Kitten Rescue

The first day I returned to Faraja there were two kittens lying just outside the dining hall. They were both skin and bones and they were barely breathing, but after several enquiries the kids and staff assured me they were okay. When I returned to work on Monday I only saw one kitten; a little orange ball of fur so tiny so weak that when one of the toddlers accidently stepped on his tail he didn’t even have the will to retaliate.
I left Faraja so sad to hear about the passing of the other kitten and couldn’t get the orange one off my mind all day. I told Ben about the situation and he said that only a week before I got here the kittens had all been fine. We agreed to bring the kitten to our apartment and try and nurse him back to health.

I purchased some multivitamins, whole milk, and a syringe. Then we went to Faraja to pick up the kitten. When we got to Faraja we found the kitten barely breathing curled up next to a fire the chef had been cooking on. The Faraja staff laughed as we told them our plans to rescue the kitten. The kids looked sad to see their cat go, but were hopeful for a full recovery. As we left the compound our groundskeeper, Elkanah, told us “he is a fighter, he will make it!” I wrapped him in an old tshirt and hugged him close as we walked back home.

Night one was not looking good, the kitten was so weak he would hardly drink the warm milk and vitamins we prepared for him. It was so sad to force feed him each bit of milk. It just dribbled down his little kitten chin with very little actually being swallowed. When he looked too tired to try anymore activity for the night. I nestled him into a shoe box and we heated up a bottle of water for him to snuggle against.

I woke up the next day nervous to check the box. I pulled the rags from over his body and he didn't move but he was breathing more steadily than before. After a morning feeding we tucked him back in and went to work. 

By that evening the kitten had a name (Oliver) and had started to respond to touch and was showing an interest in eating even though he couldn't quite get it down. We continued his feeding and kept his water bottle warm and hoped for the best.

The next morning Oliver had made some big improvements he was responding to touch and trying to play with our hands when we moved him around. He learned to suckle at the milk and in turn he had a hearty breakfast. When we returned in the evening he was much more energetic and on the last check before bed something major happened… Oliver made it out of his box all on his own! His steps were clumsy and his head was a little too heavy and he seemed to be very confused.  He did not seem quite right in the head and that was a scary thought. He took about five steps and ran right into a wall before he lay down and decided that was enough adventure for one night. Again we tucked him in and went to bed, but this time I felt much more hopeful about Oliver’s future. 

The next day I woke up and went to check on the kitty to find the best surprise! He had made it our of his box and crawled half way into my suitcase before deciding he was just too tired for more. I woke him up and pulled him into the center of the room and much to my surprise he started to walk around, only something wasn't quite right. He was walking like a drunk and running into everything in his path. It appeared that his legs weren't quite cooperating with his brain. We ventured to give him some proper catfood and he went crazy. He ate and ate. But he was still walking funny and couldn't seem to find his food if we didn't show him where it was. He just kept walking through the bowl of food and pacing around the walls of the room. He was still so weak that every once in a while he would get tired and fall asleep mid-step. However, with careful observation that day it became apparent that as much as we hated to admit it Oliver was definitely blind. I was excited for the little kitty to be gaining strength at such a rapid rate, but it was a giant blow to realize that Oliver would be so handicapped due to his lack of sight. We cared for him as normal for the rest of the day and by the time I got ready for bed he had worked up a voice and meowed all through the night.

This morning when we woke up Oliver was more active than we've ever seen him. He was running all around the room and just wanted snuggles. Ben gave him a bath and fed him again, then we let him have a nap to keep his energy up. This afternoon has brought some great miracles for little Oliver! He still has a tummy full of food and eats whenever he gets a chance and has been cuddling and snuggling while I type these paragraphs. And the very best news of all is that he has regained his sight!! Little orange Oliver can definitely follow my hand movements this afternoon and there was no way he could do that yesterday. He has finally been allowed to roam the house and he is a little adventurer. Until this afternoon Nala (our grown cat) was very afraid of the tiny new invader, but as now they are curled in a chair peacefully napping together!

It’s been a big day for everyone involved in Oliver’s adventure from the brink of death and I am so happy the kitten was such a trooper. There is no doubt in my mind that he will make a fully recovery and now the biggest issue is trying to decide if we’ll be able to return him to Faraja…. Or if we may just have gained a friendly new furry face around the apartment!