Introducing Baby Squirrel Oscar

Life can change at a moment's notice. For one new-born squirrel, a topple from the trees has changed its life forever. And, hopefully, there is a forever, or at the least, a full squirrel life for this tiny creature.

I have dubbed him Oscar and he arrived in my cat's mouth two days ago.
Forthwith, a picture of the offending cat, You You, the Adorable.

Cats will be cats and they hunt and I am the recipient of many different sorts of alive and dead items. One cat liked to bring home discarded Tim Hortons' cups, usually, she chose flattened as they were easier to transport.

So when You You ran across my path with something very small and pink in its mouth that was squeaking in protest, I apprehended him and removed the terrified creature. It was the size of one of those pink erasers we used in primary school.

There were two puncture makes on its neck, not deep, where it had been carried. I subsequently cleaned these with Hydrogen Peroxide. Probably should have diluted it but didn't.

I was uncertain what the cat had dragged home, so to speak. It was smaller than my thumb, naked and blind. Could have been a newborn rabbit because they are born blind and hairless but  they have signature elongated ears and they don't have a long tail. My little bundle could have been a day-old rat or a puppy. It really looked like an embryonic dog from a C-Section done on a tea-cup sized Chihuahua. The umbilical cord was still attached.


Here's a photo taken the evening Oscar arrived. Sort of like a baby Albatross. That was another thought I had, it was a baby Albatross.

From the photo below, can you tell why I thought it might be a dog? (Click on the photos to enlarge them.)


So this was Day One of Oscar's life with me. Him being totally helpless and me not knowing what he was so not knowing what to do.

Please come back tomorrow and every day for updates on Oscar. Just a little heads up, he's eating every two hours and flourishing.


Thank-you everyone who has offered sage advice on how to accept the challenge of raising an infant animal.

Shannon Lee