Jake The Kitten

That extra week in the wild really made a difference.  When I picked Fred up for the first time, he hissed once and then started purring.  When I picked Jake up, he went CATatonic!  I carried him home in the live trap.  I eased him out of the trap but as soon as he cleared metal, he went crazy again.  Into the kitchen closet he went.

I got some welding gloves and fished him out.  He clamped down on my finger.  Those baby teeth are sharp!  I felt the prick through the gloves.  Off he went again, this time behind the washing machine.  Those bonds of love and affection were NOT forming.  I left him alone for the evening.

Next morning he was still back there.  I chased him out with a broom.  Into my bedroom.  We played tag-under-the-bed for awhile and then I left him alone again.  That night he rewarded me by taking a dump under the bed!  War was about to break out.

The next day I baited him out with Spam (the meaty kind) and petted him for the first time.  No luck picking him up.  I did get him chased out of the bedroom.  After a couple more hiding places, he made his first mistake.  He explored the bathroom.  GOTCHA!

I left the bathroom to get a litter box, water and food and when I returned he was gone!  WTF?  It's a tiny bathroom so after I verified that he hadn't climbed the drapes, I was about to think that he'd jetted between my legs when I opened the door.  I looked one last time under the vanity and saw those eyes glowing! He'd managed to open the vanity door and get in there in the minute I was gone!  Amazing.

A day of Spam-baiting and gentle petting later, I managed to pick him up but only for a second before I felt him go tight again.  It took two more full days before I could pick him up and he'd relax and purr. 

Freedom came yesterday evening.  I had kept Fred in the bathroom to keep him company and in the process of playing they made my bathroom look like a grenade had gone off in it.  I opened the door and let them out and they promptly began working on my den.

They've been an absolute riot to watch.  I'd kill for a tenth of that energy! Anytime things get dull, just introduce a pair of kittens into your life.

As of this writing, Jake can be baited in with some Spam and he'll sit in my lap for a bit.  He still charges off to his hidey-hole anytime I stand up or walk by.  I'm afraid that he's going to always be a bit skittish.  We'll see.

Without further ado, some baby pix:

Meows dished out since 08/28/07