2012 in Review - Part 1

So we decided to look back over 2012.....we thought maybe do the highs and lows in separate posts but decided no one would want to read an entire post about the lows of the year. MOL  So we decided to run 6 months at a time.....here is the first half!!!

We started off 2012 with Caramel and Mocha......  Mocha was our tiny baby that mom discovered had an old rib injury that reminded us once again why we rescue....she is in a MUCH better place with her new family now. :)

We gotted our first new cat tree too!!

And this past spring was when things got heated in Florida as TNR came to the forefront with a hotel chain. We have said before that we are ALL for TNR and Junior is the best example.

Before the coffee kittens were adopted, Martin came to stay with us for a while. After he went back, the shelter decided he was going to have to go back to the woman who rescued him since his behavior was unpredictable. Mom ran into Miss Jen this fall and got to see a picture of Martin after Miss Jen found him a new forever home. YEAH for Martin!!

While we were trying to solve the mystery of Caramel's enduring snot, Cheerio came to spend some time with us. Mom has seen his mom at Petco a few times and while he is still shy, he has come around and routinely loves on his new dad. :)

In March we got a call about one of the cats that had been trapped and adopted by a neighbor. It seems that the lady was moving and rather than being responsible, she just left Madam outside. Fortunately, mom was able to catch her and after some minor drama, placed her at Petco and she was adopted by a very nice older couple.....

 The end of March brought a new adventure.  Marble and Silver came to the house. Marble had been spayed and Silver came in as a tiny orphaned kitten. The rescue got lucky and Marble decided that Silver was a nice baby and took her as her own.  You can read mom's favorite Silver memory here

 Oh yeah - and mom got new ink.....

April brought some serious sadness as we were joined by Louisa and her kittens who ran for the Bridge so very soon.....

May brought some serious craziness as we had Wendy and the fast food kittens and then Wild Bill, Annie, Sally Mae and Doc Holiday join us in a short period of time....Ultimately Wild Bill and Annie Oakley ran for the Bridge, but we are glad they got a chance to be loved and safe. And their mom got spayed and the neighborhood where they were found made an effort to do some serious TNR - so they did make an impact in several lives.

 OMG - can you believe that it was JUNE when the alcohol kittens joined us?????  Holy cats....

after staring at the picture, mom thinks the one up front might be Bourb

Stay tuned tomorrow for Part 2

One Word Wednesday....

NAP-ATTACK!!!

(yes, they are sleeping on the cable cord that comes out of the floor)

Variety.....

It may be the spice of life, but right now, it just makes mom's eyes roll in her head.  MOL

Us: we is all doing good. Maestro has his bad moments when his mind wanders off...somewhere. But mostly he is doing good. Junior and Spud insist on occasionally trying to kill each other and Mom is trying to diffuse it all. She was hoping the trees would help, but they still cross paths in a couple of tight corners and then the name calling starts....sometimes she can diffuse it and sometimes she doesn't see them.

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Wendy and the fast food kittens:

Wendy is a bit.....angry. Mom tried to put the outlaws in the bathroom to make it easy. Nope - she whapped Doc. And while she had been staying in the bathroom behind the baby gate, the other night she decided to sit OUTSIDE the gate. Which puts her right in front of the door to the room with our stuff. And she growls and hisses and calls us names. Oh, and she was singing the "let me out" song several times last night. Which is weird since she doesn't even LIKE being out.....

The kitts are doing well. They are scheduled to be neutered on the 21st, but mom isn't sure they are all going to make weight. Something about running off as many calories as they take in. MOL

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The outlaws:

Doc Holiday & Mustang Sally are doing well. Still kinda tiny, but outgoing. And Sally is ALWAYS hungry!! If mom gets up for something, Sally is sure it is to feed her NOW!!!! She follows mom around screaming. Mom feeds them canned 3-4 times per day - but she has to supervise since we kinda...well...may not leave them alone. :)
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Allie and her kittens:

With a negative test, it is now just about giving the kittens time to grow. They are in what mom calls the "ewok" stage. MOL Allie is eating and caring for the kids - though not a fan of mom. Or us for that matter - Tommy snuck down there and the cursing was pretty bad (from Allie and from mom). Mom wishes she had some tech skills cause it would be nice to put a web cam on the cage to see what they are doing down there (and when the kittens start eating on their own). But, Allie seems ok for now...
[ps from this morning - mom went down to clean up and feed everyone. most of the kittens came forward to greet her. AND...she saw the little gray (male) baby eating the dry food - hehehe]

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And a picture of the kid. Mom spent Wednesday at the zoo with her....

The polar bears were AWESOME!!!

more invaders....

First - could we ask a favor? Our grandma is having surgery today on her wrist and could use some purrs. They are having to put in a pin and freeze a joint due to arthritis.  THANKS

Also, mom got a text yesterday that made her all leaky. You know our friend Miss Kelly?? She had to help her old mancat Murphy over the Bridge yesterday. He had been diagnosed with the evil cancer about 4 months ago but was taking a chemo pill at home and doing ok. He had a great day outside with her on Saturday while she planted flowers. And then was sick Saturday night and most of Sunday. Mom says she doesn't know exactly what happened Sunday night, but she knows Kelly would have done whatever she could for Murphy. He showed up at her house in college at about a year old as a beat up tomcat and turned out FIV+. He regularly beat up her dog and was the true man of the house. Safe journey Murphy - and we love you Miss Kelly!!!

OK - so the teaser on Sunday....

Mom got a call Friday night. Grandma the cat was moving the kittens. The kids caught two but two got away. They have moved the trap and are going to keep trying, but mom says for all their good intentions, the kids aren't very quiet, so we don't have much hope about catching them. But we got our paws crossed.

Anyhow, mom came home Friday night with 2 more kittens. This crew is officially known as the Outlaws. You have met Annie Oakley and Wild Bill. Here are the two new ones:

Doc Holiday (male)

Mustang Sally (female)

Wild Bill has been spending some time in "time out" since he keeps trying to nurse on Annie (and not in a good way). But, while the "new" ones are bigger (yep, bottle babies just tend to be smaller - those momma cats do come in handy), they are teaching Wild Bill and Annie to eat off plate. And Sally cleans him up some, so that helps too. Friday night they spent in a crate, but they moved to baby jail on Saturday and have been in there ever sense - they aren't big enough yet to escape on their own. Annie is now crated as of this morning. The bigger two smoosh Bill to keep him from nursing. And Annie hasn't pooped in a day or so and mom wants to keep track of her - she may end up at the v-e-t tonight.