Thursday, August 28, 2008

Kitten update


(April 16 - birthday - photos are clickable for a larger view)
My precious little kitten is 19 weeks old now... oh they grow up so fast! Several people have asked me how he and the mama kitty are doing, so I thought it time for an update.

(19 weeks old)
First - we changed his name. Originally we called him Jet, but it just didn't seem to fit - his name now is Mocha. I call him Mocha Java among many other cutsie little names that no one should use as an adult - I just can't help myself. Because of the lighting in this photo he looks more white than is true, he's actually getting browner every day.

Mama kitty came to us named Heidi, we have since changed it to Katrina because she does resemble a hurricane a bit in her ability to clear a room just by getting close to it.

(March 2008)
When she first came to us, she had been shaved - we were told she was flea ridden and very matted, she looked pitiful!

She now has the most beautiful thick soft coat. She becomes sweeter every day and it's such a pleasure to watch her become acclimated to her new home.

She has been the best mom and a joy to witness with her baby, but she did go into heat twice before the kitten was 8 weeks old. So, we took her in to be spayed when Mocha was 8-9 weeks old. She was still lactating when we took her in but within about a week her milk dried up. After her recovery from surgery and she was reunited with her kitten, he kept trying and trying to nurse. We kept stopping it, but once we understood it wouldn't hurt her we let nature takes its course. He STILL tries to nurse, especially when he's tired. Mama is mostly tolerant and lets him, but he's now almost as big as her and she's finally protesting when he tries it - although I did manage to snap a photo of them yesterday when he was at it again.

12 comments:

*~tabby~* crooked heart art said...

hi grace
the cats sure are gorgeous!!
i love my two and would have more-but then i would be seen as the crazy cat lady of the neighborhood :)
enjoy your day
tammy

Timaree said...

Thanks for the update. They both look wonderful. Our pets don't seem to care what their names are as long as they are said in loving tones.

beadbabe49 said...

aawwww....I'd have a couple more too, but the same thing would happen, plus my husband would start calling me a crazy cat lady...but they all have such different personalities and it's such a joy to have them in the family...it was so good of you to rescue her, grace...

Pursuing Art... said...

Oh, wow...what a change and talk about CUTE!!! He almost looks like a siamese in this shot with the dark markings and those beautiful and vivid blue eyes! What a love bug. Mocha is a great name!

Katrina looks great with her beautiful full coat of hair!!! She sounds like she has been a great mom!!!

I'm so glad you shared these new shots! It is great to see the change in them both!

They are very blessed to have found you Grace!!!

Hugs...~Lisa ;-)

KV said...

Awesome photos, Grace . . .


Kathy V in NM

Cyn ~ The Wingedneedle said...

I have been smitten with that kitten since day one! hard to believe he has grown into such a handsome young fellow! please, oh please keep sharing updates! and for you thank you for being a rescuer! you make my heart happy! scritches to all the kitties and hugs to you!
Bead Happy!
Cyn :O)

The Lone Beader® said...

What a cute kitten face!

Maggie R said...

Hi Grace.... Here I am at last trying to play catch up with your blog!!!
Well Well, these kitties are sooooo sweet, Can't get over how quickly they grow,,,, They must give you many hours of pleasure...
xoxo
((((hugs)))))
Maggie

Murphy said...

Hi Grace,
I finally signed up to get an account with Google, so now I can leave messages too! :-)
Your furry kids are too cute for words.

Jo Anne O. said...

Mama and baby are just adorable, Grace!

I have something for you over on my latest blog post! Come over and see what it is!

Hugs, Jo Anne

Dot said...

Thanks so much for the update Grace. I have been wondering how mama and kitty have been going.
Who would have thought that little Mocha (love his new name) would change color so much.

He is stunning and I can understand why you call him lots of cute names. If he lived withme I would be mooshy all the time!

And how healthy Katrina looks. They are bothvery blessed to live in your loving home (Ronnie and Esmeralda would like to come and visit).

Kitty love is good love!

Dot xx

GraceBeading said...

Thanks for your kind words everyone. I think a day without cats is like a day without sunshine in this house, the bring me hours of entertainment and contentment for me and the Mr - he's as crazy about them as I am.

I wish everyone would seek out rescues rather than purchase animals from shops/breeders. I hate to think of any little sweet soul put to death just because it was born and there are no homes.

Leaves of Grass

This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body - Walt Whitman