Getting Up To Speed - Long Post, Fast Facts!
Hello, Kitten Academicians!
It is no secret that we’re once again behind on the blog but we are here to bring you back up to speed with fast facts about past classes as well as some housekeeping matters in today’s post. Sticking to fast facts will help us get caught up quicker and save this post from being an hour-long read. Changes have been made to hopefully make it easier to stay up-to-date with current and future classes. We apologize for the lack of updates and greatly appreciate those of you who have stuck with us.
Let’s pounce right in!
Housekeeping Matters
Shelter Change
To start off, Kitten Academy has parted ways with DAWS and is now working with H.E.L.P. For Pets, Inc. We appreciate the connection we shared with DAWS and we still think they do great work. Our decision to part ways was in large part due to changes made that didn’t support a continued relationship based on our own fostering practices and procedures. Through all of this, we still have an ongoing relationship with Michelle, who now happens to work for H.E.L.P. For Pets, Inc. She has been our Momcat coordinator for several years and has been processing all of the adoption applications that come through us for just as long. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have the opportunity to continue working together!
Pace Of Fostering
Another point of interest, fostering. Kitten Academy has no intentions of stopping; however, we do intend to slow down slightly. In prior years we’ve had two or three classes at a time, somewhere between 6-9 kitten classes per year. While this is very rewarding, it's also an incredible amount of work. Throw in any sort of kitten illness and that work feels like it triples overnight, especially if that illness is something contagious.
Since moving to Pennsylvania, we have slowed down our intake of momcats and have found this pace to be much easier to manage. Somewhere within 3-6 classes per year feels right for us at this time. This allows us to give more attention not only to the kittens individually but to the aging faculty as well. Again, we do not plan to stop fostering anytime soon; we only intend to maintain our current, calmer pace.
Faculty Updates
- Ari: In June, Ari started walking with a very slight limp. Over a couple days his condition did not improve so he earned a couple trips to the vet. During one of these vet trips it was confirmed that he had a mild case of Pillow Paw/Foot. The first course of treatment was steroids in an attempt to put the pillow paw into remission. Although Ari appeared to be doing better, his paws were still chapped and swollen so the vet decided to prescribe a strong course of antibiotics instead. As of writing this, Ari is nearly done with his antibiotic treatment and has been started on probiotics to help re-balance his gut health.
- Loganberry: Earlier in the year we noticed Loganberry starting to lose weight despite what seemed to be a normal appetite. A vet appointment was scheduled, an exam took place and blood work was taken. Shortly thereafter, the blood work came back with results that showed a thyroid condition. Loganberry started medicine a few days later without much improvement. At the same time, his appetite didn’t seem too strong so he was given mirtazapine, an appetite stimulant, for a couple days. After talking with the vet, a switch was made to a trans-dermal thyroid medication and things have been going well ever since!
Now, on to the class updates!
Scribbles & Her Pencilvanians
The first Pennsylvania class! The Pencilvanians were first introduced in this post. Last we left off they were teeny tiny and just starting to open their eyes. During their time at the Academy they all got their vaccines and graduation surgeries on the normal schedule. After what felt like a few tough classes in a row, this class was an absolute delight. They were all very social, healthy, playful and easy going. Adopters were announced and picked up their respective adoptee(s) within 3 days of each other in November of 2025.
- Lore & Haiku got adopted together and moved in with Hot Chocolate up in Canada
- Sonnet moved to New York to live with Ledger & Joist
- Manifesto & Brochure went home together with one of the KA-Con organizers
- Scribbles moved to Georgia with a long-time KA supporter
Due to some website issues and problems with access, Popcorn & Harriet never got proper introduction posts of their own. In an attempt to give you the important details while still holding true to the fast facts nature of this post, below will be condensed versions of their time at the Academy.
The current class, Always Punny, will get an introduction page of their own later this week. Following a vet visit this Tuesday, we will be able to complete their post with the most up-to-date information possible. That post will also contain some really cute photos, make sure you are prepared for the cuteness!
Popcorn & The Mystery Adopter
Popcorn arrived to the Academy on January 17th, 2026. A few weeks later she went into labor and produced a single non-viable kitten. Mr. A recorded THIS closeup stream later that morning, plainly explaining the facts of what happened.
During her time at Kitten Academy, Popcorn, who lovingly earned the nickname “Stop-Corn”, became an absolute wild child. Popcorn excelled at playing and eating (stolen) food. Her main goal was to be included and involved in whatever was going on. She not only enjoyed but absolutely thrived in total chaos, most of which she created herself. Just some of the stolen food evidence:
If you don’t find that convincing, check out her playlist for yourselves!
A couple weeks later, Popcorn was scheduled for a vet check and spay which she came through very well. Surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, the spay didn’t slow her down one bit. Even directly after coming home from surgery she was playing with toys, climbing the cat tree, zooming around the room and trying to get anyone who passed by to play with or chase her.
In June, Popcorn received an approved adopter who told us she wanted to remain a mystery until pick-up. Of course, we obliged. The big reveal came over a month later during KA-Con weekend when a longtime discorder arrived to pick up Popcorn and fly her home. Popcorn continues to live her best life, creating endless chaos in California.
Harriet & The Hattersons
Harriet, who we ended up calling Hattie, arrived at the Academy on February 7th, 2026, from Georgia. Apart from her big belly, she came with no proof of pregnancy. Because of this, a vet appointment was set to investigate. Along with an x-ray that confirmed pregnancy, she was given a probiotic to help with some extra bad poops she’d been having since arrival. Just shy of three weeks after her arrival, Hattie went into labor and delivered 4 healthy kittens. The class grew to welcome two gray girls and two completely white boys. After a week, both boys started developing obvious colorpoint markings.
Unlike the Pencilvanains, this class did have some minor health issues that needed treating. Helmet received medication for some ulcers in his mouth and healed up nicely. Two of the kittens also were found to have a slight heart murmur but ultimately the vet ruled it to be a non-issue. The class was moved from the kittenette to the sunroom toward the end of May and, for the most part, enjoyed their new space. Hattie didn’t always appreciate the faculty peeking in but learned to accept them over time. When their vet checks and bloodwork came back with good results, we were able to schedule graduation surgeries for mid-June.
The boys found approved adopters very quickly while Hattie and the girls, Panama & Snood, took a little longer. In the end, everyone went to a loving home!
- Beanie & Helmet were adopted in June and went to live with two Puppies, Pomeranian & St. Bernard
- Hattie was adopted in August and, despite her initial troubles getting along with faculty, has come to accept her feline roommate rather quickly
- Panama & Snood were just adopted in October and are doing great in their new home together
Photo order below: Harriet, Beanie, Panama, Snood, Helmet
With that, we’re all caught up on our graduated classes! Thanks again for your patience and continuing to follow these wonderful momcats and kittens. We know these large breaks haven’t made it easy and we’re hopeful the changes we’ve made will help to avoid instances like this in the future.
Come back later this week for the Always Punny blogpost with photos!