Hi, this is my first post here. ihave been around cats my whole life (22) and have worked at shelters.
I breed goats so I know the "basics" of pregnancy, labor etc.
A couple weeks ago a pregnant long haired tabby showed up at ou door. We think she was dumped (large population of ferals and irresponsible people). She had seven kittens last Thursday. Two did not make it.
1. The first kitten died yesterday, it just died. No outward signs of illness. It had a good suck reflex , coordination and strong lungs. What could of happened? The other one was the runt, who sorta looked premature ( no fur on legs, tiny, poor suck reflex and uncoordinated), he died early this morning. I'm used to the smallest goats not making it, even with intervention (we tried bottles, still wasn't enough).
2. One of the kittens is HUGE, has polydactly on both front paws and a bent tail. It looks like the last half had been broken. I know the extra toes area mutation and that they tend to accrue in clusters (Hemingway Cats), are there other problems associated with it? What could of happened to it's tail?
3. How the heck to you tell male from female? Is it possible? I'm keeping the mutant and if it's male want to name him Ardashir ( lion warrior, Persian king who conquered the Parthian Empire.) I'm a history nut.
I breed goats so I know the "basics" of pregnancy, labor etc.
A couple weeks ago a pregnant long haired tabby showed up at ou door. We think she was dumped (large population of ferals and irresponsible people). She had seven kittens last Thursday. Two did not make it.
1. The first kitten died yesterday, it just died. No outward signs of illness. It had a good suck reflex , coordination and strong lungs. What could of happened? The other one was the runt, who sorta looked premature ( no fur on legs, tiny, poor suck reflex and uncoordinated), he died early this morning. I'm used to the smallest goats not making it, even with intervention (we tried bottles, still wasn't enough).
2. One of the kittens is HUGE, has polydactly on both front paws and a bent tail. It looks like the last half had been broken. I know the extra toes area mutation and that they tend to accrue in clusters (Hemingway Cats), are there other problems associated with it? What could of happened to it's tail?
3. How the heck to you tell male from female? Is it possible? I'm keeping the mutant and if it's male want to name him Ardashir ( lion warrior, Persian king who conquered the Parthian Empire.) I'm a history nut.