Big changes

well the older kittens actually went back to the shelter on Thursday and were neutered and put up for adoption.  I went in on Friday to see them and drop off their info cards (I do little write ups to tell of their personalities and quirks) and it turns out they had names I was never told about.  They were listed as Oscar, Leo and Suki.  I told the staff I had different names for them and I had write up card (like I always do) and I was told to just cross their names out.  I felt a little uncomfortable with that since volunteers had been told to never write on cage cards, and they had name bands on their necks with their old names, but I did what I was told.  Gave them all hugs and lovins.  Of course Crookshanks had a boat load to tell me about what was going on.  Hedwig was talkative too and Fawkes was content to sit there and play with his own tail.

I so hope they go home today.. would be so nice for them.  I used to go to the shelter for adoptions, but I had too many kittens adopted into homes I didn't think were right for them and there was nothing I could do about it but worry.  I know that homes that I don't think are ideal can be great homes, so I decided a while back just to trust in the greater good and send them off with out me.

So with out them in the kitten room, Minerva and her new kittens got to move out of the bathroom.  They loved it and caused major havoc right away.  I put food down for Minerva and left the room for a few minutes to do something else.  My husband was still in there after I left and when he came out I mentioned I should probably show the kittens what food is.  He mentioned that I didn't need to show it to Rory and Mickey... as they were eating quite well.

I went back in and introduced wet food to Donna, Rose and Amy.  Amy took right to it.  Rose was eating but she wasn't able to make the connection that the food on the floor was food.  Donna just wasn't ready for food and went back to Minerva.  After dinner time, Rory, Micky, and Amy were all covered in food.. think a child's first birthday eating cake and you would be right on of what they looked like.

The next morning they were in their box - which I thought was really sweet.  Again the boys have no problem eating.    I didn't have much time to deal with them, so I went off to work.  That night they were in the cat condo.  Well the white kittens were anyway.  Amy was off on the cat bed hogging it all for herself and looking freakingly adorable doing it.  Again the boys have no problem eating.  Amy needed to be reminded.  Rose did too.  Donna still wasn't interested. I sat with them for a while and Minerva was quite insistant that I gave her all the wrong food and would like more.  I told her if she nursed her kittens then I would give her something different.  So she went to the kitten box and let Donna nurse for a moment.  I saw and sent Rose towards the box (because she was cuddled up to my neck) and Rose went running and jumped in the box.  At which point Minerva jumped out and came to the couch where the bag of canned food is stored and started pawing at it (did I mention Minerva is scary smart??) I said No way Honey, nursing is more then two seconds.  After a few moments she turned around and went back to the box and laid down and let some of the kittens nurse for a few more minutes.  (no, I'm not making this up) and then came back to the bag and pawed at it again.  I couldn't help but laugh and I opened up another can for her - which she didn't approve of either.  she's so picky and I rarely pick out the right food at the right time - because what is acceptable one day is not the next.  She ate some of it and then went to have some water.  While she was drinking, Rose went to investigate and climbed up on the dry food....

and proceeded to pee on it!!!

I couldn't help but laugh so hard.  I use this argument all the time when trying to convince people that dry food really isn't acceptable to cats and they need to be taught to eat it.  Kittens will more often then not use it as litter the first time they see it if they don't have a mother that eats it.  Minerva does eat dry food, but apparently won't eat while they are around most likely because they want to nurse on her when she stands still for too long on the floor. 

I ran her to the litter box and plopped her in there and Minerva took one sniff of the food made a face and walked away. 

Amy has turned into a mini-Fleurp.  It's really cute.. but more on that in another post

Flaily Friday

I just loved the word flaily, that when I saw these picts I knew just what to call the post I'd put them in.

Hedwig was so scared of the feathers for so long.  I kept trying to get her to play with them but Crookshanks and Fawkes would run right over to nab it and she would back off.  I finally got her to figure out how much fun feathers are, and there is no stopping her now.

 

Fawkes tends to hang out in the cube when she starts getting agressive.  Notice you can see her tabby swirls.

When  is it my turn?

Never, never works for me, how about you?

finally!!

Zombie kittens?

should I be worried?

quick update

Minerva's babies are doing so well.  This past Friday Crookshanks was 1lb 8 oz, today he was 1lb 12 before breakfast.  So I sent an email off to the shelter to let them know they will be ready to be neutered later in the week.  I'm torn between wanting them to go back sooner so Minerva can have the larger room once again and wanting to keep them because they have become so people friendly and swarm me when I go into the room.  They give me ankle hugs, which just slays me every single time.

Minerva's "add on" babies are doing well.  I believe she's back to nursing them because they were so fat this morning and wanted almost no additional food.  I made them all go pee (which except for the getting peed on part is a lot of fun because they throw their paws up in the air and are just so darn cute) and gave them what they wanted for food, but they were quite content to just play

This video comes closest to what I do to make them pee, but I don't hold down their front arms, so when you see the kitten throw up it's arms in the first few seconds that is what kittens generally do. I also use a cloth - right now it is a human baby cloth diaper.  I know when they are done peeing because they start moving away from that position and wiggling to get be let go.

Gratuitous kitty shots

Fawkes

Crookshanks

Hedwig

You can see Hedwig's stripes

In and Out and Under

In

Out

What is under here?

That would be Hedwig

Wordy Wednesday

I've been tired lately and haven't gotten my camera out.  Kinda sad too because I have a coupon for a free photo book that expires tonight.  Not sure I can get enough photos of The Crew together and edited by this evening.  Hopefully  *crosses fingers*

Lets see.... Lets start off with this:

I saw this on the Sunday Morning show this week.  I thought it was brilliant!  If only more photographers would offer their skills to get great photos of the animals out there.  I mean seriously, if you watch the segment you'll see what a dramatic difference the right photo of an animal can make.

The Hogwarts kits are doing well.  They have a bit of diarrhea that won't seem to clear up.  It happens some times.  I sent in a sample and didn't hear back. Not sure if that means there was nothing or they misplaced the results.  They are happy and active and eating and gaining weight, so I'm not really concerned about that.  What I am concerned about is one of the kitten's desire to poop on the floor if it is available.  I was always pretty sure it was Crookshanks.  Kittens with messed up tails can have issues with litter boxes.  Not saying his tail is causing problems, because when the litter boxes are where they are "supposed" to be he uses them.  See I have a large box covering the area the litter boxes are kept.  If I keep the litter boxes close to the walls and far back in the corner so they are 'neat' and he can't get into the corner, he uses them.  But I have to pull them out to scoop them and if I don't push them back all the way he'll poop in the corner.  Not sure if this is a kitten issue, a stubborn-ish issue, or tail issue.  But since he does use the box when everything is where it should be I'm not going to worry about it, but will make note of it in his adoption info (I do write ups for each kitten so the new families will know what the kitten is like - well if they read it)

Crookshanks is the smallest at 1lb 10 oz, so it looks like probably next week they will go back.  Won't be a minute too soon for Minerva too.. she's getting a little stir crazy in the bathroom.

For the past few days she has wanted to look into the hall when I come and go.  Before when she was in the basement she would growl at my cats if she ever saw them.  Now I think she is looking for these kitten's mother because she doesn't growl, is very interested, and wants to get out.  This morning she even did.  Jumped right over the gate in one fluid motion.  Fortunately she froze because my hands were full of mugs that I had brought kitten milk in with.  I was able to get them down and grab the gate and contain her enough to grab her (as she was just considering which way to go when I used the gate to block off one route and my hand got her as she was about to dash the other way).

While I have a LOT more trust in Minerva at this point, I most certainly do not trust her interacting with The Crew, and I don't trust her if she were to get out and about and get into a fight.  To show how much trust I have in her right now (warning TMI) I actually went into the bathroom and took a shower.  I swore a while back that I would NEVER go near her with bare legs again when she previously grabbed my ankle and bit at my foot (opened mouth, scrapped teeth across the top of my skin) I can hold her now, push her away from the door, give her kisses and offer my forehead for head bumps.

I am a little concerned about the kits at this point.  Minevra is getting skinnier and the kittens are starting to feel light and they are meowing a lot more often  It is such an odd little difference between a well fed solid kitten and one that is a few calories short.  They might not weigh any different, but they just FEEL less substantial.  I have confirmation of this odd little skill of mine because when I brought kitten milk in to supplement them, the ones that felt underfed ate the most.

Jack seems a bit better in the urinary department (doesn't seem uncomfortable in the body) but he is sick of being sick in the head.  I can see him wishing he wasn't sniffly.  He certainly is better then he has been, which is good.  He's eating, which is good, and he loves attention, which is good.  I'll be happy when this is gone.  Fleurp started sneezing the other night.. I'm hoping it is just because I told her that Jack got treats because he is sick.. *fingers crossed*

I know someone said treats...

Take your kittens to work..

Well the older kittens went to work with me last week.    They were wonderfully destructive.  Fortunately my boss loves it and enjoys their company.  It does wonders for kittens self confidence to get out of the house and explore new places so I really appreciate that they don't mind.  Unfortunately the owner of the company is allergic so I can't do it when he is in town, which is going to be happening soon.

they had fun with the paper clips and knocked over the lamp.  Even tried to chew on the speaker wires.. Then they fell asleep.

I haz scarf

it was really sweet.

I also noticed that Hedwig has a small spot on her neck, it is about the size of a quarter, of frosted fur.  It's very light gray with darker guard hairs coming out of it.

as you can see she also has some white guard hairs under the spot, and she also has some on her legs.  She's such a cutie!

Play time photos

These were taken the same day as the video... I thought you'd enjoy them

Look carefully, there be two kittens here

What am I supposed to do with that??

oooh.. attack.. I get it now..

Or I'll at least give it my best flying shot!

it tasks me..

OK fine, you get the toy, I'll get your tail!

Is it my turn yet?? says Minerva

Not even close momma..

I get it.. I swear..

I don't want the toy, I want to wrestle!! ~Hedwig

So now is it my turn??

YES!! I love bird hunting, I just wish this bird had a bit more flesh on it

Can I play again momma??

She really is good with them, and is very cautious about playing when they are in the middle of the room (she doesn't want to jump on them) and hangs back and lets them play when it is very obvious she wants to.  She loves throwing herself up in the air with complete abandon  to catch the "bird" I'm sure she has caught a fair number of them in her day - and will again if she is ever anywhere near one..

No Piggybacks!!

No piggybacks today son..

He's still back there isn't he?

Please mom!!!

See, it's fun!!

Fawkes LOVES his mother.. I wish I could suggest they could go together, but I'm not sure that would do him any good as I am not sure what is going to happen to Minerva..

I love my mommy!!

Minerva plus eight..

Ok that is just funny.  I didn't think about it until I titled the post.. Minerva is a little Kate like..

ANYWAY... last night I brought Minerva in to be spayed.  I'm hoping that once she loses her raging hormones she'll be easier to settle down and it will help her socialize better and understand that biting and swatting at humans isn't nearly as acceptable as it is to other cats.  I had to wait around for the staff to finish up an adoption and as soon as they saw me they asked if I was interested in "bottle babies".

I love bottle babies, but my job just really doesn't make it feasible for me to take them when they are really young.  Too many late nights and too frequent feedings.  I can do it for a few days to wean them on to food, but these guys are two weeks old.  Their mom was hit by a car :(  Five little two week old kittens.  One of the staff took them home that night, but she really wasn't in a position to take on that responsibility either.  I mentioned how much Minerva loved being a mom and how much milk she had left.  She doesn't much like other cats at this point, but kittens are usually different.  I walked out of the shelter last night in limbo.  They were going to introduce the kittens in the morning and see how it went and if she she took to them I'd have five more kittens, and if not I'd have a spayed Minerva.

Well I just got the call.  She took to them just fine.  Part of me is happy about this, and part is a little frustrated as I just got my bathroom cleaned from the last set of kittens in there.  I'm not a fan of keeping kittens in my bathroom for a few reasons (and some of them are selfish) but apparently I am a more not a fan (oh that was a horrible wording) of saying no.

Why the bathroom you might ask?  well I have had a previous bad experience and I swore I'd never mix litters.  It is also why my fosters don't mingle with my resident cats as a general rule (occasionally they escape but I do my best to keep them separated)  There is a risk to Minerva as the kittens are too young to be tested for FIV/FELV but right now her status as adoptable is not secured.  She has shown great improvement in learning proper social skills but there are still times I can see her wanting to lash out (and once when she did) Fortunately I know her cues well enough to stop what I'm doing and attend to her so she calms down, but that is not adoptable.. (sad, I know.. )  So the Potter Pets will remain in the kitten room, and in a few weeks (Fawkes is already 1lb 13 oz.. Hedwig is 1lb 8oz) they will go up for adoption and Minerva and the new class will be getting stir crazy in the bathroom at that point and will be able to move downstairs.

So I'm about to take advantage of my wonderful boss and run out and get them.  Picts to come

Wordless Wednesday

Beauty Shots

Crookshanks - aka CrazyBoy

Fawkes - aka Momma's Boy

Hedwig

A video

I was trying to get video of Minerva and her love of hunting birds.  If there were a category of bird hunting cats like there are dogs, I'm sure she would rank quite high up.  She throws herself in the air with abandon to catch the toy, but once the kittens started walking around she was much more careful.

Unfortunately the flip camera has such a small window, and I could only get so much action with her being an arm's length away from me.  Forgive the quality of the video,  and just enjoy the fun of it..

progress

Last night I went down to feed the fosters and work with Minerva some more.  She wasn't in the mood to work with me, she just wanted some attention.  She seemed calm enough, so I picked her up and that went well.  She wanted me to kiss her head, and I did, and that went well.  My husband came in to take out the trash and recycling.  His carrying out the recycling stressed her a little but it was fairly easy to redirect her away from him and she didn't react at all when he took out the trash.

When DH came back in with the recycling container, she wanted to go investigate that and I was left to watch the kittens.  They are so much fun to watch because they are really big into wrestling right now.  But I also realized they have no idea what humans are all about.  I've been spending so much time working with Minerva that they haven't had a lot of interaction with me.  So I tapped on the floor with my fingers and got their attention.  Fawkes was very very uncertain about what to do about it.  Crookshanks interested but still kept his distance.  Hedwig was off trying to figure out how to get to her mother.  So I tried to snuggle Fawkes, but he was still uncomfortable with me so I put him down. By this time Minerva was laying near by so he cuddled up to her.  I reached over and started patting him and he liked it.  He like having his belly patted but he was distracted by an epic wrestling match.  He got up and started walking over to it, but he still wanted his belly patted, so his back legs tried to turn to expose his belly.  I couldn't help but laugh.  I was able to pat him a few more moments before wrestling won out.

Hedwig and Crookshanks ended up in the cave in the scratching post.  None of the kittens will play with my hands.  Crookshanks will swat at me a little, but immediately backs up, so I was trying to get them interested in interacting with me, but they were doing their best to avoid it.  I grabbed Fawkes and put him in there as well and waggled my fingers at them.  I left my fingers resting on the edge to get them interested but no go.  All of a sudden Minvera gets up, walks slowly over to me and gently wraps her teeth around my hand, then lets go and "bites" my finger, again very gently.  I was impressed on so many different levels.. and the strongest impression I got was "well you wanted someone to nibble on you, so I did"

Minerva is going into the shelter Tuesday night in hopes of being neutered on Wednesday.  She'll come back after and I'll keep working with her. I see such great progress in her already..

a new trick and a gift

I'm a bit flummoxed as to what to do with Minerva.  She is such a smart kitty but she has no impulse control.  She can understand me and gets frustrated that I don't understand her and give her what she wants.  She's has lashed out a few more times at me, not causing any damage - heck not even close - but I'm not sure if that is because I'm that good at watching her and correcting her before she really gets started or if she has no interest in hurting anyone.  Not that I'm going to try to figure that out any time soon - because I have no interest in being bitten.

Just to show you how little I trust her, I still won't pick her up... but I have put both hands on her at one time.

So last night I wasn't sure what she was going to do when I went to feed her.  She doesn't want me to walk over to the other side of the room to get the can of cat food, she wants me to just put the food in the dish (no, logic is not her strong suit) and would start to get that "I'm going to smack you" look when I moved in any direction other then her dish, so I wanted her distracted so I could get to the other side of the room.  I figured if she was laying down it might give me a few moments and so I patted the floor and said "down"  So she sat down.  :)

So I patted her and gave a slight push, and said "lay down" and then patted the floor.  She went under the couch.  so I praised her highly and attempted to get to the other side of the room, but she came right out.

so I kept patting the floor, and after a few moments she laid down.  Even flipped her head over to give me her chin.  So I praised the living daylights out of her, and patted her and tried to get across the room, but she stood right up.  So I said "lay down" and patted the floor and she laid down again.  I tried to give her a kitten in hopes of distracting her, but the kitten was too busy playing,

so I put her through a few "ups" and "sits" and "down" "sit" etc.  and we got across the room and got food put out.

But I was highly impressed that she learned "lay down" so quickly.

Yesterday also brought me a gift from one of the crew.  I'm assuming it is Muffin since this is her favorite type of toy and her favorite sleeping spot (my side of the bed)

I got one the day before as well, and I dismissed it as she was playing with it and it just ended up there.  but this one was in the exact same spot when just seemed too much like she wanted me to have it to not take it that way