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Alumspringa

Alumspringa

Eponine Willow 3Kittens are kittens, until they are not.

It’s for hard-hitting facts like this that you turn to Felis Catus.

But this is one of those truths that turns up as a surprise, every ever-loving time.

Even those of us who have seen approximately 800,000,000 kittens still gape and gawk over photos of Tabby’s Place alumnae/i: She turned into a CAT! He used to be SO SMALL!

Or, in the words of one long-ago volunteer, She was a BABYkitten…and now she’s just a kitten.

We are simple humans.
But our incurable simplicity becomes a virtue when alum updates appear in our inboxes. Little as it may say for my intellect, I wouldn’t want to live in a head that didn’t liquefy with joy over every single photo of a kitten-gone-grown.

So melt and moon with us, amici. It’s the season of alumspringa:

Whitney and Tina: no longer new, but forever homed and fervently loved, so who the holy heck cares?
Whitney and Tina: no longer new, but forever homed and fervently loved, so who the holy heck cares?
So, Kelly: you're no longer a teenyweeny BABYkitten. You'll never fit in the palm of a hand again. You're a proper tween. What are you going to do about it?
So, Kelly: you’re no longer a teenyweeny BABYkitten. You’ll never fit in the palm of a hand again. You’re a proper tween. What are you going to do about it?
"Well I'm going to watch table tennis and love the stuffing out of my AMAZING LIFE. That's what."
“I’m going to watch table tennis and love the stuffing out of my AMAZING LIFE. That’s what.”
When Daryl and Herschel lived at Tabby's Place, they were field-mouse-small. That was fun. But imitating walruses while watching TV in their forever home? THAT's funner.
When Daryl and Herschel lived at Tabby’s Place, they were field-mouse-small. That was fun. But imitating walruses while watching TV in their forever home? THAT’s funner.
Once, Aziz and Eenie ate Babycat food. (Yes, that is the actual name of the actual food. Not "kitten food." Not "juvenile felis catus nutrition." "Babycat." Yes, that pleases us immensely.) Now they get all sphinxy-perfect in their own window to the world. Winning.
Once, Aziz and Eenie ate Babycat food. (Yes, that is the actual name of the actual food. Not “kitten food.” Not “juvenile felis catus nutrition.” “Babycat.” Yes, that pleases us immensely.) Now they get all sphinxy-perfect in their own window to the world. Winning.
"No, we don't want our childhood or Mallory's eyeball back. We want a forever home. Oh wait -- we have it. LIFE IS LIT!"
“No, we don’t want our childhood or Mallory’s eyeball back. We want a forever home. Oh wait — we have it. LIFE IS LIT!”
When Nala and Jason were children, they spake like children. Now that they are tweens, they hug like koalas. 100% worth it.
When Nala and Jason were children, they spake like children. Now that they are tweens, they hug like koalas. 100% worth it.
Meanwhile, in another forever home, Jason's ma Miranda is not missing her kittens even a little. (She does, however appear to have just been goosed by a Pokemon.)
Meanwhile, in another forever home, Jason’s ma Miranda is not missing her kittens even a little. (She does, however, appear to have just been goosed by a Pokemon.)
Bertie (back basket) spent his whole kittenhood waiting at Tabby's Place (and, OK, hiding from adopters). Adulthood and his astounding family found him at the same time -- including Petunia (front basket). What's that say for perfect scheduling?
Bertie (back basket) spent his whole kittenhood waiting at Tabby’s Place (and, OK, hiding from adopters). Adulthood and his astounding family found him at the same time — including Petunia (front basket). How’s that for heavenly scheduling?
Cassandra and Sandy are out of kindergarten and into a home they rule by sheer force of fun. Love's in session, kids.
Cassandra and Sandy are out of kindergarten and into a home they rule by sheer force of fun. Love’s in session, kids.

Oh, and up in that there thumbnail? I reckon that’s Eponine, loving it up in her own forever home. We never even knew her as a kitten, but we loved her as a kitten. Because, really, when you love someone, they’re always and forever your babykitten.

Have a jubilant weekend, kittens.

 

2 thoughts on “Alumspringa

  1. Every day Tabby’s Place sends out these tiny ambassadors of wonderkittylove – out into the world to spread joy and sunshine wherever they land. Awesome adopters find their lives touched and changed forever. Thank you awesome adopters for sending pictures of the kittens you love – we love them, too – and we love you. Makes us smile big time! Thank you Tabby’s Place and Angela! Eponine – we love you!

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