Ch-Ch-Changes

Part of the job of a foster caregiver is to prepare the kittens for, well, life in general. This means everyday household occurrences and noises - like the dishwasher, cooking dinner, dogs barking, the vacuum cleaner, climbing stairs. The kittens' room is like a fortress. It's in the basement (you may have noticed the cinder block walls), tucked far away from the hustle and bustle that goes on upstairs. While this was perfect for Nadya when she was pregnant and then later when she was a new momma to minimize stressful impacts, it is now a little too perfect. You may have heard the music in the background of the kittens' room and wondered if the kittens were having a rave. No, the music is for educational purposes. A few weeks ago, as I was sitting in the kittens' room, my stomach growled. The kittens freaked out and flew into hiding. A few days later when the same thing happened and was met by the same response, I realized that the kittens were overprotected. Tucked in the basement, away from every day noises, their room was a little too quiet, a little too serene. Instead of creating kittens who were at peace, the opposite had occurred. These guys were neurotic over the slightest noise.

I brought out the iPod containing a playlist of soothing, tranquil selections (Muzak style songs, lullabies, and classical), used ages ago for my own cat who was afraid of thunderstorms (but is now fine). The first time I turned on the stereo, the kittens scattered, which definitely reinforced my point. After a week, I added more peppy songs, mixing them into the more serene selection. The volume also varies. Sometimes it's quite soft; sometimes it's rather loud. The unexpected volume changes help mimic every day life.

Once the kittens seemed unfazed by the music, I decided to add TV noises - car chases, gun fire, dogs barking, doorbells. For an hour a day, they get TV time. If you're wondering what they're watching that would give them scary noises consistently, it would be old episodes of the TV series Charmed (starring Shannen Doherty, Holly Marie Combs, and Alyssa Milano). The kittens seem to be over their fear of noises. My tummy can growl all it wants now. :-)

In other news, Double Stuff is no longer afraid of climbing down from the top of the cat tower!! Finally! He spent a good 10 minutes climbing up, climbing down, climbing up, climbing down with reckless abandonment one evening (and almost falling off in the process as he got cocky).

Finally, all seven kittens have had their first distemper shot. The five "cookie" kittens (Biscoff, Stroopy, Double Stuff, Fudge Stripe, and Shortbread) received their first one on Friday (6/13). All did very well and didn't even make a peep! Shortbread, who is the littlest, delayed the date of the shot as she was not quite two pounds when the kittens turned eight weeks old (Feline Rescue requires that the kittens be 2 pounds and 8 weeks old). The other kittens thanked her. Their spay/neuter surgery will also most likely be delayed, too, due to weight issues. If projection holds true, neither Fudge Stripe nor Shortbread will be the required three pounds at 12 weeks old (which is 7/2).

I have more exercises planned for the kittens. They still need to be introduced to the vacuum cleaner. They need to experience climbing stairs. They need to be in a kitchen during dinner preparation. They need to be in the living room as members of the household scurry about doing every day things. They also need to meet my cats... Nadya is still in protective momma cat mode so I'll have to arrange a meeting that does not include Nadya. One of my cats is the official foster socializer. Howard the cat is a wonderful surrogate poppa. He is incredibly patient with kittens (I usually get orphans) and loves to bathe with them. He's excellent at teaching a kitten how to play.

In a few short weeks, the kittens will be ready for adoption. I have just a little time left to teach them everything they're supposed to know before they leave me. I hope they all graduate from kittening school!