Day 13

Yay! The girls are sharing! They've been head-butting each other in the food dish and the water dish for most of the past week. Both bowls are large enough for both of them but they'll try to push each other out, regardless. Originally, I had given each her own bowl but they fought to be in each other's and I thought accidents of tipping bowls might happen so I replaced the smaller bowls with a large one that isn't likely to tip and spill. I free feed them since they'll still small so there's plenty of food... so, I'm glad they seem to have stopped that.

Oh and the mister was seen to have pet at least one kitten yesterday!

They had the whole weekend to run about the house, that was fun! I put them in the office at night and closed the door, except for last night. They slept the night in the office anyway but this morning thought our bed a great place to play and chase each other. It's a good thing they're such gentle kittens..

I am also keeping them in the office during the day until they've had enough supervised run of the house that I feel confident I can leave them free to roam.

Stairs!

And other new things! This morning when I went into the office I saw a little kitten face looking at me from the other side of the baby gate across my closet door. She was in the hamper full of clothes I had used to prop up the too large gate that didn't fit properly. Of course it was Athena, I predicted she'd be the first to figure out how to get over the gate and that it would happen within the next week. I said this at the end of last week, it now being Tuesday, but I was hoping for a bit more time. Like, towards the end of the week.

Of course from there it was only minutes until she figure out, after watching me go back and forth, that the gate across the room door was the same kind as across the closet door. And just like that she was out and exploring while her sister lay in front of the door gate watching. I was in the bathroom and saw it happen and watched Athena trot into the bedroom. Within a few minutes the mister came out to ask if I knew one of them had escaped. I said yes and noticed he was pointing at the stairs. I jogged down the stairs and found Athena all the way in the kitchen about to head for the basement door. I brought her back upstairs, put her in the office, and shut the door.

I'm home early today from work before the July 4 holiday tomorrow and the gates are both gone and the girls are exploring the house freely. Both have their collars on of course and from now on will always wear them. The collars are still a bit too big but not nearly so much so as that first day. I'd rather have them on in case A ever gets bold enough to make a bolt for the door.

It's a good thing the collars have bells because we leave in 40 minutes for their first vet visit and having the two mites noisy will help track them down when it's time to go.

First morning

The girls came home yesterday afternoon. I picked them up after skating and brunch and before we met mom for dinner so they had a couple of hours to acclimate in a quiet house. According to the best estimate of the vet at the shelter they are two months and two (well, three now) days old. Their birthday is estimated to be April 21, 2012 and that's what I've plugged into my calendar as a yearly reminder.

The girls are sequestered in my home office (also my dressing room) and I've gated the closet and the room doors so they have a small contained area to explore as they get used to me and their new life. They're sweet girls. A bit skittish of course but brave and curious, too.

When I brought them home I placed the carrier on the floor, opened the door, and let them explore at will. I left the carrier just where I put it and the girls use it as their bed and refuge. I had lined it with some unused linens before I left to pick them up and they came with their own blanket so I expect it feels safe and comfortable. I also don't want them to feel anxiety about the carrier either so I'm glad they're using it.

After dinner with mom last night I spent time in the room with the girls, just letting them get used to my presence, reading the interwebs and such. But most of the evening I left them alone to hang out and explore while the mister and I were in the other room watching movies. I did have to remove the collars we put on at the shelter, though. Even though they're 'one size fits all' they're much too big for the wee things and they kept getting limbs stuck.

This morning the girls and I have been getting to know each other. I've picked up both and held them in my lap. They're great little purr machines and weren't squirmy at all. Even though they're both all black and roughly the same size I can tell the two of them apart. Boomer is just slightly larger and Athena's hazel eyes have a tinge more green in them. Boomer is also slightly more aggressive and Athena displayed signs of being slightly more needy after I held her in my lap for a while.

At least one of the girls, Athena, has figured out what to do with the scratcher I picked up at the shelter for them. It's a steep wedge shape and in the corner of each side there's a round cut out w/ a dangling toy inside! Both girls use the litter box but only one seems to bury the business. And even though there's two bowls of food they'll headbutt each other to be in the same dish.

I just held the two of them in my lap for a good twenty minutes or so. Athena is definitely the more needy for attention, she misses nursing. Boomer with eyes closed will very gently put her teeth on my fingers when I pet her. Both very strong purr machine fur butts.

Even though they were both spayed on Friday, they're active and don't seem bothered by their stitches at all. I've looked at both bellies and the incisions are very small and the stitches and surrounding skin look good. Also, Boomer's belly is darker than Athena's.