Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 12:50 AM Nov 2013

Hey, Cat Savvy DU'ers -- hello from Nikita's kids! (Picture Heavy)

Last edited Thu Nov 21, 2013, 05:37 PM - Edit history (2)



Remember Dane, who I now call My Great Dane? He is a Mama's Boy...probably soon moving to NJ but promises not to ever vote for Chris Christie.



and here is the beautiful Monet, a feline work of art, but if you look closely, you can barely see the shy Elise hiding behind the couch!


But there she is, the beautiful Elise named after the lovely Beethoven piece


My golden tiger-stripped Sunny, also a Mama's Boy



and Bo, the little kitten with the big personality, the last picture I have before he left for his new home -- I will always love him.

Posted to say hello to DU'ers who read and participated in the Nikita threads and to say thank you for all of your help in getting us where we are today.

Sam

Edited to add this picture of Elise that I had difficulty posting earlier:

54 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Hey, Cat Savvy DU'ers -- hello from Nikita's kids! (Picture Heavy) (Original Post) Samantha Nov 2013 OP
I hope Bo's new caretakers are up to the challenge. pa28 Nov 2013 #1
You want to know something amazing Samantha Nov 2013 #4
We love the cats here too. pa28 Nov 2013 #9
Thank you for sharing the pictures with your daughter! Samantha Nov 2013 #13
What a beautiful family KT2000 Nov 2013 #2
Are you familiar with their story as it played out here? Samantha Nov 2013 #5
I think so - KT2000 Nov 2013 #28
That is right - she is a feral cat and I later found out thru the vet she was 2 at the time Samantha Nov 2013 #35
All are adorable! Arugula Latte Nov 2013 #3
I love them so much I can't believe it Samantha Nov 2013 #7
Thanks "Sam!" I remember reading about Nikita and her Pregancy... KoKo Nov 2013 #53
Oh KoKo, just found out this evening Dane will be leaving Monday or Tuesday for NJ Samantha Nov 2013 #54
I'm not familiar but Maynar Nov 2013 #6
Some rainy day when you are bored, here is what happened Samantha Nov 2013 #11
Thanks for that, Sam Maynar Nov 2013 #16
I have no clue where experts got this idea. Years ago we adopted a feral kitten. LisaL Nov 2013 #17
Do you still have him and if so does he stay only inside? Samantha Nov 2013 #22
That was over 30 years ago. LisaL Nov 2013 #24
Do you just let the cats you have now have access to roam the whole house Samantha Nov 2013 #43
They roam over the whole house. LisaL Nov 2013 #46
lovely kittens .... THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL. trueblue2007 Nov 2013 #8
They are beautiful in every way -- they way they look, the way they act, the way they love Samantha Nov 2013 #29
Thank you, thank you, thank you. SheilaT Nov 2013 #10
I know -- a lot of my neighbors did not want me to feed Nikita and called Animal Control to pick her Samantha Nov 2013 #12
That's interesting. SheilaT Nov 2013 #14
All three of the families had dogs and the dogs did not want the felines in the neighborhood Samantha Nov 2013 #21
How nice to meet someone else who gets SheilaT Nov 2013 #25
Sheila, I just learned Dane will be leaving Monday or Tuesday Samantha Nov 2013 #52
Oh my goodness! 2naSalit Nov 2013 #15
It is so wonderful to hear from you and I have a suggestion Samantha Nov 2013 #19
Good for you! 2naSalit Nov 2013 #26
Brava, Samantha! OneGrassRoot Nov 2013 #31
Oh, I hope you do read thru them if you ever have the chance Samantha Nov 2013 #32
I remember the story of Nikita LoveMyCali Nov 2013 #18
Thank you Samantha Nov 2013 #20
beautiful cats Liberal_in_LA Nov 2013 #23
Thank you Samantha Nov 2013 #27
I have to say goodnight but I will be back tomorrow Samantha Nov 2013 #30
I fell in love with Monet the first time Le Taz Hot Nov 2013 #33
She is so sweet Samantha Nov 2013 #34
"Fur" Elise, right? Blue Owl Nov 2013 #36
Nice turn of the phrase, Blue Owl Samantha Nov 2013 #37
Gorgeous piece and gorgeous kitties! Blue Owl Nov 2013 #38
Thanks! lunatica Nov 2013 #39
You are welcome Samantha Nov 2013 #40
The kindness you've shown... tallahasseedem Nov 2013 #41
They pay me back with love Samantha Nov 2013 #42
Aw! Monet looks like a younger version of my Jezebel. NuclearDem Nov 2013 #44
I love that name -- Jezebel Samantha Nov 2013 #45
She's about 10 now. Grumpy old lady, but still adorable. NuclearDem Nov 2013 #47
Okay, and I can imagine the look! Samantha Nov 2013 #48
Cheyenne snoozing -- I get so tired of all this cat stuff Samantha Nov 2013 #49
Yeah for Nikita's Kids!!!!!!!!!!!! BrotherIvan Nov 2013 #50
You are too kind but I loved reading every word Samantha Nov 2013 #51

pa28

(6,145 posts)
1. I hope Bo's new caretakers are up to the challenge.
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 01:35 AM
Nov 2013

He looks like the type who will wreck the furniture, knock over glasses or try to invade Poland.

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
4. You want to know something amazing
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 02:03 AM
Nov 2013

When I started this journey, I didn't think I would be good at it. I had never owned a cat. But Nikita dropped 5 kittens on my doorstep when they were 7 weeks old, and I felt I had no choice but to help them. So here they are a few months later, and this is what they are like: extremely loving, recognizes and responds to a few key words, non-destructive, extremely well behaved, beautiful, each with distinct personalities, and sometimes they even pull tricks on me. I am very proud of Nikita's kids, and I am extremely grateful to all the people who worked with me through 4 different threads, coaching and giving me advice, and participating in a fund-raiser to get them all spayed or neutered, rabbies and the necessary feline shots, treated for fleas, checked for HIV, nails clipped -- the works.

I really, really wanted these kittens (now on the way to becoming cats) to have a really good chance to have a good home and a great life. Everyone who comes in to see them loves them. And so I wanted to share a little bit with DU about how they were turning out because a number of people here have an investment in them. I hope they like what they see.

Sam

pa28

(6,145 posts)
9. We love the cats here too.
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 02:15 AM
Nov 2013

We've got two and it's really difficult to keep them coexisting peacefully in their own territories. I called my daughter over to look at your pictures and she is jealous.

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
13. Thank you for sharing the pictures with your daughter!
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 02:31 AM
Nov 2013

One day, Sunny finished drinking his water. Monet was sitting beside him and flung a paw over his neck as if to hug him. She then reached over and licked inside his ear. Sunny just sat there soaking it up with great satisfaction.

Yesterday, Elise was lying on the vanity and Monet jumped up and laid down beside her. She flung her paw over Elise's back and then started licking her head, in a gentle, loving way. They are so amazingly beautiful, they look like twins except Elise has very long legs so she is taller.

Sam

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
5. Are you familiar with their story as it played out here?
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 02:04 AM
Nov 2013

And thanks for the compliment, but Nikita had a lot to do with it as well!

Sam

KT2000

(20,544 posts)
28. I think so -
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 03:22 AM
Nov 2013

this was the stray cat on the porch in winter, right? You asked for advice because you didn't have cats before. It turned out the cat was pregnant. Right?

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
35. That is right - she is a feral cat and I later found out thru the vet she was 2 at the time
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 02:12 PM
Nov 2013

Yes, she did turn out to be pregnant and she had 5 kittens. One of the kittens looks exactly like one of the cats I had to try to keep away from her. Bo looks exactly like the big black cat that hissed and spit at me. At the time all this was going on, someone told me that if a cat is pregnant, another egg can be fertilized by another cat. I do not know if that is true or not, I certainly had my doubts at the time. Then when I saw Bo and Sunny, spitting images of the other two cats I had discussed in the thread, I had to wonder ....

Sam

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
7. I love them so much I can't believe it
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 02:09 AM
Nov 2013

But even more, I can't believe how much they love me. It is just amazing.

I also can't believe how much they love each other. They treat each other so tenderly, so affectionately, it is amazing to watch.

Bo before he left wanted attention all the time. I would be on my knees scooping out the litter box, and Bo would climb up on the vanity overhead. I would feel a v e r y v e r y soft tap, tap, tap on my head. I would look up and there would be Bo. It was almost as if he was saying, "Good girl, good girl for cleaning out that litterbox."

He has gone to his new home, but Sunny has started to do this. And now, Dane has joined in. Two days ago, I felt two of them tap, tap, taping the top of my head, good girl, good girl!!!

Sam

KoKo

(84,711 posts)
53. Thanks "Sam!" I remember reading about Nikita and her Pregancy...
Thu Nov 21, 2013, 09:44 PM
Nov 2013

Love this! They are adorable. Will you be able to follow up with a few of them who go to other homes? It would be hard to part with them...but, would be a handful to try to take care of, too!

Thanks for the follow up!

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
54. Oh KoKo, just found out this evening Dane will be leaving Monday or Tuesday for NJ
Thu Nov 21, 2013, 11:03 PM
Nov 2013

Yes, it is extremely difficult to say goodbye when one leaves. When I adopted out Bo, it was totally unexpected. The woman who came over, came to get Dane. Dane at that time was, as I thought then, very dignified. He was a good cat, but in personality could not compare to Bo. Bo was the runt of the litter but he had an amazingly big personality. I told many people he should have his own sit-com. And he was the first to emotionally attach to me. He had the most outrageous ways of getting me to pay attention to him whenever I entered the room. None of the others were there yet. So I felt comfortable with having found a good home for the first kitten, but I was sad to see Dane go.

When the woman arrived, all of the kittens ran and hid behind the couch. I suggested we sit down and see if they would come out. Bo emerged. Within a couple of minutes he started showing off. The woman started playing with him, and it seemed as if an immediate chemistry developed between them.

The woman had brought with her her young daughter, perhaps about 10 years old. The daughter watched as her Mom and Bo started to bond. The daughter had told her Mom she wanted the "gray one." After about 15 minutes, the woman looked at me and said, "Would you be upset if I asked to take Bo?" I felt an immediately sense of outrage springing up inside. "How could you possibly take him from me? Are you crazy? I love that cat!) To my amazement, my rational side took over and I heard myself saying, "It is obvious that you and Bo have a chemistry going on, so if that is what you want to do, I will let you have him." (Who was this person speaking for me!! This is not at all my feeling on the matter!)

The daughter objected, saying "But, Mom, I want the gray one, I want the gray one."

The Mom responded angrily, "When you get your own house, you can pick your own cat. I want Bo."

The daughter looked at me. I looked back at the daughter. And so it was decided.

The Mom said, "I can come back tomorrow with a carrier and take him." I responded, "If you want him, I will loan you a carrier. I had prepared to say goodbye to Dane, but I am unprepared to let Bo go. So take him tonight, take him home with you. And if it doesn't work out, bring him back tomorrow. He can always come home."

And so they left with Bo. I was not myself for the next two days. I had a deep abiding sadness as if he had died. Why, why did I let him go? Slowly, though over the next week I gave myself lectures, and in the process I came upon this one thought: if you love them, let them go. And that is what I have to keep telling myself, but it is not easy.

So soon I say goodbye to Dane, for whom I have developed a deep love and he for me. I wish I had the words to describe to you how he treats me. It is amazing.

Yes, it is extremely difficult to take care of 5 kittens, one feral Mom, and one blind twelve year old cock-a-poo. The work cycling between the three twice a day, the cleaning of the kittens' room, feeding them, feeding Cheyenne, taking her for a walk, feeding Nikita, giving her attention -- all of this does not leave enough room for my other responsibilities. But I will never regret any of it. I am so proud of the way they have turned out, and the whole experience will stay with me the rest of my life.

Thank you for posting on my thread, KoKo.

Sam

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
11. Some rainy day when you are bored, here is what happened
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 02:20 AM
Nov 2013

Thread 3 at http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018434376
Thread 2 at http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018337627
Thread 1 at http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018319954

but here was the Fundraising thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023330083 which starts out with a picture of Nikita, a feral cat who appeared on my doorstep for help. A few weeks later, she left me 5 kittens 7 weeks old to take care of -- and DU'ers got me through it.

Many people told me the kittens of feral cats could never be domesticated unless that process started before they were 5 weeks old. When she brought them to me for feeding, they were 7 weeks old but still stayed outside. After the fundraiser, I took them all to a pet hospital and had all of their medical needs taken care of because DU'ers made that possible. Once they were treated, I brought them inside and at that point they were about 9 weeks old.

I wish all those people who said it could never be done could see these kittens now. One person who knows the whole story asked me to write a book about it because all of the experts he talked to said it would be impossible to domesticate these kittens. But I had to try and I am proud of the results. I think DU'ers are too.

Sam

LisaL

(44,962 posts)
17. I have no clue where experts got this idea. Years ago we adopted a feral kitten.
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 02:45 AM
Nov 2013

I am positive he was older than five weeks. He spend most of the time under a bed at first.
We were at the point that we going to put him back since he wasn't going to become domesticated. But then he adapted and became domesticated. He was a very smart cat.

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
22. Do you still have him and if so does he stay only inside?
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 02:58 AM
Nov 2013

The rescue organization that also helped me out said I could never let them go out.

Sam

LisaL

(44,962 posts)
24. That was over 30 years ago.
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 03:00 AM
Nov 2013

He died a long time ago. But while he was alive he did go out. He would come back. He was really smart, like a dog.
I no longer allow cats to go outside, but like I said, that was a long time ago.

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
43. Do you just let the cats you have now have access to roam the whole house
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 11:48 PM
Nov 2013

or do you have a designated part of the house that you keep them confined to? I am wondering from the standpoint of having to cat-proof the whole upper level of the house or just keeping them confined to one room which can lead to a much bigger room.

Sam

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
29. They are beautiful in every way -- they way they look, the way they act, the way they love
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 03:33 AM
Nov 2013

Thank you for the compliment.

Elise is extremely shy. For the longest time, she would not come near me or let me pet her. But she would watch the interaction between me and Bo, then me and Sunny, and then Dane, and eventually Monet and I could see the look in her eye changing. She wanted to be petted. She wanted to be treated as they were being treated but she was just too scared.

Then one day she couldn't stand it any longer. She jumped from the couch and flopped down in front of me, belly up. She wanted her belly rubbed. I was so stunned I almost cried. I knew it took great courage for her to make that move. I kept caressing her and telling her how beautiful she is.

Today when I go into their room, she steps right up with the rest of them and wants to be petted. She is so wonderful. Very low maintenance. Happy to lie on the back of the couch and look out the window. Plays with the others. But she has the one hilarious quirk. She is a zealot about the litterboxes. If Dane or Sunny gets in one of them, she walks over after about a minute and inspects the job they have done in covering up their business. She is never satisfied they have done it well. She hops in and starts scraping that litter all over the newly-deposited business. But she has such long legs, sometimes she is so zealously scraping litter on the "deposit" she actually flings the clump out of the box and onto the floor. It is so goofy funny.

Once when Dane was still in the process, she climbed in the box right behind him and watched him diligently. He did his cover-up as usual, but she stayed in there an additional 3 minutes after he left finishing the job to perfection.

I could hear her thinking: "Hey, I have to sleep in this room too and I don't want it smelling up!"

Sam

 

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)
10. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 02:17 AM
Nov 2013

I'm a cat person, temporarily cat-less. A few years ago I had three cats, and they all went to that great litterbox in the sky. For now, I will live without cats, but in a few years I will have them again.

All of my cats have been wonderful. They were all rescues, or showed up at my doorstep. And even though I'm a cat not a dog person, this next applies to both. How can any human being ever abandon an animal that depends so much on us for their life? I cannot comprehend it. They are part of what makes life worth living. When we took in dogs and cats, we made a promise that we would do well by them. That's a sacred promise that needs to be kept.

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
12. I know -- a lot of my neighbors did not want me to feed Nikita and called Animal Control to pick her
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 02:24 AM
Nov 2013

up. It was horrendous. The amazing thing is that today I can say Nikita and all of her offspring turned out to be nicer, more well behaved animals than the pets of the 3 families that ganged up to "get rid of them."

Sam

 

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)
14. That's interesting.
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 02:33 AM
Nov 2013

While I can't draw the parallel too closely, it's a lot like having kids. How you raise them does make a difference, although it's not the only thing.

When I brought cats home from the animal shelter or the vet, it really did feel a lot like bringing my kids home from the hospital. All of a sudden I had this new creature in the house, and I didn't yet know exactly how it would turn out.

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
21. All three of the families had dogs and the dogs did not want the felines in the neighborhood
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 02:55 AM
Nov 2013

And the dog owners just didn't want a feral cat around, and worse yet, a pregnant one. But the way you have to learn to care for them, it is a lot like mothering children. I raised a daughter. I know an animal is not a human being but "raising" them is pretty much the same -- you train them to go potty, not to wreck the stuff around the house, to behave and to be loving creatures. And it hurts like hell when you have to say goodbye.

Sam

 

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)
25. How nice to meet someone else who gets
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 03:12 AM
Nov 2013

the connections between children and new pets to the household.

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
52. Sheila, I just learned Dane will be leaving Monday or Tuesday
Thu Nov 21, 2013, 09:16 PM
Nov 2013

to go to his new home. The rational side of me tells me that this is what I have been working for since the first moment I took them: give them a chance to find a wonderful home with people who will love them the rest of their lives. He is going to a wonderful home but he too has a special place in my heart, and there is going to be a big hole in it when he goes. Dane is magnificent.

Sam

2naSalit

(86,039 posts)
15. Oh my goodness!
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 02:34 AM
Nov 2013

Samantha! I had no idea you had done such an amazingly loving and kind thing. I didn't know this story at all but I am glad to see that it has turned out well and you have had a wonderful experience along the way.

They are so beautiful.

I am a total pushover for kitties and wish I could have them in my home, landlord won't let me. You are truly blessed by having them, I am sure, and they are blessed with having you. It's great that you have found them homes, or some of them-?- I hope that they are happy their whole lives. And you have a wonderful experience to remember, even if it was challenging to begin with... sometimes the challenges in life turn out to be the best experiences.

Thanks for sharing them before they go to new homes!



Samantha

(9,314 posts)
19. It is so wonderful to hear from you and I have a suggestion
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 02:49 AM
Nov 2013

The next time you go out in the woods and have some free time, open up the links to the threads above and read the whole story. You will not believe it. It has everything: mystery, sex, violence, melodrama, euphoria, depths of sadness ... the story lasted for some time but ended with the fundraiser and the kittens being moved in. I didn't post much after that because I was too crazy busy. Besides the 5 kittens I brought in, I am still taking care of Nikita and I have a dog named Cheyenne that I adopted when she was 10 weeks -- she is now 12 and one-half and can no longer see. So it is a crazy household but extremely loving and rewarding.

Bo was the first one I adopted out. The woman who came over came to claim Dane. But Dane hid behind the couch because he was at that point very shy. Bo came out and did a number of her, and she asked to take him instead. I was crazy about Bo and not prepared to see him go. But here was a real chemistry between the the woman and the kitten, so I felt I had to say yes. I was a mess for the next two days, so heartbroken to say goodby to Bo.

This woman came Saturday to collect Bo's papers and return my carrier. She saw Dane and just went crazy over him. He has blossomed into a real charmer. His fur is like sable, very thick, very soft. It just feels like he is wearing a very expensive fur coat. He also has a great composure, but loves to be loved. He often walks behind me and rubs up against my legs, or when I am sitting, he rubs up against my back. He makes these moves as if he is trying to hug me. I am crazy about Dane. But I believe he will be moving to NJ soon, and it will feel as if I am giving away one of my children. The only thing that keeps me sane is that I remind myself this is what is was all for.

Sam

PS When the woman came Saturday, she showed me pictures of Bo and what it looks like now. Seeing him again just made my heart swell with happiness. I knew from looking at him that he was happy and well cared for. She is going to email me some pictures taken recently.

I have been very selective in placing them. 3 people wanted one of them and I made an excuse. I knew none of them would give these kittens a good home. One of them has a young child that hits their dog with a stick to make it obey. So I am taking my time and placing them well.

2naSalit

(86,039 posts)
26. Good for you!
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 03:14 AM
Nov 2013

With all you have gone through to care for these babies, you should be selective in placing them. It will be one of the most important things that will console you when you miss them.

Glad to hear from you!

PS, I live out in the woods, I have to make a concerted effort to go to town or even my nearest neighbor! But I will read the threads, sounds like a good book I would read! Bookmarked!

I have to get to bed though so I'll check out the story tomorrow. Thanks again for sharing that, my kitty fix for the evening.

2na

OneGrassRoot

(22,917 posts)
31. Brava, Samantha!
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 05:21 AM
Nov 2013

I missed this story!!!!

I second all the things said in this thread. THANK YOU for taking such good care of Nikita and these babies, and for sharing the journey with others.

May you and your furry friends -- living with you and those now in new forever homes -- live a life of joy and wellness.

I look forward to reading through the links one day soon.



Samantha

(9,314 posts)
32. Oh, I hope you do read thru them if you ever have the chance
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 09:46 AM
Nov 2013

It was like a feline soap opera in some ways, just took different twists and turns. But all is well in their lives today, but I feel I couldn't have survived without DU.

Thanks for posting on my thread.

Sam

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
20. Thank you
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 02:52 AM
Nov 2013

She has been spayed so she won't be doing this to me again. I really love her. I am thinking of keeping Monet as a companion to her; sometimes I think I should keep both Monet and Elise because they are so close. But I also want to keep Dane -- I just can't keep them all but I would if I could. I just have to be proud of the way they have become.

Sam

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
27. Thank you
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 03:18 AM
Nov 2013

I have had two guys who came over and both wanted Sunny. These were separate visits. They just went crazy playing with him, and he was all over them. Then I got the cat toy out (the one with the feathers on a stick) and started playing with them, and they just went wild. Both of the guys fell hard for Sunny, but neither could take him because they both were relocating and moving out of state. They were literally in that process. One said he might call later and see if Sunny is still available, but this guy moved to California and I can't see putting Sunny on a plane ride across the country. So I am still hoping another wonderful person comes along that wants to take Sunny home.

Sam

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
30. I have to say goodnight but I will be back tomorrow
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 03:40 AM
Nov 2013

It is 2:38 am in the morning and I have a busy day tomorrow. I am so hoping that when I come back, I see some notes from people who were around when the story was evolving. I am looking foward to reading what they say about Nikita's kids today, as well, of course as the rest who visit who are just learning about them. Thank you and see you tomorrow.

Sam

Le Taz Hot

(22,271 posts)
33. I fell in love with Monet the first time
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 09:51 AM
Nov 2013

you posted pictures. With 6 cats, my husband is threatening to move out to the shed if I bring in ONE MORE!!!111!!! Thanks for posting update pictures. They're all looking happy and healthy.

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
34. She is so sweet
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 12:54 PM
Nov 2013

Last edited Thu Nov 21, 2013, 02:19 AM - Edit history (1)

You should see how gentle and loving she is with the others. It is amazing to watch. Always throwing her paws around one or the other, licking their ears or just their heads and generally contributing to the tone in the room of a lot of love. She and Elise when they sleep close to each other are just stunningly beautiful. They are twins except for the difference in Elise's legs, which are extremely long. I love them all though.

Sam

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
37. Nice turn of the phrase, Blue Owl
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 05:58 PM
Nov 2013

and yes, I named a beautiful kitten after one of my favorite beautiful pieces of music.

Your post is too funny.

Sam

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
42. They pay me back with love
Wed Nov 20, 2013, 08:45 PM
Nov 2013

As I have said many times, I never expected them to love me. This I thought because I had never owned a cat so I didn't really think a deep relationship could develop. But the way they treat me is amazing to me, and the other thing I never expected to happen also is true today -- I love them like crazy.

Sam

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
45. I love that name -- Jezebel
Thu Nov 21, 2013, 12:58 AM
Nov 2013

How old is she?

Thanks for posting on my thread.

Sam

PS do you have a picture?

 

NuclearDem

(16,184 posts)
47. She's about 10 now. Grumpy old lady, but still adorable.
Thu Nov 21, 2013, 01:01 AM
Nov 2013

I'll try to find a picture a little later. But just picture Monet a little more plump and with the "I own this place and everyone in it" look.

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
48. Okay, and I can imagine the look!
Thu Nov 21, 2013, 02:22 AM
Nov 2013

Too funny - I still hope to see a picture one day.

Thanks for posting on my thread.

Sam

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
49. Cheyenne snoozing -- I get so tired of all this cat stuff
Thu Nov 21, 2013, 02:36 AM
Nov 2013


This place is starting look like a zoo. I wouldn't be surprised to open my eyes tomorrow and see bunnies hoping around and birds flying all over the place.

Wake me when it is all over.

Sam

BrotherIvan

(9,126 posts)
50. Yeah for Nikita's Kids!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thu Nov 21, 2013, 02:26 PM
Nov 2013

I'm so happy your story turned out so well. It sounds like everyone has come together to make a wonderful little family. I am sure it is hard for them to leave, but if you are finding great homes, they will break hearts wherever they go.

Whenever you get a chance, post pictures of Nikita too! I'm glad she's still hanging around and healthy. And I'm glad none of the nasty neighbors have gotten her. And I'm glad you didn't listen to all the people who claimed to know something but obviously don't know a damn thing. Good to see Cheyenne is making it through the cat circus.

But the real huzzah goes to you. You really earned your halo by being so loving and really going out of your way for these little kitties. You should be very proud of all you have accomplished and how far you have come. And Nikita and the kids owe their lives to you. There aren't many people who would have worked so hard for a stray cat and her babies, but you took the time and truly cared and that makes you a true hero in my book!

Hugs to your whole family!

Samantha

(9,314 posts)
51. You are too kind but I loved reading every word
Thu Nov 21, 2013, 04:45 PM
Nov 2013

Last edited Fri Nov 22, 2013, 02:16 AM - Edit history (1)

I am going to come back later and respond more fully, but I have missed talking to you. You were so instrumental in getting us all to where we are today, and we all thank you.

I have an absolutely gorgeous picture of Elise that I want people to see but am having trouble posting it. You will be amazed how stunning she is.

The one thing that does bother me is that I now have six animals to care for and I feel one person cannot give that many animals all the attention they deserve. At the end of each day, I ask myself who might have been neglected today, and once I have the answer, I try to spend more time with that animal.

But I do want you to know that everyone who comes here loves them. They are amazing.

Ironically (and personally stunning to me) is the one family that kind of spearheaded the antipathy toward Nikita when she first started staying on my porch has a dog that used to bark and get upset to see a cat of all things moving in next door. I have always tried to steer her away from that yard and that family. Just the other day, he was running up and down their side of the fence trying to get to Nikita. I went over and started calling her to come. The wife stepped out sheepishly and said to me, "It's okay. She and Scooter are friends." WOW!

I think Nikita despite being a feral cat has a personality that eventually wins everyone over!

Loved hearing from you. Think about you often. More later.

Sam

PS Which one do you think is the most desirable? Everyone has totally different answers but that is understandable. Each of them has very distinctive traits.

Did you catch the post where I talked about Elise cleaning up after the boys?!!!!

Sam

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Hey, Cat Savvy DU'ers -- ...