Monday, December 14, 2020

Prison Food

Watching the changes through which the growing Felons go is one of the delights of raising kittens, I have found. One change is in their eating habits. Not only are their preferences becoming marked - Oleo likes the hard kitten food, while Bisto will usually eat the soft first - but so are the amounts and times that they eat.


When they first came to me, the babies ate voraciously. If their dish was empty, it meant they were hungry. There was no set schedule for feeding them: I just set the food down and that was meal-time.



Now, they are a little more selective. The pair still eat a great deal. This is reflected in their weights, which are approaching thrice as great as the first time I weighed them. But there are numerous instances of food being left on their dishes. They eat it eventually, just not always right away. And I suspect that they are tiring of the same diet of kitten food. I do have two varieties to feed them, but I may start supplementing it with scraps left over from the permacats’ meals; nothing substantial, just a little flavouring.



They are curious about other foods, as well, as they are curious about everything. Bisto sampled the contents of my tea-cup yesterday. There was nothing in it but semi-dried dregs, and I think it was probably the remnants of sugar that attracted him. Nonetheless, he must have thought it was tasty.


I won’t get to see them change much more, as they will be leaving on Thursday, and I hope not to see them again in person, as that would mean their return. But that is the fate of foster-cats. I was fortunate to experience what I have, to be a part of their swiftly moving growth and learning. And because of that, I too have learned. That is the fate of foster-guardians.


13 comments:

  1. It's great that "the boys" will be going to their furever home on Thursday, but I'll be so sorry to see them leaving you. I know that you'll have mixed emotions about it too. You did such a fantastic job of caring for them. May Oleo and Bisto have happy, healthy, long lives with their new family!!

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  2. As adorable as very young kittens are, it's when they get a bit older that they really get interesting, because you get a sense of their individual personalities. In that sense, I think their new people are meeting them at just the right age. I hope it works out well for all concerned.

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  3. Yes, those will always be fond memories.

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  4. You have given them an excellent start in life and they should adapt quickly to life with their new family.

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  5. OH I hope hope hope that the new parents will say something at least t you, as to how they are faring. I wonder if they will change the kittens names? Do they already know their given names now? LOOK at that shining healthy fur showing as that tea connoisseur samples the dregs of your tea. Was it Earl Gray? (My personal favorite).

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  6. They look healthy, strong and curious and we hope they get a long happy life in their furrever home.

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  7. Yes! We will miss them, but one good
    thing is they will be together..and what
    a life time they'll have together..
    Goodness! What fun..! :).

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  8. It has been a real treat to be able to see a pair of happy healthy kittens. Thanks for taking care of them and thanks for sharing. What fun watching them change in a few months time. Let's hope there are new mom and dad do not get upset when a kitten sticks his head in someone else's bowl of soup.

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  9. Ditto to Lynn's comment!I do hope all goes well in their new home.

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  10. I'm sorry to see them go, but of course am very happy for them and hope it will be their true forever home. You've done a terrific job, perhaps we'll have an opportunity to see more kittens (foster) in the future! :-)

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  11. Aww, you'll have your memories of The Felons to warm your heart for years to come.

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  12. Good luck to the Felons! They've been much fun for us to watch grow from afar too. :)

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  13. Cats that have enough to eat set their own schedule. We are on a 2 meal a day routine and run to the bowl where I lick the juice but then the excitement is over and it takes a few hours to go. This is due to us all being older and smart. We eat what we need no tubbies here

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