[mamalana]

Here is my story and I am sticking to it!
I am fostering 4 kittens for our local shelter. They were strays, no mom. Two of them were hiding in the basement, inside my very old furnace. The furnace turned on automatically and they got pretty bad burns. I have mounts of bills from the emergency clinic, spend the night before Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving night there, and needless to say, feel like a monster for letting this happen to them. I've been nursing them back to life, however a week later one of the kittens died. That whole week she ate but I am not sure whether she pooped and peed, and she had a horrible odor to her, coming from under the tail. She quit eating the day before she died. Now, Krispy #2 has been recovering nicely. Playful, eating well, and goes to the bathroom normal. Today he isn't himself either. And I've noticed he is much thinner then his brothers. He doesn't want to eat today, I've caught him using a potty (thank God), but he is very lethargic, sleepy, not reacting to sounds the way a healthy kitten does. I am at a loss. I don't want to go to a vet and run up the bills even higher, especially after I was there two nights in a row, crying to them that one kitten doesn't seem like she's gonna make it, and they said she looked fine to them, "better then some other cases they've seen". PLEASE, IF ANYONE KNOWS WHAT CAN IT BE, A RED FLAG FOR SOMETHING, A WARNING, A SIGN OF A DESEASE....ANYTHING!!! Funny thing is those two who got burned, right away became a people kittens. Not that I would recommend taming wild animals this way to anyone. Anyway, I am at my PC, waiting for answers. I'd just give up the whole fostering all together if he dies. Plus my kids are crying already...Please help us...

~Lana

 

[Lilly]

I am so sorry to hear about the kittens! It is really hard when things like this happen. I dont really know what to tell you other than I hope they are ok. I wish I could help more.
I do understand how doctor bills can run up! I would say that if your kitten is eating and going to the bathroom normal he is probably not critical. He could however have an infection from the burns. Did the vet give him ointment and antibiotics when you took him the first time?
I really wish I could help more..Maybe you could just call the vet and ask him his opinion. I did this when Jerry hurt his foot and I didnt have any money. I just asked him if it was absolutely necasary that Jerry come in and explained what happened over the phone. I told him I would bring him in if he thought I should..but I really could not afford to. He gave me some tips on careing for jerrys foot and jerry was better in a couple days.
Let us know how it goes ok!

 

[mamalana]

That's my vet!

That's the problem. I told them to begin with I have no money. They told me to come in, but all they did is washed them. I asked them to give my kittens at least a pain medication. And then the third night when I called and left a message, I said, I definetaly have no more money (I charge the other charges), and I just want their opinion over the phone. No one called me back....

Someone suggested forcing him to drink. I gave him some pedialite, from a medicine dropper...My own cat is grooming this kitten now...hopefully he'll be ok...

Thanks Lilly! Hope Jerry is fine now!

 

[Lilly]

wont the local shelter help with the bills? or do they have health care available at the shelter? If not try to call around or do an online search of emergency hospitals as well as animal shelters that offer low cost health care or something.

 

[mamalana]

the shelter said they will not reimburse me "but I did the right thing"..I know that! At this point even the low cost I can't afford. I know I should've thought about that BEFORE fostering them. The thing is that I didn't anticipate anything like this happenning since they are indoors all the time. I mean, I put away anything hazardous, which was for my own kids benefit as well. I tried to help out the shelter and those kittens, and look what happened...I am just so discouraged right now. I mean, I don't even have the money to buy Xmas presents for my older child, I've got the babies covered when I had the money...and now this!!!

I don't know, should I just wait it out? If he has an infection, maybe he'll fight it? I feed them mostly wet food, with dry food spec. for kittens for overnite, and water for whenever...He does like my own cat, and my own cat seems to think that this kitten needs some lovin'. So he lets him sleep near himself, he grooms him...I hope he'll live. I can't let him die...

 

[Lilly]

I know you are doing your best with the kittens! What is he doing that is odd specifically? Maybe I or someone can try to help more if we know the details??
I would think you could return the kittens to the shelter and just explain to them how you really wanted to help out with the kittens, however there was a horrible accedent and you cant afford to do anything right now. They will have to take them and get help right?
You probably cant do anything untill monday anyways so I will try to help anyway I can...

 

[mamalana]

Thank you Lilly for trying to help. I gave my kitten some pedialite that night. The next morning he was acting better. Today he is playing!!! I am thinking he'll live. My little Krispy Kream.. He eats more then his brothers but isn't getting any bigger or fatter. I am thinking the shelter either didn't worm him, or need to do it again. I'll keep monitoring him...

But thank you again for holding my hand!!!

~Lana

 

[Lilly]

I am so glad he is doing better now! It seems like it has been long enough now so he should grow up healthy and fine!
Maybe he will always be a little smaller than the other cats, because of his accident. (Worms would do it also though)
Keep us updated on how he is doing!