Tuesday, July 14, 2015

A Kitten Story


Our endless rainy days have turned into days of relentless heat and humidity making for some uncomfortable days if you have to be outside. 

My friend, Ell, and I were talking recently about the summer heat and wondering how our mothers coped without air-conditioning, and even in their earlier days having to cook on wood stoves in this kind of weather.  We both agreed that we would have most likely served up a lot of sandwiches in that kind of weather.  

I remember going to bed as a kid, before we had an air-conditioner put in, and fanning myself with one of those old-fashioned fans with a handle.  Anyone remember those?  We probably had an oscillating fan going, but it didn't always do the job when it was this hot.

Well, enough about the heat.  I wasn't going to tell this story because it is sad and I'll probably cry again before I finish this post.  

Yesterday was a very sad day for me and I didn't get a lot done because I was just too bummed out to do anything other than cuddle the little kittens and work a bit in PicMonkey on the computer.  I only visited a couple of bloggers as my heart just wasn't into making many comments.  

 ~Little One~

This sweet little kitten was one of four that was born to an outside
cat that hangs around our place.  It was a feral kitten, not letting us get close to her to catch her.  We could see that she was much smaller than the other three and we hoped to catch her and tame her so we could give her extra food and kitten formula.  She would often just sit away from the others that were playing with her head down and sleep. 

Their mother disappeared several days ago and hasn't come back.  The other kittens were eating dry food, but I don't know how well Little One could eat.

Well, Little One was missing all day Sunday and I knew something had happened.  It wasn't like her to leave the others.  

BG decided to do some trimming in the yard.  When he was close to the wooded area next to the pond, he heard a kitten crying.  He went investigating and found Little One down in a hole trying to climb out, but couldn't.  He carried her to the house.

It was discovered that she couldn't use her back feet at all.  She was cleaned up and fed and put into a box in the house to see how she would do.   At her last feeding before bedtime, she ate and then laid her head down on my arm and went to sleep.  I gently laid her in her bed. 

The next morning, I found her crying and sitting up as best she could.  I fed her and she ate quite a lot and sipped on some kitty formula.  But, she still couldn't move those hind feet.  A trip to the vet was in order.  He determined that she most likely had a severed spinal cord and I approved the x-rays to be sure.  Well, he was right, unfortunately.  So the decision was made to put her to sleep.  

I've had lots of pets and know that these things happen, but it doesn't stop the wondering what we could have done differently.  Maybe we didn't try hard enough to catch her.  

How did she happen to wonder off that far by herself?  She had to have followed another cat or kitten. 

I have to say the only blessing I can find in all this is that BG heard her and found her and she didn't suffer long or starve to death.  We would never have heard her if he hadn't been in that particular spot working.   He must have been meant to be there at that time.

Rest in peace, Little One.  I won't forget you.  

Most of you know by now that I'm an old softie when it comes to animals.  I can cry when I hear the song "Bless the Beasts and the Children" sung by Karen Carpenter.  Of course, you know I also have a heart for children, too.  For all those who, as the song goes, have no voice and no choice.
 
Happy Tuesday to you!
xo Cheryl

35 comments:

  1. I'm so very sorry. Your post brings tears to my eyes. Bless you both for all that you have done for these precious, little animals. xoxo

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  2. Cheryl, I am so sorry about the kitten. I do not like to see animals suffer. It's heart breaking. I try not to own pets because it hurts when something happens to them. So I just love on everyone else's pets when I can. Bless your heart, xoxo,Susie

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  3. So, so sorry. It is hard. I've had to do the exact same thing, only it was me that ran over a kitten and I had to have it put to sleep. I was so upset for a long time. Awful!!!!!!

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  4. Oh Cheryl....what a touching well written story...and what a sweet little face...
    Little One was lucky to have known you and BG....
    You did the right thing....
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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  5. Very sad. I understand why you were upset, that kitty had such a sweet little face. It is good that BG and you found her and took care of her as you did, even if it was for just a short time.

    Susie D.

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  6. I am so sorry about Little One, I too was brought to tears. She was an absolute beautiful kitty.

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  7. I'm so sorry. Such a cute kitten. Could her mother have come and taken her out there? You did what you could. Please don't blame yourself when you did what many would never have done. And on top of that you took her to the vet. In my book, that makes you a wonderful and caring person.
    Brenda

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  8. oh that IS so very sad. She is so lucky that you two DID find her and care for her as best you could.

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  9. Sorry to hear of this turn of events.

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  10. You have such a tender heart. Much comfort to you. It reminds me that God cares, too, for He knows when a sparrow falls. Hope that cooler temps move in for some relief. We used to be half deaf in the heat of summer with the whirring of box fans sucking the air from the cooler side of the house. I am glad for AC if we need it.

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  11. How sad that this dear sweet little kitty succumbed to such a fate. You loved her and cared for her as best you could. Sometimes saying goodbye is the most merciful thing you can do. Rest assured she is at peace now.

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  12. I am so very sorry about that adorable little kitten. Thank goodness you found her and could at least end her suffering. You can take comfort that you did so much more than most would. She was lucky to have you on her side if briefly.

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  13. I am so sorry, Cheryl. It was heartbreaking to read so I can only imagine how you are feeling. So sad that it had to happen, but a blessing that you were willing and able to end her suffering.
    As for the heat and humidity, I can relate. Thankful for the A/C on a daily basis.

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  14. it is a heart breaking story and i am so glad he found her when he did. if we could get humans to be responsible for their pets things like this would not happen, there should not be feral cats by the hundreds because people don't care. if everyone spayed/neutered and did not just dump the cats out, it would be a good thing. but just like with abused children, there is no answer. people are people and the bad stuff goes on.

    we to are suffering from the heat. i did not get AC until 1979 and then it was a one room window unit and we ony cooled the bedroom, the kids slept on the floor on their mattress... i did not get whole house AC until 1984 when i moved down here. my whole life with my parents was lived in the hot hot south.. and it was 4 months of the year were a horror

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  15. A sad story, I am happy you found her when you did and her end was as easy as possible. These things do happen and we have no control over it at all. You did good.

    I remember back when there was no AC and not even fans at my Grandma's place. We slept on the floor in front of the screen door and didn't really complain much. She cooked all meals on a kerosene range and it probably didn't put out more heat that today's big gas ranges. We even slept outside on pallets in the yard which I would do today for anything! I remember when we got our first AC, a window unit, because our new son broke out in heat so badly we needed it to keep the house cool. I guess the old adage that you don't miss what you have never had is true.

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  16. That is indeed a very sad story. I'm so sorry you had to experience it.

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  17. That makes me so sad to hear about this little kitten. Poor thing. We still don't have AC but then we don't have the heat and humidity that you do either. Although, the past 12 days have been hot and humid which is not normal. Today I'm wearing a sweater as it's cool and rainy.

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  18. I am so sorry to hear this. Thank heavens BG found her.

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  19. Poor thing sometimes life is cruel, I wonder how she was injured? My heart goes out to you. :(

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  20. Oh the poor little kitten..I am glad that she was found, and that you cared for her in her final hours.

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  21. OH! I am so sorry about the kitty, and like you, Cheryl I have a heart for children and animals, too! I truly believe it was not by accident that your Dh was at the place where kitty was found, and that she didn't have to suffer for long. I will pray for the safety of the others, and that your heart will mend.
    DH and I had the same conversation today about how our ancestors managed without AC,we concluded that they were tougher than us. ~smile~ I do remember as a child not having AC, and we recirculated hot air with a fan, too! ~grin~
    I also read your post about porches and absolutely loved it, thank you for your kind words about my porch, I truly enjoy it especially early mornings before it gets too hot, such as this morning when I woke before anyone else and felt the need to get up and spend some alone time with the Lord, sitting on ours! I remember as a child porch sitting was the norm for families, even when visitor came the porch was where we would sit, fanning flies and mosquitoes.
    Thanks for sharing the memories, always enjoy going back. Thank you for your friendship.

    Blessings,
    Sue

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  22. Oh, such a sad story! But please don't blame yourself, Cheryl. You are the Kitty Godmother and are always doing what you can to help the little animals in your life!

    We lived without air conditioning for many years...and now I. can. not. imagine. Perish the thought!!

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  23. So sad about Little One, Cheryl,, but so glad you rescued her and eased her suffering. I wonder if a hawk picked her up and dropped her?

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  24. I am thinking the same - that a hawk got her and couldn't hold her. I see them flying around my area just about everyday. Sorry to hear about the little kitten.

    When we were young and had zero air conditioning, I remember mom and me and sisters sitting in front of the screen door to get some air in the evening telling stories. Some times mom would put a fan in front of the screen door to bring in the night air. Those were the days when we could leave the door open and feel safe though.
    betsy

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  25. Oh Cheryl, I so sorry to hear this. You are such a caring and loving soul, all who pass your way are blessed by your love of them, including Little One. God was watching over her, so BG could find her and she didn't suffer in her end days.

    Bless you,
    Gert

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  26. I hate that this happened...I cannot hardly read this without tearing up. Makes me think of all the kitties and dogs that have gone on. And I miss some of them so much.

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  27. For many years we did not ave A/C in the house I grew up in, but instead, we had a HUGE exhaust fan that was built into a downstairs window. At night, the windows were only let open a couple of inches and somehow, the cool air from outside (if there was any) was let in through our windows upstairs and we had a cool breeze blowing in all night! This big fan is the source of many of my favorite childhood memories. It was in my parent's bedroom downstairs and there was no door on their room, only curtains. The cross-ventilation it created was amazing and when we turned it on, it seemed like the whole house would inhale deeply and then blow out a huge cool breeze! I remember on hot summer days just lying across Mom & Dad's bed and fall asleep listening to the rumble of it! I am sure that we all have been spoiled by the comforts of A/C... and back in the old days, people just did what they needed to do to live their lives. In many ways, I would love to back to those days but I will have to think long and hard about giving up my A/C...lol! I was very sad to read about your sweet kitten, especially after rescuing them and raising them like you have...you have taken such great care of them so I know this broke your heart...but you are right, so blessed she didn't have to suffer. I hope you are having a better day today...take care :)

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  28. Oh, I am so sorry about your kitty. It is good that she was found by your hubby soon so that she needn't suffer too long.
    Sending {{hugs}}.

    Sorry about the heat and humidity.... that makes for a sticky and uncomfortable summertime.
    We've had the heat here, but not too much humidity.

    ~K.

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  29. I am sorry to hear this. :-(
    My son Sam loves cats. He will do all he can for any cat he finds.

    Carla

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  30. I am so very sorry, Cheryl. hugs and blessings ~ tanna

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  31. Oh Cheryl that is so sad, and heartbreaking...and awful...life for cats is so terribly hard sometimes...it make me want to hug my cat and realize just how fortunate he is. I'm so sorry that this happened to you, and the kitten...

    Jen

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  32. Such a sad story, Cheryl. But I think it's great that BG found her so you could have a vet put her out of her misery. I feel so sad for you, though.

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  33. Oh, Cheryl, I am so sad to hear about the little one. We had a cat for 18 years and ended up having him put to sleep; it was so hard. I cried a lot so I can relate. Having it be a little kitten is very hard. The picture is just so sweet; I loved it's markings.
    I remember growing up without air conditioning and we would just open the windows at night to cool the house off. I do wonder how they cooked with the wood stoves. We are just so blessed. Blessings and hugs for you dear girl; so sorry about the kitten~

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