u/MeowM30ws

Smol criminal wants to stay in pocket jail today. Sentenced to a cozy, rainy, Monday afternoon nap.

Getting a kitten to stay still for weigh in is always a struggle. I tried a couple different ways, but I finally found something that works!

I use a ceramic crock I had laying around and zero out the scale. I'll cherish the weeks until they outgrow it.

Note: No kittens have warped to another zone (yet).

We're coming up on four weeks old and their personalities are stacking up quite the rap sheet.

Pic 1: The Curious: Charged with breaking and entering

Pic 2: The Cautious: Charged with fraud and identity theft (Misgendered at birth)

Pic 3: The Creeper: Charged with Stalking, Loitering, and evading custody.

OP: https://www.reddit.com/r/IllegallySmolCats/s/tUDzu1zmYt

As kitten season ramps up, it's important to remember some facts:

- Kitten mortality rates are *incredibly high* within the first couple of months. This increases severely for kittens without a Mama/not fully weaned.

- Typically, we don't know the health history of our Mama cat/kittens before they come to us.

- Mama cats may have infections/viruses/illnesses that she may have built immunity to, but her kittens are vulnerable. She may not show symptoms at all while her kittens become very sick.

- "Fading Kitten Syndrome" is a real thing and it happens. A lot.

What I'm trying to say is: It's not your fault.

You may have done everything right. Your home has all of the best and most up to date supplies and equipment. You may have the incubator at the perfect temp. You may have given the perfect dose of subcutaneous fluids. You may have kept everyone clean, fed, and happy.

Nature can be a beautiful yet unbiased force. Natural selection sucks.

I am asking you to **Forgive Yourself and Refocus.**

Grieve, mourn, ask questions, learn for the next litter, but do not let it dissuade you.

Your compassion and your fortitude are what makes you so integral. You are needed. The kittens that do make it may not have without you. For all the ones we lose, we save so many more.

Do not give up.

There are so many lives that still need you.

Be kind to yourself and have a healthy, happy, kitten season.