A Gift For You

How did I not notice this before????

The ever-astute Connie (otherwise known as the fabulous author of Tails From The Foster Kittens) pointed out that Garnet's awesome orange belly spots are the in the shape of a heart.

Can't unsee it now, can you? I know that I can't. Garnet is saving up her love and her heart for a very special still-unknown family. We're lucky she's letting us get a sneak peek at it. Consider it her gift to you.

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We have another gift in today's post. Last month, I received an amazing gift from my dear friend Wendy. Wendy's husband and my husband were stationed in Germany at the same time in the late 1990s. We lived in the same stairwell apartment building on Ramstein Air Base. Our sons were born four days apart from each other. (I may or may not still be carrying a grudge that her son was born on my due date and I had to wait for an extra four days, but that's an entirely different story).

Wendy has a love of sewing, while her husband is a fantastic woodworker. They have left military life behind and have a great little business on the side. This little project started as a bed for American Girl dolls:

But then her cat completely took over.

I showed Wendy a photo of what our original foster kitty Tommy used to do in the authentic American Girl doll beds.

An idea was born and the prototype arrived in my house as a very special gift last month.

It's now a cat bed, complete with cat-themed bedding and catnip pillows.

To say they love it would be an understatement.

Why, yes... I was singing "No More Monkeys Jumping On The Bed" when I took this photo. Why do you ask?

I'm pretty sure this is the last time a pillow was ever on that bed.

Belle has redecorated again.

Wendy's fabulous creation is available in her Etsy story by following this link: http://www.etsy.com/listing/154013659/cat-or-toy-dog-farm-style-bed?ref=shop_home_active  They build the beds as they are ordered, so you know that your kitty's bed will be made especially for them :)

If you are interested in one of these fabulous creations, Wendy is offering a discount for you lucky Whiskers In The Window readers. Use the code CATBEDRESCUE for $10 off through August 31st.

Also, she will make a donation to her local rescue for every bed sold. It's a win-win-win situation. Wendy builds her business. You get a fabulous cat bed. Shelter kitties benefit. Hooray!!

Whiskers In The Window

Weekend Update: Still available and looking for a good home...

Thank you SO very much for hopping aboard Operation-Share-The-Mama. From the numbers that I was able to track (which only show me the first share, not the share from the share from the share), Mama's photo and link were shared on Facebook more than 30 times on Friday. Her Facebook post was viewed by over 3000 people. My blog post was read more than 500 times. She's still here with us, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time.

If you should happen to feel the need to continue sharing, here is the link.

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Whiskers In The Window

A Retrospective

September 2011

Tommy the frequent flyer was the first to find his way to the second level of windowsills.

July 2012

Penelope Jean, the Calico Queen

Not-the-Mama had Not-A-Problem walking the tightrope on the high window sill.

March 2013

Guess Who?

It's Ruby Ruby Roo...

That's who.

Our little peanut Roo has entered the awkward teenage phase... long, gangly legs, big ears, and her teeny tiny face is becoming more angular to resemble the Siamese that came from her Mama's genetics. If she stays still long enough, I'll try to get some pictures to show you tomorrow along with a very special update of a very special former foster with a very special (and distinctive) trait. 

Guess Who?

Monday at the Movies

The kittens spent the weekend romping in the family room.  They clearly express their desire to leave the foster room (every.stinking.time.they.are.stuck.inside.it)

and Part Deux

Porter is quite the demanding diva... isn't he?  ;-)

Eventually they settled down (turn up your volume to hear some fantastical purring and trust me when I tell you that the shaky camera work had a definite cause...)

Look out below! Ben decided to quit his job as assistant cameraman and join the cast instead.

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Making Friends?

Someone (**cough**Penelope**cough**) snuck in to join the midgets for snacktime.

"Who invited HER?"

"She's SO bee-yoo-ti-ful!!!! Benny LOVES her...."

"Oooh... she's getting closer.  Perhaps Benny should try batting his eyelashes at the pretty lady..."

"Is Benny being too obvious in his affection?  Should he look away??"

"Can't.help.myself.... Benny has never, ever seen such a stunning lady before."

"HEY!!! I'M A LADY!!!"

"Geez, Benny... Don't be such a fraidy-cat.  Henry will show you how to woo a lady."

"Hey, pretty lady.  What's shakin'?"

"Besides your fine boo-tay, that is..."

"MIND YOUR MANNERS, SHRIMPOLA!!!"

"There was NO call to HIT Henry!  Not at all!  Perhaps Henry does not wish to know the Lady after all..."

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MONDAY MORNING UPDATE

They're all still here... for now.  Tommy's family comes later today to take him home.  I wish I could say I'm sorry to see him go, but it's best for all of us.  He had a stellar ten-and-a-half months... and then Penny came out of the foster room.  Poor Tommy hasn't been the same since.  He's anxious, which turns into aggression, fighting, destruction, and peeing.  He misses his family.  They miss him.  He misses his outside travels at home.  I miss my home without drama and spraying.  It's time to say goodbye.  

I will miss his sweetness, purring, and drooling... but we all knew he had to go eventually.

Penny's departure has been delayed by a week.  She's here until next weekend, when her family will finally be able to visit.  Hey, it wouldn't be Penelope unless there was an extra twist... right?  I'm happy to have her well-behaved self stay for a few more days.  It was really cold over the weekend and she was the only cat to have the decency to keep my feet warm!

"Okay... I'll wait just a little while longer.  But if those kittens try to touch me again, I'm going fishing.... and you can't stop me!!"

I'm under instructions to make a vet appointment for the fearsome foursome.  If the vet clears the kittens and signs their health certificates, the first two will make the trek to Petco pretty quickly.  Adoptions have picked up and they are running out of kittens!

We, however, are not running out of kittens.  There are already rumbles about the next residents of Teeny Tiny Tabby Town.  Something about a young mama (less than a year old... poor thing) with 13 (THIRTEEN!!!!!) kittens in a litter.  They are roughly 3-4 weeks old at the moment.  By the time my four head to Petco and I get a chance to disinfect, they should be old enough to split up among a couple (few, maybe) foster homes.  I got to bottle-feed a couple of them on Sunday (squee!)

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Psst.... I haven't forgotten about Metro Monday.  It's just an awful lot to pack into a single blog post today.  I'm thinking about spreading Metro Monday out throughout the rest of the week.  Please stay tuned.

Friday Updates

We've had an eventful week with lots of news and changes and more news as we get to know the munchkins in the foster room.  I thought it might be nice to send you off into the weekend with some updates about life in Teeny Tiny Tabby Town.

Eloise began her stay here as the most serious little flea infested thing that ever walked on four (very short) legs.  She shrank away from human contact for the first few days but after ten days of love and care, she is the by far the most affectionate kitten in the bunch.  She comes crying for snuggles and doesn't care what you are doing... SHE MUST HAVE THEM!  Eloise allows cradling like a baby, nose booping, and insists upon belly rubs.  She rubs on feet and chews on toes, especially if they have nail polish on them.

"Don't mind me. Lady.  I'm just sitting here quietly... waiting for petting... you can pet me anytime... really."

"Okay... that's alright... I'll just pet myself if you're too busy."

Weezy rings the dinner bell (and the breakfast bell and the lunch bell and the snacking time bell) for the entire foster room.  When Weezy's hungry, everything stops until a can gets opened.  She has a quiet, throaty meow, but she means business.  Her serious little look never changes.  The combination of big ears and round eyes give her a studious air, like she's questioning you each and every moment.

Eloise is currently the healthiest kitten in the foster room.  No signs of fleas, upper respiratory, or ringworm on her.  We intend to keep her that way.

"Gerber chicken baby food is my secret to good health.  Now if I could only fit my entire face in this jar..."

Henry came in as the wild child and Henry remains the wild child.  Whatever object holds his focus IS a toy and there is no persuading him otherwise.  He slightly unnerves me when we cuddle and talk because he focuses so intently upon my moving lips and hair blowing in the breeze of the ceiling fan.  He has pounced at both on more than a few occasions.  He jumps at everything claws out.  My lips have the scars to prove it.  There is no tail that is safe.  On Thursday, he attacked Eloise's tail and got his claw stuck on the tip.  Boy, did she give him what for!

"I don't know how you expect me to sit still for pictures when your camera-thingy has this awesome toy hanging from it!"

"No time for non-blurry pictures, Lady.  There's a ball to chase here."

Henry is the first kitten to greet me at the door to the foster room... every time.  He sprints like his tail is on fire.  He must be involved in everything.  It really doesn't matter how anyone else feels about it.  He would snuggle, but he gets distracted too easily and finds something to pounce on instead.  I imagine he sleeps, but refuses to do so in my presence.

"Okay... I'll sit here for 2.4 seconds so that you may take my photo.  Then, your lens cap is mine."

Henry arrived wheezing and sneezing.  Most of that is gone now.  I haven't heard a wheeze in several days and we're only treated to the occasional sneeze now.  He has a touch of ringworm on his ears and above one eye.  He has lost the fur there and is crusty, but hasn't become red and swollen (and this is after several days).  I'm hoping that with medication, this is as bad as it gets.

"Oh good, you found another camera... because I'm keeping this one."

Porter is my special love.  He wants desperately to love me, but his health issues are getting in the way... namely, I medicate and bathe him.  When I am in the room, he stares at me from afar and purrs.  He cocks his head when I talk to him.  I can tell that he's trying to decide whether or not to be brave and visit me.  We are beginning to reach an understanding... with the help of routine and Gerber chicken baby food.  (Ugh... you know how much I love him if I'm willing to touch that stuff.)

"No pictures, please."

"Talk to the paw."

"Honestly, Lady... you're as bad as the paparazzi."

When the foster room doors are closed and I am out of the way, he is a completely normal kitten.  Porter and Henry have hours-long sessions of Wrestle Mania.  It sounds like thunder in there, even when the skies are clear.  He loves the track ball and chasing a ping pong ball across the room.  His favorite place to nap is in a sunny spot on the very tippy-top of the cat tree.

Blurry Brother Smackdown

After a week of worry, we finally seem to be seeing a bit of progress with Porter's ringworm.  Instead of red and raw, his sores are starting to look crusty and drying out.  We stumbled upon a medication strategy that works for both of us.  I wrap his body in a towel, hold him like a baby, and dab the drops onto his face with my gloved fingertip.  He then waits patiently as I free one leg at a time to squirt the drops onto his sores there.  When I run out of legs, he runs off my lap.  His goopy eyes have cleared and I haven't heard him sneeze in days.  Improvement... that's all I need for now.

After talking to the vet about preventative measures for ringworm, I decided the easiest thing to do clothing-wise was to leave an old bathrobe and a pair of socks in the foster room.  The plan was for me to put them on as soon as I walk through the door so I'm completely covered except for my hands and face.  The kittens had other ideas.  Apparently the inside of my robe makes the most excellent hiding spot for pouncing on a sibling.  We've had many wrestling matches around my ankles.  So now when I leave the room, I wash hands, face, and ankles  ;-)

Henry swats at a streaking Eloise while Porter looks on from inside my ratty pink bathrobe.

Penny isn't so sure that she likes this "freedom" thing.  Even with the run of the house, she usually stays upstairs... mostly walking between the family room and the top of the stairs (which are open to the living room) to tell me off for leaving her door open.  She complains loudly if one of the boy cats enters her space and even louder still if they look at her food.  But since there is no fighting and no aggression, I'm calling it a success.

Our Penny princess has become a bit of diva in the food department.  She has expressed a clear preference for canned food.  If I drop kibble in her bowl, she gives me a looks as if to say "Why are you feeding me this crap?" and then she walks over to space where her wet food bowl usually resides and meows expectantly.

"You can open my door and give me freedom, but this is as far as I'm going.  There are boys down there!"

Tommy isn't one bit interested in the commotion going on around us.  He would just like his favorite spots to remain free from other cats.  For the most part, he gets his wish.

"I know this really isn't my spot.  I don't care."

Norman can't understand why I won't let him in the foster room.  He also has issues with them having access to kibble 24/7 while he does not.  Additionally, he has no problem with Friday the 13th.  He would like us all to just deal with it and hug a black cat.

Uncle Norman keeps an eye on those kittens.

"I'll just hang on to the remote this evening.  How about a "My Cat from Hell" marathon?"

Simba can't understand why I would want to have so many cats in the house.  After many days of avoiding me completely, he is starting to come around a bit.  BUT the jerk has sprayed in my basement (which he apparently considers his lair).  Luckily, he seems to only be interested in spraying a concrete floor so it's been easy to deal with so far.

"If Norman thinks those cats on the television are bad, just wait until I finish washing up the Paw of Doom"

Charlie just wants someone to throw him the ball already.

"Or we could play with these toys instead..."

Have a great weekend everyone.

"We'll just wait here until you come back on Monday."