We started last July with four lovely little kittens, affectionately nicknamed “The Dipsticks” because they each were white, with a color – and they each had their tail “dipped into their non-white color. Could a little batch of kittens BE any cuter? From the top, and going clockwise, that’s Hadron, Photon, Joule, and of course little Einstein.
They were all as sweet as can be, and cuddlebugs from the get-go. Joule is a lap-napper.
Seriously sweet:
And CUTE? Oh man – they have cute!
Photon is an anywhere-napper. He’s snuggly too, but this was just cute how he was perched on the pillow, with Joule beneath him.
Kittens have to practice so they can be good at catnapping when they grow up! Joule is an expert!
It’s also important to practice posing, if you’re a foster kitten. You never know when you might get adopted! I honestly thought Photon would be the first to go – he is SO gorgeous!
And he has these unbelievable ice-blue eyes!
But for whatever reason, Einie was the only one of the Dipsticks who got snapped up for AGES! I blame the fact that all my friends, and their friends, and even THEIR friends have mostly already adopted from me. I totally need new friends!
So they got bigger, and older, but no less sweet! Poor Joule had her hard time at Petsmart, but she recovered well, and had no trouble coming home and sitting pretty.
Or, y’know, kinda lounging around.
Photon is as pretty as ever, and cuddly too. He’s helping me with my homework, can’t you tell?
They’re kittens still – they like to climb!
And Photon has several really funny and quirky habits, one of which is he likes to LEAP onto you, and it’s best if you aren’t looking and it’s a surprise. But sometimes you can entice him to do it while you’re paying attention. We kept trying to capture it on video, and finally did. I wish we’d captured his bedtime BOUDNING across the bed, or Joule’s – they’re both “ALLRIGHT! Bedtime! Let’s GO!” kitties.
And pose!
And, sometimes, they like to curl up and rest their head on your foot so you can’t go anywhere for a while.
Yesterday I got an email from someone who has been looking for a kitty for a couple of months, and who saw an ad on Craigslist for my friend Les’s foster kitten, Jackson. In an effort to give more options, Les sent her here to my blog, and she emailed me about Photon. We arranged for her to come meet him, and probably take him home, today.
This morning, I woke up to a very welcome email from my friend CJ, who lives a bit more than an hour away. The hour is significant, because it’s the main reason she and Rob hadn’t come up to visit Joule yet. They sadly lost their three beloved elderly kitties over the last year or so and were left with one very scaredy foster kitten who they ended up adopting because he didn’t show well. Scaredy only likes CJ, so it was VERY important that whatever other kitty they got had to like Rob, too. He never gets to play with little Scaredy.
With the rainy weather, Rob’s flight-instructor duties canceled today, and all of a sudden they had an afternoon free! So we arranged for them to travel up here and meet, and hopefully take home, Joule!
Rob and CJ were kinda cat magnets!
Except for Pampi, who was inexplicably spooked about something, and would NOT participate in the same room, at ALL. It was SO out of character for him! He did look in on us, and even sat near CJ’s purse.
Rob really fell in love with Photon, as well, and kind of liked the idea of taking them both home. Boy, did I have to wrestle with that. I *totally* loved the idea of the two kittens going together, especially to a friend, but I had people arriving within an hour for that kitten, specifically. Geez … I really had to think if I had learned anything from the horrible Jett situation! They came and met the cats, and I did explain to Jenna my concerns about Photon being an only kitty, compared to not, and offered a couple of alternatives. I even went in the other room and talked about it with Aidon, who very wisely reminded me that in the end, they would both be great homes, and I care about people, too, and don’t want to be that person.
Photon was EXHAUSTED from being run around with the laser pointer. His sides were HEAVING and then he’d get up and play some MORE! He was like the Energizer kitty! Seriously! He *panted*!
Joule put on a show, too, and came over and flomped with both Rob and CJ multiple times. Of course, they could never hold a candle to the moving dot, when the laser pointer came out, but she did keep going back over to them, and I think Rob was totally convinced he liked him 
And Jenna couldn’t help but love Photon! Bebe put in an appearance, to show everyone what a cranky old lady she is! She loves people – HATES the other cats. She’s such a funny thing.
When it was time to go, Joule got into the carrier pretty easily, and Photon said his goodbyes.
Not too long after he thought about getting in the carrier.
Then changed his mind so he could pose for a picture.
And get a last snuggle draped over my arm. He was REALLY tired!
But in the end, we popped him into the carrier, and he went off to his forever home!
Goodbye my little Dipsticks! I have loved you dearly, and am happy to see you move on to your forever homes! I’ll miss you, but can’t wait to hear how you’re doing in your new lives!
(I’ve been promised pics and updates!)
ok so that last photo just totally got to me. sitting here at my desk all sobby, fer pity’s sake! I’m so happy they have found their new homes & truly will be glad for you too! BTW; your living room is the bomb!!! That carpet is way coolio! Here’s givin’ you some shoulder hugs cos I know yer missing them too. Good job kitteh MOM!
I’m so glad they’re all rehomed! <3 Bravo, foster mama. <3
Oh my, what a post! I can’t even deal with that video of kittens crawling all over you, it’s too cute. I’m going through foster kitten withdrawal!
Also–I didn’t know you had a Sphynx!! What’s her story?
She’s a rescue too, of course. David had been saying for AGES that he’d love to have a Sphynx, and I told him we’d never buy one. Then we were at the vet’s one day, I forget what for, and there was a notice on the bulletin board there for “Free Sphynx Cat – To Good Home Only” or something like that. David was all “OMG CALL IT!!!” I told him it seemed unlikely they would still have her, the posting was over a month old, but I came home, talked it over with Aidon, and at least called.
It was one of those things that was totally meant to be. Bebe was an only cat, although she had a dog, but her people traveled a lot, and Bebe got really lonely with only the cat sitter, and they wanted her to be with someone who would be able to give her love more often. The woman was really torn up parting with her, but she wanted what was best for Bebe. They actually found Bebe as a big kitten on the streets of Las Vegas! It was cold out, and I can’t imagine how she ended up there, naked and cold!
Anyway, we took her home, and the rest was history, I guess. She hates all other cats (mostly/sorta) but likes the dog. I think it’s because she’s naked and she worries about getting scratched. She looks positively EVIL when she hisses. It’s pretty funny. She is a terrible tease to the kittens sometimes, twitching her funny little rat tail until they can’t resist pouncing it, and then she whaps them.
She’s also a heat-seeking-missile – you can find her on one of us, or on top of the router or switch in Aidon’s office. Wherever it’s warmest!
That’s her story 😉
P.S. Do you get email responses to replies? I should really check that part of the website out 😉
Congratulations to all the dipsticks and their new people. Yay! (Also, seriously, it is hard to try to foster when I think anyone in their right mind should want a Kimberly Kitten.)
YAY! I loved watching the dipsticks grow up, and ever since I saw Photon I wanted to take him home. Unfortunately, I both cannot get a cat at the moment, and if I could, I don’t have the money to fly out to pick him up (I’m from Boston).
However, when both of those things change, I totally would want to adopt one of your kittens! They are all SO LOVEY! You are such a wonderful person for doing this for all of them!
It must be exhausting being you!