Prospective Adopters visiting, Dec. 5th

I was contacted by a nice family who recently lost one of their FeLV positive cats. They are coming to visit and meet the kittens on the 5th. Wish us all luck that they are a compatible match for one of our guys!

Chili, Salsa, and Growler doing well

they seem to have adapted to the absence of their sisters and relocating two of the kittens has eased the cramped quarters somewhat. The kittens do try to breakout every time I go into the room and my resident negative cat can no longer deny their existence--she has been hissing at the door, that meanie.

The kittens survived boarding at the vet's office while some work was done in our apartment. Special thanks to Barbara from the FeLV Talk list for helping to cover the boarding cost and to Emerson Animal hospital for making room to board them on short notice.

Otherwise, it's same old same old over here. no room at the Marley Fund for them yet, so i am working hard at finding permanent homes for any of them. Not a single bite yet but I will just keep persisting. I am including the Marley Find kitties in my search for homes, in case someone wants a non-black cat.

Wish us luck! and thank you thank you thank you to all the people who have supported and continue to support me in this endeavor. the kittens thank you too.

lunasmom

Happy Trails, Zest and Dijon!!

Well, phase 1 of kitten relocation has been accomplished. This morning, at 9am Eastern time, Zest and Dijon made their way together to Newark Airport. As i filled out the shipping forms at the counter, many US Airways employees came over to look and wish the kittens luck. Two kittens huddled together in their shared carrier, waiting to make their way to their new home at the Marley fund in North Carolina.

It has been a bittersweet day. I will miss my little guys, miss watching Zest perk up when she sees the dogs, miss watching Dijon sail across the room to pounce on a feather.

Godspeed, sweet kittens.

Health Certificate Snafu/Zest has a heart murmur

The kittens haven't flown down to NC yet. There have been some bumps in the road which is due mostly in part to the issuance of health certificates. In order to fly, the kittens have to have health certificates issued that state that they are vaccinated and not a health risk to other animals or people. The FELV shouldn't be a problem because the virus is fragile.

I called a week ahead of time to see what I needed to do to get the certificates. The person with whom I spoke told me I could just come and pick them up that she would fill them out and have the vet sign them and fill in any information they might need. So, between them and the hours of the office, I wasn't able to get the health certificate until a week later, shortly before they closed for the evening. So, that delayed the trip one day.

Then as I am getting the kittens ready for their trip in the morning I noticed that the health certificate was dated from their last exam, which was October 8. Health certificates are only valid for 10 days after the most recent examination, so when the doctor signed it it was already expired. I needed to have them reexamined, which I wasn't told. Another flight delay. Made an appointment for today to have them examined and now I have the health certificates.

The exam should have been routine, but nothing ever is anymore. When listening to Zest's heart the vet noticed that she has a grade I heart murmur. I asked him what that meant and he said it means that in 3-4 years she could develop heart disease but that it shouldn't hinder her ability to travel. I have written to the rescue in NC to see if it changes their acceptance of Zest. I have offered to send a different kitten. I would understand if they tell me they can't take her--FeLV is hard enough, but with a heart murmur as well, it would be asking even more of them.

I am sad, frustrated and nervous. I am also emotionally tired. I feel like I try to do the right thing and the road keeps getting harder and harder. I have been trying to not ask "Why me? Why them?" but when these issues arise, it takes more strength and some days I worry I am not up to the task.

Think good thoughts for the kittens today, and Zest in particular.