A Very Special Gotcha Day Anniversary!

 

Rainbow writes:

Hi, everyone!!!  I'm glad to meet all of you!  Mommy didn't introduce me when I first came to live here, but I've been here a whole year now!  What a year it's been, too.  I'm so glad to have found my forever family.  Daddy took the picture above, because I am awesome!

This picture was from March 5, 2020, the day I was adopted.  I look a little out-of-it because I had just woken up and was also still recovering from my spay the day before.  I'd also just moved to the Oregon Humane Society from Bonnie Hays Animal Shelter.

*takes a deep breath to slow down a little*

Ok, I'll back up a bit.  I was born in September 2019 somewhere in Oregon, probably in Washington County somewhere.  Things are blurry until someone brought me to Bonnie Hays Small Animal Shelter in January or February of 2020.  I had a really bad upper respiratory infection and had to be in isolation for a long time.  Once I finally recovered from that, due to the awesome care I got there, I was transferred to the Oregon Humane Society.  I wasn't around other cats there, either, because I was only there for a day before finding my forever home!

The night before I was adopted, Mommy and Daddy were looking at kitty pictures on the OHS website.  They had picked out a senior cat with some special needs so they made plans to go meet him, but they were also looking at all the profiles to see who else was there in case their first choice wasn't right for them.  They saw my picture, and it said that I wasn't yet available and my adoption fee was more than the senior cat's one was because I was still a kitten.

Well, the senior cat needed to be in a home that was a lot calmer than here.  He wouldn't have done well in a home with other cats, especially not ones that can get as rowdy as we like to be!  After looking at all the kitties in the public adoption area, Mommy went to the display with pictures of other adoptable kitties.  There I was, and this time it said I was adoptable!  Daddy has always wanted another calico, since he had one when he was younger and loved her so much.  Mommy didn't have to do much convincing to get him to say yes to adopting me!  They went to a meeting room and the person brought me in.  At first, I wanted to stay around him, because I knew him and didn't know these two strangers who were in the room with us and who were trying to reach out their hands to me.  I finally went over to them and got petted, so I claimed them (as you can see from the picture above)!  That's Mommy that I'm claiming, and Daddy got claimed, too, and I was purring so much because I knew I had people of my very own!

I will share other photos of my adventures this last year, but it's almost time for my treat of wet food for my special day!  I'm going to share with everyone else, especially with my bestie, Shadow, who is only a little older than I am.  Oh, and I'm the "big kitty" (alpha cat) here now, despite being the youngest!  Panther told me I could be, once I learned how to be, and he says I've learned well enough.  I think I'm still kind of in training, though, because I know there's a lot more to learn!

*paw waves*

Oh, and I forgot to say that my name now is the same as it was at both shelters.  It totally fits with my coloring and with my journey, because Mommy and Daddy are sure that aunties Tabby, Rori, and Starla sent me to all the right places to find this home!

Dare to Adopt!

Dare is a 3 1/2-year-old female silver tabby adoptable in the Portland, OR, USA, metro area.  Please forgive the amount of cat hair on the stool; the cats own that piece of furniture and nap on it frequently!  Dare has some Russian Blue heritage somewhere in her ancestry, although we're not sure how much.  She was found as a 4-week-old kitten underneath a bush in the apartment complex that Mommy Erin lived in at the time.  Mommy Erin raised her for about a year before Dare came to live at this house.

Dare is wonderful with other cats, kids of all ages, and adults.  She prefers females over males, because she was neglected by a man at one point in her life.  She interacts with males, but it takes her longer to warm up to them than it does to females.  She is shy to start out with, and it took her about 2 weeks to start to interact with our purrents after moving here.  Now, she is a wonderful lap cat, snuggler, licker, and purrer!

If you would like to adopt this adorable, petite ladycat, please contact us by commenting and/or via our profile link in the sidebar where it says "PDX pride".  Thank you!

Panther got adopted!

Sunday, we had an exciting visitor!

 
Tabby: I'm going to miss you, Panther!
Panther: What's a forever home, Tabby?
Tabby: You'll find out very soon!  That lady who was just here wants you to come live with her and her other cat.
Panther:  Really?

Monday, she came back, and Panther was ready!

Foster Mommy says it's time to get ready for going to my new home!

Down the ladder I go!

New life, here I come!

Now where is everyone? I want to say goodbye first!

Goodbye, Tigress!  Goodbye Tabby!  Anyone in the living room to say goodbye to?

Goodbye, Foster Mommy!  Goodbye, Foster Daddy taking the picture!  Now, could you put me on the floor again, please?

New mommy Cai came over and Missy wanted to horn in on the attention!  After she realized Cai was focused on me, Missy decided to leap up to the table tray.  This is her getting ready to launch herself off to the table tray.

Hi, new mommy Cai!  I like how you pet my tummy, but I'm not sure about coming closer for attention right now.

Missy:  What do you mean, I have to move?  Didn't she bring this portable cave just for me?
Panther:  Nope, it's for me!  I'm the one leaving!  If you go, then who will snuggle with Daddy when he sleeps?
Missy:  Oh, I didn't think about that.  I don't want to leave my daddy!
Mommy:  *scruffs Missy and pulls her out, with Cai's help to keep her from holding onto the sides with her claws*
Panther:  Ok, now my turn!
Mommy:  *makes Panther get in the carrier by putting him seat-first through the door when the carrier is on-end*
Panther:  *cries*  Why did you have to put me in there like that?  I do want to go to my new home, but the car ride is a little scary and I don't like being cooped up in this carrier.  *scrabbles at the sides and door, trying to get out*
Cai:  It's ok, Panth!  I'll let you out to explore once we get home.

I have a new brofur!  His name is Beastie, and he's a fluffy white kitty.  He swatted me once to tell me that he's the alpha cat in the household, and otherwise hisses or ignores me.  Within two hours, I was snuggled at Mommy Cai's feet while she and Beastie took naps.  I actually took a nap, too, because all this excitement wore me out!  I like my new home, but it's weird not having the others here.  I looked for them and called to them, but they didn't come out of hiding so I guess it's just the three of us here at this new place called a forever home.  I like my forever home!  I've been sticking to Mommy Cai like velcro, following her from room to room and talking non-stop.  This bothers Beastie, so he's been pouting, but Mommy Cai gives him a lot of attention, too, so he feels included.  She says this is the best transition she's ever had for a new kitty!

Mommy Cai is friends with Foster Mommy on Facebook, so Foster Mommy can share updates on how I'm doing.  Everyone's sure that it won't be long until Beastie and I are great friends!  I love you all, and thank you for being friends with me!

Mommy Cai and Foster Mommy told me that I'm a very special kitty who was sent to Mommy Cai for a reason.  Mommy Cai had a black kitty "visit" her, walk down a hallway, and disappear.  That was a couple months after I got over my pneumonia and became available for adoption, so Foster Mommy told Mommy Cai about me.  Mommy Cai had another kitty, Spot, but Spottie was really sick so he needed round-the-clock care.  Mommy Cai couldn't bring a new kitty into her life (and the household) while she was providing hospice to Spot.  After Spot died, Beastie cried for him for hours on end.  While Mommy Cai and Beastie are still grieving for Spot, I hope I can help ease their grief and lonlieness.  I can also provide playtime for Beastie!

Very Exciting News!!!

Miss Marble writes:

I've decided that I like to be petted!  I come up to the glass door and stand up on it, putting both front paws as high as I can reach, asking to be petted.  The man or lady come and open the door, then reach down and pet me as I rub against them.  I am a bit bitey, but it's just love bites, not hard bites.  I've also learned how to lick their fingers to groom them!  My sister and daddy can't figure out why I like being petted, so they stay back and watch, but they accept that I like it.

My brother Hemming is doing really well at his new home, the mommy says.  He sleeps on his new mommy's face and shoulder at night and is "aggressively affectionate".  We're all so glad that his new home is working out that well!

Missy Kitty writes:

Guess what?!  This thing called Christmas has boxes!  It also has ribbons, which are big strings.  But, the most important thing about Christmas is that it means that I'm in my forever home!  I got adopted officially by Mommy and Daddy today!  And, my third birthday is tomorrow:  New Year's Day!

Happy New Year from the PDX pride!

Wishing you all the best in 2012!

Hemming got adopted!

The PDX pride Mommy writes:

Well, Hemming's at his forever home now!  He did really well, but kept calling and looking for the other cats.  He let Kayla pick him up and snuggle him, and played for a couple minutes with a feather wand.  He investigated the covered litter box and scratched in it, so we know he'll be fine with using that.  We cautioned them about the garland and ornaments on the lower branches of their tree, so they'll be moving things up on that.  But, all in all, it seems like a great home for him!  When he came out of the carrier, he didn't scoot or run, but walked out and investigated things, then made his way around the edges (walls) to the bathroom and hopped in the tub.  He looked at windows, trying to see his sisters, and looked at the mirror, thinking his reflection was another kitty.  By the time we left, he had rubbed up against Kayla also and wasn't as stressed.  He'll do just fine there once he gets used to it and gets used to being an only cat.

Lots of changes and a Christmas tree!

Hemming writes:

Whoa, what is that thing up there?  It's got shiny balls on it, pretty ribbons, and lots and lots of branches.  It looks like a tree, but what's a tree doing inside?  It doesn't smell like my apple tree outside, the one I used to use to trim my claws.  In fact, it smells like plastic, not like any tree I've ever smelled.  It certainly doesn't smell like the forest I was born in, just a few yards away from the house, where there are trees that look like this one.  But if this is a Christmas tree, then I guess that's what it is.  My foster uncles and foster aunties all say that it is one, even though Uncle Heimdall and Auntie Freya only saw a little tree last year in this house.

The tree went up a week ago, with all of us investigating and "helping" put the branches into the trunk, then watching in surprise as Foster Mommy put the top on and put a cloth around the bottom of it.  Freya and I batted at some of the ornaments and were told "no".  Foster Mommy took some pictures of the tree and of us gathered around looking at it (and tasting it, batting at ornaments, etc.), so I'll post those here in a slideshow:

This free digital slideshow personalized with Smilebox

What is this thing called Christmas?  Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy say that I'm a Christmas kitten for my new mommy.  What's a new mommy?  I thought I already had two mommies:  my momcat and my foster mommy!  I'm going to meet this new mommy and this place called a forever home this afternoon.  Everyone's excited for me, and the others are saying this is special, but I'm not sure about it.  I think once I'm there, I'll hide like I did at that other place.  I'll find a good hiding spot to watch what's going on in this place called a forever home.  My foster parents say that's ok to do, and that my new mommy understands.  Good!

I wonder if she'll have a Christmas tree?  If I'm a Christmas kitten, then don't I belong under the tree as a present?  That's what Auntie Tabby says!  After our tree here was up, Foster Mommy supervised us for a while then went to sleep.  She woke up because she was dreaming about playing ping-pong.  Well, guess what the ping-pong ball was?  I had an ornament and was playing with it, down the hall, into the bathroom, bouncing it against the tiles!  All the ornaments are kitten-safe plastic and cloth, so she laughed as she went to retrieve it, wash it, and put it back on the tree.  Soon, I was at it again!  A few days later, she found one of the bows in the middle of the hallway.  Guess who?  Yesterday I tried to climb the tree, but it fell over!  I guess it's not for climbing.  When Foster Mommy was editing the tree pictures on the computer, I tried to get to the tree!  Yep, I'm a tree-obsessed kitten!

I'm also 7 months old today!  Wow!  I told my sisters that, through the window while they looked at the Christmas tree, and they love that we're all a month older!  They don't know what this Christmas thing is either, but as long as it involves food, water, and talking to the inside kitties through the window, it's ok with them!

Foster Friday: Hemming and the Stairs

Hemming writes:

The people in this strange house saw me!  When I was let out of the carrier after my people brought me to this strange house, I ran all around the first floor, then ran downstairs and into the basement.  I found a very good hiding place!  I'm under the basement stairs, where no one can get to me, but I can listen to everything that's going on.  At night, I went back upstairs and found what I think is the kitty food box, and tried to get into it.  That's when the person saw me.  She said I was at the right box for the food, but I just couldn't get into it by myself.  When she saw me, I ran downstairs again and hid in my hiding spot.  She followed me to see where I went, then got a plate of something yummy called tuna and put it down by me, along with a bowl of water.  I waited until she left, then I came out to eat and drink.

Yesterday, the lady at this house called my people and told them where I'd hidden.  My people came with a trap and called for me, but I was sleeping and barely heard them.  They put tuna in the trap, put it near me, and then left.  I don't know whether to eat the tuna or try to get in the food box upstairs again.  If I eat the tuna, it means going in that trap, and the last time I went in there I took a nap and went to the vet!  I don't know if I want to do that again, but the tuna smells really yummy!  I heard something about being put in a smaller room if I go in the trap, and that sounds like a good idea.  I also heard something about maybe staying here and these new people being MY new people?

Note from the PDX pride Mommy:

The new family does want to keep him, so once he goes in the trap he'll be put into a smaller room with a door.  They'll get him accustomed to being in there, being visited by his new family, then slowly introduce him to the rest of the house, then to the puppy.  I'm so glad they still want to keep him, even though he's scared in his new surroundings.  They totally understand that it's because he was born feral and doesn't really know houses yet!

Hemming's at his potential adopter's

The PDX pride Mommy writes:


We brought Hemming to his potential adopter's house this afternoon.  As soon as we let him out of the carrier, he scooted around the house and then hid somewhere.  He hides well!  We couldn't find him, even after an hour of searching!  The family has had many, many cats and now has two cats and a 10-week-old German Shepherd puppy.  Their cats mainly live upstairs, so they wanted Hemming as a playmate for the puppy.  The pup is adorable, well-mannered, calm, and happy, so when Hemming emerges and starts figuring out the house and its inhabitants, he's going to love playing with the pup.

We talked for a while with the family, told them Hemming's life up to this point, and gave them his paperwork from the clinic.  They're going to call us when he emerges from his hiding place, and we're going to talk with them in a week to see how it's going and how he's adjusting.  If he isn't doing well, then we'll take him back.  If he's doing well, then the adoption will be official.

Great news on Foster Friday!!!

Squishy & Little Guy write:

We've found our forever home! We're going for a home visit next week, and if it works out we'll be adopted on the spot. Our friend Erin's next door neighbor wants kitties who can help him through his cancer treatments and surgery, so she suggested us. We think we'd be perfect for the job! When Foster Daddy asked us if we'd like to help someone in need feel better, we both mrupped happily.

Cloud's Adoption Day!

Cloud had a home visit yesterday morning, and everything went very well! I'll let him tell you about it, because at the moment he's the only kitten awake (and on my computer desk), while his brother Squishy sleeps on the desk next to him and his brother Little Guy sleeps in my lap.

Cloud writes:

I went to visit a nice lady called Becky yesterday! I was very, very scared when Foster Daddy and Foster Mommy took me out to the truck. I was stress-purring really hard, and shaking all over! I had been in the truck on a ride with them when I was 4 weeks old, but I barely remembered that. All I knew was I didn't understand what was going on, and I was outside!

We got to Becky's house very early, so that gave me time to calm down before we went in. I climbed all around on Foster Mommy's lap while she and Foster Daddy talked to me and petted me. Then, Foster Daddy picked me up and we all three went up to the door.

When we got inside, I climbed onto the top of the futon and hunkered down, getting my bearings in this strange place while Foster Mommy and Becky talked. After a while, I felt comfortable enough to let Becky sit by me and pet me. She wanted to pick me up right away, but I wasn't ready for that yet.

Foster Mommy put me down on the rug, because I was looking down but couldn't judge the distance properly. I'd never seen or felt a rug before! It took a few minutes to get used to it, but then I was off exploring underneath the futon and behind the electronics. Foster Mommy and Becky sat on the floor, while Foster Daddy stood watching me. Becky got a shoelace and everyone tried to get me to play with it. Nope, not interested in that; I wanted to explore more! I climbed back up the futon cushions, then jumped down again.

Finally, they got my attention with the shoelace by dragging it slowly around on the floor in front of me. I pounced after it, stalking it then swiping. I saw Foster Mommy's hand, and went running over to head-butt it for pets. Then I sniffed Becky's shoes. Circling her, I rubbed against her and meowed a little. She reached out her hand and I stretched my head up, wanting her to pet me, too! She did, then picked me up to give me kisses and cuddles. I wasn't expecting that, but let her. Then, I decided to climb onto her shoulder and then on her back. Luckily, Foster Mommy told her that's what I was going to do, so she leaned over and let me walk on her back to the floor. I circled around to have her pet me again.

Everyone was impressed that I wasn't at all scared of exploring this new place. I walked tall, with my head up, and didn't shy away from the new furniture, smells, or sounds! Becky got supplies yesterday afternoon, and called to say she was ready for me to come for my week trial period today! So, my foster parents will drop me off at my new home today, where I will live for a week and see how it goes!

Here are some pictures from after Cloud got back home. He loves this yellow bucket, burrowing into it like there's some kind of trap-door in the back that he can get out! That's Mama Little Bit's whiskers getting in the way of the first shot.






Foster Mommy is still writing Cloud's Catster page until he gets permanently adopted. It's here if you'd like to visit.

Boo and Michelle have been adopted!

Boo and Michelle went on an extended home visit to their new home yesterday! Their new people have some questions (mostly because of having had a bad kitten experience before/feral kitten they didn't know was feral), so we're treating this like a trial period for now, but we think that once everyone settles in they'll love them so much that they'll decide to keep them. If not, then they'll come back to us.

From Boo:

Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy brought my sister and me to our new home this morning! We rode in the truck in a carrier bag, but didn't like it. We kept trying to get out, and Foster Mommy kept saying, "No." We got there early, so Foster Daddy and Foster Mommy let us out in the truck so that we could stretch and explore (and relax).

Our new people were out getting the last of the supplies they needed for us. When they came back, they parked next to the truck. When our new lady saw us, she knew exactly who we were and smiled!

Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy brought us inside and handed us to our new family. They liked us right away! They petted and held us for a while, then set us down so we could explore. We could smell that there had been another animal there, but couldn't tell exactly what it was. The people said it's something called a ferret. We've never met a ferret. We followed its scent trails all around the house. I went up the stairs and got lost, so I called out to the humans. The lady came and got me, carrying me back downstairs. She said I was in the teenage girl's room. All I knew was it was somewhere I didn't recognize.

Our new people are happy to have us here, but still getting used to us. That's fine, because we're still getting used to them! It will take a bit to settle in. Michelle already wanted to play-bite, during the visiting time, and both of us tried scratching the couch. We're kittens, so that's normal for us to try. We didn't get very far, though. These people know to snap their fingers to teach us what to not do, just like our foster parents did.

From Foster Mommy:

Their Catster pages are still being kept by us until this adoption's permanent. You can visit Boo here and Michelle here.

Kai is Gotcha'd!

Our little Cousteau, now named Kai, is going to his new home in the morning (Friday morning) FOR GOOD! The mommy/foster mommy has been crying all day, because she's happy-sad, and the daddy/foster daddy is happy for him to be going to such a good home. :) We'll post pictures of him at this post on Friday afternoon (most cats' evening, probably just after 5:00 pm Pacific Time).

Kai's Catster page will stay the same: here. His new mommy promised us she'd keep it updated with pictures and the blog so everyone could see how he does in his new home and as he grows up! :)

UPDATE!!! Pictures are courtesy of his new mommy, with the caption:
"I think he's settling in well!"

On the coffee table, sound asleep wrapped in a throw

Happy Adoption Day, little Kai! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Cousteau got adopted!

Note from Foster Mommy: He goes to his new home a week from today!

Cousteau writes:

I met my new mommy today! Foster Daddy and Foster Mommy took me in the truck to meet her. I didn't like the truck ride, mostly because I had to stay on Foster Mommy's lap. :( I wanted to explore! I talked most of the way there and most of the way back, trying to climb over Foster Mommy's arms, but there was no way she was going to let me off her lap. I climbed onto her shoulder and watched out the window for a while.

When we got to my new home, my new mommy and her roommate were there. They held me and kissed me, then the roommate had to go to work. My new mommy carried me into the kitchen. I was scared, so I snuggled into her. Then she set me down on the counter, but I wasn't sure where I was. The wood floor where she set me down next was better. At least I recognized the surface. I went off to see what was around, and walked into something else that I didn't know. They called it a rug. I was afraid of it, so my new mommy got down on the floor with me and talked to me, telling me the rug wouldn't eat me. I touched it, but didn't walk on it.

Next, my new mommy carried me downstairs and showed me my new room. There's a small scratching post, a litter box, and toys. Oh, and a mat for my food and water, but my bowls weren't set out yet. There was another rug there, but it's called a carpet. It felt funny, but I wasn't afraid of it. I was carried into a bedroom and set on the bed. I tried to figure out how to get down, but it wasn't like the bed at my foster parents' house. My new mommy set me down, and I explored the closet while she talked with my foster parents. I played hide and seek with all of them around the closet doors, then my new mommy got into the closet with me and played shoelaces with me! She really loves me!

Finally, she brought me into the garage where the big kitty tree is set up. This thing is HUGE! There's a lot of space for me to climb and play, and more when I grow into it. I was tired and relaxed, so I washed myself and played tails with my new mommy's finger. Then I took a mini-nap! My new pictures are of me on this kitty tree.

I get to go back there to live next Friday. I will be 7 weeks old then, and weaned. I can't wait, and my new mommy can't wait either! I'm so excited!

Oh, and I got a new name! I'm now Kai.

I got adopted!

Smokey writes:

I got adopted! Skylar's Mommy Erin, who lived with Foster Mommy and Foster Daddy for a while, is adopting me! She and her boyfriend and her 1-year-old little bean boy are going to have me for a few days to see how I do being over at their house. They like me and they want me to be their kitty! I will go to live with them temporarily in a few days, and then live with them permanently after that! Hopefully, everything will go well during my trial period so I can have them as my forever home!