Foster Kittens 2018

It wasn't long after I got back from  my cruise that I got a call from Best Friends inviting me to come get some kittens!  It is true, foster season 2018 has started.  Frankly it was a little slow going when kitten season started in  March.  I would sure like to think it is because the spay/neuter efforts are playing off in the valley but they are in full swing now.

Because of my travel schedule in May, I've only been available for short term fosters.  My first foster kitten was an orphan that came in alone.  She had not been with other kittens and was in serious need of socialization before getting spayed.  Meet Olivia.

Olivia is so damn cute.  They said when she came in, she was just orange and white but she started getting black hairs around her left eye.  So she has a left eye shadow.  This little girl has an amazing spirit and isn't afraid of much.  She loved to puff up and jump around doing her best Halloween kitty impression.  When I picked her up, she started her super loud motor boat purring.  Such a cutie.

Well.....Bella is fascinated by kittens in the master bathroom.  I am  not sure if she wants to be the kitten in the bathroom again, or meet the kittens in the bathroom.  She spends countless hours by the door.  I have to be super careful because she tries to dash in there when I open the door and she is always sticking her paw under the door.  She can curl her paw up and pull the door open. 

Please let me in Mom!

I put a towel across the door so she couldn't reach under.  I also
put a bag there so she can't pop the door open.  She is quite tricky.

Second to last day with Olivia, "somehow" she got out.  Bella loved her and they played and played.  Olivia wasn't phased by such a large kitty.  It gave Bella a little taste of her own medicine of being chased by a youngster with lots of energy!  Haha.  I didn't think Olivia was sick so I went ahead and let them play in the bedroom for about an hour.

They played so cute and got along so well, for a moment (very short moment) I thought about adopting Olivia so Bella had a play pal but there is no way I want another cat!!

I only had Olivia 5 days before she went back to be fixed.  We had a great time while she was here.  She went to get spayed and I just happened to be there when she went out on the adoption floor.  She got adopted that same day by a family with a teen daughter that loves her so much!

The day after I dropped off Olivia, I picked up my next batch of kittens.  They were the Three Stooges litter.  2 of the kittens just got neutered but one (Moe) was not big enough and he has a hernia so he needed to wait and they wanted him to have friends in foster.  These guys were with a momma cat so when I got them, that was the first time they were gone from their Mom.  They are pretty big kitties and certainly don't need to nurse but clearly they have loved it and were still doing it even though they eat food too.

Meet Moe, Larry, and Curly.

Seal point - Curly, Black - Moe, Tabby - Larry

These guys were mostly terrified of me.  Moe was first to warm up.  The first day, he just collapsed in my hands and fell asleep.  He is a super snuggler.  Larry was the next to warm up.  He meows without making any sound most the time.  He loves to play and is a kitten biter (we are working on that - most kittens bite when they play).  Curly was the last to warm up and ran and hid but now he loves to snuggle and sit in my lap.  He LOVES pets and will arch and push up to get pets.  And who can resist those gorgeous blue eyes?

They are struggling without their Momma and aren't eating enough so they have been losing weight.  When I hold them, they try to find a spot to nurse.  I've got some Nutrical which is a gel type nutrition goo I can syringe into their mouths.  I started that yesterday and they are gaining weight but still not big eaters of their food.  They don't like syringe eating so maybe they will get the swing of it.  I turn these guys in Thursday before I leave to go out of town.  Larry and Curly will go right out for adoption but Moe has to stop to be neutered and have his hernia fixed before going out for adoption.  I am working hard to teach them "pick me" mojo for adoption.

Actually right now, there aren't many kittens available so they don't last long.  Usually a day or so.  People are lined up when the Pet Adoption Center opens in hopes of picking up a kitten.  I'm so glad I am part of their journey.  I love having the furrballs at my house for a bit.  It is hard work but also very rewarding.