Update for Kitten Fund

Update for Kitten Fund

Dear Friends of Kittens,

Kitten season is still on the upswing, and (as always!) we have our hands full with little ones at Tabby’s Place. Caring for these babies is always a poignant study in contrasts – kittens are so tough, and yet so fragile.

Our first family of the season, Soy, Lentil, and Garbanzo, arrived last month with their mother Edamame, who is barely out of kittenhood herself. Edamame wasn’t prepared to be a mother at such a young age, and the three little ones have continued to thrive with their foster mama, our own vet Dr. Collins.

This month, we welcomed another family, Pollen and her babies Thorn, Blossom, Petal, and Leaf. Unlike Edamame, Pollen was doing her very best to take care of her babies and loved them like crazy. Like Edamame, though, Pollen needed help to do her job. While we suspect that Edamame’s youth contributied to her inability to feed her kittens, Pollen’s advanced age is the suspect here – we estimate that she is at least 8 years old, and possibly several years older! Her body was just not up for the task of feeding four growing kittens, so the babies went home with another foster mama, our Sanctuary Operations Manager Danielle.

This is where the story gets bittersweet. Even with the best efforts of an experienced foster mother like Danielle, along with regular attention from our vet staff, Petal and Leaf did not survive. Blossom (pictured at right) has been a bit of a challenge to care for as well, needing IV fluids to maintain hydration.

Thorn is doing well overall, and both Blossom and Thorn have strong personalities, if nothing else! Last week, Blossom had her IV removed, and Thorn came along on the vet visit. Boy, are they both yellers! Blossom complained while the IV was removed (not that I blame her), and she and her brother both mewed incessantly while inside their crate.

Stories like Blossom’s and Thorn’s are all too common – kittens who need help to survive. Last month, we hosted our first Bottle Baby Boot Camp to help teach others how to care for the little ones and give them a good start in life. Over fifty people attended, and they learned and practiced how to feed and tend to the needs of infant kittens. It can be overwhelming to try to care for these little ones, but these volunteers are better equipped now to help these kittens find their happy ending.

Blossom and Thorn are still very little, and they still require round-the-clock care. Thanks to your support, we can provide that care, protecting these fragile little ones so that they can grow. Thank you so much for your generosity!