I had an unusually hard time getting out to do my morning rounds, today! 😁
As is now the routine, I started off by setting the outside cats’ kibble to soak in hot water before heading out. The cats were very hungry and eager for food!
There was even a skunk already there, coming in to eat along with the cats! I was going to chase it away, but I noticed it has some sort of injury around one eye and…
What can I say. I’m a suck for the skunks, as well as the cats!
At least the soaked kibble won’t cause problems for the skunk. They shouldn’t eat kibble, because of how their jaws are hinged. It can cause problems. Soft kibble, however, won’t do that.
It was very hungry.
Of course, I was keeping an eye out for the kitten that seems to be having issues. When I started putting food out, I saw it laying on the cat bed on the bottom of the shelf in front of the window.
It wasn’t moving, as I put the food out.
I was honestly prepared to have to dig a hole this morning, but when I came back with the empty food bowl, I saw the kitten. It was in the middle of a food tray, food right in front of it. Other cats were head butting it to get at the food, but it wasn’t eating.
So I picked it up and moved it to another tray, to see if it would start eating there.
It didn’t.
We’d tried to give it wet cat food last night. It wouldn’t eat that, either. The bowl was covered and still in the old kitchen, so I took it in to see if it would eat the wet cat food.
It didn’t.
I even tried to scoop it up with my fingers and put it right to its mouth.
It still wouldn’t eat.
It did, however, like and bite at my fingers. Eventually.
What it really wanted was snuggles.
Oh, my goodness, did it ever want snuggles!
I ended up sitting in my late father’s walker for a while, just holding it.
It still needed to eat something, though, so I ended up taking it, and the bowl of food, into the bathroom. I added warm water to the food, then used a larger syringe we now have to try and feed the kitten.
It did actually eat eagerly for a while, actively licking at the syringe.
But only a short while. I did force feed it a bit more, but it was far more interested in checking out the bathroom, and its own reflection in the mirror.
I do still get the impression there is something going on with its vision, yet it can clearly see at least somewhat.
It also seems wobbly on its legs.
I gave its eyes a wash, and cleared its crusty nose. There are definite lung issues going on, but that seems like the standard herpes related issues all the yard cats have.
Finally, I took it back to the sun room and managed to escape before it started finding my feet and laying its head on my boots again!
I had some followers as I did my morning rounds, though, including Eye Baby!
It was really hard to get a picture of him. He wouldn’t stop moving!
That eye looks so, so much better. I don’t know that it will ever improve beyond how it is now, but he seems to be completely adjusted to his condition. It certainly doesn’t slow him down in any way!
As I finished my rounds and started heading back in, through the sun room, I found this pile of cuties, watching me!
That’s one adult cat and four kittens, all mashed into that tiny cat bed! There is a larger cat bed right next to them, with a single kitten sleeping in it, but nope. They all needed to crowd together in the little one. 😄
I also spotted the little sick tabby.
His legs may be wobbly at times, but he still managed to get into the cat cage and settle onto one of the beds in there.
We will keep monitoring him and keep feeding him with the syringe. That will give him both food and hydration. Hopefully, he will start eating and drinking again on his own soon.
Or she. I haven’t tried to look, yet. 😄
In other things…
While I was working on this, I got a call from the supportive living coordinator about my mother. I updated them on some of the more recent changes, such as her macular degeneration, and starting Meals on Wheels. My mother is on that line, where she doesn’t quite fit for the services available in one level of care, but needs more care that would be a good fit for the other. The long term care coordinator also has my mother’s file, and the two of them will connect to talk about my mother, including the updated information I was able to give them just now, see where my mother needs to be, and how best to get her there!
My mother, meanwhile, just wants to be in one specific long term care home in the town nearest us. We’re trying to encourage her to take whatever they have available, because there’s just no way of knowing when a space will open. Once she’s in the system, she can be transferred later. She just needs to get in, first!
Progress is progress, though, and we’re slowing getting her there!
Little by little, it’s getting done.
The Re-Farmer
The Re-Farmer 
I’ve always heard that skunks make great pets if you de-stink them.
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Yes, I’ve heard that, too – and you don’t even need to de-stink them!
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