| Author | Messages | |
cathyam76
Best of Breed
Posts:383
 | | 12/01/2007 5:16 PM |
| I just thought it would be easier to consolidate my foster and orphan updates in one thread, since they all grow up too quickly   , and they don't always come in and leave together.
I still have Sprocket and Myrtle, and I want to introduce the newest fosters, Benny, Pudge, Digits, Dodger, Cosette, Doodle, and Scribble. They all have pics up in my profile.
Benny and Pudge came here on November 3rd. They were just barely 6 weeks old when I brought them here, and still somewhat feral; I offered to take them home to let them get a little older, and to try to tame them, so they have a better chance at being adopted. So far, they have remained healthy, and are taming just fine. I am still working with them on food aggression - they are still not trusting of anyone around them while eating, and they always eat like they are starving.
Digits came home with me on November 3rd as well, he was only 4 weeks old. He was named Digits because he had extra toes. Sadly, Digits became very sick, and I had to let him go on November 9th. The vet suspects feline distemper.
Dodger came here on November 10th. He was fostered by another person at my work, but she was unable to continue to foster him. He has been fighting an upper respiratory infection pretty much since Halloween. I have a feeling this is going to be another tough URI to beat.![](/images/icon_smile_angry.gifborder="0") Otherwise, he is calming down, he was very aggressive when he came home, mostly out of fear. I do see progress though.
Cosette came here on November 20th, just the other day. She must have been a feral kitten, and she is very skittish around people, other animals, and loud noises. I am doing what I can, at her pace, to socialize her, before she can go up for adoption.
Lastly, Doodle and Scribble came home with me yesterday, November 30th. They are also only 4 weeks old, and they need some socialization before they can go up for adoption as well.
As they get bigger, and continue to do silly things  , and learn more, I will update here. Also, I will keep you posted on when they get adopted, when I see them again after adoption, and any other news I get about the babies.
Oh, in other news, the final four kittens of the Earmite 5, Sparrow, Turner, Lillian, and ET have all been adopted this week. The boys were neutered Thursday, and they went home yesterday. Lillian will be spayed Tuesday before she goes home to her new family. I am so happy for them!!
Cathy and the Crew | | | |
| drambuie
Best in Group
Posts:1137
| | 12/02/2007 6:58 AM |
| | EXTRA EXTRA
READ ALL ABOUT IT !
Kittens invade local residence.
A confidential source (one of the kittens) said it was a peaceful invasion
and that they were well received by the resident.
The source also informed us that they are checking everything out to see what future changes they will have to make to insure there growth and happiness .
Also they are in the process of formulating a training program for the current resident. | | | |
| cathyam76
Best of Breed
Posts:383
| | 12/02/2007 10:13 PM |
| Oh, how I love this time of year...
For five minutes of entertainment while wrapping Christmas gifts (and how to get kitties to leave you alone), give them some scotch tape to play with. Preferably, stick the tape lightly to the fur on their back, or on their feet, so that they can excitedly work at removal of said tape. 
Cosette has decided she doesn't like her name. She wants to be called Luna. *Shaking head* It doesn't matter to me, she doesn't answer to either one.
Dram, LMAO!! I love your article! Please inform Gus that the kittens do not need to learn how to supervise their human, whether washing dishes or making spinach dip.
Cathy and the Crew | | | |
| Brennan
Best of Breed
Posts:492
| | 12/03/2007 12:36 AM |
| | Okay, I knew you had a few cats, but I just took a peek at their photos in your profile. That is a whole lot of cats | | | |
| cathyam76
Best of Breed
Posts:383
| | 12/03/2007 1:32 AM |
| | Keep in mind, those that say Adopted weren't adopted by me. They have been successfully placed in forever homes; meaning, I have done my job as a KittyMomma in raising a kitten to be a lovable pet. | | | |
| UBS_Mom
Best in Show
Posts:1917
| | 12/03/2007 10:55 AM |
| | You are an EXCELLENT-Y kitten momma! | | | |
| cathyam76
Best of Breed
Posts:383
| | 12/03/2007 8:36 PM |
| | I think it is official, Luna seems to be the prefered name. This kitten actually turns her head and looks at me before ignoring me when I call for Luna. Calling Cosette was a complete ignore. Go figure!
I also found out today that Sprocket likes diced tomatoes; specifically, the ones that came off my soft taco supreme. He didn't want the cheese or the meat, he just wanted the tomatoes.
Dram, two of my permanent residents have taken a page out of Gus' book, and decided it necessary to supervise all of my doings at the kitchen sink. However, Bug and Oliver don't watch from the floor or the counter. They work as a team, and they both will jump onto the counter, top of the fridge, and then to the top of the cabinets, in that small cat sized space between them and the ceiling. (Now whose bright idea was that anyway? ) Together, they will perch and stare at whatever I do. They get me into watching them so I don't notice the babies underfoot, and they get stepped on. Hmmm, indirect cruelty - they're setting me up, now I have figured it out, I see..... HA! I'm on to them now....
Cathy and the Crew | | | |
| cathyam76
Best of Breed
Posts:383
| | 12/08/2007 7:52 PM |
| | Today I discovered that Pudge and Benny also like diced tomatoes from Taco Bell. Pudge likes lettuce, too. Apparently, no food is sacred in my house.
Dodger is still fighting his URI. The vet even recommended a half teaspoon of children's Benadryl, to help with the congestion, and maybe it is allergies. He did not tell me what an adventure it would be to get Benadryl into a cat! Poor Dodger, foaming at the mouth, and vomiting from the taste. His eyes watered from the taste too. I won't do that to him again.
Luna is socializing very well, must faster than I anticipated. That is a good thing, since Wednesday I brought home another feral kitten, about 12 weeks old, named Wylie Jr. He appeared at first to be just a little hissy and nervous, but he is actually much worse. He will take more work than I originally planned. I guess it's an even trade.
Cathy and the Crew | | | |
| cathyam76
Best of Breed
Posts:383
| | 12/18/2007 7:45 PM |
| I am starting to feel like I am running a vet clinic out of my bathroom.  All of the foster kittens are on some kind of medicine.
Dodger has given his URI to all my foster kittens. Since he has not responded to the Clavamox, I am concerned that the others will not respond either, but I'm giving it a try. I have also added an L-Lysine supplement to their food and their medicine doses. It is supposed to stimulate the immune system so that it can fight off the URI.
Also, Myrtle, Dodger, and Pudge are getting eye ointment twice daily. Sheesh. I had to make myself a grid so I could check off squares so that I could keep track of who got their meds. With 9 kittens, it can be very difficult to keep track of.
Tonight, I cleaned Sprocket's ears out. I am taking the dirty cotton swabs to work with me in the morning, to confirm he is completely rid of the earmites he had been treated four over five weeks ago.
I must confess, KittyMomma fatigue is setting in.  Some days I just want to not have to give meds, make kitten gruel, scoop the additional litterboxes, wash the kitten blankets, or keep up with vaccinations. Some days a kitten's purr isn't enough to remind me why I do this, and I find myself being very short on patience with them. Other days, the purring works, but then I feel really sad and guilty for taking my exhaustion out on the babies. It's not their fault, and they don't understand. ![](/images/icon_smile_blackeye.gifborder="0") Counting to ten works, when I remember to do so.
Cathy and the Crew | | | |
| PitterPatt
Best of Breed
Posts:323
| | 12/18/2007 9:57 PM |
| Shake my head and HATS OFF to you ...I know you will keep on keeping on...I nominate you for KittyMomma of the year!! | | | |
| Brennan
Best of Breed
Posts:492
| | 12/18/2007 10:18 PM |
| | Keep counting and keep it up. I like reading the updates. | | | |
| Zig_Kat
Best in Group
Posts:654
| | 12/19/2007 7:17 AM |
| Kitten wrangling is a lot of work. I don;t know how you keep up with them. You need to make some chicken soup for the URI there.  | | | |
| cathyam76
Best of Breed
Posts:383
| | 12/19/2007 9:47 PM |
| | Thanks gang for your support!
Cross your fingers for me that this Clavamox/L-Lysine cocktail works. It smells awful! Dodger managed to spill the bottle tonight , but hahahaha, I have more tablets of each to make a new cocktail with...
I discovered tonight that Sprocket, Dodger, and Luna like spinach! I was making spinach dip for my work Christmas party, when I was surrounded by cat sharks. Just for ha-ha's, I took the dish that I cooked the spinach in, and put the dish with the little bit of spinach left down on the floor. Well, to my disbelief, I had takers! *Shaking head yet again*
Cathy and the Crew | | | |
| cathyam76
Best of Breed
Posts:383
| | 12/26/2007 9:45 PM |
| I have new pictures!!!
So far, this Clavamox/L-Lysine cocktail seems to be working, although I was a slacker the last three days on the meds, because I got sick myself. Of all things, I got a sinus infection (URI ) for Christmas!
Dodger and Pudge are off the eye ointments now. Myrtle is still on them, and Wylie is on them as of yesterday.  This is exhausting. Cross your fingers, but I think Benny may need them soon as well.
I am trying a medicine for Dodger that technically I shouldn't - it is contraindicated for kittens of his age, because it could affect his growth. I spoke with one of the vets at work, and my thinking is this: he is not eating phenomenal right now because he can't breathe, and he can get so congested he will vomit. To me, that will affect his growth too, last I checked. While I am giving him this medicine, I am going to quarantine him, as much as he will hate it. I need to get him better, so that he doesn't get anyone else sick anymore. Cross your fingers this 'off-label' antibiotic works.
Tomorrow, Benny, Pudge, Luna, Doodle, and Scribble are going in for their next shots.  Well, maybe not Benny, if he is still showing signs of URI. The faster I can get them their first and second shots, the faster I can get them up for adoption, and the less I have to worry about Dodger getting them sick. It sounds cruel, I know. But because of Dodger, I haven't been able to adopt anyone out, and I haven't been able to bring anyone else home that needs my help.
Ok, now that you are done reading, go check out the new pics!
Cathy and the Crew | | | |
| cathyam76
Best of Breed
Posts:383
| | 12/27/2007 9:35 PM |
| | Doodle and Scribble got their first shots today!
Doodle weighs 2 lb 2 oz
Scribble weighs 1 lb 15 oz
I didn't take Benny, Pudge, or Luna, because they are still sneezing, and now Benny needs the eye ointment.
In other news - add Sprocket, Benny, and Pudge to the list of kittens that like peanut butter!
Cathy and the Crew | | | |
| Munchkinsmom
Champion
Posts:50
| | 12/28/2007 9:12 PM |
| | Gee,I thought I had the only cat that ate weird things.......Munchkin likes Ben and Jerry's Oatmeal Cookie Chunk and Reese's peanut butter cups...and like his mom,chocolate! Is chocolate as bad for cats as it is for dogs?
| | | |
| cathyam76
Best of Breed
Posts:383
| | 01/07/2008 9:34 PM |
| | Ok, time to play catch up -Cameo and Domino were both in to be spayed on 12/26/07. Cameo came back in a week later, because she pulled out her stitches prematurely. She went home with staples that day. That is so like Cameo to be a brat. Myrtle and Sprocket will soon be going to the shelter to go up for adoption. I just wanted to make sure that they weren't still sick once I finished their medications. So far, all is well. They may even be going in as soon as Wednesday. Benny is ready to go, but Pudge is still showing some signs of congestion. I am reluctant to separate the two of them, so hopefully soon Pudge is better so they can go in together.Luna is doing well, she socialized much faster than I anticipated. I will be taking her in tomorrow for her second FVRCP booster, then maybe surrendering her on Thursday or Friday.Doodle and Scribble are adorable! They slept for the first day and a half after their first shots, but that is to be expected. Doodle is aloof, but she can also be affectionate when the mood strikes her. She is so a snotface like her torbi coloring says she should be. Scribble is a love, I think she must be getting KV's from Lillian, because she reminds me of her. Scribble also reminds me of my snugglebug Dahlia, who should be coming in soon to be spayed.I am convinced that the gene for orange coloring determines temperament in cats. It has been my experience that orange males are lovers, while female cats bearing the color orange, whether torti, torbi, calico, or a diluted version thereof - makes them moody and snobby. I haven't figured any other color/temperament patterns out.Wylie Jr. is getting better, he isn't hissing in fear anymore. However, he still is hesitant, and runs from me when I come too close. However, this morning he did show some progress, he was part of the kitten pileup on my bed when I woke up, and he let me pet him for a while. Maybe, once the other kittens are back at the shelter to be adopted, and it's just him and Dodger, he will have no one to bond to but me. We'll see. In the meantime, he will be going with Luna tomorrow to get his shots. Then they will both come home to sleep it off, and go in and go right up for adoption, they won't have to wait in holding for a few days..
Now, on to Dodger. Oh boy, he has been a medical handful. I was concerned for a while, because he did not seem to be improving at all. In fact, I was scared that he had something growing and obstructing his airway, because he has an unusual bump on the bridge of his nose. I took him in to work, and the vet said it was not anything to worry about right now, his breathing is not obstructed, but I should keep an eye on it. Per Doc's instructions, I have added to Dodger's regimen, and now he FINALLY seems to be improving! In addition to the contraindicated pill, which I have to ask Doc if I can continue, I am giving him the l-lysine supplement, a vitamin syrup, and an antibiotic ointment for his eyes. His eyes are ok, but this goes through his tear ducts into his nose, and that seems to be helping. The ointment does not contain any cortisone. I am told that the cortisone actually helps the URI stick around longer. Grrrrrr.
So, in the next two weeks, I am hoping to take 7 of the 9 fosters back to the shelter. Hopefully, that will help Wylie Jr. come around to me, since he won't have the kittens to socialize with. Hopefully also, Dodger will continue to improve, so that I can get him adopted as well.
Realistically, I want to get everyone in and adopted before kitten season starts. I don't have much time - about two months in these parts. I am hoping to be able to take a few days and sanitize my whole house after Dodger, so that I will be set to rescue the next round of orphans starting in March or April. Wish me luck!
Cathy and the Crew | | | |
| cathyam76
Best of Breed
Posts:383
| | 01/12/2008 4:55 PM |
| | I surrendered Sprocket and Myrtle to the shelter Wednesday. Sprocket got adopted today!! He will stay to be neutered on Tuesday (omg, they are that old already?? ) but unfortunately, his new owners have chosen to declaw him as well. I do not agree with declawing AT ALL. However, I no longer have a say in the matter. Myrtle is still waiting for her new forever home, and it is taking everything in my power to not go in and visit her. I will cry when I leave her.
I had every intention of surrendering Luna this week; however, she still has soft stools, which to me means that she has not completely fought off the roundworm. I think I will give her second dose of medicine a week early, and check her stool again on Tuesday. If she is clean then, I will surrender her with Benny, Pudge, Scribble, and Doodle on Wednesday. Cross your fingers for her! | | | |
| srk4cats
Best of Breed
Posts:308
| | 01/12/2008 10:26 PM |
| | How do you come up with such cute names for your kitties?
| | | |
| cathyam76
Best of Breed
Posts:383
| | 01/17/2008 8:56 PM |
| SRK, sometimes I name the kittens because of their coloring, such as Scribble and Doodle, or a physical characteristic, such as E.T. Sometimes, kitnkpoodle names them for me - Cameo, Dahlia, Domino, Ninja, and Uncle Benny Crab @$$. Most times, the kittens know their names already, and they tell me what they want to be called.
In other news, the word of the day is FRUSTRATED.
I thought Benny was ready to go; however, he was really spooked when my mom stopped over on Sunday. That means he is not as well socialized as I thought. Grrrr.
Pudge has the sniffles, so that delays his surrender.
Luna is still timid, although this may be as good as she gets. She isn't nearly as affectionate now as she was the first week or so she was here.
Dodger is still fighting his URI. He is making progress though, I have started using saline drops and a nasal aspirator (snot sucker ) to help clear the congestion. The cold, dry weather around here doesn't help anyone to feel better.
Wylie, for all timid as he is about anyone touching him or coming near him, he does have to be wherever I am.  It's almost as if he is supervising me, or silently commanding me to feed him tuna. He is very curious, in a don't touch me kind of way.
It seems that Doodle and Scribble will be the only ones going in soon, and since the holding period is 48 hours before they go up for adoption, I will not be taking them in tomorrow. I don't want them to sit in quarantine over the weekend, and risk them getting sick before they can be adopted. So, till Tuesday they will wait.
Finally, Myrtle got adopted today! Yay! Her spay surgery is on Tuesday. I get to give her hugs and kisses before she goes! And, she's a spay only, I am happy she is not being declawed. I still feel bad for Sprocket, although it didn't seem to phase him at all.
Cathy and the Crew | | | |
|
|