Mira - The Rescue Kitten

So, on Monday (end of the long weekend) I get a photo text from a friend with a picture of a kitten. The caption is: "I found a kitten that needs to be saved"



It's no secret that I spend a lot of time building free websites for local animal shelters and rescues, donate as much time and money as I can, and am otherwise fairly active in trying to help out.

Hubs and I see the picture, and go into a panic. That's an obvious URI (upper respiratory infection) that's gone untreated for far too long. I'm terrified that the infection has gotten to the point of causing vision loss. We ask a million questions about the kitten's condition to make sure it hasn't passed into pneumonia yet, and go pick her up.

Three agonizing and miserable face cleanings and one full out bath later, this is what we had:



Luckily, severe vision problems seem to have been avoided. She has fleas, and nasty earmites, but aside from being scrawny seems healthy. We set up a kitten quarantine in the bedroom to keep her away from the other animals, and hit the 24 hour drug store to get her some food.

Steph named her "Mira" which apparently means "look" or "sight" in Spanish (I wouldn't know, I'm not trilingual ), and we set up a vet appointment for her as soon as the office opened on Tuesday.

Well.... she went into the vet this morning and the judgment is: URI, fleas, under nourished, and ear mites galore. They cleaned what ear mites they could out today, and we take her back on Monday to (hopefully) get the rest. She has been dewormed, aged (about 5 weeks old), and given special anti-biotic eye drops for the next 10 days to clear up the eye infection. She is quarantined for the next four weeks, and won't be strong enough to get vaccinated for at least another month - she goes in October 4th to get looked at again, and if deemed healthy enough they'll vaccinate her at that time.

But! She's on the road to recovery, and her prospects are very, very good.

Initially we though we would take her in, get her treated, and then find her a home (we already have two cats, two fids, and one of our soon to be roommates has a dog).... but the hubs is falling in love.... and after four more weeks with her while she heals (at least!) .... I don't think he'll be able to let her go. I find this absolutely terrible, If you can't tell. Why on EARTH would I want a sweet little fluff ball purring all over the place? Geeze. ( )

And now, I will post a happy picture. Because as everyone should know....

Happiness is a warm lap

Dawn dish liquid does wonders for fleas, and they use it a lot on animals in oil spills so it's safe.

Aw, poor little Mira! We had much the same routine with Mattie when we brought her home, although she was more mature and already in the hands of a rescue! You may find Mira winds up with a chronic sinus/sneeze thing. Mattie has that and the vet has said she is "chronic snorkeler" which basically is the result of a young kitten having a severe URI that leaves behind some sinus damage. It's not a big deal, though, unless you really hate kitty snot! Mattie is otherwise perfectly happy.

ScooterNScotty wrote:

Aw, poor little Mira! We had much the same routine with Mattie when we brought her home, although she was more mature and already in the hands of a rescue! You may find Mira winds up with a chronic sinus/sneeze thing. Mattie has that and the vet has said she is "chronic snorkeler" which basically is the result of a young kitten having a severe URI that leaves behind some sinus damage. It's not a big deal, though, unless you really hate kitty snot! Mattie is otherwise perfectly happy.

Mira seems to have an odd case of URI - she has no nasal discharge, no trouble breathing ... nothing. Just some very, very heavy eye discharge and swelling.

While at the vet she was treated for the fleas - which she was absolutely COVERED in - so we now have a living, breathing Flea Titanic.

Everywhere she goes she leaves a trail of flea carcasses behind. The stronger fleas that are still holding out are realizing what's going on and trying to escape off of her, so not only are we watching the dead ones fall - we're also watching the living ones climb to the ends of her fur and leap off.

You can almost hear the little flea voices screaming: "SHE'S GOING DOWN! ABANDON CAT! ABANDON CAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!"

It's like a massacre.

Yikes. Poor Mira. You've also made me feel sorry for the dang fleas! Are they drawing straws for the little lifeboats?

ScooterNScotty wrote:

Yikes. Poor Mira. You've also made me feel sorry for the dang fleas! Are they drawing straws for the little lifeboats?

Alas, I do not believe there is time for straw drawing. Any life boats have already been taken, and the stragglers are left to fend for themselves.

They don't make it long even if they do escape. They have been poisoned, and it is only a matter of time.

You can almost see their beady little eyes begging for salvation when I find the ones still clinging to life...

Then I smoosh 'em.

In the old days of flea powder I used to meticulously comb them off and toss them into a glass of soapy water to drown. I think I heard the music of little violins...

Lucky kitten to have you guys!

BTW: Don't know what the "Mira" is exactly in Spanish. My Mexicano BF is calling me "Mira", when he has a good humor;)