered after he climbed into the empty laundry basket through the handle holes! Early 2008.

Carbon on the Trailer Kitties' Christmas package, Dec. 2007.

Tabby and Lydia with their Christmas box, Dec. 2006.

Tabby investigating the Christmas box and contents, Dec. 2006.

Lydia choosing her favorite toy out of the Christmas box, Dec. 2006.