Leaving the Nest

Its once again been awhile since I've updated. Shame on me.

I currently have 7 kittens.

Last Friday Flash and Rebel returned and managed to make it straight out to the second sales room that is running crazy with kittens. Unfortunately Jet and Pip are still out the back waiting for a bit more room or they may even be chosen to be sent off to another nearby shelter that hasn't got as many little tackers.

So Long Little Blimp

So Long Rebel

I can already see the strains of kitten season appearing. No we don't have any bad outbreaks of illness and we aren't over capacity...yet.

Kitten season to me comes in stages.

The anticipation, everyone advertising their want or need for kittens (usually before Christmas) and of course then there is nothing in sight.

Then the dregs turn up. Slightly older kittens that weren't able to be homed and have passed the super tiny 'cute' stage.

Then we get hit with the first wave of kittens. This is all well and good that means kittens are coming up the ranks from quarantine, making weight and going up for sale.

A lull in sales often turns up after Christmas so not as many kittens move out as the next wave hits.

I don't think we've hit a tidal wave yet.When kittens exceed the number of places the shelter has room for.

I have noticed less adoptions. Maybe its just me, kittens usually walk out the door but advertising of free ones seems to have looped in more customers or something *scratches head*

So we're probably at the second wave. Its getting a bit crowded but its alright.

People seem to be getting 'over' the kitten madness. More kittens are adopted by serious planning than spur of the moment gift ideas, which is a good thing. If only there were enough homes for every single one.

As I was saying I have 7.

Sparky returned today. None too soon. She missed returning by 5 grams on Friday (5 grams!) which annoyed me just a little because miss Sparky is too intelligent for her own good.

Me? I'm not Trouble ~ Sparky

Thankfully it was only late Sunday that she figured out she could scale the half door board we have to close the study (aka foster room) off from the resident cats. It became very annoying and quite common to hear the scrabbling of little claws and the soft thud of a kitten landing on the lino...

She had the WHOLE room to run around in, hidey hole galore, scratching posts, toys, the ability to scale the cages and run along the tops, the window sills....but she chose to climb the board into new territory several times until she became limited to the four walls of her cage.

You reject what you were given kitty then you pay the consequences...time out.

Sparky has new digs in a cage beside Pip and Jet back in quarantine until she too can join the craziness out in sales.

So that's all the kittens that have left, and No, no new ones have arrived....yet

Squeak is rapidly getting to 750 grams and I have my fingers crossed that she'll be returning on Friday this week.

This little girl is a mystery. When I had her in the cage to bring her home that first day, probably a month ago now, she was at the front yelling and screaming at me in a high pitched squeak (thus got her name)

Now....She opens her mouth and nothing comes out.

Little Miss Squeak has lost her squeak. I keep telling her she was supposed to be quiet to begin with and get louder not the other way around....

I may not squeak anymore but I sure could out purr other kitties ~ Squeak

Smokey makes up for her lack of meow with his own. Poor little boy is having some bowel issues and not sure of the cause. He's not dramatically losing weight, he's still eating so I'm not too worried. Hopefully he's at the 'hump' and will begin eating like a little horse in the days to come...

Becoming a handsome fur ball...NOO your eyes are going green :(

Now. The Meses....or rather The Sneezy Meses.

Our big eared lanky little guys have a bit of the sniffles - and toiletry issues that haven't gone yet.

Amber was separated from her siblings being only 480 grams and barely more than bones. Within a day or so she was gaining weight again. She made 600 today so she was vaccinated. Amber has been sneezing. No icky eye discharge, no nose discharge, no mouth ulcers....just sneezing.

Ahh Can relax without being pounced on ~ Amber

She got a roomie in Violet when the little grey girl (dilute torti tabby?) began being bashed up too much and losing weight. She hasn't yet made 600 but that's the goal by Friday.

Violet (aka Mouse)

Massive eared kittens....

Rose is around 777 grams but even if she makes 800 I'm not sure if she'll stay or return with me. If she's sneezing still they'll probably give her back to me until it clears if she's alright her quarantine days aren't quite up so I'll possibly still have her until Tuesday at least....not sure.

Rose nearly 800 grams but still such big ears...

Ruby is actually purring. Before she'd get picked up and nearly claw the crap out of your hands trying to get away but I think she's made the connection that I mean food. She was vaccinated on Tuesday but is having some issues with gaining and dropped weight. I'm blaming the diarrhea.

Not photogenic are you Ruby?

Ranga is a feisty little chap. He was teeny tiny and I thought about putting him in with Amber and Violet but he can hold his own. The little guy weighed a massive 680 grams and got his vaccination today although he's like Flash was, all belly and scrawny short legs....only add massive ears to that as well.

I don't wanna pose today ~ Ranga

So, I'll be running back and forth to vet days to see if this sneezing develops into something more serious or if its just some small virus that will run its course in 10 days or so and clear up again. Reminds me of Henry and the Trio.

Only fingers crossed they're not here that long.

The joys of trying to keep Squeak and Smokey out of direct contact with theses guys. Fingers crossed they don't start sneezing too and it affects Squeaks' chances of staying on Friday....