Orzo

We have another mystery on our hands this evening. If only the kittens and puppies we foster could talk, then we’d know exactly what happened to them before they got to SNUGGLE Pet Rescue.  What is puzzling about our newest arrival is the puncture wound on his back leg and his bruised toe beans, or the padded area on his paws. Orzo was found by a woman in a parking lot, not a likely place a mother cat would choose to have her kittens. Thinking about similar cases from the past we suspect he was picked up by another animal besides his mother. Feral Tom Cats may kill or even eat a kitten, especially if they perceive them to be weak or sickly. That is one possibility. Or it might have been a wild animal or large bird that had grabbed Orzo, viewing him as their next meal.  We will never know for sure what exactly happened to Orzo. What we do know is that this 1-day old kitten is lucky to be alive. With rain forecast throughout our area, if he had remained outdoors by himself, he would not have survived the night.

After we picked Orzo up at the St. Charles Pet Adoption Center this afternoon, where the woman who found him had dropped him off, our Foster Care Volunteer took him home to assess his condition. Orzo weighs 2.7 ounces which is half of what he should weigh. His paws had dried mud on them, which once they were washed, the bruised pads were discovered. We're pleased he started drinking from a bottle right away. No doubt the little guy was hungry.

It's always such a great feeling when we know SNUGGLE Pet Rescue's Foster Care Volunteers are making it possible for a kitten at risk to instead be safe, warm and sleeping with a full belly especially on a rainy night.