The Invasion of the Chickens

Well its been nuts here...well not really but that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Thursday Spice was a bit flat, still with the runs and still doing little more than nibble at food and if I tried to syringe feed her she'd throw it back up *facepalm*

I'll just sleep here ~ Spice

I wasn't sure if she would hold out until Friday or if it would be better invading my brothers vet appointment for Terra. Needless to say I quickly got Spice given the OK to join Terra. (Do not worry for Terra, she only needed boosters which were late *glares at brother* and got her weight checked 5.1 kilo and vet says 4.5 would be a better weight for her)

Anyway. Of course everyone who has cats knows that the minute an appointment is solidified then the cat/kitten/pet in question gets 100% better. Vet agreed she was thin but she had no temperature and everything else checked out fine. He advised to stop syringe feeding and let her fly or flop.

Fly is where the kitten is hungry enough it will eat itself.

Flop is where the kitten refuses to eat until euthanasia is the only option (also known as failure to thrive)

He said she had to want to eat and force feeding her wasn't doing anything, and truthfully it wasn't she didn't really gain any better than if I just left food with her and ignored her.

Friday she went out for another vet appointment (shelter one) where a different vet didn't find anything out of the ordinary (no temperature, looking fairly bright etc) and she advised the kitten needed to put on 100 grams over the weekend otherwise she'd have to sadly be put to sleep.

I do agree. If a kitten cant/wont eat then there has to be something causing it. Rather than let her suffer and starve herself then letting go is a nicer option. On the other hand I love little Spice and I'm willing to do whatever it takes.

So with shelter manager's nod of approval I offered this kitten my number one secret weapon and also was advised to put her on kitten formula just to get fats into her. (She is supposed to be over 1 kilo but didn't really get anywhere but back to 770 grams over the week)

Number one secret weapon turned out to be cat mince. Made for cats and probably scraps not good enough for human consumption but man, this little trooper nearly took my fingers off. Ever since then supplied with mince and kitten formula she's packed on the grams and overtook the 100 grams needed to avoid the needle.

Did I hear the N word? ~ Spice

On Saturday I got a call that a kitten from the same litter had dramatically dropped in weight - was sold - and needed to put on more before his operation on Friday. Well I got out there found he is over the weight needed for surgery but still greatly declined from what he is supposed to be. (Again supposed to be over 1 kg and is only 870 grams). His other sibling was considered to come with as well being 840 grams from 930 grams but they decided to leave it a few days.

Who are you? ~ Spice

So the kittens are eating alright on the mince. I have since removed the milk and I'm TRYING to get them onto a more acceptable shelter approved food both for the shelter to make feeding not such a pain in the rear but also to widen the variety that they might eat and not drive their new owners up the wall.

Meet Colonel Sanders.

Colonel thinking happy thoughts

Colonel planning mischief

He is second Chicken from this litter and a cute little bugger. He is however deathly afraid of tiny vacuum cleaners (ran on air straight over the half door). He is whiney and becoming quite the escape artist from his cage (climbing up arms while you're grabbing the food dish).

Colonel Sanders is pleased to meet you...

Spice despite her constant meowing the previous week wasn't bouncing in happiness to have someone to share her space with. She growled and followed Colonel around (mum calls him Ginger Spice) but after a night or two together they're now sharing the crows nest or batting each other out of it.

Doh! I have to share again ~ Spice

If only I could pinpoint what it is exactly that's giving them the runs. They eat, play, are bright...but their stool grade is massive failure. I do think part of its the switch around with foods (trying to get them to at least begin eating dry but I think Spice has decided all hills brand or Science diet isn't her cup of tea and wont touch it).

Just hangin' out

We escaped vet check on Monday but have one to look forward to on Wednesday. Lets hope they study hard and improve their stool grades... *puts peg on nose as enters room*

Save yourself from the stench! ~ Colonel