A couple days ago I was walking out the door and noticed our cat playing with something. I took a close look, and I thought it was a rat. Getting on the floor to take a closer look I discovered that it was a newborn kitten.
There were three choices, one was taking him/her somewhere else and let him alone, the second was to find the mother, the third was making an attempt to take care of him/her myself. The first thing was to pick up the baby, and move him/her somewhere safe and warm. After checking out the yard and looking at the 25 something cats. I decided that I cannot find the babies mother, and I am going to have to try to nurse it.
I had read about this in the past on the Internet, so I knew how to find the information I needed to learn what to do. After looking at the supplies needed I found myself in a bad situation. I have had a -4.47 in my bank account, and a bill of $364.00 on a $300.00 credit card. I had no job, no change, and no cash. Praying to God I found my answer. I had in my position my tie to God. Thinking about what Jesus said about saving a lamb on the Sabbath. I decided using some of the tie only for the supplies was my answer for the problem.
I managed to get to a store so I could purchase some supplies. The first attempts to give him the milk did not work. The next day I found a way. Following the method of keeping the baby on his stomach. I squeezed a little milk on the nipple, and put it on his mouth. The baby would then lick it, and swallow it, and I was able to feed him/her squeezing a little bit at a time.
One evening my head went to hurting very badly. I was sick to my stomach and could no move without going into pain. This headache was advancing to the worst. Because of my medication I am unable to take any pain medicine, and taking medicine allows me to damage myself further. I had to go to sleep but there was no heat in my place. I knew it was going to be 42 degrees Fahrenheit in the morning. I placed the newborn in my heating blanket, and laid down and went to sleep.
That cold morning I got up to check the baby. The baby was just laying there, and he was very cold. He would not respond to me, so I thought baby died. I thought the blanket did not do a good enough job. I was almost in tears talking to God and thinking I had failed because of my headache. I was looking for what I was going to dig with, and where I was going to dig. After thinking back to the old "Disney" move with the 100 spotted puppies. I decided to warm up the kitten. What I did was cuff my hand over it, and after about 20 seconds I lifted my hand a looked. I did this a few times, and then I saw a slight movement. This gave me hope and kept warming the kitten up. It was not before to long that the baby started moving. After this the next thing I did was move him some where warmer.
This baby is doing great, even though I was only able to give one feeding today. He looks very healthy. I give God the glory praise and honor. I know he would have died if not for God and his son Jesus Christ.
My experience with this baby is a fun one. This baby is very precious to watch and to handle. After being able to give the feeding, the baby seems more attached to me. Even at a new born age they can say I love you in their way. He/she is sleeping in the box with the white rags, and since it is going to freeze tonight, the baby and I are somewhere with central heating.
I have to be careful with the newborn around my other kitties. The one that is still with me is very playful and has sharp claws and teeth. I have found out that female cats have sharper teeth and claws than the males do. She keeps wanting to crab and play with the baby. I have had to put the baby and box somewhere out of access. Behind a closed door that precious (her name) cannot get into.
I have had to learn the hard way. That a cold sleeping animal will look dead, but is really in such a deep sleep, that the animal will not respond to you. Even after picking them up by their tail or wings, they will stay asleep and be a little stiff. I tried testing the breath of the new born, and have found out the baby is to small to test that way. I know cold animals have a slow heart beat, so that might not work to well either. Have you heard of those amazing rescue stories where people revived after being pulled out of cold water? The rescuers were sure the person was dead.
Thanks to God the baby is alive feeding and healthy. I thank God for the precious gift of the responsibility he has given me. I love this little baby so much already. I owe it all to Jesus Christ. Jesus is the reason I have this undeserved favor with God. Taking care of baby kittens are more precious than millions of dollars. The moments even with bad ones are priceless.
(A few days after writing the article, this newborn passed away.)
