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Mango & Tango's new dad should write his own blog. I absolutely cannot give updates better than him- so I'll just copy them here for you!
3/21/21
Just wanted to give you a little update on the boys.
On the way home, they both ate their way out of their cardboard carriers and decided they had to tell me how to drive. I was fine and no danger of getting in a wreck. We got home and I moved them into the house while I unloaded the car. When I was finished, I looked around and they were nowhere to be found or at least with a cursory search. I suspect they were under the spare bed and figured they would hide out for a while and explore when they felt like it.
I made myself some dinner and watched a movie, all the while not seeing them come out for a peek. Around 1:30am, Mango jumped on the bed and woke me up. He required some head rubs for a bit and then hurried on his way. This continued every couple of hours in a rotation between the two of them. When I finally got up in the morning, they weren't out and about so I called them but still no response so I went downstairs and got my cup of coffee and noticed they had eaten their food and also left behind a few hairs on the counters. They had explored all night. Good for them.
As I was drinking my coffee and reading email, I sensed a movement at my feet and Mango was staring up at me. He jumped up and immediately demanded a head rub and of course I couldn't refuse. Then just a couple of minutes later, Tango came around and did the same thing. They were warming up. Right before I left to do my shopping, Tango was sitting on the shelf part of my desk and Mango was taking in the sun on the window ledge near my desk. I have a couple of pics and can send when I get them from my phone.
I think they are feeling happy and safe and will settle in pretty well. In fact, they were both purring while getting head scratches this afternoon. Seems like a good sign.
Knowing Mango & Tango the way I did, I could actually hear their opinions on driving skills... but I think their dad's writing skills make it easy for anyone who knows cats to understand how that lecture went.
I was completely charmed by his willingness to give them love and space.... absolutely not my forte. I tend to force interactions with my kittens, and it's been very successful for me in fostering... but time and space is probably better for those with trauma in their background.
3/25/21
Just wanted to send a quick update.
Boys seems to be doing great. Both will occasionally sit with me while watching the TV in the evenings, although Tango may have taken a YouTube video of Ke’yush the Stunt Dog a bit too seriously. Otherwise, they definitely don’t mind the sound.
Mango has been my sleeping buddy most nights while Tango likes his solitude. But Tango does check in and require some attention from time to time.
There have been a couple of camera moments but then I don’t have my phone and when I get up to grab it, the boys follow and the moment is gone. I’ll keep trying.
The way they have their cat-equivalent of zoomies tells me they are feeling comfortable and there isn’t much hiding under the spare bed anymore.
Progress!
I've often wished for someone to put a phone camera in a pair of glasses frames that I can wear full time and activate with the touch of a button. Bluetooth, of course, so the pictures upload into google photos without the need to download anything. Million dollar idea, free to anyone out there with the tech or fundraising skills to put it in production. Imagine how many cat pictures I could take if I didn't have to fumble with my phone every time I saw something cute.
Actually... that could be a nightmare. Even with fumbling, my collection of cat pictures is... astounding.
4/8/21
You'd probably love another update.
The boys are doing great. With the nice weather, they sit in the window sills staring out at whatever and smelling the scents. I keep the windows open this time of year while I'm home to get fresh air and hear the birds. And Tango has been like the little kid on Christmas morning where the box is more fun than the toy. Cheap entertainment, I guess.
On a sterner note, I had to reach out to their union rep at the UCW (United Cat Workers) and try to negotiate them working days or swing instead of graveyard shifts. So far, they haven't gone on strike and it's been a bit more peaceful at night. But they will not get overtime pay for double shifts during the day.
I kept them on the Blue Wilderness diet and occasionally give them those squeeze tube treats. Where do I find those because they love them? Chicken and scallop go-gurt looking stuff.
So, they seem to be happy and adjusted!
The squeeze tube treats (I sent a care package home with favorite treats) are Inabu Churu. They come in a variety of flavors and I have not had a cat or foster yet that has not loved them.
On the other hand, I never even though of complaining to the UCW. I suppose I resigned myself to submitting to cat whims as a youth and never questioned the fact that I pay the bills, not them... things SHOULD go my way here, RIGHT?
4/14/21
Mango knows my spot on the sofa and must usurp the throne while Tango loves sitting on the armrests overlooking the drama. They have settled in and chosen their territories. I believe the boys have accepted me and all my faults.
The only fault I can find with their dad is the infrequency he adds pictures to his updates. Whenever I get his updates, I read them to my mom, my husband, and several of my friends with glee. A lot of people ask me for updates-and I've just been really bogged down and have found it difficult to catch up with my blog-particularly with the transition to the website.
4/28/21
Just gave the boys some of this. It was like brain-eating zombies chasing me around the kitchen until I set their bowls down... They are not dainty eaters.
Though short, this was one of my favorite updates... especially with the food scattered all around the dish. If you haven't seen it already, check out my original blog for videos of Mango's very strange, mechanical mouth eating habit.
5/22/21
Haven't sent an update for a while so thought I'd give you one since you were invested so much in the boys' happiness. These guys are a riot. They fight like alley cats without the malice and then snooze the afternoon away together. Both have gotten very comfortable climbing on my chest at night while I'm sleeping and doing their version of Crouching Tabby, Hidden Purrer. I don't mind and have gotten used to the disturbance. It's really a comfort to know they feel safe and loved. I wouldn't mind if they had a mani-pedi once in a while. Sharp! Anyway, be assured they are doing great and now own my house. Hah!
It seems as if their dad is recognizing that negotiations with the UCW may not be swinging in his favor.
Here's one I managed to capture. Once they realized the extension cord was not a snake and finally stopped hissing, it was nap time.
To be clear... I never though I had a chance at a career in photo-journalism
I'll still ask him for pictures every now and then.... I love seeing how happy they are!
6/6/21
Mango and Tango update. Everything is kinda normal. I take it as a good sign that they finally negotiated the closing dogs on my house and have full ownership. Sheesh.
Yes, the UCW has won. As with many of us before him, Mango & Tango's dad seems to realize that you do not own a cat. Cats own you and all of your things are theirs.
8/2/21
Well, it turns out M&T are kinda like squatters but lucky for them I'm not a slum lord. They're getting their government Brie and can freely brawl without the cops being called. I'd say they're livin' in a Catster's Paradise. (queue music from the 90's)
I know I sang that line out loud... did you??
10/16/21
Hi. We're all fine here. The boys have been playing Street Fighter and getting really high scores. I came home yesterday and Tango was favoring his left eye. I was a little worried at first but didn't see any damage so waited to check this morning. When I got up, he was just fine. I'm thinking Mango may have clipped him a bit during a takedown. Sheesh. But they are doing good. Did you make it through kitty season ok?
1/18/22
They are doing great. Many mornings I wake up with them in the cover crease between my legs and they have learned to respect my need to sleep until work time. They also both started nestling with me on the sofa during evening TV time. It's not always both at the same time but I will try to get a pic of them together in my lap. Here's one of them hanging out by the fireplace. Hope you are doing fine and made it through this crazy time.
2/9/22
I kinda think this qualifies as abuse of power. That used to be my spot on the sofa.
4/24/22
They moved on to other territory. The window in the laundry room is a great view of the street and they get morning sun. I'm sure in short time they will claim somewhere else. Now that the weather is nice, I open the windows and they love to perch on the sill to hear the sounds and get new scents. Mango is quite the cat about town. His favorite food is mangolian chicken, he is learning to play the mangolin to be a hep cat in a bluegrass band, and his favorite TV show is Disney's The Manglorian. Tango...he just wants to dance. BTW...it takes three to Tango and Mango.
7/12/22
In addition to being a foster, I volunteer at Petsmart. I'm trained in set up, kennel clean & socializing, paperwork, and adoption interviews. Though most of the adoption team sign up for shifts in advance, I work more as a back-up, taking emergency shifts or filling shifts that aren't filled, so my time there is very unpredictable. But the timing worked out recently when Dad Mango and Tango paused at the adoption cart to ask me if I was the foster mom!! He was sent to the store to buy them their favorite poop crystals (they highly recommend Fresh Step Crystals!) and recognized me. My adoption partner that day also remembered Mango and Tango (most of my rescue knows who they are!) and we all had a lovely chat. Mango and Tango truly found the dad they needed to be confident and comfortable in their home. Dad's confidence and comfort were just slightly decreased by the sharpness of the Mango and Tango claws, which occasionally contacted his fleshy bits during playtime. I shared some tips for nail care- wait until they're sleeping and play with their paws. When they're comfortable with that, push the paws so the claws extend to snip away!
This past weekend I volunteered on Sunday to help the kittens leftover from Saturday find homes. My adoption team partner had worked the entire weekend and told me their dad stopped by and asked about me specifically to let me know how pleased he was to successfully clip their claws!! Tango did take 2 attempts to complete the task but Mango was a breeze. I was sorry to have missed hearing about it first hand, but so happy he dropped by to let me know... particularly as my phone is currently not receiving calls or texts at my normal number!
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