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With my Jade's recent passing so near by, I wasn't looking for another cat or kitten...not yet; I wanted to wait a while...but then I stumbled upon a kitten that needed rescuing on Monday; I had gone to local pet shops in search of a new collar for one of my other kitties. Brazil's collar was getting kinda ragged. I had already been to one, and had one collar in mind, but figured I would scope out more options first. So I headed to the next pet shop. I looked at the first set of collars, but didn't find anything there, so headed over to the other area where they keep more collars. Well, to get to that area, you have to pass by the "puppy room"; this is where they keep the little rodents, kitties, and puppies, that they have for sale. I saw a little black kitty sitting alone on the top shelf of the kitty cage, just kinda hunched and huddled there. When another kitty jumped up there, and that one nearly tipped over, my curiosity\concern was peaked. I asked if I could go and look at the kittens.
When I got in there, the little fluffy black kitten just sat there with a helpless stare. I washed my hands, and opened the cage, and another kitten enthusiastically jumped out onto my shoulder...after putting him back in the cage, I proceded to do a quick feel over on the obviously kitten. I was appalled when I actually felt over her spine, and ribs...she was literally a ball of fluff covering bone. No muscle, no fat...icky bum; she was also wet and stunk really bad. I found out they had 'bathed' her...hmmph, I thought later, they didn't do a very good job...AND they left an already sick kitty WET!!! Anyway...
The groomer at this pet shop came in, and said that the owner had been called and was supposed to come and get the sick kitty...but so far hadn't. I decided then to try and see if I could save the kitty; Logic was taking over, and I figured, okay, this kitten is a rack of bones, not eating, probably not drinking, the owners sold her to a pet shop in the first place...there's no way they are probably going to spend $ to save her. I asked how much they were selling the kittens for, and that I would take the sick one; I didn't mind a little extra care. What I was really thinking was "How could you let her get this bad? Why is she still in with the other kittens? I just want to get her out of this place...this is why I don't like to buy pets from pet shops" So I paid my 20$ for her, and swooped her out the door...I was fuming, and sad at the same time...I had the kitty, but she was very weak...I was hoping she had a strong will to survive! I got her home, and gave her a proper bath (actually two!) to get rid of her terrible smell, then dried and brushed her. The whole time she just soaked up all the attention she was recieving...I don't blame her one bit!
That night and the next day I had to syringe feed "Faith" because she was so weak that she didn't have the energy to eat on her own...so every 2-3 hours she got 6cc's (all her tummy could hold!) of canned kitty food, mixed in enough water to make it fit in the syringe. She was put on Amoxicillin, and a high energy vitamin supplement; both of which she is still getting. Fortunately, now she is eating on her own, and is now trying out the 'hard kibble' as well. She is still in solitary confinement, however, until her antibiotics are gone, and she has gained enough weight to 'stand up' to my other two kitties.
So far, even though she is gaining strength, she seems to be a "lap kitty", or what I like to call a literal 'rag doll' kitty...when you pick her up, she just falls limp into your embrace, and then will reach up and push her nose into your face...she's even kneaded my neck a couple times. Some how, I think Jade would approve...
When I got in there, the little fluffy black kitten just sat there with a helpless stare. I washed my hands, and opened the cage, and another kitten enthusiastically jumped out onto my shoulder...after putting him back in the cage, I proceded to do a quick feel over on the obviously kitten. I was appalled when I actually felt over her spine, and ribs...she was literally a ball of fluff covering bone. No muscle, no fat...icky bum; she was also wet and stunk really bad. I found out they had 'bathed' her...hmmph, I thought later, they didn't do a very good job...AND they left an already sick kitty WET!!! Anyway...
The groomer at this pet shop came in, and said that the owner had been called and was supposed to come and get the sick kitty...but so far hadn't. I decided then to try and see if I could save the kitty; Logic was taking over, and I figured, okay, this kitten is a rack of bones, not eating, probably not drinking, the owners sold her to a pet shop in the first place...there's no way they are probably going to spend $ to save her. I asked how much they were selling the kittens for, and that I would take the sick one; I didn't mind a little extra care. What I was really thinking was "How could you let her get this bad? Why is she still in with the other kittens? I just want to get her out of this place...this is why I don't like to buy pets from pet shops" So I paid my 20$ for her, and swooped her out the door...I was fuming, and sad at the same time...I had the kitty, but she was very weak...I was hoping she had a strong will to survive! I got her home, and gave her a proper bath (actually two!) to get rid of her terrible smell, then dried and brushed her. The whole time she just soaked up all the attention she was recieving...I don't blame her one bit!
That night and the next day I had to syringe feed "Faith" because she was so weak that she didn't have the energy to eat on her own...so every 2-3 hours she got 6cc's (all her tummy could hold!) of canned kitty food, mixed in enough water to make it fit in the syringe. She was put on Amoxicillin, and a high energy vitamin supplement; both of which she is still getting. Fortunately, now she is eating on her own, and is now trying out the 'hard kibble' as well. She is still in solitary confinement, however, until her antibiotics are gone, and she has gained enough weight to 'stand up' to my other two kitties.
So far, even though she is gaining strength, she seems to be a "lap kitty", or what I like to call a literal 'rag doll' kitty...when you pick her up, she just falls limp into your embrace, and then will reach up and push her nose into your face...she's even kneaded my neck a couple times. Some how, I think Jade would approve...
ray:
