A sad tale

**MickB** · 16th October 2012, 04:01 PM

Just over 2 weeks ago my darling girl Saffi gave birth to 8 gorgeous kittens (4 white girls, 2 white boys, a brown tabby girl and a Tortie girl) . Unfortunately she delivered them several days early and all but 2 of them were so very very tiny. The other 2 were larger but still not as big as they should be. They seemed to be doing reasonably well so like the gushing proud idiot i am, I posted the news on facebook.

Then I entered one of the most painfull and heartbreaking few days of my life as one by one we lost the kittens. They were born on the Saturday evening and by the following Weds morning we had just the 2 largest remaining. I cried so much over the last few weeks (yes I cry, and I challenge anyone not to when they are burying tiny kittens for 3 days in a row) I took the post down from Facebook as it crushed me when someone excitedly commented on it.

It was then I got some emails asking probing questions from another breeder, and me being the obvious mug I am replied with the truth. We did everything we could to save the kittens but some things are just not meant to be. Apparently I am a "bad breeder" and "people are going to be warned about me"

I would just like to say this is totally unfair. I live for my cats and I try to do everything right by them. I have only lost one kitten up until now and that was a little girl called Cassie who was born with a hole in her heart. I cared for her and fed her every 2 hours for 3 weeks until she finally gave up the fight.The very next thing I did was get the dad neutered and the mum (once she had finished caring for her other kittens) as I never wanted to risk that happening again.

Sadly we lost one of the remaining 2 kittens, Ironically the same night that Buffy's litter was born. The remaining Kitten is a little tortie girl, she is absolutely adorable and growing bigger and stronger by the day and I am now start ing to believe she is going to make it. She and her mum are sleeping in a Kitten box by the side of my bed and we have a cctv camera on her so I can keep an eye on her at all times. I haven't put her up on the website yet as I don't want to tempt fate, it has been rather cruel to me lately :(

I just find it incredible that people can be so vitriolic knowing that I have just been through a living nightmare. I won't stop breeding because of some bitter person. The photos and emails I get from the slaves of my kittens are such a huge reward. Just knowing I have brought some happiness into the lives of total strangers (who go on to be good friends and members of the Milomaine family) is my reward, and of course getting to spend so much time with the most incredible breed of kittens on the face of the planet.

Why am I telling you all this, well I know how quickly bad news spreads and if you've heard something i just wanted to put the truth out there.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Best wishes to you all from a very hurt, weary, and sad Mick.

**KimAZ** · 16th October 2012, 04:19 PM

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of the kittens and the unwarranted reaction to it. It amazes me how some people find it easy to say hurtful things over the Internet that they would never say face to face. I hope you can let these comments go - they are not worth your energy. (Easier said than done.). I would not hesitate getting a kitten from you.

**deovolens** · 16th October 2012, 07:52 PM

I am with you and hope that the future will be brighter.

**Wendy1969** · 16th October 2012, 07:57 PM

Mick - you have been through a terrible ordeal and I'm sure you did everything you could for these kittens but arriving early they were always at a disadvantage

This is something that will happen to every breeder at some point and in no way makes you a "bad" breeder. Tell this other breeder to keep their opinions to themselves and wind their neck in

**H&SWells** · 16th October 2012, 08:10 PM

mick ...so sorry to hear your sad tale ....some people can be so mean minded , it is obvious from your posts on here how much you care about your brood ...focus on the positives , i have the most amazing boy who was the only survivor of an early litter, he is now a healthy 18 month old happy loving ( unless im trying to groom his undercarriage) fur baby. Good luck with your tortie baby.

**Caternity Leave** · 16th October 2012, 09:09 PM

How charming someone can be so mean when you have had the devastating loss of a litter. They must feel great and so much superior as a breeder. Forget them. move on with your grief and in time have many happy, healthy litters.

Once upon a time, not so long ago, there was a breeder on here who quite frankly was so superior as to be vile to other breeders and novice MC owners alike. Thankfully she is gone.

There will always be mean spirited people. As long as you know you are doing the best, forget the rest excepting professional advice.

**brightlight23** · 16th October 2012, 09:32 PM

Mick,
Your post is incredibly sad. So sorry for the loss of your kittens - and lets just hope that tortie girl continues to win through and provides comfort for her mum. I'm sure what happened to you could so easily have happened to any breeder. I can only imagine how you must be feeling. Hopefully forum members can provide at least some words of comfort during this time. Victoria x

**brims** · 16th October 2012, 11:27 PM

That's a horrible thing to happen. This in no way sounds like you're a "bad breeder", it sounds like this other breeder jumped to a conclusion without thinking or having all the facts. If the litter just didn't develop properly due to whatever medical reason, then there's nothing that could have been done to prevent their demise. That's how things work with genetics, no one can predict what's going to happen.

**SpencerTheLion** · 17th October 2012, 01:20 AM

The adage: "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" was made before the internet and it's demons known as trollers and flamers.

I have felt your internet pain, Mick.

When people are anonymous, they often feel enabled to be very nasty and dastardly at sporting events, on the freeways, and the internet. In person, they probably would be too gutless to say what they said to you.

The last part of this article might be helpful > http://digitallife.today.com/_news/2012/10/13/14421580-top-10-ways-to-deal-with-the-internets-biggest-morons

I can totally understand if you delay announcements on future litters on your site or contact interest people privately.

Sort of related is this video of a teen that was cyber-bullied to the point she took her life last week. Yes, she made some foolish decisions, but does it merit her being run out of town?

**Bethy_boo** · 17th October 2012, 08:28 AM

I'm sorry to hear of your loss, it's so devastating to lose a kitten and must have been terrible seeing them all fade. Sometimes nature just isn't on our side.

I hope little tortie fights on through, they are known to be feisty!!
x

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