Top Cat

Young lady frantically enters the shelter.  She has two newborn kittens in her hands, both nearly dead.  She heard faint mewing, and found these kittens, along with another dead one, in a small garbage can.  On the curb.  In the summer sun.  Waiting for trash collection.  Three days later.  Someone's cat had kittens, and when they found the babies they tossed them in a garbage can and set them out as trash.  The kittens were just about cooked.  I've never seen a newborn pant.  It shouldn't be possible.  I warned her that heatstroke victims have a poor prognosis, and I've never seen newborns in this condition.  They were unlikely to survive, but I'd do my best.  One of them died within the hour.  The other one, amazingly, recovered!

Top Cat made it about two weeks before weakening and dying.  I can't be sure that it was a result of his near death by heatstroke or something else, as there was no obvious reason for his decline.  It was the dreaded "failure to thrive."  He was such a tiny thing, but had a huge purr.  Even before his eyes opened he was an affectionate, responsive, snuggly kitten.  Once again, people are irresponsible and heartless.  When I lost him I thought my heart was broken for good.