Purrchance To Dream

An Update

2009-10-28T15:26:00.000-04:00

I know it's been forever since I've updated here ~ sorry.
Closing the store and getting rid of 4 years of stuff in the basement has kept me busy!
Just a quick update: the woman who was going to adopt Jazper never showed up. To his benefit, the first few evenings with him in the apartment were less-stressful than I'd feared. Last night he was a very Good Boy, but he is still locked up in the bathroom at night. While I'm painting the store, he is still coming down with me.
Bella and Jack probably aren't going any where. The little rascals have weaseled their way into my heart. So, for now, Eight Is Enough.

And everyone (except Spooker, but you can't expect miracles) loves Eyad. Especially Daphne, who was missing her daddy something terrible the past two years, since he left us. She and Eyad have bonded and it's great to see how affectionate she is with him.

Here's a pic by Eyad for you to enjoy, until I can post again. If you'd like to see more of his photography, check out his RedBubble Gallery.
Cheers,
NTM

caption this

2009-10-22T00:46:00.000-04:00

Jazper

2009-09-15T15:09:00.000-04:00

One of the most difficult decisions about closing The Wren's Nest was knowing that I would have to find a new home for Jazper. Unfortunatley, while he loves kittens, he just cannot get along with other adult cats. I haven't blogged much about my failed attempts at integrating him in with the rest of the Purries, but he just attacks. He and Isis get along fine, because she grew up with him and he is used to her, but other adult cats - well, he just attacks. Like he is going for the kill.
It is way to stressful for me and the other cats, because of this, to consider keeping him. It would not be fair to any of us. He needs to be in a home where he can have lots and lots of attention, and frankly with all the Purries, sometimes I seem stretched a bit thin in the attention-giving department.
So, today, on the first day of my Store Closing Sale, even before I get a "Certified Used Cat" flyer ready for him, in walks a former business owner of another shop downtown, and an aquaintance of mine. After talking, I knew that this would be the person who could give him a Forever Home. Even before I said that I had to think about finding a home for him, she offered to adopt him.
She's coming back tomorrow to spend some time with him, and to talk with me about the details - like WHEN she would take him, but it sounds like it will be a good match.
It will break my heart to let him go, but I also know in my heart it will be the best thing for him -- for all of us -- in the long run.
I'll keep you updated,
NTM

updates

2009-09-10T13:17:00.001-04:00

Sorry I haven't kept up with updates on Bella and Jack like I should. My business life has been an emotional roller-coaster lately, and it's taken a toll on my blogging.
Anyway ~ Jack and Bella are still with me. The person who wanted to adopt Jack basically said they don't take their cats to the vet, would not agree to keep him inside, nor would say they would get him neutered when he was of age. So I told her, "no deal."
And the person who had said they were going to adopt Bella - well, they simply never showed up.
So, I'm going to try to find a home for them, where they can be together.
In other news - first of all, I need to apologize to Petey. With everything going on, his Gotcha Day kind of came and went, with no fanfare. I will have to make it up to him with a Pete Party soon!
AND - recently, I received an unexpected gift in the mail. It was the most luxurious, soft and wonderful blankie for the Purries in the mail! From Peggy of Peggy's Place!
It was a total surprise and SO wonderful! It is fluffy black and white, to match Pete's furs! Pete loves it! And so do I!
You can see from the picture below that Bella loves it, too!
THANK YOU, Peggy!
♥
~ Not The Mama

Ruby Tuesday Chloe

2009-09-08T12:17:00.000-04:00

I'm afraid this is what Chloe thinks of the continuing "invasion" of kittens:

baby, i'm a STAR!

2009-09-05T15:36:00.000-04:00

An exclusive look inside the dressing room
of famous facebook feline star Little Isis.

Foster Twins Update

2009-09-02T11:53:00.000-04:00

I might have homes for Bella and Jack.
While I would love to adopt them out together, I have one young lady who just wants Jack, and another family who just wants Bella.
They are so cute, and now fully 'conditioned' to be with people, and very playful and healthy - and they LOVE to cuddle with a warm human! Now's the time to pass them on to Forever Homes before I get too attached - especially with Bella!
I will keep you up-dated on their adoptions
(I'll have to stock up on Kleenex first!)
~ NTM

Surprise!

2009-08-29T11:31:00.001-04:00

Today's Photo Hunters is "surprise!"
The surprise is not only did Bella and her brother Jack come into my life to give me some laughs, but also how popular this particular picture of Bella has become in my Flickr Photostream.
I have 530 photos on Flickr, and will admit to being addicted to adding my pictures into Flickr groups, but never guessed that this little sepia kitten picture would skyrocket to the #1 popular spot of my pics in just a few short days beating out a picture of Pete that has been up for months in combined number of views, comments, and being favorited.
Hope you enjoy this picture of Baby Bella In Sepia, and if you have a Flickr account, click on the picture and favorite it, too!

daphne's eye wordless wednesday sepia scene

2009-08-26T14:29:00.001-04:00

Bella learns how to play hockey

2009-08-25T12:51:00.000-04:00

I decided to teach Bella how to play hockey on the kitchen floor, using one of Petey's bottle caps as a puck:

Bella reminded me that stretching before the game starts is important:

She's a fast learner!

Score!

"Bella, you sure it safe out dere?" Mini-Mancat Monday

2009-08-24T11:03:00.006-04:00

Jack had the sniffles for a few days, but by Sunday evening seemed to have kicked-em, so I left the bathroom door open for a bit to see what would happen. Bella The Explorer charged right out, ignoring Chloe's hisses and went on an adventure.
Jack finally felt left out enough to sneak a peek:

Finally Friday!

2009-08-21T11:58:00.000-04:00

Sorry, no new pics of the Foster Twins yet - but last night got them a new, larger litter box. Once filled, Bella jumped in and was like, "Yay, a sandbox, let's dig in!"
The air conditioner is not working in the shop today, so Isis is home upstairs and Jaz is in his cave downstairs. And I'm sweating in the middle.
Got a coupon in the mail from PetSmart = Buy 24 cans of Fancy Feast or Fancy Feast Elegant Medleys and get one jug of Tidy Cats Scoop litter FREE. I don't use Fancy Feast - but a for someone who does, a jug of FREE litter is a good deal. If you want me to snail mail it to you, send an email to purr2dream at gmail dot com and I'll pop it into the mail.
Have a great Friday!

9 weeks old

2009-08-20T12:48:00.002-04:00

ello, jack!

2009-08-15T16:54:00.000-04:00

They're not very good pictures, but I was finally able to snap a couple pictures of the elusive Jack Sparrow:

Jack & Bella Update

2009-08-14T12:30:00.000-04:00

Sorry for no new kitten pictures.
I swear, I've never been around two kittens who are so scairt-and-hidey-all-the-time. Yesterday, the only way I knew they were still alive was that the food disappeared and the litter box got filled. When brushing my teeth last night, I was able to reach around the back of the cabinet and poke them both to make sure both were still kickin' it.
This morning, there was a BIG mess in the bathroom and I saw two little grey blurs run into their hidey hole as I opened the door. I gave them stinky goodness, and while I was in the shower, I was able to peek out and see them both eat.
Afterwards, as I was brushing my teeth, Jack came out and walked over to me and meowed. I was very surprised. I bent down and scratched his back. He let me, so I picked him up and he let me scratch his forehead for a few minutes. During this time, Bella stuck her head out from under the cabinet and looked at me.
I put Jack down and he went over the the food dish, and Bella came out to join him.
Hopefully this is progress and tonight I will try to get some pictures and some contact time. I think they need to be less shy and less scairt before they can be adopted, don't you? Plus, I need to get some pics of them together so I can make "Adopt Us" posters!

Introducing Jack

2009-08-12T12:18:00.000-04:00

Last evening, I'd given Bella some tuna for dinner and then a cuddle and good ear scritch on the couch with me, and had just settled her back into the bathroom when Bessie called me.
She'd spent the last two hours trying to catch Bella's sibling.
I groaned.
"Well, what did you want me to do?" she said. "It is Bella's littermate."
"Come on up," I said, reluctantly. Although she and I both knew I wouldn't turn a kitten away.
It was evident the moment I saw Rescue # 2 that it was indeed a littermate. We got it settled in with Bella - they knew each other instantly - and then we got flashlights and patrolled the alley for any more sightings. Don't think badly of me that I was hoping there would be no more. There weren't.
The good part of having two kittens in the bathroom is that there is no "Oh Lonesome MEEEEE" meowling. The funny (not bad, mind you) part is that the bathroom got trashed overnight by the two playing. Yes, I'd put in some toys - but somehow the toilet brush seemed to be more fun to drag around....
This morning, we took Number Two to see Dr. Butts (who laughed and said "Long time no see!") and he confirmed this one was indeed a boy. Captain Jack, christened Bessie, since he had eluded capture for so long, like Johnny Depp's character in the Pirates movies. So Jack it is.
Thanks to generous donations from Facebook friends, Jack's vet bill was covered. He had the same parasitical maladies as his sister, but not nearly as much mite-poo-buildup in his ears. He got a clean bill of health from the vet.
Bessie's sister gave us a bag of canned food for Bella and Jack, and now we just have to find a Forever Home for them! I hope to find a home that takes them together, but we shall see.
And without further ado, here is little Jack Sparrow ~ this is a cell phone pic I took at the vet's office - I will try to get a better picture later:

Bella Goes To The Vet

2009-08-11T12:36:00.000-04:00

Since Bessie paid for half of the vet bill for the new rescue, she got to choose her first name. She chose Bellatrix. The compromise was that, if we replace "Peanut" with "Bella" - then I insisted on keeping "Fostorius" as the kitten's last name.
"What does 'fostorius' mean?" asked Bessie.
"It means neither one of us is keeping her," I replied.
"Yeah, right." said Bessie.

Here's a picture of Bella at the vet, in her Aunt Bessie's hands. Aside from the usual feral-kitten maladies of ear mites, fleas, and worms, she got a clean bill of health. I guess there is a lot of upper respiratory infection in foundling kittens here this summer, but Dr. Butts said Bella doesn't seem to have any symptoms - but she should be kept quarantined for another 24-36 hours to make sure.
She weighed in at 1.5 pounds, but after the disgustingly HUGE amount of dead mites, dried blood, and mite poo cleaned from her ears ("She might be able to hear for the first time in her life," said Dr. Butts), she probably was a quarter pound lighter!
She got blood tests (negative) and shots (ouch!) and a round of Revolution to nix all the parasites, and then was sent home so she could hide back under the cabinet in the bathroom again.
While I held her in the waiting room, she was purring up a storm, and all was forgiven for my still-throbbing finger. She sure is a cutie patootie!

oh noes! (updated)

2009-08-10T21:38:00.001-04:00

This afternoon, a guy ran into the store and asked me for help with a "kitten in a car engine" - the car was parked on the street next to my store. As the guy got down on his knees by the car, suddenly this little brown blur ran out into the street.
The guy and I stopped two on-coming cars, and just as the kitten made it to the sidewalk again, Bessie showed up and we corralled it into The Wren's Nest doorway.
Before the kitten could run, I grabbed it up and it bit me good in my left index finger.
After checking it out to make sure it didn't need emergency vet care, Bessie and I got the tiny thing up into the apartment bathroom. She hid for a couple hours, but came out to eat. After a while, the little peanut let me pet her and I showed her where the kibble and litter box and bed are located. So, I present to you Peanut Fostorius:

Updated = "peanut" turned out to not only be a GIRL but to also only have the temporary name "peanut" for a short time...

LOL Chloe

2009-08-10T13:48:00.002-04:00

coupon code from Cat Above

2009-08-09T13:24:00.001-04:00

Cat Above, whose SnoozePal is featured in the previous post, has given us a coupon code to share for cat blog readers. Along with the SnoozePal they also have a fun hammock on a wooden stand:

Coupon Code S89, gives you $5.00 off at checkout on the purchase of a SnoozePal or the wood-frame hammock. The coupon expires August 31st.

Chloe wants one of these!

2009-08-06T14:18:00.000-04:00

We recently entered a contest for a SnoozePal, pictured here. While we didn't win (darn it) we wanted to share this fun feline item from Cat Above with you.

A hammock and a box - two things that cats love.

They also have a great-looking hammock on a wooden stand, and a no-mess scratch pad.
Check them out!
~NTM and The Purries

Tuxie TuesdayPete

2009-08-04T13:57:00.000-04:00

It's only 3 weeks 'til Pete's first Gotcha Day! Hard to believe that little rapscallion was never in my life - he makes me laugh so much and fills me with such joy!
He's gotten so big ~ this is a recent pic ~ hard to imagine he fit in the palm of my hands just a year ago!
Hope you enjoy this pic of him! And make sure to come back on the 24th for his Gotcha Day Celebration!
~ NTM

pic from isis's party

2009-08-03T23:32:00.000-04:00

Happy Purrthday, Little Isis!

2009-08-02T08:22:00.003-04:00

Happy 2nd Purrthday

to Little Isis!
We'll have a

bigger celebration
on her actual
GOTCHA DAY
but wanted to give her
some LOVE today
on her

guesstimated purrthday!
♥
~NTM
Photo collage of Little Isis, created with Picasa

Isis' Bio

2009-08-02T00:08:00.000-04:00

Name: Isis (aka Little Isis)
Age: I'm two now!
Birthday: August 2, 2007 (this is a guesstimation!)
Gotcha Day: September 14, 2007
Where I Came From: The alley behind the store! Yes, I'm a true Alley Cat!
Breed: House Panther
Coloring: All black with the most amazing orange-gold eyes.
Nick-name Not The Mama calls me: Nooj, Littlle Bit
Down-under: Ladygardenectomy done on 09/30/2008
Relationship Status: I'm TWO now, so I'm available!!!
Pet Peeve: Kids. When the little monsters come into the store, I run and hide!
Favorite place to sleep in the living room: On my green Ham-mick from 40 Paws!
Favorite place to sleep in the bedroom: In the heated cup.
Favorite Things: The fishies in the aquarium, running up and down the stairs from the apartment to the store, sleeping in the sun, and stalking Spooker.
Favorite Treat: Friskie's Party Mix! (I won't eat Temptations, but I nom nom nom Party Mix!)
Favorite Toy: A jingle bell on a string. Not The Mama thinks he has me trained to come when he rattles the jingle bell, but I just like letting him think he's in control... Plus, can't resist... the bell...
Favorite Color: Black, of course! And RED - cuz that's the color of my collar!
Fun Fact: I will ride on Not The Mama's shoulder, and he calls me Nooj The Little Monkey.