The Sweet Battle Continues...Another Kitty

Sugar hates me

I don't like you ~Sugar

She doesn't like being patted
She doesn't like me handling her food (but she will eat if I'm not there)
She is extremely clear in the fact that if you touch my babies you will die.

How can a cat so sweet looking be such a challenge to get through to?

I mean so far she's not full out charging the door
She does come forwards with intent
She does swipe with claws out
She does a really good 'back off' growl
The worst however is when she 'spits' it not quite a hiss its a very quick release of air after the room has literally been silent beforehand. Cute in a kitten, scares the absolute bejeebus out of me when she does it because its usually the spit and swipe at the same time.

Come any closer, I dare you ~Sugar

From observing outside the cage, we have two whites with tiny splotches of black on their heads (thinking Salt and Pepper), one grey one and I originally thought an orange and white but now its all dry we've found its pure white (Maybe Splenda?). Names wont be official until I can get my hands on them to find gender and that could take a while.

Kitty mosh pit, adorable grey face

Sleeping kitties

Little White face

Those two with the black/grey patches will be hard to tell apart

Four little babies all belly up

On 12 November 2014 I got word of another foster kitty in the making. A month or so ago my cousin's cat had four babies. My cousin was going to keep one as he was absolutely gorgeous I didn't blame her.

Way too cute, so in love

Having two cats already and a bunch of young kids the poor kitten was growing but not fitting in with the other cats getting beaten up by the other male. Needless to say in a moment of stress the cousin handed my mother Loki and said she'd have to surrender him.

So my mother brought home the kitten and I talked over the details with the shelter manager on what the process was. I was happy to immediately begin fostering him and within a few seconds of putting his picture up on facebook he had a home with a very good friend of mine that was in the market for one of my future fosters.

Can see a charmer in the making already

I totally don't blame her either. If I didn't have Leo I would have adopted Loki on the spot too. Oddly I've found we don't get very many color point kittens at the shelter. Maybe bigger cities may get more of them but in all my time volunteering I've seen siamese and burmese that were surrendered when they were adults but only once before had I ever seen a kitten. (Typically a week or so after adopting Leo I saw Starlight (no I didn't name him and he went on to be renamed Edward because the family already had a Bella....I think Twilight was a big thing back then and he was a pretty boy).

The one that got away...

I mean seriously....

Who could resist this?

Or this?

So Loki had his paperwork all done but had to wait eight days before he could be adopted. I was happy to hang onto him and actually have a kitten to play with considering Sugar was no fun with letting me have kitten time with hers.

Human! Coming over to say Hi again

Sharing the kitten room however seemed to make her slightly more protective so her spitting and swiping has increased as the days go on. Its a battle not to jump and spill her fresh water everywhere when its time to change it...

Cuddles with the new kitty

The Long Wait...Or Maybe Not...

I have no experience with semi feral cats.

I didn't know if it was tough love and make them deal with contact or a more slow and steady approach of making them accustomed to your scent and behavior.

I suppose my thought process is a bit like what I've read on taming a wild horse. If they associate you with food and water you can begin to gain their trust...

Sugar doesn't care whether I sit in with her eating breakfast, she'll wait until I leave before she'll get out of her box to eat...

At least she doesn't growl the whole time I'm in there with her...

Also began offering dried treats and boiled chicken. Sugar loves it and I can get to the point where I can pat her. Thankfully she hasn't bitten me yet but she has some serious warning growls and makes a point to say "I do not like this thing with your hands on me, give me more treats and piss off"

On the 6th November Sugar has been a bit more hissy than normal and has actually swiped at both me and my brother.

Her behavior made a lot more sense when late this afternoon (on the 6th) she decided it was time to have her kittens.

I had thought it was two weeks or more but nope just doing my own thing in the lounge when I hear a high pitched meow. Thought nothing of it, hearing things, no kittens in this house at the moment...hang on a minute....

Rushed into the kitten room to be growled at by Sugar and to see something wiggling in the box beside her. Kittens!

I'm watching you human ~Sugar

Sadly what was the ideal scenario didn't happen.

Oh Sugar was fine, she popped out those babies within a few hours (four of them) cleaned them up and happily allowed them all to nurse making me think this isn't her first litter...

Four wet little newborn babies...Welcome Little Legends

She didn't however change her behavior to people and instead is worse. Very growly, very swipey and to the point even changing her food and water is a battle of who'll get clawed...

Now that they're dry...

Belly up to the milkbar

See the look in Sugar's eye? I think this was pre-hiss...

I guess we're in for the long haul now either way. Six to eight weeks to prove to Sugar and her babies that we really aren't that bad.

These are my babies, don't make me come out there ~Sugar

After A Long Time Away: Meeting Sugar

Since I started my facebook page Legends of the Little Furballs I seem to check that more than here but I can't say I update it on any specific timeline either.

So I decided to try and revive my blog...(shall see how that goes)

There was quite a gap between saying goodbye to Tiny and getting my next batch of kittens.

On the 30th of October 2014 I got my first foster for the 2014 to 2015 season.

I got off work to a message from the shelter manager wanting to 'talk'. Usually that means something bad. I was in the hopes that it was something good.

The Shelter Manager took me out the back and pointed to a white cat. She was pregnant but there were conditions as to whether I'd take her on.

Sugar was a beautiful girl. They guessed maybe she was around 2 years old, pure white with gold eyes and NOT DEAF. It was assumed this was her first litter.

Unhappy Sugar

There are always two sides to a coin. The big problem was Sugar hadn't been socialized in whatever home she had come from and she was absolutely terrified of humans. The other two that had come in with her, one was completely wild and the other was beginning to come around.

Sugar was in between. She didn't outright attack but she shook like a leaf and pressed herself in the corner trying to get as far away from people as possible. She flinched whenever a hand was laid on her. Poor baby.

Then I got the bad news.

At this stage Sugar would fail a temperament test. Her life and the kittens lives hung in the balance of one decision. Its always hard to balance life and death especially on the brink of kitten season. One has to weigh up the best outcome for the animal but also follow the written regulations of the shelter.

In summary, Sugar had been in quarantine for her eight days. She would most definitely fail a temperament test at the present.

The Shelter Manager is a beautiful person with a compassionate heart. She brought me in to ask if I'd take Sugar on in hopes that when her kittens arrived there might be a temperament change for the better. Considering I'd have Sugar at least six weeks (preferably eight weeks) it would give Sugar more than enough time to find we aren't such horrible creatures.

This was her chance.

I was more than nervous. I'd never taken home a pregnant cat, majority had all their kittens born before I took them on. Scenarios of emergency cesarean and dead kittens flashed through my mind.

In the end I'm all about giving chances. Sugar had turned up first and she needed me. So home she came (definitely not happily).

Probably the one picture I have where she doesn't look terrified

I set her up in my big cage found a cardboard box and made it into a nice bed. In the box she went and that's where she stayed if anyone was in the room with her.

"I'm watching you" ~ Sugar

I never got any thanks from her. Just hisses and growls. When I persisted with trying to pat her she would flinch like I was hurting her so I mostly fed and watered her and made sure no kittens had popped out.

From how big she'd gotten in the week that she'd been at the shelter they had assumed she was about two  weeks away from giving birth or maybe longer....

So the wait begins....

The doors open, I'm preparing to squish myself in the corner of this box...~Sugar

Empty Nest

For the first time this year its been more than a week that I've been without kittens.

The 2013 to 2014 season was big and continued for much longer than any of us had predicted.

On the 21st of September Tiny's new family came down and adopted her. Her new owner had only briefly glimpsed her and in those few seconds she wanted Tiny.

My friend Sam had spent the afternoon catching up with me and visiting with Tiny so I'm sure she told her sister (Tessa) all about what a beautiful nature Tiny has.

Tiny's trial at the shelter was cancelled and I doubt she would have done good there anyway. My friend Emma came for a visit with her dog Zoey and Tiny spent the whole time tense, growling and hissing. She had a lot of stuff to say and it was nothing nice.

After her three hour trip home I heard word that Tiny (Now Milly) was quite happy during the car ride and adapted to her new home within seconds. She has an 18 month old human sibling to grow up with and although they're still learning each others language they have already napped together.

I see a strong bond in the making and it makes me so happy to know she's adjusted so well.

So as a farewell to this group I'll post on arrival and on departure pictures of each kitten.

Baby Tazma

Tazma grown up

Baby Tilly

Tilly before going to her home

Baby Tina

Tina as a big girl

Tiny Turbo

Turbo the only boy...

Baby Tiny

Tiny all grown up and beautiful

Group Picture L to R - Tazma, Tiny, Tina, Tilly & Turbo

Goodbye my little Teeny Tinies, Grow big and live long with your forever families.

Officially Official

Well Tiny has been in for her surgery and has fully recovered from the surgery without the whole curse of the spay. This group of kittens have been some of the easiest recoveries I've ever seen.

So in answer to the question on gender.

Tiny is a girl. One hundred per cent certain only now she'll never be a mother.

I'm a girl!!!

Tiny is getting close to being four months old but still people remark in surprise on how small she is. Instead of growing outward in a chubby kitten stage this one has gone straight to long and lanky.

She is well over 1 kg (will be interesting to put her on scales and see just how much over 1 kg she is now) and she's still got that fight in her.

The shelter manager decided having one cat as the shelter cat would suit better and so Tiny wont be going through the trial period to be a shelter cat. I had my concerns about her remaining at the shelter but with anywhere she goes there will always be pro's and cons.

On the Pro side I would have kept in touch with her as she grew.

On the con side she would be exposed to virus' and would only get company of people while people were there and have to spend the nights alone with Pebbles. Knowing what a cuddle bug she is at times I feel she would be better suited to her own home.

In a blessing in disguise a friend Sam came down to catch up and visit. She wasn't in a position to have her own cat but when her sister came to pick her up Tess dropped a hint that maybe she would be open to adopting a kitten.

I was due at the time to have Tiny until the 15th after that she was going on trial period with the shelter. Since that is cancelled everything is now pending on when her new mother is ready to come down and sign the papers.

There is a hesitant date set of around the 20th but that may be prone to change. Either way it seems like Tess definitely wants Tiny. I'll breathe easy when its all finalized.

In the meantime, Tiny hangs out here and she seems to think she's a permanent resident. I don't know if our permanent residents are just scardy cats but its not the first time they've let kittens half their size beat them up.

Terra at least has a bit of a play and will interact with Tiny.

Look at those ears

Terra ready with the Paw Of Doom

A bit of a truce between the girls

 Leo's more 'I'll hit you if you dare come near me'.

Mum! She stole my toy ~ Leo

Mum! She's on my scratching post ~ Leo

I'll just hide here until she's gone ~ Leo

I do hope Tiny hasn't bonded with me too much but if she has I'm sure the few months with me will be blurred out with a lifetime in her new home.

Cute little Tiny is getting so big.

When Tiny goes, I'll be once again ready for some new little babies that need some TLC.

Mistaken Identity

I really should update more often but I never seem to, so here is the events of the past week or more.

Tilly moved on to her home on the 9th August. The family had bought her for their 8 year old daughter and her birthday wasn't until the 14th but they felt it wasn't fair giving her a kitten the morning of her birthday and then her having to leave the kitten for school. So they moved it back to picking her up the weekend before just so the family could adjust better to having the new little fur ball.

Tilly modelling her present Bow

What is this thing on me? ~ Tilly

I've been spoiled with updates already and it looks like chill little Tilly is worming her way into everyone's hearts both in the family and on the net. Her new name is Diamond. She has four human siblings and another kitty sibling to keep her entertained.

Cute head tilt Tilly

Felix arrived on Wednesday 6th August and will be returning this coming Wednesday the 20th. He's been getting long periods of time in the room free of his cage and in general he is a loving, affectionate cat. Not sure whether he developed the habit as a young kitten or its his way of showing affection but he does on occasion like to grab your hand in his mouth in small 'love bites'.

Pretty boy trying to convince me to let him out

He never breaks the skin and its generally just a gentle mouthing of your hand as you pet him. He's a flirt rolling around at your feet and purring up a storm. Felix is a wonderful boy but I feel he is missing having room to roam and to constantly be around people.

I did try him on the floor with Tiny but he kept going for the back of her neck. There was no hissing or growling but he has big jaws and Tiny has a skinny neck so they can just admire each other from behind cage bars as they take turns in roaming the room.

Tiny saying 'Hi' to Felix

Now....

I bet you're wondering why I titled this post as I have...

As Tiny's fur began growing back I began to get very confused as to what gender Tiny was. I usually go by the motto, if there is fur between then its a boy if there is no fur between then its a girl.

Tiny has a gap but instead of being a dot and dot it was a dot and a line. I was massively puzzled. All rules went out the window.

I consulted Connie for help and she said boy
I consulted the staff at the RSPCA and they said girl
I consulted the vets
 - The original vet said boy
- Another vet said unsure but had room to develop into a boy
- Another vet said girl

You can see why we are still uncertain.

What Am I? ~ Tiny

 If Tiny had begun to develop testicles we would have a lot less trouble but we couldn't tell whether Tiny was just behind in development or if we had incorrectly guessed gender and no testicles would ever appear.

Last vet check the original vet, the one who saved his life when he was on deaths door, Jess, took a look and finally said 'Girl'

So Tiny is actually a SHE

Tiny Today 16.8.2014

I guess we wont ever be 100% until some time after this Wednesday when Tiny goes in to be desexed. A lot more people are swaying to the female side now...

So I'll have Tiny until some time in September when she will eventually return to the shelter and be trialed as a shelter cat with their current one Pebbles. Pebbles is just so chill and curious about everything whereas for some reason Tiny has become a bit more reserved and defensive. I'll be working on her confidence until she does have to return but if she doesn't adapt then I'll be on the hunt for a lovely home to adopt this special kitty.

It would be absolutely perfect if I could keep in touch with her as she grows because she's been my biggest success so far.

Considering Tiny started as this.

It also appears the 2014 season is coming upon us fast so it wont be long and I'll have kittens tinier than Tiny once again.