*hangs head*

I hate it when I have fosters who don't adjust well to change.  When I brought the crew back to the shelter they were totally freaked out. 

I originally brought them in to work, Shakira once again went into her "you can't see me" mode.  Rue did really well, came right out of his shell and was playing with my boss.  Marty just couldn't contain himself.  He started out on my boss' desk, but kept falling off (apparently not by choice) and would run around and would come visit me.  He eventually fell asleep on my lap - which of course made me feel even more guilty.

When it was time to go, I swear they gave me the puppy dog guilt eyes.. to which my response is if I didn't bring you back I wouldn't have been able to take you in in the first place.

So I packed them up and brought them to the shelter.  I put the kits in one of my own carriers because Lillie was still protecting herself from them.  The manager put them in a new carrier so I could take mine home, and when I went to say good bye to them they hissed at me.  They were so freaked out.  :(

I ended up taking three new ones.  Two boys and a girl (this is sounding so familiar) and two short haired tigers and one long haired (no seriously, I didn't take them back home). 

They are about four to five weeks, kittens of a feral mom who was completely unhandlable.  They are a little freaked out, but were exploring at the office (I brought them in for a bit before bringing them home)  All three are tigers.  The long haired one is a boy, and reminds me a bit of Kodi.  I promised him I wouldn't name him Kodi unless he turned into a complete belly slut - at which point I just might be in some serious trouble.  The short haired tigers are one of each and the girl is slightly lighter then the boy.

They are not amused to be here.  I put them in the cage so they are limited in access until they relax a little (I don't want to have to drag them out from under the couch to check on them - and at this stage they need to be a lot closer to a litter box then just in the same room)  I put some canned food, and fluff boy ate.  Short boy used the litter box and had very watery diarrhea so I got out some benebac.  I hope to goodness that is the issue and I don't have to medicate them - but I will be keeping a close eye on that.  Because they are so small and I can feel their bones, I brought home some milk replacer and gave them all about 8-9 ccs of it.  They were all mightily impressed by it, but I thought they would have eaten more.  Will do it again in the AM.  It will not only get calories into their little bodies, but will give me an edge up on the trust factor.  Kinda hard to not trust someone who feeds you yummy foods :)

I took photos, but they are stuck in the camera.  Tomorrow I'll post them

Oddly enough...

Rue did the best with being neutered.  That night he was pretty much his old new self, playing and interested in things - all be it a bit more sedate then what he's been doing lately.  He purred very loudly for me, and ate well.  This morning you wouldn't have known what he went through the day before.

Marty was not well last night at all.  He kept crawling up into my lap and sitting uncomfortably.  I tried comforting him but each time I did he would run away until it dawned on me that when I went to pick him up he cried out, so I could only assume he was in some sort of pain around his chest area.  I can't figure that one out - as all the important stuff either happens around his nose or his scrotum.  *shrug*  He ate, so I tried hard (ha ha ha) not to worry to much and let him be.  This morning he seemed fine.  He had forgiven me, and let me snuggle him a bit before running off to play.

Shakira was her leary self.  She let me hold her for a few minutes and pat her, but then she walked off all huffy as is her normal way.  This morning she hung out in the bed they have claimed (it is a blanket in a box but they like it) she let me look at her tummy and nibbled on my fingers - so typical her.

Lillie seemed OK yesterday.  She sat on the dresser for most of the day, and that night was down and interacting with the kitlets, but in the AM she was shoved into the smallest corner of the room looking mighty miserable.  I assumed she picked that corner as it was easiest to fend off the unwanted attention of the kittens.  It had a few boxes and cans on the floor, so it couldn't have been comfortable even if she wasn't miserable, so I did what I could to help her out.  She came out to investigate what I put down for food, and when she did I pulled everything out and put down a soft blanket.  Well she decided she was going to sit in the carrier.  The kittens thought they could check her out in there, so I put the door back on but not latched (I had taken it off when I got them home so they could come out at their own pace and not worry about the door) so she could stay in and the kittens would be unable to get to her. I was able to get a look at her belly, and nothing seemed amiss.  No swelling, no redness. She didn't feel very hot - not that I wanted to bother her to take her temperature but I will tonight if she's still off.

Unfortunately I can't tell for sure if she is still in there or not all these hours later.  It looks like she might be, but it might just be a trick of the light.

there is just a plain white towel in there.. so it is possible.  Not quite sure I want it to be her though, which means she hasn't gotten up an eaten (no one at the canned food I put down this morning, but since it wasn't the chunky food they had been eating for the past couple of weeks, I wasn't completely surprised) or used the litter box.  They are supposed to go to the shelter tomorrow.. don't know if I can do that if she is this miserable..

and surgery is over

I don't know why I was so reluctant to post that the kittens were at the vet for surgery, but I was avoiding it.  I think I feared for Rupert.

But, they went, they did exceedingly well, and they are home - oh so glad to be back in familiar territory.  These are not a group of wanderlust kittens that is for certain.  They are quite reserved when they are here visiting work and catching Shakira when she saw the carrier come out was quite intereting.

I have them until Thursday.  I'll bring them in for a quick visit at work, then at lunch time or so I'll bring them to the shelter and pick up the new set waiting for me.  The shelter has some too young to test kittens from a feral mother.  It takes a special home to take kittens with such an unknown status.  Most foster homes aren't willing to invest the emotional commitment - and I understand that.  I also accept that with out homes that are willing to step up, these kittens wouldn't even have a chance.  So if they are positive, then they will have known love, a warm place to sleep, and a full belly before they go.

wow, that got sad fast.. back to the vet trip.

I asked that they take a special look at Rue, since he spent so much of his life being quiet and reserved.  Since he has the kinked tail, I feared something additional might be going on inside him, but they said they didn't find anything, and he came through the surgery just fine, so if there is anything, it is not severe enough to present itself.  I'll probably make note on his adoption brochure (that I make up for all the kittens) just in case. 

The vet said that Lillie was in "raging heat" which I couldn't help but laugh about.  She was presenting herself to pretty much anything that moved.  He said she could relax now - which I can only imagine how uncomfortable that ever present need to mate is.  If you have never seen a cat in heat, it is very uncomfortable to watch.  They are constantly on the move, rolling around, rubbing on things, trying to walk around while presenting the business end of being in heat.   I would imagine it is similar to getting yourself all hot and bothered and then trying to go about your day while constantly in that state of being.

Since I'm at work, I was only able to run to pick them up and drop them off.  I took a peek at the girl's incisions so I know what they look like now (and can monitor for changes) Boys are much easier, and so I didn't bother them.  But the spay incisions are always different looking depending on how they are sewn and glued back up.  I put down half a meal for them to nosh on.  Sedation can leave a kitty nauseous nauseous.  nauseous  nauseous.. ugh.. I'm never going to learn that word.. anesthesia and nauseous are two words that spell check are always going to catch for me.  that and emergency - since I always want to put an A in it. 

so now in the hour since they have been feed, it looks like they might have eaten half of the can.. they usually polish off two cans right quick, so they are obviously not totally recovered.  I am having a hard time telling if they are in a sedated playful mood or if they are just restless.  I can't see Rue in the room - the light is too bright to see on the window seat, but Marty and Shakira are wandering around the room.  First on the pet bed, then on the pillow.  Shakira tried out the box for a while.  Marty sniffed the ribbon toy (it's fleece).  They are just wandering around exploring.. which might be restlessness.. but they don't seem unsteady which is good.

Mom.. just too funny.

Mexican Jumping Kittens

This stage is so much fun to watch.  They aren't much into cuddling or lovin, but are into running, jumping, pouncing and wrestling.  They are so active and so full of themselves, what they can do, and what their new little bodies can do, that they don't seem to stop, and just randomly jump up in the air and land on ... well where ever they come down.  Sometimes it seems to have a purpose - to pounce on someone - sometimes not.  I so need to get a video of it all.

Rupert is definitely much more active now which is good.  Hopefully all of my concern was for naught.

Kitten picts

So yes, the webcam is a total time suck. Here is a short video of mom nursing. Yes, it is low quality, yes it is choppy, but you know your going to watch it :)


and here's a still of them

Then this morning Shakira and Rue were fighting for a comfortable spot on the scratching post

Here are some shots from the other day.  Getting them to sit still for photos is not the easiest thing as you can see..   They are getting close to size, so they will be going next week to be neutered then up for adoption..

Kitten Cam

I may never do work while at work again.  FINALLY got the kitten cam up and running

Kittens at work

I had to run an errand today while at work, so I thought I'd bring the kittens in for a visit..
They started their day hiding..

I let them hang out in my boss' office so they get used to new people and new environments.  They aren't adjusting as fast as other kittens I've brought in.  Apparently she printed and scared them, so they are pretty much still where they were in this photo three hours ago.  Usually kittens are creating mayhem and knocking things over by this point.  Maybe next trip.

Week 6.5

Sorry they are late, I haven't been feeling well.

This would be Lillie the mom.  ( I went to the shelter during the week and told the foster coordinater the names and sexes of the kittens, she made a few changes in spelling and over-rode the girl's name)

This would be the girl.  Originally called Bastet, now called Shakira.  It was quite humorous tonight as she did not have time to have her photo taken.  She just wanted to play.

This is Marty.  Marty has turned out to be one outgoing little boy.  When I took him to work during the week, he was all out and about interacting with the staff.  The girl and Rupert were both freaked and tried to find a place to hide.

This is Rupert. He is still way too quiet for my tastes.  He is usually just waking up from a nap when I go in and visit, and will sit in the comfy spot he's picked out until I move him.  I'm sure he'd eventually move on his own, but I just don't have the patience to wait.  He is actually the heaviest of all the kittens, and does eat and play (see upcoming photos) but he's just so darn quiet.

The girl and Rupert playing.

Dinner Time

Bath time vs Play time - guess who won

Week 5

Rupert is a little on the shy side...

Unfortunately the camera is a little slow.  Marty was playing with the toy to the right of him

The girls are eating

Rupert just sitting there.  He's still very quiet.  He does play, but he's more reserved then his siblings.  I weighed him though, and he's actually 3 or more ounces heavier then the other two.  Rupe is 1lb 6 ozs.  Marty is 1lb 3 oz and the girl is 1lb 2 oz.

Introduction to food

I know it was a little early, but the kits kept seeming to be interested in food, and I was wondering how far that interest went.  I personally think the face kits make when they taste food for the first time - good or bad - is quite humorous, so I generally can't resist (no matter how many times I tell myself that kittens will wean on to food on their own with out my help).

The boys both really liked the taste of the food, but they couldn't quite make the connection to the stuff they were smelling and the stuff I put in their mouth.  That's OK.  The girl however LOVED food, and quickly made the connection to the food mom was eating to the stuff I put in her mouth, and went up to the bowl and started eating!!  :)

it was really cute

More Picts

Week Three

I've annoyed Lilly by moving her, then rearranging her kittens to try to keep a better eye on them.  I kept putting them in the kitten box that most moms use, but she kept moving them back.  She got so annoyed that the carrier apparently was no longer safe from me that she moved them into the corner of the room.  I tried blocking that off, but she kept shoving them in there, so I'm trying not to be pushy any more.  another week or two they won't listen to her any more anyway.

I've ended up calling Thing Two  "Marty" and it seems to fit him pretty well.  Today he thought he might come out of the corner, but once he saw how big the room was he turned around

Two weeks

I can't believe it has only been two weeks since the kits were born.  They are doing so well.  Last night they started walking out of the nest on their own.  they didn't venture very far before they turned around and went back in, but each one in turn gave it a shot.

The girl, Bastet, is doing the best at walking.  She is very stable (considering) and walking up on her feet and off her belly.  Thing One I think might be called Rupert, is doing next best.  He too is up on his feet, but he is very wobbly.  Thing Two is the slowest (and the heaviest) of the bunch.  He's still mostly swimming where he wants to go - not that there is anything wrong with that, he's only two weeks old for goodness sake.  I was a little concerned for him when comparing how far along Bast is - which is what I consider about week 3 status.  They are so very much going to be a handful in a few weeks..

Brace yourself for the cuteness...

Hey, you were warned.  Any resulting head popping from the cuteness was your own fault

Kitten Picts - week one

I woke them up for photo time

I just love this foot shot

She was so ready to have her photo taken!!

He was a little more reluctant.  As you sorta see, his eyes have started opening too.

I had the worst time getting his photo, he will not sit still and kept turning his head, getting out of the shot, etc.  the oddity of being on the toilet seat and being held was finally the key.  His eyes are still quite closed.