Just as a quick catch up: my kitty died in the end of June after a dramatically quick kidney failure. About six weeks later, my roommate’s cat went into kidney failure as well (though we did have a month of fluids for the little man) and we lost him in the end of September.

Both cats were of an age and the timing was clearly coincidental.

Well, on Saturday my roommate brought home two little fosters - Rey and Finn. They’re about four months old and were found a few weeks ago on a dock on City Island. They’ve had very little contact with humans and are very skittish. Today I went into their room and after a while Finn came out from under the bed and I slid him a treat across the hardwood. He gamboled around for about ten minutes and was starting to walk closer to me when a noise outside startled him and ruined our fun. Boo.

It’s nice to have them here even as stealth kittens.

Hang out in their room pretending you aren’t anxious to grab them and play. That will help them get used to you and the new place and feel safe. When I was socializing a fearful new cat I’d sit there reading and usually curiosity made the cat want to come out of hiding for a look at me. I was careful to move slowly and speak softly and I managed to make friends even with a scruffy crabby senior girl I named Grace. That one took a long time but I’m glad I took her in.

I recommend starting a game of Kibble Chase and let them run around snagging treats. Fun is a good way to bond.

I was late watching Tim Minchin's opening number for the 2020 BAFTAs, but picked it up last night. One of the lyrics was "Who designed your tracksuit?"

Have you heard anything from his new album, Apart Together? "I'll Take Lonely Tonight" absolutely floored me, I haven't been so wrecked by a song since Hamilton.

Oh, hey, hi. Lot of sad news here - DX, fuck, don’t know what to say - but so many old friends too; I’ve not dropped in since Ita but Fi mentioned I should.

I’m sorry about the previous kitties, Trudy, but I’m glad the new kittens have found themselves in a good home. I’m sure they’ll realize it soon.

Hi, Jim! I probably post-date your time (I started posting on 9/11).

Trudy, feline kidney failure is terrible. I've experienced it quickly and slowly, and there's no better way to go through it. And the kittens will likely come around in time. Not as long as my Bally, I hope -- it took her 8 years.

Hey Jim!

My kitties took some time. They hid behind the air handler for a while. Now they are all over me.

I need to figure a way to focus on work stuff. It just isn't happening and my guilt level is increasing.

Much like Cash, the imaging people want a better look at my left one. I am here today, so fingers crossed for nothing abnormal.

Good luck msbelle.

When I first got Darby, the advice I got was to sit and read aloud to her. Might help with shy cats too?

So sorry for all the sad pet news. Mozzie went through a period of refusal to eat and GI ick and after multiple tests and an X-ray to check for blockage the diagnosis came back: BAMBOOZLE. He was trying to get upgraded to a higher standard than his already fancy cuisine. “He’s playing you” were the ver’s actual words.

All back to normal now.

Amused by whitefont. Skinner had many digestive issues when we first got him. Took him from a skinny 55 lbs to a nice 70 lbs now. I do cook him rice/chicken/veggies in the instant pot because it helps. I think his massive worm issues before we rescued him left permanent issues. I mix a bit of dry food in with it in case there are vitamins or whatever missing.

Booby~ma, msbelle.