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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

OP posts:
lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs · 20/04/2011 19:25

we had to hand rear our cats kittens when she got attacked a few days later and got a nasty infection. Warm water and cotton pads cannot be viewed the same anymore! Sadly we lost one about 3 weeks in, the smallest one :(
The older two went to a friend who hand reared them with us at her house as having them here was too stressful for the mummy. They are huge balls of fluff.
Its hard work but keep at it :) they are so cute

Original poster
Pinot · 20/04/2011 19:28

lisa do you know why the little one didn't make it? Or do you have any tips for me?

OP posts:
purpleknittingmum · 20/04/2011 19:35

Just seen the photos....they are lovely! My favourite is the first photo, black and white one!

Original poster
Pinot · 20/04/2011 19:39

That first pic is Thumper :)

OP posts:
lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs · 20/04/2011 19:44

I dont know why, she was the smallest and was never a good feeder :(
Warm water works better for making them pooh, and cotton woll pads work best. Always make milk to room temp and we were told not to let them go longer than 3 hours wthout a feed.

MigratingCoconuts · 20/04/2011 19:46

Will you stop the photos...my cute-ometer is going into overdrive and I cannot take any more Grin

Original poster
Pinot · 20/04/2011 19:48

Thumper feeds OK but I think some of it goes down the wrong way (despite a tiny hole in the teat) as she 'crackles' when breathing after a feed, until I've burped her on my shoulder.

Hmmm. Worries me.

OP posts:
lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs · 20/04/2011 19:54

we didnt do teats, we used syrine.

yoshiLunk · 20/04/2011 19:55

Oh ffs what's going on, I wander in and everyone's gone all Awww and Ahhh and cutesy, what is this,flaming netmums?

What, ...Kittens?

Newborn?

AAaaawWW - OH the Pictures!!!

SWeeeeEEEt!

well done you,

Jellykat · 20/04/2011 20:05

Grin @ yoshilunk

ReshapeWhileDamp · 20/04/2011 20:30

delurking on this thread to join the cheerleaders! Grin You're doing a brilliant job, Pinot!

And I never knew that Pets At Home did vets too. You learn something new every day... Grin

ChocolateEggyrolls · 20/04/2011 22:13

Pinot, DH has just said I can't have one.

Gutted
Sad Angry but i shall win him over! (maybe not one of yours but somewhere there is another kitten with my name on it!) First thing he said was "does it have a heartbeat? if so NO"

WuzzAndBuddy · 20/04/2011 22:46

Just popping in for a little kitty fix before bed... so much cuter than the bedbugs that were just on the news! Hmm

GwendolineMaryLacey · 20/04/2011 23:47

You're winding the kittens? That's so cute. :)

TrillianAstra · 21/04/2011 00:17

:o at yoshi

Original poster
Pinot · 21/04/2011 10:34

I've just finished giving them a bath with cotton wool pads and warm water - they looked very grumpy with me and squealed at their disgust. Now drying in a towel asleep on the heatmat. I'm awaiting the fluff to pop up on them!

One of them has lost their dried cord and my DS2 was Grin

I'm off to raid the airing cupboard for more towels as I'm running out at swapping them around so often due to pee. I have a vage memory of a set of Bob the builder towels lurking so we channel a bit of old skool Cbeebies action :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Pinot · 21/04/2011 10:35

vague now vage. Dur!

OP posts:
Northernlurker · 21/04/2011 10:41

You are doing a great job. Yes they are vulnerable but you are doing all you can and to a great extent the outcome is out of your hands. Just keep on winding and cuddling Smile

OTheHugeManatee · 21/04/2011 10:54

SQUEE all over again at burping the kittens after a feed.

Please keep updating, Pinot - I'm addicted to this thread Grin

purpleknittingmum · 21/04/2011 11:06

just the thought of a little kitten burping is making me smile!

I have never seen new born kittens, we got our cat when he was about 6 months old and the cat we had as a family, we got when she was 6 weeks ago I think and she was a persian, just a massive fluff ball!

Original poster
Pinot · 21/04/2011 11:07

Hmmm. I'm really worried that Thumper is getting aspiration pneumonia...she gulps too much milk despite a teeny teat and it goes down the wrong hole and into her lungs. I'm trying a syringe with her rather than a bottle so I can control the flow, but when I tried it just now it went all down her chin and now I'm worried she won't actually drink enough to thrive. There must be a knack to it (and I don't have it). I've so far managed to clear her lungs but it's every time she feeds and surely that can't be good.

On the plus side, her leg is pale pink today and the hock is much less swollen so I think that's healing at least. Bless her tiny heart - she is a fighter and I'm rooting for her so much.

In happier 'fluff news' their fur is looking like it's been crimped, a la 1985 styleeee so still filling me with cuteness despite my worries.

OP posts:
MigratingCoconuts · 21/04/2011 11:24

I've syringe feed a cat before and that sounds exactly right!!

I think they will be a worry to you until they are a bit older as so much of this is out of your control. They are very lucky little kittens to have found you Smile

ChocolateEggyrolls · 21/04/2011 11:24

fingers x'd for thumper and her eating!

ChocolateEggyrolls · 21/04/2011 11:25

( and not really marking my spot for future updates Grin)

TigOEUFeet · 21/04/2011 11:33

I'm not usually one for ing online but
sqeeeeuuuuuuuuuuueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Good work OP, and good luck

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