Remember These Guys?

Yes, Whiskey and Tango have made Rancho J2 their own now!! Aren't they looking great? All of Joy and Jim's hard work with these little ferals paid off so well. I guess we can take them down from the sidebar now! LOL!

Joy and Jim are still trying to round up Wally and they have their eye on snagging a couple more kittehs for TNR. Many of their visitors are quite feral - too feral to attempt adoption - as the Rancho's yard backs up to a wooded area. We wait (im)patiently for Wally to join us! Poor Sophie is longing for a boyfriend. ;-)

Sadly this weekend, both Hyacinth and meowmeowman lost well loved friends. And while I was on hiatus, Kea went through this, too. Tweety and Maggie and Annie are now waiting at the Bridge until their beans can join them. I saw many of you have been there to offer your support- that's something our little intertube community does so well. Here at the Casa, our thoughts and prayers are with them, too.

Murph & Rancho J2 Updates

We got an email from new mom Pati today!

I promised pics and here's a slightly fuzzy one to get started...Murph has perked up a lot overnight and seems to be more relaxed. Our others know something is going on behind the door and sit just on the other side. This morning, we opened the bathroom door, so Murph could venture into our room for a bit.

More pics to come over the next couple days as he gets some grooming done. His whiskers are crazy and his neck fur is almost a mane!
Pati

At Rancho J2

Socializing Whiskey and Tango continues. As with most socialization, it's a slow process but those small gains mean ever so much. Whiskey was treated for mastitis, and everyone is feeling much better after their surgeries.

Catnip...mmmmmm Whiskey as stoned kitteh (brother Tango had worn himself out).

And their quarantines are over... so happy to be back together again!

The Casa should be renamed "The Circus"

The cats are keepin' me busy... sorry there aren't any pics. Marley has suddenly decided to start chasing poor Winnie. *Sigh* He did this last night, too, but then left her alone all day... he's in time-out in my bedroom right now. Last visit, he got along with everyone. I suspect the crowded conditions, and the little ones keeping things stirred up, may have prompted some of this.

Generally, today was a bit more relaxed. The older kittehs are ignoring the youngsters more often, instead of warning them off every time they cross paths. The dweebs are a riot but, except for Winnie, the older cats do not seem amused. I, however, am eating it up. Now if only I could figure out a way for someone to pay me to stay home and play with them. ;-)

Kayla and Zimmer (Aggie & Percy) have chilled out as well. Today was almost like old times with Kayla draped over my arm and Zimmer curled up beside me while I read. I hate the the fact that they're segregated in their own quarters but, frankly, I don't think the GP could take the addition of two more new personalities right now. I split sleeping last night, starting out in the bed upstairs and finishing the night with them in the basement. Tonight that will be reversed.

Tomorrow will be the first day at work since the visitors arrived and the kittens have been out of quarantine... and I think I'll put Winnie and the kids in my bedroom to avoid any problems when I'm not here to referee. But, if things continue to mellow at the rate they did between yesterday and today, everyone should be getting along just great by the time Marley is ready to go home... LOL!

Catching up with Rancho J2

Will you just look at bright eyed Tango! He's in his favorite place, hanging around in the hammock. Nip recovery is proceeding normally and he's scheduled to go back to the vet next week for his final check up.

Things are looking up for Miss Whiskey. She's up and about now and keeping a sharp eye on her beans. She just got her last dose of Clavimox and is headed for check up tomorrow, so keep your paws crossed, please!

And here she is doing her cute thing. Irresistable, huh?? :-) Joy says she even accepts tummy rubs... sort of. Still got to be careful. That's a big incision.

Joy and Jim are hoping this is the last of the meds and that they can start being friends with this sweet duo again!!

Whiskey & Tango Update

I spoke to Joy this evening. Whiskey is resting well and is expected to make a complete recovery! Yay! The poor mite is exhausted. Joy and Jim are completely worn out, too.

Our little girl really doesn't like getting meds and, of course, J2 need to treat her very gently. She lets Joy pick her up and she and Jim work in concert to pry a slight gap to get the dropper in. So far no injuries to any party! ;-) Whiskey had been running a slight temp, but Joy reports that's come down with the meds. Today we had cool ears (also one of my "non-invasive" methods of telling).

Jim is checked out on dosing Tango by himself. A scruff grab... and as soon as Tango hisses (and he does, every time) in goes the medicine. Actually, Mr. Tango still hisses about everything, but then allows interaction. He's got a carrier in his crate as a "get away" spot but generally accepts petting.

Joy shared a little more about the babies' birth today. They were full term - in fact, quite big. The first kitten was malformed, which is why he stuck in the birth canal. The C-section was quite tricky. Doc Young was surprised Whiskey's uterus didn't rupture. The other three completely filled it and it was tricky getting them out. The babies were aspirated several times, and kept warm but did not breathe on their own. After the initial efforts, three of the lady vet techs carried the babies in...ummmm... "nature's warmer" so they could continually work on their breathing while keeping them cozy.

Sadly, it wasn't enough. At least Whiskey's babies knew warmth and love to the end. We are all so sad and Joy and Jim are deciding on names for the kittens. They will be laid to rest with their other pets and they are looking into an appropriate marker.

Thank you for rallying together for Whiskey and her babies - we have good news and sad news

Thank you, everyone, for pulling together for Whiskey and her babies. Sadly, we must tell you that the little scrapper departed this earth to be with his brothers and sisters. We can only imagine that #1 Son, the Kittenpalooza crew, Sarah, Tish and a host of others were there to welcome them.

Dr. Young said that, while their hearts were beating, essentially Whiskey's babies were stillborn, never having taken a breath on their own - and they tried for hours. Joy, Jim and Jess asked that I tell you how very appreciative they are for all the prayers and support. Their hearts are broken (Joy said she literally went through a box of tissues today) but they knew Whiskey's was a high risk pregnancy. She is only 8 months old - that's sort of like a 12 or 13 year old human giving birth. She's biologically capable of conceiving, but her body was not yet ready to nurture babies.

I know our audience is the choir, but this is yet another example of why it is so important to spay and neuter - early! Had Whiskey given birth in the wild, she would not have lived, either - her first baby was stuck in the birth canal. Had it not been for the long, hard work by the vets and techs (at the Banfield, White Marsh, PetSmart, where Joy and Jess volunteer), our Whiskey would not be with us.

But Whiskey is with us... and doing well... and that's cause to rejoice! She is resting comfortably and J2 has set up crates side by side in the living room for Whiskey and Tango to recover from their surgeries. Yes, Tango went in, as scheduled, for his neuter this morning before Whiskey's condition went into crisis. And now Joy & Jim have to figure out how to get two fiesty little semi-ferals to take their pain meds and amoxi!

Wish them luck and not too many scratches, folks (I know they'll do fine - they are two persistent humans!) and, once again, thank you for you immediate outpouring of support! You can't know how much it has meant!

Update: 11:01pm

You can almost see Tango saying, "I've had a rough day!" Joy will try to send some pics of Whiskey tomorrow - she's resting now and Joy doesn't want to disturb her. I told her not to worry about it... taking care of these two should be all she needs to concentrate on.

Thankful Thursday and Some Bits'n'Pieces

First month at TPCHS for no euthanasia of adoptable cats

It just keeps getting better. I know many of our readers frequent IBKC and Laurie wrote about the good news over at the Tacoma/Pierce County Humane Society the other day. I just heard from Sue at Pitter Pats that the great news made the local TV broadcast too!

I'm thrilled with their news, but just as thankful to be part of the adoption blog community that helped to make it happen... that's you, gentle readers!!! I'm so thankful that you all helped make the Butterbean Quarantine for kittehs a reality and that the Quarantine helped make this step forward toward the goal of being a no-kill shelter possible for the Humane Society.

A few words from Rancho J2

Please keep young Tango in your purrayers tomorrow as he goes to the vet to become a responsible mancat. Joy reports: "Tango is indeed still in a snit (after his last trip to the vet)... growls at me - swipes at me - but - I don't give up on him - I tell him in a soft voice that I love him even if he hates me... eventually - I at least get to pet his ears for a few seconds without getting torn apart. ;-)

Whiskey (our pregnant young lady) likes her belly rubbed. She makes like she is going to smack me - but as soon as I reach her belly - she lays down and stretches out."

J2 is making slow but steady progress with these two young ferals and we're sending out lots of positive energy as Tango goes for his snip and Whiskey nears her time to deliver.

We're still waiting for Spanky pictures

But in the meantime, Ann let us know a little more about the kittehs for whom she's looking for homes: "Spanky is very friendly; lets me pick him up and pet him. He's a bit greedy with the food, though, understandably. Noses away our little porch feral, Ms. Jones, a silky black cat with very dainty ways and a very shy and circumspect demeanor."

While we're greedy for pics, we understand that getting Spanky ready for adoption (and there is lots to do before he'll be ready) is top priority. After all, Ann did a bang up job of getting her last rescue Squinky ready and then, when he was, finding a wonderful furever home in record time!

About Waiting & Helping

At Rancho J2
Joy reports: Whiskey is still round... [This] is a picture from this morning - she let me get close without her ears being pinned down!

Tango ... is scheduled for [his snip] this Friday - they had an overbooking last week, and I couldn't get him in there. He is scheduled to be at the vets by 8:00, Friday the 14th.

To paraphrase Robyn over at L&H... GIVE TO US YOUR BABIES!!!

(And no mimicking Maura, do you hear us, Whiskey! There better be babies in there! *sigh* OK, if there weren't, that would be fine, too. Fewer babies is better, but this is probably the real thing!)

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We're pleased to introduce Tango and Whiskey!

But you won't find them on the sidebar as new fosters! Why? Because STScI staffer, Joy, and her hubby, Jim, are going to adopt them!

So why are they here on Space Paws? Well, it's a bit of story ('cause adventures are what we have around here!) ;-) Tango and Whiskey's story will likely involve new fosters for Space Paws. But first, let me introduce this duo...

Here is Tango, in Joy's arms, awaiting indignities at the hands of the vet today.

And here's Whiskey, clearly saying, "Keep your distance, lady!" today at home. You'll see why...

Last year, Tango and Whiskey's mom, Lil Bit, started hanging around Rancho J2 (Joy and Jim's). Try as they might to take her in, Lil Bit evaded capture and lived in the woods behind their home. She gave birth to these sweeties, secreting them somewhere in the woods, and taught them all her tricks of avoiding human kind whilst raiding any food proffered as an inducement to come closer.

Finally, just last month, J2 were able to trap the kittens. They were about seven months old and feral. Sadly, they discovered Whiskey was almost a month pregnant, even at her tender age. J2 quarantined them and began trying to socialize the pair. Whiskey, of course, can't have shots and whatnot yet because of her pregnancy. The socializing went pretty well, so J2 decided they would adopt. (Like we are surprised... not!)

Whiskey is set to give birth any day now. The vet is concerned about Whiskey's delivery because she is so young. J2 went out and purchased a baby monitor to keep in the quarantine area in case she goes into labor when they aren't in the room!! Fortunately, Whiskey is not heavily pregnant, and we are all praying for a very small, healthy litter. She's still a bit more standoffish than her brother, but she's coming around. (Hmmm... do you think hormones running amok in her system, and maternal instinct, could be factors here?)

Tango has had his shots and is slated to become a responsible mancat next Friday. Poor thing, he's not quite over the indignity of all the poking and prodding and testing and shots yet! The vet said he seemed quite feral until she saw Joy handling Tango without a problem... and then said, "Well, maybe it's just me." (Ha! If you came at my posterior with that hard, cold thing, and repeatedly jabbed me with sharp objects on our very first meeting, I wouldn't like you much either, lady!)

J2 are very concerned about the duo's mom, Lil Bit, because she was clearly pregnant again and, just recently, must have given birth. They tried very hard to get her before delivery but she is still as cagey as ever around humans... she is obviously taking circuitous routes back to her den, wherever it may be, to throw beans off the trail (clever girl). J2 are going to redouble their efforts to find her litter and trap her, too.

Joy, Jim and their daughter, Jess, are some of the unsung heroes I've told you about here at Space Paws. They've rescued, fostered and found homes for many a kitteh over the years in the pre-blog days. Let's all send out some positive energy for this pair and wish J2 good luck in their efforts to snag Lil Bit and her new brood.

And we have more news to come... foster mom, Ann (of our recently adopted Squinky) has found another kitteh and will soon be introducing us to her newest arrival!