Either way over the past few months I have brought into my room 13 different cats. I have spayed 4 of them and will be spaying 2 more in the near future. I have found homes for all 13 of those cats... Two I'm keeping, both mom cats, one my boyfriend and I adopted so she lives with him for now, one my parents took in. One my aunt adopted. The rest was all hard work; networking and such. Picking through emails to find just the right homes. I've had to say goodbye 6 times so far and will have 4 more goodbyes when my current litter (which is almost 4 weeks old!) are old enough right after Christmas.
My room is no longer my room. It is our room. It is Kenhorst Cat's room. There is litter constantly sticking to my feet no matter how often I sweep. It often smells at least a little no matter how often I scoop since there have been 4+ cats living in my room for the better part of 3 months. There are toys scattered all over. I always have to watch my step. My clothes sometimes smell because my room smells and after all the work of caring for the cats I'm just too exhausted to rewash already clean clothes just because cat smell has leached into them...
I've lost countless hours of sleep, waking up early to trap, staying up all night because a tiny kitten was sick and needed TLC, staying up to make sure the newly spayed girls were okay and didn't rip their stitches out, being kept up because cats are nocturnal and 4am is actually the perfect time to play with the very loud jingly ball.
This last litter wasn't dropped at my door, I had to trespass,crawl through garbage, and then crawl through a hole between huge metal pieces of something and huge pieces of wood in a tiny shed just to get to them. I ended up with bruises all up and down my arms and legs the worst being on my inner upper thigh when a piece of metal caught me and I had to fight to get free, it's a pretty nasty bruise. I got all scratched up when I had to catch Tuna so she could nurse her litter...
I have no real free time, because any time spent away I could be called home ASAP because of a kitten emergency. One kitten I nursed back from the brink of death twice. Nugget, now Lola, who was adopted by my aunt and uncle. When she first arrived she was not doing well... she was the runt and had been away from her mother for hours because the mother was getting spayed (and I thought the kittens were a tad older than they were). She needed extra hand feedings in addition to nursing and had an eye infection. A few weeks later when she was recovered fully I was with my friends when I was called home because she was barely moving, wouldn't eat, wouldn't even respond. Her breathing was labored when I got home so we rushed her to the emergency vet, she almost died on the way there. She was given IV fluids and I stayed up all night giving her KMR and pedialyte. The next day another vet trip, antibiotics, more IV fluids, and around the clock care for me (back to feeding every 2 hours as if she were still an unweaned baby). Yet again, she pulled through... she's a tough little girl.
I have no money anymore because my money has become Kenhorst Cats money... genuinely at least 90% of my own money goes to the cats. I love donations because I don't make much so donations mean I can do more for the cats.
I say all this not as a rant. Not to complain. I wouldn't trade these past few months for anything. I've helped the cats, but they have greatly helped me. As I said in my last post I've been struggling, but they make me get up everyday because they need to eat and be cared for. They give me unconditional love.... and nothing has been more rewarding than finally winning over a scared stray who has never had a human to trust. Anchovy especially, we've formed a bond. She may still hide from everyone else, but she lays on my lap and in my bed. She lets me hold her, and hug her when I cry. She greets me so excitedly every morning... she really has gotten me through quite a few rough days.
So to those of you who are offended when my clothes smell, or get upset that I don't have money to "do" things, or think I'm crazy (and maybe I am)... if you don't support me I don't need you in my life, because I'm finally proud of what I'm doing and I wouldn't trade my life for anything right now <3 br="">
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