Just a quick synopsis of what happened here with this story.
I get emails all the time from people who are either having problems with cats or need rescue to happen. They find my email on this website or meowhoo.
I got this email a few days ago that simply said:
I found a kitten, please help I don't know what to do with it!
Immediately my warning flag was up, knowing this was probably a young kid, and I wrote right away giving links and asking for details. Over time- the emails were short and hard to read (spelling) the details emerged.
The girl's brother was in the park and found the kitten and brought it home. She thought it was a month old, but didn't know how to care for it. Instead of readig the links provided she just kept asking me what to do. One of her emails said she just couldn't do it all, had to go to school, the kitten wasn't being fed enough- so I started asking her where she lived....silence.....I wrote back explaining I did not need her exact address to help her, but a town, city, anything would be helpful. Told her I know about the wierdos on the internet, and sent her to my homepage to *see* what I am about. She finally told me where she was, so I started networking with the people I know that rescue. I posted on the board about her and got a quick private PM from someone who said they don't want their name out there, but they would be willing to pay the vet bill- but that is all they could do.
Cool! So I wrote the girl back asked her to find the closest vet and get back with me, problem was in was Saturday night and the closest vet was closed. Then an ER clinic was located- but the mother wouldn't take the girl or the kitten to the clinic at night. Enter another guardian who said she would find transport and did!
So now the kitten was at the clinic, the vet bill was covered and now the kitten needs a home! Laurie found it a foster home THANK YOU LAURIE and I am sure we are not out of miracles yet, I bet a permanent home is waiting for this kitten, maybe with someone who is reading this post!
I didn't end up going into the city with Gary today, and I guess I'm glad... he said she looked "exactly like a little Shelly" (His kitty, Sheldon). I was pretty sure he was going to end up coming home with her... but when the Vet told him the kitty has to be fed every four hours, that was the motivation he needed to actually leave her with her foster family, LOL!
So she's safe, she's warm, she's healthy, and she's being fed formula. She's in the care of people who know how to take care of her...and hopefully the snuggle kitty we ordered for her will show up tomorrow!
Well, the kitty's foster mom called to let us know that the kitten has been trembling and shaking, pretty much constantly.
We were supposed to pick up the kitty yesterday to take her to the vet, but were unable to do so. We went today.
She is still SO tiny!!!! The vet saw her - but she wasn't trembling then! She'd snuggled into Gary's shirt for the 40 minute drive to the Vet's (we did have a crate, but she really took to him, and he couldn't put her down
).
Our vet believes she is AT MOST 6 weeks old. She's been in "our" care for 3 1/2 weeks now, so she was maybe 3 weeks old when she was taken to the first hospital. The vet thinks it far more likely that she was just 2 weeks old.
Anyway, they're going to continue bottle feeding her at times, although she's already eating wet and dry food. They want to keep her for a few days for observation. Thankfully all the women who work there are cat-crazy, and every time our vet has kittens, they always bring them out to let them romp around the reception desk all day. They get lots of love and attention.
I'm sick at heart that we can't foster her ourselves. I really think she needs to be around other cats. But with four in our small space, it would really just be too much.
But she is so cute!!! I'm sorry I didn't take pics. I have to download all that are already on the digital camera.
I will in a few days - next time we see her. We need to find her a furrever home now, though the vet is often good at placing kittens.
We'll see what happens. She is absolutely darling. Gary named her Mae today. ...after Mae West, who in all her pictures is a confident, self-made woman who is a fighter and survivor. Let's hope little Mae lives up to her name!!!! I can't "talk" about her without tears welling up... I so badly want to bring her here... I bet Spooky would be a great pseudo-mom (no milk though...). She's always giving Lazlo or Shelly a bath, and little Mae needs kitty love! But Tuxedo and Shelly probably wouldn't handle her being her very well, and as Gary puts it, our responsibility is first and foremost to this gang. I know in my heart he's right, but my heart is torn apart by this. She is SO CUTE!!!!!!
Oh Laurie, I know she would thrive under your care and Gary's love. I will think good positive Mae thoughts so she can find someplace to finally call her home and stop moving so much. Thank you again for what you have done and did for this little one.
... but I just remembered we'd started a thread in the Cat Lounge for board magic for the little girl, so I'm going to go post the update (and pics) there. Here's a link:
She's even cuter now that Gary has cleaned up that muck from her nose. Next project: her paws.
Tuxedo still hisses, but I'm not scared he's going to attack her anymore. Spooky is still scared stiff, and swats her if she romps too close. She tries to stay out of Spook's way... but forgets sometimes.
Shelly remains fascinated and has started licking her - no full blown bath yet.
And Lazlo? Well... he tolerates her and is no longer ignoring her. He lets her sniff him - but if she starts trying to play with his paws or whiskers or something, he gently puts his paw on her forehead. It's really cute.