Now feeling very sad....
Posted 05-05-2008 at 07:02 PM by Welshgirl
Well, part 2 of the story doesn't have a happy ending 
Took my 3 fosterlings back to the SPCA today, as planned. They were all weighed and, as they hadn't quite reached their target weight, they asked if I could take them all home again for a while - took me all of 1/2 a second to think about it, so I said yes.
I happened to mention that I thought one of the kittens might not be very well - he'd become a bit lethargic and wasn't drinking very much - so I asked one of the vets there to take a look at him before I took them home again. After a thorough check, I heard the vet saying 'uh oh, we have a big problem here'. They asked me a few questions, had he been frothing at the mouth, etc, after which he promptly threw up quite violently. They said that they would keep them all there in quarantine, just to get them checked out and would ring me later to let me know what was happening.
5 o'clock I received a phone call that unfortunately, not one but all 3 of them, had tested positive for something called Feline calicivirus which basically causes mouth and paw ulcers, sickness, problems eating and drinking, lameness and sneezing amongst other things, some of which my kittens had shown signs of, but not all of them.
So, to cut a long story short, by the time I received the phone call, my 3 little babies had been put to sleep. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to them. They possibly could have been treated, but it would have cost thousands of dollars for the 3 of them, that neither I nor the SPCA have to spare. Even if they'd recovered, they could have remained carriers of the disease for years, and would either have had to remain in quarantine forever, or caused an epidemic of the disease. I've tried to console myself with the fact that I gave them a happy 10 days and it was best to put them out of their suffering, but it's so hard. Right up to the end, they were purring and no doubt were purring right until they fell asleep.
Should I foster again? Possibly, I mean, I'd be very unlucky to get another 3 sick kittens, surely? But for now, here's a photo of the little 'uns which I'd like to share with you. RIP Alvin, Simon and Theodore.
Took my 3 fosterlings back to the SPCA today, as planned. They were all weighed and, as they hadn't quite reached their target weight, they asked if I could take them all home again for a while - took me all of 1/2 a second to think about it, so I said yes.
I happened to mention that I thought one of the kittens might not be very well - he'd become a bit lethargic and wasn't drinking very much - so I asked one of the vets there to take a look at him before I took them home again. After a thorough check, I heard the vet saying 'uh oh, we have a big problem here'. They asked me a few questions, had he been frothing at the mouth, etc, after which he promptly threw up quite violently. They said that they would keep them all there in quarantine, just to get them checked out and would ring me later to let me know what was happening.
5 o'clock I received a phone call that unfortunately, not one but all 3 of them, had tested positive for something called Feline calicivirus which basically causes mouth and paw ulcers, sickness, problems eating and drinking, lameness and sneezing amongst other things, some of which my kittens had shown signs of, but not all of them.
So, to cut a long story short, by the time I received the phone call, my 3 little babies had been put to sleep. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to them. They possibly could have been treated, but it would have cost thousands of dollars for the 3 of them, that neither I nor the SPCA have to spare. Even if they'd recovered, they could have remained carriers of the disease for years, and would either have had to remain in quarantine forever, or caused an epidemic of the disease. I've tried to console myself with the fact that I gave them a happy 10 days and it was best to put them out of their suffering, but it's so hard. Right up to the end, they were purring and no doubt were purring right until they fell asleep.
Should I foster again? Possibly, I mean, I'd be very unlucky to get another 3 sick kittens, surely? But for now, here's a photo of the little 'uns which I'd like to share with you. RIP Alvin, Simon and Theodore.
Total Comments 12
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Oh sweetheart, they are a gorgeous bunch of kitties, and you did indeed give them a wonderful 10 days - better for them to have had a wonderful short life than to suffer in pain in the future - they are purring at you from their better place (and now I'm in floods of tears too!!!) Lots of hugs for you WG xxx
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Posted 05-05-2008 at 07:31 PM by Maggiemoo
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Thanks Maggie xx
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Posted 05-05-2008 at 07:35 PM by Welshgirl
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Ohh WG - I feel your pain. WSe had our dog put down last week too. No matter how ling they have been with your they have a way of getting to you. Console yourself that they had a good 10 days with you. Don't let it put you off fostering more.
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Posted 05-05-2008 at 08:11 PM by nickydwuk
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Well Lisa what can I say- you got me sat here with tears in my eyes- what a sad story.
As we have said to Nicky too- theyare in a better place now and are no longer suffering- you did your best by them and don't let this be the end. |
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Posted 05-05-2008 at 08:22 PM by ebianca
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Thanks guys - and sorry for making anybody cry, not my intention - I thought I'd shed enough tears today for make up for the country.
Your thoughts all go towards making me feel better - I feel a bit silly actually, being so upset after only knowing them for 10 days  especially when poor Nicky had to go through the same thing with a much loved family pet.Anyway, life goes on and they are certainly in a better place now, with no pain. Tomorrow I have to go and pick up their cage that I took them in, so no doubt there'll be a few tears again then. Guess I'll just have to harden my heart a little if I'm going to foster again  |
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Posted 05-05-2008 at 10:05 PM by Welshgirl
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Another very sad story. I wonder if these pets of ours realise just how much we care for and love them and how we suffer when things go wrong.
I don't suppose there's any chance those kittens could have passed on anything nasty to your two if they were carriers? I hope to God not. You did your best WG and probably gave those little 'uns the best 10 days of their short lives |
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Posted 06-05-2008 at 07:45 PM by MotherBear
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No, ours are all up to date with their vaccinations - I took them for a booster jab today, which was a wee while overdue, just to be on the safe side, but I'm assured they are unlikely to catch it and even if they did, it would be extremely mild in adult cats. I've bleached and hoovered anywhere the kittens went, and washed my fluffy dressing gown that they used to like to snuggle up on so much
 Other than that, the cats didn't really spend any time in the same room as the kittens, as they weren't, shall we say, entirely pleased with the new additions  Thanks for the kind words though, MB |
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Posted 06-05-2008 at 08:16 PM by Welshgirl
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I'm so sorry, WG. Poor little kits. I'm glad they got 10 days of love from you, though.
If you can tolerate parting with them, I say foster again! |
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Posted 07-05-2008 at 04:27 AM by selchie
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Thanks selchie. In my infinite wisdom, I have decided to go ahead and continue fostering - I have a choice of a mother cat and her 5 kittens or one wee kitten on his own. I'm thinking that I'll go for the one kitten for now - he looked very lonely in his little cage when I saw him yesterday. He does have a bit of an eye infection (caused by a scratch on his eye), which is being treated with drops, but other than that, he appears healthy. I was tempted to take the mother & kittens, but the kittens are very small and would require, at the very least, 4-6 weeks of fostering, so that would mean having 8 cats (including our 2) in the house for quite a long period of time! So, I'm off to collect him today, provided he hasn't been fostered by someone else in the meantime.
Wish me luck  |
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Posted 07-05-2008 at 09:49 AM by Welshgirl
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Good on you WG. Hope all goes smoothly for you and the little fella!
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Posted 07-05-2008 at 10:00 AM by ebianca
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So sad. So brave of you fostering cats at their most adorable age ... I know we would get too attached. Looking forward to hearing about your newest charge!
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Posted 07-05-2008 at 05:55 PM by Glenda
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How is the fostering going, WG? There haven't been any further additions to this blog so, hopefully, that means your latest charge/charges have been a bit easier on the heart strings.
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Posted 31-05-2008 at 07:07 PM by MotherBear
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