On Maggie's first days in her forever home ...

Maggie's very first minutes in her forever home. 

One look was all it took.  I picked her up and asked if I could be her servant, and she accepted the promise of my undying devotion.

The shelter wouldn't let me take her home until she'd been spayed, so I had to wait four days to pick her up.  I was absolutely silly when the big day came to bring my feisty little Mistress home.  Because of our schedules, we couldn't get her until 4:30 pm.  Trust me, a day never lasted so long!  But, it was time, and I almost ran in the door when we arrived.

When the attendant brought her out of the back room of the shelter, she immediately tried to put Maggie in a box without me seeing her.  I stepped forward to give her a reassuring love pat - and almost didn't recognize the kitten she was holding. 

She was salivating profusely.  There was blood caked around her mouth and nose, as well as blood stains on her paws where she rested her head. 

I asked what happened, and the attendant said, "She might have had a seizure coming out of anesthesia, it happens.  She'll be okay.  But, if she's not better by Monday, you might want to take her to the vet."

That night I realized she wouldn't live until Monday unless she got help.  The first thing the next morning, we took a flying trip to the vet.  The seizure was pretty severe - she bit through her tongue and cheeks.  Her little tongue was black from bruising.  She was such a sick little baby.

The vet prescribed antibiotics, and I had to force feed her gruel with a syringe.  It was so traumatic for her because her little mouth was so sore, but without the food and medicine - she would quickly face dehydration and kidney failure.

Fighting for her life. 

It was a battle to get her meds and food down.  Her mouth hurt so badly and it hurt me to have to force her.  She fought like a tigress - and I have all the scars to prove it!  For days, she lay cuddled in my arms or close to me on the couch.  At night, she slept on my shoulder, her mouth pressed against mine. 

A week later on a return trip to the vet, she was given a steroid shot.  Later that night she perked up, and jumped off the couch for the first time.  She began eating on her own.  And little by little, she became a fiery little clown - silly, snuggly, happy, and in love with her life in her forever home. 

It's hard to believe the little waif hiding in the corner is the little clown I snuggle with today.

Sleepy, snuggly, and safe in her furever home.