[Mega-Vanity] Home needed for sick kitten (not mine)

Some idiot who didn't spay his cat. | 7/30/04 | Me

[Slings and Arrows]

Some of you know the story of Zia, my new kitten. Well, Wednesday night I found myself in custody of another kitten - poor thing just strolled up to me in my carport, mewing piteously. I took it to the vet, and it turns out the poor critter has good reason to mew - it has feline leukemia and a nasty upper respiratory infection.

This kitty is in trouble - I can't take her becase Zia would be in danger of infection, and no normal shelter would take her for the same reason. I have a call in to Waccamaw Animal Rescue Mission (the local no-kill animal shelter), but haven't heard from them so far. I'm currently boarding her at the vet. If I can't find a home for her by Monday, she'll be euthanized.

The respiratory infection is curable, and she could potentially live a long life. The problem is that she could not be in a house with other cats because of the feline leukemia, and in about seven years she'll probably start to develop other health problems. (So says the vet, I'm no expert.) I also expect she'd have to be an indoor cat because of the leukemia.

The kitten is female, about 6-8 weeks old (possibly a littermate of Zia's), brindled tan coat, and has no fear of dogs. I'll happily drive her to anywhere within a few hours of the Myrtle Beach area, but I doubt an air cargo company would take her without a clean bill of health (and she does have fleas). Sorry, no pics - maybe later.

I know this is a long shot. If anyone is interested in taking her, please post or freepmail.

[Slings and Arrows]

Just got a Aimee Penny update!

Hi [Slings and Arrows],

I just wanted to give you a quick update on Penny (formerly known as Aimee). She is doing wonderfully! She is eating like a pig, and every time I walk in the kitchen, she literally runs circles around me! You would think the poor thing is never fed! She has a big roly-poly belly, and loves to cuddle. We are still working on getting her to use the litter box all the time. She seems to prefer peeing on silk scarves...I can tell that she's still thinking like an outdoor cat, but we love her so much, and so does our little JT (who doesn't look so little anymore, compared to Penny!)

I don't have my film developed yet, but when I do, I'll be sure to send you a picture of her.

Take care!
[Penny's new family]

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Kitty Ping List alert!

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[Bahbah]

Nice! Can't wait to see the pics. Note: do not let your silk scarves lie around. Both my kitties are having naptime right now. I just heard a great new term for us that I want to pass along, the "Pajamahadeen". I like it.

[etabeta]

great news! Looking forward to see the pictures of this blessed kitty.

[Felis_irritable]

Awwwww! One of the best kitties (and they're all good) I ever shared space with was a Penny. Quite the disciplinarian on the little ones too... Yours appears to have found patient kitty parents, an admirable trait IMHO.

[Rainmist]

Since animals cannot speak for themselves, they deserve the same love and help that a child would IMO. I believe that God expects us to help his creatures since they cannot fend for themselves. Of course, the love I feel for my son and daughter is different than the love I feel for my cats, but it is love nonetheless. My husband, children and I would be lost without our five unique babies. You don't know what you are missing.

[Rainmist]

In 1996 I took my 9 y/o Calico cat to the vet because she started to walk funny - her back legs didn't seem to support her. Took her to 3 different vets. The first two did x-rays - found nothing. The third had an idea of what it was - a blood clot - and tried to treat her with aspirin. By this time she was paralyzed from the waist down and couldn't urinate. I had to make the agonizing decision to put her down, and I stayed while they did it. As she drifted off I cried and whispered into her ear how sorry I was, how much I loved her and thanked her for loving me. To this day I tear up when I think of her. She was my baby, sleeping with me every night. Years later I went to a vet website and asked a vet there what he thought it might have been since we never had an actual diagnosis. He said that she likely had a blood clot in her spine - a saddle thrombosis - and that Calicos tend to have these things for some reason. If there was anything I could have done to save that cat, I would have spent any amount of money to do so, and my husband would have too. If she would have been able to use the bathroom but had stayed paralyzed, I would have made her a cart to strap onto the back half of her body in place of her back legs. That's how very much we loved her.

I think that it takes a lot of guts to admit that one simply does not want a kid. Why should your family member pay for others who have them when they shouldn't ? It's a free country, she can do what she wants. Pets are way easier than kids. I applaud her honesty.

[Slings and Arrows]

Aimee Penny Update!

I got the following e-mail from Penny's new family today:

Hello!

I just wanted to send you a few pictures of Penny. I am also including one of JT. [Their other cat; Penny's buddy.] At her last vet visit, she was 3.4 lbs! She is going in to be spayed in 2 weeks, so I'll get her weight again then...she is getting so big! She got her first set of vaccinations a week and a half ago. She didn't like her vaccinations too well, and ended up with a fever 2 days later, and after another vet visit, got more antibiotics, but she is doing very well now. She loves to play in boxes, and even in their carrier...anything that she can jump into, hide, and attack in! Enjoy the pics! And thank you again for letting me adopt her! She is wonderful!

And here are the pics:

"Nothing like a home-cooked meal!"


"Bathe me and die!"


"OK, now I'm ready to bounce off the walls and ceiling some more!"


"I wanna be a Viking Kitty!"

[Slings and Arrows]

For those of you who remember AimeePenny (the rescue kitten I found a home for), there's an update with pics at post #167.

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Kitty Ping List alert!

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[Lady Jag]

Thank you for that wonderful story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Slings and Arrows]

You're very welcome.

[Borax Queen]

That is fabulous. If we didn't already have nine... LOVE the pics - especially the last one - too funny!

[Serb5150]

What cuties! Thanks for the ping.

[PetroniDE]

Special Request Kitty Ping:

[Xenalyte]

The thread was posted July 30, and I think it's taken care of.

[rintense]

Hey S&A-

Contact local veterinarian hospitals to see if they know of anyone who fosters FLV cats/kittens. Most communities/cities have people who do this. Your local humane society should also have a list of people who provide this type of care. Many no-kill shelters also offer refuge for those who are FLV positive. If not, you can post your story on www.petfinder.com. Hopefully, someone who takes care of FLV kitties can help.

[Allegra]

What an adorable kitten!

I sincerely hope you are able to find a home for the little sick kitty, bless its sweet little heart.

[rintense]

Great post. We had a kitten recently who initially tested positive for Feline AIDS. They waited 3 weeks and tested again and it was negative. Quite often, mothers pass along the markings of the disease yet the kitten doesn't have it. It is always a good idea to double test.

[sinkspur]

Thanks for these wonderful pictures! Anyone who would take in a little loveball like this, knowing that its life may be short, has a special place in my heart.

There are so many animals who are willing to give their hearts to anyone who'll give them a bowl of food, a little water, and a warm place to sleep.

Not too much to ask for a life of unconditional love.

[Allegra]

The thread was posted July 30, and I think it's taken care of.

.....oh. I suffer from Terminal Tiredness these days.

You up for a meeting of Team We Suck More than Anyone Has Ever Sucked Before in December at Nick's?

In the meantime, have fun doing the Scots thing at the Festival!

[Springman]

BECAUSE WE IN AMERICA CAN DO BOTH!!!!!!

BTW, when there is an abandoned Child, the Child will be cared for and have people lining up to take care of him/her.