How We Got Four Kitties!

How We Got 4 Kitties!

Yeah, Don't you just love your cat?! I never thought I'd like cats so much, but they are so sweet. My dad had one when I was 19 years old, but it was never very friendly in it's 18 years of life, so we never tried getting another cat. It's not that bad after all, as I'm sure all you cat owners out there will agree! So go to your local shelter and adopt a cat or a pet if you can!!

We got our first cat (The black one in my pics.) July 2006, when she kept coming to the house. My daughter kept asking if we could keep her, as she was so sweet and friendly with everyone here. My husband finally gave in, but found out it belonged to the lady down the street. She was only 6 mo. old..The lady said we could keep her, since she didn't want her inside and didn't really want to take care of her. Two days later, she started giving birth to kitties, while laying on my lap of all places. WHAT A SURPRISE!! One of the babies died during birth and two died less than an hour later. The next night she had 3 more kitties. My husband dropped my little girl & I off at the 24 hr. pet hospital with the mom around 10:00, as she wasn't nursing them and was real weak. Found out mom didn't produce milk and that's why the others died, plus they were really small. She couldn't care for them because she was too young herself! Maybe if she didn't have so many kitties, they'd have a better chance because they'd be bigger. One also died at the hospital. We finally got home at 3:00 a.m with kitty formula and supplies, but had to send my husband to the 24 hr. pharmacy for a heating pad to help keep them warm. The only thing was, I had to keep getting up every half hour to turn the pad on again and was tied to the house every minute. They have new safety features on heating pads that will shut it off after a half hour passed. We couldn't find one without the auto shut off..Grrr! Anyhow, only 2 kitties left now. I had to hand feed them every two hours and stimulate them to go to the bathroom as directed. All went well for about 3 days(harder than a baby), but eventually they also died. One the 2nd day and one the 3rd.. So devestating to the kids and I! Boy, that sure was an unexpected experience!!! I had less sleep during that, then when my own kids were born! Had to do it though, because no one else was there for that kitty. I just wish the babies didn't die. I think I over fed them, as they both died during/after feedings. I tried so hard to keep them alive. My kids were depending on me and I wish I hadn't let them down. At least they had a chance though. If we didn't take her in, they all would have died right away and mom would have died outside somewhere. So so sad! Mom was sick and had a high fever, but we nursed her back to health. They said if she had her kitties outside, mom would have died shortly later if not given antibiotics. Anna basicly saved her life by having us take her in when she needed us most. She took her medicine like a good girl though and got well quickly! The kids just loves her sooo much! Now more than ever.

We then adopted a 3 year old, gray tom cat from a shelter to keep her company(after getting her spayed of course) and to help the kids not be so sad about the babies. He's the biggest lap cat ever! Always having to be on someone and sleeps under someones arm all night every night! Mostly mine.

Our black kitty Midnight, knows when our daughter or son is sick before we do. When she follows them around and won't leave their side, we know they're coming down with something. Sure enough, one ends up sick with a fever and the kitty is with whoever it is every moment till they get better! Even if it lasts more than a couple days, she's always laying with that person on the bed or couch! She must know how much they cared for her when she was sick. Here's matthew with a fever and Midnight when we first got her. See how red Matthew's cheeks are?
Anyway, I had all these extra unused bottles, kitty milk formula and supplies. We went to donate them to a rescue center where we saw our Burmese cats. They refused to seperate them since they were extremely bonded. They cried and sulked when not together. The kids couldn't resist them, so we brought them home too. We adopted them on their one year birthday, the day just 2 days after Anna's 10th birthday. Now we have four. No more though...4 pets is enough! I think?! I'm only claiming one cat as mine. Midnight is Matthew's and the Burmese cats are Anna's and Kayla's! Please be sure to have your pets spayed or neutered to prevent heartbreak like we went through. My heart just broke every time I had to tell my kids a kitty died. Some people don't get the males fixed, figuring they can't bring home babies, but if he ever gets out, and it only takes once, he can get so many others pregnant. There's enough unwanted cats (both in and out of the shelters) that struggle! Help the problem and not become part of one! Thanks!
We are blessed with having four healthy kitties now! They are all loved and well cared for. My poor husband hadn't a clue what he was getting in for, when he said yes to Anna. My girls are so happy to have all of them! I'm happy as well and feel glad we could help in some small way.