Just as the Universe Planned

 It was quite a week for Myron/Myra Clover.  First, though she spent many weeks with us being called "Myron", we told her she was actually a girl. I'm guessing she knew this already, and was just waiting for us to figure it out, but still, it must have been a little confusing. THEN she got adopted and left our nest. That's a lot for a little kitten to digest!

But don't worry, everything is awesome.  You see, little Myron/Myra, who's now called Dixie Ulysses Clover, is kind of staying in the IBKC family. She got adopted by Victoria and Ian, who are Agnes Pettibone's parents!

You may remember the sadness last year when they lost their dear Henry Pettibone. They were waiting to heal a bit after their big loss and were finally feeling ready to bring a new little kitten into their lives.  Agnes was ready, too. She was showing signs that she could use a playmate, so when our Clovers moved in, Victoria sent me a note expressing interest.

The cat experts say that adopting a younger cat of the opposite sex is the best when bringing a second cat into your home, and because Agnes' happiness is very important to Ian and Vic,  they they were on the hunt for a dear boy kitty.

As soon as quarantine had passed, they came for a visit, and quickly fell head-over-heels in love with sweet Myron. His calmness and sweetness combined with the love and admiration he had for the older lady cats in our house made him the perfect candidate to be Agnes' new buddy.  It was decided that he would be theirs.



But the morning of the day he was to be adopted, we found out that Myron was a Myra. I knew they had their hearts set on a boy kitty, so once I learned this news, I was afraid it might spoil everything. I spoke with Vic,  told her the whole story and we had a good laugh on the phone. She had to discuss it all with Ian, and after she did, she called right back and said they wanted to proceed with the adoption as planned. They were too deep in love to turn back now!  I had a feeling it would all play out this way, but I have to admit I was a little nervous!

 It's funny, but without the little gender mix-up, there's a chance they wouldn't have considered this sweet little girl. Maybe the Universe threw this twist into the plan to make sure that Myron/Myra/Dixie Ulysses Clover found her way to Vic, Ian and Agnes.  Out of this litter, she really is the best match for their family.

So thank you, Universe, for stepping in! You always know what's best!

And thank you to Victoria and Ian for being so understanding! We are so delighted that you added Dixie to your family and we wish you all the best!

I'm Sorry, There's More Sadness

 I'm very sorry to say this, but I've got some more sad news to report.

Not all that long ago, I shared with you that we lost one of our former IBK, Virgil Pettibone.  Just a few days before I got these news I had received an email from Victoria, mom to both Henry (formerly Carmine) and Agnes Pettibone.

She reported that Henry been dropping weight, so they took them into the vet to have him checked out. Things were pointing towards cancer, but at that time they were waiting for a report from the lab to confirm this.  Sadly, soon after, cancer was confirmed.  

They had hoped that Henry would have some good days left in him, but I'm afraid he did not, and he declined quickly.  They said goodbye to their boy last week.

Henry was a very dear cat and was absolutely adored by his parents, Victoria and Ian. This loss is huge for them, and I know their hearts are aching right now.   Having spent time with Henry during his kittenhood, we know how special he was.   We are so deeply sorry and saddened, Vic and Ian.  

It is very strange that that these two young brothers would pass within a couple of weeks of each other.  The vets feel it's a just coincidence because their illnesses are not related, but to be safe, advised all the Pettibone adopters to take their cats in for blood work and tests.  I haven't heard from Rosalie and Renatta's dad yet, but everything came back good for Alvie and Agnes. Thank goodness.


Pettibone families, you are deep in our thoughts right now.  We're so sorry for the loss and worry you have experienced.   We love you and your kittens,  and more than anything, hope this is the end of the sad news for a very long time.

XOXOXO




I took this photo the day the Pettibones moved in with us.  Here they are napping on Sue.  We knew from the start that they were special ones.

Here's Henry conspiring with brothers Alvie and Virgil.



Here's their first meeting with Bean.




And here's the whole beautiful family.





What a special lot.

If there is something awaiting us on the other side,  I do hope these two special fellows are reunited there.

More Pettibones!

As promised, MORE PETTIBONES!  

Victoria, mama to Agnes and Henry (formerly Carmine) Pettibone, has an update to share with us!

Let's start things off with a couple of baby pics!

Here's little Agnes.

And dear Henry.



And here they are today!

Here's what mom has to say:

Agnes and Henry are 6-years old now but are still very youthful and kitten-like. Agnes gets more vocal and social with visitors every year. She can be a real chatterbox. Especially when she's feeling flirty, which we adore. She loves toys that are things on strings, only she's become so focused on chewing on the string rather than the sparkle ball attached to the string that she's earned the nickname "Flossie". Her dentist would be proud.

Henry is still as cool as a cucumber and he loves as hard as he plays. His current nicknames include, Captain Headbonk and Sugar Puss. He talks more now, too, but he still prefers to chirp. His chirping is almost like a constant narration or proclamation of his presence, so when he gives out one of his quiet little 'meows', it is super cute. He goes to bed with us every night and was so demanding for use of my pillow that we went to IKEA and bought him his own. He has more freckles on his nose.

They both still give little vampire bites when they want attention or when Ian comes home from the farm smelling "outdoorsy" or when he's been cooking outside.

I thank Laurie every day for bringing these special kitties into our lives. I can't imagine life without these sweet, smart Pettibones.


Thanks so much for this, Victoria!  It's clear you adore your babes! How lucky they were to end up with you!


On the FUNdraising front, we're making some good progress on the match we've been chipping away at this morning, but we still have $1314 to go, and one and a half hours to get there!   And once we meet this match, we will roll past our $100 Squillion goal.    

So please, friends, if you had planned to make a donation, but haven't done so yet, please pay a visit to our Firstgiving page!  Every single bit helps get us one step closer to our goal!

Thank you!!

Hello, Pettibones!

If you've been following the IBKC for awhile, there's no doubt you remember the Pettibones. They were dear, sweet things and the litter was such a lovely mix of colors and personalities.

Agnes and Henry (formerly Carmine) were adopted by Victoria and Ian.  We've stayed in contact over the years,  and I can see these kittens are their pride and joy.

Here's little Agnes.



And here's little Henry.  Please note his tiny mohawk.




Here's a little bit about the Agnes of today.

Agnes such a sweetheart. When she's not napping, she's busy watching shadows, bird watching and chasing her brother at high speeds around the house. She is mostly shy when there are visitors but she always comes out to flirt with some of her favorite boyfriends. She is a very chatty girl, who enjoys playing games for cats on the iPad, offering up her belly for pets and we think she can tell time, especially around breakfast and dinner time. She loves giving a good hand bath and still doles out little vampire bites.



And here's  is a little bit about Henry.

 Henry has three settings; mischievous, love bug and sound asleep. All three are done with gusto. He lives to jump high in the air and catch (yes, catch) ping pong and sparkle balls. He enjoys enticing his sister into a game of chase and loves being playfully naughty. Henry loves to show off, banking off the furniture or pulling a Scooby-Doo (bunching up an area rug during a spazz-out). He still makes chirping noises when walking around and he puts us to bed and wakes us up every day with head bonks and purrs. He is always in the middle of everything. He is lovely! 



 Thank you for sharing, Victoria!  What a great update! Clearly, these kittens are lovely and well-loved.





To keep this ball rolling, please pop on over to our FUNdraising page, and make a tax-deductible donation to help cats and kittens find fabulous homes, just like Agnes and Henry did!  

Once we bring in another $500, I'll be back with another alumni update!

From The Archives: Pettibone Wrestlemania

The Contenders:

First Round, Carmine VS Alvie.




...and the winner of round one takes on Renatta "Tiny Dynamite" Pettibone.





...who decides her brother is no challenge, and moves on.

Parting Ways with Two More Pettibones

Dear little Agnes and big boy Carmine left yesterday afternoon for their new homes. Yes! They are staying together!!!! Their new parents are good, good people and they are going to provide a wonderful life for these precious two.

You will all be thrilled to know that Agnes and Carmine (now know as Henry) have their own blog, so you'll be able to watch them continue to grow! AND you'll be able to follow Rosalie and Renatta, they have their own blog as well!

Click here to visit Renatta and Rosalie's blog.
Click here to visit Agnes and Henry's blog.

In other adoption news,,both Hiram and Mary Liza Fairchild have found their homes as well. Mary Liza has been adopted by Sue's sister. We're all happy she'll be staying in the family. She'll have a playful big brother to keep her company.

Hiram found a really awesome set of parents and he'll have a couple of slightly older siblings to play with. It sounds like his new home is pretty much kitty heaven on earth. Lucky boy!

I'll leave you with a few pictures of the final moments with the Agnes and Carmine. After they were tucked into their carrier, Alvie and Virgil scaled the side of it to say goodbye.

Bye-bye babies, we will miss you and your loving ways. It has been such a pleasure knowing you.

Sweet Silhouettes

The light was just right,, and the kitties were right there making sweet silhouettes on the wall.

The Kitties Runneth Over

One Sleepy Sunday