These two kitties are on their guard when I come into the room. The orange girl (who still needs a name) is laying in the large cat bed. Her ears tuck back automatically and her eyes dilate in fear. She crouches under the tall sides of the cat bed, only her eyes are visible and she watches me carefully, wondering what I am going to do to her next.

Gray girl is hiding inside the carrier. It is covered with a dark cloth and brings out her den instincts. She feels safe within the confines of this cave, but I am about to shatter her illusion of safety. These kitties did not eat last night and they need fluids badly.

I tried to give them fluids last night but finally gave up. They become rigid at my touch and so the elasticiity of their skin vanishes and there is no tent of skin to use to take fluids into.

So I come with reinforcements. My dear friend Haley who used to be a vet tech has volunteered to help me out. To perform a simple act that my husband no longer is able to- to give kitties fluids while I hold them.

Carefully, I draw up the fluid into the syringe. 60 cc. Little orange girl doesn’t like the added visitor and though we keep our voices low, she knows something is up. Her claws dig into the bed and she won’t budge. So rather than turn this into a tug of war, I bundle her bed and all and place her on top of the cage.

Her skin is so loose you could turn her into a purse! The needle goes in easily and the bubble starts forming on her skin dissapating as her body drinks up the much-needed fluids. She takes the whole dose and leaks just a little bit but better than last night because when she struggled, I temporarily turned her into a sprinkler.

I tuck her into a carrier and turn to gray girl. Using the bed to cushion her and comfort her, I cover her with the shell blanket exposing just the part of her neck where the needle will go. She is so tense, all the loose skin vanishes until gentle massaging brings it back so we can stick her.

When it is over, I breathe again. I am hoping this process will jump start their appetite and make them feel a bit better. I wonder how someone could have them in their home and not notice they are not eating or drinking- or notice and do nothing about it.

Haley and I sit on the floor and talk to them quietly. Our backs are turned but they can hear us and we tell them that they are okay. They are in a safe place and will want for nothing. They need to eat and drink and get strong and be healthy. Before we leave, we set out multiple bowls of water and one more pet fountain. They need to start drinking on their own. Hopefully, now they will~