Warning: this section is sad. If you want to skip the sadness, I completely understand – just scroll down to the divider line.
This was Skylab.
Wednesday afternoon, Brittany asked if I’d be willing to try to introduce an orphaned 1 week old kitten to Mercury. I was willing to give it a try – I suspected that Mercury, who is the most chill cat ever, would do fine with the introduction. Wednesday evening I brought her home, took her into the foster room, and held her out for Mercury to sniff.
Mercury sniffed and sniffed and sniffed some more. She stared at Skylab and considered, and then she licked her on the head. I put her in the nest with Mercury and her sleeping Missions, and Skylab sniffed around, then just lay where she was. She was so very thin and lethargic. And next to her, the other kittens were HUGE. They started waking up and basically steamrolled over her on their way to the milk bar, so I wrapped her in a towel and held her against me to keep her warm. I mixed up formula and started feeding it to her through an eyedropper. I won’t go through every detail of the night, but I will tell you that I spent the night in the foster room doing my best to keep that tiny girl alive. Mercury would come over and check on her every so often, and I tried a few more times to get Skylab to nurse, but I could never get her to latch on.
Around 4:30, while I was holding her against me, she passed away. They are so very fragile at that age, and she had been away from her own mother for too long before we got her, I suspect. I’m sad that I wasn’t able to save her, but so very glad that I tried.
Sorry for the sad news in a usually happy blog (and the second time in just a couple of weeks), but I didn’t want her short life to pass unremarked; I’m sure y’all understand.
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There are some new things up over at the Winnie’s Wish Insta-Auction – go check it out!
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I don’t know what Kara will do now that she gets her bed (on the dryer) back from these boys.
Chip, lookin’ for trouble. As usual!
Gaston, asleep on my desk. As usual! He loved to sleep in the bed on one side of my desk for a while, then get up and mosey to the bed on the other side (stomping on my keyboard, of course) and sleep there for a while, and so on.
It was super difficult to get those boys into their carrier yesterday afternoon, let me tell you. It required OPENING the carrier door so that first Gaston stomped inside and Chip followed, and then CLOSING the carrier door. Those boys couldn’t have been less sad about leaving me – they were both totally all “SEE YA! WE’RE OFF TO OUR NEXT ADVENTURE!” I mean, obviously I didn’t want them to be scared or sad, but geez, boys, how about PRETENDING you’ll miss me?
The house is quiet without those boys thundering around, jumping on each other, and flirting with Uncle Dewey. I suspect they’re having a very good time in their forever home right now!
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“Mama! Stop! I am CLEAN!”
Wherein Stardust escaped the nest. You can see Mercury in the background, keeping an eye on things.
“Are you getting into trouble over here, missy?”
“No, Mama, I’m being good.”
“Well, come back to the nest. You’re too little to be out there with the big dumb human.”
“Hurry it up, kid, the milk bar won’t stay open forever.”
::thlurrrp::
They both look pretty smug, don’t they?
Hubble the hisser.
Telstar with attitude (and a tiny bit of tongue sticking out.)
Mercury considers her life choices and decides I’m somehow at fault.
Listen, you guys, we’ve gotta talk about something, and that something is Aurora’s belly.
Look at that thing! It’s huge!
“Ess-SCUSE, lady, that is very rude.”
I MEAN. She certainly doesn’t fit in the palm of my hand anymore! It’s been a couple of days since I weighed them, but three days ago she weighed nearly 11 ounces. The kitten who’s closest to her in size is Hubble, and he weighs an ounce less. I’ll be interested to see if she retains her lead as the chunky monkey of the pack as they get older.
Phoenix giggles.
I just adore this picture of Stardust. What a gorgeous girl!
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If only Stefan could figure out a way to relax. ALAS, it is not to be!
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Previously
2016: “We is tryin’ to nap, lady. You go ‘way.”
2015: Meet Cletus van Damme.
2014: Exfoliation Monday, with Tricki.
2013: No entry.
2012: Petey hopes y’all realize that Caturday is for relaxin’.
2011: Volunteer Purslane, growing in one of the empty raised beds.
2010: I DID NOT toss Bolitar over the door, even though it sounds like it.
2009: The many faces of sweet little bunny Terry.
2008: Naturally, Zoe was all “Hey, this is cool! I like this!” and took up residence.
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.
I’m so sorry about Skylab! She knew comfort and warmth in her final hours, all due to you and Mercury
I was going to write the same thing. I’m so pleased that Mercury was willing to foster her (I know you would help any kitten but not all cats will do so).
And that’s what I was going to say, too. Sometimes even SuperMom and SuperRobyn can’t make a miracle happen, but you both made sure her little life had love in it.
These posts always make me smile. I am so sorry about Skylab, but she knew warmth and love in her final hours, thank you for that.
Godspeed, Skylab. Your earthbound mission is complete. Thank you Robyn, for sharing and for caring. Her mission was successful – seek peace, comfort, and love.
The babies are getting big and I will miss Gaston and Chip and hope for updates – many and often!
Happy Friday, have a great weekend!
Aww, dang it! I was holding it together until I read this and then your words broke me and I cried. I am going to choose to imagine her now free kitty spirit floating unfettered through space and time. <3
Skylab’s passing is sad, but you and Mercury did try and thank you for that. She got love and comfort in her little Book of Life and that’s a huge thing for all of us.
Awww, poor Skylab. You and Mercury both gave it your best shot, and like others said, she knew warmth and love in her final hours.
Aw, sweet little love Skylab… She got to experience love and warmth, even for a little while. And I know she got a kiss or two to boot.
I’m going to miss seeing Chip and Gaston as well! I wonder if Uncle Dewey will notice his little mini-mes are no longer around?
Oh, those little faces…
I guess it was meant to be. I am sure your care and love comforted Skylab immensely and sent her on her journey with love.
I’m so sorry about Skylab, but as others have noted, she was loved. She would have considered her mission a short but successful one.
Awwww Robyn… So sad about Skylab. Too fragile, and just too long away from mother’s milk. I know you did everything you could, and Skylab left this orbit knowing peace, love, and warmth.
I’ll join everyone else in saying that you tried the best you could, and Skylab was loved and warm when she passed away. Sweet little kitty girl….
And Chip and Gastoni! What a couple of goof balls! I will miss their shenanigans!
Aww sweet little Skylab. You and Mercury did your best Robin. It was just that Skylab had a different path to take than what we wanted. At least she got a warm and safe place while she was here. She and Kepler can be together as siblings and can explore the world of the Rainbow bridge together.
Did I really misspell your name. After all these years. Sigh. Maybe there was a little blood flow damage to the brain afterall.
Thank you for giving your all to Skylab, Robyn. I’m picturing her fulfilling her name and girdling Earth and the heavens, saluting you and making the ultimate air biscuits each time she passes overhead.
Blessings to little Skylab as she travels onward… Robyn, I love that you are always willing to try to save them, even when you know the odds are not in your favor. Thank you!
Thank you for giving little Skylab comfort and love.
I’m so glad you tried for that tiny girl, and bless Mercury’s lovely kitty mama heart for being willing to try too.
We note her life and mourn with you.
Poor little baby Skylab. But, as all the others before me have said, her final hours were warm and filled with love. Thank you.
Also. Aurora’s belly. I have a dire need to poke her in each and every one of those precious belly spots.
best wishes to the boys and their new families!! blessings to Skylab…it is so hard when we get them too late.
I love how Mercury welcomed her so readily.
thank you Robyn for staying up with little Skylab. You did everything that you could for her.
Awe, so sorry about little Skylab. But at least she wasn’t alone and scared anymore. Hubs to you and Mercury for doing your best with her.
Thank you for being there for Skylab who is now probably circling all points at the Bridge with a smile and a fat little belly. What’s Uncle Dewey going to do without all that attention? Probably nap more, right?
Thank you for filling Skylab’s last hours with love and comfort. Sweet baby definitely needed to be introduced and recognized in your blog. Skylab was worth it.
Blessings to you, Robyn, for giving little Skylab a chance, and for seeing that she knew love and warmth in her short life.
Thinking and smiling about Gaston and Chip and the great time they are having getting to know their forever home.
Thank you for trying so hard with Skylab. I know it’s got to be hard to lose them, especially in your arms, but you gave her comfort in her short life and that means a lot. Hugs!
Good luck Gaston and Chip! Wish my cats were that hard to get into a carrier..
So you’re like, look at Aurora’s belly, and I’m like “Spots! So cute!” And then you’re like, it’s huge! and I’m, “Oh, ok, yeah, but… SPOTS!”
Stefan has that bed at a wicked tilt! He better watch out, one wrong roll and he’s sliding out onto the floor!
It sucks when you can’t win, Skylab knew someone was trying and passed with someone to grieve her.
I’m so far behind in my reading, I shouldn’t read these posts backwards, but what is on Stardust’s ear?
Robyn, I’m so sorry to hear about little Skylab. Whenever I hear of a little kitten passing, I’d like to think my girl Rootie met them at the Rainbow Bridge and is watching out for her now. Thank you for doing what you did for her.
Your adorable “Don’t you make…” video is on Cats, Beavers, & Ducks! It really is adorable.
Oh Robyn… so very sorry to hear about Skylab. So glad that you gave her a chance. No words… just love. <3
Its sad when they dont make it, but it warms my heart to know that there are people like you out there caring for every tiny scrap of life.