Today’s post comes with a heart tug. But don’t worry - it only makes me that much more determined to rescue the remaining kittens.
You know we were able to trap the little black & white kitten who started us on this mission to begin with. Her name is Truly. She is in my downstairs bathroom and she is nearly untouchable. I’m not worried about that because I have seen the untouchables become lovers many, many times. I have been sitting in the floor of the bathroom trying to coax her to me for three full days now. There is very little progress at this point. So yesterday, I decided to try something else. The last rescue kitten we took in is Jo-Jo. This one is unbelievable in terms of her level of love for humans. So I thought if I brought her into the bathroom with me, and Truly could see how much Jo-Jo was enjoying my attention, maybe some of the fear about me would dissipate. What happened instead was more than a little bit heart-breaking.
You must try to picture my bathroom. It’s small and there are not a lot of places for a kitten to hide. But there is a cabinet on one wall that sits on short legs and offers about four inches of space underneath. That is where Truly goes every time I enter the room. There’s no coaxing her out, not even with her greatest love - canned kitten food. I carried little Jo-Jo into the room with me and set her down on the floor. What immediately followed caught me completely off guard. The minute Jo-Jo’s feet hit the floor, Truly came racing out from underneath the cabinet. She raced right past my feet and directly to Jo-Jo. She started frantically sniffing all over Jo-Jo’s face. The shocked Jo-Jo just stood there for a moment before suddenly stiffening and letting out a hiss. The hiss scared Truly so badly that she turned and ran for cover under the cabinet. It all happened really quickly. But it made me sad because I realized how lonely Truly was for her littermates. (I hadn’t yet figured out exactly what had happened.)
Truly was traumatized by Jo-Jo’s hiss, so I spoke gently to her and left her to regain her composure. A few hours later, I decided to try the Jo-Jo thing again. Maybe if these two could become friends, Truly would feel less alone. But this time, I figured out exactly what was happening. I set Jo-Jo in the floor, and again, immediately, Truly came racing over to Jo-Jo. Jo-Jo was less startled this time and just stood there. Truly sniffed all over Jo-Jo’s face and then literally dropped her head and turned away. She slowly walked back to the cabinet and went under. That’s when it hit me. Jo-Jo is a calico almost exactly Truly’s size. Remember Younger Daughter and I had seen one of Truly’s littermates on Monday. It was a little calico girl. Truly thought (twice!) that her sister had arrived. But a moment of sniffing gave evidence that this was NOT her calico sister. Oh, how my heart broke in that moment.
I am going to continue to work with Truly - to gain her confidence and show her that I intend to be her friend. And I will bring Jo-Jo into the bathroom with me off and on to see if eventually these two might become friends even though this isn’t Truly’s deeply desired sister. I will also keep trying to get that very sister and any other littermates that might be out there in that faraway, remote area. Do please wish with me that the remaining babies will end up right here, SOON. I will be working on this all weekend. Keep your fingers crossed.
I’ll report on Monday. Also on Monday - a thank you to my Facebook Friends.
You know we were able to trap the little black & white kitten who started us on this mission to begin with. Her name is Truly. She is in my downstairs bathroom and she is nearly untouchable. I’m not worried about that because I have seen the untouchables become lovers many, many times. I have been sitting in the floor of the bathroom trying to coax her to me for three full days now. There is very little progress at this point. So yesterday, I decided to try something else. The last rescue kitten we took in is Jo-Jo. This one is unbelievable in terms of her level of love for humans. So I thought if I brought her into the bathroom with me, and Truly could see how much Jo-Jo was enjoying my attention, maybe some of the fear about me would dissipate. What happened instead was more than a little bit heart-breaking.
You must try to picture my bathroom. It’s small and there are not a lot of places for a kitten to hide. But there is a cabinet on one wall that sits on short legs and offers about four inches of space underneath. That is where Truly goes every time I enter the room. There’s no coaxing her out, not even with her greatest love - canned kitten food. I carried little Jo-Jo into the room with me and set her down on the floor. What immediately followed caught me completely off guard. The minute Jo-Jo’s feet hit the floor, Truly came racing out from underneath the cabinet. She raced right past my feet and directly to Jo-Jo. She started frantically sniffing all over Jo-Jo’s face. The shocked Jo-Jo just stood there for a moment before suddenly stiffening and letting out a hiss. The hiss scared Truly so badly that she turned and ran for cover under the cabinet. It all happened really quickly. But it made me sad because I realized how lonely Truly was for her littermates. (I hadn’t yet figured out exactly what had happened.)
Truly was traumatized by Jo-Jo’s hiss, so I spoke gently to her and left her to regain her composure. A few hours later, I decided to try the Jo-Jo thing again. Maybe if these two could become friends, Truly would feel less alone. But this time, I figured out exactly what was happening. I set Jo-Jo in the floor, and again, immediately, Truly came racing over to Jo-Jo. Jo-Jo was less startled this time and just stood there. Truly sniffed all over Jo-Jo’s face and then literally dropped her head and turned away. She slowly walked back to the cabinet and went under. That’s when it hit me. Jo-Jo is a calico almost exactly Truly’s size. Remember Younger Daughter and I had seen one of Truly’s littermates on Monday. It was a little calico girl. Truly thought (twice!) that her sister had arrived. But a moment of sniffing gave evidence that this was NOT her calico sister. Oh, how my heart broke in that moment.
I am going to continue to work with Truly - to gain her confidence and show her that I intend to be her friend. And I will bring Jo-Jo into the bathroom with me off and on to see if eventually these two might become friends even though this isn’t Truly’s deeply desired sister. I will also keep trying to get that very sister and any other littermates that might be out there in that faraway, remote area. Do please wish with me that the remaining babies will end up right here, SOON. I will be working on this all weekend. Keep your fingers crossed.
Early this morning - Jo-Jo and Truly size each other up.
I’ll report on Monday. Also on Monday - a thank you to my Facebook Friends.
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Sallie needs a home.
Isis is currently on hold.
Shiloh needs a home.
Truly needs a home.
Autumn needs a home.
Frosting has been adopted.
Hershey Bear has been adopted.
Maverick has been adopted.
Spritz has been adopted.
Cashmere has been adopted.
Jo-Jo has been adopted.
Mickey has been adopted.
Sunshine and Juice have been adopted.
Mitts has been adopted.
Halo has been adopted.
Circe has been adopted.
Glitter has been adopted.
Tulip has been adopted.
Golden HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
Percy HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
Trex HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
Monkey HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
Charms HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
Luna HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
Bagheera HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
Elfin HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
Jasper and Soapy have been adopted.
Dearest and Max have been adopted.
Gabriel HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
Leo HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
Handsome HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
Possum HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
Alice HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
Tuxie HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
Ash HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
Sparkles HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
Moonie HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
Prince Charming HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
Poor Truly. Wish I could send you Tim for the weekend - he works WONDERS with feral babies.... and he works cheap ("will work for kitten food" is Tim's motto). I hope Jo-Jo can bring Truly around... and you have some luck catching her siblings.
Posted by: Random Felines | 09/13/2012 at 07:40 AM
What a bitter disappointment it must have been for Truly not to find it was her sister who had come into the room. Good luck in capturing the other kittens.
Posted by: Bellen | 09/13/2012 at 08:35 AM
Poor little Truly! She must miss her siblings so very much. But she is fortunate to be there with you and we are crossing all our paws that she and JoJo wil become fast friends.
Posted by: The Poupountte | 09/13/2012 at 10:04 AM
I am sending so many positive thoughts your way and praying you capture these little kittens and reunite this sweet family. Thank you from my heart for what you do.
Posted by: Jan (Milo and Alfie's mom) | 09/13/2012 at 10:27 AM
Oh that is so heartbreaking! Poor little thing. We're praying you get her sister and other sibling soon!
We seriously need to empty the cathouse so that when Truly and her siblilngs are ready to move in, that there's room for them! Better yet, empty the cathouse AND find the kittens homes before they move over there! Please, do everything you can to find homes!
Don't forget to donate, buy the book, get a brick, join the FUNdraiser, and tell everyone about all of these!
Posted by: Andrea and the Celestial Kitties | 09/13/2012 at 11:35 AM
that does just break my heart a little! I so hope you are able to reunite them. I had a threesome once that when the sister got sick and went away for a day the reunion was so beautiful that all I could do was insist they go to a home together. I was blessed with finding that home for them.
Posted by: Connie | 09/13/2012 at 12:59 PM
Truly is a sweeet name. She will come around and except Jo-Jo soon. I am glad you are still trying to get her siblings. That may work out soon and then they will all be safe. She is such a pretty little kitty. I do hope for the whole bunch to end up in your arms. Safe and fed and loved... some rain today but not those bad storms. We always worry about stray cats when the storms are gulley washers. let us know if you have any luck with catching the new ones... plaeas adopt and donate to this great cause. Funds for Furries... best wishes-Ginny & TheFur family
Posted by: Ginny & The Fur Family | 09/13/2012 at 01:00 PM
OMG, my heart broke when I read that. I'm praying that you find her littermates. Heal that precious little heart...oh, how glad I am that she's safe though.
Posted by: Lana G. | 09/13/2012 at 02:50 PM
Poor little Truly. Hopefully, JoJo will help bring her out from under the cabinet and begin to trust humans.
Posted by: Sweet Purrfections | 09/13/2012 at 09:12 PM
sweet thing, I hope you can catch her littermates!!!
Posted by: Cat's Cats | 09/13/2012 at 11:34 PM