Home for the Holidays

I am happy to report that Luke and Leia have found a home just in time for Christmas! Their foster mom has decided to keep them. They're also getting new names (yes, again!). Their mom once had a dog named Luke, and to her that name will always belong to him. So, she has decided to rename them Liam & Leila.

Here are their pictures as of eight weeks old - a little out of date because I was saving them for this announcement once it became official!







This blog is going back on hiatus for a few days for Christmas. Check back in a couple of weeks for new pictures of Liam and Leila after I visit them when I'm back in town!

Luke and Leia: Almost Six Week Old

Luke and Leia turn six weeks old on Wednesday. Their new foster mom (can I still call her "new" now that she's had them almost twice as long as I did?) sent some updated pictures this morning. Both the pictures and the kittens look great!

I love this picture of Leia. Look at those wide eyes!


Luke is turning into quite a handsome fellow.


Playing together. Looks like they're still the best of pals.

Luke and Leia at Four Weeks

Luke and Leia turned four weeks last Wednesday. Their new foster mom sent me some pictures which I'm just now getting around to posting. They sure are growing up fast!

Leia with her new buddy.


Luke in a rare quiet moment.


Awwww.....

New Beginnings

On Thursday, Luke and Leia moved in with their new foster mom. Leia gave me a nice going away present. Her eyes fully opened that day, so I was able to get some pictures of her beautiful new baby blues before she left.

The kittens saw the vet prior to meeting their new mom. Turns out those marks on their faces, paws, and bottoms were just their natural colors growing in, not ringworms, burns, or anything else wrong. Nice to hear, although it does make me feel a bit silly! Plus, I missed out on getting to keep them a little longer because of it. Still, it worked out well, and I was able to meet their new mom that evening. She's a really nice lady who will take very good care of them. I am confident they're in good hands.

Before the kittens left, I thought it would be fun to repeat some of the photos I took of them when they first arrived to see how much they've grown. It is absolutely amazing how much bigger they are than they were just 11 days earlier. Luke fit easily into the palm of my hand with plenty of room to spare when he first arrived. Now, he spills over so much I had trouble even getting the shot!

Leia, who could once have curled up onto a one-dollar bill is now both much longer, and much chubbier than the greenback.

They both weighed over 11 ounces before their last feeding at my house Thursday. They were barely more than four when they arrived.

Luke and Leia aren't the only two of my foster kittens who have moved on to new beginnings. Tiny little Dwayne, whose photo graces the top banner of this blog, is now a beautiful, 3-pounder who has tons of energy and looks amazing! His coat is nice and shiny now, and he's healthy and playful. He goes by the name Chewie (short for Chewbacca), and has two adults, three kids, and a big brother cat to play with. It's really remarkable how great he looks now. Here he is posing for the camera, and playing with his big brother Shadow.

Shadow is a gorgeous Egyptian Mau. He has a nice, shiny coat too. Obviously, the felines in this family are eating well!

I am now on my annual vacation to Arizona and Nevada. This blog will be on hiatus until I return. For now, as Leia appears to be saying in this picture below, see ya!

Eye Watch II

Leia's eyes have made a lot of progress during the last 24 hours. Just like Luke, she has one that's opening faster than the other. Unfortunately, I will probably not be able to see them fully open.

My time with Luke and Leia is coming to an end. Today, I found out that the little marks that have been showing up on their mouths, feet, and buttocks could be ringworm, which means they have to see the vet that visits the shelter on Thursdays. This means the kittens will be going back tomorrow instead of Saturday. Their new foster mom is taking them in early so they don't have to make another trip. The good news is, it sounds like they are going to be in great hands. I spoke to their new mom on the phone tonight, and she seems like a really nice lady. Hopefully, she'll send over the occasional picture even!

Leia's First Steps

After Leia's latest feeding this evening, she surprised me by sitting straight up in my lap, then standing and taking two very wobbly steps before she resorted back to crawling. I immediately took her over and sat her on a towel to see if she would do it again for the camera. She couldn't quite get all four legs straight this time, but she's getting there. That meowing in the background is Luke protesting the five-minute delay in getting his dinner!



...speaking of Luke, here's the latest photo of his peepers, which are pretty much all the way open now. I made it black and white (translation: bad lighting stunk up an otherwise nice photo, and the easiest way to save it was to lose the color).

Eye-Opening Experience

Today's photo is brought to you by Luke and his new eyeballs. After so many feedings in the past nine days, it's so strange to now see two little eyes looking back up at me. Leia's eyes are coming along too, but still not opened enough to get a good picture. Hers seem to be running maybe a day and a half behind Luke's.

Lazy Afternoon

The Eye Watch continues. Luke's eyes are now about 2/3 open, and he acts like he can see a bit. Leia's eyes are about where Luke's were this time yesterday--that is, her eyes are visible through a pinhole-size opening in corner of her eyelids.

The kittens woke up this morning with huge appetites, likely because their foster mom accidentally set the alarm for PM instead of AM (ack!). Apparently, they were afraid it might be another six hours before they got to ate again, so they wolfed down KMR every two hours until noon. Then, they went to sleep and didn't wake up until nearly 5:00, and that's only because I checked on them which woke them. They promptly drained far more formula than the foster care book the shelter gave me says they should have in a single feeding--and less than three hours later, wanted to eat again. Apparently, they haven't read the book! If I try to cut them off at what they're "supposed" to have, they protest loudly and pitifully, so after double-checking with the vet techs, I guess I'll just keep letting them pig out.

One of the reasons I'm not concerned that they're over-feeding is because they don't have the symptoms. They're not aspirating through their nose when they're eating. They're not throwing up. Most importantly, unless I'm feeding them the pre-mixed KMR, they don't have diarrhea. In fact, they have the opposite problem, which is what Leia is dealing with at the moment. She's working on her second straight day without a poop in sight. I have to say, as much as I am going to miss the kittens, and regret that I won't be able to finish raising them after this week, one thing I will not miss is the potty stimulation. I haven't been this preoccupied with poop before in my life. Hopefully, their next foster mom will have the magic cure for their finicky little bowels.

Luke took a little stroll this evening after dinner. He was restless, crying, and pawing the sides of the nest box. Since he was still so stuffed from his last feeding only an hour earlier, I decided maybe he just needed to stretch his legs a bit. I put him on the floor on a big towel so he could crawl around and try out his freshly-opened eyeballs on some new turf. He seemed to enjoy having a break from the nest. He started purring, and played "find mommy" with my finger an inch or two in front of his face. Afterwards, he curled up on my lap and finally went to sleep.

Eye Witnessing

There's something of a vigil going on at my house this weekend. Luke and Leia are now 10 days old, which means their eyes should be opening any time now. It's very likely they'll be getting their first glimpse of the world (and me!) before the weekend is over. In fact, it looks like Luke's eyes are beginning to open already. The lids have unsealed a little on the inner corners, revealing a tiny bit of the eyeball underneath. It wouldn't surprise me if his eyes are all the way open by morning.

The kittens are really growing fast! Leia is now 8 3/8 ounces, and Luke is hovering around 8 ounces. He's caught up to his sister in a hurry! They have both nearly doubled their weight since their arrival here a week ago. Their growth is most noticeable in their heads and paws, but really they're just filled out more all over. They've certainly come a long way from those scrawny little things they were a week ago, and they are eating like little pigs!

Pooping continues to be a challenge, though. In fact, I am convinced that they both have IBS! OK, probably not really, but in the last couple of days, they've gone from constipation to "pudding poo", as one of the vet techs so accurately described it. At least it appears they're finally going regularly now.

One thing that has really helped make "potty" time a lot less stressful on them is to do it on my lap (with a thick washcloth under them, of course) as part of their post-meal grooming, instead of holding them over the sink. They don't seem to like being picked up in the first place, so being picked up and having someone rub a wet rag over their delicate little tushies was enough to evoke loud screaming from them. It was getting to where they'd even hiss when I tried to pick them up for any reason, because they seemed to associate my smell with this unpleasantness instead of the fun stuff like eating and cuddling. So instead of holding them over the sink to potty, I've started giving them little "spit baths" with a warm paper towel or cotton ball after they eat, kind of like a momma cat would with her tongue. I start with their faces, then work my way down. By the time I get to their bottoms, they're nice and relaxed and purring instead of screeching at the top of their lungs. Now, the only time they have to endure being held over the sink is when I'm cleaning them up after they poop. Aside from occasionally having to change my clothes afterwards, this seems to be much easier on them and me. So, I'm sticking with it for as long as it keeps working!

Photo of the Day

I meant to write a much longer post tonight, but I ended up working late, so I'm going to save it for tomorrow. In the meantime, here's a photo that got preempted yesterday by the smooch.

Smoochin'

Here are Luke and Leia living up to their Star Wars namesakes, although, in the movie, it was Leia planting the smooch on her brother not the other way around!

One-Week Birthday

Seven days ago, two tiny kittens were introduced to the big wide world. Almost immediately, they learned how cruel and unfair that world can sometimes be. Today, they celebrated their one-week “birthday” with... Umbilical cord-free tummies Five warm bottles of KMR (so far) Lots of cuddling Being “pooped” by a professional Being "pooped" by an amateur who's learning New names

Last things first – When I picked the names Callie and Cole for the kittens, I forgot to check the Operation Kindness website to make sure those names weren’t already in use. Turns out, the name “Callie” is taken by this little gal. So, since I was already regretting having missed a golden opportunity to make my nephew’s day, I am now renaming these little ones after a pair of fraternal twins from the Star Wars genre:

Re-introducing Luke and Leia. The names kind of fit. Kitten Leia is a little spitfire who isn't afraid to speak her mind, much like the movie Princess Leia. Kitten Luke is a lot stronger than he appears, just like the young Jedi. And like their Star Wars namesakes, they lost their mom shortly after birth.

Luke and Leia started their day by losing their last physical connection to their long lost mother. That might sound sad, but somehow, I don’t think they’re going to miss having to drag around those dried umbilical cords. I know I won’t miss having to move them out of the way during every feeding and cleaning!

Next on the list was making Luke poop! He hadn’t gone in nearly 48 hours, despite my efforts to stimulate him after every feeding. Part of this is probably my fault. The kittens squeal so much during this unpleasant routine that I was afraid I was irritating their little bottoms. I was giving up if I didn’t see poop within about 30 seconds or so, and assuming that they just didn’t need to go. I called the shelter’s vet tech line about the problem yesterday. They told me to bring him in Thursday afternoon if he still hadn’t gone. However, the worry-wart in me just couldn’t let it be. This is my first time to foster bottle babies, and I didn’t want to lose one over something silly like poop. When he still hadn’t gone this morning, I took him across the street to my regular vet to make certain he wasn’t in any immediate danger. Well, it’s probably no surprise that someone who’s been working with animals for years is a much better poop-stimulator than I am! It took a while (I heard crying for over five minutes), but Luke finally pooped. He went again this afternoon, this time with me doing the deed. I’d like to think that maybe I’ve finally gotten the hang of it, but that's what I thought on Monday. So, this time I’ll just do my best and be a little more persistent with it than I have been. Regardless, many thanks to the Valley Ranch Pet Clinic for making me sleep better tonight (not to mention doing it for free!).

One other good thing came out of the vet visit today – I now know that Luke is definitely male.

Sleepyheads

Snapped this earlier today. Aren't they sweet?

Hopefully, they're dreaming about Nice Mommy who feeds them and not Mean Mommy who tortures them with warm wet washcloths (futilely for the most part today) to make them poop!

The First 48 Hours

Sorry for the lack of update yesterday. Callie and Cole Luke and Leia kept me busy all day! For the first 48 hours, they wanted to be fed every two to two and a half hours, day and night. I suddenly have a much better understanding of what my friends and family who have kids went through when their little ones were newborns!

The first couple of days has been all about learning something new, both for the kittens and for myself. The bottle feeding was very awkward at first. The kittens weren't happy because the bottle doesn't feel like "mom", and I wasn't comfortable with it either. It took several feedings, and lots of adjusting the nipple before I was confident I could feed them without (a) worrying they'd get too much and choke themselves or (b) not get enough and go hungry. Good thing the kittens helped out by giving me lots of opportunity to practice I guess! There's nothing like trying to perform an awkward, uncomfortable task at 4am, knowing you hold two tiny, fragile lives in your hands.

A second important task when taking care of kittens this young is helping them "go potty". The mother cat normally handles this job by licking their bottoms until they poop or urinate. With mom gone, that responsibility now falls to me. It goes something like this...



...without the singing in my case.

This is probably a good time to mention to the non-family members reading this that I am one of those people who has a very low tolerance for visual "ickiness". It makes me nearly throw up just looking at poop, let alone having to rub a warm wet washcloth over a kitten's behind and risking the poop actually falling into my hand! The kittens don't seem too fond of this routine either, nevertheless, it is needed after every meal. Like the bottle feeding, this was a bit awkward the first few times I tried it, even aside from the ick factor. Apparently, I've gotten the hang of it. They seem to be pooping and urinating regularly now, which was not the case yesterday.

Today, I have noticed two things. First, their last two feedings have blessedly been nearly four hours apart. This is much more in line with what the shelter's foster care manual said to expect, and hopefully means a bit more sleep is in my foreseeable future. Second, I've noticed their personalities starting to emerge.

It looks like Cole Luke may become a typical lap cat. He's not as active as Callie Leia. After his feedings, he seems to really enjoy a little cuddling, and will role over on his back so you can rub his tummy.

Callie Leia is the stereotypical spitfire. She really lets you have it when she wants fed or is unhappy about something (such as the aforementioned poop stimulation routine!). When she's awake, she's always in motion. She's kind of her own worst enemy sometimes when it comes to feeding. She's so eager to get started that she tries a little too hard to find the bottle, making it harder to actually get it into her mouth! She also seems to enjoy a little cuddling after her feedings, but she tends to wander around on your lap and rub her head on your hands, rather than just lying down and relaxing.

Both kittens purred for me after their feedings today. That may have been the exact moment I realized I'm so very glad I got to foster them, regardless of the work involved, the lack of sleep, or their uncertain future. Whatever else happens, it gives me a warm feeling knowing I could bring a little bit of joy into their lives after they got off to such a rough start.

The kittens have now set a new "record" for time between feedings, so I should be hearing from them any minute! Based on the first 48 hours, I can't promise I'll be able to update this site every day, but I'll post as often as I can. In the meantime, here's a quick look at how small they are. This is Callie Leia (the larger one) lying next to a dollar bill. I shot it this afternoon, so this is after the half ounce she's gained in the last two days!

Two Uncertain Beginnings

Meet Callie and Cole Luke and Leia. These poor things are orphans just three days after birth. Apparently their mom went away one morning and never came back. They haven't even lost their umbilical cords yet!Callie and Cole Luke and Leia obviously have a rough road ahead of them. Fortunately, so far, they seem to be up for the fight. I've had them since about 4:00 this afternoon, and they appear to be eating and "pottying" well. They seem to have plenty of energy too. Callie Leia, especially, has a lot of spunk for such a tiny little thing. I've been warned not to expect too much, but maybe they'll defy the odds and grow up to be healthy and beautiful cats. At the moment, they're barely half a cup size: 4 3/8 ounces for Callie Leia and 4 1/4 ounces for Cole Luke.

Two Happy Endings

I am happy to report that both Benny and Dwayne have found homes. Benny was adopted by a nice lady I may have had the privilege of meeting a day earlier when I was at the shelter. It was nice to see him one last time before he moved on to his permanent home.

Dwayne has found a home with my sister's family. Officially, he is my oldest nephew Duncan's first pet, although he seems to be making friends with all three of the kids, even four-year-old Dave! Dwayne has been re-christened Chewie, short for Chewbacca. Duncan is a huge Star Wars fan.

Chewie is now about 11 weeks old. He has grown a lot, most noticeably his legs and ears, both of which have lengthened. His eyes have also changed color from gray to green. Here is an updated picture taken four days ago.

Parting Shots

With this being the kittens' last night here, I fully intended to let them enjoy the entire day without any camera flashes disrupting their play. But then they started doing cute things...

...like this:

...and this:

...or posing perfectly still and looking at the camera:

...or doing more cute stuff:

...and of course, checking out the size 10's:


It has been a pleasure looking after these little guys the past three weeks. They have been a lot of fun, and have made my first foster experience a very rewarding one. I've watched Dwayne grow from 14 ounces all the way up to nearly two pounds. I've seen Benny transform from a shy and withdrawn little fellow into a playful bundle of endless energy. Most importantly, two kittens who had never met before are now best friends and brothers.

Less than 24 hours from now, Benny and Dwayne will begin the next part of their life's journey which hopefully will lead them quickly to a permanent home. Once they're back at the shelter, you'll be able to check this page at Operation Kindness if you think that home might be yours.

Photo-palooza!

It’s hard to believe that it's been nearly three weeks since Benny and Dwayne became pint-size house guests in my home! As the kittens near the end of their stay, I have been trying hard to get lots of photos to remember them by. These are a few of my favorites in the last couple of days:

Here is Dwayne showing off his pretty eyes. He's grown a lot since he first came here, but his most striking feature is still that wide-eyed innocence.

Benny's not a big fan of having his picture taken, or even sitting still long enough to have his picture taken! This was a rare moment where he was a) motionless long enough to be something other than a blur, and b) not blinking at the flash! Isn't he a beauty? He hardly resembles the scrawny little all-legs and all-ears thing he was when he arrived.

Speaking of changes, I purposefully took a shot of Dwayne that was similar to one I took his first day here. Look how nicely he's filled out!
09/04/08	09/23/08

I'm having a very tough time getting a photo of the kittens together when they're both awake and actually looking at the camera. I'm not crazy about this one, but it's the best I've been able to do so far.

Here is Exhibit A in the difference of personality between the two. Dwayne has a case of the sleepy's (in my lap, of course!) while Benny still wants to play.

I'm re-posting this one because it's still my favorite. Dwayne smelling the feather "flower".