On Wednesday, I was enjoying a little bit of my newly found well-ordered life. I had run out for a quick lunch and a stop at the decorating store before my 2 p.m. meeting. Coming home with my treasures for the front porch, I noticed a small white object in the middle of the road – literally situated in between the double lines. At first, it looked like an abandoned yogurt cup. Nope, it was a salty little white kitten. Her sister, the sweet grey peppercorn tiger, was on the berm. They were clearly very sick and very hungry. Others drove by and I don’t blame them. They may not have noticed or not been in any position to help two stray kittens off the road. I just couldn’t. It took me an hour and some crafty tactics, but they were soon ensconced in a box with a blanket. After that… well, it’s been a ride.
Turns out that Miss Salty and Miss Peppercorn, as they are currently being called, are very sick little eight-week old girls that their momma was trying to kick out. So, they had also not had a lot of food and it took Peppercorn ten hours to pee and Salty 30 hours. But this morning? Well, we’ve finally turned the corner. The big change? Oh, that would be the urgent vet.
Yesterday’s vet trip was not what the girls had ordered and all trust is gone right now. Peppercorn hides under the futon in my office when either of us come in. Salty, who is a bit more brave and a little more trusting, doesn’t hide but she’s not giving me big trust points either. But the vet trip was a big success. Both have eye and respiratory infections. Each had ear mites, one had a tick and they are likely full of worms. But, a mere day later and with two antibiotics, tick/flea and dewormer on board, eyes are open more clearly and less watery. Everybody has now pooped and for the first time, both ate some kitty crunchies. (Seriously hope we are done with bottle feeding.) More than that? While Peppercorn had purred on Wednesday – she’s not trusting me after yesterday yet – Salty purred for me today.
It’s going to take awhile until these little girls are healthy and strong, but I am starting to see the smallest signs of life and adventure from them. Salty scratches on the small scratching post and she’s fascinated by my laptop. Peppercorn, when she gets the courage up, ventures out and does a little cry. She’s definitely the more cautious of the two, but likely also the less sick. She’s just shy.
Ultimately, they need a few days to trust me again as well. Yesterday started with a baby bath, which was not what either had wanted but they had milk mats in their fur to go along with everything else in there. Plus, little faces needed to be cleaned up a bit. Candidly, they are not cute and cuddly looking. Instead, they look pretty scrawny and raggedy.Then, it was the vet. That was a put-‘em-over-the-edge breach of trust. So, baby steps today. Miss Salty is currently sitting beside me with her little roughed up face giving me the slightest bit of trust. Miss Peppercorn peeks out from under the bed, cries for her sister but isn’t about to give me a break. Particularly not after this morning’s eye drops routine.
My strategy? Oh, I’m going to sit here not moving a lot and let them both start to feel safe again. Afterall, we have eye drops three times a day for six more days and it’s going to be an adventure in kitty relations to just get those in. But, if they have some quiet, safe time with me and get over the vet trip and bath, I have a feeling that the eye drops can become a non-event.
Baby steps and they are definitely babies. They each weigh about two pounds. They are incredibly bonded to each other and often aren’t more than a few feet apart. Both are not out of the woods yet, but they have made steady progress in the right direction. Lots of love, yummy food, clean water, warm spaces to sleep and medicine are the keys to their success. They are good little oral antibiotic takers. They lap it right up and here’s a shameless plug for the Delectables “Push-Up” treats. They are the perfect hiding spot for some bubble-gum flavored antibiotics and tuna-flavored de-wormer. (No, I don’t get a kickback from them.) They’re not fans of the eyedrops but it’s going better. Mostly, I’ve noticed on the little kitty cam that they are no longer sleeping with their mouths open. They still eat with their eyes closed, which I find adorable, but the sleeping with closed mouths may mean they can actually breathe better.
They’re salty and corny, but they’re incredibly sweet. Hopefully, in a few weeks, they will be ready for an amazing forever home with someone who will take them as a bonded pair. That’s my dream, but right now, making it through the weekend is my first goal.
The Yuppie Homesteader 