We did it! All six adults are with us. And - all nine kittens are still with us, too.
The rescue of the adults went smoothly. The people didn’t want the cats so they actually helped us get them loaded up. I had worried that we might arrive and find that we had to “talk” these folks out of the cats. I also worried that there would actually be more than six. But all went as planned. We got them home and started examining them. We do not believe any of the three females is pregnant - two of the three were the moms of the nine kittens and were still nursing (or trying to). We cannot yet figure out why the third female had not been pregnant with the other two. She is the most timid of the girls, so we haven’t been able to look her over very well yet. One of the two mom cats has mastitis and it looks firmly established. If she has, in fact, had the condition for a while, that would help explain why the kittens were starving. There might have been only one mom cat who was actually able to nurse the nine kittens. My guess is that the kittens belonging to the mastitis mom are the ones that are such skeletons now.
The males actually look pretty good. It doesn’t look like they have been fighters. They had been straying around in this tiny little town, apparently finding enough to eat because they are not bone-thin. The biggest issue (besides everybody being unspayed and unneutered!) is the flea infestation. All six adults were as flea infested as the kittens. In this part of the country, fleas are a BIG problem. So most of the rescue cats & kittens, dogs & puppies we take in have fleas. The flea infestation in this group was atrocious. I bet each animal was carrying around 50 to 100 fleas. The adults are slightly anemic. Nothing like the anemia in the kittens, but enough that we will add liver to their diets for a while.
Appointments are already scheduled for the three females. They go to the vet on Thursday. We set that up before we even had the cats in our possession. I will call today to get the males set up now that I actually have them here. I will get pictures and descriptions of these six sweeties on the blog very soon . . . because I have a new mission for you. I MUST tell you a story now because I need your help.
Just before our wonderful, amazing, restful, paradise-like vacation (merely a dim memory now - smile), Older Daughter brought home a group of six flood victim kittens plus one coma kitty that we named Gabriel. No one expected Gabriel to live - in fact, my daughter brought him home that evening so that he could die in the presence of love instead of all alone in the shelter that night. But Gabriel lived. He joined the six and they slowly got healthier. Just before we left for vacation, I posted that they had been delivered back to the shelter. As soon as they were returned, they were registered and became the “property” of the shelter. Once registered, any adoption is through the shelter by way of application, approval, fees, etc. Something happened, however, just before our vacation. Someone in blogland contacted me about Gabriel. This person described a deep connection and told me that if Gabriel lived, she wanted him to become one of her . . . . Monkeys. Yep. The Monkeys (in Canada) wanted to bring Gabriel into their group.
Things had been crazy and chaotic at the shelter on that fateful day when so many flood victims were coming in. My daughter had snatched up the six plus one and brought them home to be cared for more stringently by us. In all of the confusion and busy-ness, none of the seven had been registered to the shelter. So when Karen (The Monkeys) contacted me about Gabriel, I sent Older Daughter to ask the Director if Gabriel could be ours to adopt out. She, of course, said yes. That was one less kitten they had to find a home for. When the kittens went back to the shelter, my daughter registered everybody. Everybody except Gabriel. When we got back from vacation, we retrieved Gabe and brought him here. We planned to bring a “sibling” from his group along with him so that he wouldn’t be alone while he waits to head to his forever home. The little girl we named Wendy came along for company and the two are happily playing in my kennel office. In the meantime, Karen and I have been frantically making our plans.
Here is where I need your help. We need two things. We have the transport route planned and taken care of except for one leg of the journey. CB - is there anybody out there who could get Gabriel from Effingham, Illinois to Indianapolis, Indiana? One of Karen’s friends can get to Indianapolis, and I can get Gabriel to Effingham. We need a connection person between those two places.
Second. With a kitty going such a long distance to his forever home, that long path could be the route for another kitty (or two or three) to be delivered to his or her own forever home. Our greatest hope would be for someone anywhere along this path to consider adopting a somebody from us whom we could send along on this transport. This path will include Illinois, northern Indiana, northern Ohio (Michigan could come down), upper Pennsylvania, New York and into Canada west of Kingston and on to Montreal. Is there anybody out there who would consider adopting one of our adult kitties? This rescue of fifteen, along with the eight we already have in our cathouse, is too many. We need homes. If anybody anywhere along this route knows of an amazing home, PLEASE contact me or Karen. Taking an adult from us at this point would be an amazing gift to that kitty and to us. But it is also a gift to any future needy cat or kitten out there yet to cross our path. It’s only the first of June. There will be more needy ones in our immediate future. Even one home would make a difference.
Tomorrow, I will update you on the kittens and the new adults. And before the week is over, I will do my Gray Day post (which I had planned weeks ago) to re-introduce you to our current crop of gray girls. It might be that somebody out there just has to have one of those girls. (I sure hope so.)
I still have not stopped reeling over the chip-in. We put $60 worth of flea meds on the adults last night. We capstarred the kittens and will have to do so again (not a cheap product). We have the three spays scheduled, and I will schedule the neuters today. Your donations are helping SO much. And as I told a friend in an email - not one dollar that comes in here as a donation goes to waste. The costs of rescue work are enormous. They cannot rescue themselves. These furry babies that we save are 100% dependent on us for their health and safety. CB, I remain IN AWE of what you’ve done here.
Thank you for your comments on the blog as well. The emotional support helps to sustain me when I get so very tired physically and emotionally. I am grateful at this point to have all of these fifteen in our care - I do take joy in providing for these helpless creatures. Knowing that there can be no future litters that would have gone the way of the current nine kittens brings such relief. And if I can just keep these nine precious little babies alive, they will hopefully spend the rest of their lives in the arms of love. My hope is that these six adults will have that opportunity as well.
If you can help with transport or with adoptions, please contact me. You can leave a comment on the blog or email me at [email protected] .
I will leave you with a picture of the angel Gabriel - who has been chosen.
If you have donated or emailed, and I have not emailed back, please know that it is because I have barely five minutes here and there just to read my mail. As soon as things slow down a little, I will start getting some emails out. Until then, I hope you understand.
My hope is that the four sickest rescues follow Gabriel's example and get well despite all fears!!
I'm so-oo-oo-oo glad you rescued the adults as well as the kittens and hope the Mastitis Mom recovers asap.
Hang in there and know that there are hundreds - perhaps more -- people supporting your efforts.
You are a champ and a shining star. That alone might pull those sick kittens through!!! If not, you are giving them the best possible chance for recovery.
:o)
Posted by: DB | 06/07/2011 at 09:47 AM
Great news about the 6 adult cats! We are happy that they won't be able to make any more kittens and we're glad they'll get the help we need!
We are SO excited about bringing Gabriel home to be a Monkey!
My friend is actually taking a slightly different route than you mentioned because he will be stopping in Columbus for the night after he picks up Gabriel in Indianapolis. He will go through Ohio, upper PA and NY and go into Canada just a little west of Kingston.
Posted by: The Monkeys | 06/07/2011 at 09:57 AM
That last photo of Gabriel is simply fabulous. We are so happy to hear he is off to Canada to a great forever home. We so wish we could help with the adoptions or the driving. Sometimes it is very frustrating to be on the other side of the ocean!
Posted by: The Poupountte | 06/07/2011 at 10:19 AM
YEAH for Gabriel (and the Monkeys - we wondered who Sweet Pea's new boy toy was going to be)!!!
As always, we are purring for you....glad you caught everyone and that they are complete health disasters - mom was really afraid they would be wrecks. Hope you get another couple of adoptions from this....
Posted by: Random Felines | 06/07/2011 at 10:19 AM
Congrats on getting all the adults -- this is great news!
Continued purrs and Light all All....I so wish I was emotionally and financially able to take on another adoptee, Chrystal. And even if I were (and you know I'm not), I have a fear of another Annie/Nicki situation, where it's nothing but daily hissing, snarling, growling and spats. Ugh.
Anyway, I'm crossing my fingers that at least one person out there will be able to adopt at this time!
-Kim
Posted by: Fuzzy Tales | 06/07/2011 at 10:21 AM
Great news that the captured stray adults are in fairly good shape.We are sending critter thoughts and critter love to the nine kittens in the hopes that they will get stronger and thrive with each passing day.Hurray for Gabriel! He will now be an angel on earth in a loving forever home :)
the critters in The Cottage
Posted by: LP | 06/07/2011 at 10:58 AM
Hi Chrystal! Wow that is such great news about the adults - I was worried there would be a fight, and I am glad that there wasn't.
I wish I could help with this transport for you but I checked the map and for us that is a 10 hour total drive, since both Effingham and Indianapolis are pretty far south for us. I am so excited for Gabriel to be joining the Monkeys - he is a perfect addition to their home and we know he will be very loved!
And oh the gray girls - I wish I could have taken one of them along with Trixie (you don't know how tempted I was but I knew that it would just be way too much at our tiny place at that point). I can vouch for the fact that their sister is a sweetheart and so I have to guess that the others are too. And since they are coming from you I can guess that helps them be so sweet, since Ash was too. So at least I can do that - let everyone know that your kitties are awesome!
And we of course are still sending lots of purrs and prayers to all the new little ones you have there - we hope that things are going well and that you and your family aren't going crazy with all the work - they are some very lucky kittens for sure.
And don't worry about the emails - we all know that you are super busy right now - so we understand. Oh, and in case you didn't see my email because you are so busy, expect a package from me some time next week.
Posted by: Amy & The House of Cats | 06/07/2011 at 11:14 AM
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE ... Gabriel. You know what a sucker I am for a little tuxie!
Congrats on the success in getting the six adults. I will continue my prayers for the group of 15. I'm calling them the Fantastic Fifteen because I EXPECT good things for all of them!!!
Posted by: Pam and the Califurrrrrnia5 | 06/07/2011 at 12:18 PM
Yay for Gabriel - what a great home he will have! I have been posting this on Twitter and Facebook with lots of followers. SO glad you got the adults. I am still working on Daphne but have had not luck with home adoptions - two no- kill shelters in Chicago have a wait list for FIV cat sand may take her if needed. Still sending Reiki light!
Posted by: Cats of Wildcat Woods | 06/07/2011 at 12:39 PM
Oh I am so glad it went well for the adult cats and getting them home. I sure hope you can get a ride for Gabriel so he can go to the Monkeys home. What a wonderful home that will be for him. Hope you can find someone else to take a kitty too. Thanks for all the hard work you are putting into this gigantic project.
Posted by: Marg | 06/07/2011 at 12:44 PM
So glad you got all the adult kitties, and without a fight. (though we will say that that duo sure had a lot of cats for not wanting cats) Pitty there isn't some way to 'fix' those people so they can't have any more cats, like you can a kittie.
Hang in there, Fantastic Fifteen. There are lots of kitties and beans and even a few woofers purrrring for you all.
Posted by: Lee County Clowder | 06/07/2011 at 12:58 PM
I am so glad that things went well last night and the adults are now with you!!! The news of Gabriel becoming a Monkey is just too fantastic :-) I am trying hard to think of anyone I know who would be a good home for another adoption but so far I've come up blank. So sorry Chrystal!
Posted by: Cat's Cats | 06/07/2011 at 02:12 PM
If the Fur Family could travel through this computer via the internet we would put a gold star up on you and your daughters - we would give you a big thumbs up and a hugh hug -- group hug - you did good. There were so many prayers going to the situtation that it had to succeed - rescue is an art that you all have mastered. I am sure many times last night we all rushed to the computer hoping some results were on there. We are with you in all you do for the furry ones. Good bye dear Gabriel and God speed to Canada to become a new monkey. Karen will let us know how he is doing on her blog so we can still know he is alright .. Thank you Karen and Chrystal for the life of Gabriel and a future loving home. Warm Wishes to all - Ginny & The Fur Family-
Posted by: Ginny & The Fur Family | 06/07/2011 at 04:27 PM
WHAT A CUTE MONKEY-TO-BE!!! Simply adorable! Relief that everything went well for the adult cats and getting them home.
I wish that I could help with the transport. I will be putting a lot of thought into how to spread the word about these cuties needing forever homes!
JUST A THOUGHT TO PUT OUT THERE IN THE BLOGOSPHERE: I can help with flight arrangements for anyone wanting to adopt kittens but don't live close to Chrystal. Continental Airlines has a wonderful Pet Transport system. I used it to bring my catSSSSS with us to D.C. We can even arrange over-seas flights.
Please keep this in mind!!!!
Love to all.
Deb
Posted by: Deb & The Taylor CatSSSSS | 06/07/2011 at 05:41 PM
Really Really happy that everyone is there with you. They have a shot at getting well and going to loving homes. We weren't able to connect with the kittens in time when you went to Florida. I will look hard and long at these babies to see if one speaks to me, although I am already in love with Dearest... Naturally
Posted by: Goldie Goodwin | 06/07/2011 at 06:05 PM
I am so pleased that litle Gabriel survived and absolutely delighted that he's going to become a monkey! YAY! This has made my day.
And how wonderful that you managed to get all the adult cats ~ with out to much hassle. What a relief that they will now get the help they need ~ their lives must have been so miserable. What a disgrace that their owners cared so little.
You haven't e-mailed me ~ but you don't need to do so; the kittens and cats touched my heart. My donation was chipped in on what would have been the birthday of my beloved heart cat Henry (1985 ~2004)~ it was was my way of celebrating that he lived for almost 20 years in his loving forever home, and hoping your rescued cats and kittens could get equally lucky.
Jan x
Posted by: Milo and Alfie | 06/08/2011 at 04:00 AM
Just dropping around this morning to say thanks for the lives of all the new rescues. You all saved their lives. I know the work load must be overwhelming and has many ups and down but in the total over all picture - so many have been saved this year and we give prayers for the souls of thoes who could not make it on this side of the bridge. They are not ever forgotten thanks to this blog and the blogs of others who love the furry ones their spirits will live on into the next life on the other side of the rainbow. -- Ginny & The Fur Family
Posted by: Ginny & The Fur Family | 06/08/2011 at 08:07 AM