We started the week with Ms. Cybelle and her two kittens, but by the end of the week there was only one kitten with us in Kaaawa.

Ms. Kitten joined her new family on Tuesday afternoon, eight weeks to the day from their birth back on April 30. Her brother is going to remain with us.

She's adapting quickly, according to an on-the-scene report received yesterday from her new household:

Want to report that the former Ms. Kitten now answers (sort of) to Maka, which is short either for Maka Lea (twinkle eyes) meaning mischievous or Makamae meaning precious and cherished. It all depends.

She seems to be doing well. She and (Popoki Lima) Kea are getting along already. Mostly wary play with the occasional hiss, swipe and standing back hairs.

We've known from Day 1 that these kittens would have to find new homes--or so we maintained until recently--but it didn't make saying good-bye any easier.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kitten, now probably to be known as Duke, was depressed for a day and a half. Lots of sleep, little play. Then he woke up to a new day, and he was back to "normal", bouncing off the furniture, if not the walls.

Perhaps he can tell that we're not going to give him away.

Cybelle has been getting into playing since Ms. Kitten departed, and she's now romping through the house chasing or being chased. At least she romps between bouts of wailing and shaking her booty for anyone who will pay attention. The poor cat must have been pregnant or in heat just about forever!

Now that Duke has gotten used to playing with Cybelle, he's starting to be tempted by the other cats. Here he is in a complex dance with Ms. Kili, who showed lots of interest but managed to restrain herself.

This cardboard box, now flattened by hours of play, has been the play field for kitten and cats.

Mother and kitten are still very close. But how long is this nursing thing going to continue? He'll be nine weeks old in a couple of days, but Mr. Duke still loves to grab a minute or two on mom. I suppose we'll see if this leads to greater psychological health in male cats.