All about Audrey (with some others too)

I think this pace of a post every few weeks seems to be working.  At least I can document how Audrey is growing!  I was gone for a week for work, and she basically turned into a big cat (in my mind).  In reality, she just stopped eating formula and began to use the litter box all the time!

Audrey does have two quirks to discuss.  First, let's talk about play aggression.

There has been a lot of information on this online.  Basically, it is well known that kittens that are bottle fed singletons (without other litter mates or mom) are.... ornery.  I also call it "psycatic".  She gets this gleam in her eye and attacks whatever is nearby, and plays inappropriately with what she considered "mom", ie. me.  She can be fine one second, and the next second, decide that my hand is typing too quickly and should be caught.

There's a few ways to help her learn how to play in a way that will actually be fun for other humans.  I've been using two main methods- making a large noise, or re-directing with a toy.  For the first one, if she runs over and attaches herself to my arm/hand, I clap loudly and remove her.  She then is ignored for at least 15 seconds.  I prefer that my arm isn't used as a scratching board, so I try to make sure I have MULTIPLE toys nearby to distract her with when I can sense that she's going to attack mode.  Her favorite is a green mouse on a string, and that bug toy in the picture above that she's had since we got her. The biggest problem with re-directing is that Pepper the dog's favorite toy is also the green string mouse, even though she is not allowed to play with it.

I mentioned in the last post that Audrey still seemed very wobbly at times.  She is uncoordinated, but still jumps, plays, eats, everything fairly normally.  Before I left, I videotaped her eating.  I'm not sure if it's because she has to stand still to do it, or if she gets really excited, but her wobbles are VERY evident here.  (First video on the blog! Fun! I can't figure out how to make these bigger on here, and I'm not sure maximizing will work.  I do have them on YouTube, so if you would like a bigger version, let me know!)

This video was sent to two vets that we work closely with.  Both agreed:  Audrey is a special cat.  She has some kind of neurological problem that causes her wobbles.  Based on the lack of other symptoms, it is likely that she has a mild form of something called cerebellar hypoplasia. It's not super common, but it effects how the cat walks and stands.  Some videos you can find of CH cats show a crazy stance that makes it seem like they are trying to walk on their tip-toes.  Audrey just has a bit of that.  CH does not effect quality of life or life expectancy.  She won't feel any different than another cat.

The only way to really confirm CH is for an MRI.  There are no pet MRI options in South Dakota, and it would also likely cost close to $2,000!  Since we can't confirm that she has it, we decided that we will likely see if we can find someone with experience with neuro-challenged (probably not a term, but it fits), and see if they are interested.

For now, we treat her normally, and she continues to grow and thrive.  I can't believe it's been six weeks.  We're expecting some more kittens this weekend.  I'm sure they'll be a great influence (fingers crossed) for Audrey, and I'll be showing them all on the blog soon!

Here's another video.  You can see that she is quite capable, but isn't quite steady and is very uncoordinated (note the flip at the end).

 Dexter in the high perch. 

 

 This is close for these two. 

 

Contemplating her next attack of the annoyingly colorful bug.

Two days

Hello Blog readers-

Usually, I have plenty of good news and the kind of shenanigans one has come to expect from fostering kittens over and over again.  Tonight's post is of a different variety.  As I said to the OPP organizer-in-chief earlier today, fostering isn't always sunshine and kitten snuggles.  Sometimes it's ringworm.... and rainbow bridges.

We had two siblings join us on Sunday.  They were surrendered from a family that had too many pets, and after a week in our program, someone was interested in adopting them!  Ryan and I got them to help with the transition to a forever family.  We named them Orion and Cassiopeia. They were hilarious.  Very classic surrender-type cases (in my limited first hand knowledge): super friendly, and crazy about all things food related.

 Orion

Cassiopeia

Today, the kittens went to the vet to be spayed/neutered and microchipped before being adopted later this week.  With any surgery, there are always risks, and unfortunately, Cassopeia passed away suddenly while in recovery.

My blog title today is in reference to how much time it obviously takes before getting attached to these foster babies.  I mourned the little cat as if she had been my own forever.  She was beautiful and loved to lick faces!  She was a great kitten, and it's so sad when routine becomes something unusual.  It does seem as though her brother is a little lost without her, although I've basically put Audrey with him for company.  I wish we had taken more photos to remember her sweet face.

As a foster, I still then called the potential adoptive family, and also broke the news to them.  In all honesty, I just wanted to say it and move on, when I probably should have given the nice man on the other side of the line a little time to adjust to the news.  Oops.  Something to remember for the next time, because however unlikely, it could happen again.  Orion will be adopted tomorrow.

Audrey is getting stronger each day.  She now weighs over a pound!  We're working on the litter box, but it isn't going well right now.  Someday she'll get the hang of it, but she's more interested in eating the litter than using the box.  She eats mostly solid foods now and doesn't take a bottle at all.  She can be absolutely insane- running all over the house.  One of her favorite things to do is to terrorize the bigger cats and the dog.  She's like a ninja.  She'll sneak up behind them, then pounce on their back/tail/head/whatever is closest.  She isn't making friends fast. :)

We are keeping a little closer eye on her development.  She's been quite wobbly and shaky when walking and standing.  Sometimes she seems normal, but other times she falls over while standing up.  I'm still not sure if it's just because she is weak and small, and catching up, or if it is something more serious neurologically.  We'll take her in for a vet visit in the next few weeks if the issue seems to staying around.

I'll end with a photo of Orion tonight, a photo of Pepper playing with bubbles, and Audrey's first outdoor photoshoot.  Everyone is passed out already on the couch for the night, so it's probably time to put them all to bed!

 Pepper always has to be around to help. 

Sleepy boy, snuggling.

Bubbles are fun!

Growing, adoptions, and a short (time) visitor!

Hello Everyone-

Lots has happened since Audrey joined us.  Mostly, less sleep happened.  She has learned three important things:  How to jump, how to climb (using her knife-sharp kitten claws), and how to eat some solidish foods!

Showing some climbing skills. 

 

Audrey's first solid(ish) food!

The Fairy Sisters attended a great adoption event at the local Petsmart.  They did SO well that a great family fell in love with both of them, and they were adopted a few days later, together!!  The house is a bit quieter without them.

They spent most of the event in someone's arms. 

We also had another foster for the weekend that was of the canine variety instead of the feline variety.  Brit was rescued from under a house with her seven newborn puppies.  The puppies all survived, and she was able to wean them.  We had Brit as a trial with cats before she was adopted.  She was a sweet girl, and I have to admit, hilarious to look at. 

German shepherd and corgi mix!   Amazing!!

And I have one final picture of the three big kitties, just in case anyone forgot that they exist as well.  

And no, Marie was not happy.

Until next time, cheers!