like old times...

It's been a long time since I had a litter of kittens. I almost forgot how much work it is. Today, we got to go back to the vet. Now everyone is on Flagyl. (Metronidazole). Everyone has poop issues! Yeah, that's the fun stuff. After only 2 doses, it seems to be helping. 4 more days of that, and hopefully we will be done with sickness! It's hard to gain their trust when I have to squirt nasty stuff in their mouths twice a day!


Inspector plans a sneak attack of the fleecy string.

Inspector is doing really well. He has gained a lot of weight, and his breathing is better. Hopefully we have seen the worst of the URI issues. Next will be another round of Panacur. His belly sure does look big...but he eats and drinks a lot. Hope that's why.


Aruba has eye contact with the fleecy string.

They really like the hammock, but I had to take it down today. Someone threw up in it. I will be washing it and replacing it tomorrow. And this floor in my office needs a good scrubbing. Might try to do that tomorrow too.


Sleepy girls.

Gadget is the real hold out. Inspector and Aruba and Jamaica all settle down when I get them, even though they are still timid, and will run and hide if you reach for them and are not quick. They come out and play even if I am on the floor with them, but Gadget is really timid. He was a little easier to deal with today, but I think it was just because he didn't feel good.


Aruba & Gadget in the hammock.

Belize is like a normal kitten now. She climbs on me, and loves attention. She wins over everyone she meets, and has already tried to run out of the office when I come in. I am hoping she is setting a good example for the others to not be afraid.


No fear here!

backsliding

Yesterday Inspector had a bit of a backslide. When I got home around 3, I sat down at my desk to do some work, and in a couple of minutes, I noticed I was hearing a noise. Turned out to be Inspector breathing! He was really congested, and his eyes were runny. I gave him his meds, forced some food (AD) mixed with a little water and some Nutri-cal into him. (He didn't appreciate it much). I decided to get some humidity going, to break up the congestion some, so I put him in a carrier and covered it with a towel. I nuked a cup of water to boiling, and put it under the towel with him. After all this, I gave him another 20ML's of fluids. Just hoped he would sleep. He seems better now, but I will keep a close eye on him.


Inspector feels well enough to bathe.

When I came home today I was greeted with a huge amount of very watery vomit on the office floor. Wasn't sure who the culprit was, but about 30 minutes after I cleaned it up, I heard retching behind me. I turned in time to see Aruba unleash a stream of very watery vomit. About 10 minutes after cleaning that up, she was happily playing with her sister, looking completely fine.


Some hammock play.

And 30 minutes later, they were done!


Serious tortie crash!

Belize is still the least scared. It looks like she will be a talker. Sometimes she wakes up from a nap, and cries! I kept thinking she was in pain, but no. Just looking for attention. Of course, when they hear the cry, all the others come running to see what's happening.


Belize is the fleecy string champion.


Jamaica joins in on the fleecy fun.

Of course, they all need serious socialization, but it's hard to give them all enough time, especially when one (or more) is sick. Inspector got a lot of attention yesterday, but I made some time to hold all of them today. I need to get my friends over to help!


Gadget makes a rare appearance.

all things in time

In the week since I picked up the hissy fits, there have been a few changes. First, we have gotten past the hissing. They are still a little shy, but the fleecy string brings them out to play, and regular attention has made them less fearful. Belize doesn't hide when I come in the room, and likes attention. She still has skittish moments, but in general likes to be scratched. The torte girls are more fearful that Belize, but have made progress. Jamaica was the first to actually relax when held, and to purr. She still runs when you enter the room, but once you get her, she is ok being held. Aruba is a harder nut to crack, but we are working on her.


Jamaica strikes a pose.


Belize and Aruba wake up from a nap.

A couple of day after the hissy fits arrived, I got a call that the shelter had 2 more that were about the same size, also semi-feral, and could I take 2 more. I picked up Inspector and Gadget on Wednesday. Inspector wasn't too bad. Tolerated holding, and didn't struggle much. Gadget wanted nothing to do with it!


Inspector.


Inspector likes to put a paw in the water bowl while he drinks.

Friday, I realized Inspector was ill. I gave him 2 doses of subQ fluids, and forced some Nutri-cal into him. (He didn't care much for it). Saturday, I made an appointment, and took them all in, since I had been hearing all 5 of them sneezing. (I started them all on lysine on Friday). Inspector was still a bit dehydrated, and not eating. He was put on Clavamox, and given more fluids, and force fed some AD cat food.

Today, I have heard very little sneezing, and Inspector is eating, and seems to be feeling better. Looks like we dodged a bullet with all of them. (Fingers crossed)


Chow time!

This coming week, we give a full court press to Gadget. He is too cute to be feral!


The elusive Gadget.

meet the Hissy Fits!

It has finally happened. I have my first fosters of the year. (In July??)

I got 3 very feral little girls. They are going to be hard cases. Picked them up yesterday afternoon, and they are showing no signs of wanting to be friendly yet. I have pick up and held them all, and I think they will settle down eventually. They have to live in my office, so I will be in there with them plenty.


Meet the girls. Belize, Jamaica and Aruba.

For now, they hide. They are coming out a little. The lure of play is strong. They are eating, but I did have to clean up a mess today. Someone mistook the basket of toys for the litter box. :/

Bosley is dealing...he seems a little afraid of them, since he was watching when we got a very intense hissy show. He still wants to be in the office with me though. There will be an adjustment period, for sure. And to make it even better, they have 3 doses of Panacure left to go. That will really endear me to them.



I wasn't sure they had not found some way to escape this morning. I could not find them. I looked in every nook and cranny...or so I thought. Then, I was at my desk, and I saw the littlest one (Aruba) make a run! She came from back in the corner, from a shelving unit, or under the wooden chest (although I had already looked there!). She was scared, but ran past me to the left underside of my desk. This is where she gave her sisters away. I sat on the floor and watched her climb up the back side of the file drawer! I pulled it out, and sure enough, there they all were!


Hidey Hole found!

Hopefully, I will be able to find them from now on. :)

spaztic morning

I know, I know. I have not posted for some time. You'd think I would have more time to post, since I don't have any fosters. Not sure what is going on, but no calls from the shelter, or the other group that said they needed my help. So, for now it's just Boz and the rest of the standard kitty crew...and Bentley of course.


Boz naps.

As the title of this post alludes to, Bosley is quite the spaz this morning. He hasn't felt great the last few days, but he has turned the corner on this round it seems! Running through the house, chasing Buck, climbing the kitty condo, and leaping down from the very top. Yes, he seems to be feeling much better!


Boz entertains himself with the umbrella decorations.


Bentley on his favorite spot.

Took a weight on him this morning. Haven't done that in a while since I am not that worried abut it anymore. I mean he is almost 9 months old after all! Hard to believe. Bosley weighs 3 lbs, 13 oz. He may one day get to 4 lbs, but he will always be a mini kitty. He gets by just fine as a little guy. He goes where he wants to go, that's for sure.


Alert for the next thing to pounce on.

We are heading to my parents place down in Southern VA next weekend, and although Bentley is coming with us, it will be Bosley's first time staying home without us. A big step for all of us! My great friends Deb and Lisa will be doing kitty duty for us while we are away (only 3 days), and I know they will take great care of Bosley, Buck, Bishop and Ripley. Not that the big kitties are difficult, but Boz is a little high maintenance. He eats slow, and likes to go back after a little while. If he walks away, Buck the pig will come and eat the rest of Bosley's food. He does NOT need to eat any more food than his one small can. Boz will eat crunchies if he gets hungry, so it'll be fine.


Buck doesn't need the chair, he has the box!