Special Story: Cherry Garcia
- Helen Morrison
On April 1, a very special day, Kingdom Animal Shelter received 8 very young kittens. They had been born in the home, and on March 30, were reported to be 8 weeks old. They were surrendered from two mothers who parented the kittens together, so it was a bit hard to tell which were actual siblings.
They went to two different fosters, Tori Gerritts and Family, and Pat Coe, four each.
Who knows if siblings ended up with siblings. Probably not.
When Dr. Sally did the intake physical exams, it was apparent that one of the little female kittens, Cherry Garcia, had a significant heart murmur. Heart murmurs are rated on a scale of one to six. Cherry Garcia’s appeared to be a five or even six, a “holosystolic murmur”. Sally thought that the murmur was probably from a hole between chambers in Cherry’s heart.
At 8 weeks, Cherry Garcia weighed 1.24 pounds. An eight week old kitten typically weighs around 2 pounds.
Special Story: Cherry Garcia
- Helen Morrison
On April 1, a very special day, Kingdom Animal Shelter received 8 very young kittens. They had been born in the home, and on March 30, were reported to be 8 weeks old. They were surrendered from two mothers who parented the kittens together, so it was a bit hard to tell which were actual siblings.
They went to two different fosters, Tori Gerritts and Family, and Pat Coe, four each.
Who knows if siblings ended up with siblings. Probably not.
When Dr. Sally did the intake physical exams, it was apparent that one of the little female kittens, Cherry Garcia, had a significant heart murmur. Heart murmurs are rated on a scale of one to six. Cherry Garcia’s appeared to be a five or even six, a “holosystolic murmur”. Sally thought that the murmur was probably from a hole between chambers in Cherry’s heart.
At 8 weeks, Cherry Garcia weighed 1.24 pounds. An eight week old kitten typically weighs around 2 pounds.
Cherry went to foster at the Gerritts household, along with “siblings” Ben, Jerry, and Chunky Monkey. Though getting the best of care from Tori and family, Cherry wasn’t putting on weight like the others, and often seemed a bit low key. But as time has gone on, she is gaining nicely, and has gotten back some good energy, to play with Meeko (from the March-April newsletter…he is probably a Pituitary Dwarf) and snuggle with Jerry.
Cherry Garcia will probably stay with the Gerritts, where she will have the best of care and an abundance of love for as long as that is possible.
We are eternally grateful to the Gerritts for the incredible loving fostering they do.
Victoria Gerritts, volunteer and foster:
May 1
Hi there,
Yes, heartbreaking but we knew it might be. We love her very much so it will be very sad, but we were lucky to have her for however long we do. Josh is still very hopeful for some sort of miracle and she certainly has her good moments! Like this morning she was bunny kicking Meeko, and chasing a spring with Jerry. Then just now she was playing with a spring with Meeko. I tried to get it on camera but I got the very end. (Watch the video here). She just seems to have her tired moments and she knows when she needs to slow down. Hadley is aware of the situation and she honestly has a healthy understanding of life cycles for a 6 year old. I wish I processed it like she does. We will keep you all posted on any new developments or concerns we have.
We definitely planned on having her for as long as her heart allows.
Thank you for checking in, for your care and empathy, and your kind words.
Tori
Cherry Garcia will probably stay with the Gerritts, where she will have the best of care and an abundance of love for as long as that is possible.
We are eternally grateful to the Gerritts for the incredible loving fostering they do.
Victoria Gerritts, volunteer and foster:
May 1
Hi there,
Yes, heartbreaking but we knew it might be. We love her very much so it will be very sad, but we were lucky to have her for however long we do. Josh is still very hopeful for some sort of miracle and she certainly has her good moments! Like this morning she was bunny kicking Meeko, and chasing a spring with Jerry. Then just now she was playing with a spring with Meeko. I tried to get it on camera but I got the very end. (Watch the video here). She just seems to have her tired moments and she knows when she needs to slow down. Hadley is aware of the situation and she honestly has a healthy understanding of life cycles for a 6 year old. I wish I processed it like she does. We will keep you all posted on any new developments or concerns we have.
We definitely planned on having her for as long as her heart allows.
Thank you for checking in, for your care and empathy, and your kind words.
Tori
May 3
Hi all,
I wanted to let you know that Cherry has been going back to her old self. The last couple of days we have noticed she went from being sluggish, to playing like she used to. She’s been chasing springs, bunny kicking Jerry, and attacking Floof’s tail. She’s resumed her sleeping next to Meeko and tries to fight her brother for their coveted strawberry cave. She takes breaks and gets tired easier than the other 3 still but I have no idea what was going on those few days but all of us could not be happier to see her improvement! I guess for now we just take it one day at a time.
I’m finally able to breathe again
Tori
Hi all,
I wanted to let you know that Cherry has been going back to her old self. The last couple of days we have noticed she went from being sluggish, to playing like she used to. She’s been chasing springs, bunny kicking Jerry, and attacking Floof’s tail. She’s resumed her sleeping next to Meeko and tries to fight her brother for their coveted strawberry cave. She takes breaks and gets tired easier than the other 3 still but I have no idea what was going on those few days but all of us could not be happier to see her improvement! I guess for now we just take it one day at a time.
I’m finally able to breathe again
Tori
May 4
This was Cherry and Jerry yesterday taking a nap next to me while I had my morning coffee. Our goal is to get her to 2.2 lbs like her siblings. She was 1.8 earlier today.
Tori