Life of a former foster kitten

Nail Clippers

Today Daddy's friend came over to help him trim my claws. I hated it. I mean H-A-T-E-D it. I ran around and fought as if I was going to an adoption show. I got wrapped up in Daddy's towel and he trimmed my claws while his friend held me. I still fought and he accidentally got my paw pad too! Ouch!! He feels awful about it, but I forgave him eventually. They got all my claws then I got a belly rub for a while. I hid for a while and now I'm better. Everything is back to normal. I hope I won't have to do this again for a very long time.

Update

Well first I want to pay my respects to Calvin ~ Kneed On. It's been a few weeks, but Daddy has been busy. First he got a new computer which is quieter and has lights. It's also shorter which makes it hard to climb on.

The bad news is Daddy lost his job a few days ago. He promises he'll do everything he can to keep us together. His parents can help and there's some money saved. He's going to be stressed and I want to help him any way I can. We're a family and we'll get through this together.

I got a Rossette

I got a Rossette from Cassidy. She's a precious kitty who had a horrible past before getting adopted by a loving family. I hope that with time Cassidy will overcome her past. Even if she can't, she knows she has a loving and safe home.

Thank you so much for your generous gift of my furever star. It meant a lot to me. Thank you for helping make my day with your gift. I am happy with my home but scarred furever, I fear.
Love,
Cassidy

Mama got adopted!

Daddy was checking out the the success stories on Almost Home Foundation to cheer him up on a Friday afternoon and discovered my momma was adopted by a nice family last year. Her new family loves her very much and she's not afraid of people after all the abuse she suffered. We're all very happy for her. I wonder if she would recognize me after all this time. Would I know her (I get very angry when I see other cats apart from my sibs, it's why I never did well at the adoption shows)? Regardless it's great news. Her name is Snacks now, but she'll always be Precious Mama to us. I hope her family puts her on caster so we can be friends and we can check up on each other.

Thanks for everything Mama. Thank you , family for adopting her. We love all of you!!

Strange cat! Strange cat!

OK, it's just a normal morning for me, watching out the patio window, getting some sun when this big strange cat just comes up and rolls over RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME! He was black and white. Daddy has seen him around before over the years (he knows the cat is a him because he saw him spraying once). I couldn't believe it. I start going crazy. Get out of here! This is MY house! MINE! But he ignores me and continues sunning himself on the patio ledge in front of the window. Sarge and Lena noticed him and came over to help encourage him to leave. But he just ignores us. Daddy tried to settle us down and told us the kitty wasn't doing anything wrong. He went outside to pet the kitty and that's when that other cat ran away. There's rumors of a cougar in our city and Daddy hopes this other cat will be OK. I don't care as long as he stays away from me!

Kitty fountain

The kitty fountain came recently. Lena and I took to it quickly. Daddy saw Sarge drinking out of it tonight. Sarge says it's not as good as faucet water. But I don't like faucet water anyway. Sometimes Daddy puts ice cubes in the fountain. It makes the water cool and a neat sound.

Last Friday Daddy brought home a book case. It was fun to play on. I jumped up top and slept. When Daddy set it up I jumped into the lower shelves. It's nice to have something new in the house to play on.

Oops!

It's been an interesting few weeks. First Daddy has his friends over. I got a few pets before knocking a drink on someone's books. He was mad and I had to stay away The next morning Daddy left to visit his human family for a weekend. The nice people with the dog came over and I got some wet food! Yummy! And I got to play with my friend again! Daddy gave us the rest of the food when he got home. Unfortunately two days afterward Sarge asked to go into the garage. He led everycat in for some fun. I loved it until I couldn't come back in. Daddy was very tired and busy and he forgot about us until the next morning. I can't believe he forgot about his three loving kitties! No wonder he slept so poorly that night! And that night he went to help out at the local sci-fi convention. He was gone for part of that night and most of Friday and Saturday and Sunday! We were so lonely! We stuck around him for days afterwards until things got back to normal. In the mean time I'm still sneaking drinks of milk from Daddy's breakfast bowl.

And some good news! Daddy is getting me a kitty drinking fountain! It should come in a week or so. Now I won't be hanging around the sink pestering Sarge. Daddy hopes I like it. It's expensive. And if I like it, my grandmeowmy might get it for her kitties. They're older than me so they need to take better care of themselves.

Checkin out the garage

Daddy let me in the garage a few times to explore. Lena and Sarge told me about it when I was still a foster. It's a cool place and I finally got to go in like the other kitties. I got to stay for a while. S&L returned to the house first. Daddy had to coax me back in. He checked on me a few times and I think he just wanted me in where he could keep an eye on me.

I still don't like being held but I think I'm getting used to it. I just have too much energy to be held down for a petting. Lena destroyed our feather toy so Daddy had to use one of my other toys to replace it. I like it better now. It's something I can grab, unlike that laser pointer (which is still fun). Sarge doesn't like to play much. I try and he'll run away.

I can feel the love!

Wow! What a great day being one of catster's DDP! I got a new friend request, a blue ribbon, and a star! The blue ribbon is from Buddy

You have been selected to receive a "Buddie's Well Wishers GANG Healing Rosette"--Given with prayers, love & well wishes from HUNDREDS of furfaces represented by this Rosette! We love you, Pretty Little Pepi!!

Thank you! My ears are getting better. I've been very good about letting Daddy put medicine in them. I also got a star from Timothy

"I was just reading your journal-- congratulations on finding a forever home with your foster dad! I kinda did the same thing-- my mommy took me home "just to nurse me back to health", but I talked her into letting me stay. Silly humans. smile"

Yep, we stick around a human for a while and they want to keep us. Sometimes you just know when you're home. Sarge realized it quickly. It took Lena a few weeks and now she wouldn't live anywhere else. I think Sarge and Lena needed some nursing too, but an emotional nursing. They needed to feel love again and to be save in a home. Now all three of us are together.

I'm DDP!

Hooray! I've been chosen for a DDP. Thank you everyone. My ear medicine is working out well. I don't fight Daddy much when he gives it to me and it seems to be doing its job. My ears look much better. Tonight Daddy is going to try and swab them out and check on the progress.

Daddy has also found a new way to tease me. He takes my favorite toy and tosses it on the table. As soon as I find out what he did, I jump up on the table and bring my toy back down. Then he tosses it back up again. He thinks it's funny. Well it is sort of fun to hunt down and grab my toy in light of a lack of living toys to hunt.

So things are pretty good here. I'm glad Daddy decided to adopt me before turning one year old. Every kitty should spend their birthdays in a loving furever home.

The Vet

Yesterday morning Daddy got out a cat carrier. It wasn't mine so at first I didn't pay attention to it. Then he got dressed and tried to catch me! Oh no! I thought I was staying here! I don't wanna go to the adoption show!! He caught me and put me in the carrier. As we drove away I got scared. Then I noticed we weren't making the usual turns to go to the adoption show and the trip was much shorter. He carried me into a building and into a small room with a counter. It smelled like other cats but I didn't see any. Daddy opened the top of my carrier and petted me. I was so happy this wasn't the adoption show so I purred.

Shortly a woman came in. She put me on a scale, poked around in my ears. I have a lot of dirt in my ears so she took a swab then left. I got to go back in my carrier. This was strange. No other kitties, no big huge scary building with dogs and noise, and only one stranger who was very nice. What was this.

Then a man came in. He was nice. He petted me, I rubbed up against his hand. The carrier I was in splits in two so I got to stay there on my kitty bed as he examined me. I didn't like some of it, but I kept reminding myself that it could be worse. He said I was very well behaved. I got some shots and he cleaned my ears. It felt nice when he was done. Then my carrier was put back together and we left. I did see one other kitty who I didn't like, but that was it. We went home.

Daddy said the man was my vet and I may have to go back in a few weeks if my ears don't get better. That won't be so bad.

More Gifts!

I want to thank the kittys who gave me presents to celebrate my adoption and birthday. First I got a star from The family of Martin(after StMartindePorres), Beloved Angel Amelia, Vincent, Hugo (in loving memory) and more! who said

"Hooray for your furever home!!! "

Then I got a yummy shrimp. But like the cake, shrimp go bad after about 30 days and has to be thrown out. The sentiment will last forever. It's from The family of Louis Armstrong, Emma Barrett, Benny Grunch, Pete Fountain who tell me

" SO glad you have adopted a Furrever Daddy.....you are such a cute kitty, no wonder he could not give you up.

Hugs,"

Thank you all so much! Since I don't smell like a pet store after the adoption shows anymore, the other cats don't fight with me as much. I did give Sarge a scratch on his nose. Daddy's not happy about that, but things happen and I'll be more careful in the future.

My first birthday!

What a weekend, my Foster Daddy became my Furever Daddy, I turned one year old, and tonight Daddy went to the Wheaton City Council so our vet, the College Station Cat Clinic, can expand to support their growing clientèle. I'm so proud, he was the first person that night to walk up and address the council. Four other people followed him. Sometimes all it takes is one person to take the first step. The measure passed unanimously by the way. Of course I won't be so happy when it's my turn to visit the vet...

Oh yes, I got a birthday cake from Binks! Thank you Binks! It only lasts a month before it gets fuzzy and starts growing and turning green (yuk) so it has to be thrown out. I'll save his message here:

"Welcome to your forever home. You've known the whole time this was where you were meant to be, didn't you? No more trips to adoption shows and more time to cuddle with your daddy at home. That and a lifetime of love ahead of you. Purr!!!!!"

That is so sweet Binks! Thank you!

I'm adopted!!

After trying to convince my Foster Daddy to keep me for months, I finally succeeded! This morning he grabbed the carrier as usual. I saw what was happening and ran to a hiding spot. But he didn't chase me. I was confused when I heard him leave. Did he forget about me? A few hours later he came back without the carrier and with groceries. He said he wasn't my Foster Daddy anymore. Now he was my Furever Daddy! Hooray! No more being dragged to the adoption show and being put in that tiny cage with other cats. And Daddy has his Saturdays back too.

Life is good.

Valentine's Day

Well on my first Valentine's Day my Foster Daddy took my step brother and step sister away. He put them in their cat carriers and left. That was weird. Usually I'm the one going. Now I was the only one in the house! Fun! FD left his computer on so I surfed, ordered some toys off amazon, flamed some dog lovers, etc. Then they came home. Then FD grabbed me and hauled me off to the adoption show! Nooooo!

The show was different this time. FD stayed with me instead of leaving and picking me up later. It was dull. No one came buy. One lady was interested in a little kitten but she wanted the kitten as a status symbol! The nerve! Well naturally she got turned away. Not many cats were there so FD moved me from my cage in the back to an isolated cage in the front. It didn't help. No one came for me. Good. FD took me home early.

Last weekend I got to stay here. FD keeps talking about how he's going to adopt me after I turn 1 year old. Everyone wants him to adopt me. I turn 1 year old next week. Let's see what happens!

Still nothing

Foster Daddy keeps taking me to the adoption shows but no one takes me home with them (except FD of course). I'm getting big. I'm no longer a little kitten. I'm about as big as Lena now. This is bad. People want little cute kittens and I'm a big cute kitten. Maybe that's good. If I can't get adopted, I'll stay here! Life is good for me. I get attention and love and toys. OK one of my toys is Lena, but it's all in fun. Hey! I'm still young and active. Lena says I'm almost as old as she was when Daddy adopted her. Like that's true. I'm going to stay young forever!

Christmas Time

Daddy went home and came back last week. He was gone two loooong days. I missed him. When he came back I demanded he pet me and play with me for hours. Then he got a visit from his human family. (Daddy forgot something important. MOL) They brought him a second easy chair. It's nice! It smells like other cats though. I love it! Big sis Lena is being nicer to me. I think I'm staying here and getting Lena to accept me is a big milestone. The next one is to accept being held. That's tougher. I have so much energy that I have to play a lot! Being held is not in the cards yet. That's not too bad since when Lena and Sarge sit on Daddy, there's no room for me anyway.

I may have a home!

I was dragged to the adoption show today. I let FD chase me for 15 minutes upstairs, downstairs, back upstairs, etc before I wore me out. When he came to pick me up he was told a couple was seriously considering me, but they weren't sure how I'd get along with their big dog. They said the dog was hyperactive and I'm just widdle kitteh. However I'm very active, armed, and I get along with the neighbor's shi tzu. Plus I have wrestled with Sarge. Sarge isn't a big dog, but he's a big cat. Daddy wishes he was called to talk with the people, but he's sick and can't talk much so it's just as well. I'm going back next week weather permitting. So I have one more week with FD and he'll be able to take some pictures just in case I find my furever home. If things don't work out, I will always have a home here.

Hey my Doggie friend!!

My Foster Daddy packed up some stuff and left Wednesday and he didn't come back until today. I wondered where he went. Sarge and Lena knew he'd be gone for a while when the nice people with my doggie friend came over. I got to play with someone who likes playing! Oh it was so much fun! But nothing beats my Foster Daddy. Sarge says FD will go again in a month. I don't know how I feel about that. But FD told me I won't have to go to that yucky adoption show again tomorrow. Something about "frenzied shoppers" at the mall that's across from the PetSmart. I wonder if there will be many kitties adopted. I hope so. I'd rather stay here. FD says his family wants him to adopt me. With the economy being what it is, by the time it recovers, I will be too old to adopt easily. I'm trying to convince FD that he shouldn't put off the inevitable and just adopt me. But he made a promise to only adopt adult cats. So all you lucky people still have a chance to take me home. I won't turn one year old for another 3 months! I hope I find a new home, but this one is pretty good too.

Still here

Foster Daddy took me to another stupid adoption show again yesterday. I got my claws trimmed before I went in The Cage. Then someone suggested I get my own little private cage in the back where there's steel walls between me and the other kittens. I was much calmer and better behaved this time. (But I still growled and hissed when Daddy came back.) I destroyed my toy again last week so Daddy got me another one. What is this the 4th? Yeah the 4th one of the same toy!

All us furry ones got kicked out of our room this weekend too. Daddy brought in his plants and put them in OUR room. Then he moved the litter pan to the bathroom (under the sink) and closed the door to OUR room. It's not so bad but I like having the extra space to run and play. Daddy says the plants stay there to keep them out of the cold until the weather is nice again. I wonder if I'll be adopted by then. I'm very attached to my Daddy. Lena still doesn't like me to get near her and Sarge doesn't play much. I hope either they'll accept me or I get adopted soon. (Actually I want the former more.)

Still nothing

I've been to a few more adoption shows and no one wanted to take me to a new home. I hate going to those shows. I get put next to other kittens and they reach into my cage and try to get my food or water or even to touch me. I'm so grumpy when I'm kept in a little cage all by myself. The lady who watches over us cats said I was hissing at people. Like I said, I get grumpy there. She also said I've clearly bonded with my Foster Daddy. When he came to save me from the show I jumped up on his shoulders and then jumped into my carrier. If I can stay with him forever, I would. But the lady also said that if I'm adopted then I'd bond with them too. I hope so. They say a foster home should be temporary. I don't think anyone would mind an exception for little me.

While I was at a show, FD bought me a scratching post. I've been pretty good about using it. It's tall. I'm the only one who can sit on the top because I have all my claws. FD also got a second scratching area. It's smaller and made of cardboard. It's at an angle like a slide with a dangling toy underneath. I love the toy! Thank you Foster Daddy!

One Month

I've been here with my FD for about a month now. It's been good. I get play time, petting time. There's lots of places to explore and I get love. FD has been trying to teach me there are some things I shouldn't do. He shouts "NO" when I jump on the counters where he makes food and puts me on the floor. When I get on the stove, he gets mad. He won't hurt me of course. I need to learn this for my own safety, but I'm curious. I'm a kitten, it's what I do! I like to explore high places. When I'm done eating in the foster room I like to get on top of this tall steel bookshelf. Then I can't get down and FD has to save me. I also like to get on the top shelf of his computer desk and he has to remind me not to go there. Like I listen.

I've been to a few more adoption shows. I hate them. I get shoved in my carrier, ride in the car for a while, then spend hours in this cage with people walking by and I don't get to play with anyone. I just sit and wait. One day someone will take me home and I won't have to go to these shows anymore. But I'd miss my Foster Daddy. If we can find a food that won't give me runny poo that the other kitties can eat I can live here. FD says I can stay until I get adopted no matter how long it takes. He says I'll be happier with younger kitties I can play with and a bigger family that can give me attention.

I have a new friend!

Foster Daddy left in the afternoon two days ago and he came back late last night. While he was gone some nice people came in to make sure I had food. They brought their dog who played with me! It was fun. Just a couple of kids running around! FD is happy because now he can honestly say I get along with dogs. He says it will help find me a furever home. But I like it here. My step-cats are accepting me. I get held often and feel loved. FD showed his family pictures of me while he was gone. They said I looked cute and happy. FD is doing a good job. He wants me to go to a good home and soon before he can't give me up.

Yeah my pics!

Foster Daddy got some pictures of us and put the ones of ME up on my site! I hope this helps me find a furever home. For my furry siblings, I'm getting along better with them. I chase Sarge and Lena around sometimes. What? It's fun! I bound along as they run up down and around our home. And they don't hiss much at me anymore.

Adoption Fair

Today was my first adoption fair. Foster Daddy took me back to where I was given to him. I had to sit in my private cage for 4 hours while people looked at me. I even got a few pets too! Some people said I was very cute and FD was taking good care of me. The cage next to me had this scary cat someone returned because she was peeing on the furniture. I hope that never happens to me. That cat was mean! She scared me so bad that I tipped over my food dish. By the time Foster Daddy picked me up I was lounging in my hamoc. Someone donated some toys for me because I was so cute. It wasn't a good day for adoptions. Just one kitty got a furever home. Five people were "on the fence" which doesn't do me any good. I won't be attending next week because of FD's family obligations.

The adult cats are adjusting to me slowly. I play around all day and I think they're getting ready to join me. But FD is worried about my stitch popping out. It's been 4 days since my surgery The worst should be over now but why take changes?

I'm back in my foster home

My spay surgery went fine and I got my shots. Daddy picked me up today. I was pretty calm on the drive and when I got home. Actually I've been very calm when compared to before my surgery. I haven't been howling for attention or climbing all over the place. The permanent cats have been more accepting except Lena took some swats at me, but nothing serious. I'm settling in again. My foster Daddy is giving me lots of attention. I guess I'm still a little bit off from the surgery.

Where am I going?

Foster Daddy came home about noon. He did some work and didn't have much time to pet me. Some people came over and did some work on the house. Then FD put me and Sarge in my room for an hour to keep us out of the way as more work got done. We're getting along better me and him. We're not playing but we can snooze near each other without much of a fuss. Then FD scooped me up and put me in my carrier. We drove and drove and he brought me to an animal hospital. I was scared and cried a little. FD petted me. A lady took me and put me in a kennel by myself. I'm going to get spayed tomorrow and the day after I can go back. Daddy says it has to be done so I can be more adoptable. I just want to go someplace where I know I'm safe.

Days 1 & 2

My foster Daddy should have started this yesterday. But here goes. Yesterday I was taken from my old foster home and given to a nice man. I ran around his house for hours calling out to my siblings and friends, but they weren't there. The only cats around were two adults who weren't happy to see me at all. My new foster Daddy was the only one who was nice to me. The first night he put me in my own room with food, litter box, everything. But I was all alone and I hate being all alone. I cried and cried throughout the night and even tried to open the door. Foster Daddy wanted to give his furever kitties a little break and let them know I'm no threat.

This morning Foster Daddy was ready to give me back since I was making so much noise. But I was good. I stayed quiet (sort of) and realized this was a new home so he decided he was over-reacting and decided to give me another chance tonight. I still follow him around and beg to be held. He usually picks me up for a cuddle. I feel very safe with him. The other cats, not so much. The big male is slowly adjusting. He hisses and only took a swat at me when Foster Daddy carried me too close to him. The smaller female sees me as a threat. She has to show she's in charge. She took a surprise swat at me when my back was turned. I'll work on her too.

I'll have to make friends with them. Foster Daddy has to go to work tomorrow and he won't be here to play with me. Wish me luck!