Devonair's Oh The Cat's Meow Can Am FCh

July 18, 1989 - April 9, 2002

Am. Ch. Jamal's Falcon x Joy

Kitty's Story

This is the story of how a Whippet got the name Miss Kitty.  Joy, Kitty's mother started whelping a few days early.  Contrary to my (Heather) usual experience, where bitches refuse to whelp until I got home, Joy must have started in labor sometime during the day of July 18th.  I rushed downstairs, and there was Joy in the whelping box contentedly nursing a lively puppy.  I sat with her and she had a few good contractions over the next two hours but nothing happened.  I called my Veterinarian and she told me to bring Joy in to her office for her to check out.

Over the next few hours the vet administered several oxytocin shots, but nothing seemed to happen. Then after many good contractions, Joy started screaming with the pain. Dr. C. told me worriedly that she would like another opinion.  A call to the head vet of the hospital, and he turned up within 10 minutes.  Dr. VG examined Joy and gave me two options, a caesarean or he could try pulling the puppy at risk of seriously damaging the pup.  I told him to proceed with the operation as Joy was suffering and I did not want any more delay.  He asked if he could just try once pulling.  Well he pulled and managed to extricate one dead pup.  It was presented with the head folded back along the body, thus being far too wide for Joy to deliver himself.  Dr. VG then told me that Joy would probably be able to deliver the rest herself and that the Caesarean might not be necessary.  So - more walking.

By this time it was very dark and cold outside.  I walked Joy down the driveway and half way back she hunched her back and out plopped a puppy in the sack.  I scooped up the puppy and hauling Joy behind me, hurried back into the office.  Joy then proceeded to  present us with two more puppies without any problems.  Finally we thought everything was over and we packed up the puppies in a box and I carried an exhausted Joy out to the car.  Dr. C. carried the box of puppies for me.  As we were loading the car we heard a cat crying loudly.  With puppies and Joy on my mind we were all set to leave, but Dr. C asked me to turn on the car headlights so she could see what was wrong with the cat.  I turned on the lights and Dr. C prowled around the lawn.  "Quick, come here and see this" she called to me.  I sloshed through the wet cold grass and there was a cat, meowing loudly, curled around a puppy!

Our conclusion was that 1.5 hours earlier when I walked Joy on the driveway and she went plop she must have really gone plop, plop.  In my haste and in the dark I was completely unaware that two puppies had been delivered.  I owe great thinks to Fluffy the Cat for rescuing the puppy from the driveway, cleaning up and carrying it out of harms way onto the lawn and, calling out loudly to us to come and rescue the pup.

We won't be able to say that the best in the litter was rescued by a cat, but we can say that "Devonair's Oh the Cat's Meow" alias "Miss Kitty" started out a charmed life.

"Whippets are Wrunnerful"