Uvie

All kittens are cute, but floofy white calicos with bright orange spots are my weakness.  In 5 years, 34 various groups of 128 total kittens I have fostered, I think I've only fostered one previously: Magical Meeko. I had to send her home with this unicorn toy. She was glorious.

Our rescue runs primarily out of foster homes spread out from Auburn to Sacramento, a 30ish mile stretch.  We don't have any centralized shelter building.  The closest would probably be my house, as I host kitten clinic every 3 weeks and am one of the main supply locations.  One benefit of hosting clinic and being one of the data entry volunteers is that I get to see nearly all of the kittens in the rescue.  One of our newest intake volunteers sent the data team information about a new kitten, but didn't provide all of the data we need to input a new kitten in they system.  My data partner and I emailed requests for the additional details, including asking for the foster's name and a photo/description of the kitten.  The intake coordinator replied that she was the foster "for now" and sent the picture and description as "calico Domestic Medium Hair" 

Little Uvie was only 8 days old at the time, but this bottle baby foster has passed many kittens to me when they're ready to wean.  In fact, She was the original foster for most of the voids and Mama Kirin and her original 6 babies!  So, after I did the intake, I sent her a quick text, letting her know when she was ready to pass along Uvie, I'd be happy to be considered.  To my surprise, Paula replied back that she was hoping to go out of town that weekend and she was also having more trouble recovering from the endless nights of interrupted sleep, so she'd love to pass on Uvie to me sooner rather than later.  I don't usually get kittens that young, but I figured I had just enough summer time left to get Uvie mostly weaned so that she would survive and thrive if I left her home all day when I went back to work.  I gladly agreed on the condition that I get some extra training and information about raising kittens this young.  Paula and the other mentors are always willing to help, so that wasn't a hard condition to fill.  

I did ask about her unusual name, and cried when I heard the story from the finders.  The momma cat didn't return to them for at least 20 hours and they were found baking in the record hot summer sun.  Uvie had a brother, Sunny, who was protecting her with his own body.  When they were rescued, he was very lethargic and weak.  He passed away as Paula was picking them up from the finder.  

But Uvie came determined to honor his sacrifice and began to thrive with the care and love she received in rescue, first from Paula and then from me. She took to the bottle quickly and began gaining weight rapidly.  She opened her eyes the day before I got her and became pretty responsive to being called, though she sometimes got a little lost and went in the wrong direction before tracking me down. 

Uvie was in a real incubator with Paula, but transitioned to a fancy brooding bin with a heating pad easily when she came to my house. Mama Kirin, who growls and hisses at older kittens for a few days, was instantly intrigued and accepting of little Uvie.  She broke into Uvie's box a few times.  Even though I was keeping Uvie separated for her quarantine period, Kirin watdched over her carefully, letting me know when Uvie woke up and was ready to be fed.  

My excitement was contagious and several friends reached out to visit her. She got bottle fed by a stranger at least once a day for several days.  

Her visitors included Heather, a professional photographer, who took some gorgeous pictures of Uvie and my other fosters. 

But the real joy was introducing Uvie to my dad.  At first, he thought she looked a little weird- he tends to think all calicos look a little confused with their patchy color patterns.  But it didn't take him long to fall in love and think she was just "SO CUTE".  My dad moved in with me the day my mom died, and while he's surviving, he was definitely not thriving without her.  Uvie brought some life and spark back to him.  I have tons of videos of him cooing over her and plan to cut them into a single video, as you just can't truly appreciate these moments without hearing his giggle (and his cussing), but it's after 10pm (I've been blogging since about noon... finishing the NMs, doing the Ohana litter, and now Uvie) so that is a project for another day.  

Uvie came out of quarantine the day after Benny/Captain Gantu arrived.  She seemed to know, as the morning her quarantine was over she woke me up screaming- she had climbed out of her brooding box and was stuck between it and the wall!  She supervised as I set up a bigger area for her, including a litter box, bowl of kibble, and small water dish.  Uvie used the potty box on her very first day! 

Uvie came out of quarantine the day after Benny/Captain Gantu arrived.  She seemed to know, as the morning her quarantine was over she woke me up screaming- she had climbed out of her brooding box and was stuck between it and the wall!  She supervised as I set up a bigger area for her, including a litter box, bowl of kibble, and small water dish.  Uvie used the potty box on her very first day! She also blended right into the Ohana litter.  What she lacks in size and coordination she makes up in spirit and determination.  Once we got Pudge the Fish to stop trying to eat her (she always smells like formula), they were able to play together and she follows them into cuddle piles for post-play nappy time.  

Uvie loves almost everything, except being stimulated to go potty.  She thinks she'd prefer it if I never rubbed her privates, but I know she'd be very unhappy with a UTI so I do it despite her screaming.  She. Is. Perfection. 

9/21/24 update
Uvie's potty issues resolved and she grew up to be one of the most confident kittens I've fostered. She is pure, unfiltered JOY.  She has greeted everyone she has met (mostly humans and other cats) as a friend and playmate.   

She also got very attached to my Shark Bed, which went with her when she visited the other house.  It's too big to send to petsmart, but I'd happily give it to Uvie's new family if they reach out to me!  She has slept in it daily since she was a bottle baby.