The Brightons leave the hospital

In our last installment we left the Brightons in the veterinary hospital, sneezy, wheezy, malnourished, dehydrated, and blind. Things seemed to get worse before they got better, and one kitten even required forced tube feedings. However, a skilled foster caregiver was willing to take them home and nurse them around the clock, and was permitted to do so after demonstrating that she could get reluctant Chadwick to take 10 cc of formula from a syringe, obviating the feeding tube.

Oh, yes, the Brightons have first names, too: Chester (dark tabby), Charles (b/w tuxedo), and the twins (brown tabbies), Chadwick and Chauncey. Yes, four boys, though we had a Chelsea there for about a week until his itty bits descended and we realized he needed a more masculine moniker.

CHESTER IS READY FOR HIS PHOTO OPCHARLIE, CHAUNCEY AND CHADWICK STARTING TO FEEL BETTER
If you've never done it, be assured that getting up every four hours to bottle feed kittens is a chore. It can take close to an hour to make the formula and cycle through four reluctant eaters, plus medications and cleaning up. Fortunately, the Brightons began eating from a dish after only a few days, first Chester, who was barely sick, then Chauncey, then Charles, who was still completely blind, and finally, a week later, reluctant Chadwick. We think he just liked the bottle.

EATING ON THEIR OWN

That is SO much easier. Then we moved from six to five feedings a day, with six hours to sleep at night, and after a few days, four feedings with a full eight hours over night. Heaven. But they are on their third round of antibiotics, three still having respiratory symptoms, and 3 bad eyes, down from 5 when they came home. A mixed review, but better on the whole.

To be continued...