comforting kittens

So now that I've seperated the kittens due to suckiling each other, there's a new problem. The problem is that despite the warm socks and being close enough to smell and hear each other one of the kittens is freaking out. He's been crying and crying and crying every time he hears someone come in for about 12 hours now. If we pick him up and carry him around he cries a little quieter and mom was able to get him to sleep on her last night, but that was with some effort. Any ideas on comforting kittens? They have their microwaved rice socks warmed up every few hours, but I'm not sure what else to do and I certianly can't carry him around with me all day (especially since he likes to tear at my face with his claws).
Poor little Bam Bam
Jess

Hi Jess,
I made a little pouch for Smeagol to ride in around my neck, that way I can keep him close but also have my hands free. Sometimes, he's just fussy. Is Bam Bam pooping? Sometimes Smeagol will cry his head off if he needs to poop and is having trouble.
If Smeagol is inconsolable and just won't relax, I put him in his cat carrier which is covered with a towel and leave him. He usually settles down very quickly.

Good luck!

I thought about some kind of pouch idea, but with 5 of them in the house, it starts making me feel guilty just cuddling the one, and 5 pouches isn't really reasonable. I suppose I may have to do something, since he seems to be the one in the most distress. This afternoon he seems to calm down if I pick him up and hold him for a bit. I tried letting him cuddle with his sister after a feeding, but wouldn't you know it, they dove for each others bums. He's going to the bathroom just fine and is eating more than he did yesterday...I think it's just pure loneliness. The others that are seperated are crying too, not as loudly, and it seems in responce to his cries for the most part. I really hope they grow out of this or we find a better way.
Thanks for the suggestions. They were good ones.
Jess

Have you tried taking a towel for each kit to lay on, and then swap it for another one?If that makes sense.............it's been a LONG night!!
Example, give each kit a towel.Switch the towels around so that each kit has a different towel.Or even the rice socks could work.That way they have a familar scent from a sibling and may be comforted some.Also, you could maybe use a small stuffed animal for each kit to snuggle with.I've heard wind up alarm clocks sound like Moms heart beat and will calm a kit.
Is he eating enough?Maybe he is still hungry?
Good luck and if you are really concerned,I'd give your Vet a call about it.

Poor babies. The best thing for them would be a foster mom kitty...but those are hard to come by. I'm sure it is hard listening to them cry. Has giving them a stuffed animal helped any?

Don't worry about spoiling the needy one...if he gets carried an cuddled a little more than the others, it is ok. I know one of my current litter of 5 is the first on my lap, and the sweetest baby. She always gets a little more attention!

I hope it is going better for them. Do you have an adult kitty who might be a companion to them, one at a time for extra cuddles? Just be careful the adult is up to date on vaccinations just in case!

Why can't you put them together? Is suckling really going to hurt them? They need playmates. Also, how old are they? My kittens are already 9 weeks old and they like to "kill" each other(or so it sounds like) but within a few hours the violence is over and they just bunble up and snooze.

Do you know anyone who has a female cat that has had kittens before? If so then maybe you can try and introduce the kittens to her and she may foster them. Or maybe get an "ex-mama" cat from a humane society because they ussually have a strong maternal instinct after their first litter and they will take good care of the kittens, all you have to do is feed them. It's just an idea.

Originally Posted by TortieBaby

Why can't you put them together? Is suckling really going to hurt them?

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Sometimes, with bottle babies, the instinct to nurse is so strongly ingrained that when a mother cat isn't present, the babies will resort to nursing upon each other - normally the genitals. When this is allowed to happen over a prolonged period of time, it can cause severe health issues, injuries and infection. And of course, these are all things you want to avoid when dealing with kittens.

Oooooohhhhh....I see, thanks for explaining it to me.

Originally Posted by TortieBaby

Do you know anyone who has a female cat that has had kittens before? If so then maybe you can try and introduce the kittens to her and she may foster them. Or maybe get an "ex-mama" cat from a humane society because they ussually have a strong maternal instinct after their first litter and they will take good care of the kittens, all you have to do is feed them. It's just an idea.

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I asked the humane society when I first started talking to them about the kittens about just this. They said that the female usually doesn't accept the kittens and there's a chance that she may reject her own kittens in the process. Becides that, our local humane society just burnt down a couple of months ago, and there were many losses, there were only a few cats that were able to be saved and they were sent to neighbouring shelters.

The kittens are doing better with their seperation. They're learning how to play finally, and "social time" has become fun and eventful. They all love their warm socks with rice, but would prefer to be with each other. Unfortunately they still try to suckle during play time, so we can't change things. My kitty, Chester has taken an interest in them, and if we hold them up for him to smell he'll take some time and wash their faces (yes, he's up to date on shots). He's too rough to be left alone with them though, still too playful and doesn't know his own strengh. They also got to watch him eat some wetfood yesterday and were really interested in it. We're starting the weaning process tomorrow or Tuesday and can't wait!

Good luck with the kittens! Are you going to find new homes for them or are you keeping them?

I have the same problem with my male cat too. When my kittens were about 8 weeks old my male cat suddenly started wanting to play with them and clean them. He's neutered so I guess that's why he's more "femenine" now. However, he sometimes plays too rough and hurts them so I have to keep an eye on them while they are together. Also, he doesn't ike it very much when they try and nurse on him, LOL! He loses what little manhood he has left.

Anyways, again, good luck and keep us posted. Maybe you can post some pics too!

Originally Posted by TortieBaby

Good luck with the kittens! Are you going to find new homes for them or are you keeping them?

I have the same problem with my male cat too. When my kittens were about 8 weeks old my male cat suddenly started wanting to play with them and clean them. He's neutered so I guess that's why he's more "femenine" now. However, he sometimes plays too rough and hurts them so I have to keep an eye on them while they are together. Also, he doesn't ike it very much when they try and nurse on him, LOL! He loses what little manhood he has left.

Anyways, again, good luck and keep us posted. Maybe you can post some pics too!

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Hey! The arrangement that we have going with the OSPCA is we will take care of the kittens until they're 6 weeks old and try to find good homes for them. Any kittens that we can't find homes for, the OSPCA is going to take on at that point and send to other shelters, since ours just burnt down. I think 2 of them already have homes (me and a friend of my dads and mine), so 2 out of 5 isn't bad at all. The local petfood store is also taking a couple for their "OSPCA cage" in the front of their store. Apparently kittens move rather quickly from there.
Just wanted to let you know I have a thread in furr pictures and just added some new pictures yesterday. The link is:
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=101545