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Original poster

Just found a cat and newborn kittens in my garden on a low bench. WWYD??

1392 replies

Pinot · 17/04/2011 11:40

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Original poster
Pinot · 20/05/2011 20:02

ooh xposts Claire - reading now, thanks

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Original poster
Pinot · 20/05/2011 20:01

Oh God Summer - this is far and away the hardest bit (even worse than the hourly feeds at day 1-7). They are obviously hungry as they get frantic and scratchy at me, and just seem so unhappy when I offer food. I've even tried warming it tonight so the house stinks of fecking fish They just scramble away and up my legs as they know to sit on my lap and milk will come. Dammit. DH agrees with Exit, I need to make them go cold turkey a bit, but it's sooooo hard. I really can't mix the dogs eating with the kitties as I worry the dogs would feel threatened and that would set me back on the dog/cat friendship thing. I need to borrow a cat .... :(

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ClaireDeLoon · 20/05/2011 20:00

Is this any good?

SummerRain · 20/05/2011 19:55

Sorry... all our (millions) of kittens seemed to figure it out without my input. Probably as we always had adult cats showing them the way.

Maybe they'd get it if they saw your dogs eating? >

The only other thing I can think of is that mother cats do cut back on feeding (ie: they hide from the kittens) a lot more at this stage than when they're newborns so maybe if they were hungrier they'd be forced to try it? You could try being a bit mean and cutting back a bit on milk?

Original poster
Pinot · 20/05/2011 19:44

Claire That's so great! Grin I'm well chuffed.

FAB I think I will you know!

Still no sign on interest in solids - does anyone have any tips?

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TheOriginalFAB · 20/05/2011 17:43

Pinot - are you printing out this thread to put in the kittens' baby book keep for posterity? Grin

ClaireDeLoon · 20/05/2011 17:39

I asked MNHQ and that lovely HelenMumsnet said yes! I think they all are avid readers of the kitten adventures too.

Original poster
Pinot · 20/05/2011 17:16

Ha Claire I'm surprised you're all not bored of me wanging on by now anyway! Thank God for MN though - the advice/support has been a-m-a-z-i-n-g.

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ClaireDeLoon · 20/05/2011 17:11

I do hope this thread will be an unlimited number of posts because we need updates and we need the whole story in one place!

ExitPursuedByAKitten · 20/05/2011 15:10

Oooh - I think we need a video of the burping. Yes?

TheOriginalFAB · 20/05/2011 14:22
Original poster
Pinot · 20/05/2011 14:20

Yes yes Exit they have to put on my shoulder or upright anywhere but shoulder is far cuter and have their back rubbed Grin Meow does enormous ones through her shut mouth, so her ickle cheeks puff up, whereas Ginger lets them out the right side of his mouth in a lip-fart style. Tres attractive, non? They often settle in for a bit more milk afterwards too - made some room and all that Grin

Fishy breath makes me gag but I'll cope

FAB - I know what you mean mate, I know.

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TheOriginalFAB · 20/05/2011 14:03

I want a kitten but if I get a kitten than means FabCat has died so I will make do with Meow and Ginger.

ExitPursuedByAKitten · 20/05/2011 14:00

You have to burp them Shock Envy

Yuk to the mucky paw.....

Wait until it is fishy breath......

Original poster
Pinot · 20/05/2011 13:57

Due to the exhaustion of this mornings shenanigans, I forgot to tell you how when I was burping Ginger he put a fishy/litter-y paw on my lips

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ExitPursuedByAKitten · 20/05/2011 13:49
Envy
Original poster
Pinot · 20/05/2011 13:41

Well this is a v-e-r-y messy business Envy Grin

So far Ginger has walked through it, then into his litter box so we had tuna/milk/litter-y paws, then walked through his bedding, then tried (repeatedly) to climb out of his tub so the walls are now semi-coated in fish/milk mix

I've put some on my finger and offered it - Ginger sniffed then snapped his head to the side like I was offering something vulgar, Meow sniffed then licked - progress! - then I popped her in front of the bowl and she lapped at the fishy milk and seemed to enjoy that - the mushy tuna is still there so hoping she'll progress to that. Gave Ginger a bottle of milk as he was fretting, poor boy and I love feeding him Grin

Have tidied the tub/bedding/litter ready for the next round and now all snuggled up down my top asleep :)

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OTheHugeManatee · 20/05/2011 11:43

Pinot, have you tried offering them a teeny bit of kitten food on the tip of your finger? If they have a little lick and decide they like it you can feed them little bits by hand, and that might make the transition to eating from a bowl easier.

TheOriginalFAB · 20/05/2011 11:23

I got FabCat when she was 5 weeks old and tbh it was too soon to take her from her mummy. She had milk and food then but I can't really remember how she got on with it, I think she just jumped straight in. Sometimes literally. Grin

SummerRain · 20/05/2011 11:21

I just laughed so loud at that mental image I frightened the baby.

My mother had a cat years ago (technically he was mine but he was my mother's creature through and through... he's piss on us while we slept if she was away overnight) that would demand warm milk every afternoon. It was this big production where he'd come and get her, prowl around the worktops while she boiled the kettle, washed his bowl, poured in the milk, topped it up with hot water til it was just the right temperature for him and served it to his highness on his special mat Hmm Unfortunately it turns out you're not supposed to give them cow's milk and when we brought him to the vet for his constant diorhea she was ordered to stop giving it to him. not a happy puss Grin

Original poster
Pinot · 20/05/2011 11:03

I've mixed up some tuna with warm milk and put it in their tub...they are perusing it in a Hmm fashion Grin

arf at me feeding giant cats with a baby bottle Grin

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ExitPursuedByAKitten · 20/05/2011 10:55

Didn't mean to panic you. I am sure they will self wean when they are two ready.

Original poster
Pinot · 20/05/2011 10:54

Awww saffron Thanks. Really.

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saffronwblue · 20/05/2011 10:53

Pinot, they (and you) are doing so well! I wish I could think of a non cheesy way to say that your kittens and their story are like a ray of sunshine in a dark and uncertain universe. Well. I hope you know what I mean.

Original poster
Pinot · 20/05/2011 10:51

Really? OK.

It's just so hard they look at the food and sniff it and then...nothing. Nada. Zip.

Then they crawl up my legs for a bottle of warm milk

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