DIVA DIVINE

Posting today wouldn't be complete if I didn't take time to mention our Flossy girl.  She's been so overshadowed by the kittens since they arrived and I think it's fair to say that she's not been happy about it; so without further adieu, here's a little limelight for our gorgeous Baby Girl.

In true diva fashion, she really doesn't enjoy the company of little ones under her feet.....she makes that perfectly evident every time either I or hubby catches her cornering one of them and proceeding to hiss and swat at them.  I think there's apart of her that enjoys their energy level (since she can act quite kitten like herself at times when she gets all geared up), but I think the fact that they can move faster than her AND are competition in the cuteness department, just seals the deal for her and puts her off any ideas that we may have about her befriending them.

She likes being the prettiest, the ones who commands everyone's attention, and that which everyone walks in the door saying "awwwwwww" to - she's not prepared to share her moment with anyone; least of all a couple of little boys that are too young to even appreciate it all!! *L*

MINI MODELS

As this weekend unfolded I'd be less than honest if I didn't say I'm a little surprised that I haven't had even one call for Abner & Hobbs.  I'm going to chalk it up to their website photos not being the greatest - good shots are a must have when your talking about a rescue that relies on their website to find forever homes.

So I spent pretty much the whole day trying to catch photos of the babies when they weren't flying around like jumping beans!  Anyone whose fostered kittens can tell you that trying to get pictures is near to impossible; especially when you want them.  I'm adamant that cats know when it's photoshoot time and nine times out of ten, they will prove the world's most difficult models - on purpose!  Any other time, without camera in hand, you'll encounter them in countless poses that would make great shots...............these four legged little furballs are noone's fool.

Below are a couple I was lucky enough to get today - what do you think??  Would you adopt these little darlings if you were searching for a feline friend?......................

MIGHTY LITTLE MONSTERS

Abner and Hobbs are still with us - and growing cuter by the day!  Abner is most certainly the big brother physically - as he's visibly taller and heavier weight wise than his little brother, but when it comes to confidence and tenacity, Hobbs has him beat hands down!

The one really adorable thing about both of them is that they just love to have their bellie's rubbed and the moment you start petting them, both will instantly flop over  and stretch out as long as they can so that you can have total access to their soft, white little tummies to ensure a most thorough loving - it's hilarious to watch and completely adorable in every sense of the word.

Just tonight we decided that when we're home, they will have access to the rest of the house.  We'd really wanted to keep them separate from our boys since the initial signs were that Rocky and Silly (and even Flossy girl) were not at all thrilled with the prospect of sharing their domain with little ones, but so far today it's gone okay and we anticipate that that will only get easier.  That said, we really don't anticipate having them much longer since anyone who comes to meet them would have to be unhuman not to fall completely and helplessly in love, and both hubby and I agree that if we didn't already have boys of our own, we'd be keeping these two - they are just that cute!!  Their adventures into the rest of the house have been really exciting for them today, our finished basement has worked wonderfully for fostering them but they're getting abit bigger and as such, a little more curious and even somewhat lonely I think, being shut down there away from the rest of the family so we decided they needed to have more access. 

In the past I've talked about my love for orange/white cats (or creamsicle kitties) - these two little boys are no exception..................they are so soft, so snuggly, so sweet and so funny that honestly you can't help but want to just kiss and cuddle them constantly.  :))

LEARNING AS WE GO....

After Flossy's having been with us going on 9 months now, previously I would have been quick to say that I knew pretty much everything there was to know about our snow white princess in terms of her temperment and preferences.  But alas, the arrival of the kittens (and our having tried to match her up with one for a forever home), have taught us something new...............our Baby Girl loves other cats but add the words "that come before her" in the sentence and you'd be bang on.

In other words, we've come to discover that Flossy does great with cats that are already present when she enters the situation (meaning those that are already established within the home), but isn't as easily swayed by cats that come after her.  She obviously doesn't mind the hiearchy ground rules being set when she arrives on scene, and is quite happy to take her place in 2nd or 3rd position in the "pecking" order if necessary, but when another kitty enters after she's arrived - well that's a whole other ballgame and she isn't interested.

It just goes to show that you can have a kitty within your midst for quite some time, and still be without all the facts - especially those of the female persuasion who are a little more particular and a little more sassy.  Of course all of this aides hugely in us being able to help her go to the right forever home; knowledge is power I always say and none moreso than in this case!!

DADDY'S BIGGEST FAN

With all the recent activity that the kittens have brought to our home, including taking up a huge chunk of our time in caring for them, it can be easy to have your own kitties take a back seat for a time.  It's certainly not intentional and it's the part of fostering that can sometimes have me feeling guilty and stressed..............how to care for, pay attention to, and love, those that come to Safe Haven for the refuge, while at the same time ensuring that Safe Haven's permanent residents (Rocky & Silly), don't feel slighted or replaced.

One of the ways we attempt to keep our own kids content in the face of all the new whiskers coming and going, is to keep their routine as much as possible, and take the necessary steps to protect the things that are sacred to them.  One of those "special" times for Silly is first thing in the morning before hubby has risen.   Every morning like clockwork, Silly waits for me to place his Daddy's bath towel on the toilet seat lid so that he can hop up and assume a snuggle position - once he's settled you could easily hear his purring from 10 feet away!  He never budges or moves a muscle until hubby has risen and comes into the bathroom to greet him.

It's so satisfying for me to see this boy who loves my husband so very much, take pleasure in such a small thing that says such large things about the special bond that's been created by one big guy and his little buddy.

BEAN SPROUTS!!

It feels abit weird to enter the kittens room now and see only four as opposed to the original six - funny how two little ones can make such a huge difference in the dynamics of things in so many ways.

By Sunday it will be just Abner & Hobbs, how ironic that the two who look most like twins will be the remaining ones waiting for adoption.  I'm hoping they don't have to wait long and that they can also go together since we were lucky enough to have the first four go in pairs.

Their faces and bodies are changing rapidly now it seems, every morning I head down to greet them they almost appear to have sprouted more height overnight!; gives the expression "growing up before your very eyes" a whole new meaning.   I don't regret for one moment having saved this little family, I'm left to think about their Mom and how I hope her owners changed their minds and had her spayed.  A seven year old female continuing to have litters - it just disgusts me for a whole multitude of reasons.

I just snapped the following shots, I'm sort of feeling like I need to get as many as I can now since these little ones are moving on fast and every day brings more changes to things..............

Note:  Please excuse the one shot that captured my hubby's butt - he is a heat magnet for the kids *L*

GAME CHANGER

It's been an incredibly busy weekend rescue wise at our home.  Lots of emails, phone calls, and visits back and forth as decisions were considered and adoptions finalized.

Ollie and Honey were adopted this weekend by a lovely young couple who became completely smitten with these two little darlings................but how could anyone not? 

Unfortunately Flossy will not be adopted afterall.  It became quickly apparent upon trying to have her spend time with Finn alone, that she really detests kittens and since the potential adopter really wanted a pair, Finn will now be headed home with his little sister Petunia.

My heart breaks for Flossy right now because she's waited so long for her forever home and because people who visit sadly don't get to see her at her very best as she's somewhat shy and a little standoffish with strangers.  She really tries to put her best foot forward but so far there's always been something standing in her way.  Also it's hard to convey that her loving and adorable self is visible to us in so many ways because she's spent 8 months in our home, apart of our family.  In a 20 or 30 minute meeting, she's not going to be all that and more since she's still trying to ensure that it's even safe for her to approach strangers that come over.

After this weekend, I will only have Abner and Hobbs kitten wise - it's also been sad to watch the babies part ways as a family but what can you do.................realisitically speaking you know six kittens aren't all going to the same home to spend their lives together - it just isn't feasible.