Cats, cats, cats

I love that Spookie!!!

Thank you for loving kittens. My husband, who gets off work earlier than me, says they are all over the place now. I hope to spend all day Saturday outside with them, my number #1 goal is for them to have loving homes. It's hard when you work. Ejd3, if you ever come to Joplin, let me know, maybe we can get a coffee or something. I have two tornado kittens from different places that are BFFs.

After the Joplin tornado, I worked with a retired teacher, who found this kitty (look closely at kitty's photo on their end table, name is Tiger. There was so much loss and devastation after the tornado, Mary Sue and her husband just cried when their kitty came home, and we all cried with them. It was one of the best things I have ever been a part of. In helping someone else, you really help yourself. I am so thankful for all the friends I have made on breastcancer.org, you all have helped me during the hardest time in my life. Hugs to you. Lisa

AWWWW that just melts my heart. You guys had it so bad w/ that tornado

Tornado cats. Just darling. Makes my heart feel good.

Big Eddie is fabulous! He has very kind eyes.

Oh! Big Eddie aren't you a sweet boy!

Missouri love the tornado cats. How sweet a pic of the two of them cuddled up.

Oooh I looove big cats.

Tomorrow is my day off. It is "socialize" kittens day. I plan on sitting outside as long as I can. Could I please ask you, I've had two different versions of when to take kittens away from momma - 8 weeks is what I was originally told. They are 6 weeks Saturday. I spoke to the vet's office, and she told me 6 weeks is good, bring them inside. I asked, okay, bring them in a room for a few hours, so we can "socialize", then take them back to momma? She told me to make sure momma is still there. I'm not sure that is such a good idea, I think they might still need their momma, and part of me knows how much momma took care of them and loves them, one night this week it was zero degrees and her warmth helped them get through that night, it may get that way again in the next 2 weeks too.

Any thoughts/suggestions are very much appreciated. The goal is to have the lovable sweet kitten that little girl wants for Christmas, so they might have a loving home and not have to live in a field behind my house. I am 56 years old, I have 9 cats in my house, and I wouldn't mind having 15 (my husband might), but they might enjoy a home with 1 or 2 cats more than 15, and God knows, I may not be here in 10 years. I'm sorry, just feeling a little nervous, having not had kittens before, and this situation, feral mom, and I work all week, doesn't make it easy to have time to socialize. Thank you and hugs, Lisa

Lisa, I did a quick bit of googling and I think you're right, six weeks is awfully young. I saw several mentions of 8 weeks, and one or two said 10 to 12 weeks. So maybe split the difference and go with your gut at 8 weeks?

And I agree w/ Cowgirl13, love that you care so much.

Bonus photo of Eddie--we moved that box. He didn't care, he found it again.

The fosterer who socialized my kittens (also feral mom, found by creek bed) was wonderful. They meed to be handled a lot with love. My kitties stlll have a teensy touch of feralness to them (cautious, a little bit nervous about new things) but they are loving and love to be petted and handled.

The advice I was given when I took them home was to put them in a small room (bathroom) sit on the floor, and let them come to me. They did very readily. Mine also had a loving mama, and I think 8-10 weeks sounds good. I think mine were removed at 8 weeks. They still like to suck on and "knead" a throw blanket I have, and it makes me think they were weaned a bit early

After an especially difficult week, we decided it was time for our foster, Colby, to cross the rainbow bridge. He was getting close to 19 and had multiple physical problems. He wasn't eating and had a petit mal seizure. We'll miss his purr.

sitiing outside, thankful for sun, 2nd nursing session, you guys were right, too early to leave momma. Bless this mother for the love she shows them.

Oh Wrenn I am so sorry. That is so hard. I know he must have hit the jackpot when he came to foster with you.

DebAl give Robert a pet for me. Beautiful pic of Cali and Lily. They are so sweet. In response to your question it is my Lester who turned diabetic. He is definitely improving but still not quite his old self. I suspect we are going to need to increase his dosing perhaps. He has a vet check next week. I still see a lot of urine output and water drinking. He has at least become well enough to socialize more which is a huge improvement. I really had missed spending time with the big fluff ball.

Wren, I'm so sorry about Colby. How lucky he was for the time he spent with you.

So sorry about Colby!

M girls have taken to curling up together a lot lately. They never used to do this.

Sincere condolences Wren. He was blessed with you. May he be so blessed in the hereafter. XXX