Zena and Maxx were both inexperienced when it came to breeding. (so was I)
They did much exploring together, months of effort with Zena growing thinner,
their inexperience taking it's toll on her body.After 6 months of effort I made the decision to spay her,
to allow her health to improve.
On the day I presented her to my veterinarian for her pre-op exam,
he palpated her body and low and behold she was not barren after all!
Homeward bound was I, my pregnant firstborn thinner than I wanted.
Zena ate well, her extra boiled chicken meals throughout the day nourishing her body.
On Saturday Jan 28 Zena went into labor,
Sunday Jan 29th she delivered Will at my veterinary clinic as it appeared to me that she needed help.
Unfortunately, she needed a section after Will was born...the following 7 good size babies did not survive the birth.
I made the emotional decision to spay Zena at that time, never to see her in such discomfort and fear again.
With freightened Zena in tow and Will tucked into my sweatshirt I headed home.
Zena did not recover from her ordeal as one would have wished. She appeared to be frightened at the least movement,
(unlike Zena) and wanted nothing to do with this small baby. Will (the Will to live) became my very purpose in life. Hand raising a kitten is not as easy as one would expect. Finding milk that he could tolerate proved difficult, 2 hour feedings throught the night as well was my life. I was determined NOT to lose this baby. Zena healed with the help of Karen, holistic healing bringing her out of herself within 15 minutes of being in Karen's presence. Zena's jaw was not in line. Karen relocated her jaw or bite with what appeared to be simple efforts.(thank you Karen as I will be forever grateful for your gift)
Will spent more time traveling to work with me in the dead of winter, many trips to my vet, the emergency clinic in the middle of the night, fast becoming the million dollar baby. He was so very special to me I could not let him go.
My thanks to all of those who aided me at this time,
clients from my real job who I was no longer available for,
healers of eastern and western philosophies.
The rest needs no words. Will's page shows life with Will. Lessons learned, life loved and appreciated. Needless to say, Will shall be our constant companion, brings our household to life and forever gives me the pieces of his momma that I so very much miss.( Zena adopted Theresa and Chet one day, and went home to live with them. She gets all the attention and love I could want for her.)
Our intention was to have Will neutered after he reached the age that his testosterone would have strengthened his growth plates. Neutered boy that he was.....he managed to sire a litter several days later (The Willfull Bunch)  now tell me that isn't Willfull.
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| ZENA |
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| YOUNG MAXX |
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| MAXX |
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| MAXX AND SON WILL (THE ONLY ZENA MAXX BREEDING) |
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| ZENA 10 MO |
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Baby Willy |
Willy at play |
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Because Willy was hand raised, he did not have the colostrum that he should have gotten from nursing, nor the immunity inherited from his mother.
Zena truly wanted nothing to do with him, and Lily was the one to have interaction with him as were the other adults. He needed to be integrated very young so he would know he was a cat. (he still doesn't know he is a cat!)
Dr. Stephan drew blood from Zena on day 2 and spun it down to separate the serum. He injected Will with Zena's blood serum which contains the immunities he would otherwise have gotten from colostrum. We did this 3 days in a row, having put her blood on ice for the next injections. This has enabled Will to have a strong immune system.
Thank you Dr. Gregg Stephan,
Animal Hospital of Sun Prairie
for researching this for us!
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THE WILLFULL BUNCH
(a very wonderful oops litter!)
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| Lily is a wonderful mom |
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| Dad and his boys |
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| "G Willikers" |
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