Congratulations to the new mommy cat!
MY GARDEN IS PROTECTED !
- Thread starter susieqz
- Start date
susie:
I am so happy for you and drifter!! Good job!! Sounds like a toss up as to who was the most flustered!!
But it is telling that when she needed help, she turned to you. Our furry friends learn to count on us, and it sounds like her trust was well placed!!
Congratulations!!
Best Regards, Les
I am so happy for you and drifter!! Good job!! Sounds like a toss up as to who was the most flustered!!
But it is telling that when she needed help, she turned to you. Our furry friends learn to count on us, and it sounds like her trust was well placed!!
Congratulations!!
Best Regards, Les
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
drifters says thank, snub.
it is amazing how squirmy kittens are when they are less than 24 hours old.they are climbing all over mom, when not fighting over nipples.
it is amazing how squirmy kittens are when they are less than 24 hours old.they are climbing all over mom, when not fighting over nipples.
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
thanks, les. yeah she knows we are family.
i wanted just an outside cat but she won me over by showing affection to me.
i didn't expect that.
i wanted just an outside cat but she won me over by showing affection to me.
i didn't expect that.
Now that makes me smile! Please post some pics when you can.
My wife says, "Congratulations Granny!"
Success, now you have a house full of kitties. That will be a real vet vi$it.
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
i will do what i can to figure out the flash, so we can show off.
i do have time, i hear their eyes open in 10 days, just like puppies.
i do have time, i hear their eyes open in 10 days, just like puppies.
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
i won't have to vet all of them. i already have had 2 requests for kittens before i ever put the word out.
cats are in short supply on the plains n ranches keep tons of grain around that needs to be protected.
cats are in short supply on the plains n ranches keep tons of grain around that needs to be protected.
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
well, i really missed drifter when she was in that nest in the junk room.
plus, we are having another cold spell n that room is unheated.
so, i cut the bottom from a shipping box, leaving 6'' high sides. i filled this with soft stuff that had
my scent on them.
i took that n crawling into that nest i made, i started moving kittens.
drifter wasn't happy about this. she batted my hand when i took the last one.
since no claws were involved , there was no fight.
i put that box full of kittens under a desk next to the tv, across from me on my couch.
i then urged drifter to come. it would have been handy
to have a cat that could be picked up, but i don't have one.
she was weak, but did come, once the kittens started crying for her.
i think drifter is happy with this situation. she gets my caresses, plus she can step out of the box to get a break from child care.
these guys are really energetic for day olds.
they fight for their milk n then they crawl all over mom.
this is fine for now but i see problems in a couple weeks.
the kittens will be all over everything.
i'm sure drifter can teach them the use of a litter box, but i can't kitten proof the whole houes. they will get into trouble for sure.
if this was spring, i'd move them into the garden to ive, but it's just too cold right now.
i have no idea how to pen up energetic kittens.
plus, we are having another cold spell n that room is unheated.
so, i cut the bottom from a shipping box, leaving 6'' high sides. i filled this with soft stuff that had
my scent on them.
i took that n crawling into that nest i made, i started moving kittens.
drifter wasn't happy about this. she batted my hand when i took the last one.
since no claws were involved , there was no fight.
i put that box full of kittens under a desk next to the tv, across from me on my couch.
i then urged drifter to come. it would have been handy
to have a cat that could be picked up, but i don't have one.
she was weak, but did come, once the kittens started crying for her.
i think drifter is happy with this situation. she gets my caresses, plus she can step out of the box to get a break from child care.
these guys are really energetic for day olds.
they fight for their milk n then they crawl all over mom.
this is fine for now but i see problems in a couple weeks.
the kittens will be all over everything.
i'm sure drifter can teach them the use of a litter box, but i can't kitten proof the whole houes. they will get into trouble for sure.
if this was spring, i'd move them into the garden to ive, but it's just too cold right now.
i have no idea how to pen up energetic kittens.
I think Iggy nailed it!!!
Don't worry, susie, it's all going to work out!!
I'm sure that I speak for a bunch of us out here who are rooting for you and drifter.
Good job!!
Best Regards, Les
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
oh, i'm so mean i can't stand it!
when drifer finally started eating [after a 2 day fast that scared me silly], i went to check out the kittens.
found a dead one, squished.
kinda sad, but i had moved 4 kittens from the junk room to the living room. there are still 4 live kittens.
she had one here.
i forced my poor drifter to walk right in the middle of labor.
i assumed, after 12 hours, she was done popping them out.
i'm a terrible person.
the plus side is she is happy in here. this is the room she lives in, with me. she can look over n know i'm here.
also, i get to push food every chance i can.
i was preparing to take her to the vet, abandoning the kittens when she started eating, at last.
i didn't know they didn't eat for 2 full days after giving birth.
i found a vet in the phone book, but i didn't have a cat carrier, so i had to wait til amazon gets one here.
i never had one because drifter isn't all that tame.
not sure i could stuff her into one.
when drifer finally started eating [after a 2 day fast that scared me silly], i went to check out the kittens.
found a dead one, squished.
kinda sad, but i had moved 4 kittens from the junk room to the living room. there are still 4 live kittens.
she had one here.
i forced my poor drifter to walk right in the middle of labor.
i assumed, after 12 hours, she was done popping them out.
i'm a terrible person.
the plus side is she is happy in here. this is the room she lives in, with me. she can look over n know i'm here.
also, i get to push food every chance i can.
i was preparing to take her to the vet, abandoning the kittens when she started eating, at last.
i didn't know they didn't eat for 2 full days after giving birth.
i found a vet in the phone book, but i didn't have a cat carrier, so i had to wait til amazon gets one here.
i never had one because drifter isn't all that tame.
not sure i could stuff her into one.
Last edited:
Don't worry about a litter box for a while She will clean up after them for a while.............
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
speaking of litter, one hears about sand boxes, not litter boxes, in days of yore.
now, they are saying that you can't use clumping litter for kittens.
i don't wanna deal with non clumping litter.
any reason i can't dig up sand for these guys?
now, they are saying that you can't use clumping litter for kittens.
i don't wanna deal with non clumping litter.
any reason i can't dig up sand for these guys?
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
guys, i could use some help.
i need to know how kittens were raised 30 years ago.
i've read up on what people do nowadays.
i ordered special food, special litter, special milk substitute .
special everything.
but, i went to town today. due to our drought n a big sandstorm, the sand is really deep.
i barely made it thru.
no way will fed ex get thru.
my kittens will have to make do with what i have on hand.
i have plenty of adult cat food n litter.
i guess i can dig sand for them, because i read
clumping litter can kill them if they eat it.
not sure what to feed them tho.
thots? ideas? comments?
people used to raise kittens just fine before they had all this high tech stuff.
i need to know how kittens were raised 30 years ago.
i've read up on what people do nowadays.
i ordered special food, special litter, special milk substitute .
special everything.
but, i went to town today. due to our drought n a big sandstorm, the sand is really deep.
i barely made it thru.
no way will fed ex get thru.
my kittens will have to make do with what i have on hand.
i have plenty of adult cat food n litter.
i guess i can dig sand for them, because i read
clumping litter can kill them if they eat it.
not sure what to feed them tho.
thots? ideas? comments?
people used to raise kittens just fine before they had all this high tech stuff.
susie, if mama is lactating, and eating well herself, she should be able to feed 4 kittens easily. As someone already mentioned, she will probably clean up after the kittens for awhile. Main thing I see is to make sure that mama is eating well, so she can produce nutritious milk for the babies. Nothing like mama's milk.
Best Regards, Les
Best Regards, Les
Lactating mother cats need about twice as much food (calories) as a non-lactating adult cat to remain healthy and feed the kittens.
As to litter, when I was a kid, we used to shred newspaper into long strips about an inch wide to line a litter box. Smelled terrible, as it has no odor nullification qualities, but it did keep them from using a rug or some out of the way corner elsewhere in the house to relieve themselves. Show it to them and they will happily use it as long as you change it often.
As to litter, when I was a kid, we used to shred newspaper into long strips about an inch wide to line a litter box. Smelled terrible, as it has no odor nullification qualities, but it did keep them from using a rug or some out of the way corner elsewhere in the house to relieve themselves. Show it to them and they will happily use it as long as you change it often.
I would think it would be OK. When I was a kid the cats kept pooping in my sandbox. My Dad had to make a screen cover to keep them out of it.
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
thanks, amer. i can shred paper.
pawn, one thing i have is sand. tons n tons of it.
that would be easiest.
les, drifter is eating everything in sight.
10 or 12 meals/day.
they say that milk causes diarrhea in cats because they are lactose intolerant.
i can tell you that is bull.
i'm giving drifter lots of milk because i think she needs calcium.
she has no tummy upset at all.
pawn, one thing i have is sand. tons n tons of it.
that would be easiest.
les, drifter is eating everything in sight.
10 or 12 meals/day.
they say that milk causes diarrhea in cats because they are lactose intolerant.
i can tell you that is bull.
i'm giving drifter lots of milk because i think she needs calcium.
she has no tummy upset at all.
Last edited:
