Posted on 05/18/2008 8:48:58 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
It's that time of year when all people who have been thinking about getting a new kitten and even some who haven't, are suddenly faced with a lot of choices!
Well, if you want a lot of smiles and fun, I say adopt not just one, but two. :~)
We think they are best in pairs. We have two we adopted two years ago.
But we also have two wild cats who have taken refuge in our barn... I've fed them and given them that safe haven, though I can't get near them. They hunt and kill mice and at least one large mole, so they've more than earned their keep. I thought about the possibility of kittens of course, but the idea of trapping them seemed daunting and stressful for them, and because I'd never seen signs that they were attracting males, I'd actually convinced myself that maybe they were already spayed.
Well... the other day, high up on top of the cabinet in the barn where I've made them a bed, I saw her... and the kittens she could no longer hide, they were starting to move around too much!
I'd seen her up on that cabinet a lot lately and I noticed she'd stay there when I came in instead of running off like she used to. I thought she was finally getting used enough to me to not run away. Now I know she was protecting them.
She was NOT amused at my interest!
I was very concerned about them being on top of that cabinet. It's very high, over a concrete floor, and I realized if we didn't take them now, not only would we not be able to catch and tame them, they'd probably all start wandering and falling off of there.
So we caught them and put them in a dog crate... FOUR kittens. Healthy, fat, cute kittens. She'd taken good care of them. We ~tried~ to catch momma too, but she's a much harder challenge and she escaped.
We did pick up some milk replacer, and I'm glad... they aren't really ready for solid food yet.
In fact, I wasn't convinced they were eating enough on their own, so I've been feeding all of them with a dropper.
Sometimes I've felt I get more on them than in them.
For not having been handled from day one, they are remarkably happy and well adjusted in their new life.
Now enter the dog... yes there is a dog in this story!
My Gidget the Dalbrador, has been obsessed with these kittens since they were found... I thought a little ~too~ interested, she's lethal on mice, after all, and these are not much bigger. But she seemed very worried and maternal about them... so I opened the crate door and let her look in.
And they aren't afraid of her at all, in fact, they seem drawn to her.
I know we see stories now and then about mixed species adoption of babies, but it's still surprising... She's really a good momma to them, cleaning their dirty bits and playing with them...
This morning at breakfast... I feed the kittens...
And she washes their faces afterwards...
Aren't they CUTE?
And now the punch line... I know this is a national board and many of you are too far away to adopt these kittens... but For those of you in Western Washington, these kittens are nearly ready to make someone very nice pets, they're happy, well adjusted, and they need homes where they'll be taken for shots and spay/neutering once they're old enough... My hubby and I will travel if you are within a reasonable distance!
My hubby and I already feel like we're full up with animals, with our three dogs (two of which are refugees themselves!) two cats, horses, and now these. We want to focus our expenses now on taking care of the mother, and getting her spayed so she doesn't do this again. We can't afford spays and shots for ALL of these.
For everyone else who is too far away, please consider adopting some kittens this spring from your local shelter or rescue. Get two. They're inundated with them, and they are so much fun!
And if you have an unspayed cat around or ferals, please look into having her spayed... the life of a refugee is often a hard and short one, even without the burden of more litters of kittens.
Hope you enjoyed the pictures of our bunch, and hope it will inspire you to get a couple... these smiles can be found all over the country, just go to your nearest shelter.
Man, those are some cute kitties! Glad you could catch them and tame the little critters.
I wish I were closer, but it’s just as well. The resident spoiled-rotten housecat would not be amused by something cuter than herself (c;
Cute!
Thanks!
Looks like a fabulous play place for kittens!
Are they figuring out the litterbox at all?
I’m trying *not* to think of names for the two tabby/tiger guys...
They are using the litterbox mostly... I still found some wet spots and had to change out the bedding again, but they’ll figure it out. Their poop is a little runny. I don’t know if the system just needs to get used to the new food or what. :~\
You know, the smallest black one is the cuddliest. He never wants you to put him down. The others won’t hardly sit still long enough to sit on a lap... they’re all over the place.
Glad they’re getting the hang of it! I’ll hafta come see ‘em again now they’re getting settled in and their personalities are developing a bit more...
Come on over tonight. :~)
Every time one of my cats dies, another walks in, picks out a chair, and takes its place. I swear they put vacancy signs out where the cats hang out.
Yep, they have 9 lives and ESP!! Lol
Cute overload!!!! The striped one looks like my girl now.
It was sad, but she had a good life with me, filled with love. And all her kittens found great homes.
Damn it. I want that tiger. It has an M on its forehead too. Boy or girl? For girl, I say Macy, for a boy, I say Marco.
We think that one is a boy. If you take him, you can name him whatever you like :~)
His ears have this cute little way of tipping in at the top, and when he holds them out in a certain way, he kindof looks like Yoda. :~)
Well if I lived closer, I’d seriously consider it. But, I don’t think my girl kitty- 14 btw, would like it. She likes being the only cat now. And, she has a new puppy to deal with. :)
Aawww... dang. :~)
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