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Ok-totally off topic here ..Last night I was rewatching one of my favorite series on Netflix called “Call the midwife” and decided that I will name my next cat Sister Monica Joan, and then realized that Call the Midwife would be a great name for a litter.
I will keep that in mind for the future. (Call the Midwife is one of the many shows on my “to watch” list. I haven’t yet, but I want to!)
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Question Time! We have 2 stray cats that have been coming around for several months. One has become very friendly and sociable to the point where we’re thinking of adding him to our clowder. He spent last night in our garage (first time!) and we set him up with a litter box, bed, and food/water. However, I don’t think he knows what a litter box is because he peed on his bed (a waterproof cushion, so no harm done) instead of in the box. Do you have any experience with training a full-grown cat to use the litter box?
I can think of one foster off the top of my head who didn’t quite “get” the litter box at first – Kristi, from the Olympians – and this is what I tried:
1. Dr. Elsey’s makes a Cat Attract litter, AND a litter additive. I prefer to use the litter, because I think the attractant is probably all through the litter (whereas the attractant you sprinkle on top and will get mixed in as the litter gets used.) It probably doesn’t REALLY matter which you try, they probably both work out the same, but I just tend toward the litter first. (I do buy the attractant and
2. Scoop a pee clump or a poop clump out of another litter box and put it in his litter box, so he’ll get the idea.
3. If neither of those works, then try what ultimately worked for me with Kristi: dig up some dirt from outside, and add it to the litter box. I’d do, like, a hefty sprinkle. That was what made the connection in Kristi’s mind, and from then on she always used the litter box.
Those are the only suggestions I can think of – but if anyone else has any suggestions, feel free to comment!
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If you saw this picture Fred posted on his Facebook page the night before last, and THEN saw my “good night innernets” picture, it is very likely that you thought that this cat:
And this cat:
Are the same cat.
They are not.
In the vein of “when it rains, it pours,” say hello to Esmerelda, who is a foster, and who is exceedingly friendly.
Esmerelda showed up on our property, oh, maybe a week ago? We have neighbors who allow their cats to roam free, so we figured that another neighbor had gotten a cat. She kept showing up. And then she disappeared for a couple of days. Then she came back and didn’t leave. Though it’s hard to tell from that picture, she’s very very skinny.
At the end of our road are about 10 duplex apartments. Pretty recently, at least three families moved out of their apartments. And I am pretty sure that one of those families left her behind.
She’s now a foster for Forgotten Felines of Huntsville. She’ll go next week to be tested and vaccinated, and when she’s put some weight on, she’ll be spayed. Fred thinks she’s less than a year old – I tend to agree, I’m thinking 9 months, but we’ll get Michelle age her next week to see if she (who knows far more than I about aging cats) agrees.
Please note those two scabs next to her nose. Those are courtesy of Rocco, who took GREAT offense at her presence on HIS property. (Yeah, he’s got some nerve.)
She’s spending her time split between Fred’s bathroom at night, and his office during the day. Did I mention she’s super friendly?
So once she’s vetted and spayed, she will be available for adoption. If she strikes your fancy, feel free to email Forgotten Felines at info (at) ffhsv.org to inquire. I imagine she’ll be ready to go in a couple of weeks.
And please save your “Oh sHe’s mEaNt tO Be a pErMaNeNt rEsIdEnT” nonsense. Charlie, as I’ve mentioned repeatedly, DOES NOT LIKE adult female cats. And did I mention Rocco? So, yeah. Nope. She won’t be staying here.
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That’s Flamenco facing the camera.
She’s second from the right. See the orange spot on top of her head?
Facing the camera here is Sashay. See the orange splotch above her nose?
She looks like she’s giggling here, but that’s a hiss. That’s right, we have some little hissers!
Mambo! Which I know because he doesn’t have a green ear.
And Tango, who does have a green ear (though you can barely see it in this picture.)
Bellied up to the milk bar. I love it when kittens are good eaters!
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Nolan says “You running that ding dang Roomba again?” Sure am!
“This is a comfy chair.” Glad you approve, Owen.
Just a Patsy in her donut, with a fishy.
Line ’em up! From left: Patsy, Owen, Nolan.
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Posted on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Tumblr/ Bluesky) yesterday.
YouTube link
Say hi to our new fosters – mama ChaCha and her kittens – two classic orange tabby boys (Mambo & Tango), and two torbie girls (Sashay & Flamenco). The kittens are 2 days old. ChaCha was an owner surrender at our local animal control. She was surrendered around noon on Monday, and gave birth in the early hours of Tuesday morning. All are doing great and are utterly adorable.
Here are your cheat sheets so you can tell who’s who! (If you missed it, we have new fosters. Nolan, Owen and Patsy are still here with us, though, so you’ll still be seeing them.)
Patsy, Nolan and Owen have their eyes on the prize.
Sleepy little pile. From left: Mambo, Sashay, Flamenco and Tango.
YouTube link
I introduced Nolan, Owen and Patsy to this spiral tunnel thinking they wouldn’t really like it, but color me surprised – they love it and are constantly playing in it.
Owen says “I’ll keep your slippers warm, lady.”
Kitten pie? My favorite! (From left: Tango, Flamenco, Sashay & Mambo)
Good night innernets. (Nolan & Owen)
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Previously
2024: No entry.
2023: (I know what my next move was, and it involved poking that belly which means that her next move became rolling away from me.)
2022: Mike shows off his teefs.
2021: No entry.
2020: No entry.
2019: All 6 kittens, present and accounted for!
2018: Meet the new fosters! (Ryder and her Fleet.)
2017: “Was just a quick nap! I’m ready for my mission, lady!”
2016: “Lady, you stop hovering over me. You’re making me nervous!”
2015: “ESSCUSE ME I HAS A COMPLAINT AND MY COMPLAINT IS THAT IT’S ONLY WEDNESDAY PLEASE REMEDY THIS IMMEDIATELY.”
2014: Smilin’ Joe, the tuxie-doe
2013: Meet the Sopranos.
2012: Rough life, Pickle Joe.
2011: She’s no shy, retiring violet when it comes to kicking her brother’s butt!
2010: No entry.
2009: Beulah update!
2008: No entry.
2007: The best picture ever taken on the face of this planet.
2006: Maddy Milk face.
2005: I have a feeling that bleach is going to be my best friend for the foreseeable future.
You guys are GREAT!
Oh Esmeralda looks so happy – the cat that got the cream look. Think she knows she hit the jackpot. Thanks for making me smile – its been a tough week.
Love the idea of a ‘Call the Midwife’ litter! I’ve been watching it since it began (in the UK) and it’s such a great show. And so many good potential kitten names!!
I know Esmeralda isn’t going to be a PR but she’s putting in an A+++ for effort on the only person she really has to begiule – Fred.
Thank you to both of you for the joy your blog brings to me in a season of life when cat ownership isn’t possible
As a long time reader who remembers when permanent residents numbered in the double digits (think days of yore, i.e., Fancypants and Ms Poo and everyone’s names started with an “S”), I’ve been curious for a while about whether or not you’d add to the clowder at some point. I thought maybe not, given the fragile social dynamics currently at play (you need to calm down, Rocco and Charlie). Your comment about Lovely Esmerelda’s furever home being elsewhere has finally prompted me to ask, though. My assumption would be there aren’t any active plans, but if someone came along and made sense?
The funny thing about once having had 14 cats at one time is that people often think that’s our goal – to have 14 cats. (Which is not what you’re saying, I know. It’s just something I’ve noticed!)
At this point, I don’t see bringing another permanent resident in. Charlie strongly dislikes adult females and isn’t crazy about adult males (though that depends on the male.) Alice is scared of other cats, and has to deal with the occasional jackassery from Charlie. They both do okay with foster kittens (as long as they’re given a reprieve from them overnight), which is likely because they’re used to being exposed to the fosters for a couple of weeks and then the fosters leaving to go home.
Thank you for solving Fred’s drama/mystery. He is a writer, so I excuse his antics (love his books). Thank you for saving that kitty. I have two now that were abandoned by apartment dwellers up street. You and Fred are awesome!
Call the Midwife names will be cute!!☺️
Is there any news of lovely Mamma Lilia ? Is she happy and settled in her new home? Miss her very much.
There was an update the Monday or Tuesday after she was adopted. I haven’t heard anything since, but I am sure she’s doing great.
Poor Esmeralda, I try not to judge people too harshly when they move and don’t take their cats. BUT, there is mo excuse for just putting them out the door and leaving!
Loving the new dance family!
I adopted a one year old bonded pair in early August, named them Delta (dilute calico girl) and Tango (orange and white boy). Fun to see another Tango
Tango is an excellent name for an orange kitty – though I find myself conflating Tango and Mambo and trying to call them Mango!
So glad that gorgeous Esmerelda has been rescued and is having a stay at the Love & Hisses Spa in preparation for finding her forever home. What a sweetie!
It is kind of amazing to see two female orange kitties at the same time. though…
The orange spot is called an “angels kiss.” It’s where the angels kissed her. My Penny has such a spot. Beautiful Moma and babies.
Yep, that’s what I always call it too.
I have a big soft spot for ginger kitties, so I’m loving all the newbies. Thanks for sharing them with us, and–as always–giving them all the love and care they need, if only for a (hopefully) short while in Esmerelda’s case. <3
(Also, quick blog housekeeping note: Today's Previously links are a bit messed up. 2023 and 2022 are ok, as well as everything from 2018 downward. The one labelled 2021 is a broken link, though; it should actually be for 2019, and there were no posts on this date in either 2020 or 2021 as far as I can tell.)
Thanks! I think it’s fixed now. I always just cut and paste from previous years’ “previously” links, and obviously never double check anything in that section!
Just wanted to thank you for the litter box advice yesterday. We put some dirt on top of the litter last night and this morning we awoke to poop AND pee in the litter box! Now he’s one step closer to joining the family!
That’s wonderful!! Thanks for the update. 🙂
Thank you for posts that drag me out of the dumps.
All the mamas and kittens, of course, are beautiful, talented, and charming, but Lilia’s bunch are especially gorgeous. I know Khal the Magnificent isn’t the papa but these guys have a strong resemblance. Their copper colored eyes just add that touch of je ne sais quois.
Patsy especially looks like she could be his daughter!
Lots of updates and a little hisser! It’s too bad the Prince of Wails doesn’t like her because that picture with him made me think he was asking her, ‘how you doin’?’
He was actually saying “WHAT THE [BLEEP] ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE?!” 🙂
Checking in while traveling all over Minnesota and Manitoba! I had a minute to read the blog yesterday morning, and discovered you got new kittynesses on my birthday! 😀 I’m counting it as, technically, I got birthday kitties! And earlier this morning, before hitting the road again, I discovered that you have not only four teeeeeeeny tiny newbies and one very friendly orange tabby adult, which is a double reason to squee, but a *second* friendly lovebug of an orange girl! Squee!
All the new kitties have landed in clover by finding their way to the And3rson household. A [bleep] on whoever left poor Esmerelda the Orange Emerald (ahem, there I go again, but the spelling got me thinking) to fend for herself, though. May she and all five of the other new fuzzies have the happiest of lives from here on out! … Ah heck, I want to snuggle with Esmerelda. And all the others, but especially her. I bet she’s a purry sweetheart.