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

[lookatmybutt]

Aaah, bless them and you. I don't think it's unusual for teenie rescues (and bigger ones) to have illness when you bring them in - we have a family friend who fosters for Cat's Protection and this is one of the reasons why she has a man-trap entryway to her 'Kitten Room' (which is as awesome as it sounds). She has many of her own cats as well and keeps the newbies quarantined for a bit, I do believe. Watch out because once one gets the lurgy they ALL tend to get it but often pull through.

I'm in a similar situation to you, but at least I also have mummycat and my four little'uns are a bit older and now in the process of weaning. I also have three older siblings as well.

Thankfully I have a few homes lined up and no illness at the mo', touch wood. I think I'm going nuts!

I hope your teenies feel better soon.

[Cailleach]

thanks look...I know how you feel! it took me three tries to get my password right to log on to the computer.

I have only had it for fifteen years ... ooops...

Grey baby (last night's casualty) is wanting food again, which is good.

The runt is tired and listless but has just had some milk, so that is better than nothing. They are both being kept apart from the other cats for now.

x

C

[cozietoesie]

Grey baby is actually asking for food? That's excellent. Lots of liquid down the runt as per vet guidance.

You're doing well, woman. (You must be completely knackered!)

[Cailleach]

blinks blearily at the screen Let me tell you how tired I am: today I actually ate a Cup-A-Soup as a meal.

I feel as though I have washed everything in the house 500 times over the last week.

You would not believe the state of my hands...all the washing-up and the kittens scratches have left them red-raw...

Am now finally stopping for cup of tea and bowl of cereal.

zzzz...

x

C

[Cailleach]

PS: grey baby is now walking around and meowing again! yay!

Runt is very wobbly tho :(

[cozietoesie]

Is the other half in a position to help at all? I know that Oneago's breeder was nearly demented and she only had two to rear.

Big respect to you, Cailleach.

[cozietoesie]

The runt is still alive though. That's a plus. And if you can get grey baby stabilized then you can relax just a tad.

[Cailleach]

Cozie the Bloke has been great with them this week but his Gran is very poorly so he's staying with her for a few days. My Mum, bless her, has got the kids for the weekend: this is giving me space to get stuff done.

I appear to have built a kitten-pen out of scrap wood and spare conti-board left over from the kitchen fitting today: I am irrationally proud of it. The other kittens are desperately bored in their box and are longing for space to run around and play, hence the pen.

They made me laugh today, running round the bedroom and pouncing on things. They look so much younger than they are thanks to their rough start so it's strange to see them pouncing on things and stalking.
x
C

[SaltySeaBird]

Ahh they sound adorable. You are doing a great job.

Marking place for updates.

[cozietoesie]

I had remembered that his gran wasn't well - why I mentioned whether he was in a position to help.

And well done CailleachMum. Her having the kids gives you some respite. Not a whole lot but some.

[yourcruisedirector]

Calleach what a week for you all! It sounds like everyone is pitching in. Hope the poorly kittens have picked up overnight - I just logged in and they're gorgeous!

[NationMcKinley]

Cailleach

[cozietoesie]

Gawd - I just noticed that you were having a new kitchen fitted on top of all this. I think you could give us all lessons on Grace Under Fire.

[Cailleach]

Quick update before I start the days washing..all five tons of it...

Both grey baby and the runt are quite a bit perkier although still very weak. I am persisting with force-feeding them and it is paying off, although I think we still have a way to go with them.

Cozie no the new kitchen went in about three months ago, thank god: the kitten pen has been built from leftover bits we stuffed in the cellar.

See I knew there was a reason why I keep things just in case they ever came in handy!

x

C

[GerundTheBehemoth]

Glad to hear the poorly ones are doing better. You are doing an amazing job!

[cozietoesie]

Even so, Cailleach, even so.

You're doing great - but have you managed to have any food and sleep yourself?

[Cailleach]

Yes, I had six hours last night which was great - first time I have slept properly in over a week.

Poorly kittens are still wobbly but are strengthening. For some reason I have to really force the milk down them, they are so reluctant to feed. It does do them good though - they are getting stronger daily and are weeing and pooing.

The healthy kittens have been moved to their new pen: they love it, and are exploring their new toys (these have been "borrowed" from my cats.)

My cats are coping with all this by basically pretending that none of it is happening.

Right. I am off to have a cider and a surf round Mumsnet.

x

C

[cozietoesie]

I think they may be finding feeding a stressful experience so are kicking at the traces. Maybe start to consider weaning for them once they're steadier on their legs and not likely to fall headfirst into their shallow bowl and splutter ? They might actually take to that.

(If you're mentally prepared for the mess that is.)

[Cailleach]

Cozie funnily enough I was just thinking along the lines of trying to wean the others. Milk doesn't seem to be satisfying them anymore...

[cozietoesie]

They're of an age to try it, I think.

[Cailleach]

Cozie I just tried the healthy four with some kitten food, mushed up small and mixed with milk.

The brown tabby and the black one instantly leapt into the dish and started truffling away happy. The silver tabby with the white paws got the hang of it after a few minutes, the silver tabby with the light ears has no idea what to do but I'm sure it will come.

Instant weaning! ;)

Meanwhile grey baby is stable, but the runt looks very unwell again tonight :( Hey ho, we are at the vets at 10am for worming, so hopefully she makes it through the night and can be checked out then.

x

C

[QueenStromba]

Fingers and toes crossed for the poor little mite.

[cozietoesie]

Keep the runt close by you then. Half the battle with these little ones is them wanting to live and a big warm body next to them can give them heart. (Or at the very least, give them comfort.)

That was replacement milk, I'm sure, and not cow's milk?

[cozietoesie]

So that's you likely relieved of half the feeds?

[Cailleach]

Cozie yes I am using Cimicat... the other four are thriving, no idea why these two are so ill...

And no, The Bloke works all day and I work four hours a night, so most of them fall to me :)

I don't mind, I just wish the poorly two would pick up a bit. It takes me an hour to feed them both as I have to drop the milk a tiny bit at a time into their mouths... nightmare.