What happened to Sid? HE WAS ADOPTED!

 That's right, remember this skittish kitty? Here he is on day 1, hiding and terrified.

 He was the most fearful kitten I have ever worked with. He was not ready when he arrived, so I gave him a trap to hide in. It seemed to calm him down and he allowed me to pet him if my face and body were on the other side of the trap.

 From the beginning, he was a sucker for a belly rub.

 As time went on, with food and play bribery, he came around and allowed me to pet him out in the open.

 And he LOVED the petting!

 After a month, I let him out of the bathroom. He made himself right at home.

 Like all BCLK fosters, he was trained for Neighborhood Cat Watch, and he did great!

 He was one of the family, and he stuck to Papa Eko like GLUE!

 Soon, it was clear he was ready for his furrever home.

 His new mama, Christina, had been chatting with me on Facebook about him for a few weeks, she was in love and I knew she was the purrfect mama for him! So we made it official. Here he is transitioning into his new home, his new siblings introduced themselves right away!

 He was doing very well, so his mama let him out, and he did great! He let her pet him.

 He made new friends at dinner,

 and, you know, was just chillin' with his home cats.

He fit right in, and his mama told me it's like he'd always been there, and belonged there.

Life is now just one long Caturday morning for this kid. I just can't express my happiness and gratitude.  

Here is a video showing the transition...

Happy life, little guy. 

xoxoxo,

Big City Little Kitty

Buster needs a foster or furrever home by 3/15. Please share!

Hi, I'm Buster! My foster mom is moving and I need a new foster home, or better yet, I'd really prefer a furrever home. Here's what I have to offer:

I'm adorable,

 

I can purrfectly execute Q pose,

I photo bomb like a boss,

 I can do #waytooexcitedguy face,

 I play the keyboard,

I'm pretty mellow,

 and I don't need much. All I need is food, water and a little love. I like catnip too, catnip would be a bonus. 

You can learn more about me by reading my blog post. Big City Little Kitty found me, but I can't live in her house because her cat, Mr. Eko, and I don't get along. I don't really like other cats, if you foster or adopt me, I'd like it to just be me and you:)

My foster mom is leaving NY March 15th, I really need a safe, loving new home. Can you please share this on your social media sites? Big City Little Kitty shares, but she's always talking to the same people, your page might introduce me to someone new, and they might be able to give me a home!
If you want to adopt or foster me, contact Big City Little Kitty at bigcitylittlekitty@yahoo.com or go to my petfinder post.

Thanks!

Buster's Settling in to his Foster Home

I spoke with Buster's foster parents today. They say he is doing very well! 

His foster mama posted this picture:

"Buster is settling in just fine."

 2 words: Awesome + Sauce!

He was very nervous at first. They told me that for the first few days he would hide under the couch when they returned to the apartment after work or being out. Now, when they come home he's there waiting for them! OOOOO! They are so lucky;)

I also hear he sleeps on the little couch at the foot of their bed!

What a lucky guy, I am so grateful to his foster parents for taking him in and showing him love and compassion while he is in search of his furrever home. What a wonderful, generous act. 

Aaaaand! This is their first cat adventure! How exciting to learn the wonderful world of cats! 

His foster mama also posted this pic:

"Keyboard cat taking a summer daze nap."

I love it! 

Enjoy your time with your loving, foster family, Buster. 

I'll see you tomorrow for the adoption event!

xoxoxoxoxo

Hey, you get down! No, YOU get down!

Here they go again. I heard a SCREAM from the kitchen this am, and when I walked in, here's what I saw. 
"Mom, he's in my spot."

It is constant with these two! They both want to be the boss, the tough guy and buddies, but neither will just chill out for a sec. I've seen face to face sniffing, but later a boxing and yelling match. Hug it out fellas!
"Get down!"
"No, YOU get down!"

So I'm watching and Eko's like "I was here first and I'm not moving."

 And Buster's all "Well, I'm here now, and I'm not getting down."

Then, Eko's like "suit yourself, I'm staying right here."

Buster, "Fine, me too."

And I left for work. 

Junior visits Big City Little Kitty!

It's Junior!

Lakshmi and Ganesha's Brother!

His mama (and rescuer) brought him to say hello!

How cute is this little guy?!

If you remember the story of the Sandy Kittens, you will remember that one of the kittens was taken back by mama after the storm. This is him! Once he was eating on his own and showing up to the feeding spot, Rachael nabbed him and started socializing!

Look at this guys markings, amazing!

He's such a cutie! He had absolutely no fear! He stood his ground in front of papa Eko, he hunkered down to show respect, but did not give up his position, I LOVE IT!

He played with the cat dancer, chased the laser and just had a good old time!

When Rachael heard kittens, just days old, crying in her back yard as hurricane Sandy was rolling in, she didn't walk away, she helped. She watched to see if mama would come back, and when the storm picked up and the kittens were not in a safe place she picked them up, grabbed bottles and formula and saved them. Kudos Rachael! When Junior started coming around for food, she took him in planning to adopt him out...and just like that, he stole her heart and she stole his. She Junior's mama now! 

Junior walks on a leash and climbs trees! What a life! 

Rachael is now prepping to TNR the feral colony in her back yard!!!

I love a happy ending:)

THANK YOU RACHAEL!

GOLD STAR!

The Shona Kittens!

Big City Little Kitty welcomes a new set of kittens for the summer of 2012, the Shona kittens! 

I helped a woman in my neighborhood with a TNR project and, well, kittens happen! I wrote a paper this semester on the naming customs of the Shona People of Zimbabwe. Names are very meaningful among the Shona. I am using names from an anthropologist's study on names in the Shona Society of Zimbabwe. The author is Livingstone Makondo and the study is called "An Investigation into the Anthropynyms of the Shona Society".  In the study, Makondo looked at personal names, this is where I have taken names for the new kittens.

Rufaro, “Joy” defined by Makondo as “a name that echoes the joyful mood at birth, an indication that the child was much awaited.” This name fits his personality; he is so full of energy and fun! He loves to play and is constantly pouncing and wrestling. He brings joy to everyone that sees him. He also loves to snuggle up with is mom and his litter mates.

This little girl is Chipochendenga, “A gift from [God] heaven”, described by Makondo as “Acknowledgement that the child must be a gift from God because they have never seen such a cute child.” But you can call her Chipo, “Gift”. Chipo is a cute little muffin. She is currently struggling through some parasite issues, but she’s taking her medicine like a good girl and I hope she is feeling better soon.

This tiny little guy is Tapiwa, “We have been given”.  Makondo says Tapiwa is “a name that is a sign that the child is one of nature’s gifts.” He was so tiny when found I was very worried. He is also struggling with parasites but with medicine I hope he will be well soon. He is having a hard time putting on weight and keeping food down. He is absolutely adorable and incredibly sweet and cuddly. He loves being held and cries to be picked up!

This is their mama, Olivia. She needs a Shona name, in addition to the name given to her by her care taker, so I call her Vimbai. Vimbai means “Trust” and according to Makondo the name “asks for transparency and deep thought before others condemn the namers”. I choose this name for many reasons. 

Vimbai and I are working together to care for her kittens and, even though she is incredibly protective and defensive, she and I both have to trust each other to a certain degree for our safety and the health and safety of the kittens. I also like that this name requests transparency and deep thought before condemning others. I think this is a wonderful thing to remember and important in caring for all beings. Vimbai is a very powerful name for a mama with such strong character. She is fiercely protective of her kittens as well as loving and nurturing to them.

In the spiritual hierarchy of the Shona religion, family spirits, called Vadzimu, are family members that have passed on. According to Kamudzandu, it is believed they stay close to their family as spirits and continue to provide their immediate family with guidance throughout their lives. Maybe Old Man Hemingway can play this role for his colony and these kittens. The Shona see ancestors as closer to God and send all prayers through them. They view death as the beginning of a divine life, not an end to life; therefore they have high respect for death. Traditional Shonas believe caring and love continues after death. They believe the dead live in a spiritual form and are considered to be “the living dead or living timeless”.  The Shona believe the living and the living dead co-exist. Perhaps Hemingway lives on as a spiritual guide, Vadzimu, to his colony and the Shona kittens.

For more pictures and information see them on my Flickr site.

Wish us luck! Check back for more updates later!

Sources for Shona information:
1. Makondo, Livingstone. 2009 An Investigation into the Anthropynyms of the Shona Society. University of South Africa.
2. Kamudzandu, Israel. 2010 Abraham As Spiritual Ancestor: A Postcolonial Zimbabwean Reading of Romans 4. Leiden, Netherlands: Brill.