Happiness is a Well-Formed Poo

I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's true.

When raising kittens, one of the best ways to monitor how well they're doing is by watching what goes in, and what comes out.

These guys have been great little eaters, but they've had a long stretch of diarrhea. It's not uncommon. There's always an adjustment period for their little systems when they go from whatever it was they were eating before, to a steady diet of good, healthy food.

Diarrhea is no fun for anyone. Their poor little bums get sore, and if it goes on too long, they get dehydrated, which means having to stick them with needles and give them fluids.

It slows their growth down. Every day they have diarrhea, they're not gaining (and often losing) weight, which is not good.

Their medicine, even though it's tuna flavored, tastes so horrible it makes them foam at the mouth. They hate, hate, hate it.

It's sooooo messy too. They always end up stepping in their poo puddles, poo-ing on their tails, toes or each other, and of course they track it everywhere.

FINALLY, yesterday, when I went to greet the kittens and give them their breakfast, I discovered the most perfect poo in their litter box. In fact, it was so well-formed, it had the strength to stand completely vertical. This little poo monolith was the most glorious sight.

Good bye diarrhea. Hello healthy kittens.

Everyone is doing so great now. They are packing on the ounces already, and their bellies are getting big and round. They are reaching the end of their quarantine period and soon will be able to bounce freely about the house.

I'll spare you pictures of the poo monolith, but share with you instead, a picture of a happy kitten.