This past week we began allowing our foster cat and foster kittens to have more "same room" interactions.  While we continue with monitoring and supervising, it is great to see co-existence is so easily possible.  The kittens are now able to have access to both their bathroom as well as the bedroom during the day.  At night, they return to their bathroom so Hamster can continue to sleep on the bed with me.  Interactive times have included Hamster observing the kittens from his 'perch' on the bed while the kittens played on the floor.  There has also been several living room interactive times.  All interactions have gone great with the only visible upset being when one of the kittens attempted to play with one of Hamster's newest toys, but that was a quick-lived and minor moment of tension.  Hamster was sitting beside me on the floor, and I could feel his body tense; it was obvious he doesn't want to share his (newest) toy with the little fellows.  Once the toy was safely put away, Hamster returned to his calm state.

Sylvester and Sneakers were on medicine this week for deworming, but that's now finished and both are healthy and visibly growing before our eyes.  We were excited that a photograph made last Sunday has been voted 1st Place by the followers of the Facebook page, Dedicated to Cats.  Below is the winning photo:

If you haven't made your photo yet for the Adopt Charleston Cats' photo contest, please do.  Submissions must be made by October 8 (see last week's blog for more details).  The winner will decide which local charity or rescue will receive a donation in the winner's name.

Please be sure to check out the newest adoptable cats that are being featured on this website by clicking on the Charleston Animal Society navigation button above.  I spent several hours volunteering in the Cat Room and picked out two wonderful cats that are somewhat special needs and needing compassionate, gentle, and understanding forever humans.  They have so much potential to provide years and years of love, won't you please consider adopting them?

Adopt Charleston Cats is having a photo contest!  Provide one (1) photo you have taken that represents the theme Cats / Fall / Autumn to Adopt Charleston Cats (on Facebook or via email - icons are available in our banner above).  Below are more specifics:

WHAT WILL BE DONE?
These photos will be publically displayed on ACC's page on October 15 at which time everyone on Facebook will have a chance to "vote" for their favorite picture.

WHY?
The winning photo owner will be notified and a donation in their name will be made to one of Charleston County's shelters or rescue groups as chosen by the winner. This will allow a financial benefit to the shelter/rescue to help more cats that can be placed in forever homes.

WHEN?
Submit your single photo no later than October 8, 2014, at 11 PM Eastern.  

HOW?
Private message your photo to Adopt Charleston Cats' Facebook page or email your photo to us. Any photos submitted publically to the Facebook page must be disqualified as it would have possibly received a "preview" and comments before the official unveiling.
Thank you!

What is one benefit of volunteering in your local animal shelter?  For this foster mama, it's the ability to surround myself with both cats and kittens that are deserving of a forever home.  Many of the kittens I meet in the Kitten Room are waiting for foster families to step forward, and last Sunday I was fortunate enough to not come home alone.  Introducing our newest balls of fur, Sylvester and Sneakers. 

Sylvester strutted into our lives as a confident kitten and has been a social fellow.  Early in his fostering it was found he wasn't litter trained, but this was quickly resolved.  It's with happiness I can report he has been using the litter pan for five days in the row....no more worries. 

Sneakers was the opposite personality of his outgoing brother.  He was a bit shy and liked to hang out in their crate for a few minutes before venturing out to see what his brother was purring about.  After several days, Sneakers became more confident and comfortable; he now loves human attention and enjoys playing with his brother and humans.

Both Sneakers and his brother are vocal kittens and are showing they might be great 'talkers' as they grow older.  They both have already exhibited climbing skills, found themselves in a little predicament, and yelled to us for rescue.
Let's just say the old phrase, "curiosity killed the cat" has proven somewhat true except our babies are very much alive and well.

Today, the newcomers met foster cat, Hamster.  Their meeting was good, and Hamster proves again he can be a cordial "big brother" to yet more fosters.  Of course, we monitor them closely to ensure the kitten's safety, but must brag that Hamster does great in his behavior and doesn't seem to mind having little ones around.  He knows he's the prince while I continue to be spoil him, and he enjoys being rewarded with bonito flakes every time he has good interactions with the babies.

All of the fosters enjoyed visits over the past several days with a friendly human as well as a house guest for the weekend.  Their interactions with visitors prove these three will be great pets for someone in the future.  What a rewarding experience for this foster mama.  With tons of love for the babies, we at Adopt Charleston Cats send best wishes for a purrfect week to all our readers.  Thank you for visiting.

So how does it feel to have a foster move on to its adoptive family?  In a single word, bittersweet.  Many foster families are reading this know what I mean.  For those who have not fostered, it is both a proud and sad day.  Proud because you have been an integral part of saving another life of an animal that was found helpless.  Sad because while you cared and loved the animal, it became a part of your life's story that is coming to an end. 

This week our Charleston Animal Society kitten, Taffy, was made available for adoption and was quickly selected by a wonderful family.  It happened within a matter of hours - not days, weeks, or months.  We are so happy Taffy did turn out to be FIV negative and could move on to a home where she will live with 2-year old, Zoey (as of the end of the week, the two are playing together).  Taffy's one very fortunate kitty.  The house hasn't been the same since her departure on Tuesday evening - we're back to the laid back lifestyle of having one adult foster cat.

Hamster seemed to miss Taffy for three days with each day's passing becoming a little easier.  He had grown accustomed to "playing footsies" under the door as a regular morning routine.  His first morning without Taffy, he sat in her room and cried loudly.  The second and third days the meows continued, but for a shorter duration each subsequent day. 

As for the foster humans, the house has not been the same without cute and silly Taffy.  There's nothing like playing with a kitten.  We did pack up some of her favorite toys to go home with her, and her new family has already shared a video of her fetching skills with a favorite "fish".  We miss her running through the house, over the furniture, and hanging out with us on the sofa, but we know she will be well cared for and have a happy life with her new family.  Congratulations, baby Taffy, and I look forward to getting to watching you growing up thanks to social media.

Meanwhile, Hamster continues to wait for his forever family.  While he waits, he is being cared for and spoiled rotten.  He deserves it after all ~ the first years of his life were obviously not optimal for any animal.  He's a true joy and is loved very much, but we know he would like to move to his forever home so he could get settled and know the love of life-time commitment.  When he finds his forever home, we will miss him dearly.  As I type this week's blog, he is beside me on the couch, sleeping and snoring.  If you haven't heard his snoring yet, please click on his tab above to find and listen to a common occurrence with this cool cat.