The poor kittens were suffering from ringworm (Picture: Blue Cross)
Five kitten siblings who were found abandoned in a box last year have started 2022 in new forever homes.
The poor things were just eight weeks old when they arrived at the Blue Cross rehoming centre in Burford, Oxfordshire.
All five of them were found to be suffering from ringworm, an uncomfortable condition that can cause cats and dogs to lose all their fur and leave them with dry, cracked and itchy skin.
It’s likely the kittens, which staff named after characters from The Land Before Time films, would have died if they hadn’t been found.
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Elisha Webber, an animal welfare assistant, cared for the siblings while they were at the rehoming centre.
She said: ‘It has taken us six months to treat the kittens for ringworm and a lot was involved in getting them healthy again.
Little Ducky was the worst affected by the ringworm (Picture: Blue Cross)
She was in a very sorry state (Picture: Blue Cross)
‘To begin with, we had to isolate them from the other cats here in the cattery and barrier nurse by wearing protective clothing. They’d usually have gone into a foster home at such a young age but had to stay at the centre as ringworm is contagious, and they needed constant monitoring when they first arrived.
‘They were prescribed antifungal medication to treat the ringworm and also needed medicated baths to help their sore skin, as well as regular vet checks to assess their progress.
‘Alongside this, we were disinfecting their pens and disposing of bedding and furnishings daily and then weekly.’
Jade Griffiths, animal welfare assistant lead, said: ‘When they arrived in our care, all of the kittens were missing some fur, some had sore patches and Ducky was completely bald with dry cracked skin.
If they hadn’t been found, they likely would have died (Picture: Blue Cross)
Oh, buddy (Picture: Blue Cross)
‘They were all very hungry and dehydrated, so we had to feed them little and often initially to stop them from making themselves sick, as they literally inhaled their food.
‘When I first saw these guys, it really was heartbreaking because they were so scared, so small and so unwell. We named them after characters from The Land Before Time because the movie is about a group of young dinosaurs who had to overcome great obstacles and lots of change in their young lives, which really resonated with what these lovely kittens have been through.
‘They have overcome being abandoned, they’ve kept each other company along the way, and also they were a bit scaly when they first came in – it just seemed to fit.’
The kittens needed months of care to get them back on their feet and clear of ringworm, but at the end of December, they were ready to be adopted.
Spike and Littlefoot found a forever home together, while Ducky, Spike and Cera all went to separate owners.
Ducky, who’s been renamed Purdy, is much happier now (Picture: Blue Cross)
Elisha said: ‘It’s fantastic to see these kittens settled into their new homes, they very much deserve a happy ever after to their story. It’s been so rewarding to see them flourish into very loving and beautiful young cats.’
Ducky’s new owner Jayne and Steve Page have renamed her Purdy and said she has ‘already taken ownership of the best armchair in the house for naps’.
Jayne said: ‘We re-named Ducky Purdy because she purrs so much.
‘She now has access to most of the house, loves her feather toys, glittery sparkly play-balls, any string and is trying to break the sound barrier running up the stairs.
‘She is incredibly inquisitive, brave and active’ (Picture: Blue Cross)
‘She is incredibly inquisitive, brave and active. She can still seem a little nervous but overall, she is settled and building her confidence daily. She has taken ownership of the best armchair in the house for her naps – and we don’t mind in the slightest.
‘We used to have two cats and missed them terribly when they went to cat heaven. After a few recent house moves, we felt ready to take on a feline friend again. I saw the photo of Ducky on the website and thought she looked adorable. I look forward to seeing her every morning, and she immediately purrs when she sees us.’
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source:metro.co.uk
