After a month-long dry spell, we've finally had a few cats go home the past few days. All three are doing our foster-to-adopt program, where the family gets one week for kittens and two weeks for adults to decide if the cat will work in their home or with existing cats, etc. before finalizing the adoption and paying the fees.
Hoodie went to a home with a gorgeous long-haired older cat and two kids who will give him the playtime he needs. We had him for about 2.5 months. He's very sweet, plays fetch with toys, watches TV, and cuddled in bed with us.
Rory went to a home with two 4-year-olds, and she is tolerant enough to be a family pet. We had her for about 3.5 months. If you remember, she came to us with Zigby, who was adopted within a few weeks. She's an amazing cat, we almost considered keeping her ourselves for awhile!
Last, but not least, Vanessa went to a home with a few young adults who are very excited to have her. As soon as I let her out of the carrier, she was immediately exploring and checking the place out, but with no fear or anxiety. She'll be just fine! She is a medium-hair, very friendly and loves to be held. We expected her to get adopted very quickly, so I'm surprised we had her for so long - over a month.
Good luck furry ones and I hope the adoptions become final!
So much has happened since I last posted, and I was incredibly busy because of it. I just didn't have the time to post, and then no motivation to, as you'll see shortly.
Sheri
1. Sheri and her 5 kittens have ringworm. I have been treating them all but this means they have been isolated from everyone else and have been unable to attend adoption events, and that is bad news during this crucial time when they are very adoptable. The kittens are now 3 months old and getting sooo big. I really hope they will still have an easy time finding homes, but the ringworm isn't gone yet so I don't know when that will be. Sheri was indeed adopted by the lady who was interested in her, and this woman is a SAINT. She has been so patient waiting for Sheri to be ready to come home, even though it's been 4 weeks already. She just wants her to be healthy!
2. Prize, Chandra, Tibalt, and Hermie all went to their new homes. Hoodie is my only remaining kitten from this bunch that were together, and he couldn't go with Sheri's kittens for obvious reasons, so he has been staying with Lily in our bedroom. Hoodie is incredibly sweet now, I'm so happy with how he's turned out, he used to be the most shy of his brothers. He is also 3.5 months old now and I really hope he'll be adopted soon. The older they get, the harder it is...
3. We caught 2 females for TNR completely by luck. We named them Laverne and Shirley. We found out they were both already spayed, but they got their vaccines and ears tipped anyway. Laverne was semi-friendly but just not enough to be adopted, so we released her back to her neighborhood, where it looks like people were taking care of them anyway. Shirley is still with us for now, she is VERY friendly and we didn't have the heart to release her. We are trying to find her a home and may need to take her to adoption events with the group that I do TNR with.
Shirley
Laverne
4. I wanted to take a few more foster kittens for Hoodie since he would have been alone otherwise. I originally agreed to 2, then got talked into agreeing to 7, then 8. Eight kittens = 5 4-week-olds (no names at the time), 2 8-week-olds (Boo and Bobo), and 1 ~10 week old (Sachet). When the kittens were first brought to me at an adoption event, I noticed they had diarrhea, but figured I'd give it a few days since it could be due to anything, even just the food they were eating. However, by the end of the week, the diarrhea had not cleared up and several of the kittens were dehydrated. Sachet ended up at the vet for 3 days, and we lost 2 of the youngest kittens. It is the first time I've ever lost a kitten, and I know I am very lucky it hasn't happened until now. We are doing our best for the others. The remaining 3 are now named: Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup (yes, the Powerpuff Girls!). Sachet may have an adopter, and Boo and Bobo will start attending events this weekend.
5. Rondo, who was living at Petco now, passed away unexpectedly. He got very ill very quickly and passed away at the vet before they could drain some fluid from his chest. They think it was either heart problems or cancer. I was devastated. He had just been adopted and was going to be delivered to his new home the next day. Absolutely horrible news. The group is thinking of starting a Rondo Memorial Fund to assist with vet costs for cats who get ill so quickly, which is a great idea and I'm happy he'll be remembered that way. Here is a video from after he first went to Petco:
6. Current count = 25. We are taking a break - no more fosters for awhile. Of course we will continue to go to adoption events until the kittens are all adopted, but especially this latest batch of kittens and the ringworm have taken a toll on us and we need a breather. The adults aren't as time-sensitive to take to events, so having a few adult fosters isn't as bad. Of course I say "no more" right now, but there are always cats in desperate need of a home. I'm trying to be serious this time, at least!
It's been pretty busy around here lately, so here are a bunch of updates:
1. Several kittens went home in the last two weeks: Hudson went to a home that had an adult cat, and Ajani and Tibalt went to a home together with an amazing couple.
2. Speaking of Ajani and Tibalt, Lily's kittens had their retesting done last week...and all four came back negative! My beautiful, brave, strong Liliana managed to give birth to six perfect babies with NO FIV! Just Chandra and Jace are looking for their forever homes now.
3. Jezebel, the skinny little stray, went to the vet yesterday and tested negative. She's been vaccinated and ready for a new home. She isn't quite ready to be spayed yet though, the vet wants her to gain some more weight for about a month before spaying.
4. RIP Cody. He also went to the vet yesterday for evaluation and testing. It was ultimately decided by the vet that he was too old to be socialized, and was taken away from his mother too young to have the survival skills to be put back outside. They decided it was most humane to euthanize him. I feel very responsible for this little life having been lost, since I should have started socializing him sooner but just didn't have the proper environment to do so. I had just gotten him a nice cage and was ready to start, but the timing just ended up not working in my favor. I don't think I could agree to this decision again if it comes up, but what's done is done in this case. I'm so sorry, little guy.
5. When I went to an adoption last week with 6 kittens, I came home with 7. The AC&C van had dropped off a bunch of kittens that the group pulled from the kill list and the director asked who wanted kittens. We agreed to take a solo kitten who had been thrown out of a car window and onlookers brought him to the shelter. His name is Prize, though we call him Sir Prize. He is about 8 weeks old now. Both he and Hermie have people interested in them!
There is still one "spotlight" post to be done regarding cat #6, but my husband will be writing that one, since I can't do him justice.
However, the little guys above just arrived at our house tonight. Another volunteer with our rescue group cares for a colony of ferals out in Queens. She found these guys coming out of an old factory near the colony and took them in. She doesn't have room for kittens, so the rescue sent out a plea for a foster home with an extra room to isolate the kittens for a few weeks until they can be tested, vaccinated, etc. Not many people have the kind of space we do since most of them live in apartments in the city, so we stepped up.
They are 5 weeks old and all boys. From top to bottom: Hoodie, Hudson (who is long-haired!), and Hermie. They are soooo cute.
