I have been very fortunate during my years of rescue work to meet with a few incredible kittens who touched me deeply. Here are their stories with special thanks to the wonderful Dr.'s at Adobe Animal Hospital. Without them each of these babies would be on the Rainbow Bridge Page.

Michael:

Michael came to me shortly after birth in a Feral Colony. He arrived with his litter mate who had to be put down immediately because he had a cleft palate. Michael was my first baby of 97 and somehow they are always special. He was my only child for a few weeks and simply flourished under the constant attention. He would spend hours sitting on my shoulder while I worked at the computer and when I got up to leave the room he would always playfully swat at me. Michael was going to be difficult to give up but I knew he must go to a permanent home. When I found what I thought as the perfect home, I sent him off and cried at my loss. My sorrow was only compounded when, on the morning of June 5th, three days after he had left, I got the call that Michael had died. Michael died on the same day as my Mom. The reasons for his death have always escaped me. I have always regretted letting him go and I will always question his sudden death.

Michael at birth                               Michael at about 10 weeks.

The "Duck"

This little girl turned out to be one of my greatest joys and biggest head-aches all wrapped into one tiny little bundle. She was born in a front yard in a neighboring town. I went to pick her up that night and found, on a front porch, stuffed into a box of rags an entire litter who had just been born that day. The litter did well considering their very poor beginnings. They all seemed to flourish and grow - all except Daphne. She remained small and seemed to be heading towards the "failure to thrive" category. Several people who are also in Rescue advised me to have her put down because at 5 weeks she weighed just ounces and walked in circles. As a last resort   my Vet (Dr. Hill) and I talked it over  he agreed with me. Looking into her eyes she seemed to be pleading - I'm in here, keep looking. We did and after a few more weeks of tube feeding, sub-q injections and lots of babying Daphne became "The Duck". She has captured everyones heart and to be perfectly honest I could not part with her. My son lost his old Himmie that week so to appease his pain I let him take the Duck home. She rules his house and still thrills me when ever I see her. You've just got to love any kitten with as much will as the Duck.....

The Duck at a few weeks.                        The Duck today....

The Weenie Kid:

Oh Darlene -I remember saying those words when I walked into the kitten room to find her ill. Darlene came with her very own brother, Louie, who was a healthy as a horse. She had an unremarkable childhood. Perhaps for that reason she decided to get dramatic when she reached 6 weeks of age. Looking at her picture you can see how adorable she was as a baby. Everyone loved Darlene, she was mischievous and just flat out cute. One morning I walked in to feed the kittens and there was Darlene - dragging herself across the floor by her two front legs. Her back legs didn't work at all. I panicked and picked her up, looking closely at her but she appeared to be in pain so off we went to the Vets office. All the way down in the car she cried - and I joined her telling myself this was it, there was no way she could get better. I left her there and drove home, very depressed. You can imagine my total happiness when the Dr. called the next afternoon to tell me she was eating and walking, come get her. I flew down to pick her up and kissed her all the way home. Darlene got very spoiled during the next week but apparently not enough for her because the next Sat. she did the same thing again. This time I cried before I even picked her up because I knew this was it - she was a goner. Back we went and true to form the Dr. called two days later to say Darlene had weathered yet another crisis. Do I wish I had kept Darlene? Well yes, and The Duck and Michael, But Darlene has a very loving home with people that aren't about to give her up....Catnapping anyone???

Darlene @ about 3 weeks.               Darlene @ 6 weeks.

My Adorable precious Ivan.

There are kittens whom you love and then there is Ivan. Surprisingly everyone wanted Ivan. Because he lost an eye? I think it's simply because he has such a sweet and loving nature. Ivan came to me shortly after birth with a twin brother. Because they are Russian Blue Wannabes we gave them Russian names - Boris and Ivan. Boris was always a bit bigger but always looked out for Ivan. While everyone in the kitten room was running around playing Ivan would just sit on a blanket and watch. He had such a severe upper respiratory infection I thought I would lose him to it. He was on Medication almost directly from birth. He spent a lot of time at the Dr.'s office but was always loving. He would climb on my shoulder and give me kisses. I tried everything I knew with Ivan and the Dr.'s did also but his eye kept getting worse. Finally we made the awful decision to have his eye permanently removed. He went in for the surgery and I cried bitter tears when I saw him afterward - here was this tiny kitten with purple stitches where his eye should be - kissing me. That night and the next morning his sinus' opened up - his nose ran like a faucet but by the next night he was actually playing. In the next few days I saw a new kitten. Ivan began to put on weight and played hard with all comers. What a delight to see. His new person picked him up and off he went but not without a few life lessons. Ivan taught me patience and humility and gave so much love...I REALLY do miss him. Look at that face - what's not to love??

Ivan with his bad eye                          Ivan with no eye.....

There is always Owen:

Owen really had no redeeming qualities when I got him. He was so named because his litter mates all shoved him away which brought to mind the line from the Movie "Throw Mama from the Train" - Owen has no friends. I used to tell him he was not real hot on looks so best he work on his personality and work he did. Owen is Ivan and Boris' litter mate (did this Mom just have an exceptional litter?) I got Owen on April 18th - when he was three days old. He did get the same Herpes eye infection that Ivan had but he was able to overcome it with medication. Owen thrived and became the good will ambassador of the kittens. I had to be careful when I found a home for Owen because Black Cats always make me a bit nervous. You must screen the people more carefully. Owen found his home - with a dog! But guess who loves each other - the dog is a lab which tells you a lot - they are such good natured guys. So Owen went off and took a large chunk of my heart with him. I have to keep repeating to myself - I'm in rescue, NOT collection - but it still hurts.

Owen always gave kisses             Oh that poor babies eye!                

  Just look at this handsome guy!!!!

I will NEVER forget Quasi....

  This little boy was found in a field one night along with three litter mates - it was cold and rainy and a good Samaritan brought them in. I got the litter two days later and although I put three of them in another foster home I kept Quasi with me. His left front leg was deformed and his right leg turned in so he walked on the outside of it. Quasi really did qualify as a kitten to be put down but I followed my heart - not my head and kept him as a "special needs" kitten. He was with me for a month - and I learned to love him dearly. When I picked him up he always nuzzled against my neck and purred. Then one night he ate dinner, nuzzled, purred, laid his little head down and died. I cried hard over Quasi - look at that face - wouldn't you? Here was another kitten teaching me patience and giving so much yet asking for nothing in return. Losing Quasi will always hurt.

Two darling adorable babies...

  Clarice and Malcolm died within days of each other. They both started fading and once they hit that mode it is sometimes impossible to bring them back. This should never have been!

There is no excuse for this!

  Maxine came to me - the victim of abuse. Because she had been born in a neighborhood that housed a woman who didn't like Kittens she was stomped on. When I got her she was frightened and stayed in a corner, despite the fact that I  was  constantly picking her up. She finally stopped flinching when I came over to her but she never purred. After a week she just quietly died. I held her and looked into those beautiful blue eyes and apologized for the human race...was it enough? I think not.

Cindy Lou Who came to me just after birth. She was still wet from the birth and weighed only 2.5 ounces. Because New born Kittens usually weigh about 4 ounces I didn't have a lot of hope for her but of-course I did every thing possible for her. She ate every two hours for the first week and actually gained. Cindy Lou lived for 2 1/2 months and was really my special girl. She went in for surgery on her colon and did not survive the surgery. My only solace is that she knew no pain. Cindy Lou is a prime example of why I am militant about spay/neuter.

The images used on this page are the property of Safe Haven.