It is 2 a.m. Thursday morning. I wake, stretching my arms protectively, lovingly around…no, not a human significant other…but around what is akin to a black hat box on my bed. Inside is tiny precious cargo, a newborn kitten alone in the world. I roll back to find myself up against seventy-five pound Clayton, one of our family dogs. He is snoring gently, his jowly lips fluttering against his breathing. It is a peaceful time where night is deep. His steady presence is almost enough to pull me back to slumber, but in kitten season, such gifts as long nights of sleep become far-off wavering mirages, much the same as mothers with newborn babies experience.
Raymond is, we say, about two days old. His little umbilical cord is still attached. His eyes are sealed shut, and he has all the frail bearing of a newborn kitten. He is a wee orange tabby. Mother was hit by a car and died. Two siblings died before he and his sister were brought to the rescue yesterday. Then sister died. They weren’t in knowledgeable hands; they were cold and being fed human formula. Blessedly, the person who found them did reach out for help, and because of rescue camaraderie, we were able to coordinate to bring the pair into our care. Kaleb of Catman2 Shelter tried to get them off to a new, fresh start, warming them, doting upon them, along with his amazing volunteers, but it was too late for the one, and heartbreakingly so. However, Raymond, a little to our surprise, is rallying thus far.
Late last night we brought him home in his hat box. He was nestled in a soft receiving blanket on top of a Snuggle Safe disk…a microwaveable heated pad in a soft fleece cover. We warmed up his kitten formula and fixed the nipple on his bottle so he could drink easily. The combination of warmth and the right food seemed to make a difference, and he ate well, then settled into a peaceful little ball. We can only hope that intervention has come soon enough, and that he is hardy enough, that Raymond will make it through the next twenty-four hours. We have to worry about those first twenty-four before even considering what might be his future.
Raymond is part of Jackson County’s Smitten With Kittens initiative. Last year I found myself working persistently to assist our animal shelter with its heavy kitten season, because the thought of all the animals being euthanized, and the toll that must take on a human being working in that environment, made me ache inside. But a lot has happened in a year, and because of community support and rescue friendships, we have an opportunity to prevent so many unwanted litters and save lots of kittens who have already been born. It was often the case that pregnant cats and litters of unweaned kittens could be euthanized at the animal shelter, because their needs are very high, and we have an abundance of amazingly adoptable young adult cats that sit in the shelter day in, day out, waiting for homes. But we’re working together – Catman2, Jackson County Animal Shelter, ARF Jackson Humane, and my son and I of The Underground Tailroad, in order to help ALL the cats which make up this equation.
We want people to adopt adult cats, as well as kittens. We want to eliminate needless euthanasia. We want to increase awareness of just what it takes to raise a kitten, the toll it takes on those of us who pick up the burden our community drops at our door because spay/neuter is not the norm. Sleepless nights. No languid summer vacations. Watching kittens die because of their fragility, their circumstances. Making the decision to spay a pregnant cat because there are hundreds of kittens born in just our one county during a year’s kitten season, which starts in spring and lasts through early autumn. Personally, I also want the community to see that we are in this together. Rescue groups and animal control are not magical entities. They are made up of human beings who work tirelessly to make a difference. We have varying motivations, but we come together for a common good.
It is time for me to feed Raymond now. I heard him squawk from within his blankets. Perhaps after he has eaten, I will be able to enjoy a cup of coffee while putting my own work day in order. Every two hours he will need to be fed. I have a job. I have a son. I have pets of my own and bills to be paid. I have friends who I’d like to see. All of that is still there. So fix your pets. And if your pets are fixed, and you have the means, help someone else fix theirs, and support those of us who are trying to grow a better community one life at a time.
Love from the Tailroad,
Chandra
Smitten With Kittens 2013
