The single kittens

**for those following along, mom tried to fix the fountain. And failed.... It still leaks. But a certain tuxedo cat had a lot of fun until mom took it away (again).
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The single kittens are doing well. Our local spay/neuter clinic is having some....issues....so their surgery is currently scheduled for August 27th. sigh

But they are a lot of fun and are very lovey and great kittens. Hopefully they will get adopted quickly once they are ready to go.

Fate

he is a charmer and always looking for action

Lane

miss trouble maker - her new game is to leap up and 

attach herself to an available mom body part

Mopar

he is back to being a little skittish but hopefully

now that mom is home for a while he will recover

That said - he was being a bit grabby with the phone the other night:

Stupid cat fountain

Mom was gone again this past weekend. Since she doesn't trust the fountain would be kept filled, she unplugged it, cleaned it, and left it on the counter.

When she got home yesterday, she set it back up and....the dumb thing is leaking out the back by the plug. Mom is going to attempt to fix it (don't hold your breath) but in the meantime, some cat is unhappy about this new development.

Random Fridays

We promise to get back on track next week. With vacations and family stuff, mom has been out of sorts for a couple of weeks. We will sit on her and get it together.....maybe....hopefully....well we can try. MOL

Meow Meetup

Mom left us last weekend and took off for Chicago to hang with her cat lady friends and attend her first cat convention. It was a lot of fun for her. There were famous cats (most of whom she had never heard of except for our friend Summer), kitty yoga (mom didn't try that), a cat cafe, adoptable cats, workshops, speakers and lots of stuff to BUY!!!

mom bought herself these cute earrings that

have whiskers in them from

Volana Kote

She found this cute magnet to send to

Cupcake's dad

Steve Dale gave a talk about Fear Free in your home and vet office

Mom also found this cute print from Leeza Works

that she got to put on our wall of cat prints and stuff

to represent Goldfish

The best part was hanging with friends and doing cat stuff. Mom certainly recommends going if you can next year.

Weekend report

More later, but mom spent the weekend in Chicago for Meow Meetup, a cat convention. Several of her cat lady friends were there as well. They got in early to take a tour of Tree House Humane and visit a couple of cat cafes. The convention had vendors and speakers and was a lot of fun.

Random Fridays

Nope - we not planning anything

Why do you ask?

It isn't a great picture, but Chanel had just reached out

and the look of disdain on Ivy's face is pretty priceless

yep - looking for trouble 

(doesn't have to look too far - he IS trouble)

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Mom took Chanel to a fundraiser on Tuesday for the rescue.
Chanel wasn't as comfortable as mom was expecting, so they didn't stay long (mom will write more about it later).

Chanel did have a temporary friend to keep her company though.... Mom found a pink sock monkey on sale and will be sending it to Cupcake (it is a running joke). However, to up the ante, she let the monkey take a trip with Chanel before being shipped out. 

we got it

Mom was playing with the kittens over the weekend and found a wand toy. It was very popular with the boys. Lane however was a little afraid of it and took a few minutes to warm up.

Once she did however, she was right in the middle of things with the boys.

No Fate - not the stick. 

It went pretty well and the kittens shared....for the most part. It was hard for mom to wave it around and get good pictures (which is why Miss Robyn cheats and makes Fred wave the wand toy). Plus the kittens need a nail trim and keep getting stuck to the felt parts.

weekend review

Mom says it was a relatively quiet weekend. She ran some errands on Saturday - including adoptions from one of our partner stores. YAY!!!

Otherwise it was lazy or goofing off....

 

that track ball is pretty popular

 

Fate haz complaints

 

Lane haz complaints too

Mopar is complainy too. This whole crew has opinions about EVERYTHING and every reason to yell at mom every chance that they get. Especially for breakfast and dinner.

Random Fridays

If you live near central Ohio and are free Tuesday night, the rescue is doing a fundraiser at Platform Beer Co from 3pm to midnight. Mom is going to try to sneak out of work early, grab Chanel and head down there to show our support since Chanel is an alumi.

last year sitting at the table in the bar

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If you aren't checking the webcam into the foster room, you should be. Mom pulled out a crinkly tube for the kittens. After a couple of days on the balcony to air out, it came back inside yesterday morning. Fate was a little freaked out by it at first, but mom checked on them throughout the day and found them playing in it quite a bit.
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Life with Goldfish

**a post by the mom

When I agreed (ok - admitted) that Goldfish was staying and becoming a permanent member of the house, I knew it would be a challenge.

but look at that face!!

That girl had some serious trust issues. And honestly, I didn't want another situation like we have with Junior - where he lives here and is fine with the other cats but runs from me even if I just walk within four feet of him.

I was willing to accept her limitations if that is what it came down to, but I was hoping for more. I did get lucky in a couple of circumstances - she was younger than Junior when they both came here, and I know more about cats and ferals and behavior now than I did then. 

Crash and her minion

Without realizing it at the time, I got lucky on another front. Goldfish started to really learn how to be a cat once she was released into the house. OK - so she was learning from the resident weird cat (Chanel), but she was still learning. And...as much as Chanel is a little weird about some things, she is mostly fearless. She isn't afraid of people coming in the house, she isn't afraid of noises, heck she isn't afraid of the vacuum cleaner. Now if people come over, Chanel comes out and Goldfish will venture out slowly. I don't call Goldfish the "minion" for nothing.

Fairly quickly Goldfish developed a habit I have come to love. She followed Chanel up on the bed at night and then got pretty friendly with me so long as I was laying down. Then she started sleeping right NEXT to me. Now she runs into the bedroom when I head in that direction and jumps up on the bed looking for attention. I have even been able on more than one occasion to actually pet her while standing next to the bed.

I take it in baby steps and completely at her speed. I tried sitting on the floor this winter and offering her treats. She was pretty suspicious...it took her about 20 minutes to come very close and even then she wouldn't come closer than my ankles. I am going to keep trying though. The nice part is that she is food motivated so I have that in my favor.

But there was something new this past weekend. She came over and rubbed against my ankles. I reached over from the chair where I was reading and she rubbed into my hand (that is the routine - she has to bump my hand and then I can run my hand down her body - one hand only thank you though). She came over and we went through the routine for several minutes - until Daiquiri batted the toy out of the kitchen and then she was off and running. Check it out:

In case I was afraid it was a fluke - she did it again this weekend. She had been asleep on the cat ladder by the window. She woke up and when I called her name, she chirped and came over for some attention.

I doubt she will ever be a lap cat. No one here currently really is so she isn't going to learn that from anyone (Ivy will occasionally but not on a regular basis).

The one big concern I have with her is her annual vet check due in October. I don't want to grab her from the bed since that is our safe space. I do have gabapentin on hand and plan to put that in some food. Hopefully that will slow her down enough that I can catch her and get her in a carrier (without losing a finger). Hopefully she will forgive me for it fairly quickly. And yes....the vet will get fair warning.  haha

eat it or wear it

**sorry we are late - mom screwed up (again....we may have to look into getting new help around here)

The kittens have been getting canned food in the morning and evening now for a couple of days. Lane and Mopar were feeling a little skinny and they need to be putting on weight for the amount of running around they do all the time. They will eat the dry, but break open a can and they act like they haven't eaten in days. Heck - this morning Mopar launched himself at mom and hung off her shirt as she got breakfast ready.

Lane and Mopar can get a little growly with each other (and poor Fate - he has no idea what to do with those two). Mom won't put up with it, so the offender gets picked up and moved off for a minute.

hey Fate - you have something on your head

Mopar guarding his meal

yep - good stuff

little clean up after meal time (Lane)

clean up crew

**only if mom opens a large can - otherwise the kittens eat EVERYTHING

new scratching post

Mom was asked by Art of Paws if she would be willing to do a review of their tall scratching post for a reduced cost on the purchase. Mom loves their products and was happy to get in on the deal. (disclaimer: we didn't get the product free but we did get a very reduced price. the savings does NOT affect our opinions. everything expressed here is our own thoughts)

It comes in pieces in a box but was very easy to screw together - it took mom all of about 20 minutes. Once assembled, she took it in to the foster room to let the kittens have a try with it. The base is fairly wide making it very stable but it was lighter than mom was expecting when she picked it up. 

Fate was the first contestant to check it out. Mom had to set him up to it but once he realized he could climb it, he was pretty entertained. 

The top of the post is wide and comes with a bed that velcros to the post itself. Due to their size, the kittens weren't able to climb up the post and then get up on top. Mom put Lane up there to check it out and made sure it was sitting next to the storage boxes for an easy exit. However, Lane did decide at one point to jump from the top, so it won't be staying in with the kittens. 

 

a good vantage point for surveying his kingdom

 

yes kittens - it IS further down than you think

Of course once the kittens gave it a try, Goldfish had to give it a good sniff too.

Mom is slowing upgrading our furniture in the house to make it look a little nicer. This piece is certainly cat furniture, but it is VERY nicely done and looks nicer than our old carpet covered pieces. Plus, this is super tall and the base wide enough so that it won't tip over.

If you are looking for a nice tall scratcher, this is a good piece to add to your collection. We give it 5 paws up!!

that banging time of year

Well...summer is here and along with it comes the need by some to light off fireworks.

Mom knows she is lucky in that most of us don't freak out about loud noises. Goldfish is afraid of the trash truck (every freaking week) and Daiquiri doesn't like thunder and thereby doesn't like fireworks. She hides under the bed and won't come out until it is over. But it could be much worse.

However, in addition to pets, there are people out there that can't stand the banging noises. It startles wildlife and causes accidents. Not to mention the number of animals that escape and end up in shelters every year - and if they are lucky manage to get caught before they get injured.

We know that people think of fireworks as a form of celebration. Just PLEASE if you want to enjoy them, find a local city or municipality and enjoy their shows. No one in your neighborhood needs fireworks going off near their houses (not to mention it is illegal in most areas to let them off close to residences).

Some tips from the ASPCA about keeping safe over the 4th.

And more from the AVMA:
  1. make sure your animals are microchipped (you should do this anyhow)
  2. make sure your information is UP TO DATE with the microchip company
  3. register microchips with the manufacturer and also Foundanimals.org
  4. have additional id for your pet - tags with your name & phone number (Chanel's also has our email address)
  5. have a safe space available - a crate or a spot in a closet or bathroom
  6. LEAVE THEM HOME

Be safe....

weekend report

Quick note: mom discovered who is fostering the A kittens. They have been renamed but are doing great with the bottle feeders and are growing like mad.
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Mopar is making great progress. Mom left him by himself for a day last weekend when she was at an event and it has made a lot of difference. He is still a little shy but he is coming over and looking for attention and not running as much. He is more eager to come over when mom is sitting down rather than when she is standing. She still has to grab him, but he then relaxes and purrs while she pets him.

 Lane has lots of opinions about EVERYTHING! She is doing great and has no issues telling those boys exactly what she thinks of them.

 

so judgy

 

Lane is a shoulder dweller

Fate is harder to get pictures of since he runs around the room like a nut or is snuggled up to mom trying to get all the attention.

Mom did weigh everyone yesterday. Mopar is 1 pound 12 ounces, Fate is 1 pound 9 ounces, and Lane is 1 pound 7 ounces. Everyone is gaining weight - plus they were all dewormed again so that will help as well. They have been getting canned food once a day in addition to what they have available all the time. But based on size, they will be with us for a few weeks anyhow.