Conference misery::feline_v1

    Hi MAry,
    
    I'll keep my fingers crossed, and I'll keep MY eyes open (since
    Beth Can't) for a new home for this sweet little foster baby.
    
    Prayers coming her way, in hopes that her eyes clear up soon!
    
    Bonnie

    Beth is settling in well and the conjunctivitis seems to be under
    control.  However, it's apparent that she can only she shadows and not
    much else.  I spent Saturday night treating her eyes, then putting her
    in front of her food dish, then moving her to the litter box, then
    taking her out of the box, then putting her on her blankie over and
    over.  She now can find her food dish, and when she's done, she moves
    over to the door, walks into it, turns left, following the wall, walks
    into the litter box, then climbs in, does her duty, then reverses the
    process.  If she finds herself facing the wrong direction, she screams
    her head off for me to rescue her.  What a brat.....
    
    Last night, I put her on the bed with me for a few minutes and she
    snuggled up to my arm and, for the first time, purred.  Seems she likes
    me after all!
    
    Mary
    

    Mary, 
    Beth is so lucky you've taken her in.  What a Saint you are.  
    
    I know something of what you and Beth are going through.  My 20 yr.
    old Toy Poodle, Cookie, recently went totally blind and I've had to
    help her adjust by lending a hand when she seems confused as to where
    she is.  She does pretty good in our small apt. and finds her way to
    her food and water dish, as well as her two beds (one in my room and
    one in livingroom).  She walks very slowly with nose to ground outside,
    following her scent in most cases.  She also stays close to one side of
    walkway when she makes her way down the couple of steps to yard until
    she reaches grass.  I have to watch every move while she's outdoors
    because, as I said, she sometimes gets confused (probably when she
    picks up her own scent and walks in circles).  Don't want her heading
    down the walkway at front of house as she could take wrong turn onto
    roadway.
    
    Except for her eyes, she's in good health and even attempts to play now
    and then indoors.  In fact, she was rolling on her back in livingroom
    one night and the next thing I saw was "Thai" leaping back and forth
    over Cookie.  Cookie would stop rolling for a minute trying to figure
    out what caused that "breeze" over her and would continue rolling until
    it happened again.  My cats have even shown concern for her when she'd
    bump into a corner or piece of furniture and come over and rub against
    her.
    
    They are all so special but then you already know that, Mary. :-)
    
    Pat, D.P., Thai, Holly, Buffy, Jamie, Midnight (& Cookie)
    

    Better watch out, Mary!  Sounds like you may have
    a "vacancy" at the INN.... 

    Mary,, please give  Beth hugs from me. and of course very
    big kitty kisses.. You are a  Saint..!!!! Also give the rest of
    the kids hugs from Auntie Kate too..
    Kate, Happy, Preschie, and Kissy..

    
    	re: Lynne
    
    	I was thinking the same thing!
    

    Most animals do okay after they loose their sight. It's the smell
    they can't do without. Keeping the furniture in the same place
    as well as other things is very important.
    
    We had a friend who had a German Sheppard who lost his sight from
    Diabetis, he was only 2 1/2 years old. He learned to do very well
    and the second year found he could still jump into the swimming pool
    and paddle to the steps and get out by himself. He seemed so proud
    when he accomplished this.
    
    Mary, are the shadows the best it's going to get? She will make someone
    a great indoor kitty. She will be so special, that the additional care
    if any will be well worth it.
    
    Keep up the good work. (They sure know a softie when they find one.)
    
    Barbara

    Barbara,
    
    It's too early to know the final outcome of her eyes.  She "sees" the
    vet again tomorrow evening (along with Mr. Biff's stitch removal!) and
    we'll discuss the next step.  If the scarring of the corneas doesn't
    improve, we'll take her to Dr. Bachrach at VONE to see if the scar
    tissue can be removed surgically (after we have the fund raiser!). 
    This little doll is going to get every shot at as normal a life as we
    can give her.
    
    Biff sneaked into her room tonight and when I found him, he was
    alternately hissing at her and washing her ears!!  Boy, was she
    confused!
    
    Mary

    Welcome Beth!  I hope your eyesight will improve tenfold within the
    next few weeks.  Grandma Mary has pulled many cats thru tuff times and
    I'm sure you will be no exception!
    
    We are rooting for you!
    
    --Roberta

    Oh, this little girl!  She's just too much!  Now that her infection is
    under control, she's been meeting the other 6 in supervised visits. 
    You should see this little 7 ounce blind kitten hissing and purring at
    the same time!!  I just found her asleep on top of Honey...he gave me
    the dirtiest look due to his miffed-ness, but there was Beth, sprawled
    all over him.  I put her back on her pillow....what a doll...
    
    Mary
    

    Holding good thoughts and special prayers for this little treasure -
    she sounds absolutely wonderful.  Please keep us posted.
    
    Giudi +3

    Obviously Beth's lack of sight has not prevented her from winding herself
    around your heart strings. Boy, their power to do cute things comes
    shinning through no matter what.
    
    Bless Honey's heart, Give him an extra hug for being such a good boy
    and not fighting with or hurting Beth. 
    
    Keep us posted on Miss Beth's progress. Mary, you should write a 
    book with lots of pictures in it. (Saw a show on PBS on the life
    of Beautrix Potter, and that is pretty much how she got started.
    Writting about the animals she had come into contact with, complete
    with names she gave them and she did the illistrations.) Who can
    resist one of here books.
    
    Barbara

    Well, I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting both Biff AND Beth at the
    vet's office last night with their "Mom, Mary". :-)  
    
    Biff certainly would rather have stayed home and played cards than be
    there.  He's quite a handsome boy.
    
    Now that little Beth, what a cutie.  She's soooo affectionate and loves
    attention.  She's a "real people kitty" that's for sure.  I wanted to 
    hold her so bad but I know my weakness, and then there's also the fact
    that my own still have a virus going around.
    
    Mary, the home Beth finally goes to will surely be blessed with that little
    fighter for life.  :-)
    
    Hugs and kisses, Beth (and Biff too)
    
    Pat, Thai, Holly, D.P., Buffy, Jamie, Midnight (& Cookie)
    

    Any word on whether or not herr infection will completely heal,
    and she'll regain her sight?
    
    Bonnie

    Beth goes back to the pediatrian tomorrow, so we'll know more then.  I
    know I've said this a billion times, but she's the cutest little girl
    I've ever seen, and I've seen a few cute kittens in my days!!  I think
    she's starting to be able to see as she followed my fingers this
    morning and swatted at them as I moved them in the air.  The infection
    is completely gone and I'm praying that at least one of the corneas
    will heal.  I think the odds are pretty good as she's so young and
    healthy (and incredibly cute).
    
    Can you believe I haven't even taken any pictures yet???  What kind of
    Mom am I???
    
    Mary
    

    
    
    Pictures or no pictures, you're still a Great Mom, Mary! :-)
    

    re: what type of mom - a busy one.  I'm guilty of the same things
    with my 9 kittens!

     a very good mom.......
    kate

    Another Beth update....
    
    As of this morning, my sweet angel kitten became The Kitten From Hell. 
    She and Biff were playing "swat" and she did this act that I called
    "Dance of the Kitten Warrior".  It was the funniest thing I've ever
    seen.  Baby kittens have this need to be puffed up and ferocious to
    other cats, even if they only weigh half a pound or so.  Those of you
    out there with babes have undoubtedly seen this dance.  It's
    hysterical!!  She's so cute....
    
    And on the medical side, Beth went to the vet yesterday and was wormed
    and checked over.  The 3rd eyelid on the left eye is covering the
    cornea so it's hard to tell what's happening back there.  Robin (the
    vet) says that's probably good cause it will help keep the cornea moist
    and may help it heal.  This will need to be corrected surgically in the
    future.  The right eye showed some slight improvement in the appearance
    of the cornea, so we have high hopes for at least one eye.  Beth has
    had a terrible bout of the runs and is now on "Auntie Mary's Sick Baby
    Kitten Formula", which is Gerber's strained meats, Gerber's rice
    cereal, skim milk (for extra protein, but no fat), and a little sugar. 
    She just loves the stuff.  I'm going to try a new cat food from Whiskas
    called "Expert" or something...they've got a "conditioning" diet that
    is made of chicken and rice.  It's gotta be easier than this mixing and
    measuring, but my baby is worth it, right??
    
    Next vet visit is next Saturday....
    
    Mary
    

    Mary,, Kissy does that little "jig".. and I laugh( quietly  of
    course).. She did her little "jig" to taunt Happy the other nite..
    and Happy picker her up in her mouth (very gently) and plopped her
    in one of my wicker baskets..!! as if to say.. "into the playpen you
    go".. and stay there..!!!! murpgt.. Happy also did that another
    evening.. I was getting ready to go to bed.. everyone else
    was sleeping except Kissy.. who was deciding who she was
    going "ask" play with her.. she checked Preschie out first..
    and decided NOPE.. I think I will ask Happy.. Happy was sleeping
    in the bookcase prt of my waterbed, and Kissy jumped up and was playing
    with her tail and swatting.. Happy let her do this for a bit.. and
    thenvery gently picked her up in her mouth and carried her off
    the waterbed and plopped her in the wickerbasket.. muttering the
    entire time.. of course Preschie was watching thia and as Happy
    was makig her way back  to waterbed, she  did stop to let 
    Preschie know what she just did to Kissy. MS Preschie decided
    to check this out and  and went over the the wicker basket
    got up in her hind paws and stuck her head in and SURPRISE..
    Tag you are it.. heheheh.. and the chase was on.. as Happy
    laid basck down stretched and yawned and went back to  sleep.
     Kate, Happy,( murpthpurrrmurpth.. into the playpen you go)
    Preschie( come here you little..... ^%&^) Kissy( hNANANANANA,, You
    can"t get me..)

Boy, aren't these little guys something??  Kissy has a slight size advantage 
over Beth, however, so she can hold her own with her "two Moms".  Biff plays
a little too rough with her, after all, she's only 5 weeks old!  But, she does
give it right back to him.  Her blindness causes her to feel things with her
paws before exploring further, and when she did this to Honey's face, he
just popped her right back!  Picture this 5 week old paw on Honey's nose...
well, he just wasn't gonna take it!!

I've been letting her out of her room when I'm home, but she's so small
I'm worried about the big guys smacking her around.  Do you think she can
handle herself at this age??  It seems when she's had enough, she does her
"Kitten Warrior" dance and they walk away laughing.  Am I being too over
protective??

Mary

Mary,

if anyone can make Beth healthy and strong, you'll do it...as far as being
too overprotective, I think at her age, Beth needs lots of sleep to get bigger,
so leaving her confined to an area that encourages lots of naps during the day
is a very good idea.  However, I doubt that the boys would smack her around
anymore than is necessary to keep her off their faces when she gets too
rambunctious.

good luck with her....oh, and you don't really think you will be able to give
this little darling up to another home do you????

Mary, you REALLY have to focus on catching the mom cat who is having all
these kittens...she is going to kill HERSELF at this rate...and the kittens
are going to be sicker and sicker the closer she gets.  It is heartbreaking.
However, she being so trap smart, you are going to have to stop feeding her
for a few days so she is REAL hungry and THEN bait a have-a-heart trap...I
know this is hard, but she needs to be spayed before she gets preggers again.
It is only a matter of time before she has a kitten like my Nicky - and no
matter what you do, you cannot make a kitten like that healthy nor give it
a life free of fear.

Well, the bad news is that the Mom is preggo again.  I've tried starving her 
for days, and then baiting the trap.  She just plain and simple won't be
trapped.  When Biff first arrived on the deck, I set up the trap for him and
she taught him not to go near the trap (with swipes of the mighty paw), then
she sprung the trap (she knows how to do that from the side of the trap).  She
then proceeded to knock the trap over and get the food out.  So, what do I
do now??  My vet and I have talked about drugging her; the problem is that
she might abort the kittens due to the drugs.  I gotta do something.....

Any ideas???

A troubled Mary

    I don't want to sound harsh & hope I don't get bashed for this, but if
    you do catch the mother by using a drug & she looses the kittens, will
    that be ALL bad? Assuming you were going to have her fixed BEFORE she
    got pregnant, your results will still be the same. I've actually seen
    discussion of aborting the pregnancies of feral cats, so I know it's
    not unheard of. Please don't think I'm being mean or unfeeling, it's 
    just the opposite....
    
    Bonnie

No matter what happens, dealing with this Mom is going to be very difficult
for me, both physically and emotionally.  But the fact of the matter is that
her kittens are born ill and lately, malformed.  It's a problem that needs
to be solved and I gotta do it.  I just can't take on any more of her kids.
It's too much, and I'm sure it's not a lot of fun for her either.

Mary

    Then even if she does lose the kittens she is carrying now from being
    drugged, it probably will be for the best rather than bringing ill and
    possilby malformed kittens into the world with little to no hope of
    finding a home.  And you're right, Mary, it's not a lot of fun for her
    either.  It's too bad she's so darned trap-smart though.
    
    Putting a drug in her food could be tricky too unless it worked
    instantly so she wouldn't disappear in the woods and become unconscious
    and helpless.  Let me know if I can help in any way.  I'm only a spit
    'n' holler from Nashua.
    
    Pat
    

    I can get my net back if you think that might help.
    
    FWIW, my feelings are the same as the others.  Its better to
    catch her even if the drugs cause her to abort the kittens.
      Nancy

Mary, perhaps drugs will dull her senses enough that you and an assistant
or two can net her?  I vote for aborting this litter no matter what...she is
at the end of her physical resources or her kittens would be healthy.  It is
better not to bring the kittens into the world with no place to go- at leat IMO.
There are just too many kittens without homes.

Get her spayed and then you will probably have to release her to the wild
again ...she is undoubtably too far gone to ever be a pet.

    We decided we'd go this route if we had to to catch the last few 
    remaining ferals at the barn.....otherwise we can't get near them.
    
    It's a worthwhile risk....
    
    good luck 
    Micheel

    And now for the good news.....Beth tested negative for Felv today
    and...  (drum roll, please).....
    
    
    Robin was able to see a bit of pupil behind the cornea which means the
    cornea is beginning to heal!!!!  She's got a long way to go, but it's a
    start.  When she gets a little bigger, Robin will operate on the left
    eye to release the 3rd eyelid, but the good news is, the right cornea,
    which was very badly damaged, is healing.  YIPEEEEE!!
    
    Mary
    

    WHAT ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL NEWS!!!  YEA BETH!!!
    
    Giudi

    Yeah, Baby Beth!!
    

    Yeah!
    
    L-

    
    I'm soooo happy for Beth, Mary.  Nice to read about good news.
    
    Pat
    

And more good news....Beth followed my finger with her right eye this morning
(the left eye is covered by the third eye lid, so who knows what it was doing!).

She's getting bigger, stronger, and cuter every day.  She makes it up the
stairs with no problem, although she's still too scared to go down the
stairs.  That's change soon, I think, as this weekend, she perfected jumping
off the sofa (onto Biff!)!!

Mary

    Ahhhhhhh - Monday morning smiles - thank you - thank you!!  I have this
    mental picture of little Beth when I read these notes and this little
    baby is really making me smile!  Such good news.
    
    Giudi

    great news.. hugs..
    Kate, Happy, Preschie. Kissy..

    I'm very happy for you all and I hope Beth continues to show such
    excellent progress.
    
    - Kathryn
    

    YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More good news for a Monday....

Last Friday, Robin was able to see a pupil and an iris behind Beth's scarred
cornea and the pupil responded to light.  It's only a matter of time now
till the scarring heals and Beth can see!!

She's doing just great...she eats like a little pig, she's getting so big
(she's a whole 1.6 pounds!), and she gets cuter every day.  She loves the
Arubacat tree (thank you, Roberta!) and she really gets into scratching it.
Now all she needs is a good home!!

A proud foster Mom Mary, who's getting quite attached to little Bethany...

    Good news is definitely good news, Mary!! Three cheers for little Beth-
    
    Hip hip....
    
    HORRAY!!
    
    
    Hip hip...
    
    
    HORRAY!!
    
    
    HIP HIP....
    
    
    HORRAY!!! YAYYYYY!!!! :*)
    
    BONNIE

I'm having this problem with Beth...she's very affectionate and she loves me
to pieces!  That's the good news...the bad news is she shows it by nipping
me--everywhere!!  Last night, in the middle of the night when I was sound
asleep, she felt the need to tell me she loves me by biting my cheeks.
I'm doing all the appropriate things to get her to stop this and I know
she'll out-grow it, but when??????  This is not a behaviour I'm particularly
fond of!!  I hollered at her last night for the first time and she jumped
three feet straight up in the air...I felt so guilty...

Mary and the little nipper!

    Say a firm NO!, and place her on the floor.  She's just
    treating you like her mum!
    
    Lynne

    Mary, Kissy does that to Happy ..!! it is a real riot.. as a matter of
    fact when I first brought Kissy home. Happy was carrying her around
    in her mouth.. and now she is "dragging her around".. it is funny..
    and Kissy is getting a little tired of Happy er um " interfering"
    in her travels.. except of course whenshe was wants to nibble..
    smirk, grin giggle.. She also tried nibbling on MS Preschie..
    who did not find that amusing..  I wish I had my camera out...
    or  a cam corder... picture this.. one  Brown tabby and white
     "starlet" running from a little itty bitty  big mouth tortie
    and the brown tabby jumping into her mummys arms.. and crying..
    HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPP.. and one  chubby blue cream  trying to
    pick up one itty bitty big mouth tortie and drag her 
    into the quiet room . smirk, grin, giggle..
    Kate, Happy( hmm.. this baby is sure getting heavy) Preschie
    (I VANT TO BE ALONE.. I AM A STAR) Kissy( Hey.. why are you
    running away Preschie.. I just want to cuddle..)

	 Another possible  thought - bop her one between the ears with a
     finger  or  two,  like  the  way  cats will bap each other when the
     'box'.   Sine  it's kind of the feline equivalent of 'cut it out!',
     it may work.

    FWIW both CC & Tiffany chew on my fingers in the middle of the
    night when they want to be petted.
    

Hannah still nips my nose during the night when she cannot sleep and wants me
to pet/scratch-ear/pay-attention....I hiss at her and it usually will make her
stop for several weeks.  Of course, if you are sleeping with another human
and he/she wakes up to find you hissing at your cat in the middle of the
night, it can be hard to explain that you are just "teaching her to behave"...
it takes a real "cat-person" to understand this stuff.

Of course, I also taught my first dobe puppy to stop nipping me by biting
her back...I nipped her on her paw - it wasn't enough to do damage, but it
was a "pinch" nip, like her's were, and it HURT...she learned her lesson
in two bites.  My boyfriend, on the other hand, was never quite the same
with me after he walked in to see me bite my dog on her paw....I'm not sure
he believed me.


			D

    Don't read this note if you don't want to hear bad news....
    
    This morning, the cornea of Beth's right eye ruptured.  Surgery has 
    been scheduled for early next week.  Beth will loose that eye, and
    most likely, she'll loose the left eye as well.  I feel like shit.
    We tried, but the damage was too great.  I'm so sad...
    
    Mary
    

    Mary, I'm so sorry!  Try to think of it this way.  Beth is being given
    top of the line care with you!  Just think of what her fate might have
    been had the two of you not found each other.  Imagine her going thru
    this on her own, with no one to help.
    
    Keep the faith.  Maybe damage to the left eye will be less severe.
    
    --R.
    

    
    
    	Mary,
    
    	I too am sorry.  Beth sounds like such a little love.  But
    	like Roberta said, it's better that she has you to help her
    	through this rather than going through it alone.  You are
    	a wonderful person!
    
    	JJ
    

    Oh Mary, I feel so bad for you both.  You've done all you could for her
    and she's such a little trooper. I think she'll adjust to being blind
    if she has to lose the other eye too, as long as she's kept an indoor 
    kitty for life.  I'll be praying for you both and hope things work out
    and she gets adopted by someone who can give her the love you've given
    her.
    
    Mary, my offer still stands if you can't find a home but I don't know
    if you'd want her to come to a multi-cat household if she couldn't see. 
    I know my little dog manages very well with this handicap now and my
    cats all seem to know there's "something" different about her and move
    aside when she comes toward them.  A young, energetic kitten like Beth
    may take awhile adjusting and need some guidance from you or whoever
    adopts her.  You've been such a super Mom and I agree with Judy that at
    least you are there to help her during this crisis.
    
    Prayers, Hugs, & Kisses
    Pat, Holly, D.P., Thai, Buffy, Jamie, Midnight, Dandy (& Cookie)
    

Mary,

A good friend of mine has a cat that went completely blind.  At first, the 
poor dear was a wreck, but with alot of love and attention. He became a 
very very happy cat.  He learned where everything was in the house and got
accostumed to it.  So the owner made sure that they didn't move any furniture
around.

The kitty finally died after 16 years, but he had a good life and he was
extremely loveable.  I hope Beth's story has just a happy of an ending.
I wish I could take, but I don't think she'd survive my puppy.


							Lisa-Marie

    I'm so very sorry - my heart aches.  Beth is so lucky to have you
    
    Giudi

    Mary, I am so sorry to hear that.. we will keep beth and you in  our
    prayers..!!!!
    Kate, Happy, Preschie, Kissy.

    Oh, Mary, I'm so sorry for Beth and you.  I do know that blind
    cats can adjust very well, but the poor baby.  Is it certain that
    she'll lose her left eye?  Please give her hugs and kisses from
    all of us.
    
    Karen
    

    Hi all,
    
    Thanks for all the warm thoughts and prayers.  Robin doubts that Beth
    can see anything except perhaps light and dark right now and it's not
    slowing her down one bit.  It's hard to be sad when this little kitten
    is busy doing The Dance of the Kitten Warrior over a catnip mouse!!
    
    Karen, it's not certain that she'll loose the left eye, but during the
    surgery, Robin will release the 3rd eyelid that is completely covering
    the left eye and make an evaluation at that time.  She said it's not
    too likely that eye will survive either.  But we'll make that call when
    she actually can assess the damage.
    
    Cindy, she's really cute huh??
    
    A sad but still smiling Mary

       Poor Beth,  that's terrible!   The poor girl!   I hope she adapts
    real well.   Just recently I met a blind cat that was out in it yard
    walking around.  I was shocked that the owner let a blind cat out, but
    she says that cat is 2 years old and goes out in the yard all the time
    and doesn't stray.  She looked pretty comfortable to me.  The cat had
    that conjunctivitis when it was a kitten and they found the poor thing,
    but it was too late to save the eyes.  It's amazing how creatures can
    get along when they have to.
    
                     Denise and the gang of 10

    Re: .56

    Yes, Mary, Beth is a cutie!  Her purrsonality comes through in those
    pictures.  You're a great feline photographer!

    Wishing you continued strength throughout this ordeal.  I'll give my
    Butterscotch an extra hug for Beth.

    Cindy

    Hugs and kisses for Beth and Mary.   May the little trooper stay
    strong...and give Mom some strength too!!   Thank god she found
    you Mary.
    
    Keep us posted. 
    
    Sandy

    Beth is undergoing surgery as I type.  I'll post an update when the vet
    calls me.  For the past several days, when I talked with folks about
    Beth's eyes, I've been asked "Are you gonna put her to sleep?"...we
    don't need to discuss that, but it's been making me wonder if I'm the
    best Mommy for Beth.  Although I've been home for weeks, my travel
    schedule is picking up and I'll be gone quite a bit during August and
    September--actually, thru the end of the year.  I've got a wonderful
    sitter who feeds and cares for my kids when I'm away, but Beth is a
    little blind kitten.  Would she be better with a full time Mom??
    I can try to find someone to stay overnight when I'm away, but that's
    not very easy.  Should I try to have Beth stay at my sitter's house
    (she has two Himmies) or is that too much for a blind baby to deal
    with?
    
    I'm having a hard time with this.....
    
    Mary
    

    A reprieve for Beth....the vets decided, upon examination, that she was
    too small to undergo such extensive surgery and that since the
    infection had cleared up that it would be best to wait at least a month
    before putting her under anethesia.  She didn't even weigh 2 pounds
    this morning and since surgery on babies is so risky, they decided to
    postpone.
    
    Mom feels much better and Beth is too busy eating lunch to care...
    
    Mary

re: whether you should find Beth another Mom

Mary, she is blind and has to feel her way through this world using the
other senses she was born with.  Beth will do well as long as her environment
doesn't change around too much....more than most cats, Beth is going to need
an "anchor" in her life.  As you and her vet have devoted so much time and
effort to her already, it makes sense that you continue.  Even if you travel,
remember that her world will still be full of the familiar smells and sounds
that she knows...and things will still be in their proper place.  She KNOWS
where she is.  It will be much less traumatic for her to stay there than
for her to be moved around to new places/faces/other cats.  Especially while
you are still trying to stabilize her health, it wouldn't be wise to ask
her to adapt to a whole new world.  This one should certainly remain with
you.

    Another vote for Beth staying with you.  But you knew that,
    right ? :-)
    

    I say she stays too! Kitties adapt pretty easilly to handicaps, so
    she should make out OK. You sure are a great mom, Mary! Keep up
    the good work!!! :*)
    
    Bonnie

    
    Of course you'll keep her, Mary :^}
    
    Fwiw, I have a cat that's blind in one eye (C.C.), and she's the most
    wonderful cat I've ever had - the biggest lovebunny going!  Maybe Beth
    will be lucky and only lose one eye - fingers and paws crossed.
    
    All the best,
    
    Sandy, Smudge, Tas, Jenny, C.C. and Beau
    

    I'm just wondering, if Beth can see light and dark with that eye, and
    it's no longer infected, wouldn't it be better not to remove it?
    I would think that seeing light and dark would help her navigate a bit
    around obstacles....
    

    I probably don't need to even ask this, but I guess the house is
    cat-proofed even more than usual for Beth, like (excuse the
    indelicacy) keeping the toilet cover closed, etc.
    

    Karen, if I closed the toilet covers, just what would Julie have to
    drink from??  Oh, I guess she could drink the dirty water from the
    dishes soaking in the sink....just kidding.  Yup, the house is pretty
    much Beth-proof!  When they checked her out this morning, they said
    that it's doubtful she can see anything at all as the iris is not
    functioning and the pupil isn't responsive.  But, since the infection
    had cleared up and she's so small, there doesn't seem to be any need to
    do the surgery at this time.
    
    As for who is Beth's Mom... when I picked her up at the vets this
    morning, the vet tech carried her out to me and Beth was screaming her
    head off.  She screams when she's scared.  Anyway, as soon as she heard
    my voice, she started screaming louder (you would of thought someone
    was killing her).  When I got her in my arms, she smothered me with cat
    licks and clung to me for dear life, purring her head off.  Another
    woman in the waiting room said "Well, I guess she knows who her Mom is,
    huh?"...yup, she does.  And her Mom knows, too.  Welcome home, Beth...
      

    Beth couldn't have found a more loving wonderful Mom.  I think you
    made a wonderful decision to keep her.   Please keep us posted...and 
    we will pray for little Beth!
    
    Sandy

    Well, I kind of think that you are Beth's mom and that she
    instinctively knows that you've been doing everything possible to help
    her.  A special bonding occurs in these instances and you are the light
    in her world.  You are a wonderful mom and if your heart and gut are
    telling you to "keep her" then you should go with that instinct - the
    rest will take care of itself.
    
    Miracles happen - sometimes they just need a little help from us.  Lots
    of prayers to you and Beth.
    
    Luv,
    
    Giudi

Another Beth update....

Beth is growing by leaps and bounds...literally!!  She's getting to be quite
a big girl now, topping the scales at 2.1 pounds!  She has finally figured
out how to go up and down the stairs, so she's got the run of the house.  It's
so funny to watch her negotiate the stairs...she's so clever!!  In the past
few days, she has learned that the sound of a can being opened means chow
time and boy does she come running!!!  Once she hits the kitchen floor, she
has to sniff her way around because there are other food smells, like the
dry food that, God forbid, she might take a bite of.  She hasn't quite figured
out the difference in the sound of a cat food can and a can of Diet Coke, but
we're working on that!!  Beth has also figured out that jumping up on the
bed in the middle of the night and running up and down on Mommy's face will
get her the hugs and kisses she wants!!  Am I spoiling her????

Mary

    Yeah, Beth :-)
    

    <spoiling her> = that's what kitties are for!!  OK Beth!!!
    
    

    If anyone deserves spoiling ....it's Beth.  I can't believe
    she navigates around the house like she does.  Felines are
    truly amazing!!
    
    Keep up the wonderful care and love
    
    Sandy

     Mary, Enjoy her, and spoil, spoil, spoil.. and then spoil her some
    more.
    Kate

    I'm sorry I've gotten so far behind in my reading, but the advantage
    is that I don't have to wait to see how things turn out.  Beth
    sounds like she's doing just fine despite her problems.  I also 
    vote that you keep her Mary.  Lets face it, God sent her to you.
      Nancy

Beth continues to do great, even though we had a crisis on Saturday when her
right eye became infected again.  She HATES getting the ointment and she
screams her head off every time, but I'm a little bigger than she is.....
More and more, I'm convinced she can see something out of that right eye,
but it may be wishful thinking.  I think that, if anything, she can see
things right in front of her, but not around her, sort of like looking at
the world thru a straw, I guess.

As for God sending her to me, this weekend, I was looking at a list of the
most popular names for girls and what they mean.  Imagine my surprise when
I saw "Elisabeth - God's promise".  Hmmmm......I like to think of Beth as
being proof positive that God does indeed have a sense of humour....

Mary

Well, it's official...Beth has some pinpoint vision in her right eye, so
every effort to save that eye will be made!!  Gee, I wonder if Dr. Bachrach
does corneal transplants on cats......I know it's possible on people....hmmmm..

Anyway, Beth continues to grow and get cuter every day.  My vet noticed that
her fur is "graying up", meaning that she's getting quite a bit of gray
coming into her fur.  Officially, she's a tortie and cream, but since her
mom (that's her biological mom, not me), is gray and white, I guess she gets
it from her.  Anyone every seen a tortie and cream and silver??????

Mary

    Mary,
    
    Tortie would be a combination of red and black.  Blue cream is a
    combination of blue and cream.  If mom is a blue, then she may be a
    blue cream instead of a tortie.  
    
    Glad to see that Beth is doing so well.  
    
    Jo

Well, she's black and red for sure!  My Meggie was a blue cream, so I know
what that is.  She's got these red toes that make her look like she stepped
in a cream pot; what a little doll!!  The funny part is her tail, which
is black, red, and blue, with the hint of tabby rings.  Weird!!  What I like
best are her thumbs.  When she's very content (which is nearly always!), she
sucks on her thumb (she's not really double pawed, but she's got one extra
toe on each foot that look just like thumbs).

Jo, I'll have to send you a picture....

Mary

    Oh what great news.  I just know that with all this love and so many
    people praying and pulling for her that all is going to be ok.  What a
    miracle kitty!  Yea Beth.
    
    Giudi +3

    maybe she's a tortie smoke!  That's a tortie with the white undercoat.
    I saw one at the last TICA show - almost brought her home as she was
    a shelter kitty - absolutely stunning and rather rare.

    Mary that is wonderful news!!!! hugs to all..!!!!
    Kate, Happy(this calls for pizza), Preschie(rootbeer for everyone)
    Kissy( oh boy another party..)

Nancy and I have been chatting off-line about maybe showing Beth.  I'm gonna
go to the Nashua show, if someone tells me where and when it is, and ask a
few of the judges what they think about handicapped cats.  She's such a little
doll and she's really easy going around people.  Besides, I wanna show her off!

What do the rest of you think about showing a handicapped kitty??

Mary

    My only concern is the state of her eyes -- is she still vulnerable to
    recurring infection, that a show might bring on due to exposure,
    tiredness?
    

    Mary,
    
    I'm so glad to hear about Beth's vision!
    
    Deb

    If Beth can tolerate showing (state of her eyes), I think it would be 
    *wonderful* to show her.  First, I'll get to meet her 8-}, but more
    inportantly, some more people might learn that handicapped kitties can
    do quite well, and be encouraged to save and care for one!  I say - 
    GO FOR IT!
    
    Linda

    Artie Mitchell showed a three legged cat of his once and it did
    quite well.  It was interesting to pick up peoples' reactions.  Some
    folks felt the cat shouldn't be shown (bah!) but many others, including
    Cindy Nagel who gave a wonderful talk when she gave the cat BEST HHP
    in her ring, obviously felt different.  She took advantage of the
    opportunity to educate people on handicapped cats.
      Nancy DC
    

Beth and I discussed the issue at length last night and she first wishes to
talk with THE FIRM on public appearance fees, limos, her Gold Card (gee, Kate,
where did she get THAT idea from??), etc.  These cats are getting out of hand.
Anyway, Beth says that if THE FIRM and her personal physician don't mind, she'll
give it a shot.  I am going to discuss it with some of the CFA judges in
Bedford this weekend and we'll take it from there....

As for her eye condition, she's so #%&$@ lucky her Mommy is a good nurse...
I removed a piece of scar tissue that came loose from her cornea last night
and I'm more and more convinced she can see.  The things I do for my cats...

Argus, get the contracts ready!!

Mary

    I was just looking this up in the CFA show rules, and they have a rule
    that a cat that is not in posession of all it's physical
    properties--eyes, ears, legs, tail, claws, (with the obvious exception
    for manx cats), are not eligible for entry in a CFA show.
    
    In the case of Beth, she still has all her physical properties, right?
    
    Jo

    I don't think I agree with that rule Jo.  The only possible problem
    I can see with that is that the disabled cat might actually have
    an advantage with the "sympathy factor".
      Nancy
    

Ya, Beth still has all her parts, it's just that some of them don't work
real good.

I dunno...I'll talk to the judges this weekend and see.  No one can feel
sorry for Beth; her only possible advantage is how gorgeous and sweet she is!

Mary

    I don't necessarily agree with the rule either, but it is a rule
    nontheless.  I was just passing on information.
    
    Jo

    boo to the cfa.
    

    Gee, that's too bad to have a rule like that.  It's like saying,
    handicapped cats can't compete just because of their handicap.  I
    thought if the hhp cat was healthy, good dispositioned, and well cared
    for, that would be enough.
    
    I hope CFA changes that rule.  There are lots of sweet handicapped cats
    that need (and sometimes lucky enough to get) homes.  I've only been to
    one CFA show and I was quite impressed with the judges in each ring for
    HHP as they asked each entrant's owner to talk about their cat and
    asked how they got them.  Majority were originally abandoned or shelter
    cats and judges seemed pleased that the people got their cats that way.
    
    Pat, Holly, D.P., Thai, Buffy, Jamie, Midnight(my handicap boy), Dandy
    								(& Cookie)

    Maybe a "physically challenged"  class needs to be made
    a permanent fixture in all shows from now on....
    
    HRH

    That rule applies to all cats shown in CFA, not just HHP's.  I don't
    think that it will change.  The only way it could would be if a cat
    club was to draft a resolution for the next annual meeting.  I think
    that most clubs aren't aware this rule exists, or agree with it.
    
    This is just CFA's rule, other associations may be different.
    
    Jo

    TICA seems to have similar rules....I called to find out about the
    Nashua show and the nice woman scanned the rules and, sure enough, dem
    cats gotta have dem parts!!  No points are taken off for kinks in tails
    or extra toes, however!!  She said the rules don't say anything about
    being blind, but Beth's eye condition may be judged as a health
    problem.  So, I'll talk to a few judges as planned, but it don't look
    like it's gonna work out.  I guess Beth may have to wait for the Kitty
    Kotillion to come out in her white gown and white gloves (the one with
    the extra toes)!
    
    Mary

    Well, Mary, you sort of "in luck". Argus gives a discount to
    polydacyles (and Beth can be assured that the contract is air tight).
    
    By the way, there is a polydacyl cat club, the International Mitten
    Cat Association. I've been meaning to register get Argus and Panther.
    
    (I'll put the name/address in 666)
    
    Deb

    re: polydactyl club - I'll register Bob.
    

I went to the Bedford show on Saturday and talked to several judges, one who
thought Beth was a little cutie and that I should show her.  But the guy who
was the HHP judge told me flat out "Leave her at home".  Hmph.  She was
much cuter than all the other HHPs that day, right Auntie Kate???

I think I'll get Robin, Mike, and Beth in that club!!  I call Beth's feet
her kitten mittens.  Boy, is she cute.....

Mary

    Just goes to show you...beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I can't 
    believe that judge sed that 2 u. At least you know that not every judge
    feels that way. "Humph" is right!
    
    Kitten mittens! Sweet feet! Puddie pads! :*)
    
    Bonnie

Time for an update....

Beth is growing into quite a beauty.  She's got a wonderful personality, she's
sweet and loving.  What a little doll....

And now the bad news...we went to see Dr. Bachrach yesterday.  He recommends
removing both eyes.  The left eye is complete gone and the right eye is in
very bad shape.  He says she sees nothing and that the eye acts like an eye
that has never seen much at all.  So, on November 20, my baby will undergo
surgery to be spayed and de-eyed.  It's pretty delicate surgery, so any extra
prayers would be appreciated.

I cried all the way home.  We've tried so hard to save her right eye with the
hope that she'd be able to see something.  She may be blind, but she sure is
a happy little kitten...

Mary

    All my kitties will cross paws and I will say many prayers
    for a succussful operation.   God...little Beth sounds like
    such a sweetheart and she knew where to go to find such a
    wonderful home and family. 
    
    Poor baby....give her soft hugs from all of us!!
    
    Sandy (Poco, Barkley, Agnus, Chloe, Dewey, Abby, and Boggie)

    Special prayers and thoughts for Beth and her family.  What a very
    special little lady she is and what a very wonderful person you are. 
    Many hugs to both of you from all of us ....
    
                  Giudi + Pippin, Gino & StItCh

    Mary,
    
    I've seen pictures of Beth and she is a cutie!  You and I have
    talked about my little Belle who had the one eye removed.
    They do know what you are doing for them, and they do appreciate
    it.  To this day, Belle is the most wonderfull little devoted
    bundle of love a person could ask for.  If I ever thought a cat
    could be greatful, I believe she is.  The vet had said that 
    Belle must have been in incredible pain before the operation
    because of the deteriorating eye, but she never showed it.  Yet,
    once she came home, what a different kitty!  More loving, more
    playful than ever! Beth will surprise you, you'll see!
    
    Sending lots of prayers and kitty hugs,
    
    Mary-Michael, Misha, Mips, Belle and Dream

Mary,

Best of luck to you and especially Beth through her operation.   I'm sure even
Tasha the terrorist kitten will take the time out and say a prayer for Beth too.


>>> She may be blind, but she sure is a happy little kitten...

A happy kitten --> isn't that all that matters?   After all, she's
got a great home and a great mom for taking such good care of her.



							Lisa-Marie 

    
      Oh, poor Beth!  I've been keeping my gang updated on Beth.  They will
    be so sad when they hear this!  We will all say a prayer for her.
    
    Denise and the gang of 11

    We will be thinking of Beth and you, Mary.
    
    Jo

    Mary, I'm so sorry to hear the news about Beth. What a blow -- it 
    certainly stamps out any hope of some miracle that might allow Beth 
    to see someday.

    But if Beth has had no sight for most of her life, removal of her eyes 
    will probably make no difference to her. She sounds like a very happy
    kitten; she has blossomed under your loving care, and has adjusted to 
    her sightlessness. I think animals have less trouble accepting their 
    handicaps than humans do -- we of higher intelligence are capable of
    thinking "if only" and knowing what could be. Animals just live in the
    now and go with what they have. It's a shame nothing else can be done, 
    but I think Beth will be fine.

    Wrigley, one of our latest additions, had his eye removed due to a 
    ruptured cornea when he was 4 months old.  Dr. Mitterling at Amherst 
    Animal Hospital did an excellent job and Wrigley recovered in no time.

    We will all keep our paws crossed for Beth's successful surgery.
    
    Linda, Misty, Cubby, Tweetie, Toby, Peanut, Sunny, Wrigley, & Jumper

    Mary, I am very sorry to hear the news about Beth,  Please give
    her huggys and kisses from us. Tell her Auntie will come and
    make "well visit" soon..
    Kate, Happy, Preschie, Kissy

    After reading all the replies here, I'm very impressed with you, Mary. 
    I wouldn't have expected Beth to have such a normal lifestyle--she is
    incredibly lucky to have you to take care of her and give her a home
    where she is loved and probably never knows she's different.  Inasmuch
    as she's learned to cope without needing what she doesn't have, you
    have taken away Beth's 'handicap'.  (Quotes because by definition a
    handicap prevents you from normal achievement, and it sounds like Beth
    has made normal achievements.)
    
    We wish you and her the best of luck in surgery, and we're sure she'll
    be fine.
    
    Lisa Dean and Snoopy 

    I'm so sorry about Beth;  I really had hopes she was seeing something
    with that eye.  You both are in our thoughts.
    

    Mary -
      I'll be thinking of you and Beth and saying prayers.  I think
    Beth is very very very lucky to have you.  There are very few people
    who would be willing to do for her what you have.  And I thank you
    for sharing your experiences with us.  You have taught us alot.  
      Keep us posted.
       Nancy DC
    

    
    
    	Mary,
    
    	Best wishes to you and Beth.  The poor baby.  I'm only a few
    	offices away if you need me!
    
    	JJ
    

    Mary,
    
    Everything WILL turn out all right. Think positive, and call  me if you
    want to talk.
    
    Deb and THE FIRM

Tomorrow's the day for Beth's surgery.  Any spare prayers tonight will be
greatly appreciated.  I had an awful dream that she didn't make it.  I woke
up sobbing to find her snuggled on my pillow.  She's probably still wondering
why I got her fur so wet....

A scared Mary

    Oh Mary,
    
    She'll be fine and my gang and I will keep you both in our thoughts.
    I know what it is like though....to worry....you'll probably be calling
    the vet two or three times... "Is she o.k.?  Is she o.k.?"  :-)
    
    I think it is especially sweet that when you woke up, Beth was right
    there beside you, all real and warm and wonderful!  Take heart.  She's
    a little trouper and she won't let you down.
    
    Nancy

    Prayers and hugs for Beth.  I'll be home next week, so I'll have to
    wait a week to see your note about the results....
    

    Actually this reminds me that I've been meaning to send you a copy of
    the TreeHouse latest newsletter about a blind pussycat who lives at
    their shelter, and who visitors don't even generally realize is blind,
    he's so well adapted to the environment.
    

    Mary -
    
    Here's best wishes for you and Beth from me and my three...please
    let us know how she does as soon as you can...

    (I tuned in tonite to see how Van Gogh is, now I guess I'll be
    logging in on vacation to see how Beth fares too...it's amazing
    how they get to you, even from afar...)

    Good Luck!

    Sue B + Smokey, Spike and Trouble

An update...

Beth is in her second hour of surgery and she's doing just fine.  In addition to
her eyes being removed, she's also being spayed and having her "inner claws"
removed, just like I did with Mikey and Robin.  These are the claws that tend
to grow inward on double pawed kitties.

Anyway, she's hanging in so far (I only called 3 times this morning....).  I'll
post another report when she's in the 'recovery room'...

My poor little baby...she's doing better than I am (please pass the Valium...).

WorryWart Mary

    Wow!  Beth sure does have a "things to do in surgery" list!
    
    Paws crossed for Beth!
    
    Lynne & Casey, B.K., Moochie, Rusty, Pepper & Nique

    Mary...all my thoughts and prayers are with you today.  God little Beth
    has been through so much...and the saga continues.  But....she is a
    little trooper...and has a wonderful Mom...so I know she'll be okay!!
    
    One of my sisters cats who had double paws had to have the foot
    operated on because the inner claw grew right into the bone.  We
    never knew this could happen...so it wasn't something we knew to
    watch for.  We only noticed it when the cat started to limp.
    
    All fingers and paws are crossed for you and Beth.   How long will
    she have to stay at the vets?????   
    
    Sandy

    Mary,
    
    Our thoughts are with you and Beth today.  Please let us know how she
    is doing, every update you get!
    
    Nancy and the gang

    
    
    	Mary,
    
    	You can ignore my reply in Sandy's Van Gogh note.  =)
    	I stopped by your office a short time ago but it appeared
    	you had left for the day....
    
    	I'm *so* glad to hear she's doing ok.  That poor baby is
    	going to be so sore!  Give her some soft gently kitty
    	hugs for me.....
    
    	And some big human type ones for you..... I know you need 'em.
    	=)
    
    	JJ
    

    Mary,
    
     Kitty hugs and Pawpats to Beth and yourself from me. I'm glad you put
    an update in before I left for two weeks vacation. It sounds like
    she's being a trooper, and knows she will feel better soon. 
    
     I may have access to a terminal next week, so I may try to get an
    update. You are both in my prayers. I know she will be just fine. I can
    feel it in my bones. (Unless that's the rrain I feel! ;-)
    
    Love to you both,
    
    Y

    
    
    	Mary is having trouble logging in from home this time so
    	she asked me to let everyone know that Beth has made it
    	through the surgery just fine!  Mary has to call around
    	5:00 to find out when she can take her home.  I'm sure 	
    	she'll update again when she can log in.
    
    	Yay Beth!
    
    	JJ

    Yea, Beth!  Yea, Mary!
    

I never doubted it for a minute....that kitten is like my Hannah - she
is fated to live a long, happy life ---- in spite of these little set
backs...

Beth is doing fine, I'm sure...Mary will recover in a few days..8^}

				D
    

    Well, Baby is doing fine, Mom is exhausted!!  I spoke to Robin (my vet)
    about an hour ago and my little one is doing fine.  She was out for a
    little over two hours but was awake and alert late this afternoon.  The
    right eye bled more than Robin had hoped for, but seems to be OK now. 
    We're not sure when she can come home...maybe Saturday, maybe Sunday,
    it just depends on how she's doing.  Hopefully, there won't be any
    further bleeding.  Her Mom is a good nurse, and I can't wait to get her
    home.
    
    It was funny to hear Beth the receptionist (after whom Beth is named)
    tell me about how they all took turns holding her this morning because
    she was crying and screaming so much.  She's a special little kitty to
    all of us, I guess!
    
    I've got a pre-op picture of Beth looking very adorable and if anyone
    would like a copy of it, just let me know.  She's too cute!!
    
    Thanks to all of you for all your support.  It's nice to know I've got
    so many wonderful, caring friends out there in Feline-land!!
    
    I'll post another update when I get her home...
    
    A relieved Mary

    She's home!!  I'm so glad to have my baby home again, and I think she's
    glad to be home.  She walked into everything when she first got in, but
    I think she's figuring out where she is.  She disappeared about noon
    time and I found her in the basement, snuggled up in a box that was
    just about her size, hidden under the stairway.  She just wants to be
    alone, I guess.
    
    Poor little Beth...her fur around her eyes has been shaved and she's
    got quite a few stitches in each eye.  She's quite a sight, but I don't
    care!  I can't wait for her to run around a play...maybe in a day or
    two.  But, she seems to be doing OK.
    
    I'll post progress reports as the week goes on.
    
    A relieved Mary
    

    Mary...I thought about you and Beth all weekend long....sure
    glad to hear she's home!!  What a little trooper!!
    
    Please give us day to day progress!!
    
    Sandy
    

What a little trooper!  Beth continues to improve every day.  We had a little
scare when her left eye began to bleed a little Saturday night.  I called my
vet and she told me to put cool compresses on it, which Beth fought like a
tiger, and the bleeding stopped.  Fortunately, it hasn't started again.  I'm
monitoring her temperature, which is a perfectly normal 101.5, and all her
many, many stitches look just fine.

Beth's still pretty disoriented, more than I was expecting, but most of her
whiskers were shaved off, so her radar is only half working.  But, she's doing
well in spite of everything.  She still sleeps alot, and hasn't really started
to play very much, but these things take time!

So, she's doing great, I'm getting some sleep, and thinks look good.
Now all I gotta do is pay the *&$%@#^* bill!!

Mary

    I'm so glad she made it Mary. You're one heck of a mom!
    
    Bonnie

    Glad to hear that Beth is doing so well after her surgery.  You hang in
    there too Mary.  I am sure this has been harder on you than it has on
    her.
    
    Jo

Well, here it is Tuesday and Beth is pretty much back to normal.  I still
INSIST that she had some form of vision in her right eye, but what do I know...
I'm only the Mom!!  Anyway, she's running, jumping, playing, and having an
all around good time.  She's just starting to follow me around, like she did
before her surgery.  Beth used to, and is starting to again, follow me
everywhere.  If I went upstairs, Beth went upstairs, even if she was napping.
This morning, I was lying around on the sofa watching her play when I decided
to take a shower so I could feel human again...you know the feeling!  Anyway,
I went upstairs, flopped on the bed (such an effort) and within seconds, up
popped Beth, ready to curl up for a nap.  She's so cute!!

My visiting nurse, who is a real trooper, checked all Beth's stitches this
morning and cleaned her eyes and Beth purred thru the whole thing.  She even
let the nurse pill her, which was quite an accomplishment!

So, she's doing great, I'm hanging in, and things are slowly getting back
to normal...

Mary and bouncing Beth

    Happy Thanksgiving, Beth and Mary!