Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Sick cats make sick kittens and for little sleep



How has it been four days? In some respects if feels like four weeks, in others four hours. Nursing newborn kittens every hour or two takes a great deal of work and requires that you get very little sleep. Doing contamination procedures after every time I visit them, to prevent spread of illness, means my hands are chapped and I have a piles of clothing throughout the house.

When I last left you April was going to stay somewhere else for care while I got some sleep. She came back to me before I was ready, but you do what you have to. When I got her back I was extremely concerned that things were very grave. I consulted with the rescue and took her back to the emergency clinic. There I ran into a vet who said her condition was guarded. Despite knowing that she was not an owned cat and the rescue would be footing the bill, the vet insisted on gold care standard and would not proceed with even giving her fluids without an x-ray and blood work. I will admit that this is what I would do for my own cat, spending rescue funds on one cat means that others will not be able to be saved.

When we realized they wouldn't do anything for her without being able to do everything for her we had to give the okay. I did let the rescue know that I was okay with financial euthanasia if it came to that - I didn't want to be the reason they went too far - but then I left it their hands. It was decided to do what was necessary to save her. The cost for this visit alone was nearly $2,000. Not to mention the first emergency visit for the birth and the three days of vet care. Apparently April has the distinction of being the most expensive cat they have ever cared for. She has drained their coffers..

Anyway, after a couple more sleepless nights of caring for kittens (and my own cats, and Hedy, and working, etc) she came home and seemed better. After a few days of the medications they recommended she is becoming alert and active and protective of her kittens.


Sadly, despite her feeling better, two of her kittens have started sneezing. One in particular is doing poorly and can not breathe through his nose so I have taken to tube feeding him and giving him fluids to compensate. Despite taking precautions, I am causing him to chill  and I have to spend quite a bit of time warming him back up and making sure he is okay. Each time it gets worse, he chills faster and is longer to recover.  I would do nothing but that would mean no food for him and he would die.  I am fortunate the other three are still nursing and are able to suck milk when I supplement feed them. If another stops (and that is a possibility)... well I don't want to go there.


Hedy is becoming an issue for April. Hedy just wants to help, to get to the screaming kittens, but April is all "Oh! Heck! NOPE!" with a ridge back and a floofed tail and big saucer eyes.. I had to put the baby gate up to assure April that she is safe. Hedy is on the other side of a door to the bathroom and won't be let in, but April has no idea. Hopefully, in time, she'll realize it is okay.

Hedy is also becoming an issue for me as well. She is being extremely picky over which foods she will eat and now she is starting to sneeze again. I still think she is at least a week away from delivery, if not more, which I am completely okay with that. I just hope I can stumble upon another food she will eat well because the last one I found she's m'eh about now.

Once I know the kittens are out of the woods, I will have naming day for them. I know that many of you would probably rather have names to think good thoughts about them, but right now I'm just not ready for that. The littlest boy was originally wearing a yellow collar (and now does not have one at all). I am calling him little one or Yellow.. I keep telling him that he will get a name when he gets strong.. Hopefully, we'll be able to do that.



If you are so inclined to want to help:

16 comments:

  1. Thank you for taking the time for an update! Hang in there. Hoping the little dude recovers enough that you can at least have your nights back! Take care and stay well!

    ReplyDelete
  2. sending lots of healing purrs....those momma cats and kittens can give us all the emotional roller coaster that no one wants to be on

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sending purrs and hugs and all sorts of good thoughts.

    ReplyDelete
  4. At times like this, you wish you could clone yourself into four or five selves! Take care, and thank you for giving your all for these cats.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It must be beyond imagining unless you've been there, Hugs and thank you. They are here because of your strength.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Purrayersn & POTP to all the cats & kittens and you and the rescue !

    ReplyDelete
  7. Purrs to all, we hope they are able to overcome the illness. It's good to know that April is doing better.

    You're a special person to take care of the kittens as you do. Thinking of you too.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I know these are just words; but I truly believe this dood does and can help; with that being said St Francis's blessings to all and the good Lord's strength to you Connie... ♥♥♥♥♥

    ReplyDelete
  9. Come on little dude you can do it! My Treeno was his rescue’s most expensive cat ever and he’s phenomenal. There is someone out there who’s heart is meant to glue to April’s in a super special way. Treeno waited in foster care for 3 years before I “met” him on petfinder and knew he was meant to be my boy. April has a great life ahead of her. I hope her people don’t take 3 years to find her.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sending kitty food from your wish list. April seems so much better.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Purrs to everyone.

    Emma and Buster

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is so much for even a very experienced person like you to handle. I will pray for all of you. It seems like a good sign if April is getting testy with Hedy though. But it's insane to not even give fluids ?? Seems like a money grab to me, or a vet who is just a bit too self righteous.

    ReplyDelete
  13. We are amazed at all you do for these cats and kittens. Thank you. And sending all of them...and you lots of purrs.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm sending lots of purr to both moms and kittens... and to you too. You are working overtime to help out April and Hedy.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thank you for all you're doing for them. Take care of you. Purrs and hugs

    ReplyDelete
  16. I wish you had a few extra hands to help you. Our medical director takes critical cases to her clinic and she and the techs will also take them home, back and forth to work, critical fosters get a physical and emotional break. The little one may be weak even without an infection; two of April's kittens died earlier. Sending you the strength to keep up with all the needs with a happy outcome.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...