07/15/2025
Last year was a hard year with neonatal rescue ittys. There were two ittys I bonded with during the months of bottle feeding that we're both lost to medical issues we could not overcome. I gave both my all and losing them was tough. I told myself that this year I'd take a break. I've got a lot going on anyways... Right?!
Until 3 ittys were found RIGHT NEXT DOOR to me from a colony momma that proved to be quite difficult to catch! (Took 3 of us and a whole week to try and trap her with 2 being seasoned TNR trappers!). Momma was having nothing to do with any of our nonsense and she was absolutely done with her babies... As a mother... I get it sometimes π
By the time she was caught she had no interest in feeding. I had already been feeding a week, so I was offically in it for the long haul at that point anyways. I didn't post much this time. The reality of neonatal care isn't as glamorous as sweet itty biddy kitty faces and delicious purrs. The younger the itty, the greater the risk. There's a lot of loss, heartbreak, tears, disappointment and "what ifs?".
There's also moments where your efforts are a success and it makes the sleepless nights, the exhaustion, the endless cost of formula and worry worth it.
These 3 ittys have been bottle fed since just under a week old. They are about 7-8 weeks old now and doing so well! I will have to get updated pictures of the other 2 as they are now enjoying the zoomie phase of life running around the house and falling asleep in obscure places.
As always please consider donating to your local and grassroot rescue efforts. It's often the little guys that are doing some of the best work.
If you're local to Windsor please check out the following groups.
Brenda at A HELPING HAND WINDSOR does amazing work. She's always in need of care supplies like food and litter. All rescues are fully vetted and no biddy is EVER euthanized due to the cost of care. I couldn't encourage people enough to check out her page and donate towards her vet bill.
Please also consider supporting SNAP For Cats a community TNR group who's efforts help reduce cat populations. Without TNR this problem will never stop. All TNRs are volunteer supported and without donated funds cats cannot be sterilized and vaccinated.
Also special thanks to Lisa and Cynthia for their efforts and support to help trap these ittys momma so she can safely live out her life in a controlled colony and not have to worry about any of those damn kids anymore π