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....