Friday Jones Has A .....

Friday Jones has a ............ home!

This home - he's staying with us! I officially adopted him today, November 2.

TGFF

Here is Miss January Jones and Mr. August Jones. Asleep together in a warm, comfy blanket. They recently got spayed/neutered and are doing really well. They get to go to their permanent home in October.

That black and white guy in the front is Friday - TGFF (thank God for Friday). He is back at my house, getting some more fostering, since he was doing poorly at the animal shelter (in my opinion). I just don't think living in a cage was agreeing with him. I think it "rocked his little world."

It took him almost a week to get interested in food again. He was so scrawny and wouldn't drink kitten replacement milk or eat canned food. He would only eat a few morsels of dry kitten food. But he did drink water and had the energy to play. Everytime, I held him, my heart just broke because I could feel all his ribs and backbone so prominently.

I am happy to report that he is now plump (not fat) and solid and romping around with January and August.

Respect the Shelter

I have a respect for animal shelters - even the ones that have a policy of putting animals to sleep.
When I visit the Johnson City Animal shelter, I am always amazed at how clean the cages are. The litter boxes are clean - I don't know how they do it! All the cats have a clean blanket or sweater or rug or bedspread to sleep on. They all have a toy in their cage as well as clean water and food.
The same is true at the Unicoi Animal shelter. I even noticed that they use white blankets in their cat cages. White! And the blankets never look dirty. I bet they change them out everyday!
It's a given that I'm an animal lover, but I don't hold it against shelters that aren't "no-kill." I wish they were all "no-kill" shelters, but I'm a realist. Despite all the public education campaigns about spay and neutering and the low cost spay/neuter clinics that are held, there are people who will not get their pets "fixed."
I am sooo glad that we have shelters so all the unwanted animals at least get a chance to find a home. And it's downright hard to find a home for them. I've asked just about everyone that I can think of that would want a cat. I can't find anyone that needs or wants another cat. Most people already have one or two already. Some people are allergic. Some people prefer dogs. Some people want one, but it's just not the right time for them to have a pet. I respect all those reasons.
Right this minute, January is sitting on my shoulder with her nose stuck in my ear - purring away. January and August have an appointment this week to get "fixed."
As Bob Barker always said, "Help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered."

Hello Again

About 2 weeks after we took the foster cats back to the shelter, my daughter asked if we could go visit them, and I thought it was a great idea. On Saturday, I called the Unicoi Animal Shelter to see if it was okay. The shelter said, "Come on down!"

When we got there, we saw that Miss Dora and her kittens were on display in a cage in the lobby. We took each kitten out, one at a time, and held them for quite a while. When I got Friday out, I noticed that he was quite a bit lighter than when he had been at my house. The shelter workers told me that they had wormed the whole family and that that can cause them to lose weight. But I was still really concerned about him - he was downright scrawny, but I knew the shelter had been taking good care of him. And Miss Dora had that look of "I'm going stir crazy in this cage." I wanted to take them all home again! It was sort of a mistake to make this visit. I'll post more about this later, but I see now that it is best to cut ties permanently. As much of an animal lover as I am, I realize that I can't save every animal out there, and I certainly can't keep every animal I find. One day, my dream is to have a no-kill animal sanctuary that will have room for lots of animals, particularly cats. For now, I have to accept the fact that I have to limit the number of cats I can have in my home.

But......I told the shelter people that I'd like to foster the Jones family a little longer. I told them I'd have to discuss it with my husband first (and I'd be back on Monday). After I talked to my husband, we decided to just bring Friday back to our house. The other Jones family members were doing well, and the shelter assured me that they have a home for a while.

On Monday, I went to get Friday (and took turns holding Miss Dora, Indiana, and Alaska before I left). Friday sat on my shoulder during the car ride home. He is so sweet.

I'm still concerned about his scrawniness. I bought some kitten "formula" to feed him because I hardly see him eat. I've seen him nibble something once. But he is drinking water. Last night, I swaddled him in a towel and fed him kitten formula with a syringe. He liked it! I hope he will put on some weight and get interested in real food.

I realize I can't keep Friday. I have 3 indoor cats of my own plus an outdoor cat that showed up one day and is still here 2+ years later. I've made a flyer about Miss Dora, Indiana, Alaska, and Friday, and I've sent it to most everyone I know. I hope I can help the shelter get some leads and find the Jones family a home!

Saying Goodbye

The day came when we had to take the foster kittens and their mom back to the shelter. The whole family is so easy to work with that it was no problem putting them back in the box that I brought them home in (it's a really big box).
The shelter was ready for us and had their cage ready for them. Once we got them into the cage, it was time to fill out some paperwork. I had to adopt two of the foster kittens for my niece (those two were still back at the house).
Then I asked the shelter if there was any way that I could sponsor the family to 1) help them get adopted and 2) prolong their stay at the shelter. They told me that they had a guardian angel program where I could pay a portion of their adoption fee - any amount I wanted. I chose to pay the spay neuter fee for each of the foster kittens and Miss Dora. When someone adopts one, they will only have to pay $20.
While I was completing all of the paperwork, I realized that I really didn't get to say a proper goodbye to the foster cats. But I decided that it would best to just wave at them from the window. I knew saying goodbye would be hard. But just waving from the window was hard - Miss Dora and Friday were looking at me, saying, "What is going on? Where are we? What have you done to us?" That broke my heart. Indiana and Alaska were busy exploring their cage which I have to praise - the cage was bigger than many I've seen and very clean.
Having August and Friday back at the house has been a great distraction, but I think about the foster kittens everyday. You can see them on petfinder.com by searching for cats in Erwin, TN.

The Great Outdoors

We took the foster kittens outside one more time. We always take the climbing structure with us because it helps us keep up with them - they are familiar with it. This is Alaska - the foster kittens always, almost always look away right when I take the picture!!!!

A nearby, small tree that January and Friday decided to climb.

Miss January Jones. She has found a home!

Mr. August Jones. He has found a home too!

Friday and January. I have to tell you about Friday. He is the coolest little guy. When I check on them everyday, Friday is the first foster kitten to jump in my lap or climb up my leg. When I feed the foster kittens, they start chowing down right away, but not Friday. He likes to be in my lap for some undivided attention. Sometimes he chews my fingers or toes, sometimes he climbs up to my shoulder, and sometimes we gaze into each other's eyes. {Sigh} He's a sweetie!

The Eager Faces

I added another section to the foster kittens climbing structure. They love it!

However, the foster kittens loved the box even more! There are 3 foster kittens in this picture - Indiana is on top, January is at the front of the box, and Alaska is in the back of the box.

Another picture of the foster kittens playing.

Here are the eager faces! This is what greets me when I call out to the foster kittens to let them know that I am coming. Here they are in order - Friday (on the far left on the floor), Indiana (standing on the left at the front of the stool), January (sitting behind Indiana on the left), Alaska (in the middle), and August (far right).

Ta Da! Here is Miss Dora. She is meowing at me although it sounds more like a "mmmmrrruuurrp."

Step By Step

Here's what happens when I decide to visit the foster kittens.

First, Miss Dora hears us coming and jumps from the enclosure and runs to meet us with one and only one meow.

Second, I grab a can of food or the litter scooper and a plastic bag.

Third, I take care of the feeding, watering and litter chores.

Fourth (sometimes I get to skip #2 and #3 if that's already been done for the day and I get to go straight to #4), I walk to the foster kitten enclosure and hear their greeting (mew, mew, mew, mew, mew).


Fifth, I try to find a clear spot to step into the enclosure. This can be difficult because the foster kittens are gathered around and looking up at me. Sometimes I have to scoot them away with my feet so I can get inside.

Sixth, when I finally get inside, I find a place to sit.

Seventh (this is indeed a lucky number), the kittens climb into my lap from every angle. Today, Alaska started purring as soon as I was seated. It was a powerful purr. The foster kittens love to snuggle and have human contact. Miss Dora is not far behind. Even though it might be easy to give the foster kittens all my attention, I never forget Miss Dora. I respect her superior mothering skills and her sweetness. I try to pet everyone equally. At first they snuggle. Tonight, August settled in my arms and looked up at me with a sweet, sleepy face. I thought he might take a nap. But no, the foster kittens just have to wrestle - each other, my hands, my toes, my legs, each other. Sometimes they try to entice Miss Dora to join in the fun, but she's not having it. She'd just like some of my attention and no shenanigans. Tonight, my husband was waiting for me to watch a movie, and I found it hard to leave them behind. Spending time with the foster kittens can be addictive.

If I Had To Choose

If I got to keep one foster kitten, here is how I would choose.

I would choose Friday because I've never had a black and white cat.

I would choose Alaska and Indiana (one of the solid black kittens) because I have a soft spot for the smallest, and they have a powerful purr.

I would choose August because he doesn't have a tail, and he has a sweet expression that melts my heart.

I would choose January because I named her first and because she is different from the rest.

If I had to choose, it would be really easy.................

All of the Jones'

Did I mention how hard it is to get pictures of the foster kittens? It is very difficult!
We took their climbing structure outside today to get some pictures of them. We didn't take them out all at once because we weren't sure how they would react. They were curious yet apprehensive.
Drum roll, please...................Meet the Jones Family (except Miss Dora, the mom)...............

This is Alaska Jones. She is solid black and has a tail and is one of the smallest foster kittens. We named her Alaska because she looks like a little bear. My daughter chose the name of a state that has bears. Even though Alaska is one of the smallest kittens, she is very rambunctious! When you cradle her in your arms, she likes to lie on her back and bat at your finger with her paws. Very cute!

Here's one more picture of Alaska - she's in the back, reaching up the climbing structure. She was really hard to photograph - sorry this isn't a close up.

Meet August Jones. HE is black and white and does not have a tail. He has one black eyebrow and one white eyebrow and all four of his feet have some white on them. He's a sweet guy - he likes to play and likes to snuggle.

One more picture of August. Look at that "no tail" action!

This black and white cutie is Friday Jones. Why did we choose the name Friday? Because everybody loves Friday! He was another little scoundrel that was difficult to photograph. Always on the move, always looking for a playmate, always looking for a lap to climb into. He has a tail and has more white on him that August does.

Here's Friday again. Since he was apprehensive about being outside, he didn't want to get too far away from me.

Meet Indiana Jones. In an earlier post, I hinted that my daughter wanted to name HER Indiana for her adventurous spirit. Indiana is the smallest kitten and solid black just like Alaska, but it is easy to tell them apart because Alaska has some long white hairs on her legs and my daughter says Alaska has a fluffier tail than Indiana. Indiana also has a tail, is very curious and active but will snuggle with you in a heartbeat. My daughter says that because of her adventurous nature, she is usually late for dinner.

One more picture of Indiana.

Last, but not least, is Miss January Jones. The first foster kitten to be named, and the only striped kitten. She does not have a tail, is known to meow more than the others, and is always, always on time for dinner. January must look like her dad since she is not black like the others. The tips of January's ears bend down just the slightest little bit where a few long hairs grow - this gives her a bobcat look.

How we chose the names for the foster kittens: Well, I named January first because she looked different than all the others, and I just love the name January Jones. As we were struggling to find names for them (I take pet naming very seriously), I thought, "why not give them all proper names - months, states, countries, cities, days of the week." January doesn't have a tail so the other kitten without a tail also got named for a month: August. The two solid black kittens got named for states: Alaska and Indiana. The other little boy got named a day of the week: Friday because we liked that better than the name of a city or country. If you adopt these lovable fur balls, you can name them anything you want!

To recap: there are 3 girls and two boys. The two boys are the only ones with some white fur. Three kittens have tails and two do not. There are two solid black kittens, but you can tell them apart. There is one gray/black striped kitten. There are 5 foster kittens and 1 mom who have been loved and cared for in their foster home.

Miscellaneous Pictures

Here are some miscellaneous pictures that I have finally uploaded of the foster kittens. These are before Miss Dora decided to move her family.

I have learned that I can nibble and lick my own paws.

January says, "A little help here, please!"

It's a tough job, but some kitty has to do it!

What I Know Right Now

The Jones foster kittens are so fun. Here is what I know about them right now:
1. They appear healthy
2. They are playful
3. They are very tame
4. They are sweet
5. They like to romp
6. They will steal your heart
7. They are still nursing
8. They are getting interested in food
9. They have learned to use the litter box
10. They like to sleep together
11. They "try" to get their mom to play with them
12. They have already got Paul thinking he wants to keep one....I had nothing to do with it
13. They love to see us coming
14. They know how to hiss (but only if you accidentally startle them)
15. They like to climb
16. They like to wrestle each other
17. They like to snuggle with me
18. Miss Dora Jones is a very dedicated mother, and she lets me hold her

We have only two weeks left with them. {Gulp! Sniff!}

Rompasaurus

Okay, these are not new pictures. I just thought I'd post these to tide you over. I keep meaning to take them outside to get new pictures, but we've been busy the past few days.

As soon as we get new pictures - and they are so cute right now! - I will tell you their names and introduce you to their emerging personalities.

I just came in from the garage, and right now, I can tell you that all of their names are ROMPASAURUS. Romping, romping, romping and more romping is what they do!

Somehow, Miss Dora Jones know when I'm going to open the garage door because she automatically jumps from the enclosure as soon as I reach for the door knob to enter. Notice I said "reach for the knob" not "touch the knob." How does she know?

When I looked in on them this morning, I immediately saw that their new climbing structure had collapsed. I climbed inside with them and started working while they hopped into my lap. As soon as I got ONE of the four sides up, they started climbing up it and hanging off it. Instead of scooting them away so I could get to work, I just let them have at it while I fixed the remaining walls.

I finally got it back together, and all 5 foster kittens were climbing, dangling, pouncing, crawling, and snooping all at once. It's a wonder the climbing structure has not collapsed before now. But don't worry, if it collapses again, they can't get hurt - it's made from hollow plastic pieces and mesh. Fairly durable, but lightweight.

What fun we are having!

Jones Who?

I think we've named all the foster kittens. I'll post new pictures soon!

Whatcha Eatin'?

The foster kittens still aren't interested in cat food - just their mom's milk - which is okay. But I don't think Miss Dora appreciates it when they walk through her food bowl.

Only one foster kitten has a name; we just haven't settled on any other names yet. My daughter wants to name one of the smallest kittens, Indiana, but it's a girl (I think). I think she likes that name because that particular kitten is adventurous.

The foster kittens are very playful right now. They romp on each other quite a bit. When we sit with them, they crawl all over us, especially our legs.

I bought them a little play structure at Target that has a rope scratching post and a climbing "thing" - I don't really know what to call it. So far, they like it. I'll have to post a picture.

The Lady's Got Taste

Sunday morning, 7/12, I went to check on Miss Dora and her foster kittens. Imagine my surprise when I looked into their enclosure and only one kitten was in there!

Miss Dora had moved the foster kittens, and I started searching. While I was searching, I was also trying to figure out why she had moved them and why she had left one kitten behind. [I think I have solved the second riddle - I think she was coming back for the last kitten, but I interrupted her work.]

I looked in the usual places - corners, on a blanket, in a dark-out-of-the-way place. My husband's '73 240 Z is parked in the same garage where we keep the foster kittens. The windows on the car were partly open. I looked in the car - just looked through the window, and I didn't see or hear the kittens.

I started to panic a little since I couldn't find the kittens right away. My daughter started helping me. I heard her open the car door and look inside. I eventually hollered for my husband to come help us search.

Like me, he checked all the usual places. He finally looked in the Z and shouted, "Here they are!" I said, "But we looked there and didn't see them." He told me to come see where they were.

I looked in the car door, down at the floor board and could dimly see little eyes staring back at me. The inside of the Z is completely black, and since the kittens are mostly black, it was hard to see them.

Amazingly, they were sitting in the floorboard - quietly - not making a sound. I think they were probably wondering why and how they got there.

We gathered the foster kittens and moved them back to their home, but Miss Dora had other plans. She kept trying to pick them up and move them - not an easy task because she had to jump a high wall to get them out of the enclosure. She kept going back to the car and trying to jump in the window.

We racked our brains trying to decide what was suddenly wrong with the home we had made for Miss Dora and her babies and why she felt the need to move them. I could go through all the ideas we came up with, but we just decided to go with the flow and "move house."

My husband found a new area in the garage that he thought Miss Dora would like (with much more natural light available). He built her and the foster kittens a new area to live in. We moved everyone to their new home including their box and the food dishes and water bowl.

So far, so good. Miss Dora is staying put and has not tried to move the kittens again.

Miss Dora has such good taste. She was attracted to the antique, souped up, fast car! I think my husband was flattered. We actually had to put the car cover on the car so she wouldn't scratch it and wouldn't try to keep getting in the window. The lady's got taste!

3 Weeks Old

I think the Jones foster kittens are 3 weeks old today. The little boy above is the one who looks like his mom and has no tail.

This is also a little boy, and he has a tail.

See, the flap is down and now they roam a bit.

January wants me to pick her up. She likes to snuggle up close.

I can't say enough good things about Miss Dora, the mom. She is a very good mother and spends all of her time with the foster kittens. She talks to them if they "mew" too much while she is eating. She has never minded that we hold her babies while she eats. She certainly appreciates getting some attention too. I wonder if she belonged to someone at some point because she is very tame.

Today, I prepared a shallow pan of dry kitten food with added water. A website I visited suggested offering them solid food in this manner although the website also said that the foster kittens would wear it more than they would eat it. So true! Many of the kittens walked/slid through the pan. A few kittens actually took a lick but weren't much interested. Miss Dora, however, really liked this concoction!

I got them some toys today too - just in case they were ready to chase a jingle ball or wrestle a mouse. No such luck, but I've got them whenever they are ready.

Getting Active

The foster kittens are learning that they can lick and use their claws and wrestle! Sometimes, I even catch one chewing on another one's ear! The kitten above is saying, "Get off me!"

I have to say that it has been a little difficult to photograph them. To get really good shots, I'd have to lay on my stomach on the floor. Also, just when I'm getting ready to snap the picture, they turn their heads.

Everyone's eyes are open, and you can tell that the world is more in focus for them now. Just a few days ago, the kittens were still staggering around on little shaky legs. But today, I noticed that everyone gets around really well.

Today is the first day that I have permanently opened the flap on their box to let them roam freely. Earlier, the flap kept them safely inside their box so that they didn't stray too far away (and cry pitifully for their mom) or accidentally fall in the water bowl. But today, I decided that they need to start exploring their surroundings and exercise their leg muscles more. I've snuck into the garage a few times to see what they were up to and found that they prefer to be in the box if Miss Dora, their mom, is in there too.

Meet the Jones Family

Like the Itty Bitty Kitty Committee, all of our foster kittens will have first and last names. It's my pleasure to introduce you to the Jones family. Miss Dora Jones is the mom. I think the above kitten is a boy (I'm not an expert yet when trying to figure this out, and wouldn't you know that the kittens cry pitifully when I look). The little boy above does not have a first name yet. He looks the most like his mom, and he doesn't have a tail. This little boy has one black eyebrow whiskers and one white eyebrow whiskers. Cute!

I believe this foster kitten is also a boy. He has more white than his mom, and he does have a tail. His little ears are not standing up in true triangular form yet. He doesn't have a first name yet.

What a sweet face! This little one is a girl, and her name is January Jones. I wasn't striving to name her after an actress (one that I don't know a lot about), but I LOVE the name. January has no tail.

This little girl is one of the smallest kittens, but she is healthy and thriving. She is solid black and has a tail. She doesn't have a first name yet either.

This is another one of the smallest foster kittens that is solid black with a tail (I think it's a girl). My daughter says the two black kittens are twins. However, I can tell them apart. One of the black kittens has some long, light colored hairs on her legs.

My husband gets to name one of the foster kittens (if he can take the job seriously), I will name 2 (I've already named January), and my daughter gets to name 2. We're carefully watching their personalities, as they develop, to help us discover their names.