Update on Splenda

Splenda was a handful trying to get her into the carrier to the vet, and at the vets they had to put her under general anesthesia to be able to check her out and give her vaccinations.

But she is healthy!  She tested negative for FIV and Leukemia and heart worm.

She has been acting funny since she got back though, barely eating, limping on and off, and just not her usual active self (hiding out all day) so I may have to take her back to the vet next week :(  I'm worried about her.  She's sweet as anything when I try and pet her, doesn't fuss with me at all and sometimes even starts with her quiet-as-anything purr.  I am hoping it was side effects from the vaccines but I thought she'd cheer up by now.  So we will see!

The strays who are still outside have been doing fine.  Sugar, Milk, and Marx are living under the neighbors house in the crawlspace and come to greet me most nights when I get home.  Cici is mainly on the porch still.  Haven't seen as much of Cream or Brownie the past few days, though Cream was coming more regularly last week.

Hopefully it warms back up some for them soon!

~Kakers

News about Splenda.

You may not be seeing much of Splenda in the blog anymore, and you can maybe guess why.  Now that it is cold, I started letting her in the house with me. Well a couple nights ago when I did she came in, ate like a pig, then went out to look for more food on the porch.  Last night she scooted right in the door with me when I got home... and here she is still.

So Splenda not only has decided I belong to her, she has now decided she lives in the house.  The other indoor kitties don't seem to have a problem with her, they've reacted to her better than any other kitty I have introduced them to.

She did try and go out just now when I went out to check my mail, but I brought her back inside.  I just got her a vet appointment.  If she wants to leave she may do so AFTER I get her to the vet to see if she is healthy and get her vaccines.  Cause I suspect even if she goes back out she'll end up coming back inside half the winter and when I move eventually, she is coming with me.

~Kakers

Cold, Cream, and the Fat Cat

It's been eventful!  And freezing cold.  The first day I came home and it was so cold out I was dreading going back to the porch to feed the strays, I decided it was too cold out to do nothing.  So I took a couple of boxes and made cuddle boxes.  So far I've only noticed CiCi using one, she's pretty content to be curled up in it many days.  I just took cardboard  boxes and one has an old pillow on the bottom and is lined on the sides with batting, the one CiCi uses it just lined with batting.  I took pictures!

So tonight I was surprised when I went out on the porch to feed the kitties.  Cream was out there!  He's rarely actually up on the porch, and he has very rarely let me see him eat.  Sometimes he comes and scopes things out and leaves, tonight he was VERY happy to have some food.  He jumped off the porch cause he's still scared of me, then I crouched behind the bucket my camping chair is in and put a handful out right by the side of the porch.  He even started eating it while I was still just a couple feet away! I was amazed, he's never gotten so close to me before.  So of course... I took the opportunity to take pictures :)

So many white kitties with gray on their heads, and one lone gray cat LOL CiCi is behind me in all the pictures, but she was out too.  Of course, she lives on my porch at this point!

After coming inside I started hearing what I recognize as Marx's "look dude, get the eff away from my yard." meowing.  I expected to look outside and find Brownie but nope!  I found a cat I had never seen before, that is obviously someones cat both from how well fed he is and the fact that he didn't budge an inch when I approached him.  So I snapped a few pictures of him, and tossed him a handful of food.He was in the neighbors driveway, on the other side of the fence, so I just let him be after that.  I could tell it's a boy cause he had that big round face that male cats get when they aren't fixed.

I can't help but wonder why Marx gets his panties all in a bunch about Brownie and this big guy, but has no problem whatsoever with Sugar and Cream. I've suspected for some time that Marx may actually be related to the white kitties-in good light, those rare chances, it looks as though the color on the top of Cream's head is the same color as Marx, and they have very similar facial features. Who knows!  Any insight on if that would have anything to do with Marx not being fussy around them?

~Kakers

Picture Day!

So lately I've really not been able to take many pictures of the kitties.  Since the time change it's been too dark out when I get home from work to take any and I was out of town for 5 days over the last weekend.  So I decided that this weekend I will take some pictures while I have the chance!  Got some really cute ones of Splenda but most aren't too interesting, just the regulars really and I already have tons of pictures of them!

In any case here's the best pictures so far today :)  There's a lot of them!

Can you remember who is who without looking?? ;)

 

So much cuteness!!  Do you have a favorite?

~Kakers

Back they come

So I left town for a few days to visit the boyfriend and you'd think I'd been gone for months!  I attempted to feed them extra the night before I left... it was GONE before I even went to bed.  I come back and only CiCi is around.  This morning I woke up to find Marx outside meowing LOUDLY and adamantly at me like "OK lady don't you know it is your job to feed me EVERY DAY?"  This evening though the 3 white kitties all came back, and Cici of course was around.  She was downright clingy.  Crazy for a cat that doesn't let me touch her... not that I try really, I don't want to pass along her illness.

I can tell Splenda is getting more attached though.  In the past when I would go away for a weekend she'd be gone at least 3 days after I got back.  This time she came right back!  I'm pretty sure I saw only Cici last night cause of how late it was when I got home, most of them are either off hunting or hiding and sleeping after dark.  Cici on the other hand tends to be close by.

I wonder what will happen if I ever go out of town for more than 4 days!  Hopefully they don't all run off!

~Kakers

Yeah well whatever.

Well, I DID have adsense on here.  Apparently it's a big no-no to draw attention to that fact or ask people to click on the links.  Google disabled this blog from using adsense, and didn't re-enable it when I fixed the problem- which is bullshit, since their help info said if it was a permanent decision the email would state that clearly, which it didn't.  I'd be more upset but the ads being displayed were just making the blog look uglier and were a nuisance and google pays out so little I wasn't going to get a penny anyways, so why am I going to let them put ugly ads that THEY get paid to put there on my blog anyways?

So I have decided instead to use my extra ad space to promote animal related products/websites/shops.  For right now, I am just going to do so for people whose products or information I happen to like, rather than having people pay me to advertise on the blog.  This *may* change in the future if there is any real traffic being generated from being put on the blog.

Ok now back to the kitties! :)

~Kakers

Changing it up!

As you can see I have completely changed the layout of the blog!  I have also added reaction choices at the bottom of each post (interesting, funny, cool, KITTY!)

I figure a lot of you check the blog to see the pictures.  What do you like the most when I post?  Do you have a favorite kitty?  Think I don't take enough pictures of someone you want to see more of?  Let me know!

Anyways, let me know what you think of the new look, click on those reactions at the bottoms of the entries, and enjoy what is left of your weekend!

~Kakers

New Kitten!!!

What a surprise today!!!  I went outside to feed the kitties and found this little guy hanging out with them!

It's an orange tabby kitten.  Must be only a few months old, since it is so small.  I wonder in fact if it may be one of Splenda's kittens, but you just never know.  Here's some closer looks!

Such a sweet little thing!  A bit skittish of course- but he'd run back in our direction after running off.  I'm not sure I'll see much more of the thing. It seemed to be ignoring most of the food after Marx decided to eat most of the kitten food I put out on the side step.  Brownie was out today, so Marx was staying as far away from him as he could.  I kept trying to put out food to distract the big kitties so I could put some out separate for the kitten.  It didn't work, well it DID but once it did the kitten ignored the food I put out for him and came back to the group.

Really don't know for sure that it's a he, it very well could be a she. Goodness knows I couldn't get close enough to tell.

I'm not too confident that he will be back.  The other kitties all circled the poor thing surrounded him under my car and ambushed him.  He came back, but they ran him off eventually.  Mostly Splenda and Marx though Sugar and CiCi and well- all of them except maybe Brownie ambushed the poor thing under the car.  It's possible that some were just innocently trying to check him out but it sure looked like ganging up to me!

Anyways got some pictures of a few of the other cats, too.   New camera make's them all look better ;)

Marx and Splenda: when I was trying to keep them separate from the kitten (he was behind me):

And Sugar when I was trying to keep HIM away from the kitten... he's trying to look all innocent:

~Kakers

Ah cute kitties in the rain.

I have to admit I prefer them dry but they are so cute when they are wet!  We've been getting a lot of rain lately. The other night it was Sugar who was wet like it didn't matter, tonight it's Splenda.  I think they really liked me tonight- I gave them wet food (half of what I put out anyways) to go along with the wet weather. Milk especially LOVES her wet food.  She'll climb all over me to get to it if she realizes I am pouring it into a bowl- which has led tome having to do so standing up and NOT sitting in a chair where she digs her claws into my leg to get closer to it.

Ohhh such cute kitty cats! Not much else new.  Haven't seen Spaz in coming up on a month now it seems.  Also no sign of the newcomer from a couple entries back.  Marx and Brownie continue to bicker... which isn't a good thing with Brownie coming around more.  I find myself some nights having to go outside and break them up.  Marx has been getting a *little* better- the other night he kept eating while Brownie was there rather than glaring and growling.   It's a start right?

~Kakers

Just Another Night

But I have a new camera so I took pictures.  Tonight there was Marx, Splenda, Sugar, Milk, CiCi, and Brownie hanging out.

Brownie was huddled down, but sat right up to have his picture taken!

 Milky :)

Milky says HI!

Marxy (he stopped growling at Brownie for a second- not that you can tell)

Sweet little Sugar Bear- he's getting so big!

and Splenda-Riffic!  Who says ferals can't be lap cats?

Too bad it gets dark so early now.  Though you can't even tell how dark it was getting already in the first few pictures... new camera takes light from nowhere!

~Kakers

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

So I let Splenda in the house.  I would have let Milk and Sugar in, too, but they wouldn't come in.  So Splenda came in, was like LIGHTNING and snaked into my bedroom where I had my cats so they wouldn't try and kill her (or her them) and she ended up being just fine with them.  She swatted at my Honey once, at which point I brought her back outside.  Then the storm got worse, and the poor thing was laying in my planter of collard greens on my porch so I had her come back in (with my cats back in my room) but when I went in my room the poor dear wouldn't stop meowing.  Cutest meow ever BTW.  So I hung out with her a bit, and she let me pick her up and cuddle with her.  Such a sweet kitty!!

Anyways in the last post I uploaded a picture of my Honey with Splenda... you can see why I joke with Honey that her family is outside!  So much cuteness.

~Kakers

Splenda and Honey

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

a new face

I first saw this one about a week ago, sitting on my porch. Probably a stray given that he didn't startle when I opened the door but still scared if you move toward it. I took this picture Saturday, the second time I saw him when he let me get a little closer. I was able to move food bowls out and back under his head while he ate so not too skittish. Didn't try to pet him cause I like letting them get comfortable with my presence first. No name for him yet, also not sure its a him.

~Kakers
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Purring?

I was wondering the other day if Marx was purring for me or if I was hearing things... Today confirms it he is definitely purring! He even raised his neck up to be rubbed and let me pet his head. I never thought I would see this day come! Sadly, I also out last night that he has a skin condition. He has raised scaly patches all over his back (at least)... No clue what it is but when he's eating he let's me take a look at it. That's what I was doing when he raised his neck up. I was hesitant cause he has always been jumpy when I try touching his head. And now he just let me scratch behind his ears and he had that contented kitty face going on. So cute!

The kittens have been MIA since the horrible ran storm we had a week ago. At first they moved into the crawl space under my house... Or at least that's where my boyfriend last spotted little Pete. No idea where they got to, and I was just starting to get them tamed.

~Kakers
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

YIPPEE!!

My boyfriend went out the side door earlier today when I was relisting things on my Etsy shop, and he came back in saying "guess who's back!"

Sleepers!  Who knows where he/she was yesterday the whole time I was chillin with the kittens, but it's all good now!  I even got to pet her (I am going to guess it's a her for now) though I didn't pick her up. Little Pete and the white one with mismatched eyes continue to be the most adventurous and willing to be picked up.  Little Pete growls at me at first, but will remain in my lap for a few moments to get petted.  The one with mismatched eyes doesn't growl, and will let me pick him up and keep him in my lap for a moment.  The white with solid gray and matching eyes I can pick up but I have to hold her pretty good to get her to stay near me and she runs FAST the moment she is loose from my grip.

The third white one sticks close to the wood they hide behind, and won't come near me.  It's the most clean of the cats LOL probably because she (again, a guess) just doesn't explore enough to get dirty.

It's good to have the kittens back!  So much sweetness in one place :)

~Kakers

bittersweet

I looked outside today and saw that the kittens are back! Of course I came right out with food for them. And they sure are chomping it up! Only problem being I don't see Sleepers :( A couple of the others are looking a little dirty and whatnot but they look healthy. I was always a little worried about Sleepers but he/she looked better the last I saw him/her. Maybe Sleepers got caught by someone who is taking care of him/her. I can hope right?

The three white ones still need names. Any thoughts?

~Kakers
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

oh where or where did they go?

No sign of the kittens these past 2 days and I am pretty positive they are no longer hiding out where they were.  I had left some kibble for them yesterday, it was still there this evening so I know they aren't there or they'd have eaten it.  Milk is still showing up for her food, so I doubt they are far away.  But I miss them, I was hoping to get them more socialized so I could see about adopting them out.  Not sure if Milk moved them, or if the neighbors are doing something with them.  I doubt the second, from conversations with one of them about Milks previous litter (that included Sugar and Splenda) and how one froze over the winter.  If they left them be over the winter we had, they aren't doing anything with these kittens now with it nice out.

Splenda continues to assert my belonging to her.  When I get home from work I usually will park my car, and open the door to say hi to the kitties before I gather my things and get out of the car.  Well, yesterday I must have been taking too long for dear Splenda, and she jumped into my car right up onto my lap. I can hardly believe this was the same cat that would hardly come NEAR me even for food would hang back until I went away.  Now here she is rubbing herself all over me, following me in my house, and jumping into my lap in my car.  She was the one I thought "oh she is such a pretty cat, but she seems too skittish to be friendly it's a shame." Now here she is proving me wrong!

~Kakers

happy day!

Today for the first time Marx actually let me pet him! And he didn't run away. He would start for a second if I touched his head so I backed off but I got to stroke his back a few times.
I have named the black kitten Little Pete after the black kitten my sister rescued. He's the most adventurous little kitty! Not certain yet that Little Pete is a he though. But he lets me pick him up so I will find out soon.
The black and brown one I named Sleepers cause he often gets drowsy real quick. He's SO adorable.
The white ones have no names yet. The two with solid gray patches on their heads have also let me pick them up. Very sweet kitties!
Splenda has very much claimed me. She runs to greet me, rubs circles around my legs, and follows me right into my house. Took her time warming up but she's the sweetest of all.

~Kakers
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Kittens!!!!!!

Milk has brought her kittens out. This has totally made my day! This picture shows the three white w gray heads and one black one. There's also a black/brown(tortoiseshell?) one I just caught a glimpse of.
I threw some kibble to the wood they are hiding behind and you can see them happily munching on it :). Ohhhh yay kittens!

~Katy
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

*Wubby*

Today its just Marx, Splenda and.... Spaz! Haven't seen her since my bf has been around. Splenda only comes around when he's not here still.

Came out to feed the crew and the girls were all loving up on me :). Splenda even pushed her head up into my hand for a rub! I guess after all that time of being skittish once she changed her mind about me being safe she changed it completely. Such a sweet little kitty cat!

~Katy
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Been a while

I've just been lazy to be honest. I got some great close ups of the kitties a week or so ago that I will have to post soon. Splenda has been much more comfortable around me lately... Today she even came up and sniffed my hand when I got home. So cute. When I look closely it seems like there is a tiny bit of orange in the spots on her head.
Sugar continues to be lovable. He's even friendly with my boyfriend now that he is home. Took him a little time to adjust to the new person but not long. Marx is still skeptical and splenda has only come back around when he isn't here. I'm sure they'll all get used to him.
Milk still looks like she has post Natal nipples. Splenda no longer appears pregnant though so I'm not sure what happened there... Or where milkys babies are if they are still even around. Who knows.

~Kakers
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Feeling loved

When I got up today I went outside to see how the outside kitties are doing, and Sugar came to see me.  I sat on the step with him and petted him, and then he rubbed up on my leg and rubbed up on my arm!  I got the little "You belong to ME now" head rub :)  I feel so loved hehe.  When I went to go inside he looked like "aren't you going to take me in there with you?" but I can't, what with my indoor kitties.  But in my head, he's already mine.

~Kakers

Shadow Cats- Because I love pretty much ALL cats...

I read about this place in the latest issue of Cat Fancy and decided I would share their link with you all!  Shadow Cats is a no-kill cat sanctuary in Texas where they take in stray and feral kitties and give them a great place to live, and offer the kitties for adoption.  They have a whole room as well for kitties who are FeLV positive, complete with live kitty cam on their website!  In addition to their sanctuary, Shadow Cats supports local individuals who care for feral cat colonies and participate in a Trap Neuter Return program, thus bettering the lives of a great many feral and stray kitties in and around Round Rock and Austin, Texas.

Please consider donating either a few spare dollars, some food, or some supplies to Shadow Cats Rescue.

http://www.shadowcats.net/index.php

~Kakers

Cream is becoming a regular

Cream... And many others of course... Was waiting for me when I got home today. He's still iffy about being near me but is motivated by the promise of food. Marx ran off Cici a bit. He's such a jerk.

~Kakers
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

yaaaaay!!

Spazo is back! Like she hasn't eaten since I last saw her poor thing!

~Kakers

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

oh here's mama

Milk decided to join us. I turned around and there she was! Musta heard me open the can. I guess she is keeping her kitties relatively close... Maybe across the street. Can't be sure.

Annnnd Marx and Cream have just shown up. Guess I best put some food out for them too. No sign of Spaz still :( and Cici is missing now though she was here when I left for work. Cream is letting me look at him today... And he's all rubbing up on my house too.

~Kakers
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

just me and bear...

Not many kitties today. It's been threatening rain all afternoon, maybe that's scaring them off. None were here when I got home but then I saw Splenda out back. She ran off while I was grabbing food I guess but Sugar Bear was out here. Sweet kitty.

~Kakers
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

and the next litter will go to...

Splenda-riffic. She is definitely looking pregnant now.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

look who is getting used to me now!

It's Cream! I noticed a cat coming over from my driveway and expected it to be Splenda but nope! Surprise! Its Cream and this is the closest he's gotten to me. I have to make sure not to look at him long or he will dart off. I feel bad the other cats are hogging the bowls with food left... I want him to get to eat but I don't want to scare him off by moving. Milk is refusing to share hers and Sugar is eating at my feet.

Success! I managed to get a bowl far enough from me for Cream to approach it without scaring him off! Good day for me and my strays :)

~Kakers
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry