A few weeks ago Holly, my ten-year-old daughter and I came back from a girlie day out at the shops. We had been out from dawn to dusk and had a lovely day.
In the morning prior to leaving all the cat chores had to be done. Boris my stud cat had his chalet cleaned, his TV turned on and his pen opened so he had the freedom of the secure netted garden where he could play and chase the insects and butterflies.
The indoor cats also had their water bowls cleaned, litter boxes emptied and food bowls toped up. All was fine and off Holly and I ventured. On our return, Boris was found sitting on Holly’s bed cuddled up next to Ana. Boris had peeled the rubber from around the PVC kitchen window which allowed him the smallest of gaps to squeeze through and meet the ladies.
Ana had been on medication to stop her becoming pregnant so although I was a little shocked I wasn’t too worried….. As the weeks went by Ana got fatter and sure enough 65 days later a beautiful litter of four kittens arrived, 3 girls and 1 boy.
Holly, a keen astronomer named the kittens after moons in our galaxy. Ariel, Vega Miranda and Umbriel
On day one I noticed a kitten outside the kittening basket, A bit strange I thought but maybe it had wondered out whilst searching for mum.
This happened a few times and then I noticed the kitten (Ariel) had been placed by her mum, next to my bedroom door. I knew then that there was a problem with her, Ana is such a good mum and would never reject her little ones without good reason.
Mother cats will focus all their effort and energy on kittens that are well; if there is a kitten that is not survivable they will reject it in order to give the rest of the litter the best of her milk and energy.
I kept trying to put Ariel back with mum but Ana would either move the other kittens elsewhere or move Ariel as far away as possible. After doing a bit of reading I realised that by putting Ariel back I was upsetting Ana and I was running the risk of Ana rejecting the whole litter. I know Ana would not abandon Ariel if she didn’t have good reason so I had to make a decision. My instincts told me nature knows best and I knew she should go to the vets to be put to sleep but just as I thought this Ariel looked up at me with a feisty glint in her eye and I couldn’t give up on her. Every bone in my being told me that this would end in heartache but I couldn’t resist her tenacity and felt I had to give her a chance.
Bottles were warmed, a box was lined with blankets and a heat pad and the weighing scales were at the ready. She didn’t like the bottle at first but when she was hungry enough she guzzled down the milk. When she suckled her ears twitched back and forth and after a feed she would rest totally content.
I carried Ariel around swaddled in a white fleece blanket. She needed 24 hour care. It was totally absorbing, feeding, sleeping washing her, but when she looked out of her blanket with her amazing expression the reward was immeasurable.
I awoke one night realizing Ariel hadn’t cried for her 3am feed like she usually did, I peeked into her box to find her alive but very limp and shut down. I gave her glucose syrup and tried to syringe feed her but I feared the worst. I kept her close to me wishing she would come round but after an hour she was still limp, breathing slowly with the occasional sigh. I cried my self to sleep only to wake as the day was dawning with a tenacious little Ariel snuggled next to me as right as rain.
Helping me in the fight to save Ariel was my friend from work and her adult daughter, we where taking turns during our work shifts and days off to care and feed for Ariel. This little kitten had a team of people willing her on. She put on weight and I began to hope she would make it.
Last night I woke at 3am as usual to feed Ariel, when I looked in the box Ariel’s breathing was rapid, she was gasping for air. I knew then that she had a real fight on her hands. I give the glucose syrup as before but it had little effect, I gave some subcutaneous fluids, but still it didn’t seem to help. Ariel was slipping away and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I lay on my bed and put Ariel next to my chest so she could hear the sound of my heartbeat and the gentle sighs of breathing. It was all I could do to let her know she hadn’t been abandoned and someone was with her as she slipped away.
Ariel died at 6.20 this morning.
Thanks to Debbie and her daughter, Ariel was given the best chance possible but it just wasn’t meant to be.
I am saddened at her passing, I won’t forget that sweet little bat eared face with that ever so cheeky glint in her eye.
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