There is a SUPER cute kitty, grey and white, behind my apartment. I thought I'd heard a kitty meowing at night sometimes, and now that i have heard him cry I am sure it's him.
I went down there tonight with a handful of food, and he gobbled up half of it and I left the rest near my door for him. He easily let me pet him, was quite friendly. He's definitely under a year old, as he's not very big, fully intact but petite, with big paws and ears proportionately. I would guess him at 6 months, maybe. Maybe 9. He is dirty. Not like sick and not grooming himself dirty, but like he has been outside and is dusty in the fur and needs a nice brushing.
The thing is, I already have my two boys who have the run of this place. I do have space for another if I need to, though both of mine are so loving and cuddly I don't know if they'd like a newcomer around much. I guess the first step is to call the shelter anyway and see if anyone is missing him.
September 15, 2001
I called the local Cat rescue (no-kill) and they said they don't have room for him but would happily sponsor me to "foster-to-adopt" him so they'd pay for shots, worming, testing and neuter. I called the woman back just now and am awaiting her return call. So it looks like I have myself a new kittyboy. He is just precious. Grey and white tuxedo pattern with a faint blushing of apricot in the white parts on his cheeks. His white is fairly extensive, and splits his eyes diagonally right at the center, so very even markings. But then the eyes are outlined with grey eyeliner. He is just gorgeous.
So I am gonna need a name for the little guy.
September 16, 2001
He is all tuckered out after a big morning of being catnabbed. I was out this morning at 8:00AM looking for him when my neighbor's boys came out and asked if I was looking for the grey and white kitty. I said yes, and they said "Mom we found the owner!" SO I explained to their mom, my downstairs neighbor, that no I wasn't the owner but he had looked hungry so I thought I would feed him. She said "well he plays with all the kids and he really needs a home, the kids even were taking him door-to-door to see if anyone would take him in." I hadn't intended to tell anyone I was taking him, but in light of that I told her I would take him if they saw him again. The kids said they'd come get me if they did.
So about a half hour later after the church bus had come, (one of the churches sends a bus to all the local apartment complexes, tells the parents they'll give em a couple hours break, and trucks all the kids off for a couple hours of brainwashing. But no I am not the least bit cynical about their intentions. Anyway, after that, all the kids were gone and I looked out my window and guess who is outside. Mr. Grey Kitty. So I went outside, he had no trouble letting me pick him up and bring him in. I introduced him to my boys, him in my arms, them sniffing around my legs, and he growled. Sam and Jasper were very curious and wanted to meet him up close, but he was growly and upset so I didn't want to inflict that on him at this point. They weren't the least bit hostile. I think the fact that they have been watching him out the window for days helped.
I took him into my bedroom and showed him a fresh litterbox, then weighed him (just under 6lbs) and fed him. He WOLFED down about 1/4 cup of soft food and half a cup of crunchies, drank a sip of water, and then explored the room. Sniffed at Sam and Jasper through the door (they were doing "paws under the door" game and were chirping at him to c'mon out and play) I opened the door, again him in my arms, and they sniffed at him. He growled without much conviction. I dosed all 3 with Advantage, to prevent his fleas from spreading to the others, and then brought him into the office with me where he explored, played, and then crashed out. Poor little guy is very tired now. See him sleeping in the Newguy13 shot on the link at the end of this post.
So I have been catching stills with the webcam. They are super grainy cuz it's a cheap-ass webcam, but you get the idea of his little furry coloring. He is a medium grey, with white tuxedo markings, and little white mittens. His grey parts are a very very faint tabby, with more pronounced tabby markings on his face. In the white on his whisker area, as well as the edges of the grey where it turns to white on his belly and paws, there is a faint apricot color. Very pretty, just a slight blush. He still has baby teeth, or they are VERY new adult teeth. They're little and sparkling white. At what age do they lose baby teeth? That could help me guess his age. His paws and ears are still too big for him, and judging by his paws he will be a BIG boy. I am guessing him to be 6 months. He is a doll, very cuddly, been giving me headbutts and wanting to be held and petted. He even does the forehead-to-forehead headbutts like Jasper. He has a hoarse meow that sounds a bit like Sam's. Kinda Jaguar sounding, not much vocals in it but a lower pitch than many have. "wowwwwrr" not "meow."
I think he might be an Alexander. But I am not sure. We'll see over the next few days what he decides his name should be. I am sure he'll let me know.
September 17, 2001
So the new guy is showing himself to be quite the hooli-kitten, pouncing on the big boys' tails, sproinging out from under the bed, up the side and SWAT anything near the edge (my shoulder, once, and Jasper's paw, once) in once motion. This of course was at 4:00AM or so. He is much smaller than he appears in the pictures I posted yesterday. He seems to do a pretty good job of getting Jasper riled up and playful, which is good cuz he needs it, as he is my crotchety old man at only 7 years old. But Sam is not as interested so far. He is a bit cranky with the interloper, and will take a swipe at him if he gets his tail pounced.
Hooli-kittens are fun! 
I took some pictures last night of him tangling himself up in the bedskirt and attacking greeblings. VERY cute!
He's getting along with my boys pretty well now. Sam and he don't hiss anymore but still meep at each other if they get too close, but Jasper really wants to hang out and play with him. He is still scared of the bigger cats though. Either he hasn't seen bigger cats or they have tormented him before. He's getting better though.
I suspect they'll be best buds by this time next week. Which is good cuz Sam is excellent at pinning-down-and-grooming the other guy, and the new guy desperately needs it. He is full of flea dirt and dead fleas since i dosed him with Advantage. Cant find my flea comb, but I did brush him out with a brush. Helped a little. He even let me pull a thorn from his foot and take scissors to some sap between his toes!!
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