Peter update

I stopped in the shelter last night (see above post) and I spoke to an employee who spoke with the family that adopted Peter.  She said that they said he is a wonderful boy and is the most friendly and outgoing cat they have ever had.

I'm sure after a bit of adjustment and getting used to their current kitty..

Cause that Peter, he was a special boy. 

I'm glad he's happy.
*wipes tear from eye*

I didn't think I would cry

I got the call today.  Peter was adopted.  A "nice family" with another kitty, and will be indoor only they say.

I'm sorry I'm not going to find out what was going on in his ears, and said as much to the shelter manager who called.  She said they could always call and follow up, which I would appreciate, because as I said, I have never seen anything like what happened to Peter's ears.

Tears are still streaming down my face as I type this.. I guess despite all my protests of adopting Peter, part of my heart screamed for him.  It is better, but being right doesn't lessen the pain.

I did download an app called Touch Cats.  I thought it would be really silly and I wouldn't enjoy it, but when I went to pick out a kitten and I saw a cream colored kitten, I "adopted" him and called him Petie (couldn't call him Peter for some reason)  I then adopted a black kitty and named him Tinsel, and I "play" with them and love on them.  It is quite funny as they act quite a lot like the real Peter and Tinsel, vying for attention, being silly, etc.

And the ironic thing is, I have more then once pushed away my own cats so I can play with my virtual cats.  I know how silly that is, so I try not to do that too much.  But I think it is something in the way the virtual cats meow that calls them to me

I took a little video.  Unfortunately it is not in focus, and I have no idea how to focus in close up on my flip cam.  But you can get the idea.  Petie is wearing a hat and Tinsel is wearing a shirt that I "won" by going on a "mission"   It is silly..

Another Visit to PetSmart

Are you SURE you can't fit a tiny little furry boy into your life??

*sigh*

When I showed up a woman and her son were there, and the boy was patting Peter, but they ended up taking a little girl who just showed up that morning.  I went in and gave him some snuggles (which he wasn't up for) and gave him a once over.  His lump is still receding, but it is still there.  However, his ears are a friggen mess.  At first blush it looked a bit like an overgrown ear mite infestation with a smidge of infection going on, but as I tried to clean it, the dirt was attached to scabs which pulled off and caused quite a bit of bleeding.  In less then a week his ears went from clean to crappy.  The girl attending was surprised saying "we look at them every day".  Have to wonder what her definition of "look at" really is.

So I tried to clean his ears.  It must have been very painful because his ears turned all pink, and he did NOT want to sit still for it.  At least he wasn't aggressively reactive, just squirmy and wanting to leave.  I let him go and played with him for a while and I tried to get another peek a bit later to see what was going on.  The lighting wasn't great, and he was not cooperative,   I took a few photos, but unfortunately they aren't the clearest things

His left ear was worse then the other, but they were both effected.

Other then this though, he seemed fine.

having a snack

after chasing a toy

the girl working there told me that Tinsel went to a "wonderful home"  Like they would tell me anything else, but she said it was right down the street from her and she walks past it every day.  He will be an indoor kitty, and will most likely call him Tinney (tinny?  Tin-y?)

There was also a note left for me earlier in the week..

Tinsel went to a perfect home, they have kids and another cat.  He'll be indoor only.  Peter doesn't even care he's gone.  I know you wanted them together, but it was hindering their chances of adoption and that wasn't fair to them.  They'll be ok apart I'm sure of it and Peter will have a home in no-time.

which is amusing because six days later he's still there for adoption.

and again, it wasn't that Peter needed Tinsel per say, but he needed a friend to help him get past overwhelming events..  .. c'est la vie


So as I type, and fret, and stew, it is nap time..

Kit, Fleurp, Muffin

Well, Tinsel was adopted.... (and some verbal diarrhea)

I'm not happy. (but I am happy for Tinsel)  I have been reluctant to post about what has been going on as I wasn't sure if it was an actual issue or not. 

I stopped in to see Peter and Tinsel on Saturday evening.  Their write up which originally had "we must go home together" written on it by a staff member had a post it on it saying they could be separated.  I was quite upset, and went home wondering why.  Wondering if I even had the right to say something... well I guess I always have the right to "say something" but probably not to push the matter. 

I had taken the post it, hoping that would be enough.  Hoping that it was someone not in authority who had wrote it, and that by removing it that it wouldn't happen.  I fretted and obsessed, and finally I gave up and called the shelter staff member who is in charge of PetSmart.  She didn't answer her phone, so I left a message.  She did not call.  I called again in the morning, trying to be very pleasant, and saying I just wanted to ask a question about policy and it would just take a moment.

I really needed to know why after three months this decision was made.

So she didn't call. So I called the shelter manager on Sunday.  I left her a message as well but told her I didn't really need a call back about this.  I was started to feel a little obsessive about this.  Once again, what am I "allowed" to say/insist on.  I mean these aren't my cats.  I'm "just a volunteer".  I've been volunteering for a very long time, more then a dozen years, maybe 15, maybe even 20.. I'm not really sure.  I've been fostering since they started the program. 

I also was hoping that it wouldn't matter. That they would be adopted together. 

I went by this evening.  Tinsel was gone.  My write up was gone.  Peter was in the cage all by himself.

I am bothered that it was not discussed with me.  (Do I even have a right to think they should have asked?)  I'm bothered that I did not get a call back.  I'm bothered that they would igo along with them be adopted together for three months then all of a sudden decide, well maybe not.  Granted Peter does really well when he is comfortable in an environment, but when change happens he pulls inside himself.  Even coming back here when he was sick it took him a while to come out of his shell.  Tinsel helped him accept that the world was not out to get him.  If Tinsel could do it, Peter thought he could do it.  Will Peter be OK with out a friend.. I guess, but I think he would do so much better with one.  (Or at least in a home that is understanding that he is like that - but with out a write up, the new home will not know)

I want so much to grab him and bring him home.  But I did that with Skippy, and while I do not regret bringing him home, I'm not sure it was the best thing for him or the resident kitties. I'm sure Peter would do OK here, but he might do so much better in a less complicated household.

*sigh*

So I'm not sure I feel comfortable fostering at this point.  I get so emotionally invested.  I am supposed to bring these little ones into my home and love them, and nurture them, and care about them, and my feelings don't stop at the door.... and I'm not sure I would be any good as a "maker of good kittens" if they did.

So, I do need to have a conversation with the shelter about this.  I need to decide if this is something I can accept.  if it isn't, will another shelter have different rules about this sort of thing?  If not, what am I going to do with all my new found free time?  and how bad is the kitten fever going to get watching others foster such as IBKC  (I mean come on, have you seen Mr. Kirby??)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On a side note, I called the vet today.  I'm going to bring Fleurp in the morning for a blood draw to see if she is anemic again.  She's back at the dirt and still playing with screws even though we picked up every single one we could find.  I scheduled Twee and Eli for a week from tomorrow for dentals.

Sigh

If anyone wants to adopt Peter and Tinsel, I will find a way to get them to you!!  I'll drive them, fly them, what ever is needed..

I'm just so frustrated...

maybe tomorrow

Yet another trip to PetSmart

I got there just as the women who were cleaning for the night were leaving, so I was able to sneak in and get some kitten time with out bugging the staff.  Once again I got the "you should so adopt them!!" speil.  Both of them were apparently just talking about me when I walked up and were thinking I should just take them home since I visit so much.

I had a nice visit. Peter gave me his belly to pat, and we had a lot of fun with some neon colored feathers at the end of a string on a stick.  Tin was jumping and doing back flips trying to catch it.  Peter finally caught it and grabbed it and ran off with it.  It was so adorable seeing those neon feathers against his cream and buff little body.

As I was leaving I ran into a staff member who I know because she is also a volunteer at the shelter.  She too gave me the speil.  Guys, if it were possible for me to keep them, do you think by now I would have adopted them!!  I feel much like I did when I was younger and people found out for the first time that I decided to not have children. 

So today Mary started Tweeting about the boys trying to drum up some interest in them.  Nikki posted on facebook.  :) I saw Mary tweeted directly to Eliza Dushku which I thought was quite funny since the last time I took videos of the boys I was watching the Angel episodes where she was on being Faith and saving the world.  The scenes that were playing were a little graphic, so I didn't watch the videos prior to tonight, but I couldn't resist.  There are some cute ones.  I'm not sure if you can hear the TV, I couldn't.

Nearly wordless Wednesday

Hey Peter, whatcha looking at?

The cages at PetSmart were open today when I stopped by to see them.  Tinsel had jumped up into one cage, Peter in another.  It was cute.  Tin spent quite a bit of time snuggling.  Peter... wasn't quite so snuggly,  I think he's still a little upset with me for returning him.  The notebook was full of praises about how wonderful they both are, so I would say they are doing fine

on a side note, HRH got adopted.  Apparently the PetSmart grooming center cleaned up his lion cut before he left.  I'm glad.

Peter & Tinsel The Odd Couple

Peter and Tinsel are not brothers, but became bonded so quickly, they now seem like brothers.  Peter went into foster care after coming into the shelter covered in used cooking oil.  The thought was he was so hungry he was going for a meal of anything and fell in.  Five baths later he still smelled a bit like a French fry.  He was fearful of new things and people coming at him, but did not mind being held and patted.    It was thought that having a feline companion would help him come out of his shell, and so Tinsel came off the adoption floor and went into foster care. 

Immediately Tinsel was very good to Peter.  He took on the roll of big brother, playmate and friend and took delight in the job.  He pushed Peter out of his comfort zone when needed, and even knew when to back off and let Peter figure things out for himself.   With his new friend Peter blossomed and started seeking out the attention he so craved.  Both Peter and Tinsel are lap kitties, but Tinsel is much more so.   Peter is still cautious in new environments and will take some time to adjust to his new home once adopted.  It would be best if you set them up in one room for a few days to let them adjust to their new home.  Because of Peter’s nature, it would be best if they were to be indoor only kitties.

They went up for adoption  at the beginning of the year, but the right home did not come along.  After being available for a while, both came down with “URI” and needed to go on medication for 10 days.  Both responded well to the medication and got over their cold quickly.  Both of them also had a bit of a reaction (a little swelling) to the vaccine they were given.  This should be mentioned to their vet.

They are a lot of fun, love to play, LOVE to snuggle, and are very good kitties.  They have been eating a mixture of canned and dry food, and been using scoopable litter.

They are in Southern Maine, and currently up for adoption at a local PetSmart.

Happy Anniversery Petfinder

You know, I wasn't going to do this.. as I'm always hawking adoptable kittens, it just seemed so self serving.. (Cause you know Peter and Tin are still available.. )

but this is a good cause, and one more voice to the choir is a good thing..


And since I think it only fair I hawk a kitty that I have nothing to do with, and let the world know that exotic cats are available at shelters, take a look at Oliver

Oliver is a Selkirk Rex available in California.. (doesn't he look a bit like Santa?)



Then there is Corwin

Corwin is a Bengal.

Now granted, you have to take some of what is said with a grain of salt.  While looking for a good munchkin image I saw a munchkin/cook mix, which I have to say must look adorable, but the photos were pretty low quality.  It is a shame that there weren't better picts out there..   *shrug*

But the kitty you are looking for is out there looking for you right now..

and maybe, just maybe? they are a small cream and buff boy with an older solid black brother?

the boys are back at PetSmart

they went yesterday. I didn't blog about it because I've come down with an odd bit of illness. My throat really hurts, but I have absolutely no other symptoms. I jokingly say it is my tonsils, because it kinda feels like it, but I would imagine if it was I would have a fever or something else going on. *shrug* I have a Dr appointment on Wednesday anyway, so if it is still around then, she can look at it.

So.. I brought the boys back to PetSmart after work on Friday. It was about 2pm. I went down into the kitten room to pack them up, and I think Peter knew, because he wasn't coming out and being social like he had be. Tin was out and about so I gave him a good snuggle and then stuck him in the carrier. I didn't want to go and pull Peter out from under the couch, so I let him come to me. It took a bit, and I had to pull out his favorite treats to get him to come out but he finally did.

The boys did make it a little easier for me to let them go... as they did their best to prove to me that my kitten proofed kitten room was not really kitten proof.

they pulled pieces out of a taped puzzle I have nailed to the wall

they chewed through the wires from the tv to the box so I had no sound

Peter's favorite treats

Jack Fleurp and Twee wondering what was going on

"Get out and STAY out!" Muffin no so nicely says goodbye

So I drove them over.  Peter was not very happy, Tinsel was a little concerned.  The two kitties there up for adoption were out of their cage for some exercise.  I put Peter and Tin in the large condo cage they had been in before.  I wasn't sure how they would do with the new kitties being so recently displaced, so I figured it was best.  The first kitty is "Squishy" who is anything but.  He is a very large muscular kitty.  it is a shame he has such a poorly done lion cut, but he really doesn't care.  He is quite regal, a large and in charge boy.  When I stopped by this morning to drop off another write up for the boys, he really gave off an air of being "His Royal Highness" which sounds so silly when followed by Sir Squishy.. so we just kept calling HRH.. which he loved very much.  The second kitty is Lilly.  She was a little more stand offish and not interested in me or the boys.  She observed for a while then wandered off to sit out of reach.

 

 

 

the boys feeling a little confused

 So when I stopped by this morning, Tinsel was doing just fine.  Ignored HRH, and was content to sit under the scratching post they have in there.  I got him playing, and he really enjoyed that.  Peter seemed upset.  Not sure if he was upset with me for not keeping him, or upset that he was in yet another "new place" and just hadn't adjusted yet.  I tried to snuggle him, but he wanted nothing to do with that, and went and sat high up in the condo.   I gave him a little cat nip, which he seemed to like, and left. 

I came home and slept most of the day, so I have no idea if they were adopted or not.  Probably not.  I have to go out and about tomorrow, so I might just check in on them again..

letting go

this is going to be hard.  They have both become so snuggly, that it is a joy to go into the kitten room.  I get probably a full ten minutes of up in my face head buts and licks and snuggles before they start begging for food.  They lay on top of each other so that I can pat both of them with one hand.

They then switch off from playing to snuggling.  they take their turns snuggling with me too. 

*sigh*  their furever home better show up soon... like I show up at PetSmart and they are there..

biding my time

Well Peter and Tinsel were done their medication on Friday.. I've kept them over the weekend to make sure things don't flair up.. I wonder how long I can keep them before it is no longer kosher.  Tinsel is fast approaching his six month birthday, and Peter isn't that far behind (at six months all cats at the shelter become free to adopt)  it is a bit of a shame that they haven't found a home before now.  For the past few days when ever I go to take care of them, they end up getting me to snuggle with them for at least 30 minutes.  Yesterday was a bit different.  I wish I had my camera with me at the time, because the two of them were playing with a furry mouse.  There is a black one and a red one in the room, and they both have to play with which ever one is in motion.  If I throw the other one in the mix so they each have one, it is out and out ignored (or the one they were playing with is ignored for the new one)  They were tossing it up in the air and trying to pounce it like it was a butterfly.. which means EVERYTHING was flying.  Once they even body slammed in the air.

They also take turns wrestling.  Peter will pounce on Tin, then Tin pounces on Petie. 

I so wish someone who would keep in touch would adopt them.  I tried to get @Scully_Cat 's staff to consider them, as there was some talk of kittens.. but alas Scully will have NOTHING to do with it.  She's completely content to be an only kitty.  I get that.  I was so certain that I wouldn't be able to add any more cats to my household when Em became an only kitty after Tig went missing (back in the days when I let my cats free roam - but that too has a long story) She not only made it perfectly clear she was an only cat, she put that thought in practice attacking the few kittens that came to visit.  We couldn't turn down Ollie though, and with proper introductions, she became very accepting of him.  Then when we added Jack, she was content to be queen.  By the time we added Twee, she was queen mom, enjoying licking and snuggling with Twee and the others.  I do think she was much happier because of the addition...

ugh.. I'm rambling.  Sorry..

I do wish I could keep them, but then I go up and spend time with my own crew and get covered with four to six cats and realize there really is just no room.  I know Skippy would LOVE them, mostly because Peter reminds me a lot of him in personality... that and he sits in the window to the kitten room every chance he gets and watches them.

Maybe Friday... Friday is do-able. 

Then I'll swap out the flooring in the kitten room (I put cheap linoleum down over the foam floor squares that we replaced this year. I like it a lot, but it already has a tear in it, so I'll buy a thicker piece this time) and sit and wait for kittens.  Often they don't come in force until June..

What I did this weekend...

Besides hang out with Peter and Tinsel?  yup, I had an interesting day on Saturday. 

A few weeks ago I was asked if I wanted to help out with SpayDay.  I said sure, what do you need and when?  I was told there would be emailed information, and I was good with that.

Well what I didn't realize is that the email would come two days before the event.  I was a little put off by that since it is my husbands' birthday weekend (birthday on Monday) and there was a darn good chance we would have had plans to do something together.  But since both he and I are last minute kind of people, we hadn't settled on anything, and his brother wanted him to come help him with some things, we decided to each do our own thing.  So I went south to a clinic that was participating.

For $25 you could get your cat castrated, for more (I don't remember the exact amount I think it was $40) you could get your cat spayed.  Pretty good deal.  The people prepaid either at the clinic or at the shelter so basically I was checking people in, getting them to sign consent forms and ID'ing the cats to make sure we knew who was who in all of the may lay.

27 cats were brought in.  it was quite amazing watching the staff work.  As it seems in every vet clinic, there was one woman who was doing a million things, and she amazed me.  How she kept everything straight I'm not sure.  There were a bunch of us who were trying to help but felt we were more in the way sometimes.  I trimmed a lot of claws, got a few mats out of fur (oh those bug me to no end.  We had three older Persians who must have been used for breeding in the past who were COVERED)  I also got to watch a few surgeries (which is when I realized for certain I am sensitive to ISO - the sedation they use - as I kept getting light headed.  I wondered if it was the act of cutting and sewing up a cat that made me want to lay on the ground until I watched her sew one cat and did really well until all of a sudden I wanted to be on the ground.. so I figured it was the ISO)

The surgeries are really interesting.  boys go FAST.  snip pop snip tie glue.    Even the girls went pretty quickly, the first surgeon had it down to 17 minutes per cat. 

I was there from 7:30.  People started showing up at 8:00 am  I left at 4:00 PM when the last cat was sedated and headed into surgery.  Seems like such a long day for such a small portion of the unaltered cats to be taken care of, but part of me was thrilled that 27 cats would no longer be adding to the overpopulation.


So then I got home and hung out with Peter and Tinsel.  Tinsel is turning into quite a love bug, he wants his attention and he wants a lot of it.  He's also hit that awkward teen age lanky stage, and watching him trot across the room he looks like a black panther, dragging his feet on the ground before planting them.    It is a shame he is across the room in just a few bounds, and doesn't have more room to run, but he'll be leaving at the end of the week (or maybe early next week) and HOPEFULLY his furever home will finally show up and take them home.  (and no, it is NOT going to be me.  As much as I love them, there is no more room at Chez Connie Maison des Chats)

They are both way better at taking their medication then I thought I would have a right to hope at.  It is clindamyacin and it is horribly bitter tasting.  I spend a few minutes apologizing for having to give them icky stuff but that it will help them feel better and promising them yummy food for dinner.  I went and got a bunch of shredded type canned food (they prefer that to the loaf stuff) and they seem to say "GROSS!!" after I give it to them, but they do not seem to get mad or be upset.  Peter is not a fan of it, and will let Tinsel go first, but when he sees Tinsel getting loved on, he comes over and rubs against my ankles.   I usually sit down there for an hour, and half of that is just sitting watching them play either with each other or toys.  Tinsel is partial to a little red furry mouse he bats around and grabs and carries off.  They like to come and lay on top of me for a few minutes, then jump down and play a bit, then snuggle, then play, it is rather cute.

Guess What..

what?

 They're back!!!

back where??

 You.. your home you silly kittens!!  .. well not officially "home" but back here again for some more care.  Apparently your furever home isn't ready for you quite yet

oh.. ok.  That's alright, I kinda like it here

 Peter was a little unsure of things when he first got here.  He ran out of the carrier so fast that DH thought we left him behind  But after a few minutes of hiding and a few minutes of Tinsel having fun, Peter came out and relaxed a little.  He was still quick to run if you tried to catch him.  They are both on clindamycin for calci virus.  Tinsel's teeth look better and his mouth doesn't smell as horrid as it did.  a little sad since he has been vaccinated for calci,  *shrug*

GOTCHA!!

Peter playing with his tail

more together time

Here Tin, I'll get that spot on your back for you

Waiting to hear on Peter and Tinsel

I am assuming they didn't get to the vet yesterday, and I haven't heard back yet today on their fate.  They are most likely sitting at a vet waiting to be examined.  I'll probably hear in a couple of hours.

I checked my webstats this morning, and couldn't help but smile at all the traffic I got over my post about House.  People got here some interesting ways, and I hope it means they are all interested in treating diabetic cats.  Diabetes in a cat is NOT a death sentence.   My cat lived seven years with diabetes before she died of cancer.

quick Peter & Tinsel update

Well I wrote to the shelter and heard back this morning.  Apparently the staff did mention Tinsel's teeth and they decided they need to be looked at.  Because I was already at the shelter for an animal commuicator reading and to drop off some donations they asked if I wanted to bring them in.  So I ran home, dropped Jack off and went up to PetSmart to grab them.  An uneventful trip back to the shelter and the staff looked them over.  She originally thought that Tin might have Calcivirus because of the sores in the mouth and nose, but one look told her that wasn't it.  They will be going to the vet most likely on Tuesday.  If they don't have so many adoptions over the weekend that all slots are taken up with neuters, they might go on Monday.

They did have quite a few young small dogs ... well maybe they were just small and active, I didn't actually look at their ages.... so it probably will be Tuesday.

I did mention if they need to go back into foster care, I'm more then willing to take them

While I was there I met two kitties waiting for adoption.  One already had a home with a long time volunteer.  A 15 yr old siamese kitty who the owners no longer wanted.  She said they let their pit pulls harass her, and even said they let the dogs go after her.  sometimes I really hate people

The other was a rather large kitty.  I believe his name is Stripes, but I didn't spend a heck of a lot of time looking at the card.  I patted him, and he had a few things to say.. I think it was "spring me from this joint, I don't belong here" 

  

how hard is it to adopt out two little boys?

still no adoption.. *sigh* 

playing with the laser beam

Pwned!

I am handsome

hanging out

I think Tinsel gained weight in the past few days, as he seems so much bigger then Peter.. It seems like the difference in their ages is months not weeks.

 The staff tried using something OTC on his teeth and he didn't much like it.  He was still grumpy when I went to visit, and that is so unlike him, so I decided to write to the shelter and voice my concern.

yet another visit

Ok, seriously, why haven't these two boys found a home yet??  I was so sure they weren't going to be there because I figured they got adopted over the weekend.  But it had been so long since I checked, that I went anyway. 

Peter seems very comfortable there now

Tinsel sleeping

 I snuck them some canned food since I was the only one there tonight. The night cleaning crew had already come and gone.  They were so good, taking turns.  Very well mannered, it reminded me once again how good Tinsel was with Peter.

After the snack, lap time

 Peter's lump is still there.  You can see it slightly when patting him because his fur sticks out.  This was the best picture I could get of it, but it does look much more dramatic then it does in person.  The lump is just into the buff color, the fur sticking out where my jeans are.  The fur was smoothed down, and the part over the lump pops up.  It is barely larger then my pinkie fingernail.  Tinsel's is even smaller.  Tin's teeth are still red and his breath still smells.  The manager wrote that Peter's eyes looked watery.  They are all very mild symptoms but I'm just paranoid enough to think they should be seen before they turn into something.  The shelter has so much experience with mild things turning out to be nothing, so I'm not upset that they haven't done anything yet.

synchronized bathing

another lump

I went and saw Peter and Tinsel yesterday.  Apparently Tinsel is now developing a lump  in the exact same spot that Peter has his.  They are starting to think it is a reaction to the vaccine - which is a little odd since it has been weeks since they got it, but it is too odd to be anything else.

The staff member mentioned Peter was having loose stools.  I mentioned that Tinsel has had them since I brought them home, and she said she'd look into that.  She was bringing a sample back to the shelter to test it to see if it might not be parasitic.

But then I saw this

Apparently kittens live cheezy goodness in the form of Doritos.  They were also digging around in her stuff for her sandwich.  So I can't help but wonder what else they have been eating. 

Although it's probably parasitic

I took another look at Tinsel's teeth, and this time they were very inflamed right where his teeth were.  Yesterday they were all red.  I'm hoping it is just because he is cutting his adult teeth, but some how I doubt that.  I've seen many kitties cut teeth, and they don't smell like he smelled and don't become as red.  But every kitty is different, so hopefully it is nothing.  The staff thought they would get into a vet for a check up though.