Meet Bubbles
During Bottle Feeding
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On June 25th, Casiphia delivered her first litter of kittens. All six appeared healthy, but within a short amount of time, we discovered that one of the boys was born with a cleft palate.
Kittens with cleft palates are at a high risk of aspirating formula and developing pneumonia. They require almost around-the-clock care and frequent feedings. We used a syringe with a long nipple to feed Bubbles, starting with 3cc’s every 3 hours and gradually increasing the amount as he began to grow. Even with slow, frequent meals, our little guy experienced excessive nasal discharge from the formula going into his nasal cavity. He was aptly named Bubbles, for the many milk bubbles that came out of his nose!
As Bubbles slowly grew so did our hopes that he’d make it. We knew the odds weren’t in his favor, but we researched cleft palates and kept trying to find ways to help him. As with any special needs, we needed a great team and a plan. Thankfully, Bubbles has had a lot of support along the way. We feel so blessed to have such an amazing local vet who has gone above and beyond time and time again for our little guy. Dr. Mark Gutzmer at All Creatures Animal Hospital, has been incredibly supportive and has taken great care of Bubbles whenever he needed it. He’s been treating Bubbles almost continually with antibiotics to help with the chronic sinusitis and to try to prevent pneumonia from settling into his lungs.
After E-Tube Placement
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Because Bubbles was so tiny we needed a specialist to repair his cleft. Our friend Ashley Carter at recommended Phoenix Veterinary Surgical Services in Overland Park, KS. The initial appointment became a game changer for Bubbles.
After examining him, Dr Heather Millard reassured us that we were doing a great job of bottle feeding and caring for Bubbles. Then she presented us with the option of an e-tube and explained the pros and cons of the procedure, as well as the milestones that Bubbles would need to reach to be a candidate for cleft repair surgery. Because of the delicate tissue in a kitten’s palate, Bubbles would need to be 4-5 months old and weigh 5 lbs before he’d be a candidate for surgery. At 11 weeks old, he only weighed 2lbs 4oz, which was 2 lbs less than his brother Jojo.
We decided the e-tube would give him the best chance of surviving, and 2 days later, on Sept 11, Bubbles had his e-tube placed. The first few days were extremely difficult - you can read more about the e-tube here . What made all the difference was his surgeon. To say that Dr. Millard is dedicated and thorough is an understatement. We’ve been able to text or call her 24/7. She walked us through those initially difficult days and reassured us that she was here to help Bubbles and us make it through. Bubbles had a team and we finally had a plan.
Now
The e-tube was a game changer for Bubbles, not only for nutrition but for his overall development. Our little guy loves being held and snuggled, but he couldn’t keep up with his siblings. He mostly sat and slept or watched them play. As they grew, the developmental gap between Bubbles and his siblings also grew. While they were thriving, his body was just trying to survive. Cassie and her entire litter sensed there was something different about Bubbles.
They have an extra measure of intuition and compassion that comes with being in a family with special needs. His siblings helped clean him, they snuggled with him when he was lying alone, and they even brought him toys. It’s no wonder he likes being babied!! When Bubbles tried to play, they’d gently bat at him or roll over next to him. One day, we found Bubbles on top of Jojo wrestling, and Jojo was letting his little brother win!! Jojo stole our hearts that day!
We noticed a considerable difference in Bubbles just a few weeks after we began tube feeding. His face filled out, and his fur began to grow in and change colors. He began cleaning himself and joining in to play with his siblings. After almost 3 months of just existing it was such a wonderful sight to see him playing and enjoying being a kitten!
Because of a medical issue this summer, Cassie and her kittens went to live with our daughter and her family. Initially, they took turns bottle feeding Bubbles but after the e-tube was placed our Granddaughter took on the responsibility of his care. Myra takes care of his feedings, cleans and cares for his tube nightly, charts his weight daily, and most importantly she’s loved him until he’s spoiled!
On October 31st, 7 weeks after his e-tube was placed Bubbles finally reached the 5 lb requirement for surgery. He’s scheduled to have his cleft repair on Nov 10th, and if all goes well the tube will be removed a few weeks later. We are so excited for Bubbles!
More updates about Bubbles on the way!
Videos Below
