Thank you for all your suggestions for names for the kitties! If I didn't choose yours, don't fret. I'll have more kittens in a few weeks! Lots of chances for names!

Here's the new crew:

Malibu, Nova and Felixia are back at ANC HQ waiting to find their forever homes. Fe is doing much better now that she's had a good course of antibiotics and is beginning to put on some weight. Nova, we hope, will be adopted soon. Malibu has continued to come out of his shell and is a very loving kitty. He's getting rather big and we're a bit worried we won't find him a home soon. Seems the younger kittens go first. Isn't that often the case?

As for my own cats, poor Gracie STILL battles miliary dermatitis. Her flare ups are still bad, still constant. She's still getting bi monthly shots and occasional baths (but I should give her more). It's been almost a year since this started and I have little hope we will ever find a cure for her. It's very sad. I fear my last options are either to put her on steroids, which I've avoided at all cost, or try to re-home her, which would make me feel like a failure. She may be unhappy with all the other cats here, but she was fine for years, then suddenly broke out. My thought is that it can't be the other cats bothering her, then...but...then what is causing her allergic reactions?

Bob has been doing fairly well, though I'm starting to worry about him He's not eating as well as he did...is it his sense of smell starting to go? He's vomited a small amount of water the past two mornings. I fear pancreatitis flare ups with him!

Nicky still has problems being constipated and he seems a bit down. We've been giving him stool softeners, but not enough. Gotta ramp up on that. I think this cat has a funny metabolism. First he would get urinary blockages up from his food and that meant lots of ER trips. He's not blocked any more, but now his colon is getting packed up. I can't figure out what is the culprit. The other cats don't suffer with this problem-even Nicky's own sister.

All the other buggers are doing fine. Some times I forget they're all getting older. How is it that Nick and Nora are 9 now? Spencer is about 7 and no one knows how old Bob is, but it's easily over 10. Where did the time go?

The foster kittens and Cali, the mama are doing better this morning. Everyone ate their breakfast and started to play right away. No litter pan accidents, thank goodness and their overall condition seems much improved.

No names picked out for the kittens yet. Will work on that today. Thanks for all the suggestions!

Welcome aboard to my new Foster kitties. Mama and five kittens. Every one of them is COVERED in FLEAS! Our Director said it was the worst she's seen and was surprised the kittens were even alive!

They're older than we thought. Pretty close to eight weeks, but not weaned properly and have supposed litter box issues. Woohoo! Fun!

At least Mama, not well pictured here, is nice. Whew. Right now everyone got Capstar and Advantage treatments and got de-wormed. Next I have to figure out how to deal with this flea issue for the coming weeks. I did flea spray in the room, since you may know one of my previous fosters showed signs of having fleas. At least the spray is supposed to work for 120 days. Hope they weren't kidding!

Right now everyone is locked up in a big dog crate until tomorrow afternoon, at which time the Advantage will have started working. Poor kitties. They just want to get out! I've hardly touched them except to flea comb a few of them-and the results were not bad at all.

I keep feeling like I have creepy crawlies all over me, but my hair is really long, so I'm going to blame that as the culprit, though my hair doesn't reach my knee!

Oh brother! Now what did I get myself into?

Everyone has been so great, helpful, generous and I realize there's a point of exhaustion where people won't want to help any more or have helped as much as they can---then I ask again for more.

I've weighed the options of bringing to bear news of yet another Mama and her babies, who need rescuing from Death Row at Henry County in Georgia. Henry Co. puts down 300-500 animals a month. It's atrocious. Saving three won't make a dent, but look at these guys. I think they're worth making an effort over.

This morning I got these photos and they really stuck with me. I've decided that even if it turns readers away, it doesn't hurt to ask; "Can you help one more time? Can you step up and find this litter a licensed rescue organization who will foster them together until they can be adopted? Can you step up and offer to adopt one of these cats?" I'm not sure of how that works out, but I can find out FOR YOU. I'll help make it as easy as possible.

These cats, if Mama gets a negative result on her combo test, can come to you already vetted and ready to go. We can arrange transport. We may even be able to raise all the funds we need for their care. It would be little for you to do, other than step up, raise you hand and say; YES!

Here's our latest Mama. She and her babies have such beautiful and unusual markings!

This little one is so cute!

Same kitten as above, but check out his chin! I didn't know kittens could have goatees!

Perhaps over the weekend, someone will find a friend who works at a shelter who can make room for them or who wants to adopt one of these cuties. They don't have much time and, in fact, even tomorrow may be too late. I wish I could take them, but I truly do have a full house of 13 plus 3 more coming and my newcomers have fleas very seriously. I'm willing to donate money and make calls and write emails.

If you want to help, just contact me (see sidebar to the left) and I'll get the ball rolling.

We make change happen together, by stepping up and saying, NO. No more death for those that have just begun their lives. Let's find a way.

I REALLY ENJOY GOOD NEWS, FOLLOWED BY MORE GOOD NEWS!

Thanks to your donations, all the mamas, below, had their combo tests and test came back NEGATIVE, meaning they are CLEARED for fostering/quarantine for a bit less than two weeks and then on to their new foster or forever homes! THESE CATS ARE NO LONGER AT RISK OF BEING EUTHANIZED!

Huggy Mama is cleared and ready for her bright future!

Kate + 8 are cleared and ready for their bright future!

Cali Mama is cleared and ready for her bright future!

Last Chance Mama, not pictured here, but below a few posts down, will be getting her combo test on Tuesday. Please think good thoughts for her!

I'm SO GLAD to be able to bring you ALL GOOD NEWS! We can now feel comfortable breathing both IN and OUT (until Tuesday! ACK!).

Kate + 8 have been removed from Henry Co. and are off to their next stop, where they can live for the next two weeks while they are in quarantine and before they are moved off to foster care. Please think good thoughts for the kitties as Mama has to have a "combo" test which will test her for Feline Leukemia and FIV. It could be sad news if Mama has Feline Leukemia, but for now, let us focus on one phase of this journey being accomplished.

Kate + 8 are out of the KILL SHELTER!

Thank you very much Barbara at WCR for doing all the paperwork, making the calls and finding a safe haven for all these kitties, Judy with Kat5 for finding transport and boarding and Bobby for kindly transporting the kitties OUT of Henry Co., as well as all the other folks I have not met yet, who are part of this hopeful story!

Two weeks ago, Tweetie went to visit Sockington & Pennycat and has yet to return. I've checked in on him quite a few times and each time he tells me he's enjoying himself and that Food Lady and Fatty, err...Mr. Scott are very nice to him, too.

He's not quite sure what to make of the pale lady cat. She gives off a funny vibe, so he's staying clear. Mr. Sockington seems strangely familiar and it's comforting to spend time with him now that "Socks" isn't hissing so often. It's also delightful to have lots more space where he can run. Living in the bathroom was getting boring. One can only play with the faucet and flush the toilet so many times.

There's still no final word on whether or not Tweetie will become a permanent member, and highest ranking, but shortest, Officer in the Sock Army, but seeing this video, gave me the feeling that things are, at least, going fairly well.

A frame showing Tweetie in his first Supporting Role, from the newly released Socksamillion video, celebrating Socks's One Millionth Follower on Twitter (though now he's at 1.03 mil). Go Socks! You can see the rest, HERE. Tweetie's getting so BIG!

I'm very proud of Tweetie and I'm glad I worked so hard to give him every chance to break the desire to return to his feral roots...and glad I had the backing from my Director to do so. It was a long, scary journey, but now looking back, things fell into place just perfectly-as perhaps they were meant to all along?

This is my artist's interpretation showing Tweetie with Sockington. Some day I hope they'll really sit for a portrait together. Thank you to Jason Scott for allowing me to use the photo of Socks.

Will Tweetie find his forever home with Socks & Penny? Even if he doesn't, he's had a Hell of a run; the support and love of new friends from all over the world and more than a moment in the spotlight. It's far more than most (former!) feral kittens could ever dream for, but in this little kitten's case, he hit the jackpot and I couldn't have asked for a happier ending.

I'm sure Tweetie's story will continue on through his updates on Twitter; both as a spokescat for The Animal Center and also as his sly, devilish, no-holds-barred self. It's time for me to re-focus my efforts. I have more kittens to rescue; some from death row at kill shelters in the south, some from just down the street. Wherever they come from, be assured there'll be more stories like Tweetie's, filled with challenges, heartbreak and joy. I hope you'll keep visiting, Covered in Cat Hair and join me as I continue that journey learning the ropes of being a Cat Rescuer and try to maintain my sanity living with seven (and more) cats.

We need to raise just $345.00 to help get Huggy Mama and the Babies off death row and into my home for Fostering. I've already donated $100.00 to get the ball rolling, so now we only need $245.00!

Come on everyone! Pitch in what you can and let's get this done! Every dollar counts. I mean it. If you can afford one dollar that's fine. Just do it.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING Kat5, help me...so we can help Henry County and we can all help the kitties. That's a lot of helping!

DONATE

Left to Right: Felixia, Nova & Malibu

Fostering still goes on here at Covered in Cat Hair HQ. Last night I had a very full lap of loudly purring kittens. I managed to get a sound clip recorded on my iPhone. Came out good! I played it back for the kittens and they were all very curious about how I was pulling off such a realistic purr.

I hope you can keep my secret!

Nova helping herself to a place on the cat bed with Malibu

Malibu is settling down. I'm very proud of him. Nova is helping keep him from running off when I enter the room. If she doesn't, he doesn't. Malibu has also started snuggling with Nova more and more. I hope they get adopted together!

Looks like the kitties will be leaving soon. I need to take in a Mama and 5 kittens pretty soon so these guys will go to our main adoption bldg to wait for their forever homes. It's been nicer than I expected having big kittens here. They're all so sweet and friendly. I have no work. Just love 'em and play with them. Nice and simple.

Felixia. A tiny sweetie pie.

I wish everything was that easy.

Speaking of which-am bouncing emails back and forth with the ladies about how we can help those Henry Co kitties. We're doing our best, but are getting stuck on the 2 week foster/boarding placement we have to come up with right away.

Stay tuned.

No news. No nothing from lady in Indiana. The least she could do is say something either way. Since time is running out, I've decided to start work on getting "Hugging" Mama and her two offspring to CT to be fostered in my famous blue bathroom (where Tweetie lived for awhile).

It's not ideal, but it means life for them. It's not saving all the kitties, but it's what I can do. I'm going to be on the hook for an adult adoption and that scares me because we don't have a shelter and have little adoptions as it is, without making it harder to place an adult. I hope like heck she is super friendly or I am really gonna be in trouble.

I don't care. I have a feeling I need these cats to be here. With the kind help of Barbara from WCR and Judy from Kat 5, I hope we can pull the necessary strings to get these guys out of Henry Co. soon.

I just sent the email to Betsy, who's the contact at Henry. Hopefully I didn't say anything wrong since I've never done this before. My fosters come from families here in Newtown or the woods in the surrounding communities, not from Georgia. So...cross fingers I don't piss anyone off, say the wrong thing, step on toes, etc.

I better just apologize right now. I'm sorry universe! I'm sorry. I'm really sorry about all the other kitties. More than I can say. In my heart, I have saved them all, but the real world doesn't work like that. I have to be OK with what I can do and move on from there.

I hope to have good news about "Kate + 8" in the coming days, too.

Last call..if anyone can help with fostering or adopting out any of the Henry Co kitties, now is your time to speak up. Contact me and I will help you. You don't have to have the GA License if you work with Ms Lowe-though she is REALLY busy right now, so we must be delicate about bombarding her and I am talking to myself more than anyone else. So just drop me a line and we'll take it from there.

UPDATE: WE ARE IN DIRE NEED OF A FOSTER HOME IN GEORGIA. IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO CAN TAKE HUGGY MAMA & HER TWO KITTENS FOR ONLY TWO WEEKS PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP. JUST TWO WEEKS! COME ON FOLKS! STEP UP!