8-21-23 Monday

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Challenger’s House, as you might know, is the rescue I started fostering for way back in 2005. I fostered for them until the summer of 2017. That’s when they went from an active rescue to a sanctuary for the cats they already had in residence, and to be available for any cats who had been adopted out that needed to be returned. (Challenger’s House will take back any cat they’ve adopted out, for the life of the cat.) With cats still to care for, they could use any help that y’all have to offer – details on their current status and how to donate are below.

Thanks to those of you who continue to support us since we announced we were downsizing. Challenger’s House is still in existence, even though we no longer take new cats. We have taken in, as promised however, several returns of previously adopted cats. One of whom is a 13 year old female – a lovely cat named Katie with nothing wrong other than the fact that she was suffering from hyperthyroidism. Two weeks after starting her on medication, new bloodwork revealed that her numbers have returned to normal. After several weeks of living at the shelter, Sherry took Katie to her house and is integrating her into her cat family. So far so good!

Challenger’s House does however, still have expenses – those include food, litter, vet bills, medications, insurance, phone, internet – just to name a few. With that in mind, we still need your wonderful help with donations to pay the bills to keep operating as a Sanctuary for our existing cats and any who are returned. Our Redstone account balance is extremely low, so we appreciate anything you may be able to help with. We no longer take credit cards, but you can make a donation via this PayPal link, or send a Check to Challenger’s House, 112 Tristian Rd., Toney, AL 35773. If you have any questions, you may call 256-420-5995.

Many of you may know we were NOT at the Huntsville Cat Show this year. This was not our choice, but what had become one of our main annual fund raisers in recent years, suddenly disappeared.

Currently, I (Susan) am out of commission and in rehab for several weeks with a fractured knee. We will try to send acknowledgements out as soon as possible, so please be patient if you don’t hear from us right away. Your support means the world to us and thanks to your faith in us, we have saved many cats that otherwise might have been destroyed! Please SHARE our plea, any help is so greatly appreciated! Thank You!!

If you can help out, I know it’ll be very much appreciated!

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Kes likes to burrow under blankets.

Spock (yes, he climbed into that chair himself) met Mister Frog and was all “Hey, this guy is hoggin’ the chair!”

Troi was at the bottom of the pile in this picture.

Spock and Kes, snuggled up for a nap.

Kirk in the sun.

Janeway is so purty.

Troi’s keeping an eye on me.

Uhura yawned, Kes stuck her paw in Uhura’s mouth, and Uhura looked at me like “I blame you for this.”

For about 20 minutes every morning, the sun comes pouring in through the back window, and the kittens are entirely unsure what to think about this bright, warm light. Looks like, shockingly enough, Troi has a complaint about the brightness of the sun while Kirk and Janeway listen intently.

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Newt’s new favorite place to hang out: at the bottom of the cat tree by the window outside the foster room. He never goes up into the tree, but he likes that bottom level quite a bit.

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Posted on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Tumblr) this weekend.

When they’re lined up like this, it’s a clear sign that the milk bar just got up and walked away. (From top: Kes, Spock, Kirk, Janeway and Troi)

Some people have mentioned how much Spock (on the right) looks like former foster Puff (left.) I can definitely see the resemblance!⁠
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We fostered Puff (he’s now Hook) in 2013; he was adopted to the same home that adopted former foster Kohle (now Flynn), and both boys are much loved and spoiled rotten. ♥️⁠
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PS: That is the same red crate in both top pictures. I’m kind of amazed it’s lasted 10 years. A bit battered, but still holding up!

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Kirk goes exploring, and gets the milk bar all to himself. SCORE!

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Troi’s in the crate and has no desire to come out, thank you very much. (She is perfectly capable of coming out of the crate on her own, she just likes hanging out in there sometimes. They all do it from time to time. It’s like visiting the ol’ homestead.) Kes’s fluffy butt waddling around is cracking me UP. (Troi’s eye is watering because she’d just gotten smacked in the face by one of her siblings. She recovered from the insult nicely and her eye is fine.)

Kes loves her mama.

Good night innernets. (Spock & Kes)

Spock is patiently waiting for a seat to open up at the milk bar. He doesn’t like a crowd.

Oh dear, those cute little curled back feet, those blue blue eyes, that floofy fur… I’m prescribing 1,000 kisses for Kirk.

Spock was approaching the milk bar, but it got up and walked away, and he is HEARTBROKEN.

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Troi does things her own way – everyone else is at the milk bar, so she wanders around a bit, jumps into the crate to approach the milk bar (which on the outside of the crate) picks a fight with Kirk, and then finally takes her seat at the milk bar.

Good night innernets. (The Trekklings, from left: Janeway, Kes, Kirk, Spock (front) and Troi.)

Spock and Kes Janeway are in no hurry to roll out of bed and get started on the day.

The Trekklings are 4 weeks old! (As of yesterday) This past week they (finally!) left the crate, and are exploring more and more of the foster room. They’re getting to know the litter boxes pretty well, and are starting to notice the toys and the (very short) cat trees. In the next week I think they’ll get better at using the litter boxes (though they’re doing pretty good so far), will likely start actually playing with toys, and may even start to show some interest in mama’s food. They’re all at a good weight, normal for their age – except for Troi, they’re all over 1 pound. Troi’s just under 13 ounces (368.54 grams) which is on the small side, but she’s eating well and gaining every day, so I’m not worried. She may just be a smaller kitten (not every kitten in every litter weighs the same, y’know), or she may be biding her time and could catch up with the others eventually. We’ll see!

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Complaints? Troi’s got a few. She’s the littlest of the litter, but she’s got a big voice and a lot to say!

When the breakfast bar gets up and walks away. (From left: Janeway, Spock, Kes, Kirk and Troi.)

Janeway checks on her mama.❤️

Good night innernets. (Kes & Spock)

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Previously
2022: No entry.
2021: No entry.
2020: Little Constance in a big bed. “Is comfy!” she says.
2019: “IT’S BEEN FOREVER SINCE THE MILK BAR WAS OPEN AND I AM STARRRRRRRVINGGGGG!”
2018: 9 little kittens, glaring at the feather teaser.
2017: Telstar’s quite the handful these days.
2016: And in the third, Hemlock hangs out with me and watches his sisters play, while pondering the eternal question: “Are you the sweet boy?”
2015: No entry.
2014: Marshall’s in charge of Quality Assurance, and lucky for me, this carrier passed the test.
2013: ::sproing!::
2012: It’s possible I’ve started referring to Tony Rocky Horror Pickle as “The Terrible Pickle.”
2011: No entry.
2010: No entry.
2009: Craaaazy kittens!
2008: Kitchen Maid Kitteh says “I ain’t shellin’ no more black-eyed peas. I’M DONE AND YOU CAN’T MAKE ME DO ANY MORE!”
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.

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