Suzie Q

Survives living in tree!

"Hey!  That cat's putting kittens up in the tree", cried the little girl, "Why's she doing that dad?"

"Probably protecting them from something," he answered as he looked out the window to see what she saw, "We'll keep an eye out and make sure they're okay."

"Won't they fall down and get hurt?" she asked.

"No, they're mama will take care of them.  See, she's even made them a nest," he said pointing to the nest of leaves left by a forgotten squirrel.  He didn't want to tell her he actually was concerned.  No reason to worry her young heart.  It just didn't seem normal for a cat to put her kittens up in a tree.  Normally they kept them in small hidden nests, under cover, near the ground.  He'd check on them later and for the next couple days just to make sure.

Two days later after no sign of the mother cat, he climbed the tree and discovered 3 tiny little kittens.  They couldn't be much more than a week old. 

"They're way too little to be out here in without a mother.  They won't make it," he mumbled to himself as he thought, "Can't leave them here, they'll die."  So he carefully bundled them up and climbed down the tree and back to the house.  Inside as he unwrapped them to take a closer look.  A tear silently slid down his cheek.  One hadn't made it.  The other two were still alive, but barely. 

"Now what?" he thought.  He'd heard you have to bottle feed them  and he'd seen that kitten milk stuff at the grocery store.  He'd try that.  So he called his sister.  She'd go get some, she'd know what to do.  When she arrived a short time later they read the instructions on the container and fed the two hungry little kittens, placing them in a towel lined box to stay warm.  The next morning they tried to feed them again.

"They're not doing very good," he said, "This one is barely moving."

As tears ran down her eyes, she held the tiny, furry figure in her hands and prayed as she felt it's last breath leave it. 

"We have to find some help.  What about that lady that was here looking for kittens and talking about saving the cats?  Maybe she'd know what to do?"  So they hurried next door to the neighbor who'd recently rescued some cats with the help of a new cat rescue in town. 

"We can't tell them where this one's really from, or they may not help.  Maybe we should think of another story."

"I know!  Let's send your daughter over and have her tell them we found it in Cedar falls and the mom was killed."

So the call was made. 

"Good afternoon TigeraCat Rescues, can I help you?"

"We found some kittens in a tree and the mama was killed.  They were really little and two already died.  We have one here and it's really sick.  Can you help? Please?"

"Of course, we'll do whatever we can.  Let me get some information from you.  Can you bring the kitten to one of us or do we need to send someone?"

"We're at my uncle's house.  You were here once with the lady next door.  Can you come here?"

"Sure, let me make a couple of calls to find someone to come get it and I'll call you back."

A short time later a volunteer arrived at the uncles home.  The kitten was definately too little to be without it's mother and it was in desperate need of immediate medical attention.  After some questions and discussion the "story" was discovered.  Hearts and minds were put to rest as the tiny kitten left in a small fabric carrier lined with fur and a heating pad.  The nice lady had promised she would do everything within her power to save the kitten.  

When this tiny kitten arrived she was dehydrated, hungry, & cold.  She was given fluids, bottle fed every 2 hours around the clock for the first week, and kept in a temperature controlled environment.  Visiting the veterinarian to make sure she didn't need anything else.  A few weeks later she was running around her glass terrarium a plump little furball, cuddling with her teddy bear, and snoozing next to her clock (a make-shift heartbeat).  Eager for her next meal, she'd pounce on her stuffed kitten, trip over the edge of her bed, and softly mew to the voice she knew so well meant "food"!

STAY TUNED...MORE TO COME (I have to go take care of kittens!)