Cats and Kittens Galore

 Every room everywhere here is full of cats and kittens.  Hmmm.  Must be Kitten Season!

 It started with little Jaws.  He is a foster kitten of mine who had to have surgery to repair his tiny little broken jaw.  After his surgery, he needed someplace healthy and safe to stay for the two months while his jaw remained wired.  I have been feeding him a soupy canned kitten food mixture four times a day every day since I got him.  It wasn’t long after Jaws arrived here that Winnie’s Wish acquired two new kittens – Violet and Dora.  These three kittens eventually all moved in together – living in my downstairs bathroom.  My upstairs bathroom was a recovery room for each of Violet and Dora as they went through illnesses of their own.  Then it became the “feeding area” for Violet and Dora when they started eating dry kitten chow.  They have to be fed separately from Jaws because he cannot have their dry food and they cannot be allowed to steal his soupy mixture.  In addition to those two rooms, my own cats’ “cat room” is now filled with Momma Monday and her three kittens.  And the kitten room in my kennel is now home to a mom cat who came to me as a foster from the shelter where my girls work – mom kitty and her EIGHT one-day-old kittens.

 Keep little Jaws in your thoughts.  Today is the day he has his surgery to remove the wire that has been holding that tiny little jaw in place. 

 

Jaws

 

Violet

 

Dora

 

 

And just look at these littlest of tinies.  This is mom Sweet Pea and her four calicos, two torties, and two yellows.  Sweet Pea was brought into the shelter when Animal Control was called about one-day old kittens WITH NO MOM in a lumber yard.  The Animal Control Officer called the shelter (as they do not take in cats) and Older Daughter told him to please wait and watch for a mom.  She told him that mom was probably close by and would return.  The one-day-old kittens would be nearly impossible to keep alive without their mother.  And sure enough.  The mom DID return.  Animal Control then got mom and all of the kittens and brought them to the shelter.  Except that the shelter had no place for them – so they came here.

 

 

And now to our Momma Monday and her three kittens – all new Winnie’s Wishers!  Only a couple of days after I trapped Mom Monday, she was already making friends with me.  So I decided to move her into the “cat room” in my house where her two kittens had been living since they were trapped several days before she was.  Originally, I did not want to move her in with them.  If she was feral, she would definitely keep me from taming her kittens.  But if she was NOT feral, and if she and I could establish a relationship, then she would help with the taming of her kittens as they watched their mom interact with me.  Take a look.

 

You know from yesterday’s post that we now have all three kittens!!!  Let me properly introduce you to this family.

 

Momma Monday

 

Pippin

 

Clover

 

Pipes

 

 

I’ve explained how Ms. Monday got her name.  Clover just sort of named herself.  But I’d always known that if I got the two black-and-white kittens I wanted to name them Pippin and Piper.  I don’t know why, but I thought they would be male and female.  The first black-and-white one was a male and he became Pippin.  But our third kitten is also a male.  Piper is a female name.  But I’ve ended up calling this little guy “Pipes” and there are so many reasons . . .   For one thing, it’s close to Piper.  AND – it’s this little kitten’s pipes (trachea and/or esophagus) that seem to be a problem for him.  AND – if you could hear his meow . . .  it’s just so awful and so cute at the same time.  When a man or woman can sing beautifully, you’ll hear it said – “That person has certainly got a set of pipes.”  So Pipes it is.  Because I think his voice is beautiful!

 For now, Pipes must eat separately and absolutely not come in contact with any dry food.  The kittens are still not tame enough to just walk over and pick them up.  So it would be hard to move Pipes out of the room every time I wanted to feed the rest of his family.  I also want him to have the comfort of his family all around him.  So I’ve set up a small cage IN the room where he and his siblings and mom are living.  When I go in to feed, I coax Pipes into the cage with his canned food.  Then I can put out dry for the other three.  The problem now is that Monday, Clover, and Pippin have discovered that Pipes is getting something that smells much more delicious.  So I can’t get them to eat enough dry at one sitting.  Now I’m feeding them the same kitten canned food that Pipes must eat.  So if you’re looking for something on the Wish List, this would be the thing . . .

 

Now to Pipes and his condition.  Some of you mentioned in your comments about Megaesophagus.  That is one of the conditions we are considering.  And don’t worry – I will NOT be euthanizing a kitten because of ANY condition that there is even a CHANCE of treating.  Older Daughter happens to be somewhat of an expert in the area of Megaesophagus.  She fostered a puppy with this condition when she was still in college in her Vet Tech program.  She ended up doing a research paper on the condition for one of her assignments.  Then only a couple of years ago, she ended up with another pup with the condition.  She took him all the way through puppyhood and all of the extreme care needed.  He is still with her today.  So no worries.  But as I am closely observing and collecting information regarding Pipes, there are many things that do not point to Megaesophagus.  In the meantime, he is doing well.

 Now let me end this post with two pictures that will melt your heart.  This was just yesterday morning while I was in the room with this wonderful little family.  I am still grateful beyond words that all four are right here with me now.  I don’t give up easily.  I am so glad that my family hung with me throughout this trapping ordeal.  I have a fantastic family indeed!

 

 

Have a great weekend!

Comments

[shirley (aka momsbusy)]

wonderful news! i really needed this today. my morning started out so sad when i found a beautiful calico near my shop went to the rainbow bridge last night.

i am so happy for these newest winnie's wishers. they will have the safety and security all cats should have now that they are off of the streets.

[Goldie Goodwin]

Wonderful post! Many gorgeous families. Momma Monday and the babies are heartwarming.
The rescued mom & 8 kittens are amazing.Those kittens are beautiful and she looks so happy to be safe and comfortable

[Cat's Cats]

So much news...so many things to say!!! Sweet tiny Jaws, Good luck today, you have come so far :)))) Welcome Seewt Pea and your precious wee ones, so glad you are safe with Chrystal. Has Pipes had an xray, could there actually be something stuck in his pipe?

[John Bellen]

Those day-old kittens look like the tiny fuzzy mice cats play with. They are minuscule!

As for Pipes and his family, I know many people advocate an all-soft-food diet for cats. This may be good for them. In any case, it's warming to know that all are safe.

And good luck to Jaws today.

[Lori Lemon]

Kittens GALORE! Oh, my...14 kittens under one roof (or 2)! So much cuteness! All safe & cared for & hopefully on their way to good health & good homes!

Prayers & good thoughts for little Jaws today on his surgery. Fingers crossed all is a success!

Wonderful blog post to end the week on. The pics of Momma Monday reunited with & nursing her kittens puts huge joy in my heart & a big smile on my face. Have a great weekend!

[Cynthia Prentice]

Wonderful news for all the kitties and your family also.
Can only imagine how much time, effort and emotions you put into their rescue. The babies are just soooo cute !!

[Random Felines]

holy moly....talk about a full house!! :) good luck to Jaws on surgery day. and hopefully the vet can figure out what is going on with Pipes

[Maria in CT]

Oh my goodness, one kitten is cuter than the next!! Best of luck, little Jaws....hope your surgery is a complete success! Kitten food on the way, Chrystal....you certainly do need it! You are the best....these kittens are the lucky ones, for sure!

[Andrea and the Celestial Kitties]

Oh oh oh! So much cuteness! I think it's safe to say you have a full house! Love the names, love the face, love that they are taming! We're purring and praying that litter Pipes can be better soon, either treated or out grow what is wrong! Praying also for Jaws and his surgery!
Dear friends, look how many kitties there are! Surely we can get a few of them into great homes, no? Please please share a Wisher or two wherever you can! We've got to make room because I'm betting that new cat room, that we all made possible, is going to be overflowing real fast!
Don't forget the wish list! Don't forget donations! Don't forget adoptions! Thank you!

[Ginny & the fur family]

So much cute it hurts my eyes. Nothing is cuter than small fuzzy kittens. Glad you got the mother and all kittens. Prayers for little Jaws. I do wish someone would adopt the three together. Jaws Violet and Dora would make a good group. Let us know how Monday and her kittens are doing. Pipes has nice markings. A real handsome kitty. Best of luck with all the kittens. Please donate. Adoption gives a house love - Furry love is warm love. Nice fall seeming day in August. Have a good weekend.

[The Poupounette Gang]

Absolutely LOVELY! Well Done, Chrystal and daughters!

[Mell]

Good job Chrystal & Company!

Good luck with little Pipes...and have you considered taking the dry food and soaking it with warm water? Once it's good and soft, you can mush it up with a fork and it is pretty much the same consistency as the canned. We do this to start any very young kittens that are transitioning from bottle to "big kitten" food.

[GD]

Laurie over at Itty Bitty Kitty Committee has Wylla...who was born with Mega Esophagus. Wylla recently out grew the condition. She made a feeding station that made Wylla to stand up to eat and she would hold Wylla in an upright position for however long. Keeping weight on her was a challenge. I am glad your daughter has experience with it, but if it is a bit different for cats, Laurie would certainly be the one to go to and I KNOW she would be more than happy to help you out with all the information you would need.

Best wishes to Pipes.