Toasty Marshmallow. Warm, gooey sweet... a brilliant treat. I'm really struggling to mentally give this girl up. Not only is she a huge ball of floof, but she loves food. I really means she LOVES food. This is my kind of sweet pea.
She was the last one out of the crate. Couldn't even tempt her with food for the first 24 hours. But once she started eating, she never stopped. With a full belly, she was ready to start playing and cuddling.
Her first meal! These little tubes of pate are a favorite of all of my pets!
Marshmallow was the first stinky floofer to get a bath and she was soooo good. She relaxed under the warm water and went limp in the warmth of the hair dryer. Once wrapped in a purrito, she just settled in for a long nap.
Toasty Marshmallow was the first kitten to crawl into my lap and ask for pets. Can YOU resist her when she looks at you like this? I cannot!! When not demanding pets and food, she pounces and rolls and chases and wrestles.
I feel like my kitten is telling me that I need to adopt her a new kitten.
Katsu really loves this Toasty Marshmallow! I have to say no. I cannot foster fail. I will be strong! Won't I?
Update 12/13/19
Toasty Marshmallow is scheduled to be dropped off tomorrow morning in just over 12 hours, and I'm still not sure what to do!! Two days ago I found out Toasty was a boy instead of a girl, and that only made me want to keep him more. I currently only have one boy house cat, and have heard orange boys are particularly sweet.
The loud purring on my feet right now confirms that. Toasty finally had enough play time and just arrived for his cuddles. He brought his sister, Churro. My heart is breaking!
I've been searching for a long hair, mostly white with bright orange spots, calico girl for over 15 years. When my husband told me we couldn't adopt our annual kitten because we had too many cats already, he agreed to let me foster as long as I didn't keep all the kittens. I let him know if my dream kitten arrived, I'd keep her, but that I'd just give the foster kittens love so they could find good forever homes. Of course, I've wanted to keep ALL of my fosters and I've cried over several.
But Toasty Marshmallow is just something special. As I write this, his post has 131 reactions, 49 comments, and 9 shares.... SIGNIFICANTLY more activity than any of my other fosters and most other kittens I see on the IBR Facebook page, so it's not just me that realizes there is just something AMAZING about this kitten.
The hubby has repeatedly said NO. I've begged and pleaded for the past month, and still, he said NO. I've posed with Toasty with my best pout face, put Toasty's belly on the husband's face, and offered all kinds of outrageous deals. Still, he said no.
Until tonight. Tonight he said, "If Toasty & Churro don't get adopted and are still at PetSmart on Sunday evening, then we'll consider it...."
So all I need now is for every single one of the people who were interested in Toasty to acknowledge that they only wanted a floofy girl... since he accidentally got posted with the bio I wrote before his surgery when I still thought he was a girl... and they're NOT interested in a boy. NOT AT ALL.
I need every person to WALK AWAY from his kennel for TWO DAYS.
It's not too much to ask, right??
Even his siblings can't resist Toasty. One night, all 3 of them spent an hour suckling on Toasty's paw and side... he was soaked, but he loved every minute.
At the very least, can I DEMAND the adoptive family friend me on Facebook and PROMISE frequent updates?!?!
I WANT THIS KITTEN
Update 12/25/19
I had every intention of putting Toasty Marshmallow up for adoption. I wanted him, but I knew he'd easily find a forever family. On Saturday the 14th, Toasty was scheduled to be dropped off by my husband, as I had committed to joining a friend in trying a new yoga class. She bailed on me that morning and I first rejoiced in the extra 2 hours to cuddle Toasty and his sister, Churro... but I remembered that I had decided to do yoga for my own recovery and health, not just for the social aspect, so I got in my car to go anyway. As I was turning my car on, I got notified that class was cancelled.
It felt like a sign. I spent much of that extra time with Toasty begging, pleading, negotiating, and compromising with my husband in a desperate plea to keep both Toasty and Churro... though part of me knew that I should drop them both off. Finally, still undecided, we drove to Petsmart 2 hours before the sign-ups went out, to see if there were other families already there in line to adopt these two kittens. We got there by 9:30am and were the first ones there, though we weren't alone for long. Sure enough, 75% of the first families arriving were there to see Toasty and/or Churro.
I made sure each family knew that I was torn- that I wasn't sure if I was actually giving Toasty up... but these were WONDERFUL people. I tried to convince myself to fill their wish and allow Toasty to leave me, but every time I thought about it... I felt sick in my stomach.
I still wanted both, but if I took Churro also would endanger my ability to drop my dream kitten- I've been looking for a specific kitten for over 15 years. The hubby put a limit on my cat collection- which is the only thing keeping my clowder in check. I realized that if one of these wonderful families did bond with Churro, I could be happy that she had a great home- but if none of them really felt the connection, I'd take them both. It didn't take long for Churro to find her forever home- and as soon as the lovely DMM announced she was adopting Churro, I told the adoption team I was also ready to adopt Toasty.
The hubby, who carefully keeps his distance from the fosters, doesn't seem too upset to have Toasty around. He even chuckled that first night home when Toasty curled up on the hubby's pillow and I announced that the hubby could go to the couch because disturbing the Toasty was not an option. Hubby didn't actually sleep on the couch, but he carefully slid onto the 4" of bed that Toasty left on the edge of the bed without waking the sleeping kitten.
Toasty wakes me almost every morning between 2am and 4am for cuddle time. The first morning he started this, he actually was on the other side of the room on the cat tree, purring so loudly it woke me up. When I called his name, he bounded to the bed and promptly laid on my head and purred until my alarm went off. It's become my favorite part of the day and I'm so glad for vacation right now- I've had up to 2 hours of extended cuddle time!
He also just spends a ton of time just curled up in my arms or in my sweatshirt...
He's nearly always underfoot.
We picked up 4 new fosters the same day we adopted Toasty. They were separated for a week, to make sure no diseases were going to be shared between the new fosters and my house cats. When we finally let them meet, Toasty was wary for about 24 hours.
Then he realized they're his best playmates and he seeks them out.
Toasty loves watching movies and TV with us. He's been lucky- with vacation this week, we've had the TV on more than usual. He particularly loves Star Wars- everytime we turned it on (it took me 3 attempts to finish Force Awakens because I kept passing out), he'd show up and watch with us.
I have no regrets about keeping Toasty. He has brought so much joy to my life!
Updated 1/22/20
it's been about a month since we brought this fine boy home for good. Our favorite time of day is around 4:30am, just before my alarm goes off. Toasty will come lay with me, purring and nuzzling in for a cuddle.
He poses for the camera. I've never had a more photogenic kitten, even if my photography skills are terrible! I hate that he's growing up, but love how handsome he looks in his new collar and tag. He's trying to learn to climb up on me, though he's not very good at it. He'll watch my other cats leap up from the floor to my shoulder and he makes these tiny little jump hops halfway up my leg... it's so cute, but he hasn't quite gotten the hang of it yet.
Update 2/16/20
He just keeps getting cuter. Toasty loves to be with us at all times when we're home. He doesn't quite know how to jump up on us and he isn't a great climber either. He'll reach up and give a tiny meow until we pick him up. He loves to hang out on us whenever possible.
Toasty is also inspired by his sister Ophelia. He's learning to sit on command too!
Update 12/12/20
Toasty's sister Ophelia just had her anniversary photo shoot. She was adopted a few days before Toasty, but I decided to do his update today- during the weekend!
He continues to be the most handsome, toasty Toasty Marshmallow. The hubby and I always ask each other if we've ever seen a toastier Toasty, and the answer is always "NO, he's the toastiest". His golden eyes still melt my heart.
Toasty hasn't quite figured out he's no longer kitten sized and cannot fit into my lap or clothes the way he used to fit.
He still loves Toasty Toilet Time, but TTT is increasingly difficult to manage. Pigwidgeon discovered the power of trapping mom in the throne room and sprints in every time I approach the bathroom... sometimes barely get in place for the booty to do the duty before she's in place. Master Toasty has no sense of urgency, so when he strolls in... usually he just looks up at the purring Pigs and asks me "what is THAT?" before wandering off.
On the rare occassions Pigs is otherwise engaged and Toasty finds me first, we enjoy a thorough cuddle session.
Lately Toasty has decided not to wait for me to feel the need to go to get lap time. He will approach me at random moments to tell me it is time. With his claws. In my leg. "MOM!! GIVE ME A LAP" those claws say. I must immediately squat so he can climb up in my lap. Sometimes, he brings reinforcements.
He likes to supervise us in the kitchen, silently judging all that we do. If it involves food, he will approve.
Toasty wonders why more things in life don't involve food.
Toasty mostly ignores the foster kittens, but now and then he finds one he likes and he adorably maternal. Sweet Eyrie had that pleasure.
He's such a good Toasty boy! He's such a sweet majestic beast! Or he's a panda. Or a non-terrifying duck.
Toasty has some definite thoughts about costume wearing, but he's too cute to be intimidating.
Toasty is, paws down, THE most photogenic kitten I have ever owned. His sister Ophelia is also drop dead gorgeous and her mom is a much better photographer than I am... but he's so regal, I can still get oodles of amazing pics.
And then.... my poor camera skills show up... but I love him anyway :)
Happy first year officially as my baby, Toasty boy. You're the Toasty Mostiest!
Update 12/31/20
Caught a rare moment of affection between Toasty and Mochi... who usually ignore each other at best.
It didn't last long
Toasty did enjoy a visit from cousin Beignet on Christmas. It was good for Beignet to play with someone who was bigger than him, as he tends to be a little two forceful with tiny kittens. Sturdy Toasty was a good match for him.
I'm so happy he seems to be over his moody independent stage. He's resumed his kitten clinginess and desire to be with me often. He has a tiny little kitten cry that is always delightful but slightly shocking from such a big, handsome cat.
In fact, Toasty has become quite demanding about his mommy time. He wilrl grab my leg and make pathetic attempts to climb. Sometimes I can squat enough that he can jump up to a 9fl99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 (from Luna) get into position, sometimes he mews pathetically until I reach down and haul him up myself. Sometimes we get into this assisted climb.... but once up, he curls into my chest and purrs contentedly.
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