The vet doesn’t think Dolly is likely to survive, but we’ll give her as good a chance as we can. She’s very frail and wobbly, but has a lot of oomph for so tiny a creature.
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Any reason why the vet doesn’t think that Dolly is going to make it? One of my current cat’s kittens seemed an almost certain goner when I got them. Very unresponsive and quiet, thankfully, she managed to pull through quite nicely (she’s the one kitten I kept) and is now almost as big as her mother. She’s also very vocal. One would think that the she was dying from the way she sounds.
I have a friend who fosters kittens for Cat’s Protection, she’s often had tiny babies who’ve been near death when she got them but she sits up all night feeding them etc and the majority of them pull through even when the vet says there’s little chance for them. I think kitties know when there’s someone around who cares about them.
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan]
Any reason why the vet doesn’t think that Dolly is going to make it? One of my current cat’s kittens seemed an almost certain goner when I got them. Very unresponsive and quiet, thankfully, she managed to pull through quite nicely (she’s the one kitten I kept) and is now almost as big as her mother. She’s also very vocal. One would think that the she was dying from the way she sounds.
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Despite regular feedings of KMR, Dolly isn’t gaining weight. But the little gal is a scrapper. She can barely walk, but when Henry leaves the nest, Dolly scrambles out after him, and wobbles around mewing at the top of her little lungs. She doesn’t suckle well, so we are shooting the kitten formula into her with a plastic syringe, a little bit at a time. Dolly’s determination and drive are remarkable. If will-to-live is a factor in survival (and I know it is), she is very well equipped.
[QUOTE=DrDeth] pinkfreud have you tried an oversized “eyedropper” rather than a syringe? Less chance of getting the stuff into their lungs.
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We tried two kinds of eyedroppers (a glass one and a plastic one), but the syringe seems to work better. We push the plunger very, very slowly, with the tip just slightly inside Dolly’s lips. Her little tongue carries the formula back into her mouth. She seems to enjoy it quite a bit, and will holler for more if she isn’t full. So far, so good. I wish she would gain some weight, but at least she’s holding on.
[QUOTE=DrDeth]
I live in an apt, and I own a cat. He is very happy.
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Not all apartments allow cats And I have very harsh words for people who sneak around behind their landlords’ backs to bring in pets. I’ve seen too many pets given up (or given back) to rescues because the landlord found out.
[QUOTE=Anne Neville]
Not all apartments allow cats And I have very harsh words for people who sneak around behind their landlords’ backs to bring in pets. I’ve seen too many pets given up (or given back) to rescues because the landlord found out.
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True. Although you might be able to get away with a caged small mammal, like a hooded rat. Otherwise, as Anne sez - don’t.
And let me just say, SPAY AND NEUTER!!! Nobody wants abandoned, dead feral kitty babies. (Not aiming this at you, pinkfreud - as a rescue volunteer, I’m sure you know all about spaying and neutering.)
[QUOTE=Baker]
Give us a daily update on Dolly, if you have time between feedings and work. You could just say, “still hangin’ in there” ore something like that.
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[QUOTE=Anne Neville]
Please do keep us updated on both kitties.
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Henry is getting noticeably better at running around the room without falling on his fuzzy butt. And this evening, Dolly is a tiny bit heavier (half an ounce). She is friskier, too. Whenever the kittens hear humans approaching the spare bathroom in which they live, they rush toward the door mewing like crazy. We’ve learned not to open that door suddenly, since the little critters are likely to be right on the other side!
I love good news - I’ve been thinking of you and sending positive thoughts to the fuzzies. My favorite stage of development is when they learn to go halloween cat and skitter sideways across the floor. So adorable!
And I have very harsh words for people who sneak around behind their landlords’ backs to bring in pets. I’ve seen too many pets given up (or given back) to rescues because the landlord found out.
