New foster kitten - Evelyn Sophia

For the last week or so my neighbor and I have been trying to rescue several kittens in our apartment compound. We knew of a litter of four and another litter of two that needed help but they were pretty feral and very difficult to catch. They were all also too small and light to set off the humane cat trap borrowed from SPCA Selangor. I live on the second floor of the low-rise part of the building so I could very clearly hear their distress calls. Unfortunately the skittish little dudes were all too quick for me so several days passed without progress. Eventually the litter of four disappeared. I have no idea where they've gone or whether they're still alive. They were about 3 to 4 months old. Hopefully they have just wandered off somewhere else.

The small litter of two also proved to be difficult. Though younger, they were just as wary and fearful as their older friends. My neighbor, let's call her Miss 8th Floor, first heard loud baby mews about a week ago. She soon spotted a tiny tortie kitten hiding among the plants and gutters outside the condo management office. This little kitty was tiny and well camouflaged. Unfortunately she was also very quick. We still haven't caught her and no one has heard or seen her since last weekend. We were told by the security guard that this kitten has a sibling but at that point we had not seen the sibling yet. The guard also told us that he had found the kittens' mother's dead body 2 saturdays ago in the parking lot. No idea what killed her. In any case we had pretty much given up hope of rescuing the tortie kitten and her sibling when I received a pleasant surprise. BC, a lady that works in the condo managment office called me and said they had managed to catch a kitten. I assumed she meant the tortie. Once I got home I dashed over to the office and was surprised to find that they had caught a tuxie kitten. None of us had ever seen this kitten before but i think its possible that this tuxie kitten is the tortie's missing sibling.

We decided to name her Evelyn Sophia, a very grownup human name :) I'll call her Evie for short here. Evie was emaciated, dehydrated, extremely timid and fearful. I brought her home and set up a little space for her in the laundry area. She promptly hid behind the washing machine and it took me ages to get her out. Since then she has improved by leaps and bounds. In the last 3 days she has gone from being terrified of me to sticking to me like glue and butting her tiny head against me all the time. She sits outside my room and meows at the top of her lungs if i don't let her in. A couple of days ago, she had to spend the night at the vet.. Dr L was worried that Evie might have a diaphragmatic hernia. For more info on what that is click here and here. Evie had been vomiting and having trouble breathing. Luckily an xray showed that Evie's diaphragm was intact and all her organs in the right place. It also showed that her heart is bigger than it should be. Dr L says we have to keep a close eye (and ear) on that but so far, her heartbeat sounds ok. Evie is now on a two-week course of antibiotics for severe flu. This flu is making her wheeze and cough and even gag. She is recovering at home with me now and having fun running around playing although its hard for her to breathe and eat with all that congestion.

When Evie is well, she will be available for permanent adoption to a good home. She is about 3months old now and a very sweet gentle little tyke. Spaying and vaccinations are compulsory as usual. Evie will not add to the massive population of strays suffering in Malaysia. Photos coming soon. Adoption procedure on the right side bar :)