An Update on ALL Five Fellows!

We sure loved watching our Fellows grow and blossom while they were in our care.  They all found wonderful homes and their parents generously supplied with updates on all of their babies for me to share with you today!

First up is Seymour Fellows. You may recall he was adopted by Victoria and Ian, who also adopted Agnes Pettibone and Myra/Myron Ulysses Clover (who now goes by Dixie).  Vic provided us with an update on the whole crew!

Agnes Pettibone - 9 years old. Our resident "Lady of the House". She is sweet and dorky and shares a special bond with her human, Ian. She can be very flirtatious, especially with the gentlemen that come to visit. She prefers to chew the stringed part of any wand/feather toy. At Christmas time, she is the naughty one who won't leave the presents alone.

I have so many updates from our adopters, some of the posts are spilling into this week!

Dixie Clover - 2 years old. Our resident "Tomboy in Fancy Dress". You can't help but notice Dixie's amazing smokey belly fur and floofy tail. We had no idea when we brought her home that she would literally blossom into the beautiful fluffy cat she's become. She's playful. Loves to be held and carried around and has frequent conversations in a quiet little meow.

Seymour Fellows - 4.5 months. Our resident "Little Meezer Man". It feels like this most recent addition to our family has always been with us. This little cat is a lover with a wild streak that is highly entertaining. He is a confident little dude (thanks, to Laurie's care) who has captured our hearts. Especially, Dixie's heart.

We added Seymour because Dixie is still young and has an energy level that Agnes isn't always interested in matching. We added the new kitten with the hope that he would be a good playmate for Miss D. and,in turn, maybe free up Agnes to enjoy more uninterrupted naps. It could not have gone better. Every time I turn around, Dixie and Seymour are embracing for a cuddle/grooming fest or "wrassling" each other. The chase scenes are hilarious because of the difference in their sizes but Seymour is growing fast and our vet says he's likely to be a big a boy.

We have been so fortunate to have found our loves, these cats, (including Henry Pettibone) through The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee. Laurie is dear to us and we can't thank her enough. We're proud to be IBKC Alumns and love this community that cares for these and all cats.


 And up next, we've got Oakley and Robin from their mama, Andrea.


Here are a few brotherly love pictures. I only have cute sleeping photos because otherwise, they're in constant motion.

When their tummies are full in the morning they've both been climbing into my lap to help me watch the news and drink my coffee while they take the first nap of the day. Makes getting to work on time a tad bit challenging!

I'm now calling Oakley, Saul, and Robin, Louie, but you're welcome to use whichever names you like. :)

They are both doing great. The house is a veritable kitty play land, they checked out perfectly at the vet, and are both just love bugs when they aren't charging like the wind around the house.

And last but not least, we have an update on Maurice and Emmet!


Hi Laurie, Here's the latest on my two Fellows!

The boys just had their first road trip over the weekend. We went to Portland for a family get together. They mostly slept in the car - I only had to pull off the highway once to retrieve Emmet as he tested the limits of their car seat tether!

They visited a friend at her house, saw her cat Singer, and got loves from the humans. They stayed in their first hotel room and had so much fun exploring and playing that they were better behaved than I could have hoped. They spent their first night at my parents' house and met the fam. The last picture is the boys in the guest room, lounging.

Emmet and Maurice are growing like weeds! They are absolutely charming. Emmet is outgoing and fearless. He has figured out how to climb the kitchen cabinets using the drawer handles! Maurice was the first one to figure out the puzzle feeder. He can still be a bit shy, but he overcomes it more quickly with each new experience. He likes to sleep up high atop the cat tree. As Maurice's points have darkened, the stripes on his legs and some marking on his back have gotten more defined.

Both boys come when I call them (mostly). They are affectionate and playful, and so full of energy! We are now working on learning to walk on leashes.

I love them both so very much! Thought you might like to read about their progress and know they are thriving.

Debbie

Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful updates, Vic, Andrea, and Debbie!  It's so great to know the whole batch is doing so well (and Agnes and Dixie, too).  We're so glad they're in you loving homes and thriving!   Smooches to all!  xoxo!

Under the Influence

As our kittens leave the nest, we often see personality changes in the ones still remaining in our home.  This is especially noticeable when an alpha kitty leaves first -- it forces a shift in the order of the pack, and it's always interesting to see who moves to the front.  You don't always realize how they influence each other until someone is gone.

Things have really changed for Oakley since his brothers moved out on Monday. He suddenly became a whole lot more confident and daring.  Before, when he was winding down and sleepy, you could scoop him up easily, but when he was in a more active state, he would dash for cover if you got too close. That's not the case anymore --- that fear has faded fast.   I never would have thought they would influence each other so much, but I think when Maurice and Oakley were together, they fed off of each other's nervous energy.

I got a note from Debbie, who adopted Maurice and Emmet, and she said that they're doing really great.  We knew Emmet would adjust quickly, so it's no surprise there, but I thought it might take a little longer for Maurice. He's seeking affection from his mom and purring up a storm for her already! This thrills me to no end!

The next time we have a batch of skittish kittens, I'm going to keep this all in mind when finding their homes -- we'll always be separating the scaredy-kittens!




Plenty more to come today -- do stay tuned!


And don't forget, we've got that FUNdraiser happening!

I thought yesterday's match was going to turn into a nail-biter, but an hour before it ended, our friend Wendy dropped a nice chunk of change in the kitty that put us over the top!  Thank you, Wendy, for that generous gift! Thank you, Awesome Anonymous Donor, for offering up that match!  And thanks to all who got us to yesterday's goal!  We rolled past $50 squillion, so we're past the half-way point! HOORAY!  THANK YOU!

To make a tax-deductible donation and help the shelter cats and kittens out, please visit HERE.

Goodbye Boys. Farewell Fellows.

Debbie sent me a very nice, long letter of introduction and shared many details about her history with animals and her current life. She explained she lived a peaceful existence and had lots of time and patience to devote to a kitten.  My first thought was Maurice. THIS was the kind of mama that would suit him best -- someone who was kind and understanding and would give him everything he needed to continue to grow into the confident cat I knew he would become.  And my second thought was Emmet. Kittens learn social behaviors from each other --- Maurice could benefit so much having his outgoing brother by his side.

Though she was on the hunt for one kitten, I suggested the pair.

I normally like to give people space and let them people pick their kittens. If they ask, I'll offer my opinion or make suggestions for pairings, but generally, I like to let folks decide on their own. But with this batch, I felt it was important to speak up a little more than I usually do to be sure this special set all ended up in the perfect homes that allowed them each to thrive.


Debbie considered the idea of the pair, then came over to meet them.  We had a good visit  --- when she first arrived everyone was jumping around in full crazy kitten mode, then they settled down so she could see their quieter side.  I was afraid Maurice might retreat, but he curled up in the kitty bed and allowed us to give him some pets and he gave us some purrs in return.  Emmet was his usual charming self and climbed onto her legs for his nap.

Though she fell in love with both kittens that day, she wanted a little time to think about committing to two animals.  So, we said our goodbyes, and my fingers were crossed while I waited to hear back from her.

The next morning, Debbie emailed with the exciting news that she wanted to adopt both Maurice and Emmet!

We got the boys on the surgery list, snip, snip, and they were ready for adoption.

We did the adoption on Monday afternoon, and though it was not easy to say goodbye,  knowing they would be in the care of such capable hands made it all bearable.

Debbie emailed a few hours after they got home to say the boys were already settling right in. It sounds as though they are off to a great start!

Thank you, Debbie, for adopting this set. You've got a very special pair of kittens, and I'm confident they'll bring you a tremendous amount of joy.  I know you're just the mama they needed and I am so happy you all are together.

And boys, we love you.  Thank you for coming into our lives and teaching us a few lessons on patience.  Watching you creep out of your shells was a lovely thing to witness. Thank you for trusting us and showing us your sweet selves. I'm so grateful for these days with you ---  I'll never forget our time together.

Farewell, brave Fellows.  We will miss you.




















Before I wrap up this post, I wanted to remind you that we have a matching donation challenge today. For every dollar we give, our Awesome Anonymous Donor will be doubling it! To learn more about our campaign and make a tax-deductible donation, please visit our fundraising page.  Thank you, generous friends!

Five Fellows in the Window

I know so many of us will be off having fun and celebrating the 4th of July, so I decided I would probably be wasting my time trying to wrangle donations all day, SO, I'll ask once today, then leave you all be!  

We had a good run yesterday, and we're getting REALLY close to the half-way point.  I can't wait until we cross that mark -- it always feels so good to be on the other side of it.  Thank you so much to everyone who's played a part in getting us that far. I appreciate you all so much!

If you want to toss a little in the kitty today,  please visit our FUNdraising page to make a tax-deductible donation. Or if you want to learn a little more about what we're raising money for and how our donations will be used, you'll find lots of information there.
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I've got a big batch of photos of our Five Fellows to share today. They were being even more adorable than they usually are (can you believe that?) and put on a show in our window.

We'll be wrapping up their chapter soon, so I'll be savoring the moments like this.






































Please be safe, everyone. Get your critters inside and keep them there all day and night -- it's not a fun holiday for our four-legged friends.

I'll post some more on Instagram today, but just once here on the blog.  
See you here tomorrow!

Happy Fourth!

Best Beanbath™ Ever

I witness so many sweet moments that's I'm not able to capture with a camera. Sometimes the camera isn't close, or if I move to get it, I know the moment will be over, or sometimes the light is just too dim.

Thankfully, this moment lingered:

Charlene was napping on the couch when Maurice made the brave decision to snuggle up next to her. He climbed to the arm of the sofa and paused to survey the scene below before stepping down to the cushion that Bean occupied.  She woke, gave him a hello trill, then proceeded to give him the bath of a lifetime. It went on for over five minutes -- four minutes of that were recorded on video.

It's kind of long, but it's sweet, so I didn't edit it down.  It's a real heart-warmer, so I encourage you to watch it all the way to the end. I promise you won't regret the time spent.



I expected a much quieter weekend, but we ended up doing REALLY WELL and raised over $16,000 for our Foster Program. I am so thrilled about this, and I can't wait to share this news with the gals in the foster room.

 Thank you for giving so generously. I'm glad you believe in the program, too, and chose to support it. Thank you to our anonymous donors who offered up some really wonderful matches for us this weekend -- they help so much because they inspire so many to give.

What a weekend!   And look at our total! We passed the $40 squillion mark, and it won't be too much longer before we're half way to our goal!

And to help make that happen, We've got another matching donation challenge from an anonymous donor. It's a really great one ---  for every dollar we give, she will give TWO until we reach the $1500 max!  So our $1500 will turn into $4500 if we're able to complete it!

Thank you, Anonymous Donor, for offering up this generous match!

The match ends at 7:00 PM Pacific Time tonight.   Please visit HERE to make your tax-deductible donation.


Thank you!


Stay close, there will be lots more to come today!

A Wee Bit Cross-Eyed

Maurice is just a wee bit cross-eyed. You can't see it all of the time, but when he focuses on something close, like when we're trying to get his attention by dangling a toy in front of him, it shows.

It doesn't seem to affect the way he navigates the world.  It doesn't slow him down a bit and he pounces and lands with the same accuracy as his brothers.    I think it just adds to his adorableness, don't you? This slight imperfection makes him so perfect!











Yesterday I introduced a $1500 match that was supposed to end today at 7:00 PM today, but you all went ahead and completed it around 10:00 last night! THANK YOU! There were a lot of large donations right out of the gate that gave us a great start to the day.  Sheldon and Pearla Dearborn gave us a nice donation that put us over the top, and when we put the matching money in, we rolled past the $40 squillion mark!  Not a bad for what's normally a quiet holiday weekend.   Thank you for giving so generously to support our life-saving Foster Program!  

Because everyone seems to be in the giving spirit, I've got one more matching donation challenge for us this weekend, thanks to an anonymous lover of kittens.

For every dollar we donate to the Foster Program today, she'll be matching it until we reach the $750 max. We've got until 7:00 PM (Pacific Time) to make it happen!  

That gives us 10 hours to get there, so if we keep up the pace like we did yesterday, we shouldn't have a problem making it happen!

To make your tax-deductible donation, please visit our FUNdraising page!  

Thank you for giving so much. We've brought in over $14,000 for the Foster Program already.  I love that our donations will provide so much for all those little babies that come through the shelter doors. THANK YOU.

Stick around, friends. There's lots more to come today!