Kitten TLC

After lots of love, medicine, and TLC look who is finally reached the two pound mark!

I have to admit, I was really worried about her for a few days. She was very lethargic, not eating well, and her lungs were so full of gunk that she had very labored breathing.

Lots of internet searching later I learned that kitties can actually get Robitussin. The vet ok'ed it and helped to figure out a dosage. Lets just say Hearts was less than pleased when I gave it to her, kittens do not like Robitussin. Once the medicine started to work its magic she finally started to breath a little easier and was able to get some good sleeping in.

I also ordered her some holistic medicine from HAMPL. I had gotten Daffodil some medication from there when she had the tumor in her mouth removed and they helped her so much. 24 hours after Hearts started the holistic medicine she started turning back into a real kitten! She is now running around, chasing toys, eating everything I put in front of her, and purring up a storm. At her vet check up today she weighed in at two pounds (finally!) and the vet said that her lungs are sounding great; she kept her on her antibiotics for at least another week to help protect against any infection. I am so relieved she turned a corner and is doing so well, I will be sure to keep you update as she continues to grow!

In Other News...

Spring is finally springing up in the garden!

The daffodils are poking up through the ground and starting to bloom!

I am trying hard to stay on top of garden work this year and have already done a bunch of spring cleaning outside. I wish I had taken before and after pictures of everything because it all looks so much better after a good raking and trimming back all the horrible woody vine weeds we have (with prickers...ouch!)

Hearts hasn't been doing as well the last day or so. She isn't coughing as much but her breathing just sounds terrible. My heart breaks every time I hear her little lungs try and catch a breath. Her appetite isn't as great, she ate yesterday morning and afternoon but not much of anything in the evening and has only picked at her breakfast this morning. I have started to use a nebulizer more and it seems to help a little - I am really hoping this is the 'worse' before she gets better. 


Through it all I feel so very lucky to have a hubby that understands and accepts that my life is totally revolving around this bitty kitten right now and is also ok with the fact that I turn our bathroom into a steamy rain forest for her multiple times a day.

Here's to hoping she gets over this hump quickly and can go back to being a kitten again. ...we are off to steam up the bathroom now, keep sending Hearts your positive vibes.

Hearts & Spades

See what I did there with the title..huh huh, I know - I'm too clever for my own good.
.....Unfortunately this update on little Hearts isn't the happiest one.

She had finally put on the weight she needed and was scheduled to be spayed last Thursday. Still a pipsqueak, weighing in at 1.9 pounds at around 3 months old, she had been doing well enough that we felt it was time for her to get prepared for her new home.

While most cats and dogs have their food with held before a surgery kittens are allowed to eat a little because they need the calories and can be at risk of becoming hypoglycemic if you restrict their food intake. Pediatric spays and neuters are not something that everyone agrees on, not only do members of the general public debate it but it is also subject to debate between veterinarians. Our shelter has been doing surgery on kittens for years and we have never once had an issue, shelters and rescues all over the country perform pediatric spays and neuters and the benefits are huge - the biggest being fewer litters of unwanted pets being born.

Hearts had a harder time, and she never even got to the surgery part. The medication/anesthesia caused her to vomit after her mask was already in place and she was getting ready to be prepped for surgery. Since she was laying on her back she was breathing in her vomit and getting it in her lungs; the medical team worked quickly to get as much fluid out of the lungs as the could, it was a scary, stressful situation for everyone (I am so glad I was not in the room for that!). An IV catheter was put in so she could get IV antibiotics for five days. She is now on oral antibiotics and subQ injectable antibiotics.

She has been having her ok days and not so ok days but through it all she has been eating, been fever free, and gets bouts of energy when she wants to play. She is battling with some aspirate pneumonia but this little girl is a fighter and has been fighting to stay alive and well for here whole short kitten life.

Hearts seems to be trying to work her way through some of her nine lives but we will not give up on her and I know she won't stop fighting. Keep my sweet girl in your thoughts, I'll be sure to keep everyone updated on her status.


*Update: I saw Hearts' two siblings today and they are both doing so well and are so big! They weighed in at 3.7 pounds and 4.4 pounds! It is so hard to believe that they share a birthday...Hearts will get there, she is just taking her time - she must just really love her foster home ;)