NaBloPoMo Post #22
All The Nyans, Part Nine
Back in June we had a hard rain than caused a lot of flash flooding of small creeks and rivers. The water went down pretty quickly, but for a while a lot of people had some flooding problems. Eler Beth got a call from a former workmate who had saved a small kitten from the flooded creek near her house. She said it was a very young baby, and would Eler Beth like to take care of it and try to find it a home because she wouldn't be able to do the bottle-feeding every day? So we hopped in the car and drove over to pick up this bedraggled orphan.
She was a very small torti calico with a pointy face and huge green eyes. She was skin and bones, so she'd either been an orphan for a while, or her mother was a stray and hadn't been in great shape either. We brought her home, and Eler Beth gave her a bath. She was a perky little thing, very interested in her surroundings, and didn't seem shy or scared of us at all.
We housed her in the upper room of Remi's condo, no longer needed for Soren and Illyana. We had been expecting to have to bring out the bottles and formula and start that process all over again, but we soon realized that although this kitten was tiny, she was not as young as we had been told. As a matter of fact, from her teeth, her eyes, and her demeanor, we were pretty sure she was at least five weeks old, possibly older. She could eat regular kitten food and lapped water just fine. It wasn't long before she was doing her business in a litter box.
We kept her isolated from the other "Nyans" until we had her checked out and were pretty sure she was healthy. Then we introduced her to the others while still putting her up in the upper room at night. Remi was taken with her right away -- she was just another playmate for him. Soren and Illyana, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with her. Bryant was happy to have another baby to care for.
We called her Sanaki, or Naki for short. Nothing phased Naki. Bryant irritated her when he tried to clean her, but she put up with it. We'd take the kittens outside for a few minutes, and she was ready to wander off and explore while the other two stayed very close to us. She was about a third of their size but had an attitude three times bigger!
We thought we had found a home for her, but that fell through. I was skeptical as to whether she'd ever be pretty -- she was so skinny and that little face was so pointy. But as she started to put on some weight and fill out, her cheeks rounded out and her eyes didn't overpower her face so much. And now I have to say she is quite beautiful. She has round, owl eyes, that look like big, green jewels in her face. She is serene and sweet and plays like it's going out of style.
We'd had her for about four weeks when we decided she was not going anywhere. Any other orphans that might be taken in in the future would have to have homes found for them, but Naki was already part of the family. Sori and Illy had finally adjusted to having a little sister, and our little "Scoop o' kitty" as we called her was here to stay.
We love all four of our little "Nyans."
Remi, Soren, and Illyana when they are all just a couple of months old, snuggling up together in Little Bit's bed.
Below, Remiel the night we first got home with him. Eler Beth fed him, and then he dropped off to sleep in her hand. He was only 5 weeks old.
Soren also was very good at falling asleep in your hand!
Right, Remi being cute!
Below, Remi and Illyana, snuggled up together. Remi likes to look out the window.
~ ~ Lori
NaBloPoMo Post #1
All The Nyans, Part One:
We call all the little mammals in the house "Nyans," even the fox. "Nyan" is the Japanese word for the sound that a cat makes, and it is also a video which became a meme a few years back.
On days that Eler Beth works I take care of the dogs, cats, and fox, to whatever extent they need until she gets home. That usually involves taking Bryant (her big dog) outside and putting him in the kennel or on a tie-out and feeding him his breakfast if she has to go to work early. That is never a problem. Bryant is such a sweet, good-hearted dog, and he loves his "grandma."
Back in April she fostered two newborn kittens found abandoned on the side of the road. They didn't even have their eyes open. That involved around-the-clock feedings and cleanings and changing of bedding. They were supposed to be only fosters, but all of us became attached -- even Thomas -- so they are now OUR cats. They will never leave. Right after we got them it was time for her to go to Florida to pick up Remiel, the Fennec Fox she had bought. At five weeks old when we picked him up, he was just barely older than the two cats, so they have grown up together.
Then in June she fostered a kitten that a friend had rescued from the floods in our area. She was tiny and bedraggled, skinny, but old enough to eat solid foods. The original plan was to find her a home, but.... Well, she is now one of the Nyans, along with the older two cats and the fox.
So on days when Eler Beth works I will message her on her break and say something like, "Fed Bryant and put him outside for a little while and fed all the Nyans." Of course grandma duties also quite often include playing with and treating Bryant and the Nyans. :)
Now we have three foster kittens, again acquired before their eyes were even open, that absolutely will not stay here when they are old enough to be adopted. We have found a home for one of them already. One of them is a bit sickly and requires more patience in feeding; the two bigger ones take a bottle just fine, but this one has to be fed with a medicine dropper. Their eyes are open now, and they are starting to play. So now the message from me to my daughter when she's on her break is, "Bryant is fed and outside. I've fed all the Nyans, and I fed the babies."
I enjoy doing it, and I love that my daughter has a heart that is never too full to take care of abandoned babies, but I have to admit that I will be ready when this round of bottle feeding comes to a close and these three babies have found their permanent homes somewhere else, much as I love them!
Pictures coming in a future post along with updates. Hope you and yours (and all your nyans) are doing well!
~ ~ Lori
Bottle Feeding Soren and Illyana
We called her Sanaki, or Naki for short. Nothing phased Naki. Bryant irritated her when he tried to clean her, but she put up with it. We'd take the kittens outside for a few minutes, and she was ready to wander off and explore while the other two stayed very close to us. She was about a third of their size but had an attitude three times bigger! 
We thought we had found a home for her, but that fell through. I was skeptical as to whether she'd ever be pretty -- she was so skinny and that little face was so pointy. But as she started to put on some weight and fill out, her cheeks rounded out and her eyes didn't overpower her face so much. And now I have to say she is quite beautiful. She has round, owl eyes, that look like big, green jewels in her face. She is serene and sweet and plays like it's going out of style.
