Stray Cat just had kittens. Questions

[Sarthur2]

I agree with checkers . Since you have them in a spare room anyway, I think it would be fine to leave the side down. Claire will definitely keep up with their whereabouts.

 

[handsome kitty]

My only caution would be opening the door.  The room looks pretty empty so you wouldn't need to do much kitten proofing.

Have you seen this post #514?  She has the kittens in a playpen w/a small scratching post.
[thread="300495"]Approximate Delivery Day For This Mama Kitty  [/thread]

 

[jeapa507]

 
Thank for the update, @Jeapa507.  Great to read about the weight gain.

I wonder if it's not better to leave the side of the box down, as if they venture out it's good exercise and Claire won't let them go too far. She'll bring them back to the nest. My view only but I'd be keen to hear what @sarthur2  or @Handsome Kitty  thinks. 

I agree with @Checkers. Since you have them in a spare room anyway, I think it would be fine to leave the side down. Claire will definitely keep up with their whereabouts.

 
My only caution would be opening the door.  The room looks pretty empty so you wouldn't need to do much kitten proofing.

Have you seen this post #514?  She has the kittens in a playpen w/a small scratching post.
[thread="300495"]Approximate Delivery Day For This Mama Kitty  [/thread]

Good morning @sarthur2  @Checkers  and @Handsome Kitty  . You bring up a logical idea. The room is pretty much empty. I"ll take a good look around today and make sure there aren't any dangers I am not seeing and if not I will leave the side down as you have said. Opening the door would be the only danger if a kitten was laying next to it. The door opens in and there would be no way to know before you opened it.

 

[Sarthur2]

You just open it v-e-r-y slowly and peek your head around and look.

 

[jeapa507]

I did not weigh the kittens today @sarthur2  @Handsome Kitty. Claire has decided she doesn't want me to do this as she started getting nervous as soon as I brought the scale over to the nest. I am fine with skipping the weighing as I feel like the kittens are healthy and seem to be progressing nicely. I need to respect Claire's instincts to protect her babies.  I may try letting her out of the room for a few minutes tomorrow so I can get their 2 week weights. I did spend some time just petting Claire and watching the kittens. 

Get ready for some cute Kitten Photos @Checkers:

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• jeapa507
• Jul 17, 2015

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• jeapa507
• Jul 17, 2015

We are cute and we know it!

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• jeapa507
• Jul 17, 2015

This is a hard life...lol

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• jeapa507
• Jul 17, 2015

Move please..

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• jeapa507
• Jul 17, 2015

The only time they don't fuss with each other... 

 

[handsome kitty]

They are really cuties.  Yes, give Claire a break from worrying about the strange contraption you insist on putting her kittens on.  How does she feel about your son and husband handling them?

 

[jeapa507]

 
They are really cuties.  Yes, give Claire a break from worrying about the strange contraption you insist on putting her kittens on.  How does she feel about your son and husband handling them?

@Handsome Kitty
My husband hasn't tried to hold the kittens yet so I'm not sure. She seemed ok with my son holding them, but he has only held them once for just a second a few days after they were born. He has a new girlfriend and hasn't been home as much lately so I am the primary caregiver right now. 

Claire has definitely seemed more protective the past couple of days.

 

[Sarthur2]

Wow! I love those little kitten faces! They look so sweet sleeping together.

Claire may be getting a little nervous because they are starting to move around more. This means she has to go on higher alert.

 

[kitkatkittygirl]

They are so cute!
Getting big and fuzzy

 

[magiksgirl]

So fuzzy and precious! 

 

[checkers]

Opening the door would be the only danger if a kitten was laying next to it. The door opens in and there would be no way to know before you opened it.

I wonder if a little 3-sided barrier on the other side of the door might work, so that the door  could open in a zone which can be kitten-free.  You could use suitcases, and/or maybe a coffee table on its side, etc. Anything solid they couldn't get through. (Perhaps a little project for your husband,e.g., a hinged, low, three-sided 'playpen'...

 )  It wouldn't be for long. When they are tearing around the place you wouldn't need it as they would step back when you opened the door - and probably run out the door to explore!  That was my experience. I had to open the bathroom door to let them out, did it very carefully, and they fell over each other to burst out of the room for their next adventure.  That was at six weeks.

Thank you for sharing your irrestible photos.

 

[Sarthur2]

checkers Your stories are bringing back memories - sniff!

 

[jeapa507]

Thank you so much @sarthur2, @handsome kitty, and @checkers. Your advice and knowledge has helped me so much. Claire and kittens are doing so well. I will post an update later tonight.

 

[jeapa507]

I wouldn't be surprised if I walk in the room tomorrow and find the kittens out of the nest. These two have actually started playing with each other a little bit. At what age should I begin to provide a litter box? They are 16 days old today (Monday). @Handsome Kitty  @Checkers  @sarthur2

I let Claire out of the room for a few minutes on Saturday evening so I could weight the kittens. She was waiting outside the door for me about 5 minutes later wanting back in.

Beginning weights at 3 days old:

Calico- 5.4 oz

Orange- 6.0 oz

Saturday's weights 14 days old:

Calico- 9.8 = 1.1 oz gain in 2.5 days, and 4.4 oz in the past 11 days.

Orange- 11.0 = 1.3 oz gain in 2.5 days, and 5.0 oz in the past 11 days.

 I am pleased at their steady weight gains. Claire is definitely feeding them less often, but has plenty of milk and they are growing like weeds. I think this week should be fun watching them begin to explore outside the nest. 

A few photos of them playing a bit.

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• jeapa507
• Jul 19, 2015

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• jeapa507
• Jul 19, 2015

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• jeapa507
• Jul 19, 2015

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• jeapa507
• Jul 19, 2015

 

[Sarthur2]

They are on target to weigh about one pound apiece at four weeks old. They appear to be doing quite well!

They will not need a litter box until they begin solids somewhere between 4 and 5 weks old.

They have about two more weeks to go, so mom should take care of it until then. Relax in the meantime. They are doing great with mom!

Kudos to you!

 

[checkers]

@Jeapa507, I've learnt something new with your question and @sarthur2's response on when to provide the litter box. Mine were already at that stage when I got them - although they never had a litter box until I introduced them to one, and they took to it like they'd never been without it.  

MORE adorable photos. You can really see the progress in them. And those tails!  Are their noses and paws very pink, or is it the photo (perhaps it's my computer and no one else can see it). The pink is very cute!

Well done on the progress!

 

[handsome kitty]

Very cute!

@Checkers the paw pads look very pink on my computer too.  Almost as if they have nail polish on.

 

[checkers]

 @Checkers  the paw pads look very pink on my computer too.  Almost as if they have nail polish on.

And their noses look like they've been into the blush or the lipstick.  What are you up to, @Jeapa507  ???

 

[jeapa507]

 
And their noses look like they've been into the blush or the lipstick.  What are you up to, @Jeapa507  ???

You know they do have very pink toe pads and noses. I do think my camera seems to highlight this, but even in person I notice this. I am going to use my phone today and see if it shows up in those photos. I think it must be a setting on my nikon that is enhancing the pink color.

 

[jeapa507]

 
@Jeapa507, I've learnt something new with your question and @sarthur2's response on when to provide the litter box. Mine were already at that stage when I got them - although they never had a litter box until I introduced them to one, and they took to it like they'd never been without it.  

MORE adorable photos. You can really see the progress in them. And those tails!  Are their noses and paws very pink, or is it the photo (perhaps it's my computer and no one else can see it). The pink is very cute!

Well done on the progress!

Yes their tails are so fluffy @Checkers. I plan to be prepared with the litter boxes...lol