The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Hungry Monkeys

Enter my kitchen and you'll be followed by a tiny band of screaming, crying, climbing, hungry kittens. Sure they ate an hour ago, but as far they're concerned, a human in the kitchen = meal time.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Miss Millie is a burrower. The other night she dove under this blanket for a nap.

This blanket is also Charlene's favorite spot to make biscuits. While Millie napped, Charlene kneaded and kneaded the blanket until she kneaded Millie right out of her hidey-hole. Miss Millie slept through it all.

Frequently Asked Kitty Questions

Who are these kitties?
The Itty Bitty Kitties are foster kittens that come to us from the Tacoma/Pierce County Humane Society. We care for the babes until they are old enough to be adopted, then we find them loving homes.

What is the IBKC blog all about?
The IBKC blog follows the daily lives of our foster kittens and Charlene Butterbean, our resident cat. Occasionally we feature other kittens being fostered by our friends.

How do I go about adopting one of these kitties?
First send us an email if you're interested. When the kittens are around 6 weeks old, we set appointments for a "meet and greet". If all goes well at your meeting, and the kittens approve, you may adopt.
Because they are Humane Society kittens, we must follow their rules. There is an application process and an adoption fee. All kittens must be spayed or neutered before leaving our nest. Because these kittens receive copious amounts of love while they are in our care, we only let them go to people that promise they'll do the same. Seriously,, if you're looking for a kitty just because you have a large mouse population in your home, please look elsewhere.

We don't want to adopt, but can we just come visit the kitties?
I'm sorry, but we don't grant requests for visits . We just can't.

Are these kittens the cutest kittens in the world?
Of course they are.

How big are these itty bitty kitties?
When people meet the kitties, they are always surprised at how small they are. I know it's hard to get a sense of the size of the kitties from the pictures. They are most likely smaller than you think.

What kind of camera do you use to take the kitty pics?
I use a Nikon D-40.

How many cats does it take to be classified a "crazy cat lady"?
I think it's thirteen, but it varies from state to state.

How does one go about fostering?
First, think about it. It is a big commitment. Do you have time in your life and space in your home? If you do, contact your local animal shelter. Many have foster programs and are often in need of foster families. It works for me because I work from home and can take breaks during the day to care for the kittens. It's very rewarding. I always feel ( and my foster friends will agree) that you get more than you give.

If fostering isn't right for you, there are many other ways to help. Shelters are always looking for volunteers and donations.

Who cares for the kittens?
The kitties are cared for by the human members of the IBKC aka, their foster parents. Foster parents include me (Laurie) and my husband, Craig. Sue is a foster mama too, and her kittens are featured on here as well. Sarah is our medical advisor. It takes a village to raise a litter.

Is Charlene Butterbean the IBKs mama?
Nope. She's never been a mother, although mothering comes naturally to her. She loves all kitty babies the second she meets them. She helps keep them groomed and plays with them too.

What kind of cat is Charlene Butterbean?
We don't know for sure, but she looks a lot like a birman.

Does Charlene have a fan club?
No, but she has her own email address. Click here to send her a note.

Is it just me... or has anyone else noticed Charlene has put on a little extra weight?
No, it's not your imagination. We can't keep her out of the kitten food. We're trying to exercise her more.

Do you have any other cats?
Yep. There's also Drewey (AKA Drewster, Rooster, Little Drewey Junebug, Drewski, Roost). I rarely write about her because she never mingles with the kittens. She's a little old lady cat who spends most of her time curled up in a ball, under the bed upstairs.

Will you ever adopt one of your foster kittens?
Although it's very tempting at times, (especially those dark, fluffy, tabby boys... ) we don't plan to adopt any of our fosters any time soon. We've got a two cat max in our house.

Is it hard to say goodbye to the kitties?
Yes, it is. But then we say hello to new kitties and it's all better again.