And then there was one

It would appear that the demand for kittens is keeping pace with the supply--at least for us. In the two weeks since our foster kittens were featured on the IHS website we've found homes for all of four of the original batch. Our emotions have been mixed as we watch the kittens who have been a part of our lives since they were a week old going off to new families.

Thank you all who have adopted "our" kittens. We feel good knowing they've gone to people who will love and appreciate them.

I should get a picture of Kelsey up soon. She's our remaining kitten. She was brought in as a stray, and was not handling the shelter well. With four kittens already bouncing about, we figured what's one more?

It's obvious, however, that this little one has had a much different life thus far. She was very shy at first and preferred to hide. The other kittens made her nervous, and she would hiss at them whenever they came near. But as she's had more contact with us and with the our gradually-diminishing herd she's started to come out of her shell more and more. She now plays with us quite eagerly, though she's still less sure of the other kittens.

I think she just needs some time. Since she's a few weeks younger than the first batch of kittens she still has some time. I suspect in a few weeks she'll be ready for prime time.

In the mean time we still have Grace, the mother cat. Now that she doesn't have to care for her kittens she's been showing her personality more. She's playful, but also quiet and unassuming. She gets along well with our cats, and can hold her own against the ornery one. She's still got some growing of her own to do, but I suspect she'll remain an elegant, handsome cat.

We want to take a break after this round of fostering. I'm not laying odds on it, though.

The kittens are ready for a home

Our little family of kittens are now old enough to be adopted out. It seems such a short time since they came here, no longer than their tails are now. They grow so fast! But in case you're interested, here are the listings on the IHS site:

Zamzow
Timmy
Rosie
Buddy
Grace, the mommy-cat

We've picked up an additional little cutie which we've named Kelsey. She was found all alone as a stray, and was having a very difficult time at the shelter. Now she's here with us, and while she is very loving and starved for affection, she is also shy and cautious. For now she seems afraid of other cats, but we're hoping to help her overcome that. She's a gorgeous little lady with some of the most striking markings I've ever seen on a cat. When she's ready to be adopted she'll make a very elegant addition to any family.

Gracie finds a home

I guess it's been awhile since I posted here. Gracie has found a home, at least temporarily. There is to be a trial period first, but the person who took her seems to know dogs pretty well and was specifically looking for a dog like Gracie. It's been four days now, which is plenty of time for a sweetie like Gracie to work her way into your heart.

I do miss her a bit, though.

We still have Grace and the kittens. The kittens are nearly big enough to be put up for adoption, and we're trying to help Grace wean them. It's not easy, as Grace really starts getting anxious after awhile. She must be a mother, as it only takes me about five minutes before I want to get away from all that energy attached to pointy claws.

Kittens are cute, of course, but only up to a point. I wonder if people really understand what they're getting in for when they get so excited about adopting kittens. It's good that people adopt them, certainly, but they can be a lot of work.

We're not just "dogs" anymore

We have kittens! Very young kittens! They're little more than a few weeks old at the most, as their eyes just opened last week and they're still figuring out how to walk. Most of the time they sleep and eat, but now and then they wake up enough to get curious about their surroundings. And then they totter about the bathroom like a bunch of fuzzy, geriatric space aliens, mewling piteously, and bumping into things.

Their mother is with them too, of course. She can't be much more than a year old herself, but she is doing a fabulous job. She's very protective and attentive, even though she dearly loves any bit of attention we can spare her.

This time of year the shelter is overrun with kittens. People who could never bring themselves to spay or neuter their cats--especially their outdoor cats--should be required to work a few weeks at the shelter during this yearly surge of unwanted families. There are literally hundreds of cats, with entire families crammed into a single 2'x1.5'x3' cage.

Grace was having a difficult time raising her kittens under those circumstances, and so a desperate call for help was sent out to all foster homes. We decided to give it a try, as the kids have been desperate to earn some pocket money lately and we're trying to teach them responsibility. They take care of Grace and her kittens for a little bit of money each day. If Grace and the kittens are to have any hope of getting adopted when the kittens are old enough they all need to be used to humans--and especially kids.

So far so good, though the kids have been a bit disappointed so far that the kittens don't do much or want to play yet. But in the mean time they've already given them names: Grace, for the mother, and then Timmy, Buddy, Rosie, and Zamzows (poor thing!). Don't worry, these names aren't permanent.

We'll have them for another seven weeks before the kittens are old enough to be adopted out. We only hope they'll be able to find good homes. Grace is a real sweetheart with striking green eyes, beautiful white and gray markings, and a very pleasant, affectionate personality. The kittens are all varying shades of gray at present, though already some of them are showing signs of having longer fur than the others. Timmy seems to be the most inquisitive of the group so far.

More details as their personalities develop. It should be an interesting place around here for awhile.