Wild Kingdom, and the food chain

I brought home 2, teddy bear hamsters from Seattle. My youngest daughter was ecstatic.

About a week later one of our cats got the cage open and was preparing to make a meal out of the smallest one, when Lisa rescued it.

Poor thing died not too long after that.

 

Hamsters must not be too smart, and or, I have the smartest cats on earth. We bought a new cage so that it wouldn’t be so easy for them to get into, and yet….

 

Last night I got up to get a drink and I noticed Romeo watching, very intently, under the fridge. I’ve seen that look before and I knew exactly what he was waiting for.

 

The cage was open and the hamster was gone. Now, if I were a hamster and my cage were opened and I was in a house full, no, a room full of cats, I would NOT get out, but, it seems that this one did.

 

 

I had to move the fridge to get to him and he’s missing a bunch of hair, but he looks to be OK. Only time will tell.

 

Rodents, sheesh! BIG HUGS, Steph

Pics and a new addition

Hi, I posted pictures of, Spicy, the mama cat nursing the baby kittens… yes, kittens as in 2, instead of 1.

The other day I got a phone call from a lady who had been soooo kindly referred to me by our local animal shelter, she had found a kitten along side the road and was hoping that we would take it… OK, call me a sap, but I said, "Yes."

When they brought the kitten by, I was shocked to see she was probably only a day or two old. She still has her umbilical cord attached.

Spicy is nursing them both. I have to take them and put them on her to nurse, but, hey that’s minor compared to bottle feeding them.

 

Gauge is doing great and having fun. My girls are depressed because tomorrow is the first day of school! lol BIG HUGS, Steph

All the news that’s fit to print…

Let’s see… what’s been going on here. I’ll leave out the drama that’s turning my hair white.

That leaves…

I have a new kitten. The other night my oldest daughter came in crying with a very small, young kitten. It’s eyes aren’t even open yet. It seems that he was in a trailer of a family she knows and his mother has disappeared. The family was going to let him starve to death, so, she brought him home to me. After some frantic phone calls I have learned that if you are going to bottle feed a kitten you need to use a very tiny bottle, (specially made for these little ones) goats milk, warm wash clothes and Vaseline.

Never warm the milk in a microwave, it kills all the nutrients. They need to be fed every 2 hours (once you actually get them to accept being bottle fed). After they wake up you have to wipe their lil bottoms with a warm damp wash cloth to stimulate their bowels and every other time use Vaseline so their bottom doesn’t get to sore.

I fed the lil guy all night and the next day, while frantically trying to find a lactating Mama kitty. I made phone call after phone call and had no luck. Finally when I thought all hope was lost, my sister tells me that she thinks one of my brother’s has a mama cat who’s still nursing!

She’s just weaning hers and they are eating solid foods. I took the baby to their house and miracle of miracles, Mama kitty (Spicy) took to the baby like it was one of hers.

I brought her and the baby home with me. She’s a wonderful cat, and an answer to my many prayers.  (Photos to follow, I KNOW DavidShag is sitting on the edge of his seat!)

 

 

The wild blackberries are ripening. I went out and picked enough to make some jam. My hands are all scratched up, and I had to make sure Dekeon and Gauge didn’t eat all the berries before I got the jam made, but it was worth it.

The wild berries are much smaller than cultivated, but they are sweeter… yummmmmmm!

 

Local news, Kristen Armstrong (the first ever Boisean to win a gold medal) is on her way home to Boise. I think the whole city is planning on being at the airport to greet her. I plan to NOT be on the roads tomorrow. The traffic will be horrendous. Welcome home Kristen! 

A young man who went to school here in Emmett is at the Olympics, throwing the discus. He is my son, Nick’s age.

 

OH and today is supposed to get up to 100 degrees… oh joy of joys. BIG HUGS, Steph

I miss all the good stuff…

Because I was in Seattle, I missed my High School Reunion. From what I’ve heard everyone had a great time. I’ve been enjoying the photos and here’s one of my favorite video clips. Jack (who promised to make me laugh so hard I peed my pants) did an impromptu "lap dance." Enjoy….