Play time

are you coming in here to play with us or what?

Why did you toss this at me?

MOUSE!!

What mouse?

Is this a mouse?

Just a note... Nigel put on another ounce last night to 1lb 11. 

Doing well

I finally got an email from Patience and Spud's new mom. She says they are "doing well" and that's about all. *sigh* how can people not understand how much I love these cats and want nice long detailed info about how they are doing. If I went and took them from her she'd want an update I bet you anything *sigh* Must learn to let go.

She did say she changed their names to Momma and Stewie. Stewie? um. Ok. Kinda cute, kinda fitting.

Kit and Twee really miss Spud/Stewie. They sit in front of that door all the time.. meow at it..

I love my kitties..

but some times I wish they didn't love me SOOO much.

Yesterday I woke up to Kit sleeping right next to my left shoulder. I turned a little bit in my sleep, and she reached out and patted my face. Uber sweet no? I loved it. Well moments later Muffin - realizing I was awake - plomped herself on my chest and started giving me a facial. Jack had been on my chest, but he moved when the Diva came and sat on my pillows. Tweedle then showed up and started SCREAMING at me. I have no idea why she does it.. she's just a screamer.

This morning.. no cute wake up by Kit, but pretty much the same routine. Although after I got screamed at, Kit wanted me to throw her mouse for her. Well she didn't bring me a mouse to throw, so I mentioned that, and off she went to get one. She came back and we had a few minutes of fetch before Muffin decided I was moving around too much and ran Kit off.

Guess Kit has forgiven me for letting Spud go.

Speaking of Spud... I haven't heard from his new owner yet.. despite her assurances that she'd email me. *sigh* I wish they wouldn't do that if they aren't going to..

Goodbye Patience and Spud - you are missed!

The only way I could keep Spud still to take his pict.



Patience had no problem getting her photo taken. She was just glad to be out and about




Spud just wanted to play


So did Patience


As did Kit!


Wednesday morning they left to go to the vet (they did fine) and Kit was very sad.


They are both VERY well behaved kitties. They didn't much like staying in one room when they knew there was a whole house to play in, but when you tell them it is time to go back, they either come to you, or just hunker down.. unlike most fosters who escape the foster room, who will run and make me catch them. Spud had "only kitten syndrom" but a few trips to work, and some good play time with Kit and Ollie (Ollie don't play that! put Spud right in his place) and he's settled down in to such a good little boy.

I'm a little unhappy with the shelter - but guess I'm going to have to let it go. Patience has a suspected food allergy. Everyone I talked to about it agreed. She had scabs on her that would show up and then disappear with in a day. Went to vet, was tested and negative for ringworm. Was put on an all poultry diet (she didn't eat the beef) and the scabs stopped appearing. She got some food with beef in it, and she broke out again. When I returned her to the shelter, I told the manager, and even wrote it on her cage card. The person doing the cleaning and feeding threw away my note, and gave her dry food and I'm sure some mixed canned food (they open up 100 cans into a bucket and feed from the bucket each day) that contained beef. So that the morning of their adoption, she was feeling pretty lousy and had vomited all over her cage. The info about her having allergies didn't make it to her cage card, but it did make it into the computer. I was there for the adoptions, so I had them make out a card, and I told potential adopters to feed canned poultry only. The woman who adopted them - and yes, they went home together - seemed to understand. She wanted to feed some sort of dry, and I said if you can find one that specifically says no beef, it shouldn't be a problem.. but that is hard. Often they are just random "meat" products.

Kit and Twee really miss Spud. They would run down in front of me, and sit by the foster room door, just waiting for him to escape. I really miss him too. He's got such great spirit! He wasn't a cuddler, but he came such a long way from the little boy who bit and attacked everything. He would start to lick instead of bite.. which was cute. not much cuter than kitten tongue :)

Sigh

There was another pregnant cat I probably could have put my name on, but my foster room gets so cold in the dead of winter - and the electric bills for running the heater are not something I want right now. When the kits are older, I can keep it at a reasonable temp, but newborns shouldn't be subjected to cooler temps. That and I have a healthy fear of pregnant cats - cause I've seen too many pregnancies go bad.. and I don't need that right now.

Merry Christmas Spud

I wish I had brought the camera, but last friday I bought Spud into work. We were having a little party (we all brought food and sat around drinking champagne) so I figured I'd bring the entertainment.. and boy did he provide.

Gus - a boston - was there. He comes in on a regular basis. He has grown up with cats, and has a cat visiting his house now, but for some reason he's not too thrilled with kittens. The last time I brought a young kitten in while he was there he lunged at it too. Poor Spud. He was in his cage, and Gus became a pointer. Shoved his nose in the carrier air hole and didn't move for 10 minutes, and when he did it was to shove his nose in another air hole. Fortunately his mother came and got him after a few hours, and spud had free roam of the office. He was sooo good. Hung out with us, didn't have a single accident. Played fiercely. there were lots of laughs.

My boss asked that he come back soon, so I brought him last friday too. Once again he didn't disappoint. It is so funny to watch him run around. His back legs are not coordinated with his front legs, so he often out runs his front legs and ends up turning and not meaning to, so he runs into things. I think the outings are doing him good. He doesn't seem as intent on biting any more. Not that he doesn't.. but it isn't ALL that he does now.

He's 2lbs 3oz, so probably another week with me. my Boss invited him back, so probably next friday (I have short days, so I don't feel the need to bring a litterbox) and then he'll go for adoption.

This past week he seems to have grown quite a bit. I'll have to go get some photos to share..

The bunnies went back the weekend before Christmas. Foster coordinator wanted me to take the back after the weekend, but they were putting quite a strain on the household now that they were getting so big. One even escaped, so I said I really couldn't. there were eight, there only seems to be six up on the website, so I guess two went home.. yea! :)

Patience is at the Vet

Not sure if I mentioned she was getting weird scabs showing up and disappearing, but leaving behind a patch of missing fur. very bizarre, that it all happens with in a day or two. Brought to shelter last night to show them, and they kept her and brought her to the vet today.. probably won't know what it is, but they'll probably want to do a culture for ringworm - which I won't get back for a couple of days.

bunnies are growing like weeds.. they need to get back to the shelter soon too..

Made cat food over the weekend.. 40lbs of it again. Just posting to keep track of how long it is lasting :)

~*warning - rant*~
I visit a couple of different message boards on line. One having nothing to do with animal rescue had a post about rescuing feral cats.. The woman was so very proud she helped to rescue a cat with FIV and mange, and how they had it spayed and are trying to find it a home.

Now this is noble and all, and if there weren't THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of healthy friendly cats who don't have homes in this country - many of which are being put down simply because there aren't enough funds (it cost money to spay this cat and treat it for mange) or space for them to wait out new homes - not to mention not enough new homes for them all. (I have six, I've done my part thank you)

I just wanted to shout "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!!!" but I know it wouldn't be well received - and I'm pretty sure it isn't going to be well received on this board either, but it's mine and I can say what I want :)

I want to rescue them all, but I know it isn't fesable, nor wise to even try. Already neutered, or in a home that loves the cat, that's one thing, but to try to save this stray just hurts... because I know all the wonderful healthy cats out there... (ok not personally, but I know some of them personally)

Sigh

a few photos

Mom, Stop bothering me! (Eli)



Kit chewing on the tree


My trying to explain to Kit not to chew on the tree


Kit sitting under the tree nicely - pretending she understood about chewing on the tree


Bunnies!













my foster kitten "Spud"









Some videos
Bunnies eating


Spud playing

oops

Well I made a big fat mistake last night. My poor rabbit Bri has been stuck in her cage and I wanted to let her out and get her some exercise. Well I put her in with the babies.. Mom was fine with her till one of the babies started harrassing Bri, and she ran away.. Well mom didn't like all the running and went and attacked Bri. Have you ever tried to separate two warring bunnies? Kinda scary! I finally got Bri cornered under a box, and got her out of there. There was Bri fur in the pen, so I tried to examine her, but she was not having any of that. So I put her back in her cage with some treats and let her rest. I'll keep an eye on her.

The babies are doing very well. Eating me out of house and home if I'd let them. Mom has crusty ears.. Don't know if the shelter is going to want to do anything about it or not. She also feels quite hot to me, but I've never had a lactating rabbit before.

Teddy my previous foster who came for a visit is having some issues. He had a urinary issue before he came, and was on antibiotics. I gave him the remainder of his doses, but then he was in and out of the litterbox a couple of times this morning. I told his mom who is coming for him tonight. I'll miss them!

My little Spud is a laugh riot. He's running but it is like he doesn't have a rudder.. just running and running, but no idea where. I put mom's food on the floor to see if he'd be interested in food. It is a little early, but some of them eat sooner than others.. and he saw mom eating, and went for a nibble or two.. so it won't be long now. I'm going to try to get a video of him running, it is just too cute.

warning - gross content included

Last night I went down to clean up the foster room. I'm having company for Thanksgiving, and they need a room to stay in. Previous foster Teddy and his new sister Gypsy - who you have met before - are coming for the holiday.

Well when I was cleaning, I realized I was going to have a serious problem putting the fosters in my office. The little boy no longer wants to sit in the box. He's out 'splorin! and there is no stopping him. and because he's small enough he could get in crevices and get stuck and cause major problems. So we are going to keep them where they are, and put the house guests either in the office or in the rabbit room.

Well while cleaning, Patience decided she needed to use the litter box. Because she has had such soft stool recently, I was curious about the consistancy of what was to come. Seemed nice and firm, with a little mucus on it.. so I wasn't worried. Went to cover it up and scoop it out when I realized the mucus moved. it was COVERED in Tapeworm segments.. ewww!! Usually when there are tapes, you get segments in where they sleep, but I hadn't seen any evidence prior to the live segments..

So off I went to the shelter..

And while I was there I was almost given a dozen bunnies.. they had babies that need fostering. Talk about CUTE!! I so love baby bunnies.. They need a lot of socalization, so they are probably better off where they are, and I'm about to be overwhelmed with house guests and family for the holiday.. but I so want them!! :)

back to the gross factor.

I cleaned up the rabbit room. I knew I had a problem with the hay that I had stored in there. The rabbit had taken to sitting on it when she was out of her cage, and I had seen pellets in it. Saw the kitten squatting on it too. But stupidly I just ignored it all for so long. Well no longer. Started picking up the hay, and I was almost overcome with fumes of stale urine.. the floor was a mess! Fortunately it hadn't penetrated, and after some liberal dousing with white vinegar (miracle cleaner of urine) and harty elbow greese, the floor looks mostly normal. Not perfect, but way way better than I could hope to expect. Unfortunately I can't say the same for the baseboards.. those she has chewed all up. but that is a much more minor repair..

Fortunately Bri has calmed down a little. She jumps up to me and lets me pat her now.. Unfortunately Kit likes her too, and when ever Bri isn't in her cage, either Kit or Twee or Jack is in her cage :) its just too cute.

the cuteness of kittens..

Ok, I'll admit it. I've been doing this for more years than I care to count, and I'm still bowled over by how cute kittens can be.

This morning I went down to feed Patience, and her kitten wasn't in the box. So I called out to him, and heard a tiny squeek. I looked around, no kitten. Called again, got another squeek.. Kept looking.. no kitten. another call, another squeek, and a nose.. He had wedged himself behind the electic register heater that I had on very low. The room they are in is heated with one register, but the other side of the room is underground, and in the winter it gets cold.. so I turn it on from time to time. Guess he liked the heat.

It was just so cute.. grabbed him up, gave him tons of kisses, and left him in the box.

I'm sure he was out of it before I was even out of the room :)

Growing like a weed

Well my little foster kitten is getting so big! He now jumps right out of the box all by himself, and often. I saw him do it for the first time last night, and he seemed surprised by it. I left him out of the box to see what would happen.. well this morning he was in it. Jumped right out when he saw me. I put him back, and i had barely stood upright when he jumped out again :D Just too cute!

Then.. he started POUNCING!! lol. Can barely walk, and he's trying to pounce.. oh this one is going to be trouble! I guess I need to pick out a name for him hun?

Mom is eating up a storm now that she's been dewormed.

103.5 then 102.5

Well last night Kit's temp was 103.5. Which was up from the morning temp. I gave her fluids, which she hated, and let her go. She came back about an hour later and jumped up on DH and sat there for the rest of the night (save me daddy!!)

Took her temp this AM, she fought it hard.. which is good. She was running and playing and acting adorable. 102.5 still seems on the high side to me, but it could be her normal. I'll take it again tonight to see where we stand, but it seems we are out of the woods.

Last night she walked by me, and I mentioned out loud that she has a very long tail (it seems to be longer than her body). Just then Eli was walking by, so he stopped and sniffed at her tail. It was just a cute moment I thought I'd share.

Patience has loose stool. Gave her meds this morning, she was completely unimpressed. she's also been sneezing. The baby now sounds a little congested. He's been holding steady at 13.5 oz for a couple of days now.. so I'm starting to get concerned. I'll watch them and see what happens, and if need be I'll go to the shelter and get some antibiotics for them both.

Picts

Kit

Baby

Patience

New fosters

I went to adopt Kit yesterday, and was given new fosters. Mom and one baby. Both are black and white. Mom is really sweet and has lots of patience with me, so I named her Patience. The baby.. its a boy. We'll see what comes of him.