One of the most difficult dynamics a rescuer has to grapple with is Nurture VS Nature.
In our case, kittens are brought to us and placed in our care with the optimistic hope that we will nurture them to an adoptable age and they will spend their lives curled up on a sofa by the fire with the perfect adopter. While that is OUR deepest wish for all of our kittens, it simply isn’t the reality sometimes.
The reality is: Nature. Receiving orphan kittens is like a box of chocolates mixed with Pandoras box. Each case we take under our mission of ‘best POSSIBLE outcome’, but that means something different in each case.
Just this week we have struggled with four tough cases that have smacked me right in the face, and reminded me that Mother Nature is a tough lady to compete against.
Fish and Chips ~ A partner organization reached out after three of their littermates had died. We agreed to give it our best shot, knowing that something was probably wrong… but who knows what? No one really knows because they are so tiny and did not come with a medical history, just a box of kittens. We fought with them, and after all the supportive care we could offer failed. Chips weighed less than his birth weight after a week of heartache; he passed in his foster’s arms, warm and loved. Sometimes that’s all we can give them. Her sister Fish, a sassy Calico, has gained about ten grams a day, is vocal, demanding and ready for the world. Why one and not the other? Who knows. Will Fish begin to decline? Who knows.
The Easter Kittens ~ These four were brought to us after the storm and then a dog had chased off momma. They have serious upper respiratory infections and are unable to bottle feed because they can not suck and breathe at the same time. Leaving them with mom, would not have solved the problem so we were happy to step in and get them started on medication and their patient foster is feeding them with a syringe. Will they recover? Probably. Where did they get the URI? Who knows.
Sharlene~ Sharlene is a small tabby, about half the weight she should be at her age. A couple of good samaritans reached out about a kitten that needed help and we offered to assist. Sharlene had no movement in her hind legs or tail, had been left behind by momma and was lethargic; we were not optimistic. After a few tube feedings, some fluids and a warm spot to sleep, she has perked up. But still no leg movement. Luckily, we have a wonderful vet that agreed to take a look on the same day! Apparently, this girl suffered some sort of trauma, no obvious spinal issues were discovered on x-rays, but a bigger problem; she is unable to void her bladder. I have had her this weekend and she is the sweetest thing, but this is life threatening, and hasn’t improved in 48 hours. She has however started to move her legs, which I am choosing to take as a sign that she wants to continue to fight. I will advocate and fight with her.
What happened? Who knows. Will she recover? Sadly, the odds aren’t in her favor.
Olive~ Olive had six beautiful kitten in a safety of my kitten room; no predators, no cold wetgrass only, three excited fosters cheering her on and telling her what a good girl she was. The first kitten was breach and she struggled to deliver him but once she did she was exhausted. She continued to have four more kittens with some assistance, and then a bonus kitten overnight. Six kittens is A LOT, and an overwhelmed Olive rejected the smallest, when he was found he had been out of the nest too long, and despite our intervention passed. As frustrated as I was when it happened; it’s nature. Olives other five kittens are growing and thriving under her constant care, obviously that is what her instinct told her she could handle. Would she had delivered without assistance? I don’t think so, all six would have been stuck. Does that make her a bad mom? Absolutely not, she is acting in instinct.
Knowing when and how much intervention is needed, is a tough dynamic.
Nature won a few times this week. But nurture is definitely still a contender.
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