Bad News and Good News

Well, today started out so sad. The little orange 5 week old that I was worried about passed away today. We did everything we could last night to save her. My son was so upset. I wish we could of saved her, but she was so under weight. I don't know why her mom is not taking care of them...she was for a while, then just stopped. So now me and my fiance, Dave, are taking turns feeding them every four to five hours. It is so hard with work and all...wish we had some voluteers. I just hope we can save the last three and Itty Bitty. He scared me this morning. He was so limp and breating weird. He seems better now...I am so worried.

The good news is that I made an appointment for four of the Olney kittens to be altered, vaccinated, and tested. It is on September 17...only available. They are only open Sunday to Thursday. We have to be there at 6:15 am and with the boys going to school at 8:30...I don't think I would make it. Paws is about 40 minutes (with traffic) from us. So Sunday the17th it is! The bill is going to be $195.00 USD. I have to make three appointments to get all 12 done. I thought it was going to be less...it's not. That amount times 3 is almost $600.00 USD!! Not bad for 12 kittens...but bad for my pocket book!! I will just have to spread them out a little. I hope I can get some donations for this...I will post a picture of them later tonight or tomorrow. Well, that's all for now.

I'm sorry to hear that the little orangie didn't make it :( Bless your heart for taking care of the other little ones. Feeding them every few hours is no easy task, not to mention not easy on the sleep! :eek:

Please keep us updated.

**hugs**

I'm sorry that the little one did not make it, but know that you did the best you could and that the little one at least knew some love, where on the streets he never would have.

RIP Sweet Little Orangie :(

I'm sorry about the orange..I'll say a pray for you all.

Ohh, I am so sad to learn that the little orange kitten did not survive :(

You have my Sympathy as well as my prayers!!!

Sorry about the little orange kitty!!! :(
I hope the others make it. *hugs & prayers*

The Little Orangie has found a wonderful home with the Orange Cat Angel Organization, with all of Our Orangies making sure that he is happy.
Nugget and Karina Angel have taken him, and have named him George.
He thanks you for what you have done, and he will be Your Kitten furrever.
One Fine Day.

ROR,

I'm so sorry the little orangie didn't make it. But you and your boyfriend are to be commended for helping the homeless kittens get fixed, healthy and find homes, despite what a certain opinionated juvenile has said in other posts. Can't wait to see pictures.

I'm so sorry for your loss.Your doing your very best and that's what counts.I wish I lived closer to help w/the bottle feed.I bottle fed my Marshall,and for some reason we let him get away with more than the others ;)

I'm so sorry about the tiny orange one ... I know too well the pain with losing such a wee one. You did all you could though, and at least he passed in a loving home rather outside in the weather or in a dirty cage at an animal :( control facility!

HUGS,
Kim

Thank you everybody. You guys are all so kind. Unfortunetly, there is another kitty that may not make it...he is very weak as the little orange one was. He is an all black little guy...so precious. I feel as he is not going to make it either. The other two kittens...one buff and orange and one all black began to nurse from Dottie again. That seems like a good sign for those two. I just wish I could save the other black one, and the two that passed. Itty Bitty still isn't nursing from Dottie, but she does clean him up and stuff. Again, thank you for your comments and prayers.

I am sorry that the little orangie did not make it, and that another little one is not looking good either. It is so sad, but you are to be commended for all that you are doing for these little ones!

Can't wait to see pictures!

Well, the little black kitten died this evening. The surviving two are eating from their mom agian, eating baby food and kitten food. They are very thin still, but in better spirits. I am heart broken. I went to the store to get pedialyte and Karo syrup to make a mixture to help nurish the little guy, when I returned home he had already passed. I was only gone 20 mins. I feel like a failure. Rest in peace Runt.

Oh Tracy, I am so sorry about the two babies dying. Please don't think you are a failure. Unfortunately sometimes things happen and there isn't anything anyone can do no matter how much we want to. You gave those two babies love and cared for them while they wer here, that is all that anyone could have asked.
Melissa

Tracy - my heart breaks for you, what a distressing thing to find when you got home after buying more supplies to battle on in helping him live. I've been wondering if the mother cat sensed that some of her kittens were sickly and so stopped nursing them all, and now that she has two healthy kittens she is back to being a decent mom.

We have all felt that we are failures, it happens to me almost constantly. Recently, I found out that Dude's gums were very inflamed and his mouth, of course, extremely sore. I knew that he has a history of this, being FIV+, and I had the steroid shots to give him, but I thought he was doing so much better in my home than a shelter that I didn't check him frequently enough. By the time I noticed, he needed to be on antibiotics as well. I wanted to beat my head against the wall for my carelessness and arrogance. In fact, I was negligent and you most certainly were not. That little kitten was actually lucky to be with someone who cared for him and loved him, it was Mother Nature who decided he had to go and she's one mean mother.

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Originally Posted by Lizzie

Tracy - my heart breaks for you, what a distressing thing to find when you got home after buying more supplies to battle on in helping him live. I've been wondering if the mother cat sensed that some of her kittens were sickly and so stopped nursing them all, and now that she has two healthy kittens she is back to being a decent mom.

We have all felt that we are failures, it happens to me almost constantly. Recently, I found out that Dude's gums were very inflamed and his mouth, of course, extremely sore. I knew that he has a history of this, being FIV+, and I had the steroid shots to give him, but I thought he was doing so much better in my home than a shelter that I didn't check him frequently enough. By the time I noticed, he needed to be on antibiotics as well. I wanted to beat my head against the wall for my carelessness and arrogance. In fact, I was negligent and you most certainly were not. That little kitten was actually lucky to be with someone who cared for him and loved him, it was Mother Nature who decided he had to go and she's one mean mother.

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I thought the same thing about Dottie not caring for the kits...but the vet check two of them...the two that died...he dewormed them and started them on baby food, stage 2 gerber. Wouldn't he of noticed? I am so mad that I didn't see a problem sooner...maybe I could of saved them. I just hope the other two and Itty Bitty make it. This is the part I hate about rescuing. And if when I take the four Olney kittens (the one's who have the appointment) to be tested and they come back positive....then I need to worry about all the rescues. I just want them all to be okay and find loving homes..but I know that does not always happen.

I am sorry to hear about Dude. Hopefully He will recover quickly for you. Don't be so hard on yourself...you are a great moomma to those kitties. Because of you, they can live happy lives even though they are FIV +.
Thanks for listening. I hope I can repay you one day for all your kindness.

And, yes....mother nature is very mean at times....but she still is a goddess!!

Thank You for rescuing these precious furbabies.We really need more people like you in the world.There just aren't enough kind people like you.I know your hurting because the orangie and blackie died but they got love and a good person to try at least to save their weary week bodies before they left and that's what all cats/kittens need.LOVE!! And someone to care enough to try to save them!Thank You and I'm saying Thank You from the babies that died because they are unable to.I'm crying with you :(

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Originally Posted by catfamily

Thank You for rescuing these precious furbabies.We really need more people like you in the world.There just aren't enough kind people like you.I know your hurting because the orangie and blackie died but they got love and a good person to try at least to save their weary week bodies before they left and that's what all cats/kittens need.LOVE!! And someone to care enough to try to save them!Thank You and I'm saying Thank You from the babies that died because they are unable to.I'm crying with you :(

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Thank you Catfamily. I know they were loved and cared for, it is still hard. There is one more baby I fear for. If he pulls through...I will feel better. I am so doubtful about him though. I know that sounds grim....but it is the sad truth. I sure hope Jersey is strong enough. His sister, Sunshine, seems to be doing a little better. I haven't seen either kitten nurse of Dottie. Not sure what that is about. Dottie makes me upset sometimes. Sunshine will try to nurse, Dottie will lick her, then get up and walk away. It is really bothering me.

Are you bottle feeding them too?I'm not sure what is best.You know better than me.

If Dottie is still stressed - as you mentioned earlier - might some Feliway help her, along with pats and reassurance (as you are doing, I know)?

If she is still in a kennel or cage - is it covered with a large towel or blanket? She might feel 'safer' that way.

HUGS

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Originally Posted by catfamily

Are you bottle feeding them too?I'm not sure what is best.You know better than me.

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I was only bottle feeding Itty Bitty. The others were syringe fed kitten weaning formula and baby food (lamb and turkey).

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Originally Posted by Catty1

If Dottie is still stressed - as you mentioned earlier - might some Feliway help her, along with pats and reassurance (as you are doing, I know)?

If she is still in a kennel or cage - is it covered with a large towel or blanket? She might feel 'safer' that way.

HUGS

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Dottie and her babies along with Itty Bitty were kept in our 1/2 bathroom. It is rarely used, so we figured we would just not use it at all. She was in a kennel, covered with a large blanket, but she tore the blanket up trying to get out of the kennel. We figured she was not happy in there. It didn't matter where she was, she didn't feed the babies in either spot. I am so baffled on this situation. (sighs...) :confused: