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.

A Home for Owl and Smudge?

Owl's Glamour Shot

Owl and Smudge had some visitors today! We are hoping they may have found their forever home.

Sweet, serious Smudge

Our terrific tabbies have been joined by the three Halloween kittens, three beautiful black kitties who were left behind when people moved away. We've named these sweet little ones Hawthorne, Harriet, and Hazel Halloween, and we hope that they will be the next ones to find homes.

Hazel, Harriet, and Hawthorne: the Halloween Kittens!

But in the meantime, it's so much fun giving them lots of love, playing with them, and watching them grow up!

If you would like to help our fostering mission, we can always use food, litter, and cat toys. We accept donations through our Amazon Wish List and through Paypal (send to paypal.me/MirisHouse). Thanks for supporting Miri's House!

Ready for Homes!

We have wonderful news! Our beautiful black foster kitten, Eleven, found a home. He now shares a space with two other black kitties, Wednesday and Gypsy, and his person informs us that Wednesday has taken on the role of mom. His new name, which we're sure he'll live up to, is Sir Thatcher of the Compound. Hail, Sir Thatcher!

Wednesday (foreground) keeping a maternal eye on Thatcher.

Meanwhile, Smudge and Owl, the two tabby kittens, are growing up and getting cuter and more playful every day! They both are fixed, up to date on shots, and available for adoption. We think they would make a great pair, because they love to play together and sleep snuggled up, but they can also be adopted individually.

Brotherly love! Smudge (left) and Owl.

These two cuties are being fostered for CARE Southcoast. To adopt Smudge and Owl, please visit CARE and fill out an adoption application. You can arrange a visit so you can meet and greet them in their foster home. Email mirishouse (at) gmail.com or call CARE with any questions.

Adorable little Owl! This polydactyl tabby loves to snuggle.

Sweet little Smudge! This beautiful marbled tabby wants to hold your hand.

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

New Kits on the Block

Some new kittens have joined the household! We are fostering them for CARE Southcoast.

Meet Owl (tabby kitten on the lowest perch), Smudge (tabby and white kitten one perch up), and Eleven (black kitten hiding behind Smudge). They are about eight weeks old, still very shy, but very playful!

Here are Eleven and Smudge, all wrapped up in a kitty purrito. Swaddling them and petting them helps get them used to being handled by humans.

Something special we've noticed about two of these kittens: they have thumbs! Little Owl and Eleven are polydactyl cats, which pretty much doubles down on their already extreme cuteness.

They will be ready for adoption in about 3-4 weeks. Applications are available on the CARE web site. Email mirishouse(at)gmail.com if you would like to schedule a visit.

In the meantime, as always, we will happily accept donations of Royal Canin kitten food (canned and dry) and other kitty supplies through our Amazon wish list, or you can make a direct donation through our Paypal button.

Follow us on Facebook for cute kitty updates!

Good Morning!

 

Bettina and Paris will be spayed and neutered on Tuesday, and then they will be all ready to go to their forever home.

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. 

Farewell, Little One

It has been tough to keep up the kitten blog, with everything that has been going on. Those of you who follow our Facebook page already know that all the kittens were struck by a mysterious, fast-moving virus, and that we lost our sweet little London.

London was the first kitten to get sick. It started with vomiting, and at first we thought it was just passing tummy trouble or worms, but then she came down with a high fever. She was taken to the vet's, but sadly, she did not make it. London died on August 22, 2017. We never got to say goodbye.

Goodbye, dear London.

Then things happened quickly ... Bettina came down with the same virus and had to be rushed to the emergency vet in the middle of the night. She had a high fever and was unable to eat. At one point, we were told that they did not expect her to live--but Bettina kept fighting.

Next, London's brother Paris started running a high fever, and he, too, was off to the vet. Dash, Bettina's brother, seemed to be the only one holding the sickness off--but then he stopped eating and started vomiting. Off to the vet for Dash, too. He still had plenty of fight in him, though. It took four people to hold him down to get his temperature.

Right now, Bettina and Paris are back home, and Dash is at another rescue house. The good news is that they all seem to be recovered and are eating, putting on weight, and seem stronger and more active every day. They tested negative for feline leukemia, FIV, and panleukopenia. We are hopeful that they will grow up to be beautiful, healthy cats and find the loving forever homes they deserve. After all, they've already beaten the odds once.

Beautiful Bettina

Sweet Paris

Hello, London--Bonjour, Paris!

We had a hard time naming the new foster kittens, but now we've got some names that seem to fit them.

Meet London, with her fabulous foggy grey coat ...

London

... and feast your eyes on floofy, glamorous Paris!

Paris

They're growing, coming out of their shells, and becoming cuter and sweeter every day.

Yesterday, London had an adventure. When resident foster failure cat Clark Gable came into the kitten room to pay a visit, London dashed out into the hallway, ran up the stairs, politely greeted Ian and Molly and Duncan, got scared when Molly hissed at her, ran under the couch, behind the TV, knocked over various books and pictures, then ran down the hallway, climbed a cat tree, and was finally burritoed in a blanket and brought back downstairs, where she enjoyed a well-deserved lap nap and lots of petting.

London and Paris - almost ready for their forever homes!

Meet the Fosters!

Two new kittens are on board for the summer! These adorable orphans were rescued by CARE Southcoast after their mother sadly died. They are about 8 weeks old and will be available for adoption after they are fixed and have all their shots. In the meantime, they need lots of love and socialization. At first they wanted nothing to do with humans, but now they purr when you hold them and are starting to venture out to play! 

Right now we are calling this little grey kitten Spitfire. She likes to act fierce, but she's really quite a cuddler once she gets started. She has short hair, a cute white bib and paws,  and a tiny little white spot on her nose. 

Her sister has classic Maine coon cat tabby markings, with a distinctive tabby M on her forehead. We suspect FLOOF is coming, but right now she's medium haired, with incredibly soft, dark fur. We are calling her Selkie. 

Follow our Facebook page for updates on these two adorable babies. 

How to Be a Foster Failure

Molly explains it all.

Maybe you'll come into a house as a mama cat with kittens. You'll be scared and too shy to interact with people.

Your strategy should be to hide, whenever possible. Be camera shy. When people come to pet the kittens, flee. Almost no one will know the kittens even HAVE a mother.

Where's Molly?

 People will try to pet you. Don't allow this behavior. Run away. Hide. At some point they will take you to the vet. This is horrible. When you get back, burrow deep into the walls, behind the insulation, where no one can find you. The humans will be worried. Let them worry. They deserve it.

Eventually, come out from behind the walls. There is food here. There is a big, handsome orange cat here. Maybe you can find a place here. Sometimes there is butter. Maybe being a house cat is not so bad. Eventually, the humans will realize that you are here to stay.

Molly + Ian, sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g.

Or maybe you'll be an outdoor cat, roaming the neighborhood, getting belly rubs and food wherever you can. A "six-dinner Sid."

Those indoor cats will look at you from behind the door and hiss. Those pampered indoor cats. Who needs them?

Keep coming around. Soon you'll be a fixture at dinnertime. Then it will start getting cold. Sometimes the humans will leave the garage door open for you. Then there will be a box with a bed in it. Not bad, you think. Not bad at all.

I own this chair.

Then it will get colder. There will be a room inside with an open window, and a soft chair, and a warm blanket. A safe place to sleep. And that's where you'll stay.

Just for a while, the humans say. Until you find a forever home.

But you know better. You know that eventually the other cats will stop hissing at you. That they'll start to realize you're part of the family. And you will notice that the humans have stopped calling you a "foster cat." Now they call you a "foster failure."

But you know there's no success like failure. You know you are a most successful cat.

I am Clark Gable, and yes, I AM fabulous.

Will You Be My Brother?

 

Ian continues to be the "Ambassador Cat" and has been the first resident kitty to welcome our sweet tuxedo foster cat, Clark Gable, into the household. They hang out together, play together, and eat together. Duncan and Molly have made a little progress, too, but they need supervision. If they're not distracted with food, the growling will soon start--but we're trying to convince them that when this cute, mustachioed cat is around, treats magically appear.

Integrating a new cat into a multi-cat house can be challenging, but this guy is such a loving and friendly feline, he's really worth the effort. Of course, if the perfect adoptive home for him comes along, we'll have to let him go, but if not ... this group must somehow form a family!

Clark Gable, Feline Star

Meet our newest foster cat, Clark Gable. This dapper, tuxedo-wearing fellow sports half a 'stache and has a sweet and mellow personality--a true gentleman.

Mmmraow! 

Clark Gable, as we've named this elegant boy, was often seen around the neighborhood. We checked with different neighbors, and it seems he was visiting various houses for food (like the cat in the children's book Six-Dinner Sid), but he had no home. Although he was living outside for as long as a year, Clark's gentle personality made us think he'd lived with people at some point.

 This summer, while we were fostering kittens, Clark often came to the front door for dinner. As the weather got crisper, we started feeding him inside the garage, and set up a cardboard box with a blanket in it. He soon adopted this as his bed.

Clark at the vet, making himself at home.

Around Thanksgiving, when the weather got colder, Clark started coming inside for little visits. He was initially timid about being in enclosed spaces, but once he knew he could get out if he wanted to, he relaxed. He decided having a soft bed and a warm place to sleep was a good thing. And now, he's very content to be a well-fed, much-admired indoor kitty.

Clark went to the vet, where he was a model patient. He is FIV and FeLV negative, has all his shots (he's going back for a booster soon), is neutered, and seems to be about three years old. He is super-friendly with people and he's not at all aggressive with other cats. So far, our cats haven't been very friendly toward him, but we're still hoping to integrate them if we can't find him another home.

If you're interested in adopting Clark Gable, send an email to mirishouse (at) gmail.com.

A star of the silver screen!

In the Home Stretch

First to leave the nest!

Big changes are happening in Kitten Land. Our little family has gone from six kittens to four. Sandstone and Onyx, our two biggest boys, have gone to their forever home.

They've already got new names, too. Meet Dizzy and Miles ;-)

 

Onyx, AKA Miles Davis

 We're happy to report that they've made the transition well and are happily adjusting to their new home and loving their new person. We know that giving kittens a good start in life helps them grow up to be friendly, social cats, and we love knowing that they have a safe and loving home.

Sandstone, AKA Dizzy Gillespie

Next in line to be adopted will be Mama Opal and Galena, then Jasper and Mica, and last (but certainly not least) Sunstone. We'll be enjoying our last few weeks with them, even as we feel that bittersweet longing that we could keep them forever.

We are still always in need of donations for food, litter, and daily expenses. Your donation in any amount will be so appreciated! Thank you for supporting Miri's House.

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.

Parents' Weekend

Jasper, Sunstone, Sandstone, and Galena

Remember at summer camp, when it was parents' weekend, and you got to show off all your swimming trophies and arts and crafts projects?

Stunning Mama Opal

It was sort of like that at Miri's House this past weekend, only the visitors were future kitty parents, and the kittens didn't really have any prizes to show.

Beautiful Onyx

Although if they gave prizes for cuteness, they would win them all! Here's a small taste of the complete cuteness overload of Opal and her five-week-old kittens.

Sleepy siblings: Galena, Sunstone, Jasper

Playful Galena

Sweet Jasper