Update for the Kitten Fund

Update for the Kitten Fund

Dear Sponsors,

Pike says, “It’s kitten season!”

Spring has sprung and that means the little kittens are here!

Tabby’s Place welcomed its first batch of neonatal kittens this month with the arrival of the Fishy cat crew. The ten all-black littles are lucky to have two devoted mommas (Mahi-Mahi and Arowana) to care for them.

Momma with babies

However one of the little ones (Ramekin) arrived with a large neck wound. He was underweight and dehydrated. Our veterinary team swept him off and placed him on heat support and inserted an IV catheter. This is a praiseworthy accomplishment as itty bitty kittens have itty bitty veins. Ramekin is now under the care of a devoted staff foster mom. He is gaining weight but is now struggling with constipation.

Both fishy mommas are also in foster homes with their babies. Both are wonderful and devoted moms. Mahi-Mahi was very protective of her crew when she first arrived and we quickly learned that caution was needed. Once she moved into a foster home, away from her sister (and other adult cats), she calmed down and focused on nurturing her four babies:  Pike, Betta, Tetra, and Salmon. While Salmon was initially thriving with his littermates, his foster mom noticed that he was starting to fall behind his siblings and exhibit some cranial swelling and tremors. He has started on a round of antibiotics and will be monitored with an extra attentive eye.

Elliot getting into mischief

Arowana is reportedly doing a wonderful job as well. She has five littles in her brood.

Our tween kitties are all thriving in foster homes. Elliot is not so little anymore and he was overjoyed with the arrival of his new BFF, Otter. Elliot is fecal incontinent. He tries to get to the litter box, but he can’t help what happens in-between visits. He will soon be returning to Tabby’s Place to await adoption. We understand that he may be a long-term resident at Tabby’s Place, as incontinence is not as easily dealt with in a home. Otter is looking for his forever home. We expect him to be scooped up quickly as he is an all-around wonderful young cat who gets along with others and plays nicely.

Ms. Carrot is quite bonded to her older friend, Nemo. She is six months old but is the size of a three-month-old kitten. She reportedly eats three times that of most kitties each day but doesn’t get any bigger.

Otter and Elliot

Ruby and Nero were loving life in their foster home until Ruby’s fungal culture turned up positive for ringworm. Now the adorable pair have been relegated to Ringworm and Ruby is getting regular lime sulfur baths. This unfortunate turn of events has in no way impacted the pair’s charm. They will be swooped up in no time at all. Their foster mom did a wonderful job building Nero’s confidence. He continues to look to sister Ruby for guidance. They are quite bonded.

Thanks to your faithful love and support of our kittens, little ones like Elliot, Ramekin, and Salmon can get the extra care and attention that they require to grow and mature. We hope that all of these babies will find loving forever homes. Thanks to you, their spring is full of hope and promise!

A fishy kitten

Your Guest Correspondent,
Lisa