Happiness and Joy

Sometimes I just don't care because I know deep down if I do care I am in SERIOUS trouble. Such as the case with Happiness and Joy.

They are STILL at the shelter.

They are regressing even further. They are not getting the one on one attention they deserve. They are absolutely beautiful cats, but there are so many absolutely beautiful cats at the shelter who are out and begging for attention, that getting them a home is going to be a lot of work. Work I can not do as I have a job.

When I went to the shelter this morning I went to visit them. I just sat there crying patting Happy because I knew the chances. They would make wonderful pets and would make someone VERY happy if they had the time and the drive to work with them for a bit. I can't imagine it would take more than a month to get them settled into being pets. But sitting in the shelter they are turning in to wild cats. The manager is considering releasing them into a barn. It kills me to think they will lose their ability to enjoy human companionship. But at least (one way or the other) they will have each other. I've never seen a pair so bonded.


moar funny pictures

Updates on the nuts & others

I brought them into the shelter on Saturday to be adopted, and well frankly it was a serious mistake. It was the first sunny warm day around here all month (no, seriously) No one was at the shelter, so I left.

Stash got adopted first. Mac second. They told me that Hazel went home, but when I went to look at Cash and Almond, she was sitting right there. They mixed up the other girl tiger kitten that was in the cage with them (and who was a bit older and a bit bigger - hazel's paperwork said she was very petite.. and this other kitten wasn't) so we re-adjusted the paperwork.

Today I got an email that Cash and Almond went home together. I'm so thrilled over that. Cash really will benefit from having a friend with him. So Hazel is still there at this point.

Benny is still at the shelter. They are working very hard to find her just the right home. I suggested she might benefit from a harness and walking outside. I took her for her first walk on Saturday and it went very well, but I noticed she seemed to get over heated and her fur easily mats, so I suggested that they give her a lion cut. They gave her one and she looks really good. I think she actually really appreciates it.

Happy & Joy are still at the shelter. I checked in on Joy (Happiness is still in treatment room for a little cold) and she was interacting with the volunteer who was in the room with her. I was so thrilled!!! I sent in a little write up on them hoping to find them just the right home - as I so do not want them going to a barn.

Until they all have a home..

so sad..

I just got an email from the shelter that my Happiness and Joy are being returned to the shelter. :(

I never did stop worrying about them and wondering how they adjusted. I was told they went to a family with "girls" which sounds good, but then again, not all girls are nurturing and understanding of kittens with needs.

now that they are teenagers, I wonder how long it will be before they are adopted again. I hope they find the right home this time.

and I hope they are doing ok. can't wait to see them again. I'll bring my camera.

Happiness and Joy found a home

I went to the shelter on Friday, then again on Saturday. Sunday I was out celebrating DH's birthday, and someone came and adopted H&J. Shelter manager who was there called said they were a nice family with older children who were going to keep them indoors... it is very much a good thing.

Then why am I so sad about it??

I guess because I couldn't explain their quirks, and talk to the people directly to try to smooth the transition into the new home.. I'm overly worring, I know. Nice they had a snow day today to spend more time with them, that's for sure.

I shouldn't be so concerned (try and stop me) because on Saturday they showed some really interesting behavior. I knew they liked other cats, because they were always interested in mine as I walked through the house cuddling them trying to get them used to new things. Turns out they like dogs too. There was a high strung boxer mix being adopted Saturday, and Happiness came right out of the cubby to look at him.

There were several times they came out of their cubby to look around, so I know they are adapting. They will be fine.. even if their new owners don't take my suggestions for transition seriously (I wrote up a brocure for their adoption with suggestions on how to make things easier on them)

I guess I just really hate being denied that opportunity to talk to them. Time will quell my heart, I'm sure. Although I still think about the two little black feral kittens I had two years ago - but then again I met their family and was not at all pleased with them. And I still pray I was wrong about them all the time.

another side to my sadness is probably that I'm kitten free. I do have Boots here (cat sitting for my Dh's aunt) but he's pretty easy and very little work, and not at all kitten like.

Happiness and Joy, I so hope you are adapting well, and you enjoy your new family.

dropping them off..

So I went to the shelter last night, to drop off Happiness and Joy. It was so hard on me. The shy kittens always are hard on me.

I psyched myself up to do it, telling myself not even to think about it when I got home to pack them up. They hate the carrier. They know nothing good comes from the carrier. I grabbed them, gave them a little cuddle, put them in the carrier, grabbed the towel they were sleeping on, the cubby they hang out in, and their medicines and off I went.

They were VERY quiet in the car ride.

I got there, and they were huddled in the back of the carrier trying to be invisiable. The shelter manager help me set up their cage with their cubby and towel, and we put Joy in. Since they needed boosters, I kept Happy, and went to the back room with her she took her medicine like a champ. A scared little "this is not happening" champ. I put her in the top level of the cage and took out Joy. She too took her meds like a champ. When I was done with Joy, I noticed Happy hadn't moved. She was hunkered down on the towel trying to hide behind a slight fold. So broke my heart. I put Joy in with her, and Joy snuggled right up to her and tried to hide behind the same fold. They refused to move except to make the other more comfortable. Finally I couldn't watch it any more, and moved them down to the lower level so they could hide properly in the cubby.

I kept trying to tell them it would be ok, and that this was a good thing. How they would find their furever home and be able to sleep in a real bed, etc. After a while I knew I was talking more to convince myself that things would be ok. *hangs head* Yes, I am that kind of crazy cat lady.

Right before I left, I took one more look at them, and was a little heart warmed in the fact that while they were still hiding in the cubby, Happiness was actually looking out of the cubby taking in her surroundings. Much improvement from *MUST BE INVISABLE!*

The office totally needs to be cleaned, and sanitized. it stinks from litter that should have been cleaned out the day before they left, and cans that need to be recycled.. I need to dismantle the cage, and open up the door so my own cats can reclaim their territory. Poor Fleurp probably doesn't even remember what is in that room :)

Saying goodbye

Well it looks like Thursday is the day that Happiness and Joy are going to go back to the shelter *sob*

I know I can't keep them, but I always fear for the ferals. Will the new owners understand the unique needs of such kitties? Will they appreciate the joy of one of these kitties simply looking at you and purring, and what a mile stone that is? The shelter they go to is good, they will understand and explain, but it doesn't stop me from thinking about them.

Several years ago I had some ferals over Christmas. Two little black kitties who took a ton of work to get out of their shell. They were still reserved when they went back to the shelter, and the people who adopted them were people who came to the shelter when I had my previous set of kittens up for adoption who wanted to separate a bonded pair. We turned them down and they left in a huff, only to come back and take these two little scared kittens. I think of them often, because originally they were so adamant that they knew what they were doing, even though they thought nothing of separating a bonded pair. (among other arrogances) This time they were quite contrite, they listened and agreed with all the suggestions. And part of me always wondered if they just said yes to get the kittens, maybe with the intent of sharing the partner with a friend or family member. I asked the manager to call them personally to check up on them. I never did hear what the outcome of that was, but I felt better having asked.

I love the ferals and the undersocilized. I love winning their trust, and getting them to choose to love you. but there are a few who while they make that leap of faith, still keep one paw in the "reserved" category that break my heart when I have to let them go and leave them to face their new families all alone.

They are special. I pray that they find a home that recognizes it.

I was wrong again

Last time I was wrong, I thought Fleurp had a polyp. But her ears have been fine after the last longer does of antibiotics..

this time I was worried about H&J's incisions from their spays. H growed at me when I touched a certain spot, and J's looked like someone stuck a superball in there.

I just got back from the shelter. H didn't growl, and she looked fine. and they looked at J and said it is just normal swelling.

I am glad to be wrong.

I don't like it.. but I was glad :)

set back

Since H & J were doing so well, I asked the shelter if they thought they should stay with me for J's 3 weeks of pred. Since she's easy to pill, the shelter thought they could come back any time for adoption. I'm sad at that thought, but I went in to give J her pill and start saying goodbye.

I looked at Happy's belly and noticed there was a lot of extra glue and the incision looked a little wonky, so I tried to pull a little of the extra glue off her tummy. She growled at me. I immediately stopped and looked at her, and she looked hurt. I said I was sorry, and asked her if that hurt (like I was expecting a reply) I said I'm going to try again, if it hurts again growl again.. and I very gently touched her tummy in several different spots, and then in that spot and she growled again.

So I was bummed that she's got something going wrong, but I let her down to play some more. I picked up Joy to medicate her and look at her tummy and everything seemed to be healing just fine.. no excess glue, incision looked like it was healing well, so I medicated her then went to give her tummy a kiss, and that is when I saw a superball sized protrusion from her incision.. great.. another hernia.

what is it with my foster kittens and hernias lately? they have been done at different clinics. Some came back home with me, some went straight back to the shelter.. I don't get it..

another big step

I was on my computer in the office where Happiness and Joy are hanging out. They both sat out in plain site (which is HUGE) and sat and looked at me and purred. I talked gently to them, reached out to them, and *was able to pat them*

Just huge..

Its amazing what simple things become huge mile stones in under socialized kittens. i so hope they find a home with someone who understand the joys of being able to pat a kitten

LOL

I shouldn't laugh so loud, I'm scaring the kittens, but Happy is just so darn cute..

she's trying to bury the food and there is nothing to bury it with, so she'll pulling dry food out of her bowl, and trying to use that to cover with..

I asked her what she was doing after I heard the first set of scraping. She stopped and looked at me. I just kept watching, and saw her pull food out of the bowl. I said "HEY!" and she stop and froze and looked at me as if to say "What?" pulled more food out of the bowl, and proceeded to attempt to bury the wet food..

just too funny

Happiness and Joy, what a pair

a slightly blurry photo of Joy's stitches..

one step forward, two back

So this weekend we seemed to make signifigant progress with Happiness and Joy. Both of them were at the front of the cage wanting to interact with me. They did not shy away when I opened the cage and when I reached for them. I was so thrilled!

But Sunday I realized that Joy's face was NOT getting better, so I brought her into the shelter on Monday. Monday morning I guess they knew something was up, because they both cowered from me. I scooped them up and got them in the box, and off they went to the shelter where they went to the vet. They wanted to biopsy Joy's nose, and so they kept them over night. I got them yesterday. They spayed them to boot.

Joy has four stitches in her nose. I only found out this morning because when I got them home last night, she bolted out of the carrier (very bold for her) and ran to get into the cage. I hadn't opened the door because I had planned on looking her over and making note of how her incision looked, so she was cowered next to it. I opened the door up for her and she bolted in and hid.

I got a look at Happy. She was also quite timid and fearful. But she sniffed around her dinner bowls, so I fed them and left them alone for the night.

This morning all the food and water was gone, so I refilled them, and brought both out to be examined and for their dose of buprenex. Neither one reacted too much to it, which was nice. Joy purred and shook at the same time.. so not sure what is going on.. Happy refused to raise her ears the whole time I held her.. finding them a new home is going to be so difficult on them... and if Joy has Eosinophilic Granuloma, it is going to be even more difficult to find someone to take them. I hope it is just a fungus of some sort..

I am too easily amused

Joy and Happiness are at the shelter today. Joy's face started to swell. I have no idea what is going on, but clavamox is NOT helping it.

poor Happy really didn't like the idea of going to the shelter again, and when I was holding her she started purring, but then realized what I was going to do and pulled her scared cartoon kitty look (eyes open wide, ears completely back so all you can see is her round head with her round eyes) I felt so bad, but I do have a small hope that all these trips are helping her adjust to new surroundings. I mean she is going to have to find a new home at some point.

So while they were at the vet I moved the web cam to the sun room to spy on my kitties. I tried to check it this morning but it was very slow to load, so I thought that maybe it wouldn't work on the other end of the house (even with a wireless booster thing my DH hooked up) but I just checked it again and I set it up with out looking this morning, and low and behold I got a great shot.


What you can't see is Eli in the top of the cat tree sleeping in the little box up there. Kit is on the chair, and I believe that is Jack on the platform.

is it wrong of me to want to watch kitties sleep all day?

More Joy

You know, the problem with being vigilant and noticing issues when they first crop up, is you spend way too much time obscessing about them.

So Joy went to the vet last Friday, and was put on anti-biotics for this swollen lip. Well she is SICK AND TIRED of me looking at it now. So a squirmy kitten is not an easy thing to look at and examine, and try to go from memory if the lump is bigger or smaller or just changed from the previous exam.

She isn't holding her eye closed as much any more, so I'm thinking the medicine is working.. I think it looks slightly better from before.. but it is so hard to tell. Either way, she is absolutely holding her own, not getting worse, active, eating, playing, so I'm not going to worry about it just yet. If it is still a matter of degrees on thursday/friday I'll bring her back in.

After medicating her and poking her last night, I let them run around a bit. They still don't have free run of my office because they still cower when I go to pick them up. I do not want to re-inforce the "MUST RUN" instinct that happens when they are running loose. So what I do is let them run around before a meal, and when I want them to cage up I put food down. What one kitten does, the other kitten does, so one will go sample the food and the other goes in with her and poof, I have two caged kitties. Works out nicely.

But while running around, they decided to share the roll of paper towels with Fleurp. I was sitting at my computer wondering what the weird noise it was making was, and I all of a sudden realized I was also hearing the shuffling of paper towels. Now a roll of paper towels is an amazing cat toy (don't know why, it just is.. always has been, always will be) and I guess they decided to share it with Fleurp, who was helping them get it under the door. When I walked over they ran, and poor little Fleurp was left *holding the bag* if you will.. as I saw her little paws pulling the paper towels. I tried to pull them back, but she dug her claws in. So hard to unclaw a cat from a paper towel from the wrong side of the door, that is for certain! But fortunately I caught it early and only one sheet had made it out, so it didn't take me long to get it taken care of :)

Funny that they would share their bounty (oh the pun) with Fleurp, since they don't much like her when she makes it into the room with them.

Poor Joy

Well this isn't good.

last week I noticed what might have been acne on Joy's little white chin. I cleaned it off and it came pretty clean with just a basic picking. I thought maybe it might have just been food debris since it didn't come back and she eats out of ceramic bowls. Well yesterday I noticed the corner of her lip was swollen, just as Muffin's lower lip swells after she has a bout of acne. The vet called it a rodent ulcer, and we leave it untreated and it goes away.

Well Joy's lip seemed even more swollen last night, so I sent an email to the foster coordinator, but since I haven't heard back, I think I'll try running her in after work and get her looked at tonight.. although chances are they'll want to send her to the vet.

Joy doesn't seem to mind it though. She didn't much like my pulling on her lips to get a better look - but then no cat likes you when you pull on their lips.

Kittens love real meat

I bought a cornish game hen again to cut up and give to my kitties to snack on. Chewing is good for them, so I tried it once before, but I didn't have the chutzpa to cut up the bones, so it pretty much ended up in the trash. The few pieces I did get off were ignored by my spoiled rotten cats.

Well they were on sale, and this poor little hen was only $2 so I figured I'd give it another shot.

yea, I'm pathetic. I could crack the bones this time, but each time I did I apologised to the bird. Those things look so much like a bird (well duh they are) that I got all sad.

I don't think I'll do it again. I'll stick to the bigger birds that are already cut up so I don't think about it as much.

Well my kitties already had lunch, and I gave them some larger pieces of turkey leg to snack on, so by the time I got to the hen they didn't munch much. I'll save it for breakfast.

But in the process of scraping bones and cutting off meat, I had a few smaller pieces, so I saved them for Happiness and Joy. They are having a BLAST eating it. No growling which usually happens with kittens when they get their first taste of real meat, but maybe they are into sharing. Its so cute, you can just tell they are so thrilled by this snack!

OMG OMG OMG!!!

Ok, so I was sitting here uploading photos to photobucket, and I heard purring, so I turned and looked and Happiness and Joy were cuddled up in the uppermost corner of the cage (as close to me as they can get) just purring away. I thought it would be a cute photo, so I turned my camera on which of course got their attention and they sat up.


they looked so hopeful, and were purring so loudly, that I got up and went to give them attention. They kept purring and Happy reached out to me, so I thought they deserved a cuddle.. and JOY WANTED TO COME OUT!! she balked a little because I was pulling her out with one hand, but the second I supported her behind she relaxed and started purring and came right along.

so I had them side by side on my chest, giving them kisses and wrapped them up in my arms in a big hug, and they kept licking my nose (Joy likes to nibble my nose) and playing with my glasses. At this point Happiness starts to slide herself on her back and presents her belly!!!!! OMG.. *faints*

so friggen rewarding, so wonderfully amazing that I can earn the trust of such scared little kitties.. made my heart grow three sizes today..

Of course they are almost of size, so they are that much closer to going to find their furever homes now.. *sigh* but for the moment they are still mine, and they love me.

Happiness and Joy

I think I'm making good progress with Joy. Each day there are new little *oh yea!*s like I get to pat her when she's eating and she doesn't flinch. She runs up to the cage to sniff me, etc. She's not bad, don't get me wrong, but I want her to be fully socialized.. not sure I'm going to be able to do it, as she still holds on to that wariness (as you'll see in the video)

Happiness is fully transformed.. I let them both run free in my office, and when I came back after dinner to clean up, Happy hugged my ankle, sat near me and purred so loud I thought the room was vibrating, and she attacked my toes!! :D I brought in a feather toy on a stick and engaged her with it. She was SO friggen adorable, that I then got up to get my camera for the following videos, but unfortunately the spell was broken and I only got a glimps in the first video of her attacking the toy. The second video is of the two of them playing together.

You can see Joy's wariness. It's there.. but fortunately I think it is fading fast.

shhh

be vewy quiet.. we be hunting happiness..

*giggle*

Happiness and Joy got out of the cage today. Ok, so I was snuggling Happy and she just jumped down, so I let Joy out to run around with her. I got Joy fairly easily.. there was a moment of hesitation as my hand closed in around her, but once I had her she was fine. I snuggled her into my neck and she started purring. Her sister kept running, and so I pretended I was Elmer Fudd and wispered the above to Joy who was still purring.

Progress!!

Oh I'm so thrilled!!

Ok, lets see.. Saturday I took them to the shelter for a little outing. I'd bring them to work, but they are so scared, that I didn't think an extended stay anywhere yet was a good idea. So I took them to the shelter to be held by animal lovers.. I also got some new medication for Happiness, but once she got home she seemed to clear up, so I'm holding off on that.

The trip was good for them, they got some snuggles, and an outing, but it freaked Joy out, and when she got home she hid from me. So I left her alone. Wasn't sure that was the best move either, but I didn't want to re-inforce that *MUST RUN* feeling she was in.

This morning their box needed to be cleaned, so I did that. Joy watched me from the upper most level. I then took Happy out and snuggled with her. Joy really wanted to be a part of that, but my hand going toward her was still something she just can't handle. So I put my hand lower than the level she was standing on and scratched at the base - making her playful and interested. I was able to put my hand on her with out her flinching too much, and I pulled her out for a snuggle. I put Happy back and she started eating. I put Joy back and patted her while she had a bite to eat. I sat there for a few more minutes, patting Joy and playing the scratchy game, and Joy actually leaned out of the cage and asked to be picked up!!!! *happy dance*

She is going to need to go into a home that understands under socialized kitties.. but to me this is HUGE and shows such a huge leap forward in her progress. I need to get them out and play with them in the room, but I've been so tired lately that I just haven't been able to.

Joy is just too smart / currious

oh the mischeif she's going to get into! :)

yesterday we had Happiness out and were cuddling her and Joy sat on the perch in the cage and wimpered out towards my DH. He responded: "What, do you want to come out too??" and Joy actually nodded her head in the affirmative. When he went to get her, she freaked, and he has no tolerance for that so he just left her in the cage, but he was a little weirded out by it.

Today I cleaned out their cage and put it back together. I put in a fabric cube for them to sleep in (which they don't, but they do hang out in it) and when they jump on top of it they cause it to fall over and what not. So I put a box on top of the cube that *just fits* between the space from the top of the cube to the shelf above it. Well apparently Joy likes to sit in that box.. cause she wormed her way into it, knowing if she stepped just right on the top of the cube a space is created for her to squeeze through.

Yup.. they kill me :) Joy likes to play with my hair, and chew on the bows on my jammies.. she's 97% there.. she still is quite concerned when in new situations and when you go to get her out of those situations.. but with practice she'll come right around and be a perfectly well adjusted kitty.. :)

I guess I'm ok

well in the mind of the kittens anyway. Ive got them both out of the cage, and I figured they'd be exploring my desk, and causing general mischief..

well they are causing general mischief, but that mischief is confined to my lap. Joy is hanging on my arm, chewing my sweater, wrestling with her sister, looking for a place to nurse, purring, and sniffing my nose. She even sat on my shoulder for a few minutes. Happiness is a smidge more adventerous. She went up on the desk and had a few bites but then came back and sat in my lap.

What is the sound of two kittens purring?? Happiness and Joy (and yes, that's corny, I know it and I don't care.. )

the great escape.

last night Joy didn't run from me when I entered the cage, so I thought it would be time to open up the whole cage to them. Up to this point they only had the upper loft. Well having more than one level THRILLED Joy. She was a kitten possessed. Jumped up and down from level to level like she was in the circus. Happy was a little more reserved.

I watched them for a couple of hours to make sure they could handle it and went to bed.

Well I must have forgotten to lock the bottom door, because this morning they were both free roaming kitties. Joy was a little shocked to have me pick her up, and as a result I got a couple of small puncture wounds, but nothing serious. Happy went back very easily.

They didn't eat the food I gave them this morning. I think they prefer it in mash (soup) form, so we'll try that for a couple of days and see how that goes.. I forced some food into Happiness and she enjoyed being fed. Joy kinda likes it too.. and is currently telling me to stop typing and shove some more food in her mouth or she's going to eat my sweater. Cute little girl. She's still having problems with transitions. When I went to get her out of the cage she didn't balk at my wrapping my hand around her, but when I tried to pull her out of the cage she made it difficult by holding on as tightly as she could.

Merry Christmas Kitties

Buttercup and Wes went back to the shelter on the 27th. Apparently there had been quite a bit of interest in them - as they were featured as pet of the week in the local paper - so I'm sure they are not still there now. I'm glad they got a home for the new year. Wes's adult teeth were starting to come in..

Fleurp had a LOT of fun at Christmas. She loves playing with wrapping and bows. She's been clear since a few days after starting the antibiotic. Today is day #10, so we'll stop it and see what happens.. Part of me hopes I'm so very wrong and the puss / congestion doesn't come back.. but the other part hates to be wrong.. :)

Ollie spent the holidays in a major grump. It's just so sad. I don't know what to do to bring him out of it. I've tried putting him on RR, but he hates it, and I think it is making him grumpier... but I'm still trying. He's back to chewing on the insulation again too. Going to have to make a point to hide all of that and cover up what we can't hide.

Jack - well Jack was peeing in the tub again, so he's back on antibiotics. I found him some of the new color changing litter.. as soon as he's done this next round I'll get him to pee in it and see what's up..

Muffin - I don't know what's up with Muff. I swear she's being haunted. She has been tearing through the house as if she's being chased, but there is no one there. She acted a little off too which is so unlike her.. no one specific symptom I could pinpoint, just.. off.. but she's seems to be back to her ol self.

Eli - Eli is just Eli.. this boy never changes.

Twee - Poor Twee wants more attention than can be given her. She's rather quite annoying about it too. Walks right up to your face and SCREAMS at you.. like that is endearing. I was hoping one of the kittens could give her the attention she wants, but alas, no.

Kit - nothing new to report on Kit either. She's fluffing up nice for winter.. but she's still so small.. it is funny to see this tiny kitty with a huge fluffy mane.

Happiness - she seemed to be better, so I stopped the antibiotic a few days after she stopped weezing, but she was weezing again this morning, so back on it she goes.. Joy - well Joy is SLOWLY coming around. She sits at the front of the cage now, and if I don't look at her, she stays there. I've tried tempting her with treats, but unless I put them right in front of her nose (which by that time is usually in the back of of the cage) she won't even sniff at them. I usually can get her to walk to the front of the cage if I've let her taste that what I have is good.. oh well.. one step at a time.

Benny.. Benny is still at the shelter. *sigh* poor thing. She's in a condo in the lobby, so there is more to look at and more room for her to move around, but with out some serious advertisment on their part, I fear she wont find a home.

Happiness

Just a couple of photos to show you how oddly she sits in the cage..

Happy is not so Happy

Poor thing is absolutely miserable. Can't seem to shake this cold. She is completely blocked on her left nostril, and her right is getting pretty darn close. Even the nasal drops I'm using don't help her. she's eating, but not enough to sustain her, so I'm forced to keep force feeding her. I don't mind, but it would be nice to not have to. Joy is doing fine, not a hint of illness.

Three things really freak me out about Happiness. first, she's always laying down. I rarely see her do anything else, and usually if she is, it is because I've just handled her. Second, she's usually laying in the litter box. I put a box in the cage for them to lay in, but she prefers the litter box. third, when she is in the box, she's usually propped her head up.. it's really bizarre, and sometimes she looks quite dead. Really, the dead kitten game is old, please stop it, and get healthy!!

Both Butter and Wes had liquid stool, so I tried to get them to eat some Kefir, but it was no go. I tried mixing it into their food, and they each had a few bites, but then it was covered up under everythingn they could use to cover it with, including an old towel, and the shreds from the paper shredder - and lets not forget to mention the paper shredder itself. *rolls eyes* but.. we had a nice formed stool in the litter box this morning, so I'm going with it wasn't a complete waste.

Fleurp is also doing better. She's not breathing as hard, and her ears are missing that o'de puss not to mention the puss itself. So antibiotics are helping.. but will it return when the course is done??

Happiness is holding her own

Well color my face red. Last night I had a little scare with my own kitties, so I needed to call them all in one place to count them and make sure they were all ok. I took out a bag of dry food (which I have been using as treats but have refrained from giving out since Jack started having urinary issues)

I thought it might not be a bad idea to introduce dry food to the kittens so they have a little extra something to snack on. I absolutely believe that wet food is better for them and will help Happiness get over her URI faster, but honestly eating anything is better than eating nothing. Besides, since they will be adopted out to the general public who chances are will feed dry food, they needed to recognize it as food.

Well I shouldn't have worried. I put the bowl in the cage and Happiness IMEDIATELY started noming on it. She filled her tummy right up. *shrug* Guess sometimes you just need junk food.. :)

She made some improvements when I was force feeding her, but when she started to eat on her own, I thought she was on the mend. Well she hasn't made any additional improvements, and spends most of the day just laying on her side looking pathetic and sick. So last night (after she ate the dry) and again this morning I filled up her tummy.

Joy is still VERY skittish. She doesn't much like change. If I'm holding her she's ok. If she's in the cage she's mostly ok - I still frighten her sometimes just walking by. but she hates being picked up, and she hates being put back. I even put her on the table to see how she'd do in front of me instead of in my arms. She was ok being on the table, but FREAKED when I went to pat her - and I had just taken my fingers off her a second before. She is going to take a lot of work to bring around. However she does seem to like Weslee. If I didn't think it would take an hour to recapture her and return her to the cage I'd let them play together.

Happiness ate!!

I'm watching Happiness and Joy on my webcam while at work. I must admit, it frightens me to do so. What if I see something happen? I mean Happy is sick, what if I believe she died while I'm watching?? I can just imagine trying to run home.. oh the horror..

but I watch anyway.. cause for the most part (ok never) they don't die, and I like knowing what is going on.

Happy has been pretty miserable since I got her home. no energy, all fur and bones. She's too weak to even hiss at me. She tenses up a bit when I go to pick her up, but she's mostly in the "what ever" stage - which is never good - so she's been pretty easy. I've been filling her belly up by forcing A/D in her mouth twice a day till her belly blows up.. she takes it pretty well. Even got her purring afterwards as I gave her a little kitten massage (I'm a big fan of kitten stimulation for sick kitties)

Joy is not sick, and is eating well and getting quite robust. She's comfortable enough in her surroundings that now she wants to play. I gave her a mouse, but she likes a more interactive toy - aka her sister. It's heartbreaking to watch Joy pounce on Happiness knowing how miserable Happy is, but then again I keep thinking that maybe the exercise and stimulation will do her good.

So this morning I filled Happiness up, and put her back in the cage.. she immediately hunkered down for a nap. Joy immediately pounced on her. I asked her to play nice, but all morning Joy pounced all over Happy. Happy just took it.

around 2 pm, I was watching at work, and I was watching Joy pounce on her more, and Happy got up and walked toward the food bowl. The phone rang, and I answered it giving my spiel, and in the middle of it Happy took a bite. took every fiber of my being to not scream in delight. I finished the call and then jumped up and down.. I'm so very glad she's eating. She ate for quite a long time too..

*yea!*

and to get even better, Weslee was FULL OF IT this morning. She was so mellow while Butter wasn't feeling well, but now that Butter is out and getting attention, Wes is full of vim and vigor again.. the office was not designed to contain Wes. It can handle some rambunctious kittens, but Wes is ... well she's "Crazy Girl" :) Hopefully Buttercup will mend up right quick and they can go back up for adoption (and find a home this time, cause they so deserve it!

Just when you think you are at the end of your rope

Last night was NOT fun. I had so very much on my todo list, and none of it was fun..

then Buttercup wouldn't come out from under the chair, she didn't want to be medicated, she didn't want to eat, etc *sigh* Weslee is all depressed that her mom is all depressed.. hopefully I can get them fixed up right quick.

Happiness eats for me when I force feed her, which is good. Joy doesn't so much, but she's healthy and eating on her own, so I can understand that. I just wanted to try to bond with her, and providing food is a quick way to do that. I got both Happy and Joy purring, but Joy still is quite fearful of me

Fleurp is a pip, but she's breathing harder and harder, and she's got puss in her ear again.I hope we can get the shelter to take care of this before I officially adopt her (aaak! that is the first time I said that. I am insane to think I should even try to have seven cats!)

so last night was overwhelming, I kept beating myself up for taking on so much. Even with the little I have to do for Christmas, it is still a lot. and Butter was non responsive to me - if not mad at me for causing her seizure (not that I did mind you) Wes was grumpy, Happy and Joy were hissing at me.. well this morning Butter ate for me, came out and used the litter box.. Happiness ate really well for me, and she's playing (I have the web cam set up to watch them)

*happy sigh* sometimes you do get the silver lining..

scared silly

well it has been a fun couple of days.. *rolls eyes* I'm up in New England, and we have been covered in ice for the past few days, which results in no power. I hate no power. I tried to be brave and strong, but I just couldn't do it. Thankfully it came on yesterday..

So Jack has been doing pretty good. I will need to get him rechecked in a short while.. just to make sure.

The new fosters, I've named Happiness (the black one) and Joy. Happy has become quite sick, and is now skin and bones. I force fed her yesterday and again this morning. She actually purred. I think I might have brought her around just by filling her tummy. Joy - who I thought would be turned first - is convinced I'm killing her sister and still doesn't much like me.. *shrug*

Weslee and Buttercup are back at the house. Butter came down with a URI at PetSmart, and was blowing snot bubbles. so once the power came back on I brought her home and set them up in the office with the kittens (I figured the kittens were already sick) this morning I pilled her as I did yesterday, and she started to balk at having been pilled. I tried to distract her with some food, and she went to have a sniff (or a bite?) and she fell over on to the food, then fell off the chair she was sitting in. Her legs went all stiff. She seemed to want to control herself, but couldn't. I tried scruffing her to help her calm down a little. Once she started getting a handle on herself, she REALLY freaked out and caught my thumb with her claw. I let her go and she ran off under the chair.

It was so bizarre. Some part of my brain stayed in complete control while this was all going on. I remember thinking, why is she falling off the chair?? then it was, she's freaking out, must keep her calm...

when it was all done, the adrenaline running through my body was friggen incredible. I was shaking, my stomach was doing flips.. I wanted to go see Butter and see how she was doing, but I was afraid to move for fear that I'd fall over..

fortunately we both calmed down and she's seems to be ok, and I seem to be ok, but I have to tell you, I'm friggen starving. I ate my lunch two hours early.. this does not bode well for later in the day - but I'm just hoping I'll be getting Butter later in the day so I'll be distracted..

I don't know if we'll ever know why it happened (unless it happens again) but I'm thinking she's got a temp to go with that URI, and maybe it got so high that it caused a problem. I mentioned that to the shelter tech so hopefully they'll take her temp and see what's going on there.. I'll go get her tonight

Happiness and Joy are set up on my web cam. and they have been sleeping all morning - which is good if not uneventful.

new fosters

Yes, I thought the year was over too.. but alas, there were two more who needed a little extra help. And a little extra help is truely what they need. They are quite fearful and not quite ready to accept that the world is going to intrude into theirs..

I'm thinking of naming them Happiness and Joy. we'll see. They are both female.