The Girls

The only girl kitten who had a name was Princessa, she hung with the boys and wandered off at 1 month old. I did find her, but she took off again, so its just been the two "girls".  At one point I had them with colored embroidery thread around their necks, so I knew who had been bottle fed. Princessa was light pink, there was a rose pink, and a purple. For a brief second I called them Rosie and Mora, but I wasnt getting attached. These two girls were spoken for,  so I was just holding them til the new parents were ready.

The big boys were tolerating them more and more. Wanting to play, but being a little rough. But being really good sports.

They were now everywhere, I tried to barricade the door, but they always managed away over. So, I had to let them have the run of the house when I wanted the doors open. Did finally have to move the furniture so they would stop getting on the counter and stove top.

No denying they are cute, and super fun to watch these days. But, I keep promising Perry, life will return to normal...one of these days, so stay tuned, the adventure continues. 

#notmykittens

So, the running joke with Toby was #notmydog  and well, now we have #notmykittens.  They slept thru the night, as long as nobody was moving around. Daytime too, they ate and slept. The two boys were trouble makers and one in particular did not sleep well and would wake up the rest. I named him Gritón,  loudmouth in spanish.

They quickly started climbing out of the box, and were wobbling around. Perry and Toby kept themselves out of the way, spending a lot of time outside. Bottle feeding was a big job,  it took about an hour to get everyone full and then they would sleep an hour or so and it would start over again. ( I even had to take them to a party, as I was helping set up and was going to be gone many hours)

I couldn't wait for them to be able to feed themself, so as soon as I realized they were getting teeth I tried...it was a miserable failure. Another week or so of bottle feeding, grrr.

Eventually they were pottying on their own, and climbing around. Mostly on me. A couple times I thought of throwing them in the ocean, what little patience I have, was certainly tested! 

I made a litter box, and was amazed they knew how to use it, doesn't mean they did use it everytime,  but I was impressed. Finally too they started eating soggy kitten kibble with tuna oil,  I had had them maybe 3 weeks. 

Whew, that made feeding time a whole lot different. (I had had to put colored string on the girls, because all three of them were tiger striped and I couldnt tell who had been bottle fed) Now we were spending time outdoors,  and since they had no mom to wash them (I drew the line at tongue baths) they were oily and looked like urchins! So bathtime it was...not too bad, and drying in the sun

Not long after the bath, the three trouble makers disappeared,  I had moved them to the porch (house was just too small for litterbox) and one day I came home and they were gone.  My heart was broken. I went looking for them, but never did find the boys. I did hear the girl crying the next day and found her, but she only stayed another week then left again.

I figure they were old enough, and in good shape, hopefully someone picked them up. Usually the wild kittens aren't socialized, but these definitely wanted to be with people, so fingers crossed Gritón,  JerkO and Princessa are alive and well. Stay tuned, the adventure continues. 

You never know what you might find

One night early last month I woke just after midnight and heard kittens crying. As the morning wore on, everytime I turned over, I heard those kittens, so when I got up for the bread man at 6:30 I looked to see if I could find them. It did not take long, and I could tell they had been abandoned by people.

I took them home and looked around for something to put them in,  Toby (Perry's BFF) helped.

A quick Google search and I realized they were around 7-10 days old, and I was going to have a LOT of work ahead of me. I made a quick emergency formula of cows milk and egg yolk (per Google) and at least got them something in their belly. 

I needed milk replacement powder and I knew I would not find that in town, so I had to get the bus to Charapoto. I got there and back within an hour and they were fast asleep...of course not for long. I purchased a bottle with the milk powder, but it was not very helpful, the nipple too big and these guys were tiny. 

A friend in San Clemente lives near a popular dumping site, and has fostered numerous motherless litters so he offered to bring me the bottle they found works best. He gave me a crash course on how to feed, and instigate elimination (wow, who knew?) And their sexes.  I had already pretty much figured out who was what by watching them all day. Two boys, and 3 girls...

Feeding time, which was every couple hours, for five!! Was a chore, the new bottle was a dream, but they would only suck for a minute, then in another couple minutes would want more,  but of course I had moved on to feeding another one...ugh! I was NOT CUT OUT FOR THIS! 

Perry's face says it all...this was a lot of work, and we have very little patience...so stay tuned, the adventure continues!