Vision had six kittens. Elf was the tiny one with huge bat ears who had not weaned with the others.
The beginning was frightening. It was not the whole cat.
Ten days
Elf had a gastrointestinal infection with diarrhea, dehydration, anorexia, and emaciation. He spent ten days on antibiotics, glucose, and subcutaneous fluids. Mostly he lay there looking grey.
I thought I lost him a dozen times.
Elf is small. Not frail.
Once he turned the corner, his work became eating. Wet food stopped being poison. There were two breakfasts, then a nipple. Later there were third breakfasts, two lunches, and the milk bar.
Elf did not move for nursing service. The queens simply put new nipples in front of him.
Growing on a different calendar
The illness cost him growth. No one could promise whether he would catch up completely. What he could do was consume a massive number of calories and keep growing.
He ran. He rumpused. He climbed the tallest object available so he could get near a human face and issue demands.
The mighty prince Elf requires third breakfast.
By the time he left, third breakfast had become four breakfasts. Hope remained a boundless spring whenever shredded turkey was visible, and shoes were there to be attacked.
The right family
Placement was not a reward for wanting the survivor hardest. It was still a match.
Elf fit with Gracie’s family. I had nothing but respect and affection for her humans, which made it possible to let him leave even though I knew I was going to miss him a lot.
Elf and Red—now Indi—made it home safely. Elf was the boss. The humans understood third breakfast.
Worth every minute
Months later, Elf was a beautiful young cat with the same enormous ears and the confidence to make demands at face level.
Good morning, beautiful Elf. It was worth every minute spent keeping you with us on this mortal plane.
That is the whole story in one sentence. Not a miracle claimed as a method. Not proof that every fading kitten can be saved. One small kitten, ten terrible days, an unreasonable appetite, a family who understood him, and every minute worth it.