Unthrifty kittens go on holiday to a foster home

My two little unthrifty kittens from the lumber yard litter went off to the veterinarian, Dr. Shakespeare at Cornerstone, where the only thing she could find was a possible bacterial infection in the puniest little guy.

But boy, did they luck out, because my veterinarian's daughter Cheyenne, who has volunteered here in the past, was home for the holidays and wanted some kittens to fuss on and love over. So the unthrifty pair went off to my veterinarian's home to get some serious loving for a time, and also the expert attention of my vet. And, bless her, because the kittens were coming into her care, she didn't charge for anything other than the FeLV/FIV tests each kitten had. She covered the blood work and meds.

I kept them for a week until Cheyenne arrived in town, and by then they were both doing quite a bit better. Less whining, and a better looking stool. But they still didn't look like happy healthy kittens. They've been in their foster home for a few days now, and I'm getting some happy-looking photos sent my way via Facebook!

Every kitten deserves a woodstove at Christmas-time!

Because the unthrifty kittens are in their foster home, the two black feral kittens can now come out and romp in my woodstove room. They are pretty easy to catch, and one is quite the purr-ball, but they aren't too enthused with me because I have to treat their eyes three times a day. I'm trying to balance this with toy-time and treats, but one--Blynken--still hisses when I reach for him. The other, Nod, thinks I'm OK.

What a bummer to have two sets of kittens at Christmas-time who aren't able to be adopted out! But at least they are both getting lots of attention, and hopefully will soon be well.

Returning torti-mom to her home

The torti-mom of the black feral kittens is all healed up from her spay at the SPCA of Tompkins County and went back to her home today. Her caregiver and the across-the-road neighbors were very concerned that she have shelter in addition to what was there. I don't have any new shelters put together (although I do have wood enough for one cut up, but not assembled) so I took along the one I have out for Buster--who doesn't use it now that he comes inside at night, and also because he has the heated little house on the porch. I'll put together a new one to bring them when I have a chance to get it assembled. So much to do, so little time!

Torti-mom did not go blasting out of the feral cat den when I opened it, so I left it for her to come out at her own pace. I dislike watching the "let-er-run" method of releasing newly spayed female cats, although the mystery gray-and-white eartipped cat, caught here, that I took for a rabies booster, did go zooming off. I was just as glad to see she was going to come out on her own, hopefully after realizing that she's back in her home territory.

If you get tired of boring conversation, the torti is shown again at the 50 second marker.



So at this location there were two adult cats -- the feral torti-mom, who is now spayed and eartipped, the unexpected gray-and-white cat who was already neutered and eartipped who got his rabies booster (so it is likely there is another person caring for cats in this rural section of the highway), and four kittens, two who were adopted by the landowner and a neighbor as indoor pets, and two who are with me, who have been neutered will also be adopted into indoor homes.

From six to two, and the two remaining are sterile, fed, and sheltered. Sounds like decent math to me!

Gifts from the hands and heart

One or twice a year, for a number of years, a beautiful package shows up at my door or at the PO Box. These arrived last week, a year to the day when they arrived last year:

They are all different colors and sizes, and they are a joy to unpack. Lately the ones sent have been round, and they wash really well--because they have no corners, they don't get stretched out on the wash, and for some reason they seem to snag less often on cat claws. They fit in cat beds just beautifully. If you have washed a cat bed, you know the inside never looks quite as nice as it does when purchased, although the outside may look just fine. One of these cuddled into the bed makes it looks new again, and the cats love them.

Fluffy (18 years old) says "yes, indeed."

Here is a video from last year with the foster cats in house check them out before they went out to the cats in the foster facility:



I took a pile into the cat facility, but before I could get them all tucked into cages and beds, Byron decided to check them out:




My heartfelt holiday thanks to the Handmade House in NJ and all the people who might knit/crochet for them, and also to George who, along with Jazz, adopted Tiger Tom and Ziggy, and brought The Owl House into the fold of shelters the Handmade House assists every year.

TigerTom and Ziggy are below, snoozing on Georg's Facebook page: