What further happened...

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As said, I did go back the same evening. This time I stepped into the little town "park" - a mostly dirty little space between two roads (one busy and one not so busy). The irony was, that when I stepped inside this space there were plenty of water bowls and food stations - somebody obviously feeding these cats. Pretty mucky - but nevertheless. I'm sure a goodhearted attempt Greek style, which means just looking after the basics but which further means, lots and lots of pregnant cats - again a case of some way too young (one I'd guess not more than 20 weeks old). It's not a pretty sight. And cat flu... every other cat sneezing and coughing. You get the picture. A full blown cat colony with no control. 

I spotted all the adult cats first, even though I was looking for the little white and grey tabby. After a while I spotted the little black kitten - just sitting quietly on the paved area. And then I spotted the white and grey tabby - almost camouflaged within the paving. Also sitting very quietly - listless really. To cut a lot of words short - still not eating (or showing any signs of interest) and as mentioned in an obvious critical condition I decided to come back the next morning with what I know from other cats to be super yummy wet food. As it is with ferals you never know when they'll be around so unfortunately no signs of the kittens the next morning. I did wonder if it'd been too late to rescue the listless kitten but to decided to give it another go the same evening. This time it sat in the earth and I honestly nearly didn't see it - again so still that it just completely blended in. No longer with any energy to flee I popped a plate right it front of it and luck! - it started to eat. Whilst it ate I gently stroked it - I knew it'd be too exhausted to escape. After it finished eating I thought it needed to go to the vet straight away, so I tried something a bit daring. I picked it up and just held it up to my chest with the result of a quiet purring! I sensed its urge to escape but I believe the urge to be resuced was greater. I honestly felt it wanted to be rescued.  My husband was with me and we both agreed to seize the moment and bring it straight to the vet. After he'd driven the car around I just litterly carried it and held it in my hands as we drove the luckily short distance to the vet.

As I handed the kitten to the vet he gasped at how emaciated this kitten was. Just bones and absolutely nothing else. Upon examination it turned out it was a little girl and almost on cue she let go of a bit of water - and sorry for being a bit graphic - but lets just say that it wasn't pee. A test was instantly made and it turned out that she had stomach parasites - apart from being completely flea ridden. We agreed with the vet to let them keep her for three days to give her some intensive care and to let her gain some strength. 

Meanwhile... I've been back several times to feed and check on the little black kitten. I've spotted it moving around with it's kitty mom and they've eaten together. The difference with the little black kitten is that he's shown a lot of gusto - he is very eager when he eats. I can gather that he must have the same problem - stomach parasites. I'll find a way to get him treated as well, but I want to try to get him back with his mum. It is possible that maybe white and grey tabby is a sibling, but in agreement with the vet - it would not be the right thing to put this little girl back on the street again. Now we wait and hope she makes good progress at the vet - then the next step will be to bring her back and let her recuperate with a lot of tlc before introducing her to the rest of the troops.

This tiny 1 pound has got me good already.  More to come soon.

P.S. In this image above you can spot a bigger kitten making an attempt to play - this little one just simply didn't have the strength to engage in play.