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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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SummerRain · 26/04/2011 10:43

Alll my moggies seem so obnoxiously big since reading this thread Grin

TapselteerieO · 26/04/2011 11:27

Just checked new photos, wow, they are so fluffy, are they long haired?

TapselteerieO · 26/04/2011 11:29

Well done on managing the school run with the kittens to deal with Pinot, I thought I did quite well this morning just organising my two whilst dh is away.

Pinot · 26/04/2011 11:41

Tapsel Thank you firstly but also about their hair, I don't know!! I wish I did - the Mum looked fairly normal, not a puffball IYSWIM!! If anyone else can compare my kittens to their own and advise if they think they're long or short hair in future, please do - I wonder if it's just kitten fluff or...?

Thanks for any help with this!

P.S. Have left a ? for Kate Middleton on the webchat asking of she's seen this thread and whether she'd like them to be named after her and Will :) :) Hope my kitties get royal approval :) :)

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OldLadyKnowsNothing · 26/04/2011 11:56

From the photos, I don't think they're long-haired, but then I've never seen a long-haired kitten, just routine moggies. Keep up the good work, Pinot! :)

Pinot · 26/04/2011 12:14

OldLady I can't thank you enough. And you know why xxx

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Pinot · 26/04/2011 12:15

Oh naughty MNHQ with the KM spoof. It'll stay Ginger and Meow then !

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thecatatemygymsuit · 26/04/2011 12:27

Ah Pinot what a lovely story, well done you for being such a devoted kittymama Smile.
Poor little Rosie though...

SummerRain · 26/04/2011 12:41

I don't think they're long haired but i do think they'll be quite fluffy shorthairs.

My roadside kitten who's now a cat has very fluffy fur... he's definitely short haired but much fluffier than the other cats. Which is handy as from behind it's the only way I can tell him apart from his surrogate sister who's also jet black!

TapselteerieO · 26/04/2011 13:08

Pinot I might have fallen for the spoof too, if I had noticed it, and I got a reasonable amount of sleep last night broken once by dd. You must be so shattered! Are you getting any naps during the day? I think after two weeks they feed slightly less often, hopefully?!

SummerRain · 26/04/2011 13:11

I wonder is there any way you could rig the bottle so they could go to it at night and have a drink without having to be fed by you?

Hang on while i google.......

SummerRain · 26/04/2011 13:23

Kittens under four weeks old should be fed every 3-1/2 to 4 hours during the day. Nighttime feeding may not be necessary as long as the kittens are fed at least four to five times during the day, but if they awake in the night crying, they may be hungry or cold. Just like a human baby, they will need some attention here

During the first week, feed the kitten every two hours. During the next three weeks, feed them every three hours. When the kittens are four weeks old, they can be fed every six to twelve hours depending on how much solid food they are already eating. here

we've found it is easier to start young kittens off using a plastic syringe (without the needle of course!) instead of a small bottle; it's easier for us to control the flow of the formula and even be able to give it drop by drop if needed. From the newborn stage until the kittens are about 1 1/2 weeks old, use a 3 cc. syringe, and feed every 2 hours. At 1 1/2 weeks old, they are ready for the 6 cc. syringe size and feeding every 3 hours, and at about 3 weeks old, move them up to a 12 cc. syringe, feeding them at least every 4 hours. An average meal for a 3 week old kitten can vary from a single syringe full (12 fluid cc) to three syringes full (36 fluid cc) for a large and hungry kitten!! ........ A steady weight gain of about 10 grams (or 1/3 of an ounce) per day is recommended, but do not be surprised if a kitten may stay at the same weight for a day or two, then suddenly the weight gains are seen here

Feed them until they are full. During the day feed every couple of hours. Kittens will usually sleep through the night after their eyes are open. (approximately two weeks old) here

Advice varies a bit but sounds like you can at least drop back to 3 hourly round about now...

EgguStudent · 26/04/2011 15:18

Only just found this thread, but caught up with it all now.

I shall say this only once. I have never said it before, don't intend to ever again and if you dare tell anyone about this you shall be dealt with

SQUEEEEEEE

Pinot · 26/04/2011 15:22

We accept all Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees here, Eggu, don't be ashamed. Feels good, right? :)

Summer, thats hreat info - thank you again. Thing is, Meow is still so tiny that she doesn't take much in each feed (unlike Ginger) so she's still needing it every 2 hours. Which doesn't match with Ginger, so I'm having to stop him after a time so he's hungry when his sister is.

3rd day running Meow hasn't gained weight (nor lost it) and her eyes are very gummy, so I'm back again to the vets.

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KeepCalmAndCurryOn · 26/04/2011 15:33

Paypal ..... :

SummerRain · 26/04/2011 15:47

Good luck at the vets. Keeping fingers and toes crossed for her

Pinot · 26/04/2011 16:33

Keepcalm :) Bless your heart. I'll PM you my Paypal address thingy if thats what you mean. THANK YOU if so xxx

summer Ginger seems to have a balding patch on his back. Now then, stupid question alert!, is that just from where I'm stroking him or should I worry it's a problem? I've checked for mites etc and he looks healthy etc, just going a bit "Prince Charles" on the middle of his back (maybe in homage to the Royal Wedding lol)

Does anyone know? Sorry to keep hassling Summer - any other MNers want to thrown their hat into the ring and help a daft girl out? Thanks :)

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FoundationGarmentsOnOnesHead · 26/04/2011 16:37

Oh I want the Ginger one!!!

5inthebed · 26/04/2011 16:39

Hope all is well with Meow.

Can someone point me to the kitten fund please :)

SummerRain · 26/04/2011 16:50

The only things I can think of off the top of my head are worms, fleas, mites or skin infections.

Worms are very likely as most stray cats have them and they're passed to kittens by the mother but there's not much that can be done... worm treatments can't be given til 6 weeks so unless the vet can help....

fleas and mites would be fairly apparent in hand reared kittens, even on an adult cat you can feel fleas when you rub them and mites leave a lot of dirty black residue

a skin infection is possible, he could have caught something from his mother... maybe ringworm... is it a circular patch?

I've had cats with balding patches a few times but always much older and more resilient and other than stub tail in one of my toms i've never figured out what on earth caused it... my roadside kitten who's now a cat wandered in last week with half the fur on his chest missing Confused

Have you had Meow at the vets already?... might be no harm to bring Ginger too and get it checked out.

Malnutrition can cause hair loss but that seems highly unlikely with ginger as he's such a good feeder and gaining weight well.

Pinot · 26/04/2011 16:59

Thanks again Summer you hold my virtual hand so well! It's right in the centre of his back, dead centre and about the size of a 10p - it's not all bald, it's just thinned - when he feeds I can see his tiny wrinkles where he is tipped up abit. It does seem to be where I stroke him but ?? His hair is moulting alot at the moment, I wore a black vest yesterday and was covered! Hope he's OK.

I'll take him for a check up tomorrow as Meow has been checked and vet thinks she's fine, just levelling off. Her right eye has opened completely and he rinsed it through with saline (she hated that :( ) and he said she's growing in length nicely too

I'll ring them again tomorrow morning for Ginger. Feel a wally for not taking him too now but he was fast asleep on DH when I left and I didn't see it til just now. Shite. (DH is on leave this week - supposed to be 3 days w/out the kids for some couple time!!!!! Kittens have changed plans but they are totally worth it)

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SummerRain · 26/04/2011 17:03

They hate the saline... roadside kitten had a terrible eye infection and i had to wash it several times a day and squeeze ointment into it and he damn hear took my arms off at the shoulders every time. Hope Meow's clears up soon, they always looks so sad with gloopy eyes.

I'm sure the vet will give Ginger the all clear too, they're like babies.... lots of splodgy, gloopy, snotty, scabby less than attractive phases but we love them anyway Wink

Pinot · 26/04/2011 17:15

Grin Thanks Summer. I was actually quite proud of the robust way she fought the vet and his evil syringe of saline - considering 9 days ago she was tiny, cold and silent when I found her - she's come a long way has our girlie x

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Pinot · 26/04/2011 17:16

Oops naughty me forgot the MN rules and dropped a kiss at the end of that.

:)

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Pinot · 26/04/2011 19:01

Ooh how exciting - the little ladys eyes have both now fully opened!!

To celebrate more piccies are up

Thanks to all of you for your continued support - can't begin to tell you how much it means to a nervous wreck like me!

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