This is Sophia.
She came from the same place as Kristi and Katia, and she is also pregnant – unlike Kristi and Katia, she’s friendly. SHE NEEDS A FOSTER HOME. If you or someone you know is in this area and would like to provide a home for her and for her kittens (that’s a time commitment of about 4 months), drop an email to Forgotten Felines. Know what’s awesome about fostering a mother cat and her kittens? She takes care of them, and you get to just hang out and enjoy their antics. It’s awesome!
(I would love to take them myself, but SOMEONE thinks that a third pregnant cat in that room would be too much and will not be swayed. WHAT DOES HE KNOW??)
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Several of you suggested the awesome name Spitz for a potential kitten name. It is a great name, which is why I used it back in 2015.
That FACE!
Y’all have given some excellent suggestions, thank you – keep ’em coming!
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About the yowling, I wonder, do cats use echolocation, like bats? Is she sounding out the new-to-her space?
I have no idea, but I love the possibility, so we’re going to say YES. That’s exactly what she’s doing!
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Our former foster Paul Simon, who went home to Lisa and his new sisters Maggie and Raven last week, now has his own Facebook page. Go follow him!
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Phoenix with her crown is on Cats Beavers and Ducks!
Is it sad that I was like “What Phoenix crown picture?… Oh, THAT one!”? I love that picture so much!
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Oh Lordy, that closeup. “Our next item for auction is a basket of sweet cuddly toys and … uh … [brightly] pure malevolence! Who’ll start the bidding? Anyone?”
Seriously that’s one of my favourite L&H pictures ever. Cracks me up every time I risk the further withering of my soul to gaze upon that baleful glare. Worth it.
I love that comment so much! (That picture, too. Oh, that FACE.)
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Does anyone have any suggestions for the prevention of hairballs? I have a long-haired cat who grooms herself frequently which results in her gakking up hair which looks like a tightly-wound cigar. I brush her every day. I know when her tummy is upset because she is quiet but when she throws up the “cigar,” her demeanor changes and she is happy again.
I had heard (at some point) that egg yolk can help with hairballs. I haven’t tried it myself, but I bookmarked this page here, over at The Cat Site, it might be helpful.
I’ve used Laxatone in the past, and I’m not really sure how well it works because I have yet to find a cat or kitten who would willingly eat it – even smearing it on their paw ends up with the gel flung all over the place and gel paw prints across the floor and very little ingestion of gel by the cat.
So how about it, y’all – hairball remedies?
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I have a question! What keeps your kitties from going UNDER the fence? Do you worry about hawks and owls?
The fence reaches the ground, and the ground under the fence is pretty hard. I haven’t seen any of them even attempt to dig, though of course you can never say never.
I don’t worry about hawks or owls (though maybe I should!) I’m hoping the fact that the cats are so big and there’s a ton of much smaller, easier-to-catch prey around will keep the hawks happy.
I don’t worry about owls because I was under the impression that they’re nocturnal. Am I wrong about that? (Wikipedia says that most owls are nocturnal, but some are crepuscular.) The cats don’t go outside until after sun up, and are in about half an hour before sundown.
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Did Alice wander much outside at Crooked Acres?
You know, she did occasionally go outside and especially liked to hang out under the bushes near the patio, but she wasn’t outside all the time like some of the others.
She has finally been out in the back yard a few times, and doesn’t seem to be terribly impressed.
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I was watching a Vet show and they were treating a puppy for heartworm. Can cats get heartworm? I would think they could get bit by a mosquito same as a dog, so why wouldn’t they get heartworm too?
BTW-They caught it in the puppy early enough to treat. He survived the treatment and is doing fine.
Yep, cats can get heartworm, but their systems aren’t as hospitable to heartworms as dogs’ are. Frankie tested positive for heartworm last year (poor Frankie, what a hot mess he turned out to be!) and our vet said to just continue to treat him with Revolution monthly.
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Question, what if a cat climbs from the OUTSIDE on the fence? Hope it doesn’t plunge him into the backyard, unable to get out.
If a cat climbs from the outside, then yes they’ll get stuck in the back yard. I’m hoping that won’t happen, but expect that it will at some point!
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I have always wondered how you keep fleas at bay. I have been on the receiving end of flea ride alongs but that was usually a new member of the family or bad luck. How do you keep the cats flea free long term?
We treat with Revolution monthly, year-round, and have since right after we moved to Crooked Acres. We’ve tried both Advantage and Frontline, but I think Revolution works better.
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From Carolyn:
And now another advice question. I brought home Bailey (1 1/2 year old male) to be brother to Tiny (5 month old male) on Saturday. Some background: Bailey had no reaction to any of the cats in the shelter, and I took Tiny to the Vet for quick visit Friday. He was held while in the waiting room with the 4 office cats. Tiny was calm, and seemed interested it the big cats.
Bailey’s in a spare room with all the bells and whistles. Tiny’s been spending lots of time on the other side of the door, and while he floofed the first time (yes, Spellcheck, “floofed” IS a word) that was it, although he does squeak at the door occasionally. They’ve both put their paws under the door, and (forgive me for giggling at this) sometimes when Tiny squeaks at Bailey, Bailey jerks his head back like he’s been sprayed with water. Yesterday, since things had been going smoothly, I opened the door while holding Tiny so they could see each other. That went ok. So later I brought Tiny into the room again. All was quiet until Bailey started (calmly) walking towards us. Tiny squirmed a lot, so we left the room. This morning I held Tiny (on the floor) and opened the door just a little so they could see each other. Bailey walked towards the door, and Tiny loudly meowed at him and floofed, so I shut the door. My plan is to continue letting them see each other occasionally until Tiny is calmer about seeing Bailey. I was also planning to put Tiny in the room and give Bailey the run of the house tomorrow while I’m at work. They’ve both been able to smell each other on me. Am I doing ok? Anything I should be doing differently? I’m hoping that by the next Friday I’ll be able to have them out together under supervision, and if all goes well, letting Bailey out of captivity next Monday. Too ambitious?
On another note, my current naming options are keeping their current names, or going with either Pumpkin and Shoofly or Peanut and Moon Pie. Votes?
I think you’re doing the introduction exactly right (and we need an update on how it’s going, please!)
I am partial to Peanut and Moon Pie, but Pumpkin and Shoofly are cute, too.
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In other news, I had an adoption returned to be fostered while his mama was overseas. He is a sweetheart, but shy. It’s been 9 months. Mom isn’t returning. He doesn’t get along with two of my horde. He cuddles with me every night, but he needs to be in a home with fewer apps cats. The fighting and marking are getting worse. Anyone want to adopt a handsome Russian blue looking five year old boy?
If anyone’s interested, let me know and I’ll pass your info along to Gail!
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Do you have any concerns about the neighbors complaining about the cat fence or the number of cats? That was a huge concern when we moved here to this sub (we were on 5 acres before). I was convinced someone would find out how many we had- 17 at the time- and call the township although they were all inside.
But it’s been nearly 4 years now, we’re down to only 11 cats, and only half of those go out into their kennel enclosure. I don’t worry anymore.
We’re not too worried about them objecting to the fence – the realtor who sold us this house talked to the neighbors to our left before we made the offer, and they had no objection. The neighbors on the other side actually told Fred that they didn’t care at all about the cat fence. We’re hoping that they’re never able to pin down just how many cats we have, since they’re not all out there at one time (and probably never will be), and it would probably take a lot of attention-paying for them to figure it out. I know it’s early days still and we might find out differently, but this seems to be a relatively laid-back neighborhood.
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I happened across this website the other day in an unrelated fashion so I will pass it on to you and any others. They do sculptures/jewelry/etc. with ashes from pets/people or both.
Artful Ashes and another one Spirit Pieces.
and
For Shailynn: when my beloved Zoey passed away from CRF (same as your beloved Meshoo), I had her ashes made into a memorial glass bead which I wear on a silver chain. It’s a similar style to Murano glass, and I found Elise of Koi Creek Beadwork on Etsy. She offers a range of colours, but I worked with her to make a custom colour which matched Zoey’s beautiful eyes. I can’t tell you how much it helped me to have her with me. Elise sent back the ashes she didn’t use.
Her website is here, with links to her Etsy shop.
Thank you for those links!
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So, this is an improvement over their first day with us (wherein they spent the entire day hanging out in the crate).
Please note Kristi’s open mouth as she greets me. Or tells me off; I’m not sure which.
Katia’s nervous.
“Watching you, lady.”
She is just so pretty, isn’t she?
“PARDON ME, I am also pretty!” Indeed you are, Kristi.
So I’m making definite headway with at least Kristi. I’ve been able to pet her, though she looks very nervous when I reach for her. I actually got her to purr for me several times. She spent the day on that cabinet in front of the window, and Katia spent most of the day with her though as the day wore on, she started retreating to the closet when she heard me coming into the room because she is a bratty bratty brat. I saw a bit of belly movement on Kristi, though not much because she was laying on her belly most of the time. In a perfect world she’ll decide I’m not so bad, and will flop over onto her side so I can get a good look at what’s going on.
I don’t feel like birth is super close for either of them, though I think we’ve established that I really don’t much know what I’m talking about with regards to pregnant cats and when they’re going to give birth, so who knows? We’ll see!
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We’re looking forward to a lazy weekend.
“Tryin’ to nap here, lady.” (Dewey)
Poor Newt and the very rough life.
Relaxed yet alert, in case any dish towels go rogue.
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Previously
2017: He was such a big lovable hunk that he quickly earned the nickname Lunk.
2016: Fred had to go out and provide safe passage.
2015: Meet Peter, Paul and Mary.
2014: No entry.
2013: No entry.
2012: (This picture does no justice to the size of the belleh.)
2011: No entry.
2010: I mean, seriously – have you ever seen such happy monkeys?
2009: No entry.
2008: No entry.
2007: Smilin’ Joe.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.