When Stanley’s adopter came to pick him up, she also gave Ry and Mak treats and love. 💗🧡 Stanley will be so loved and pampered. He has a feline sister, also a rescued kitty, his own age to play with after proper introductions are made. Now we need to find the same level of person/people for Ryobi and Makita. #graduationday #softestStanley #adopted #happilyeverafter #cutestRyobi #mightyMakita #adoptable #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #choicebasedsocialization
ADOPTION UPDATE: Cassie & Percy Their person is celebrating their first adoptaversary together. 🖤🖤 #winterskykittens #adopted #happilyeverafter #double #housepanthers #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens
ADOPTION UPDATE: Cho I received these photos of former foster Cho in January, with this message: “Just a happy healthy boy :)” As you know, our lives got busy and I didn’t get around to posting. 😿 But this happiness is too important to hold back. 😻 Cho and his brother Taylor were rescued from outside as kittens, with some of their cousins. We named all of them after pears #pearkittens Cho was quite shy but lit up when he met his forever person. He’s continuing to blossom and snuggle in her loving care. [To connect some threads, fosters Blake, Kieffer, Corella, Concorde (now Marik), Joséphine (now Yum Yum), Moonglow (now Moonie), Parker (now Leo) and Clara (still Clara) are all members of the same “orchard”/extended family.] #adopted #update #happilyeverafter #cutestCho #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens
I posted the full-body photo of Makita earlier today, with, what I hope was, a breezy short caption. “Cute and breezy” - Mak deserves that. Overall, that’s all he knows now. Which is great. 🧡 Of course, the longer I look at the photo the more compelled I feel to explain beyond the “cute kitten” surface. See the tattoo in his right ear? Big and visible. Smiley face on top. If you’ve followed me for a while, you know where I’m going. When Makita and his siblings were spayed/neutered, there was a possibility that they’d be TNR’ed or sent into barn homes. They were seven months old at time of rescue on a rural property with an outdoor mom. That’s outside of most models of a “socialization window”. The vet gave them tattoos that would be visible from a distance, confirming that they were altered, so they wouldn’t have to be retrapped if they travelled. Some people think visible tattoos in companion cats are ugly. I think the tattoos are a badge of honour, a visible reminder that the cat’s life could have been so different. These older kittens have different futures ahead because @catspanferalsregisteredcharity who rescued them is allowing the kittens time in foster to learn to trust humans, to become cherished indoor companions. Many rescues don’t have enough foster homes for this commitment of time and resources. And the people in those rescues have to make the tough decisions of who gets a safer future. Please support your local rescue. Volunteer. Donate. Foster. Even if you don’t want to socialize older kittens or adults (like Babka), foster the short-term easier kitties, so foster parents like us have a clearer conscience about having long-term guests. Thank you for listening. #rescuedkitten #brighterfuture #socializingoutdoorkittens #eartattoo #explained #thePowerToolKittens #mightyMakita #somanywaystohelp #neverenoughfosterhomes
Makita got my day started right by “helping” me make the bed. #helpfulkitten #morningchores #motherslittlehelper #brighterday #mightyMakita #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #thePowerToolKittens
Of course power tools are helpful for jigsaw puzzles. 😉 #pun #intended #catmomhumour #thePowerToolKittens #rescuedkitten #funwithkittens #mightyMakita #rightinthere #socializingoutdoorkittens #socializingWITHoutdoorkittens
Ryobi is the angel watching over foster mom’s shoulder as she sifts through the words and visuals for the updates. @karinsfosterfelines #sanitybreak #purrtherapy #catmom #catdad #cutestRyobi #thePowerToolKittens #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #fosteringchangeslives #repaidwithlove
Committee wants to know, “Where’s third dinner?!?” #threekittens #walkeduptoababygate #momhumour #rescuedcat #socializingoutdoorkittens #choicebasedsocialization #thePowerToolKittens
⭐Foster update: Rhody and Azalea!⭐ They are living with their new dad and growing like, well, kittens! Look how huge they are! Rhody was a full pound heavier than Azalea when I got them the end of January and it looks like he's staying on that accelerated growth curve. 🙀 And, lest we forget what they looked like back then, check out pic 3! 😹 I'm so proud of them, and so grateful for the original feeder who kept her eyes on them and finally trapped them, and also for their second foster, who took them thru that final transformation from feral to pet. (And found them a permanent home, to boot!) It really does take a village to rescue kittens born outside. ❤️ #mizlizclassof2024 #mizlizcathouse #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #catlady #tnrsaveslives #tnrworks #trapneutersocializeadopt #tnr #trapneuterrescue #communitycats #straycats #unownedcats #trapneuterrehome #socializingoutdoorkittens
Mouse says, “supurrvising free-ranging kittens is exhausting; time for a nap.” Interesting watching Mouse & Monkey with #thePowerToolKittens Monkey was more interested in “helping” me fold the laundry. Mouse, on the other hand, “scruffed” both Makita and Stanley - no drama, no sound from any of them, just Mouse standing over each boy with her mouth on their scruff. Remember, they’re bigger than she is: Mak is taller and longer, and Stanley looks even bigger because of his fluff. I thought Mouse might be trying to show she’s boss. Dave joked that Mouse knows how to be a mom and was trying to move the kittens back into their foster room. Your thoughts? #magicMouse #tuckeredout #ridingherdonkittens #bossmomma #felineambassador #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens
THANK YOU SO MUCH. BABY GATES HAVE BEEN ORDERED. 😻 Good morning, lovers of rescued kitties. May I ask for help? #thePowerToolKittens are ready for their next step towards adoption. They need more room and more opportunities to explore the house, without disappearing in our open-concept home. I was preparing to purchase these two baby gates for their containment. These are like the gate I purchased for Shirley’s door - tall yet easy to step through (rather than the acrobatics required to step over even the short gate that’s at Babka’s door). I’ve added to them to my Amazon wishlist (the link is in my profile) but my concern is receiving multiples. 🙀 To prevent a bevy of baby gates, might you consider sending a contribution towards their purchase to [email protected]? The kittens and I would be so grateful. Any contributions beyond the purchase price will be used to buy food and litter for fosters. These are usually provided by their rescues of origin, but all rescues are so short on donations and funds, it would be great to help with that, too. #rescuedkitten #nextstep #freedom #containment #fosteringchangeslives #socializingoutdoorkittens #choicebasedsocialization
Rhody, Azalea, and I have been in a holding pattern this past week due to the parade of feral males that have demanded attention. Typical, right?? 😹 I knew we wouldn't make any more progress unless we switched things up. I had planned to separate them -- siblings often figure out how to relate to humans more quickly when they're apart -- but I also knew I just wouldn't have time for both of them. I asked for help, and my plea was answered by a fellow feral fan and experienced socializer! She has no other fosters, so the kitts will get all the attention they need to move forward. I'm so relieved, but I miss the little stinkers! 🥲 Now I just have to make it to the end of the month without accumulating any more guests. That's a completely reasonable goal, right? 🤣🤣🤣 #mizlizclassof2024 #kitsaphumanesociety #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady #tnrsaveslives #tnrworks #trapneutersocializeadopt #tnr #trapneuterrescue
Our Cat Care Team is sending us updates about our hooligans and guests. I think it’s likely helping the fosters to have good associations with multiple people. So Dave is actually helping with their socialization, remotely. @daveskidneyjourney #thePowerToolKittens #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #manyhandsmakehappycats
Quick update on Rhody and Azalea: L👀K how cuuuuute!! What a difference a week makes, right? Nice and clean and fluffy, and much less afraid of me. Tomorrow is surgery day, then they'll come back to new digs in the living room. I'm suddenly hopeful!! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻❤️❤️❤️ #mizlizclassof2024 #kitsaphumanesociety #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady #tnrsaveslives #tnrworks #trapneutersocializeadopt #tnr #trapneuterrescue
Azalea is now feeling confident enough to express herself, and has discovered a flair for nocturnal performance art. This installation is titled ... (swipe) UNREPENTANT 😹 (THAT. FACE.) 🤣🤣🤣 #mizlizclassof2024 #kitsaphumanesociety #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady #tnrsaveslives #tnrworks #trapneutersocializeadopt #tnr #trapneuterrescue #probablyworkingcats
Time for updates! Rhody and Azalea are hanging here for a bit, and even tho I wasn't planning on kittens for February, I am thoroughly enjoying them. Pic 1: for a moment, I thought I'd lost a kitten! Pic 2: did a little flea combing (at arm's length) and they are riddled with them. 😿 Pic 3-4: I reached in to straighten up their carrier and they bolted to safety, out in the open. 😻 Azalea (R) looks so much like Chrysanthemum! Pic 5: A million heartfelt thank yous for the support you've shown for my drop trap fundraiser! We're almost at the end, and we're almost there. I'm taking an online certification class this weekend, so I'll be ready to put those tools to use. (If you haven't donated yet but have a couple of dollars to spare, every single dollar truly helps! I pay for nearly all of my foster & TNR supplies out of pocket, so this show of support means a lot!) 😸👍🏻 ❤️ #mizlizclassof2024 #kitsaphumanesociety #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady #tnrsaveslives #tnrworks #trapneutersocializeadopt #tnr #trapneuterrescue
Miz Liz's Single-Destination Taxi Service also offers overnight accommodations! These lil not-so-impressed friends are resting up tonight so they can pass their KHS entrance exam tomorrow. Don't they remind you of someone? 🤔 Swipe to the end to see their mama! 😹 Yes, indeed, these are Chrysanthemum's last kittens. They're maybe 10 weeks old, one or both sporting an impressive-sounding URI. 😿 I've named them Azalea and Rhody, L&R. Not sure what path they'll take, but their first priority is to get well and get fixed! We'll figure out the rest after that. #mizlizclassof2024 #kitsaphumanesociety #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady #tnrsaveslives #tnrworks #trapneutersocializeadopt #tnr #trapneuterrescue
ADOPTION UPDATE: Concorde (now Marik) Remember our former foster, Concorde #concordetheflash ? The silver tabby? His adopters adopted a rescued kitten formerly named Elk, now named Isabelle a few months later, once Marik had settled into their family. They nicknamed Isabelle “Easy Izzy” because of how quickly she settled in and befriended her big brother. Izzy is the brown tabby. Their adoptive mom wrote: “They are so different, but they complement each other. Marik is so serious, he looks like a teenager who wants to seem like an adult. And Easy Isabelle is playful and curious.” Such happy tabbies. 💚💗 #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #adopted #forevercats #tabby #siblings
Uncle Glenn wondering where his lunch is. Short sweet caption gets complicated: Glenn and Finlay are resident cats. They’re both FIV+. FIV is transmitted by deep blood-drawing bites, usually when an infected male attacks a rival (or a young male just hitting puberty, which is what I think happened to our two boys) or bites a female during mating. Some people still recommend not mixing FIV+ cats with non-FIV cats in case infection can be spread by casual saliva (like grooming or shared dishes)(feline leukemia FeLV can be spread that way but that’s a completely different disease). We don’t believe we’re endangering our other cats (except Monkey and that’s a separate post) by blending. There are many blended families like @coleandmarmalade However, that’s not our decision to make on behalf of foster kitties. So Glenn and Finlay don’t have any direct contact with our fosters. Although I think they’d be excellent uncles. #gentleGlen #rescuedcat #forevercat #blackcat #FIVcat #hungrycat #hetoldmetoaddthat #thePowerToolKittens #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens
Stanley says he’s not a fraidy cat! He’s dining on the roof-top terrace this evening. #Stanley #ontop #notascaredycat #bravestboy #softestStanley #thePowerToolKittens #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #finedining #felinedining
Knock Knock #thePowerToolKittens #rescuedkitten #cutetrio #atthedoor #evenStanley #softestStanley #cutestRyobi #mightyMakita #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens
Not sure if Monkey is trying to be a feline ambassador or a monkey? #felineambassador #intraining #monkey #Monkey #thePowerToolKittens #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #bigtransition #nextlevel
All the carrier training paid off. 🏆 Ry and Mak followed the lick mat in together, for a double carrier. Not surprisingly, Stanley took a little longer, especially once his braver sibs had teleported out of the room. Of course, I forgot to take my phone in to video. 🤦♀️ Stanley didn’t commit to the lick mat. However, these carriers open from the top as well, so I was able to lure him into the open-concept carrier with a Churu tube, right to the lick mat. Close the top. Tuck his plumy tail in and close the door. A little panic as I lifted the carrier - we hadn’t practised that yet. Smooth transition to the double pens. The pens are covered with white sheets. They’ve found (but not used) their litter boxes, which I broughy over “as is”. A couple of hidey spots, including the same carrier with the door off. Water. Food. And a quiet night to settle in. #bigmove #nextstep #thiswillsetthemback #reset #startingover #levellingup #socializingoutdoorkittens #rescuedcat #choicebasedsocialization #thePowerToolKittens #carriertraining #catincarrier #bravestkittens
🎉Sugar and Spice🎉 were adopted together today! 🥲 I had stopped in for some pets, went to do a few errands, and when I came back, they were OUTTA THERE! Their long journey started last July, but they finally made it home. 😭❤️ #mizlizclassof2024 #kitsaphumanesociety #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady #tnrsaveslives #tnrworks #trapneutersocializeadopt #tnr #trapneuterrescue
Surprise graduation day for Spice! 🥳 KHS requested that Sugar and Spice come back to take up residency in the Shy Cat Room. I'm excited, but also anxious... Spice has come so far in the past two weeks, and I'm afraid she and Sugar will regress when they're reunited. 😬 Spice actually put her front paws on my lap for the first time this morning, while reaching for her Churu. 🥲 So close!! I'll be going in as often as I can to sit with them. If the girls can't hold it together, they'll be listed as barn cats and I am feeling surprisingly strong feelings agaunst that. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 #mizlizclassof2023 #kitsaphumanesociety #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady #tnrsaveslives #tnrworks #trapneutersocializeadopt #tnr #trapneuterrescue
Spice just wanted you to know that things are going pretty well despite Miz Liz's complete inability to follow proper socialization procedures, and we might even think about retaking the KHS entrance exam later this week. 😻👍🏻 #mizlizclassof2023 #sustainablesocialization #socializationsaveslives #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady
Ah, the Magnuson colony. That's the big TNR project from July that keeps refusing to go quietly into... wherever. So, remember my foster Pee-wee, fka Trap 7 Jones? He had four siblings. Traps 8 and 15 were male, traps 30 and 31 were female. The three boys were socialized and adopted a few months ago, but the two girls, named Sugar and Spice, bounced thru 3 different fosters. I made arrangements with their latest foster to take them to KHS with Jules on the 19th. (Guess I forgot to post about that!) Jules passed his entrance exam and is up for adoption, but the girls, well, their glamour shots (1, 2) say it all. 😬 It was suggested I take them home for remedial socialization and try again in two weeks. It was clear pretty quickly that they needed to be separated, so into the separate-but-equal configuration (pic/vid 3) they went. With Ivan in the garage foster room, and Siejae in the foster bedroom, they became living room kitties. It seemed to help (4, 5) but my hands overfloweth-ed with cats, so I asked a very experienced KHS foster to take Sugar. And she did!! 🎉🙌🏻🎉 If all goes to plan, they'll be able to retake the KHS entrance exam in a week or so and find their real homes. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 In the meantime, I found some baby pics from July! Pic 6 is Sugar, pic 7 is Spice. And pic 8 is the whole litter; Pee-wee, Alvin, Briggs, Sugar, and Spice, desperately trying to find a way out of the crate! 😹 #mizlizclassof2023 #kitsaphumanesociety #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady #tnrsaveslives #tnrworks #trapneutersocializeadopt #tnr #trapneuterrescue
Where she chose to stretch out for her nap. #choicebasedsocialization #Ryobi #cutestRyobi #bravestgirl #wanttobeclose #couldshebeanycuter #calico #calicokitten #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #thePowerToolKittens
Second shift reported for duty. 🧡 Makita and Ryobi literally traded places. I could almost hear their attendance cards get stamped. #tagteam #purrbabies #mightyMakita #softestStanley #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #thePowerToolKittens #choicebasedsocialization #timeforbedforme
Then this happened. #swoon #tummy #trust #cutestRyobi #rescuedkitten #calicokitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #choicebasedsocialization #thePowerToolKittens
And then she touched me. 💗 Ryobi came to lie beside me. Then she did her own not-sneaky touch. 🌟 Purring. Even rolled in her side to show her tummy. She wasn’t brave enough to let me take that pic. #woohoo #andthenshetouchedme #nosneakytouches #allokay #whenshedoesit #choicebasedsocialization #socializingoutdoorkittens #thePowerToolKittens #cutestRyobi #Ryobi #purrslikeahammerdrill #smittenwiththekitten
Stanley: an arrangement in black, white and pink. #notwhistlersmother #cuterthanthat #softestStanley #Stanley #rescuedkitten #fluffykitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #choicebasedsocialization #fosteringchangeslives #changingthisone
Makita and Ryobi wish you a good night’s sleep. I know I need some. Tomorrow, I’ll post about their tattoos, which you can see in their right ears. I want to explain the smiley-face symbol at the top, and why the numbers are so big, and why all that makes me so tickled. Oh, and it’s #whiskerwednesday I specifically cropped this to get their magnificent whiskers into the frame. Aren’t they impressive? #mightyMakita #cutestRyobi #thePowerToolKittens #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #choicebasedsocialization #tattoo #identificationtattoo #permanentID
Warning: heartbreakers ahead. 💗🧡🖤 #thePowerToolKittens #socializingoutdoorkittens #choicebasedsocialization #cutiepatooties
Caption? #brothers #Stanley #Makita #thePowerToolKittens #socializingoutdoorkittens #rescuedkitten #socializationchangeslives
I think they know the routine already. Mak’s face certainly said: “Gimme the treat”. 🧡 Ryobi barely hesitated. Then she matched Makita lick for lick. 💗 He’s such a gentleman about sharing. Stanley wasn’t left out. 🖤 Like last night, I put down their soft food and moved across the room. I’d barely settled my toosh and Makita was over the wall. Ryobi close behind. Stanley right after her. Tonight, they took their baths on my side of the “wall”. I notice they all take turns grooming each other. 💚 I’m feeling so good about the progress they’re making. I’ve received confirmation that the marks on each kittens’ nose was from rubbing against the trap when they were rescued. I’ve noticed the marks getting smaller even in the short time they’ve been with us. #thePowerToolKittens #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #choicebasedsocialization #socializationchangeslives #fosteringsaveslives
Shaky camerawork as I’m trying to a) be inobtrusive b) record all three kittens licking Churu c) contain my enthusiasm so I wouldn’t scare them ALL three kittens licked the Churu tubes, including shyest Ryobi. Stanley gave my camera a nose boop. He almost falls out of his tree to reach the Churu and is curious about me. Makita was calm about my hand coming to his (lower) level with the tube - no slaps. He also showed curiosity about my hand. Ryobi stayed on the top level with Stanley for a bit but didn’t take any Churu there. Then she slid down two levels to join Mak. Watching him enjoy the Churu, having him to hide behind, got her brave enough to try. By the end, she was leaning out past Mak to get more. #happydance #fostermom #touchdowndance #ontheirway #sohappyforthem #socializingoutdoorkittens #choicebasedsocialization #fosteringchangeslives #socializationchangeslives #thePowerToolKittens #woohoo #didimentionthatimhappy
Okay, who’s smitten with this kitten??? 🧡🤍 Not just me, right? Older kittens like Makita may/will take longer to trust people. They had to survive outside. Being cautious kept them alive. Some rescues/foster homes don’t have the time, resources, space to socialize older kitties. They’re overwhelmed with younger, easier kittens. Also, adopters need to consider adopting older, shyer-at-first kitties, so rescues know they can graduate kitties like Makita and his siblings to loving homes. Looking into Mak’s face, seeing him relax, makes me so determined. #socializationchangeslives #fosteringsaveslives #socializingoutdoorkittens #choicebasedsocialization #thePowerToolKittens #Makita #Makthekitten
The trio of #thePowerToolKittens all showing their best for #tongueouttuesday #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #socializationchangeslives #fosteringchangeslives
And we have names! Kitties & Cream made the official announcement for our fosters today. Please welcome “The Power Tool Kittens”. Our calico cutie is Ryobi. Shall I call her “Ry” or “Obi” for short? 💗 The ginger-and-white boy is Makita. I know I’ll be calling him Mak (Mac) because…. well, because he’s ginger and white and has a bit of highland flare. 🧡 And Stanley is the black-and-white boy. I mean, doesn’t he look like a Stanley. I don’t think I’ll shorten that even a titch. Kitties & Cream and the rescues they partner with have many many other kitties needing rescue, needing names. Please consider donating towards the vet expenses AND naming a kitty. Here’s how: 😺 Etransfer to [email protected] 😺 Online at https://kittiesandcream.ca/products/donation 😺 In person at Kitties & Cream (in the Old Quarter of Nanaimo) and at market pop-ups 😺 Via cheque Donation receipts available upon request. Make sure to include a name with your donation! @kittiesandcreamcatcafe #names #wegotnames #thepowertoolkittens #ryobi #makita #stanley #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #choicebasedsocialization
Braver and braver…. Can you see all three eyeballing me? #greetings #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #choicebasedsocialization #socializationchangeslives # #newbytrio
🎉Pee-wee was adopted today!!🎉 I can't stop smiling 😁😁😁😁😁 #mizlizclassof2023 #kitsaphumanesociety #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady #tnrsaveslives #tnrworks #trapneutersocializeadopt #tnr
And just like that, Pee-wee's Big Adventure part 2 begins! Since he wasn't a KHS foster, he had to go in as an "owner surrender" and those appointments are tough to come by right now. But Thursday night I got an email notifying us our appointment time was noon Friday! It's probably good I didn't have too much advance notice since I was *this close* to keeping him. Needless to say, he got extra free-range time Thursday eve and he unlocked an achievement: he figured out how to get to on the big cat shelf! 🏆 (Couldn't quite bring himself to make the leap to the other wall, tho. ) Friday, after I dropped him off, I came home and immediately disassembled his condo area. Knew it wouldn't be wise to leave that reminder around. 🥲 I haven't seen him listed on the KHS adoption page yet, but I'll be able to check on him Monday - more changes to the Miz Liz Class of '23 roster happening. 😸 #mizlizclassof2023 #kitsaphumanesociety #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady #tnrsaveslives #tnrworks #trapneutersocializeadopt #tnr
🥳 Stevia 🥳 was adopted yesterday!! That's the last of my current crop to get a real job. 😹 I saw him strutting his stuff in the KHS colony room with the other older kittens the other day, and I'm sure that's what did the trick! 😻 #mizlizclassof2023 #kitsaphumanesociety #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady
STILL NOT POSTED LIST: - Sweet Tarts part 2, Sugar & Honey - Wishlisters intro, update - Pee-wee update . About that newbie kitten: This is Luna, about 3½ months old. She was trapped on a nearby property, fixed & vaxxed, and taken in by the property owner to socialize maybe 6 weeks ago, but the owner said they had reached a standstill. Time for a change of venue, welcome to Miz Liz's! This beautiful mini-panther has OPINIONS about things here being different than she's used to. 😹 She's probably 80% ready for prime time, so she'll be ready for graduation pretty quickly. #mizlizclassof2023 #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady #tnrsaveslives #tnrworks #trapneutersocializeadopt #tnr
Sweet Tarts Tales, part 1: Stevia (f, white paws) and Agave (m) Once I understood the dynamics of the group, I moved Sugar & Honey to different quarters. In true brown tabby fashion, these two socialized in a snap and were ready for graduation in just over 3 weeks! They're a little hand-shy, but well worth the effort. They're still up for adoption, hint, hint! 😉 (They graduated right in the middle of the big TNR effort a few weeks ago and their updates got lost in the madness.) 😹 #mizlizclassof2023 #kitsaphumanesociety #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady
I'm supposed to be getting dressed and cleaning out Sugar & Honey's room, but I'm trapped. Seven Jones is doing much better, so now we are working on his "enjoying people" skills. Scroll for pics illustrating his journey to date. #mizlizclassof2023 #kitsaphumanesociety #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady #tnrsaveslives #tnrworks #trapneutersocializeadopt #tnr
Time to start playing catch up. Elayne!! She wasn't here very long - less than 2 weeks - and I took hardly any pics of her! She went in for her surgery on 7/23. I thought I'd be bringing her back, but thru a series of miscommunications, she ended up staying. The original finder mentioned adopting her so she had a hold on her until they could reach him. He declined, she hit the adoption floor Sunday 7/30, and was adopted right away!! 🥳 Go, you little sassy hiss-pot, go! #mizlizclassof2023 #kitsaphumanesociety #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady
A week (plus) in the life of a foster room: 1: 7/19, TNR project begins! Beginning of trap day for a colony in Bremerton. (The Magnusons!) 2: 7/19, end of the day. Twenty-two guests! Five were able to go right to surgery and came back. 3: 7/20, 4 more trapped, 21 cats to surgery. Two were released, a mama cat and one we think was a neighbor's cat ... 4: 7/21, the rest were released except for a litter of 5 kittens and one poor girl cat who had to have an eye removed. She's in my bathroom, the five kittens in here. 5: 7/26, I took a kitten to my vet and moved him to my living room. The other 4 were separated until fosters could be found. They were older than we thought, probably 3 months. Pretty late for successful socialization. 😬 6: 7/28, Time to reset! Four kittens went to foster yesterday, and I have a mama and five babies coming from KHS tomorrow. Got it empty, still need to clean and set it up... . Still so much news to share, but the clock never stops and I need to get some dinner! #mizlizclassof2023 #kitsaphumanesociety #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady #tnrsaveslives #tnrworks #tnr
More kittens on board, a set of four 10-week-old spicys! Introductions yet to come. First, I have to figure out how to get them out from under the sewing cabinet so I can block it off. They're all 2.5-3 lbs and I was SURE they wouldn't fit. Ha! The only one that can't fit is the biggest one, who has to settle for hiding behind the litterbox. 😸 (I watched one emerge yesterday eve and it was fascinating.) 😹 #mizlizclassof2023 #kitsaphumanesociety #socializingoutdoorkittens #spicykittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady
Nugget's Big Adventure, conclusion: After my experiment of setting her up with with the boarders failed - Salem took it as a personal offense - I moved her condo to the catio (pic 1). After much agonizing, I accepted that she did not want to be a house pet, nor could I start my own cat colony in my small residential back yard. 😿 I'd hoped to get her into KHS's Barn Cat program, but she would have had to wait months. So I reached out to Becky, her caretaker, to see if she would help me transition Nugget back to her original turf. My fear (there's always a fear, right?!?) was that Nugget had been away from home for a month and would no longer be acclimated. Becky agreed to feed her in her condo until she felt Nugget was ready to go free. We got her set up, and the experiment was underway. Much to our surprise, by the next day Nugget was bouncing off the walls and ready to run, so Becky opened the door and she was off! We wondered if we would see her again, but it wasn't long before she showed up at the feeding station with her daddy, just like before! 😻🥳 (pics 2-3). The pics from the following days were like little gifts: Nugget rolling around on the grass, relaxed and happy to be back home (pics 4-5). The best gift was the short video Becky sent me of Nugget playing with her toys (pic 6)!! 😻😭 So while my attempt at socialization of an older kitten wasn't what I'd hoped, I got lucky and it worked out for Nugget after all. 😸🙌 #mizlizclassof2023 #sustainablesocialization #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady
Gemma’s graduation photo and writeup: Gemma Female Domestic shorthair Chocolate brown colourpoint ~ eleven months old Gemma will start shy and cautious until she knows you. Then she melts for pets, rolling around and around so you can touch all of her. Young and playful, Gemma enjoys other friendly cats to snuggle with. A role meowdel will boost her confidence. Good with cats: yes, please Good with dogs: will likely feel overwhelmed Good with children: older gentle would be best We’re planning to take Gemma, Moonglow and Clara to Kitties & Cream for adoption on Monday. I purposely chose a photo of Gemma that didn’t show the electric blue of her eyes in the sunlight. We want people to appreciate her personality and work to boost her confidence, not get blinded by her unique colouring. @kittiesandcreamcatcafe #GemmaJay #winterskykittens #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #fosteringchangeslives #choicebasedsocialization
Adoption Update: Polly Polly’s people have been sending lots of updates as their weekend unfolded. Here are some of the videos and photos, in reverse chronological order. Jinx is Polly’s feline sister. They’ve met through the mesh, and briefly with the playpen unzipped. Polly is delighted. Jinx is definitely interested. So promising. 💚🖤 #adopted #update #settlingin #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #Pollypanther #winterskykittens #felinefriends #happilyeverafter
Polly joined her forever family this evening. Dave and I drove her to Victoria, to the people who have been waiting so patiently for her to finish treatment for the uveitis that appeared the day before they’d arranged to pick her up two weeks ago. They were sooooo excited. And so awesome…. They’ll be sleeping in their living room, so Polly can start in their bedroom, in a contained playpen. They’d sent this photo of the setup. Jinx, Polly’s feline sister, is confident and came right up to us humans for pets. Kitty introductions will wait for a couple of days until Polly gets settled. The beauty of using a playpen is that Jinx can visit with Polly in a controlled way. Since Polly enjoys other cats so much, I think having Jinx visit will help Polly get braver quicker. I remembered all the items that we were supposed to. Completed all the paperwork for the transfer. Explained the contents of Polly’s goodie bag. Gave Jinx the mousie I’d made for her. We had a wonderful chat with the adopters in the living room while Polly transferred herself from the carrier into the cozy tunnel in her haven. I thought I’d nailed it all until we got back into the car and I realized I hadn’t taken the requisite photo of her adopters welcoming her or holding her carrier. 🤦♀️ If I was going to forget one thing, that’s not a bad one to miss. So, please enjoy the last photos I took of Polly with Gemma before I persuaded Polly into her transporter device. #adopted #gonehome #foreverfamily #happilyeverafter #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #choicebasedsocialization #fosteringchangeslives #fosteringsaveslives #changedthisone #Pollypanther #housepanther #bravegirl #felinesister
Our last morning with Polly Panther. Lots of feelings. #graduationday #goodbyeisthegoal #feelings #goingtomissher #Pollypanther #winterskykittens #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #fosteringchangeslives #choicebasedsocialization
Tonight, I caught a glimpse of Moonglow as the kitten she didn’t get a chance to be until now. This innocence and vulnerability is surfacing more and more as we play and hang out together. Catching it in a photo…. Lots of emotions for me. With fosters like Moonglow, rescued when she was months outside the “window of socialization”, Dave and I talk about whether we’re doing them any favours by encouraging them to rewire their brains from cautious/fearful/feisty to trusting/loving/respected companions. It is a process that takes time. Even with choice-based socialization, which doesn’t force the cat to adjust and tolerate people, it’s still stressful for the foster while they’re learning that they’re safe. Then I catch this look and I know we’ve done Moonglow a great favour. She will be inside and loved, safe enough to show her kitten-ness, protected from traffic, poison, weather, aggressive cats or dogs or people. #worthit #choicebasedsocialization #fosteringchangeslives #changedthisone #rescuedkitten #rescuedcat #socializingoutdoorkittens #socializingadultcats #brighterfuture #Moonglowcat #pearkittens
Adoption Update: Cassie & Percy “Cassie at home comfortable looking outside. Both cats are gradually getting comfortable. Cassie still skittish but Percy loving the pets.” Their person also asked me if Cassie doesn’t eat soft/canned food. Apparently she still prefers kibbles, if she can choose. So, I suggested, as we did here, to start with some soft food and only give her kibbles after she’s eaten the soft. Making sure kitties eat at least some wet food each day helps keep them hydrated and also makes it easier to pill them, if they ever need that. #adopted #update #winterskykittens #cassieandpercy #housepanther #wholehouse #settlingin #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #happilyeverafter
Adoption Update: Concorde aka Flash Now name Marik, this cutie is settling in. His adopters wrote, “In general, he is a good boy. For a long time he allows himself to be picked up, but not for long. Kisses us, but also a little. I want him to be like Rusty))). I calmly cut his claws and scratch his fur. We are trying to wean him from biting our legs 😁. But he does it without malice. Just playing around. Sleeps with us, but wakes up early.🤦♀️😼Likes to talk. We hope that we will be able to accustom him to a leash and a car to walk with him.” Marik did take a while to get used to new experiences, like the sounds of children’s voice at the school across the road. He used to hide. With patience and kindness, he has become more confident, even letting the little boy from next door pet him. FD Dave and I so appreciate patient adopters, who will help their rescued kitty blossom, like Marik is. #adopted #updated #rescuedkitten #Concordetheflash #pearkittens #socializingoutdoorkittens #fosteringchangeslives #happytabby
Adoption Update: Cassie & Percy The panther siblings have started exploring the rest of their home, with the door to their “starter room” left open. Anyone surprised at their body postures? Cassie the explorer with her head held high, looking onward for the next horizon. Percy more cautiously following her lead. So glad these two have each other to optimize each other’s strengths: explorer Cassie + purring Percy. 🖤🖤 #adopted #update #progress #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #winterskykittens #housepanther #withtheirownhouse
Introduced the ladies to a new toy last night. Didn’t take them long to figure it out. Heard them playing even harder after we went to bed. #nightowls #trackball #newtoy #neverenoughtoy #playfulkittens #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #winterskykittens #Pollypanther #GemmaJay
Trying to free up memory on my devices and realized that I hadn’t posted these clips of Cassie in the cat lounge at @kittiesandcreamcatcafe Our little explorer was clearly getting confident about checking out the window views. Cassie and Percy weren’t at the adoption centre long when they were adopted together. The most-recent update I’ve received was a couple of days after they’d gone home. Percy was already purring and accepting pets; Cassie was close behind. #oops #forgottopost #toogoodtomiss #winterskykittens #adopted #housepanther #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens
Trying something different with Nougat's socialization. She *desperately* wants attention from other cats, but mine just aren't interested, so I moved her from her living room pen to the large condo in the cat bedroom, with my boarders. They're super chill, and I think she'll have good modeling for her interactions with me. Plus, she won't be so lonely! This was taken about an hour after the move, and everyone is calm, woot woot! 🤜🤛 1) Nougat 2) Salem 3) T(s)imba 4) Bootsie I'm reaching the end of my time and ability to work with Nougat, so this is kind of a Hail Mary. She may well end of being a friendly barn cat and I think that would suit her just fine. #mizlizclassof2023 #sustainablesocialization #socializationsaveslives #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady
FD Dave took breakfast in for Moonglow and Clara. I hear his soothing happy voice. Then I received this photo from him. Thank goodness Dave is such a supportive cat dad and foster dad, and partner for me. @daveskidneyjourney #fosterdadrocks #rescuedcat #socializingoutdoorkittens #socializingadultcats #felinefriends #Sundaybrunch #withafriend #Clarakitty #Moonglowcat #pearkittens
Polly’s future feline sister, Jinx, is sleeping on Polly’s keepsake blanket!! We’d sent the blanket home with Polly’s adopters yesterday, when they came to visit her. Polly is staying with us a little longer as we treat her eye. But the scent swapping has begun. This morning, I received this photo and… “Jinx is very excited for her sister. “Polly really is the cutest. I think both of the cats are practicing being brought together. It was wonderful getting to meet her. Thank you for letting us invade your home a bit to do so.” When I wrote back to thank them for their visit, and told them how heartwarming it is to see Jinx sleeping on Polly’s blanket bc she’s not fluffed by the smell of another kitty, Polly’s adopters replied, “If anything she kept going out of her way to be around the blanket and was so happy when sniffing it.” This is so promising for the girls upcoming friendship. #bestfriends #waitingtomeeteachother #felinefriends #sisters #adopted #goinghomesoon #rescuedkitten #brighterfuture #housepanther #winterskykittens #Pollypanther #socializingoutdoorkittens #choicebasedsocialization #fosteringchangeslives
Adoption Update: Cassie & Percy Received this morning, “Update. Yesterday and this morning purring Percy and Cassie came to me and allowed me to pet them. They are starting to feel settled in their starter room.” The day before, “They are still figuring out new room. They are eating. They were playing this morning at 4 am. I gave them a chute and Percy came purring and licking it. Cassie still timid but she will get there.” They’re adjusting so well! #adopted #update #cassieandpercy #winterskykittens #rescuedkitten #fosteringchangeslives #socializingoutdoorkittens
More and more playful. More and more pettable. More Moonglow. So glad she’s safe and progressing towards a safe indoor home. I won’t go into details. Can’t. Suffice that tonight I received another example of why indoor homes are so much better, safer than outside. Even indoor-outdoor is too risky. Moonglow was approximately nine months old when rescued. Like Rusty, she was hissy and scared for quite a while. FD Dave and I wanted to socialize her, so she wouldn’t be TNR’ed. Yes, it takes a while to do this with older kittens/adult cats. Yes, some cats are too fearful of people to be inside a home long enough to learn trust. Yes, many rescues don’t have the resources to do this without diverting attention from other kittens and cats. Sadly, shyer cats can have challenges finding adopters, esp because people have pre-conceptions about outdoor “feral” cats. [Personally, I think “feral” is a behaviour, not a permanent brand a cat has to wear her/his whole life.] I’m grateful that Dave and I are able to work with cats like Moonglow, to change the direction of their lives. Most of the cats we’ve fostered have been older kittens and adults rescued from outside. Seeing Moonglow play…. Seeing her lean into touch… Knowing what happens outside… #fosteringchangeslives #fosteringsaveslives #savingthisone #rescuedkitten #socializingoutdoorkittens #socializingadultcats #brighterfuture #worthit #feralschmeral #Moonglowcat #neverenoughfosterhomes
Nougat update: Today it was time to climb into the playpen with her. I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't seem to bug her, not a single hiss was heard. I got her to come out and actually ⭐stand on my leg⭐ while reaching for her Churu! 🙀 Even more earth-shattering, she allowed me to gently ⭐skritch her chest and chin⭐ with the backscratcher/treat delivery tool! 🙀🙀 At the end of my visit, I offered her some dehydrated chicken treats and managed to sneak a few pics. The big deal being that ⭐I was still in the playpen⭐ with her! 🥳⭐Good job, Nougat!! ⭐🥳 #mizlizclassof2023 #sustainablesocialization #socializationsaveslives #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady
Well, well, well, Ms. Nougatz is out and about, with me lying right here on the couch in full view! Truth be told, she's looking for all the other cats. Oh well, I'll take it as progress. 😸👍 #mizlizclassof2023 #sustainablesocialization #socializationsaveslives #socializingoutdoorkittens #mizlizcathouse #fosteringsaveslives #fostercats #kittens #sheltercat #adoptasheltercat #adoptdontshop #catmom #catmomlife #fostercatmomlife #catlady
It’s official. The three mini-panthers have been adopted!! Polly is back with us temporarily until her adopters can come pick her up on May 20th, when they’ll have some time off work to help her get settled in, and to give her feline sister extra loving to start her adjustment. Today, Cassie and Percy were adopted together. They will be picked up from @kittiesandcreamcatcafe on Monday, giving their person time to set up their starter room. #graduationday #happyday #adopted #rescuedkitten #minipanther #fosteringchangeslives #socializingoutdoorkittens #doubleadoption #felinefriends
Polly wants to be a character witness for me. She’s heard people wondering if maybe I’m “staging” the swim teams. 🙀 Polly, Gemma and Rusty have been doing all the coaching. I’m just their press agent, coming up with the captions. Oh, and I get to mop up the splashes and refill the pool. 🪣 #givingcredit #wherecreditisdue #swimteam #coach #thestruggleisreal #fosteringfun #rescuedkitten #rescuedcat #socializingoutdoorkittens #socializingadultcats