New to Cats, trying to save a life

Can't wait for another pic of Sassy!

How about a video? Hereâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s the link.
http://s719.photobucket.com/albums/w...y-4daysmp4.flv
This is actually from today, 6 or 7 days old. I caught her trying to jump ship. I need to come up with another crib.
I checked the scale, but itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s right. Sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s really only 3 oz. Things are going well. Sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s been eating more almost right where the ‘chartâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji] says. Plus the exit path is working.
Sheâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s getting even more feisty, harder to settle down during feeding. I did finally get her to take the bottle for a bit. So that will make things easier for us mommy types. Weâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve been trying to hold her more, be more active with her. (and trying to figure out if She is a He…)
I think today is her 1 week birthday. We found her last Saturday and think she was less than a day old at the time.
Thanks,
Dan

When you bottle-feed Sassy, make sure she is in the correct feeding position.

Kittens nurse on their bellies, so don't hold her like a human infant on her back. Hold her under her belly or you can even hold her upright - just not on her back.

Yep, that's what we do.

However, that put's her in attack position.
So, it's a battle all the way through.
You would think she'd be a 3 oz weakling...

I usually put her on my stomach facing me. I may have to experiment holding her in the air her little claws flailing in the wind.

It's a learning process for both of us...

That video is wonderful!! She certainly is Sassy!! I have 5 kittens born 9 days ago and although they are 3 times the size they are alike in the into everything-ness! She looks so lively you must be so proud!
How are you coping with the round the clock feeds?.....my 5 seem to do nothing but eat and thankfully they have their Momma to take care of that!
I know other people have said this but you and your wife are amazing people for doing what you are doing, are you planning on keeping Sassy? I think it would be hard not to.....
keep the updates and pictures coming!

Our thoughts from the begining was to find a nice home for her. however, lately I was thinking that may change as she grows up. Now another problem has cropped up. I may be alergic to her. several times after feeding her my alergies have flaired up. I'm sitting up right now after her 4am feeding until the medicine kicks in.
I hope its just normal allegeries. I can see Sassy being a source of joy in our lives.
My son's girlfriend has rescued a cat before. She has expressed interest in taking her home. We'll see. That's a ways off yet.

Some have suggested wetting a wash cloth with distilled water and wiping the kitten all over with it. You aren't allergic to her fur, but rather to the proteins on the fur from her saliva, usually.

Of course, it IS spring, too!

If SHE turns out to be a HE, you can name him Rocky, because he's a fighter!

It could be lingering dander from her mother, kittens do not produce dander, nor do they shed until the adult coat comes in.
Dander, however, is the actual allergen, and dander comes from proteins in their saliva deposited on their coat as they groom, obviously, she doesn't groom herself yet.

It really may not be a problem, I have cat allergies and I live with three.
You take precautions and medicines and you do build up resistances to it.

The biggest precaution is no kitties in the bedroom, keep it dander free.

Glad she's hangin in there, she's (he's) a real fighter, keep up the good work, and bless you for even trying.

Aww, wow, she's so cute, and your so wonderful to do this It's a really rewarding experience, and it sounds like your doing everything right!

Arlyn, I hope your right. I have had strange alergy attacks before, maybe it's one of those.
I weighed her again today. she came in at 3.5 oz. This was after eating, I don't know if yesterday was before or after eating. I'll pay closer attention to that.
She seems to want to expore more, play more.
thanks for all the comments
Dan!

what a darling little kitten she is kudos to you and your family for caring about her so much!

I know a woman named Raquel, nick named Raqui (pronounced Rocky) - in case you want to name your little fighter that name but still be 'feminine'. I so hope things are going well.

Today started out bad, She tried to fly this morning she just jumped out of my hands. I really thought she was hurt. But a minute or so later she was back to her old feisty self. Still, I was sick thinking she had internal injuries. Several hours later she seems fine.

Rocky might be a good name. The last couple feedings have been a real battle. She (now looking more like He) fights the whole time. Either she's hungrier because we're going longer between feedings. I'm still using the eye dropper because it's worked better in the past. I'll give the bottle another try.
Hey, my sisters name was/is Rocky..

Originally Posted by dan10101

Today started out bad, She tried to fly this morning she just jumped out of my hands. I really thought she was hurt. But a minute or so later she was back to her old feisty self. Still, I was sick thinking she had internal injuries. Several hours later she seems fine.

Rocky might be a good name. The last couple feedings have been a real battle. She (now looking more like He) fights the whole time. Either she's hungrier because we're going longer between feedings. I'm still using the eye dropper because it's worked better in the past. I'll give the bottle another try.
Hey, my sisters name was/is Rocky..

Click to expand...

They get crazy with hunger and flail quite a bit. You could try wrapping him/her up in a little towel or blanket and feed... maybe that would settle things.

Originally Posted by AddieBee

They get crazy with hunger and flail quite a bit. You could try wrapping him/her up in a little towel or blanket and feed... maybe that would settle things.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestions, though I'm not sure she will like it. I do keep her on a towel to keep the mess to a minimum. I'll try containing the flailing arms and see what happens.

The bottle feeding is going well. Almost too well. She ate/drank almost 2 times as much as yesterday. She weighs 4 oz now. My Son's been away for 3 days, and he said she's noticeably bigger.

A real newby question. What kind of cat are we working with? Tabby?



Gotta go, she's awake...

Without a pedigree her/his breed is domestic shorthair or moggie.
Pattern is mackerel tabby.
Color hard to determine at this point, could be brown mac tabby or patched mac tabby.
Patched tabbies are basically the tabby equivilent of a calico.

Thanks Arlyn.

She does look like a little tabby. How adorable she is