Just over a week ago, Marlow dried up and I began to bottle feed her kittens and separated the family. I am happy to say that even Jedi Night no longer wants the bottle. The kittens are eating solid food (wet not dry) at this point. I know it is earlier than it should be for them, but the formula didn’t seem to have what it takes.
I received a gift pack from Merrick Foods of their new food Purrfect Bistro along with some coupons and on a whim, I took the canned food into the kitten room and opened it up. The kittens loved it! They are eating it now instead of the baby food- the food is all natural, no grain. They seem to like the Beef Wellington best but they also took quickly to the dry food.
I asked the local feed store to order this food and found out it is currently out of stock! I have a pending order for it once it becomes available again.
The kittens now have the run of the bedroom. I very cleverly barricaded them in half of the room using our jungle-gym fencing but hey, they are growing which means they are climbing and they were up and over the tallest barricade in a matter of seconds. I threw in the towel and just gave them the whole room. I figured they would dive under the bed and I wouldn’t even be able to see them- but I was wrong. They are all over me when I walk in the room- jumping on the back of my legs and climbing up to “see” me, making me grateful I wear jeans and not shorts!
Here is a current photo of the little ones- they are growing like weeds
I’ll bet you’re thankful you no longer have to bottle-feed! Did you mean that you have totally separated Mama and babies? My mama-cats all still washed and slept with their kittens even when they no longer nursed them…
It’s a blessing and a curse to be greeted by climbing kittens. I was always thrilled that they were so glad to see me, but claws penetrate even the thickest denim!
Nothing like kittens….love them!
Mom is so aggressive, I couldn’t get near the babies. I had to completely separate them off or she would have hurt me or her kittens. When I was in the room she became very aggressive when grooming her kittens. I am pretty much holding off doing anything with her until after the spay- then I should at least be able to get her socialized enough to be a barn cat. I just paid off my vet bill (completely!) so the spay will have to wait until another day. The Kitty is empty but it is a happy empty 🙂
OH MY! They are adorable. I must be having kitten fever. I want the two little Siamese-y looking ones. Wish I lived closer. Glad they are friendly and loving. This will make it pretty easy to place in homes.
I didn’t realize that the mama was still so aggressive. I apologize if I seemed to be critical — I know that you are far more knowledgeable than I and have much more experience, you would never endanger either babies or mama. Do you have any other cats that might “baby” the babies?
Currently I have two black neutered male cats, one long-hair, the other short-hair, who do not like each other, in our house. They tolerate each other most of the time. One is declawed (we didn’t do it, he came to us that way from the Humane Society about eight years ago). We have been unable to find homes for either of them and every now and then they take after each other, tooth and claws. They will knock over anything to get at each other. We know that we need to put the short-haired one with claws outside, but he is afraid of the outside. He does get along well with our outside cats, they are all his relatives, but he wants them all to come in rather than him going out! We do let them in sometimes and they all have licking fests and curl up together for naps, but, when it comes to going outside, he is timid and fearful. I’ve tried taking him out to get him used to it, but he runs back inside as soon as he gets a chance. Should I just put him out and hope he gets used to it. I have tried numerous times to adopt him out, but no takers. Because he is black, I am very cautious about who I would let have him.
Before his illness, when he had to stay in, he lived outside all the time, but now he has become afraid of it. Could you give me some advice?
I didn’t see you as being critical and if it came across that way, I apologize. I am going through some personal stuff right now, plus I am just dead tired from everything. I would start by burning some feliway diffusers. I have them all over my home and they help immensely to take away the stress of having more than one cat in the home. Initially the diffusers are expensive, but you can then get the refills for about $5.00 on ebay.
I would also harness train your declawed kitty and take him for walks. Make sure the harness is a figure 8 shape because otherwise cats can wiggle out of them.
I would take mr.timid and give him specific times of play by himself in a room. At least 10 minutes to start using an interactive toy such as nekoflies, da bird. or even a peacock feather (which you can buy at any craft store) Give him plenty of attention before and afterwards and follow up the play with a meaty treat.
Think up and put in more platforms for the cats. In our kitchen we have ramps overhead where the kitties can sit or prowl. They expand out into the dining room and this is how we decided to stop counter and stove jumpers of which we have several.
When the fights start- take a dark blanket or heavy dark towel and toss it over the fighters. Separate them using the towel and put whoever you can capture in a room by himself with food and water. Don’t let him back out until you see some of the food gone and the cat grooming himself or else you might get bit.
As for Marlow’s aggression- I will admit that I am afraid of her. I am rarely afraid of many cats. But her aggression is over the top- to the point where she sees me she chuffs heavily and ALL the hair on her back and her neck stand straight up. I have had encounters like her with four other cats. Two were rehomed on large ranches with barns and two were euthanized for heavy aggression. Whatever happened to her by human hands before she arrived here was not good and cats never forget when people do bad things to them. I am unsure of how to proceed with her because she has a hair trigger. One minute loving and head-bumping the next out for the jugular. She always goes for my face or my feet so she is smart and cunning. Mike even built me a shield to protect me when I am in her cage-so now, she bounces off the wood instead of connecting with my skin. He really did- I asked him to build me a narrow shield that i could duck behind and he did an admirable job. So yes, I am afraid of her and with reason.
Thank you for your suggestions, all good!
We’ve only rescued one cat that I was totally afraid of. I am convinced that he was not just a domestic cat, but had some Bengal or ocelot in his ancestry. He was the strongest, muscular cat and actually growled like a dog! He attached to my husband, but was always very wary of me and threatened me whenever I would pet him. The funny thing was that when a couple came to see him for adoption, he took instantly to them and allowed them to pick him up and played with them without a single moment’s hesitation. They are all still happy together and I am sooo relieved that he’s gone. I’ve never felt that way about any of our other cats — if all cats were like him, I’d probably get out of cat rescue, but no other cat has affected me that way and I’ve never affected any other cat to behave as he did.
Thanks for taking the time to help me with my problem. I’ll let you know how things work out. Cats rule!
They look healthy and active – always a good sign. It may be earlier than usual for solid food, but it sees to be agreeing with them. Beef Wellington, eh? My own cats get fed better than I do, too. Sigh.