Around Thistle Cove Farm, it pays to have a brave heart. Lily, you may remember, was a barn kitten, saved from being a warm meal of the two barn owls. She’s been in the house for almost three weeks…hard to believe!…and spent the first week being fed with an eyedropper. Every couple of hours, I’d mix kitten milk with water and feed Lily, then, I’d stick her down my shirt or nightgown, so she could have a little nap. At night, I still heat a rice filled bag and slip it under her cushion so she sleeps warmly.
I don’t leave Lily alone with the dogs as the dogs aren’t to be trusted…yet. Lily needs to be a bit larger before the dogs will accept her and not hurt her. Even so, I don’t think there’s anything braver than a kitten. Lily is about seven or eight inches, stretched from back paws to front paws, and will jump half again her height to grab hold of the sheet covering the sofa. Then, she’ll drag herself up, up, up until she’s on the sofa so she can be-devil the dogs.
Lily is now being fed with a kitten baby bottle and sucks like a Dyson. Sophie would cheerfully and with great gusto kill Lily so those two, especially, aren’t being left alone.
Each morning, Lily is retrieved from “her” dog crate and taken to the sun room so she can drink from her first bottle. Then, she’s placed on the floor where she romps with Tippy for an hour or two, fed again then placed back in the dog crate for a nap.
Lily has progressed to the point where she’s grooming herself but sometimes still needs a little help going to the bathroom. When a kitten leaves her mother while the kitten is very young, the kitten needs to be fed, then flipped on her back and her face and tummy stroked with a warm, wet washcloth. This mimics the mother cleaning, licking and grooming her baby to produce urine and feces. So, it’s a really good thing Lily has begun grooming herself…a positive step forward!
At first, I thought Lily was about 5 weeks old but now I think she was between 3 and 4 weeks. Her eyes were blue, as are most newly born kittens, but look like they are going to stay blue! Now, she looks about 6 or 7 weeks, is gaining weight and due to be de-wormed tomorrow. She has begun to eat canned cat food…ugh…and as soon as she’s able, she’ll eat kitten kibble. For more information on kitten development, visit here. Yes, Lily was taken from her mother at an early age but her mother was elsewhere. She was probably eating her own breakfast, getting a drink of water or even hunting. At any rate, Lily has a chance at life now; at the barn, she was nothing more than a meal waiting to be eaten. Lily is happy; so should you be for Lily.
Blessings ~ Lily ~ Sadie ~ Sam ~ Sophie ~ miracles, on a daily basis ~
Sandra Bennett says
Mildred, Lily has fully recovered and eats solid food now.
Linda, Lily has a sweet personality too.
Glenda, I'm one of those nuts who go without so the animals have plenty.
Angela…meow! -grin-
Donna, I keep stuffing food in one end and she keeps growing! -grin-
Jane and Lance, it's almost time for a Tippy and a Lily update!
Timi, what did Mira name her kitten?
Catherine, isn't it amazing how those of us who rescue animals still do it years and years later?
Mama Tea, I didn't give Lily a choice; I brought her to the house to save her life -grin-.
Lynne, Lily says "thank you!"
Paula, Lily seems like she's going to make it…hurrah!
Karen, I'm doing my best!
Gail, she does suck like a Dyson…strong little mouth, that one has!
Sandy, Lily hasn't a clue!
Dori, love my new name you've given me…CatMama…cute!
LindaSue, it's always a struggle to not bring in more animals but it's best and less expensive to only keep the ones we've got.
Annie, the cycle of life is amazing!
Chastity, life goes on and God is faithful.
Kerrie, please tell your Lily hello from my Lily -smile-.
Dormouse – Lily is beautiful and just as sweet as she is pretty.
Maa, this is critter city around here but I love 'em all.
KathyB, Lily is a real corker; pretty, playful and sweet.
Carletta – she won't stop getting cute!
Carletta says
She has gotten cuter and cuter!
KathyB. says
What a beautiful little kitten Lily is, and what zest for life. I already love little Lily.
Maa says
See … you've never lost that mothering instinct. Lily is so gorgeous and your doing a great job with her. I love that surprised look on her face. Sue
Fat Dormouse says
She is gorgeous!!! Our little Bib that I rescued in June is doing very well. She had been abandoned by her mother and would likely have been crushed under a lorry going in and out of the site! Your experiences with Lily are rather like ours with Bib. She is now about 4/5 months old and is the feistiest cat I've ever met!
Kerrie says
So, so interesting! I adopted my little Chihuahua, I named her Lilly, too! I got her from the rescue ctr. 2 weeks ago and she weighs 3 lbs, is 4 mos. old. She is precious and just what I needed for loneliness. If I lived near you, I would gladly volunteer for all chores just to experience all of your wonderful creatures! Hugs and love, Kerrie
chasity says
kittens bring such laughter with their sweet playful romping.
hope you have been well.
blessings to you~
chasity
annie says
kudos to Lily, and to you..,, the cycle of life is amazing. I have only had a couple of cats in my lifetime, never one so young or needy, this was a very interesting reda!
LindaSue says
I am trying SO hard not to bring another animal into the mixture here. Old dogs, aging barn cat and 9 chicks are enough ——right? Waiting to see how my life unfolds in next year or so. Lily does look like a fierce feline – and quite the cutie.
dori says
What a sweet cat-baby!And you are a wonderful catmama, Thistle! Sophie looks like a good big sister, I think, they will be friends, soon.
Lilly remembers me at my baby-cat Biau, but I lost her last November – and I still miss her. I guess she might have problems with boy-cat. She was bad injured and one week later she was away.
Mybe she found a better place. I want to trust her Creator to lead her the bestway (and me,too)
There are things, which are hidden for us, and we cannot see them, and we have only to be faithful.
Sandy says
lol…she doesn't realize how little she is, lol.
Visiting all on Bridge and Beyond blog log to remind everyone it's Fall, time to gear up with our yarn to take care of those in need. Also, visits and comments have fallen way off, causing the blog to fall in the search engines. Please swing by for a visit, leave a comment or two so we know you were there, it does help.
Gail Dixon (Louisiana Belle) says
Precious! I just had to lol at this: "Lily is now being fed with a kitten baby bottle and sucks like a Dyson. " 🙂
Karen says
Is there anything cuter than a playful kitten or puppy?
Lily is getting some good raising….
Paula says
Bless her little heart… so glad you gave her a fighting chance, Sandra.
Lynne says
Be happy Lily and thank your "thistle Cove momma" for giving you a very good start in life!
MamaTea says
OH my gosh, Lily. Bless her brave heart. 🙂
GLENDA CHILDERS says
Sweet lucky kitty … life is good for her on the farm.
Fondly,
Glenda
Catherine says
What a little darling Lily is! Mmm I've done a fair bit of cat & kitten rescuing in my time..we had 10 here at one stage…neighbours! Funny how they come & go..dear friends that they are. Mind you, there weren't 10 for long! Only two "borrowed" ones these days…phew! Quite a family you have there Sandra. Much love Catherine x0x0x
Timi says
I am happy for Lily :o)!
She is such a lovely kitten! And guess what? We found a little kitten too! She/he was left on the street…so we took s/he home…:o) MÃra is very happy :o)))
Jane and Lance Hattatt says
Hello Sandra:
As you may readily imagine, we are instantly in love with Lily. She is perfectly lovely and we are so happy that, with you, she is able to look forward to a safe and secure life in a very caring home. Do, please, keep posting regular updates!
Brynwood Needleworks says
What a lovely story of how you opened your heart and home to this sweet little thing. She surely is a brave-heart, too! I'll look forward to watching Lily grow. Thanks for sharing.
xoxo
Donna
Angela says
What a good mommacat you are!
GLENDA CHILDERS says
Sweet Lily is receiving such wonderful care on the farm.
Fondly,
Glenda
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces says
Lily is just adorable…
Anonymous says
Lily is precious and very blessed to be with you. She and our Blue share similar circumstances and I'm so happy for them both!