juliadgaddis

[juliadgaddis]

Happy Birthday, Dear Wylla!

 Though it's been almost 3 years since Wylla got better and started living her life like a normal cat, not a day passes that I don't think about how grateful I am that she is healthy and here.  Our girl turns a whopping five years old today.  FIVE! A wonderful milestone -- she's had more healthy years than not. It's funny to think back to when we first met our Wee Wylla -- that adorable odity, the stoutest of all the Stouts,  the cutest thing ever. When we first saw this little face we had no idea what was to come -- we did not know then that she would soon be ours. And thank goodness she did join our family -- I can't imagine our world without Wylla in it. She brings levity to each day with her bright trills and well-timed dramatic flops.  She offers great companionship and provides comfort and good cuddles. She's such a dear friend to Bean and spares her from boredom. Our life is better with the sweet presence that is Wylla. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Wylla Francis Stout!   We're so happy to have this day to celebrate!  We wish you many happy, heathy years to come! Here she is: One month, one year, two years, three years, four years, and today! (click on the pic to take a closer look) from The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/2018/01/happy-birthday-dear-wylla.html

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Happy Thanksgiving, Dear Ones

Last Thanksgiving Day, the kittens that belong to these paws, Marigold and Poe Starling,  met their future fathers, David and Shawn, at our Holiday Feast. David and Shawn will be joining us this year, along with a houseful of friends and family to share another meal. We're looking forward it and are scurrying around today to get everything prepared for the event. There's shopping to do, pies to bake, cleaning, crafting -- the list goes on and on!   And while we're checking things off of the list, in the back of my mind, I'm thinking about all that we have to be thankful for this Season. You all are at the top this list. Thank you for being patient and supportive while we've been wading through all that happened this year.  Your kindness and love helped us tremendously.  We appreciate you so much. Have a lovely Thanksgiving, dear ones.  We hope you're spending tomorrow with a table full of good food and love. We hope you're happy, healthy, and feeling peace.  We wish the same for your critters and loved ones, too.   Much, much love, Laurie, Craig, Charlene Butterbean and Wylla. from The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/2017/11/happy-thanksgiving-dear-ones.html

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Beware! ZOMBIES!

We carved pumpkins and put them on the porch, but that's the extent of our Halloween decorations this year.  We usually do a lot more to celebrate the holiday, but this year it just didn't seem to happen.   I come out of floral retirement in the fall to do two events for a client, and the first is happening tomorrow. It's huge, and I'll be working in the basement arranging flowers instead of passing out candy to our trick-or-treats this year.  I think if the party wasn't happening I would have felt a little more inspired to hang some bats and spider webs.   We've had lots of fun over the years getting into the Halloween spirit with kittens and the big cats. If you click HERE you can find all sorts of spooky posts to entertain you today. Have a fun day, everyone. Keep your kitties safe.  And, of course, beware of ZOMBIES. OH, and because I'm knee-deep in flowers, I'll be posting pretty light on Instagram. If you care to follow my floral adventues, you can visit my personal Instagram page HERE. from The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/2017/10/beware-zombies.html

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Welcome Back, Butterbean!

I'm happy to announce that our dear Butterbean is much feeling better. Her anxiety level has returned to "normal, " and things are once again, looking good in the litter box.  She went and visited her doctor on Tuesday, and we got a positive report. We're hoping that's the end of the Big D, but should it return, we'll take her in for an ultrasound to see if there's some sort of underlying issue.  The poor girl has had so many visits to the vet this year -- I guess that just happens as our kitties age. That was a hard couple of weeks for her, and I'm so glad things are better. Her Hyperesthesia kicked into high-drive and she was having such a hard time relaxing.  I'm so happy to see her comfortable once again.  She's returned to her happy, purring self.   I think Wylla is really glad to have her sister back to normal, too. Bean was so easily agitated when she wasn't feeling well and had zero tolerance for her pesky little sister.  There were a few spats and eventually, Wylla figured out that it was better to keep a safe distance from Bean, so that's what she did.  They're back to romping, chasing, playing and snuggling just like they used to do.  Of course, there are still a few spats every now and again, but that's just part of their relationship. We call it "fun fighting" --  it never gets too heated. Thank you for all of the well-wishes for our girl!  We are so glad to have a healthy Bean who's out in the world and not retreating because she doesn't feel great. Welcome back, Charlene Butterbean! And, Wylla. Thank you for being so patient while your sister was on the mend! SaveSave from The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/2017/10/welcome-back-butterbean.html

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Ever-Present Wylla

 I've been working hard trying to organize ten years of kitten photographs and have been spending lots of time in front of my computer. Usually, I float around the house with my laptop but because I'm shuffling things around on external hard drives, the cords are keeping me tethered to my desk. Thankfully, I have my ever-present Wylla to keep me company.  With this little beauty by my side, even the tedious task of organizing hundreds of thousands of photo files is bearable! It's horribly dark, windy and rainy right now, but before the storm moved in, we did get a few sunny afternoons. I took these photos earlier in the week when the days were still bright.  Wylla is beautiful year-round, but I do think she looks loveliest in the fall light! Fall is Charlene's season, too, but she has been keeping a lower profile and is still not feeling her best. Hopefully, her GI issues will be resolved soon and we will have our normal girl back.  For now, we'll keep doing all we can to figure this out and get her through it while trying to minimize her anxiety and keep her comfortable.  Thank you for well-wishes for our Girl.  It's nice knowing you are out there and rooting for our girl! from The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/2017/10/ever-present-wylla.html

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Feel Better, Bean!

We always joke that you can set your watch to Charlene's daily drop in the box but about two weeks ago, things changed, and she's been experiencing a stretch diarrhea.  We took her to the vet, and we put her on Metronidazole, hoping that would clear things up.  It hasn't yet, so we've started another round of it.  She also got a B-12 shot, and she's on a probiotic, too.  Doc found bacteria in her fecal sample, and we're hoping that's what causing diarrhea and the antibiotics will clear it up soon. Her blood work looked really good. You can tell she isn't feeling great. Bean's hyperesthesia kicks in when she's uncomfortable at all, and I think the irritation caused by 12 days of diarrhea is making her twitchy and anxious.  She's been over-grooming and will wake from a deep nap to spontaneously clean herself.  We've temporarily boosted her Gabapentin which helps with her hyperesthesia and plugged in an extra Feliway to calm her. Without kittens to care for, I'm able to dedicate a lot of time to her comfort and well-being, so I do what I can to ease her when she's having an episode. Though she's not feeling her best, she does have happy moments. She's been enjoying the sunshine, the furnace, and all the entertainment that fall brings -- like bustling squirrels and falling leaves. I hope things return to normal soon -- I hate seeing Charlene stressed out and experiencing discomfort.  Please feel better, Bean! SaveSaveSaveSave from The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/2017/10/feel-better-bean.html

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A Few Photos

 I didn't get a lot of photos of the Waddells while they were with us.  When they moved in they were filthy little things and don't like to take pictures of kittens in that state. They had their baths and there were really just a few days before things started spiraling down, and once that started, I didn't do a lot of documentation.   I wish I could have got a formal family portrait before they left, but I didn't.  But I did get a couple of them all together in the hands of our friend, Sarah. These aren't the greatest photos in the world, but I'm grateful to have a few images of these dear things from this period of time. I thought I might be sharing a little more on the blog, but I've been struggling to post. I have a couple of stories to share -- like our Tea with Bean (and Wylla) and an adoption tale from our previous litter --  but I'm just not feeling very inspired to write.  Partially because losing our Waddells took the wind out of my sails a bit, but also because of all the horribleness that's been happening in our country.  I haven't wanted to be online -- I've wanted to retreat and just be with the ones I love the most. Instagram seems like a safe space, so I've been sharing a lot more over there.  Until I get things back up to speed over here, that's a good place to see what we're up to.   Wylla and Bean have been particularily lovely lately -- they both look so beautiful in fall light. Thanks, as always, for the love and support. from The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/2017/10/a-few-photos.html

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A Precious Gift

We received the most wonderful surprise in the mail the other day --- three itty bitty Waddells. One had a tail and two were without, of course. They were knit by our friend Leigh and they were a gift from her dear family.  She included a very sweet message, too Thank you for this touching gift, Leigh. We will treasure these always. They will serve as a sweet reminder of not only the dear beings we knew so briefly but also the of the love and kindness that surrounded us when they passed. Your thoughtfulness lifted our spirits -- thank you for this.   SaveSave from The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/2017/09/a-precious-gift.html

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Where We're At

I spent a lot of time cleaning, editing, and rearranging the room once occupied by kittens. I hung a new pair of blinds in the windows that filter the fall light beautifully.  There's a soft new rug on the floor.  I made a little window seat and covered it with a comfy quilt and the girls have really enjoyed having this new vantage point that looks into the backyard and vegetable beds. The squirrels are working overtime right now so they've been offering lots of entertainment for Wylla and Charlene. This room is a comfortable space and we've all been spending a lot of time inside of it.  It's very peaceful and serene. We are all doing fine. Of course, we were all very sad about all that happened, but we're moving away from that and now we're in the "well, what's next?" phase of processing.  And honestly, I don't know what's next. When Panleuk enters your home, there is a mandatory one-year period of waiting before you can foster again.  Even after a thorough cleaning, the virus can live in porous surfaces for up to a year, so we're sidelined for now to prevent future litters from becoming infected. But there's a very big part of me that's thinking we might be through with fostering. I'm not 100% sure, and not making up my mind about the future right this very moment, but this is where I am currently leaning. And if that is the case, what will happen here on this blog?   I do want to continue something here, but I don't know what shape that will take yet.  I will figure that out. I know some might have ideas of what direction I should go, but I feel I need to find this on my own --  considering first how what I do impacts those closest to me first. For now, I'll continue to share stories and photos here.  I am going to post less though -- without kittens, content isn't as plentiful.  I always struggle to fill five days when we're between litters or taking breaks. I would rather do fewer posts of quality than five posts of filler. SO, that's where I'm at. Which really isn't any further along at all, but I'm not racing to make decisions right now. When a clear path appears, I'll start heading down it and a decent clip. Thank you for your patience as I think things through. And thank you again for all of your love and support -- the comments, sweet notes in the mail, emails, flowers, thoughtful gifts, and donations in memory of our precious Waddells.  We appreciate you so much and we love you. I'll wrap things up today with a batch of photos of dear Wylla basking in the lovely fall light. She's been so happy spending time in the room. I hope you all can find as much peace in your day. xoxo, Laurie from The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/2017/09/where-were-at.html

[juliadgaddis]

Normal, Then Not.

 When they first moved in with us, nothing seemed out of the ordinary with Annabel, Rosalita, and Chip. They came to us with a touch of diarrhea -- but that's completely typical for kittens transitioning from liquids to solids. Things are always a little rocky during this stage of kittenhood. Every time I entered their room, they raced to the cage door, climbed the bars, and screamed their baby cries. "HOORAY! IT'S YOU! We've been waiting for YOU!" they sang until I opened the door, plucked them off, and put them in my arms.  It was always a warm welcome with this crew -- they were very good at making you feel loved. Each meal they were served a plate of "kitten gruel" -- a mix of KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement) and wet food. They would eat a little on their own but didn't take in enough by themselves to fill their bellies, so they required a little hand-feeding by syringe to top things off.  They weren't gaining weight, but they weren't losing weight, which was good. Their activity level was great -- they scampered and chased each other like kittens of that age should. They played with furry mice and mylar balls. They discovered the joy of scratching cardboard.  They made biscuits on their fuzzy blankets and each other.  They were a little wobbly at times, but I don't think that was due to weakness, rather, the absence of tails. For those first few days, everything felt completely fine.  There were no worries -- we were just enjoying getting to know these three delights. But come Monday, things started to shift. Their diarrhea got much worse. Their interest in food became noticeably less -- they would investigate what was served, but only took a bite or two, if that. I began feeding them all of their meals by syringe, but what was going in, just raced through their bodies and none of the calories seemed to be sticking.  I made an appointment with the Foster Department for the next morning and gave everyone a round of Sub-Q fluids that night. Annabel provided a fresh fecal sample on the blanket in the carrier once we arrived at the shelter Tuesday morning, which tested negative for parasites. We returned with probiotics, more fluids, a nutritional supplement, and a prescription food for GI issues. We continued with the hand-feeding and fluids, but come Wednesday, everyone was dropping weight, losing energy, feeling frail, and sleeping much more than normal, so we made another appointment and returned to the shelter early Thursday. We came home with a new prescription food, a broad-spectrum dewormer, antibiotics, and instructions to continue with all of the supportive care we've been giving them. So, we did all of that and worried and waited and hoped for things to get better, but they didn't. Annabel started slipping severely that afternoon. Her breathing was labored, her tiny 8-oz body was limp, so we raced to the shelter before Doc left for the day.  There was nothing to be done to save her, so we said our goodbyes. Because of the symptoms, their age, and the rapid rate of her decline, it was suspected that Panleukopenia might have been the cause of her death, so she was tested for the virus, and an hour later I got a call confirming that she did have it. Of course, we had been through all of this once before with Wylla's brother, so we knew what our course of action was: clean like crazy and hope the others don't have the virus too. We put Chip and Rosalita into a carrier while we bleached their cage, removed their linens, toys, dishes, and litter box and replaced them with fresh ones.  Once everything was clean, we returned them to their cage, then bleached the floor of the room and all surrounding surfaces. We fed them, gave them their meds and fluids, then called it a night, though technically, I think it was already morning. Come Friday, Lita was much weaker, and it was clear by the speed of her decline that the virus had its grip on her.  That afternoon we took her to the shelter and said goodbye. Chip actually seemed to have a little more energy on Friday, and things were looking up for him. With Panleuk, there usually are no ups and downs, just downs and downs, so any sign that things were going up could mean that he didn't have the virus, so I was feeling a little hopeful for him. I watched him closely. Mostly he slept and would wake up on occasion to toddle over to the litter box, return to bed, then sit, blink a few times, then nap again.  He ate his lunch under protest and with clenched jaws, but I did manage to get some food in.  But as the day progressed he became weaker, struggled more,  and my hope faded. Around 5:00 PM, I wrapped my favorite kitten blanket around him -- a pale yellow flannel from my own childhood with a print of white, bright-eyed kittens with bows covering it.   We had a little conversation and I let him know how special he was, how much he was loved, and how grateful I was to have met him and his sisters. When I was done talking, he let out the few dry sounds that sounded like weak "I'm hungry" cries, so I unwrapped him, set him down, and ran to get a can of kitten food.  I offered him a plate of gravy and he ate it on his own --- something I hadn't seen since Monday.  When he was through he walked, though a little wobbly, to the cage door,  over the edge, up my arm, and onto my shoulder.  In his weakened state, I could hardly believe he could manage such a feat. I called to Craig, and together we marveled at this recent rally. I spent the evening cuddling Chip, then fed him again, gave him fluids, warmed his bed, changed the linens in his cage, scooped the box, and tucked him in at 1:00 AM. We went to bed feeling hope-filled and had a peaceful night's sleep --- the best sleep I had all week. I got up at 6:00 AM, opened the door to the kitten room and called his name, fully expecting to hear a bright kitten rustling, then racing to the cage door. Nothing. Silence. I walked over to the cage, pulled back the sheet I had wrapping the sides, and saw that dear little Chip had left us. His cage was undisturbed -- not a grain of litter moved in the box, no signs he got up in the night. Everything was as tidy as it was when I put him to bed.  I think he just went to sleep then drifted away peacefully. As crushing as it was to find him gone, I am so grateful he gave me that last night.  My last memories of him on Earth are good ones. Here's a video I took during his little "rally" at the end.  The photo above was taken right after I put him to bed on his last night.

We've spent the last week doing some very deep cleaning. The kitten room has been scoured, and we bagged up and took a load of contaminated kittten gear to the dump.  Though the kittens were in quarantine, traces of the virus could have been tracked out, so all floors have been scrubbed and bleached in our house. We're not worried about the girls'  -- they are fully vaccinated and healthy.  Panleuk gets the vulnerable ones, like our Waddells, who were no longer receiving antibodies from mom's milk and too tiny for their first round of vaccines. All of this has been a lot to process. It happened very fast -- we lost three kittens in less than 36 hours.  It had been a hard week leading up to that too, so I was feeling pretty raw, stressed, and sleep-deprived --- which isn't the best state to start wading through something like this. Craig has been amazingly understanding and sweet. The girls, though I don't think they understand what happened, know something is askew and have been extra-loving and are always close by. I'm still sorting through a lot of stuff in my head and figuring out what's to come, so I'm not holding myself to any blogging or social media schedule right now.  My plan, for now, is to just post when I feel like sharing. I know this blog is normally a bright spot and escape for you. I'm sorry, especially during these really hard times that our country is going through,  that I can't offer that place for you right now. I appreciate your understanding and patience during this time.  I also appreciate your love, support,  sweet notes, many comments, and kind words. I know this is your loss too and we all have some grieving to do.  We'll get through this. XOXO Laurie

from The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/2017/09/normal-then-not.html

[juliadgaddis]

Deep, Deep Sadness

With a heavy heart, I'm sorry to announce that we've lost Annabel, Rosalita, and Chip. It all happened within a 36-hour window, and as you might imagine, our hearts have been shattered into a million bits. I'm not in a place to tell the whole sad story right now, but they left the earth peacefully and knowing that they were loved. I need to do some processing first, and when I'm able, I'll tell the whole tale. I know this news is shocking and sad. More than anything, I wish I didn't have to share it with you. XOXO, Laurie from The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/2017/09/deep-deep-sadness.html

[juliadgaddis]

Well,

Well, things aren't going well here right now. I don't have the time or headspace to tell the story, but I've got some very sick kittens on my hands.  

I will update here when I can. 

XO, Laurie

from The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/2017/09/well.html

[juliadgaddis]

And Last, But Not Least, There is Lita

Please say hello to little Rosalita Waddell. She prefers that you call her Lita.  (Lee-tah Wah-dell) She's just a Lita bitty thing --  none of our Waddells even weigh a pound yet. She's the only Waddell with much of a tail. It's just a hair shorter than average, and there's a little kink in it.  I supposed if it were completely straight, it might be of normal length. This post was supposed to be just HER post, but Chip had other ideas.   WE LOOK SO CUTE TOGETHER, Don't We? Lita, let's pose together?? Well, he's right. They do. Good god, the cute! This completes our introductions -- you've met the entire Waddell family. Are they your favorites?  It does seem there's a bit of a buzz about this crew! from The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/2017/08/and-last-but-not-least-there-is-lita.html

[juliadgaddis]

Hip, Hip! It's Chip!

Hello, Chip Waddell. (Wah-dell) Aren't you just about the most adorable little thing we've ever seen?  YOU ARE! And what's going on with your little back side?  Do you have a little bunny bum little your sister? Why, yes! You do!

Chip's tail is just a tiny L-shaped bit -- you can barely see it, but you can feel it.  He seems to navigate with more grace than Annabel but still has a little Waddell waddle and wobbles sometimes. Otherwise, things seem to be functioning fine and he's a pretty normal little guy! The day I came to the shelter to pick them up,  all the Waddells were cuddled up in a bed in their cubby. The second I came towards them, Chip sprung up and lunged to the front of the cage --- all four paws in front of him and he landed in his bowl of kitten gruel.   He still greets me with similar fervor when I enter their room. from The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/2017/08/hip-hip-its-chip.html

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Well, Well. Do Tell!

Well, well. Do tell,  WHO do we have here? It's no other than Miss Annabel Waddell! She's tiny! She's floofy! AND she's without a tail! There's a bit of a nub where a tail should be, but it gets lost in her very hairy back end. She is a wee bit wobbly and has a bit of a waddle, but her missing rudder doesn't really slow her down too much --- she scampers like the best of 'em. Here she is in action:

Pretty cute, huh? Welcome, Annabel! from The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/2017/08/well-well-do-tell.html

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Many More!

Good morning!  We've got another post packed with IBKC alumni updates today -- nine kittens total!  It's always kind of shocking seeing how mature some of our kittens are. I still think of our babies as being babies, and it doesn't seem possible that so many of them are now entering the "senior" cat stage! We've always been lucky to find such amazing families for our kittens -- it's so clear in all of these update photos that we've been sharing how happy and well-loved our these former IBKs are. Thank you for taking such good care of them! Charles Laurent Gibson  Hi Laurie!  Here's an update on Finne Amir Charles Laurent Gibson Hamilton Hammerstrom, the 150th IBKC kitten. Finne somehow grows more lovey and more silly every day. It took more than a year for him to grow into his floofy pants but, now that he's all of five years old, he seems to have reached max floof. Charlene Butterbean must have planted some fluffy kitten seeds into his grooming sessions. We call him "Vegas showgirl" due to how fancy glam he is with those yellow-green eyes, toe hawks, and his feathery tail. He used to adore bouncy balls and playing fetch but he switched to an obsession with sparkle balls and rounds of racing up and down the stairs at least twice a day. He literally flies down the stairs when chasing Viggo around. He and Viggo (also adopted from The Humane Society For Tacoma and Pierce County) are the dearest friends and adore each other more than we could have imaged. Finne is excellent at making himself available for petting whenever you're hard at work and he never met a yoga mat that he didn't like. He's taken car trips to Western Montana and Oregon, but prefers to be at home to birdwatch or lounge on the porch in his bright green harness. Finne is a little shy with visitors and will sit at the top of the stairs peering down at guests, sometime for hours, before he'll come down for pets. Where Viggo appreciates all guests and will happily hold a foster kitten down for snuggles and bath time, Finne takes a while to warm up. Once he does, he invites the fosters for constant racing, which the kittens adore. Compare his recent pics to this video from when he was smaller (http://youtu.be/rRALn2e3n94) and not a floof to be found. We're so happy he's our little orange fizz! Aimee  

____________________  Warren, Pippy, and Gaetano Fortunato They are my best buddies and I love them beyond belief. They still have all their individual quirks...and still quite playful. Gaetano going out this summer...he's good and stays close. Warren is still the wanderer, so we're trying to leash train him. Have had a few adventures thru the woods as he doesn't much care for paths! Pippy is a sweetheart, albeit chunky, we're working on that...they all still act like they are always starving! These Fortunatos have enriched my life these past 8 years!!! Mindy

________________________ Clovis and Rupert Ashby Hey there, Laurie.  Hope you're doing well. I'm really excited to hear all of the updates from other parents. Here's a little update on Rupert and Clovis. Favorite hobbies - Clovis: Sniffing dad's eye in the middle of the night, then drooling on it and running away. Plotting his escape from the vet's office (photo attached). Playing stand-in for a computer monitor (photo attached). Tub-sharking - Clovis will circle the claw foot bathtub when we're taking showers - all you can see is this black body, tail straight up, circling the tub through the shower curtain. Favorite hobbies - Rupert: Leaving mom a scrunchie on the front door rug for when she gets back from walking Kona each morning (maybe it's for Kona, not me!). Being carried around the house by his mom (pic attached). Sneak-attacking dad's lap - seriously, sometimes we do not see him climb onto Ken's lap, and Ken doesn't feel him, but all of a sudden there he is. It's kind of creepy! Some of my favorite times with them are my work-at-home days when I set up shop in the dining room. Clovis thinks my priorities are a bit askew (work vs love-Clovis-time), as he likes to park it right in front of my monitor during conference calls with our CEO. Rupert feels the same way, but climbs up my arm, head-bonks me, then gets all his fuzz in my face. All in all, we're thankful every day for the laughter and love they bring us. They're each completely hilarious and have developed such unique personalities. We're so glad we found you 8 years ago, Laurie! Kendra

_______________________________ Louise and Ambrose Anderson-Erickson My favorite story about these two is how we adopted them: we knew we wanted Louise and were certain we didn’t want Augustus, then named Ambrose, because we didn’t want a longhaired cat. But, we had a rule—the cats were going to choose us. Louise immediately came to Iris and before I knew it Ambrose hopped in my lap and started chewing on my thumb. And that was that. Fast forward seven years and these two remain a bonded pair and help make our house a home. William

_________________________ Lambert O. Lively Hi Laurie, Here are some pix for the IBKC alumni special edition! Birdie is from the Lively clan and is my big loved baby. He's 7 or 8 now and doing great. He is so goofy, especially compared to his brother Percy who is a very serious Snowshoe boy. As you can see from the pix, he's a love bug and such a joy. We are eternally grateful to IBKC! Nance

THANK YOU so much for sharing your kittens with us! It warms my heart so to see these sweet faces and hear your stories. We'll be winding up the updates soon -- I think I can fit the last of them in one more post.  And I need to share Joseph and Henry's adoption tale, too.  OH, and there will be kittens to introduce!   YES, KITTENS!  Have a great weekend!  See you Monday! from The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/2017/08/many-more.html

[juliadgaddis]

Seven Kitten Updates in One Post!

Our generous adopters have sent SO many updates, and I've got a big batch of them to share today. First up, Kenneth Wiggins. Here's the young fellow below: And here's the update! Kenneth is doing well. I guess he's 6 years old now, but he still acts like a kitten. He's definitely got more energy than his people. He can play with a feather toy for hours. I get bored long before he does. He's still the most affectionate cat I've ever had. He loves to do this thing at night where he comes and lays on my chest. After a minute or two of some scritches, he rolls over to lay next to me between my body and arm with his head on my shoulder and goes right to sleep. And as far as sleeping... he sleeps like the dead. I've actually had to nudge him a few times to make sure he wasn't dead, although that was back in the beginning. Funny story. Just after he came to live with us in 2011, he injured himself trying to jump on a barstool chair to get up and see what our other cat was eating. We weren't used to the way he slept then, so when he did his "sleeping so hard an earthquake wouldn't wake him" thing, we thought he was really hurt. So there we are at 3am rushing him to the emergency vet. It was nothing too bad, just a sprained leg. We spent $400 on a late night vet visit because he sleeps heavy and without a care in the world. That's one expensive nap! Happy 10 years of IBKC! -- Larry   ______________   Next up, an update on Alvie Pettibone (now Julius) and Beezus Medley (now Josie.) Hi Laurie!  Couple pictures to show how nothing has changed with Julius. His happy place is perched right on my shoulder. He sleeps ON me every night. Josie is a BIG girl and Julius loves her to bits. She has really become a cover diver lately and loves to be pampered and petted. Together, they are quite a comedy act--hiding, chasing, wrestling, sneaking up on each other, and those snuggly moments of mutual grooming are adorable. They are my furry little joys and I enjoy spoiling them both. The picture of them together was from this spring when I was trying to get some work done. They are watching their favorite bird/squirrel video. Heehee Kristen

____________ Here's Clement! Hi Laurie, Here is Ignatius, aka Clement Anderson-Erickson, in his favorite place, our backyard. He is a happy, healthy 7-year-old fellow who loves belly rubs and drinking water from a running faucet. He does not like water on his toes, though! He thanks you and Charlene for caring for him during his young kitten months!

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Above, the glorious Spooner kittens.  Below, a big batch of pictures of the Spooners today from their mama, Roxanne.

______________ And here we have the adorable Ralphie and Clive Loudermilk! Hi Laurie, Just wanted everyone to see how big and handsome the Boyz have become. Clive is still my gentle giant and Ralphie is his punky little bro. The ying and the yang. Clive loves paleo food, fetching schrunchie hair bands and following his brother around. Ralphie is a carb freak, loves to carry a felt ball wherever he goes. He is always into mischief including burrowing into any bag or blanket. He chases his big brother and is too rough but, the bond is unbreakable between them. We adore them and they would like to know how their siblings are? Congratulations on all you do! Pandora Thank you, everyone,  for all of these fabulous updates!  We've got more to come tomorrow -- I think I can squeeze the last of them into one big post.  See you then! from The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee http://www.theittybittykittycommittee.com/2017/08/seven-kitten-updates-in-one-post.html