Jamie and Meg showing off the self-cleaning feature preginstalled in a cat
#forgottenonescatrescue
Huckleberry is one silly kitten. He's trying to nurse from his foster parents' dog!
Despite his desire to nurse, Huckleberry and his foster sisters are ready for adoption. Check out the website!
Smidgen: 3 months later
Smidgen update: 3 months after rescue.
Oh sweet Smidgen, sweet, tiny girl with an indomitable spirit. We have had our struggles these past few weeks, super high amazing days of growth and playfulness, followed by days of backtracking and downward spiraling health issues, then building right back up again. Back and forth every few days, for weeks. For months, really. Suffice it to say that we are managing, her and I, to make forward progress. She is gaining weight and growing - our wee Smidgen actually has some heft to her now! But it hasn't been easy, and her and I are true partners in her survival. She can't live let alone grow without dedicated care, and I couldn't have pulled her through so many scary times without her great will to live (and supportive veterinary care). Her little body has been through so much, yet she never gives up and keeps coming back stronger!
Just a few days ago, Smidgen was declining so rapidly that based on my descriptions of her before I even got to the vet clinic, they gently warned me that they might not be able to help and it could be time to let her go...... oh that was a tough drive, I'll tell you! Wanting to get there ASAP to get her help, but scared to find out the worst. And the good (and bad) news was that she had pneumonia AGAIN! Good because treatable, bad because this is at least her third bout, and every time causes more damage and scar tissue to the lungs, and eventually she WON'T be treatable. Eventually there will be too much damage, or the infection will be too aggressive to respond to antibiotics..... we have to keep her reflux under control, so that she stops aspirating food into her lungs.
She is still too small for exploratory surgery, but we are getting there. Our best guess is that she has megaesophagus causing the reflux, which the metoclopramide, combined with elevated feedings (via syringe) and holding her upright after feedings, helps admirably. Smidgen and I have it down to a routine now! She can better gaug
Introducing Nala
Day 35: so the big news today, is that Smidgen has a new foster sister!
Hello to 4-week old Nala, a sweet little nugget of a kitten! Just like Smidgen, Nala was discovered alone, outside, crying at top volume. Unlike Smidgen, Nala is hefty, in good health, and without any feeding issues. She obviously had great care from a healthy (possibly indoor?) mum, how she ended up alone under a car at night, is a mystery indeed.
Nala weighs nearly as much as Smidgen, but you can see her body shape is completely different. A chunky 4 week kitten body with short legs, she is just starting to toddle around. While Smidgen, at 9 weeks age but the size of a 5 week old kitten, looks like a sleek, miniature cat as she bounces around with much greater agility.
For now, the girls are still separated, just to be sure Nala isn't coming down with anything infectious that might be passed to Smidgen. Poor Smidge has certainly been through enough already, and has yet to master 100% control of her own tummy.
But soon they will be together, I can hardly wait for my two singletons to meet their new best buddy!
#aSmidgenofkitten
#smittenwithSmidgen
#Nalanugget
Smidgen cleaning her toes
Day 20 in rescue:
It's all about the beans!
Who has the cleanest toe beans in town?
#aSmidgenofkitten!
Smidgen Day 11
Day 11 (July 25) update from Jackie: Smidgen is holding steady ground today, neither progressing nor deteriorating. I would really have liked to see her gain weight, but she has been the same weight for 2 days now. And I think the same size since last week. Her eyes are definitely improving though, and she is certainly turning her head to look around, so she must see something!
Its mind boggling how she stays so small, and quite concerning. When she came in last week with a bad URI, it explained why she might have been undersized. Now, mostly recovered from the upper respiratory but still in miniature, I'm hoping there isn't a more serious underlying condition affecting her growth.
In the meantime, she is comfortable, eating, almost back to normal with toileting, she sleeps a lot, but finally had some energy to play a bit again today. Video of that below (the greasiness is petroleum jelly to soothe a sore backside from too many poo-namis over the past few days!)
#aSmidgenofkitten
Elvis and Earl (not available) roll around in Catnip
Crazy for Catnip! Do your cats react to Catnip? Some don't and some do!
Elvis and Earl love the ocassional Catnip roll-around.
Did you know some big cats like lions and tigers also love Catnip?
Meghan has something to say. Well, she has a LOT to say!
She says she has been waiting to go to her forever home for a while and would really like a place for her and her sister that'll appreciate her voice!
Dorothy likes bellyrubs
Dorothy, the FIV+ senior gal LOVES bellyrubs. Volume up for purrs!
Also, happy belated Black Cat Day! We'd love to see your house panthers!
October is Black Cat Awareness Month, and with Halloween just around the corner, please make sure your kitties are safe indoors!
Adoptees: Ziggy & Marley (formerly Junior & Gilbert)
We were sent this very cute update on Ziggy and Marley, who were adopted from us. It's got quite the funny little song too!
Update: Moo (adopted) playing fetch
Katie sent us a cute update on Moo! Moo is doing amazing in his new home, with his guinea pig and rat fur siblings. He even loves to play fetch! How adorable!
Rosie is one funny gal!!!
She was eating someone else’s kitty food and trying to yowl at them while eating!
Silly Rosie is an adoptable little girl who adores being pet! She will need another kitty friend in the home to play with.
UPDATE: SMUDGE AND BALOO HAVE BEEN ADOPTED!!.
Brothers Smudge and Baloo love to wrestle!These boys would ideally be adopted together - so they can keep each other entertained!
Mufasa and Snowball
Mufasa loves to groom other kitties! Here he is grooming Snowball. Both are available for adoption.
Mufasa grooming Snowball!
Mufasa is quite the affectionate guy! He loves to groom his buddies. Here he can be seen grooming Snowball, who is loving it!
Mufasa and Snowball are both available for adoption.
