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!