Hi everypawdy!
It has been a long time, not sure where to begin but you have to begin somewhere, right? Huckleberry is doing really well, still happy, healthy, running around the house, and as sweet as ever. We celebrated his 4 year ampuversary/birthday/gotcha day at the beginning of October… I can’t believe it’s been that long, yet it feels like he has always been with us.
So much has happened, so much has changed since our last post, but the furbabies are all doing well. I worked in the office throughout the entire pandemic, which was scary in itself. My job changed last May when my boss decided to retire, and I was promoted to his position. I have been doing both jobs ever since, which has been a lot of extra hours and time. I was finally able to post my former position and found somebody to run the front desk, so hopefully in a few weeks things will start to go back to some form of normalcy.
It seems like the ferals gravitate to our yard in the city because it is a peaceful place that they can find food, water, and rest without worry. Almost 2 years ago we had a new feral start visiting the yard. It became a routine in a very short period of time, and once she knew she was safe she brought 3 tiny babies with her to eat. They couldn’t have been more than about 5-6 weeks old, and she would let them eat before she touched the food. The kittens were too adorable! One tiger, one mostly black and dark calico, and one all black kitten. They started to let us come a bit closer, and I realized mama was already spayed. She must have been TNR because her left ear is tipped. She is an adorable tiger calico mix, and although it doesn’t seem possible that she is the kitten’s mama, she treats them like they are hers and she was ferociously protective over them when they were little so we fed and watched from a good distance away.
Once the kittens got a little bigger, we set the food and water in the same spots that we fed Huckleberry when he found our yard. When they were about 9 months old we trapped, neutered, spayed, vaccinated, dewormed… etc. The smallest of the 4 had gotten close enough to let me touch her and it was game over for my heart when that happened. I named her Phoebe and when it was time to release them she stayed in the house with us. The others do not want to be domesticated and we cannot handle them. Mama, tiger, and the calico girl spend a lot of time in our yard and we have taken the responsibility of providing food and shelter for them. Phoebe fit in like a glove. She has changed the way everybody interacts in the house and there is almost no fighting anymore. She is not afraid of Oscar, either. She has pushed her way into his space and refuses to take no for an answer. He finally gave up and they actually sleep together now. She is my little Velcro shadow, I adore her.
“Mama”
I guess I really am the crazy cat lady now!
Cats, cooking, and gardening in the summer is probably what has saved what I have left of my sanity. Bocephus is quite happy with his ‘herd’ of cats and keeps them all in check when they get too wild for him or start misbehaving. The cats love Bo and they make sure he gets his fair share of attention (When they aren’t napping… ) I think I want to come back as a cat in my next life.. just sayin’.
Huck and I joined the annual #TEAMTRIPAWDS Virtual Race this year. We didn’t get all the miles in this time around, but we always look forward to it!
Next holiday to look forward to is International TRIDAY on 3/3!! Huck and I think we should make it a National Pawliday!
Sorry we haven’t been around as much as we would like to, paws crossed for more down time and less work time!
Sending love and hugs to everypawdy across the miles. 💖💖💖
Jackie and Huckleberry 💖
Happy Hoppy Triday, Prince Huckleberry; good to see your handsome self & all sweet furmily inside and out!!! The trikitties are getting the word out about triday;)😻😻😻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Glad to see all is well at the cat ranch;) Feral, strays and other people’s cats know where to find cat peeps! I’m surprised only Phoebe landed inside! The ones that did not are in paradise outside! 🎁
Excellent, Phoebe changed the pecking order & everyone gets along. That’s another gift for you all!
Congrats on the new position & hopefully, now minus one!
Jackie, something is wonky on the blog; the date says Oct 24 as a recent blog post; 🤨 I DID get an email today. Hucks blog shows under recent blog posts but NOT under recent blogs on the forums landing page. So something is not working as it should. The post won’t be seen unless they get the email notification. Hopefully, it is a glitch that works itself out.🤔🤞🏻
Scritches and smooches to the furmily, please!
Loads of Love from all of us at Purrkins Palace!
💝💝💝
Hi Holly! I had started a blog post that I never published a while back. Instead of starting a new one today, I erased the old stuff and published today, maybe that is why? Not sure why its not under recent blogs though because what I had before was only a draft. Hopefully it will work itself out like you said.
Phoebe has made a huge difference in our furmily. Nothing rattles her, which is shocking seeing she came from a feral family! I still can’t touch her brother or sister. But I can talk to them and they sit back while we put food on their plates. If mama is with them they come closer, she is not afraid of us and we have actually started touching her just a little when she is all excited to eat. Once she has some food in her belly though.. poof! She won’t come near us, lol.
Fingers, toes, paws, and tails crossed that the person that we hired works out and life can go back to normal!
Huck was so good for his photo for TRIDAY! I think he knew how important it was to spread the word. He is an amazing furbaby that has totally changed our lives for the better.
I don’t know if I need to do anything on my end, I might make a post on the techie forums for guidance. I didn’t think a draft would keep an old date once it became a real post.
Scritches and smooches from you for all of our furbabies for sure! Please give Purrkins and Sexy Saxton more from us 💖💖💖
Hugs and love to all of you 💝
Jackie! It’s so great to catch up with you. I’m super hoppy you found someone to help you at work. Bet that’s quite a relief.
I love how the neighborhood cats gravitate to your haven. They just KNOW they found a safe, loving place where they can be themselves. You and your hubby are amaaaazingly kind and compassionate to them all. Lucky kitties! Some day you might get that wish to come back as a cat!
It’s a real treat to have you here. Thanks for all your enthusiasm for the community. We so enjoy having you with us!
Oh and the blog post appears in the blogroll of current posts so you’re good.
It will be a great relief when I get that official ‘start date’ for our new person! I will be enjoying the down time once they learn the job.
We love taking part in the things that we have been able to even though it has been limited.
Once I can take some ‘long weekends’ we have had some additional boy kitties that need TNR also. Would be nice if we can do that once the weather breaks.
I did see that when I came back in on the blogroll, all is good 🙂
Sending tons of love and hugs,
Jackie and Huck