New Design, Same Kittens!

Welcome to the new blog format! Those readers accustomed to our previous design may find the new format to take a little getting used to at first, but I think you'll soon agree that the move to a new publishing system was a good idea. Don't get me wrong (especially as the one who put the original web site together), the old design was great - the main reason for the move to this format is simply to allow greater ease of use. The time commitment required to maintain a purely hand-coded site was getting in the way of more important matters. The kittens we foster have to take priority of course, and using a content management system will take much of the design and coding work off of my hands. In addition, we will now be able to offer RSS feeds for subscriptions to FosterKittens as well as other features yet to come.

The overall web design is not complete, and all the content has not yet been moved over to the new blog. Please continue to bear with us as the transition is wrapped up in short order. Thanks for all your support!

Get Ready For The Average Joe Cat Show!

One of our favorite events of the year is coming up soon - the Fifth Annual Average Joe Cat Show and Photo Contest. To be held on Saturday, May 10th, 2008 at the Shoreline Center, 18560 1st Avenue NE in Shoreline, WA from 10 a.m.-3. p.m., this is a really fun benefit for Purrfect Pals, a local organization we strongly encourage everyone to support. As they say, "This is a cat show for family cats." Forget all that Victorian nonsense about cat breeding, this is a show that celebrates real cats and their families. There's always a lot to do and see at the cat show, besides winning lots of ribbons for every category entered, including vendor booths, a photo contest, silent auction, cat behavior experts, adoptions, and more. Admission is a bargain at only $5 per person or $12 per family, but we always give extra (it's for a good cause people!). Check out Purrfect Pals for more information. See you there!

Change Is A Good Thing

And it's coming soon. The past few weeks I have been considering several format changes to FosterKittens. Actually surprising in retrospect, but it seems one greatly underestimated the popularity of kittens on the web! In any event, the new format will add some useful features, such as an RSS feed for subscriptions, and hopefully make it easier to maintain and keep up-to-date. Please be patient as these changes are put in place, and you'll be rewarded with even more stories and pictures of the cutest kitties on the internet! Stay tuned...

Don't Be Afraid To Report Cruelty To Animals

I know this is a hard topic to address, but as people who care about animals we have to face the reality that some pets are abused or neglected. It's not pleasant to witness abuse, but just imagine how much harder it would be to be a helpless kitten suffering abuse at the hands of an indifferent caretaker. Recently, we were involved in reporting a case of neglect that we witnessed here in Seattle. I'm glad to report that the authorities responded appropriately and investigated the matter. We can now hope that the pets involved in this sad situation will have better homes with loving families.

It's human nature, I think, not to want to get involved. But it really is important for people who care about animal welfare to take a stand and help rescue animals who are suffering from human cruelty or indifference. Cruelty to animals is a crime in every state of the union and every municipality. Most cities have dedicated animal welfare personnel charged with investigating reports of animal cruelty or neglect. In many cases, these officers have regular police powers and have the ability to thoroughly investigate any report. There's no need to fear reprisals when making a report either, as police will not normally disclose the identity of anyone making a report (court proceedings, should the situation result in criminal charges, may be a different matter, but simply making a report usually does not require authorities to reveal your identity).

The important thing to remember is that in cases of abuse, an animal's life is often at stake. You don't have to make a determination that abuse is actually occurring; that's the job of the investigators and the courts. If you think abuse or neglect might be occurring, then you have a duty to make a report.

Don't waste time! Make a report immediately if you witness animal abuse or neglect.

On The Way To A New Home

We're going to miss him a lot, but it's time for Speeder to head off and find a new, loving family. If you're in the Seattle area, take a few minutes this week to stop by the Humane Society and say "Hi!" to Speeder. Who knows? You might just find a new pal to take home. Speeder loves attention and isn't afraid to let you know this fact. He might have a little dog in him (heaven forbid!), because he has a special, little "bark" when he wants to be given a little extra love. It will seem a little quiet around here without his barks and purrs. We're just glad we were able to spend a little time with him.

Speeder Is One Happy Kitty

We're still cleaning up from the holidays this year, and Speeder is always happy to help, when not napping of course. Unfortunately for us, that's most of the time! We don't mind though. He's one of the happiest foster cats we've ever had stay with us and will make someone a great new friend.

Even thought we've kept to his diet, and he'd definitely always like to have a bit more, he's still as friendly as ever. Speeder always enjoys hanging out with us when he can, even if it's just sleeping quietly in the same room. We like having him around (though our own cats are getting a bit jealous), and we'll miss him when he goes out for adoption.

A Friend For The Holiday

Our home is a little more crowded these days even though kitten season has passed, but the more, the merrier I always say. Speeder has come to stay with us this holiday, and he's built for colder weather - a little overbuilt actually! While staying with us, he'll be on a diet; though officially a stray, it's clear Speeder has been enjoying the good life as he has managed to put on total of 14 pounds. Obviously someone has been indulging him a bit. Though active, Speeder's weight is unhealthy for his size, and we'll have to keep him away from the treats while he stays with us. We'll keep you up-to-date on his progress.