Meet Gumbi Jane

In my introductory thread, I mentioned that I foster for the Saint John Animal Rescue League. I want you all to meet my newest foster, Gumbi Jane, and to start a thread to keep everyone up to date on her progress. She is a pregnant stray, who got her name from the fact that she has no top front teeth which leads to the fact that her lil tongue is almost always sticking out.

She came to us last Tuesday, Jan. 19th and she doesn't look too incredibly far along in her pregnancy. She is being treated for an URI as well as some runny eyes but is already doing MUCH better than when she first came here. She absolutely INHALES her food. Because of her lack of teeth, she only eats wet food, and it is obvious that this poor cat was starving at some point in her life.

Here are some pictures of her taken today.

Look at that little tongue!

It seems far too common here that we have stray kitties come in missing either most/all of their upper/lower teeth. We've had quite a few we highly suspect have had the teeth kicked out of their mouth.

ETA: Is that discoloration of her fur, or does she have orange markings?

Originally Posted by white cat lover

Look at that little tongue!

It seems far too common here that we have stray kitties come in missing either most/all of their upper/lower teeth. We've had quite a few we highly suspect have had the teeth kicked out of their mouth.

ETA: Is that discoloration of her fur, or does she have orange markings?

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She does have some orange throughout her fur, so beautiful!

I certainly hope that her teeth weren't kicked out, how incredibly sad. Looking in there though, it almost likes like she never had them at all, almost like she was born that way. I guess we'll never know for sure.

What a gorgeous kitty! And I love her name! Bless you for helping her!

Pretty kitty! And that tongue. I always worry that when their tongue sticks out like that, that it will dry out!

She's adorable and that little tongue sticking out just adds to her charm.

She is a beauty and I am so glad that she has been rescued. I hope she goes to a great home and has a wonderful life.

Here's an update on Gumbi Jane.

She's still recovering from her URI, is a little sneezy, but isn't bad at all. However, I am starting to think that she isn't actually pregnant at all. We've had her over 2 weeks now and she hasn't really grown any since we brought her in, so unless she was just barely pregnant when we took her, I don't think she is. Even if she isn't though, she will stay here until she is completely well and we'll do our best to find her a wonderful, forever home.

Gumbi Jane also no longer inhales her food and has become somewhat fussy. It's like she now realizes that she is going to be fed on a regular basis and gorging is no longer necessary.

We've had quite a few "pretend pregnancies" at the shelter here - sometimes it's really hard to tell! Pregnant or not, I'm still sending get well to gorgeous Gumbi Jane!

She's so cute! I love when they stick their tongues out... Holland seems to "forget" to put her tongue back in every once in a while after grooming. Bless you for taking her in! I don't know that I could ever foster... I think it would break my heart.

Originally Posted by Mystik Spiral

She's so cute! I love when they stick their tongues out... Holland seems to "forget" to put her tongue back in every once in a while after grooming. Bless you for taking her in! I don't know that I could ever foster... I think it would break my heart.

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I've had my heart broken MANY times, especially when I lose a kitten, but all of the heartbreaking times are so worth all of the happy endings. I know a lot of people say they don't know how I can let them go, but the way I look at it, once they do go to their forever homes, then I can help MORE! It is very much a therapy for me.

What a cutie! I love that little tongue sticking out.

Well guys, some vibes for Gumbi Jane would be great. As of yesterday and today, she seems to be getting worse instead of better. She's sneezing a lot more and her eyes are more goopy as well. Aside from that, she has developed a bald spot on her tail and seems a little lethargic. She IS still eating thankfully. I was just able to get her a vet appointment for Thursday afternoon. This vet gives 1 free vet visit for foster cats with the Saint John Animal Rescue League, so hopefully we'll be able to get her all fixed up in no time.

Poor baby! She's so beautiful.
And I hope no one was cruel enough to knock her teeth out. I don't know any cats with missing teeth but my dog is missing her teeth we think from chomping at tennis balls and things.

Many many many mega for Gumbi.

Originally Posted by Krickette

Poor baby! She's so beautiful.
And I hope no one was cruel enough to knock her teeth out. I don't know any cats with missing teeth but my dog is missing her teeth we think from chomping at tennis balls and things.

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Oh how sad. I am going to ask the vet tomorrow what he thinks may have caused it just to get his opinion. We'll see how things go!

Alright, so the vet visit went very well! (Although I was told by the shelter that where she is a foster, the vet visit was free. The EXAM was free but I had to pay for her meds! I did so without complaint but it would have been nice to be told this. )

She's on Clavamox for her cold. The vet said that it is not only her top front teeth she lost, that she will eventually lose ALL of her teeth because she apparently has this condition, neck something or other, where the bone takes over the teeth and tries to turn them to bone causing them all to fall out. I have never heard of this before, but he said her mouth could be fairly tender. As for the bald spot on her tail he said it is not ringworm, but looks more like a recovering injury, and he said her fur should grow back eventually. I mentioned that she hasn't been eating, so he brings in some Hills Science Diet AD canned food, and she makes a liar out of me and inhales it! So he just gave her a bit and I brought some home.

Of course I give her some when we get home and she's had a couple of bites and is now ignoring it. I'm sure her appetite will return as she gets better, but at least she is eating SOMETHING and he said she wasn't dehydrated.

Also, just as I thought, she is NOT pregnant.