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.
Hello Kitty
It's a shame too, because we live in Kirkland. Good luck with them.
It’s true... not all pets play well with others. It’s funny, the other pets have not given these kittens more than a passing glance. Our two cats haven’t even been curious, and the beagle just wants whatever they’re eating.
Thanks.....Gidget is gorgeous....You’re right about the kittens....once you name them, it makes it very hard to part with them.
Thanks.....Gidget is gorgeous....You’re right about the kittens....once you name them, it makes it very hard to part with them.
I love this picture...
I looked into having the cat that lives under our house spayed; $288. I nearly fell over.
It shouldn’t cost that much. Maybe try a less expensive vet’s office. We had BOTH our house cats fixed AND all their shots for around $200.
And there are sometimes cheaper spay neuter clinics just for ferals and barn cats through the humane society.
Please add me to your list.
We’re looking into one of those city-funded low cost spay & neuter clinics now; I hate to take her to a discount surgeon, but it’s better than adding to the feral cat population around here, I suppose.
Our ASPCA has funds for spaying feral cats. It’s a way to reward you for your kindness. Last I heard in Mass. it was $50.
Well, some of the upscale suburban clinics have taken luxuries a little too far for the pampered pet. I mean... I had one clinic ask if I wanted a heated blanket in the cage during recovery for 20 more dollars.
There’s nothing wrong with practical, simple, veterinary clinics.
Our cat managed to get herself wedged into one of the small drawers in my daughters makeup dresser. Yes, that makes this is a “vanity” post. She must have been looking for Stuart. Stuart is the mouse that was living in my daughter’s closet all winter. Sheila (the cat) would get him out and play with him. Sheila deposited him on the computer desk, next to my wife, one day. She wasn’t really paying attention and freaked when she saw Stuart next to her. She swatted him across the room. I just haven’t had the heart to tell Sheila that Stuart has passed on, they were such good friends.
You are a natural storyteller HairOfTheDog. Thanks for the great photos as well.
Very cute kitties. There is a special place in Heaven for folks who care about critters enough to do what you have done. Please add me to your doggie ping list.
Awwwwww. This is making me want another one. I’m a certified dog person but I love teh kittehs.
Your moment of Zen.
Have you checked with your local humane society? Sometimes you can get it done on a sliding scale. It’s likely to be a LOT cheaper than that.
Ahhh, how cute! I love kittens!
Then my work here is done. Where shall I deliver them? ;~)
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