VACCINATION

The kittens were due for their vaccinations today and normally a *VOKRA vaccination volunteer would come to our house to vaccinate each kitten, but it worked out better that I took them all to *VOKRA Headquarters and had them all vaccinated there.

Stay very still little kitty!

Feline Vaccine

The kittens were all such good sports about their vaccinations.  Karen (the co-founder of *VOKRA) administered their shots and noted that there were no "drama queens" in this batch of kittens.  They didn't hiss or scratch Karen (or her assistant) while the needles were going in.  I think I heard one little meow from one of the black kittens, but the rest sat there and took their medicine like the good little kitties they are!

The adoption fee covers the kitten's vaccination, but also includes complete deworming, flea treatment (if required), spay/neuter, up-to-date shots and post-adoption check-up.

I was told that the kittens might be a bit lethargic and sleepy when I took them home.  That's probably why I was able to get a half-decent picture of all the kittens resting on top of their kennel.

A bit sleepy after their vaccinations

Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association

https://www.facebook.com/VOKRA

Adoption application:

http://www.orphankittenrescue.com/adoption_application/

I SEE THE LIGHT

Kittens wouldn't be kittens if they didn't chase a laser light, take down the feather toy or bat an aluminum tin foil ball all around the house.

The 'Little' kitten batch definitely prefer the laser light.  I can have the 6 of them galloping up and down the hallway with a single red beam from my trusty laser pointer.  Some kittens run faster (and jump higher) than others, but for the most part, they are all equally interested in bringing down that impossible-to-catch red ball of light.

(L-R) - Little: Snowball, Panda, Ewok, Cuddler and Masquerade

Little: Panda, Snowball and Twinkle

Little Snowball holding onto the light

***

After several facials, I was able to get most of the food stains off of the white kittens' faces.  Their faces are not as pure white as I would like them to be, but they are definitely looking better than when they first arrived.

Little Snowball and her messy little face

... after a few scrub downs

... all clean and presentable!

Little Twinkle

... cleaned up

... now pretty as a picture

Little Masquerade and her dirty snout

... getting antsy about bath time

... looking good now!

Little Panda is lucky she has a black nose

Little Cuddler all smug about not needing a bath

Little Ewok all relaxed in my hands
Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E-JPn-eXJI

The kittens will be getting vaccinated this Saturday and then they will be ready to go up onto the *VOKRA website for adoption!  My guess is that Little Ewok (Penfold) will generate a lot of interest because of his beautiful mane.  I'm sure he's part Persian ... I've never fostered another kitten with such thick, luscious fur.  I will have to wait and see!

Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association

https://www.facebook.com/VOKRA

Adoption application:

http://www.orphankittenrescue.com/adoption_application/

NAME CHANGE

My newest batch of kittens were born at a previous foster's home, so that foster received the privilege of naming the kittens. I was advised that some of the names might be too common, so I could change them so that there were no duplicate names in the database.

Unfortunately, only 2 of the 6 kittens had repeat names. However, I have been so accustomed to calling these kittens by the names that I had given them, that I still refer to them by their nicknames:

Database Name:  Colin (Male)
Nickname:  Little Cuddler

Database Name:  Penfold (Male)
Nickname:  Little Ewok

Database Name:  Shirley (Female)
Nickname:  Little Masquerade

Database Name:  Mavis (Female)
Nickname:  Little Twinkle

Name:  Little Panda (Female)

Name:  Little Snowball (Female)

As you can see, the theme for this litter is the 'LITTLE' batch.

These kittens started out eating First Mate Chicken, and it seems like they enjoyed their food a great deal (as evidenced by all the food stains around their little mouths). However, their little tummies were not very happy with this food as their little poops were quite runny. *VOKRA suggested that I change their food to Boreal Lamb & Beef and mix in some pumpkin puree in the hopes to more solidify their little poops.

My previous foster, Aimee was allergic to chicken (and all poultry in general) and now these kittens are not doing well with chicken either.  I did not know that quite a lot of cats and kittens have these types of reactions to chicken. I thought that all cats could consume poultry, but if humans have all types of allergies to different types of food, I guess the same can be said about felines.

I need to get their little mouths free of any food stains so that I can take beautiful pictures of them to put up onto the *VOKRA website.  A dirty looking kitty is definitely not going to help them get noticed.  We want to show them at their best and cutest!  I am thinking that they will need a few more baths before all the stains are removed.

The kittens will be *thrilled* with the prospect of more baths.

Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association

https://www.facebook.com/VOKRA

Adoption application:

http://www.orphankittenrescue.com/adoption_application/

BATCH #6

Another foster dropped off six 6-week old kittens yesterday for me to continue fostering as she is doing renovations to her home and cannot continue fostering them.

The minute I saw the kitties in the kennel, I thought "Little Cow Kitties!" as three of them have the same black and white coloring as dairy cows.

I did not receive their intake papers, which provides the kittens' individual cat code, sex, name (if already given), food they are currently eating, kitty litter they are using and any medical health information that I need to keep an eye on.  So for now, I have to just refer to them as the "black one", or the "one that looks like a bear" or "the white one with the patch over its eye".  The intake papers are being mailed to me, so as soon as I receive them, I will find out each of their respective names and finally determine the ratio between females and males in this litter.

In the ride over from the previous foster's home, one of the kitties did his/her deed in the kennel.  Of course, the rest of the litter stomped all over it and I needed to give them all baths when I brought them in.  While they were drying in the towel, I also gave them a manicure and pedicure and much to my delight, I did not have any protests from any of the kittens!

Most of these kitties like to have their bellies rubbed and will conveniently flip over for me to tickle their bellies.  *So*Darn*Cute!*

Dinner time!

Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association

https://www.facebook.com/VOKRA

Adoption application:

http://www.orphankittenrescue.com/adoption_application/

PALLIATIVE CARE

After numerous visits with two different vets, it has been confirmed that Aimee is in kidney failure.  It's devastating news as with this diagnosis, Aimee will now be put into palliative care with a long-term foster as my travel schedule does not allow for me to have a long-term foster cat.

Although Aimee looks like the picture of a healthy cat, it's what her kidney is not doing which will cause her to only get more sick.  I'm heart broken over the news, but at least she is the care of another foster and not out on the streets fending for herself.

Aimee was given various medications, and being the good cat that she is, she took all the medication without a single struggle.

Aimee`s various medications

One of the vets that I went to see prescribed me the human version of the drug that Aimee needed as opposed to the animal version, which is more expensive for some odd reason.  As VOKRA is a non-profit organization, any way that a vet can bring down the medical costs for a cat is greatly appreciated.  I ended up buying the prescription for Aimee myself to minutely alleviate the cost for VOKRA as they already have a lot of veterinary expenses with all the cats and kittens in their care.

We cannot save them all, but at least we can provide a loving, caring environment for those that will be with us for a short time.

Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association

https://www.facebook.com/VOKRA

Adoption application:

http://www.orphankittenrescue.com/adoption_application/

ALLERGIES

So, it has been confirmed after visiting the vet that Aimee has a food allergy. I've been told that a lot of cats are allergic to chicken (who knew?) and that fur pulling is often an indication of a food allergy.  I returned the First Mate Chicken Formula to *VOKRA and exchanged it for Natural Balance Duck & Venison Formulas.

I had stopped giving Aimee the First Mate food for a couple of days now and I can already feel that her fur is so much softer and she hasn`t pulled out any of her fur for the past couple of days.  Amazing what a simple change in diet can do for a cat.  Aimee is also a lot more playful and energetic, so much so that I sometimes find myself tripping over her because she`s weaving in and out of my feet.

Of course, during all this allergic reaction to her food and fur pulling, she has still been the same loving lap-cat that she was when I first got her.

Don`t work!  Just love me!

Aimee is scheduled to get her teeth cleaned on Wednesday so that she can show off her pearly whites to all her potential adopters when her profile goes up. I`m thinking that she will be snapped up in a day or two.

Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association

https://www.facebook.com/VOKRA

Adoption application:

http://www.orphankittenrescue.com/adoption_application/

WHAT'S UP PUSSYCAT?

We've been suffering from a bit of a heat wave the last couple of weeks. Temperatures have been in the high 20s to low 30s.  Without air conditioning in our home, it makes for very long, hot days and even longer, stickier, sizzling nights.

For the most part, Aimee has been basking in the sunshine, although sometimes I wonder if she isn't a bit over-heated with all that fur.

Soaking up the rays

Just chillin' on the couch

What I've been noticing for the past couple of weeks (since the heat wave started and when Aimee's kittens were all adopted out) is that she is starting to slowly pull her fur out.  In a couple of areas, she has actually managed to make bald spots from the constant grooming and pulling.  I was alarmed to find this amount of fur on my work chair after coming home today:

Aimee has a follow-up appointment with the vet this Monday, so I'm hoping that the vet will have some solid answers as to why she's wanting to become a sphynx kitty.

Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association

https://www.facebook.com/VOKRA

Adoption application:

http://www.orphankittenrescue.com/adoption_application/