OH, What a Day That Was

As I reported on Monday morning, poops had firmed up, and everyone was gaining weight and looking good.  The Huddlestons were finally ready to be released from their extra-long quarantine period and mingle with the big cats.

So, Monday evening, I opened the door to the kitten room, and the kittens tiptoed out into the world.

There was a little huffing and puffing when they met Wylla, who was waiting for them on the living room rug, but soon, they were prancing and pouncing and running all over the place.

They had a blast, and it sure was great finally seeing them out and about! They were so ready --- the kitten room was starting to get a little too small for them.

The next day, once everyone had their breakfast and boxes were scooped, I sat down to check to check emails and get started on yesterday's post. First in my box was a message from the Foster Department telling me that Doc had some concerns about my kittens and he wanted to see them sooner, rather than waiting for our appointment on Friday.

This message had me worried, no panicked, so I picked up the kittens, put them back in their room, and grabbed the phone and gave the shelter a call.

Sarah, who is head of the Foster Department, shared the results of Beau's latest fecal examine -- he had tested positive for Panleukopenia. Doc wanted me to bring everyone in to be tested, and Beau, to be tested again.

If you've been following the blog since Wylla's early days, you'll most likely remember that Panleuk was the virus that took her brother's life, so hearing this news was a punch to my gut.

There was a chance that Beau's test was a false positive, and of course, that's what we were hoping for.

But there was also a chance that Beau did have it, and we may have gotten him through it by treating his symptoms -- dehydration, diarrhea, and vomiting.  And even though he and his siblings are hearty, solid, and healthy now, it meant Panleuk could have entered our home again.  When this happened before, it meant weeks of deep cleaning and bleaching to get rid of the virus from every porous surface in the kitten room, and a year off of fostering to play things safe for future litters.

Thankfully there was no need to be concerned about Wylla and Charlene with Panleuk --- they are fully vaccinated, so they weren't at risk.  

We waited, and I worried and mopped the living room and dining room floors until it was time to leave for the shelter at 1:15.

Doc did blood draws and a fecal swab, and all of the kittens' results were negative this time. Thank God, Beau and the others did NOT have Panleuk. Their recent vaccines had caused the false positive results in the first test.


It was a day lost to worrying, but I'm so grateful that in the end, all was well. The Huddlestons are healthy.