Meet Mighty Mouse!

                        Our Little Mighty Mouse

 "Once upon a time a young man, while driving in Stayton Oregon came across a tiny kitten on the side of the road.  Hoping the kitten was alive he called his Mother and asked what he should do.  Naturally he went back to check on it. Not knowing if the kitten was dead or alive he laid it on the floorboard of his car and drove the kitten home."

 We met my adult Son Donny at our gate and he rushed the kitty inside as it was in the 90's outside that afternoon and the kitten did not look well at all.  The kitten looked at Donny for the first time as he carried him in.  Not turning his head, only his eyes.

 When my daughter Lisa and I saw him we immediately called Debbie W, a strong and caring animal advocate and volunteer with Marion County Animal Control, Pet Smart and several other local agencies.  I can’t say enough about the help that Debbie provides to animals in the community!  Debbie got us an emergency Sunday apt. with Salem Friends and Felines Co. Founder Jeanie S. 

 Jeanie agreed to meet with us and the little injured, dehydrated, skinny and surely starving kitten right away!

 At the Friends and Felines Shelter in Salem Oregon, Jeanie went into action immediately, professionally, and with a compassion that I had never seen before from an animal care giver. 

 After taking Kitty's temperature which was well below normal, she carefully snuggled him into a warm towel and placed him gently on a warm microwavable hot water bottle made especially for kittens.  She tested him for distemper and he was isolated (in my lap) until the results were negative. After that she continued to asses him as she stabilized him with medication and fluids given through his skin as he was unable to drink. He was so dehydrated.  She lovingly cleaned his mouth and chin.  His chin had been drug off by the pavement when he was hit by the car and the skin was just gaping there, hanging down, showing broken teeth, gums and all.  We all thought his chin would require surgery.  Once he was more stable out of kindness, she cleaned his ears and treated them for mites as they too had been torn up and were in terrible shape. 

 As we sat watching the kitten, we all had to make a tough decision.  The nameless kitten had apparently been sweltering in the hot sun for days, after being hit by a careless driver and left to die!  Due to dehydration he was unable to move except to slightly turn his head and eyes and give you that, "please save me" look.  I swear he looked so deep into your eyes you could physically feel it!  Putting the kitty down was the right thing to do, but could he be saved?  He had struggled so long and so hard that we had to try!

 But the thing that I remember most is that she kissed him on the head! 

 Dirty little injured dying kitten! Now I'm a dog person, was brought up that way and it never in a million years crossed my mind to kiss a cat.  But out of shear compassion, Jeanie just bent over the little guy and gave him a little kiss!   To our surprise,
HE PURRED !!!!!


 Jeanie's volunteers came and looked upon the kitty and I remember on of them crying.  We all knew that we had done the best that we could and only time would tell.  Jeanie volunteered to keep the kitty and care for him but my daughter Lisa and my Granddaughter Leah, wanted to take him home and try to keep him alive and raise him ourselves, so Jeanie instructed us on what we would need to do.

 My grand daughter, dauther and I were cautioned about getting too attached as it would be an uphill battle.  We were generously provided us with a carrier, special wet food and clean towels and a microwavable warm water bottle for his temporary use. We were to offer him the special wet food every 2 hours around the clock for 2 days.  Keep him the carrier stuffed with clean towels to make him cozy with and warm with the microwavable warm water bottle and place the carrier in our bathroom away from other animals and children.  Jeanie also instructed on how to give him water by way of injection and gave us all the equipment we needed.

 Before we left, we all, including Salem Friends of Feline volunteers tried to think of an appropriate name for the tough little kitten.  Strong Heart came to mind.  Lucky, and several others.  And then my Daughter and Grand Daughter Leah commented on how small he was and how he looked like a small mouse.  Mouse! We settled on       MIGHTY MOUSE.........

 Apprehensively, we took him home.

 For the first 48 hours we did exactly as Jeanie had said.  It required sleepless nights but we determined not to let Might Mouse or Jeanie down. We were rewarded with purring and eye contact, especially for my Daughter Lisa and Mighty even gave her an occasional turn of the head.  Mighty would lift his head slowly as we talked to him, and he would listen intently, understandingly, while we told him what a good strong kitty he was!

 On the 3rd day,  he stood. 

 After much rest and care and continuous cleaning, his chin finally healed.  Soon he was able to eat  on his own and started to gain a little weight. Amazingly his torn red ears even healed!

 Today the only signs that he was ever injured are the 2 bottom teeth that have grown slightly cockeyed and the 2 scars on his chin.

 Now he lives happily with our family.  He the most VOCAL cat of all.  More so than a Siamese.  As floppy and snuggly as a ragdoll and happy. This silly kitty rolls over every chance he gets for a belly rub. Even our veterinarian commented on it.  He's so loving that he baby sat a litter of kittens for me till they were 6 weeks old and went to Pet Smart and found forever homes.

 The moral to the story is that he with the love and care this little one made it and is now several years old.  Because of the initial care he received from our friends at SFOFs he survived. And a special thanks to Debbie's referral there and getting us in, Jeanie for her kindness, and insite and instructing me on what to do.

 We don't have pictures of him of his first days as they would of been too sad to take, but rest assured,  Mighty Mouse is alive and well. Missing teeth? Yes, scars? Yes. Most cuddly kitty ever? Absolutely!

Pam Z