Kittitas

Resolutions? What resolutions?

2012-01-30T11:03:00.000-08:00

Meow Meow isn't one to worry about her weight, and in general, we don't worry about hers either since we control her food portions. Dieter, however, does enjoy keeping Meow Meow active.

Unbeknownst to me, he decided to buy her a Christmas gift to further his (her, my) entertainment. And well-being! Happy, healthy pets make for happy pet parents too, no?

On the day of our holiday celebration (a week early, as we had to travel to be with family), Dieter presented Meow Meow with a tiny package wrapped just for her. This is why I love him:

Inside, he'd placed a length of leather cord. Way too much for one kitty to handle -- but the extra means whatever we offer Meow Meow can be replaced should it get too worn out.

Of course, we were eager to find out what she thought of her new toy. Here's her review:

I'd say that's a pretty solid recommendation.

Like bookends

2012-01-03T17:38:00.001-08:00

Meow Meow had another luxurious stay at the Hotel Shanti while we were traveling for Christmas. Shanti's dad managed to catch both cats on the window seats he'd installed and sent us this picture shortly before we got home. I was reminded of a pair of bookends -- though in truth, Shanti is rarely still whenever we visit him. I can't imagine him sitting on any shelf for long!

We are glad to have Meow Meow back, especially after nearly two weeks in a kitty-less home. She, too, seems delighted to have our morning routine again, rolling on her back to beg for tummy rubs as I come down the stairs and jumping into my lap as soon as I sit down for breakfast. If only the return for us could be so easy! (I won't get into the details of unpacking, replenishing our groceries, sorting through the accumulated junk mail, doing trip laundry ...)

More updates soon, including some backlogged Christmas news. Until then, happy 2012!

Partying like it's Mom's birthday

2011-12-12T18:23:00.001-08:00

Back in September, I sent my sister, kitty mom to a certain orange tabby, a little something for her birthday. I wrapped it in tissue paper, placed it in a padded mailer -- the kind with built-in bubble wrap -- and sealed the whole works with packing tape.

The envelope reached its destination intact. But minutes after my sister got it through the door, Oliver had his claws and teeth in the paper. Utterly dismayed, Bev scolded him and took the gift away, placing it where she hoped it would be out of reach. Undeterred, Oliver snatched the quarry back and reattempted to unsheath its contents.

What had gotten into her naughty boy, Bev wondered, grabbing the tattered paper before he could do even more damage. And then it dawned on her ...

"That birthday present you sent me doesn't happen to contain catnip does it?" she asked by phone, persistent yowls echoing in the background.

Of course it did -- in the form of hand-sewn toys. All was forgiven (on both sides) once the goods came out of their wrappings. Here's the proof:

Bed and breakfast

2011-11-27T09:06:00.000-08:00

When we go on vacation, it seems Meow Meow does too.

At the beginning of this year, one of Dieter's colleagues at work, who also has a cat, found out that we usually boarded Meow Meow with a local facility whenever we had to be out of town. He offered to take her instead when we visited family back in May as he had plenty of room for her -- and he loved her so much that she's been his to spoil at every travel opportunity we've had since then.

We are thankful to have someone who dotes on Meow Meow (and his own cat) so much. She gets the run of his house and more human companionship than a boarding facility can provide. Meow Meow even gets along with the resident feline, Shanti, a beautiful male who shares his food and indoor territory quite graciously. (He spends a good part of the day outdoors too while Meow Meow does not.)

During our trip to spend Thanksgiving with Dieter's family, the host of the Hotel Shanti, as Shanti's dad likes to refer to this arrangement, has sent us updates on Meow Meow, which he was happy to let us post. Here are some video stills from a lazy morning on the couch:

Shanti's obviously the kitty in the foreground. Most recently, we've heard the cats have been touching noses when they meet, which we had not seen Meow Meow ever try with Lily. Perhaps a male foster should be our next guest chez Kittitas?

A very belated Halloween update

2011-11-21T08:32:00.000-08:00

You know that window between the last trick-or-treater ringing your doorbell and a great big turkey suddenly taking up residence in your refrigerator? Yes, I have no idea why it vanishes so quickly every year, but I think it has something to do with the appearance of Christmas decorations in every retail store I've walked into in the last two and half weeks. Somebody hand me a noisemaker; it's practically New Year's.

We feted Halloween with Dieter's Aunt Chris, who came to visit for an extended weekend filled with ghoulish activities. Meow Meow enjoyed most of it, even with the extra bustle of small children alternately screaming in terror when Dieter opened the door (he painted his face quite scarily) and clamoring for candy.

When we weren't loading up the neighbors' kids with sugar, we were carving produce with vigor. Oh yes -- we don't just do pumpkins around here. Dieter decided to break out the power tools and do coconuts.

Inspired by some crafts we saw in Hawaii, Dieter adorned his scraped-out coconut with feathers and seashells. I thought the end result was properly creepy:

But Meow Meow was unfazed.

Note, however, that she preferred to sit in Aunt Chris's lap while she was working on her pumpkin with a knife rather than risk joining Dieter and his noisier drill ...

New habits

2011-10-27T16:56:00.000-07:00

It's always interesting to see what Meow Meow learns from interacting with visitors, human or feline. From Lily, she definitely learned to look before leaping onto the couch, for fear of surprising her mid-snooze. Lily was always quick to shoo Meow Meow back to the floor with hiss and paw.

Lately, Meow Meow's taken to exploring some of Lily's old nap spots, one of which is the nook between the couch and end table. I wouldn't have thought to look for Meow Meow there -- in the past, she'd seemed to prefer the back of the couch, where she could keep an eye on both the living room and kitchen -- but the sun-path leading to this haven was what gave her away.

We're back!

2011-10-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

But our little gray tabby is not. When I contacted the SHS to arrange a pick-up date last week after our return, we learned that Lily was no longer at the shelter -- though she hadn't been adopted either.

I've been waiting to get the full story on Lily and finally got word yesterday. So, sorry for the long silence. Here's the news.

While we were away, the SHS had the opportunity to work with N.O.A.H., another local animal rescue. Lily was chosen to be transferred to this organization's care in hopes that the facility's "cat colony" -- a more homelike environment that allows kitties to socialize or keep to themselves as they prefer -- would be beneficial to her while also providing her exposure to a different set of potential adopters. In our home, she was happy but getting no local visitors, despite our postering efforts. She wasn't having luck at the shelter either.

I think the move makes sense if it will increase Lily's chances at finding a permanent home. We hope she's settling in at N.O.A.H. From the new picture of her on their website, it looks like she's quite cozy.

So that's the story, or at least everything we know. We'll be holding off on giving Lily's suite to another foster for the remainder of the year, but Meow Meow is happy to provide blog material while she's the sole feline chez Kittitas. (I have quite the backlog of pictures too since I was trying to keep the focus primarily on Lily while she was staying here.)

Before Meow Meow gets this space back, though, here is a send-off portrait I managed to snap while Lily was enjoying some sun on our living room floor over the summer.

Best of luck to you, little lady.

More from the sun bath

2011-09-30T13:05:00.000-07:00

We can tell Lily is most relaxed when she stretches her long legs in front of her as she basks in the rays from our living room windows. It hasn't been easy to capture a good shot of her in this position since she heads for shadier spots when we get too close with the camera, but here are a few. (Maybe she figured I was trying out her technique by wriggling on my stomach inch by inch to get near enough to put her in focus?)

The top view, before I got parallel to the floor:

As you can see, Lily's heat-seeking senses seem to be concentrated in her front paws, which she takes turns sunning. First, the right ...

And then the left ...

Lily says hi

2011-09-24T13:17:00.001-07:00

I managed to get a paw shot while she was taking a sun bath.

Back to the shelter

2011-09-16T11:40:00.000-07:00

But only temporarily.

We'll be out of town for a few weeks, so Lily will board at the SHS until we return. We're hoping she'll get lots of potential adopter attention while we're gone and, with luck, find her very own home with ever-available laps.

With Lily, we'll be taking her little fortress that we'd set up earlier in the year, when she was still intimidated by the sheer size of her kitty suite. Needless to say, she's discovered the nap-worthiness of other nooks and crannies around the house, so it's time to offer this security hideaway to another pet in need.

Before it goes, though, here are some shots from Lily's first weeks with her own personal sundeck. I'd say she definitely likes haute cuisine, no?

P.S. We have a few posts saved up for our absence, so stay tuned! There will be Lily pictures aplenty even while all of us are away.

This is not what I envisioned ...

2011-09-13T12:13:00.000-07:00

... when Lily offered to "help" with some file cleanup chez Kittitas.

But box lids in the sun are pretty irresistible.

Mine

2011-09-07T15:13:00.000-07:00

Of course, there are days when Meow Meow gets to the couch first. Lily seems to think it's too much effort to force her off, so she'll saunter away, meowing her discontent rather mournfully.

One day, after Lily had abandoned the couch for a while, I couldn't find her in her usual spots -- behind the end table in the living room, next to the scratching post, in her own kitty suite. Where was she? I wondered.

In a new kitty bed she'd claimed for her own.

Meow Meow rarely ventures into the library, so I have a feeling this spot is safe from usurpers.

Some manners, please

2011-09-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

In the months that Lily's made herself at home with us, Meow Meow's been quite tolerant of her. No attempts to prevent her from going where she pleases, no territorial stances (unless cornered), no aggression in general -- which we've been quite pleased about.

What Meow Meow can't bear, though, is being left out of a good snuggle on the couch. If Lily is in my lap, she'll jump up on the back of the sofa and perch there, tapping my shoulder for some attention too. She knows Lily won't share the seat cushions with her -- but once Lily falls asleep, she'll hop down and join us. Most of the time, this strategy works well.

Except when, in her enthusiasm for a belly rub, Meow Meow flicks her tail into Lily's face.

I don't have a picture of what happened about 15 seconds after I took this shot, but let's just say Lily won't be letting Meow Meow forget proper tail etiquette anytime soon ...

Is that ...

2011-08-31T06:39:00.000-07:00

... what I think it is?

It's got two legs and they're parallel to the floor. Might it be a lap?

Nope, decidedly not. I don't do knees, you know. They slope -- suboptimal for sitting on. I mean, really, how do you expect me to -- oh wait. Wait! I didn't mean for you to go away; where are you going?

The sofa? THE SOFA! Oh please, please sit down, please, please, please ...

Okay. Now no more walking around for the rest of the day. Lily says so.

The grass is always greener ...

2011-08-27T16:24:00.000-07:00

Oh, wistful Lily. We've had our windows open to keep the house cool over the last few weeks, and she's been jonesing for a romp in the garden. At every chance she gets, she hops up on a sill and gazes longingly through the screens at those prime prowling grounds. (According to her paperwork, her previous owner of ten years allowed her to roam outdoors in summer.)

Unfortunately, we can't let Lily explore -- our neighborhood has some significant coyote traffic -- but she still dreams about the possibility.

Follow-up note: We figured out what's happened to Lily's profile on the SHS website. Because there are so many animals that need homes, their profiles are rotated on and off the site so as not to overwhelm potential adopters browsing for a furry friend. If you have questions about Lily for the folks at the Humane Society, we have direct contact information now posted in our sidebar.

All tucked in

2011-08-23T16:17:00.000-07:00

Lily would like you to know that her favorite napping positions are very compact ones:

Which means she would take up very little space in your bed, if you were willing to share.

Camouflage

2011-08-18T15:12:00.000-07:00

If you remember, Meow Meow was a fiend for microfiber when we first brought her home, so she was having a field day with our couches until we took a trip to the fabric store and got her some microfiber she could scratch to her heart's content. Of course, then we discovered she liked corrugated cardboard even more, and the scratching post became significantly less interesting to her.

Well, the scratching post has a new best friend.

Lily loved it when we sprinkled catnip at the base, but she didn't really scratch so much as rub her head all over it. Out of curiosity, we decided to remove the microfiber wrapping last week, and now, it's her first stop on her morning rounds of the living room. See?

Okay, I admit, it's hard to pick her out in front of the fireplace. You could say Lily knows just how to blend in ... ?

Technical note: we've been alerted that Lily's profile on the Humane Society website has gone missing, but we're hoping to find out what's happened soon. If you're interested in meeting Lily or just have questions about her, you can still contact us directly at kittitas.blog@gmail.com.

Why yes, I'd like to sleep on your tummy

2011-08-15T18:45:00.000-07:00

Matt and Mary are friends of ours who passed through Seattle while on their honeymoon last month. They fell in love with both our kitty residents, but Lily especially benefited from their visit. Clearly, there cannot be too many laps chez Kittitas for our sweet gray girl.

I don't think Lily was quite ready for Matt and Mary to return to St. Louis when they had to leave again. (We don't blame her.)

Getting closer ...

2011-08-08T17:00:00.000-07:00

The rush of visitors is past for the moment, and life chez Kittitas is a little bit closer to normal again. Rather, new normal -- over the last month, Lily and Meow Meow have continued to establish a relationship of sorts (each more or less tolerating the other). They still hiss and growl when they come across each other unexpectedly, but most of the time, both cats coexist without drama.

I'm not sure exactly what shifted, but I suspect that the allure of this naptime spot has forced both kitties to learn how to share. (Though Lily clearly would prefer to have it all to herself.)

Don't let that disgruntled look fool you. Both cats were purring after I put down the camera.

Night and day

2011-07-26T13:14:00.000-07:00

Lily's most active around 10 p.m., or so we've decided after observing her over the last few weeks. While the sun's up, she's usually curled into a tiny ball, happily sleeping away the hours in whatever corner suits her around the house.

In the evening, though, right around the same hour, we usually find her prowling the living room, making her rounds to the catnip -- we leave a generous sprinkling around the scratching post, which she likes to rub her head on -- and meowing for attention.

We are, of course, delighted to oblige her, especially now that she makes it so easy. Yep, she comes to us regularly now when she wants petting:

(Forgive the dim lighting; Lily's not a fan of the flash.)

Turning a corner

2011-07-19T17:21:00.000-07:00

In anticipation of a week's worth of visitors (two different sets, back to back!), Dieter moved the couches in our living room so that they'd be more conversation friendly -- face to face, rather than at right angles.

What does this have anything to do with Lily? Well, note her position:

Suddenly, the high-traffic walkway from the kitchen to the stairs and the garage is visible along its entire length from the safety of one spot on the floor (before, the couch was aligned parallel to the corridor, offering a more limited view). For Lily, this means more hanging out rather than having to change to "safer" observation points every time someone moves. Our guests arrived Sunday, and not only has Lily stayed close by, but she's also adjusted to these new presences very quickly. (Oh yes, she's even asked for kitty love from these total strangers.)

Amazing what a little change can do.

A few more anniversaries

2011-07-09T09:39:00.000-07:00

We're home and so are the kitties! Both are glad to be back in our house. Lily's soaking up the sun from the big window in her room and Meow Meow is in her usual place -- waiting by my chair at the kitchen table as soon as she smells coffee.

Thursday was Meow Meow's one-year adoption anniversary, so in honor of her, we're devoting this post to some videos I've been saving for a while. There are innumerable reasons we love her; these are just a few:

Her daily greetings ...

Our morning routine ...

And, of course, the irresistible tap-tap-tap she offers when she wants love. It's the move that stole my heart and I've never regretted it.

The other special somebody who has a certain claim on my affections married me five years ago today, so we'll be celebrating that anniversary this weekend as well. Without further ado, then, we're off! Till next week, friends :)

Plans afoot

2011-06-21T15:21:00.000-07:00

Guess who hopped up here all by herself ...

... while a certain other kitty was hanging out on a favorite cushion? (Hint: it wasn't Meow Meow.)

There were no hisses, swats, or growls from either cat when Lily decided to claim a seat on the couch. And for a good part of the evening, this arrangement seemed to be quite agreeable.

I've been slow to post these shots, which I took on the last day of May -- an imminent visit from family had us scrambling to finish some home improvement projects for a bit. So my apologies. I'm happy to say, though, that intermittent exposure has offered us some real success in getting Lily and Meow Meow used to each other.

It will take more time until we're comfortable letting them hang out together unsupervised, but we'll keep at it. After we get back from our own visit to see family (D's side), that is. We leave in a week! Which means I need to start getting the kitties ready for our absence. At the moment, I don't think they suspect anything unusual in their schedule ...

And now, an update

2011-06-04T15:19:00.000-07:00

Spaghetti and Meatball, the pair of kitties whom we fostered last spring, celebrated their one-year adoption anniversary in late May. Happiness and good wishes to you, girls!

In honor of our former fosters, we have an update with photos from their mom, Laura:

Spaghetti is WEIRD. She is our jittery not-that-little kitty, but she has lost 2 more pounds this year! She was resistant to extended affection/pets/attention for a long time, so we let her be until she told us she was ready for loves. Her and I have a morning routine that involves snuggles that makes my heart go all squishy. Her favorite places to hang out are on our bed in a cave of blankets (when the bed isn't made, she will burrow into the comforter), on top of the couch looking out the window to ensure no birds are in the neighborhood for long (I'm guessing -- I really have no idea what she's looking for) and in the enclosed penthouse of the kitty condo.

Meatball warmed up the fastest and has been granting tummy rubs for at least 11 months. She's a pretty little princess -- fastidiously grooming and adorably prancing around the house. Meatball runs to the door when Adam gets home (and maybe me, but I'm not inside to see it), even if she's in the middle of an extended affection or grooming session. It's very sweet and one of my favorite things she does. She still does the reach up for her meals, which is another one of my favorite Meatball tricks. :) Her favorite places to hang out are in the kitty bed on the window seat, the edge of our bed and on an office chair we have. Her least favorite part of the last year was her haircut; I think she is pretty vain. :)

Delighted to know all is well! Thanks, Laura, for the news.

May I have a turn?

2011-05-31T21:14:00.000-07:00

Adjustment is happening more quickly than we anticipated!

On Lily's side, we've got unprecedented attention-seeking behavior -- she's leaving her suite of her own accord, looking for people to be near. Granted, once she's downstairs in the living room, she heads straight for the corner behind the end table next to the couch where she snoozes most of the time she's "out," but she's clearly happier to be in the space we primarily occupy.

I gave Lily some lap time on a recent afternoon while Meow Meow watched quietly from the stair landing. Out of curiosity, I called Meow Meow to me -- she still answers readily to her name -- and was encouraged when she padded over a little uncertainly ...

... and peeked up at this:

Meow Meow hopped up onto the couch as usual, at which point Lily opened her eyes and made her displeasure known. Meow Meow hissed back and then jumped down. Okay, I thought, that's to be expected.

Instead of retreating to the stair landing, though, here's where she stayed:

Yeah, Meow Meow totally knows how to work those eyes. I hated to deny her the cuddles I knew she wanted, but it's all toward more peaceful kitty coexistence. And I'd say we're making progress ...

Somebody's not willing to share

2011-05-27T16:50:00.000-07:00

Back when we were testing out the whole simultaneous feeding thing (with a baby gate between the two cats), Meow Meow consistently expressed her disapproval of Lily's presence whenever they happened to see each other. There was hissing, growling, even howling. Lily would hiss back and, occasionally, when Meow Meow got too sassy, whack the gate a good one with her paw. So we thought it best to keep the girls separated.

But we felt bad that Lily wasn't getting a lot of time outside of her suite, so at the beginning of this week (after three months of having Lily in our care), we started bringing her downstairs. We figured with two people around to watch the cats, we could head off any conflict. In general, Meow Meow seemed to be all hisses without threats of a physical nature, so we thought it would be worth trying the two girls out in a larger environment.

On the first morning, Meow Meow sat on the landing of the stairs and fixed Lily with a wary eye. Lily returned the favor from below but hung out for a while and then scooted past Meow Meow to go back to her room. There were mutual hisses, but nothing more.

On the second and third mornings, much of the same ensued. This seemed encouraging. Meow Meow wasn't chasing Lily; Lily seemed more confident in the new space.

On the evening of the third day, we brought Lily down after dinner and let her sit on one of the kitchen chairs while we were cleaning up after our meal. Meow Meow took her usual spot on the stair landing.

A few minutes after I started clearing the table, Meow Meow wandered into the kitchen. Mind you, she's a pretty mellow, trusting cat, so the last thing she expected to find was another kitty perched overhead. She was only a foot from Lily when Lily bared her teeth and startled Meow Meow out of one of her nine lives.

Meow Meow ran. And to our thorough surprise, Lily gave chase. In an instant, she had Meow Meow cornered on the stair landing, howling in terror. Time for a kitty time-out, we thought.

Back in her room, Lily protested at full volume, so after about ten minutes, we opened the door, figuring she'd just stay upstairs as usual -- she'd had to be carried down each day before.

Dieter wasn't even halfway down the upper hall before Lily was on his heels, heading back to the living room as if she owned the place.

This isn't quite what we'd had in mind, but I think, with some adjustment and careful observation on our part, the kitties may eventually tolerate each other. (Who knew all it would take was another cat to motivate Lily to lose her reservations?)

The sweetest kind of welcome

2011-05-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

I worried that Lily might not remember her suite when we brought her back home from the SHS after our trip, but I had no reason to fear. Within a few hours of her return, she'd settled into her old digs. (I imagine the catnip pillow warming in the sun didn't hinder the adjustment.)

I also wondered if she'd remember us. We'd had Lily in our care for about two and a half months, but given her initial timid response to our visits when she first moved in, I anticipated the possibility that she'd be cautious of us again after a week in a totally different location, away from our smells.

So once Lily had had the chance to get comfortable on her own, I sat down in my usual spot in her room and waited. She approached right away ...

... and all was well.

Where's Lily?

2011-05-05T18:03:00.000-07:00

We had to leave town for a week so I could defend my thesis, so Lily has been safe in the hands of the folks at the SHS. I'll be picking her up tomorrow.

Lily's been delighted with the extra room we've opened to her now that we've added a little fortress stocked with creature comforts. It may not look like much, but it seems to make her feel more secure in that space, even though she doesn't actually spend a lot of time within the kennel. (She goes inside to nibble her kibble and sits on top to groom.) When we'd walk into the room before its addition, Lily would bolt, but now she comes over and waits for us to kneel down so she can get head scritches.

Snacks, snuggly towels, and a homemade catnip pillow ...

... and a sunning deck with a window view.

Whatever you need, Lily. We can't wait to have you back!

A leg up on the situation

2011-04-24T20:47:00.000-07:00

Lily enjoys our visits during the day to her suite, which we've expanded a bit in the last two weeks (tour to come soon). She's wary of foot traffic, but now that she's come to expect us in her space (often bearing food), she comes up to us to say hello right away. "Pull up some rug," she seems to say.

Once I oblige her, she likes to start off the pleasantries by sniffing and climbing all over my lap.

This involves a good deal of head-bumping and chirruping, which leads to ...

... the lateral shin snuggle. She'll sidle up to my calf, coy as you please. Before I know it, she's nuzzling my pant leg and giving me the sleepy eyes.

Finally, when Lily's decided all's well between us, she steps daintily into the kitty-shaped hollow my legs create and nestles from head to tail for a proper snooze.

My tailbone is protesting all the sitting, but the near-audible sigh of bliss Lily makes when she settles onto my knees is so worth it.

Either Lily wants to show her approval of this new lap arrangement

2011-04-17T14:26:00.000-07:00

... or I need to lose some thesis weight. The thick sweatshirt isn't helping my figure here, but Lily loves it.

Lap training has gone well, though we've been inconsistent with it in the last week. Life chez Kittitas has been too busy for much sitting around. Hopefully, we'll return to more of a routine as soon as I get my thesis turned in. (The defense is in two weeks, so the clock's ticking down.)

Thank goodness for sweet company in the meantime!

Lap training

2011-04-07T14:38:00.000-07:00

As you know, Lily's cautious in a new space. She likes to have a safe spot in every room we introduce her to, and if she can't find one, she'll default -- at a fast trot -- for her suite, where she's got her food, water, litter, and bolt hole. Obviously, it's no good to pursue her as it only reinforces her instinct to head off.

We'd had much success with her in the living room when we sat on the floor and let her explore. If we moved around, though, or even sat on the couch, she wouldn't approach. The most she'd do was cuddle up to this (thanks to the catnip all over it):

How to convince her that we were still safe in this new context?

Wet food.

Lily recognizes the dishes we use for her daily half-can of tasty goodness (supplemented with dry kibble), so I started carrying her downstairs last week directly to the couch to offer her the wet portion of her meals. Behold the result:

"Ah ha! This is something I remember!"

"Hmm. Human also on couch. Oh well, this is too tasty to leave behind."

"Come to think of it, I believe I liked something about that human when we were up in my room ..."

"Yes! This is it! A lap -- and this one comes with a view!"

I haven't attempted to get Lily to come to the couch on her own yet from across the room, but now, even if she doesn't want to eat when we sit down together, she recognizes that the couch is a safe place. And that means she's back to begging for cuddles -- if she hops down to the floor, she hops back up again and stays happily. I think we can call that progress.

The way to Lily's heart

2011-03-31T22:23:00.000-07:00

She may love catnip, but she loves a good grooming session just as much (if not more).

In Lily's first few days in the foster suite, she was very wary of us when we visited. But then she discovered that we had three kinds of brushes and she adored them all, coming over to request some attention for her soft coat in spite of her residual concerns.

So Lily would like you to know that she'd enjoy having a continued salon experience of sorts in her permanent home. You don't have to have three kinds of brushes, though.

Everything's better with catnip

2011-03-24T17:46:00.000-07:00

Lily is our first foster to have a true affinity for the green stuff that makes kitties go wild -- if they have the genes for it.

Meow Meow does not, from what we can tell. When we were trying to train her to use a scratching post, we rubbed it all over with catnip, hoping to attract her. No dice. After eight months, she still responds only to the material covering it (microfiber, like the sofas we were protecting).

But on Lily's outings downstairs, we started to notice how drawn she was to the post -- not to scratch, but to rub her head all over it. There was wriggling and rolling and other general expressions of bliss. So Dieter took out the bag we'd had in storage, which drew her right to him in an instant.

We took the opportunity to give Lily some playtime. Laser pointer, watch out! Ribbons and the like are apparently in the running now to be Lily's favorite toy. (Sorry for the lighting issues -- the new camera has better sound quality than the last but I'm still trying to figure out how to adjust the white balance.)

The extra space is nice, but ...

2011-03-18T18:32:00.000-07:00

... it's just so big.

That seemed to be Lily's impression of our downstairs when we let her take a stroll earlier this week. She skirted the furniture, sniffing and poking, making inquisitive noises the entire way. When we stepped too near, she seemed to get nervous. But as soon as I sat down on the floor, she came right up to me.

She looked left ...

... then right ...

... and decided she was happiest in her usual spot.

Did we mention that Lily is very much a lap kitty?

Where have you been?

2011-03-15T00:03:00.000-07:00

It's interesting how differently cats respond to a caregiver's absence. Dieter and I took a short overnight (just Saturday, home again Sunday evening), leaving Lily and Meow Meow in their separate suites with food, water, and litter.

When we came home, we got two very different greetings from each kitty. Lily was happy to see us and didn't seem to think anything had been amiss. "Oh, you're back. Brush me?" she seemed to say, hopping onto her carrier to get closer to me when I entered her room to make sure all was well.

Meow Meow, on the other hand, was rather distressed. Her room was a bit of a wreck (the result of what seemed to be a kitty stomach that had gotten upset more than once) and she scolded us thoroughly for leaving her.

She hasn't gotten stressed in the past when we've been gone for an overnight, and I can't tell if the recent addition of a mystery cat is (still) causing this extra angst. But she was fine all of Monday, acting (and eating) like her usual self.

We'll just keep giving her extra TLC and hope things normalize -- though I'm considering waiting a few more days to have her check out Lily's room while Lily checks out hers.

Expanding horizons, sort of

2011-03-09T18:16:00.000-08:00

Lily is getting more comfortable exploring the new space we've offered her this week. Check out her, um ... opinion on the spare room. (The space is a little messy, but we have plans for it as more than just a temporary storage space for our junk -- my thesis has to get done first, though!)

We were curious about how playful Lily might be since some of the previous reports in her file suggest that she's not especially interested. Apparently, no one's tried a laser pointer with her:

Yes, she's a twelve-year-old. But she tracks like the most playful of kittens! (And no, none of our previous very talented fosters' skills were even close.)

But of course, once playtime ends, Lily likes one thing best for winding down:

Mm hmm. Whoever gets her has to love this bundle of cozy draped over the knees, even while sitting on the floor.

Mixed signals

2011-03-06T23:31:00.000-08:00

We've started giving both Lily and Meow Meow more scent exposure to each other as of Saturday. No shows of hostility yet -- just a lot of sniffing from Lily. While Meow Meow was enjoying a dish of her favorite wet food in her (normal) dining quarters, we invited Lily to explore the room next to the foster suite and the upper hall.

Lily was very curious about the new space but was also still timid about checking it out while we were around, so we held off on taking photos. (She did perform a thorough inspection of the perimeter of each room, nose constantly to the ground.) The towel we let her examine from Meow Meow's room produced more sniffing, but after a few moments, Lily seemed to lose interest. This bodes well -- indifference is a benign response.

Once Lily was back in her own room, we let Meow Meow back out. We put the towel from Lily's suite where Meow Meow was likely to happen upon it (on the landing of the stairs, where she likes to survey the kitchen and living room):

Meow Meow stepped very deliberately around it on her way down, but that was all the attention the towel commanded. (There are cushier spots she enjoys as it is.)

Despite the fairly calm behavior, Meow Meow has had some litter box misses in her room during the night, so we're watching her closely to see if the issue is related to stress from Lily's presence. Which means no more feeding in the room next to the foster suite for this week since that seems to cause more agitation than just the smell of another cat. (Meow Meow seems oblivious to Lily's scent all over my hands when I offer to pet her -- she still wriggles with delight and rolls over for a belly rub.)

So that's the news for now. Once Lily's more comfortable with her new boundaries, we'll try to get more photos of her. And then, if things with both kitties are all right, we'll move on to the first visual meet-and-greet ...

Small bites, small steps

2011-03-01T06:10:00.000-08:00

Last week, we moved Meow Meow's feeding station to the spare room on the other side of the door to the bathroom where Lily is spending her quarantine. (Lily will be there at least through Saturday, when that mandatory separation ends.)

Meow Meow had been pretending not to notice the presence of another cat, but once her food was right by the source of all the mysterious yowling, she couldn't ignore it anymore. During her first meal there, she actually hissed. Before that point, I think I'd only heard that happen twice since her adoption -- in general, Meow Meow's extremely mild-tempered, even when displeased.

She's been reluctant to eat by the bathroom, but with extra treats and lots of petting, she's come around to it begrudgingly. When she's super hungry, she'll follow me into the spare room (more often, though, we have to carry her in). Once she's appeased her tummy with a few big bites, she makes a quick exit as if the space is still too uncomfortable to linger in. It's understandable. I've been leaving a few crunchies on the mat after her meals to encourage her to go back on her own. So far, that's worked well, as you can see. First the amuse-bouche ...

... and then the leftovers of the main course.

I'd originally put her entire tray on the mat (it keeps the little plastic containers from sliding around) but she was especially unhappy about that arrangement. So slippery serving dishes it is for now.

Lily, on the other hand, eats her food on the bathroom side of the door without protest, as nonchalant as you please. Next week, if all's well, we'll start trying to give both cats more scent-exposure to each other.

A problem of perspective

2011-02-25T17:45:00.000-08:00

Lily is really hard to get on camera.

She's all about head-bumping and jaw-rubbing and lap-sitting and, in general, lavishing us with kitty adoration. So catching a still shot of her is nearly impossible right now. I mean, short of asking Dieter to stand on the bathroom counter, there's no getting the camera far enough away for a proper portrait. By which I mean one without significant blur.

My best opportunity this week came as Lily was about to hop into my lap. She's an energetic little lovebug, but here's what I was able to manage. (At this point, I consider anything head-on a success! Pay no attention to that pesky camera strap ...)

As for anything I was able to get while she was in my lap, even shooting video was a challenge (in part because I was essentially talking into my torso and because Lily was trying very hard to rub her head there too).

I can't say I mind her affection.

Groom, groom, groom

2011-02-22T11:53:00.000-08:00

The first week with Lily has gone well. She's figured out that Dieter and I are her sources of food, so she greets us with enthusiasm whenever we visit her in the spare bathroom we've given her.

Lily loves a thorough brushing after she's had breakfast, so she'll climb into her kitty bed and flop over, paws kneading the air. We're not sure what her routine was with her previous owners, but clearly she's been groomed before. She even lets us brush those hard-to-reach kitty pits!

Meow Meow is aware that there's another kitty in the house, but so far she's paid Lily little attention. This week, we start feeding them on opposite sides of the bathroom door. Let's see how this goes ...

Meet Lily

2011-02-15T02:43:00.000-08:00

This video will give you an introduction to a petite gray tabby with a big meow. What it doesn't show is what she was asking for the whole time ...

... which she took of her own accord as soon as I turned off the camera and sat down on the floor.

(Forgive the plaid pajama pants; it was late. But hey, a lap is a lap. Right, Lily?)

He's a man-cat

2011-02-12T11:40:00.000-08:00

... but he's not afraid to cuddle. Yes, for the duration of my trip, I got to sleep with Oliver curled up in the blankets at night. What bliss!

And here he is at the foot of the bed, watching the planes take off from Reagan in the morning (my sis lives close to the airport).

Speaking of kitty love, happy Valentine's weekend to everyone. We're spending part of ours getting ready for another foster this week. So stay tuned! We'll have updates as soon as we've picked up our new guest.

Lounging

2011-02-08T07:45:00.000-08:00

Oliver's favorite thing to do when we're making dinner. The pass-through makes a fine viewing deck ...

... and the floor -- well, he likes to remind us he'd like to be fed too.

Remember this guy?

2011-02-01T06:49:00.000-08:00

He's my fur nephew, Oliver. And I get to spend a week with him starting today! I'm attending a conference in Washington, D.C., then staying a few extra days to hang out with my sis.

I'll try to get some shots of his orange-striped goodness while I'm there. Until then, you'll just have to enjoy the ones Bev sent me. (Yep, she cleared a whole bookshelf for his very own. I think his friend Hobbes approves.)

Little pitchers have big ears

2011-01-29T14:25:00.000-08:00

As we said when we first adopted Meow Meow, we didn't want to change her name since she clearly recognized it was hers. She wouldn't exactly come when summoned, but she'd answer with a look and a chirrup (or a yowl if she wanted something and saw the opportunity to put in her request).

Last week, we figured out that Meow Meow knows when we're talking about her, even in her sleep.

After she's had her breakfast, Meow Meow usually spends the morning and afternoon snoozing in the kitty suite. And boy does she get her beauty rest -- sometimes we don't hear a peep out of her until evening. I shut the door part of the way to give her some privacy and to keep some of the noisier things I do (like loading the dishwasher) from disturbing her. When she wakes up, she works the door open and announces her presence before coming down to join the fun.

So Dieter came home early one afternoon, which isn't a usual thing for him (but a lucky one when it happens). We chatted in the kitchen for at least half an hour about random things -- the mail, groceries, weekend plans -- without a sound from the kitty suite. But then Dieter, unaccustomed to Meow Meow's midday absence downstairs, wondered where she was.

At the mention of her name, we heard a sudden scuffling overhead, then the door pulling away from its jamb. More scuffling, then the sound of little claws securing Meow Meow's landing on the balcony rail. "Mrowr!" she cried, as if to say, "You called?"

Clearly there will be no discussing birthday presents for her -- she turns four in February -- without evasive measures!

She takes what she can get

2011-01-21T16:19:00.000-08:00

Meow Meow is pretty shameless about begging for a lap during mealtimes (not because we feed her from the table -- she just likes laps). This is endearing, but only until her swishy tail ends up mighty close to stirring your soup.

As the shots from Dieter's phone will show you, we haven't been the best at teaching this kitty proper table manners, but she's content to get near a lap if she can't hop directly into one.

P.S.: Yes, I'm still waiting for my laptop to be functional again. The new battery and adapter are finally here, but said battery is still charging.

P.P.S.: No, my thesis is not done yet, but I saved it from potential destruction by copying all of the crucial files to a USB drive just before the laptop's power system fizzled. (I would have grabbed the as-yet-unpublished shots of Meow Meow too if the old battery had been able to hold more than three minutes of juice.)

P.P.P.S.: Hello, crunch time!

The year of technical tangles?

2011-01-13T21:39:00.000-08:00

We hope not. But 2011 has started off with a little more electronic drama than we care for! (Hence our lack of photos or posts since the New Year.)

My laptop -- with all the backlogged photos I'd had in the folder labeled "Meow Meow" -- is permanently off, until a new power source arrives by mail. The adapter fried itself with a glorious hiss (not unlike the sound an angry kitty makes) toward the end of our vacation and the battery hasn't been able to hold more than a few minutes' charge for several months. So we look forward to some replacement parts soon. Till then, I need to poke Dieter a few more times so he can upload the few images of you-know-who that are on his phone ...

Happy January.

Part of the family

2010-12-17T23:38:00.001-08:00

It really is official when you've got a designated seat at the table.

Meow Meow discovered this napping spot not long ago -- quiet, padded, and covered too. What's not to like? Nothing! Well, until someone unwittingly pulls the chair out while she's in the middle of a dead sleep ...

We are off to visit our human families next week, so we wish you a lovely holiday and safe travels, if you'll be on the road too. See you in 2011!

Early tidings of good cheer

2010-12-06T10:14:00.000-08:00

Guess who else wanted a closeup?

Yep, it's Sara! Her mom Esther sent us a link in a comment to an album she started for this little ball of cute. Here are some of the photos of her, luxuriating in her home of one year (commentary mine below). For the full album, click here.

Okay, Sara, let's get a look at you. Maybe not quite so close so we can admire you in full form?

Thank you. And the other side, please. You always were a natural at posing ...

Excellent. I see you too have taken up reading, like many of our other fosters. (What is it about the printed word that attracts kitties so well?)

Hmmm, no comment. That's unusual; I do remember you were quite talkative when you were staying with us. Uh oh, wait. That's not -- you're not going to --

It is! You did! That irresistible invitation for a belly rub! I must ignore. Oh well, I guess it's not as bad as that other trick in your repertoire, possibly the only thing that can rival this cuteness --

Oh dear, you remembered that too. The blanket burrow! Now I must swoon.

Sara's adoption anniversary is next week, but we wanted to wish her and her family a happy one before all the holiday bustle got too crazy for our readers -- a proper feting of our former fosters is always warranted! So go check out the album and leave some congratulations there. We're delighted to have the update!

What's in a name?

2010-11-30T20:25:00.000-08:00

As promised, another update on some of our former fosters. This is a little belated -- we received the following the first week of November, then all the mid-month craziness happened -- but I think you'll still enjoy the news.

Here's what Laura, mom to Spaghetti and Meatball, had to say:

I wanted to share a little story and some photos of Spaghetti and Meatball this Halloween.

Imagine my extremely pleased surprise when I saw that Target had a Spaghetti and Meatballs costume for pets! I knew I had to have it, even though Adam [the girls' dad] was NOT supportive -- of this costume, in particular, or costumes on pets, in general. I am stubborn so went on without husband approval. I hope you understand. :)

While Meatball was far more forgiving than Spaghetti, neither of them really liked it so I got about 4 minutes use out of the costume. I couldn't even put the hat (yarn spaghetti! pompom meatballs!) NEAR Spaghetti without her leaping away.

[Before]

[After]

My favorite Meatball photo is the one where she looks the most annoyed.

Thanks, Laura, for the update! Even if the girls didn't entertain the idea of getting into character, so to speak, they certainly entertained us ...

Well, you look familiar ...

2010-11-23T17:10:00.000-08:00

Guess who's adoption anniversary was last week?

Say hello to Jada, our very first foster.

Here's what her dad Trevor has to say about Jada's first year in her permanent home with big brother Bluto, who appears to be her long-lost twin:

Hey guys! We love J so much! It took her a while for her true personality to show, but it's showing! I think it took her quite some time to adjust to Bluto, but they are getting along just fine.

She has a couple of favorite toys, is very motivated by treats, and her favorite activity is to lay on my chest in bed, and have her hands on my throat. The first couple times were kinda uneasy, but I have gotten used to it. I think she is stealing my body heat when she does that. She has her days when she doesn't want to get along with anyone, and other days when she is everywhere all at once.

She is very curious, and pretty defensive of her room and bed. She has a bed, and a nice red velvet blanket to sleep on, and sometimes Bluto wants in on the sleeping too.

Thanks to Trevor for the update and Brittney (Jada's mom) for the pictures. Happy first anniversary to the whole family! We're so glad to hear everyone's doing well.

We have another update from another of our adoptive kitty families that I'll post soon. Stay tuned!

You're going about this all wrong

2010-11-15T10:52:00.000-08:00

Poor Meow Meow. Just when she'd finished getting over her bug, Mom had to go have surgery. (Turns out the health snafu from September was an impacted kidney stone that needed to be taken out.) Which means Meow Meow's been doing a lot of this since Wednesday:

Dieter has a firm rule about not letting Meow Meow into our bedroom (too many non-kitty-proof items), but we didn't want her to be lonely while I was stuck in bed. So he put up the kitty gate (which, to our amazement, she's never tried to leap) so she could see me.

She paced and cried and scolded and otherwise let us know that this was NOT how recovery is meant to be handled. As far as she was concerned, she wanted in so she could take matters into her own paws and tongue (I'm guessing she thought a good cuddle and a bath would set everything right?).

I'm finally moving around the house a little more today, to Meow Meow's relief. She was so glad to have me back that when I knelt down to give her some head scritches, she stretched up on her hind legs with an enormous purr and rubbed her jaw against my cheek. Such lovely greetings!

I missed her too.

Resting up

2010-11-07T17:49:00.000-08:00

Meow Meow would like you to know how seriously she takes this napping business. A full 18 hours each day and no fewer, thank you very much.

Actually, Meow Meow's been getting over an infection. The bug itself cleared up right away, but the antibiotics weren't the kindest to her GI tract, so we kept her in a quiet room for a while with daily visits. She seems to be back to her usual very affectionate self (even more so, since she's been missing out on all the activity elsewhere in the house). Hopefully we've seen the last of the tummy troubles!

Waiting

2010-10-29T00:05:00.000-07:00

That's what's been going on around here.

For me, that means a bunch of time-consuming testing (we still don't know what exactly is wrong, but hopefully we'll get some answers before Thanksgiving?). For Meow Meow, it means hanging out in the papasan chair with me -- I needed a change of scene -- while I try to get work done in between trips to the doctor.

Leslie: "Makes a pretty decent kitty bed with a human in it, no?"

Meow Meow: "Yes! So ... why did you get up?"

I know I've been scarce around the blogosphere. Forgive the gap in posting and visits. We've got a lot going on chez Kittitas.

You've forgotten something

2010-10-17T14:49:00.000-07:00

As you already may have guessed, the living room couch is where I've been doing much of my thesis work. There are few distractions there (nothing but the fireplace to look at) and the coffee table offers ample space for spreading out books, documents, and other research artifacts. Mornings are rare for inspiration, but sometimes I get some ideas and I fire up the laptop. When things are really working, I can disappear into writing-land for about two hours. (And then, inevitably, my brain gets tired and I have to go do something else, like, say, reading foster blogs.)

Meow Meow likes to remind me when I haven't brought her breakfast in a timely fashion. Usually it's a verbal request, something along the lines of "mrow-ROW!" (which is very different from any of her other kitty-speak). Occasionally, though, she goes for a more artistic message involving the upstairs balcony ledge and the wall above the fireplace:

Very clever, little girl. I get the picture ...

A fitting way to mark the occasion?

2010-10-09T06:40:00.000-07:00

Yes indeed, we're celebrating Kittitas' first anniversary today! It's hard to believe a full year has gone by -- it seems as if only a few weeks ago, we were getting to know a certain floofy black beauty who started us on the road to here. We've very much enjoyed our year of fosters, getting to know them and learning what makes each cat unique. And we look forward to meeting more kitties and figuring out what their favorite pastimes are.

Every single one of our guests has enjoyed the Spider, that little piece of ribbon on a nylon cord we introduced here. So I was especially amused when Meow Meow managed to find a REAL spider to hunt this week.

She enjoys batting at foam packing peanuts with a dainty paw, so this self-propelled creature provided lots of intrigue.

To the humans who've introduced themselves to us -- through blogging, working at the SHS and/or other shelters, adopting, and more -- thank you for reading! We're so glad to have met you. We have a feeling our fosters are glad about that too.

Grrrrrr

2010-10-06T06:42:00.000-07:00

The chance to get back to fostering has been eluding me.

There was my parents' visit. Then Meow Meow's dental surgery and recovery. By the time she was back in top shape, we had only a short window before the out-of-town wedding. No fair inviting a kitty into our home only to take it back to the shelter a week later, right? We try to keep our guests until we can help them find permanent families. So, I told myself, after the trip.

Well, the health problem I thought was something minor a few weeks back has turned into something bigger that needs follow-up. So apparently, fostering has to get postponed again. I'm disappointed.

Meow Meow's looking after me in her own sweet way. Today's perch of choice was on the arm of the couch, where I was within easy reach for head-bumps (that's the collar of my fleece in the lower left corner of the shot). So we're doing all right, just in need of some tests to see what's going on with me.

Until all this is done, we'll definitely keep the Meow Meow updates coming. We'd also love to hear how our former fosters are doing -- hint, hint! -- as our one-year anniversary approaches, so if you've got news, do share!

Double your pleasure, double your sun

2010-09-29T14:01:00.000-07:00

Back when we were trying to help Meow Meow learn where not to scratch, we taped foil around the areas of the couch she especially liked to claw. She's made the adjustment to her scratching post, as you know, and has also taken a liking to some doormats we have in the front hall (a frequent favorite with previous fosters).

We haven't taken down the foil yet, as we've wanted to give Meow Meow's habits time to cement themselves. In the meantime, it seems she's found an additional use for the reflective coating on the back of the couch: multi-directional sunbathing.

Back and front, warmed at the same time! Enjoy it while it lasts, Meow Meow. Previous guests here will tell you the weather's not always this luxurious ...

Meow Meow would like you to believe she's helping

2010-09-22T17:18:00.000-07:00

... but a kitty on one's chest does not make for easy typing!

I'm still poking away at my thesis, which is a lot less relaxing than it looks. (Really!) That's what I've been working on since last fall. We're heading for an out-of-town wedding in a week, so I'm trying very hard to get a chapter written before then.

Meow Meow's opinion of the whole business improves by the day. The flatter the project lays me out, the more lounge time she gets! Sorry, sweetie, but your mother would like to graduate this spring -- don't count on this becoming a permanent arrangement.

Proof

2010-09-14T20:46:00.000-07:00

... that I have been doing something in the last week, despite the lack of posting here:

Serving as a kitty bed! Yep, that's the kitchen table behind Meow Meow, and she's staking her claim to my lap (breakfast is her favorite time to hop up).

Actually, I've been cranking out work for two professors, so it's been busy. You know that whole butt-in-chair philosophy on writing? I'm employing it, which means plenty of opportunity for you-know-who to hang out you-know-where.

I think I need to use a better cushion this week or my sit-bones are going to be permanently bruised. Meow Meow, though, seems to have no complaints about her accommodations ...

Good company

2010-09-06T06:36:00.000-07:00

Dieter's been out of town since Thursday, so it's been just me and Meow Meow, or Meow Squared, for the long weekend. (Thanks, Marlene, for the perfect nickname!)

I was under the weather for most of Thursday and Friday, which was no fun especially because I was on my own. But Meow Meow, sweetheart that she is, stayed close and has even started jumping into my lap when I sit at the kitchen table. Have I mentioned how much I appreciate having this little lovebug around? (The photos below weren't shot this weekend, but they're pretty representative of what she does whenever I'm curled up on the sofa.)

All's well here, Dieter, but I think Meow Meow is looking forward to a proper game of where's Hobbes when you get back tomorrow.

Irresistible

2010-09-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

After a week of rest (and Leslie keeping camera time to a minimum), Meow Meow is more or less her usual self. Less one tooth and more mischievous! On her first afternoon home, she was hungry (no food allowed the night before the procedure and a reduced amount once she was awake, just in case the anesthesia upset her tummy), so she took matters into her own paws and went digging in the kitchen trash can when I wasn't looking.

We forgive you, Meow Meow. Yes, we know you know how to work that charm; you used it for the first half of August on your grandmother (below).

We're still keeping the lid on the trash, though. Just sayin'.

Magic treat dispenser?

2010-08-25T06:53:00.000-07:00

We're pleased to report that, after following some of the great suggestions folks have sent, Meow Meow has gotten quite accustomed to her scratching post! With frequent play sessions around it and the discovery of a treat she likes, we managed to get her interested in hanging around the base in hopes of getting some string-chasing time (supervised) or finding a tasty nibble tucked into the fabric. One day, she just decided to try buffing her little claws on the microfiber. To her delight, there were no interruptions!

She hasn't quite figured out how to make treats appear at will -- I'm not always there to reward her -- but she's hopeful.

The habit isn't totally in place yet, so we're trying to stay consistent with the training. This may prove to be a little challenging in the immediate future -- Meow Meow goes to the vet today for some much-needed dental work. She'll be anesthetized and will likely have to have a painful-looking tooth taken out (she hasn't complained, but cats are good at hiding illness and injury). We're hoping she'll come through the procedure without complications. This does mean we'll also be delaying fostering until she's recovered, but we're looking forward to having a guest again soon!

News times two

2010-08-22T17:07:00.000-07:00

Yes indeed, we have another update from Spaghetti and Meatball! Many thanks to their mom, Laura, who sent us these wonderful shots of the girls going about their daily business.

As you can see, Spaghetti and Meatball have their own room, complete with kitty condo:

Butler service is included (thanks to their dad, Adam):

Of course, the kitties enjoy having space throughout their new home, whether they're on the prowl ...

... at play ...

... or at rest.

So glad to see you both, lucky girls! Lots of love from our house to yours.

Cribbage is also a hit

2010-08-15T23:13:00.000-07:00

Meow Meow can't count points, but she keeps an eye on the pegs for us.

This preference you have

2010-08-11T06:40:00.000-07:00

... for cuddling on my lap only when I'm wearing my bathrobe, Meow Meow, is not at all conducive to productivity. If we both had our way, I'd never be able to leave the house!

Apparently, that's perfectly fine with you.

But MOM

2010-08-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

I know you don't want to go to the dentist, Meow Meow, but those teeth need some attention. Showing them off here isn't enough.

Nibble, nibble, swat, swat

2010-08-03T14:14:00.000-07:00

It's become clear that Meow Meow likes anything string-like. Strips of fabric, sewing thread, window pulls -- she'll play with any and all we dangle before her.

She's also discovered that she enjoys scratching the microfiber couches in our living room. We've offered her other textures via a carpet-and-sisal-rope scratching post and some mats she's shown interest in too, but the couches are still too attractive to her. So, after covering the targeted locations on the furniture with aluminum foil (which works great as a deterrent if you're dealing with the same issue), I hit up a local fabric store and bought some sueded upholstery nearly identical to what our couches are covered in (it's microns thinner). Wrapped the post in said fabric. Placed it prominently in the living room where we usually hang out, fastened string toys to it for added interest.

But without someone actually making the toys move, Meow Meow's pretty indifferent to them. And as I said before, she doesn't respond to catnip, so we don't have a truly effective way to draw her to the post. Playing with her toys near it hasn't quite done the trick to get her interested in the post itself.

Any suggestions, oh wise kitty parents? I have half a mind to figure out what treats she likes and hang them somehow from the sides of the post. That's going to require some creative engineering ...

Somebody

2010-07-29T17:07:00.000-07:00

... has been hitting the 'nip a leetle too hard.

(Not really, actually. Meow Meow doesn't seem to respond to catnip, but she'll follow Hobbes wherever Dieter puts him. Apparently no coffee table is too low for her hunting sensibilities.)

People games

2010-07-26T06:38:00.000-07:00

They're so much slower than kitty games.

But they're cozier too. (Indeed, that would be all three of us stretched out on the couch with the coffee table pulled up for a very lazy game of Scrabble.)

Meet Hobbes

2010-07-23T06:08:00.000-07:00

... Meow Meow's new favorite toy.

A friend who recently visited brought a sewing project with her and left some fabric scraps behind. While cleaning up over the weekend, Dieter attracted Meow Meow's attention with this particularly tigerish piece --

-- and suddenly, the true huntress in Meow Meow appeared.

That is, until somebody lost the toy behind the couch.

Yep, we totally moved the couch to get it back for her.

Oh, sure

2010-07-21T17:52:00.000-07:00

Now you're all cooperative, Meow Meow. I knew you had it in you!

The uncooperative model

2010-07-18T06:02:00.000-07:00

And now, the outtakes from an attempt to get a head shot of Meow Meow. The portrait was meant to go with her foster profile in our sidebar, but as you can see, she had other plans.

Leslie: "Oops, you blinked. Let's try that again."

Meow Meow: "See my ear floofs?"

L: "Yes, but I need your whole face --"

M: "Says you."

M: "Ope, missed me!"

M: "Missed me again! Whee, this is a fun game! Oh no --"

L: "Gotcha!"

L: "Well, geez, Meow Meow, you could at least smile for me ..."

I shot most of the above sequence blind, holding the camera in my lap. Getting my face behind the camera so close to the ground only served as an invitation for Meow Meow to wander out of frame -- to tap my face with her paw, which she tried to do repeatedly. "Give me some love!" she seemed to say.

I think that was supposed to be my line.

Windows of opportunity

2010-07-15T06:44:00.000-07:00

Meow Meow quickly located the best sunning spots in the house a day or two after we brought her home as a foster. Lately, we've been keeping her favorite windows open (with screens in place) to let fresh air in. We can hear the birds outside at all hours of the day -- which got me thinking about the eaves and how it might not be too hard to hang a bird feeder or two beneath them.

All in the name of kitty entertainment.

Now that we've got a mascot

2010-07-13T18:37:00.000-07:00

... we need to rethink how we're going to make fostering work.

We're pretty confident that Meow Meow will take well to visitors, given her generally mellow temper around other kitties at the shelter -- when I let her roam the floor of one of the kitty holding areas, she walked right up to the cages and put her nose between the bars. No hissing or posturing, just interest. That was one of the reasons we thought she might be a good fit for us, as we didn't want to have to stop fostering. (And of course, her boundless affection kind of melted me.)

But the logistics of keeping fosters isolated for the requisite quarantine period are a little complicated in our house, so we're working out the details. We also have human company visiting for the first half of August (so the spare bathroom would be occupied). Ultimately, this means we hope to have a new guest by the end of August.

Until then, we'll be posting regularly on Meow Meow's adventures, lavishing her with head scratches and belly rubs, and just delighting in having her as a new addition to our family. We figure she deserves a month with us as the sole object of our attention, too.

Now if I could just get her to look at the camera ...

On endurance

2010-07-10T06:18:00.000-07:00

Okay. Meow Meow's story as promised.

Really, it's a tale of two kitties -- Meow Meow's sister, Mimi (not our Mimi), was admitted with her into the shelter at the end of January. Both of them were very sick, and shortly after their arrival, Mimi passed away.

It's not clear what their immediate care situation was before they were brought in, but it seems that they had had a loving home for some time and then ended up losing that. By the time Meow Meow reached the shelter, she had painful mouth ulcers preventing her from eating, and not long afterward, she developed an upper respiratory infection. Weight began to drop from her already petite frame.

With these challenges to her health and the loss of her sister, it was questionable whether Meow Meow would rally. But with lots of TLC from the folks at the SHS, she did -- by the time I picked her up at the end of June, her tongue had healed and her feeding tube, which she had for two months, had been removed.

After hearing Meow Meow's history, I wasn't sure how trusting she would be when I went to introduce myself to her two weeks ago, but she immediately rubbed her head all over my hand as I reached into her cage. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised -- her caregivers at the shelter later told me how calm she's been throughout the various procedures and treatments she's had to endure, and how affectionate she's remained since.

She's just a lovebug. And without question, a resilient one.

Many thanks to everyone at the SHS for taking such good care of our new permanent resident!

In which Leslie confesses

2010-07-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

There really was a foster here when I last posted. She went by the name of Meow Meow and came with an incredible story, which I was all set to write about here.

So we did the usual thing, letting her settle into the kitty suite for a day, then giving her access to the upper hall. That's been the point at which I've started trying to photograph all our other fosters as they get comfortable enough to start exploring, playing, asking for affection.

She was having none of it.

I should clarify: she loved checking out the window ledges and pouncing on the Spider. And she loved up on us as if we'd been hers all her life. But the camera -- she didn't quite get it. Or maybe she did, knowing its purpose. I stretched out on the floor, tried different angles, attempted stealth photography. She just wouldn't let me get far enough away to shoot.

Here's a picture of the look she gave me as I sidled up next to her on my tummy, just before she scooted directly toward my face to press her dainty little paw to my nose. A head-bump, a decisive purr.

We adopted her yesterday.

Fear not; there will be more forthcoming on Meow Meow's story, now that the news is out! But we do need to go get kitty supplies of her very own so as not to use what the SHS has given us for fostering purposes ...

Spaghetti and Meatball update!

2010-06-24T16:25:00.000-07:00

In the midst of my trip, I received an e-mail from Laura, Spaghetti and Meatball's new mom. Apologies for the delay in posting -- we've been getting ready for our next guest! But at last, news on our much-missed pair of kitties:

I hope all is well with you and Dieter! The girls are slowly getting used to us, and both of them are becoming much more affectionate -- even Spaghetti let us give her belly rubs last night! I wanted to let you know that I am *still* trying to find my camera cord, so have been unable to get the photos off of my camera and into your inbox. The only ones we have are BlackBerry photos of varying quality.

Here are a few -- they're not really "bloggable" but I wanted you to see how the girls are in their new space. :)

We'll get better quality photos to you as soon as I find that cord (which is likely to be in the last place I check!).

No worries, Laura! We appreciate any photos you're able to share, and we're delighted to see how at home the girls are. Looking forward to hearing about their adventures!

Now, time to go check on our latest resident. Yep, as of this afternoon, we have a new foster in the suite ...

Straight from the source

2010-06-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

While I was visiting Oliver and his mom, our friends at 9 Kai and Chani Hokulani gave us an award. Thanks for thinking of us, guys! The rules are that we answer this little questionnaire (see below) and pass the award along to five other blogs.

Of course, since this blog is about the kitties in our lives, we decided to have Oliver do the talking (with a little transcription help from my sister).

1. What would your perfect day consist of?

Padding around my house following patches of sunny carpet, fresh tuna at every meal, and chin rubs on the hour.

2. How would you describe yourself if you were an item of clothing?

Bedroom slippers ... fuzzy and loved by all.

3. What hobbies are you currently working on?

Sleeping
Chasing laser pointers
Finding every high place in my house and picking the perfect spot to survey the world below me

4. Walking in the woods in wellies or barefoot on the beach?

Barefoot on the beach ... only if there's a dry towel to dive into after a romp in the surf (unusual, I know).

5. Have you ever hugged or sung to a tree?

Sadly not, as I'm an indoor cat. (Editor's note: see photo below.)

6. Growing your own veggies or nipping to the supermarket?

Whatever Mama has for me! She doesn't seem to like it when I nibble on her potted plants though.

7. Have you found anyone exciting in your family tree?

The orange coat suggests I might be related to the Lion King.

8. Slap up meal in a posh restaurant or fish 'n' chips from the wrapper?

Fish 'n' chips ... unless the posh meal includes tuna tartare.

9. Which element do you most resonate with: Earth, Air, Fire, or Water?

Fire ... like my glossy coat.

All righty! Thank you, Bev and Oliver, for your time. As for our nominations, we'd like anyone who stops by to pick this up if you so desire. Foster bloggers, it's a great way to introduce the world to your kitties ...

Speaking of which, we hope to have another guest from the SHS soon. Stay tuned!

A little help

2010-06-17T16:57:00.000-07:00

Rather, the kitty idea of help. Oliver, we're not on our hands and knees because we're stalking -- we're pinning the hem of Aunt Leslie's skirt!

Enjoying the high life

2010-06-10T06:42:00.000-07:00

So in the few days I've spent with Oliver, it's become quite apparent that he likes to jump up on anything -- like the back of the couch, where he can watch the world go by from my sister's high-rise apartment ...

... or just take a nap.

Unfortunately, Oliver tends to knock things over too from places like bookshelves and tables when no one's home during the day. Double-stick tape is an effective but impractical deterrent for high-traffic areas (like, say, the kitchen counter). Short of installing a motion-sensing alarm to make noise whenever he gets above a certain altitude, what ideas do you have, wise readers?

Oliver's story

2010-06-08T08:57:00.000-07:00

To be honest, we're not entirely sure what his beginnings were. We just know he was found with several littermates at a few weeks of age in a cardboard box someone abandoned in a parking lot in our hometown.

My sister's boyfriend's sister's friend (yes, that's the chain of connections) told the boyfriend's sister about the kittens, and Oliver eventually became Nick's (the boyfriend's) birthday gift. In Oliver's two years of life, he's lived in Nick's college apartment, Nick's parents' home, and now here while Nick is in grad school housing in Boston (the no pet policy was fairly rigid). So Oliver's commuter dad visits when he can and my sister, whom you've met before, takes care of his daily needs. She's a fairly new kitty mom -- Oliver moved here in January -- but she's been doing a wonderful job.

Oliver spends most of the day snoozing or hanging out with his friend Hobbes, a stuffed kitty (see above) that Nick gave my sister before Oliver came into the picture. Oliver enjoys carrying him around by the neck like his very own. Interestingly, though, he seems to prefer being an only cat, according to his parents, when real kitties are around ...

A little surprise

2010-06-03T13:48:00.000-07:00

So I imagine you all thought we'd be on hiatus until we got back from these two weeks of travel. So did I! But lucky me, I've got another kitty to introduce to you. Even though I'm all the way across the country in the Other Washington. You know, D.C.

Meet Oliver. He's not available for adoption, but he has a sweet story. And he's now my sister's cat, which means I'm the aunt who gets to spoil him while I'm visiting her ...

Family obligations will take me out of the country over the weekend, but I'll be back with more orange tabby goodness next week too, to tide us all over before we get our next guest from the SHS.

Keeping busy

2010-05-27T09:20:00.000-07:00

Etta was always very good at that. Can't imagine the mischief she's getting into in her new home -- it's been very quiet here.

We are traveling again rather soon, so we'll have to hold off on getting another foster kitty. Wouldn't be fair for us to have one for just a week, only to have to send it back! Though believe me, I've wanted the companionship.

For now, a little playtime sequence, thanks to Etta and some scrap curtain lining. We had to come up with a new toy to give her poor feather wand a break ...

Hmm, what have we here?

Ope --

-- um --

-- could somebody tie this thing back on the chair for me? Please?

High fives!

2010-05-21T06:43:00.000-07:00

Or fours, if you wish -- Etta and Mimi have been adopted!

Our two girls are in the doting hands of parents Adam and Laura, who had their eyes on them much earlier this year but couldn't take them until they could move to a pet-friendly space. So they watched and waited and hoped no one else would claim these sweethearts first! Luck, as it happened, was on their side.

We look forward to hearing updates once everyone is settled in. Happy housewarming!

Life is just dandy

2010-05-20T06:38:00.000-07:00

... when your best friend will let you use her butt for your afternoon nap.

In her sights

2010-05-18T06:31:00.000-07:00

Etta's always got an eye on the action, whether it's her left ...

... or right.

Toe floofs

2010-05-16T06:10:00.000-07:00

Front ...

and back!

Keep these kitties in your thoughts

2010-05-14T22:20:00.000-07:00

The folks at The Adventures of Space Paws are in need of support! Please head over and send some love to mama kitty Whiskey, recovering from an emergency C-section. None of her babies survived, but she is resting comfortably after a rough day.

So sorry to hear the sad news about the kittens, Lisa and Joy. But we're glad Whiskey is doing all right.

A new sunning spot

2010-05-13T06:57:00.000-07:00

We've been working on some sewing projects around here recently as part of a larger redecorating endeavor. Etta has discovered that the station we've set up for the sewing machine gets excellent rays in the morning.

Leslie: "Isn't staring into the sun a bit intense for those gorgeous green eyes of yours?"

Etta: "Of course not -- "

"-- but staying awake is."

She's got eyes in the back of her head

2010-05-11T06:43:00.000-07:00

Etta: "What, Mimi? I wasn't really going to chomp on you."

Do I hear someone coming down the stairs?

2010-05-08T06:27:00.000-07:00

Quick! Flop over and look adorable!

(Works every time on Leslie for tummy rubs.)

A paw pile

2010-05-06T06:22:00.000-07:00

Little do they know it (or maybe they do!), but Etta and Mimi play footsie with each other while they're napping.

Etta would like to show you

2010-05-04T06:16:00.000-07:00

... her favorite place to nap, now that Mimi's had her turn.

It requires a human. Preferably one who likes to sit with his or her legs crooked just right for a kitty to burrow in behind the knees. See?

The doughnut

2010-05-02T06:51:00.000-07:00

This is Mimi's favorite place to nap on the second floor. She'll hop in and start kneading the sides of the bed while purring continuously. When the purring stops, you know she's out.

Well, mostly out.

You look like fun now, don't you?

2010-04-30T06:48:00.000-07:00

The challenger

2010-04-28T06:42:00.000-07:00

Mimi contemplated Etta's favorite toy from a safe distance but with great curiosity. Someday she would rise to its feathery temptations. But only after Etta had beaten more of the stuffing out of it.

Stop by Kitten Mom's place

2010-04-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

The folks at Kittenpalooza, a blog chronicling the lives of not one but two litters of kittens in foster care, have suffered some very sad losses to parvovirus (a.k.a. feline distemper or feline panleukopenia) recently. Please click here and give Jane and her little ones some encouragement!

Jane, we're thinking of you and the kitties.

It's an image thing

2010-04-25T06:28:00.000-07:00

As you may have noticed, some of our guests tend to need a little help with weight management. We're committed to assisting our kitties with losing extra pounds while making sure they also maintain a healthy figure.

So when I caught Etta checking out pictures of swimsuit models the other day, I was a wee bit concerned.

But then I realized she was just interested in licking the paper they were printed on.

Preferences

2010-04-22T06:50:00.000-07:00

Etta may like our windows for the view.

But Mimi likes them for what comes through.