Tristan/Oliver update

UPDATE FROM ADOPTER:
Well, it's been one year since we brought Oliver (formerly known as Tristan, check out his previous posts) to his forever home, and we're still as much in love with him as we were when he was a little kitten.

He's a handsome boy, and is healthy and happy. He just had his annual checkup, and the vet said that if he could have a cat (his wife is allergic), he'd want one just like Oliver. 

 This kitty has so many endearing qualities. When Gary and I sit down in the family room, Ollie races in to his window perch -- he wants to be where we are. I still get "lovings" in the morning, but it's a bit more restrained now. No more drooling, so no soggy nightgowns! 

 He also comes up to me in bed every morning to suggest that it might be breakfast time. He gets his head scratched, then goes to the foot of the bed and curls up until I get out of bed. He's a lot more patient that his predecessors! 

 We play together a lot, and he rotates through favorite toys. My mom just gave him a little mouse that looks pretty real and he *adores* it! He's a pretty good little mouser, and has already nailed a couple of the real ones in our basement. Yay, Ollie! 

 He also has some funny quirks, in particular, his love of "sand baths." I finally decided to fill another litter box with clean litter, to remove that "ick" factor! The sand bath box comes out every day while I clean his litter box. He rolls and flips in it, and has a wonderful time! 

 He's a happy little kitty, and we're so very, very glad that he came to us. Many thanks again for rescuing him, fostering him and giving him to us. We couldn't be happier!

Kathy, Oliver's Mom

(In the photos, Oliver was having fun with a big box.)

Oliver's first Christmas

UPDATE FROM ADOPTERS OF OLIVER (fka TRISTAN): We just love this little guy to pieces! He's a very happy little cat and we're very happy that he has made his forever home with us. He's a very vocal little kitty, lots of trills (right on cue -- here he is behind my chair, trilling away), tiny meows, and frisky squawks. He still loves his plastic springs, but right now Mr. Fleecy Thing (a fleece ribbon on a stick) is his favorite toy. It's a hoot watching him stalk it!

He's been good as gold with all the Christmas things, including the tree. Nice change from our last kitty who would chew on the light cords -- yikes! He loves to burst out from beneath the tree when I throw one of his springs. Not sure what the tree skirt is going to look like when I pack it away for the season, but that's okay!

He's developed a really cute habit of hiding and then leaping out at Gary when Gary comes into the family room. When Oliver hears Gary coming, he'll stop whatever he's doing to scamper over to his hiding place for the big pounce! He still keeps his claws in when playing with us, and I've been able to trim his claws regularly. He doesn't like it, but there are treats afterwards.

He's a very healthy little boy, with a very healthy appetite. He eats mostly canned food (his definite preference), and would like to eat a whole lot more than his daily ration!! He weighs about ten pounds now, so he's right where he should be. He snuggles at our feet or knees at night, coming up to get his loving from me two or three times a night. He still "nurses" and probably always will. I don't mind except for the soggy spot he leaves on my jammies! His fur is so soft and he's very cuddly. He loves to be cradled in my arms like a baby (and you know I love doing it!).

He's a very social little guy. All of our friends and family just love little Oliver and think we got a real winner (we think so, too!). There's one group, though, he *really* loves -- my knitting ladies. But all that moving "string" is just too much for him, and he usually winds up banished to our bedroom. He gets lots of extra frisky time after everyone has packed up their yarn and left.

So that's the report on our Oliver. Happy holidays!

Kathy

Tristan, now Oliver

I was in Bemidji for a funeral and called Karen to offer to transport to the Cities any animals that needed a ride. I was told my load would include an injured cat, a litter of four kittens, and a singleton kitten, Izzy, all headed to Feline Rescue. On the way to meet me, Karen picked up little Tristan (now Oliver) and I agreed to foster him for Feline Rescue, too. He was scrawny and sickly then, but is now a beautiful, healthy boy adopted by a couple who adores him!

UPDATE #1:
Well, Tristan and I have been playing ever since we got home, and is he ever a happy boy! He's been purring, making happy paws (kneading), and rubbing all around me. Gary's in with him now. What an absolutely adorable little guy he is! He hasn't hidden at all, but is very curious. He is a bit startled at new sounds, but will soon learn what is normal. I think he's going to adjust very nicely. He's a *very* good little traveler. Thank you, thank you, thank you for encouraging me to come and visit. He is already very precious to us!

P.S. He's still moving a bit fast to get a good photo! I'll keep trying as he settles in.

UPDATE #2:
You'll be happy to know that our little guy had an absolutely wonderful morning on the porch! Windowsills! Birds! Perches! Squirrels! Toys! He finally dropped in his tracks and slept. Last night, he kept hopping up on the bed to nuzzle us, purr, and knead his paws. He is such an affectionate little guy! He's shown a real curiousity about the rest of the house, too, so maybe tomorrow afternoon I'll let him tour the first floor with me supervising. My mom is coming over to meet him
this afternoon. I know she'll fall head over heels in love with him, too. We're thoroughly enjoying him, and he seems to be enjoying us as well. I do believe we have a wonderful match here!

UPDATE #3:
I've included three photos of Tristan. He has been a *very* busy boy today. Around four this afternoon, he was positively begging for a tour of the house, so off we went. He has had a wonderful time exploring each room. He's here with me as I type this, sound asleep on top of the sofa bed. I also introduced him to a really pouffy fleece doughnut bed, and he was totally enthralled by it. I think he kneaded every square inch of it before curling up for a cat nap! He's a darling cat, and is adjusting to his new home amazingly well.

UPDATE #4:
Tristan is a very content kitty today. We brought out the window perches this afternoon, and he is in seventh heaven. I've attached a couple of photos below. (He looks less alarmed!!) I just can't sing his praises enough. He is a dear little kitten, who is very gentle and affectionate, and quite social. He has taken over the house as if he owns it! Either he's feeling more at home or I tuckered him out yesterday -- he's been a very relaxed, mellow kitty today who has enjoyed naps in the window. His new toys (the Peek-a-Prize wooden box and the Turbo Scratcher ball-go-round) arrived this afternoon, and he knew immediately what to do with both of them. I'm just delighted that he loves his scratching toys/posts. Neither of our other cats took to them, and our furniture has the scars to prove it! What a luxury to have a kitty who prefers his toys/posts. We just love our little boy! Next up -- a name.

UPDATE #5:
Our boy is growing and thriving! I was thinking about sending you a recent photo when I got your note. Oliver is absolutely adorable, and he's ruling the roost here. We love it when he gets the "kitten crazies" and gallops from one end of the house to the other, multiple times. He plays fetch with his plastic springs -- I'll throw one, and he'll scamper after it, chasing it all over the house. Then he'll bring it back and drop it at my feet for me to throw it again. He also adores a catnip mouse my mother bought for him. Probably his favorite activity is with his "stumpy stick" (a feather stick without the feather). I move it back and forth under his catnip "boogie mat." I'm very pleased that no matter how frisky he is, he still has "soft paws," and doesn't claw us. And we love his soft little voice, and all the trills and squeaks he vocalizes. He's got one that comes out at playtime and at dinner time (when he gets a bit of moist food) that is as close as a kitty can get to "woo hoo!!"

He met our vet a week ago, and was pronounced a healthy, beautiful (of course!) kitten. He also got the vaccination that was due. He's right on target, weight-wise -- 6 pounds at six months old. I'm working on training him to use his scratching posts/toys consistently (lots of praise and a tiny treat when he gets it right). He has slipped out to the garage three times already, so we're very, very careful when we open the door from the garage to the house, or the doors leading outside. He's a *fast* little dickens! And he's earning his keep -- he nailed his first mouse a week ago! Yay, Ollie-boy!!

He's still doing the "nursing" with me, but it's fine. I really appreciated the neck massage from his little paws a few mornings ago when I was stiff and sore!! ;-) He's definitely my little shadow, but he's bonding with Gary, as well. Everyone who has met him loves him. We love him more and more each day, and are SO glad that our little Oliver came to live with us! He's a dear, dear little kitten! I've included below three photos of him. As you can see, he also loves his window perches! Thank you so much for bringing us together. It's been a happy match for all three of us!

Tristan & Trina: A Purrfect Pair

The mother of these two was Teka from Red Lake. She and all her kittens were fostered in the Twin Cities and all found homes here. Thanks to Barbara B. and Pet Haven! Here's a note from the people who adopted them.

Tristan and Trina (Tweetie) are doing very well. He weighs over 16 lbs and she is about 11. They are very different cats then the older cats we have had. They are not talkers or food hounds. They tend to weigh the value of the word NO and proceed depending on the value of the adventure.

She is a tortie and has come to be a lady of many moods. She can be quite loving or contrary. She plays fetch with me. I throw a cat toy (mouse or small sparkle ball) and she will bring it back. She will start this play by bringing me the toy when she wants to play fetch, Tristan does not participate and tends to watch this "foolishness".

They are travelers. We have a cat bench in our van along with a mounted cat cage and they travel with us in all five states I work in. They love hotel life and ice buckets and looking out the passenger window. They do understand the rules of the
road on windshield and driver's area.

Life is good. Tweetie still throws an occasional hissy fit but does not break skin when biting or pawing (not declawed). Tweetie is the only cat I have come to love that will purr, hiss, bite, kick and lick /// mad and happy all at the same time. Her nickname is the name she answers to.

Tristan is a glorious sleek panther. He love to catch flies in the air with 2 paws and can probably jump over 7 feet. Nothing is sacred to him. but has yet to break anything. Both cats are not lap cats, but will seek attention on their own good time.

I hope all is well with you and yours. Please stay in touch and hope the
rest of the summer is purrfect.

H & K