From 3 to 4

Meet little Amos!

My 3 fosters came from a litter of 5 ~ I took 3 & another foster mom took the other 2.

Sadly, 1 of hers didn't make it ~ a sweet little girl named Annie.  Bless her heart.  I offered to take her brother Amos so he could be with his siblings & not be alone.  He's just LOVING romping & playing with his brother Mowgli & sisters Moppet & Mitzi & is so happy! 

I took all the kitties in a few days ago for a checkup & vaccs.  They are all doing GREAT & just need to gain a few more ounces before they can go back, have their spay/neuter surgeries & be all ready for adoption!  I know they'll be snatched up quick ~ they are too adorable!

Having foster babies sure keeps you busy!  I have a sketch for a new Frida Kahlo & Cat painting I want to start but haven't found the time yet.  Really wanted to have it ready to list for Cinco de Mayo on Saturday but that's doubtful.  Darn.  I'm taking my daughter to "Junior Day" at K-State tomorrow, then taking her to KU in Lawrence where she'll meet up with her fellow Journalism students for the State Competition on Saturday.  Busy, busy, busy!  Not much time to paint.  I can show you the sketch at least.

Can't wait to fill her full of bright, happy

COLORS!

Ok, back to my foster duties...  =^..^=

Feline Friday ~ GOOD MEWS!

My sweet little foster kitty, Kappy, was adopted Wednesday!

He was the little guy I had to syringe feed for a week & didn't even know how to drink water yet.  We weren't certain he would even make it but neither of us was about to give up & he turned into a strong roly-poly furball!  He'd been "in the system" at the Humane Society for over 4 months including a stay with another foster family when he caught a cold after I brought him back.  Poor guy's been through so much. 

My one wish for Christmas was that he would be adopted & that wish just came true!  I'm so happy that sweet little boy has a new home just in time for Christmas!  YAY for Kappy!!!

I LOVE happy endings!

Wishing you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

& the most WONDERFUL of NEW YEARS!!!

xoxox

Current Foster Babies!

Meet Giles & Gretta!

~ my latest foster babies

Giles is the handsome orange & white boy & Gretta is the pretty, exotic-looking brown tabby.  I can tell Giles is going to be a BIG boy & Gretta has the softest, silkiest fur ever!  I've had them for a week & a half now.  They both had mild colds at first, then Giles decided to get all congested & I had to take him back for a clinic check.  He's now on an antibiotic & back to his wild self!  They are both such good kitties ~ playful, but not destructive or too messy.  And when they get tired out from romping they snuggle up & purr!

Giles has 7 more pills to take so I'll have them for another week, then I'm really hoping they get adopted & have a loving new home in time for Christmas!

Someday I'll grow into my ears!

When does "Top Cat" come on?

So far ~ all 14 of the fosters I've had have ALL been adopted!  Little Kappy, the scrawny little black boy I had to syringe feed for a week, is still awaiting adoption at the Humane Society.  That sweet boy has got to be adopted soon!  That would be the best Christmas present of all for me!

Working on more Christmas creations for the shop today!  Hope you're enjoying this wonderful Christmassy time of year!  I could sure go for some SNOW!!!

Feline Friday~Cat Wisdom & an Adoption!

Zappy!

Happy Feline Friday!  I'm so happy to report that my foster kitty Zapp was adopted last Sunday on Halloween!  Another success story - yippeee!  Isn't he a sweet face?

I was reading my book Cleo the other night & had to post this excerpt!  It's just SO TRUE & I think we should all adopt this "cattitude" once in a while!

Excerpt from Cleo, by author Helen Brown:

"Guilt isn't in cat vocabulary.  They never suffer remorse for eating too much, sleeping too long or hogging the warmest cushion in the house.  They welcome every pleasurable moment as it unravels, and savor it to the full until a butterfly or falling leaf diverts their attention.  The don't waste energy counting the number of calories they've consumed or the hours they've frittered away sunbathing.

Cats don't beat themselves up about not working hard enough.  They don't get up and go, they sit down and stay.  For them, lethargy is an art form.  From their vantage points on top of fences and window ledges, they see the treadmills of human obligations for what they are ~ a meaningless waste of nap time."

Love that last line! 

 Happy weekend & don't forget to embrace your inner cat!

Missing Maine!

Hi Gang!  Just wanted to share some of the BEAUTY of MAINE with you!

We had a wonderful, relaxing time & I don't think I've EVER seen anything as breathtaking as the scenery there (and I've been to Hawaii)!!!  I wonder if all the folks who live there know how lucky they are to be surrounded by such natural beauty!  They're within a stone's throw of a lake, pond, woods, hiking trail, carriage road, mountain, harbor, beach & ocean no matter where they are!  What I'd give to live in a place like that!!!  I'm a true "New Englander" by heart!  My birthday was Monday (the 4th) & it was awesome celebrating it in Maine!

Our trip went waaay too fast & I'm having a hard time getting back into my daily routine.  Feel like I'm falling WAY behind on my artwork & this is the holiday time of year when I usually have more items available.  I took my foster babies back the day before we left for our trip & had to go pick them back up again when we got home because 4 of them caught colds - UGH!  Luckily, they went through the worst of it while I was gone & are doing fine now. 

Better quit rambling & get to work if I'm going to get any creating done!

Have a good one!

Feline Friday~The Ups & Downs of Fostering

Sweet Kappy~those eyes melt my heart!

Kappy feeling much better & PLAYING!

Rich & Squeak having fun in the box!

Wrestle Mania with Zapp & Kappy

Well, after my last bunch of sicko kitties I was glad that my current kittos were all healthy & just needed fostering so they could grow big enough to be spayed & neutered.  All went well the first week & then poor little Kapow (I call him Kappy) decided to quit eating & began losing weight.  I took him in to be checked & was told he may have "Fading Kitten Syndrome" which is where for no particular reason the kitten just fails to thrive & that he might not make it.  I was devastated but NOT ABOUT TO GIVE UP ON HIM!  He seemed to do fine the first week I had him but I noticed he was only gnawing on his food & when drinking he wasn't lapping with his tongue but "sucking" like he was nursing.  When the other 4 kittens were romping & playing, he just wanted to curl up in my lap. He'd look at me with his big round eyes as if to say "I'm still here.  Don't give up on me."  Sniff...  I felt convinced  he was just a "late bloomer" & only needed more practice & a little help to mature.  I began syringe feeding him 4 times a day & he's also on 2 different meds.  Now 3 days later he's a different cat!  He's gained 7 ounces, is eating more on his own, has learned how to "lap" water correctly & today he was actually playing & wrestling with the other kitties!  I cried.  That's the "rewarding" part of fostering that keeps me doing this!  I can't wait for the day when I see his picture on the "Adopted" page!

My other 4 rascals are fat & happy & 3 are going back to the Humane Society today.  I'm keeping Squeak here to keep Kappy company while he gets bigger & healthier.

HOMECOMING GAME TONIGHT & DANCE TOMORROW!

Between kittens & kids activities maybe I'll get some painting in!

Feline Friday~A Little Late

Look at cute little Coco, my good friend Allison's cat.

She found a nice bed inside her mom's scrapbooking case!  TOO CUTE!

Allison was my next door neighbor for several years & moved to Colorado last year.  We used to have coffee & wine talks, take Irish Dance together, talk about our kids & our dogs even played together!  I miss her!  She & her daughter were in town last weekend & we got to have lunch together so I'm thankful for those times.  She adopted Coco from the Kansas Humane Society before she moved.  She was one of her fosters & is now enjoying the good life of a Rocky Mountain cat!

I'm working on a painting I've been asked to donate for a fundraiser coming up soon in North Carolina.  I'll post some pics as soon as I can!  HAPPY WEEKEND!

Foster Kitty Pics!

Squeak (Squeaky)

Sweet little Gina

Zapp (Zappy)

Rich (Richie)

Here are my new babies! They are the sweetest things!  Please note that I'm not responsible for the odd names (heehee).  The folks at the Humane Society have to come up with hundreds of them every week & I'm sure they run out of creative, unique ones & sometimes just have to go with whatever comes to mind at the moment.  3 of these guys are named after "sounds" ~ Squeak, Zapp & Kapow.  I know...strange.  The 2 gray & white cuties are Rich & Gina, probably a couple somebody knows.  Anyway, it doesn't matter.  They are healthy, playful, cuddly & so EASY to take care of after having my 4 sick ones last month! Kapow is missing from the pictures ~ he's all black & I couldn't get a good photo of him.  I'm working on it though.

I have a cute new HALLOWEEN painting done I'll scan & post later tonight! 

Hope you're having a GREAT Labor Day!!!

Feline Friday~A Prayer for Animals

I love this Prayer for Animals by Albert Schweitzer! I wish everyone had the same sentiments!

Speaking of animals ~ my last 2 foster kittens were adopted a few days ago so that makes every 1 of my former babies with loving new homes now! I couldn't be happier! Of course my foster room doesn't stay empty very long...I brought home 5 new little rascals yesterday! These guys aren't sick (thankfully!) just too young to be altered so i'll have them a week or 2. Pictures coming soon!

Have a fun Labor Day Weekend!!!

Triple Good Mews!

Wally

Erma

Charlie

Just a quick post to spread the good mews!

My sweet fosters Charlie, Erma & Wally ALL 3 were adopted last weekend!  YIPPEEE!

I had just taken Erma & Wally back to the Humane Society last Thursday after they finally recovered from their colds & a mere 3 days later they have a new home!  I LOVE it when that happens!  That just made my weekend!  And I'm not 100% sure but I think my other 2 former fosters, Clarence & Muffin, who have been placed in our Petsmart, have also been adopted.  They aren't on the "Available" page anymore so I'm waiting to see if they show up on the "Adopted" page soon.  Keeping my fingers crossed!

YAY for my babies & their furever new homes!!!

Working on my new Frida Halloween painting today & should have a photo later tonight or tomorrow.

Check back!  Happy Tuesday!

Feline Friday~Getting Even!

Zoolou:  "I'll show that dog he can't treat me like a couch cushion!

I'll help myself to his dog food!"

(You may remember this picture I posted a while back)

Zoolou wasn't going to take that lying down!

Here she is trying out my new antique chair I got last week, which I LOVE by the way! I actually got 2 of them ~ the other has a slightly different back. They are now gracing our entryway.  I want to get an old vintage table to put inbetween them!

Taking my foster babies back for a check this afternoon.  Clarence & Muffin will probably stay since they are completely over their illness but I'll probably bring Wally back home.  He started coughing & sneezing again yesterday - ugh.  And I might keep Erma home with him too so he won't be by himself.

HAVE A HAPPY PURRY WEEKEND!

A Sight for Sore Eyes!

Breakfast Buffet!

Saturday morning I walked into the kittens' room & was SO EXCITED when ALL 4 of them jumped off the bed & came running over to eat breakfast!  I almost cried I was so happy.  I can't tell you how great it felt watching them fill their little tummies with food & water after a week & a half of trying to get them to eat! I got to the point where I wondered if they would ever get better but they are happy, playful kitties now! They were all put on antibiotics last week & after a couple days it seemed to do the trick.  They're all feeling so much better & I can finally relax & quit worrying about them.  And YAY~no more syringe feeding!  That was NOT fun!

Just wanted to give an update. 

And I FINALLY finished my commission painting!  Whew!  I'll post a pic of it later.

HAPPY MONDAY & BACK-TO-SCHOOL WEEK!

Feline Friday - Playing Nurse Maid

Muffin ~ the healthiest of the bunch

Wally~still not feeling up to snuff

Clarence~the tiniest

Erma~finally eating again & feeling a little better

Oh the joys of fostering!

I'm behind on painting, blogging, housework & pretty much everything else since my 4-legged furballs moved in!  This past week has been a roller coaster ride with my 4 foster babies.  When one gets better, another gets worse, when one starts eating again, another stops & so on & so on.  I've been running back & forth to the shelter clinic with 1, 2 or 3 kitties for sub-q fluids, sitting in steamy bathrooms with them, syringe feeding when they won't eat & giving meds & nosedrops. This is the first time I've had really sick babies & it is NO fun at all!  I feel so bad for them.  It's just so hard to see them stuffed up & feeling so miserable.  I'm used to romping & playing & snarfing food & kitty scratches.  Now I'm thrilled just to see them eating!

Muffin, the long-legged gray girl is my only healthy one.  She's still sneezing a little but other than that she eats like a pig & plays nonstop! She's really been enjoying trying out all the different foods I've been offering the other 3 trying to get them to eat. She's getting the "Kitty Buffet" 3 times a day - ha!

Hopefully my 3 sickos will be on the rebound soon.  It's been a week & a half & I think they've gone through the worst of it.  Next time around if I'm bringing home sick kitties I think I'll just take 2.  Having 4 sick ones at a time is almost more than I can handle.  They are such sweethearts though! Even after I've stuck 3 syringes in their mouth they come right over & curl up on my lap!

I'm still working on my commissioned painting (between kitten care shifts) & then I can't wait to get started on some Fall & Halloween creations!  My FAVORITE time of year is almost here!

HAPPY WEEKEND!!!

Feline Friday~New Foster Babies

Muffin (left) & Clarence (right)

Wally

Happy Friday to all!  Meet my new babies:

Wally, Muffin, Clarence & Erma

The camera battery died before I got a picture of Erma so I'll get a pic of her up later. These babies all have kitty colds so there's lots of sniffing & sneezing going on. 

Clarence & Erma were roomates at the shelter & Wally & Muffin were roomies.  When I first brought them home Wally hissed at poor Clarence & Erma making it clear he wasn't interested in making new friends.  Erma just kept her distance but Clarence hissed right back!  It was so funny because Clarence is half the size of Wally but wasn't intimidated at all!

Just as I suspected they all adjusted & the very next day I saw Clarence & Wally curled up together napping.  Awww...

I've been working on a commission all week & it's taking me a lot longer than I anticipated.  Mainly because I keep changing my mind on colors!  I'm horrible at predicting good color schemes in my paintings.  Maybe I should start taking my sketches & photoshopping different colors in first to see what would look good.  Nawww...too much trouble.

HAPPY WEEKENDING!!!

Nasty Kitty Colds!

Poor little Charlie & Chia just can't seem to shake their nasty colds!  I took them in last Friday for a checkup & they were doing great!  Clear eyes, no congestion & only a sneeze every now & then.  They were almost allowed to stay at the Humane Society but when they both sneezed there in the foster coordinator's office we all decided I'd keep them a while longer & make sure they got completely healthy.

Well...it seems ever since I brought them back home they've relapsed & gotten progressively worse every day.  Sniffles & sneezes galore & this morning when I saw Chia's eyes red-rimmed & she didn't even want to get up & head bonk me I knew it was time to call the clinic vet.  Charlie's eyes were getting teary too & I could tell poor Chia had a fever, she felt so warm. 

GOOD NEWS is ~ I took them both in this afternoon & after a single dose of anti-inflammatory & their first dose of Zithromax they are already on the rebound & happy kitties again! 

Don't you just hate it when your cats are sick & you feel so helpless???  I'm so glad they're feeling better & now I'm trying to keep them from being TOO active so they can rest & get well!

On a CREATIVE note ~ I'm about halfway through a new painting & just keep getting interrupted by kids & cats!  It will definitely be finished tomorrow & I'll post it either then or Friday.

Tomorrow morning I take my kitty Markie to the vet for his annual exam & vaccs.  I'm already dreading the howling in the car!  Sighhhhh...

Morrie & Neo BOTH got adopted - YAY!

I'm SO excited!  My foster babies Morpheous (Morrie) & Neo BOTH got adopted yesterday from the Humane Society!  Oh happy day!!!

It was Day 1 of their "Cat Independence Days" (all kittens $17.76) & SO many kitties (& some dogs too) found their furrever homes!  I had the fun job of data entry, processing paperwork & got to see all the animals that were adopted & pictures of them.  I just loved seeing that big stack of contracts piling up higher & higher!  I sure hope they have as great a day today & lots more animals get new homes!

My other 2 fosters, Charlie & Chia, still aren't quite over their colds yet so they are still here with me.  They're getting better every day though.

HAPPY SUNDAY!!!

Feline Friday ~ Cat Independence Days!

This weekend our Kansas Humane Society is having it's annual

CAT INDEPENDENCE DAYS!

This is such a great event for the kitties every year.  You can adopt any kitten for $17.76 & cats over 9 months are FREE!  They come spayed or neutered, dewormed, with their first set of shots & micro-chipped!

That's one heck of a deal!

This event has always been very successful & they anticipate a big crowd this weekend.  I'll be volunteering!  If you live near Wichita & are thinking about adopting a cat ~ come on over!!!

If not a cat, how about a dog?  They'll be 25% off!

My foster babies Morpheous & Neo went back to the Humane Society this morning since they've recovered from their colds.  They are now up for adoption & I hope they find a forever home this weekend or soon!  Charlie & Chia came back home with me for another week or so since they're still sniffling & sneezing a little.  I'm glad I get to enjoy them for a bit longer!  I miss Morrie & Neo already!

Here are some more pics of them...

Mischievous little Neo!

Morrie playing with fishies

The sweetest face!

Chia (who we found out was a girl -oops!)

Charlie - Don't mess with the CLAW!

Hope you have a glorious weekend full of love & purrrs!

4 New Foster Babies ~ the FUN begins!

Morpheous (Mory) & Neo

Morpheous (Mory) checking out the toys

I've reached the summit!

Chia & Mory

Charlie

We like our foster home!

The view is nice up here!

We brought 4 little furballs home from the Humane Society today to foster for a week or two while they get over mild colds.  They all have a little snifflin' & sneezin' going on so need fostering while they get well before they can be placed for adoption. 

MEET  brothers Morpheous (we call him Mory) & Neo ~ the 2 orange & white tabbies

and brothers Charlie the brown tabby & Chia the black sweetie with white patch on his neck

They already had names & we like them so aren't changing them.  My son told me Morpheous & Neo are from the movie The Matrix.  I would never have known that - ha!

 I wasn't quite sure about bringing 4 home at a time, especially having colds, but within 5 minutes of letting them out in their bedroom they were running, jumping, playing, exploring & just having a high ol' time!  Their colds sure aren't slowing them down a bit.  I know they're enjoying all the extra room to run & play after being cooped up in their isolation units at the shelter.  It's great to see them carefree & HAPPY!

I'll keep you all updated on their adventures!  Happy Thursday!  meow