Link to the Past: Did You Know Kittens Can Fly?

And this is why we called him Wendell J. "Hopps".


Read the full story here.

And for a little more hoppin' action from Wendell, visit here.

I Can Has Craigburger!

Hey! Craig is on I Can Has Cheezburger today! The kitties are IBKC alum Mitzy, Wendell, Reva and Rex. They were the second litter we fostered.


see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Teeny Tiny Tongues and Teeth

Charlene Butterbean

Morty

Pierre

Reva

Wendell

Pierre

Lottie

Ramona

Cornelius

Willamena

2007 Kitty Review

Pierre

Penny

Cassius

Vinny

Wendell Jefferson Hopps

Mitzy Jean Hopps

Rex Von Trout

Reva Von Trout

Lottie Bouvier

Cornelius Bouvier

Maddie Bouvier

Willamena Bouvier

It was really fun going through all the pictures from the year and selecting one of each kitten for today's post. I enjoyed reflecting on each of our babies during this process.

What a wonderful year it's been. I feel so lucky having all of these lovely kittens as a part of our lives. Each one was so precious and fabulous in their own special way. It was an amazing experience watching them grow and seeing their personalities develop. They made us laugh many, many times. We were touched by their sweetness. They enriched our lives so much.

It's been a pleasure getting to know all of you as well. We appreciate you always being there and loving these babies from afar. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

I want to wish you all the best for 2008. I hope your year is bright and filled with lots of love, happiness, and good health.

Happy New Year IBKC Friends!
Happy New Year Kitties !
Happy New Year Kitty Parents and Families!
Happy New Year Everyone!

Wave Goodbye Kitties

Wendell's new mama and papa came by to pick him up yesterday (sniff). We said our goodbyes (sniffle, sniff) and they went on their way. The remaining memebers of the IBKC jumped up into the window and watched them leave ( sniffle, sniff). Oh their little faces were so sad ! (sniff).

Tacoma is such a small town. After the departure, I ran up to the grocery store and you'll never guess who I ran into. Wendell's parents! I asked them if they planned to keep his name. They said they were going to keep it, but add the title "captain".

Captain Wendell Jefferson Hopps, we salute you !

Now can someone please pass us the kleenex. ( sniff, sniffle, sniff,,,, waaaaaaaaaah)

Thirty Seconds with Wendell

Tomorrow We Say Goodbye

Wendell at two and a half months.

Wendell at three weeks.


Thanks to Julia at Met Vet, Wendell has officially found a home. She connected us with a super sweet couple in need of a fuzzy boy kitten. We had the meet and greet this afternoon. It was quite obvious that his new mama, was instantly smitten with our boy. I know he's going to get oodles of love.

By chance, it just so happens that Wendell will be moving in next door to our friends Jessica and Abhi. Jessica met the IBKC a few weeks back. She too was wooed by this charming boy. She will be thrilled, I am sure, to know Wendell will be moving in next door.

So tomorrow we'll pack his suitcase and send Wendell on his way. Gulp.

Sweet, sweet Wendell Jefferson Hopps, we are going to miss you so much. Be a good little dumpling, OK? Mind your mama. Don't climb the drapes. Be kind to your new sister. AND no death-defying leaps off the backs of chairs.

Oh,, and don't forget to write, please.

The BIG Day Has Arrived.

Today's the day. Gulp. Kim's taking them all into the vet this morning for their surgery. I'll be picking them up around 4:00. I know they'll be just fine. I just don't want them to feel scared!

Please think good thoughts for the itty bitties today.

I'll be back this afternoon with the full report and possibly some pictures of shaved kitty bellies.

Did You Know Kittens Can Fly?

I had my suspicions, and now they have been confirmed. Kittens can, indeed, fly. I got out my tape measure after this death-defying leap. Wendell jumped 5.25 feet ( from the back of the pink chair to where his back paws touched the table). Considering he's about 17 inches from nose to the tip of his tail, that's pretty dang far.

Since then, I have moved the pink chair further away from the table. I think he just views this as a greater challenge, and it's only a matter time before he musters up the courage to leap again. Every day these kitties turn it up a notch. I am having a hard time keeping up with the kitten-proofing around the house.

Can You Think of a Better Way to Spend Your Saturday?

Wendell Wednesday

Let's just call this Wendell Wednesday.
Here are a few pics of the big boy.

Itty Bitty Sicky

Poor little Wendell wasn't feeling so well yesterday. When the kitties came out for breakfast, he stayed behind in his kitten house. I picked him up, carried him to the kitchen and put him down by his dish. He sniffed the food and walked away, limping slightly. He climbed up on the couch and just sat there, all languid. I held him for awhile, then warmed his bed and tucked him in. Every once in a while I would wake him up to see if he would drink or eat, but he wouldn't. His limp seemed worsen too. I called Sarah, my vet-tech friend, for advice. She thought he probably just over did it during a play session, and would probably be fine after some rest. Cats retreat when they aren't feeling well. This is what Wendell seemed to be doing.

By evening, Wendell had improved greatly. This morning he's nearly normal. He ate a good breakfast. Right now he's romping and playing like he should.

Kitties don't know pain, so when something happens to them, I think they get a little spooked. I have to admit, I was a bit spooked too. I am so thankful he's OK now.

Wendell just did a super leap of the arm of the chair and landed on his brother, Rex. Yah, I think he's fine. I better go check on Rex though.

And now... a message from Wendell

Any takers...? How about you,Kate ? I know you love him.

Making Weight

Wendell is now tipping the scales at 1.75 pounds. as soon the kitties each reach two pounds, they are ready to be "fixed". shortly there after, they will be available for adoption.

These babies are all loving and trusting. They were bottle fed from the start, so are very used to human contact. They are cuddly and as sweet as can be. They are all special little kitties and deserve only the best of homes.

We think that Rex and Reva should go as a pair. They spend a lot of time together, and aren't nearly as independent as Mitzy and Wendell. We would love it if Mitzy and Wendell went together, but would break up the set for the right home.

Sooooooooooo which kitties would you like to adopt?? Interested parties in the seattle/tacoma area please email me.

Itty Bitty Road Trip

we packed all the kitties in the subaru and headed over the pass towards viola, idaho to visit craig's folks. they did great on this 6 hour journey. there were a few peeps and cries when we first were leaving town, but once we got on the highway, they all settled down.

craig's parents have a really lovely home and serene acreage on moscow mountain. the kittens had a blast exploring this quiet country. they climbed all over the rock terraces and through the flower beds. they chased bugs on the patio and in the grass.


the kittens met sortie, a big, lovable, shaggy, cat-friendly pooch. this was the first dog they had encountered and i have to say, they were a little rude towards their new acquaintance. they all puffed up and little wendell opened his mouth and let out the least threatening cat hiss i have ever heard. it sounded more like air being slowly let out of a bicycle tire rather than an actual cat hiss. it was pretty precious. reva and rex, who are the normally the bigger babies of the bunch, didn't seem to worried about the giant dog.

the kitties were pretty exhausted after the visit and slept almost the whole way home. we sprung the kittens from their cage when we returned and they broke into a serious play session. everyone was pouncing on each other, hissing and puffing up. i guess they all learned a couple of new tricks on their visit.


it was a weekend full of many first for the babies... first road trip, firs dog, first puff, first hiss.... i guess when you're an itty bitty kitty, every day is full of firsts.

chubby little cross-eyed wendell

wendell looks like a chubby little crossed-eyed farm boy trapped in a kitten body. we felt wendell would be an appropriate name for such a character. his full name is wendell jefferson hopps, but you call him wendell j. for short. why jefferson? craig thought of that. i think there's a tradition in his family of giving presidential names as middle names. as for hopps, well, he hops. this big boy is pretty light on his toes.

wendell is the best. he gives the biggest, doughy-eyed looks that just make me melt. i think charlene is quite smitten with him as well. she loves putting him in a head-lock ( or a "half wendell' as we call it) and licking him clean. he seems to enjoy every second of it.