Dear friends of kittens,

Joy and sorrow accompanied our kittens this month. You’ll remember that last month, we were hoping for the very best for tiny Maitreya. I’m so sorry to say it, but in one of the most heart-shattering losses of recent memory, this dear little one lost her battle with an undetermined neurological issue. We suspect some form of brain trauma, but will never know for sure.

What is beyond debate is the joy that Maitreya’s foster mom, Senior Veterinary Technician Denise, brought to this tiny tortie’s short life. As Denise’s “TV buddy” and constant cuddle-companion, Maitreya knew a whole lifetime of love in just eight weeks. It is amazing what a tremendous void a tiny creature can create, but we are all feeling this loss keenly.

We are also grieving the passings of three out of six of our beloved Metazoan litter. You know by now how unpredictable a kitten’s first days and weeks can feel. These baby cats are so unbelievably tough and resilient…until they’re not. Even so, to lose so many kittens these last two months has been difficult, to say the least. It’s hard to bear grief for who they would have grown to be, and still to be so grateful for the beauty of the time we do have with them.

Thankfully, life does go on in spite of the sadness, and currently does so in kooky, happy little Agnetha, Anemone, Anchovy, Andrew, Anni Fred, Argon, Azure, Benny, Bjorn, Cadet, Cheddar, Diesel, Ellie, Flan, Grant, Navy, Neon, Olivia, Pema, Rahula, Sissi, Turquoise, Urchin and Xenon. That’s right; it’s November, and we still have twenty-four kittens. Last time I stopped to visit the cuties in residence at the sanctuary, they were too busy being kittenish to give me the time of day! I love a good kitten cuddle, but hey, little ones, live it up. It does a soul good to spend time with creatures so excited to be alive!

Thank you, as always, for your unflagging support for all of our little ones for every life-ful moment we have them.