Speaking of inbreeding (and updates)

I went to the shelter last night to drop off the write ups (see previous three posts) for my three little dumplings and I managed to get a peek at them.  They were just neutered and were still under the effect of the sedation.

When I was done with the video I reached in to pat Lily, and all three started purring even though they were drugged up big time. 

Then I started looking around and saw Weebay and Connie.  Which made me giggle.  Apparently they are being fostered by someone who is going away this weekend because they had a big note on them saying she would be back

I ogled the other kittens and then saw a medical caution on one cage.  It said mom was fine and friendly but there were issues with the kittens.  I did not get photos because it was kind of sad.  Mom is a pretty but standard tuxie and she had four little cute barely week old kittens.  They had a sweet frosted appearance.  Unfortunately one was in a leg splint and another had issues with it's skull not being fused properly.  I went and talked to the staff about them.  Apparently mom came from a home were the cats were left in tact and breeding was rampant and with out any consideration as to who mated with whom.    The little kitten with a bad leg actually has a deformed leg.  They had a sibling who had four bad legs that made it a few days before dying.

As much as I wanted to go with some older kittens for a while and stay away from those troubled kittens who bring me nothing but hair pulling strife, and as much as I wanted to try fostering at a different shelter, I can't turn my back on them.

I have no idea if the two with issues will make it long enough to make it into foster care.  I don't know if they will or won't make it (leg kitten probably will) or if the vet will feel it is better to put it down (apparently they had to put another foster kitten down for skull issues very recently)   But they know I'm willing.  Guess I better scrub the daylights out of the kitten room right quick.

one more update: I asked about Jordan.  She's being fostered by CPV and he is giving her special antiviral drops for her eyes and has her on a hypoallergenic diet.  I am very surprised he took her in and is fostering her himself, but I am glad she is getting the care and attention she needs.  I hope she continues to do well and finds a great home as she is a very loving cat.

My kitties and the strange visitor

We had company last night. My Dh's sister (the owner of his kidney) and her husband and their 1.5 yr old granddaughter..

now, I'm not a person who is particularly fond of kids and babies, but this little girl is obnoxiously cute.. and she just got cuter as the night wore on.

Because it was late in the evening (or maybe because they hadn't yet had dinner) most of my kitties decided running and hiding the whole time wasn't the best course of action. Usually they all scatter, and then Jack might stop by and beg for treats (yes, I think he was a dog in another life) from the strangers... but this time it was Tweedle who was first out! It was soo funny. Tweedle started walking towards us, but then the baby saw her, and started walking out toward Twee. Well Twee had NO idea what to make of it, and froze. Well this made the baby freeze too. So then we had two frozen beings staring at one another. There was no distracting either one of them.. Her GM called the baby, I called Twee.. Nope.. stuck in a stairing contest. Finally GM got up and took the baby's hand and led her away. I ended up being covered in cats.. Jack, Twee and Kit all came to me for comfort. Eli checked them out from down the hall... which is actually quite impressive. Ollie and Muff were no where to be seen.

We then proceeded downstairs, where a game of Wii Golf ensued. the men played, the women watched and played with the baby and the kitty. Kit came down. The baby found all the cat toys, and had fun throwing them. Kit wasn't sure what to make of it, and didn't want to get TOO CLOSE to the baby, but did want to play with the balls. They even had a good game of chase going on .. baby chasing kit, kit chasing baby..

What was so amusing though, is the baby goes on pause if something bad/negative happens to her. She doesn't cry, doesn't fuss, doesn't look around in wonderment.. nothing. Just sits or stands or stays in the position she landed in as if frozen in time. so bizzare, but so cute.

borrowed from Petwarmers.com

OPENING DOORS

by Sandy Whitaker

Pets can do so much more than fulfill a life. They can open doors and break down walls people put up towards each other.

One day, a very uppity, and stylish young woman who had married an adored bachelor in our hometown was walking down the street. We had all heard some stories of how she wasn't good enough for our hometown boy and thought she acted like she was too good for us.

Our part time dog catcher had been trying to trap a stray dog roaming Main Street for days. On this busy Saturday, screeching tires were heard along with the yelping of the stray dog which rolled into a ditch.

This young woman rushed to his side while the crowd cautioned her to stay away. "It's a stray. It will bite!" Ignoring the spectators, she leaned close to the dog, cooing softly and asked for permission to touch it.

The dog raised its head and gave her grateful eyes, so she petted it while asking someone to go into a store and call the vet. Of course the vet didn't make house calls for a stray dogs, so she took off her jacket, rolled the dog in it and asked someone to take her to the vet's office.

She and the stray were hurried to a vet where I heard she stayed with the animal until he died. This may seem a sad wasted tale, but good things happened.

The community quickly learned this was a shy young woman who had not found her place in the small community. She didn't know how to reach out FOR help, but she knew how to reach out TO help.

After that, she was asked to join clubs and often welcomed visitors to her home. Her comfort level increased enough to show she was outgoing and fun to be around.

It's quite possible this dying stray dog did more to open everyone's eyes than any other event could have. Not only did the community benefit, but there is no way of knowing how many have benefited from her charity work.

-- Sandy Whitaker