why rescues??

People have asked me some questions, I feel like I am answering the same ones all the time. I thought I might help myself out a bit by answering here and maybe only once lol.

"Barb, how are you going to do this, what will you do when it's time for the kittens to go"

to be honest I don't know, I have fallen into such a routine with feeds, cleaning etc etc that when I no longer am doing that, I imagine I may feel a bit lost. When it's time for them to go, my plan is to call the rescue and let them know that my job is done. I doubt they are going to come immediately to get them so I figure I will have at least a day or so to unattach myself and say my goodbyes.

"Will you know where they went and how they are doing?"

I don't know, I don't expect to, I would like to know that at least they went to good homes and will be loved and cared for but I want them spayed and neutered, so that one day I am not bottle feeding their children.

"why such young cats, why not foster an adult"

Simple.....I have 2 dogs and a parrot already. While the dogs can learn to live with cats, parrots are a big threat to cats and cats to them. A newborn Kitten can be contained in a box for 4-6 weeks and be ok, they can be loved, get playtime etc etc and be safe, so can my parrot.

"You said you let your dog lick their butts, are you crazy?"

Well it's already a known fact that I am crazy, as far as Ruby licking bums, why not? She isn't hurting them, its normal for a momma cat to lick her kittens and clean up waste. The dog doesn't know that she isn't a cat and what she is doing is odd, nor do the kittens know they are cats and they know no different. I also think that Ruby would be much more gently on their behinds than a human can be. So much of their little lives isn't the way it was meant to be, so I see no harm in letting Ruby continue with what she is doing, and the vet said "no problem". With more of a "natural" stimulation my % of constipation has been 0%, constipation in a kitten can kill. It also saves me a bit of time and time is precious. So again why not?

"are you not afraid Ruby will catch worms?"

truth be told, with the amount of times they latch on my lips and suck, it's possible I will get worms myself. Will it be pleasant? of course not, but it's easily treated and not a big issue in my mind. Both my dogs are wormed regularly and neither has ever tested for worms of any sort, intestinal or heart :) ....

"why rescues"?

these babies need someone, I am home most of the time, my schedule is flexible b/c of this. To many people go get a cat and "forget" that they are beings with needs, they need food, love, shelter, shots, fixing etc etc Pets are not as disposable as some people think. When you take one on you take it for life. With the amount of cats that get tossed after a short while from their "homes" cat population is high, population of unwanted kittens is even higer.

"how do you manage them?"

I have an 8 year old, she is in school all day long, I run a small daycare, I am feeding rescues, I am a girl guide leader coming into my 5th year. My life is not that busy. I manage them very carefully. I have them on a schedule, the same one, so when feeding time comes it only requires about 45min-hr. Not much time at all. Between that time, I boil their bottle, clean their beds, keep my house clean and keep all kids happy. It isn't hard once you get used to it. I find I enjoy routine more than having none and just winging it. at 7am, I feed them while my own is eating breakfast. By the time she is done, so are they and I can get her ready for school. At 10am it's snacktime, again I feed them while everyone else is eating their snack. at 1pm, all kids are napping and I feed them while I watch my soap. At 4, the kids are eating their afterschool snacks or playing outside, I feed the bubs then. At 7 it is wind down time, so Jilly and I feed them together, give them their nightly wash downs, weigh them and snuggle until she goes to bed at 8. I feed them again at 10pm and go to bed. When I am up in the night with them, it's very quick, about 20 mins, and than I go back to bed....I get up the next morning at 6:30 and start over. if I need to go out, I go out right after a feed and make sure I am home in time for the next one.

It's not complicated for me, remember i don't work out of my house so am here most of the time. If I had a "real" job, things would be harder for certain. Really though, only the first few days are hard, once everyone is on a routine and nursing from a bottle is taught it gets better.

"why did you choose this rescue, when there are so many"?

I didn't pick them, they picked me. All i did was call my vet a few years ago and let them know I was willing. I never heard from anyone so forgot about it, got a call a few months ago and now here I am. I had no idea that there was even had rescue workers in my town. turns out there IS one just a few doors down from me. Obviously I am not a nosy enough neighbor if I didn't know she existed lol.

" with the kitten you lost and how sad you were, would you do it again?"

You bet your bottom dollar I would. Losing DW was tough, but I look at the other 3 that are thriving and doing so well, it boosts my confidence enough to know that for sure I would do it again. Hopefully it won't ever be needed but its one of those things that you know will never be NOT needed. Hand raising any animal is hard. Losses happen, its expected when a human is caring for any animal other than a human baby. The successes far outweigh the death of any baby. Doesn't mean it hurts any less, it just means that this is how I have dealt with it. I also look at the positive, if the survival rate of a kitten birth to weaning is only 30% and I have lost only 1 of 4, than so far my survival rate is 75%...much better than the 30% given.


"what else have you hand raised"

Parrots, puppies, kittens. I tried baby rats one year but they are so tiny, it was impossible. I would hand raise just about anything if it needed it. Well spiders are out and so would earwigs and other creepy stuff lol. If I ever had the chance to raise a koala I would jump at it. I love K bears but how can anyone not love a face like that??