Former Foster Friday - Buffy and her Scoobies..

It has been a while since I have been able to do an update on Buffy, Zander, and Spike.  I fostered them back in 2010, but to me it seems like it was yesterday.  I remember Buffy so clearly because of her trip to the emergency clinic.

I ran into their mom a few months ago and learned they are having some digestive issues.  I recently connected with them on Facebook because FB is way too smart and suggested that we might know one another. I found out they are still having issues and are being treated by the vet I ended up going to.

For those of you who don't know, these three kittens were brought into the shelter and I started fostering them.  I took on another set of kittens and I ended up naming all of them after characters from the Buffy the Vampire series.. (I was actually watching the Angel series at the time). These three were so incredibly bonded that I asked the shelter if they might put them up for adoption as a threesome.  We were all incredibly skeptical that we could keep them together, but low and behold a woman I went to high school with was in the market for a pair of kittens, and just happened to be a HUGE Buffy fan.  She had come in to the shelter a few weeks prior and fell in love with some kittens but was about to go out of town and had to forgo adopting those.

I loved the kismet of the whole thing, and while I was fearful for them - because seriously how could I not be - I ended up being very happy and even thrilled with the adoption.

because:

Former Fosters - Buffy Zander and Oz (Now Spike)

I looked back to find the labels for this post and realized I've already done an update on them already and I used the EXACT same title.  I was going to change it, but I decided against it.  :) If you want to see baby picts of them, click here and scroll or just click here

I just heard from Buffy's Mom.. she sent me some more WONDERFUL photos of her kitties.. they look so wonderful and happy and HEALTHY!!  for those of you not around last June, Buffy became incredibly sick with anemia and spent the night in an oxygen chamber.  We never did figure out why and after recovering it didn't happen again.  The three of them were quite bonded before her trip to the vet, but when she got back her brothers were so happy to see her but so cautious with her because she was so weak, that I asked the shelter to see if they couldn't get adopted together.  It's rare, but I've had a couple of sets go together, so I was hopeful.  Low and behold a woman looking for more then one kitty stopped by the website shortly after they were posted who was a huge fan of the Buffy TV show, and it seemed like the perfect match all around.

I had my doubts, I'm not too proud to admit it, but then again I ALWAYS have doubts.. I gave my heart and soul to Buffy to help her get well and no one was going to be good enough for this set of kittens, but I so love being proven wrong!!

I can so easily tell them apart. I wish I could say it is because I know them so well, but it is Spike's panther nose that sets him apart, and Zander is a fluff boy, so he's easy to pick out too.  I think of them often and I think I fell in love with them all over again through these photos!!

Former Fosters - Buffy Zander and Oz (now Spike)

I do wish that I could see them in person again soon.  I emailed their new owner and begged for updated pictures.  Buffy Zander and "Oz" were fosters I had this June.  They came to be almost too small to be with out a mom.  There was some question if they were getting enough nutrition from food alone, and each one took a turn being quite lethargic and miserable.  Poor Buffy was the last and the worst.  She was quite anemic and ended up at the emergency clinic in an O2 tank trying to get enough oxygen in her system to keep her going while her blood repopulated itself.  We are still not sure why she became so anemic, but a round of antibiotics and some good food and she was right as rain.  Her owner reports she is doing just fine, and keeps the "boys" in their place.  I got to see them shortly after they were adopted, and I couldn't have been happier with their placement.

When they got here

Buffy on her trip back from the vet

And here are some of the photos I got when I emailed her.

Buffy - I'm guessing

Zander

Zander

I think this is Zander, but it could be Buffy

This is most definitely Oz (now Spike)

I love that last photo of Spike.. and the flomped out one of Zander and his belly in all it's glory.

Warms my heart

And then there were four

OK that was way harder then even I thought it was going to be.  I woke up four times last night thinking of them.  it was foolish, but then again I've never been one to not be emotional, so I've just got to put on my big girl panties and deal with it.

I went and got the kittens at noon time and brought them into work.  They were very disruptive and a tad destructive - not having spent a lot of unsupervised time in an unkittenproof room, but it was fun.  I did bring them over a bit too early, as by the time the day ended a few "boxes" had been found for elimination purposes.  Got to give those kittens kudos for using a box though.

So I met the new "mom".  "Dad" didn't come in, but "Nana" and "Poppa" did.  It was really very cute.  And on paper and in the self contained moments that were their adoption, I should be thrilled.  But the woman who adopted them was someone I knew from high school (odd thing they told me the woman was from the town we went to school in, but she does not live there any more).  Now I have such bad memories from that time, that I'm sure it clouded my judgment on things, and I just have to focus on the here and now.  As I said, in the here and now, she is the ideal adopter. I don't think there was anything (aside from the history) that I could have asked that she be or do.  She previously owned a cat for 16 yrs until it became too ill (not just a little ill), and she has since had the kitty tattooed on her leg (great likeness too!)  She tears up at the mere thought of mentioning her kitty.  Her co-workers threw her a "kitten shower" with gifts for the "triplets".  She has a seven foot scratching post, already had food, litter, etc - meaning she put a LOT of thought into it.  She was going to take my suggestion of one room - and she made it her bedroom so they could sleep with her.

so the only thing that I could have asked for was to keep them at my house :)

The July set will be going back on Sunday.

I'll admit it, I'm overly emotional

I did a write up for Buffy Zander and Oz in the hopes of finding them a home together.  The shelter posted it with some photos I sent over and today someone called.  Sounds like a good home.. so why are tears rolling down my cheeks? 

I know these kitties aren't mine, and I know they can't be.  I've resigned myself to the fact that they are only in my care for a short time, but these two litters are exactly what I want when I imagine the joy of fostering.  They are fun, loving, wanting attention, wanting to be in my lap, wanting to interact with me, healthy with just a smidge of needing care, and with purr boxes that can shake the walls when they are happy.

The ideal fosters don't come around very often any more.  Either they are so sick that it is scary, or they are so independent that I don't feel as if I am much more then a food dispenser and litter scooper.  The latter certainly makes it easier for me to give them back, but it isn't nearly as much fun.  Guess I forgot that when the fun ends, there is a hole.

DH is going out of town soon, so this means I will be kitten free for a little bit... which will probably make that hole a little deeper and a little darker.  I was so hoping that they would last out until next week.  If all goes well, they will be in their new home by the weekend.

We findz home soon.

URI

Well I'm calling it.  The kittens are officially sick.  Cordi broke with a bad eye before they were neutered, and I figured if I hit it hard it would be over with before it started.  I guess it was brewing and being neutered was just too much stress for those July kittens, because Cordi, Spike, Angel and Willow have all sported a snot nose in the past few days.  I figured they'd come right out of it and be ok, but it is lingering, so this morning I broke out the antibiotics.  It isn't bad, just annoying and to the point that medication would be a good idea.  While I am quite thrilled that they aren't going back quite yet, the down side of caring for them (the 10lbs of litter a day that they use and the 10 cans of food they go through) is getting a little excessive.

So easy to over look that through when you have seven kittens clamoring to get on your lap, purring at full volume wanting love and attention.  that really is a great way to start your day!

I sent a little blurb and some photos over to the shelter to get the June kittens adopted together.  I am both looking forward to and dreading when they leave.  Zander is a right little pain in the tushie.  He REALLY wants to save me from that silver thing hanging around my neck with the dangling stone on it.  Unfortunately he ends up biting ME when trying to get it, and pulling VERY hard once he does.  I could deal with him playing with it, but he is a little obsessed, and a little more then a bit excessive to get to it.  One day I had to take it off.  The other I had it on under my shirt and still he needed to get it... NEEEEEDED to get it..   Lets just say he's worse then Jack with the thought of a cookie.  Buffy still sidles up to me and looks for attention which is all too sweet.  *sigh*  I so hope the right home is out there waiting for them.

Long story

home again

So, the kittens went off to be neutered on Tuesday.  I have to say it was not an easy thing for me.  They went to a different clinic then I've used before (actually my first rabbit was actually neutered there 15+ years ago).  I dropped them off at 8am, and went about my day.  When I have kittens neutered at the clinic closer to my work they are ready to go home at 1pm.  This one wanted me to call at 4pm.

So I called, and the boys were ready, but they hadn't even finished the girls.  They needed to spend the night (arrgh) and the clinic wasn't opening till 10 the next morning so I couldn't pick them up.  DH was going to pick them up after his thing, which was going to be closer to 4pm.  Well someone working at the clinic thought they were doing the shelter a favor and brought them to the shelter.  So now they were in a cage at the closed shelter and I couldn't get them until the next morning.  My goodness it was such a long process (not to mention they came home with actual stitches that need to be removed)

It was Thursday before they got home, and it was a fun reunion.  The girls were quite anxious to investigate to make sure nothing had changed, while the boys were anxious to sniff them to see where they had been.  Finally they settled down to have breakfast.

Once again another reason why I feel the need to try to keep the June kitties together.

They are just so darn cute.  I didn't put them on top of either post, they jut hang out together.

Buffy Snuggling

Willow and Angel

Buffy and Zander

You need a new do!

Oz

Zander: Bedroom eyes or "stop taking picts and play with me!"?

Don't you just love this expression?

Time for the Vet

Well the kittens finally have an appointment to be neutered, it will be Tuesday the 3rd.  Wouldn't you know it that Cordi broke with a huge eye infection as soon as I got the appointment!!  Green goop oozing out of her eye conjunctiva all inflamed.  I went to the shelter over the weekend and got some terramycin.  The manager was reluctant to hand it over - which surprised me as I used to use it all the time, but apparently it turns teeth yellow among other side effects.  But since this is green goop, I really wanted it and she had nothing else since the trioptic ointment is on back order so I got it.  When I got home from the shelter her eye looked absolutely HORRIBLE, so inflamed that it was hard to see the eyeball.  I put in some then and there, and a few hours later when I went to feed dinner she looked much better.  I gave her some more that night and this morning she looks almost normal. 

I also asked the shelter manager what the chances of all three of the June kittens going together.  She said what I suspected, slim to none, but then she suggested that we do a write up on the website and see what happens.  She's out of the office until Thursday, so I'll probably write it up on Wednesday after they've been neutered and are back home.

I think I am going to take a short break from fostering.  My husband is being sent out of town for work, and taking care of the household with out him is taxing.  Throw on some fosters on top of that and it gets overwhelming.  He's gone that third week of August.  I'll have these guys at least through this week, so it will only be two weeks - but then there is the thought that the June kitties will stay with me until someone sees them on the website and wants to adopt them, so maybe I'll have them a little longer then that.

Photos of Oz

I realized I don't have really good photos of Oz posted.  I went through my photos and realized why, I don't seem to have good photos of Oz.  Will have to make sure I get some of those soon!

Kittens at Work

Since the owner has been in town, there have been no field trips for the kittens.  Now that he's back in Europe, the kittens came in on Monday for a short trip.  I just kept them here for a couple of hours since they are still dealing with diarrhea, and I so did not want to clean that up.

They did really well - except Willow.  They all almost immediately came out of the carrier and started with the mayhem.  They didn't leave my desk area for a while, but once they realized they had a huge office to run around on they did.

Zander LOVED sitting on top of a small but powerful fan my boss has going into her office.  I tried to get a photo of it, but he kept getting distracted.  It was just so funny to see him standin in the wind.. One of my co-workers didn't think it was very safe, but the outer casing of the fan had small enough holes that his abominable sized feet weren't going through (heck even Willow's feet wouldn't have)

Willow was fearful to leave the safety of my desk.  When all of the other kitties wandered away she would sit there and cry and ask them to come back.  She tried wandering off to find them at the desk behind me but they weren't there and she was so sad.  I tried to give her comfort, but she wanted her siblings.  Towards the end of the stay several climbed into the window that is near my desk and Willow was happy to join them.

About the time I was thinking of rounding them up, another co-worker called over to me to let me know that she had forgotten that kittens were in the office (because by this time they had quieted down ) until she got a little lick on her ankle.. How cute right?? well even cuter, Angel apparently decided her shoe was a really nice place to take a nap.  I didn't even see the other three in the photo until after the photo was taken.

Seven kittens in a carrier.. what a site. Probably a bit too many kitties for one carrier, but it is a short ride home and they love each other very much.. although they probably could have done with just a smidge more surface area to look out the front.