Once the kitties don't need constant attention, Alyssa will probably fall in love with how cute they are. By 5 or 6 weeks old they should be weaned and potty-trained, so they will be much less work. You'll be able to spend time on your school work.
Consider how much work a human baby is. They are as time consuming as a newborn kitten and for a much longer time.
Posted 2 years ago by CheetahBoysmommy #
Hi Ken, welcome to TDK! I'm only just catching up on this thread, but wow! - you're doing a fantastic job with these three little kittens, well done you! And well done Alyssa too. The little ones are so cute, and Nimitz is a big handsome boy! I hope you continue to post here, and look forward to "chatting" with you :o)
Posted 2 years ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #
While my little bundles of joy continue to do well from Austin with Alyssa I awoke to a surprise today. From the hole in my wall from the kitten rescue a feral cat found his/her way into my apartment. It's quite scary to be talking to your cat and see an extra head pop out from under a table. After some heavy duty leather gloves and lots of careful planning I caught the cat in a pet carrier and provided some food and water. One bowl of food was eaten by the time I post this. My only concern is it using the bathroom, as it is in the crate but I only need the beautiful gray cat to make it till 10am so I can take it to the rescue place.
This sure has been an adventure.
What a shock that must have been, Ken! I think the word is out on the street that there is a soft-hearted human living in your apartment. :)
Be sure to clean the crate and any other location this cat comes into contact with just in case it has communicable diseases that the kittens might catch. Can you get the landlord to block the entrance into the walls of your apartment. You will have a houseful before you know it! lol
You are having quite an adventure. Good luck with the kittens. I'm glad Alyssa is doing better with them. They are quite a commitment!
Posted 2 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #
I have a new question. I used heavy duty gloves with a leather outside and a cloth inside to catch the feral cat before. At one point when it bite me it left a bruise/tooth mark on the soft spot near my thumb but it DIDNT bleed. It bruised and it appears to have semi clotted with a scab type top. I dropped some water onto the glove and felt the inside and there was no trace of water or wetness on the inside. I read online that once symptoms show in humans it is a 100% killer and I am just wondering how concerned I should be.
Any advice? I certainly feel it is unlikely I have rabies, but I'm no medical professional.
BTW I washed the spot immediately after i took the glove off. If that makes any difference.
It doesn't sound like the cat's tooth actually contacted your skin. I would just keep an eye on it. If the cat was foaming at the mouth and walking funny, I would immediately consult a doctor. You might want to call your doctor's office in the morning if you want a real medical opinion.
My reference to communicable disease in my last comment had to do with Feline Aids and Feline Leukemia which does not pose any threat to humans.
Posted 2 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #
If it did not break the skin and there was no bleeding the risk is extremely low, if there is a risk at all. As KW said, you may consult with your doc just to be extra cautious. as it well and put some antiseptic ointment to be overly safe
Could this be Mama cat? That would be awesome as she would be the best at taking care of the kittens.
Posted 2 years ago by Tigerlilly #
You can but try, Ken, but I would keep an eye on her when you introduce them back to her and not leave her alone with them until you are sure she is happy with them. Sometimes, if kittens smell too different from the way she thinks they should, she may not want to take them back, so just make sure you are there. Also make sure this new cat is a female (google how to check if you are not sure, briefly, the two little bottom holes are further apart on a male and close together on a female), as unneutered male cats can harm unrelated kittens. Good luck! If this is mama and she does take them back, and if her milk is still flowing, you are done with bottlefeeding but you may have to check she still has enough/any milk.
Kitten play, especially between littermates, can be quite spirited rough and tumble, including the use of claws. It is both play and working out of dominance order. They may even get to meowing or even yowling in protest, hissing, spitting, and generally going at it hammer and tongs sometimes to the point you'd think they belong on the wrestling tour. It's okay. It's normal. There will be a few bruised feelings and perhaps a few scratch marks along with lots of friendly bonding in the mayhem.
No, not stupid but it rarely happens. Cats have amazingly swift reflexes. We raised five litters of kittens from birth to full weaning some years ago, including one litter of 7 kittens. They indulged in tons of such rough play with no injuries. Even adult cats will play that way some with nothing worse than an occasional scratch here or there. What's going on is totally normal and actually an important part of kitten development. If you've not witnessed it before it can seem rather dramatic but it is just kittens practicing their instinctive skills at stalking, hunting, and asserting dominance.
Ken - don't worry about rabies - speaking as an infectious disease epidemiologist it is highly improbably. First, no break in the skin. Second, an animal with rabies is not likely to seek out humans... they become aprehensive and aprnoid. The best indication that this is momma cat (aside form her showing up looking fo rhte babies)is to catch a look at her belly - her mipples should still be large, and perhaps swollen, since she has not nursed for several days. I brought in a feral cat who gave birth in a large dog crate in my back bathroom, and she clamed donw amazingly - she is not one of four housecats... and very people oriented. IF you can, you may want to wait on taking her to the shelter until the kittens come back - see if she knows them - and that would make your job infintely easier! Momma will take over everything!
Posted 2 years ago by nawlins catmom #
Kittens play very roughly, and even my 2-3 y/o cats wrestle regularly. If I feel like they are getting out of hand - vocalization quality is usually the key, I break it up with a squirt bottle... with the little ones, you can easily separate them and hold them down like the momma cat would do... They will learn...
Posted 2 years ago by nawlins catmom #
I already took the feral in, i don't think it was the female I needed. I have to admit I feel really cruddy, the only no-kill shelter there is was full, so I took the cat to the humane society and I'm scared to death I just set that cat up to be euthanized, which I don't want to happen.
Secondly, I felt terrible because the cat made a mess (feces) all over the cage, i feel terrible it had to be in there for so long.
Cheri, Sadly for me keeping the kittens is a slippery slope, i know If i rationalized keeping two, id end up keeping all 3, and in my apartment with Nimitz that would be a terrible idea. I'm under enough pressure from the gf not to keep any as it is, 3 might give her a heart attack.
I don't know you guys well, but I would ask you guys pray for "robber" the cat who "broke into" my apartment. I hope he finds a good home and is helped to have a good life if he is re-released. The thought of me being the cause for that cat potentially being put down breaks my heart.
Ken, I am sorry to say that ferals do not get adopted from he SPCA, they don't have a chance. I wish I could lie to you about this. Any chance you could let them spay or neuter him/her and then take her back to release her/him. That's what many feral rescue groups do. Maybe you can contact Allie cat Allies, they may have someone locally. They do TNR (trap neuter release) programs all over the country
Posted 2 years ago by Tigerlilly #
That is wonderful progress. Please let us know how it goes. Any more photos to share? :)
Posted 2 years ago by Kitten Whisperer #
So far its going well, we let them run around a bedroom tonight and all are balancing quite well. As always my concerns lie with their bathroom use, as they dont go to the bathroom every time anymore, sometimes they only go every third feeding. Could the pedialite be causing constipation?
Either way they are doing amazing, but I must admit I am looking forward to the litter box training, this stimulation thing grows old!
Is it your bedroom they're running around in? Cuz if I were you I'd put them in a room where they can't get under places you can't reach...potential potty place. I'd make sure that before you go to bed you get them to potty and then if you don't have work tomorrow then wake up halfway through the night, do it again, and then when you wake up in the morning potty time once more. Crossing my fingers for no accidents!
I wouldn't worry too much - if they are otherwise active, it will all come out in the end (couldn't resist, sorry...)
Posted 2 years ago by nawlins catmom #
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