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.
And now for this important DOGGIEPING Announcement!
I've lost my list! I did a deep clean of my computer and I guess inadvertently deleted the folder I kept the ping list in.
If you were previously on my ping list and would still like to be on the list now, please let me know... I am re-building the list from scratch!
Bumpitttt.
BTTT
Talk about coincidences! My SIL called about an hour ago to let us know that her cat, Boogie, is having her kittens at this very moment! Whereabouts and identity of the father is unknown. :O)
List me.
I was on your list, please add me again.
Thank you so much for sharing your pictures. They are wonderful....cute of course......They made the morning.
Lots of luck with all of them. Have you named them yet and what is the name of your magnificent dalab?
They’re very cute - but isn’t that part of the definition of the word kitten? ;~ )
I know you had to find a safer place for the kittens. I can’t help feeling sorry for the mom having all her babies taken away.
Good luck adopting them out.
Consider the Cute-O-Meter pegged!
Thanksd for the Sunday morning smile. We have 2 dogs, 2 cats, 1 budgie and 4 ducks.
I do cocker rescue and I wish people would spay or nueter their pets, but more importnatly I wish people would think LONG and HARD before getting a pet. It is a serious investment of money and time as well as a long term committment.
I think I’m in LOVE!!
neuter I can spell.
Ooops! I should read more cerefully. Give Gidget a kiss on the nose for me.
We're trying not to name the kittens... we'll leave that to their new parents. ;~)
Oh my goodness. I really CAN spell.
lol
Thanks
importantly
I wish I knew how to do picture links and imports, there’s a good one over at icanhascheezeburger.com about feeding their own doom.
On Monday, I looked out my window and there, in the backyard, was a lone kitten, chasing lizards.
She is now getting used to my three grown cats. It's been a long time since we had a kitten around here!
That is SOOOOO sweet! :*)
From one catmom to another cat lover, kudos to you and your ‘mamadog’ for adopting these babies. :*) I’ve got two adopted feral kitties (now 11 and 10 years old and spoiled rotten)—WTG on taking care of God’s innocent creatures there!
Me too... I feel really bad for her. I was glad to see her come back, she was up on top of the cabinet this morning, but she took off when I came in. I'm sure she thinks I ate her babies. But I really just want to give them a better life.
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