A Little Hawthorne for the Holidays

Hawthorne came to us as one of the three Halloween kittens, who were abandoned when someone moved and rescued in October. Three little black kittens, sweet as could be, rescued just before Halloween. We named them Harriet, Hazel, and Hawthorne.

Hawthorne and his sisters.

Harriet and Hazel both found great homes a few weeks ago. Hawthorne is still in foster care, being as cute as he possibly can.

Black velvet, if you please!

He loves exploring high places. You may find him on the top of a door or on any tall perch he can find. He loves playing and chasing his foster brothers and sisters up and down the stairs. He also loves food, and will steal it from his foster brothers and sisters if they let him get away with it! (Mostly, they do, because this mischievous but adorable little guy is so hard to resist.)

We are the watchers on the wall.

But most of all, Hawthorne loves lovin'. He's resting his chin on my hand right now as I type this. His favorite place to be is right next to you. Unlike many cats, he loves to be picked up and held. Because of his size and floof factor, we wondered if he is part Maine coon, but now we are starting to wonder if he has Ragdoll in him!

Hawthorne and his magnificent tail!

Whatever his origins, Hawthorne is a great cat who reminds me of another most excellent  black cat who was fostered here a few years ago, Sirius Black--now happily adopted and known as Sirius Black Sabbath! We hope that Hawthorne, he of the magnificent ebony plume and the loud, contented purr, finds his own happy ending soon.

If you are interested in adopting Hawthorne, send an email to mirishouse(at)gmail.com or fill out an adoption application at CARE Southcoast.

"I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life."
- Henry David Thoreau

Cute of the Day

Bettina

Paris

Adorable Adoptables

Maybe it's time we were formally introduced. After all, you might want to take us home with you someday.

Hi! I'm Bettina.

Meet Bettina! 
Age: 5 months
Sex: Female
Weight: 3.14 pounds (I'm tiny! But I'm growing.)
Breed: Domestic short hair
Color: Black (really the most elegant shade for a cat, don't you agree?)
Eyes: Green
Purr-sonality: Laid-back and sweet. Bettina likes getting pets and just sitting by your side, thinking deep thoughts. She's not as rambunctious as her foster brother, but she has her playful moments, too.

Hello! I'm Paris.

Meet Paris! 
Age: 4 months
Sex: Male 
Weight:4.9 pounds (I'm going to be a big guy! Also, FLOOFY!)
Breed: Domestic medium hair/Maine Coon mix (?)
Color: Classic tabby
Eyes: Green
Purr-sonality: Playful, fun-loving, and affectionate. Paris likes to be the center of attention. If he has to climb into your lap to get that attention, he'll be very happy to do so!

Both kittens were rescued by CARE Southcoast and are currently being fostered at Miri's House. Both have their first shots and will be ready for adoption as soon as they are fixed. To arrange a visit or fill out an adoption application, email mirishouse (at) gmail.com.

To make a donation to help with Paris and Bettina's medical expenses and spay/neuter expenses, you can visit CARE online or send a check to CARE Southcoast, P.O.Box 149, E. Freetown, MA 02717. 

That First Day of School Feeling ...

Hello, World!

It's September. That time of year when the temperature turns from hot and humid to cooler and crisper (soon, we hope!) and when those cute "first day of school" pictures start showing up all over social media. It's the start of something exciting and new--but also, for parents, a little bittersweet, as they watch their babies pass each new milestone on the way to growing up.

It's like that with each new litter of foster kittens. Somehow, seeing them start out as tiny, helpless fuzzballs, it's always hard to believe they will ever grow up to be fully grown, independent cats, but it happens every time.

Put your paws in the air!

We can see it happening now, with Opal's kittens. They're still clearly kittens, and ridiculously adorable kittens at that, but they're starting to look less like babies and more like little cats. They've lost that wobbly, tentative walk. Now they're racing wildly around the room, leaping fearlessly from the backs of chairs to the floor, and scaling cardboard boxes with ease. Even the most reluctant holdouts, our mama's boys Onyx and Jasper, now come running for cat food instead of demanding mom-serve. They're mastering the litter box, too.

There are other signs. They no longer sleep in one big kitten pile. Now we find them here and there, paired off or sleeping solo. They no longer cry when you pick them up, and some of them are even considering future careers as lap cats.

Sunstone, just chillin'.

Today, Opal and her kittens were separated for several hours as the kittens went for their first vet visit. (All six are healthy and thriving!) They all handled the separation well, and the kittens took their first car ride without crying. Instead, they just seemed curious--waiting for the next step, when they join their new families and take their first look at a new, wider world.

The good news is: all the kittens AND Mama Opal have already found great homes. :-)

And the bad news is: that means they'll be leaving soon. :-(

Dinner, family style.

During the kittens' last few weeks, we are still in need of donations. In addition to their vet exam and immunizations, which were nearly $300, there are the regular weekly expenses of food, litter, and other supplies, which are growing with the kittens. If you can, please consider making a donation of any amount or sending a gift from our Amazon wish list. Thanks from Opal, Onyx, Jasper, Sandstone, Sunstone, Mica, and Galena!

Sponsor a foster cat or kitten!

Kitten Vet Visit $80.00 USD 1 Case Kitten Food $30.00 USD 4 Cans Kitten Food $5.00 USD

You can also go to PayPal and send a donation of any amount to mirishouse@gmail.com. If you'd prefer to mail a check, please email us for our address.

Last Days of the Mom Cafe

Lunchtime at the Mom Cafe

Our tiny kittens are growing up! They are five weeks old today, and they've graduated from the nursing box to the wide, wide world of the kitten room.

A world of boxes and toys and scratching posts and a whole big bed that they can get up on and down from, all on their own.

They're starting to explore the litter box (is it just a fun box to play in, or is it something else?), and, just yesterday, they took their first bites of solid food!

Of course, they're still nursing, but Mama Opal will no doubt be glad to no longer be the sole source of nutrition for her gang of six. She's been doing a great job so far. All the kittens are well over the milestone of one pound, where they should be at this age.

Here are their current weights, in ounces:

Onyx--21.55
Sandstone--20.99
Sunstone--20.07 
Jasper--19.68
Mica--18.20
Galena--17.53

This confirms our suspicion that Mica and Galena are the only girls in this litter. They may be smaller than the boys, but they're not lagging behind in their development in any way. All the kittens are bright, curious, playful, friendly, and in perfect health. Great job, Mama!

Kitten food! Yum!

So When You're Having a Bad Day ...

Just look at these pictures of little kittens going to sleep.

Really. Just look at them. 

That is all.  

Three Weeks Old!

Today the kittens are three weeks old. They've gone from tiny, furry blobs unable to see or hear to active, curious toddlers who are almost ready to start exploring the world beyond the kitten drawer.

Six kittens is a big litter, and Mama Opal is our heroine. Not only is she keeping all of them clean, well fed, and healthy, she's a watchful and diligent mom. When we put the kittens up on top of the bed so they can meet new people, Mama keeps a close watch, making sure no one gets too close to the edge.

This tiny girl is doing a great job, even though she looks as if she's barely eight months old herself. She's always hungry, of course, because she's got so many kittens to feed, and she can easily go through six to eight cans of cat food per day ... one per kitten and one to grow on!

We're off to the vet today to pick up some deworming medicine for the babies (and mom) to make sure everyone stays healthy. Meanwhile, Nimbus is approaching four months old and will be fixed at the beginning of August. He may be going home with his new family soon.

We appreciate all the donations we've received. We absolutely could not do this without help. Right now, we have lots of dry cat food. Our biggest need is canned kitten food and canned cat food, and money for medicine, vet visits, and getting Mama Opal, Nimbus, and all six kittens fixed.

If you'd like to donate, use the link on our page, or just send a donation to paypal.me/MirisHouse.  If you'd prefer to send a check, just email mirishouse(at)gmail.com for our address. Email us there for adoption applications as well, but don't wait too long--we already have several people interested in kittens!

Thanks for all your support.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Six Kits!

Mama Opal's six kittens are one week old today, and they're busy growing up and growing strong.  They really are an adorable bunch, each with unique coloring. And just in time for their birthday, we received some wonderful surprise packages from Amazon.

From Suzanne Fortier: a case of canned cat food, a bag of kitten food, AND a soft cat bed! Thank you, Suzanne!

And from Cheryl Hablanian, a kitten-sized scale, which we used immediately to check everyone's weight. Thank you, Cheryl!

Now that the kittens are starting to toddle around, open their eyes, and develop their own personalities, we think it's about time they had names of their own. In keeping with Opal's lovely and old-fashioned name, we're giving the kittens gemstone and mineral names.

So here  are their names and vital statistics:

Jasper--dark orange--8.1 oz.

Mama keeping a careful eye on Jasper, who's fleeing the scale

Sandstone--light orange/buff--8.4 oz.

Curious Sandstone--eyes open and ready to explore!

Sunstone--light orange/buff and white--7.6 oz

What a cute little Creamsicle!

Onyx--black with white markings--8.5oz

Look at those eyes!

Mica--grey and white--7.8 oz

Those little pink feet!

Galena--dilute calico--6.9 oz

So sweet and so petite!

Mama was a little worried that we took the kittens out of their under-the-bed drawer to weigh them, but once we had everyone back safe and sound, she took a play break.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped us care for this beautiful little family.

Six Plus One!

Mama Opal had her kittens. Seven of them. That's a big litter for a little mama!

Sadly, one of the kittens--who we named Star--was stillborn. Goodbye, Little Star. You were loved, however briefly, and will be remembered.

Mama and the other six kittens seem to be doing well. They're quite the multicolored bunch: black with white accents, dilute calico, light ginger, dark ginger, grey-and-white, and ginger-and-white.

Oh, and adorable--needless to say.

Meanwhile, outdoor rescue Nimbus is getting more and more social every day. When he's not zooming around a room, chasing the grownup cats, he likes to cuddle and purr.

So: six baby kittens, one crazy toddler kitten, one mama cat, and three very patient resident cats. It's a 44-paw household!

Thanks to all our wonderful donors for your support. We could never do it without you!

Tortitude

Little Moondust found a loving home at last. Now sweet, funny little Ember is the last kitten left in Mama Emily's litter. We hope she can find a home soon, one that will be the perfect fit for her.

Ember

Ember is especially close to her mom, and we hope these two beautiful girls can be adopted together. Please email mirishouse (at) gmail.com if you are interested in adopting this cute mini-family.

Daughter and Mom

Ian, the Ambassador Cat

When foster kittens get past the baby age, it's important for them to meet other cats so they learn social skills. At Miri's House, we have three resident cats--Duncan, Ian, and Molly--who help kittens in training extend their social circle beyond Mom.

Duncan doesn't usually mind the little visitors, as long as they don't go near his food.

Molly can take them or leave them, but generally prefers to leave them. (Molly, by the way, is a foster failure.)

But Ian--Ian is the Ambassador Cat.

Former foster kitty Luna with Ian

He's always the first to greet kittens with a friendly nose-bump, and he doesn't mind if they take a curious sniff of him, or even his food dish.

Thanks, Ian! You are patient, mellow, and friendly, the perfect feline role model.

A Little Family That Needs a Home for the Holidays

Now that Shadow has a forever home, we'd like to see Mama Emily, Ember, and Moondust find homes too--maybe even together.

Ember is an adorable female tortie kitten with a sweet personality. She is three months old, has had her first and second set of shots, and is FIV/FeLV negative. She's ready to snuggle her way into your heart!

Moondust is a beautiful and playful three-month-old white kitten with calico markings. She has unusual bi-colored eyes (hazel and blue) and a fun-loving personality. Like her sister, she is up to date on her shots, has tested negative for FIV and FeLV, and is ready for a home of her own! Moondust and her sister, Ember, get along well with kids, adults, and other cats.

Mama Emily is a petite (only 7 1/2 pounds), lovely all-black cat who was found living on her own. We think she is about a year old. She is an excellent mom to her kittens and an elegant, sweet, and clean little lady who would love a gentle, affectionate home. Emily has shown aggression with other cats, so we recommend that she go to a home where she can be the only resident feline (unless she is adopted with one of her kittens). Emily is spayed, FIV/FeLV negative and up to date on her shots. She'd love to keep you company!

If you are interested in adopting one, two, or all three of these cute cats and kittens, please email mirishouse (at) gmail.com or send a message to us on our Facebook page.

Shadow Knows

Shadow is going to her forever home tonight! We will miss this bright-eyed, lively yet cuddly little tortie, but we know she'll get tons of playtime, attention, and love in her forever home. Goodbye, little Two-Tan-Toes! We wish you the best nine lives ever.

The Whole Furry Family!

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Clockwise from top: Ember, Emily, Shadow, and Moondust.

Ten Weeks!

It's hard to believe they're growing up at last. It seems like they were just born, just opening their eyes.

Moondust

Now they're off to the vet. And in just a few weeks, they will be heading for their forever homes.

Shadow

The kittens are becoming more adventurous and independent. But they still need your help! If you can, please donate through our PayPal or GoFundMe to help sponsor the kittens' check-up and vaccinations.

Thanks and purrs to all our supporters!

Ember

She Likes It! Hey, Moondust!

Ember (on scratcher ramp), Moondust (in scratcher ramp), and Shadow (on track). 

Okay, a kitten taking her first taste of non-Mom food may not seem like a huge deal, but since we've been worrying for weeks about the kittens not wanting to eat, it's a pretty big deal around here.


The kittens are six weeks old, and still not weaned. Most other litters we've fostered have shown interest in food by around four weeks.

"What's this stuff?"

Of course, all kittens develop at different rates, and our current crew--Shadow, Ember, and Moondust--were smaller than usual at birth, with a very young mama cat. We even think they might have been slightly premature. One kitten in the litter, little Dusk, only lived one day.


But they are growing well, and they are beyond any doubt active, playful, and healthy. Still, we couldn't help worrying: were these kittens ever going to eat?

"She likes it! Hey, Moondust!" 

Today, Moondust, the smallest of the three, took the plunge. She came out from her new favorite hidey-hole in the scratching ramp to investigate a dish of KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement)--and she decided it was worth a taste. Once she got started, she licked up nearly the whole dish!

We're hoping her litter-mates follow suit. And we're pretty sure Mama hopes so, too!