Please see the Spices group post for a lot more Paprika content... the 3 orange babies are so hard to tell apart in pictures!! I've done my best to find Paprika pictures... but it is very possible her brothers snuck in, especially the belly up pictures.... all 3 enjoy being held on their backs and softly pet until they pass out!
Paprika gave me fits as a kitten!! She just refused to gain any weight. She'd act as if she was starving and dive into her food, but give up after eating about 5 bites. She didn't seem to care for the Baby Cat food we give to the foster kittens, and would refuse to eat anything that was mixed with Baby Cat. She really loved canned food, which we try to use just as an appetite stimulant and not as a regular meal... it gave her a leaky butt, but by the end of the week I would have happily cleaned her tush if she'd just gain weight! But she even stopped eating that. The rescue agreed to let me take her to the vet, but I needed help to get her there at the available time. My parents agreed to help out, so she spent half a day with them. My mom took care of her needs- but that included washing her feet when she had yet another leaky butt. Paprika did NOT appreciate my mom's efforts, and ditched her for my dad.... who says he "doesn't like those damn cats".
One of the other fosters in my rescue is also a vet tech. NM is my HERO and has helped me get several of my kittens through some troubling times. Paprika was dehydrated, so NM gave her some fluids. Paprika didn't appreciate this either...
But once she got the fluids in and I gave in and bought every kind of wet canned kitten food I could find, she began to put on weight. She STILL acts like she's starving when it is food time, but now she'll eat with vigor. Actually, she's a holy terror when I'm trying to get the food into the bowl.
Paprika does not believe that good things come to those who wait. She is convinced good things come to those who climb up and grab it any way she can get it to her mouth. If I'm standing up, she will climb up my legs and down my arm to get to the food. I try to teach her some patience (when I'm not taking hilarious videos) because I am sure not all future parents will appreciate this zealous behavior- but she treats every meal as if she's never been given food before. When I'm in a rush (or if I remember I'm wearing shorts instead of pants) I will sometimes prepare her food before I let her out of the kennel.
I adopted my dream kitten- a long hair calico just a few weeks older than the fosters. Pigwidgeon was rescued from a bad situation and was with her foster mommy for only 10 days before she was ready for adoption. She was still very scared and timid when I brought her home. She would cringe and hide from me if given the option, and hissed/growled at everything that moved. But Paprika would not be deterred. Maybe she wished she had at least one sister instead of a room full of brothers; she repeatedly invaded Pig's space and would wait patiently until the growling stopped. She was the first kitten Pigwidgeon accepted enough to relax around.
Update 6/30/2020
Paprika has completely stolen my heart. This runt of the litter has a BIG personality. She demands attention at regular intervals and loves to perch on my knee if I'm sitting on the floor. But impatient Paprika won't always wait until you're sitting to claim you as her chair.
Paprika didn't just steal my heart. Pigwidgeon chose her as her special companion. Dad still says we can't keep her...
When Paprika sleeps, she is so trusting and will allow herself to be posed.
But she's so alert and in tune with me when she's awake! I think because I provide the treats... this little one can hear me opening a packet of treats from nearly anywhere in the house and will come running!
I hope she'll find a home that appreciates her enthusiasm, which can sometimes be slightly painful, but is always adorable!
Update 8/3/2020
I helped a family I had met before adopt a kitten (Poppy) on the 4th of July weekend. After reconnecting with them, we became fast friends and they decided to come visit my foster kittens. They had previously tried to adopt Churro (now Scamper), the orange female sister to my very own Toasty Marshmallow and had a special place in their hearts for orange girls. Paprika quickly convinced them it was not a visit but an adoption meeting. By evening, she had a forever home waiting!
Unfortunately, Paprika had a bad spay surgery and ended up with a huge, swollen surgery scar. Instead of getting adopted the following weekend, she stayed an extra week with me. Pigwidgeon was thrilled for the extra time. Paprika learned to wear a collar without complaint in under 3 minutes.
They waited patiently, but they were ready for Paprika when her scar healed. The pure joy of this little girl is one of the loveliest things I've seen.
Paprika wanted to be friends with everyone and wouldn't take no for an answer. She and Poppy became best friends, but they tell me she makes sure to spend time cuddling with EVERYONE in the household.
They brought Paprika back to visit with us, and it was one of the greatest joys of my foster experience! Mochi was the first to greet her- not even letting her out of her crate.
Sweet Pigwidgeon wasn't far behind.
Paprika played very hard with her old friends before curling up for one of the cutest cuddle sessions I've seen. They say they'll bring Poppy on their next play date, and I just can't wait!
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