Giving Up is Not an Option

After sharing the post last Thursday about the number of kittens that SNUGGLE Pet Rescue has lost in recent weeks, we wanted to tell you the story about our miracle survivor.

Lilly came into our care on June 17th along with her brother Leo and sister Lilac. She was a preemie and the smallest of the siblings, weighing only 2.7 ounces. For this reason, extra attention was given to her to ensure she was drinking enough formula and being kept warm. Right from the start Leo and Lilac were eating well and showed no signs of anything their Foster Care provider should be concerned about.

That changed though on June 19th when Lilac passed away unexpectedly. Then on June 21 we lost Leo too. If any of the three kittens were going to not survive, our volunteer thought Lily would be the one given how fragile she was. For the next few days Lily's care giver would hold her breath for a second before lifting the cover on her carrier. It was always such a relief to see Lily inside, still alive.

On June 20th two new kittens arrived. Stetson and Stella were about the same size as Lily, so after 24 hours of being cared for and observed for any health concerns, the brother and sister moved in with Lily. Being alone we knew was hard on her, so having the company would definitely have its benefits. We were pleased with the progress all three kittens were making, and Lily was even putting on weight, which was an encouraging sign. Both Stella and Stetson passed away on July 1st.

Our greatest fear was that Lily would be next. We didn't dare put any other kittens in with her, so she got a lavender bear to cuddle up next to. Lily was checked on more often than normal throughout the day and night and her concerned and nervous care giver was grateful not to have to count another kitten lost.

Today Lily is doing well. She weighs 4.2 ounces and there is nothing going on with her to cause concern. But we know how quickly the four kittens she had been with died, so we can't assume she is out of danger yet. Lily will be old enough on July 16 to get her first vaccination which will relieve some of the worry. Until then we have to believe our littlest survivor has enough strength and the will to live to keep thriving and we are going to do everything we can to make sure that happens.