The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee

Friday, May 29, 2009

As Promised, New Harlan and Nelson Pics

FIRST of all, I wanted to thank ALL OFF YOU who made donations in response to THIS post. I've heard from the HS there were many donations made (food and monetary as well). I know from your comments and emails that lots of donations were made to your own local shelters too. Thank you, all you wonderfully, wonderful folks out there!! Your generosity is so touching.

So keeping our end of the bargain, here are some pics of the Lovejoy boys, Nelson and Harlan in their new home. Thank you Charles (proud papa to Nelson and Harlan) for sharing your lovely pictures. And thanks too for suggesting the donation clause.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

More to Explore

It's rare that any kitten is allowed to go upstairs. That's Drewey's domain. Because Neville was such a good boy, we let him do a little exploring up there while Drewey was outside napping on the deck.

The upstairs is just one big, long open carpeted room. If you asked Neville, I think he would say it's a wonderful space for a cat. The stairs are a thrill to climb. It's to fun snake between the rungs of the banister. You can run much faster on carpet than on slick wood floors downstairs . It's really toasty up there AND there are excellent sun spots for napping.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Joined at the Neck

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Mingling with the Lovejoys

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Belly-Up Babes and Butterbean

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Tressa: Day 1

Here's a picture of dear little Tressa from the day the moved in. The kittens were exactly 8 weeks old, which means their birthday is Valentine's Day. I didn't do the math until after they were named 'Lovejoy", but how appropriate it ended up being!

Lovejoy Piles and Puddles

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Showing a Little Skin

Isn't her belly cleavage adorable?

Monday, May 18, 2009

Plenty More to Come

The Lovejoys are gone, but I still have oodles of pictures left to post. They were quite the photogenic bunch. I probably took at least few thousand pictures of them during their stay with us.

I'll be heading out of town for the next 10 days, and as soon as I get home, we'll get us a fresh batch of kittens.

Until then, I'll be posting the last of the Lovejoy pictures. I've saved some of the best for last, so I think you'll enjoy them.

We'll start with this little series of Neville in the center of a pile of pink paw pads.

Tomorrow,, I've got some pictures of Tressa and her naked little belly to share with you.

Give a Little, Get a Lotta Lovejoy

This was a weekend filled with goodbyes. Harlan and Nelson left Saturday morning. Neville and Tressa left Sunday. It wasn't easy parting ways with these kittens. But it never is, of course.

We couldn't be happier with the families we found for The Lovejoys. I think if you met them, you would all approve too.

Harlan and Nelson's Pa has agreed to sign a contract and continue to provide pics of the boys as they grow under one condition (yes, he added a ~~claws~~ clause to the contract). You all have to make a food donation to the Tacoma/Pierce County Humane Society's emergency food bank OR your own local shelter's food bank.

It's easy to do. Just pick up a few extra cans, or a case or a bag when you're at the store next, and drop them off at the shelter. Or, as Kat Box Janitor suggested, find a grocery store that delivers, place and order and have them send it to the shelter.

After you made a donation, let us know by leaving a comment on THIS post.

If everyone donated just a little bit, think of all the animals we could help together!

Once we see the donations roll in,, the pictures of Harlan and Nelson as they grow up will be released to the world.

To find out how to donate to the Tacoma/Piece county Humane Society,
click here.

Safeway will deliver (with a $50 minimum) to the Tacoma/Pierce county Humane Society. You can order online here.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Kitty Long-Legs

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Family Portrait

Totally Tressa

Friday, May 15, 2009

Let's Take a Closer Look...

Here's a closer look at the perched pair from the previous post... and their paws.

And Now,, the Results...

The polls have closed, results are in, and most of you guessed incorrectly.

Here's how you voted: (drum roll please....)

47% voted Harlan with Tressa & Neville with Nelson

29% voted Harlan with Neville & Tressa with Nelson

23% voted Harlan with Nelson & Tressa with Neville

For that 23% who voted Harlan with Nelson and Tressa with Neville, please pat yourselves on the back. You guessed correctly! Congratulations!

Of course the real winners are The Lovejoys, who get to move in with some fabulous folks this weekend.

Frequently Asked Kitty Questions

Who are these kitties?
The Itty Bitty Kitties are foster kittens that come to us from the Tacoma/Pierce County Humane Society. We care for the babes until they are old enough to be adopted, then we find them loving homes.

What is the IBKC blog all about?
The IBKC blog follows the daily lives of our foster kittens and Charlene Butterbean, our resident cat. Occasionally we feature other kittens being fostered by our friends.

How do I go about adopting one of these kitties?
First send us an email if you're interested. When the kittens are around 6 weeks old, we set appointments for a "meet and greet". If all goes well at your meeting, and the kittens approve, you may adopt.
Because they are Humane Society kittens, we must follow their rules. There is an application process and an adoption fee. All kittens must be spayed or neutered before leaving our nest. Because these kittens receive copious amounts of love while they are in our care, we only let them go to people that promise they'll do the same. Seriously,, if you're looking for a kitty just because you have a large mouse population in your home, please look elsewhere.

We don't want to adopt, but can we just come visit the kitties?
I'm sorry, but we don't grant requests for visits . We just can't.

Are these kittens the cutest kittens in the world?
Of course they are.

How big are these itty bitty kitties?
When people meet the kitties, they are always surprised at how small they are. I know it's hard to get a sense of the size of the kitties from the pictures. They are most likely smaller than you think.

What kind of camera do you use to take the kitty pics?
I use a Nikon D-40.

How many cats does it take to be classified a "crazy cat lady"?
I think it's thirteen, but it varies from state to state.

How does one go about fostering?
First, think about it. It is a big commitment. Do you have time in your life and space in your home? If you do, contact your local animal shelter. Many have foster programs and are often in need of foster families. It works for me because I work from home and can take breaks during the day to care for the kittens. It's very rewarding. I always feel ( and my foster friends will agree) that you get more than you give.

If fostering isn't right for you, there are many other ways to help. Shelters are always looking for volunteers and donations.

Who cares for the kittens?
The kitties are cared for by the human members of the IBKC aka, their foster parents. Foster parents include me (Laurie) and my husband, Craig. Sue is a foster mama too, and her kittens are featured on here as well. Sarah is our medical advisor. It takes a village to raise a litter.

Is Charlene Butterbean the IBKs mama?
Nope. She's never been a mother, although mothering comes naturally to her. She loves all kitty babies the second she meets them. She helps keep them groomed and plays with them too.

What kind of cat is Charlene Butterbean?
We don't know for sure, but she looks a lot like a birman.

Does Charlene have a fan club?
No, but she has her own email address. Click here to send her a note.

Is it just me... or has anyone else noticed Charlene has put on a little extra weight?
No, it's not your imagination. We can't keep her out of the kitten food. We're trying to exercise her more.

Do you have any other cats?
Yep. There's also Drewey (AKA Drewster, Rooster, Little Drewey Junebug, Drewski, Roost). I rarely write about her because she never mingles with the kittens. She's a little old lady cat who spends most of her time curled up in a ball, under the bed upstairs.

Will you ever adopt one of your foster kittens?
Although it's very tempting at times, (especially those dark, fluffy, tabby boys... ) we don't plan to adopt any of our fosters any time soon. We've got a two cat max in our house.

Is it hard to say goodbye to the kitties?
Yes, it is. But then we say hello to new kitties and it's all better again.