A Kitten's happy ending by Gavin & Jane Foulkes

A Kitten’s happy ending by Gavin & Jane Foulkes

Siobain

Tags: Category: Stories

“MAYBE”

We were called to our friends house as she had problems with stray cats getting into her barn. As soon as we arrived we found a tiny, scared and injured kitten. Even though she had an obvious leg injury it didnt stop her being a nightmare to catch.

Eventually we got her into a blanket in a cardboard box and took her to our vets in Ruffec. We had her leg examined and x-rayed and were told that she had a broken pelvis. It was broken in two places and although she was only four months old with nothing but air in her tummy, she was such a fiesty little girl, we decided to take her home and see how she progressed.

The vet had advised us that due to the severity of the break, her pelvis would, as she grew into adulthood, probably restrict her internal organs growth, especially the bowel which will cause constipation and possibly result in her not living too long. Also her hind legs were very stiff and she walked like a kangaroo!

Once we got her home, the fun really began. We have a five year old cat who turned up in our garden four years ago and was very feral, but is now as soft as anything but we didnt know how he would take to the new addition. Needless to stay he treated her with the usual disdain he treats the rest of us with.

Our dogs are four year old Labrador cross Collies and were rather suprised to find a baby in the house, although the boy took to the kitten straight away and spent ages licking her ears and being very protective.

We spoon fed the kitten with tuna and kitten biscuits and milk as she hid under furniture, but thankfully she came out of her shell and after a week she was running around the house and garden playing with the other animals and eating happily. We have had all her injections done, her ID tag, and finally she was sterilized, all thanks to the Hope Association who have helped with the costs. The kitten is as much a part of the family as the rest of our pets and the way she has changed so much in just a few months with some love, affection and lots of patience is just amazing and makes us smile everyday.

I finally decided on a name, we have called her Maybe, as she was probably born in May and as the vet said, “Maybe she will live a long life, maybe she wont”. I am glad to say she is now just over seven months old and is into everything! When we play ball with the dogs in the garden she runs around, trying to attack them, hanging of the trees and hitting the catflap at full pelt. If we cant find her we just look up and she is usually hiding on a beam or snug on top of the wardrobe.

Needless to say we could well have some hearbreak ahead, but all the animals will go eventually, and we are so glad we took a chance ….and Maybe will be a word with extra meaning, always.