Re: CCHS kittens

[AndyandMouse]

Pam,

We don't adopt out kittens under 7 weeks and really try to push for 8 weeks
when we are not on overload.  The kittens who died at Barb's were 6 to 8
weeks.  Opie was 9 weeks I think.

On Saturday this stupid woman brought us a tiny kitten- no more than 2 or 3
days old.  It was black with little white toes.  It still had it's umbilical
cord and it's eyes were not open yet.  She said it was in her backyard and
she was afraid her dogs would kill it.  We asked her to check for others as
there is never just one, but she said that was it.  She had noticed it the
night before but  left it out all night until the next morning.  How can
someone leave something that tiny outside alone?!  Anyway, we put him in w/
Josey who was nursing 7 others.  I think that was just too many for one mom,
but she cleaned this baby and was really taking care of him.  Barb got up
every 2 hours Saturday night, but at 7am she found him dead.  I really think
they just can't keep their body temp up.

I know we have too many, but we don't have enough volunteers.   If we leave
them at animal control or don't take them from people, they will die anyway.  
We just do what we can.  We don't have a problem with puppies like we do
kittens.  There is no such thing as "puppy season" but we do have "kitten
season" and it's here for several more weeks unfortunately.  

Thanks for your advise and suggestions!  I wish we all could quit our jobs
and stay home with these little guys, but we can't.  Ironically, it's the
volunteers with the least amount of other obligations that do the least for
the animals.  It's those of us with full time jobs that put our whole hear
and soul into this.

Jamie