This is not a story with a meet-cute, some conflict, then a happily ever after. At least not yet. I am hoping we could muscle through this til we get that all smiles and giggles ending kind of a story. But right now, I am fighting for a small kitten's life. Hoping that she will see that therr are hoomans that care for her and wishes her to be well.
It was one normal morning, the rain has jusr stopped but it was still drizzling lughtly. I was just out going to buy pandesal and fish for our 2 little kitties at home. It must have been fate that brought me to that street because I usually would just go to the nearest bakery then go to the fish vendor not far from there. But for that day alone, I decided to buy malunggay pandesal from that far off bakery, and then walk a a little farther still to buy fresh fish.
As I was walking towards that bakery, I saw the little kitten, just sitting there, almost asleep if not for all the vehicles and people that pass by around it. She keeps getting startled by the passing motorcycles. I walked past her. I have my umbrella with me because it might rain anytime. The clouds were dark and heavy.
I went on to run my errands. On my way back, it was starting to drizzle a little bit stronger. The kitten was still there. I sat in front of her, I was just going to place her under somewhere where she won't get wet but then she started meowing so loudly at me. She was just there still as a rock and when I got to her, she started wailing as if crying out for help.
I checked if she might be hurt. Thank goodness there was no wounds or anything unusual on her. Aside from dirt on her paws and legs, and so much white stuff on her eyes she looks fine. I tried to see if there is a mother or any of her siblings nearby. It looks like she was there all alone.
Without thinking for a moment, I grabbed her, and told her I'm bringing her home. There is no way she's living like that. My husband had a rule, only 2 pets in the house. And I completely understand the rationale behind this rule but I couldn't bear it in my heart thinking that she would be left there under this kind of weather.
As I was walking with her in my arm, she was panicky at first but soon felt relaxed as I was talking to her. She almost fell asleep. I fed her and boy, is she famished. She downed 2 feedings in one go. I took the time to check her closely. She had so much dirt on her face and back paws. Her tail isn't groomed at all, it has dried dirt and poop all over. She has some black or dark red dirt on her nose, I'm thinking it could be blood.
As soon as I got home, I put her in a cage. She needed to be quarantined for at least a week or 2 before she gets introduced to the kitties at home. But the rains are getting too heavy, the water splashed into our terrace. I had to bring her inside- still in a cage - but at least inside where it is warm and dry. I had to set up the terrace first before I could bring her back out again.
My two not so young little kitties are curious little cats, they looked at her, sniffed her, examined her. They hissed at her at first, but soon after they were just simply curious about her. I gave her a bath because there were little nasty things crawling all over her. Now that those were out of the way, she's settling in just fine inside her cage.
She eats a lot, sleeps a lot, and meows a lot. And I mean a lot. My daughter said she's like singing when she meows her long meow, which she does a lot. This is the reason why my daughter decided her name should be something about her singing. And so we named her Awit.
The following day, I brought her for a check up at the vet. Her tummy was a bit too big, I was suspecting she'll need to be dewormed. But it was so much worse. She tested positive for FPV or Feline Panleukopenia virus, also known as feline parvo. I have heard a lot of horror stories of pets not surviving this virus. This little one is just really so tiny. The vet wasn't too flowery with his choice of words when he dropped the news on me. Even added that her situation is not as promising as I would hope for.
I brought her back home. I'm not one to just give up that easily. I bought the meds, updated the calendar. 2 weeks. That's all it takes. 2 weeks of intense medical attention to nurse this little baby back to health. It's really not up to me, it's all up to her.
I'm seeing so much improvement on her. She's not as skinny as she looked on her first day. I got her last Thursday, been her all around nurse and vet since Friday. I'm not sure if the vet oversold FPV to me, or if I am underestimating this virus. They said kittens that get infected with this loses appetite and gets dehydrated. I've been making her drink dextrose because she's currently at 8, the critical level is 10. But whenever I check her food, she always finishes it up and meows a lot when she's hungry.
I've also disinfected the entire house even if she just got inside for just a little bit. I'm also observing the two little boss kitties inside to see if they'll show any symptoms. So far, they are their usual mischievous, bossy, snobby, and naughty little selves.
The vet sat me down at the clinic and talked to me about rescuing strays. He was concerned about the welfare of the kitties. Along the lines, he told me that rescuing isn't bad, it's just that there's a responsibility behind it. Dude, I just did not opt for the expensive treatment you offered. I know rescuing strays cost a lot. It's not a hobby. I just couldn't bear it to not do anything for this little one. I know I may have decided based on emotions but Dante Alighieri said "The darkest places of hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis". Not that I believe in heaven and hell, I just know rhat I had to do something. I couldn't turn a blind eye on such an innocent little kitty.
I am thankful to 
