RUG HOOKING BLOG

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I'm a mother of four grandmother of seven and great grandmother of three. I live with my husband in the house that we built with the help of my brothers and will have been married for 57 years this February.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

NEVER A DULL MOMENT ON THE FARM

Yesterday started off as usual, I dragged myself out of bed and walking in the backyard, I see the lawn with dandelions that should have been cut, thinking, I'll do it before lunch.

As I got to the calf barn, I heard a tiny kitten meowing loudly but I couldn't see it. I got the flashlight to see if I could find out where the kitten was. After several minutes of searching I found it in a dark filthy spot of rubbish near the silos. How it got there I'll never know.

 I used a paper towel to pick it up so as to not leave my scent on it and brought it inside the barn and put it in the cat cardboard box that I have with hay in the bottom and covered it with  clean towels to try to conserve it's heat. The other small kitten are always climbing in it for a nap.  The door was left open so if the mother was around she would hear it cry.

I went about my work and some cats came in but were afraid of the little kitten  and quickly scooted away.

When I finished feeding and bedding my animals I took the wee stranger home and put it in a box with a warm Magic Bag that I heated in the microwave  and lots of warm towels as it was still  cold. I called the near by vet hospital for some milk replacer for the kitten. They only had canned milk around $8.00 a can and it had to be used up in 72 hours. I was looking for powdered milk replacer as there's no way this tiny kitten would be able to consume that in 72 hours.

I called Pets Unlimited and they had milk replacer for kittens but it meant a trip up town. Since I already had several errands to run across town I did what I needed to do and  $20.00 lighter I came home with a tiny bottle and nipples and the powdered milk. I tried to poke a hole in the tiny nipple but the top was a bit thick and the milk wasn't coming  through. The kitten was screaming blue murder. So back to the barn to get a small syringe. I cut the screw part off on the end and mixed up a tiny batch of milk and the frantic kitten drank 2.5 cc of warm  milk. I put it back in the warm box and it quickly fell asleep.
The process was repeated every several hours when it would wake up crying.


Her eyes were still shut when I found her. After washing them with warm water, she opened them.

She quickly fell fast asleep after feeding.

New born kitten can't pee on their own so I used a tissue to gently wipe hers genital to make it pee. and found out it was a girl and since we had a long weekend on account of Queen Victoria on Monday, I called her Victoria.

She woke up twice during the night for feeding and had a little hard poop. I of course didn't get a good night sleep and was so tired this morning and was half an hour late for work because I had to see to her Majesty's needs. She survived the night and is still with us as I type.

My grandkids came for a visit and I'll share that on another post.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit and thanks for leaving your comments. I appreciate them so much.

JB

22 comments:

  1. Julia, I mean Florence Nightingale, thank goodness you discovered this sweet little kitten, did the mother kitty abandon her? With all your loving attention I'm sure she will pull through, good luck, 2AM feedings?

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  2. You are such a smart lady. I remembered that stuff as I was reading but I had forgot. I hope she makes it. I know you are tired. But your compassion makes me so happy. You are a great gal, Julia, thanks for sharing.

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  3. O she is so sweet so sorry her mom is gone.
    You are such a good person.
    Cathy

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  4. Oh my Julia, you are a busy lady! We have been hand feeding kitties this past week too...but they're a bit older, and are now eating and drinking on their own. It's exhausting work, but I hope Victoria makes it!!

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  5. Bless your heart Julia,
    Victoria looks like a little sweetheart! I hope she continues to do well with all the loving care she is getting! You are amazing and you should be a vet..... no one cares for the animals like you do Julia! You are wonderful!!!
    Hugs!
    Cathy G

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  6. Ah honey that is what consumed my day today too were kittens.
    Your such a sweetheart to save this little baby. I love the name you have chosen for her.
    My day started out too with finding something got three of my 4 week old kittens. I found the only survivor under the hood of my car. How she got there is beyond me. And where their mother was when they were attached. It just tore me up the whole day. I bought another cage to put her in and I managed somehow to take her out every two hours and let her nurse with the mother but I can't do that all night long. lol Of course you did what am I saying.
    Isn't it amazing how much there is to do around a farm especially one like yours. I pray every day that God watches over you because you have so much to do.
    Try to get some rest tonight.
    God Bless you honey
    Love
    Maggie

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  7. You are my new favorite hero. I love that you would do that for such a sweet little face!
    I hope you get some rest tonightt.

    Keep us updated. I look forward to hearing about the grandkids visit..

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    1. Aren't you just the sweetest thing next to a baby kitten! A very compassionate farm girl indeed!

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  8. This is my favourite thing to do in life. Seriously. I have bottlefed so many rescues over the 3o+ yrs. I have lost count. Kittens mostly, but bunnies and others too. I love it. My Grizelda & Chloe were 2 days old when they came to me. They will be a year & a half this week. Their brother & sister are still together in another home. I raised all 4. They were sick, so I had to feed them every 1-2 hrs, around the clock & do chest thumps so they could breathe. They all are fine now!! :-) Good work. God sends them. I am happy to help. Keep us posted.

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  9. Oh that little Victoria has captured my heart. You are so good to nurse her back to health. I hope she makes it. You are right...it's never dull up your way!
    Hugs,
    Courtney

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  10. Victoria is a lucky kitty! When we lost a momma cat years ago we used a doll's baby bottle to feed the babes and our blue healer at the time tried to help mother them. Good luck with her royal highness,she sure is cute and you are a special lady. Hope you have a great week and keep us updated on Victoria please.

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  11. When I saw that picture of the tiny kitten I immediately thought of Joanne's Quentin! (Snippets and Scraps blog)
    He was just that tiny and hungry and abandoned as your little kitty. I hope your tiny one survives and thrives as he has done. Bless you Julia for trying to save a life!

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  12. What a beautiful heart that resides in your body....I am so touched by this post that I sit here with tears in my eyes....Bless you for coming to the rescue...I know she will always hold a special place in your heart...Please keep us updated....She is so beautiful.....

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  13. Julia, You truly are the kindest soul! Please keep us updated on Victoria. I think she has captured blogland's hearts.

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    1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kim. I've been so busy today that I almost forgot even though I had a note on my computer to remind me. Hugs. JB

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  14. Blessings for being so kind to this precious little one. She's very pretty. My kids would go crazy! Have a good weekend!

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  15. oh, the little thing! bless you, dear! .... my latest cat was a rescue ...

    aw, Victoria... love it! You'll keep us posted on her?

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  16. I wouldn't know what to do with a tiny kitten like that. You are amazing. I hope Victoria thrives and brings you lots of happiness. Enjoy your weekend but I'm predicting that you'll be a very busy lady!

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  17. oh julia you are such a great kitty mom! lots of work tho huh? she sure is a little cutie and i hope does well! i think i know what you'll be doing this weekend!
    try to relax some and enjoy the weekend!

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  18. Welcome to Victoria! She looks to be a real sweetheart!

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  19. Looks like you have a new kitty in your life, Julia...she is a cutie!! I am sure if she could speak, she would be thanking you forever...

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  20. What a sweet kitty! How good you are to take this little girl in!
    Have a great weekend,
    Robyn

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