Kitten Names

Well, they're named...whether the names are good or bad they're done now and for the time I have them they'll probably stick. Anything is better than the names they came in with (oh boy).

Mother cat is now Marley as per naming from a volunteer. Her actual name when she came in was Sadie...

Marley relaxing in the playpen

The biggest of the kittens is the grey and white boy. He is past 600 grams and dropped by the shelter today to become a big boy and get his first vaccination. He is officially called Itchy since he's been here as a friend named his other brother - will get to that later. When he was admitted he was apparently called Dodge...

Itchy climbing the scratching post

Second biggest and also a big girl now is the fluffy calico Miss Priss. Or really Miss Prissy Princess. She's pretty and hissy and quite particular. By far she's the most confident and/or outspoken of the group and the title suits her much better than her original name which was Jayla. Prissy also reached a high enough weight to be given her first vaccination.

Pretty Miss Priss 

Third is Scratchy the dilute ginger and white boy. A friend came over to visit with her boyfriend and the boyfriend mentioned he was a bit scratchy. I dived on it as a name and therefore the boys became Itchy and Scratchy. I do not watch The Simpsons anymore but I did when I was younger. Anything suits him better than Chevy...

Scratchy with his sad little face

Lastly is little Hidey. She was apparently quite wild and feisty when she came in. She was originally known as Janie I think. I think she's the one that depends on her mother the most as she's the only one I've witnessed nursing.

Hidey ' I gots a mouse' and Prissy photo-bombing
her sisters photo 'Incoming!'

I set up the playpen yesterday so I could clean the main cage they're in. The kittens had a ball. There was a scratching post, room for running, new things to investigate, ways to set up their siblings and pounce on them...it was much too cute.

Hidey after sampling some wet food 'slurp'

Scratchy being cheeky 'slurp'

After I'd cleaned I hopped in the playpen with them and stayed still or waved a little bit of string at them to see if they'd play with me. A few times they walked up to my foot or stepped on me without realizing it then suddenly it dawned where they were and they reversed backwards staring at me with wide eyes. Prissy is really the only one that hisses if she's looked at or something gets too close for comfort. Thankfully she doesn't go nuts when you pick her up.

Prissy and Scratchy sharing scary stories

Competitions on who could climb the highest

Prissy teaching her brother how to do it right 'uh now to get down...'

Finally all the little kittens were returned to their cage and soon they'd zonked out sleeping peacefully.

Tired little kittens

Miss Priss looking peaceful

Hidey & Scratchy back in their 'safe' corner

Big day for such little kittens 

The Ferals

Well last night I received a call from the shelter manager. Another mother cat with four kittens had come in...

To tell the truth the mother full of milk had been brought in Thursday and it took until Friday to round up the kittens. Needless to say they haven't had much human contact. This time instead of being barely two weeks old this lot are four weeks old and actually resemble little kittens.

I set up the cage this morning then drove out to the shelter not knowing what color these guys were or how feral they actually are.

Mother is a beautiful dilute calico - please correct me if this is wrong, I still mix up tortoiseshell and calico's.
I'm not sure if she actually has a name yet or not but a volunteer suggested Marley so until I get another name off her paperwork that's what she'll be called.

Marley wasn't outright affectionate but she did head butt my hand and accept pats without fuss. She was however placing herself in front of her kittens that were huddled against the back wall.

One by one I got to meet the pathetic little hissing bundles of fluff. Three of the four kittens are fluffy the other is not. The first, a girl is a similar dilute calico as her mother with pale orange and grey. It seems she might be the first one to come out of her shell but time will tell.

The second - assuming by gender check - is a grey and white boy. He's possibly the biggest of the bunch but that could just be floof.

The third - also assuming - a light ginger and white boy. He seems to be one of the smaller ones and much more shy. To the point when he was placed in the cage at home that he wiggled behind the bed and into the corner effectively making himself stuck upside down.

Lastly is a tortoiseshell female short hair. I'm not sure if she'll grow to medium hair or not but she's much less fluffy than the other walking cotton balls. She also hides in the corner with the orange and white boy.

Names at the present haven't been decided, one because I'm not certain of their genders - except for the tortoiseshell ones since its extremely rare to have male ones due to gene things, I've been told. Another reason is I'm drawing blanks and haven't found names that fit or know if they came in with names.

Suggestions would be appreciated, even if they don't get used I'm sure I'll store them for future reference.

At the present I dont have individual photos because they think I'm a monster and I dont really want to make them even more scared of me by grabbing them and putting a flashy thing in front of their faces.

Here's a few pictures of the little rascals.

Mother with little scaredy kittens

Pretty girl and pretty boy, other two hiding in that back corner

Zoomed out to give a rough idea of their size

Crossing The Rainbow Bridge

I knew last night that the mother and kittens time on this earth was limited.

The mother was already distancing herself from the kittens, not running to their calls, not laying down to nurse but more in an upright position to the other side of the bed. She didn't go and fetch them if they happened to fall out.

The kittens...where to begin. They weren't gaining, for awhile I feared Blaze had actually passed away but he hadn't - assuming Blaze was a he from a brief glimpse. I tried feeding formula but he didn't seem to want it the rest were following in his tracks. No White had a badly infected eye. That combined with Blaze soon made me accept the fact that these guys needed to go see the vet first thing in the morning and I was 90% sure the outcome wouldn't be good.

The shelter manager got back to me early this morning after receiving my text from late last night. I didn't even bother inquiring what I could do. I just said they weren't going to make it until Tuesday. The absolute last thing I wanted was to wake up tomorrow before work and find a dead kitten.

If the kittens weren't sneezing they had blocked noses and that made nursing virtually impossible. They were struggling and I knew deep down the best thing for these little guys was to end the suffering.

I met a shelter worker out at the vets. The little bed I brought in with the kittens went into the back room and the vet returned looking sad. She shook her head. I felt relieved. I knew they were too far gone to save, that they'd fought hard but odds were against them and now they would be at peace.

The mother had the same thing only since she'd been vaccinated her symptoms weren't showing as badly. Rather than take a serious flu case back to the shelter to expose more cats to this horrible virus it was decided the mother too, would join the kittens in heaven.

Asher wanting pats

They all crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

In the ideal world they would have recovered, grown up, thrived, found homes...but it was not meant to be.

I find peace that they had a humane ending, not a long drawn out death being left to die from exposure. I am glad someone who picked up the dumped kittens brought them to the shelter rather than leaving them there. I am grateful Asher adopted them so they did grow and nurse and have some quality of life, if only for awhile.

Some kittens are not meant for this world. From this group I have learned that no matter how hard you try not all of them will survive and its not a matter of where you failed them, its things out of your control that affect which way the see-saw tilts.

Goodbye my little angels. Your time was short with me but you left little paw prints all over my heart. May your journeys be much better in heaven, across that Rainbow Bridge....

Rest In Peace Little Angels

Latest News: The Good and The Bad

I may as well begin with the good news.

I dropped by the shelter today and found no Jimmy in the sales rooms. By now he'll be in his own home somewhere living it up and causing mischief. Good on you little Jimmy.

I was reunited with Stella and Coleman who were still in the sales rooms but...they had white neck collars. They're sold (YAY). I found out they've been adopted together so the two siblings will be together forever which makes me extremely happy. Stella who faced death so many times in her month with me pulled through and is now going to be heading off to a family of her own. I'm so happy.

I do believe she did remember me and the fact I used to feed her dine kitten food as she tried following me out of the room and was meowing at me just like she used to. Coleman also wandered over for pats but resumed playing with a track ball soon after.

Safe journeys kittens, may you be loved long and hard in your years to come.


On the bad news front. The kittens still don't have names really.

One is called Squealer because every time I have to handle that one it screams, its by far the biggest of the group and not suffering too much gunk on the eyes. There are no great pictures of this one as I try to put it back quickly.

Squealer to the left only picture I've got so far

Number two is just No White. I don't have a lot to do with this one either as its holding its weight well and doesn't seem too gunky either.

No White, not a happy little chappy

Number Three is Blaze. Yes they're nicknamed after face markings so I know which ones I've done and which ones I haven't. I shall return to talk about Blaze in a moment.

Blaze doing the silent meow

Number four is Grey. This one is the easiest to know if I've done its eyes or not. They're often both glued shut with gunk and its also not so well off as Squealer or No White.

Grey does have two eyes open after eye bathe

Back to Blaze. Blaze is the most worrying in the last few weigh-ins this ones been dropping and not rising. Its nose is often covered in snot so I'm figuring its having trouble breathing or smelling. In the few times I've witnessed the mother lying down its going everywhere but where the nipples are and I haven't actually seen it latch on as yet. Thus the reason I've had to go out to the shelter and grab some kitten formula to try and get 'something' into it between times its mother might lay down long enough for it to fumble around.

L to R: No White, Grey, Blaze & Squealer

Asher is having her own problems. She's coughing like she needs to throw up but swallows and brings nothing up. She does occasionally look uncomfortable. She keeps wanting out of the big cage and I'm not sure if she wants to search out a smaller pen for her kittens or what...she's quite the mystery. I do know she does occasionally lie down to nurse her kittens but every time I go in she hops up to eat or to sit at the door and wants out. I am assuming she's got the same virus as the kittens as well so she might be going on antibiotics at the next vet visit but I'm not entirely sure.

Asher enjoying a moments peace while kits sleep

Keep little Blaze in your thoughts, this little one is going to need all the help it can get. Hopefully next news update is good news. *fingers crossed*

Tiny little Blaze snoozing on my hand

On side note, I've changed the settings to allow anonymous comments. Feel free to write wishes for the kittens by clicking on comment at the bottom of the blog post.

Incredible Mother

Well these new kittens with their step-in-mother aren't going to be as straight forward as I had originally hoped...not that they would ever really be straight forward anyway.

I had figured if mother and bubs were fit and healthy and going strong I'd only have to keep an eye on their weights to make sure mother was supplying enough milk and keep food up to the mum while keeping her room clean.

Hah...

Went to pick them up from the shelter today where they had their vet check up. Not great news. All kittens eyes which are at around the opening stage are gunky so I'll be having to bathe them and a few of them are snotty so it wont be long before they're all snotty and gunky...fun

There is 4 kittens here

Mother coughs like she's trying to bring up a hairball and is some ointment to see if that helps but she will also probably end up catching or developing symptoms of what the kittens have due to the close quarters with them.

Any who their story is quite incredible no matter the outcome. The mother came in separate to the kittens her own six week old - or thereabouts. Her kittens had been given away or something as they didn't come in with her. She still had milk.

Not sure how long between but someone found the dumped four little teeny tiny day old kittens somewhere. By off chance the shelter staff thinking they were hers offered them to her. The mother cat accepted them and therefore gave them a fighting chance.

Zoomed out take up so little space on the big bed

When all this was going on I was still saddled with the sneezing Trio and wasn't able to take on more kittens, especially not ones that young. Another staff member took them with her and looked after them for the week to week and a half but wasn't set up for long term fostering.

And that's where I stepped in.

The days and weeks to come will decide whether these tiny little kittens are strong enough for this world or if they succumb to their illness' but I will try everything I can to give them the best care no matter what outcome.

The mother is called Asher

Asher looking for pats

The kittens don't really have a name right now beyond The Midgets. They were named after Kath & Kim names but since I'm not sure if they have been gender checked and don't particularly love referring to a snotty  nosed kitten with my own name I've decided against personalized names for now.

Will try and keep the events updated but it might be a short while between posts. Pictures of kittens sleeping with gunky eyes can only be posted so often...

Fingers crossed these little guys fight :)

Meant To Be....

Well the Trio has left the nest also....

Last Tuesday the vet heard some congestion with Stella and said give it a week before checking her again.

Who Me? I'm not trouble, I'm cute

If she still had the congestion she would have failed the exam and have to be put to sleep.

If she was good she'd pass.

With this little trouble maker who was supposed to be eight days of my care ended up taking about a month to move on to new hands.

A moment of stillness before all photos taken are blurs

Yes she passed as did her two brothers.

I did have my concerns. Passing was not guaranteed until today. Although they were all acting fine with Jimmy being the only occasional sneezer there was nothing saying internally something would prevent them from getting a home. I am no vet, I also have very basic knowledge so if a cat is eating, drinking, playing and pooping and peeing in good fashion I consider them healthy.

Stella being her bright active and HEALTHY self (*cheers*)

I am sure the three little ones will find homes very soon. People are asking about kittens and these guys are the lucky ones that have turned up before the big influx hits.

Jimmy was being difficult to get last day photos

Whats that bright flashy thing? Can I play with it?

Pretty Boy Coleman

Your hand is mine - Coleman
(he wasn't biting just hugging it as he'd recently taken to doing)

All good news must come with bad news. Not really too bad for the kittens more from my own point of view...I am now officially kitten-less once again *sniff* although I'm sure Leo will be happy that he'll have extra time with me.

It never ceases to amaze me after following other blogs on how people get good or great pictures of cats. Out of hundreds of shots there is only so few that can be used. The kitten moves at last minute, its out of focus...I figured I'd share one of the silly failure pictures...feel free to place your own caption for it in the comments.

I wish the little Trio a safe journey, a great family and hope that family comes sooner rather than later...if only for the surprise of finding Stella to be quite fussy about what she decides to eat...

Happy endings and Suspense

On the 30th of October 2012 Henry left the nest. YAY

Henry after dunking his paw in the bowl of water. Silly boy.

I brought all the kittens in for a vet check and since Henry wasn't sneezing as much and otherwise healthy - bowel movements included - they gave him a pass for sales.

Henry was placed in a community room with three other large cats. A pair of cats that were bonded - whether they formed this bond in the room or came in together it is unknown - and a tortoiseshell female. The black cat came out of its basket that it'd been sharing with a long haired tabby and came over to Henry. I was expecting Henry to crouch low and hiss or cower. Nope.

Henry walked forward all confident and gave the black cat a rub under the chin - since Henry only came up to his chin. He never turned around and hissed when this black cat investigated him and gave the same buddy bump when the tabby came over. I was amazed I'd never seen a cat adjust to the sale rooms so well.

The female came down from a ledge and Henry walked straight up to her and buddy bumped her too. The tortoiseshell never hissed or flinched and Henry just wandered around like he owned the place.

Unfortunately none of the homes that could have been lined up for him came through but only a few days later I was told he was adopted by a mother for her young daughter. I am sure Henry wont be lacking in love and cuddles and room to run around in.

He changed so much from the skinny orange boy that cowered against you or hid in dark corners. Henry became an outgoing, playful and very cuddly boy that took all new things in stride. Will miss my lovable orange boy and hope the best for his future with his new family. (*sniff*)

One of the few decent pictures I got of him before he left.

******

On another note at the same vet check with Stella, Coleman and Jimmy since they were still sneezing more often than Henry the vet advised giving them another week.

Jimmy and Stella cuddling (Coleman in other bed)

This coming Tuesday - Now Wednesday due to a public holiday - they will get a final pass or fail.

The outcome for Stella is still touch and go. She is eating, gaining and is still over 1000 grams but on her vet check the vet found she sounded a little congested. If she is still congested by the Wednesday's check then her strong battle will meet a sad ending. :(

Coleman sitting pretty. Such a gorgeous boy.

The congestion could be possibly treated in the perfect world but Stella has had many chances and has been in foster care for well over the original 8 days. They cannot pass a cat or kitten that is not healthy and that's where Stella stands at the present. A lot can happen in a week and fingers crossed with the way Stella's behaving at the present that she passes.

Jimmy is sneezing the most out of the three - still bunking with Coleman who's sneezing less. Stella isn't sneezing at all or very little if she is. This also gives me hope that she's recovering.

Jimmy intently focused on something

Outcome will not be known until next Wednesday so hopefully I'll be able to report all three graduating into the cat community of sales room and their hunt to find a new home.

Send Prayers for Stella and her siblings for
good vet check on Wednesday

The Trio

The Trio came to me on 13th of October 2012. I was bringing in Henry for a vaccination, check over and my shelter adviser had hinted that maybe I would be able to take on the three as well.

This first injection they all got the day I met them is a blessing in disguise.

Before I ramble off about them here's a group photo.

Jimmy, Coleman & Stella

Anyways, from the beginning I wasn't told to keep them separated from each other despite Henry's sneezing occasionally. Therefore they had free play on the floor while I cleaned out cages.

All three of the kittens were over the weights which I usually took on and firstly it was going to be only eight days before they would move on to sales. Hah...

None were showing any symptoms of catching what Henry already had but Stella became a mystery.

Stella was the smallest of the group. The day after she came home with me she began refusing to eat or vomiting up whatever food she did eat or bile since nothing was in her stomach. Her weight dropped from 910 grams down to 861 grams overnight. Not a good omen.

Little Pretty Stella

I was handling all the kittens getting them used to being held, Jimmy and Coleman were the least happy about that but Jimmy would stand to be patted and would purr at me as long as all four feet were on the ground.

Due to Stella refusing to eat I had to syringe feed her to get at least something in her stomach. Thankfully she was no longer vomiting and even began looking brighter but she wouldn't eat on her own no matter what I offered her.

Right when I thought we were in the clear and Stella just had a mystery illness or was just really picky Coleman and Jimmy began sneezing. (face palm)

Jimmy stealing the spotlight

Coleman looking Pretty

All the while trying to figure out methods of separation and getting Stella to eat she was getting lower and lower rather than higher and higher. She got down to a measly 790 grams. I reached the end of my tether and was desperately trying to prepare myself for the fact that she might not make it to sales at all.

On the vet day that week she was brighter, meowing, still not eating on her own but playing and doing everything a normal kitten should. Again I was baffled but also knew that looking at her weights she still could be put down.

Thankfully the vet found her to be perky and alert, curious about her surroundings. He advised me to stop syringe feeding her and she'd have to sink or swim on her own. 

I got a third cage from outside and crammed it into the study as well. Its more than a bit crowded in there now.

I set Stella up in her own cage, the following day went out and grabbed whatever kitten wet foods I could find to try and entice her to eat. I also got vet prescribed chicken and rice to boil up for Henry in attempt to get his stools less watery and more solid. 

Henry wasn't fussed having meals cooked for him and resumed eating his ID dry food just to point that out.

Since they were all now sneezing the vet said they weren't needing to be as strictly kept apart and the virus would run its course in a matter of at least 10 days. Possibly. 

I tried to give them all free time on the floor once or twice a day. Little Stella made a liar of me and the first kitten wet food I offered her she scoffed down until her bowl was sparkling. Kitten Dine brand. Possibly full of junk but she goes nuts over the stuff.

Coleman and Jimmy remained on whiskas wanting nothing to do with the Hills brand wet food they are normally assigned and Henry had his chicken and Rice to try and firm up his stool although he usually had more leftovers than any he actually ate.

On the up side Stella being a chicken fanatic decided she was quite happy to help him fish out the chicken pieces and once again made me wonder if it was my imagination that she wasn't eating or that she was just holding out until something really expensive and smelly turned up...

Only within recent days, Stella has shot back up to just over the 1000 gram mark passing the weight she was when I first brought her home and becoming more and more outgoing, affectionate and a regular troublesome little kitten that really SHOULD be in her own home by now.

Henry is getting bored of his confines, I would let him run the room all day but any kitten that is out has now decided jumping the half door into mass population is great fun....not so much for Leo or Terra who are now showing their own signs of allergy or more likely flu (face palm). Henry is however sneezing less and pooping in much better form I am really hoping he gets cleared for adoption soon as he may already have a home lined up.

Jimmy, Coleman and Stella are all sneezing less as well but its still likely I'll have all four for at least another week. I am hoping fingers crossed that these kittens don't throw another spanner into the works and come down with something else...or Stella deciding she's over the dine kitten food and wanting something else...

Snuggling together