The Great Kitten Rescue

I had planned on doing some yard work today, as it was mostly sunny and warm enough for only a sweatshirt. But as I was putting tarps up on the dog kennels I hear what sounded like some kind of jaybird, but couldn’t see anything. I followed the sound to the north side of the big shed, and found that it was coming from underneath the shed. I went and got a flashlight and discovered a tiny kitten under there!  It came readily to me, and couldn’t have been more than four or five weeks old. I picked it up and was going to put it in a small crate, and then kicked myself for not getting a crate out before I got the kitten. Duh..

I went into the kennel with the flower pot cages made of 2x3 inch welded wire, and dropped it gently into one of those, but that didn’t work - the kitten bolted right out of it like the hole was the size of a Volkswagon. I went in the house and got the shed key, grabbed the puppy crate and went into the kennel. I could hear the kitten crying loudly but could not see it, even though it sounded like it was barely two feet from me. I kept meowing at it and it continued to respond, and as I followed the sound I found it was in the kennel way to the left, and underneath the large pallet. OMG, how in the world was I going to get it out from under there? 

It was way over on the outside edge, so I took one of the PVC tubes and banged around on that side, then went in the house to get some food to bribe it with. I put several pieces of dog kibble in a little pie tin and soaked it in water, then tossed one of the pieces under the inside end of the pallet. The kitten ate it greedily; it sure was hungry! The kibble however, was not enough to get it out from under the pallet. So back in the house and opened a can of chicken. I put a small piece of the chicken on a plastic fork and dropped it as far under the pallet as I could and the kitten came closer and ate it. That was exactly what I needed to entice it closer and closer to the chain link, where I could (hopefully), snag it and bring it back on this side of the fence. It took forever. I was on my hands and knees in that kennel for almost two hours before I could get it to stick its head through the fence. Once it did, I grabbed it by the scruff of the neck. It fought my grip - strong for such a little thing!  As I tried to get its legs pushed back and maneuvered through the same hole, the little bastard got its head twisted around and bit me. But I could not let go, or I would never catch it, and if its mother was around she wouldn’t be able to get to it to feed it. It’s going to be very cold tonight and I could not let it stay out there and freeze to death.

So with a bleeding finger I managed to get the kitten through the fence and into the puppy crate, which was standing on end with the door on top. I locked the crate and went inside to clean the bite - man did that hurt! Little bastard had teeth like a piranha!  Hope it hasn’t been exposed to rabies...

I called animal control to come and pick it up but was told that they do not dispatch for cats, but I could bring it in tomorrow. I told him I don’t have anywhere to keep it because I could not have it in the house due to a roommate’s allergies, but they didn't seem the least bit concerned. 

I called the humane society and was told that they only take in animals from other counties. WHAT?!?!  That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of. I know plenty of people who have dropped animals off there. Hell, I took a ferret there that I found in my front yard one time. Then she said that they don’t have any room for more cats. I told her I guess I would just have to turn it loose because I cannot have it in the house. 

I sent a text to a friend and asked if she wanted a kitten. She said to text a photo because maybe Megan’s sister would take it. A minute later she said she had a  home for it - hers! She and her daughter came over shortly after to pick it up, armed with leather gloves and a large towel. Her daughter wrapped the kitten up in the towel and held it against her chest and the kitten started purring. They stopped by the store and got some kitten food and later said it ate and drank and has settled in for the night.

So - I tried to do a good deed and rescue a kitten, and what do I get in return? A kitten bite. But at least the kitten now has a good home. 

 

And I never did finish getting the tarps up on the kennel...