NOTE: Before we get started on kittens and such, I want y’all to be aware of TWO things.
Thing #1: The Forgotten Felines of Huntsville online auction starts SATURDAY. These auctions are always fun and have some really cool stuff, so go follow the auction page on Facebook so you don’t miss out on the fun.
Thing #2: There is currently an auction WITHIN the auction going on now. Cool Forgotten Felines of Huntsville supporter Holly crocheted a TON of hats for cats, and they’re available for bid RIGHT NOW. Bidding continues for two weeks and ends at the same time as the regular auction ends (that is, August 12th at 7 PM Central Time). There are 34 hats, they’re super cute, go check ’em out and get your bid on! What better way to bug your cat?
Bonus Thing #3: I haven’t done a thing as far as a new design for the blog (as mentioned in Friday’s post) because every time I sit down in front of the computer one of the Nestlings comes along and is super cute, and y’know? I’d rather snuggle and kiss them 1 million times. The redesign can wait.
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Wren and Uncle Khal. Don’t be too impressed – Khal was looking at Fred, who LOVES to pick up kittens and put them down against Khal (or Charlie, if he’s nearby) and see how appalled they look.
But you can be impressed with this one – Khal decided to give Wren the ol’ lickeroo.
Then Wren decided she’d had enough and suggested a slap fight to Uncle Khal, who wanted none of it.
Rufous, Wren and Starling in the sun.
Tater’s either tellin’ secrets or making sure that Starling’s ear is clean.
Starling’s all “I hope she doesn’t want me to clean HER ears. That’s a lot of floof to deal with.”
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Oh, hello. Would you like to meet the new fosters? Of course you would!
That’s mama Uhura and her 6 kittens, who are 9 days old (date of birth: July 22nd).
They are chunky little monkeys, and she’s taking fantastic care of them.
Best of all, she had a variety pack. They’re going to be so easy to tell apart! (Which doesn’t mean I won’t occasionally call them by the wrong name, of course.)
Here are the kittens, one by one. I’ll put a cheat sheet at the bottom of the post, but it’s already outdated – I took those pictures Friday and they’ve got eyes opening all over. I’m going to try to get updated pics this morning.
As mentioned, mama is named Uhura.
KIRK is a boy. He’s a black and white tuxie, and he seems to have BIG OPINIONS and is VERY DRAMATIC. They all hissed at me at first, but Kirk’s the only one who still hisses.
RIKER is a boy. He’s mostly black with a white diamond on his forehead, white feet, and a white stripe up his belly. I think he could be considered a tuxie?
SPOCK is a boy. He’s a light silvery gray and white, has a splotch of white on his forehead similar to his mama’s.
JANEWAY is a girl. She’s a tortie and white, and I love the very cool splotches of color on her face.
KES is a girl. She’s a calico and although it’s hard to tell at this age I think she might turn out to be floofy.
TROI is a girl. She’s a tortie (though she has one white foot, so maybe that makes her a tortie and white?) In this picture she was sound asleep, nursing in her sleep. Awww.
Though it might be hard to tell in the pictures of her, Uhura is chocolate brown and white. She was a stray turn-in to our local animal control, and was hugely pregnant. I told Brittany and Michelle that I would take her eventually, but couldn’t until last Thursday (the 27th). Michelle got her July 11th and we all crossed our fingers that she would wait to have her kittens until I could take her, but I got word on July 22nd that she’d had them.
At animal control they were calling her “Swiss Miss” (because she’s chocolate colored) and at first we were going to go with brands of hot chocolate, but Swiss Miss is about it unless I wanted to go with “Godiva” and “Ghiardelli” and “Sillycow” (heh)). Then Brittany sent me a picture of her, I said “Hey, that mark on her forehead looks like a Star Trek insignia”, and a theme was born. (I am not a Trekkie, but I am certainly familiar with the series and movies.) Michelle (who IS a Trekkie) sent me a list of names and I chose the ones I liked.
She is currently in my office (or should I say my “office” since my desk and computer have been in my bedroom since I needed my “office” for a heavily pregnant Daisy all those months ago!) and once Rufous, Wren, Starling and Tater go home, I’ll move her to the foster room.
Uhura has not met the Nestlings (and will not.) She’s a very very chill girl but you don’t want to mess with a protective mama (and I wouldn’t want to stress her out.) The Nestlings can hear the occasional baby kitten squall coming from my office and they are VERY NOT INTERESTED in any of that.
As promised, the cheat sheet:
The boys are super easy to tell apart, but if you’re confused about the girls, think of them this way: Kes has a white stripe up her nose, Janeway has a splotchy face, and Troi is very dark with splotches of orange around her eyes.
PS: I have no idea what Uhura’s genetic background consists of. I suspect I’ll get a LOT of people who’ll be asking what breed she is, but I have no idea. Your guess is as good as (probably better than!) mine.
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Charlie cannot believe this heat, and I cannot believe how much time he spends outside when we’ve got air conditioning inside.
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Posted on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Tumblr) this weekend.
It’s breakfast time, and Uncle Charlie wonders if the kittens will save a little for him. (They did not. They’re growing babies!)
Sisters. ♥️ (Starling, left, and Tater/Plover are adoption pending. They’ll be spayed next Wednesday and will go home the following Monday!)
I love the heart shadow on the floor. Nice of Wren and Rufous to stop tussling for one moment so I can get a picture of them!
(Wren and Rufous are adoption pending! They’ll be spayed/neutered next Weds and will head home next Saturday.)
YouTube link
Tater’s “discovered” one of the spring toys and is having a blast (and eventually so is Rufous.) Also, Wren is da BAYbee, in case you missed that.
(The spring toy came from a 4-pack of Whisker City® Spring Toys Cat Toys (as the Petsmart site titles them.) I find them at Petsmart, I wouldn’t be surprised if you could find them elsewhere as well. Google would be pleased to assist you in that search, I’m sure.)
Good night innernets (from Tater/Plover, who looks less sleepy and more ready to go racing wildly through the house.)
Starling prefers to start her day in the middle of the track toy/scratcher, in a puddle of sunshine. You got a problem with that?
Wren’s all “Excuse you, lady, I’m trying to take a nap with Starling, you go away now. Take pictures later.”
Wren’s keeping an eye on Uncle Charlie… who’s keeping an eye on Wren.
YouTube link
Rufous loves that toy – which is a ball made of dog fur – and plays with it a lot. (He also likes to kick the pie plate, because why not?)
Good night innernets. (Rufous, who has legs for days. He’s definitely hit his long & lanky stage!)
Good morning sunshine. (I love the way the sun highlights Tater’s floof.)
Yes, that box of paper is there specifically for the kittens. And Wren LOVES to get in and burrow around in it.
YouTube link
Wren cannot resist the call of Uncle Khal’s (aka “Uncle Floompy”) big fluffy tail. (Khal cannot wait until Wren goes home.)
I mean, if you’ve got to vigorously clean your back foot, in the empty laundry basket is the place to do it, right? Starling’s a smart girl.
YouTube link
Tater and Rufous love nap time almost as much as I do. Listen to that purrrrring.
Good night innernets. 🙂
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Previously
2022: No entry.
2021: No entry.
2020: Annnnd here’s Aramis’s belly, just because:
2019: “Just checking out your art work, lady. You is a very terrible art arranger and hanger.”
2018: Meanwhile I’m like “Moop, you are the smallest kitten of the whole bunch, how are you POSSIBLY giving me this much trouble?!”
2017: Agnes-tude!
2016: Juniper has discovered the teddy bear bed and thinks it’s quite comfy.
2015: Crooked Acres Friday.
2014: WHICH WOULD SURELY NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, I say.
2013: Puff does not appreciate it, but she’s just doin’ her job, man!
2012: “Am busy ripping paper! You go ‘way!”
2011: No entry.
2010: No entry.
2009: No entry.
2008: The kittens are 15 weeks old today
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.