How I came about fostering Arista, was by a desperate circumstance rather than by choice. I had been volunteering at the Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary, in their cattery and had fostered kittens for short stays at my home. Never though had I seriously considered taking on a neo-natal. Let alone one with eyes still closed and umbilical cord attached.
That was until, a hotel in Barbados called Ocean Acres about a tiny kitten they'd found. Apparently the kitten had been alone for awhile with no signs of mom coming back.
Ocean Acres, asked if I would take her for a few days (which became weeks) and though anxious, I agreed. Truly I was feeling the fear and doing it anyway. When she arrived I was so shocked at just how small she was, couldn't have been more than a day old.
She arrived crying loudly and so equipped with the kitten formula and syringes Ocean Acres kindly provided, and having watched the Kitten Lady on Youtube, I began nursing her. I fed her every two hours for that first week, setting the alarm to wake me during the night and keeping her warm and snug in a small cardboard box with a towel.
We dealt with constipation, a time when the syringe plunger off-loaded too much formula at once, and I had to quickly make sure her airways were okay and there was not respiratory sounds in her breathing (scary), and her learning to use a litter tray.
The weeks flew by and she grew, and each week I adjusted the timing of her feeds and the amount of formula, based on the references I used from the Kitten Lady and on google around kittens development.
It was the most incredible of experiences (and one I repeated with Bravery though she was around 3 weeks and has an even more dramatic story for another time).
Up until Arista was around 8 weeks I thought I was fostering her. It wasn't until I really had to begin thinking of having her adopted, that I knew I couldn't part with her. At the time I had two adult cats who were hissy with her. But nevertheless, she did her best to fit in and I loved her from day one, so really she was never going anywhere.
Today Arista is a bundle of energy. She tested positive for FIV and has two episodes of being quite ill with viral infections, so I have to be careful. She goes out only occasionally. She's a picky eater who only eats small portions at a time, but like I said has tons of energy. Wakes me around 5am and resists cuddles, but loves to sleep next to me on the ground by the sofa when I'm laying on it.
She's a complete joy and has changed my life profoundly in the most positive way. She has helped me to become more believing in my capabilities and to take better care of myself.
Arista was a special gift and one I shall treasure for all my days.
Arista Today
*For anyone considering fostering a neo-natal kitten for the first time, I would urge you to make sure you do your research diligently, and be prepared for sleepless nights those first two weeks. You will have to be prepared to make sure they have bowel movements and pee pee, after each feed when under 3 to 4 weeks. Feeding them correctly is super important too (not on their backs), grooming them with a toothbrush can help mimic their mom's grooming, keep them warm and safe from your other pets. They will need regular worming Kitten and factor in costs for vet checks, and be prepared for the unexpected. With all that said. It will be one of the most rewarding and life changing experiences you'll have.