Animal rescue is a topic that is important to me. I love animals and being able to provide a good home to a fur baby is one of the most rewarding things in my life.
I'd like to introduce you to our newest family member, Arthur. He was discovered by one of my co-workers. Someone had abandoned this little darling in a restaurant parking lot. Fortunately, my co-worker was kind enough to pick this little guy up and take him to the vet to see if they could find a home for him. When the vet said they couldn't take a newborn kitten, he called me. I knew I already had three cats, and my husband frequently told me we were at maximum "cat-pacity." But, when I saw this tiny kitten, my heart melted.
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| On his way to his fur-ever home! |
How could I let him go? Since I already have a cat named Merlin and a horse named Guinevere, Arthur seemed an appropriate name. The newly-named Arthur was about three weeks old, a few ounces short of weighing a pound, and had an eye infection. He was so young, he still needed to be bottle fed every three hours.
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| Arthur's first day in his new home. His eyes are pink from infection. |
And so we started the touch-and-go care of a newborn kitty. I've known several people who have attempted to care for a newborn, only to get their hearts broken when they couldn't pull through. Knowing he might not make it, I did everything I could do and prayed this adorable little guy would prove tougher than the difficulties life had already dumped on him.
Daily, we were giving him antibiotic eye ointment, medicine for his cold (which he thought tasted awful), and bottle-feeding him every three hours. Soon, I didn't have to set my alarm for the middle-of-the-night feedings, because Arthur let me know when his next bottle was due!
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| So tiny, he fit in a coffee mug. <3 |
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| Yummy milk! |
Week one was nerve-racking, but then we started to see tiny improvements. Arthur's eyes cleared up, and he started playing! Also, we moved from bottle feeding to drinking from a tiny saucer. Due to his infection and him being so weak, I kept him in a crate in our bedroom. This was both to keep my other cats from catching his cold, and to protect his tiny self from my much larger, playful cats. He was so weak at first that I didn't want to release him with the big guys yet. By this point, I didn't know what I'd do if he didn't make it. He had already stolen our hearts! (yes, even my husband's lol).
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| Playtime! |
Week two (Arthur was now four weeks old) Arthur learned how to use the litter box! Now his eye infection was gone without a trace, and his sneezing had cleared up. He was energetic (as all kittens should be :) ) and we knew he was going to make it! Since he was so much stronger, I released him to play with his bigger "siblings."
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| Sherlock giving Arthur a bath. |
At first, they didn't quite know what to think, but it didn't take long for him to become one of the family. Now they romp and play like he's always been here. Arthur fits in great with the others, and he definitely acts like the king of the castle (or apartment). He is a sweet, cuddly boy, and I can't imagine life without him.
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| Arthur is a great reading buddy! :) |
There are so many animals that need a loving home. If you are looking for a pet, please give adoption a chance. Merlin was a pound rescue, and Arthur was found abandoned in a parking lot. They are both wonderful additions to our family. Now is a great time to adopt, as kitten season is in full swing!
If anyone has questions regarding adopting and caring for a kitten, particularly newborns, feel free to leave a comment on this post.
Stay tuned for more updates on Arthur and our other fur babies!
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| Comfy and cozy in his blanket! |
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