Crumpet

Crumpet was distraught when his sister Ciabatta and brother Pumpernickle were adopted and he was left behind. Though the other kittens who didn't get adopted were all left at Petsmart for the week, I was asked to pick him up. When I arrived, there were hand written notes all over his kennel card and the info post-it we keep on our side of the kennel indicating "DOES NOT DO WELL ALONE". He had temporarily been moved in with another kitten, Sunny, but that kitten was also adopted before I got there and Crumpet was frantically pacing his kennel when I arrived. The adoption team indicated that I needed to watch his eye for discharge, but they were pretty sure he just got litter in his eyes during his frenzied alone time. Sure enough, once he got home and was reunited with people and pets, his mild eye discharge cleared right up.
Crumpet was slated to return to Petsmart the following Saturday, but early the next week I was contacted by the rescue- someone wanted to meet Crumpet and asked if he was available for a mid-week appointment!! YES! We made arrangements to meet on Wednesday the 9th, and I was thrilled that this family also wanted to meet another kitten with the idea to take a kitten pair.

Crumpet, Pumpernickle, and Ciabatta were completely comfortable at Petsmart-they were so used to traveling, meeting people, and being in noisy, new spaces.

Crumpet was miserable alone in Petsmart, but I think he enjoyed being the only Carb kitten with mommy for a few days.

During the next few days, the rescue continued to get calls about the other kittens-so made additional appointments. Through a slight miscommunication between us rescue volunteers, another family snuck in before Crumpet's future family, and adopted one of the kittens they were considering, Jelly Bean. But they were also considering Meadow, and while we waited for the other family to exit the adoption room, I got to chat with the mom. She asked how they'd get along and I couldn't say much about Meadow's personality, but I knew Crumpet would just be happy to be with anyone friendly.
Sure enough, when we got into the kitten room, while Meadow was cautious and scurried around nervously, Crumpet popped up out of his crate bag with an expression that clearly said "Hi!! Do you want to be friends? Let's play!" He was friendly, accepting both cuddles and play, helping Meadow to feel more confident and the two were playing together within minutes.
The only real hitch was... I was wearing shorts.

I explained that the foster kittens learn from watching my house cats and I have several shoulder cats. When I arrive home, I'm greeted at the door and cats will leap up to my chest/shoulder, then hang out with me while I walk around. Tiny foster kittens want to do this too, but they can't jump as high, so they climb. I wear shorts even in the Winter, so my legs are gnarly. I admitted that Crumpet was definitely a people cat, and he was responsible for at least a few of my leg designs. There was no way I could gaurantee he wouldn't try to climb them. But as he grew, he was becoming more adept at jumping to a lap or into the arms and climbing less. We talked about ways to discourage climbing people... all while Crumpet and Meadow frolicked happily around us. In the end, their cuteness outweighed the ugliness of my legs and she took them both home.

I was absolutely thrilled the next morning when she texted me some pictures and some questions about raising kittens. Over the past week, we've exchanged a series of texts and I never have to ask for more adorable pictures. I love her questions-she's doing everything she can to raise healthy, happy kittens. As a foster mommy, this is the best outcome possible! Crumpet (possibly will be renamed Gerald Chicken Nugget, which is an amazing name) and Meadow are obviously cherished.