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Litter of kittens found..paging experts please!

346 replies

Cailleach · 08/11/2013 16:25

Whilst out and about this afternoon I have found a litter of six kittens in a clump of ivy in the garden of a derelict house.

I estimate them to be about 2 - 2 1/2 weeks old. Their eyes are all open and they look in good shape, other than being totally filthy and riddled with fleas.

Being the soft stupid sod devoted cat lover I am I sat in the garden for three hours at a discreet distance from the nest and waited for the mother to return. Nada. So I packed them into my rucksack, brought them home via the vet (who kindly checked them over), gave them a bath (they were black-bright and stank of urine) and settled them in a box with a hot water bottle / towel.

I have kitten formula from the vet and have fed them about 3-4ml each from a syringe. They all fed well and promptly piddled all over me, which was encouraging, if a bit grim-smelling.

I know to feed them about that much every two hours, to rub their bellies to stimulate their bowels, to keep them warm etc etc. Is there anything else I need to do?

Yours, in anticipation of precious little sleep over the next few weeks,

C
x

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girliefriend · 08/11/2013 16:30

You know we will need pictures Grin

Well I would be worried about the mummy cat so keep an eye out for her if you can, have you got someone who can share the night feeds with?

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patienceisvirtuous · 08/11/2013 16:32

Aw, someone needs to get mammy cat... but well done for rescuing. Photos please :)

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Cailleach · 08/11/2013 16:36

Mummy cat lives a fair way from me but I have informed the neighbours of the derelict house about the kittens and have given some of them my number just in case.

I have The Bloke, who has promised faithfully to do the feeds in the evenings (I work four hours a night), bless him.

Otherwise I will cat nap, so to speak, in-between feedings in the day when the kids are at school.

I would love to give you pics but have no way of taking them as phone is a crappy old Nokia one and digital camera is shagged as well. Promise faithfully I will take some ASAP though!

For now a description will have to suffice: three silver tabbies, one grey one with white bib, one brown tabby, one black one.

:)

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issey6cats · 08/11/2013 17:37

sounds like you are doing a good job with feeds

get in touch with CPL cats protection league as they are the experts at capturing mommy cats, if she is feral they will neuter and release her unless you have a secure garage that she would be able to use to bring up her babies

or if shes half friendly they would be able to reunite mom and kittens either at your house as a fosterer or find her one of their foster families
a poster called catneuterer should be in soon hses more experienced than me with stray or feral cats as she works for celia hammond cat rescue in london

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YoureBeingASillyBilly · 08/11/2013 17:40

AWWWW!!!

I hope mummy is found. you sound well equipped/trained tbh. fingers crossed for a reunion and happy ending.

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Sparklingbrook · 08/11/2013 17:48

Awww. That's lovely.

Be great if they could find Mum.

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timtam23 · 08/11/2013 22:33

Oh how lovely. Good luck with the kitten care! I hope Mum cat can be found.

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CHATrescue · 09/11/2013 20:43

Unfortunately the cat neuterer is away until the end of next week. So as I also work for the Celia Hammond Animal Trust I can give you some advice in her absence. If the kittens seemed well-fed and not crying the mother was probably around - so please if possible put food out daily for the mother where you found the kittens. Hopefully in a few days you'll catch sight of her, and then arrangements can be made to rescue her. Not sure which part of the country you're in, perhaps you can get in touch directly and we can post these details and we will try and get a rescuer if you live in a part of the country too far from our branches.

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issey6cats · 09/11/2013 20:48

thank you chatrescue but op seems not to have come back into the thread might be worth sending her a private message mind you she will be busy hand feeding, she has got someone hopefully keeping an eye out for mom cat

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PrincessFlirtyPants · 09/11/2013 20:48

I'm so glad they found a Good Samaritan to look after them! Good on you, OP.

Hopefully mum is found. Might be worth going back over the next few days.

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Cailleach · 09/11/2013 22:31

helloagain

lap full of kits, so typing onehanded.

kits rather underweight for 2 wks acc. to vet. feel have made right decision as kits passed urine at vets and he said they were dehydrated.

kits have perked up hugely now warm, clean and fed. no bowel movements yet, called vet but not concerned - said to bring in if no poos for 48 hrs.

would not survive long outdoors in n.england in nov anyway. also only found kits as they were all yelling for attention.

do not live in area local to where kits were found. have told neighbours there to keep an eye out.

more updates to come,,,

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issey6cats · 09/11/2013 22:47

being as they are dehydrated hate to say it but sounds like something has happened to momma as at two weeks the moms dont go far from babies that small might still be wotrth contacting cats protection league to see if they will put a trap out to see if momma is still around sounds like you are doing a good job, you say your using a syringe ask the vet if he can supply you with kitten bottles they are like mini baby bottles and easier to feed them and see how much they are taking

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Cailleach · 10/11/2013 18:37

Thanks for the tips, Issey. The vet did actually give me a kitten bottle but the awkward little buggers seem to prefer the syringes - that's cats for you!

They are feeding wonderfully and weeing well - but unfortunately still no poos despite extensive bum rubbing and squeezing. If no poos by tomorrow am, I am taking them to the vets.

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cozietoesie · 10/11/2013 18:59

Oh well done/doing Cailleach. Just get the milk into them.

I wouldn't worry too too much about the lack of poo if they're peeing fine but having them to the vet tomorrow morning would be good on general principle. (The practice will be all over you! - get one of the vet nurses to take some photos.)

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cozietoesie · 10/11/2013 19:02

PS - My Darling Oneago was abandoned by his Mom at one day old and survived, along with his litter brother. Your lot will be hard work but they could be fine.

Smile

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yourcruisedirector · 10/11/2013 19:02

Sounds like they 're in good hands - sounds like they're a lovely bunch Smile

Where are you oop north? I wonder if I could rehome one when they're ready Smile

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Cataline · 10/11/2013 19:09

Bit grim but have you tried wiping their bums with a warm wet cloth? This can sometimes help stimulate pooping!

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cozietoesie · 10/11/2013 19:15

Goodness Cataline, there's not much grim on this board. We're mostly all used to stepping in vomit/poo/etc on the way to the loo at night. (I've had to bin more pairs of slippers!)

Grin

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cozietoesie · 10/11/2013 19:19

You're lacking a cat, cruisedirector?

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yourcruisedirector · 10/11/2013 19:32

Sort of, cozie Smile. We were a two cat household but my former neighbours stole one of my lovely beasties. In the end, they have formally taken her on, and we've now moved.
Remaining furry girl quite enjoys being a solo cat but we have a big garden now so plenty of space!

We're not up north anymore but my folks are in w.yorks. Probably a bit too far to make a cat travel but I'd live a big tabby or silver tabby boy Smile

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cozietoesie · 10/11/2013 19:55

Hmmmm.

If she enjoys being a singleton, I'd be inclined to let the situation be. Just my way of course but I always think of the 'cat in residence' rather than my own inclinations. I could have 20 cats in this house but Seniorboy wouldn't compromise.

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Cailleach · 10/11/2013 20:11

yourcruisedirector, I'm in S Yorks... am happy to consider you as a prospective adoptee...mind you it's early days yet so let's see how the little buggers get on first :)

Cataline I know to rub their bums with a warm wet cloth to make them go - but apparently the kittens haven't heard about that and won't oblige me! (Plenty of wee mind you...)

A friend of mine found a litter of kittens about three years ago and hand-reared them successfully...apparently they only pooped infrequently at first.

Until they got to about three and a half weeks old and then, in her words, they were "like muck-spreaders" from then on in!

So I am trying not to take the no-pooing thing too seriously.

Atm they are in their box by the radiator, fast asleep. More updates and hopefully pics to follow.

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Cailleach · 10/11/2013 20:17

PS: nice work with Oneago, cozietoesie! Any poo-inducing tips to share with me? ;)

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yourcruisedirector · 10/11/2013 20:40

Probably right cozie, though they were happy enough when we had two.

OP, really hope the kittens start to thrive and I'm sure they'll socialise really well. Good luck!

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cozietoesie · 10/11/2013 20:50

What can I say? Pooing requires a certain amount of bulk but you don't want constipation. If they're to be vetted tomorrow, I'd be content.

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