Not So Tiny, Tiny Tots

Well I was going to write this much sooner. Alas a course of events that I wasn't quite prepared for happened.

The Tiny Tots had hovered just under the 800 grams for what felt like weeks so I just kept motoring away with them, keeping them fed and happy.

If you took a gamble and tried naming the kittens in the previous post. Pat yourself on the back if you got it right.

Then the occasional sneeze began turning into a series of sneezes.

It came to the point where Mittens was sneezing a lot and dropping weight. She never went lower than 730 grams and never got above the 740 mark. Her siblings were much higher getting extremely close to 800.

Yeah, I fell ill to a virus *pouts* ~ Mittens

I separated Mittens from the others to see if restricting her movement and monitoring how much she was eating would help. Tigger had suffered similar behavior and recovered his weight within a day or so.

I poke my tongue out at virus' *evil laugh* ~ Tigger

That didnt work and she began to show some clear discharge from the nose and one eye.

I knew before Christmas they had something suss going on. The vet gave them a quick once over and said they were fine. Mittens went down hill over Christmas.

Not to the point of emergency vet but she was a lot flatter than all her siblings and just stuffy in the nose. I had to wait until next vet check.

By next check most of Mitten's siblings were over 800 grams. If there hadn't been sniffles going around they would have been returning for sales checks. Alas that was not the case.

They were diagnosed with an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI) and Mittens having been exposed to all the other kittens the vet said it was highly likely that her siblings as well as Cotton and Percy would begin displaying the same symptoms. Mittens was also likely to get worse before she got better.

Unfortunately since there was no secondary infection and what she had was viral there was no treatment other than riding the illness out and hoping it didn't mutate into something that was difficult (if not impossible) to treat.

For two or three days I kept Mittens completely secluded from the others in her new quarters. Cotton and Percy joined the other four Tiny Tots in the big cage and I watched them for any further signs.

I had to heat Mitten's food, syringe feed her at times and generally just make sure she was eating. She wasnt the worst patient I've ever dealt with and although you could tell she felt like crap she didn't fall completely lethargic. The more days that passed she began to actually play.

I'm feeling just a bit under the weather ~ Mittens

The other six kittens beyond the occasional sneeze never developed the same symptoms as Mittens. The vet advised possibly keeping them for three weeks just to make sure but that was a rough estimate. The illness could have run for longer or shorter period of time it depended on the cat.

Mittens conquered the virus, now over 900g

By the end of week one Mittens was doing much better. Cookie, Tigger, Koda and Zorro reached and passed the 1 kilo mark. Cotton and Percy over the 850 gram mark. Mittens began actually rising in weight instead of just leveling out.

Cookie ~ Flu?? What Flu?

Koda ~ Do these eyes look weepy to you?

Not happy with my new living arrangements lady ~ Cotton

I'm sneeze free and ready for cuddles ~ Percy

It appeared they were getting better, getting into more mischief and the sooner I'd have to let them go....

Really? We're gonna have to leave soon? ~ Zorro

(to be continued)

A Bit About The Savages

Wow, its been quite some time since I've uploaded a post (slaps self on wrist).

Between Christmas, New Year and battling a Upper Respiratory Infection in the kittens its been just a wee bit hectic.

This post shall be dedicated to the as of at the present time, healthy, two little cuties I introduced at the end of the previous blog post. (I still have the Tiny Tots, they aren't so tiny now but you'll hear about them soon...promise).

Cotton and Percy were very timid in the beginning. Not really to the point of hissing and cowering when they were reached for but they didn't seek attention from humans.

For quite some time until I was sure they were healthy I kept them separate from the Tiny Tots.

When I got them they were around 400grams. They are short haired but have thick coats so it hid their bony bodies very well.

Percy had some form of dandruff/scabs on his head that I can only assume was an old injury beginning to heal. It never bothered him and it really began clearing up after they were finally given a bath.

The flashy thing again? ~ Percy

Percy in one of his wonky ways of laying down...

He did/does still have a spot on his cute little head where he's missing fur and the new stuff is growing in.

They have now reached and passed the 600 gram mark and now sit a bit over the 800 grams. Why do I still have them? Well since one of the Tiny Tots was struck down with the URI the vet thought the rest would go through it as well so I have them for three weeks or until all sneezing/signs of illness are gone.

Since their arrival Percy has become a snuggler. When he's picked up he likes to tuck himself under your chin and purr up a storm. If he's really in the snuggly mood he'll head butt under your chin. He is still very slightly wary about how he's held and prefers to be close to someones body than hovering just in hands.

Relaxed little Percy

How I wished his eyes had stayed blue...

He has recently began trying to jump into hands that get hung over the half door whenever someone walks past (I blame the tiny tots). So far he'll wrap his tiny paws around your wrist and place his belly in your hand, he's not quite game enough to leap across the room halfway up your arm like some of the little troublesome kittens I know...

Family Shot of all seven current foster kittens.

Cotton is still a bit reserved around people. She is becoming more vocal in her attempt to get more attention...more so when she instigates a fight with the other four tiny tots and then gets beaten up. This one has attitude in bundles.

Cute little Cotton growing into her face

Cotton has been the first kitten to scale the half door. Thankfully she used a tipped over washing bucket as leverage and since that was removed she hasnt tried again. (Wipes brow)

Cotton showing a bit of her attitude

Flopped on a towel tower after kicking the other kittens off

                                             *****RECENT UPDATE******

Look who's decided the half door is no trouble anymore (covers face with hands)

Cotton now confined to a smaller area since she gave up free reign rights

*************************UPDATE END*******************************

Now why are these kittens called the Savages? I mean they're adorable, they're still fairly tiny compared to their foster siblings....

Its because of their reaction whenever mince is involved...

Without Further Ado, I Present THE SAVAGES (and how their name came about)

Until Next Time... (Hopefully it wont be nearly a month between posts this time)

Tiny Tots Plus Two

After I took back the M's I was looking forward to kicking back with five kittens for awhile.

The tiny tot's were looking more like squirrels than chipmunks getting bigger every day. Their spines became less easy to feel and they began to have constant little round bellies.

In the last few days they've been given free reign on the floor for short periods of the day. They still go too fast and forget to turn corners but they're getting much better.

I offered them cat mince when I still had the four M's but only Cookie and Mittens had really shown interest. I offered it to them last night and I got swamped.

Not sure if it was because I heated it a little to take off the chill or what but they were climbing all over me and even into the container.

Mittens ran off with a slightly larger chunk and she was growling at anyone who dared try and take it off her.

Mince is yummy ~ Mittens

The tiny tots may not be so tiny anymore but they're still pretty darn cute. Today Koda and Cookie went to the vet for a check and first vaccination having reached 600 grams.

Needles? I don't like the sound of that ~ Koda

Cookie being cheeky

Mittens and Tigger may reach that milestone next with little Zorro holding his own but still lagging behind.

Hey that flashy thing ~ Tigger

Cute, Pretty Zorro

Mittens perching on my shoulder

I was advised to worm them all again so they're not very happy with me at the present.

Stay away from me with that worming syrup ~ Tigger

Zorro's impression of a Halloween cat

When I returned the M's I mentioned I wouldn't be taking on any more kittens until at least Friday. First I need to clean the room and five kittens were still quite a handful. Thankfully their runny poop has ceased and they're doing proper A-grade little stools now.

Here's a few pictures from one of their floor romps...

Mittens pausing for a moments thought

Cookie considering sitting still for a picture...

Koda cautiously investigating flashy thing

Tigger looking mildly concerned

Mittens taking a break

Koda tackled the human (me) to the ground.

Zorro working on his cute face

Friday of course turned up with vaccinations for the two and an inquiry for who else needed foster care.

I had quite the choice.

A tabby-tortoiseshell long haired mother cat (like a grown up Mishka) she was absolutely gorgeous. She had one little kitten maybe a week and a half old. It looked to be dark ginger tabby with white.

A Calico (or Torti and white) mother cat (who decided to pop one out in the sales room...OOPS) she had a very pale ginger tabby with white and she's extremely protective of it.

A white with grey spot mother cat with three kittens. She's quite lucky. She'd given birth to one dead kitten on Monday morning and it was only during an emergency spay that they found she had any live ones left. We'd expected them to all be dead. She has an assortment of grey tabbies with white.

Lastly were two brown tabby kittens possibly 5 weeks old but weighing low to mid 400's. Since the other three lots of kittens weren't doing anything more than eating and sleeping I decided to take on the two orphans.

Cotton is a little brown tabby girl with a very loud voice.

Cotton being quiet for a change...

Cotton pulling a silly face

Percy is a brown tabby and white boy that was only found and brought in this morning.

Cotton would like you to know that her brother Percy is shy

Cotton says photo time is up (reaches for curtains)

There may be more from this group as the person that keeps finding them in their back yard expects they are hidden not too far away.

Until Next Time....

No More M's

Well first foster group of the 2013 season has returned.

The M's went from this....

To this during their time on foster care...

On Monday since all kittens were 800 grams they were due to return to the shelter for their sales check and then finding their own homes.

I'd managed to show a neighbor the little cuties I was currently fostering and within a few hours one of the M's had secured herself a home. Can you guess who?

As expected all the kittens passed sales check and then it was an absolute whirlwind of trying to get them into the sales room for about a dozen eyes to check them out.

The shelter had school kids helping out with chores and a few visitors as well as the rest of the animals that were due to be checked by the vet for vaccinations. To say it was busy was an understatement.

Merlin, Marlowe and Mishka were pretty much taken from their traveling crate and handed off to some of the school kids that were melting at their cuteness. I was a bit worried at how they'd respond to such confrontation for their attention but it seems I didn't need to worry.

Merlin's made a buddy.

Mishka sought comfort from one of the girls holding her. She seems to calm down if she's held close to a person's chest until she gains the confidence to assess her situation.

Pretty little Mishka's settled in...

Marlowe was all 'yep, attention' and was soon playing and running around the room like she owned it. She didn't even turn all Halloween cat (what I tend to call kittens that arch up and try to make themselves look big) when she was investigated by one of the adult cats also occupying the room.

Marlowe still such a poser

Merlin absorbed being held by the kids like a mini sponge. He loved the attention.

Now I think you may have guessed that Misty is the lucky little kitty that I may get to catch up with as she gets older.

Here is her story. To give her story justice I have to go back...

Way back in 2011 I had my very first group of foster kittens. They were all tabbies and there were two boys and one little girl. They really didn't need fostering but I wanted to see what would be involved.

L to R - Fatty Pumba, Little Boy & Little Miss

On the very day they were being returned for sale checks I crashed into a neighbor that had lived in my street and she was in the market for a kitten. She soon fell in love with the little girl previously called Little Miss (oh so original) and then named Mitzy in her new home.

Little Miss (aka Mitzy)

Little Miss

When Raelene bought Mitzy she had her own small apartment and had missed the companionship of a cat. Due to unfortunate circumstances she had to shift back to their original home in my street with her grown up son. Mitzy had to deal with an older cat Violet who also lived at that residence.

Violet

Mitzy and Violet ended up tolerating each other but weren't best buddies. Sadly some time not long ago Violet passed away (she would have been quite old).

Grown up Mitzy

Raelene plans to shift out again in the near future and she didn't want her son, Tim, coming home to an empty house so they figured if they bought a kitten now it'd be settled in and nearly a year old by the time she moved out with her cat.

The minute she passed sales check Misty was sold. Tim did hesitate for a few seconds looking at Mishka but the way little Misty flopped over his arm and seemed totally relaxed he ended up sticking with his first decision.

I got to bring Misty home that night where she bunked down with the five tiny tots. It seemed she enjoyed having other kittens to hang with.

Misty hanging with some of the tiny tots

The next morning I dropped her off at the vets for her spay surgery where her new family would then pick her up from the vets and all the M's would no longer be under my care.

I dropped in briefly the next afternoon. Misty now has a new name Ash, and she's settled in extremely well. Her little motor was only just kicking in around people when I had the four but she wandered around playing in her new surroundings with her purr going no matter what she was doing.

A brief moment of pause for little Ash

Mitzy is a lot bigger now being two years old and she's not quite fond of sharing her house with a new tiny invader.

Mitzy all grown up

If her new grandma doesn't spoil her I'm totally sure her daddy will.

So Farewell little M's I hope you all the best in your future homes

Armfull of kitties....