We got off to a good start this week, on the Shinjuku tnr project. We've been hearing regularly from the couple David met with. They were able to use the Revolution that we gave them to treat the cat with scabies, and the 2 rescued kittens seem to be hanging in there. We're trying to work out a meeting with a person from their local animal control to help coordinate the spay/neuter effort, and have already made some initial contacts. Now that kitten season is winding down, it gives us a little more time to focus our efforts on TNR.

Willy and Alice have become good friends, and each has made the other happier! Alice's weak paw doesn't stop her from wrestling and pouncing, and Willy has adjusted to life outside an incubator. The two recently caught the eye of an adopter in Tokyo, who has experience helping people with disabilities, so things are looking better and better. We're currently looking for a temporary foster care location, since the English teacher they're staying with has been given an ultimatum by her school to remove them or be in breach of contract. The school was very unsympathetic with her efforts to rescue and rehome Alice, even though it was a teacher from her school that originally suggested she take Alice in. It's been a bit of a drama scrambling to relocate the kittens right away, but we're thrilled that the two will likely have found a good home for the future.

Rose and Daisy have had an offer for a new placement already, though it's located a bit far from here, in the opposite direction of Tokyo. We haven't worked out the transport yet, but these two girls clearly miss home-life. They've settled in now, but at first they seemed to keep looking for something--I think they really missed their foster care takers. The couple was very sad to see the girls go, as well, so an unhappy situation all around. But, it's very lucky to have found someone else that can take the kitties, given their special needs. She has some experience with special needs cats, so that's even better. Currently healthy, both girls would be highly adoptable if it weren't for our concerns about possible future health issues, after their brother died of lymphoma. The 4 siblings tested positive for FELV when quite young, and then retested negative at around 6 months. We thought we had dodged a bullet until Clover got sick, and that made us worry about his sisters having similar complications. The possibility was reinforced this week, when Poppy started behaving as if she was having neurological problems. She was losing balance, with severe weakness in both her right front and back legs. The vet thinks it may be early signs of lymphoma, though not the same type Clover had. We've brought her in to sleep in a warm comfortable space, and are trying a few different treatments, including steroids. There is a small possibility it could be something else (hence the steroids), but we're prepared for the worst, after Clover's quick descent. I sat with her for a while last night, petting her and just giving her some company. At only a little over a year old, it's just too soon to lose her. I couldn't help thinking about how much she's enjoyed climbing around the new outdoor kitten enclosure, and I'm so glad that she's had a nice place to live. I brought her outside today, when I gave out treats to the kittens, and she was able to happily join in. She seems worse tonight, and I have her propped up on a very soft blanket, as she wants to keep her head elevated.

Poppy's health has made the Tokyo trip planned for this weekend a concern. David had planned to take 4 kittens to new homes on Sunday, and I was to go out to get pictures of kittens from TNR projects, that are currently in foster care in various locations. We decided instead to ask our good friend Judy to take Buttercup and Blossom to their new home on her way back to Tokyo from a visit out our way, and David will go out with Alice, Willy, Yuu, and Ai next weekend. Sasquatch also had to go to the vet's this week for cystitis--a scary amount of blood in his urine--and needs to be monitored closely over the next few days. Would love to get him into foster care, as I think he has a bit of stress from shelter life, which makes the problem worse. Anyway, more of a weekend to hold down the fort, all things considered.