Still some bottle-feeding going on
Jaye's trying to jump-start that nursing instinct in Bou's two reluctant nursers. One is one of the white ones, and the other is this tuxie, which Jaye's tending to. Here's your COXCU, too...
Thursday morning updates in the comments below... [sigh]
Thursday morning updates in the comments below... [sigh]
Comments
Lovely! I really hope it works! (And I like your t-shirt too!)
Were they born a little early? He just looks like he could use a bit more hair... But it has been years and years since I was around newborn kittens.
Is this kitten bald on his/her chin and upper neck area? Isn't that an oddity? Will it end up with fur there or do you think it will be a 'baldy' it's whole life?
Heee heeee...kitten with a comb-under. LOL!!!
When the white kittens were born, I thought for a minute that they were hairless or not fully developed, because all that thin white fur was nearly transparent when wet. But they fluffed up nicely when dry.
The Triumvirate are getting FAT! They must be twice the weight of the runts. The tiger kitten is a little milk-seeking missile.
Bou is having a great day. She ate a good serving of tuna cat food this morning, and nearly half a can of her special high-calorie food this afternoon. She still has mastitis in one teat, but I massaged it with a warm washcloth last night and she seemed to like that. I'll try to do that again, between kitten feedings.
awe...that makes it so much more cute!! Transparent white hair. Such a cute little pink baby body.
awe...thank you so much theo, Jaye, and family for taking such great care of Bou and her kittens.
What about Cicero ("chickpea")? It seems to be indicate about the right size.
(btw, again, you guys are soooo great.)
Oh what a precious picture! I'm a softie for the tuxie so special grow & get bigger vibes to him/her :-)
I'm glad Bou is having a better day. May all of you have a terrific 4th. Please give the non CatCave residents a scritch from me.
Go, transparent tuxie, go!
Kidding! :)
I'm an infamous rooter for runties - love the teentsiest of the teentsies the *most*.
Soooooooooooooo glad that Bou is getting better - keeping the good thoughts and crossed fingers for the reluctant nursers.
So sweet Catcave fambly. I'll be excruciatingly relieved when everybody's out of the woods for sure (though Tuxman seems like he's responding to the extra help). <3 <3 <3
*Rooting for the bebes!* Rah! Rah! Rah!
*Rooting for Mama Bou!* Rah! Rah! Rah!
*Rooting for the human angels giving them tons of TLC*
*CROWD GOES WILD* RAHRAHRAHRAHRAH!
Happy Fourth Catcavers & fellow celebrators!
Happy Day to everyone! Mucho luv all around.
I kinda hate to post updates anymore, because either A) it's bad news or B) it's good news that raises hopes that are promptly dashed by more bad news. But everybody has been riding this rollercoaster with us all along, so here's the latest plunge...
Bou had to go to the emergency vet for surgery last night and stay overnight for care, because her mastitis caused a rupture and there was dead tissue besides. She came through the surgery OK, but she needs to spend the day at Companion Animal Hospital again. She's still anemic and in need of veterinary care today.
Meanwhile, the weakest kitten, the white one, is looking very fragile. I *told* the emergency clinic staff that neither of the littlest ones had been nursing from mama and they needed feeding overnight, but this morning we were told, "Oh, the kittens were nursing." But clearly only the STRONG kittens were nursing--the tiny white one looked all but dead. Tuxie looked pretty good but I am sure he didn't eat. Arrrrrghhh, I could have slapped somebody despite their excellent care of Bou. I can only hope that the CAH staff has better luck with the littlest ones today.
At this point, sadly, Theo and I have to admit that this furry family needs more round-the-clock care than we can provide while still keeping our day jobs. I'm going to have to call the Humane Society to ask about an alternate foster family where someone is home all day, preferably with experience caring for post-surgery cats too. As much as we want to be the ones to get Bou healthy and see those kittens thrive, I don't think we can do it. :(
It's so sad. A couple of the kittens had an eye open yesterday--they would soon have been bumbling around the CatCave. But we just can't provide the constant care during the week that Bou and the tiny ones need right now.
On the other hand, we did get Bou all the quality medical care she needed, when she would have died as a stray and perhaps been euthanized as an impound cat. I doubt that MVHS would have been able to spare so much budget and resources when they have countless other other animals in need to support. I just hope that means that, if all goes well from here, Bou will still get the happy ending and forever home she deserves.
There is no joy in the CatCave right now. Thanks for all the well wishes, but we just need to have some quiet family time and recuperate from all these exhausting crises. I don't think we will have updates for a while, so just bear with us until we are feeling a little better and happier ourselves.
thanks to you the Triumvirate are well on their way, and so will the other two, given some personalized attention and feeding.
thanks again for all you've done. we look forward to see the little family in the "ready to adopt" page at MVHS.
(((hugs)))
Jaye and Theo,
You are wonderful and selfless and have given Bou and her kittens such wonderful tender loving care while with you.
Hugs {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Jaye, Teho & Schmoopteens}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
You have done a wonderful job & thanks for sharing the good and the bad times.
Purrs from Yitzy
Aawwweee...I was so hoping that Bou and the babies had turned a corner. We know you did all you could. We admire you for doing what you can and knowing when to bow out and ask for help.
Hopefully Bou and all five babies will find their forever homes and this will all just become a nightmare for them.
((((hugs))))) to Jaye, Theo and all the Schmoopteens.
It's in the hands of the people who can help her now.
Sign.
Kittens without a functional mama require a full-time replacement.
There's just nothing else to do.
(It makes you really, really appreciate all the mother cats you've known -- they make all that work look so easy.)
I'm disappointed not to get to see pics of the little fuzzles, but they will go be little fuzzles elsewhere.
Go snuggle with Rikki the other furry persons in the household.
And each other, for that matter.
You did good.
I hope you all get some more-than-well-deserved rest, and enjoy little Rikki & the rest of the gang.
Love to you all.
I'm so sorry to hear that- I hope that Bou and her little family will recover and keep getting stronger.
You guys are amazing and wonderful, and I know the animal world thanks you!
I know you are all disappointed and feeling as if you "failed". Please let go of that thought because it absolutely is NOT the truth. Maybe you guys were not meant to raise Bou & fambly COMPLETELY until you were able to see them off to their forever homes --- maybe you guys were meant to get them past the dangerous part so that other people could take over from there.
Please know that we admire your dedication and love you guys for all that you are doing.
Come on Bou --- get better sweet kitty mama --- get better soon and your precious fuzzy babies, too.
Theo, Jaye & fambly - Much love to all of you.
(sad, but good)
Can I send extra wuv-wuvs to Rikki, who was probably the most bewildered, but cannot possibly be made to understand what all that was?
And much sympathies to Bou. Poor little girl, she's had it rough. You saved her life, for sure.
Well, I can understand that you won't be posting for a little. Things like this just take the wind out of your sails and require that alone-time.
You guys are the best. Whatever happens, the Bou Crew is going to be OK. I agree with Jaye that the tiny white and tuxie runties need her TLC, but Jaye - you need a rest, too. :>}
Still sending the good thoughts for Bou and ALL her crew, but I'll understand if Fiver and Fourpaws get a couple more siblings to keep them company up there at the Rainbow Bridge. (crying now)
I also wish that MVHS/cattie hospital worker hadn't attempted to tell you a comforting lie, too, Jaye - obviously you could tell it was a lie and then it's twice as upsetting.
Just feel the love from all of us. You fought the good fight.
Don't chew yourselve up for having to pass them on, you recognisied you couldn't do the 24/7 care despite your desire too so rather made sure they had the best care they could and not just held on to them to enjoy them, that is selflessness not failure.
Big hugs
Fostering is a tough job. Tougher is to bottle feed kittens. I have done this with 3 little guys but one at atime. You are doing Bou a huge favor by letting another foster family take over. Your job was to get the kits born and started. You did.
Rikki is a testamont to your dedication. Rejoice in that and Bou still being with us and trying her darnest to be a good mom. She could not have gotten this fat without you. But I do admit to wanting to hear updates on her....
:-( so sorry to hear. Hugs to you all. And echos of everyone elses comments.
This ordeal reminds me so much of the very first litter I ever witnessed at home as a child with our calico, Spooky. There were the same losses and similar complications. At least you're not 6 years old. Of course, this is difficult and heartbreaking at any age.
I'm so sorry the vet staff let you down (re: not feeding overnight). I'm really annoyed about that.
Huge, but gentle hugs to all. My very best wishes always.
This has been done for The Greater Good. The health and affection you have given mom and her kits have given them all a jumpstart into a better life.
Will you be kept appraised of their progress? Does this qualify as a 'special needs' family - is this the type of thing that could make the news...possibly a regional type of story?
I don't know what I'm talking about.
Anyway, don't worry - homes will be found, and Bumble Kitties will soon be buzzing around their forever hives.
Teho and/or Jaye, will you get any updates on Bou and the kittens?? Will you pass them on to us good or bad??? I still want to know how it all turns out. I know... makes no sense but after going thru our own animal tragedies I guess I want to know if by some miracle it turns out at least partly okay. Wishing for all sunshine and happiness but know that is not always possible.