Kayla and Zimmer Update from Ali

Oh, I was so happy to see the inbox this morning! Ali called last night for a chat and said she'd send a few pics our way! Yay! So, without further ado, here are the former Aggie and Percy!

"Biker Cat": Zimmer seems to have a leather obsession. He will rub up against my purses, and when I left one of my leather jackets on the couch one day, I came back to find him rolling around inside of it and rubbing up against it.

"The Laptop-Top": Kayla loves to cuddle, but she also loves to sit on my laptop instead of my lap, sometimes. I really should get one of those software programs that blocks "cat like" typing...

"Humans Are An Excellent Heat Source": When we had the cold spell here in DC last week, the heat in my apartment building wasn't turned on...The cats wisely decided to seek out the only other heat source in the apartment. Also, out of view in this photo is the TV, but from the direction the cats are looking they apparently find "Burn Notice" episodes quite engaging...

"Peace In Our Time": After 10 months of living here, FINALLY Kayla and Zimmer can occasionally be seen sleeping near one another or engaging in mutual grooming. :)

Zimmer continues the trend begun when he was born the largest kitten in his litter, weighing in at an impressive 14 pounds. More ladylike Kayla weighs in around 9 or 10. They are spoiled cats who are wonderful companions and whose main role in life is to sit on the couch with "mommy" and cuddle and get pet all night, then follow me to bed and sleep next to me all night.

So, how do you spell lucky? Ali, Kayla and Zimmer, that's how! Great to see the guys again! Thanks, Ali!

PSA Updates & Zimmer vs. Trudy Smackdown, Part II

PSA Updates - Happy, Happy News!!

What can I say, guys? You rock! The kitteh intertubes came through again! First I heard that the little midnight momma found a foster family and, when I checked in on Robin's blog, where we first read about this, discovered she soon found a furever home!! Go on over and read all about it!!

And, over at IBKC, they're 1/3 of the way to goal and yesterday's Drewey Memorial "Embrace Your Inner Crank" challenge netted over $3K (which goes toward the goal) to be directed to help senior kittehs!! I am just dying over the imaginative daily challenges for the fundraiser - whoever came up with this idea was brilliant!

Zimmer vs. Trudy Smackdown, Part II

Here are the rest of the pics from the wrestling match yesterday (again, sorry for the lousy cell pics, but they woke me up doing this and I grabbed what was handy)...

An early pin and Zimmer contemplates his next move.

It's a classic ear gnaw!

Trudy squirms for better position, initially looking like she's gotten herself into deeper trouble.

But no! Now she's perfectly positioned to punish Zimmer with bunny kicks!

Exhausted, the opponents consider their options.

Wisely, they choose lovin' rather than fightin'. Mutual grooming ensues! What's this???? Zimmer!!!! You rogue! You don't know her well enough for that!!

Urgent PSAs and Last Day with Kayla and Zimmer

Georgia Area Reader Alert!! Important - Euthanasia Tomorrow!

A reprise of our post on Sunday... it is important because tomorrow, this lovely young mother will meet an untimely fate.

If you are a Georgia area reader, or if you have friends in that area, please do spread the word! Click on her pic or click here, to go through to the post on Robin's blog, for more details.

She's beautiful and friendly. Unfortunately (1) no one could find her kittens and (2) because of the low adoption rate of black cats, she is one of the first in line for euthanasia. Spread the word, please... post, email to your freinds in the Georgia area... you know the drill!

6/30 1pm - Update over at Jan's... Yay! Foster care still needed but she will not die today!

DC Area Short-Term Fosters Needed ASAP

If you are in the DC area, please consider this if you've ever been interested in fostering... it's not the usual long term foster commitment - it's for 10 days. The shelter has had an unexpected influx of 20 cats due to an eviction. Pop on over to Bethany's blog, Capital Animals, for details. If you have friends in the DC area, please spread the word.

It Figures They Wait Until The Last Day

Found the connetor - it and the iPhone cord are safely hidden, now! But the stuff from yesterday will have to wait because today is even better!

Forgive the somewhat blurry cell pics but it was happenin' and I didn't want to miss it. Zimmer and the kids decided to get down to some serious fun. This morning unassuming Zimmer was peacefully laying at the foot of the bed...

When two little hellions appear and everybody gets into a genuine free for all!

We had bunny kicking, and choke holds and going for the jugular... all in good fun!

Tomorrow the one-on-one between Trudy and Zimmer.

Here's a preview of the end of the encounter... it just got better. You guessed it... mutual grooming.

*sigh* Why did they have to wait for the last day to really let their hair down? Oh, we'd had some chasing and pouncing and whatnot, but this was just a joy to watch. What a way to wake up!! :-)

Kayla and Zimmer are back at Ali's this evening. *Sniff* Not to worry... the summer is long and DC is close. I predict a visit in my near future!

Torqued Tuesday

Well folks, I have pics and video for you but I can't get them off of the camera because there is a thief among us!! SOMEONE HAS STOLEN THE CONNECTOR!! I suspect Kayla, actually. She never used to do this, but several times I've caught her nibbling at cords and once she tried to abscond with my iPhone cord. I will look around the house again tomorrow. I can't find it anywhere in the vicinity of the desk. Grrrrrrrr.

Tomorrow Kayla and Zimmer (Aggie and Percy) will go back to Ali. Maybe.

OK, I'll do it only because she'd cry or get mad or something... but it sure has been nice having them back... especially this last week when we've been just one big happy. I never expected to be able to spend a bunch of quality time with them again when they went off to Ali's - this was a real blessing. So I'm going to head off to bed, and shut the door to the bedroom and have one last night of cuddling with just the two of them.

Since I don't have any pics, I'll just leave you with this reminder....

Only 25 days left folks.... Let's ROCK this fundraiser.

Just a couple of shots from the last week

It's been great to have a ton of time with the kittehs this vacation week. So I have lots of great content for the blog, right? Nope!

Did something really radical... I've been luxuriating in just being with them. Playing, napping, petting while they relaxed on my lap and I read. Did I mention napping? No running around looking for the flashy box. In other words, really taking a vacation! And, as you may have noticed, I mostly "unplugged," too.

We've got 9 right now... my 4, 3 fosters and 2 for summer camp. Kayla and Zimmer (Aggie & Percy) got the run of the new kitchen/dinning area after Marley went home last Saturday. And they joined the General Population on Tuesday... absolutely no integration problems. I suspect the GP got comfortable with them through the glass.

Kayla immediately took over the computer desk.

Does she look like she's at home or what? Do you think she remembers her days here as Aggie? Probably not, but I'm glad they relaxed in so easily.

As I mentioned, there was a lot of napping going on. Here's a blind shot during one nap with the cell. Trudy is a cuddler extraordinarie! The cuddle trust of the little ones always swells my heart.

Trudy really wants to cuddle with the big cats. As yet none, including Winnie (who does do some mothering), will snuggle down to sleep with them. She is eternally hopeful, however. Percy was relaxing on the table and Trudy jumped up. Pretty soon I could see she was moving closer and closer.

Here you can see her edging just a little closer (it was dim and I didn't want to miss this so sorry about dark pics). The two stayed like this for quite a little while.

That's construction material from the renovation behind them, by the way. The guys have really liked the old table I'm using as a credenza, while we're in progress, and absolutely hated it when the plywood went behind it, cutting off easy access to the staircase and their ability to cavort between the rails!

It's been the hottest week of the year, so far, here in B'more (leave it to me to pick a sweltering week for vacation). There's no central air so we've largely been taking it easy at the Casa. Hmmmm... maybe there's a benefit to living without all of the modern conveniences - it really has been a lazy summer week!

Lawrence Meets Zimmer... Friends to be?

Hi folks! Things are still cranking at the Casa... kitten lovin', visitor lovin' and General Population lovin' (plus, you know, the job at the 'tute and all) are just more than I anticipated!! Can't wait until next week when I should have some time to get back to visiting and regular postings.

In the meantime, here's a quick one of Zimmer (our former Percy, who is visiting) and Lawrence. Little Lawrie zipped into the back room when I went in to visit with Kayla and Zimmer - who now have the new kitchen/dining room, as well as the front basement. I'm holding out some pretty high hopes of friendly interaction in the coming days. Lawrie is fearless, just like Zimmer was, back in the day!

Zimmer's First Birthday!

Today is Zimmer's first birthday!!! And I am so happy it's being spent here at the Casa! Ali is away on business but she provided us with good noms and festive acoutrements for the occasion. She said she'd like a pic of Zimmer in his birthday hat, and I really did try, but he was much more interested in playing with it than in wearing it. So we took this video instead. Success! Sorta! :-)

Zimmer and Kayla are being hosted in the basement suite and it's furnished with a couch and bed and rug and cat tree and stuff. Unfortunately, I paid no attention to background when setting up this shot... just looked for someplace to prop the camera and shoot... LOL!



My sincere apologies to Ali for calling Zimmer by his old name. He was Percy to me a lot longer than he's been Zimmer... that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

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!

Murph is in His Furever Home

Hi folks, spoke to Pati today. The family drove down to MD and picked up Murph this afternoon. He's now tucked in their bath in order to have some time to relax and adjust to his new surroundings. They'll give him a few days of "just family" interaction to let him get acclimated before they introduce him to his new furblings.

The kids are very excited about the new addition to their family (they know all about proper treatment of cats, having lived with them all their lives) and accompanied mom and dad to pick Murph up today. Murph was quite anxious on the drive so they carefully let him out of his carrier to sit with the kids. Murph settled happily next to young Ian... but after a while Ian lamented, "Mom, I think I'm going to need a new seat... Murph is crowding me out!" How sweet is that!

Pati reports Murph had been brought current on his shots and is still experiencing a little bit of after affects. He's enjoying the cool of the bath tiles right now. He's also going to get a lot of gentle grooming over the next weeks to bring his coat back to it's lustrous state.

Congratulations, Murph & family!! Wishing you many long years together... and we'll be waiting anxiously for more news and pics.

More Needs on the Interubes

Please do check the right sidebar and click through. Love & Hisses has posted two AL situations: One is an owner death, necessitating quick adoption of three shy kitties, and the other is SNAP needing funds to spay and neuter a colony of feral bobtails. Amy of the House of Cats has let us know about six Meesers in KY, in a high kill shelter due to another owner death situation.

We can't always help personally, but we can link, post, offer our purrayers and support and maybe a green paper or two!

Back at the Casa

Well, in the flurry of activity surrounding Murph's rehoming, I didn't report that the babies got their first shots on Tuesday!! Doc gave me some ointment for Lawrie's left eye, which has been a bit irritated. Other than that, they're a hale and hearty little duo.

And, since they'd been with Sonia a couple of days before they came to me, Trudy and Lawrie came out of quarantine on Thursday. Winnie took right to the little guys. The other residents, not so much.

No overt hostility toward the babies, but plenty of warning off from Annie (no surprise), Peggy Sue (disappointing, but not surprising, since Peggy Sue arrived Friday and has had to adjust to being back at the Casa) and Grey (big surprise... he's usually a teddy bear - maybe just too much change all at once with Peggy Sue coming back and the babies coming out). Bitty has been keeping to the catwalk and higher regions of the Casa and has been quietly watching the interactions. Poor little kittens, they're getting used to hisses a lot faster than I'd hoped.

But the babies do have one friend and champion. Forgive the loud fan in the background... it doesn't seem to make that much of a racket in real life... LOL!

There is officially no more room at the inn!

Kayla and Zimmer (Aggie and Percy) are installed, in their own quarters, in the finished basement for the next 3 1/2 weeks while Ali is traveling for work (more on that tomorrow). The gang, however, seem very aware they are there. And handsome Marley is back with us for a week and will spend nights in my bedroom to give the General Population some down time from all the newness. Everyone is adjusting but there's been a bit more hissyness than usual among the GP.

Since I wasn't expecting to be fostering kittens when I said "yes" to visitors, or that Peggy Sue would have left and then returned, I'm praying this isn't too much change, too fast, for everyone's nerves. I'd hate to think this is overloading my sweet gang - especially Grey. The babies will spend tonight in the bathroom, just to give the adults a break. Hopefully tensions will ease over the next couple of days as everyone gets used to the new cast of characters. Fingers crossed!

Wordless Wednesday

Time to have fun: Let's Spend Amy's Tax Refund!!

Ok, we don't really know if Amy got a refund or not, but she has offered to make our tax day a little more fun!

It's time to on over to Amy's House of Cats now! All day today, 4/15, Amy is donating 25 cents for every comment made on her blog! Tell everybody you know to go! Let's make this a fundraiser to remember!

And yes, we got our taxes done tonight here at Space Paws... thanks for your patience and just a little more, please! Now I've got to catch up on all those things I put off in order to get the taxes done! LOL! Regular posting should recommence by Friday! To tide you over, here's another peek at posts to come from our visit with Zimmer and Kayla!

Zimmer sez, "Haz u done ur taxes? No? Den whatcha doin' lookin at me?"

Happy tax day everyone!

'Member me?

Hai! Zimmer here. A couple of days ago the lady I used to live with came to the house to see Kayla and me and Mom. She smelled really interesting... and sorta familiar, but I'm not sure. She kept calling me Percy and I kept having to remind her I'm Zimmer now!

Anyway, she said there were lots of people who looked at my baby pictures and would like to see me again. So, I put up with the flashy box. She took 92 pictures and a couple of videos so you'll be seeing us for a couple of days, I bet! I picked out some of the fun ones of me, and then Kayla will get a turn. I get to go first 'cause I'm the mancat. (Don't tell Kayla!)

Mom has a whole drawer of toys for us. She plays with us all the time and says I need exercise or my tummy will get too big. I like exercise! Here, I'll show you:

Besides playing, Mom says I like pets the best. She says I do a good meerkat imitation when I ask to be petted. Whatever that is.

Mom got a nice new couch. The couch is good for snuggling, for playing and it makes a really good springboard to our cat tree. Here's Mom using it to pet me.

But the best thing in the whole world is when Mom hugs me! We hug in bed, on the couch, on the chair, on the floor. I even make her put down the 'puter thingy and hug me instead of tickling its belly. I don't know why she likes that thing. It doesn't even purr.

But I do! 'Specially when she hugs me!

See you later!

Zimmer

Photo Hunt (and Rerun)

Cruising around the cat blogosphere this morning I saw a number of "photo hunt" shots featuring threes. Well, my favorite photo posted to date is a lousy cell shot but it does feature three. :-) More important, it just makes me all mushy.

You may remember Miss Aggie wasn't really social when she came to us in May. In December we had a breakthrough with her allowing other residents and fosters to lounge near her (sometimes touching!!!) while contentedly purring up a storm. It's only a still, but when I shot this, I could distinctly hear grand dame Winnie, perky Percy and (formerly) antagonistic Aggie each rumbling away! It was a very good day.

Integration update & Snow makes Kayla and Zimmer quite happy!

Ahhh... it was too good to last. ;-) Lilo's been hissing and growling a bit when other kittehs come too close for her comfort, but actually the vocalizations are still less than other new adult fosters when they first meet the General Population. No altercations just polite distance at this point.

Update on Kayla and Zimmer

Well, Ali's kittehs have been in 7th heaven with all this snow - their bean has been home for 6 days straight! They've gotten quite used to having their resident pet machine at their beck and call. Enjoy it guys, it'll probably not happen again for quite a while! Here are some pics from mom, Ali:

Why, yes, I DO own the place.

We love the cat tree!

The purrfect bureaucat.

I know the mice are in here...

Catnip bliss.

A true Washingtonian... wears his tags 24/7.

A Letter to the Purrez and a PSA from Jan

Some items just in, so we'll save our Kona & Jasper update for tomorrow...

(Actually, I'm just being selfish with these lovely ready made posts!)

A Letter to the Purrez

Dear Mister Purr-sident: We encourage you to close the government down more often, so that our pet, Ali, can stay home and serve our every whim, as is only proper, instead of working long hours, as she usually does. And while we usually would shudder to do the bidding of a *dog*, we feel obliged to mention that your own owner, Bo, feels the same way...

Kayla and Zimmer

I'm sure the kittehs here at Space Paws would like to express the same feelings to the administrators of STScI. :-)

Good Samaritan Laws for Animal Rescue?

Our friend Jan just did a post regarding a lady who is being prosecuted for trying to help two clearly neglected dogs. It doesn't appear Ms. Thayne was intrusive or ridiculous in her suggestions for improved care. It's a shame that the organization will need to spend its time and resources defending reasonable actions instead of devoting themselves to education, awareness and help. PA readers, take note!