Pure Kitten Smiles

Methinks I can stop worrying about her.

Sparkles meets the Gang of Four

Sparkles was completely unperturbed yesterday when introduced to The Gang of Four. She immediately began playing with one kitten after another, with some time out to try their toys as well. The foster-siblings are very chubby, as they have grown up unhindered by the health issues that Sparkles has had to overcome. Compared to Sparkles, they lumber, rather than bounce around.

I stayed around for a while, although I didn't get any better photos than these. By the time I left Sparkles and the others were all sleeping in a pile.

What a difference a week makes...

Above and below: July 22 nd

Above and below July 29th

Sparkles has turned into a moving target. We will need an "action photographer" to capture more images of the beast. She is 4 weeks old.
Sparkles has an appointment with the vet tomorrow, for a check-up and testing to see if she is carrying any kitty-pox diseases. She was too tiny to rob her of any blood for testing up until now. If she gets a clean bill of health she will be joining four other kittens the same age in foster care. I'll let you know what her future holds as soon as I find out.

Piling it on

Sparkles had to go in for emergency respiratory support last evening in a sudden and frightening reversal of her great progress to date. She was snuggling in my arms (all seven ounces of her) when her breathing went from a slight wheeze to a seriously labored struggle. It was not a "wait and see" situation. I went straight to the 24-hour vet clinic, where she has been evaluated since we found her.
The reception area was crowded with people picking up pets after routine surgeries, as well as those waiting for their appointments. It is a busy clinic, with multiple vets and support staff.
One thing about Sparkles is that she is an attention magnet. A receptionist immediately called for assistance with a distressed breathing patient and a vet-tech rushed out and ushered us back into their ER.
Sparkles was placed on oxygen in something resembling a small aquarium with a lid and hoses into the side. She was shivering and using all her strength on every breath. I was a wreck from the bad news I'd received about my dog Diva's prognosis that afternoon in another vet's office. I was trying to focus on Sparkles but my mind kept slipping sideways and my nose and eyes kept spilling over. I have recently noticed how vet's offices always have a supply of Kleenex on hand.
I felt lucky to recognize Jennifer, our tech from Sunday's visit. She zoomed over to weigh Sparkles and was pleased she has gained several ounces. She bumped us up to the top of the list and we soon had a vet ministering to us.
Sparkles probably has a viral component adding to her bacterial infection, which had almost cleared up. They felt she was too diminished to take a blood sample. She needs to keep hold of whatever she has for now. We are to extend the course of antibiotics, add nasal droplets and steam treatments. It was decided that her poop-retention was worrisome so Little Sparkles got a free enema, although the hoped for results were not immediate.
Sparkles made it through another night, with a little bathing to clean her up around three this morning. (Thank you Enema and My Goodness Sparkles!). She and I have been huddled together a lot today, with a pan of hot water, beneath a large bath towel to cover both our heads. My skin thinks it has gone to a spa. I keep forgetting to remove my glasses which get fogged up on contact with the warm, moist air we are breathing. It is hot enough here in California already without having my face poached every few hours.
This afternoon her sleep has been more restful and she is feeding like a Tasmanian Devil now that her little tummy has emptied out properly.
No guarantees, but where there's life, there's hope.
Time to go boil some water and feed the beast...

Sparkles mastering the bottle

True Grit

Sparkles is making headway. She found an innovative sleeping position to be able to breathe more easily and has eaten and slept her way through the worst.
I am going to need Hubby to collaborate on getting a few more glamorous pictures of his favorite little Princess. She is an active two-hands-full now, when awake.
I have been reaching out to more knowledgeable kitten-folks for advice and their support has been invaluable. If all goes as planned, they are going to take her in a few days and integrate her into a new kitten-family of five foundlings about the same age. They were collected from the local pound yesterday "pre-euthanasia".
Hubby had taken for granted that we were keeping Sparkles. I may have to draw him a picture, 'cos he sure hasn't been listening to the words I've used. No more "permanents" hung on my heart strings for a while, if ever. Rescue, strengthen and launch on their way, then help the next one.

The odds are against us

Sparkler is a ten day old, female kitten with an upper respiratory infection. She was found in a dry-grass area between some houses and some shops. The kids who found her brought her home to their Mum, whilst I was visiting, and we tried to find a solution together.
Animal Control and The Humane Society said that if we brought her in she would be euthanized as they don't have the resources to bottle feed a baby every few hours. The No-Kill animal shelters and organizations are overwhelmed, full to the brim, and the specialized kitten fostering and placement people can't take her in case she gives her sniffles to all the others.
My friend's children had quickly lost interest and she couldn't face the added burden of sleepless nights. My budget can't stretch to vet care for random foundlings.
J. took the kitten to the emergency vet for hydration, antibiotics and advice and then dropped her off with me in the hopes we can get her through the next ten days, at which time she has a reservation with a cat-wrangling professional who will launch her on her way to a loving forever home.
There is a cardboard box next to our bed with a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel and a sheepskin remnant to emulate Sparkler's absent family. Sparkler (a name related to the July holiday celebrations of her birth month and, hopefully, a good omen for her personality-to-be) has crusty eyes,  which I have been bathing clean and to which I have been applying ointment. Her poor nose is blocked which makes it hard for her to eat and sleep. She has not been participating voluntarily in the bottle feeding process. I woke her up twice during the night to feed but you could measure her intake in dew drops.
I hoped that the fluids she got from the vet would pull her through the night but I was still happily surprised to see her continued breathing as dawn broke this morning.
We've made it through the day so far. Our biggest achievement was having her latch onto the nipple for a few gulps of her milk. I have dosed her with her antibiotics again this evening and am putting my faith in their healing power. To be continued...