Tabby's Halloween Costume!

I want to dress up for Halloween, but how will I choose an outfit? Mommy laid out all my outfits for me, then I hopped up to examine them. Some of them fit me still, but others were from when I was a kitten so they don't fit as well anymore.

Mommy, help me choose? I can't decide!

I'm going to the Halloween party at the pet store as a hippie!

I also have entered the Cat's Meow costume contest and the World's Coolest Dog & Cat Show over on Catster.

Our new kitty jungle gym!

Mommy found this for us at Goodwill for $13! She couldn't believe what she was seeing; that there actually was a kitty tree there! We love it!

Happy birthday to Skylar!!!

Skylar writes:

It's my 10th birthday today! :) I'm celebrating by snuggling on top of my best friend in the house: Starla. She's kind of glaring at me, but allowing me to sit on her, MOL!

Sorry I haven't written in my diary, but being an uncle to 6 foster kittens plus Little Bit took all my energy this summer! They loved to play tails with me, climb on me and over me, jump at me, ambush me, and snuggle with me! Playing and snuggling with the very young ones has kept me semi-healthy and very happy. :)

Sis, I love you and wish you were still here to celebrate our birthday. Miss you, Lydia!

Unhappy Therapy Cat

Tabby writes:

Last Friday, Mommy and I went visiting at the nursing home. I hadn't been for a month, because we'd had the tiny kittens and then Daddy had been sick. But I was all excited to go on Friday to see my friends again! I did my rounds, hopping out of the stroller at each room and walking in on my leash.

When I walked in to see E.M., someone I don't visit regularly but who is on the floor I visit, she asked if it was a dog on the leash. The people I visit are the ones who need the most care, so some of them have Alzheimer's or other major disorders/illnesses. When Mommy explained that I was a cat and asked her if she'd like to visit with me, I walked right up to her chair. She kicked me! I sidestepped, then looked at Mommy with a horrified expression on my face. No one had ever kicked me before!!! Mommy called me over, picked me up, and we walked into the hallway. She put me down on the floor and gave me cuddles and pets, telling me that I was a good girl and that she was sorry that the lady had done that. After a few minutes, she could tell I was ok to go on to the next room.

I watched feet and wheels really closely after that, the whole visit! I was also growly, but Mommy understood why.

We won't be visiting with that lady ever again. Mommy made sure to tell our contact person about that, and asked that we not visit that lady. The contact person totally understood.

I went to Mommy's Norwegian class that evening, and charmed all the students, so the day ended on a happy note.

Happy National Feral Cat Day!!! :)

This last year has been a year of drastic changes in our feral colony: some bad, mostly good. Shadow (pictured above) has been coming to our back porch bowl for a few years now, and is now letting me (Karen) pet her most times! She also enthusiastically headbutts Tabby (who follows me out of the house to go say hi).

Outdoor Fluffy Buddy, pictured here in late January, hasn't been seen since March or April. He may still be around, just have found other hunting grounds for the moment.


Tux hadn't been seen for over a year, but now makes regular appearances again! We're so glad he's doing well.

Little Bit and Starla are now both inside cats, and Little Bit's kittens all have wonderful homes. Starla is getting socialized more and more every day, and now comes out on her own most days to sit with my husband and snuggle when he gets home from work.

The little shelter we built on the porch hasn't been used, because all the ferals now prefer the basement/laundry room. We're glad they feel comfortable inside there.

Marble came and visited us for a few months, but hasn't been seen since we brought Little Bit inside. We do have a new grey kitty who comes around, who is comfortable with humans but hasn't let us pet him yet.

Happy National Feral Cat Day to one and all!

KMR warning update

From our tiny tuxie angels:

Everyone who fosters needs to check the smell of their KMR powder! If it does NOT smell like milk, call PetAg (the company that makes it) at 800-323-0877 and tell them. They will send out a replacement in liquid form.

The rancid KMR powder is due to excessive heat while shipping! It is NOT a manufacturing issue or anything related to PetAg. It is the fault of the shipping companies letting the product sit in enclosed trailers in the summer heat.

There is no way to tell which packages will be rancid before they are opened. It is not by lot number or by expiration date. It is by when and how they were shipped.

PetAg is being very nice about this issue. Our foster mommy called about our can, and the lady was extremely polite and kind. She is sending liquid replacement that can be stored for up to a year and a half, and sending a call label so the rancid powder can be sent back free of charge.

They are going to reformulate KMR powder so that it stands up better to extreme heat and doesn't separate as much. The liquid wasn't affected at all.

The lady said that some of the symptoms we had (diarrhea, listlessness) could have been caused by the powder, but since we didn't have the vomiting usually associated with food poisoning that it wasn't the whole story.

Please, please, PLEASE pass this on to individuals and organizations who foster!

KMR warning

Mommy posted a warning about KMR powder on her blog: The Frugal Feline. Smell the contents of the powder if you're using it. If it does not smell faintly of milk, call PetAg (details on Mommy's blog). We hope this isn't what caused the deaths of the tiny tuxies. The container Mommy was using smells. She thought it was alright because it was new and the expiration date was ok. She feels like a fool that she didn't check the smell of it! :*(

UPDATE:
The KMR powder wasn't the whole reason the tiny tuxies died. It may have sickened them, but not enough to cause their deaths. There's a new post on this blog about Mommy's phone call to the company to report it.

Great news on Foster Friday!!!

Squishy & Little Guy write:

We've found our forever home! We're going for a home visit next week, and if it works out we'll be adopted on the spot. Our friend Erin's next door neighbor wants kitties who can help him through his cancer treatments and surgery, so she suggested us. We think we'd be perfect for the job! When Foster Daddy asked us if we'd like to help someone in need feel better, we both mrupped happily.

Breakthrough!!!

Shadow writes:

Yesterday I had a great idea! The other people who feed me and take care of me haven't been around as much, so when I went over to the green house for my usual meal I stared at the lady for a while without eating. She figured I wanted some water, so she came out with the mug to fill the bowl. Nope, that's not what I wanted, but I head-butted the mug to tell her that I appreciated the thought. She asked me what I wanted, and I rubbed up against the porch step then stared right at her. Finally, she got the idea!

I let her put her hand up to me, and then sniffed it and arched my back a little. She put her hand on my soft fur and petted me ever so gently. We were both shy about me being petted, but she was gentle and I turned around and around to be petted on both sides and my back. I even let her pet all the way from the back of my ears to the tip of my tail!

Then, finally, after about 5 minutes of me allowing her to pet, she said she had to go back inside. I didn't want her to stop petting me, so I followed her up the porch. She pet me one last time, and then went back inside. I stared at the door, wanting her to come back out again.

Later on, when I went back for my next meal, the man was there watching me from the door. I looked at him, then looked around for the lady. He said she had gone someplace else, but she'd be back later. Maybe today she'll be there and pet me some more?

The lady writes:

I wouldn't have believed I would be writing this when I first met Shadow 2 1/2 years ago! She was completely feral, as shown by her eartip. Well-taken care of, but feral. The people on the next street over feed her as well, and obviously have been working on taming her, just as we have. We think she lets them pet her and has for a few months (maybe longer). This is the first time ever that she's tolerated even a touch from either of us, though! Let alone wanting to be petted!

Photo Friday: The Face

Rori has always loved to investigate the camera, from the time she was a baby kitten! The third picture is one of our former fosters (from a few years ago), Spooky, who also loved to ham it up. The last picture is Rori, all grown up, at just over 2 years old.

Foster Friday

Thank you so much, everyone, for your kind words, prayers, and purrs on the loss of our tiny tuxie fosters! It means so much to Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy that we have this community of caring friends! *hugs for each and every one of you*

Squishy and Little Guy have been terrorizing the house now that they can jump up on everything. Even the top of the fridge isn't safe! Little Guy decided yesterday that he was a potholder and took a nap in the basket meant for those (on the counter by the stove) until Foster Mommy found him and made him get down. He protested that he was so cute there by showing off his teethies in a yawn, but she still put him on the floor.

Little Bit is finally done weaning those two buggers! It certainly took her long enough!!! They're just over three months old now! *gasp* She's been running around with them, but she's such a well-behaved kitty in general so no major issues with her (just the usual chasing at top speed through the house).

Little Bit is going to be spayed sometime in October, then she'll go to live with Erin. The ad goes back up for the other two on the weekend, not because of their behavior (but potential adopters will be warned the kittens are a double handful!). We hope to have them adopted before Thanksgiving, as we don't let fosters go to new homes during the holidays.

Feral Friday by the Trailer Kitties

Food bowl rollcall:

Precious, Shadow, Spongebob, Grey calico kitty.

Precious is really big now, and should have her kittens any day. We hope that she'll bring them by when they're old enough, and that we can catch them and tame them young.

The back porch light is still out, so we can't see every visitor who comes. We think the raccoons and possum have been by, but we're not sure.

Sad Mini Mancat Monday Night

Rest in peace, tiny Baby-Dot! We loved you.

He died while nursing from the bottle at 8:15 pm tonight (Monday night). We were at my work; I had taken both tiny ones along because I knew they would need to be fed after my two classes. At home, at the same time, Skylar woke up from a nap and came out to Scott; he knew something had happened.

We buried Baby-Dot in the backyard by Lydia and Sara Princess Kitty.

Rest in peace, Baby-Tuxie! We loved you, too.

Baby-Tuxie joined his brother at 1:30 am (Tuesday). I took him out of the box to feed him, and he was having trouble breathing, just like his brother had. Scott held him while he died, and we both let him know we loved him. We buried him by his brother.

Their Catster page is here.

Meow like a Pirate Day 2009 & Catwalk Caturday

Tabby writes:

I love to wear clothes! My pirate outfit is one of my favorite ones. It's a blouse and skirt, plus the hat and eye patch. I usually don't like wearing hats, but I wore this one without a fuss!

No Catwalk Caturday would be complete without a link to my public modeling debut: Dove Lewis Animal Hospital's Boutiques Unleashed fundraiser last spring.

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.

Wonders on Wednesday

Two more little lives join us. These sweethearts were abandoned by their feral mom and were being bottle-fed by a lady who raises puppies. Her son has asthma, so she couldn't risk bringing them into her house; they were being fed and cared for on her porch for the last two weeks. She called our vet's yesterday, wondering if anyone could foster them because they are too little for the humane society. We got a call, and immediately called back saying we'd take them in.

The one in the upper left corner is definitely a boy. We're not sure on the sex of the other one. There was a third kitten in the litter, another male, but that one is being cared for and will be adopted by a neighbor of theirs. Brother went pee on his own while eating, and the other one had solid poops when cleaned after feeding just now.

PhotoHunt: Electric

Today was the grand opening of metro Portland, Oregon's fourth light rail transit train: the MAX Green Line. It runs from Clackamas Town Center in Clackamas to Gateway Transit Center in Gresham, to downtown Portland, OR.

There were celebrations at each of the major stops, complete with street fairs, giveaways, community art projects, and farmers' markets. Fun times!








PhotoHunt

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.

Happy anniversary, Mommy & Daddy!

Happy 1st anniversary to our mommy & daddy!

Foster Friday

Squishy is still getting better. He and Little Guy have been pretty snuggly ever since he got out of confinement, no surprise! As of now, we want to adopt them out together.

Little Bit is now hissing whenever they try to nurse, except for one or two times a day, so she's finally weaning them.

Sorry for not blogging a lot today; my back has been hurting for the last week and a half.