Juno's Diary

Click on the arrow (left) below Juno's photo, to view our final enry, a slide show.

2008-05-11T17:38:00.005-03:00

Many thanks to all who faithfully read Juno's Diary, especially those who left comments.

If you have a pet, please have it spayed or neutered!

Lynda

Juno's Foster mom

A Happy Ending

2008-05-11T14:42:00.004-03:00

Thank You from Juno

2008-05-11T14:38:00.006-03:00

Juno gave Lynda a thank-you card.
Juno wrote:

Thank you for opening your home to me and my kittens when we had nowhere to go. Thank you for giving us a warm, cozy place to live while you found homes for us. The SPCA and all the kittens were lucky to have you!

PS:
Visit us anytime!

Lynda writes to Juno:

Dear Juno:

I loved your card! What a nice surprise!

All your kittens departed for their "forever Home" on May 9th. The nice SPCA ladies came to the house to vaccinate them, and I gave them their second dose of deworming medicine. So they have a good start!

We were amazed how your kittens each developed distinctly different personalities. Meg, was the ring-leader, Miss Smarty Pants, an alpha female. I called her Hilliary Clinton - a real go-getter, who will never give up when there is something she wants. She was adopted by Lisa and Collin, and will keep them entertained.

If Meg was Hiliary, Flynn was Barack Obama. Sleek and attractive, he is almost as ambitious as Meg. He is a very active kitten. The two of them constantly climbed up my legs. You should see the scratches. Flynn had one purpose: to make it to my lap. He was adopted by Meghan and Laughlan.

Tulley, your runt, turned into "McDreamy", a handsome heart-throb. Poor Tulley is used to waiting for his milk, so is quite content watch the world go by. He joined a four year old female calico, Ella, and should be the perfect companion for her. His adoptive parents are Natalie and Adam.

I nick-named Mollie "Nila", after the pretty doctor on ER who had expressive eyes and shares your exotic beauty. She is a like Persian Princess and is lucky lucky that Meghan adopted her, along with you. Meghan gave her a new name, Mika, which is very pretty and suits her appearance.

I hear that you will be spayed on May 15th. No more kittens for you, Juno. You deserve a rest. I suspect that you have had more kittens in your unknown past. You have been a good mother, an a fine example to humans. I am so impressed with your steadfast devotion to your newborn kittens.

We will never forget you and your kittens. We will keep in touch, and will visit you after Mika grows some more.

So long, Juno.

Going Home Forever

2008-05-07T13:04:00.008-03:00

Dear Diary,

This is my final entry.

I have asked my foster mom to write for me, until all my kittens are safe and sound in their "Forever Homes".

Today I am going home for good, to my "Forever Home", with Meghan and Brian. I know I am really going to miss my kittens, but I am happy to be starting a whole new phase in my life.

I am all finished with that dreadful and embarrassing "heat" condition. Meghan will get me spayed very soon. Thank heavens for vets and caring humans!

I softly whispered goodbye to all the kittens. I hope they understand that they must be on their own now. They will be with me, in my heart, forever.

Molli will be joining me in a few days. It is so kind of Meghan to adopt her, too. I feel secure that my babies are safe with my foster mom, and that all are going to good homes.

My poor foster Mom! She cried and cried when Meghan and Brian arrived-- happy tears and sad tears all mixed together. I hope she will be O.K. She has to day goodbye four more times!

Thank you, Marlene and the Antigonish SPCA, for rescuing me, finding a me a foster home, and for finding homes for all of us. You saved our lives!

Thanks, too, to my foster family. Without you, my story may not have had a happy ending.

Here We Go Again!

2008-05-03T14:41:00.003-03:00

Dear Diary,

I sure am glad that my foster Mom has returned. My foster dad did a great job looking after me and my kittens, but he doesn't always understand females.

You see, I went into "heat" again. He thought that I was crying loudly because I missed my foster Mom. Jane, who is a student vet and also knows about girl stuff sure set him straight.

I guess the right word for my condition is "estrus". All of a sudden I got this powerful urge. It's kind of personal, and since I like my privacy, I won't go into much detail. Let's just say that I have an unbelievably strong need to have a relationship with a male cat. Unfortunately, the only guy cat in the neighbourhood is Max, a hunk of a cream tuxedo, who has been neutered, and honestly does not have a clue - not one! He does not respond to my special "come hither" calls, and when I pose for him, he is not the least bit impressed. Too bad - Max and I would make beautiful kittens together. I will keep looking ......

And speaking of kittens .... mine have really decreased the amount of time they nurse. It's a good thing, because I spend a lot of time upstairs, looking out the window, trying to see if there are any good looking toms around. The little ones are growing by leaps and bounds. Their eyes are changing from blue to shades of green, their legs are getting long, they hear everything, and are skillful at following a ball, so their eyesight has improved. I am going to ask my foster Mom to put some photos on the blog soon.

Good night, dear diary. I am going to check the all windows again, just in case Mr. Right might be outside, waiting for me ..... mee - ee - ooo - oow!

Lynda writes to Juno:

Dear Juno:

I was very surprised to discover that you are having another "heat", or estrus, so soon! Do not be embarrassed. It is a perfectly normal part of a female cat's life. Your strange behaviour will last a week or so, then subside. BUT in two or three weeks it will return. It is natures way of insuring that your species will thrive.

I have contacted the nice SPCA lady. She will confer with a vet about having you "spayed".

Meanwhile, we will be extra cautious that to do not run outside! We are keeping the doors and windows LOCKED!

I will also do my best to photograph your kittens tomorrow, and add then to your Blog.

Speaking of your Blog, there was a great story about it on the CBC this past week, thanks to Brenda Silver, who told Don Connelly all about you. There was also a "Letter to the Editor", in the Chronicle Herald which I wrote. Both these items gave a boost to publicizing the need for foster homes in our area.

Tuckered Out

2008-04-26T21:20:00.002-03:00

Dear Diary:

My busy kittens have me tuckered out!

My foster mom is going away on a little trip for a week, leaving us in the care of my foster dad. He is not exactly a whiz at updating blogs, so there won't we any news for awhile.

Another nice lady, Natalie Branch, and her husband, Adam, came today to check Tully out. Natalie really likes that little guy .... maybe even more than Adam. Natalie and Adam have a gentle adult cat named Ella, who needs a companion. She will love Tulley. They are all getting a new house, too.

Meg has been nick-named Hilary Clinton by my foster mom. She is very ambitious and she will not be deterred from getting whatever she wants. (Meg, not Lynda!) I always knew Meg was smart. Well, she created a minor crisis today when she managed to scale the blockade at the doorway. My foster dad had to make a higher one. I wonder how long it will take her to conquer the new one.

Molli put on a little show, too. She was playing with a new toy ball. She grabbed on to it tight and growled at her siblings when they tried to join in the fun. Then she carried it off to hide it behind the door.

That's it for now. I will be writing to you again in a week or so.

Watching the Kittens Grow

2008-04-23T13:29:00.006-03:00

Dear Diary,

My little ones are growing up right before my eyes!

They were five weeks old on April 21st.

All my darlings are over a pound; even my runt, Tulley, is only a half ounce behind his sisters!

We all had to get worm medicine today. Those nice SPCA people made sure that we will all be healthy. I had my second dose, and the kittens will get their second dose in a couple of weeks.

My Meghan visited again, with her male human friend, Brian. I heard my foster mom talking to my new mom-forever, Meghan about "spaying", whatever that means. Whatever it is, Molli will have to get it, too.

I am happy to report that all my kittens are going to the bathroom on their own. They are eating kitten food and drinking some water, too! What smart kittens I have!

Oh, I almost forgot! Tulley has adoption pending. We are so lucky!

Lynda writes to Juno:

"Spaying" means that you and your daughters will have a little operation at the vet clinic. After that, you will not produce more kittens. You will not go "in heat", either. That's when female cats become very anxious to mate, and their behavior drives their humans crazy.

Your male kittens will have a similar procedure. Some people think they don't need to neuter their male cat. WRONG! It take two to make kittens. Besides, they make much better pets when they are neutered. They will not be inclined to "spray" urine around their homes, and will not want to roam and fight with other cats (over pretty girl cats, like you). Tou see, Juno, like human males, male cats are always "in season" (wanting to mate ).

The SPCA folks will provide all the new adoptive parents with a discount for spaying and neutering.

All pet owners should have their pets spayed or neutered. Then there would not be so many kittens to find homes for, and a reduction in stray animals. Very often, the baby animals are abandoned, and they perish or become wild.

Sometimes the SPCA can help find homes for kittens. But to do this, they need kind volunteers who will provide a temporary "foster" home. When there are no foster homes, as is the case now, kittens have to be euthanized, or "put to sleep". But, dear Juno, they never ever wake up. This is so very sad.

I hope people who read your diary will spread the word --- PLEASE spay or neuter your pet!

Juno's Fine Little Litter

2008-04-18T11:46:00.004-03:00

From the left: Molli, Meg, Flynn, and Tulley (closest)

Real Men like Kittens

2008-04-18T11:30:00.007-03:00

Dear Diary,

A nice young couple came to see my kittens yesterday. Their names are Lisa and Collin. Colin is a distant relative of my foster dad's, on the MacDougall side.

Although they thought all the kittens were cute, they decided to adopt Meg. Lisa always liked female kitties, she said. I wonder if she is one of those "women libbers"???

Anyway, both Lisa and Colin know all about cats, so I am comfortable with them adopting Meg.

I hope the babies begin to eat solids soon. This 24-7 breastfeeding thing id getting a bit tiresome!

Lynda writes to Juno:

Dear Juno,

I am trying to introduce your babies to solids, but you keep eating their food! It is great to see that Flynn has joined Meg at the water dish.

I wish Tulley would learn to pee!

The Prettiest Kittens in the World are 4 Weeks Old

2008-04-15T13:15:00.025-03:00

Dear Diary:

My babies were 4 weeks old yesterday. My foster mom
has a really difficult time getting them to sit still for photos,
and forget the weigh-in!

More milestones: At least three
of the babies have begun to use
their bathroom, with no help from
me or anyone else. I am not sure
about Tulley; he likes to poke.
They are all doing well
with the lessons I am giving them in
self defense. So far, only Meg is
sipping water.
Flynn, Molli, and Meg are beginning to purr.

Photos, from the top:
Flynn, Meg. Molli, and
Tulley (bottom left)
Click to enlarge.

Sunday Visitors

2008-04-13T18:33:00.007-03:00

Dear Diary,

I had another busy Sunday afternoon.

First a young family, the Tobins, came to visit. They wanted to see my kittens, and thought they were cute. They are going to think about adopting a kitten.

Next a lady named Ann Louise came to visit. She was amazed at how much my kittens had grown.

Then came Megan #2 and Marlene. Megan #2 was the nice lady who held me while Marlene, the kind SPCA lady, drove me to my foster home that cold day on Feb. 21st. These ladies saved five lives that day!

Marlene brought me a present: a soft cat bed. That was so nice of her! Both these pretty ladies adored me, and Marlene even gave me a big kiss on my head. Meghan #2 doesn't have have a cat. Do you suppose........?

Yesterday, my adoptive mom, Meghan, came to visit Molli and me again. She told my Mom that she had signed the papers to adopt us. What great news! I hope my other kittens will be that lucky!

We love the new cat bed. We also loved all the attention we had today!

Lynda writes to Juno:

Dear Juno,

Everyone likes your pretty kittens!

I noticed Meg taking a few sips of water today. She's a smart girl.

Ann Louise told me a very sad story. There is a homeless white cat visiting her backyard. The cat is very thin and losing it's hair. It looks really miserable. Ann Louise is a kind person. She will try to catch the cat and see if it's ill. If it can be helped, she will try to help it. If not, it will have to be euthanized. There's that word again, Juno.

This spring and summer, many homeless cats and kittens in the Antigonish area will take a trip to the vets' and will not return. We urgently need foster homes, and responsible cat owners.

Naughty Kittens

2008-04-10T10:07:00.008-03:00

Dear Diary,

My kittens are becoming very brazen. They are trying to climb out of their nice safe nursery. I had to discipline them quite firmly with my paw and a gentle bite. It's for their own good.
I saw my foster mom bustling around the room today - again. She was blocking off places that kittens might crawl under.

Lynda writes to Juno:

Juno, I am so impressed that you recognize that your kittens are very safe inside their box, and have chastised them. However, it might be time for them to expand their world. I am kitten-proofing your room, and soon they will be permitted to venture out of the nursery box..

Three Weeks and Growing

2008-04-07T15:46:00.009-03:00

From top: Mary & Betty, Tulley, Molli, Meg, Flynn, Juno

Dear Diary,

This has been quite a day!

My kittens are 3 weeks old, and two have reached a pound in weight.
Flynn is now 17 oz., and Meg is 16 oz. Molli is 15 oz., and Tulley is 141/2 oz.

More milestones: All are walking, although Tully’s efforts are somewhat dubious. They are all retracting their claws, jumping around and wrestling with each other. Molli has begun to purr.

The SPCA boss ladies, Mary and Betty, dropped by to see us in the afternoon. They showed my foster mom how to get my kittens to wee-wee without my help, and Mary made me swallow a pill for WORMS. I thought only computers got worms, but I was wrong! Swallowing the pill was not too bad. Mary said I was a good cat.

Mary and Betty thought my kittens were really cute — “the cat’s meow”, so to speak.

I got into some mischief today, too. I found a whole bag of toy mice and had them all out on the floor when I was caught by my foster mom. She didn't scold me -- she just laughed. Whew!

Lynda writes to Juno:

Dear Juno,

Your kittens are thriving. I am so proud of you!

I am glad I discovered the worm on your fur, and that we were able to treat you promptly. I took the creature into the girls at the vet clinic and they confirmed that it was a tapeworm. You must not be embarrassed. You had to survive on rodents while living outdoors, and that’s how you contracted the worms. All cats who eat mice will get worms and need to be treated. That’s one reason cats should be kept indoors.

The kittens will be treated also in a week or two, but they will get a medicine.

By the way, your treatment was funded by the SPCA.

Lynda,
Your foster mom

She Likes Me!

2008-04-06T14:54:00.008-03:00

Dear Diary,

My visitor was a pretty young woman named Meghan. She really likes me and told my foster mom she will be happy to share her life with me.

Megan is a student nurse and knows all about cats. My foster Mom used to be a nurse, too. I think nurses must be kind and special people.

But here's the best part. Megan will adopt Molli, too!

Just how great is that?

I hope I'm not dreaming!

Lynda writes to Juno:

Yes, Juno. Meghan is very special because she is willing to adopt an adult cat.

Lucky Me!

2008-04-06T11:05:00.008-03:00

Dear Diary,

Yesterday, while my kittens were napping, I took a little stroll around the house. I don't get out much these days.

Seeing all the snow made me shiver, because I remember how cold I was before a concerned person contacted the nice lady from th SPCA.

My kittens would have perished! I am so thankful for my foster family for taking me in. I am such a lucky cat!

I overheard my foster mom talking on the phone again. I am going to have a visitor this afternoon.

That adoption word appeared again. I wonder what that is all about .. ???

Lynda writes to Juno:

Yes, Juno, you were very fortunate that things worked out so well. Other mother cats will not be so lucky. Without foster homes to provide temporary care, they and their kittens are doomed. The need for foster homes in our area is critical.

Adoption, Juno, means new and permanent homes for you and all your kittens. This will not happen until the kittens have matured. They will be weaned, eating, and litter trained. Because they are all so cute, they should be easy to place.

More good news -- your visitor is interested in adopting YOU!

Kittens Learning to Play: March 31st

2008-04-02T16:05:00.009-03:00

Dear Diary,

You will be pleased to know that my babies have started to interact with each other. I heard my foster Mom say that word.

As far as I'm concerned, they are starting to play!

Lynda writes to Juno:

The new nursery has given your kittens a lot more room to be active. Soon we will have to think about installing a bathroom so that you can begin to litter-train your kittens. That will be next week's project!

Photos: 2 weeks old!

2008-03-31T18:34:00.007-03:00

Dear Diary,

My foster mom is totally besotted with my kittens. She has weighed them again, and is delighted with their steady gain. You'd think SHE was the one who was feeding them!

They are 2 weeks old today!

Tulley, my "runt" is doing very well. Of course, I am extremely proud of them all!

Top: (L) Flynn, 13.25 oz., Meg, 12.25 oz.
Bottom: (L) Tulley ,11.25 oz., and Molli, 12 oz.

A New Nursery

2008-03-31T15:23:00.005-03:00

Dear Diary,
My foster Mom and Dad made a brand new nursery for my babies yesterday.

My foster Mom noticed that my kittens, especially Meg, were becoming more active and really growing. She felt that it was time for more spacious living quarters. We have a soft bed, and great little exercise area.

I think it's really upscale and quite posh.

Lynda writes to Juno:

Dear Juno,

Your kittens will soon begin to stand up on their four little paws and try to walk.
Meg is doing really well - we notice that she is upright much of the time.

Your kittens are also beginning to hear, because they react to my voice. Each day, their vision is improving, and they try to focus on our faces as we admire them.

We are glad that you like the new nursery. Your kittens will remain safe there for several weeks.

Busy Mom- Cat - Video: March 28th

2008-03-30T12:36:00.006-03:00

Dear Diary,

What's with my kittens? They all want to feed at the same time!
One takes a notion to be hungry, then they all get hungry.
Sometimes I wish they would take turns!

Lynda writes to Juno:

I can hear you purring! You are such a happy mom.

Milestone: Irish (cats') Eyes are Smiling

2008-03-27T09:26:00.010-03:00

Top: Meg
Bottom, from L: Flynn, ?, Tully, ?

Dear Diary,

I am so excited!!!! All my babies have opened their eyes! OK - so it will be a while before they can really see, but look so much cuter! Of course, my foster mom is even more excited than I am!

First were my boys Flynn, and Tulley, on March 25th, at 8 days of age. Meg's eyes opened on March 26th , and today it was Molli's turn, at 10 days.

My kittens not only are cuter, they are becoming more lively. Molli has the loudest cry.

Soon they will be able to hear.

Lynda writes to Juno:

Your days will get a whole lot busier when all your kittens can see!
The average age for this kitten milestone is 7 to 14 days. Their true eye colours will take a few months to fully develop.

What a nice surprise! The SPCA folks will be delighted, too.

Love,
Lynda, your foster Mom

The Kittens are 1 week old

2008-03-24T15:50:00.023-03:00

Dear Diary,

My babies are a week old already! Where does the time go? Soon they will no longer be “newborns”! Why, in another week or so, they will be opening their little eyes. I can hardly wait!

O.K. I know that I am biased, and I know that they might appear homely to some, but I think they are the sweetest kittens ever.

My kittens were weighed today. Tulley is the smallest; he weighs 7.75 ounces. Next is Molli at 8 oz., then Meg 8.25 oz. Flynn is the big boy, weighing in at 8.75 oz. They are really doing well, and have doubled their birth weight easily.

There is something bothering me, though. I overheard my foster mom talking on the phone to someone from the SPCA. They were discussing “adoption”. There’s another new word to add to the list. My name was mentioned, and I also heard something about my kittens being “ready to go” at around 8 weeks. "Go"?...... Where?

I don’t know what all of this means. I hope we are not being sent out into the snow banks again! I’ll try not to worry and just concentrate on being a good mother.

I love my kittens so much!

Lynda writes to Juno:

Dear Juno,

Adoption means that your kittens will have a new home. They will have matured enough to be "on their own", at about 8 - 10 weeks of age. You, too, will be "adopted" by someone who will care for you.

The SPCA folks will make sure that only responsible humans will be permitted to adopt you and your kittens.

There are a number of reasons I am unable to adopt you. My "grand cats" come to visit, and you may not accept them. When your foster dad retires, he and I hope to travel a bit. The time is not right!

Your present home is a "foster" home - a temporary, but loving, and safe environment.

There is no shelter in Antigonish for unwanted cats and dogs, so the SPCA must depend on kind volunteers to provide foster care. Many foster homes are needed, especially in the spring and summer months, when the numbers of abandoned and unwanted animals increase. Without foster homes, these animals, mostly cats and kittens, will have to be euthanized. Another new word!

That word, Juno, is NOT a word which we will discuss at this time.

Love,
Your foster mom, Lynda

PS I love your kittens, too!

HAPPY EASTER!

2008-03-23T15:58:00.006-03:00

Dear Diary,

I have been receiving visitors, so I am feeling very special. Everyone thinks my kittens are sweet.

My babies have been growing, and have been named by my foster family. The two boys are Flynn and Tulley. The two girls are Meg and Molly. The smallest kittens have names ending with "y's".

I now weigh 7 pounds.

I am very busy, keeping my kittens clean and fed. People predict that I will "have my paws full" in a few weeks time.

I think I will catch forty winks while I have the chance.

March 17th - Happy St. Patrick's Day! My kittens have arrived!

2008-03-23T15:17:00.009-03:00

Dear Diary,

I have such exciting news! I am a new mother!
I have four baby kittens!

Last night I awoke with some sharp pains. I didn’t know what to do, and wished that my foster Mom would be with me. I was scared! After a couple of hours I needed to push, and out of my bottom came a funny looking sack, with a stringy thing attached, and I could see a little creature inside. I quickly broke the sack gently with my teeth, and there was a kitten! There was also a lot of watery stuff, which I immediately cleaned up. I cleaned the kitten with my tongue. Then the pains started again. This time I was not quite as scared. A second kitten-in-a-sack came out. I went right to work. Bye - bye sack!

This procedure went on for most of the night: pain, push, clean, and I was really tired by early morning. I had a total of 4 kittens!!! Can you believe that? Little me — a mother of four!

My babies are very dark, with cute little markings on their dear little faces. Two have a bit of brown on their backs. They remind me of a certain male tabby from the old neighbourhood. We had a brief fling about two months ago, and I haven’t seen him since. The scoundrel!

My foster dad found me and my kittens at 6:20 this morning. Was he excited! I purred the loudest purr I could muster, I was so proud of myself. Within minutes, my foster mom appeared and she totally freaked out. “Oh, Juno", she kept saying. “Your babies are beautiful.” I know they are!

I have to go now. My babies are crawling all over the fur on my belly. They are looking for milk!

March 16th, 2008 Feeling Happy

2008-03-23T15:11:00.006-03:00

Dear Diary,

This is hard to put into words, but I feel really different this evening .

I am very happy, and feel like loving my people all the time. I am not grouchy any more! Y- e- a! But I can’t lie still for any more than 10 or 15 minutes.

I tried out the cardboard box this evening. It feels very cozy and safe.

I might sleep here tonight.

March 15th , 2008 Big weight gain!

2008-03-23T15:08:00.006-03:00

Dear Diary,

I don’t know what is happing to my tummy. It is huge!

I am starting to feel very heavy and uncomfortable. I am sorry to say that I also feel grumpy and don’t want to be picked up a lot.

Also, I have weird feelings inside my tummy - like it’s something inside moving around. The people at my house keep looking at my belly, and talk about “lots of movement”.

My foster mom weighed me again and seemed excited that I gained 3 pounds in the past 10 days.

This is odd - I am not eating much more food! Now I am really worried that I will be a fat cat.

Good night. Time for bed!