Foster Kitten Friday - A Bond Like No Other

I tell McKinley and Denali the same thing every day. 

I love you so much.
You are the sweetest kitties ever.
You are the prettiest babies ever.
You are the best kitties ever.

My husband reminds me I say the exact same thing to every single foster kitten who has come into this house. And he would be right. I sure do.

But there IS something about these two that really stands out. All those other pairs of kittens who I thought were bonded have nothing on these babes. Whether they are playing together, grooming each other, or sleeping on top of each other, these two belong together. 

Based on this week's photos the evidence is clear, don't you think?

What was that noise?

Purr goes Denali's engine while McKinley cares
more about the NASCAR engines.

Denali's on-the-back sleeping technique goes well with McKinley's curled-up technique.

And they definitely have perfected the sleeping-on-top-of-each-other pose day after day after day. After day.

Even the yawing picture looks to be a close match.

When they join me in the sewing room, each one has to show me just how much they are alike by posing in the same place. 

There may be the rare occasion when Denali is snuggling up and McKinley is opening up her salon,

but otherwise these two are joined at the hip. And quite frequently to my lap. Yep, sweetest kitties ever.

Prettiest babies ever. Best kitties ever. And definitely best bond ever.

Foster Kitten Friday - Helpers

Every Friday I go through the week's foster kitten pictures to see if a theme has emerged. Did something happen again and again during the week? And if so, do I have enough to write about it as well? Some weeks it takes a bit of thinking on my part. And some weeks, like this one, it is easy.

Helpers.

Do you need someone to guard your iPad when you're away? Denali is your guy. What about a helper when it's time to play the cat fishing game? McKinley is your girl.

Need some help using the grabber for the sponge on the floor? My husband has a couple kittens he can recommend for the job.

Need a helper to keep your walking boot safe while showering? How about someone who will guard your scooter when the battery is charging? Denali is your guy.

Need a leg licker or perhaps a seat saver? McKinley is your gal.

Need some helpers who are neat and tidy? Who will not only clean themselves but clean each other? They have that covered, too.

Yep, these two are some amazing helpers. They even help themselves to many well-deserved naps.

Foster Kitten Friday - For Only a Moment

Several years ago when I was in Santa Barbara I picked up this postcard. I have it hanging right next to my computer as a reminder to appreciate the goods things in life, as those good things don't always last. 

Even having fun little foster kitties around won't last, either. Denali has already hit his target weight and McKinley is coming up fast behind him. These two little ones won't be with me much longer and will be heading to the adoption floor - and into their furever homes - very soon. 

This week they got ready by showing off their big girl and big boy please-adopt-me poses.

Want to know about Alaska? My girl McKinley learned about bears at Katmai National Park - in Alaska, of course - and is ready to tell her new parents all about it.

If you need a tailor, my boy Denali knows how to sew.

Denali also decided to get involved in the pattern designing process by hijacking the bowl I was using for a project. Sorry, he doesn't do dishes.

And as soon as I kicked him out and turned around Ms. McKinley decided to get involved as well. Sorry, she doesn't do dishes either.

These two are the bestest of buds and are excited to be part of a new family. Hopefully they’ll get to go together.

Yep, they are just about ready!

Foster Kitten Friday - Brother From Another Mother

I think I've mentioned this before, but my Alaskan foster kitties aren't really brother and sister. Denali and McKinley were found abandoned in two different places on the same day. 

But I'm raising them as if they are related, and by the amount of time they spend playing together (every minute of every day), the love they have for each other (A lot. Like a lot, lot), and the similar expressions on their faces (cute as can be), it's pretty obvious they are a brother from another mother and a sister from another mister.

We belong together, don't you think?

Like looking in a mirror. Sort of.

Foster Kitten Friday - The Best of Times

As a foster kitten parent who frequently raises the youngest and most at risk bottle baby kitties, I can tell you from experience times can be tough. Fostering is not all unicorns and rainbows. There will be kittens who are too sick and weak to make it and pass away on your watch, like my foster Hercules and his brother. Others may appear to be healthy like one of the kitties in this litter but unexpectedly get very sick very fast, and despite you providing all the loving, warmth, baby kitty formula, and glucose you can, won't make it through. Then there are all those viruses and bacterial infections kittens suffer from that'll have you cleaning up things coming out of both ends. You'll find yourself giving medicine in mouths, eyes, and bums. (Remember fierce little Beth who had to be wrapped like a burrito for her eye medicine?) Wiping noses, cleaning out eyes, and running humidifiers are not all that unusual. And ringworm kittens like my Duck Tales where you are changing clothes a dozen times a day (with as much cleaning and laundry you'll be doing it'll feel like a dozen more) is not fun at all.

And even if everyone is healthy and strong, the tiniest of the bottle babies start out needing feedings every two hours. Round the clock, day and night like McKinley and Denali back in May. Have to help them go to the bathroom, and it's not in the litter box. 

But as foster kittens get weaned, start using the litter box independently, and gain more strength, the weeks get better and better. Now that these little ones have passed the two pound mark, we are in the best of times.

Personalities pop out. 

McKinley is like the toddler who fights going to sleep.
We call her the free spirit.

Denali is the softest and snuggliest little boy.
But maybe a little crosseyed sometimes.

Leaping and jumping are frequent. 

Tryouts for the track team. Hurdles look to be his sport.

Free spirit McKinley thinks leapfrog should be a track and field event.

A lot of the day is spent running and chasing and catching toys. I think the fish won this battle.

Let's not forget all the time they spend wrestling with each other. All. Day. Long. These two are definitely best friends and partners in crime.

And partners in what looks like synchronized swimming.

As a foster parent it's weeks like these where you can relax just a bit and enjoy the kittens. Let them entertain you (which they do) and love on you (which they do) and know in your heart you (and they) are doing just fine. 

Yep, the best of times.