The littles are growing up. Reinhardt (orange tabby) has actually hit the 2lb mark! But he still seems so tiny!
That's Raquel in front and Murrel in the back (can't see his little white spots in this photo).
Friday, May 7, 2010
Cotton's Tale - May 7, 2010
More big milestones for Cotton...
Since he has come out of the bathroom, he has made friends with my girl-kitties. He recognizes that he is low man on the totem pole and defers to them for favorite sleeping spots, food, etc. Originally, he seems scared of them - it was hilarious to see a 6lb 3-legged cat chasing this big 14lb boy! Now it's all in fun, they chase each other around the house and he's taken to jumping out from behind a chair when one of them walks by, just to try to engage them. He has turned into quite a gentleman cat around the ladies.
Second big mark... last night he decided to jump up on my bed to see what he could find. He's been tempted before, but would never come all the way up. He's finally decided that it seems to be OK. Unfortunately for me, he decided this at 3am. But hey, a milestone to be celebrated at any hour.
Finally, this morning HE LET ME PICK HIM UP! (cue the happy-dance). No squirming, striking, or bite-threatening. Not so comfortable that he started purring, but still a HUGE step for this cat.
I think he's going to be a nice, happy cat after all. I knew he had it in him somewhere, if he'd just let it out.
Since he has come out of the bathroom, he has made friends with my girl-kitties. He recognizes that he is low man on the totem pole and defers to them for favorite sleeping spots, food, etc. Originally, he seems scared of them - it was hilarious to see a 6lb 3-legged cat chasing this big 14lb boy! Now it's all in fun, they chase each other around the house and he's taken to jumping out from behind a chair when one of them walks by, just to try to engage them. He has turned into quite a gentleman cat around the ladies.
Second big mark... last night he decided to jump up on my bed to see what he could find. He's been tempted before, but would never come all the way up. He's finally decided that it seems to be OK. Unfortunately for me, he decided this at 3am. But hey, a milestone to be celebrated at any hour.
Finally, this morning HE LET ME PICK HIM UP! (cue the happy-dance). No squirming, striking, or bite-threatening. Not so comfortable that he started purring, but still a HUGE step for this cat.
I think he's going to be a nice, happy cat after all. I knew he had it in him somewhere, if he'd just let it out.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Check up time - 4/24/2010
Big day yesterday in the kitten-hood. Mom went back to the shelter, so the little ones are on their own now. They got checked out, vaccinated, de-wormed (yuk!), and nails trimmed. A very handsome set, indeed!
Unfortunately, the two little tuxedos tested positive for FeLV. They'll be rechecked in 30 days and hopefully, this is just a false positive. Mom & their ginger brother are negative.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Cotton's Tale - April 20, 2010
The big day is finally here! The vet cleared him and Cotton is finally out of quarantine. He's allowed to roam around the house now, but seriously, he's turning into a big chicken!
He's 14 lbs of hissing & scratching around me, but now that he can run free, he still clings to his own little bathroom. He won't come downstairs yet. When my two girl-kitties come upstairs at night, they run rings around him - literally. He's being chased down the hall by a 6lb, 3-legged girl-cat!
All that bravado was just bully-talk....he's really just a 'fraidy cat!
He's 14 lbs of hissing & scratching around me, but now that he can run free, he still clings to his own little bathroom. He won't come downstairs yet. When my two girl-kitties come upstairs at night, they run rings around him - literally. He's being chased down the hall by a 6lb, 3-legged girl-cat!
All that bravado was just bully-talk....he's really just a 'fraidy cat!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Kyndra's Kittens - 4/13/2010
Here's some updated pics of Kyndra's Kittens. Little orange tabby male is Reinhardt. Tuxedo kit with salt & pepper fur is female Raquel. Other tux male (with less white) is Murrel. They are toddling around, maybe just on the verge of eating 'real' food, and Mom Kyndra is so-o-o-o ready to be done!
Cotton's Tale - 3 months - 4/13/2010
Big Day today!
Dr Silvia brought her mobile vet clinic to the house and gave Cotton the full workup. He wasn't nearly the terrible attack-cat that I expected him to be. Vaccines, blood draw, nail clip, flea treatment, and deworming!
Tomorrow, hopefully we'll find out that he is clear to be introduced to the rest of the household. It's taken him a long time to learn his 'indoor manners'. Last big hurdle will be the intro to my girls.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Baby Pics - 4/2/2010
I know, I know, I've been terrible about posting lately. My last two foster kittens got no blog time at all. They were a couple of scaredy cats, so pictures of them running away from me aren't that interesting.
Here's some cute baby snaps of Kyndra & her little crew. Eyes are just starting to open now and they are wiggling around. So cute!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
New kittens in the house! 03/23/2010
Introducing .... mom-cat Kyndra and her 3 babies. The dark spot at the top is a little boy with some white markings (not quite a tuxedo) named Murrel. Next to him is sister Raquel, also black with white markings (and a cute pink nose!). Finally, there orange tabby brother with the name bigger than he is, Rienhardt. I don't make 'em up, I just get to foster & play with them!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Cotton's Tale - 2 months - March 16, 2010
Yes, two months now. He's still essentially untouchable. Oh, he lets me pet him and an occasional scratch behind the ears, but there's still hissing & striking.
Big trama for him yesterday - he got moved to a bigger room. Took most of an hour to convince him to get back in the carrier for the trip upstairs. Wish I could trust him enough to just pick him up. I've got the battle scars to prove he's still a biter.
Oh, and now... he's got fleas. Where'd those come from?
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Cotton's Tale - 5 weeks
Hey, a breakthrough! He let me pick him up today! Hurray! Hurray! He was even purring while I put him in my lap. Didn't last too long. I guess he suddenly remembered he's not supposed to 'like' me.
There's much less hissing & striking now. I think he's finally ready to see the vet. Wonder how much that will set us back.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Cotton's Tale - Day Twenty-One - 2/6/2010
Three weeks; he's still living in the bathroom shower.
Cotton is making steady progress every day. Tonight, for the first time, he spent about 10 minutes curled up in my lap! He will now (generally) let me pet him (long strokes, no patting or scratching). He seems to look forward to spending time with me. I've kept him so isolated that I'm his only connection to the world outside his enclosure. He's calmed down tremendously since arriving, no doubt in large part to the full bottle of CALM DOWN he's ingested over the last three weeks (did I mention it's 13% alcohol?)
I've yet to attempt to pick him up. He still has schizophrenic episodes where he will turn from a purring, sweet kitty seeking attention to a snarling monster with teeth & claws bared. He seems to get over-stimulated and doesn't know what to do with the anxiety. Even when he's 'calm', his tail is swishing nervously.
All in all, I'm amazed at his progress. When I used to visit my cousin, I never saw him act this nicely in his former home (always hissing & growling). She let him get away with a lot of bad behavior. Now, I reward the good and walk away when he acts up. He's catching on. Since most cats don't crave human acceptance the same way dogs do, it's tough to see where we're making progress. Patience will win out in the end.
Can't seem to catch him looking sweet & loving in pictures. Maybe next time.
Cotton is making steady progress every day. Tonight, for the first time, he spent about 10 minutes curled up in my lap! He will now (generally) let me pet him (long strokes, no patting or scratching). He seems to look forward to spending time with me. I've kept him so isolated that I'm his only connection to the world outside his enclosure. He's calmed down tremendously since arriving, no doubt in large part to the full bottle of CALM DOWN he's ingested over the last three weeks (did I mention it's 13% alcohol?)
I've yet to attempt to pick him up. He still has schizophrenic episodes where he will turn from a purring, sweet kitty seeking attention to a snarling monster with teeth & claws bared. He seems to get over-stimulated and doesn't know what to do with the anxiety. Even when he's 'calm', his tail is swishing nervously.
All in all, I'm amazed at his progress. When I used to visit my cousin, I never saw him act this nicely in his former home (always hissing & growling). She let him get away with a lot of bad behavior. Now, I reward the good and walk away when he acts up. He's catching on. Since most cats don't crave human acceptance the same way dogs do, it's tough to see where we're making progress. Patience will win out in the end.
Can't seem to catch him looking sweet & loving in pictures. Maybe next time.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Cotton's Tale - Day Twelve - 1/28/2010
Hurray! He let me pet him today ... and ... he liked it!
And yes, there was even purring....
hurray, hurray, (happy dance)
And yes, there was even purring....
hurray, hurray, (happy dance)
Monday, January 25, 2010
Cotton's Tale - Day Nine - 1/25/2010
It's been a full week now. Cotton is showing signs of interest in what's happening outside his glass enclosure (or else he's plotting his escape).
Still the occasional outburst of angry swipes at my hand (always safely on the other side of the glass). Lots of growls & hisses, but that seems to be his regular tone of voice.
He now approaches the glass when I enter the room to visit. Still not really reaching out like a 'normal' cat, but he is significantly better than when he got here.
Oh, and whatever pitch or tar or engine gunk he had on his ear has finally come off. Guess it wasn't a wound after all. That's good, at least.
Still the occasional outburst of angry swipes at my hand (always safely on the other side of the glass). Lots of growls & hisses, but that seems to be his regular tone of voice.
He now approaches the glass when I enter the room to visit. Still not really reaching out like a 'normal' cat, but he is significantly better than when he got here.
Oh, and whatever pitch or tar or engine gunk he had on his ear has finally come off. Guess it wasn't a wound after all. That's good, at least.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Cotton's Tale - Day Six - 1/22/2010
Good news... he's spending more time out of the crate.
Bad news... he's still hissing & spitting, striking & clawing.
This is one unhappy cat.
Bad news... he's still hissing & spitting, striking & clawing.
This is one unhappy cat.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Cotton's Tale - Day Five - 1/21/2010
Cotton has now taken up residence behind the crate. I can pet him with the cotton bat toy and even touch him with my hand IF I have the toy strategically placed to catch the teeth and claws!
I'm adding Calm Down to his food (now that he's eating again). Don't know if it helps him, but it would help me... it's 13% alcohol.
Yesterday, he seemed interested in what might be going on outside the bathroom door. I think he's just plotting his escape. I heard him banging on the shower door last night. I'm sure he'll figure out he's heavy enough to open it if he tries hard enough.
Mostly, he sits behind the crate and occasionally growls & hisses when I come in to talk to him.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Cotton's Tale - Day Three - 1/19/2010
Third day in the crate... although he was out on top of it this morning when I checked in on him, he went right back inside. Still not eating much.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Cotton's Tale - Day Two - 1/18/2010
Well, it took more than 24 hours, but he finally moved! Not much, but he apparently came out of the crate & picked at the food a bit. Cotton now lets me touch him with a long pet toy without reacting. I think he's just gone more into his shell. Poor thing, his world has been turned upside down and he doesn't know what to do yet. Wait 'til he has to go to the vet. Since he has lived outside for most of two years, he'll need to be tested before I even think about introducing him to my girls.
Anyway, here's a picture. You can see he's not a happy camper.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Cotton's Tale - 8pm Day One
Rather than come out of his crate & move 1 foot to the litter box, Cotton decided to pee all over his crate & then cower in the corner. Drew first blood when I tried to change the towel, but I've had worse scratches from kitten play. He sure is scared.
Cotton's Tale - Day One - 1/17/2010
Sadly, a favorite cousin of mine passed away suddenly last week. Since we are a small family and she had no children, I offered to take her cat.
I knew he was an 'outdoor' cat, and that he's nearly feral (make that really feral), but I like a challenge, so here goes. This is Cotton's Tale. Hopefully, he will learn to like living indoors and learn to like my two girl kitties (Lorenza and Colleen).
He's been beat up a bit recently. Got a bloody ear and some scratches on his nose. Much too angry for me to try to fix him up now.
Took three of us to wrestle him into the carrier for the ride up from San Diego. He was nearly climbing the walls and I had no feral gloves! Such wailing & hissing & growling!
Finally got him with a beach towel & stuffed him in the carrier. He didn't make a peep all the way home.
Now he's hiding in the box (although the door is off) and it's in the shower of the downstairs bath. Maybe he'll peep out later. He'll have a quiet house for a while because I'm late for a birthday party!
I knew he was an 'outdoor' cat, and that he's nearly feral (make that really feral), but I like a challenge, so here goes. This is Cotton's Tale. Hopefully, he will learn to like living indoors and learn to like my two girl kitties (Lorenza and Colleen).
He's been beat up a bit recently. Got a bloody ear and some scratches on his nose. Much too angry for me to try to fix him up now.
Took three of us to wrestle him into the carrier for the ride up from San Diego. He was nearly climbing the walls and I had no feral gloves! Such wailing & hissing & growling!
Finally got him with a beach towel & stuffed him in the carrier. He didn't make a peep all the way home.
Now he's hiding in the box (although the door is off) and it's in the shower of the downstairs bath. Maybe he'll peep out later. He'll have a quiet house for a while because I'm late for a birthday party!
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