..meow..?
Went back to Kuching a week ago for a much needed time off. I had intended it to be a restful holiday, fattened up with much laksa Sarawak and mihun belacan and loads of other Sarawak delicacies. How wrong I was. Not that I didn't get my food fix (I did, and so much more) but the restful part gets a bit iffy.
On Saturday, I found abandoned kittens in the garden, covered with ants. Not just any type of ants, those awful big red ants. The kittens were yowling (from hunger or pain or both?), wet from the rain the night before, and no mom cat in sight. What to do what to do? My family and I heard them Friday evening, but thought that by morning the mom cat'll come and take them away. Instead, there they were, on the ground, and obviously so awfully young (eyes not open, can't walk properly, ears still not yet unfolded) I thought they won't survive even if I took them in. Can't leave them there covered with ants, can't really be sure if I should take them in in case their mom comes back. In the end, pity took over, and I took them, pulled the ants off them, carted them off to the vet (not before making a panicky call to a friend to verify if the kittens are really abandoned under such conditions). Hee hee sorry Mel. I think I might be yelling into the phone but only because the reception was cranky. Tee hee.
The first vet I took them to tsked when he saw them - he said they were much too young (4 days old, he said) and probability of surviving is very low. Gave them deworming meds, fed them a bit and made some hot water bags to keep them warm. Carted them off to a second vet because first vet said to feed them fresh cow milk but I thought kittens can't digest cow milk?? So got some kitty formula at the 2nd vet, and again, the vet tsk-tsked at the sight of the small kitties and said that chances of these kittens surviving are very small. I had asked both vets if they have a some sort of kitty incubator for such occasions, but they say no. Basically it's up to the effort of the foundee and how much time to one want to commit to taking care of the kittens. So I get it. Kittens might die. But no harm in just trying your best eh? Brought them back home, fed them about every 1-2 hours, changed hot water bags, pat their bladder and butt to induce pee and poo. By nighttime I smell of kitty milk and poo >.<
2 kittens died the day after, the two smallest and weakest one (and unfortunately the ones most covered with ants). 2 more left, but one died on Monday night. By this time I had gotten the sneezies because I am allergic to kitty fur (I guess even underaged ones!) but can't stand the thought of kitty starving so had to do it. But good thing is that I can't smell anymore poo or milk because my nose is stuffed up. And I am sooo sleepy oh my god. Because I had to wake up around 1, 3 and 5 am to feed kitty. Now there is only one kitty left. She has an weird ugly face but cute big ears (which had unfolded yesterday, when she twitches her ears it's so damn cute). I think she survives the rest because she so crazy feisty. What underage kitty do you know that'll push the nursing bottle away and climb out of the box every few minutes? Not sure how long she'll keep up - but I'm worried who'll take care of her when I leave which is after tomorrow? (if she survives till then. I hope she does) My parents can't keep up with the constant nursing, and one of my bro's friend said he'll take it in once the eyes open. Please let the eyes open by tomorrow.
I think I'm pretty much rambling now. Sorry if I don't take calls or anything atm - my head is so scrambled from lack of sleep, and I can't talk properly under such condition. Really! It takes much effort just to get the spellings in this entry right. It's only been 5 days, but it feels like forever.
I'm just hoping this last kitty'll survive till new year at least. Well, it kinda already did - by the Islamic calendar haha. Let's just hope it lives till tomorrow to climb out of the box yet another day.
edit: oh ya! I forgot. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! And all that jazz
On Saturday, I found abandoned kittens in the garden, covered with ants. Not just any type of ants, those awful big red ants. The kittens were yowling (from hunger or pain or both?), wet from the rain the night before, and no mom cat in sight. What to do what to do? My family and I heard them Friday evening, but thought that by morning the mom cat'll come and take them away. Instead, there they were, on the ground, and obviously so awfully young (eyes not open, can't walk properly, ears still not yet unfolded) I thought they won't survive even if I took them in. Can't leave them there covered with ants, can't really be sure if I should take them in in case their mom comes back. In the end, pity took over, and I took them, pulled the ants off them, carted them off to the vet (not before making a panicky call to a friend to verify if the kittens are really abandoned under such conditions). Hee hee sorry Mel. I think I might be yelling into the phone but only because the reception was cranky. Tee hee.
The first vet I took them to tsked when he saw them - he said they were much too young (4 days old, he said) and probability of surviving is very low. Gave them deworming meds, fed them a bit and made some hot water bags to keep them warm. Carted them off to a second vet because first vet said to feed them fresh cow milk but I thought kittens can't digest cow milk?? So got some kitty formula at the 2nd vet, and again, the vet tsk-tsked at the sight of the small kitties and said that chances of these kittens surviving are very small. I had asked both vets if they have a some sort of kitty incubator for such occasions, but they say no. Basically it's up to the effort of the foundee and how much time to one want to commit to taking care of the kittens. So I get it. Kittens might die. But no harm in just trying your best eh? Brought them back home, fed them about every 1-2 hours, changed hot water bags, pat their bladder and butt to induce pee and poo. By nighttime I smell of kitty milk and poo >.<
2 kittens died the day after, the two smallest and weakest one (and unfortunately the ones most covered with ants). 2 more left, but one died on Monday night. By this time I had gotten the sneezies because I am allergic to kitty fur (I guess even underaged ones!) but can't stand the thought of kitty starving so had to do it. But good thing is that I can't smell anymore poo or milk because my nose is stuffed up. And I am sooo sleepy oh my god. Because I had to wake up around 1, 3 and 5 am to feed kitty. Now there is only one kitty left. She has an weird ugly face but cute big ears (which had unfolded yesterday, when she twitches her ears it's so damn cute). I think she survives the rest because she so crazy feisty. What underage kitty do you know that'll push the nursing bottle away and climb out of the box every few minutes? Not sure how long she'll keep up - but I'm worried who'll take care of her when I leave which is after tomorrow? (if she survives till then. I hope she does) My parents can't keep up with the constant nursing, and one of my bro's friend said he'll take it in once the eyes open. Please let the eyes open by tomorrow.
I think I'm pretty much rambling now. Sorry if I don't take calls or anything atm - my head is so scrambled from lack of sleep, and I can't talk properly under such condition. Really! It takes much effort just to get the spellings in this entry right. It's only been 5 days, but it feels like forever.
I'm just hoping this last kitty'll survive till new year at least. Well, it kinda already did - by the Islamic calendar haha. Let's just hope it lives till tomorrow to climb out of the box yet another day.
edit: oh ya! I forgot. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! And all that jazz