After a massive thunderstorm I was outside checking for any damage when I found a tiny kitten (four weeks old) drowning in a puddle. I grabbed her and found she was still breathing but her eyes were all ulcerated and I was convinced she was dying. I brought her into the house so she could die in peace. Except she didn't. A trip to the vets proved that she had Feline Herpes and her eyes were completely ulcerated and she was blind.
That was the beginning of my life with Stevie Mouse, lots of care and attention, teaching her to eat and clean herself, me sleeping on the sofa with her until she could cope. Over several months she slowly returned to health. There were ups and downs and at one point she couldn't control her body temperature so had a heat lamp in the middle of summer (I have never been so hot in my life!). She spent so much time visiting or staying at the vets (during crises) that she became their mascot.
I am an artist and from an early age Stevie Mouse began to star in some of my images including the one shown here 'I am Stevie Mouse' which is also the title of a book I am writing about our experience together.
Stevie Mouse is now a beautiful, fully grown cat. Her eyes have some scarring but she can see pretty well, the main thing she suffers with is light sensitivity. She now takes care of another rescue kitten, Emmy who has epilepsy and I look forward to many more years of Stevie Mouse stories.
More info: dorothyberrylound.com
Were you looking for me?
Stevie Mouse now fully grown and beautiful. This print is available for purchase.
Source: dorothyberrylound.com
I am Stevie Mouse
Stevie Mouse posing on the tote bag designed with her image.
Source: dorothyberrylound.com
Stevie Mouse at four weeks old
Trying to toilet train a four week old kitten
Source: dorothyberryloundart.com