Meet Windy and Stormy. As of 6/28, these kittens are a few weeks old, born to a 6-7 month old stray female (Samantha) of a bonded pair in our neighborhood. We have been on multiple waitlists with multiple vets, rescues and TNRs for months, waiting for our "turn" to get help from trappers. The 6-7 month old cats were born while we were on the waitlist for their stray mom (now grandma) to be trapped and TNR'd, and now their mom (grandma) is on her third litter since we moved here a year and a half ago. We were instructed by the vets and rescues to feed the strays and help them acclimate to humans and a feeding schedule until our turn to trap.
In Pasco county, where we live, there is an average waitlist for Trap/ Neuter/ Release of 300+ cats and now it's kitten season in full swing.
Last Tuesday evening, we had a severe thunderstorm coming in. We decided to put food out a bit early in case the storm would last for hours. We knew there were two litters of kittens nearby so we wanted to be sure the females were getting calories. We saw Samantha (mom) on the neighbors stairs but she would not leave the stairs to eat, and she's normally ravenous.
When we approached, she was terrified. That's when we thought the fur we saw hiding under a step was her bonded brother, but it turns out she had moved two kittens to high ground. When I approached, we realized the grey and white kitten had been severely injured and the EYE WAS OUT OF THE SOCKET and bleeding. There were bite wounds and puncture marks on her head. It was clear to us her litter had been attacked and she'd managed to save, fight off and move two kittens to the cover of a step, but she did not have a safe place for the kittens. She was very brave.
My husband rushed us to the emergency vet and they were able to surgically remove Windy's eye that night. Her stitches come out next week. She's doing well and we were able to bring her mom (Samantha) and mom's brother (SamSam) inside. Mom immediately reunited with her two babies (we never found more) and the four of them are doing well. We syringe fed her for two days around the clock before she regained enough strength to feed from mom again.
Windy will be on meds and need stitches removed. The great news is Windy has opened her left eye and can see with it so she will not be totally blind from the attack as we feared.
SamSam was neutered today by the amazing team at Clearwater Veterinary Hospital and is recovering. He is FELK/FIV negative.
Samantha (mom) will keep nursing until the two kittens are weaned, and then we will have her spayed and tested. The clinic is backlogged for months but they will call me when there is an opening or cancellation so we can get Samantha spayed.
Baby Stormy, her brother, is chubby and healthy. He's solid grey, like his mom, both look like Russian Blues. He's fluffy.
With the backlog, no rescues have room presently so we will privately fundraise and foster them. We will get them the necessary care and then once the babies are old enough they will be fixed and adopted out. At least three rescues know the story through our contacts but none have stepped forward to offer assistance as they are all overwhelmed.
So far, the costs that we have incurred are:
-AA Emergency Vet, Palm Harbor, eye surgery and meds for Windy ($550): they cut us a break.
- Cat food, wormer, flea treatments p, litter box, litter, kitten formulas, Nature's Miracle, etc ($125)
- Clearwater Veterinary Hospital: SamSam neuter, vaccinations and tests ($278)
- Samantha's vet bills will be about $350.
- Windy's sutures, meds, her vaccinations and tests will run about $375 more
- Stormy's vaccines, labs and neuter will be about $278.
We don't have an exact amount so we just put a number in the fundraiser and will apply any funds to the bills. If we have an overage, we will provide it to the rescue or group that assists with their adoptions.
SamSam and Samantha, brother and sister, are tightly bonded and should not be homed separately. They will make good indoor or indoor/ outdoor pets. Both use a litter box, are loving, and friendly.
Windy will need a home where being a one eyed kitty is celebrated. Windy should be an indoor kitten.
Stormy is healthy, chubby, playful and can be adopted with Windy (recommended) or separately.
The date the cats will be available will be determined based upon the ability to get each cat fixed and ready.
Windy and Stormy should be weaned in 2-3 weeks, but may not reach 2 pounds or heavier for another month or so at least.
we will not spay mom until the kittens are weaned and she decides it's time to wean them.
Thank you! 💙🌈🌸🌻🍀🙏🏻🐈
