Litter of kittens found..paging experts please!

[Cailleach]

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

These are all great but they don't fit her, if you see what I mean....I can tell she's going to be tricky to name..

I suppose Mo is a bit ubiquitous, Cailleach - but my other black female is Lola which is even more common

Luckily cats don't care!

Your new photos & videos are just lovely. The dangly carrot is fab

How about Kali - Hindu goddess? Also known as Kalika

\link{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali\not entirely benign mind you...}

Binky, Hetty, Hope, Mavis?

Bonnie
Bunty
Cassie
Lulu
Luna
Marnie
Mimi
Nell
Olive
Suki
Tasha

What sort of character does she have?

My black cat (male) I named after a tv gangsta. He walks around the house like it's his 'hood.

Catameringue she's a bit of a contradiction: deeply chill and laid back when on your knee, but fond of 400mph scampering and wrestling with her siblings the rest of the time.

She's also huge: whatever the opposite of the runt of the litter is, she is it!

Frenchie. (After the \link{\ Marlene Dietrich character} in 'Destry Rides Again'.)

Rizzo

Miranda

They are all gorgeous, love the new pics and vids.

Miranda's a good name.

Lola
Mimi
Xena
Morticia
Sabrina
Ebony
Olive

Evening all!

Grey baby gave me a bit of a scare this morning when I found her looking listless and miserable in the box. She only ate a little bit of her breakfast and was uninterested in playing with her siblings afterwards.

Took her to the vet...again....who diagnosed her with an ear infection and gave her an antibiotic shot.

Came home after work at 10pm to find a small grey and white ball of fluff tear-arseing round the bedroom at breakneck speed and knocking seven bells out of the other kittens. The Bloke reports that she ate all her dinner then asked for seconds.

I think this is the same kitten I took to the vets this morning...it has to be, but by crikey what a difference some ABs make!

She is now on my knee, settling down for a kip.

Still trying to decide on a name for Black Kitten... keep them coming, nothing has jumped out at me thus far.

x

C

These will be her first ABs? They can really work very fast if the cat isn't used to them.

If in serious doubt about names - head for the food cupboard. I'm not suggesting she be called Beans (!) but the names of some biscuits, chocolates or cakes will often just fit a female cat. (eg Macaroon.)

Hmmm...Lentil? Ketchup? Typhoo? Weetabix...?

We only have shortbread biscuits in! Don't think that will work... I quite like HobNobs but what sort of name is that to inflict on a innocent cat?

The quest for a name continues! The Bloke just suggested Wotsit..

Have only just found this thread. Brilliant, well done! As a mum of 10 assorted rescued cats (including 2 failed fosters, oh I'm such a sucker!), I am both envious but also quite glad I've never had to hand rear because it sounds like so much hard work and in awe of what you've done! The photos are lovely, and of course you were always going to keep Ivy! Maybe that was her plan all along, play a bit hard to get and you're guaranteed a home for life!

Definitely, Eden - cats have it all planned out well in advance!

Cailleach they are even more beautiful in your latest pics

I've been thinking of foodie names for black kitty. How about Marmite, Oreo, Cocoa/Coco, Pepsi?

Coco! That's the one. (With the slight variation in spelling.)

Cailleach each of your six little lovelies is more adorable than the last.

Coco is a beautiful name.

I love the name Coco too. I called my first foster kitten Coco (though her forever owners renamed her something that was IMHO much less fab!). This is her hiding on a leopard-print slanket... Coco

She is stunning, Gerund. Gorgeous little cat there.

Cory, Timtam, thank you, they aren't mine though, I am just looking after them for Mummy Cat until they go to their new homes ;)

My DDs came home today and solemnly announced that they had asked ALL their friends (emphasis!) and they'd agreed that Fudge was the ideal name for the little black kitten.

And you know what? It really is, it suits her.

So now we have Fudge, Ivy, Angus, Harvey and Minx.

Grey baby (Ivy) seems much better today; they are all REALLY lively now and have spent quite a lot of today tearing up and down the bedroom, generally causing chaos.

One of my cats is gradually coming round to them, and is even rolling on the floor at the sight of them now, whereas before she'd hiss at them, albeit with no real sense of threat behind it.

The other one is simply LIVID and hisses and spits at them whenever she catches sight of one toddling across the room (NB: they are never left alone with the kittens.) She is a diva though, so this does not surprise me.

right! I am off for a biscuit, then a shower, then bed.

Thanks for checking in, chaps! The kittens send nose-bumps and purrs.

x

C

Fudge is a great name.

Do I detect a hint that she'll be remaining with Ivy?

I'm so glad they're doing well :)