Cabana (of Casey and Cabana): an update, an emergency visit, and a gofundme

 

Many of you remember Casey and Cabana, two of four feral kittens I fostered about a year ago.  They were adopted by a lovely woman who graciously allowed me to come and visit them after she brought them home.  It was wonderful to meet her and spend time with the kittens.

Following her on Facebook, I get to see them from time to time and I get updates on their lives.  They have been doing rather well, enjoying their home with the goats and horses and dogs and birds. Oh yeah, and their mom and dad 😻

In January, their mom, Lauren, posted that her dog Autumn was attacked by a neighbor dog and I got to watch as the family banded together to nurse her back to health. Then the addition of a new dog and recently she announced her engagement and it totally MMD. 

Then yesterday she posted that Cabana was in the emergency clinic. 

We need prayers for Cabana. He is at the vet with a possible foreign body. They'll be doing an ultrasound later today to determine the course of action. I need my sweet boy back home

Isn't that photo enough to break your heart?? We have all been there, not really sure what is going on and hearing they can't just fix him immediately and having to wait and see. After a rough night for everyone, they were thankfully able to bring him home without having surgery, but that still left them with a $2,000 emergency vet visit. 

Home at last

Lauren and her husband-to-be have had quite a few setbacks this year. Covid and the safety measures taken to prevent the spread have hit both of them. While they were fortunate enough to keep their jobs, both have suffered losses of wages, hours, and income.  They were also hoping to get married quickly, in the next month or so because Lauren's father is in poor health and they want him to be able to be there. And now this.

I KNOW this is a difficult time for all of us, and if you are seeing even the thought of a gofundme and are saying "I just can't" please know I totally respect that and I wish you absolutely the best as we all navigate this very difficult time for all of us. I hate fundraising in general because I know so many are hurting financially for any number of reasons. But if you could spare a dollar or two, or twenty, I know Lauren would be incredibly appreciative. 

VIsiting friends #formerfosters

I knew for a couple of weeks that I was going to go to the shelter from yesterday's post, so when I was invited to visit Casey and Cabana I couldn't resist piggybacking a trip down to see them.

Lauren was incredibly generous to invite me down and I was glad to know. She had been sharing photos of the duo on Facebook so I knew they were adjusting well, but seeing it in person.. of cuddling them one more time.. well, I couldn't resist. As you can see I got the trademarked cuddle from both of them.. (and they didn't even know I had treats at that point.. yes, I am not above bribing my former fosters for attention)

Sadly, my camera was dead so I only had my cell, and they were so excited and active that I got relatively few photos.. (and most of them were quite fuzzy) but it was wonderful to spend some time with them, to feed them some treats, and get to know their mom a little better. I knew Lauren was a lovely person by how generously she has been sharing them with me, but spending time with her was a delight... and seeing her goats was such fun!

But then there was this..

Yup, they ended up right where they were supposed to be..

Then I received a message from Jasmine's mom (former foster Slate).  She had some food her kitties weren't eating and she offered it to me. I figured I could swing over to see them and it all worked out as well..

Jasmine showed off for me a bit, showed me her bed, told me I was not going to take her back, and was downright adorable.. It was lovely to see her and spend a little time with her family, but it was getting late (there is so little sunlight this time of year in New England and driving at night is not a lot of fun)

I also visited another set of fosters a while ago..

My friend Kathleen, who adopted two of my fosters years ago and who has connected me up a number of people who have ended up adopting from me, invited me out for a visit. I had to be in the area for work, so I made a quick jaunt over to see them.. yes, on an island off the coast of Maine, yes, it was absolutely amazingly stunning.. Meghan who also adopted some of my former fosters came along. It was a wonderful time among friends.  While Kathleen's kitties were mostly a no show (except for Rocky who decided to pose for me so beautifully) I did get to go over and see this year's most popular foster kitty and his sister

Now I swear there is no food in my purse and trying to get in it was completely her idea.. :) (and yes, I was frisked before leaving)

--------

I do want to remind you that I am sending out Christmas postcards again this year. If you would like one you can submit your address here. I am also selling a calendar with photos of my fosters from this year. You can pick it up here

Casey and Cabana

We have news!

I am sorry for the failure to update the past few weeks. There wasn't a lot to report and despite my begging for a home for these two on social media, there was painfully little interest.

Wednesday I received a text asking me how old they were and a few hours later I received another that we might have an adopter for them. Later that day I was asked to bring them to the vet on Thursday for a wellness exam to get a health certificate.

I have absolutely no reservations about Casey moving along and going to a new home and environment as she was always the first to adapt to new things. Cabana was always much more reserved. I was glad to see him exploring the exam room at the vet and not hiding as if the entire world was out to get him. I worry about all of my fosters, but the ones that were once feral or incredibly fearful are the ones that I stress over. To make his life a little easier I packed a gift bag for their new owner that included some of the food that they love, some toys they loved and two different scent soakers to keep their scent with them in their new home. I probably overdid it.. but I don't care. Because they were adopted by the shelter and not to someone I found on social media, I probably won't get updates, but that is okay.

I also took some glamour shots before they left and here are the best ones. Hopefully in the next week or so I will go through all of my photos and see if I have twelve of them so I can create another calendar this year.. that is if there is any interest in one..

Searching #CaseyandCabana

Casey, what are you doing?

Searching.. Cabana.. come help.. 

Okay, Casey, with two of us looking we'll find it right quick! 

It is not in here! -Cabana

OOoh, I think I founds it!! -Casey

I did, I did, I founds it..

It is one of those furevah homes the lady keeps talking about.. when do we move in?? - Casey
Um, Casey, it is not big enough for the both of us.. - Cabana

Ha ha ha.. just kidding.. the princess must be in another castle.. - Casey

***

I cannot believe these two are still here. What do I need to do, offer a reward to the person who connects us up with someone who wants to adopt two very adorable loving kittens who just needs someone to respect that weird noises make them want to hide?? How much is it going to take? Please don't tell me I need to start pitching kittens off the roof* to find them homes..



*whenever there is a happy ending to a tragic story about a kitty you usually get 100+ people wanting to adopt.. but when you simply say you have kitties needing homes you get crickets so I have often joked with a heavy dose of black humor that I am going to start pitching kittens off of the roof.  No, I am not going to pitch a kitten off a roof.. well.. maybe off the roof of the "home" in this post - do you think it would help? 🙀

Looking for a home for Casey and Cabana #caseyandcabana

Homeless kittens have a harder time in the fall. For so many different reasons but finding a home this time of year is quite difficult because most families who were looking for kittens found them this spring or summer. Adoptions just are naturally slower this time of year as people settle back into routines from the summer and get mentally prepared for the holidays to come.

But that doesn't mean they are impossible to find. But finding a home for a pair of kittens that have a few requirements... well that is a bit harder.. so if you happen to know anyone who is looking for kittens, could you please share these two with them.

Casey and Cabana are a lovely set of kittens. I am not going to sugar coat things though. They started off life as feral and while they are quite social now, Cabana still has a few rules he is keeping hold of in order to feel safe.

Casey was the first one out of the group, of four under-socialized kittens, to realize that humans were awesome. As such she is very friendly and outgoing. She is first to investigate things, first to climb up on to your lap and first to ask for a belly rub. Cabana, Casey's brother, was the last to figure it out. He now realizes that human beings are pretty good, but he still harbors some ingrain reactions when we move too quickly as he tends to get hissed off.  He wants to be the one to initiate contact. He would rather come to you than have you track him down and try to pick him up. Once he touches you, it is an invitation for you to touch him and often you will be blessed with a wonderful belly rub.

Casey and Cabana have really bonded over the time I have had them. Cabana more so than Casey. She is his social bridge to let him know that things are okay. If she is doing something it is safe for him to.

Cabana needs someone who can respect he needs a little structure in his life. He thrives on routine. If he knows what is going to happen he can get used to it and thus it is no big deal. He now loves watching me scoop the boxes and my moving about the room has him following me where it initially had him running and hiding.

They will sleep with you, they will eat out of your hand, they will probably eat off of your plate if you let them, they love baby food and playing with wand toys and ping pong balls and sky raisins and Cabana even ate a cricket. They are an amazing pair of kittens that simply are not the right fit for every household but if you have a little bit of patience and can wait to be invited to pat the kitty, these kitties will bring you so much joy and love.

Safe Journeys to #Cabanaandthegang

The kittens are doing well and it is time for them to move on. They went for their health exams the other day - and as you can see Capa was not thrilled by the whole experience. She was actually a little stressed so her temp was a little higher than it should be so she got to hang out in the cool sink to see if we could bring it down so she could be cleared for adoption.

The other exams went better than I was expecting. Every single day I become more and more impressed with the progress they are making. With all of my experience and the ones I couldn't turn, I was so sure that Cabana could not be brought to be a house cat, but I think that having his sister be that bridge to human affection was the key. Why she was so willing to love me when everyone else was not willing to give me the benefit of the doubt I have no idea, but I am very thankful she was because it was the opening that they needed. - well that and the baby food..

Capa was the first to be adopted and she is now gone.. I miss her little fuzzy butt and hope she is happy in her new home. Since she became a lap kitten, I have no doubt with minimal adjustment she will be just fine.

Saying goodbye as I'm dropping her off.
I love how the light hit her eyes

Cape also has a home waiting for her this weekend and Casey and Cabana will be scooped up in no time I'm sure.

I'm not afraid to admit I wouldn't mind watching them grow into beautiful kitties, which I am sure they will do, but that is not what I signed up for.. It doesn't help that right now my own kitties are having some issues so I've been a little stressed with that. Having this group willing to climb up on my lap and even up into my next for a little kitten therapy was so wonderful and so rewarding.. Watching them bloom and blossom has been a great joy.

That will do woman, that will do - Cabana

A family photo for #Cabanaandthegang

Hey, Casey, do you think we can get a family photo??

Is there baby food involved? - Casey

Did someone say baby food?? Cape and Cabana (with Casey in the background) 

Okay, everyone on the couch, try not to move too much while I figure out the white balance
Could you get a little closer?

Arrgh, my white balance again.. Cabana, could you be a little less brilliant for me?

Okay, but more brilliant than that, I kinda need you to look at the camera

well now you all look like you are about to be abducted by aliens.. 

Lady - you are weird - Capa

Okay, that's better, that is a little less alien abduction and a little more album cover photo..
but can you get a little closer?

oooh, got it!!

Casey!! it is not that kind of photoshoot!!
and no, these kinds of photos will not have people sending you oodles of baby food..