Major Milestones and Moving Out...

Well quite a bit has happened since I last posted...

Where to begin.

A lovely lady inquired about a kitten and got directed to me and my group of kittens quite a few weeks ago now. Thus the post on the kittens and their personalities. She tentatively put a hold on Tilly but was undecided as to whether Tina may also suit the family.

I'm spoken for? ~ Tilly

On the day Turbo went in for neutering both Tilly and Tina were of the right weight (800 grams) and got booked in as well. Turbo was originally going to go back to the shelter and hitch a ride on a transport to another shelter but Leanne got another inquiry about a family wanting a kitten.

I had a day of meet and greets out at the shelter where the first family confirmed Tilly was for them but will remain in my care for now. Details on that at a later date.

The Pretty Tilly

The second family had wanted either Tilly or Turbo. It was a brief moment of suspense while I sorted out whether Tilly was spoken for or if they had decided on Tina. In the end with Tilly being taken she happily adopted Turbo who now goes by the name Lenny.

I get people of my own? ~Turbo

Word has it Turbo is doing extremely well in his new home and is actually seeking laps to sleep on where he preferred to sleep on his own while here. Hearing that warms my heart.

Over the weekend Tina had her picture put in the paper and a lovely woman fell in love with her and bought her sight unseen for a neighbor that had recently lost a kitty due to a car accident.

Really, who wouldn't fall in love with this cutie?

The family finalized the adoption details and picked Tina up on Sunday.

A family? I don't stay here forever? ~ Tina

Meanwhile Leanne got word that the family who had adopted Turbo now wanted Tazma as well.

Tazma had been a bit below weight to be adopted at the time of the original meet and greet. Without Turbo and Tina scoffing the food or harassing her she went back to gaining weight like a proper kitty.

She was booked in for her spay and travelled off to her new home on Wednesday where she will be reunited with her brother Turbo. She now has a new name Phoebe.

Tazma chilling on a hot water bottle

Tiny is still under the adoptable weight which is normal for him considering he's still around 300 grams behind his siblings.

Over the past week he has however reached his own milestone of 600 grams where he can get his first vaccination. He's now a big boy.

He looks pretty proud of himself...

Tiny is still visibly smaller than Tilly his new roomie but he's also looking more like a kitten. He's not all boofy head and skinny body anymore. I am eternally grateful that his fur is growing back on his legs and tail making him look that little bit less scruffy.

Its still early days but I will tentatively say the process is in place that Tiny will have a permanent residence lined up for when he is at the right weight. Until it is finalized I get the joy of holding onto him and watching him grow.  Such a hardship for me.

Tiny being cute...

In a week or so Tilly will move off to her new family and Tiny will get a new roomie although this time not a shelter kitten.

My aunties in laws need me to look after their baby. Felix (formerly RSPCA kitty Walnut) has been here before for a very brief period of time. This time I'll have him for a fortnight so it will be interesting on how he will adapt to his new surroundings.

Best picture I have so far.

I really hope bringing home a fully grown male kitty wont put Leo's nose out of joint too much. (Not that I intend on them meeting each other).

Progress and Personalities

Well it's been awhile since I last updated once again everyone will be pleased to know that Tiny is still with us and going strong.

Still got some boggly eyes going on though

Here's an introduction to each kitty with a small description of their personality. If anyone is interested in meeting or potentially adopting these kitties it wont be long now until they begin trickling back to the shelter.
You can send me a private message on my Legends of the Little Fur balls Facebook page by clicking here.

We shall start with Tiny's journey update.

We've hit a new high number...

For those who are new followers Tiny was brought in with his roughly three and a half week old siblings weighing a measly 190 grams and spent at least three weeks on the brink of death having gained weight, dropped weight, stopped eating, started eating again and having very chronic diarrhea.

Tiny is a little fighter. He has what I call small man syndrome. Although he is less than half the size of his siblings and even lighter in weight by his lowest sibling by about 300 grams he doesn't let that stop him from instigating fights and pushing them out of the way in a food bowl. He thinks he's big inwardly and I think that has been one of the factors of him getting through to where he is now.

A lesser kitten would have given up.

Tiny is a charmer, he is still very ratty looking at the moment but I hope with weight and when his hair on his rear end grows back he will come into his own. If not and he ends up always looking just that little bit odd he has an affectionate and quite full on nature. I can just see him getting into all sorts of trouble as he becomes bigger.

One of the more flattering pictures I have of Tiny

I'm not complaining that it will take him quite awhile to reach adoption weight.

Pretty Tazma showing off her thin white stripe on her face

Tazma is the second smallest having only just received her first vaccination. She had a brief period of dropping weight and hovering at the same weight but things seem to be going up again at the moment. She is now just over 600 grams.

Tazma is often picked on by her siblings (well the bigger ones) but if they push her too much then she can get quite ratty and pay them right back. Where ever she is Tilly isn't far away.

One easy way of telling the grey sisters apart is Tazma's thin stripe and the fact Tazma has back stockings where Tilly has back socks.

Tazma posing, quite hard getting pictures of these grey's with their fuzzy fur

Tazma is a purrer and a snuggler. She will sit at your feet and if you look at her begin purring instantly. She will sit in your arms as long as you wish to hold her and will often climb onto you and promptly have a nap.

Tilly not wanting to sit still

Tilly is a little rascal, only the slightest bit more outgoing than her sister so long as you don't have loud power tools going (she's a bit scared sometimes as we're renovating our kitchen). With people she's an absolute little love bug and has the same instant purr and chill nature soaking up any and all attention.

comparison of the grey girls Tazma left, Turbo wanting down, Tilly right

My mother has picked the greys as her favourites as they come over to the half door to the kitten room and sit there purring until you give in and pick them up for cuddles. Tilly will also mosey her way over and quite happily fall asleep on a person's lap.

Tilly is approximately in the mid 600 gram weight range

Me? Trouble? Nah

Tina is trouble with a capital T. This sweet little girl is adventurous and into everything. She enjoys climbing and playing like a mad kitty as well as chasing and tormenting her siblings until they get fed up and fight back.

She does also have a chill side and really enjoys having her belly rubbed. Tina will quite happily allow herself to be picked up and cuddled. She will also voluntarily wander over and nap on a person's lap.

Playing cutesy and innocent

Tina is definitely one of the more outgoing kittens and I can see her causing all sorts of mischief as she gets older. At the present she is breaking the 700 gram mark in weight.

He doesn't tend to like having his picture taken

Turbo is a wimp. He is also quite bratty to his other siblings at times pestering them until they're calling out but he's the first to scream bloody murder if they happen to get the upper hand. Turbo does not like loud noises and I find him to be the most reserved around people out of all the kittens.

Although he will come over for pats and cuddles he tends to freak out when held unless he's held close and secure - the other kitties you can scoop up and roll on their backs in your hands and they don't fuss at all. He has also been known to turn his nose up at an available lap and go snooze somewhere else nearby.

One of Turbo's better pictures

He is still quite cute and has his own little quirks that make him unique. Being the biggest and rapidly closing in on 800 grams it wont be long until this little wimp is up for adoption.

Some family shots.

All three girls and Tiny, Turbo sleeping on floor by himself

Kitty hugs (poor Tina pushed out of bed)

The Tiny Miracle Kitten

"I thank Connie from the deepest part of my heart for her support and suggestions. Words don't seem enough to express my appreciation that she takes time out of her day to read and respond to my worries no matter how great or small. I deeply regret any and all mental hardship she suffers by supporting me when our shelters run so differently and being so far away that she cant get a hands on idea of whats going on."

The following long post is an explanation of why I've been so absent. I've been on a roller-coaster of emotions all surrounding one kitten.

He literally fits in one hand with room to spare...

Tiny has had more chances in his small life than any foster kitten I have ever had the pleasure of caring for.

Chance 1
Being surrendered to the shelter and passing the original vet check at a low 190 grams in weight

He plops himself on my foot...

Chance 2
Having swan dived from 228 grams to 190 grams again with persistent diarrhea I felt his body was failing him and thought he'd never pass a sales check when he'd shown no signs of improvement. Connie convinced me to try them on a raw diet and once again I decided to stick that out for the weekend after he began eating it and showed some gain.

With one of his sisters Tazma I think...

Chance 3
Having made the decision when for the second time he'd dropped to 187 grams and this time had shown some lethargy, more severe diarrhea and a very painful behind. I had called the vet on the weekend prepared to take Tiny in and say goodbye. In fact with little to no body condition and such a painful behind I doubted anyone would put him through anymore suffering...

However...

Tiny being a brat and deciding to eat again...

Tiny has constantly known when to act bright and when to worry you to death. He gets all whiney and refuses to eat and you question why you're persisting. Next minute he's up in your face purring and eating away. It has been a constant seesaw since he's come into my life.

The vet said the lumps I'd found in his poop and suspected they were worms could likely be parts of his bowel lining due to the severity of his diarrhea. I thought that was it, he was done.

He sat on that table and stood up on shaky legs and looked up at the vet with his big eyes in his tiny head and he meowed at her. And just like me, she joined his cause and offered one last chance to save his life.

How can you resist those eyes?

Tiny and his siblings got put on a course of antibiotics, I got some cream to apply to his severely inflamed behind and the vet agreed to give them the second dose of their worming syrup. After that it was wait and see.

I changed them off the mince and back onto the AD that was slightly watered down. After a bit of nose upturning (and much disappointment form the four bigger siblings) they all adapted to the change.

Nearly immediately I began seeing rises in Tiny's weight rather than drops. His bowel movements improved in quantity but not quality yet (but they are greatly improved already). He became brighter and although he cant seem to keep himself clean for more than 5 minutes he's not hunching over as much. I will be glad when he begins to run and not waddle.

Tiny at his lowest

His tiny head is bigger than his tiny body...

Gaining 223 grams

Looking a bit perkier

Beaten his record of 228 grams

So far the highest he's ever been...

The vet check had some people surprised. One that he was still so tiny compared to his siblings and two that he'd managed to gain so much in three days.

That afternoon and the following day we had an off day again. He went backwards in weight and I was hovering wanting him to eat. I was determined to take him in for another check on the Friday but despite barely nibbling food and dropping weight again, Tiny was still bright and quite active. He did appear slightly uncomfortable looking.

After a whole day and about six piddles (very few in the right place) Tiny finally dropped what I would class as a formed poop.

We went from this (not tiny's poop his was often worse)

To this, this is tiny's. So close to a litter tray *sigh*

I decided against seeing the vet when after he'd done his number two's he began eating again and slowly gaining. I really really wish he'd get to at least 300 grams and stay there already.

Tiny is doing good as of today, actually running around, pouncing, playing and generally appearing more like a kitten. Sure, he's still little, his bum is still slightly inflamed, he tires quicker than his siblings but he has so much personality and fight in him that I have no choice but to stick by him and offer him whatever chance he has of reaching adoption weight.

Tiny is my little miracle kitten and maybe, just maybe he'll stick around and make it onto the adoption floors.

Looking slightly chubbier already...

Until Next Time...