Meet Muffin

Alright Alright I'm SORRY that I've been absent for way too long once again. When I share this new kitten you'll soon understand.

I think I tentatively mentioned that when I dropped Kimba and Simba off on Friday that I *might* have a new foster kitten...

So, no people stepped forwards for a meet and greet with the two white kittens while they were with me. They went out and caused all sorts of trouble to get a photo for their Friday 'Pet of the week' picture. You would think with me pointing the camera at them all the time they'd be super models by now but alas they were nervous, look-everywhere-but-at-the-camera typical kittens.

On Friday I went out set up a cage that was less than half the size of the big cage (hopefully they keep it tidy but I highly doubt it) and plopped Simba and Kimba in there. As much as it killed me to leave them having known them for so long now, I also understood that these kittens were over eight weeks old and quickly becoming small cat looking rather than kitten looking.

They were also beginning to test the boundaries of their room, scaling the playpen gate and also attempting to scale the half door. I didn't want to risk them coming into contact with Leo or Terra as we're still not 100% certain if that's where Josie caught her little illness or not. Truthfully I'm over sick kittens and I am doing everything in my power to not have to put on aprons, booties or gloves.

Off track again. Any who I dropped the white kittens off and went for full contrast with Little Miss Muffin. Muffin is supposed to be 6 weeks old and from my brief run down on her history she's already got a prospective buyer lined up.

Muffin first meeting

Should be straight forward right? Uh No

But I'm cute! Pat me! ~ Muffin

The shelter manager mentioned she needed specialized care, not so she could gain another few hundred grams to reach 800, more to gain another 400 grams as she barely weighed 550 grams when I got her. None of the pictures truly show how little she is under all that fur.

Straight from picking her up I went out to help a family friend clear their porch. Muffin came with and we set her up in a cage on the kitchen table (with a blanket over the table and such). Said friend has a gorgeous kelpie dog Meg. Meg is near human for a dog and has the sweetest nature.

Not too long ago KitKat, Megs buddy, a gorgeous long haired black cat, met some unfortunate circumstance that took her life and cut it short.

Upon seeing Muffin, Meg began whining and would not let her eyes drop from the kitten. During breaks from cleaning I put Muffin on the ground, they would touch noses and Muffin would skitter around through the kitchen and dining room with Meg half herding half following her every move like an overly concerned mother. Hovering is the best word.

If Muffin wasn't already sold she would have been snapped up in that instant.

Now despite Muffin being dreadfully underweight she does not show it at all like Ebony did.

The semi resigned Ebony

Muffin is full of personality. She has a highly unusual unique meow that half sounds like its telling you off. Indignant is first word that comes to mind when I hear it.

Pretty little face

She is quick to dive out of any confinement into the arms of the nearest person purring loudly all the time.

Recent picture from yesterday

Muffin is also quick to tell you she doesn't want to just 'hang out' in your arms, she wants to play and run and bounce around like an idiot.

Muffin sideways bouncing at camera

The first night home Muffin got a bath because she stank (No pictures, darn).

 For about half an hour I had a short haired kitten (all long hair stuck down to her body made her look like a drowned rat) I had to do some rough clipping around her rear area as it was obvious she had some digestive upset and was matted and smelly.

I tried feeding her a mix of kitten wet and AD (weight booster) for some reason it only caused her to have diarrhea. I went straight to the AD because its easy to get into a syringe and it was what she needed, weight, nutrients etc.

Muffin has never really refused to eat I think its more circumstance she was found in that got her in the condition she was in. My thoughts are solely based on the fact that she will do anything for food. She eats well on her own but gets distracted easily so a few times a day I sit with her and make sure she gets food into her.

Muffin literally sucks on the end of the syringe and while I'm trying to refill it she's sticking her head into the food container. Since I've had her she's gone from around 550 grams to last weigh in around 670 grams. She is still considerably ribby but I can already feel the difference as they're not as pronounced.

In the first few days I had her there was little to no visibility or feel to where her belly was. I heard somewhere that if you gently squeezed a kittens belly there should be resistance and your fingers shouldn't be able to meet...well fingers could pretty much meet in the beginning. Now she's constantly wandering around with a small tennis ball sized bulge - especially after meal time.

I cant begin to tell you how much I've enjoyed having Muffin all to myself, it's probably noticed from the lack of updates but seeing the way she's going I doubt this fur ball will be here long and after this one I'm guessing there may not be anymore needing specialized care until next year...well I can hope as there still seems to be kittens coming in but I'm kind of doubtful.

Until next time....

Downsizing

Well good news all round.

Camera is happily charged for now, will need to make sure it stays that way so I can update more often.

So the important news.

Mother Fran left our home on Monday. She had by far overstayed her welcome and was over her eight plus week old kittens. She was over the four walls she had been confined in so every time someone opened the door she'd attempt to scoot out.
Leo was less than impressed with the intruder but both Leo and Terra simply followed her around like 'how did she get here? where'd she come from?' and Mother Fran wandered around like she owned the place only once did I hear her hiss at Leo when he got too close.

So since Fran didn't want to stay in the room she was confined to the big cage. I felt horrible keeping her cooped up and since her home had in fact fallen through it was decided Fran would move back to the shelter, spend a few days settling in to her new surroundings before being let out in the open sales rooms. I am sure she will get sick of the four walls pretty soon but there's lots to see and numerous people coming and going...hopefully one she'll work her charm on.

Now I failed to update one from being busy, two from my concern of Josie's illness and what the end result might end up as. I shouldn't have worried. She first started sneezing Wednesday a fortnight-ish ago. The time from the last update she was well on her way to getting better already. The whole 'is it serious flu' or 'is it just a passing bug' had pretty much been banished but one couldn't be sure.

Serious flu that the shelter has been dealing with is a cat that is appearing healthy suddenly begins sneezing, gets stuffy in the nose to the point of breathing through their mouth, refuse to eat and if they aren't humanely euthanized it progresses to discharge and failing body condition due to their inability to smell and therefore eat.
In a single home under proper care with medication, from my understanding, this flu can be treated however the cat then remains a carrier for life and needs to be watched for symptoms and will pass it on to other cats.

In the shelter environment with one ill cat among 20 or so healthy (the ill cat could even just be a carrier and not displaying symptoms) it doesn't take long before all 20 are in various stages of the flu. To treat them all one could be on the way to recovery only to relapse and then its around and around in a vicious cycle with every potential healthy cat then developing it....

Alas this is thankfully not what Josie had. Josie sneezed more than she should have for possibly a week before it began to clear up. Her nose got less stuffy and by this weekend just past she was itching to get out and play. While I thought her personality stayed the same and she never showed she was sick, playing, eating and being her usual full on self I soon found that she had another level of 'I'm feeling better'. I really wanted to spring her from quarantine early but didn't want to risk her siblings.

Health check for all wanderers passed with flying colors. The four kittens returned home and mother Fran stayed behind. None of the kittens missed their mother and were too busy checking out Josie who'd been reunited with her siblings and allowed freedom of a whole floor to run around in. Let me tell you she burnt off some pent up energy.

There IS four kittens in this bed, I'm pretty sure Kimba is squished in the top left corner.

Today, I said goodbye to Hank and Josie as they were dropped at the vet early this morning. They had reached weight, were good in health and I'm positive their new owner has waited long enough. By now they are probably tearing around their new house or being cuddled. I can also see them trying desperately to keep Josie quiet so she doesn't pop her stitches and failing miserably. That kitten isn't one to sit still.

Charming little Hank

Personality plus little Josie (such a beauty)

So now it's just the two white kittens Simba and Kimba. Unfortunately there's been no word of interest at them. Its possible tomorrow I'll be called out to the shelter where the weekly photos for the local paper will be taken and on Friday they'll be shown for all to see. Fingers crossed someone adopts them soon after the Friday advertisement.

Kimba and Simba, I mean who wouldn't want them?

If you get in touch with the Portland RSPCA and inquire about these kittens before the Friday paper I'd be happy to bring them in for a cuddle...

From what I understand at the present, on Friday the kittens will be taken out to the RSPCA and will possibly get the same isolation then put in sales treatment. I have given them all they need except for a home, they no longer need weight gain or anything specialized and they are better off finding what they need out there where the public can walk into a sale room and fall in love.

Kimba, its getting harder to tell them apart by eye color

Simba he looks deceivingly small in this picture.

There may also be a little puff ball that does need a bit of specialized care I shall find out for sure on Friday and will let you know of any new foster kittens....

Brief Absence

Well my camera has been uncharged for awhile thus the lack of pictures here but also we've had some less than good news in the previous few days.

Mother Fran's home so far has fallen through. There is a chance someone, somewhere that was interested has just not found the time to come out and finalize it, but they could also have decided not to proceed. If you are interested in a lovable orange and white female cat with gorgeous eyes and a need to be where ever you are she's your girl. Pop out to the Portland RSPCA and inquire about Fran from Kim's foster group and I'm sure we can set up a meet and greet.

(Recycled pic) You still haven't let me out of here ~ Fran

Hank is more than ready to leave for his new home. Pretty sure his new home would love to have him with them as well. The troublesome but lovable little Josie is taking her time. More on her later. He has passed his 800 gram requirement and is a solid little guy.

:.Chomp.: ~ Hank

Simba and Kimba. Amazingly these two little fur balls haven't had any requests for a meet and greet. If someone, somewhere wanted two kittens these guys are right to be booked in to get spayed and neutered and head off to their new home as soon as someone picks them. If anyone is interested please drop by the Portland RSPCA or give them a call and mention Simba and Kimba and Kim's Foster Kittens I'll be happy to set up a meet and greet for the two cotton balls.

Kimba ~ Please take me with you

Simba ~ New home sounds good

Josie. Oh little Josie. She's picked up a tiny bug. I am no vet but both myself and the vet don't think its the same virus going through the shelter. All she has done is sneeze and have a bit of a stuffy nose. She is active, alert, playing, eating, gaining weight (which is a definite bonus) and beyond sneezing more than a cat should she's got no discharge or ulcers. She's had this illness since around Wednesday and since there's been no temperature and it hasn't developed into anything more she's recuperating in her own little cage in her own room with all the TLC she can handle.

(recycled pic) Josie loves her cuddles

So a week from today I'm hoping that the sniffles and her stuffy nose ease.
She's roughly 20 grams away from making weight and once she does she'll be heading off with her brother to get spayed/neutered and into her new family. She's a little fighter our Josie and she isn't going to let no little bug get her down.

If you don't hear from me within the next week its because my hands are full with ever troublesome kittens. Since Simba, Hank and Kimba have reached 800 grams plus and are at full mobility they are getting into everything and causing mischief.
Fran has decided she wants away from all three of said mischievous kittens and makes a break to get out of the foster room every time I try and get in.
And sweet little Josie screams for attention all the time, of which she gets 99.9% of the time.

If there is any further developments of homes etc I will let you all know. Fingers crossed.