Readers may recall an entry on this blog about Emori, a young cat taken in by the rescue-group to which I belong. She had three kittens with her, and was pregnant with another litter. In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, she gave birth. Six tiny babies survived; one did not. (This is similar to Astrid’s situation - readers may go to the entry for May 25 for the first mention of this pregnant girlcat I trapped right outside my apartment: one of the five offspring she birthed was stillborn.)
It was a difficult time for Emori. She is less robust than Astrid, and had more kittens to produce. The sixth starting coming out backward, and his poor mum didn’t have the energy to do any more. The two foster-guardians, awake through the whole night, gently eased the kitten out over several minutes, and made certain that he was breathing. They then hastened Emori and her babies to the emergency veterinary hospital, but the last kitten could not be saved.
All the kittens who lived are doing well. There are four girls (two black (one with a white mark on her tummy), a tortoiseshell and a tabby) and two boys (one orange and one black); they all weigh either 0.14 or 0.15 kilograms (a third of a pound), and, though the orange boy had trouble finding mum’s feeding station and had initially to be fed by syringe, all are now drinking up nutrition as they should.
Emori is very much under-weight at 3.11 kilograms (6.86 pounds). That is a small cat to have been carrying seven kittens; it is no wonder she didn’t have the strength to push any more after the fifth – and this was after a month of fattening up with as much food as she wanted. Between her thinness, her injury (she is missing a foot) and the difficult births, it is unlikely that she would have survived on her own, and therefore the kittens would have perished, too.
But
now all are in the best of hands. If mum isn’t giving enough milk, it will be
supplemented and, of course, Emori will continue to have as plenty of food. Their
general health will be watched, and they have ready access to veterinary care.
It’s a good weekend on which to be thankful.
It really is a wonderful success story minus one poor kitten. And no, it does not sound as if any would have survived outside for much longer than it took for Emori to be captured and saved. Hope she gains weight and strength.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the world, kittens.
ReplyDeleteThey are so small but they are cared for and I hope they thrive
ReplyDeleteYou're correct, John. There is a lot to be thankful for. I'm so glad that you and your rescue group were able to help Emori and her kittens. I'd hate to think what would have happened to them without you. Now, hopefully mom and her babies will find wonderful forever homes. God bless you!
ReplyDeleteWe send purrayers and Power of the Paw to Emori and her babies, and all those caring for them.
ReplyDeleteI hope those wee ones have a most wonderful life now, they deserve that and so does the Mama.
ReplyDeleteAh! Bless! At least now they are in the best hands..
ReplyDeleteHopefully they will get stronger and stronger.....!
That is a heartwarming story, and now Emori and her kittens will be well cared for. I hope all thrive.
ReplyDeleteOh what a trauma for Emori. I am grateful to the max that you were all there to help. And I could not help but smile at your description of them finding their mum's feeding station. Poor little kitten who needed help being born; and that he went to the angels immediately afterward. But he is safe there and all the others including their mother are here and being cared for so well.
ReplyDeletePoor little mom, she's suffered so much in her brief life. It's sad to hear one of the kittens didn't make it, but, as you said, if she hadn't been blessed by being rescued by good people. she and all her babies would almost certainly have died.
ReplyDeleteHave wonderful lives, little ones.
Oh, poor Emori, it's so unfortunate for a cat so young to have not been cared for, up until now. I agree, knowing she is being cared for by a foster parent and the vet clinic is something to be thankful for.
ReplyDeleteI do hope she and the surviving kittens do well, and will find their own forever homes in the next few months.
Such a sweet little family.
ReplyDeleteAwww, so sad for the wee new angel. But soon the new mama and her little family will thrive, and be healthy due to great caregivers and love.
ReplyDeleteDearest John,
ReplyDeleteOkay, here I did not read as I was barely alive at that time... also taking opioids for the pain. My weight was only 40 kg.
Oh, in nature those frail mama cats, often kittens themselves, have a rough life!
Hugs,
Mariette + Kitties