The Last Hurrah

The Gilmore Girls of Cat-Dom--that cute matching mother-daughter duo known as Runway (mom) and Rue (daughter)--are going to their new home together at the end of this week. Knowing that they're leaving soon makes every minute with them bittersweet. It doesn't help, of course, that they keep trying to out-cute themselves at every turn. Here are a few sweet snapshots of the girls on the verge of their great adventure. Please join us in saying goodbye to these princesses of purrs and wishing them a happy and loving life in their new forever home!

So, I guess we know what Mama's favorite food is! 

Yawn! Rue thinks it's time for a cat nap.

The Cuteness of Calicos

Rue and Runway: dilute and traditional calico cats

All cats are beautiful, and their different coloring is part of their beauty, from the sleek elegance of the black cat to the leonine lure of orange kitties, from the cream-and-sable delicacy of the Siamese to the wild leopard spots of the Bengal. 

But calico cats are special. With their tricolor coats and unpredictable markings, they stand out in a crowd. Their Dutch name is lapjeskat (for 'patches cat,' not 'lap cat,' although they can be both!), and in Japan they are known as mi-ke (for 'triple fur') and considered lucky. Associated with prosperity, they are sometimes known as "money cats." 

Japanese maneki neko or lucky cat

When a calico kitten is born, you can say, with 99% certainty, "It's a girl!" The genetic markers for the distinctive calico coloring can only be found in the X chromosome, and only two X chromosomes (not the XY of male cats) can result in this unusual color palette. 

At Miri's House, we've had the pleasure of fostering three calico cats, and while we can't say they've lived up to their reputation as "money cats," we still consider ourselves lucky to have known them. 

The first calico was Marilyn, the only calico in beautiful red foster cat Miri's litter of four kittens. Named for her Marilyn Monroe-like beauty spot, little Marilyn took after her namesake in another way: the camera loved her, and she loved to pose. And why not? This kitten was seriously adorable.

Pin-up calico girl Marilyn

 Not only was she almost illegally cute, Marilyn the kitten had a personality to match: sweet, friendly, and playful. A friend was planning to adopt a kitten from Miri's litter, and she had wanted an orange kitten, but when her son met Marilyn, it was love at first sight. Marilyn was the first kit of the litter to be adopted.

Marilyn the MeerKitten

Marilyn's new mom named her Carlotta, in honor of a deceased family member. Carlotta had two kitty siblings to play with, Precious and Bherr, and a new family that adored her. Today, Carlotta is all grown up, more beautiful than ever, and a treasured part of the family. In fact, Carlotta is so loved that she will be part of her mom's life forever, thanks to this amazing work of tattoo artistry.

Carlotta: love that's more than skin deep!

Runway, a striking traditional calico with black, orange, and white coloring, and her daughter Rue, an unusual dilute calico with silky grey fur blending into muted orange and white shades, are still in foster care, waiting for just the right person to fall in love with this bonded pair and give them a home together. 

Our wish is that every cat can find a forever home as loving as the one Carlotta found. 

Please donate to Miri's House so we can continue to foster cats and kittens who don't yet have the homes they deserve. Thanks for your support.

Stereo Purrs

Runway and Rue, two cute kitties that are even cuter together.

Nothing says "cozy winter day" like a nap with Mom.

And then there were two ... two cute!
If you're looking for the perfect way to celebrate the Christmas season, then why not open your home and your heart to a young mother and her furry child? This bonded set will encourage you to snuggle on the couch with a good book on those snowy days this winter and luxuriate in their sweet purrs and playful trills.

Oh, it's called a "straw?" What do you do with it, Mom?

Oh! Chew on it! I can do that!

Runway and Rue are a mother/daughter calico and dilute calico pair that are only eight months apart in age. Runway was a super mama to her four kittens, but now that three of them are adopted and Rue is entering her "tween" years (she turned five months old today!), she's able to be more carefree and kitten-like herself. Rue and Runway play together, eat together and sleep together. It's not at all unusual to find them chasing each other through the house, rolling around in playful wrestling matches, or playing hide-and-seek behind doors. In their quieter moments, they're happy to snuggle on the couch--or a convenient lap! If your heart is ready for the sound of purring in stereo, please contact Miri’s House (mirishouse [at] gmail.com) and ask for an adoption application. This dynamic duo will bring much love to you for years to come.

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

Update on the Hunger Games Kittens: most of them now have new names and new homes, and they're growing up into beautiful cats.

Here's Dumbledore (Katniss) in his new digs. His new mom reports that his favorite game is Animal Crossing. He's also happily bonded with his kitty brother and sister.

He's racking up the top scores in the cat crossing category.

 And here's Opie (Peeta), adorable as ever, checking out the dollhouse in his new home.

I can play with this, right? 

And then there's Leo (Gale), who just went home this weekend. He's still getting used to his new home, but as you can see, he's looking pretty comfortable already. 

Leo says: Life is good!

Then there's Rue, the tiniest of the kittens (when she and Leo went to be fixed, she weighed in at just 3.2 pounds, compared to her brother's 5)! Rue is finding her voice (the tiniest, cutest little meow) and getting a little bolder about facing the big cats. She's testing her independence, but happy she still has Mama to snuggle up with on an autumn afternoon. 

Rue, "making biscuits" with Runway

And Then There Were Two ...

The Hunger Games Kittens, 3 months on: Rue and Leo with Runway.

Now that Dumbledore (Katniss) and Opie (Peeta) are happily settled in their new homes, the little foster family is down to three: just mama Runway, sweet Rue, and playful Leo (Gale). In one week, Rue and Leo are off to the vet to be spayed and neutered, and then Leo will go to his forever home. That means only Runway and Rue are still waiting for their forever family.

Runway has fully recovered from her spay surgery, and she's now running, jumping, and playing like she's just one of the kitten gang. In fact, at three months old, Runway's kittens are nearly as big as she is. Clearly, she is a very young mother--but also a really good one. All her kittens are healthy, friendly, and absolutely beautiful!

If you're interested in adopting Runway or Rue--or both of them together--please email mirishouse@gmail.com. Because they are such a bonded pair, we are hoping they can find a home together, but we will also consider applications for individual adoption.

Look at those feet! Leo, when you grow into those,
you're going to be a HUGE cat!

WANT?

Catching Up With Kittens

So, what's been happening with the Hunger Games Kittens?

Funny you should ask.

Runway, the kittens' beautiful young mama, is doing well after her spay surgery. Soon, she'll be ready for her own home, and we hope this sweet calico girl gets the loving home she deserves.

Rue, the smallest kitten, is always by Mama's side. She is playful, but not as rambunctious as her brothers--definitely more of a cuddler than a fighter. With her tufted ears, fluffy coat, and unusual dilute calico coloring, Rue is absolutely stunning, and she, along with her mother, is still available for adoption.

Gale--now named Leo--is a rascally redhead with an appetite for trouble--and for chili, pasta, yogurt, and sweet potatoes with cinnamon! Leo has been told that cats aren't supposed to like sweet or spicy foods, but he doesn't care: Leo knows what he likes. Leo's adoption is pending, and he's scheduled to move into his new home in early November.

Both Leo and Rue are scheduled to be fixed at the end of this month, so they will be all ready for their new homes.

Peeta is now named Opie, after the character Ron Howard played in The Andy Griffith Show (we can see the resemblance). He is the beloved center of attention in his new home, where he has two little girls to adore him. 




And Katniss, renamed Dumbledore, the first-born and first to be adopted, is now fully integrated into his new human and cat family.  

If you're interested in adopting, please send an email to mirishouse@gmail.com with a little background on your home, current or past experience with cats or kittens, and contact information.

If you can't adopt right now, you can always help sponsor a kitten by sending a donation through our PayPal link.

Purrs from all the kitties!

The Heat is On

Runway is rolling. She's stretching. She's posing. She's chirping and meowing and making that long, low, sultry mmmmrrrrawwwwrrrr sound. She's suddenly a lot less interested in her food, and a lot more interested in getting out and meeting cute guys.

In short, Runway is behaving like a teenage girl at a boy band concert. She's a force field of hormones, on a mission to fill the world with kittens.

Runway is in heat.

We've seen it in other mama cats we've fostered, and although it may sound funny, it's really painful to watch them go through it. We were hoping to avoid it this time, and we almost made it. Runway's spay surgery is scheduled for Friday of this week.

In the meantime, we'll need to be especially careful about keeping her away from doors (she managed to slip outside today--and, perhaps coincidentally, or not, there was a strange red-and-white cat in the back yard), and we may need to keep her separated from the boy cats. In the past, the resident hot mamas have always shown a preference for Ian. (Not that we blame them!)

But we know Runway will be happier and healthier once she's been spayed, and she can go back to being a playful, carefree young cat again and focus on finding herself a new, loving home.

If you'd like to make a donation to help cover the costs of Runway's surgery, please send your contribution through the PayPal link below. If you can't contribute money, please send your good wishes for a trouble-free surgery and speedy recovery for this brave little mama!

Rue and Runway: Mama's got a Mini-Me!

Kittehs Busting Out All Over!

Is it getting crowded in here or what?

They're not quite two months old, but these kittens are already HUGE in cuteness, personality, and energy. Did I mention energy?

I'll have one order of Rue-in-a-Basket, please.

Did I mention their amazing ability to become airborne in nanoseconds, springing from bed to cat tree and from floor to window? Or their ability to appropriate just about anything, from a wastebasket to a shoe, and turn it into a toy, prey, or an amusement-park ride?

They are already starting to outgrow their fostering room. Now, when the door opens, they make a mad dash to explore the mysterious Other-Cat-Kingdom, venturing down the hall past the laundry baskets that used to serve as a barrier. They've already managed to acquaint themselves with Duncan, Ian, and Molly, the resident cats, who seem wary but willing to make friends until Mama Runway comes flying out, tail a-puff, ready to defend her babies. And even though they're twice her size, Duncan, Ian, and Molly run away when they see Runway coming, because they know that nobody messes with a Mama Cat.

MY cat tree! MINE!

But we can see that Runway is getting tired, and last night she was showing signs of being ill. Today she was seen by the vet for a urinary tract infection and dehydration. No more nursing for this mama, and we need to keep her away from the kittens for a little while--although we expect her to voice her disapproval.

But it's almost time for the kittens to find new homes. Katniss--now renamed Dumbledore--is officially adopted and will be ready to meet his new siblings, Snape and Hermione, after he gets his vaccinations at the end of the month. We have already had people asking about the other kittens. If you'd like an adoption application, please email mirishouse (at) gmail.com and tell us why you would make a make a great pet parent. We encourage potential adopters to take two kittens together or consider adopting Runway, the beautiful calico mom cat, with one of her kittens once she is fixed. She's a great cat who has done an amazing job of raising four kittens, and we want to see her go to a loving home where she'll get the pampering and attention she deserves.

If you'd like to sponsor Runway or one of the kittens, or simply make a donation toward their food, care, and vet visits, please use the PayPal button to send your gift. The kittens--and their mom--thank you!

Peeta Steps Out!

Sweet little Peeta. Yes, he's a bit of a crybaby. Yes, he's something of a mama's boy. But there's something about his innocent little face, wobbly legs, and wooly coat that makes him impossible to resist.

Peeta and Mom

Peeta is the smallest of the three boys (only little Rue, the one girl of the litter, is smaller), but he's no slouch. Not only has he managed to jump up to the window perch on his own, he was also the first to try eating solid food. After Peeta took the plunge, Gale chowed down, and Katniss had a few bites. Only Rue is still holding back, but she's showing some interest, and we're sure she'll catch up to the boys soon.

Yay, Peeta! We're sure Mom is breathing a huge sigh of relief. Now, off to buy more kitten food!

"What's THAT stuff? I'M not gonna try it! Let's get Peeta..."

"He likes it! Hey, Peeta!"

Hungry, Hungry Kittens!

It's a floofy ball o'cuteness!

They're small and fluffy and playful, and they're growing every day. Katniss is still the leader at 1 lb., 7.8 oz. ; Gale is not far behind at 1 lb., 7 oz.; Peeta is catching up at 1 lb., 5 oz., and tiny Rue has finally broken the pound barrier at 1 lb., .5 oz.

Mom Runway in a rare quiet moment

Meanwhile, none of them have started eating solid food, despite many attempts to introduce it. They still think Mama's Kitchen serves up the best meals in town! But the kittens are five weeks old now, so it is time for them to start being more independent. We expect the next week to be messy but fun, with more attempts to interest them in "kitten glop." Stay tuned! 

Peeta, a/k/a "Cry Baby Kitten." He's very vocal when he's hungry!

Kittens on the Move!

 The Hunger Games kittens are four weeks old and coming into their own. Sure, they still like to snuggle with Mom and sleep in kitten piles ... some of the time. But they're much more active, exploring their environment. They're moving on up and out of the nursery!

Katniss leading the crew in the Great Escape.

They are starting to show their distinct personalities. Katniss is the leader, always the first to explore new turf. Peeta likes to splash and play in the water dish, as if it's his own personal swimming pool. Gale is rather bold, and prefers the heights of the bed, although we've had to pull him back from the edge a few times. Rue is the smallest, but by no means the shyest. Her eye infection is healing nicely, and she can hold her own in kitten wrestling matches against her bigger brothers.

Mama Runway, while still eating voraciously, is getting thinner. No doubt she's hoping the kittens will soon show interest in eating solid food, but so far, they're more interested in walking through the food dish than in actually eating the stuff. They have, however, been observed in the litter box--Peeta, especially, seems to enjoy kicking litter around. We can't say that they're actually using the litter box for its designated purpose, but we're hoping that Mom's example will guide them in that direction.

"Hey, have you tried that new sandbox thing?"

 Basically, they're changing from babies to kittens, and they're just adorable. Sturdy, sweet Gale is stunning with his bright blue eyes and red hair. Peeta's lighter ginger coat is developing beautiful tabby stripes. Katniss has a thick, plush  coat of soft grey fur, and little dilute calico Rue has the cutest, funniest smudge on her nose. They are starting to play with toys (we need to get them more of those), are spending more time running around and less time sleeping, and are starting to talk more, demanding to be noticed--as if such cuteness could go unnoticed!

For her part, Mama is less nervous when they're running about, more willing to let them venture from her side for short periods of time. She even seems to enjoy some alone time, lounging on the floor or in her window perch. After all, even the best mother needs a little break from the kids now and then.

Brave Little Rue!

15-oz. Rue faced her captors bravely.

What kind of birthday is this?

The kittens are one month old today. They are growing, romping, meowing, and starting to get braver and more playful. They're ready for adventure!

But going to the vet? That's not really the kind of adventure poor Rue had in mind. Rue was showing signs of an eye infection, though, so she went for her first car trip to see the kind and cat-loving people at Acoaxet Veterinary Clinic. And just so she wouldn't be scared at being all alone, Mama and the rest of the kittens came with her.

The other kittens weren't all that happy about having to go in "the cage" to a strange building, even if they did get to have lots of strangers ooh and ahh over their amazing cuteness. The vet techs had a hard time figuring out which kittens were male and which were female because they were "just too FLOOFY," but Dr. Mailloux blew the floof aside and determined that we have THREE boys and only one girl--little Rue. So Gale, Peeta, AND Katniss are all boys, which means we may need to come up with a new name for Katniss. Any ideas?

Meanwhile, Rue was very brave through her ordeal, even though she had to have yucky yellow dye put into her eye and have the vet examine it under a bright light. The good news is, she has no scratches or structural damage. The bad news is, she does have an infection, so she's now on antibiotic treatment. So far, none of the other kittens show signs of anything, so we're hoping that by catching and treating it early, we'll make sure the infection doesn't spread.

Orange (Cat) is the New Black:
Felines behind bars!

 Through it all, Rue was a real trooper and barely made a peep. We can't say the same for Peeta, alas. He screeched loudly whenever anyone dared pick him up: Mama's boy all the way!

We were hoping to get the kittens dewormed today, but they're still too small, so we'll have to wait and give them their medicine after they pass the 1 1/2-pound mark. Here are their official one-month weights:

Katniss:  1 lb. 4 oz.
Gale:      1 lb. 4 oz. 
Peeta:     1 lb. 1 oz.
Rue:       15 oz.

The vet scale, I'm sure, is more accurate than the food scale we've been using to weigh them. But it's all good. According to Dr. Mailloux, one-month-old kittens should weigh about a pound, so everybody's right on target, and they all look healthy. And cute. And, of course, FLOOFY.

So, as the vet said, "Good job, Mama!" 

Caturday's Child Works Hard (at Being Cute) for a Living

Four kits, three weeks. The Hunger Games Kittens--Katniss, Peeta, Gale, and Rue--turned three weeks old today, which meant it was time for their weigh-in. They didn't like it any more than we humans do (of course, we might not mind it so much if we were tiny enough to be weighed on a food scale)!

We're happy to report that all four kittens are growing apace. They are either closing in on one pound or have already passed it. This week, Katniss leads the pack at 1 lb., 6 oz., with Gale close behind at 1.4, then Peeta at 15.7 oz., and little Rue at 12.9 oz.

They still love to sleep kitten-pile style, but are more aware of their surroundings and have even made some attempts to climb out of their nursing box. Mom Runway is clearly proud of them, and who can blame her?

New Family on the Block: The Hunger Games Kittens!

How do cats and kittens get to Miri's House?

Miri, the first mama cat fostered here.

Sometimes, we've taken in kittens from a local animal shelter, but usually, like Miri, they just find their way here. Maybe homeless cats leave invisible hobo signs pointing the way, saying "Good food, soft beds, high-potency catnip here!" Maybe not. But however they get here, we're glad these little wanderers find a safe stopping place on their way to a forever home.

Runway, the current mama cat in residence, was wandering around the neighborhood for a while. Sometimes we'd glimpse a little calico face peeking out from under cars or bushes. On a hot Fourth of July day, we got a frantic call from some neighbors. They had managed to capture the little calico, and she was very thin--AND very pregnant. Panting and terrified, she looked as if she were about to give birth immediately. But once released from the cat carrier, she calmed down and showed her true nature: a complete purr bug. With two weeks of high-quality kitten food, Mama grew ... and grew ... Finally, on July 20, she gave birth to four healthy and absolutely stunning kittens: one calico, one grey, one light orange, and one dark orange--the same number and coloring as Miri's kittens.

Runway with Peeta, Rue, Gale, and Katniss.

 Runway got her name from the cute little "landing strip" of orange under her chin, but what to call the kittens? We'd already had a "Harry Potter" family (Molly, Ginny, and Luna), so it seemed only right to honor another favorite young adult book series and name these plucky little survivors after characters in The Hunger Games. So, we have strong and determined Katniss, with the softest grey fur ever; Peeta, the fluffy ginger-blond boy with a gift for gab; sleek dark-red Gale, already a bold explorer; and sweet little Rue, the tiniest but very likely the brightest.

Right now, they still wobble when they walk, and they haven't really seen the world beyond Mama's side. But soon, they will be getting into all kinds of cute kitten trouble, the way kittens do. We'll keep you posted.