A kitten fell down my chimney and I need advice!

[TobiDaDog]

How did they get up there in the first place?

Niko had scratches in his ear so we thought maybe a predator dropped him? Or his mother tried to tuck him under the chimney cap. There is a tree butted up against the back wall. Perhaps she climbed it. We found Tato under the tree.

 

[Caspers Human]

Our cat, Elliot has tattered ears. The only way they could have gotten that way would be a fight. Likely with other cats but it could be raccoons, skunks or opossums. He would have been exposed to all sorts of critters in the outdoors.

He also had an infected wound on his head when we brought him in. We had to take him to the vet to get it cleaned up.
Strangely, he seems to be afraid of coyotes, too. One night he was sitting in the window, supervising the neighborhood, when some coyotes started to howl, outside. Elliot jumped down from the window, ran across the room and cowered in my lap. It took me a good five minutes of petting and reassurance to calm him down.

I have no doubt that your guy, Niko, has had run-ins with wildlife!

 

[TobiDaDog]

The brothers' polar opposites strike again. My nieces and nephews are staying with us through the weekend and Tato decided he adores them. He let's them pick him up and carry him everywhere and he loves to lick their faces.

Nikolas is absolutely terrified of them. He hisses even if he sees them walking around in another room. Literally he just peeks around the doorway, hisses, and bolts.

They big kids are now at school and the baby is napping...so he quietly came and pushed his way into my arm for a cuddle. He NEVER lets me or anyone else cuddle him. But maybe a good snuggle in this weird alien invasion is what makes him feel better. I'll take it.

 

[Caspers Human]

If Nikolas sees Tato getting attention from new humans, he might decide that he wants some attention for himself.

Our Elliot is a Velcro Kitty who wants attention all the time. Casper is, normally, aloof. He'll come in for a quick "fly-by" but he's not a lap cat, by any stretch of the imagination. However, when Casper sees Elliot getting all the attention he seems to get jealous and wants more attention from his humans.

Your two kitties might be doing the same. Especially when there are new humans in the house. One cat is naturally attentive and goes to greet the new humans who give him lots of kitty loving. The other sees what's happening and decides, "Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I got some of that for myself."

 

[dustydiamond1]

Niko had scratches in his ear so we thought maybe a predator dropped him? Or his mother tried to tuck him under the chimney cap. There is a tree butted up against the back wall. Perhaps she climbed it. We found Tato under the tree.

I've been told owls will carry off and drop smaller animals, thank Heavens you were able to save them

 

[Caspers Human]

Big owls like Great Horned Owls and Barred Owls typically attack by swooping down with their feet forward and their talons spread. They hit their prey with all their weight and the total force is multiplied by their speed. The prey will be severely stunned if not killed, outright. A large owl could easily kill a rabbit with one blow. They can pick up prey and fly off with it, to be dispatched later, but, more often, they stop to kill the prey before carrying it off. It's a lot easier to fly without dropping their dinner if the dinner isn't struggling to get away. Yes, many animals do escape being attacked by an owl but, more often that not, they are a goner.

 

[Margot Lane]

…How are the two lads?

 

[TobiDaDog]

The boys are doing great!! Here are some updated pictures:

Tato has developed THE fattest, squishiest set of cheeks. It's so cute! He is the sweetest little cat I have met in a long time. All he ever wants to do is be held and petted and talked to. He comes running in full pelt when he hears his name. He still does that cute little arm stretchie thing when he gets picked up. He is still made of rubber. I've never seen such a floppy cat. You could literally hold him completely upside down by his legs and he'd just chill there and start bathing himself.

He ASKS to be held upside down. I included a picture of him after one of his asks...he flipped himself over and started playing with the dog! What a weirdo.

 

[TobiDaDog]

Nikolas is also turning into a handsome little devil! But his personality is pretty hard to figure out. He's a lot less "chill" than his brother and he's had more of a personality evolution than the consistently sweet as pie Tato. He went from being a super sweet snuggly kitten to "don't ever touch me" to "only mom can touch me" to "only mom can touch me SOMETIMES" and back again. He has moods. Most of the day he acts aloof and "tough." All he wants to do lately is wrestle with his brother and try his hardest to dart outside. But I wake up at night with him firmly hugging my hand in his sleep.

He is a big time door dasher, but he's SMART about it. He will only make a break for freedom if he sees that your hands are too full to grab him.

I started harness training him and it seems to be going well. I take him outdoors every day to watch the birds and walk around, but it hasn't really fixed the door dashing at all.

When he gets outside, he is perfectly content (for now) to stay on the porch. He has never willingly left it unless you chase him. So I don't chase him, I just sit down and let him sniff around and eventually he will come and relax next to me and I can pet him. If he thinks I'm swooping straight in for the grab though he bolts. So we have to sit outside and chill for a while before I'm "allowed" to pick him up.

He's got a lot more rules than his brother!

 

[fionasmom]

Thank you for all the updated pictures! The cats are gorgeous and clearly living an incredible life. The collie is beautiful, too.

 

[Margot Lane]

This makes me wanna jump down someone’s chimney just to see if they give me cookies & milk & a nice warm bed & other fun stuff.

 

[TobiDaDog]

Update!

Nikolas has decided suddenly in the last week that he LOVES to be petted?! After all these months. He keeps smacking me with his paws and shouting, demanding that I scratch him and he leans in and purrs so hard. Not sure what caused THAT change, but I'll take it!

Two nights ago, I found a cat that I am quite certain is related to the boys. It was very dark out in the backyard and I thought I saw Niko running just ahead of me, trying to stay out of my reach in the shadows. I was startled and couldn't figure out how he'd gotten outside. So I started following and calling out...and then I turned on a flashlight and this cat turned to look at me.

It was a beautiful blue eyed lynx point and white cat!

It didn't seem too afraid of me, so I bent down and held out my hand to it. It ran a few steps away and then just...flopped down casually on the ground in front of me. JUST like Tato does. He does this hilarious, awful flop thing where you're walking and he'll just throw himself down on your feet for a belly rub. Sometimes he flops so hard you can HEAR his body hit the ground. Anyway this cat flopped down for me.

I tried to approach and she (I'm just guessing on gender) ran away another few steps and flopped again. Not really afraid of me at all, but she didn't want to be petted. Eventually she just tucked herself into the bushes to watch me while I worked in the garden.

I've been leaving some food out in the bushes for her in hopes that we can catch her and get her spayed. I don't doubt that she at least partially belongs to someone...but if she's going to be spending her free time lurking in my garden at night, I'd like to know that she isn't going to leave me more kittens!

 

[Margot Lane]

How exciting! Another utterly boneless cat you may own! Can’t wait for the next installment. I think Nikolas found out from watching his brother what a good thing he had going on there. Hopefully photos of the mystery cat ensue. Could it be….mom?

 

[DeesCats]

I just love the pic of Tato trying to fit in that clear storage box!

I'm glad that Niko's starting to lean in to physical affection from you, it's a big step that is always so heartwarming for us.

 

[xenonentity]

TobiDaDog Your cats are all SO flippin' cute. Tato's eyes are absolutely gorgeous, and I love how different they are from each other!

Also, I adore that you rescue salamanders, I'd love a tiger salamander one day! (I keep reptiles and inverts, no amphibians right now but I desperately want some to join the family eventually haha.)

OH, and would you mind dropping a link to your stickers? They are just too cute, I think I may need to snag some!

 

[TobiDaDog]

How exciting! Another utterly boneless cat you may own! Can’t wait for the next installment. I think Nikolas found out from watching his brother what a good thing he had going on there. Hopefully photos of the mystery cat ensue. Could it be….mom?

Could be! I don't know for sure...but she's been hanging out pretty much exactly where Tato was found. I've only seen her twice now and she appears well after dark, but something has been eating the food I put out! I'm struggling to keep it dry. The sprinklers keep filling up the bowl...

 

[TobiDaDog]

I just love the pic of Tato trying to fit in that clear storage box!

I'm glad that Niko's starting to lean in to physical affection from you, it's a big step that is always so heartwarming for us.

Tato is SUCH a comedian! He makes us all laugh on a daily basis. And I have been loving the attention from Nikolas as well. It's always so hard when you love them so much but can't touch them!

 

[TobiDaDog]

TobiDaDog Your cats are all SO flippin' cute. Tato's eyes are absolutely gorgeous, and I love how different they are from each other!

Also, I adore that you rescue salamanders, I'd love a tiger salamander one day! (I keep reptiles and inverts, no amphibians right now but I desperately want some to join the family eventually haha.)

OH, and would you mind dropping a link to your stickers? They are just too cute, I think I may need to snag some!

Thank you!! They are so so different. Not only in looks but also personality. Absolute polar opposites. I've always been so curious as to what more from the litter might have looked and acted like..

I can definitely share a link, thank you! Here is my shop, CollieflowersBark. I have lots of cats there and more coming all the time. These little guys give me so much inspiration.

Here are a few more of my cat stickers:

 

[TobiDaDog]

Where have my tiny kittens gone?

 

[Margot Lane]

They hooked you & snookered you & are now living off the fat of the land.