Mr. Sable has been part of the family for one week, as of today. Boy time flies! In one week, he has filled out substantially. And just this morning, he was sitting up like a big boy watching me as I ran around the bedroom in prep for work. I guess he thought I had lost my mind and decided to watch the train wreck occur...LOL
Sable has a few nicknames: Li'l Bits, Li'l Man, Sweet Pea, Sweet Stuff, My Baby and Li'l Dickens. Auntie Shana has dubbed him "Gumby" because he didn't have any teeth when she met him LOL Well, I can attest, the teeth are starting to surface and he is chewing on fingers, hands, towels, hair and bottle nipples.
Oh, and he is walking a lot more now. But he loves to be carried and held close. Me thinks part of the reason is that it's easier to get to my locs LOL
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Mother's Day with Sable
When Sable joined the household 3 days ago, he was a teeny little thing that ate sparingly, could barely hold his head up and could barely stand. As each day passed, his appetite increased. During each of his 4 feedings since this morning, he drank a tablespoon in one fell swoop, as opposed to in stages during one feeding. He sucked with gusto…I could not believe it.
Sable has become more mobile by the day. He can hold his head up now for a longer period of time and can stand up and walk a few steps before he goes back to crawling. When he finishes feeding and going to the bathroom (no problem with poo-ing anymore!), he likes to explore his surroundings. He scooted down from my lap to the sofa this afternoon.
It is getting harder to contain him in his picnic basket because he tries to get out. I think that he will get out by midweek, once he gains his confidence. I created a playpen out of a box with a fleece blanket that once belonged to Gadget and Snowflake. Sable looked around and whined a bit when I placed him in his playpen. So I picked him up and he calmed down. Okay, can you say “spoiled”? But my mother’s words came to mind “Don’t let babies dictate your life!” Alright, she was talking about human babies but those sage words applies to newborn kittens too. J So finally, I put him back in his playpen – this time I added his feeding towel - and went about my business. He whined but I didn’t let it bother me. After a little while, he roamed around a bit, curled up and went to sleep.
Sable discovered his hind legs and started playing and cleaning them. It was so cute to watch! And I think he’s teething because he has been gnawing on his forearms and my fingers. I feel the makings of little teeth! I don’t want him to think that chewing on my fingers is acceptable behavior, so he had his first discipline moment today. Okay, I pulled my finger from his little toothless gums and told him “No!” in a firm tone. He went on to clean himself.
Watching him grow, do new things and explore his world is so fulfilling. His progress is amazing. His tummy is getting bigger and his limbs are filling out. He stays awake for longer periods of time after each feeding, which is fun. Not sure that I’ll feel that way during the middle of a work night or when I’m trying to get ready for work. :-)
Saturday, May 9, 2009
It's Official - Sable's a Boy!
Sable and I had a busy day! We got up this morning, he ate (I didn't...and still haven't LOL) and we went to the vet. I was so concerned about him because I thought he had not been eliminating.
The vet staff were wonderful with Sable. While I completed the paperwork, Erika, the Customer Service staffer picked him up to talk to him. Well Sable was quite talkative because she woke him up. I doubt what he had to "say" was pretty. LOL Then Erin, the Vet Assistant took him, talked to him and cuddled him, he whined. After assessing him, she said that Sable is a boy, he weighs 0.5 lbs and reported that he peed. I was overjoyed. Erin said that he didn't poo but that his anus was puckering, so that works. They needed to Xray his abdomen to see if there is a blockage.
Dr. Johnson came in and spoke to me about raising a newborn. She said that he's a little more than a week old, is in good condition. She concurred with me and others that he was raised inside but was abandoned outside. Dr. Johnson said she couldn't tell which was more taxing, raising a newborn kitten or newborn human baby. Since I can't make the comparison, I told her that newborn kittens are more taxing LOL
The Xray showed that he has air pockets in his intestines but no blockage. Hooray!!!! That was definitely a relief. She adviced me to keep feeding him by bottle for at least 3 - 4 weeks. She warned me that bottle feeding kittens is risky but it seems like he's thriving since he has a round belly, isn't dehydrated and his lungs are clear, so I must be doing it correctly. That was a relief. Sable is much too young for shots, so that's another trip to the vet. He's clean (no fleas, no mites) and has a healthy coat. And yes, he's still a cutie LOL
Following our visit to the vet, we went to the bank, PetSmart for a ferret carrier (smaller and much cheaper than a cat carrier), Home Depot and McDonald's. The challenge is having to take him everywhere. Guess that's what mothers of newborns say too. LOL People who see the picnic basket ask what's in it...when I tell them, they immediately wanna see him and some wanna pet him. I'm not happy about the petting. Gotta find a tactful way to let people know that he is not to be petted.
The vet staff were wonderful with Sable. While I completed the paperwork, Erika, the Customer Service staffer picked him up to talk to him. Well Sable was quite talkative because she woke him up. I doubt what he had to "say" was pretty. LOL Then Erin, the Vet Assistant took him, talked to him and cuddled him, he whined. After assessing him, she said that Sable is a boy, he weighs 0.5 lbs and reported that he peed. I was overjoyed. Erin said that he didn't poo but that his anus was puckering, so that works. They needed to Xray his abdomen to see if there is a blockage.
Dr. Johnson came in and spoke to me about raising a newborn. She said that he's a little more than a week old, is in good condition. She concurred with me and others that he was raised inside but was abandoned outside. Dr. Johnson said she couldn't tell which was more taxing, raising a newborn kitten or newborn human baby. Since I can't make the comparison, I told her that newborn kittens are more taxing LOL
The Xray showed that he has air pockets in his intestines but no blockage. Hooray!!!! That was definitely a relief. She adviced me to keep feeding him by bottle for at least 3 - 4 weeks. She warned me that bottle feeding kittens is risky but it seems like he's thriving since he has a round belly, isn't dehydrated and his lungs are clear, so I must be doing it correctly. That was a relief. Sable is much too young for shots, so that's another trip to the vet. He's clean (no fleas, no mites) and has a healthy coat. And yes, he's still a cutie LOL
Following our visit to the vet, we went to the bank, PetSmart for a ferret carrier (smaller and much cheaper than a cat carrier), Home Depot and McDonald's. The challenge is having to take him everywhere. Guess that's what mothers of newborns say too. LOL People who see the picnic basket ask what's in it...when I tell them, they immediately wanna see him and some wanna pet him. I'm not happy about the petting. Gotta find a tactful way to let people know that he is not to be petted.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Day 1 - Good feeding
Sable woke up this afternoon sniffing around in her basket. I put my hand in to pet her and show her off to a friend and she stretched and yawned before she sniffed my hand. I thought this would be a great time to feed her. Well I was right. Sable took to the bottle with gusto! Mind you, she didn't suck for a long time but she actually latched on to the nipple this time. I was so proud of her and told her so!
After feeding, I held her in the palm of my hand and gently patted her on her back. She let out a little burp. I was so tickled by it I didn't know what to do! LOL
Despite my coaxing, she still hasn't eliminated. She had a decent feeding this morning and a more hearty one this afternoon, surely something is waiting to come out. I'll keep trying.
It's obvious that we are getting to know one another better. I am learning that she can actually tell me when she is ready to feed and just work around her schedule. She seems to accept me...she sniffs my hand and loves to climb up my chest to snuggle at my neck. She became a bit more active after this last feeding. She didn't go back to sleep immediately after feeding...she actually kneeded her bedding after allowing me to handle her for some time. She is showing signs of curiousity as well, which is a good thing.
She's now snug as a bug in her picnic basket makeshift carrier.
After feeding, I held her in the palm of my hand and gently patted her on her back. She let out a little burp. I was so tickled by it I didn't know what to do! LOL
Despite my coaxing, she still hasn't eliminated. She had a decent feeding this morning and a more hearty one this afternoon, surely something is waiting to come out. I'll keep trying.
It's obvious that we are getting to know one another better. I am learning that she can actually tell me when she is ready to feed and just work around her schedule. She seems to accept me...she sniffs my hand and loves to climb up my chest to snuggle at my neck. She became a bit more active after this last feeding. She didn't go back to sleep immediately after feeding...she actually kneeded her bedding after allowing me to handle her for some time. She is showing signs of curiousity as well, which is a good thing.
She's now snug as a bug in her picnic basket makeshift carrier.
First Night with Sable
Sable slept soundly through her first night. She was in a basket with her blanket which surrounded her like her mother would. I just kept looking at her with amazement. To be so small, she's pretty hearty.
I woke her up to feed about 2:30am. She wasn't too thrilled with that! Kitten after my own heart. I used a different bottle feeder (more in line for ferrets) and she took a couple of sips and turned her head. I tried hand feeding her the formula...nope, nada, zilch. She wasn't feeling it. Instead, she crawled up my chest, put her head under my chin and curled up in my hand and went back to sleep! LOL
After being tucked back into her basket, I shook my head and said she was meant to enter into my life. The thought of that calmed my nerves and allowed me to go to sleep peacefully.
I woke her up this morning and she had something to say about that! Then she started licking my hand. I took that as a sign that she was hungry so I prepared her formula. Had to wake her up again to feed her. She took a few hearty sips this morning (YAY!), turned her head to me and looked at me as I told her she was such a good kitty. I was so happy. Sable, on the otherhand, was nonplussed. She stayed up for a couple of minutes but would not accept anymore formula. I was okay with that.
I woke her up to feed about 2:30am. She wasn't too thrilled with that! Kitten after my own heart. I used a different bottle feeder (more in line for ferrets) and she took a couple of sips and turned her head. I tried hand feeding her the formula...nope, nada, zilch. She wasn't feeling it. Instead, she crawled up my chest, put her head under my chin and curled up in my hand and went back to sleep! LOL
After being tucked back into her basket, I shook my head and said she was meant to enter into my life. The thought of that calmed my nerves and allowed me to go to sleep peacefully.
I woke her up this morning and she had something to say about that! Then she started licking my hand. I took that as a sign that she was hungry so I prepared her formula. Had to wake her up again to feed her. She took a few hearty sips this morning (YAY!), turned her head to me and looked at me as I told her she was such a good kitty. I was so happy. Sable, on the otherhand, was nonplussed. She stayed up for a couple of minutes but would not accept anymore formula. I was okay with that.
Meet Sable
Well this sucker is trying so hard not to fall in love with this sweet little kitten that I have adopted.
She's very small...about the size of my hand. I don't know how she found her way under an SUV but fortunately a little girl told my friend about her and my friend saw (and heard!) her, called me to see if I would take her in.
After work I met her. Went to the store to get a Newborn Care Pack for Kittens, which contains a bottle with nipple, formula for kittens and some other stuff, including a book on how to save a little kitten's life. She was the star of PetSmart. I carried her in her little blanket and everyone wanted to see the little teeny thing.
She's a very dark brown little bundle of fur and teeny weeny claws. She was so quiet during our trip. She stretched some, yawned a little but mostly slept.
I brought her home and set her down in her blanket while I prepared her formula. I had trouble with piercing her bottle nipple. When I was ready to get started, I had to wake her up. She rejected the nipple. Finally I squeezed some formula in my hand and she lapped it up. Had the nerve to bite my hand with her toothless self LOL I dipped the nipple in the formula but she still rejected it. According to what I've read, I was not to force her to feed but I knew she had not eaten in quite some time. I squeezed more into my hand and she licked it up.
Because she can barely hold her head up, I was concerned that she would inhale the formula which could lead to a respiratory problem.
Then the fun part came up...trying to stimulate her to eliminate. She protested like no one's business. One thing is for sure, that little dickens can scream! Such a big sound coming out of such a little thing! She was trying her best to get away from the wet terrycloth that I used to get her to go. She didn't. The stuff I've read said that it's not uncommon for them not to eliminate.
So I wrapped her up in her blanket and laid her down. She got herself in a comfortable position and then she settled down for a nap.
It's going to be a long night. I'm supposed to feed her every 3 hours around the clock. She fed about an hour ago. It's now 12:03am...gotta get ready for Sable in another 1.5 hours. This time I'm going to attempt to nurse her with a smaller nipple.
I'm going to take her to the vet on Saturday. I pray nothing is wrong with her and that she will feed eventually.
I'm scared.
She's very small...about the size of my hand. I don't know how she found her way under an SUV but fortunately a little girl told my friend about her and my friend saw (and heard!) her, called me to see if I would take her in.
After work I met her. Went to the store to get a Newborn Care Pack for Kittens, which contains a bottle with nipple, formula for kittens and some other stuff, including a book on how to save a little kitten's life. She was the star of PetSmart. I carried her in her little blanket and everyone wanted to see the little teeny thing.
She's a very dark brown little bundle of fur and teeny weeny claws. She was so quiet during our trip. She stretched some, yawned a little but mostly slept.
I brought her home and set her down in her blanket while I prepared her formula. I had trouble with piercing her bottle nipple. When I was ready to get started, I had to wake her up. She rejected the nipple. Finally I squeezed some formula in my hand and she lapped it up. Had the nerve to bite my hand with her toothless self LOL I dipped the nipple in the formula but she still rejected it. According to what I've read, I was not to force her to feed but I knew she had not eaten in quite some time. I squeezed more into my hand and she licked it up.
Because she can barely hold her head up, I was concerned that she would inhale the formula which could lead to a respiratory problem.
Then the fun part came up...trying to stimulate her to eliminate. She protested like no one's business. One thing is for sure, that little dickens can scream! Such a big sound coming out of such a little thing! She was trying her best to get away from the wet terrycloth that I used to get her to go. She didn't. The stuff I've read said that it's not uncommon for them not to eliminate.
So I wrapped her up in her blanket and laid her down. She got herself in a comfortable position and then she settled down for a nap.
It's going to be a long night. I'm supposed to feed her every 3 hours around the clock. She fed about an hour ago. It's now 12:03am...gotta get ready for Sable in another 1.5 hours. This time I'm going to attempt to nurse her with a smaller nipple.
I'm going to take her to the vet on Saturday. I pray nothing is wrong with her and that she will feed eventually.
I'm scared.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
