We Got The Third Kitten !!!!

(This is a long post.  I hope you will read to the end.)

FRIENDS!!!  We got it!!!  We got the third kitten!!!

Here’s what happened.  On Monday, Younger Daughter was free for a couple of hours and was visiting at my house.  I told her that Husband and I were about to go set the trap.  Of course she wanted to go along.  As we drove the 45 minutes to the location, we talked about how this was the beginning of the THIRD week of trapping.  We got the first kitten (Truly) on the first night of trapping.  We got the second kitten (Autumn) only four days into our trapping spree.  We wondered if the third little kitten we had seen that very first night was even still alive.  As we talked, we discussed a plan for going forward.  I had spent $200 so far on gasoline.  I couldn’t keep doing it.  And the time it was taking out of each and every day was making for much longer work days.  I would have to cut back, but I couldn’t stop altogether.  Not yet.   I told Husband and Younger Daughter that I would start trapping twice a week.  Deep in my heart, I was pretty sure I would never see that third kitten.  I had been leaving food, but it was uneaten.  (I was surprised that even the possum we caught one night wasn’t eating the food.)  The kitten had to literally be slowly starving to death.  Unless of course, it no longer existed. . . .

We kept talking about our little mystery kitten.  No one had ever seen it up close.  The night before Truly was trapped, Older Daughter had seen her clearly - a little tuxedo.  A few days before Autumn was trapped, Younger Daughter and I had seen her in the weeds beside the road - a calico.  Was this third kitten a tuxedo, too?  a calico?  Was it a boy or a girl?  Was it a littermate? or a son or daughter of Autumn?  What would we name this little one if we ever did get our hands on him or her?  We decided that if it was a girl, we would name her Ivy.  Younger Daughter and I both have poison ivy as a result of our days trapping in the wild blue yonder.  (Younger Daughter’s poison ivy got REALLY bad.)  If the kitten was a boy, we would name him Shiloh because the last leg of our trip into the remote wilderness was via an old country road called Shiloh Road.  But we more than likely would NOT be naming the third kitten.  I couldn’t imagine us ever finding it now. 

Only a couple of days before, I received a notification of an e-check for $100 from Julie H.  It was for gasoline.  With a giant smile on my face, I knew that this would carry me through a few more trips.  If I went to twice a week, I could keep going up into October.  But every day that went by was another day of barely surviving for one little kitten all alone.  (Julie ~ THANK YOU.)

To get to the area where we trapped, there is a concrete bridge over a big creek, then a hard left just after the bridge.  You can see up the road quite a ways once you turn.  We made that left turn and like dozens of times before, I started straining to see way up the road.  Immediately, I sucked in my breath.  NO!  It couldn’t be.  There on the side of the road about fifty yards away was a black & white kitten.  We all held our breath as Husband slowly put on the brakes.  My mind was clouded with panic.  Oh, my gosh we couldn’t lose it now.  Everybody stay calm.  OK.  Think.  It was only seconds but I finally said aloud - Stop here and let’s walk the trap up there.  If we scare it completely away, it might not come back to this area.  We all three got out of the vehicle.  We were doing things in silence.  Close the vehicle doors - quietly.  Get the trap out of the back - quietly.  Slowly start walking in that direction - quietly.  I popped open the can of food and dug out a spoonful for the trap - quietly.  We were whispering about where exactly to set the trap.  We wouldn’t set it in a hidden place and leave this time.  We would set it and wait.  But just then Younger Daughter saw the kitten.  She froze solid and pointed just to her left into the deep grass.  Husband backed away in one direction and I backed away in the other.  Slowly, Younger Daughter stepped backwards.  We quietly made our way back to the vehicle.  We could see the trap from there but good grief - in our haste, we’d left it right on the edge of the road.  Now this is a deserted area with little traffic, but this trap was sitting right on the road.  We realized it still needed to be off in the grass.  Back to the trap.  Kitten nowhere to be seen.  We moved the trap into the deep grass and walked away. 

We sat in near silence in my vehicle with the windows rolled down.  I could feel a joy rising up in my chest that was almost uncontainable.  The kitten was alive.  We could no longer see the trap, so we started whispering about when and how to check.  Younger Daughter said it was too soon and to just be patient.  Husband said we could drive by - that shouldn’t scare the kitten since it had heard cars before.  I asked if we would hear the trap trip from this distance.  Husband said no.  And we sat.  Younger Daughter whispered that if it had run away, we could set the trap farther off the road and check late tonight.  But I thought I heard something.  I cocked my head and said to my family - I think I just heard the trap door slam.  I couldn’t stand it.  I got out and started VERY quietly walking towards the trap.  I couldn’t see and couldn’t see and then I saw the corner of the trap showing through the weeds.  Two more steps and I could see in.  OH MY GOSH THERE IT WAS.  A little black & white kitten was sitting in that trap.  It was identical in size to Truly.  I couldn’t believe it.  I turned and threw both of my arms in the air.   Husband and Younger Daughter let out a cheer and headed my way.

We loaded our little catch, trap and all, into the vehicle and we were on our way.  Home.  It was over.  There was SUCH relief.  And so much joy I couldn’t express it.  I kept laughing out loud, and I said over and over - We got it.  I can’t believe we got it.  I had as much as given up.  This is amazing.  It’s like a miracle that we got this one.  


When we got home we set the trap down in the bathroom floor to see what Truly and Autumn would do.  Truly didn’t seem to be terribly interested, but Autumn came right over.  We opened the end of the trap and our new addition stood up to walk out.  I quickly checked to see if we had an Ivy or a Shiloh.  Shiloh it was.  And then I saw it.  His back left leg hung limp.  He hopped immediately to a food bowl and started inhaling kitten chow.  (He was skeleton skinny.)  Autumn started sniffing all over him.  He bumped noses with her and went right back to eating.  I stared at the leg.  It was broken.  I couldn’t tell what else was going on, but there seemed to be something wrong with his hips, too.  Autumn wouldn’t leave him alone and then finally, he stopped eating and seemed to take notice of his surroundings.  He bumped noses with Autumn again and then he rubbed his face on hers, over and over.  I think all of you were right.  Autumn is mom to Truly and Shiloh.

The little family reunited.

Shiloh is very thin.

Under different circumstances, seeing that broken leg and knowing what it would cost to fix it would have deflated me.  But my joy was even greater now.  Imagine what this baby had been going through out there.  He was ALL alone.   He was starving.  And he was trying to survive with a broken leg or hips. 

It was too late to call the clinic.  I called first thing Tuesday morning and they got me right in.  Dr. S showed me the X-ray.  Shiloh’s leg was broken in the knee joint.  Dr. S said his injury was extremely painful because the upper leg bone had rotated in one direction and the lower leg bone had rotated in the opposite direction.  In addition, there were fractures in the hips but nothing could be done about those.  There were too many blood vessels there to do any type of surgery.  She said those would heal on their own.  There was also a growth plate involved, so the leg might be shorter than the others when Shiloh reached full size.  The leg break was a difficult one, but it could be fixed.  I asked how soon could it be done.  She said their surgeon was just finishing a surgery, and Shiloh could be next because of the extreme nature of the injury and the pain he was in.  Poor little Shiloh hadn’t even had the time yet to learn that I loved him.  But I kissed him on the head and told him I’d be back.  He was finally on his way to comfort. 

I picked Shiloh up from the clinic yesterday.  He has to have VERY restricted movement for a couple of weeks, so I set him up in a soft crate in the bathroom so that he can see his family and they can see him. 

I have a Chip-In at the top of my sidebar.  You all know that I will ask for homes in a heartbeat.  But I don’t like to ask for money.  However, Andrea’s FUNdraiser money was to help me with the recent neuters, the spays to come, the series of kitten vaccinations for the NINE kittens who have come here over the last four months, and food and kitty litter.  Some of my dear friends encouraged me to set up the Chip-In.  Shiloh’s surgery was $400.

I am still today floating on a cloud of joy that Shiloh is with us, with his family, and no longer suffering.  I hope this makes your day like it’s been making mine.

Have a great weekend! 

Comments

[Cats of wildcat woods]

Great post Chrystal - nice to see the little one who almost got away! Will see how much we can raise for the surgery!!!! Fingers crossed.

[Random Felines]

Welcome Shiloh - you are a VERY lucky boy.....

[Mindy Slimmer]

Yay! I get paid tomorrow and will be definently helping contribute to the Chip in! I'm so glad Shiloh is on the mend.
Much Love,
Mindy :)

[Cat's Cats]

Sweet baby, we hope he recovers swiftly!!!! So nice to see him reunited with his family :-) I have posted about him on my blog too.

[Madeline Runion]

This is awesome I could feel every emotion you were going thru, I am so glad you got him, he was in so much pain, starving and scared.
I feel like I want to cry and jump up and down at the same time.

Love
Madeline

[heidi]

once again, I'm bawling in my office! Like Mindy, I get paid tomorrow (yay!) so I'll be able to donate then.

Yay for Shiloh!!!

xoxo,
heidi p.

[Bellen]

Well done! Thank goodness for your perseverance. Shiloh could not have survived long in his condition. Now, he's not only been rescued, his transition to different surroundings will be eased by having his family with him. What a happy story.

I wish I could contribute but my own cat's surgery last week literally emptied my bank account. I wish everyone there the best of luck.

[Connie]

Yay! congratulations.

[meowmeowmans]

WOW. Talk about an uplifting post! Thank you so much for your giant heart, my friend. And thank you for caring enough to keep trying to find Shiloh. Those pictures of the little family reunited made my heart SOAR. :)

[The Poupounette]

Great job, all of you! How lovely to think of that little family being reunited!

[Jan (Milo and Alfie's mom)]

What a joy you got this precious little one. It would be awful to think he had died lonely, hungry and in pain. Thank you so much for caring enough. Will spread the word and keep everything crossed for good luck.

[Julie]

I wish Shiloh a speedy recovery.

[Sweet Purrfections]

I have a huge smile on my face reading this. I saw the notice on FB and came right over. Thank you so much for caring!

[Morgen Pittman]

Bless you for rescuing them all, and for getting Shiloh the medical attention needed.
A donation sent from The Purries of Purrchance To Dream.

[Mindy Slimmer]

I'm also glad for you Chrystal...before my Yay! was for Shiloh...but this Yay! is for you as you will no longer have to go away from your home to some remote area everyday/almost every day and waste your precious gas. Now...you can focus your funds and mind on the furries you have...what a relief to not have the emotional/mental hanger which I'm sure you have been on for quite some time since finding kitten #1.
Much Love,
Mindy :)

[Andrea and the Celestial Kitties]

Hurray for Shiloh! Hurray for you for not giving up! Hurray for your family for going out and getting him! Hurray for the vet getting him into surgery right then! Hurray for.... everything! I'm so glad the little family is all back together! And now will know nothing but love, warmth, full bellies and hopefully forever homes before long!

Chrystal, you rock! Yes, you needed to do the chip in, I know that the FUNdraiser money is already earmarked for basic needs, and this surgery was way out of basic but an immediate expensive need. I don't think you need to feel bad about asking for it, and seeing the state of the chip in, I don't think anyone else thinks you should feel bad either!

You people rock too!

You know what we need? Homes! Lots of homes! Great forever homes for lots of kitties. Of course, other daily needs are still there so please, you know the drill, books, bricks, donations, homes, and FUNdraiser!

Yay for Autumn, Truly and Shiloh!!

[Webbthistle]

So very happy, Chrystal. I am honored to join others in helping Shiloh and getting this little family off to a great start, under your loving care!

[Abby]

So glad you got Shiloh and that the family has been reunited. YOU are a true Blessing Chrystal.

xoxoxo
Abby & Mom Debra

[Kat & the Teenage Mutant Ninja Kitty Horde]

OMG!! YAY!! If I didn't have my own kitten shots & spay/neuter... but I'm off to post to FB to let all my friends know to chip in and spread the word!!!! YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!!

[ginny& the Fur Family]

Shiloh is beautiful. Bless you Crystal,I am so glad that you didn't give up. I have several crippled cats with short legs and they make special super loving pets. I hope some one will take this family together as a family considering the way you went time after time to try to save and reunite the kitties. My beloved dogs are in your great kennel and so I am in Lancaster Pa right now,to see my little great grand son, but I am so glad that I could see Shiloh on the blog with his cast and hear about the surgery and know that his pain will soon be over. Poor baby kittie. I am going to donate when I get home. What ever the cost, it made him better and even if he walks with a limp he can have a wonderful life filled with love and care. - Ginny & The Fur Family.

[Jan (Milo and Alfie's mom)]

Just checking the fund for Shiloh's surgery and am over the moon with joy. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[ginny& the Fur Family]

Keeping up with Shiloe from Pa. Hope he is feeling better today - Friday- I could sleep easier last night knowing he was safe with his mother and Truly. That you were there taking care of him.Cool and cloudy here in Lancaster. Hope the weather is better at the kennel. I love to read all the blogs of the true furry lovers. They are rooting for Shiloe to walk again someday soon. -- Warm wishes to all - Ginny & The Fur Family

[Lana G.]

These posts just make the world a good place. No matter what other crap is going on, every time I read your blog I just feel okay again, at least for a while. YAY, SHILOH! And I LOVE that name, btw.

So, I hope you're figuring out by now that there are a whole lot of people out there that are happy to help when you need. All you have to do is say the word. I don't always really know how or when to help unless you put it out there what you need. But once you do, it's on! Might not be much, but it's because our family loves you and what you do.

Don't ever hesitate to state your needs - you do SO much for animals (and people too, I bet). I'm sure I can speak for others too, when I say that we're happy to be a part of all the good that you do.

[Michele]

Yes!!!! Success!!!
I am so happy that you finally got him and that he is going to be ok now!

[Lee County Clowder]

Hey, ALL RIGHT! Shiloh, kittie, you probably don't agree right now, but getting trapped like that was the best thing that ever happened to you.