Margarita

Ask any foster family out there about the cats they foster that they worry about more than others, and we bet a lot of them will tell you the momma cats. Kittens - yes even the black ones - get adopted when they are little. Momma cats, like a lot of adult cats looking for homes, seem to take that much longer. And so we worry.....

April of 2015 we had a family join us as fosters: 

 Yep - Margarita and the fiesta kittens.

She was actually back to the rescue and ready to go before her kids. Since mom wasn't sure how she would do at the open rescue center, they waited until there was an opening at one of the remote locations in a local pet store.

And honestly, mom thought she had been adopted until she was moved to the remote store location where mom cleans and does adoptions. Needless to say, mom was pretty sad to see her, but also glad Margarita was doing ok. Though, Margarita seemed to hold some sort of grudge against mom and would occasionally call her names. MOL

Well, Margarita was at this store for a while. And then one of the other volunteers and her daughter made it their mission to keep sharing her picture. A friend of theirs came to meet Margarita and after some serious though decided to take her home. As of Sunday, Margarita has been ADOPTED!!!! Mom already got an update and it sounds like Margarita came right out of her carrier, made herself at home and slept with her new mom the very first night.

A funny story: the store where she was has lizards for sale. The cages are set up along the wall next to the cat cages. It took her a while, but Margarita discovered the lizards....and it was was lizard TV for hours at a time. At one point one got out and we can only say thank heaven Margarita had the top cage. MOL

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This means we only have two foster from last year to be adopted. Nashville, who will go with mom to an adoption event on Sunday and then into the next open spot at the store. And Lille, the tortie mom to the french city kittens - the wound on her face seems to heal, then break open, then heal, then break open. Until it is fully healed, she can't be spayed. The rescue is trying to figure out exactly what is going on with that girl.

like mother like daughter

A while ago mom reported that Margarita (mom to the fiesta kittens) had been adopted. Come to find out the lady that was approved changed her mind. Mom found out when Margarita got moved to another remote adoption site....ironically the same one where Tostada is residing.

Tostada (on Sunday)

Margarita (on Sunday)

They look VERY alike. These pictures don't do any justice to Margarita, but they both have the same round face and expression. Margarita does have some white on her chin and chest. And they sound alike too. Tostada doesn't talk as much now that she has Reno for a roommate. But it is funny how much they resemble each other in so many ways. They haven't been reunited....and mom doesn't think they will since it is unlikely Margarita would recognize Tostada as her "kid". Margarita was very unhappy at the other store and we are hoping that with a bigger cage and some access to seeing outside that she will relax some. She can go to the adoption center for the rescue but the fear is that she will find a place to hide and not get seen at all.

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Don't forget that today is Giving Tuesday....after several days of shopping madness (not by us or mom, but still), we hope that every one will stop and take a few moments today to remember to be thankful and give back to those less fortunate. There are so many great organizations out there helping people and animals that run on shoe string....give local and give what you can. Thanks!

random Friday

Daiquiri likes to snoopervise out our front windows. 

No idea what she was looking at but mom loves how Daiq balances on the ladder.

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Good news: Margarita - the mom to the fiesta kittens - went home on Sept. 26. Took her a while to find the right match, but it sounds like she was worth the wait.

Bad news: the moos didn't make it. Mom thinks there was just too much not in their favor and they never really thrived. Devon is back with her colony and we take heart knowing they were given every chance.
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Tostada is on a new drug. The vet jokingly said we are taking a "shotgun" approach to this whole thing. Hopefully a stronger antibiotic will show some improvement. She does seem to be feeling better since she is certainly playing more, but the cough stops her and it just sounds uncomfortable.
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The little ones are doing well. The black ones both have white lockets on their chests and are both girls. (of course) The gray one is a boy. So far they are being called: the chunky one, the whiny one and the boy. MOL  Mom has been leaving some canned food and KMR in a dish for them and we know at least some of it is being eaten - the boy has been caught in the act. However, to be safe, mom has had our pet sitter come in around lunch time to feed them....just in case. Mom got a text from the pet sitter on Wednesday and apparently Almond was being goofy while she was feeding the little ones.

For now, Nashville and Reno will go back on meds for their cold. And everyone will more than likely be with us for a little while. The head of the rescue has been ill and the volunteers are trying to keep everything on an even keel until she is better.

OH - and sorry we have been a little sporadic. Mom did something to her back on Sunday and can't seem to sit (or walk or stand or whatever) for long periods of time.

weekend report

Mom spent most of her time getting stuff done around here. Tons of laundry, cleaning the bathroom, the dreaded vacuum cleaner.....and a couple of naps of course. :)

Margarita went on Tuesday to be spayed. She was pretty done with the kittens and mom hadn't gotten to the point where she trusted Margarita out of the bathroom without supervision, so it was time for her to head out to be adopted. There was an open space at a nearby Petsmart adoption center, so on Saturday morning mom took Margarita over to there and got her set up in a cage over there. Hopefully someone will see her and fall in love quickly.

 

last trip to the milk bar before mom leaves

 

little orange stalkers

 

"mom mom mom mom"

Remember this girl??

In March mom was contacted by a previous adopter that this small black cat was outside her house.... in a snow storm.  Mom picked her up and then got permission for Sonata to be part of the rescue. Well....  Sonata got ADOPTED!!!  On mom's trek to Petsmart on Saturday, she met Sonata's new mom and dad. They do have another cat at home but Sonata should be fine. They talked about introductions and taking it slow. Good luck baby!!!

And then there was something else on Saturday.....but more on that tomorrow.

The fiesta kittens are doing well and getting pretty close to 2 pounds. This age is tough cause they spend a lot of time running around and burning calories.

fiesta kittens - 7 weeks old

Wow - time seems to fly....

The kittens were out and about most of the weekend. They got their second round of vaccines on Saturday along with preventative dewormer and a nail trim.

And a weigh in:
   Salsa - 2 pounds 3/4 ounces
   Queso - 1 pound 14 3/4 ounces
   Blanco - 1 pound 10 7/8 ounces
   Taquito - 1 pound 10 3/8 ounces
   Tostada - 1 pound 7 5/8 ounces

Mom has been busy packing and shopping. She is heading out to Blog Paws on Tuesday afternoon. She is pretty excited to see all her blogger friends. Be sure to follow our facebook page or like us on twitter and instagram to keep up with all the happening. We will have a video posted for tomorrow and then mom may not be online here for a few days. She is getting back Sunday but not sure what time so we may not have anything up Monday either. But keep with us and we will have a big Blog Paws review next week.

Margarita has been out with the kittens this weekend too. She is still pretty hissy....some of it may be momma hormones and protectiveness. Some of it may just be her...we don't know her background so it is hard to say. Mom is hoping to get her spayed next week and talk to the rescue about maybe getting her into one of the stores where we have adoptable cats. She isn't very big and is sweet but certainly has a mind of her own and isn't afraid to express her opinion.

random Friday

Tostada: no, no, you're doing it wrong

Salsa: you are just mean

handsome isn't he??

dang - mom loves Salsa, 

but he sure spends a lot of time looking baffled

The gate is up in front of the bathroom. Margarita can get over - though unlike most of us, she actually climbs it (much to mom's amusement). Mom will leave the bathroom door open now when she is home. Margarita will come out into the living room - though she is kind of hissy with us and tends to sit in places that blocks traffic. This lasts until mom gets annoyed and then she goes back in the bathroom with the door closed.

Mom has taken to sitting on the floor behind the gate and playing with the kittens. In BREAKING NEWS - she actually caught everyone (except Queso) eating the other night. Taquito seems to be the only one interested in the canned food, but mom caught everyone snacking on the dry. YAY!!!

Mom has a short adoption event on Saturday afternoon. She isn't supposed to take the kittens since they aren't available for adoption yet, but there are several other events that day and it may end up just being easier. Who knows????

fiesta kittens - 5 weeks old

Hard to believe that 5 weeks ago mom picked up these guys:

And now five weeks later, they are looking more and more like tiny cats. They got their first shots on Sunday. Blanco and Queso sang their own tiny whiny version of the song of our people. Mom laughed cause she looked in at one point and Salsa had fallen asleep.

The problem now is getting pictures of them....they just don't hold still.  MOL

 

Salsa - now weighing in at 1 pound 8 1/2 ounces

(the current heavyweight)

 

Queso - 1 pound 5 3/4 ounces

 

Tostada - 1 pound 3 ounces

(our tiny girl)

 

Taquito - 1 pound 4 1/4 ounces

 

Blanco - 1 pound 4 3/4 ounces

Taquito runs over to the plate when the canned food comes out. Salsa is eating dry food. And mom has yet to catch anyone else eating. We certainly think they are, but there is no evidence.

Mom left the gate up Sunday morning but opened the bathroom door. She turned around about a minute later and Margarita wandered down the hall. There was some minor name calling, but that was about it. Not bad for her first time out. The kittens aren't allowed out yet....maybe next weekend. Margarita will get a little more free time while mom is home to supervise.

getting around

Queso gives you the tongue

Taquito has a skeptical

hey - toys!!!

snarky boy

best...toy...ever

The kittens are certainly getting more and more mobile. Mom has seen Taquito try some canned food and Salsa try some dry, but nothing really consistent yet. They do seem to be using the box more. Though mom had to put another box out for them in the corner they seemed to prefer. MOL

Margarita is a great mom. Though she is fascinated by what is on the other side of the bathroom door. It doesn't help that Daiquiri likes to sit on the other side and stick her paws under the door. Margarita doesn't seem too freaked out by the toes....so we will see in a couple of weeks of so how she does with the door open when they can actually see each other (and the kittens).

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Mom learned a little more about this family last weekend. She was talking to some colony caretakers with the rescue. This retired couple does TNR and cares for 7 (!!) colonies. Beginning of April they got a call about a mom and kittens. They went out - and mom jumped from a balcony on the THIRD FLOOR!! They got the kittens and left a trap for mom. They had her by that evening. Mom showed them pictures of everyone and assured them that Margarita is doing very well with us and is a people lover.

kittens

do they not kill you with the cute???

Tostada is the darker tabby girl

Taquito is the lighter tabby girl

Blanco...honestly, he is a whiny little guy....but adorable

sleeping girls

Margarita says "turn off the dang flashy box lady"

a momma's work is never done

Still no real interest in canned food or the litterbox, but we are sure they will get the hang of it. They are getting more and more mobile....and into the hoppy stage. They run forward, hop a couple of times, then fall over (cause gravity is a greater force when you are that short). They are super curious about mom and come over to check her out when she goes in and sits on the floor with them. They haven't discovered Daiquiri yet - she still hops the gate and sits outside the bathroom door. She has been told off a couple of times by Margarita, but when they caught sight of each other a couple of days ago, Margarita didn't get too worked up. So it may just be the closed door thing.

Fiesta Kitten Report

The kittens turned two weeks old on Saturday and are making steady progress getting bigger and learning to use their short legs.

 

Queso - 10 3/4 ounces

 

Salsa - 11 1/4 ounces

 

Blanco - 10 3/4 ounces

 

Taquito - 9 5/8 ounces

 

Tostada - 9 3/4 ounces

Margarita is a happy momma cat and takes such good care of everyone. Mom is still trying to get a good picture of the girl - Margarita keeps blinking.

The kittens don't howl quite as quickly when mom picks them up now. They tend to look at her and blink a few times before realizing something might be amiss. They are pretty wobbly but getting around for the most part. Another week or so and then the sames will really begin.

Fiesta kittens 9 days old

Mom weighed them on Saturday when they were officially a week old.

 

Queso - 7 3/4 ounces

 

Tostada - 6 3/4 ounces

 

Salsa - 7 3/4 ounces

 

Blaco - 7 3/8 ounces

 

Taquito - 6 3/4 ounces

Everyone is right on track - the boys are pretty equal and the girls are just a little bit smaller. And as of Sunday night, everyone but Blanco had their eyes open at least a little bit. Apparently he has decided there isn't anything that interesting he needs to see.

Margarita the mom cat is doing great with them and is pretty lovey with our mom as well. She only really gets distracted when there is there is the possibility of canned food being served or when she realizes Daiquiri has jumped the gate and is on the other side of the door.

random Fridays

We bid on a bed made by the mom over at Celestial Kitties

It came in the mail and has been of HIGH interest

(more for its ability to be hauled all over the house rather than sleeping on it)

Tim....the cat laundry was clean

but the lid wouldn't close (mom doesn't always fold)

So he knocked the lid off and climbed inside

Mom is thinking about going with a fiesta theme for the foster kitts and mom: mom cat would be Margarita, the orange kittens would be Salsa and Queso, the black kitten Blanco (cause if you are going to name kittens, why not be contrary as well), and the tabbies Taquito and Tostada. What do you think???