HELP: COVID 19 Kitten season in now on us
HIYA!! SAVANNAH HERE!!!
This is a 911 for all my readers! COVID 19 Kitten Season is upon us and it is far different than any other before. Across the USA, most shelters were hit with the SIP orders and closed their surgeries to Spay/neuter for rescues doing TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return). Our shelter in Contra Costa County California is only now considering a soft opening for such surgeries. During the last six weeks, the only low cost S/N clinic has been Community Concern For Cats (CC4C).
But they have not been able to meet the demand as most non-profit TNR clinics in the USA. Personal Protection Equipment, medications, etc have been diverted to human hospitals so TNR has been greatly diminished.
Here is some great advice from our pals at Berekley Humane Society about what to do if you or your friends find kittens this year.
Of course you need to report any findings to your local TNR rescues just like my neighbors did last Friday.
Mom L received a call from someone she helped with a mom cat and six kittens in her backyard in 2018 at dinner time last Friday. Of course Mom L and Dad P jumped up and were off! The neighbor had the kittens, not in good health. When Mom L picked them up to move them from the box to our warmer carried, she could feel their little bones. And their eyes were almost swollen shut and encrusted. Clearly, as their eyes were still blue, and from their size, we think they were barely four weeks old. Thanks to the resident for calling us ASAP!!
Mom L called two of our most experienced contacts when it comes to pulling sick kittens through. Miss Gemma, President of CC4C, with over 30+ years working to save feral adults, kittens and abandoned community cats and their kittens, responded immediately! Mom L and Dad P dashed off with the three kittens to get them to Miss Gemma. The little Siamese was clearly the worst off, its eyes were both crusted closed and it could not stand it was so dehydrated; as were all three.
Miss Gemma said their fur was really funny feeling and so she bathed all three, fed them, gave them fluids and VOILAA!!! Less than twenty four hours later, here are the three kittens starting to thrive in Miss Gemma’s care.
Please do be on the look out for any kittens in your neighborhoods. This is a tougher year than any we have had in the last five years.
Savannah's Paw Tracks 
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OH! They are adorable, and we are glad they are doing better. Thank you, Mom L and Dad P, and Miss Gemma, for helping those babies. And thank goodness the neighbor called.
Everything is still in non-operational mode around here too, unfortunately.
Our shelter suspended volunteers two months ago. At that time we were getting cats that were not yet fixed, which was unusual. I am not sure if surgeries have continued there yet. I would imagine they have.
I can’t see the video! 😦 Anyhow, I’m glad you stepped in and helped these babies.
In Canada Tinykittens does ok – but only because they have a very dedicated vet at hand! They have three litters with mommas (in various degrees of feralness) and a further expecting feral cat in their care (plus two adults who are (partly) eye-less. But even with their very dedicated vet they could not go forward with their TNR-programme. Luckily they were able to do a lot of TNR’ing in autumn. So from three feral colonies (one with over 300 cats) they only (!) have four mommas.
One of the mothercats needed an emergency caesarean section. So glad they could go to that clinic! The vet is so dedicated, when one of the trapped pregnant cats is near birth, she watches a livestream to help with a decision if cat should come in.
So while two of those kittens could not be revived, they managed to help momma Stella and the other three of her kittens. Stella was very cautious about human contact, but meanwhile she allows belly rubs, it seems, momma has shredded her feral card for good.
It is just over the border from you lot – in Langley, near Vancouver. And they are very, very passionate about their felines and try to raise global compassion for feral cats.
Yep, it’s a tough year here too and we have kittens.
We’re afraid for the kittens out there.
So glad these sweeties were rescued.
Thanks be to goodness your peeps and their crew were there to help. PURRS
Good post. Yay. I reactivated my wordpress account!!!!
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Its really sad how COVID-19 has been so devastating to animal rescue. Most of our rescues are closed and the animal shelter has practically shut down. We are glad the kittens are thriving under Miss Gemma’s care. Kudos to your parents for taking them to her.
Purraying for the little kitties. How lucky they have Miss Gemma to look after them.
Keeping eyes open around here in Bay point
we sadly had the same here… all vets/shelters/organizations were closed and no one could help :o(