Biscuits

Shortly after the Gabors were adopted, including my foster win, Empress ZsaZsa Cinnamon Swirl PipSqueak Gizmo Yub Nub of Endor, aka Gizmo, aka Gremlin when she's naughty, we spent nearly a month doing yardwork in every spare moment.  After some severe storms turned our dirt into mud and then into a hard clay, we spent nearly a week weeding, then 2 weekends shoveling around 12 yards of Rock.  We made an outdoor chess board, built a gazebo, built a shed, planted some shrubbery, refreshed the paint on my stepping stones... I wanted kittens, but it would not have been fair to them when I had so little free time.

I'm still working on adding things to the yard, but the bulk of the labor was done in April so I let the rescue know I was available for kittens in early May.  We're still in the height of kitten season so it didn't take long for me to get the call about 2 kittens- already named Tim Tam and Jaffa Cakes, which I found out were British Biscuits/Cookies.  They were actually 2 singletons that needed to be separated for the first few days, so they were side by side in little plastic kennels. 

It took less than an hour for me to notice that Jaffa Cakes was pure drama.  She screamed her head off whenever she was alone and threw litter around her kennel in a frantic effort to get to her neighbor or to me.  In the mornings, she could hear me waking up and tending to my pets and then we'd all hear her, reminding us that she was ABANDONED in the kitten room at the top of her lungs.  Let me assure you, despite being under 1lbs, her lungs were fully functional.  

Baby Tim Tam was much less demanding for attention.  She focused all of her intensity on her next meal, giving gentle finger nibbles to let you know when she thought it was time. It was always time.  She ate with great gusto, but after gaining weight on her first day, she went into a nearly 2 week weight stall.  We worried about worms because she always acted ravenous but her weight only fluctuated between 1.3-1.4lbs while the others gained steadily.  Sure enough, once we started treatment for worms, she began to put on weight, though she continues to eat like there is an impending food shortage.

Two days after getting Tim Tam and Jaffa Cakes, the good samaritan caught Jaffa's 2 siblings. When they first dame, Jaffa's twin, Jammie Dodgers, was the runt of the litter.  But she surpassed Tim Tam quickly.  Hob Nob was terrified by all the females around him, terrified by me, terrified by his shadow, terrified by life.  Jammie and Hob Nobs looked for any and all hiding places they could defend with their fierce growls and intimidating hisses.  Their favorite place was under the ledge of their litter box; at first, I actively tried to discourage this, fearing poop covered kittens. I sacrificed numerous churu-covered fingers to lure them out, but they stayed pretty spicy and feral for what seemed like forever! They'd eat the churu, but dart away if I made eye contact or if I ran out.  I quickly discovered that it was better to let them hide in their litter box, as they were often too scared to move from their hiding place and would poop wherever they were hiding.  

Hob Nob and Jammie dodgers never wanted to approach me, but tolerated me picking them up if I immediately comforted them with food or a secure, safe, snuggly pocket.  Or both.  They liked both. 

When I bought this glass table off Facebook marketplace, my husband's eyeballs rolled out of his head.  To be fair, it did sit in my kitten room for months before I put it to it's proper use.... this is exactly the only reason I needed a glass table and I have no regrets. 

During their 2 week quarantine, Tim Tam and Jaffa Cakes learned to love my attention while Hob Nob and Jammie Dodgers gradually relaxed.  TIm Tam started climbing up on my shoulder or head and it quickly became her place.  Almost any time I sit on the floor (such as my daily litter box cleaning time), she climbs up to supervise.  She'll generally hang out with me, wandering around the house doing chores, for up to an hour. 

But I felt like a superstar the first time that Hob Nob came to ME for a snuggle and purred.  One thing I hear often is "I could never foster because I'd end up adopting them all."  I felt that way too. And it's hard. I ugly cry.  I tremble and wait to see if their adoptive family gets the note I always leave in their gift bags with my contact information or hope they'll join our alumni group and post and update.  Sometimes I never hear from my babies again.  It does break my heart.  But when this terrified bundle of fur that had only known hunger, coldness, and survival is able to put their past aside and trust me, I know that every single moment of heartache is worth it for this baby.   I can survive letting them go to give them the chance to live and thrive, not just survive or die.  

All four babies were looking forward to seeing me by the end of their quarantine period.  They'd greet me eagerly whenever I arrived, whether it was meal time or snuggle time. 

The end of their quarantine period coincided with my Samoyed's brushing, so I brought Miyuki in and set up on the floor of the kitten room.  Jaffa Cakes and Tim Tam went for intimidation while Hob Nobs and Jammie Dodgers instantly retreated. All 4 biscuits were hissing and spitting while Miyuki ignored them completely, heaved a sigh, and settled down for her torture session.  She hates being brushed, but has finally learned it goes faster if she mostly lies still.

Brushing Miyuki is a long-term task.  Sometimes I'll watch 2-3 movies while doing it.  This time I was just listening to a book and didn't really notice how long it was when the creepers started stealthing in. Jaffa Cakes came first, tentatively tiptoeing in the back side before diving into the floof. When Miyuki barely reacted, Tim Tam joined her.  Jammie was lured out with treats, while Hob Nob continued to observe from a distance. 

Tim Tam then discovered the floof pile in the trash can and dove in, head first.  I'd pull her out and she'd turn around and climb right back in! 

Now out of quarantine, the Biscuits took easily to friendly pets and weren't even put off by the grumpy ones!  My Gizmo and her BFF Pesto Fries, both very friendly kittens previously, surprised me by HATING the kittens and swatting, growling, and hissing at them for days.  The biscuits paid them little mind, were respectful of the boundaries they sent, but also kept checking on those boundaries until they fell.  Gizmo is pretty neutral now, but Pesto Fries turned from hate to aggressive love- often pulling the kittens into a fierce hug.  Pesto has medical issues leading to poop problems so he wears a diaper or is crated when he's taking a diaper break. Now he likes to take a kitten in with him so he's not alone- and they seem to love to be with him!

I've also kitten sat for 3 different litters and gave a kitten a Petsmart break for a night while the biscuits were here.  They accepted all of the kittens easily- especially the Fish Tank litter, the most social group of kittens I"ve ever met. 

They're a little slower to warm up to people.  They tend to hide when people drop by to visit.  It takes a while for them to warm up, but it's worth the time and effort!

We had an IBR garage sale and took the kittens to show them off.  They were really freaked out at first, but then settled down.  Tim Tam was the best IBR ambassador, curling up in a harness in a little bed or being held by the customers.  IBR got some extra sales and donations by showing the public what we do.

Given a little time to feel comfortable, they're a super sweet, bunch of kittens.  They might have a harder time at petsmart- as it's noisy there and we don't usually get the time for potential adopters to sit with them long enough for them to feel comfortable, but I"m hoping they'll look at all these pictures and see how sweet they can be when they feel safe!

Update: 7/15/23

Half of the biscuits head to petsmart very soon.  They were supposed to go last weekend but they picked up some nasty bug at surgery and needed some meds and TLC.  Tim Tam and Hob Nobs recovered quickly but Jammie and Jaffa both still have mild symptoms.  But shortly after coming home from surgery, the biscuits were visited by some foster friends that took a summer vacation in London!! The timing was just perfect- they went on a hunt, searching grocery stores for the biscuits and brought home one of each kind- discovering their love for Jaffa Cakes, the edible version, in the process!!  We had a little photo shoot.  The greys did not want to cooperate but Hobs and Tim Tam enjoyed it.  I made a little gift bag with one of each cookie to send home with the kittens.

Though still a little nervous around new people, they have been getting more used to visitors in the past few weeks.  We started hosting Dungeons and Dragons at our house and have had one session so far.  By the end of the time, the biscuits made an appearance.  We also got some bottle babies, which I don't normally do due to my work schedule.   Many of my friends have wanted to stop by to see the bottle babies, and the biscuits are finding it easier to trust each new set of visitors. They're definitely becoming more cuddle bugs with me and my husband- especially the grey twins.  Jaffa taught Jammie how to get lost then wail for help to find her people!!  And unless they're passed out, they tend to just follow me into whatever room I'm in.  This morning when I went to brush my teeth, they were all sleeping in the cat bed.  But when I bent over to spit, I noticed the full set had joined me. 

Though my medical needs case, Pesto, originally hated the biscuits... he learned to love them and the feeling is definitely mutual.  When he goes to his crate, they'll usually follow him and he has taken to grabbing them in a bear hug... cat hug... catbear hug? Whatever, he drags them into his hammock to lay with him.  

A few days ago, Pesto had to travel to UCD and we were gone most of the morning.  He went directly to his crate when we got home in case he needed to use the potty after the long drive.  Immediately, all 4 biscuits and his BFF Gizmo darted into his crate to check on him.  

All 4 are purr machines now, and if someone can look past their initial wariness, they'll make great family members.  Wish them the best of luck!