Former Foster Friday: Melia, Lily, Rose, and Max

I was on Facebook earlier this week when my page received a message of this kitty photo.

It is a beautiful kitty but I didn't recognize who sent it to me so I was a little confused as to why it was sent to me until Chrissy sent me another message letting me know that this was Elie that I fostered last year. The little kitten who was missing a foot.

Chrissy let me know that Elie was now Melia and was doing very well. She loves her older sister "Lexi" and even helped teach her how to play since Lexi was feral and never really understood play. This made so happy as when this group of fosters showed up they were so fearful they were completely unwilling to play too. Since I am in contact with Melia's sisters Rose and Lily (formerly Corrie) and their brother Max was adopted by a co-worker of my husband, I thought I would share photos of them too.

This is what they looked like then:

Now: Melia

I asked Chrissy about Melia's foot, and she said she is doing really well, only occasionally acting like it bothers her a bit and then recovering quickly. I was so happy to get the update, she totally made my day.

Then I bugged Julie about Lily (formerly Corrie) and Rose.

Lily is about three pounds heavier than her sister Rose. If you remember, Lily was the one who had a reaction to the sedation when they were neutered. She recovered quite a bit while she was still here but was still a bit unsteady on her feet when she went home with Julie and her husband. Over the next few weeks, she continued to improve to the point that she no longer has any symptoms. I was very fortunate that Julie allowed me to become friends with her on Facebook and so I get to see photos of them quite regularly. I was so worried about the both of them prior to the incident with their spay because they were quite reluctant to let go of their fearful nature, but they have blossomed into beautiful kitties.

I occasionally get a little bit of news on Max as my husband and Joe used to chat about him, but I haven't heard much in a while. Joe loves Max a lot and he is quite happy.

The kittens are still here

This will be the last post on this set of kittens unless something major happens or I am lucky enough to get updates.

Max went home on Friday with his new dad.  As of yet, I have not heard of an update, but I am pretty sure Max can handle anything and is doing just fine.

Unfortunately not everything went well with the kittens' surgeries. Max, Elie, Rose and Roman did just fine, but Corrie had some pretty severe side effects.

When she came home Tuesday night (they were scheduled to be neutered on Monday but were bumped due to adoptions over the weekend) Corrie was obviously still drunk and quite exhausted. All she wanted to do was cuddle up to Rose and sleep. The next morning she could not walk in a straight line without falling over. I immediately rushed her (and Rose - for comfort) to the shelter for an exam by the vet. They told me that she was just having a hard time coming out of the sedation and should be fine in 24-48 hours. I brought her home and she still had a very hard time walking from point a to point b. Thursday she was better, but she had a bit of a head tilt, her left eyelid seemed heavy and wouldn't open all the way.  She could walk in a straight line, but she did so by widening her stance... in other words, she appeared to be adapting more than improving. If you distracted her with play or startling her she would wobble. If she shook her head, she would fall over. She could not climb or jump on things. It was heartbreaking.

By Friday afternoon things seemed to be better. Still not great, but better. She was still wobbly, but it took more of a distraction to cause problems. Saturday afternoon she was climbing up on things and by Sunday she was able to jump up on them, but jumping down still produces a stumble. At this point, if you didn't know her prior to the surgery you would just think she was a clumsy kitten. Unfortunately, I know better, and it makes me a little sad. One side effect of this is that she has become a rather cuddly kitten. I'm loving how she likes to be near me now.

Corrie still seems to be bonded to Rose. I really wish I could know they were going to be adopted together, but that is not my call, all I can do is mention it.  Now if I could find someone who wants to adopt two adorable sisters...

Roman and Elie are doing remarkably well. There was a sneeze or two last night, but I'm hoping that is because of the dusty litter.

A few closeup photos of the kittens

Corrie and Rose

Seriously lady, what just happened there? I was lounging happily on the happiest of bears when all of a sudden I was in a completely different position and my sister was with me!!

Okay, fine, I admit it, Corrie, those photos weren't taken exactly in sequence.. but it was just too darn cute not to share that way. :)

Corrie and Rose still gravitate towards one another. It would be so nice if I could make sure they were adopted together. They look so darn good together, don't you agree?

The kittens have some visitors.

Over the weekend we had family come up from out of town and we spent some time visiting with them. They will be back in a couple of months for a family wedding and the girls asked if they could stay with us - because kittens.  I can't be absolutely sure I'll have kittens during that window that they are here, so I invited them to come over and see the kittens I do have.

Having six people walk into that room was a bit overwhelming for them and they all ran and scattered, but once we pulled out the toy the kittens forgave us and started being social.  it was very rewarding to see Rose and Corrie not hiding and being out where they could be picked up and not flailing when they were being held by strangers.  My nieces aren't young girls, but still, they aren't adults, and they haven't really interacted with kids before.  It was nice for me to see that they will most likely do well in whatever home they end up in - as long as they don't go outside (or at least not for quite some time since they still startle easily)

Here's hoping I have more kittens when they come back.


Sadly, the kittens weren't neutered on Monday, so now they are scheduled to be neutered today. Paws crossed it actually happens.

We shall go out into the world.

As you read this, the kittens are at the shelter getting ready to get neutered today. It was very empty at the house without them (yes, seven cats in one house is apparently 'empty')

Max

The kittens will come back here after their surgeries to heal. Max will be hanging out here until Friday when his dad can come and take him home. The rest of the kittens will go back sometime during the week.  I'm not above holding them for ransom for other kittens... I am hoping by the weekend I'll have new kittens to introduce you to, if not I'll have to do another GFS series..

Roman

Rose

Rose, checking out her packed bags

Corrie

Ellie