update on Braveheart and Zanzibar at Zazen Bengals

As you know, little Brave heart had to wear a splint for 3 weeks because of a gap in his wrist where the bones had not grown properly. Left unattended, at 12 days old he was walking on the foot using the top of his foot which twisted under and over because it wasn't supported by the bones. After xrays were taken, he was splinted and I changed the splint every few days (checking it several times a day) for three weeks. Since then he has improved tremendously and is stalking around with his sister Zanzibar. The are both in the midst of the 'fuzzies' so their patterns and contrast are no where near as clear as they were before...but as they get their adult coats we will again see those gorgeous patterns.

Zazen Bengals Braveheart and Zanzibar Silver Rosetted Kittens

Born 3/10/12 these two babies are only 3 weeks old and this is their first time on a slippery vinyl floor. Zanzibar is the lighter, smaller kitten and she is a female who we may be keeping as a future queen. Zanzibar has incredible rosettes, large nocturnal eyes, small ears and is just gorgeous. Little Braveheart is wearing a splint (and has since he was 10 days old) because there is a undeveloped gap in the bones between his radius/ulna and his carpal (wrist) bones. It is our hope that wearing the splint will support this leg as it grows and that this gap will close in time. Prior to wearing the splint, he had a tendency to walk on the top of his foot which would have caused permanent damage. As you can see 2 weeks in the splint and he is tossing it around like a pro. Because of his age and the rapid growth he undergoes as a kitten, we check it several times a day and change the splint every 3-4 days - sometimes changing out the moleskin covered popsicle sticks using ones that are slightly longer and wider to compensate for his growth. He will be re-xrayed in a few weeks to see how things are progressing.