Not Where You Want to Be Laying

Stray mother cats don't always make the best choices when it comes to where they choose to keep their babies, but when their options are limited, they do the best they can.

A cat in Desloge, Missouri, decided to tuck her 8-day old kitten in the insulation underneath a trailer. Maybe her intent was to only leave the baby there for a short time, but before she could return, she was hit by a car and killed. The woman who lived in the trailer heard the kitten crying and crawled up under the trailer and found Taisie. She did look for other kittens, but she was the only one.

When we got the 6.1-ounce kitten this morning she was in decent shape, apart from having fleas. To get rid of them Taisie was given Capstar and a vitamin B-12 shot. She was warm enough to feed, and she did well her first time drinking from a bottle.

What we are concerned about is where Taisie was found. Kittens are particularly vulnerable to the effects of insulation due to their small size and developing systems. Insulation materials like fiberglass can cause skin irritation and discomfort upon contact, and if they ingest it, this can lead to serious health issues. Inhaling airborne insulation dust can irritate their lungs, nose, throat and eyes. If a kitten comes into contact with insulation, it's important to monitor for any symptoms of irritation or respiratory issues and seek veterinary care if necessary.

Right now, Taisie is showing no signs of any adverse effects of coming in contact with insulation, so we are hoping she had been exposed to it for too short a period of time to develop any health problems. We will keep our Facebook Friends updated.