Thank you all for your help!!! Knowing that I CAN just quilt as normal THROUGH the appliques gives me great hope that I will do a good job of it!!!
Big sis---the cats et al were fused and stitched down and the blocks are all sewn together now!!! Just have to do the border!!!! The batting will be Warm & Natural---that is why my question--because they say 5" for that and the cats are bigger than that!!!!
Thank you all again!!!!