A Paws for Pets

This is the story of "Lil Feist." He was brought to the Sanctuary on May 7, 2008. He came in with three siblings; a woman had found them near her home and didn't know if they had been abandoned by humans or if something had happened to their mother. She only knew that they had not eaten for quite some time and she called to see if she could bring them to the Sanctuary. As I have written previously, this has been a record breaking year for the number of cats and kittens that have arrived at the Cat Sanctuary. We have surpassed the total number of cats for 2007 and this is only July. Without the volunteers who help with our cats and kittens we just couldn't keep up with the numbers of "throw away" cats and kittens.  Lil Feist was so tiny and yet so feisty he easily came into his name. I weighed him today and he weighs "almost" a pound. His brother Buds was also weighed and he weighs 3 lbs l/4 oz. So you can see that Lil' Feist has a ways to go to catch up with his brother. 
One of the reasons is he is bottle bound (by that phrase I mean that he refuses to eat unless it is by baby bottle) is that he won't eat kitten food, and he won't eat canned food, he just wants his bottle. He is in the first kennel as you walk into the Cat Sanctuary. The minute the door is opened he is literally bouncing off the walls meowing at the top of his lungs. I have learned to have the "bottle" ready and pre-warmed so that he can get his bottle instanteously. You must be careful when you open his kennel door because he reminds you of one of those flying squirrels. He literally flies out the door and if you wouldn't catch him he would land three feet below. I have found that by opening the door just a little he will grab my arm by his 10 "sharp" little claws and starts his frenzied clawing for the bottle. I have learned to hold his two front paws as he doesn't stop his struggles until he has at least 2 or 3 of his claws caught in the quick of my finger nails. Any one who has ever fed baby kittens will know what I am talking about, those that haven't you really are not missing this experience — trust me.
I have added cereal and canned cat food to the milk as he simply refuses to eat, he is so busy thrashing to get to me for the bottle that he knows I have, that he passes up the fresh tidbits of cat food.
Deb Sanders says I have him spoiled . But he is so tiny I am afraid to take his bottle away for fear that he will loose ground.  He is a "natty" looking little guy. His immune system is probably not the best. He has battled conjuntivitas and ring worm and his scrawny little body wouldn't win any "calendar" cat awards but it is a fighter and even though his brother is two-and-a-half sizes bigger, he rules the Cat Sanctuary. When he gets free from his kennel he doesn't simply walk, but he reminds me of one of those trained stepping horses. He literally prances when he moves or I should say runs.  Because he runs from cat to cat almost as if he is saying "hey I may be little and natty, but I am a happy kitten and I have LaMoine snowed, because I'm still on the bottle."
I can't believe that I have been bottle feeding this little guy for 10 weeks. He is probably about 4 1/2 months old and is still just one pound. He eats at least half his weight in milk every day. He not only holds the record for bottle feeding time, but also for being the tiniest kitten I have ever cared for. He won't be ready for adoption until he is "bottle broke." Then, when he is adopted the family that receive him will be in for the time of their lives. His personality is so outgoing, he rushes through life as if he can't believe that he has survived and he is just happy to be alive.
We have several other kittens that have faced health obstacles and are improving daily. Little Clay had a bout with calicivirus but is responding to his medication and the same is for Hayden who has had a bout with conjunctivitas which is common in kittens.
All of the kittens at the Cat Sanctuary are watched and cared for as if we had only one or two. We well known at Gloysteins Veterinary Clinic. They are so willing to work with our large cat and kitten population and regardless of how busy they may be.  Gloysteins always manages to work us in throughout the day. 
After all, these little balls of fur depend on us and we can't let them down. Just ask Lil' Feist (if you can manage to get his attention) long enough in between feedings. Speaking of feedings it's that time of day again.