Well tinker is in labor

If they are feeding 15-20 minutes at a time, how often?

Sending prayers and vibes that Tinker gets the hang of motherhood very soon, and that the babies thrive
Poor Wilbur - sounds like he's confused, too. I have a former feral, Scott, who is very tame and really looks after kittens. Maybe it's a big, orange tom kinda thing because when I was little, my big orange tom Raja made a big deal about kittens,too. Sending Wilber some "back off" vibes - he's needs to given them some time & then his babysitting services will be in great demand

Originally Posted by Pami

If they are feeding 15-20 minutes at a time, how often?

Click to expand...

i'm doing it every couple hours.

Ok then if they are feeding that long, then nutritionally, they should be ok. And you say they have round bellies, so thats a good sign, too.

You just cant keep Tinker from leaving them, right?

I thought she was leaving and not feeding.

I recall that on a couple of occasions my Mom had to share her bed with a cat and her newborns. (This was after my Dad died, of course.) The cat liked having Mom near.

I was going to suggest the same thing about making a paper funnel or even one of wax paper if you have it.

Originally Posted by Pami

Ok then if they are feeding that long, then nutritionally, they should be ok. And you say they have round bellies, so thats a good sign, too.

You just cant keep Tinker from leaving them, right?

I thought she was leaving and not feeding.

Click to expand...

she doesn't feed unless i make her. that's what i meant. she keeps leaving them though. just now two were asleep and one was crying. she went and brought the crying one to my feet and left it there.

Right now i have him in my pocket. i have really baggy sweats on with zipper pockets but i knw he's warm in here.

ugh. now she's bring another one to myf eet

So, she's rejecting the kittens?

Originally Posted by white cat lover

Do you have any way to find a cage/crate to put her & the babies in? Bigger than a carrier, like a large dog crate. Any other rescue groups you can call?

Click to expand...

That's what I was going to recommend Look on craigslist, look in the papers, and maybe put up a post on your local craigslist or equivalent asking if anyone can donate/lend you a carrier for a month or so.

If you keep her confined in there with the kittens, and keep a blanket over the carrier, you'll keep her there with the kittens, them warm, and Wilbur out. You can just let her out for some cuddle/alone time with you.

Good luck!

My Mother cat didnt stay with her kittens constantly. She would feed, leave, then come back later and feed again. As long as you can keep them warm and even if you have to show her to come feed, she should get the hang of it.

Do you think in estimating that they have gained any ounces?

Thats excellent Sarah. You can go to craigslist and Freecycle.org and see if you can get a large dog crate.

Or if you have a small table, you can lean large pic frames up against it and then drape it with blankets.

No i don't have a crate lol.

I think they've gained a little. their bellies are all really round.

I just noticed that tinker is sleeping and she's breathing REALLY fast.. is that OK?

Originally Posted by sarahp

That's what I was going to recommend

Look on craigslist, look in the papers, and maybe put up a post on your local craigslist or equivalent asking if anyone can donate/lend you a carrier for a month or so.

If you keep her confined in there with the kittens, and keep a blanket over the carrier, you'll keep her there with the kittens, them warm, and Wilbur out. You can just let her out for some cuddle/alone time with you.

Good luck!

Click to expand...

I have $0.24 in my pocket..

Originally Posted by fastnoc

like I said, i am broke. I have $0.24 in my pocket..

Click to expand...

I think she meant that someone might let you borrow stuff so that you don't have to spend moneys. Have you called the vet's office where she was supposedly spayed? I think you ought to contact them and demand that they pay vet fees for Tink and babies. Good luck, hope everything turns out ok.

Wow. Sounds like you've got your hands full. I'm glad you got your kitties back before Tinker had her babies. I hate to think what would have happened to them in the foster home where Tinker and Wilbur got such minimal care.

When Goldy had her kittens I put them in a laundry basket with soft padding in the bottom and a sheet draped over the sides so the kittens wouldn't get stuck in the holes. Goldy never tried to move them, but she wouldn't stay in the basket with them all the time. She would feed them, then leave them alone for a couple of hours. (I think she really just wanted her own alone time). The kittens were usually sleeping in a pile to keep each other warm.

I think you will have to keep Wilbur separated from them. Maybe put him in the bathroom instead of the kittens.

for you and your babies.

I second the suggestion of putting Wilbur in the bathroom. And it may not be a bad idea to have Tink and the kittens in the bed with you... or maybe ... i know i know... sleep on the floor with them. I think she will feel more secure with him out of the way and you around.... just my sense of things. And yes, you can take a sheet of paper and curl it around to make a funnel to put the KMR in the bottle to mix. Wax paper ... a paper plate, a paper cup with a small hole in the bottom... those things ... like the cup... would work if you mix the formula up in another container and transfer it to the bottles.

Wow this is getting crazy! I agree with whoever said you need to contact the vet that 'spayed' Tinker. I would demand he pay for medical care/supplies for the kittens as well as the repeat operation on Tink. At the very least they should refund what you paid to get her spayed, and that will give you some money to care for them.

if I separate wilbur he will do nothing but cry and scratch on the door until it becomes unbearable. i've tried that.

i let tinker bring the babies up again and i held her while she fed them and she slept. this is the time of day they sleep heavy for a few hours. the babies all ate and are sleeping. but i know for a fact she's not licking them after eating. not stimulating them at all.

Edit: sorry if I sound a little short. I've got a pounding headache, i'm sweating like a pig (it's 77 degrees in this room) and i desperately need sleep. Nothing I'm trying works and i'm just frustrated.

OK - what about the vet that spayed her? I "mentioned" something about the vet that spayed my Coco who messed up & didn't really fully spay her. He is now being watched closely, however - he has "messed up" a fair number of surgeries. He has killed some animals & messed up spaying/neutering others (I believe the instances are being investigated? ). Think if that vet had killed Tinker or Wilbur....if the vet you used messed up spaying then what's to say he's not as bad as this one? You've got to do something about him/her......

ETA: I'm thinking maybe you figure the cost of spaying is $100 - that'll but you KMR if you need it, can get kittens started on vaccs, etc, esp since you've got nothing right now.....and hopefully prevent this from happening to anyone else!

I've called and left a message with them for the manager to call. but frankly that's not a priority right now compared to keeping the kittens alive. I don't have time to start going through that right now.

I know your short on money, so now might be a good time to give up the monthly internet payments until you get on your feet again?.