Nasicus
Well-Known Member
On Sunday, I sadly had to say goodbye to the 5 month old tiny sickly kitten I took on that was surrendered into the vets my sister works at. We knew she wasn't long for this world, but she had a great few months before a sudden, sharp decline on Boxing Day, and no improvement despite hospitalisation and 24/7 fluids. Her kidneys had given up, so it was time to say goodbye. Many tears and ugly crying in the back of the vet hospital's cattery were had.
Now, everyone handles grief differently. I tend to throw myself into something else to take my mind off things.
Which is how on Monday, I ended up at a farm in the ass-end of nowhere. I'd seen an ad for free kittens on the community notice board in a local feed store, and against my better judgement went to see.
The farmer poured out a load of cat biscuits which prompted MANY cats to emerge from all around, jumping down from the rafters, slinking out from behind tools and pouring from a pipe in the wall the farmer proudly referred to as 'the catflap'.
So I stood there, looking at all these cats, and found myself thinking 'No, this was a mistake, I'm not ready, it's too soon.'.
I was about to thank the man for his time and leave, when suddenly THIS scrunkley, runty, wormy-bellied little scrap appears, half the size of all the rest, and tries its best to elbow its way in for some kibble.
'My, that's a tiny one!' I exclaim, thinking 'Oh sh*t, oh no, it's runty and stinky, I like runty and stinky, I'm going to end up with this one. Be strong, be strong, you can resist-'
The farmer nonchalantly responds 'Oh yes, it was off its back leg three weeks ago, I think it got hit by a car, seems better now though.'
Oh, bugger, saviour complex activated.
5 minutes later, I'm driving back home with a kitten taped into a cardboard box that once contained a belt sander.
The initial bath was tolerated surprisingly well, and the water a rather interesting colour. Lots of old (thankfully) flea egg, and no evidence of current flea infestation. Bundled up, towel dried, and then popped in the Kitten Crate™ with a warm Snugglesafe, Litter Tray and a tin of a/d wet food, which was absolutely demolished.
Vet check that evening revealed nothing of grand concern other than a very wormy belly and on the edge of malnourished, reckons she was more likely bitten by another cat than hit by a car (phew!), but it's healed now. A three day course of panacur to hopefully shift that worm burden and shrink her tummy back to normal size, some flea treatment, and with any luck all will be grand.
So, here's Pip, full name Pipsqueak, 5 months old and 1.08kg as of the vet visit. For a semi-feral barn kitten, she's decided to insta-domesticate herself as long as there's pets and plenty of scran on offer.
Since arriving, she's had three massive poops and thanks to the panacur passed a large tapeworm (
), who knows what else she'll pass over the 3 day course. However she's already looking less like she swallowed a beachball and her tummy is softer this morning, so we're on the right track.
Flea Treatment will be applied at the weekend, and then we'll start her vaccinations on Monday assuming all is well. And then I'll be hoovering and shampooing the heck out of the carpet and washing all her bedding in hot hot water!
I'll try remember to update this thread as we go
Now, everyone handles grief differently. I tend to throw myself into something else to take my mind off things.
Which is how on Monday, I ended up at a farm in the ass-end of nowhere. I'd seen an ad for free kittens on the community notice board in a local feed store, and against my better judgement went to see.
The farmer poured out a load of cat biscuits which prompted MANY cats to emerge from all around, jumping down from the rafters, slinking out from behind tools and pouring from a pipe in the wall the farmer proudly referred to as 'the catflap'.
So I stood there, looking at all these cats, and found myself thinking 'No, this was a mistake, I'm not ready, it's too soon.'.
I was about to thank the man for his time and leave, when suddenly THIS scrunkley, runty, wormy-bellied little scrap appears, half the size of all the rest, and tries its best to elbow its way in for some kibble.
'My, that's a tiny one!' I exclaim, thinking 'Oh sh*t, oh no, it's runty and stinky, I like runty and stinky, I'm going to end up with this one. Be strong, be strong, you can resist-'
The farmer nonchalantly responds 'Oh yes, it was off its back leg three weeks ago, I think it got hit by a car, seems better now though.'
Oh, bugger, saviour complex activated.
5 minutes later, I'm driving back home with a kitten taped into a cardboard box that once contained a belt sander.
The initial bath was tolerated surprisingly well, and the water a rather interesting colour. Lots of old (thankfully) flea egg, and no evidence of current flea infestation. Bundled up, towel dried, and then popped in the Kitten Crate™ with a warm Snugglesafe, Litter Tray and a tin of a/d wet food, which was absolutely demolished.
Vet check that evening revealed nothing of grand concern other than a very wormy belly and on the edge of malnourished, reckons she was more likely bitten by another cat than hit by a car (phew!), but it's healed now. A three day course of panacur to hopefully shift that worm burden and shrink her tummy back to normal size, some flea treatment, and with any luck all will be grand.
So, here's Pip, full name Pipsqueak, 5 months old and 1.08kg as of the vet visit. For a semi-feral barn kitten, she's decided to insta-domesticate herself as long as there's pets and plenty of scran on offer.
Since arriving, she's had three massive poops and thanks to the panacur passed a large tapeworm (
), who knows what else she'll pass over the 3 day course. However she's already looking less like she swallowed a beachball and her tummy is softer this morning, so we're on the right track.Flea Treatment will be applied at the weekend, and then we'll start her vaccinations on Monday assuming all is well. And then I'll be hoovering and shampooing the heck out of the carpet and washing all her bedding in hot hot water!
I'll try remember to update this thread as we go
I think it's rather endearing hehe 
I am so glad someone else noticed the wonky eye thing going on before I mentioned it, it actually makes her look rather cutely quirky and very individual in my view. 
