Three Day Mark

Well three days have passed and I am happy to report the two remaining kittens are still here with me.

Gallifrey, the all orange kitten has nearly doubled in size and has his kitten belly back, he has become very vocal and purrs at the slightest touch.

Elliot, the little orange and white kitten is still not where he should be but making improvements I hope. He is half the size of his brother and not as active but gladly sits with you and purrs if being petted. I am also keeping an eye on his eye as it sometimes has puss in it. He seems to be rather picky on how his food is delivered. I have to constantly move it around with a spoon and let him eat off it. A small bowl is not good enough and it takes forever for him to eat but hey, I am so grateful that he is eating anything at all. I will do what is needed.

I am lucky to have a job that allows me to take the little guys with me (much to the protest of the smelly kitten food) and as long as Sunny's humans do not pet the kittens (she becomes very distraught and jealous) everything goes well.

I will post some pictures of them soon. Right now they are kind of messy from eating and it is too late to really clean them up proper. A slightly damp cloth will have to do.

I guess that is it for now. Thank you everyone that sent well-wishes and ask about them. I hope each day I can deliver better news than the day before.


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To Small Little Victories

We shall take the little things as they come and today was a good day. When I came downstairs in the morning I will admit I was a bit concerned as I did not hear the little mews of my charges right away. I made a bit of a noise and two little heads popped up and the ruckus began, it was music to my ears. We made it through the night.

I packed their things and off we went to work where I could monitor them all day. I happen to work in a pretty cool place, the owner brings his dog Sunny everyday. She is a beautiful dog, albeit a chicken little. Now it is manditory to give a belly rub upon entering the office and since my hands were full I could not accomodate but I had her follow me into my office. I put the kittens down and they let out a mew that nearly scared the fur off this giant dog. She wasn't quite sure what to make of them and for the record stayed her distance the whole day.

I am glad to say that Gallifrey is a little piglet again and he has his little kitten belly back as well as his appetite. Elliot is eating and drinking but it takes a bit of encouragement. He is still too thin and not out of the woods just yet but I am keeping constant watch on him.

Right now they are in their crate purring away and ready for little kitten dreams and that makes me happy.

Sunny

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And Now There Are Only Two

I wish I could report some better news but another one was lost last night despite efforts to save him. He was given fluids and checked by a vet but there was little hope and he died peacefully.

Right now my focus is on the remaining two and thankfully I have a job where they can come with me and be watched, fed and hydrated all day long. Gallifrey is making quite a rebound, he has his appetite back and is drinking his liquids and taking his meds and vitamins. Elliot is still not out of the woods and I worry about him. It takes a lot more effort to get him to eat more than a few bites but he is drinking a bit more so that can be a good sign.

Mom cat is getting better with me. She does not lunge at me when I approach her cage. the hissing and growling are getting rare and her fear and trembling seems to have calmed down. Originally she was to be a spay and release but we found out she is FELV positive which is why we are loosing kittens. They fade very quickly and their little bodies can not handle a virus. Since Mom is FELV positive we can not just let her go out and infect more cats so I am working with her, patience on both ends in hopes she will have a home to go to someday.

This litter of kittens has to be one of the hardest things I had to do. I have lost pets before as I have had many over my lifetime but never ones so young. It is not easy to see or get over but I will focus on the two remaning and try my hardest to keep them healthy. Here I sit with an arsenal of vitamins, medicine, Karo syrup, pumpkin, pedialyte and some of the smelliest canned kitten food ever. I won't give up if they don't.

Goodbye little Boe



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And Sometimes They Are A Pile Of Poop

Copied from the 13 Black Cats Designs Blog on May 30, 2010

I know that there are a few people that have been following my kitten story and ask about them from time to time. I do not have good news for you today. It seems as if all the kittens have the FELV virus and this afternoon I had to put Cassandra to sleep (thank you Julia for being there with her when I could not) Two of the other kittens are not doing well and the third is not as healthy as he should be. I was told to expect the worst and I have though I am armed with and arsenal of Pedialyte, vitamins, pumpkin, a sock full of rice and a host of other things that could help. I won't give up as long as they do not (or are suffering)

I have great friends in Sara Inc and without them I don't know what I would do. I owe you all big time and I have ideas on how to pay it forward but in the meantime if anyone would like to make a donation (or even better adopt) then visit their site and open your home to what will become a part of the family

It is funny how something that has come into your life for such a minute amount of time can make such and emotional impact on you but these little guys did. I know I did all I could, I know that it would have been worse if they were out on the streets but I do feel helpless and sad because they are so little and young. It isn't easy but I would have done it again if I had to.

I am not sure who in the cosmic universe thought it was a good idea to give a clinically depressed animal lover a litter of sick kittens but when I meet the one responsible I am going to hurt him/her badly.

Goodbye little Cassy

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Sometimes Things Are Not So Rosy

Copied from the 13 Black Cats Designs Blog on May 29, 2010

Yesterday mom cat was dropped off to be spayed, tested, and ear tagged in the event that she could not be tamed (we are still working on that part) I returned later that day to pick her up and found that she is FELV positive and I am heartbroken. I also understand that there is a good chance some of her kittens may have it too and that I should prepare myself. What I did not prepare myself for is the quickness of loosing one of them. It happened this morning at 2 am, one of the little ones died in my arms, he was so little and so young.

I have had many, many pets and the loss of any of them does not get easier, this one is certainly no different. There are things that go through your head when something sudden like this happens, the "what if I only" are there, even if it is an irrational thought, but as a dear friend reminded me, at least he died in my arms and was very loved instead of being outside all alone. I just wish I could have done more, so goodbye little guy, you were here only a short time but you were such a pleasure to have around.

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Usquequaque Prosum

Copied from the 13 Black Cats Designs Blog on May 15, 2010

Usquequaque Prosum, I recently learned this phrase while working on a freelance job. Usquequaque Prosum means, if loosely, "Always Do Good"

Now anyone that knows me knows how much I love animals and there must be a cosmic sign over my home that only animals can read and it says I am a safe haven.

For about a week I have seen a beautiful orange and white tabby, rather young and very elusive and it wasn't until 2 days ago I understood why.

I had begun the task of yard work after not being able to get outside because of the weather or other engagements. Against my house was a bunch of tall weeds that have taken root in the spring. I have an old picnic table that houses my container garden up against the house and below it is a basement window-well...and well that is when I came across this:

Yup 5 of them all tucked away next to the window shielded from the elements by the well cover and safely under the table, perfect spot. I certainly do not need any more animals as I have 6 cats of my own but if I do not do something now these little guys will reproduce and become an even bigger problem so guess who has a litter of kittens for a while? Now of course I wouldn't let mom stay out there making more kittens so out came the Have-A-Heart trap and within an hour she too was caught.

Thankfully I have friends that volunteer for S.A.R.A. a wonderful rescue and they have been giving me guidance, lent me a cage for mom and a lot of other help. I never had baby kittens before as all my cats were young adults when they adopted me so this is certainly a learning experience and I am a nervous new mommy.

Since this is kitten season and they are so overwhelmed I will be taking care of these guys until they can be checked and fixed as well as their mom. Hopefully I can work with mom so she can be placed in a home. Right now she is feral and maybe with a little love and lots of patience I can turn her around...spaying might help too.

I have seemed to go off the subject of art which is the norm for this blog but animal welfare is very important to me and I wanted to share. Maybe it will inspire some of you to "Always Do Good" in whatever is close to your heart.


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