Saying Goodbye

My life as a full-time kitten mama is coming to an end. 

Several weeks ago, Queso and Calypso were adopted and now live with their new families in their furever homes. They seem to be adjusting quite well, though I have heard a bit about Queso’s constant neediness and Calypso’s never-ending energy, to which their new owners are having to adjust as they navigate kitten parenthood. They now understand the lack of sleep I’ve had! 

Bandit and Turtle are still with me, although Bandit will be adopted by my sister in mid-August. They’ve been keeping each other pretty well occupied, and they’re completely independent when it comes to eating and using the litter box, so it’s been easier and easier to leave them alone for longer periods at a time. 

Though it’s mostly been exciting and fulfilling to see each of them find their own place within their new homes, it’s also been extremely difficult to say goodbye. I cried the entire day (and much throughout the week before) of Queso’s adoption, since he was the first of my babies to go and I had so many mixed emotions. It’s incredibly difficult to raise a tiny, helpless being from birth and then have it taken away from you after spending 10 whole weeks giving it constant care and attention. (Of course I know that he wasn’t really “taken” away from me—I wanted him to be adopted and I am endlessly grateful to my friends Ryan and Cheryl, his new parents, for taking him in and loving him just as much as I do). But it has been very difficult to say goodbye, no matter how much I know it’s the best thing for them. 

Calypso (now named Tartufi—or Tufi for short) will be moving to Omaha, Nebraska with her new parents soon, which makes me very sad since I won’t be able to see her as often as the others. But my cousin and his fiancé are already proving to be wonderful kitty parents and have promised plenty of pictures and updates as Tufi grows up. I’m so grateful to know that each of the kittens are ending up with friends and family who will always stay in touch. 

Bandit, Turtle, and Tufi had their second vaccine appointment Monday, in which they tested negative for leukemia and got their first leukemia vaccine, second distemper vaccine, and their second dose of oral dewormer. The vet says they’re all doing really well and they all seem normal and healthy for their age. 

Bandit is definitely the largest of those three, weighing in at 3.87 pounds, while Turtle and Tufi are a full pound smaller at 2.81 and 2.87, respectively. It makes a lot of sense to me, considering Bandit has been a little piglet lately; he’s constantly batting Turtle out of the way while they’re eating, attacking her from behind if he thinks she’s getting more than him, and even snacking on Baloo’s dog food when he thinks Baloo’s not looking. I think the endless nursing on his own siblings when he was a few weeks old has now translated into endless eating. I’m going to have to start limiting his food intake before his pudgy belly turns into a bigger problem…

It’s crazy to me how much the kittens have grown and changed in the 12 short weeks they’ve been on this planet. I never truly understood how much development can happen with a newborn animal in such a short amount of time. These kittens went from squirming 4-ounce balls of fur with their ears folded and their eyes closed (and entirely dependent upon another being for survival) to running, jumping, eating-like-crazy kittens with endless amounts of energy…in no time at all. It feels like it’s been three years since I brought them in from the freezing cold backyard, but it’s only been three months. 

I am so unbelievably proud of them for making it—for surviving against all odds without their mother, without the adequate nutrition and antibodies she provides—and in a strange environment after a stressful, cold and unforgiving first day in this world. They’ve won the hearts of every human they’ve met, and even Baloo (the jealous, attention-seeking hound) has grown to love them. Sam is warming up to Turtle every day, despite his declared hatred for cats, and he’s even said he thinks she’s a good cat a few times! 

Thank you, readers, for supporting me throughout this process and staying with me for the journey. The comments and feedback I received from all of you helped me stay positive at times when I felt like the world was falling apart, and I know that positivity greatly contributed to my mothering abilities and the kittens’ overall success and wellbeing. These little love bugs changed my entire life this year and made quarantine both exhausting and fulfilling. Starting a blog to write about them has encouraged me to pursue my own passions despite being stuck inside for so long, and knowing that people cared and looked forward to reading it has made me motivated to write more. 

I look forward to writing more for you soon—about what, I do not know. But for now, here are some kitten pictures, to make you smile: 

Turtle and Bandit cuddling per usual

Queso as handsome and needy as ever! Boy do I miss that face!

Calypso/Tufi love(d) my palm plant…

Bandit has become super playful and cuddly lately!