Babies!!

[Bkitty]

My hubby just called me and went out on the river to do some night fishing. He stumbled upon a sac of half drowned kittens-3 of them. He rescued them and is on his way home. He says they are fiesty and wet and look hungry. They look to be about 4-5days old. I ran to Petco and bought bottles and milk replacement and a cage. Im am going to have my hands full nursing them. Please what else is there that I need to know? I hope I can save them and then get them a good home. My heart is broken who would do such a thing?!!! Any advice is appreciated.

[Bkitty]

The babies are gaining weight! I weighted them on our food scale -LOL. everyday! But I think they have worms there was some white "matter" in their stool. They are waayyy too young for deworming medications right?

[aligator79]

How are the babies doing??

How's mom?

[FurballsMom]

I'm so glad Beener is being such a helpful surrogate parent and that the other adult cats are at least not being aggressive towards the little ones.

It's alright, Pip, I knew you didn't mean me when you hit the reply button.  I think we all that from time to time.  I learned about the house cat society being compared to lion society from animal behaviorists that were on some animal documentary about cats.  I think it must have been one of those PBS specials, but it's been so long ago that I can't remember exactly what show I watched.  But, I do know I learned this from a TV documentary.

[Bkitty]

Beener is so patient! I did see where one was trying to nurse him he did take his paw and kinda thump him on the head like "stop"! Milo went in the pen and for no reason started slapping one of them-LOL.  Gizmo goes in the pen and lays over them. They are locked up tight when we go to bed or leave!! Zachary still is just sniffing them. Pepper sniffs them too and walks away.

[AppleBr]

Great news for ones that really deserve those.
Amazing the relationship involving Beener - Im glad for my intuition been proved reality - for sure he is enjoying his new role, even being a senile cat ( or right for this reason - but I know mentally normal and young cats that do this)

[Bkitty]

We are all settled in for the night! Just got done with bottle time and tummy pats. We are snuggled and sound asleep. Im hearing some rattling and that is scaring me a little. Well Ill be back up at 3am. Check in tomm! ((hugs))~Bkitty

[Piparskeggr]

(Read more closely before replying)

While FurballsMom has provided me some good reading, my above comment was directed to Bkittyy.

[Piparskeggr]

Wow, your story of how Beener, Gizmo (and to some extent), the other boys are helping with the kittens is marvelous.

The way you describe it, I can play the scene in my head.

You and your hubby are good people.

[opus88]

good info there furballsmom, interesting!!
and good for you bkitty, for being such a responsible kitty mommy, they will by the sounds of it become very social little tykes..with all the hand raising and the interaction with the bigger brood.....my goodness you have a houseful, and they are all so loved too ♥♥

[Bkitty]

Beener is a turning out to be a great daddy and the others occasionally will hiss at them but also will come up and lick their ears and face. I have 5 male cats 8months-17yrs old. Beener is senile( he is 17) but has taken to the babies like they are his own. They actually tried to nurse on him. HA! But he is very patient and lets them climb and wiggle all over him. Gizmo (8 month old) is a little more playful with them. He nudges them and and kinda rolls them around. Zachary, Milo and Pepper-dont pay much attention. Of course I will continue to monitor them with the boys,, only during the day and evening do I let them interact with my cats. When we are sleeping or not around they are locked up. My vet said too that since my boys are vaccinated and healthy it is ok to let them interact with the babies that it helps them to develop their socialization skills. The babies are healthy as well. Just a lot of work!! My plan is to keep them till they are 12weeks and get them vaccinated and set up spay/neuter before I send them off to a forever home. I will NOT send them to the pound or any kinda shelter! It will look good on their records if they are able to interact socially with other cats. That is my intention of letting the boys help raise them!! LOL ;))

[FurballsMom]

Although it's true that males tend to kill kittens, I've witnessed male cats being excellent daddies, too.  I have a picture of one who was actually snuggled up next to what we had to assume was actually his own son.  And, the kitten was just about old enough to be weaned from his mother naturally.  The mother was a black female and the one we assumed was the father was my mother's brown tabby.  He had the special wider striping than the standard tabby.  The kitten had the same kind of striping.  The main difference is that the one we thought was the father had white paws, but the kitten had tan colored paws that matched the lighter background coloring in his fur.  The one we thought was the father was pretty sweet to the kitten, but naturally we watched him closely being that he was a male.  We knew what males are known to do to kittens.

Animal behaviorists say that our domestic cats' natural life society is similar to lion society.  As with lion prides, the females will share kitten raising duties if there is more than one female in the family group.  As with lion prides, the males might kill the babies.  The difference is that lions do this if the cubs aren't their offspring.  Our domestic male cats might kill their own kittens.  But, then, again, they might not.  So, sometimes the males make good parents.  It's still a good idea to keep an eye on the adult male around those babies.  It's wonderful, though, that he is being such a good surrogate parent.

[Bkitty]

Thanks Opus! We had a scare today the littlest baby aspirated on the formula and it was coming out of her nose and she was choking,,ran to the vet and he gave me some different bottles/nipples-we have to make sure she is really upright when feeding her. My hubby had her wrapped in a blanket and was holding her like a baby instead of keeping her upright or on the belly. Im glad its the weekend. Beener sleeps with the babies, helays in their bed and they curl up under him. Im glad that he does that as its hard keeping them warm. They still cant regulate their body temps and despite all the heated water bottles and cloths i seem them shiver every now and then. :( Ill post more pics this weekend! Xoxo Bkitty

[opus88]

hi...found another site with more info on orphaned kitties.....good reading.

http://www.hdw-inc.com/tinykitten.htm

[opus88]

great news....your doing a good job, kittymoma!! course you got lots of surrogate help going on there too...lol. would keep an eye on Beener when he's around them tho, many males will kill kittens, just a male thing for some reason...however being he's a little senile perhaps he thinks he's the momma???
keep up the super job bkitty....p.s. sorry abt your bad health news today....that sux. :(

[Bkitty]

The babies are doing well,,eating good and pooping and peeing OK. Beener moved one of the babies outside the pen today. Im not sure what his intentions were being that he is senile but he does like to lay and watch them and will stick his paw thru the wire. He also has licked their ears and behinds. The other kitties have also been attentive.
Its so fun feeding them and watching their ears flap back and forth. Its funny cuz when its time to feed the other kitties gather around and watch. So far so good.

[opus88]

Pip ......you have no idea how proud we are of you too, and thankful as well :)

[Piparskeggr]

Gods' blessing on you and your husband for this tremendous kindness.

It's stories like this that restore my hope and help keep me proud I wore the uniform of my country, I did it for folks like you.

[Bkitty]

Yes I have been wiping them/stimulatimg them. These dang nipples are what has me fustrated! They just have been pottied fed and are tucked in bed for the next 3 hours. They are starting to sniffle...:( The eyes are opening too.

[opus88]

are you using a warm cloth to gently wipe their little anus's to stimulate a poopy?.....have to replace a mommy's actions :)

[Bkitty]

The Vet is going to hook us up with bottles and formula. My hubby finally told me there were 2 other babies in the pillow case that were dead. They are doing good. They have urinated but no poopy yet. Im kinda worried about that. I need to do some more research..

[AppleBr]

Forum is interesting today! Lots of news...
Dont want to take your time. Just want to congratulate you for your new babies and all the hard good job you're doing...
I cant help you about the bottles - I never hand fed kittens!
Its also good to know they are doing well and your adults are helping
Maybe they help Beener feel better someway later on,who knows?

[opus88]

great job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

do you think perhaps the formula maybe just a little too thick?

[Bkitty]

I still cant figure out the nipples on the bottle. I made the small "x" in the nipple but if you hold it upside down I cant squeeze the formula out. Do they suck it out? Is it "one way"?

[Bkitty]

Oh Boy! Im exhausted! They were dried,cuddled, fed and massaged all night. I just got them tucked in again. They are eating good and pottying. I have my hands full. My other boys (Beener, Zachary, Pepper, Milo & Gizmo) are also a big help as they snuggle with them. Milo hisses and growls a little. They are lil piggies. Try and get to the vet today or tomm. Thanks!