Webster smells the flowers.
I was worried that Webster’s sadmad after his kittens leaving, would cause him to regress— but he is doing GREAT! He is super interactive with me AND Paul— who had previously been lumped in with the humans-who-are-unnecessary.
He’s still skittish when his acceptable-things-radar gets ruffled, but his comfort level in the house has improved 1,000%.
He used to refuse to leave the third floor.
Now he prefers to be downstairs.
Possibly shortsighted on my part.
Who will keep me company when Jane Eyre moves in?
With our schedule, I cannot get Webs new kittens until after the second week in August… then quarantine, so it will be a minute until he gets new friends.
I am just as sad about that as he is.
Me and Webster know:
life is better with kittens.
New topic.
I believed:
Two male cats
Who are strangers.
Equals problem.
Enter stage left.
My porch cat Mr. Gray Cat.
He showed up last year and he has never been gone even one day– he is UNBELIEVABLY the sweetest man!
He and I are very good friends.
He loves to come inside the house.
And he is welcome!
But also, it depends who is inside.
Right now. Is Webster.
This has not been a problem because Webster has been so hidey.
But Webster 2.0 is out and about!
Wednesday morning, Mr. Stray Grey scooted into the house before I could footblock him… I knew Webster was in the kitchen and I ran in there SO FAST.
Mister is so friendly with me!
But he DEFENDS HIS TERRITORY.
Hardcore.
I have seen him.
He is not sweet in battle.
There have been mornings I have gone out and been horrified to see him all scratched up and bloody– so I had REAL reason to fear the worst with Webster!
I made it to the kitchen JUST in time to see Mr. mash on his brakes– when he realized he had LITERALLY nearly plowed directly into a full-grown adult male cat he had never met.
I fully expected WWIII.
Instead.
People.
I.could.not.even.believe.it.
WEBSTER WAS THRILLED.
He was like– oh! HELLO!! Will you be my friend!? FYI: IF YOU ARE GOOD THEY BRING KITTENS! Can I offer you a bath? DO YOU KNOW MY SPROUT!? Where are you going? CAN I COME WITH YOU?
NOT lions, colliding-on-the-Savannah.
More like: one normal lion… who was disarmed by a lion who is an embarrassment to lions everywhere.
Mr. Gray Cat’s home is our front porch; he is ALWAYS out there– and he and Webster have accepted each other entirely, without issue, basically at first sight.
So Webs has been coming outside on the front porch during coffee time… which he loves.
I do too; it was Elvis’s favorite thing— summer mornings on the front porch.
To see him happily lumbering around LITERALLY SMELLING THE FLOWERS.
After several days of this routine, Webster was feeling very comfortable and also maybe a little jazzy.
So he thought he would give Mr. the signal for playtime— Frankenstein arm.
Mr. hissed.
I said– oh, Webby… sorry buddy, but you do NOT want to play with him.
He will end you.
Anyway.
All of this is to say that I have had two adoptions for Webster fall through.
Not recently.
Before I started writing about him here.
I loved BOTH of the women who planned to take him.
And I totally understood both of their situations that arose.
I was sad in the aftermath of each failure.
But now!
I am THANKFUL that those fell through!
Sending him to either of those homes would have given him a wonderful human companion.
But would have deprived him of the joy he takes in his friends.
And now we have our paws crossed that he is going to get to meet a new lady.
Who has friends for him.
BUT we were uncertain how Webster felt about adult cats.
So it’s good news that it would appear he likes them a surprising amount.
I could have just sent this to her.
But I figured you might like to read it too.
xoxo,
VEB
CPRMR
Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
Cat Public Relations and Media Representation
P.S.
SproutySproutySproutPants and BabyElvisWithTheFlopsyitis, got adopted… I am still having the horribles… but I know THEY are having the BEST TIME and that makes me happy.
Photos from their new mama:
Tiny Baby Sprout for posterity and also because Hansome Orange’s face.
HERE IS THE SPROUT CREW WHEN I GOT THEM
HERE IS WEBSTER AND HIS KITTENS
Suzanne Forbes
July 31, 2018 @ 10:06 am
I actually woke up this morning worrying about how Webby was doing without the kits so this is hugely reassuring!!
Laura Laskey
July 31, 2018 @ 10:39 am
Haha, I was worried about Webster loosing his kittens so I am glad you updated us!
Diane Anderson-Edwards
July 31, 2018 @ 10:40 am
How do you advertise to get them adopted? I also foster, working with our local shelter, but I try to get them adopted myself so they don’t have to go back to the shelter and/or put in the local Petco cattery. Our shelter has an arrangement with Petco to place their mama cats and other adults, and sometimes the kittens, at their stores. I currently have two kittens left from a litter of four and their mama. I want them to go together, as they have really bonded with each other. Any suggestions and strategies will be gratefully accepted!!
Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
July 31, 2018 @ 11:29 am
Tough, I know… Our shelter has the same system with the pet supply places… do you use Petfinder? I would say that is helpful, esp. if you have unusual coloring or fur, or polydactyl, or something… also, using GOOD CLEAR FUN PHOTOS and video for social media.
My personal opinion is that the shelter/adoption centers NEED to be the ones to insist that kittens get adopted in pairs. (there will still be PLENTY of single kittens… but siblings should absolutely go together when possible.) AND it DOES work. People LOVE kittens… and if their choice is two kittens? Or two kittens? Well. Now they have two kittens…. Anyway… this is not helpful to you specifically.
If there is any place you can take them where they will be SEEN…. for me, our town is small, but has a center, and a place where they do community stuff and I’ve taken a crate over to the farmer’s market, outside the library, townwide yardsale, local coffee place, I will even take them in grocery/errands if stopping on way home from vet check… I’m sorry this is not even really an answer… except to say. I hear you. I know it’s… some kind of hard thing. Thank you for doing it. xoxo to your munchkins, from Webster
Marianne in Mo.
July 31, 2018 @ 1:31 pm
We found our babycakes puppy through petfinder! We had been looking off and on for months, and one day, there she was! She had the most gorgeous eyes, and her coat was a sable color. We immediately set up a meet and submitted our info, and soon she was ours! While Petfinder can be overwhelming with so many animals, I think it’s a great resource, and you can be satisfied that these animals have been vetted, neutered/spayed, and given health checks.
I am so happy for Webster and your porch kitty becoming friends. Do you think it really means that Webster will accept ALL stranger cats? I’ve often wondered about this. My cat (may she rest in peace with her friends) wouldn’t take to any strangers, human or animal, unless they appeared to be taking up permanent residence with us. It took her 6 months to accept my BIL who moved into our basement to live for two years. And she never went near my daughters’ cats when they came for two weeks every year.
Kipper
July 31, 2018 @ 10:51 am
Is it possible to keep Webster as your in-house assistant kitten raiser?
I know you want to foster cats but he seems to be of great help and loves where he is. I might be a bit influenced because my late rescue cat, Sylvester, looked a lot like Webby.
Kate S.
July 31, 2018 @ 10:52 am
I’m going to greatly miss Webster updates if he is adopted. If I weren’t half a country away, I would have adopted him myself. I can’t believe you’re not keeping him: (
Vickie H.
July 31, 2018 @ 11:44 am
I adore Webster….and I will sorely miss him…..I have no doubt I would have been a miserable foster failure had he come to live at my home. That being said: I totally get why you have to let him go…and I so hope this lady is the RIGHT ONE for him. You are the best…no question!
Sarah
July 31, 2018 @ 11:50 am
What sweet progress for Webster and Mr Gray! Companions at least is a good start. We also struggled with that as Miss Kitty arrived here looking for a home ( 4 years ago) to stay about a month before little Violet appeared yowling at the top of her little lungs in the yard and we kept her. Miss Kitty wants nothing to do with Violet and Violet just wants to play. Alas. At least they both have a very spoiled and wonderful existence now.
So glad your adorable foster kittens were adopted together.
Lisa G
July 31, 2018 @ 11:55 am
Webster is the man! You have given him the space, independence and love to be himself. VEB, you are so strong not to keep them, you the are bravest person. Thank you for this continuing story.
Lisa
July 31, 2018 @ 9:13 pm
Oh, I so agree with you!
JeanFB
July 31, 2018 @ 12:29 pm
Heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time. But a beautiful story, for sure!
Barbara H.
July 31, 2018 @ 12:35 pm
Thank you for the update! I’m so glad Webster has come into his own and also that you have Mr. Gray Cat for the intervals when you are alone. So much love. I hope Webster’s new home shows up soon. Love to you all.
Angela
July 31, 2018 @ 1:01 pm
I love Webster and his stories. If this adoption doesn’t work out, PLEASE keep him! He can help you with future fosters. Love how he has settled in now.
Laura Burns
July 31, 2018 @ 1:02 pm
So cute that Webster has found his Inner Kitten. I think that the encounter with Mr Gray worked out because he realized that Inside was Webster’s territory, and it is protocol to be polite in another cat’s territory (at least until you find out how much of a pushover he is). Assuming Mr Gray is neutered? That also helps!
Jayne Zabala
July 31, 2018 @ 1:32 pm
I wish you were keeping Webster — he’s such a good little babysitter and he’s surely had a hard enough life up until you took him in!
Memmey
July 31, 2018 @ 2:46 pm
PLEASE KEEP WEBSTER PLEASEEEEEE
He trusts you and is a great ambassador for the newbies.
Pamela
July 31, 2018 @ 3:30 pm
What a lovely unexpected outcome for Webster. So happy you shared this story.
Debrashoppeno5
July 31, 2018 @ 7:02 pm
You are so good for Webster. I do hope you keep him on as your assistant.
Jessica Hogue
July 31, 2018 @ 7:05 pm
Thanks for the kitty updates. They always warm the cold cockles of my bitter, black heart.
…
…
…
Speaking of black, I have a boy kitty named Mo-Li who is quite the looker with his long, ebony coat. Like Webster, he also loves other cats – especially kittens. He forces his licks and butt sniffs on them. Unfortunately, when his outdoor friend, Cat-Belonging-to -the-Entire-Neighborhood-Frederick, died last month, Mo-Li was inconsolable. Even though we weren’t ready for another cat after losing Frederick, we caved to Mo-Li’s mournful cries and got him a kitten last week. He couldn’t be happier now.
Teddee Grace
July 31, 2018 @ 8:46 pm
How can you part with Webster?! I love him from a distance. What a marvelous beastie.
Cheryl
July 31, 2018 @ 9:05 pm
The votes are in that you must keep Webster. He’s a ray of sunshine and everyone wants Webster pictures and stories to continue. I can’t wait to see him with the new kittens.
Diane Anderson-Edwards
August 3, 2018 @ 10:10 am
Webster needs to stay to be your goodwill ambassador with the kittens. I have adult cats that assist with all of our foster kittens. They groom, play and sleep with them, and are also upset when they leave.
Diana Tillotson
August 1, 2018 @ 5:48 pm
Please keep Webster, he’ll help with new kittens me he loves you so.