August greetings to you, kind and caring Kitten Fund sponsors!
“No weather will be found in this letter.” That’s my 21st-century variation on a quote from a famous author, a cat lover in his own right.
And that was my intent, anyway. Around here, we’ve had our fill of meteorology and its discontents in the past several months, and besides, there’s plenty of kitten news to tell you about.
But, having said that, here’s something Development Director Angela recently wrote:
“At first glance, the disheveled orphan kitten looked helpless.”
“Just five weeks old, with a rumpled mohawk of orange fur, he seemed no match for a thunderstorm.”
“But when the floodwaters came, and his mother vanished, he found solid ground deep inside. Drawing on some secret feline bravery, the kitten gripped hold of a tree branch with all his might. Ferociously determined to live, he would not let go.”
Not only did he hold on, but he was also rescued, and now Grittito is thriving in one of Tabby’s Place’s dedicated foster families. They’re people whose work you help support with your regular donations. And for that, everyone at Tabby’s Place thanks you.
In more news from our foster families, staff member Tiana, the Foster Team Lead, assigned herself the initial responsibility of caring for Haku, an all-black male, and orange female Totoro. Only a few weeks old on arrival, these two came to Tabby’s Place through the efforts of an East Orange man who found them in his backyard. Tiana says both are developing into real sweeties: “They’re hitting the playful stage, they are very chatty, and they love belly rubs.”
Next, a report from foster mom Gayle, who is caring for three kittens: Jeff, who is all black; Jimmy, a tux with a black nose; and gray lady Tiffany. She writes, “All 3 love wand toys and come running when we take one out of the toy box. They wrestle and chase each other quite often.”
“Jeff is the most outgoing and most adventurous. He’s an unbelievably fast door runner! But when tired, he will curl up in my lap, or near me on my desk while I’m working.”
“Jimmy has a big purr as soon as you get near him! But he prefers head scratches to being held. He LOVES mouse toys, chasing them or carrying them around in his mouth. Tiffany loves all toys, especially playing soccer with any toy she can chase around the room. She likes to be petted but is happier next to people than in a lap.”
Recently, I heard about brothers Harris, Kipp, Scott, and Troy, collectively known as the Heated Rivalry kittens. Foster mom Jennifer says that they’re still at an early stage of development, in which the goal is to teach them to trust humans and begin the process of socialization. Harris is a “pretty big challenge” in Jennifer’s view. “He definitely does not appreciate being in the same room with me,” although that is changing, now that he is learning to associate her with Churu.
Also in that early stage is gray tabby Rhombus. According to his foster dad Jeff, the kitten still likes to hide, which isn’t surprising for a newcomer. His mother must have taught him well about trusting strangers. However, as seen in the header image, now he can be talked into being held, and when that happens, Jeff says Rhombus purrs and kneads contentedly.
Now, before I go, back to Angela and her customary Epilogues, documenting the comings and goings from the month just past. In addition, she wrote movingly about some whose time at Tabby’s Place was all too brief.
Until next month, I wish you and yours good weather and all good things.
Your correspondent,
John
P.S.: Among new good things: a Japanese company redefines cotton candy as “edible cat fur.” That joins existing products for cat lovers, such as spray bottles of “the scent of a cat’s forehead”, officially known as “Fluffy Forehead Fragrance Fabric Water.”