Okay, so. I have a story for you. Back in November of 2009, I was “babysitting” two bottle babies for a woman who lived locally. She’d drop the kittens off on her way to work and pick them up afterward. Ultimately, she had to leave town because her father was in the hospital (in Texas), and she decided to sign them over to Challenger’s House. I was full up with the Cookies and the Wonkas at the time, so the bottle babies ended up going to another Challenger’s House foster mom, Heaven, after they spent a few days here. I didn’t name them, opting to let Heaven name them, since she was doing the bulk of the fostering. You can see pictures of them here and here.
Heaven named them Sootie and Sweepie, and eventually they went off to Petsmart and were adopted.
Friday evening, the woman who had adopted Sootie (the tuxie) went in to Petsmart. When she left, guess who she had with her?
That’s right, BABY BEANS HAS BEEN ADOPTED!!!!!!!!
And then on Sunday, she said:
I adopted Baby Beans Friday night. He is the bravest, smartest little kitten I have ever known 🙂 He follows me everywhere and is getting along very well with my three year old tuxedo cat. I think they will be very good friends for many years. Thank you so much for fostering such a sweet boy.
I think it’s funny that in Friday’s post I was talking about how I hoped his people would come along soon – and then she did that very night!
I asked if she was going to rename him, and she said she’s calling him Bean – which I think is just perfect! (Thanks for the update, Nichole!)
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And for those who asked to see a picture of Noelegy’s new orange tabby, who she saved from Death Row, here he is:
She also said, in Friday’s comments:
The new orange boy is now named Gary. My hubby immediately renamed him when I said I wasn’t crazy about the name Garfield, and the cat wasn’t responding to it anyway. When I immediately thought of “The Music Man” and the song “Gary, Indiana,” it stuck. Gary is just about the mellowest, most laid-back cat I’ve ever seen. So far, I have cautiously introduced two of my tribe to him, but he hasn’t joined the general population yet. My hubby is falling under his charms, because if there’s one thing my hubby is a sucker for, it’s an affectionate cat.
The reality is that I woke up Tuesday morning of this week just like any other morning, started reading my Facebook feed, and just couldn’t take one more of those “Urgent Death Row” posts. It sounds corny, but I decided that if this was all I could do was to change the outcome for just ONE of those animals, that was what I was going to do. I was prepared to love him even if he was scared and standoffish, but he immediately settled in and paid me back a thousandfold with love. The “urgent” postings still ache my heart, but I know I made a difference for this sweet little guy, and that’s a good feeling.
(Thanks for the pic and update, Noelegy!)
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ALSO, I got another picture of a former foster, who you may or may not recognize, because he’s a big boy now! Let’s see if this face looks familiar to you…
Any idea? Anyone?
That’s Stompers! He’s all grown up, sharing a sunbeam with his sister Wisp. Kristyn reports that Stompers is still super sweet and snuggly. Awww, and he’s still got that sweet Stompers face! (Thanks for the update, Kristyn!)
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And this post is just chock-full of cute pictures, y’all. My parents are visiting, they arrived Thursday (they’re the humans occupying the guest bedroom, obviously) and they brought with them….
Molly!
She’s an absolute cutie pie.
I love her underbite.
I put most of the cat toys away because I know that dogs chew more than cats do, and I didn’t want her to choke on a cat toy. She managed to find a toy mouse, though, and has been spending a lot of time walking around with the tail hanging out of her mouth. The longer I’m around her, the cuter she seems to me, because her personality is awfully adorable.
Molly is a Shih-Tzu mix, by the way.
The cats are dealing with her fairly well. Molly doesn’t go upstairs, so that’s where Miz Poo, Kara, Corbie, and Spanky are spending a lot of their time. Molly and Tommy have sniffed each other extensively (Tommy was not impressed), and Sugarbutt did some hissing. For the most part, they stay up where she can’t get to them, and at night she sleeps in a crate in the guest bedroom with my parents, whereupon the cats come out and sniff every inch of the house that Molly has touched.
Molly’s good about listening to my parents and for the most part she leaves the cats alone (though she’ll watch them very closely). It’s going really well, and the cats aren’t terribly stressed out, thankfully.
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“What?”
No babies yet. SIGH.
“Every time you ask where the babies are, I add two days on to my gestation period.”
“I think we’re up to November 3rd.”
“2017.”
“Stop harassing me. I did some mathematic equations, realized exactly how those babies are planning to exit their current domicile, and I decided I’m NEVER going to give birth. Go away.”
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Old Man Spanky has been doing really well lately, still has that spark in his eye. He’s such a good boy. He even decided that Molly wasn’t much to worry about, and if he has to use the litter box or get a bite to eat, he does it and doesn’t worry about her.
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Previously
2011: That cat tree is leaning rather dangerously under the weight of Elwood (aka “Ellie Belly”), but he doesn’t care.
2010: No entry.
2009: No entry.
2008: “The chickens are here!” he said.
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.
Quit bugging Her Majesty, Robyn! We want the babies to still be BABIES when they come out!!!!
Oh I love what Kate is saying – you’re really funny you know 🙂
I totally recognized those Stompers eyes!
So I guess I should refrain from asking “Where the heck are those babies already?”
Stompers! He even looks like Wisp, in the face. They were meant to be together.
So much goodness in today’s post! First of all, sweet Baby Bean adopted! AT LAST, and to such a great home! Secondly, Noelegy’s Gary and BIG Stompers! Then, Molly, the cutest, sweetest doggy! Then, hilarious Katie captions! And, last but not least, Spanky, alive and kicking (sort of)! Thank you, Robyn. This site should be recommended everywhere as a powerful antidepressant treatment 🙂
This is pretty much what I wanted to write! What a great start to the week!
Kate is just sooo beautiful!
Baby Beans was just being a brat until his real mama came along. He IS a smart boy!!!
Thanks Kristyn!!! We love Stompy sooooo much! He is still amazingly adorable!!!
If Kate holds those babies like she is threatening, by the time the come out they will be ready to go off to college!
Extra kisses to Spanky!
Noelegy, Gary is precious!!!
WONDERFUL updates! I love that Bean will be Sootie’s brother (the pictures of Sootie and Sweepie as bottle babies are sooo sweet).
I would recognize Stompers anywhere – such a gorgeous boy! And Noelegy’s Gary is a handsome dude too!
Robyn, please stop harassing Kate about those babies…she is the sort of kitty who will do what she wants to do, and if she says November 2017, well, that just might happen.
Let’s hear it for the sparkle in Spanky’s eyes! I tried Liqui-tinic on my tortie, who will be 19 next month and was starting to really slow down. After two weeks I can say she is perkier, even playful, and seems very comfortable despite her arthritis. Thanks for discovering this.
I wish I had known about it for Gabby, but I have ordered some for my two other senior cats (aged 12 and 13).
So many pictures-so many updates-so many congratulations to bestow!
STOMPERS! He’s so handsome! As is Gary!
Glad Baby Beans has finally found his forever home!
I love Spanky. Glad he’s doing ok and Molly isn’t worrying him too much.
SO MUCH GOOD & FUNNY NEWS IN ONE DAY! I have a huge smile now… and on a MONDAY, too! Thanks to you!
STOMPERS <3 and yay for Baby Beans! That's so awesome. (Although, if you were to call him Mr. Bean…well haha if you follow British television at all….)
Kate, you do realize that waiting until November 2017 could hurt 🙂 By then you'll be dragging that belly around like Santa's sack. Not a particularly flattering image, now is it?
Good for you, Noelegy. Gary is a handsome man-cat and orangies are super-sweet and snuggly. I know, I have one.
Big hugs for brilliant Spanky!! Yay for Little Beans and Gary!
Mama kitty is looking BIG!!! Yay! Take care
x
I am going to make it a point to come by and visit more. Bring on the babies! 🙂
Yeah for Bean!! And Stompers is STILL adorable. 🙂
2017….snicker 🙂
Stompie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, I still recognize those eyes (and not just because they are staring out at me from my coffee mug right now)!
Yay for Baby Beans and Gary both finding homes!!!!
Yay for Spanky being sparky!!!!!!
And the babies will come when the babies are ready. Royalty do as they please, don’t you know! 😉
“The longer I’m around her (Molly), the cuter she seems to me, because her personality is awfully adorable.”
Dogs DO have a way of growing on you. Never had a dog until my late husband died; the house was just so quiet, I thought a dog would be a good idea. Now I have 2 dogs & 2 (indoor) cats. I’m still a devoted cat-lover, but admit dogs have their own unique charm.
I wouldn’t have guessed Stompers…what a gorgeous man-cat he’s become!
Agree with other poster: this website is almost as good as anti-depression pills! 🙂
Poor Kate, I can’t tell if she’s fed up with carrying those babies or you asking if they’re done baking.
Stompies still looks impetuous and petulant, even now doesn’t he? Beautiful, beautiful boy.
And go Beans! I knew somebody would fall for those dark brown, intense eyes.
And that lunkhead, Gary, who wouldn’t fall for his charms?
In that photo, you can see Gary and two of his favorite things: receiving belly rubs, and making biscuits.
Best wishes for everyone involved. I love a happy ending.
I just love that photo of Gary with the makin’ biscuits paws in action, and that blissed-out look on his face. “Mmmmm pettins….. mmmm belleh …. mmmm biscuits….” LOVE LOVE LOVE. Bless you! All that happiness is going out into the world and doing some good. 🙂
I look at that face and say to myself “They should have had an auction for that boy”. You could have raised money for Challenger’s house. He is still a darling !
So happy that Baby Beans got adopted!
I knew that was Stompers. His baby kitty photo on the sidebar is still my favorite. I’ve always loved red tabbies – perhaps because many of my smartest kitties were red beauties.
And Baby Beans! I’m so happy someone recognized his I.Q. and amazing talent!
Love You Spanky… Old kitties rock.
What a great, good news day, Robyn! 😀
Now just two to go. Batman and Robin, your forever family (families) need to get with the program and come get you STAT.
Yay for Baby Beans being adopted and yay for Stompers growing up to still look like Stompers. Also – yay for a cat named Gary, because I’ve never known a Gary Cat before!
Neither had I, but then all these wonderful associations started coming up. Singers (Gary Wright, Gary Puckett, Geddy Lee*) and actors (Gary “Lieutenant Dan” Sinise). And it just felt right.
*real name Gary Lee Weinrib
The comment editor’s not working right, but I forgot one of the best references of all: SpongeBob SquarePants’s pet snail, Gary!
Yay for Beans!!
Stompers may have grown up, but he’s still got that same adorable little face! Yay for updates!
Kate, Kate, Kate.. Trust me, no matter how they come out, it’s going to be better than carring around a bunch of teenagers in there.. They’ll be tacking posters on the walls, trying to sneak out when you’re sleeping, looking at cars and dragging home unwanted guests.. Bleh!
The doggie is cute, and I’m glad Spanky is all cool with him.
I will be singing Gary,Indiana alllll dayyyy long,now.
I’m so excited about Baby Beans — and looking forward to some pictures sometime — so happy that Gary has a new family, so hopeful for Batman and Robin and Kate and her kittens, so delighted to see a dog on the page (has she met George and Gracie?), and am sending along lots of gentle pats to Spanky! Above all, I’m so thankful that great, dedicated, open-hearted individuals like Robyn and Fred and and Kelly and Connie and all of you who foster do what you do. Thank you!
Sheesh, I forgot to mention teenage studman Stompers. Sorry about that, poster child for sheer cuteness.
I am full of smiles now, what a great day!! 🙂
Excellent Baby Bean news and excellent Stompers news! I am so pleased to see him happily settled and getting along with his sister. I was just thinking about him the other day, too.