Former Foster Friday Freeforall

In years past I haven't had foster kittens in February so I've done Former Foster Friday February and done posts about the few fosters I've kept in touch with on each Friday... but this year I have kittens, so I haven't reached out and asked for photos.

But a few photos have found their way to me via Facebook, so I thought I would share them with you.

I'm starting out with Gandalf. He is settling well into his new home with his new brother.  I'm glad because only kittens often have a very hard time adjusting to other kitties because they often don't 'speak cat' and they end up not understanding one another.  I'm glad to see I did a someone decent enough job helping Gandalf learn 'cat'

Looks to me like Bridget and Dave are thrilled with their new boy.

I also received an update from Kathleen, who went to visit Sharon and Gail and hung out with Winn and Bella.

Look how big they are getting, and what sleek looking teenage kitties they are!  Fortunately, Sharon shares a lot of photos and videos of them, but because of that sometimes I just want to drive up there and snatch them back they are so freakin cute. (then Jack comes and sits on my face and the urge passes)  They too are also quite smitten.

Not to be outdone with uber cuteness, Kathleen then shared photos of Maxwell and Ducky

These two amuse me to no end.  Ducky actually developed a pretty pronounced set of bow legs, which I have found a little odd, but they do not bother him at all, and it just adds to his charm. Kathleen, I am thankful every single time you share them with me. And when you share my other fosters with me, like Buddy (formerly Garp from 2014)

It is so nice to see him.  Speaking of Winn and Bella, I would be remiss if I didn't share with you Errol and Flynn.

They are also doing very well. Flynn is still a lover boy, and Errol has definitely blossomed into his true self - a lover of chickens.  Just kidding, but he is doing really well, I am so happy for him. Not that I'm not happy for Flynn, but I knew he would do well wherever he landed.

I would be remiss if I didn't include my heart-kitten Isaac Arnold and his brother Smedley.

It still aches that I was not able to keep him, but Anne does a wonderful job of keeping me supplied in photos of them both. They are both amazingly ridiculous, and I love them dearly from afar.

Anne's sister Deb also adopted from us, and she also shares photos of Perkins from time to time.

and it appears he is just as goofy today as he was when he was here.

There are more out there that share their photos from time to time, and I am obnoxiously grateful each time it happens.  I also adore it when I see other foster homes sharing photos of their former fosters in homes too. So if you have one of mine, or someone else's.. send their foster mom a photo and a few lines about how well they are doing and about their personality. It will totally make their day!

Best Wishes Gandalf

On December 14th I introduced you to this little bundle of fluff..

He was thin and sickly, and he had a mustache and extra toes, and he was a welcome addition to Casa de Gato.

I named him Gandalf because my husband picked the name. It worked for me, and it apparently is going to work for his new family as well.

They came to meet him the day after Christmas. Seemed a complete and utter waste of time if you would have asked me, but seriously who doesn't want to play with kittens at Christmas time, and I was happy to do it. Yes, they fell in love.

We had to wait for Gandalf to become healthy enough to be neutered, so he stayed here longer than we generally like to keep them. At a certain point in life, kittens get so bored with that room and spend most of their time trying to figure out how to get out of it. Gandalf was generally a good boy and didn't try to get out, but then again we already knew he was a little odd since he never really liked Happy Bear.

We finally received the all clear and he was neutered, just in time for Jonah to come barreling down on the east coast. Fortunately, I was completely out of the brunt of it - and how weird was it being in Maine and not getting any snow while people in Virginia were slammed. However, Gandalf's new family lives in Boston and as such did have to worry about the snow. We weren't sure until almost the last minute if they were going to make the trek up. We knew they could get her safely enough, but would they make it home was the question.  That morning the news seemed to indicate that they would, so I received a text that they were on their way.

Gandalf attempted to pack his bags with all of his favorite things, but he wasn't having much success, so I helped. I packed some of the foods he had been eating since he was going on and off foods, along with a few of his favorite things.

I must inspect and make sure you did a good job, 

and maybe do a little quality control.

Hey, let's go already!

and of course, we were late, when I arrived at the shelter they were already there waiting. They were so thrilled to see Gandalf again.. 

While I was sad to let him go.. more because I wouldn't have a kitten at Casa de Gato. I loved Gandalf, but he was taken for most of the time he was with me so it was easier to guard my heart. The family made it back home in time, so it all worked out perfectly.

Now comes the hard part of the year, the time year when there just aren't kittens. Cats don't generally get amorous when it is freezing outside. Since the shelter is importing kittens from down south maybe we'll get some, but we will probably have to wait until March or April. February generally has held Former Foster Friday posts, and I bet I can convince a few of the adopters that I know of to share a few photos with me.

Gandalf would like you to know the hairballs are gone

Gandalf had a recheck appointment yesterday and he had to get a clean bill of health from the vets before they would sedate him. I brought in another stool sample and that too was negative for worms, and the exam showed signs of definite improvement.  The vet called me to talk about his progress and I explained how he was doing better each day, how he still seemed to have throat irritation which produced a cough like sound which wasn't really a cough.  She asked a few more questions and then said he still had some odd sounds in one lung, but she was comfortable clearing him for surgery, but it would be up to the vet doing the surgery.

She went on to explain he would have some compromise of his lung for quite some time and that throughout his life he might be more prone to infections.  I mentioned this to his new family and they are still very excited to adopt him.

I finally got the call at 4 pm that he had been neutered and could I come and pick him up. I ran to the shelter to get him and brought him home.  I told his new family that he is going to be good to go in a day or two. Sadly in a day or two, we are going to be in the middle of a blizzard, so there is a chance that he might not go home this weekend and if that happens he will be with us for another week.

Oh the hardships I must endure.

Wordless Wednesday - Putting the bitey on that darn mouse

Toesday with Gandalf

Gandalf is not a fan of sitting still, nor is he a fan of keeping his paws in one place.  This is just three out of a huge number of out of focus photos in my attempt to share his feets with you. He's such a silly boy.

Mr. Mustache's Monday Morning

Gandalf is still doing well. He has his finicky days when he won't eat anything I give him, and then he eats everything. It isn't a matter of the food because some food which was horrid one day is awesome the next. He still sounds like he has some post nasal drip or something going on as well. No idea if any of this matters in his upcoming surgery, but the vets will do a full exam on him prior to his appointment and they will decide if it is safe or not.

I did take a stool sample in on Friday and he had his first clear results since we started testing him for lungworm which is a positive thing. I will take another sample in on Wednesday so they can test that as well.

He is getting so bored in that room. He wants so much more, and I can't blame him, he's a growing boy and that room is designed for kittens younger than he is. I'm glad he will have another cat at his new home which will keep him entertained - hopefully, his new brother will like him and keep him in line.

Wordless Wednesday - Happy Bear is Happy, if only for a little while

Turtle Tuesday

Ha ha, just kidding. Gandalf wanted to see if you would believe he was a turtle. Did you?

Monday morning Gandalf update

Gandalf is doing better each and every day, and his impish side is coming out. He doesn't understand why he is stuck in that one room and why he can't go out into the great big room beyond the door so he takes every single chance he can to get there, walking out as proud as you please. It would be kind of cute if it wasn't so frustrating.

He is starting to understand that I am trying to communicate with him, which is making things a bit easier, and harder, in the medication department. He doesn't want it so he starts running around the room when I want to medicate him, but he understands - or at least. he seems to - that I am not intending to kill him.

He still occasionally sounds raspy when he breathes heavily like after running around. I'll probably bring a stool sample at the end of the week just to see if we still see worms. Nine more days until his neuter appointment so hopefully it all goes well.

Gandalf and the January KitNip Box

I recently won a KitNipBox from Quiet Whiskers on a Facebook contest they were having. Since I knew Gandalf had to go into the shelter for a checkup I thought he would appreciate being able to open the box and check out the goodies inside.

Now, FDA disclosures here, I won the box, no promotional goodies were given in exchange for this review, and they are not responsible for the content of this post in any way shape or form... neither is Quiet Whiskers.

But before we get into this, I wanted to tell you about Gandalf's check up.  He has gained some weight and seems to be doing better, but they are still seeing lungworm in his stool so he is here for two more weeks on Panacur to kill them off. They already scheduled him to be neutered after the two weeks have elapsed, so unless something goes wrong he'll be here for a couple of weeks. His new people are awesome and are willing to wait for him. I'll take a stool sample into the shelter in a week and a half and see if things have cleared up.

Now, on to the goodies.

I have to say this box is perfectly kitten sized; well Gandalf thought so.  I adore that they didn't use an over-abundance of tape either.. the label was easily removed and did not damage the box, all huge plusses if you ask me.

This month's theme was 'wellness' hence the cute art on the front side of the information card.  On the back, there was a description of each item included in the 'standard' box. If you opt for the no treats box it would have been slightly different according to the card. I was impressed they offer a 'no treat' box since I am so incredibly picky with what I allow Jack to eat.

I wasn't sure what that light brown thing was, but I knew it was a handmade cat toy.  In this picture you can really tell I was playing around with my new macro lens, which is freakin awesome, but has such a narrow focal length, so some of this is out of focus. I would so totally retake this photo if I were being paid for this post.. but at this point I really can't because..

Yes, he got a little excited over this. The card said this toy was a band-aid, which made me smile because I imagine him like a little kid who wants a band-aid to cover a non-existent booboo to make him feel better..  And by the smug look on his face, I am guessing he feels better after getting it.

By gosh I think he likes it

I found this little basket at Target over the weekend. I thought it would be perfectly kitten sized so I bought it. Since Gandalf hasn't been a fan of typical kitten things like Happy Bear and the basket, I thought he'd ignore this too. Apparently not