[Rachel]

Apologies if I am not around quite as much over the next few days, we have had a couple of new family members.

As some of you may remember, we sadly lost our cat Pugsley at the beginning of the year and having always had cats we have been talking recently about looking for another one. Well yesterday I made a couple of phone calls and came across a litter of stray kittens that a nice (yet rather crazy) lady has taken into her home. Le's just say, I think I was lucky coming out of there with only two. I know she is doing her best to find news homes for the rest of the litter but at least I know we have managed to help two of them.

They are still without names although Gargamel and Azrael are being mentioned at the moment. We have no idea if they are boys or girls (just catching them was hard enough yesterday) and I am guessing they are about 6 or 7 weeks old. It is going to take a bit of effort to tame them and get them used to humans but I am already shocked at how much better they seem todat compared to yesterday.

So......... introducing............

[Smurfysmurf]

They are soooo cute, Rachel

kittens are a lot of fun....unless they are around smurfs



Paulchen was a stray and very shy. He stayed shy to the end but got used to the three people that would feed him, so I don't think you have a problem taming those two

Will you keep them outside or inside?

and finally

Welcome to the smurfiest place Gargamel and Azrael (or whatever your names will be).....and remember smurfs are lovable but not eatable

[Guest]

cute Rach,very cute !

Enjoy yourself, bet it is lots of fun there with K&K

[steveparkes]

Awwwww...so cute Rachel...I think you should name them Chitter & Smoogle

[Smurfysmurf]

Love those names, Steve

[Rachel]

Awwwww...so cute Rachel...I think you should name them Chitter & Smoogle

Yes YES YESSSSSSSS!!

Thank You Steve

Having had a good look this afternoon we are now thinking they are both girls so even though Gargy and Az are very cool names Smoogle & Chitter would be a better choice.

Now we just have to decide who is who.

[smurfieduck]

Hi Rachel

I am over the moon for you, and Richard. They are beautiful kittys!

They are both tortoiseshell cats. Hence, they are both females - you can't get torty boys! I hope this helps.
Unfortunately, that means Gargy and Azrael are no longer appropriate names for them. I liked Steve's suggestion of Smoogle and Chitter. No doubt you will come up with something smurfy to call them.

Can we please have regular updates and pics? Cats do grow very quickly!!

[Rachel]

Hi Sharon, well I did not know that so Thank You very much.

We had tabby's in the past so it will be interesting to see the differences.

[naish510]

Hi Rachel & Richard, Congratulations With your 2 new cats !!!
They are so Cute, maybe you can call them Eddie & Patsy !!

[smurfieduck]

Rachel wrote:

Hi Sharon, well I did not know that so Thank You very much.

We had tabby's in the past so it will be interesting to see the differences.

My Bonnie, who passed away last June, was a torty (similar colouring to your kitty on the right in the pic). She had slightly more ginger in her coat, though.
Your other kitty is a tri-torty - ginger, white and black. Their daddy was probably a ginger boy!

I adore cats!!!!!!!!!

Up until last year, I worked at a cat rescue shelter. So, I have had quite a lot of hands on experience, working with cats. My best advice to give you with regards your two cuties, is to cuddle them as much as possible to get them socialised. Do you have many visitors? If you do, get them to have a quick cuddle as well. Then, there's the kitty play - I use to love playing with my cats.

When I was at the shelter, whenever stray kittens were brought in, that's exactly what all the staff would do. Each time I had to clean the kitten shed out, I spent most of my time cuddling and playing with the kittens Then there was the de-worming them, de-fleaing them and the general medical care. So, by the time that they were ready to be 'homed' they were well and truely use to human contact.

[smurfieduck]

This is my beautiful girl, Bonnie, who passed away last June. She was 18 years old. Bless her!!

The second pic is of my Sophie who I lost last October.

[FlamingO]

They are absolutley adorable

I think Smoogle and Chitter are fantastic names Just be careful with your pronunciation when calling little chit in from the garden

[smurfieduck]

Just be careful with your pronunciation when calling little chit in from the garden

[Smurfysmurf]

They were beautiful cats, Sharon

I am glad you had Bonnie for so long

[Rachel]

They were both very beautiful girls Sharon.

Here are Pugsley (1st pic) who we lost in Jan this year and Lexus who passed away in Aug 2005.





Well having just read up a bit about tortoise shell kittys it is interesting to know that they are thought by some to bring good luck. Now with a triple rollover on the lottery on Saturday night...........

Considering we were actually going to look for one, grey, long haired tom cat I think I have done quite well!

Having spent most of today playing with them (when they weren't sleeping) I can't believe just how quickly they have calmed down and got used to us. There is still the occaisional spit and we are only keeping them in one room at the moment away from the dogs but it is shocking to see how different they are now compared to how they were when I first saw them - running around the walls and hissing and spitting everywhere. We have even had a success with the litter tray which we were a little worried about as they have lived outdoors up until now (we think?).

Can we please have regular updates and pics? Cats do grow very quickly!!

As you asked so nicely Sharon, here is one more for the day. (Sorry Dyar and Graham, I just couldn't resist another kitten pic)

[smurfieduck]

Rachel wrote:

Now with a triple rollover on the lottery on Saturday night...........

Well, if your kitties have brought you good luck and you win, please don't forget it was me who told you about torties. A nice new flat with an extra room for my smurfies will do just nicely. Thank you. Only kidding!!!

Thanks for the third pic Rachel. It's nice to see two empty plates. They have obviously got good appetites!! I bet you have had great fun with them already. I do envy you!!!

[SA Smurfette]

Aww, cute cats Rachel

I like the markings of the lighter loking cat the best

Chitter & Smoogle are great names if that's what you decide to go with

Bonnie & Sophie are lovely, Sharon

[Smurfysmurf]

I like the markings of the lighter looking cat the best

When I read that I thought spoken like a true smurf collector, Rae



The kittens are adorable, Rachel....

[SA Smurfette]

I like the markings of the lighter looking cat the best

When I read that I thought spoken like a true smurf collector, Rae

I did realise that after I posted it

[Bunno Smurf]

I must say I am not a cat lover but they really are adorable. Can't believe how blue their eyes are! Very cute.