The truth as I know it:

We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life. But those who make their journey home across time & miles, growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them, are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us by God's very own hands. ~~~ Kristi Larson

Monday, May 25, 2009

Where's Amy when you need her?

Okay Amy, I helped you out with cat names (even though you didn't use any of them.) Now where are you when a sister is in need?

Today on the way home from the lake (more adorable photos on that later!) I was on the cell phone and out of the corner of my eye, literally, at a glance, at 75 miles per hour, no less, I see this TINY kitten balled up on the shoulder of the road. I start begging Brian to turn around. He goes one exit arguing that the mama cat is in the vicinity and the cat does not, in fact, need a rescuer. But then the backseat pressure kicked in and he had no choice whatsoever. We got to the next exit and he turned around, drove about 8 miles round trip back to the scene of the abandonment, and sure enough... here he was!



As you can see, he's in pretty bad shape. He was so tiny and so weak that he literally did not move his head when I walked up to pick him up. I had a beach towel and just scooped him up. He never even acknowledged that I had picked him up.

Then my soft hearted husband, who didn't want to rescue the cat in the first place, stopped at Wally World and bought some kitten milk and a tiny little bottle for this little fellow. He was so hungry that when I put the nipple to his lips he started chewing on it so hard he chewed the end of the nipple off. :( He ate about .9 ml three times (whatever that is, I'm really bad at math.) I'd say he was hungry.

My neighbor, who's a cat lover, told me to keep him out of the carpet until I take him to the vet to see if he has fleas or not. So right now he is in the boys bathroom in the bathtub with a tiny shoe box full of litter, a cup from Meg's tea-set full of water, and a feeding schedule of every 2 hours. Ask me how much I love this kitten at 3 AM! :) Anyway, I'm such a softy and I couldn't leave the poor thing on the side of the interstate to be eaten by an owl, which is surely where he was headed.

Brian already gave the kids a big lecture about nursing him back to health and then finding him a home and for us not to get too attached. This could present a problem for this household, but I'm sure that someone out there, who actually KNOWS SOMETHING about cats, will be a great family for him. I don't want the shelter to get ahold of him, after all, I didn't rescue him from the owls just to turn him over to the gas chamber. So... anyone in the area who is a cat lover and who is up for the task of nursing this little fellow to health, please let me know.

And in the meantime, if any of you have nursed a little kitten like this into a healthy cat and you have some superb advice for a cat lover, but not a cat knowledgable person, please feel free to lay it on me!

Proverbs 12:10

"A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel."

8 comments:

Amy said...

So Ondrea -- what's his name? :)

He's a cutie... and you are doing a great deed!!!

Call a vet today and see what's going on. They could likely post his little picture on a board there (some vets even have an adoption area) OR they could refer you to a NO KILL shelter. The challenege is that in this economy - many of them aren't taking new pets, but if you explain your situation they may help you out.

Otherwise I can try to do a search for an animal rescue group in your area. Meow Meow!

Carol said...

He should be named Skipper, he looks just like my grandma's cat. Sorry we are so far or I would convince hubby that P neede a kitten.

Lakeshore Cottage Living said...

Congratulations on your new cat! hahaha.

We always took in strays. You are doing a great job.

Nicole said...

I love it! I have a "animal in need " radar that I have been programmed with!If I had a nickel for every poor animal that I have picked up on the side of the road.If I lived closer I would help with the momma cat duties!
Nic

carolinagirl said...

Thanks so much for the Award!!! I found a moment to post!!! We have made our hotel reservations, and I am so excited, nervous, anxious, etc, etc, etc! I know you can relate! Please add us to your prayer list as we embark on this journey. We need all the prayers we can get.
Thanks again,
Corey

Becky and Keith said...

Keith is repeating "Thank goodness Ondrea lives 4 hours away, thank goodness Ondrea lives 4 hours away..." over and over and over again for some reason. :-) I warn you - Callie was that cute and that helpless when we found her. She now destroys Christmas trees, hangs from windows, walks across curtain rods and tortures a certain 3 year old. :-) Seriously though, you are doing a great thing by helping the baby out. Just get her to nuzzle up with Brian and he'll be toast. :-)

P.S. I owe you a phone call with a long over due phone number that I need to get off my old phone but something tells me you no longer need it?!? SORRY!

Ron and Dinia said...

Hey!

My computer won't pull up your current post, but I am sure the kitty is precious. Ashley is now in your area as of last Thursday. Truly a small world!

D

This IS The Fun Part! said...

He is a cutie . . if ya keep him, you could name him PURRPUSS - pronounced like 'purpose' - like - I did that on purpose. We had a wonderful kittie for years and years named Purrpuss!

Dub and I were driving through Kennedy Space Center last week and I saw a lone critter walking on the side of the road - that heartless MAN would NOT stop!! Never mind that he estimated that alligator to be at least 10 feet long!!

Yep, that really happened - but all I wanted was a picture. We always see them in the water, but it's rare to see them walking out in the open!

Have a great Wednesday!
Grannie