On August 14, three tiny newborn kittens were discovered in various locations in a scrap yard in Kelowna. They were brought to an animal hospital where they received emergency care.
“We were contacted by the finder who was working at the yard and requested he take the kittens directly to the animal hospital,” says Shannon Paille, manager of the BC SPCA Kelowna. “Barely a day old, one still had the placenta attached.”
The finder searched for the mother and any other kittens that may be in the yard but did not find any. “It’s heartbreaking to imagine these tiny kittens alone, without their mother or even each other for warmth and protection,” says Paille. The BC SPCA is committed to covering the costs of the kittens’ emergency medical care.
Sadly, one of the kittens was in critical distress when they arrived at the hospital and had to be humanely euthanized. The other two kittens were kept in an incubator overnight at the hospital and were given subcutaneous fluids. Despite extensive efforts to stabilize her condition, a second kitten’s health continued to deteriorate and she was humanely euthanized.
“We found an amazing foster for the surviving kitten who is bottle feeding him every two hours and weighing him daily to make sure he is gaining weight,” says Paille. “They have an animal safe heating pad for the little one to provide some comforting warmth so they can feel safe and secure. It is important for newborn kittens to be kept at a consistent temperature.”
Paille says they are cautiously optimistic about the kitten’s health. “This kitten has a fighting spirit. The foster says he is eating well and is gaining weight.”