Ivy's Moving Out - New Kids Moving In?

Just some quick updates for those of you who don't see us giving them live on the stream!

Harvey in the cheese-house.

Firstly, we think we've solved our technical issues in a very practical way.  We configured a server in another location (Texas, actually) so that it will stream a "Technical Difficulties - Please Stay Tuned" message whenever the stream is down.  The good news is, it works, and probably means that we'll not change URLs or lose our statistics again.  The only bad news is that YouTube is a little sensitive and will put it up even if we only glitch for a second.  I think we can live with that.  Special thanks to viewer Tania, who created the graphic we are using as a placeholder until we can put something more permanent in place.  Tania intended it as a business card, but it's just so cute!

Thanks, Tania!  We love this image!

Secondly, the shelter that is ultimately responsible for these kittens has suggested that we move Ivy out for the next couple of weeks, so that she completely stops nursing and we can have her spayed.  I think that's an idea that Ivy herself would approve -- many of you have seen that she prefers to be out of the room lately, anyhow.  So, it's likely that she will not be coming back to the Kitten Academy room, though you may still see her in our YouTube videos and our Periscope sessions.  The Periscope sessions get announced on Twitter to our Twitter followers, and if you don't follow us there, you should!  It's worth it just for the Periscopes!

Ivy is all too happy to get some peace and quiet away from the kids!

Finally, we've put in a request to Animal Outreach Society for some more kittens that would be of a weight or age that is compatible with Yale, Harvey, and Cornell.  They are going to keep an eye out for us, so we may have some additional kittens joining this session late!

Here's all the photos from the most recent photoshoot, some of which you may have seen already on our Twitter or elsewhere.

 

 

Quick Note About the Live Stream

Hey folks.  Let us start with the TL;DR - the livestream is up, it's daytime, and if you are not seeing the stream or you think it's not daytime, you are in the wrong place.  Please try this link:  http://www.youtube.com/c/KittenAcademy/live 

Acro!

The longer story here is that YouTube recently changed how it handles live streams to improve things for the general user.  But it makes things more annoying and difficult for continual, 24/7 live streams like ours.  Now if the stream goes offline at all -- as it did this morning when we had a brief power outage at 2:45am -- when it comes back, it gets a new URL, and has all the likes/dislikes and view counts reset.

Harvey naps in the cheese.

However, YouTube does provide two different ways to configure a stream, and we are hoping that if we use the other way, it will no longer have these issues.  We're running a test of that right now.  The bad news is -- if the test is successful and the other way works, we probably will have to announce another URL change when we switch to that other way.  The good news is, it should hopefully be the very last one ever!

Prisma AI interpretation of the previous photo.

In the meantime, the URL at the beginning of this post should work, and if you ever wonder if it's changed, you can always come to this website, and use the 'Live Stream' menu option (though yes, the embedded version there was wrong for a while this morning -- so sorry!).  

Expense Report and Health Updates

This is going to be another one of those wordy posts, but we'll break it up a bit with some photos.  Those of you who really have to skip straight to the spreadsheet can click here.

Cornell already doesn't think this will be a fun post...

First off, we're glad to report that Yale seems like she's doing just wonderfully.  She's still several ounces behind her siblings in weight, but she's gaining at a very appropriate rate now, and playing, and generally being a healthy kitten!

Yale being playful.  

Ivy had another hair-pulling episode the other day.  She's not doing it very often, but nonetheless, we've arranged for a vet visit for her tomorrow afternoon.  We'll be leaving shortly after 1:00.  The kittens are old enough now to stay home, so it'll be just Ivy going away for the afternoon.

Ivy disapproves.  Of everything.

As you are probably aware,  Kitten Academy is really just a couple of people who foster kittens out of their home.  We're super appreciative of all of your help and contributions.  We think, because so many people have donated and sponsored us on Patreon, that it's about time we start to open the books, so you can know how much money we are spending -- and also how far we are from "breaking even."

Harv is stunned by spreadsheets.

Before we share the (still very incomplete) actual numbers, please allow us a moment to explain them.

The spreadsheet is broken into three sections:  vet bills, food costs, and miscellaneous.  

VET:  This section contains all the vet expenses from Kitten Academy kittens and momcats for this year, to date.  We believe all the vet vists are here, but our records don't always include what each visit was for, so some of the data is empty.  We can say for sure that these bills were entirely for Academy kittens and momcats, and not for faculty, since the faculty goes to a different vet -- Grayslake Animal Hospital.  

FOOD:  Unfortunately, we have not, so far, tracked food costs separately for Kitten Academy expenses and for our own faculty cats.  We don't want to put misleading or incorrect data on the spreadsheet, so this section is mostly empty.  We will start tracking it separately going forward, and fill this out as we go along.  There's a couple of entries here, because we ordered some food off Amazon specifically for Toffee and company.  We previously estimated the food cost minimum at $335/month for a Patreon goal, which is almost certainly low.

MISC:  This section contains the technology that allows us to do the live stream, as well as things like our scales, cat trees, thermometers, and other items that are specifically for Kitten Academy use.  This, too, we've not tracked well.  We started it out with a few things we know, but there's plenty that we've spent that's not accounted for here.  We want to be perfectly clear that these are not items that will be paid for with donations; these are completely our own expenses.  There's a couple good reasons for us to include them, however.

Yale: "Do tell..."

Firstly, we might open up a separate option to donate for infrastructure concerns like this.  If we do, then we need to be able to explain what's being paid for.

Secondly, we've been considering becoming a legitimate non-profit.  So far, it doesn't make sense financially to consult with the required lawyer, accountant, and to pay the filing fees, and so forth.  But there's a chance that in the future, it might.  Once it does, we'll want to be in the habit of tracking these kinds of expenses for the non-profit.

Can has spreadsheet now?

Hopefully that's all the necessary explanation, but please let us know if you have any questions.  You can email us at headmaster@kitten.academy

Click here to access the spreadsheet.  

Bonus Photos:

Today's Photoshoot

First, some quick news to get out of the way.  Everyone seems to be using the litterbox consistently and successfully!  And we've observed Cornell and Harvard both feeding themselves from the food bowls.  We haven't seen Yale doing the same yet -- we'll keep force feeding her to try to keep her weight up in the meantime.  Her limp isn't gone yet, but it does seem like she's improving a lot.

We took some photos of varying quality today.  Here's a gallery of all of them - as usual, you can click to get the fullscreen version.  Also includes a few of the faculty cats!

Update to the Update on Yale's Health

Yale went to the vet today, and got fully checked out.  We took X-rays, and it's nearly certain there is nothing broken.  It can be a little hard to tell, with kittens this small, but the vet feels confident, and so do we.

Ivy, Yale, and the rest on the way to the vet.

Instead, the vet supposes that Yale probably has feline calicivirus.  If you look that up online, you should know, it's probably not as scary as it sounds.  A great lot of cats have it and are just fine.  Typically they'll get sick for a while, fight it off, and then just live with the virus, and no real symptoms -- and no further chance of contagion.  That's what we expect for Yale.  And we don't have to worry about Yale infecting any of the rest of the Faculty, because they're all vaccinated against it already.  Most cats get vaccinated against it as a matter of course.

Yale's also beautiful on the inside - and now we have proof!

Of course, while the vet's diagnosis is almost certainly correct, it's also worth remembering that we didn't perform and real test for calicivirus; it's a presumptive diagnosis.  Whenever you have a kitten that has a fever and a limp, this is what you assume is going on.  Because it's likely, and common.  We'll be 'treating' it by giving her some powerful painkillers to help her get by, and some antibiotics to help prevent any secondary infections.  

Yale says she'll be fine!  


Then we just wait for her own immune system to fight it off.  Which is almost certainly how it'll go.  No worries!

Ivy and Cornell are ready to go home.

Quick Update on Yale's Health

Thanks to everyone who wrote in to let us know Yale has been limping.  We will eventually respond to you all personally, but it may take a little time.  

We checked her out ourselves, and we're convinced nothing is broken; she probably just twisted it a bit when she was climbing and playing.  

We're going to take a watch-and-wait approach for the moment.  There's really not much a vet can do in this situation anyhow.  But if she doesn't seem better in short order, we'll take her in regardless.

EDIT: It's Monday night, and Yale is still limpy.  If she doesn't seem better in the morning, we will take her in to a vet. 

Here's a quick photo to pay the cat tax:

 

 

Adoption Event Photos and News!

A lot of great people showed up at the event and gave a lot of love to the kittens.  And the On Angel's Wings volunteers were especially wonderful, helpful, and attentive.  A few people even told me they had been watching the kittens on our live stream!  

As you probably know, Toffee was adopted yesterday, and today at the event, Cobbler and Poppy were also adopted!  I completely failed in my duties - I was supposed to get an adoption photo for Toffee and I just plain forgot.  But if you want to keep up with how he's fitting in at his new home, you can follow his adopter @ccc_ccc8 on twitter.  Suffice it to say, he's getting plenty of love.

But we do have adoption photos for Cobbler and Poppy!

There were several other On Angel's Wings kittens adopted, too, and a lot of interest in the other Kitten Academy kittens.  Fennel was especially a favorite.  

Before we get to the rest of the photos, some quick news!  Ivy is in the main room now, and we've temporarily placed the cameras around her box.  But we're waiting to see where she decides to settle in, tonight, before we make any serious effort to position the cameras.

Also, Custard came home with us.  We couldn't resist making him a professor!  Pictures to come later!

All the other kittens are at On Angel's Wings in Crystal Lake, just waiting for some loving family to adopt them.  Drop by the store and see them anytime!

Also, we had some bonus photos from the photoshoot on Saturday!  

So. Much. Fan. Art!

We were going over our e-mails and realized we have a GIANT backlog of WONDERFUL fan art of the kittens!  Strap yourselves in; this is going to be a long post.  We'll go in mostly chronological order here.  If you submitted art and it's not in this post, please send us an email to remind us!  We didn't leave you out on purpose, I promise!

First up, one you may have seen already from "Ari Cotton Candy," on our twitter.  Inspired by Shortcake's obvious dental aspirations.  This reminds me of Doctor Cat, and I love it!

Next we have a drawing of Toffee from Blu-Pond, who has a DeviantArt profile, too!  I love the fuzzy silliness in this drawing; it really is Toffee's essence.

Next up, two variations on a Toffee-flavored theme, from "whitefluffy444", a self-declared Toffee lover and fantastic artist from L.A.  This looks to me like a Toffee who could lead a boy band!  Those eyes are dreamy!

Now, a contribution from Emerald Universe, who says "I'm just learning to paint on a computer with software, and decided to start with the best cat in the world, Toffee."  You could not have picked a better subject to begin with, Emerald Universe!  And of course we agree about Toffee!

Next we have a set of submissions from long time regular, KaramelKraft, out of Israel.  KaramelKraft is always trying different styles, and we love them ALL.

Long time, prolific contributor "Bindi Luckycat" gets an entire gallery.  Bindi, I dunno how you do it, but I love all your work.  They're all wonderful, but I think Toffee and Shortcake breakdancing is my favorite, thematically.

Next, a submission from the mysterious "McDraggy," who says: "It's Ivy and her kits; I had a lot of fun drawing Harvey!"  No kidding!  Harvey's face is ADORABLE.  The whole thing is fantastic!!!  

Hazel Allison, who started the fad of calling Harvey a "scream bean" -- as McDraggy's illustration nicely captures -- has contributed more magical art that shows you a message if you click it, but not in the thumbnail.  These were all donated as graduation send-offs for nutmeg and the spice girls, but the first one is a bonus done in a more abstract style.  These are all wonderful, Hazel, with fantastic detail!  I hope their adopters appreciate it as much as we do.

Next up!  A donation from Jadefeathers -- Ivy's league.  All snuggled up!  I absolutely love the satisfied expressions, and the detail of Yale's little starburst, and Ivy's green eyes.  Heartwarming!

SqueakyCat sneaks in with an adorable sketch of Cornell, Harvard, and Yale, before their eyes are opened!  Brilliant details, and I love the "pompadour" hairstyles!  

Here's a sketch of Toffee from someone you may remember from the YouTube live chat.  Scandaloom, we love you!  And did you know Scandaloom has a Twitter?  Because we didn't!  

Here we have two wonderful submissions from a new contributor - Kawin from Switzerland!  I am absolutely blown away by the details in both of these drawings.  They are meticulously detailed in the way I might expect from a Swiss watchmaker.  Perhaps it's in their blood!  Every single detail from the print on the cat toys to the clock, hanging in the kitchen, outside the kitten room, is perfectly reproduced!  And I also love the expressions of the kittens, and the playfulness!  Kawin says this is their very first fan art ever.  I, for one, hope they do more in the future!

To all of you, wonderful, fantastic, amazing artists - thank you.  We apologize that it's been so long since we've posted about your art.  We hope each and every one of you will continue to contribute.  It's special to us, and it's amazing to the adopters.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Big Kitten Adoption Event!

This Sunday, the 28th, all the kittens from the big room at the Kitten Academy will be making an appearance at the PetSmart in Crystal Lake, along with a bunch of other kittens from On Angel's Wings other fosters.  Toffee will not be appearing, as he'll be picked up by his new family on Saturday.

If you'd like to even consider adopting one of the kittens at the event, please contact On Angel's Wings now and fill out an application, so you can be pre-approved and take your kitten home with you on Sunday!

Though Tamarind got left out of the flyer, below, she will also be there.

You can find additional photos of the adoptable cats all over our site, but especially on the Graduation Photos Mewspaper Post.

Eyes Open Photoshoot!

First, some quick mews:  the shelter at On Angel's Wings in Crystal Lake is FULL OF KITTENS.  So full that there's no room for ours.  So, while they have officially graduated, and are available for adoption right now, they will be staying at the Academy for another week.  If you want to adopt one of the older kittens, please apply now.  There's an event next Sunday, Aug 28th at the PetSmart in Crystal Lake, where all our kittens will be making an appearance, whether the shelter has room or not.

Toffee is the only one who has already been adopted.  Shortcake, Cobbler, Custard, Nutmeg, Fennel, Tamarind, Clove, and Poppy are all available! 

Now on to the main event!  We took some photos today of Ivy's kittens, to celebrate the fact they all have their eyes open!