Update - KITTENS!!

I felt the need to give Petra a little help cleaning her tushie.  We have had some diarrhea going on over here since the last feeding of canned food.  I have no idea if it is because of the canned food, if it was because it was that time for round worms to make their presence known (since most kittens are infected with them) or if there was something else going on.  I have been trying to get a sample in to the shelter to see what was up, but unfortunately it was too liquid and they would only poop after the shelter closed (seriously, the day they closed early they pooped early)   Petra seems to have the worst of it, having gas that is quite odorus, and her "pants" and back feet were less then pristine.  So I took her upstairs and gave her a rinse off.  She took it very well (and she has the start of a 'dulap' aka an extra flap of skin on the lower belly it was uber cute).  When she got back down to the kitten room her siblings were horribly confused.  She smelled different and the same (since I only washed half of her) so they were trying to figure out if the different smell was from her or from something near her.

It really is quite amusing to watch them learn that their noses are 'super sniffers'.  The night before Squirrel noticed I brought food in but he couldn't figure out where the smell was coming from.  He sniffed and followed the scent and realized I had it next to me as I sat on the litter box box.  He tried to jump straight up from the floor but there was no way that was going to happen, so eventually he realized he would have to go the long way around to get to it.  I so love watching the light bulb goes on, and thought and reasoning occur.

 ---------

Miriam would also like to show you something.  She heard of Robyn showing you Razzie's technique to correctly exit a cat tree. She says she has a similar technique.

Plan your route

Lock your feet

Extend and drop

What, you want to see it again?

locking the feet

Extend

drop - TADA!!!

Then this evening after getting home from work I FINALLY got a stool sample that was testable..Apparently it was given with love..

So I went to the shelter with it.  I haven't heard the results so I'm going to assume they didn't find anything.  There were actually several normal looking stools in the box this evening so I'm guessing things are resolving.  I'll give canned food another go once things settle and are normal for a few days.  I checked on Meira while I was there.  She was not yet on the adoption floor (not surprising) and she seemed to be doing pretty well.  I gave her some love and attention which she liked.  I took her out and cuddled her (yup, she likes to cuddle) but when she saw a kitty in one of the other cages she hissed, so I guess she's not a fan of other cats yet.  They have been feeding her a grain free canned food, and the stool in her litter box looked really good, which is such a good thing.  I was a little concerned because her mammary glands were getting kind of full.  I didn't think the kittens were nursing that much and were well on their way to complete weaning as her mammary glands were flat and I didn't see them nursing much any more.  Mastitis is a concern if she gets too much milk and it doesn't start drying up on its own.

There were a surprising number of cats in the treatment area.  Most were friendly and outgoing, including one guy who I saw when dropping Meira off who was so scared then he retreated when I looked at him, but tonight he showed me his belly.  But there was one kitty who made my soul ache.  It sat so far back in the cage that I couldn't see it, but I could hear it purring away trying to comfort itself.  I had no idea what was going on with it, if it was scared, or injured, or what.  Maybe it had a kitten in there and was really happy.. One can only hope.  I thought good and hopeful thoughts for it. 

On a personal note, Marsha aka - Simon and Leroy's Mom, sent me a few Fresh Step codes and with the extra boxes I was able to nab at the shelter I was able to order the stainless steel water fountain for The Crew. I can't wait till it arrives. I'll be using Fresh Step for the fosters into 2013. See the Rubbermaid container behind the trash bin in the photos above? it is FULL..

Update - Fleurp

Fleurp went back to the vet on Monday.  Her blood work showed marked improvement but she still has a way to go.  One of the results was out of the "normal" range and Dr. R didn't mention it when going over it so I asked and he said that it meant that her blood was 'fluffy' which was quite funny since Fleurp has always been "fluffy" herself and being on pred she became extra fluffy gaining a pound and a half

He said she was not infected with hemobart, that there would have been evidence of that in the blood work.  So he believes her own immune system is causing problems for one reason or another and that she might need to be on pred for the rest of her life to keep it in check.

I'm not a huge fan of that idea* as being on steroids can cause diabetes in cats.  He mentioned that maybe not as it was a year and a half since the last time we went through this.  I tried to do some reading on whole health support for anemia, and there was talk of injectible B12 being helpful.  I so need to do more reading to see what else might help.  I have another appointment on the 7th for another recheck.    *but since anemia can actually be fatal, if it is give pred or face life threatening anemia, I'll give it and deal with diabetes when or if it comes.

I still think Fleurp isn't feeling like her old self.  She has her moments when she is feeling better and comes into the bedroom seeking attention.  It just kills me to see her laying on the floor in the kitchen after coming out of the bedroom having the entire bed covered with kitties except her.

I may be fluffy, but it is all part of my charm

So I'm going

I found it highly interesting that Hills would invite me to come and visit their facilities.  With my basic personality being  very similar to a cat's the whole thought of traveling gets my fur up, but everyone said I should go... so I'm going.

I don't know a whole heck of a lot more then the fights at this point which is May 8th.

I know I have some pretty major questions, which again I'm sure they have someone with a bunch of letters after their name can totally justify away, but I can't wait to see what they have to say.

So, do you have any questions for Hills? and if you do, do you mind if I use your name/blog when I ask them?

Earth Day

If you have never watched the TV show "The Tick" well then this post is going to be pretty silly.  Heck even if you did watch it then it still kinda silly.

Since watching it my husband and I have used many of the lines in our everday lexicon, and more often then not when talking about how the world is being destroyed (be it in a news show on in a movie) we often quote The Tick from this scene starting at :50

Interviewer: (clearing his throat) Well then, uh... can you destroy the Earth?
The Tick: ( alarmed) Egad, I hope not! That's where I keep all my stuff!

Take your Kittens to Work Day

Once kittens are weaned, I like to take them out of the house for short trips because it helps build their confidence, makes them better well rounded kittens, and it makes the whole getting neutered then going up for adoption a whole heck of a lot less stressful for them.

The first trip out is often quite sedate and this one was no different.  What is nice is there is now four women in the office so each one got a kitten.  I didn't and I was a little sad about that, but it is so much better for the kittens to be introduced to new people and new experiences so it was better for them and that is what was important.  That and I got work done on Friday :)

Hi there! ~Moose

Squirrel hanging out with the "angry mob" action figures

Petra working hard at napping

Miriam just hanging out

They all missed the birdie in the window

It always is quite amazing how much good that does.  That night, after returning them to their room around noon, they were so happy to see me they all ran right up to me where as before they were in their own world and barely noticed I entered.