Yep Beelize, My eyes were wide! Since then, it's been nervous out there! Syncal, I wanted to say how sorry I am to hear of your loss. What a horrible thing. I'd have felt frustrated, heartbroken, a host of emotions. Miss Kitty, we're in the Pac NW, about 30 or miles north of Seattle, though in the foothills of the Cascades. We have predators of every variety, but they usually remain aloof and we don't see them much, hence the surprise. The encounter was on Sunday. The following Fri-nite, we lost a bird. That cranked the nerve switch up a notch. One of our best muscovies mind you. We were still working on their permanent structure, but they had been fine all year in their pen. Whatever it was left a real mess. Based on all I've read about predators and their leavings, I couldn't i.d. it. Raccoons go for the head (I imagine becuase it has the bird by the neck) but our muscovy was not decapitated. Possums go for the guts, but ours was not disembowled either. He was on his back and filleted at the breast. What ever it was chowed straight in from that angle, and left the remains. Cougars, I'm told, usually haul away and bury their prey, but not always, so I'm not sure. Coincidence? Outside of a dog attack in broad daylight, it is the only loss we've suffered. Three days later, our neighbor saw the cougar in his driveway when they pulled in. It lingered for awhile as they waited in the car. The Wildlife Fish & Game were contacted again. We haven't seen Freddie Cougar since, so don't know. Maybe he went home. Sad fact is, he may have been homeless altogether. They're being pressed out of most territory thanks to so much development. It's not his fault. But I sure feel silly walking up to it like some cougar whisperer saying "here kitty, kitty". Call me Mr. Magoo. RJ gave me a rifle lesson. Doubtful I'd ever use it, but I shot my first tin can! Am thinking about mounting it on the wall over the mantel. :0>

Ronda, what a coup to book Madame Macie for your garden tour! She definitely gave it that high society touch. And what a gorgeous spring flush! Gee, it doesn't seem proper to say "flush" in the Madame's presence. Really beautiful roses AND dog baby! Sherry

Have you checked around your neighborhood, talked to all of the homeowners within a several block radius, and called local animal control/sheriff/police and your local shelters and vets to see if anyone is missing this kitten? If not, you should do so. Once you've taken care of that, then you can decide whether or not to adopt this little one. For the last 8 yrs, I've had one or more new felines appear on my farm nearly every year. After capturing the new cat and making the obligatory call to the sheriff's dept to file a "found cat" report, I integrate him/her into my household. #15 just showed up a month or so ago and is still in the integration process. I use a technique similar to pamghatten, but I fill the doorway to the newbie's room with baby gates rather than a screen door. The gates serve the same purpose, though - to allow the cats to see, smell, and talk to each other without actual physical contact. The period of time the newbie stays in the gated room depends on everyone's reactions to each other. When I feel everyone is ready for face-to-face introductions, I usually put the newbie in a harness (NOT collar) and light leash so that I can control matters if unpleasantness occurs. But my newbies are usually young adult, intact toms (neutered as soon as I capture them) with a lot of aggression issues. It would probably not be necessary to leash a young kitten - esp. a female - though you would certainly need to keep a constant eye on your older cats to make sure they don't injure her. You're less likely to have significant conflict with a female kitten than with a male kitten. Males tend to be relentlessly rowdy and bothersome. Still, there will be an adjustment period, esp. for your timid girl. I would expect, though, that your timid girl will learn to enjoy a baby playmate once she gets over her initial terror and realizes that the kitten isn't trying to kill her. My biggest concern is that the timid girl's tentative health status may deteriorate if she becomes badly stressed during the kitten's integration period. That's something to consider. Good luck whatever you decide. Laurie

Akchicago - tell your cat I am giving him my own green eyed stare back, lol. I like animals, just not mixed with food and food prep, and I just am not a cat person. Hearing all these stories about animals and countertops and fur flying gives me the heebie jeebies. I grew up with poodles because my mother had allergies. We never had shedding in our house other than the guinea pigs I had, but they were never in the kitchen. I did not even know I had allergies too until I was an adult (or they got worse then). I am mostly allergic to cats and will get a red rash almost instantly if one touches my bare skin. Of course, I walk into houses and they make a beeline for me, while other agents or buyers are crouched down saying "here, kitty kitty" and being ignored. I am an animal magnet. It is so awkward because I don't want to offend any homeowners, but I do not want their cat to rub up against me. It is worse in the summer where it would be direct contact on my legs. If a house is not clean and has cats, my throat will close up a little, so I get the heck out. That is very rare though (knock wood). I am far from a germaphobe, but I avoid cat fur like the plague because it itches so badly if I make contact. I think that does not help me think of cats and kitchens being a good mix, even though those are separate issues. I am also not crazy about dog fur near food, but it does bother me less because I have never seen a dog up on a counter (although I bet some get up there). I do wash my hands after I touch a dog and am anywhere near food. I guess we all have our pet peeves (pun intended), but mine is not as socially acceptable as people who have other kinds. It seems like people are more offended if you are not into their pets than if you are not into their kids (whom I adore, btw). A kid with a runny nose does not phase me in the least nor does a big sloppy kiss but keep me away from cats.