Empress of Mars: Undisputed @zebratron2084@awoo.space

@zetasyanthis @Doephin @anthracite Yeah. We're gonna be pretty fucked up by this for a while. It's absolutely not fair. There should be someone out there for these little guys. We're just out of ideas that wouldn't involve turning our lives upside-down completely and, from what we've heard from friends with wildlife rehab experience, wouldn't probably still end in heartbreak.

Ultimately, the decision not to bottle-feed hinged on the fact we have two very healthy and happy bumblers in the next room who are really gonna need a lot of love and attention in the near future. I can't bring myself to risk failing them *too* by taking on more than we can possibly shoulder.

The worst part is that yeah, there is always something more that can be done. We are too shellshocked and financially depleted for heroic measures right now. So... yeah. Crying ourselves to sleep. *hug*

@zetasyanthis @Doephin @anthracite Thank you for understanding. This has been really heartbreaking for us and if there were a clear path to rescuing them, believe us, we've promised each other we'd be on it.

For further context, these aren't even our cats. These are the local ferals. We only ever expected to be feeding them. We have ZERO cat ownership experience. Our neighbor used to take them in when they needed it, but she suddenly moved away. We've already done a backbreaking amount for their siblings, including taking in two OTHER kittens just last months.

We're making plans to get them all fixed as fast as we can, but we're up to EIGHT cats not including these poor babies. We are stretched to our absolute limit already. If this were Cat Crisis #1 for us, I'd be real damn tempted to pick up a bottle and start feeding them myself, but we're already at capacity in every conceivable way. ;__;

@Phorm It's a good idea but we tried that too. She showed no interest and got really stressed out and hissy.

We've put them out in the shed with the door open and some food. It's a last-ditch hope that Shadow was just getting stressed out by being indoors and will change her heart.

I already had to explain this to somebody and I hope I don't have to explain it to anyone else: New Orleans's rescue services are utterly slammed. There was nobody who could help us. Please don't compound our grief by asking us. This was the hardest thing we've ever had to do.

The only other option we can think of is to bottlefeed, and that's just not feasible. We don't have the ability or resources. Other than that, it's "panicky post to Reddit in hopes someone qualified can take in three kittens on extremely short notice." But I've never seen any such thread that didn't end up in "we'd love to help, everybody's slammed."

If anybody else does have any last-minute suggestions, please don't hesitate to tell.us. If you know someone in the area who is willing to take in three kittens in crisis IMMEDIATELY, this would be a real good time to let us know.

@Doephin @zetasyanthis @anthracite If it gives you any sense of proportion here, the most recent animal intake on the main New Orleans animal rescue site is from 2017.

@Doephin @zetasyanthis @anthracite We looked for options. As noted to Zeta, New Orleans's shelter and rescue services are perennially slammed.

@zetasyanthis @anthracite They're overwhelmed down here. We live in New Orleans and Katrina had a massive continuing effect on the number of strays in this town.

@Phorm

o/` Float up from your bottle
o/` With baubles... and charms

@xinjinmeng @Phorm I'm so glad there's at least one person out there who has even heard of MIssing Persons...

The good news is that Sugarfoot and the Lvl 1 bumblers -- who are on the cusp of promotion to Lvl 2 anklebiters -- are doing marvelously. The kittens are showing me their first signs of active affection, seeking me out with happy noises and trying to climb my legs. ^____^

Mom is still not visibly acknowledging them. They are alive and moving, but she's ignoring their cries.

We have decided to let nature take its course, though it's one of the toughest decisions we've ever made. There just aren't the resources to care for them, not if Shadow isn't on board to raise them.

There is still a glimmer of hope. For all we know, she's feeding them when we haven't been around.

We're not seeking advice, and to be perfectly honest, I don't want to discuss it. I just wanted to let people know.

So, Shadow hasn't even acknowledged the kittens since she got home. That's only about an hour and a half, but they're probably about due for a feeding and we're worried she's rejecting them.

We've done the best we can for them. We've tried to set up a cozy private spot for her and the kittens and we're gonna let nature take its course and hope for the best. :(

i am in complete shock over these fucking cats

shadow is still on the way back with her batch

everyone is doing fine except for aunt tiger and dragon who want to scream

ok shadow is off with the mobile vet and they have our phone number

i increasingly support the theory she is about to have kittens; she has been purring with little sign of further distress, her leakage is not mostly blood, and she seems to be licking at her Lady Regions periodically.

we already begged the vets office for adoption resources.

well crap, shadow is either ill or having a litter DX DX DX

@Phorm FWIW, I *do* consider my wish to have been accurately and skillfully fulfilled. Win or lose, Trump has gotta be thinking about those NY suits and Deutschebank and sweating...

fop stache-ism

@Aradia @mawr Hello, I hope you have enjoyed this reply. If you have any questions, please feel free to read it again.

Sincerely yours,

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Hey I just want you all to know that I am posting this message right now

however this message should not be confused with the very similar one posted recently by @mawr, as they are wholly separate in content and purpose, including the presence of this disclaimer

thus please make sure all replies are appropriately directed and indexed

thank you

@Cerulean thats the same shit that made me swear off classic nethack after 30 minutes. "the strategy guides want me to do WHAT with my pet!?" 🤬