Still No Charlie Brown…

Three kittens from the previous litter have returned to the shelter but three are still here. They were not feeling 100% yet so they got to stay with us for a little longer. The three stragglers were joined by three other stragglers who were also getting over a cold and could not have their spay/neuter surgery.

Schroeder, Linus and Peppermint Patty have been joined by Shermy (one of the original Peanuts characters), Freida (the girl with the naturally curly hair) and Marcie (Peppermint Patty’s sidekick). Freida is a beautiful gray and is lean and dainty like a Siamese. Marcie has long, soft black hair that shines it’s so dark. Since Freida and Marcie are both girls they could not be Charlie Brown. Shermy is a boy but thin with a narrow face so he didn’t look like a Charlie Brown either. All of them are doing quite well thank goodness and should be looking for their forever families by the weekend!

All these kittens had an Upper Respiratory Infection. URI is basically a cat cold. Its symptoms are similar to the symptoms humans experience when they catch a cold – sniffling and sneezing, runny nose, and congestion. Of course, it is very contagious. I tell people it’s like kindergarten. When one starts sneezing they all start sneezing! To make matters worse they seem to prefer to sneeze right into the water dish or someone’s face whenever possible! Cats don’t watch TV so they have not learned to sneeze into their elbows, and they refuse to stop greeting each other by giving the sign of peace. Without opposable thumbs blowing noses is out of the questions. That’s too bad because you will find, if you ever have to do it, that cats really do not care to have their noses wiped!

URI is not fatal. Usually 2 weeks of antibiotics and everyone is back to normal. Secondary problems, like dehydration and pneumonia however, can be serious cause for concern. That makes caring for sick cats and kittens emotionally and physically draining; monitoring and medicating, making sure enough food goes in and enough poop comes out (Ew!) and that it is the proper consistency (Double Ew!), and constantly cleaning and disinfecting just wears a person out. I’m getting tired just thinking about it. How about you? OK, now take that and multiply it by 10…20…50. That’s what life is like at the MSPCA at the moment (and I am sure at every other shelter that has cats!). They are up to their eyeballs in felines! And they are sneezing! Are you starting to get the picture here? I’m exhausted just thinking about it. I better go have a little nap!

Update! All 6 kittens have returned to the shelter. Linus and Freida had an adventure this morning. They got to visit the residents of a local nursing home. From what I hear they were a big hit! Then everyone went on the adoption floor. Frieda and Peppermint Patty each found their new families almost immediately. And they are each going to have a kitten to play with in their new homes. Hooray! Shermy was playing with his kitten friends, Schroeder was a little frightened so he was snuggling with Marcie, and Linus was checking out the new digs. Hopefully they will all find homes by the end of the weekend!