Magnolia the kitten learned that being polite won’t cut it if you want the bottle before your siblings. The little torbie girl was barely born into the world when her mother abandoned her. But she got a chance to live thanks to a kind person and rescuers. And when Magnolia got that chance to survive, she took it!
Rescuer Alyssa from the Chicago suburbs got an unexpected delivery of four kittens named after streets in Rockford, Illinois. Magnolia, Elena, Fisher, and Forest were born on a porch, but their mama cat wasn’t doing a good job caring for her babies. Thankfully, the person living there saw the kittens and called on Alyssa.
Magnolia and The Rockford Kittens
Alyssa’s kitten incubator had only been empty for about five hours when she agreed to take on bottle-feeding the two-day-old kittens. They were “fresh out of the oven,” as she put it humorously.
“After Juniper left, the incubator was empty for approximately five hours before I got a message about four kittens who’d been born on someone’s porch. Their mom had walked past for hours without showing any interest in caring for them, so the homeowner scooped them up and brought them to me. They are FRESH. Day two of being alive and they are enjoying about 5mL of warm formula every 1.5-2 hours via syringe. I always find them in a cozy cuddle puddle.♥️”
At two days old, the outlook for neonatal kittens is often uncertain. Despite every effort, many won’t make it without their mama cat. Fortunately, these babies were feeding strongly. You can see how very tiny they were below.
“Nothing better than a fragile newborn orphan having a great meal. This little girl and her littermates have been doing so well considering they had a rough first 12 hours of life. Very proud of them!♥️.”
Magnolia the Tabico
The kittens were initially fat and happy, thanks to Alyssa’s expert care. A tiny Tabico, Magnolia had a mix of tabby and calico patterns. Kittens can also be considered Torbie, with tabby and tortoiseshell patterns similar to our own Jugg and Zig Zag.
“The most content little Tabico in the whole world.♥️”
Tummy Troubles for the Rockford Kittens
As often happens with such young kittens, they had to overcome some serious tummy troubles without their mama cat to care for them. Such issues can quickly become dangerous as they become dehydrated. Alyssa knew young kittens under two weeks old were likelier to have a bacterial imbalance and infection, not parasites. So, she immediately began supportive care, including two different medications and a probiotic.
Nevertheless, the kittens developed a respiratory infection, and the foster mom had to incorporate an oxygen chamber, nebulizing, and tube feeding to save them. Without her extensive experience, they simply wouldn’t have made it. They made it, sneezing, but otherwise, fine.
You can see Elena below.
Steel Magnolia’s Big Voice
Once back on the road to recovery, Steel Magnolia’s diva side emerged. She wasn’t about to let her siblings get the bottle first. No, developed a “patented scream,” heard anywhere in the foster home. Even if she got fed first, she would continue screaming for second breakfast and at every meal. The screaming worked and Magnolia generally got the bottle as she demanded.
“Magnolia has learned that the quiet kittens, the ones who go “mew,” do not get their meals first, and so she developed her patented scream. The scream can be heard on all floors of the house and is used in any and every situation, including the one in this video. See, she got her bottle first, and while her poor littermates where getting her leftovers, she decided that she wasn’t done. She was ready for seconds, and she was going to get them now. And so she did. The end. There will be re-enactments of this scenario happening tonight, tomorrow morning, and every mealtime from here on out.”
The Rockford Kittens Grow Up in a Flash
Flash forward by around eight short weeks, and the Rockford kittens were already mini-cats. All survived and thrived thanks to Alyssa, who cared for many other kittens simultaneously. First, dapper brothers Forest and Fisher found a home together.
The bonded brothers would always have each other to play with, one reason it’s a purrfect idea to adopt in bonded duos.
Then, Magnolia, now a pretty mini-cat, found her home on the range in Minnesota, while Elena went home with another kitten, Honeysuckle, to the Chicago area. We wonder if the foster mom gets updates of Magnolia screaming for more treats from her new northern home.
“The house is feeling a little quieter but I’m thrilled that these girls are settling into their forever,” Alyssa shared.
The home wouldn’t be quiet for long, as the rescuer drove through a snowstorm to save more furbabies! To help, you can follow her on Instagram and the Orphaned Kitty-Corner she directs in Central Illinois. They’re also on Facebook.
Elena the kitten goes home with a kitten named Honeysuckle.
