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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Fostering kitten

62 replies

OlafLovesAnna · 06/03/2021 18:25

We are in a country where lots of pets are being dumped as people can no longer afford to look after them. A local cat charity was looking for foster homes and an 8month old girl arrived this afternoon.

The charity caught her on the street and brought her to us with instructions that she be kept in a quiet room with her food and bed for around 5 days but that we go in frequently to just sit with her and let her get used to us.

She's so sweet but she is cuddled up at the back of a cat igloo bed and is very very shy.

We are hoping to get her used to family life so she can go to a forever home.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
serialhouseplantkiller · 03/04/2021 13:02

you lucky lucky thing Grin

Apileofballyhoo · 03/04/2021 13:21

Placemaking for more exciting news and tiny kitten pictures when the time is right. You got more than you bargained for, OP!

Original poster
OlafLovesAnna · 03/04/2021 18:05

She left the cupboard to use the litter box and we found that there were six kittens but one had sadly died.

They're nursing and she's eating so I'm crossing everything that all continues along the same path.

Looks like 4 black and one tabby now. She's growling if we get to close so I have completely backed off apart from to put more food in the bowl.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 03/04/2021 19:48

Poor cat. If she was very skinny before though and you didn’t have tummy fuss access you wouldn’t notice a pg.

I suppose one of her brothers was the dad.

Original poster
OlafLovesAnna · 03/04/2021 20:05

Fluffy - I guess so. All is quiet in their little cupboard, so I'm restraining myself from interfering.

OP posts:
SparklingLime · 03/04/2021 20:13

Goodness!! I foster and have found the Kitten Lady helpful. She has lots of videos on YouTube. She deals with orphaned kittens but as your mum kitten is so young she may need more help than usual.

www.kittenlady.org/kitten-care

SparklingLime · 03/04/2021 20:14

Videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZyDy7gy9vwr0m119g5poGvgHM-4Wxv80

Original poster
OlafLovesAnna · 03/04/2021 20:38

Thanks so much. I'm a bit worried about leaving them all overnight I have to admit.

I know they're only downstairs, but I worry she's going to wander off or do something ridiculous or forget where they are

OP posts:
StartingGrid · 03/04/2021 20:40

Well that was a plot twist right there! She's lovely and I hope the kittens thrive. She will need huge amounts of food, up to four times her usual amount while nursing. Fostering kittens is mayhem, you will have them hanging off your legs in no time!

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/04/2021 20:56

She seems to know what to do and they’ll be mainly sleeping or nursing.

Hm2020 · 03/04/2021 23:22

I second the kitten lady she often has newborn kittens I watch her on YouTube! Good luck and hoping you have a quiet night.

Fluffycloudland77 · 04/04/2021 11:48

How are they?.

viques · 04/04/2021 11:56

Oh what a lovely surprise. Make sure she is getting plenty , as in masses, of good quality food, she is nursing, and needs to build up her own resources after such a big litter for a young cat.

We are happy to wait for pictures, because we know they are on the way. :)

If you can keep the door shut she is less likely to wander off( and find another place to lodge her babies in, like a favourite jumper or your good towels!) She sounds as though she is looking after them well, unlike my old cat who when being fostered with her kittens kept moving them to the (clean) litter tray so she could have the cosy basket for herself! In the end the fostered gave her a spare litter tray to keep the babies in, and they all survived, she did feed them luckily.

mostlydrinkstea · 04/04/2021 12:05

I've had new born kittens as a fosterer and you just need to give lots of food and water , keep changing litter and leave mum to it for now. In a couple of weeks you can start handling kittens a little bit each day. Five is plenty for a tiny mum. We had six plus mum last year and it was manic when they got a bit bigger. We put tiny collars on them once they were up and about to work out who was who as they were all black and all boys. Enjoy!

CatChant · 04/04/2021 12:21

Crikey, what a surprise! Poor little mother cat. Thank goodness she found refuge with you just in time to give birth in safety.

Best of luck, OP.

Original poster
OlafLovesAnna · 04/04/2021 15:57

I just tried to upload a pic but it doesn't seem to work on the app.

There may be 6! I guess the final number will be a surprise when they finally venture out of their nest.

OP posts:
Ninkanink · 06/04/2021 13:42

Wow! It’s going to be busy in your household....❤️❤️❤️

CoronaCurls · 06/04/2021 13:43

How are the kittens OP? Any photos? Smile

Original poster
OlafLovesAnna · 10/04/2021 09:22

Kitties all doing really well. Still 6 babies and they all seem healthy so far. They're squeeky little things - as soon as mum gets up to eat or use the litter box there is a chorus of outraged baby miows.

They are super cute but I still can't get in to see them in their nest so the pics are not the best.

OP posts:
Ninkanink · 10/04/2021 09:32

Awwwwwwww squeee, I know that outraged baby miaow well - we had cats when I was a child and I can still hear it...❤️❤️❤️

viques · 10/04/2021 10:03

Thank you, kitten pics are the best!

CatChant · 10/04/2021 12:58

So, so cute.

Fluffycloudland77 · 10/04/2021 12:59

Is mum cat healthy?.

Ninkanink · 10/04/2021 13:59

Mummy cat will need a LOT of extra food, of extra good quality.