Thankful Thursday

This Thursday, I am thankful for a healthy office assistant.

"Just working on filling up your "OUT" box, Lady. 

By the way... When was the last time you dusted this shelf?"

"Looks like your "IN" box could use some work too. Do you have another assistant to take care of that? Norm could use a nap."

Norman appears to be getting healthier by the day. He is eating well. His litter box issues are (mostly) clearing up. And his ears? His ears look to be filling in with fuzz, just like a real kitty!

Perhaps we're on our way back up to the top of the roller coaster before another big drop. But as long as Norm is feeling good, so am I.

"Do you MIND? Norman is taking his break!"

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Bonus Norman Action:

Plus a view of classic Ruby behavior in how she greets her Uncle Norman.

Also, her spilled water on the counter.

Ignore the laundry in the background. Breakfast time is too early to stage scenes.

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Someone Else Who Likes Her Breakfast?

Mama Clarice is gaining her weight back after raising those fabulous babies.

"A lady's weight is her own business, thank you very much."

Mama Clarice is still available. You know how to reach me.

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Oh... and our next foster babies have been spotted out of their den. They are four weeks old now. I imagine they will be making your acquaintance in the next week or two.

Wordless Wednesday

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Mom-a-Thon Wednesday 

You didn't think I forgot, did you? I'm trying to keep this as "wordless" as possible. But if you listen very closely, you can hear Mama Clarice supplying the words for today...

"Pick me. Pick me. Pick me."

Mom-a-Thon Tuesday

"Um... Excuse me? Ruby believes the Lady misspoke just now. This is Tuesday. I am Ruby. Therefore, today's post is RUBY Tuesday."

With apologies to Ruby, we have slightly different priorities this week. Did you know that there are only five shopping days until Mother's Day? I'm sure that you have all shopped for your mother in the past, but have you ever shopped for a mama? If you happen to be in the market for a mama, we have an exceptional one available here in Teeny Tiny Tabby Town.

"HOLD IT!"

"AGAIN? HER, AGAIN? What about RUBY? It IS Tuesday..."

"How about if we just tell the people all of the reasons why they should get the Mama kitty out of Ruby's house... Um, all the reasons why they should want to live with the Mama kitty forever."

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The Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Adopt A Mama Kitty

10. Mama Clarice LOVES to snuggle... Mama Clarice is pretty pushy about her snuggle time. She flies to your side as soon as you walk through the door and purrs and meows and purrs some more until you pay attention to her. She gets so excited about affection that Mama has a hard time sitting still for snuggles. She will walk back and forth across your lap, purring and rubbing on whatever body part that she can reach. After several minutes, Mama is ready to settle down and sit beside you (but only after she's shown you how very much she appreciates your attention). If you were to adopt our mama cat, you would never want for attention or love. Clarice is ready, willing, and able to provide it at a moment's notice.

9. As an older kitty, Mama Clarice is content to be slower, quieter, and more relaxed than a kitten... Mama might be WAY too chill for Ruby's taste. She has been known to enjoy sitting still from time to time. She appreciates a safe perch up high to watch the world below. If that perch is next to a window where she can see birds, all the better. The lucky family that adopts our mama cat will never have to worry about leaving her unattended. She's completely trustworthy and unlikely to play whirling dervish or seek-and-destroy while you're not looking.

8. Mama Clarice might be older, but she's still playful... It's a more restrained play instead of a "bounce off your face" kind of play, but at three-years-old Clarice enjoys a good, quiet type of game. Believe it or not, Clarice's favorite past-time is a modified version of fetch. If you throw the toy, she will chase after it. She changes the rules slightly in that Clarice is unlikely to return the toy once thrown. She will, however, expect you to throw another. If Mama's forever family happens to include an aspiring baseball pitcher, she will give the prospect lots of practice at home.

7. Mama Clarice is all girl... Meaning, Mama Clarice has a thing for shiny objects. She adores sparkle balls, glitter toys, and anything foil-based and reflective. Beware though... she "de-glitters" all of the sparkly toys. Once she removes all those sparkles, you'll be spending your time removing the strands of tinsel from her fur coat. Not to worry, though. Mama Clarice's family will save money on blinged-out collars and accessories. She'll bling out herself, thank you very much.

6. Mama Clarice is a video game aficionado... Mama Clarice will not only happily keep gamers company while they play, but she enjoys the action. Beyond merely watching the movement on the screen, Mama enjoys taking a turn or two at the controls herself. She enjoys wresting the occasional Wii-mote and who among us can refrain from grabbing at the cords that connect the nunchuck to the controller? Mama certainly cannot. The members of her forever family will almost certainly acquire greater focus and control through gameplay with a meddling mama.

5. Mama Clarice likes water... In a bowl, out of a bowl, splashed around on the floor, any water is good water for Mama Clarice. Not a fan of cleaning the floor? Mama will clean it for you! Just leave her water dish near the dirty spot and let Mama Clarice take care of the rest. 

4. Mama Clarice appreciates a good fort... The younger members of the family will finally have an excuse to build forts out of sofa cushions and blankets because Mama Clarice LOVES them. In fact, when you're in a time crunch and unable to build a fort for Mama, she will find a way to build one for herself. She has been known to rearrange the cat beds and blankets in order to build a wall to hide behind. When she's out of pillows, Mama Clarice will make her own space under the furniture. She's like McGyver... Clarice can make herself a burrow with whatever materials you can provide.

3. Mama Clarice sings all of the greatest hits... Remember those great tunes? "Pet Me" from 1997? "Please Love Me" from Billboard's 100 Greatest of 2003?  "Hey, I'm Over Here" the blockbuster hit from 2005? And let's never forget 2013's "HEY! WHY AREN'T YOU PETTING ME?"  Mama Clarice has practiced and  perfected each of the above songs AND MORE! You'll never lack for musical accompaniment if Mama's available to snuggle.

2. Mama Clarice fears the Roo...  Well, not really but Mama is a softer kind of girl than Ruby is. While Ruby is forward, outgoing, and pushy to the point of intimidation, Mama Clarice prefers a more low-key interaction. She avoids Ruby's company and prefers the fort under the dining room table to an audience with the Roo. I fully expect that Mama will get along beautifully with any other animals, as long as she's given time to adjust. Families with no other animals or who have an older, quieter set, might find that Mama is a better match for them though.

"Yep... Get that Mama Kitty out of here. Roo is skeery! Hee hee hee hee hee hee!!!!!"

1. Mama Clarice NEEDS you... Let's face it. Kittens will always find a home. Older cats, while perhaps needing to wait a while longer, will find their way. But Mama Clarice faces prejudice and misunderstanding because of her FIV status. She needs you... the one who understands that she's not sickly; the one who understands that she's not casually contagious; the one who is willing to take a chance on her; the one who is able to give her the home that she needs, the home that she wants, the home that she deserves.

If you have room in your heart and your home for Mama Clarice, start by checking out yesterday's post to make sure you're well apprised of her needs in a forever home. You will also find contact information there if you have any questions for me.

Mom-a-thon Monday

Mother's Day is just six days away and we still have a mama who is looking for a home. Mama Clarice has raised her brood, put in her time in foster, and not only needs a family of her very own but she totally deserves it too. Could the timing possibly be better? Let's pull out all of the stops and get Mama Clarice the best Mother's Day gift ever... a home.

We're kicking off the Mom-a-thon, a week long push to get Mama Clarice adopted. Today (and only today), we have a repeat of the adoption information post that many of you have seen before. I know you love Mama and I know that my regular readers cannot adopt her for any number of reasons. But could you share her? Pretty, pretty, pretty please?

Mama is in the northeast suburbs of Detroit, Michigan but I am willing to figure out transport for any family who wants and deserves her. I am similarly willing to "hold" Clarice for the right family if they need time to prepare in one way or another. All I want is a special family for my special girl.

Read and share, read and share, read and share. The Roo will peek in tomorrow for Mom-a-thon Tuesday. 

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A Home for Mama

WANTED: A loving forever home for the sweetest, most gentle, patient and kind mama cat that has ever walked the earth where she will be loved, cherished, spoiled, and treasured for the rest of her life.

Did I mention that she's drop-dead gorgeous too?

Mama Madison came to our southeast Michigan rescue in January along with her 4 bouncing baby kittens. After raising some of the most fantastically friendly, outgoing, brave, loving, and brilliant kittens that I have ever met, Mama said goodbye to her babies as they all left for their forever homes over the past week. Her work done, it is now Mama's turn to find a spectacular home of her very own.

Mama Clarice is an incredibly beautiful long-haired silver tabby. Her tabby markings are more pronounced on her face, where she has white tabby stripes that frame her eyes.

Her tremendous tail plume and fluffy pants are a gorgeous addition to her muted stripes on her body and legs.

Mama's extra-long white whiskers are wild, crazy, and curly... a distinctive accessory for this special lady cat.

Mama Clarice is immensely beautiful and intensely kissable from the tip of her nose to...

The bottom of her tippy toes :)

And just in case you missed those amazing toes the first time...

Don't you want to reach out and touch that toe fluff through your computer screen? If Mama Clarice lived in YOUR house, she'd let you touch them almost any time you want.

Beyond her obvious beauty, Mama Clarice has an amazing personality and beautifully gentle soul.

Three-year-old Mama is quiet and patient. She lived in my house for more than two weeks before I ever heard her voice. The only time she uses it is to express a gentle reminder that her bowl might be empty. I have never seen or felt one of her claws. She has yet to hiss, growl, or spit... even with a menagerie of permanent residents outside the glass French doors to her room watching her every move with her four precious babies. She shows mild interest in playtime and adventuring outside her foster room door, but truthfully... she really only wants you for your love.

Good photos of Mama are somewhat difficult to get because she is truly only concerned with two things... getting enough to eat and loving you (but mostly the second one). She greets me immediately at the door looking for love and affection. Mama performs the most complicated of figure 8 maneuvers by rubbing my legs as  I walk. She purrs unreservedly and showers every visitor with attention. 

It doesn't take much more than a chin rub to make our Mama as happy as can be. 

She is quite simply...

Remarkable.

"Why did you stop?"

She loves you already and is waiting for you to bring her home.

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A Special Home for Our Mama Cat

Our Mama has tested positive for FIV antibodies and will require a special home, one that takes the time to understand her diagnosis and is willing to provide the proper environment for her.

FIV is not easily spread from one cat to another. It is usually spread either through biting, some other violent act, or through birth. There is much anecdotal evidence that FIV+ cats can live for years with other cats without spreading the virus. FIV+ cats, though, because of the suppression of their natural immune systems are more susceptible to the germs and illnesses of other cats... meaning they catch colds and other diseases more easily than others and, once caught, they have a much more difficult time fighting off the infection and returning to health. 

Our mama has already successfully, and rather easily and quickly, fought off an upper respiratory infection while in our care. She is exceptionally healthy and strong. FIV+ cats, when living in their own little protected bubble, can conceivably live a normal lifespan... well over ten years. The key is protection, a clean environment, and good nutrition. There is no reason to believe that she cannot live happily and without health crises for many years to come.

It should be noted that cats who have been vaccinated for FIV will test positive for the FIV antibodies afterward. Given the fact that we know nothing about her history prior to being dumped at the shelter with her babies, it is entirely possible that Mama is simply a vaccinated kitty. But we must be careful in her placement regardless.

For more information about FIV in cats, please consult the following resources:

Crash's Landing & Big Sid's Sanctuary, a rescue in Grand Rapids, Michigan dedicated to rescuing and placing FIV and Feline Leukemia cats   http://www.crashslanding.org/FivAndFelv.html

Veterinary Partner, an online pet health library   http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1313&S=2&SourceID=42

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine   http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/fiv.html

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So here's the part where I call you ALL into action...

Option #1:

**If you have room for a deserving Mama cat in your life, if you can provide the kind of home we're looking for, if you are willing to give our girl the life of pampered luxury that she so richly deserves, please contact me for more information. You can reach me through several avenues... 

1. Stop by the Whiskers in the Window Facebook page and leave me a private message (using the button directly below the cover photo). 

2. Send me an e-mail to teenytinytabbies (at) gmail (dot) com.

3. Leave me a message in the comments below and let me know how to contact you.

Option #2:

**If you do not have the appropriate home for Mama, if you're too far away, if you have too many cats, if it's just not the right time, you can STILL HELP!!!!

1. Comment below if you have any additional information about FIV... personal experience, recommendations for research and resources other than what I've listed above, encouragement for anyone who is considering bringing Mama or any other FIV+ cat into their homes.

2. Share, share, SHARE, SHARE our blog post. Share it on Facebook. Share it on your blog. Share it with your neighbors. Share it with your friends and family. Share it today, tomorrow, and the day after because you never ever know when the right eyes may be reading. 

I nearly said "Share it until the cows come home" but that would just be ridiculous. How about "Share it until Mama goes home"? Yes... Share it until Mama goes home. Pretty, pretty please.

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And Now a Word From Completely Unbiased By-Standers

"Can you adopt my mama, please?"

"Yes, yes, yes!! An excellent idea!! Adopt our Mama!!!"

"We loves our Mama!! You will love our Mama too!!!!!!!!"

Too Big For Her Britches?

Ruby Roo is eight months old today. Along with her new age, she seems to have acquired a new move.

"Ruby is doing NOTHING wrong here. 

The Lady is quite mistaken in her assumption that the Roo is up to no good."

"Ruby will just mind her own business while sitting very, very still. 

Hmm... What's up there?"

"SHEESH, LADY!! WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU DUSTED UP THERE?"

"There's no reason to get snippy. Ruby was just trying to be HELPFUL."

"Hmmm... What's in there?"

"Yeah, Ruby heard you. 

The Lady had a really great-great-great-great aunt who gave her a 

glass thing-a-mah-jig. SO?"

"So what's IN it?"

"Lady... Did you REALLY mean to use such language just now?"

"Perhaps the Lady should kitten-proof while the Roo looks outside at the birdies."

Thankful Thursday

SUNSHINE!!!

And not just any sunshine... WARM sunshine!!!

78 degrees and sunny on a random weekday in Michigan?

"HOORAY!!"

"Sunshine is totally cool, Dude!"

"Hey... What's THAT?????"

"Ruby thinks that, with enough careful consideration, a route to the outside world could be discovered. All it will take is some creative financing, some dental floss, and paperclip."

"Surprised? Ruby is more than a pretty face, you know."

I am currently taking bets on how many warm spring days it will take to produce a Ruby-shaped hole in my living room window screen. Birds in the daytime, bugs at night, a not-so-teeny-tiny kitten leaning against the screen to get a closer look.... oy!

"What the Heck" Wednesday

About six weeks ago, around the time that Norman got sick again, something else about our boy began to concern me.

What the heck is with those ears?????

Needless to say, he had been thoroughly checked over by the vet at the time. Our first, and most immediate, thought was our old nemesis... the ringworm. Doesn't look like ringworm, though. Doesn't glow like it either. So we crossed that off the list. 

At the time, his ears were nearly completely bald. Just a slight covering of fuzz coated the outsides of his ears. He was completely stressed with the intestinal issues, was costing me an arm and a leg at the vet, showed no patience for being poked and prodded, and apparently wasn't contagious since the other kitties aren't having this issue. Our biggest concern was his pancreas and digestion at the time, so (knowing it wasn't ringworm) we bounced ideas around and decided to take a "wait and see" approach to the ears. 

Things we wondered about... seasonal allergies (he started to lose his fur right around the time the snow melted and spring allergens hit the air); stress reaction to being sick; allergic reaction to me (maybe) putting ringworm meds on his ears without a diagnosis (yes, I *know* that I need to stop doing that!). Other suggestions that have come forwards more recently include a bacterial inner ear infection that is affecting the fur on the outside of the ear as well.

I just don't know what to make of it.

His health is improving, not perfect but better. His ears are improving too... slowly. The photo above was taken over a month ago. The photos below were taken last night.

I don't know if you can really tell a difference in the photograph. But his ear has much more "coverage", especially around the edges and at the base of the ear.

The front view of the ears looks much, MUCH better... almost back to normal.

"Seriously, Lady? Why are you showing pictures of Norman's ears? Do you want the readers to think that Norm is a freak??? Norm can't even look at you right now."

While he is improving, the progress is slow (very slow). If you have had a similar experience, I'd love to hear what might be causing it. It's time to get a handle on this old man's sensitivities.

And I promise not to medicate him without veterinary approval any more.