HAPPY ENDINGS ~~  This page might take a little longer to load than usual, but it will be worth the wait.


CLIFF ~~ Cliffairy Jiggletuff

    

Cliff's name comes from the Pokemon series.  They are two little pink pokemon (pocket monsters) in the cartoon show.  Not sure why we chose that name.  Perhaps because they are cute, chubby, little characters in their "non-fighting" state.  Oh, well...we call him Cliff, sometimes Cliffie.

     This photo was taken of Cliff the very first time he saw me.  I had seen him at a distance with my camera's telephoto lens.  He and his siblings were living in an abandoned gopher hole.  His mother would put her head down into the hole to pull the kittens out each time she wanted to feed them, but she didn't usually try to get inside with them as the entrance was a bit too small for her to comfortably fit through.  Every time I came close to the little mound of weed- covered dirt, he and his siblings ran back into the safety of this hole.  Little did they know I was trying to help them.  

     Cliff was born at about 6:30 a.m. on 7/11/99.  How do I know?  I saw three of his siblings being born at a distance.  I had gone for one of my usual daily feedings.  Poor little Moms had come down to the feeding area, hoping to have a substantial daily meal since she was trying to keep herself and her unborn kittens fed.  She must have gone into labor as she waited for me, because she was delivering her kittens at the edge of the street, but very much in the street, in harms way of passing cars.  

     This paragraph is necessary for background on Cliff, but doesn't belong totally in the "Happy Endings" section as two of the six born to Moms that morning didn't make it.  Not due to passing cars, but unusual circumstances.  When I came up, Moms was so happy to see me.   She looked up proudly, purring so loud that even with the noises of passing cars and other sounds of the early morning business district, I could hear her very clearly.  I wasn't really sure what to do, but stood guard to make sure none of the kittens wandered into the street.  After the third kitten was born, a little black one, she quickly took it in her mouth and ran back into a patch of weeds.  She left two darling little black and white tux kittens in the street.  Being a rescue worker, I didn't know exactly what to do.  I knew it would be best for her kittens to spend time with her so that they could take in the protective benefits of their mother's milk.  I also knew that if she raised them, their future would most likely be full of suffering.  I knew Moms was a good mother, however, and hoped if she raised them that I might later have a chance to capture them.  I tried to put them back with her and each time I approached, she took the one little black kitten and ran to another area.  She didn't make an effort to get the kittens, even though I put them fairly close to her. 

     Realizing that this could go on indefinitely and that she appeared to be in distress, needing to deliver more kittens, I felt the only thing I could do was to take the two little kittens and attempt to raise them myself.   I knew that the outcome might not be what I would want, eventually two healthy eight-week-old kittens, but in a very confusing and frustrating situation, I wasn't sure what else to do.  I had raised orphans before and had hoped for the best.  I won't go into great detail here, but both little kittens died.  There were a number of factors involved, including a bad upper respiratory infection.  We lost the first little girl, Precious, within a week of her birth.  The second, a little male we called Juanto, died after about 10 days.  They were such wonderful little kittens. They loved the warmth of our hands.  I can still feel little Juanto kneading the palm of my hand as he expressed his appreciation for our love and care.  My 19-year-old son sat up all night cradling little Precious in his hands, knowing she was dying.  Juanto struggled through various problems and always rallied.  We hoped we could get him through it all and into the safe zone.  After the upper respiratory infection, he was so weak, that he declined quickly.  Tears still appear in my eyes as I think of him now, some seven months later.

     Due to the problems these kittens had, we weren't sure if any of the other kittens Moms had delivered that morning had survived.  She was coming back to eat at the regular feeding time, but always ran away so quickly that I could not track her back to see if she was still nursing kittens.  I kept walking and driving around the extensive area where cats from this colony travel, hoping to see her.  In the middle of August, I finally found her.  She had taken her other kittens a rather long distance away from where she normally stayed.  There had apparently been an abandoned woodchuck hole and she took advantage of it as a safe haven for her remaining kittens.  Normally these feral cats have small litters of one or two kittens.  Moms had delivered a total of six!!!  I took out my telephoto lens to look into the area where she was staying.  I was totally surprised when I saw how many were still alive with her and equally surprised at how healthy they looked.  She had done a wonderful job protecting them and providing them nourishment.  A brown tiger kitten and two black kittens as well as Cliff.

Moms guards the area where she hid her kittens in the left photo.    She is a very gentle young cat, but it is obvious from the expression on her face in the right photo that she would do anything to protect her kittens. 

Little Cliffie was just over four weeks old when he first saw me, at the time I took the photo in the heart-shaped box.   He and his siblings were, to say the least, astonished and very frightened.   I came to feed Moms twice each day now that I realized she had kittens surviving.  After a little more than a week, the kittens began to nibble at the food while Moms was eating.  By the time Cliff was six weeks old, he had started staying out with Moms when I came to feed her.  He liked the tasty food so much that he was willing to risk my presence.   ~~ Thanks, little Cliff, for doing that. ~~ It enabled me to grab him by the scruff of his neck one day and drop him into a cardboard box.  He didn't struggle at all.  Rode quietly home with me in the dark box and didn't make a sound.  His siblings are still living in the feral colony and are very resistant to my capturing them.  They come to eat daily, but have not warmed to my being around them as most of the feral kittens do. 

Once I got Cliff home, it was evident that I had captured a very special little boy.  Of the same sweet disposition as his little siblings Juanto and Precious.  He was so gentle, delicate, trusting.  I couldn't believe that I had pulled him away from the entrance of a mole hole that very day.  He didn't snuggle close right away, as he certainly was not familiar with humans, but we remedied that with our usual socialization process for kittens.  This procedure involved taking him several times a day to a rather large cardboard box playpen we had designed using discarded refrigerator boxes.  This always works.  Keeping him in a confined area, making him climb around on us and playing with our many paper balls, strings, etc., made him soon forget his feline family and accept us as the only family he knew. 

                                    
Little Cliff was a wonderful playmate at this age.  Having him around lessened the sense of guilt and loss we felt when Juanto and Precious died.

                                   
                            Dr. Neitzel gives Cliff his first distemper          Cliff waves goodbye to his foster
                                      vaccination.  Cliff was such a cooperative           family.  He actually loved riding in
                                      little fellow.                                                               the car to his new home.

                                                    
   Whenever we take cats or kittens to their new homes, if there are cats already in residence, the newcomer is usually confined to a large cage in the center of a main room for a few days.  This allows them to get used to each other without presenting the opportunity for fights.  
     The first day we took Cliff to his new house, however, we decided to give him the opportunity to check out his new environment and see what reactions he would receive from Amanda and Princess.   Princess is the cat shown in the photos here with Cliff.  Cliff came at her with much enthusiasm, scooting sideways as he prepared to pounce on her to play.  Princess wanted nothing to do with this feisty little guy and showed him this by aggressive behavior.    Cliff was a much smarter little boy that we realized, as he rolled over signaling submission to Princess.  With her not feeling challenged, she accepted him quite easily.  A short while later, we were able to play with both of them, using their favorite string toys.  
    We then put little Cliff into his cage as Amanda was not so sure as to what she thought of him.  Actually, Amanda decided to hide under the bed and did not come out much for the next few days.  Once she realized Cliff was there to stay, she finally came out and began to resume normal activities.  Cliff stayed in his cage most of the time, with short outings throughout the day.  Approximately a week after his arrival, all was well and the three got along fine.  Cliff's endless youthful playfulness was a bit more than they preferred, but they tolerated him.  Amanda now plays with him regularly and Princess just tries to survive as Cliff ambushes her every time she enters the room where he is playing.    

     Cliff is very happy in his new home.  He is so full of mischief and always getting into things.  His human mom is wonderful and patient with him.    Below are two great photographs she took of him.  

     The one by the television set is particularly cute.  It has special meaning to me, as all of the cats and kittens being socialized with us have a small television near their cage.  This is so that when they are not able to be out with us they are able to listen to the sounds of people talking and going through various activities.  It also keeps them from being too lonely with the sounds and the constant changing screen.  It helps them greatly to settle down and we find that when they are finally taken to their new homes, the noises of the household do not bother them.  Before using the television, sounds such as garbage disposals, toilets flushing, etc., startled them.  
     
     The other is of little Cliffie, definitely the KING of the house, relaxing on his favorite couch.  I think he prefers this soft spot to the decaying weeds in his former woodchuck hole.  
                                                      
                                   Stay happy, little boy!!!    

A Diary of Life With Cliff After Capture

Cliff.  (Cliffairy Jiggletuff taken from two of the Pokemon characters)  Currently in my basement (9/2/99).  Will be going to his new home with Amanda and Princess soon.  He was about five weeks old when I captured him and he is adorable.  He was living with three siblings in a woodchuck hole.  They have begun to follow her as she moves around the area.  This worries me as their current nesting area is near a major street with a lot of traffic.  I have been trying to capture Cliff's three siblings, but they run away so quickly when I get near them that I have been unable to do so.  They usually dart back down into the gopher hole and come out to eat only when I am a safe distance away.  I am afraid to use the safe trap for them as while one is eating and triggering the door to close, one or the other might be injured or killed if the door came down on them.  I will continue to try to capture them.  In the meantime, my family is very much enjoying playing with Cliff.  He is such a special little guy that it is hard to believe I pulled him from the entrance of a mole hole two weeks ago. (9/11/99)  My family is currently missing seeing our little friend Cliff.  We took him to his new home today.  He had pretty much been confined to a cage the past two weeks with activity time a couple of times a day in a playpen we made for him.  When we let him go at his new home, he went crazy running and jumping around as he explored the area.  It was great watching how much he enjoyed himself in his new surroundings.  Princess, the older cat in the household, tolerated him and does not seem too terribly concerned that there is a new cat in the house.  Amanda, however, is not quite sure yet and has refused to come near him.  Cliff's new human mom thinks he's pretty special and I am sure he will soon think she's the best mom any kitty cat could have.  (9/15/99)  Went to spend a little time today with Cliff.  I usually volunteer to drop by a few times shortly after kittens or cats are taken to their new homes.  Certainly not a requirement, but the offer is made.  My stopping by helps them settle in a little easier, seeing a familiar person.   Cliff is spending a fair amount of time in a cage in the center of the family room.  This lets his new feline friends become accustomed to him being there, and allows them to feel that they are still in charge.  After a short while, we will give him total freedom in the house.  When he is out, he is greatly entertaining to watch as he bounces around his new home.  He looks like he definitely belongs there and is very happy.  Princess plays with him fairly regularly.  Amanda was "majorly bent out of shape" early on, but is beginning to realize that this new fellow is a playful little guy and doesn't mean her any harm.  All in all, looks like a "happily ever after" situation in the making.       (9/28/99) Took Cliff to see Dr. Sporer at Heritage Animal Hospital for his second distemper shot.  She said he checks out fine.  He is such a sweet little boy.  Doesn't fuss at all at the veterinarian's office like many I have had.  When we got back to his new home, it was great to see how easily he has adjusted to his new environment.  I saw Amanda today.  She had been hiding a lot since Cliff became a new member of her household.  She's relaxed about it now and is frequently seen sneaking over to get the last of Cliff's kitten food -- seems to prefer this over her regular diet. (10/10/99)  I just finished spending a fair amount of time with Cliff this past week as his pet sitter.  Such a special little guy.  Really had a hard time parting with him in the sense of not having him as a member of my family he is so special.   Since I have had a chance to see him regularly, he has bonded with both me and his new family.  It makes my work with feral cats all the more rewarding to see him in such great physical condition in a wonderful home.  (12/31/99)  Cliffie accidentally locked himself into a bedroom while playing the last time I took care of him.  He couldn't get out and knocked a plant over trying to escape.  He has always been so careful about getting to the cat pan and actually covered up anything left on the surface by his other cat friends.  In this case, he had nowhere to go but on the dirt, which, unfortunately, was on brand new carpet.  I was so worried about what his human mother might say upon her return.  She understood.  The repotted house plant now stands on the spot where poor little Cliff went, and beautiful large rocks stand in front of each door to prevent them closing with Cliff's ruff-tuff play with Amanda and Princess.  By the way, Cliff's human mom is a geologist, so collected rocks are in abundance for each of the doors in her house.  Cliff and Amanda, both from the feral colony, are so well-adjusted now and great pets giving that unconditional love pets give their human companions.  They are so fortunate to have been adopted into a household where much patience and love has made them all the more special.  Cliff, by the way, looks like a carbon copy of little Chris who is featured on our "Available for Adoption" page.  A little bigger than Chris, but very much a twin otherwise.