KITTENS!

Mom, Reese, and kittens...

Carys

I think that's Chandler and Alexa.

Carys and Sophie

Meet Chandler, Jasper, Jade, Sophie, Alexa (Alex), and Carys.

They're about 4 weeks old, so not old enough (or big enough) to be spayed, but a deposit can be put down to reserve them if you're interested. :D

Leto

Abby and Leto, playing together

Leto is the baby of my current bunch, at around 5 months old. He's Shannon's baby boy, and Jared's brother. He's also a good size, and absolutely gorgeous. And one of the softest cats I have ever messed with (we say it's cause his mom, Shannon, still periodically lets him breastfeed.) He's kinda skittish, but once you catch him, he's okay to be held and petted for a bit. He's just not the lap cat type. He's very playful, loves dangly toys and toy mice. He also likes to play with other kitties, like his mom, Shannon, or Abby.

10 Reasons to Adopt an Adult Cat

My Shannon-Kitty, a sweet, sweet mama kitty who is looking for her forever home. She's estimated to be about 2 years old.

10 Reasons to Adopt an Adult Cat

So you've decided to add a feline to your household. You've probably given some thought to what it should look like: a fluffy tuxedo, a handsome brown tabby or maybe a sleek black kitty. Male, female, large, small--so many options. But have you considered the differences between cats and kittens? Here are ten reasons why you may want to adopt an adult cat.

Many available adult cats are barely out of kittenhood themselves. They still have plenty of spunk and energy--they're just a bit more mature. That's a good thing.

1. What you see is what you get. Adult cats already know who they are. Kittens are undeniably cute, but you never know what the future holds, how large they may get, what their personality will ultimately be, etc. An adorable little kitten will be an adult in the blink of an eye.

2. Adult cats aren't as "chewsy." Kittens have a tendancy to chew things, lots of things. Whether teething or just exploring bits of the world around them, kittens chew on shoes, the corners of books, ear lobes and fingers, carpet tassels, electrical cords, drapery strings, plants, and much, much more. Most adult cats don't chew inappropriately at all.

3. If you have an older cat in your home and are looking for a friend for him or her, another adult cat may be the best choice. Kittens can be too playful and may upset your cat instead of providing companionship. A kitten may cause your resident cat to be more annoyed than amused.

4. After a long day at the office, you may just want to come home and curl up with your furry friend--but most kittens prefer an action packed evening--lots of touseling, frolicking, and plenty of running and jumping. An adult cat will greet you at the door and be more than happy to curl up and watch your favorite shows on TV. They've already learned about the unconditional love thing.

5. Adult cats may sleep at the foot of your bed, under the bed or in a cozy spot somewhere else in the house, while a kitten will most likely run around all night, doing anything possible to wake you up for more games. Adult cats are generally happy to sleep when you do and don't try to attack your toes through the blankets in the middle of the night.

6. Adult cats won't be climbing up your leg or your curtains, they won't be swinging from your chandeliers, knocking down knick knacks or just running full speed ahead for no good reason.

7. Adult cats are usually a better choice for families with small children. Kittens often play rough and are constantly underfoot. They're sharp--they can't help it, but kittens are all teeth and claws. Generally speaking, adult cats are more mellow, and often more patient with young children. The experience should be a good one for both the cat and the child. Ask to meet the shelter's best "kid cats."

8. Adult cats require less attention and supervision. They're quiet companions. They have well-developed manners, use the litter box and the scratching post without constant reminders.

9. Many adult cats end up in shelters due to no fault of their own. Separated from their loved ones, surrounded by other cats, confined, confused, and sometimes frightened, many are emotionally devastated by their misfortune. Sadly, most people gravitate toward the cute, bouncy, big-eyed kittens. Older cats sit by and watch, as one loving family after another passes them over for a cute kitten. Adopting an adult cat is a way to say to a deserving animal "I believe in you."

Kittens will always be popular, and most have no trouble attracting admirers. But for the abandoned, forgotten, and heartbroken adult cats, you just might be their last chance to have the love and warmth of a home where they can live out their years in comfort. When properly cared for, cats often live well into their late teens, and sometimes into their early twenties. Typically, they will remain active and even playful throughout most of their lives. Some may need a little extra patience while adjusting to a new home, but once they feel safe and secure again, they'll offer years of faithful companionship and unconditional love.


((Kidnapped from Rags to Riches Cat Rescue))

Ducky and Gibbs

Poor Gibbs had to rush to the kitty ER Wednesday night. It was believed to be a reaction to his rabies shot. Ducky had all of her shots, and naught a problem. But little Gibbs began vomiting, dry heaving, being lethargic, and having some diarrhea. Finally, he started having difficulty breathing, so his new mama, C., rushed him to the ER. They stabilized him, and she took him to his normal vet first thing Thursday morning. The vet verified it was a reaction to the rabies shot, and gave him fluids for dehydration, a steroid shot, and antihistamine, and he spent the day there, getting rehydrated. Last I heard, he was still lethargic, and not eating, but at least, he wasn't throwing up any more, and was breathing normally.

Reactions to vaccines, such as the rabies shot, are RARE, let me emphasize that. And I am in no way saying don't vaccinate your cats. Absolutely not. Dying from rabies is painful, and I wouldn't want any pet to go through that. I'm just mentioning this, so that people will know that it can happen. Fortunately, Gibbs is okay now.

Merry Christmas to the Kitties!

Abby, Shannon (in the box), and Elsie, my own personal kitty. Shannon is finally not quite so completely terrified of other cats. She's still more of a people cat than a cat-cat, but she does love her son, Leto (who she STILL lets nurse at ~5 months), and she's getting more tolerating of Abby, since she's a buddy of Leto's.

Right after we set it up, Abby climbed to the tippy top of the tree. Her new fave spot.

I got all of my cats, both foster and permanent, a 74" cat tree with a zillion surfaces, and it's so pretty. And my kitties love it! At almost any given moment, there's at least one cat on it. They scratch at it, they play on it, they sleep on it.

Update on Jared

Jared was adopted back in November. His owner has been awesome enough to stay in contact with me via email, and send pictures now and then. This shot is from shortly after he joined his new house. Jared is also now called Logan (after Wolverine from X-Men, cause he's quite the claw-sy little bugger).

Here's a recent update (from December) on Jared, a.k.a. Logan:
"Jared's used to the routine of things now, and curls up to sleep with me (I sleep with the window up). Being in the country, he sits in my window and watches the birds and squirrels when he gets done playing with us, lol. Good fun!"

So nice to see my kiddos in good homes.

Molly and Jared Adopted!

Jared and Molly were adopted back in early November, on the same day. Molly had a bit of a rough time settling in, but she's settled in now, and is her owner's (a little girl) shadow these days. She also has a tendency to climb up into the little girl's doll house, making herself comfortable in a room, while the little girl plays. Jared is quite content with his new daddy, snuggling up with him at night.