Cat update

Both kitties manes are coming in!! They've grown up soo much.

Growing kitties

Kitties are nearly 9 months old and growing fast.

Svet is stalking his brother from the box.

The cat that sits on everything :)

Yesterday, I was cleaning and Nemiroff would sit on anything I moved. When I opened drawers, he had to explore. When I moved the floor matt, he had to sit on it.

Kitten update

Work has been very busy for us the past month, but things are starting to slow down a bit.  Both Nemiroff and Noviy Svet have grown so so much!  Both kittens are a lot more comfortable around us.  Nemiroff even wakes us up in the morning now with purring and chirping.

I cannot believe how big both kittens have grown.

Noviy Svet

Svet is an interesting kitten. He never wants to be touched and hasn't been picked up since he arrived in our home. But he loves to be around us and is always checking up.

Siberian cat morning

Brunch

Nemiroff has been super talkative and purry today. Svet enjoys our company by hanging out next to us under the coffee table.

Happy nite kitties

Warm kitties

Svet and Nemiroff are still not up to their normal selves due to the hot weather. Both boys hanging out by the window.

Dinner with the kittens

Tonite Nemiroff was particularly vocal about not having some of my dinner (it was eggs). So we compromised a small can of wet food. :)

One week

Its been exactly one week since Nemiroff and Svet have been part of our home. Both cats are enjoying spending time with us. Still not cuddly but definitely happy to be around us and play.

Breakfast with kitties

Today the kitties ate breakfast with us. Svet still won't let us pet him but Nemiroff is slowly becoming more cuddly. Both cat's personalities are really starting to show.

More Progress

The kitties, who normally are in hiding in the morning, decided to spend breakfast with us!  Neimeroff will sometimes cuddle up to us but both still are not okay with being petted.  I have a feeling that in the next day or two they will be okay with it..

Progress has been made

The kittens are running around the house!  Both Nemiroff and Svet will still not eat from our hand or let us touch them, but they want to play with us soo badly. 

Still Adjusting

Svet made it as far as hanging out in the living room today. Both kitties still won't be touched.

Adjusting Kitties II

The kitties are still not ready to explore the house and have been in hiding for most of the day.  Sometimes we will see a kitty walking around, and then dart back to their hiding place as soon as they see us.  Nemiroff is playing with his feather toy underneath the bad and seems quite happy.  Noviy Svet is still pretty shy, but he's already getting used to his new home. 

Adjusting kitties

I have been very impressed - the first thing the kitties did was use their litter box.  When we opened their carrier last evening, we placed it next to the litter box and left the room with the light off.  The cats were able to explore the room and understand where everything was without being too afraid.

But after that, both kitties have been laying together under one of our beds.  It's become a hiding spot for them; we've put water and food under the bed to make them as comfortable as possible.  It would be so nice for them to be comfortable with us and their new home right-off-the-bat, but this is typical behaviour for kittens.  I am thinking that the kittens are especially shy because they came from a cattery that they were very attached to.

Driving Home

Two new kittens are officially living in Canada!  First we were required to go to Air Canada Cargo to receive the kittens' documents - vet records, customs records, health passports.  Second, we had to drive ten minutes to the customs office, where I explained to them that we were "importing cats".  Customers applied a $36 inspection fee and charged us GST on the cats and carrier they came in (we had a particularly particular customs agent.). Lastly, we drove back ten minutes to Air Canada Cargo and paid a handling fee - $60.   Our cats came out in their carrier and we're driving home!

I feel terrible for the kittens.  Both have been eating wet food and treats I brought.  The litterbox is wishful thinking at this point.  The kitties and too tired and scared to leave their carrier.  I cannot wait to have them rest and adjust at home.

KLM Cats

We're packed and ready to go pick up the boys tomorrow in the afternoon.  Their flight departs today and they will be travelling through the night.

KLM cargo contacted me yesterday to confirm that I was ready to "receive cats".  I hope the poor kittens are not too traumatised from the car ride and the 16 hr flight.  Apparently this forwarder ships animals all the time and I'm hoping the flight staff are adept in taking care of food/water/kitty litter.  We will see..

The cats will have to go through customs prior to acceptance in Canada.  Inna from the cattery has provided all documentation of the cat's vaccinations and neutering.  When the cats are released from customs we must drive for a few hours to take them to their home.  Because of this I am taking:
1- paper towels
2- towel towels
3- extra kitty litter
4- dry food
5- wet food
6- water
7- food+water dishes

I plan on letting the cats out of their carrier when we get into the car.  The least we can do to prep them for the long ride home is cleaning their carrier (i.e. new towel + food + litter).  Once the kittens familiarise themselves with the car, eat, and relax, we will put them back in the carrier and drive home. 

A tip for anyone travelling with animals of any kind - please do not let them out of a vehicle without a harness.  There are so many sad stories about frightened family pets being lost at pit stops because they ran away from the vehicle.

From Ukraine to Canada

Our boys are flying in from Ukraine this Friday!  They will have a long trip ahead - from Chersi Cattery (outside of Kiev) to Canada.  Inna from the cattery has been fantastic in preparing our kittens for their new home.