How Green Becomes Wood

"You can just set it on the table, I can deal with it later," Cooger told her, not even thinking about how to welcome her better. Instead he vocalized at the cats who were milling about to get them to move, "Bedroom's this way, it's better to get a look at them in there."
 
Lex almost made a joke about how this was not how she expected the first time she saw his bedroom to go, but she bit it back. She set the hatchet down and followed him, curious about his room and truly hoping the kittens were okay. What if they were sick? Or covered in fleas?
 
Cooger's bedroom was as one would expect: A little bit messy but but not disgustingly so with two mugs (one of which had a spoon inside) and an empty glass on the one bedside table next to an old copy of No Country for Old Men and a blue container that probably contained a retainer or a mouth guard. Because it was up in the cabin loft, there was a lot of natural light and there was a small, wood burning furnace for extra warmth in winter properly set up so nobody would die from smoke inhalation.

After setting the box on his bed, Cooger said, "We probably should've just gone into the guest room but we're here now. Couldn't do it in the living room 'cause I don't know if these fellas have disease the other cats can contract, gotta keep 'em isolated for now." He opend up the box again and looked down at the mewling mass with a heavy sigh before smiling and lifting one of the kittens up gently and sweetly, "Hell they're cute. Hey there little partner, what a fright you've had! Damn there's a lot of y'all. They cain't be more than eight weeks old." He held the kitten he had in his hands up, looking over its condition, "We need a second box in case some aren't as healthy as the others."
 
"Do you have one around here I can go grab?" Lex asked, turning to go already, eager to help. It was that or stand there and simp over how adorable he looked with those kittens. His soft, gentle hands, his kind voice.... Box. She needed to find a box.
 
"Uhhh..." Cooger paused thinking while switching between looking at the cats eyes, ears---this one looked like it probably had mites, but that wasn't uncommon---belly, and beneath its tale, "Yeah, uh, downstairs in the cat room I've got a few carriers. The door'll be open, they're in the closet. Just get the carrier, we can take the top off and use that. There are also folded blankets, bring one of them so they have something soft to sit on." As he spoke he brought the kitten, one of the little black ones, to his chest and pet it calmingly.
 
Lex headed down and gathered the required items, making certain she got a carrier that was nice and roomy for multiple kitties. She tossed a couple of blankets over her shoulder and headed back upstairs. "How do they look?" she asked trying to figure out how to set down the carrier without a big clatter.
 
"There are seven of them," Cooger answered, turning to her, "Most of them seem..." He hesitated, "They're not in great shape, but they're not in we need to have a serious discussion shape. Most of 'em look like they've probably got ear mites but they're all weaned. I ain't a vet and it can be hard to tell at this age, but I think they're all female. None of 'em have distended bellies so none of 'em definitively have a belly full of worms, but I still want to take 'em to the vet to be sure. And this one," He turned to Lex holding a little tuxedo kitten, the one she had failed to count, "is illegally small." It was barely visible in Cooger's hands and just from being held in a warm grip was already starting to fall asleep.
 
Lex stared at the kitten. "Oh. My. Gawd. That is so adorable," she breathed. "I swear I'm about to squeal like a teen girl at a boy band concert." She reached out and used one finger to gently stroke the kitten's head. "All girls? Really? What are the odds with that?" She was seriously thinking of laying claim to this one, but no way would she take one away from its siblings.
 
"I know," Cooger replied, unable and unwilling to hide how cute he thought she was, "I don't know what the odds are. Not high. But two of 'em are calicos, so I know they're little ladies. Most of 'em are sweet, that one there," He nodded his head towards it, "was a bit spicy. Tried to bite me, but I know she's just scared."
 
Lex giggled, putting her hand in with the kittens and letting them react how they wanted to. "Aw, sweet little things! So cute! You said they need to visit the vet's, but what will happen to them after that?"
 
"I'm gonna call the shelter I work with to let them know and get them registered. I may end up being the one to foster them, I've got the space right now--you saw the state of things--but I may not be. Depends on what the shelter thinks is best. By the looks of things, I'd guess Mama has weaned them, although I've fostered kittens who hadn't been yet. But I have to make sure none of 'em have FIV. It's unlikely they do 'cause they're so young, but if any of them do, the shelter and I both prefer to not let them around FIV negative cats even though transmission only happens through sex and deep bites. If any of 'em have a severe health issue, they'd go to a different foster. I can treat parasites and fleas and minor things, but if they're at risk of needing an emergency vet, they gotta be with someone closer to one. Luckily, they all got anuses. I checked. There's a dog from not too long ago named Tooshie down in Australia who was born without one."
 
"I have no idea how to react to the dog anus thing," Lex admitted, "but I follow the logic. So, providing they don't have any big problems, when will they be able to go to new homes?" She idly played with the "spicy" one, letting it do what it wanted with her calloused hands. Needle teeth and claws had nothing on a blacksmith's hands.
 
Cooger inhaled, looking over the litter, "I don't adopt 'em out until they're at least twelve weeks old. I mean, that's my rule when Mama cat is there. I've helped deliver a shocking number of litters. Actually," He laughed, "Dark always avoids coming over when I've got a pregnant cat, because somehow, somehow, every time I've got a very pregnant mama cat, and he comes inside, that cat goes into labour. I don't know what it is. Once I had this overdue cat, and the vet wanted to induce, and I said, 'nah, let me just call up my buddy.' Worked immediately. I'll bet that's why Ivy was born early. Anyway, cats are healthier if they learn how to cat, so they need to be around cats for long enough to learn. I've got tortie cat who tries to mother the chicks so I figure if they're healthy enough to stay here, she'll end up adopting them. That's Sweet Miss Louise for ya." He looked at the spicy cat attacking Lex's hand and made a hiss sound at it, stopping the action before saying, "It's important to teach kittens not to do that now, 'cause it gets a lot less cute when they're full grown."
 
Lex glanced at the cat and withdrew her hand. "Right. Sorry. I didn't even think of that. Good point." She very lightly tapped the long-haired troublemaker on its head. "You heard him. Behave! And I might take you home with me." She looked at one of the dark-colored calicos wobbling toward her and let it flop against her hand. "I can't take all of you. Besides, you need to learn to 'cat.' I ain't no cat. I can be catty, but that's not the same thing."
 
"Part of why I like to keep them so long is so I can unspice the cats. These aren't as bad as some of the ones I've taken in, thankfully, because even though the spicy ones hissed at me, they still let me handle them. But my goal as a cat foster is to get all of them in a state where they can live fulfilling cat lives and part of that means teaching them people aren't gonna hurt them." Cooger explained, "You already thinking about taking one of the little fellas home?"
 
"Nah, there's no way I could take one of these little guys - girls - home with me. What would I do with a cat?" Lex smirked. Despite her words, she was still petting the little tortishell cat, rubbing its head lightly with her thumb. "I see you haven't put your little one down. Has she landed in her forever home already?"
 
Cooger chuckled, "My home is full of cats I give away and I just explained my main goal is to get them in a state where they're good with being handled. Anyway, I'm planning my next moves here. I just had seven kittens dropped into my lap, I need time to think. Long term, I gotta set up a playpen, because they can't have run of the house yet..." He thought for a few moments, then set the tiny little tuxedo cat into the box, "I'm gonna call the vet first. I think we can probably feed them, typically that's alright, but I'm still going to check in and see what they recommend because depending on their availability it'll change up some of the kitten care plans. If they can't see 'em until later in the week, all these kittens are getting a meal, water, and bath to kill any potential fleas. If the vet can see 'em today, the bath will wait until after they've been checked out. And I always like confirming with the vet first if they're comfortable with them being fed right away."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top