Rebel is enough of a kitten that his purrsonality, like his body, is still under construction.He was found at the Coralville water park and brought to the Coralville Animal Clinic. Rebel was a very sick kitty: severe diarrhea and dehydration.

Although Rebel’s appetite was pretty good,he was really lethargic and wanted to nap. We made a cardboard box bed for him and put a warming disc in it for him, which he loved.

On day three he seemed stable and got a bath. That was when we discoved Rebel had and a large wound in his neck made by a cuterebra.

(Female botflies deposit eggs which hatch in response to heat from a nearby host. The larvae typically enter the body through the mouth or nose during grooming. Then they migrate and bore a breathing pore. After living off the host for about 30 days, the larvae crawl out and pupate.)

No wonder he was so lethargic. Rebel seemed much better after the maggot was removed and the wound cleaned up. We took him outside to sit in the sun so his coat would air dry. But the nanosecond the towel was unwrapped, Rebel took off down the drive toward the Dumpster! It took three adults about ten minutes to finally capture this tiny sick kitten.

Rebel is taking antibiotics twice a day for his infected wound, which is healing.

Rebel likes—meal time; being warm

He dislikes:—having his neck wound treated

Live, Let Live, & Learn—If you happen to find young kittens (or other baby animals) without their mom, please think things through before you act. Bottle babies have very special needs (food, temperature, excretory, etc.) and require expert care. It’s easy to shift into “helping mode.” But momcats do kittencare best! Unless you are sure mom isn’t coming back, be prepared to quietly observe for awhile. Human intervention is not always what’s best for the animal! To paraphrase Antoine de Sainte-Éxupéry—you become responsible for those you rescue.

Rebel’s Characteristics

—not much

—somewhat

—quite a bit

—very much!

 

Confidence—	Adaptable to change—
Plays well with others—	Activity level—
General Temperament—