Is this starving stray pregnant, or has she had her kittens?/ Thomas

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checkers

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Thank you @Mani  and @stewball.  I asked the refuge (who legally owns these kittens and will sell them for $300 ea) if I could use those gel claw tips, and they said 'no'. So I couldn't even try them before making my decision on whether to take any of the kittens. 

I recall in a foster-carers' training program I did quite some time back that the refuge urged carers not to adopt their charges, as foster carers were too important to the refuge to lose, which they'd probably do if they had cats themselves. Yes, these kittens are a bit different, in that I found them after a long, hard search over 5 weeks. They were such a reward after a tough, emotional few weeks worrying if I'd ever find them (and not being sure they actually existed due to the confusion over whether the mother cat had given birth).  I'll never forget the moment I located them. It makes them all the more special, I suppose.

Still, there's a lot to consider here.  I'm no spring chicken, and I'd hope these kittens have at least 20 years ahead of them. I hope I do too, but I may not be in the same place I am now - a house with grass, trees, and plenty of places to lie in the sun. 

Speaking of the sun (yep, any excuse to show you another photo), it’s Autumn here and the mornings are getting cooler. This morning when I pulled the curtains a stream of sunshine came in across the floor.  The kittens immediately ran to it and were dancing around in the small sunny spot. Then Ginge got quite possessive of it as it became smaller with the sun's movement, and (in my interpretation) tried to keep the other two at bay. The second photo shows the consequences for Ginge when she tried to grab a piece of sunshine! 


Minstrel, hogging the patch of autumn sun beside the front door.


 Ginge, suffering the consequences of trying to share Minstrel's patch of sun.
 

mani

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It's a lovely 'low' light at the moment isn't it? It just streams into the house.  My two have been doing their fair share of arguing over the best spots too...

Lovely shots.
  I think you will have to keep fostering kittens, Checkers, to keep up the constant stream of gorgeous kitten photos.
 
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checkers

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Thanks so much for your post, @segelkatt  .  Your re-homed kitten (a stunner, by the way - I'd love to own a MC) certainly looks settled and happy with his new life. 

It's wonderful you can keep in contact with the owner, but when you foster through the RSPCA here in Australia, and this applies to our other big network of refuges, you can't make contact with the new owner. Their details are confidential.  I'll check again with them, but I'm pretty sure that rule still applies.

So unfortunately I can't make any conditions, given the kittens are legally owned by the RSPCA.  
 

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Originally Posted by Checkers  

  I'll check again with them, but I'm pretty sure that rule still applies.

So unfortunately I can't make any conditions, given the kittens are legally owned by the RSPCA.  
It does apply.. I very much doubt they would ever lift it. 
 

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Minstrel has reached the 1.1kg mark.   So has Possum.   Ginge has a little way to go.   This means they’re coming up for their de-sexing and finding new homes.

I think I’m the one who’ll be needing some help!   Any words of wisdom in coping with goodbyes?
Oh wow, Minstrel looks so much like George sitting there like he owns the scale. When George was a baby, he would sit in every bowl I placed on the counter. His favorite was the colander, I guess the holes kept him cool all the way around. LOL

I'm glad you are going to try to hold off until Ginge is big enough. I will hate to see them go and I know you will, but you (and your mom) have done such a wonderful job socializing them and taking care of them. They will make a wonderful addition to any family.
 

kntrygrl256

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It's a lovely 'low' light at the moment isn't it? It just streams into the house.  My two have been doing their fair share of arguing over the best spots too...

Lovely shots.
  I think you will have to keep fostering kittens, Checkers, to keep up the constant stream of gorgeous kitten photos.
I have to agree with @Mani... These photos are beautiful. You really have a gift @Checkers.

 
It does apply.. I very much doubt they would ever lift it. 
Hmmmm.... Could a request be put on the paperwork for the new owners to contact the fosterer if they wanted to??? I know I would at least like to say thank you to the person who gave my new baby a wonderful start. That way if would be the new owners choice to make first contact.
 
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segelkatt

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I had adopted this cat out through the local cat club of which I am a member, which had advertised him through Petfinders. The new mom contacted the cat club who then referred her to me to see him and so I could form an opinion of her. The cat club then checked her and her house out and she picked him up after everything was found to be ok. He had been found without ID and had been brought to the cat club which put up signs without a response. He was fostered by a club member until a forever home could be found and he was taken to the vet (the cat club paid for that) Then he was put up for adoption within the club  which is how I found him. Too bad it did not work out, he is beautiful and a loving cat but just not sociable with my cats. I hated to let him go  but this has worked out very nicely.
 
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Thank you @Mani
 and @stewball.  I asked the refuge (who legally owns these kittens and will sell them for $300 ea) if I could use those gel claw tips, and they said 'no'. So I couldn't even try them before making my decision on whether to take any of the kittens. 

I recall in a foster-carers' training program I did quite some time back that the refuge urged carers not to adopt their charges, as foster carers were too important to the refuge to lose, which they'd probably do if they had cats themselves. Yes, these kittens are a bit different, in that I found them after a long, hard search over 5 weeks. They were such a reward after a tough, emotional few weeks worrying if I'd ever find them (and not being sure they actually existed due to the confusion over whether the mother cat had given birth).  I'll never forget the moment I located them. It makes them all the more special, I suppose.

Still, there's a lot to consider here.  I'm no spring chicken, and I'd hope these kittens have at least 20 years ahead of them. I hope I do too, but I may not be in the same place I am now - a house with grass, trees, and plenty of places to lie in the sun. 

Speaking of the sun (yep, any excuse to show you another photo), it’s Autumn here and the mornings are getting cooler. This morning when I pulled the curtains a stream of sunshine came in across the floor.  The kittens immediately ran to it and were dancing around in the small sunny spot. Then Ginge got quite possessive of it as it became smaller with the sun's movement, and (in my interpretation) tried to keep the other two at bay. The second photo shows the consequences for Ginge when she tried to grab a piece of sunshine! 


Minstrel, hogging the patch of autumn sun beside the front door.




 Ginge, suffering the consequences of trying to share Minstrel's patch of sun.
Soo cute. I just might take one of them.. except that it's not within my power to get a plane ticket to australia and I don't even have close to $300 being only 13... ok so $236 usd but still don't have it. Then theres the travelling expense... ok forget it..
:D
 

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@kntrygrl256, I'll give it a go. No harm in trying.  
The rescue group that I adopted a few feral kittens through won't give you any information about the new family either, but they will pass on messages for you. I used to get a little booklet of photos printed out with a few lines in there about when the kitten was born, how many others were in the litter that kind of thing, It's always nice for people to see their new kitten's baby photos, and if there are a few pictures of siblings or mum and dad in there too they can see where the kitten gets his/her colouring from.

You've taken so many lovely photos checkers, I'm sure whoever ends up with these kittens would love to see some of them.
 
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@peony, I'm sure there  are just as cute and cuter kitties much closer to you, and you wouldn't have to save up for a ticket to Australia!   I hope you get to have one (or more) kittens one day. And by the way, your parents chose the most beautiful name for you. 
 
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checkers

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... I used to get a little booklet of photos printed out with a few lines in there about when the kitten was born, how many others were in the litter that kind of thing, It's always nice for people to see their new kitten's baby photos, and if there are a few pictures of siblings or mum and dad in there too they can see where the kitten gets his/her colouring from...
@Norachan, you're right.  I'm definitely going to put that proposal to the RSPCA.  If they don't have that practice now, I will suggest they take it up.  

I do like the way the refuge puts high prices on kittens. They still sell the kittens at that price (and they deserve it for the investment they make in them with surgery, medication, vaccinations, etc), and anyone who pays $300 for a non-pedigree cat must really want them and value them. That kind of person, I reckon, would also value receiving kitten photos and background information from a foster carer.  
 
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New discovery - reflections

Every day there are new discoveries in these little, inquisitive lives.


Ginge isn’t sure if this identical kitten she’s found in my mother’s shower is going to be as friendly as she is.


Possum can’t work out if he can take on three kittens at once.


Never mind reflections. Minstrel is more interested in getting on the other side of the glass door to investigate the garden.  One day, Minstrel. 
 

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@Checkers you really must show these to the RSPCA..

I once took the photos for the AWL website.  Maybe there's a role for you doing something like that?

Don't you love the whole reflection and cats thing?  Mine don't see themselves but I remember having a kitten who did.  She took ages to grow out of running behind the sliding mirror door to find 'the other cat'.
 
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checkers

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...I once took the photos for the AWL website.  Maybe there's a role for you doing something like that?

Don't you love the whole reflection and cats thing?  Mine don't see themselves but I remember having a kitten who did.  She took ages to grow out of running behind the sliding mirror door to find 'the other cat'. 
@Mani, thank you!  I just went over and had a look at your albums. I can see why you took photos for the AWL!  Your photos are superb.  I'll PM you re this.

And yes, the reflections are hilarious with some cats, yet others don't seem to notice at all, or perhaps they work it out very quickly.  Of these three, Possum and Ginge seem to be fascinated by their reflections, and Possum jumps behind the cheval mirror to find 'the other cat'.  
 
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