We just got a kitten (actually 2 - we were going to decide between them both or maybe keep both). anyway, I really thought Ivy was ready for one and I had promised her one for christmas but since my friend had the kitties available now, I decided to do it now. so tonight, everything is going well....the kitties are good and Ivy is being really good with them. she kept asking me if they could go up to her room with her and I said no but then decided it would be ok if she was careful...so we were on her bed playing with them and I left to take some laundry down and reminded her before I left not to let them fall off the bed or anything. Not too long after I hear meowing and ran up the stairs to see one of the kittens bleeding from its nose. i took it and it was shaking and I have no idea what happend and can only imagine....I asked ivy and she finally said she "dropped it" so i had to take it to the hospital b/c I did not know what happened or if it would be ok or what.
right now, it is staying overnight and they are watchiing it and I am hoping that the bleeding stops. the kitten is bleeding from its nose. but the vet said he looks ok otherwise.
I have no idea what I am going to do and I am so discouraged by this whole thing..
You must have felt awful. I remember how terribly my brother treated our kitten when he was little (my bros a very good guy, even then). He just wasn't ready for how tiny and breakable kittens are.
I hope she's okay... but I don't want you to beat yourself up about it because it could have happened to anyone. Not just any of our kids, but honestly, any adult. I don't even think I truly realize how tiny and fragile Jaspurr was until we actually got him home and he was crawling into Remy's mouth like it was a cozy cavern. Sometimes they are so small but their reflexes are so squirmy and quick.The good news is, though, if you keep them, the time that they are that tiny passes SO quickly, and they'll be able to defend themselves very quickly.
I hope the kitten is fine and it wasn't as bad as it seems. I agree with Leah that it wont' be long until the kittens are good at defending themselves. Cats can be tricky and it's easy to drop, step on, squish them and other things because they tend to be under feet and have a mind of their own. I feel bad when I do it, but I am forever stepping on a tail or catching one of the cats in the door (sometimes they race me to the door and I am shutting it as they decide to zoom through).
Yikes, that's not fun. If it helps, we went through the same thing when we brought our two kittens home this summer. It was SO hard to convey to Juliette that these were live animals and not beany babies.
There was blood shed in our first few weeks, but mostly from Juliette's arms. I didn't feel too bad; she had to learn that these are animals and need to be handled gently. I don't know how I would have reacted if one of the kittens were hurt .
We've had them about 2 months, and she has gotten SO good with them! I bet Ivy will learn how to handle them soon; it just takes time. Before you know it they will be snuggling with her on the floor .
I just picked up the kitten...he is doing ALOT better and we have a follow-up w/ the regular vet (probably tomorrow). I am so thankful that he is ok. I almost started crying at the vet when I was talking to the receptionist.... i mean, nothing like this has ever happened to me (where I felt responsbile for the harm to an animal). This is entirely my fault - should have never left her alone w/ the kitties. I talked w/ Ivy and explained again that animals have to be treated gently, etc. I compared them to an egg (because she dropped an egg the other day and I was trying to make the connection that it can damage the animal). i don't think she quite understands so I will just have to be extra cautious with her.
thanks for all the replies....I felt so much better
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