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The Climb
Posted on June 26, 2009 by jcnadmin in 2009, Susan's Blog
Coco, Nuts, and Syrup tested positive for parasites, so we’re trying to get rid of those. We had planned to send them to PAWS, but we had to cancel the trip at the last minute, since they were vomiting off and on. Both PAWS and our shelter suffered losses over the last week, so fears are running high regarding less than healthy kittens. PAWS lost one of the 4 little ones that we sent them a month ago, and we lost poor little Maple. He was at the vet’s clinic and had started to do much better, but died suddenly. It really broke all of our hearts, and there hasn’t even been time to grieve over it. We received a very kind mail from the guy who had reserved Mipple and Maple for adoption. Of course all of the other kittens still have to be cared for, and there’s more work to be done every where we turn. I was picking up some kitten food, that Misato ordered for us, and a woman who saw me buying all of the kitten food asked if I wanted 5 more kittens. I called a volunteer and had her talk to the woman about the situation, on the spot. The woman is willing to continue keeping the 5 kittens at her place and only needs help with rehoming–she’ll spay the mother, which she had recently rescued. While I was out, I checked on the 7 kittens in the garage, being cared for by a family. They’re a bit fearful, which caused me some concern, but still young and the family is working on helping them to become friendlier. Hoping to get some good pictures of each individual kitten to put up on the available list soon. We’ve also received numerous e-mails recently from people needing help with TNR and kitten rehoming. We’re meeting with volunteers to see which of these situations we can start helping with right away.
Blossom recovered and is bouncing around as if nothing happened. One after another, all of the kittens in her group came down with something that lasted about 48 hours, involving weakness, chills (in Blossom’s case, definitely fever), but no sneezing, congestion, or decrease in appetite. The vet feels it may be related to vitamin deficiency, but all of the symptoms were so similar, and lasted approximately the same amount of time. It’s got us puzzled. They have all completely recovered now, and are as energetic and playful as ever, which is a great relief, and none of the other kittens in the shelter seems to have come down with the same thing. The three Powerpuff girls are living up to their names. Blossom is in fact the smart one, talking to us at every opportunity, and asking to come out of the cage. Buttercup, the strong one, races around jumping and climbing, at every opportunity. And Bubbles acts as if there is nothing more important than striking a cute pose and waiting for someone to notice her.
Gina, in Osaka is still caring for Valerie and Melody, and she wins the prize for best promoter of foster kittens! She has taken some fantastic pictures and video of these two. It’s been a Godsend, now that we are swamped and lacking the time to get a lot of pictures up ourselves. Take a look at more of the Youtube vids http://www.youtube.com/user/lemurcat47
We had a visit from a couple from Finland. Pilvi is writing her Master’s thesis about animal protection in Japan, particularly cats. It was a busy day for a visit, as David and I both had classes to teach, but Saku-chan and Misato came down to join in the introductions. They had a chance to meet many of the kittens who were out enjoying the enclosure for an hour or so in the afternoon. It was nice talking about some of the issues here, with people so encouraging, and who clearly understand how important the work is. They could also see how really overwhelmed we are right now, with all of the kitten care, and were sympathetic. More pictures from last week http://www.japancatnet.com/susansblog/junepictures.html
My insane teaching schedule is coming to a close, as the person I’m subbing for returns next week…I won’t miss the schedule, but I’ll miss the students, who are really great groups of people! JCMU (Japan Center for Michigan Universities) is an extraordinary program, and I’m lucky to have the opportunity to be a part of it from time to time. There just aren’t enough hours in the day to do all that I would like to do. Looking ahead to the summer holiday and a chance to catch up…
I am so very sorry for your losses! Poor little babies. At least they had love and caring during their brief little lives.
This is an odd year for disease all the way around. Swine flu for people and “who knows what” illnesses for pets.
I try to watch my cats like a hawk because they are sooo good at hiding any pain or discomfort that I try to observe them closely, especially my elderly one who actually now has a bit of diarrhea and just threw up a hairball. He was also diabetic for a year and now I am anxiously waiting for his 6 month physical (in 2 weeks) to make sure nothing is going on that I don’t know about.
Anyway, hopefully your other little ones are now on the mend…and will stay that way.
We just have to keep in mind that we can only do our best and their lives ultimately are in God’s hands.
Rest in Peace little ones.
One of the hard things for us, is that we are constantly stretched too thin. So, when something like this happens, we have to step back and think about whether it was unavoidable or whether it’s related to being understaffed. We don’t want to accept more kittens than we can provide responsible care for, but we’re constantly adjusting what that top number is, since we know the clear result of not accepting them. i imagine this is the terrible decision that animal shelters make all over the world every day! In a case like Maple’s we just don’t know why he didn’t make it. The vet can’t point to anything specific, but while the sibling Mipple gained weight steadily, and has continued to do so, Maple did not. He stayed so tiny…but he had so much energy in his little life. He played and waddled around like the best of them. Sometimes I think I’m not really cut out for this at all, because I never get used to having to let them go and move on. In my mind I know that this is how it goes…we lose some every year. But in my heart…well, that’s a different story.
Well, your heart is what gives you compassion. And compassion is what is needed to truly be able to reach out to the needy and helpless.
Unfortunately it does have bittersweet moments. From everything I have read so far, your judgement seems sound. Although these poor babies may fail for reasons unknown to you, you have given them every chance that you are capable of, to live.
We all want to be able to do more. But as I have read recently, balance is required and knowing when you have reached your current limit. That is not to say that your capabilities will not continue to grow, but you are doing the right thing in evaluating yourself periodically.
Hoarders and uncaring rescues do not. They just keep taking and taking and taking in more animals until they become pet concentration camps. There are sooo many of those here in the US that I just can’t bear to read about them sometimes.