Enchanting!!! I'm not ready for a kitten yet, unfortunately, but I'll let friends know.
Elle_Cee, please do. I'm starting to field inquiries. I have a pair already spoken for (together) and one possible single although I'd like them to go in pairs, if possible. I feel they do better with a buddy when they're kittens.
Two of my little friends went to their foster-to-adopt home yesterday. They'll be coming back in another week or two for their first shot and for babysitting while their family is on vacation. Here's a picture of their sister and brother who are looking for another sweet situation together.
To ease their transition from a set of four to a pair, we've been giving them extra attention and they are loving it. If you hear of anyone looking for a couple of darling kittens who like to hang out on your lap and don't cause any trouble, let me know.
After two of the fosters left with their new family, I took on an orphan litter of days old kittens. The newbies were doing so well, I offered to take two more. The two were with me for a day and I began to suspect something amiss with one so I asked the rescue to look at him. She swapped them out for two others and she later texted me one of the two I brought her had died.
Today, I felt the rescue needed to evaluate a couple of the original batch so they're with her today but I'll get them back tonight. Motherless kittens don't have great odds and even with exemplary care, about 25 percent will start to fail at 2 weeks once the antibodies they got from their mom are depleted. I hope that's not the case with my new litter. It has been a brutal kitten season for me so far; I'm not used to seeing so many kittens fail.
In the meantime, Magic's two kittens have been so much fun. They remind me why I love fostering. If you want to meet them, please tell me you're shooting me a pm. Sadly, I saw one today that had been sent about a week ago.
Here's today's photo.
All of the kittens have been spoken for. Two families (both from Glen Ridge) have each adopted a brother and a sister. I plan to get the kittens their shot tomorrow and then they'll be on their way. Happy day!
This is the next batch of kittens: I've been fostering them for the last two weeks and it's been touch and go. We've lost three days-old kittens in that time; one day they're fine, the next day they faded away. This bunch has been stable for the last week but I'll be relieved once they make it through another week.
Jeez, what a rough season! This must be very difficult for you. But I'm thrilled the first batch is accommodated, and I love the latest photo of the pile o' kittens.
And then there were four. The littlest one faded away yesterday. At least she didn't linger.
On the plus side, two the litter of four who prompted the start of this thread went to their new family who couldn't have been happier or more excited to welcome two brand new kittens!
That, in a nutshell, represents the highest of highs and lowest of lows in fostering. If you have any spare cash kicking around, I encourage you to make a donation to People For Animals, the low cost/high quality spay/neuter and wellness clinic in Hillside. Helping rescues and individuals get the animal population in check will go a long way in putting me out of the fostering business.
This thread is breaking my heart. I can't even imagine how you feel.
Thanks for doing this.
marylago said:
This thread is breaking my heart. I can't even imagine how you feel. ">
Thanks for doing this.
What she said.
bigben_again said:
If you have any spare cash kicking around, I encourage you to make a donation to People For Animals, the low cost/high quality spay/neuter and wellness clinic in Hillside. Helping rescues and individuals get the animal population in check will go a long way in putting me out of the fostering business.
When I went to one of the meetings in South Orange, I remember "People for Animals" was there and made a good presentation. It seems they know what they are doing and mean well. Can you give us more info about them ?? Plus are they looking for people who want to volunteer ??
Thanks !!
ps- sorry to hear about the kitties that didn't make it .. It's been a rough season for you.
When I first moved my business to Hillside over a decade ago, People for Animals was in a tiny brick house on a nearby corner. Since then, not only have they expanded into quarters which are probably triple the size, they opened a second facility in Robbinsville several years later and recently opened a third practice in Gloucester County. That, and they also recently implemented a mobile spay/neuter clinic so they can bring low cost spay/neuter and wellness services to areas that need it. They are a top-notch outfit.
As for volunteering for them, I'm not sure there are a lot of opportunities. They are staffed with pleasant and professional paid employees. They are primarily a clinic so they don't need dog walkers or cat socializers or people to foster their animals.
Regarding my foster litter, everyone looks to be growing and gaining weight even if sometimes it seems as fast as I put the formula into them it comes out the back end. In the morning everybody is pretty much in need of a good scrubbing. While the vet couldn't find any parasites, they were dewormed again Monday and I'm administering anti-bacterial meds daily. Lots of laundry is involved! Tonight I tried a new remedy to help firm things up: kitten formula mixed with pureed pumpkin plus a little rice cereal baby food. It looked disgusting but the kittens were so full after eating it they were nearly comatose. I am guardedly optimistic about their chances and that's a big change from only a few days ago. Even then, I'm always relieved when I check on them and see them jockeying for position to be fed.
bigben, your comment about the nearly comatose kittens made me laugh. Your heartwarming care of them is the best bet that they'll thrive.
Here's a picture of the quartet today. You can see they're still so tiny. I didn't want to poke at them too much in order to get a photo because when you wake them they start screaming for attention. I don't find kittens of this age to be cute, fun, or lovable. When they reach that stage my work is done and we hand them off either to their new homes or back to rescue. It's a mixture of relief that we got them that far and regret that we don't get to keep them longer.
They slept nearly seven hours after last night's food orgy. I'm not sure the remedy was a success but it was a much more colorful display this morning....
bigben, I think bestowing upon you the honorific of saint might just not be hyperbole.
jasper said:
bigben, I think bestowing upon you the honorific of saint might just not be hyperbole.
I agree, especially with the "colorful" display.
I, also, burst into laughter when I read the comatose line. And 'colorful' !!
I needed a quick pick-me-up between my jobs, and your post did the trick. Thanks.
marylago said:
jasper said:
bigben, I think bestowing upon you the honorific of saint might just not be hyperbole.
I agree, especially with the "colorful" display.
Indeed. Having had a recent bout of Norovirus, I regard the kittens' plight, and yours since you get to clean up, with a lot of sympathy. But thank heaven this thread makes me laugh about it!!
File this away: the pumpkin/rice cereal/formula concoction seems to be doing the trick. And by "trick", I mean inflow/immediate outflow is now just inflow for three of them. I think they're ticking time bombs full of pumpkin-colored poo.
Not someone to leave well enough alone, I agreed to take two more tonight while the foster goes on vacation for a week: the tiny tux sister to two of my current four (their other sister is the one who died this week) and a white and orange kitten who has one ruptured cornea. The tiny tux has what is probably an abscess on her forehead to which a hot compress must be applied twice a day. That, and give her antibiotics. The orange and white will be fine; I imagine in time the rescue will have the eye removed and sewn shut. He is one of three or four one-eyed or blind kittens the rescue has taken over the past week.
Sleep is overrated.
But as type this, I have one of Magic's sons purring an napping in my lap (his family is on vacation too) and that's very sweet.
PeggyC said:
"ticking time bombs full of pumpkin-colored poo"
"> "> ">
) Love this description. Magic's son does look happier and healthier though...
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Here's today's snapshot of the cat pack. They are the mellowest bunch of kittens. Happy to sit on your lap and behave beautifully.