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...