New to this

Hi

I hope someone can help?
I have a wonderful cat called Melissa who is 15 months old, when we found that she was pregnant we made a nesting box for her and put it in our wardrobe as that is where she seemed to be trying to get into before giving birth. She gave birth to 3 beautiful kittens 3 and a half weeks ago.
They are all doing great, standing, walking, play fighting and trying to escape their box. Here is my dilemma.... I have moved the nesting box to the living room and provided an enclosed run for them as I felt Melissa was getting a little upset when they were freely allowed to be on the floor. Last night was the first night this was set up in the living room (though we have regularly brought the kittens in the room for about 20 mins a day since being about 2 weeks old)
All was fine until I decided to go to bed last night, then on regular 20 min intervals I get a kitten popped at the end of my bed screaching and Melissa scratching to get back in the wardrobe. This went on until 4am, me returning the kitten and her bringing one of them back until I couldnt take anymore and opened the wardrobe. In she went, collected the others kittens and they slept in there with no box, just paper and towel I put down on floor.
I feel that I need to start putting a litter tray out now as they are nearly 4 weeks old and trying to entice them to some mushed up kitten food. Am I wrong? I dont feel that the wardrobe is an appropriate place for this to happen so that is why I have made this area for them all. HELP, I need sleep

Do you have a spare room that you can keep them all in together? That would be the best option for all of them.
Yes, at four weeks you can start leaving out watered food and a little litter box. Make sure it is NON-CLUMPING litter (clumping can be very dangerous for kittens) and put it into a small box, such as a shoe box lid. The kittens will probably try to eat the litter (they always do that ).
And make sure to have Melissa spayed when the kittens are weaned
Good luck!

Originally Posted by CuteKittenKat

Do you have a spare room that you can keep them all in together? That would be the best option for all of them.
Yes, at four weeks you can start leaving out watered food and a little litter box. Make sure it is NON-CLUMPING litter (clumping can be very dangerous for kittens) and put it into a small box, such as a shoe box lid. The kittens will probably try to eat the litter (they always do that

).
And make sure to have Melissa spayed when the kittens are weaned

Good luck!

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No we don't have a spare room hence the problem. I bought a kitten litter tray and have non clumping litter. I did put it down but Melissa keeps lying in it and rolling over I also put a little kitten milk down yesterday and one of them had a few sips of it until Melissa came over and drunk the lot When will she stop clearing up after them toilet wise? They are 4 weeks on Tuesday and she is still clearing it all herself???

Originally Posted by fostermummy

When will she stop clearing up after them toilet wise? They are 4 weeks on Tuesday and she is still clearing it all herself???

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As long as they ates mummy milk, she ates their poo. This poo is not the same as that they have when they ate normal food.
When they begin to ate normal food, the poo changes and becomes more "normal". At that moment the mom usually stops to.... (hope everyone had already eaten your supper or breakfast or whatever )


good luck!

Originally Posted by fostermummy

I bought a kitten litter tray and have non clumping litter. I did put it down but Melissa keeps lying in it and rolling over

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this is quite common. I think the feeling is nice for cats, at least, as long the litter is not used. If you look at cat shows, you can see many of the show cats do rest in their field litters. No wonder, they usually dont do their needs there, they wait to they are back home. So their field litter is clean and fresh.

I also put a little kitten milk down yesterday and one of them had a few sips of it until Melissa came over and drunk the lot

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Could it be she does need some extra nourishment? What are you giving her for food?
To give moms kittens milk as additional is not any unusual way to give her extra nourishment.

What are you giving her?
Standard advice is kitten food of good quality as the main food for moms. With "only" 3 kittens it should be enough.

Here in sweden we often do use the raw yolk of eggs, with minced meat, or goat milk (if you can get it), or such, as extra boost.

Of course, here in Sweden we dont have any salmonella in eggs, so for us it is no big deal.
In must other countries where salmonella bacterias are common on eggs, or even in eggs, they must be verry careful with raw yolk... and thus this advice, although useful in some cases, cant be used as the standard advice...


Good luck!

Originally Posted by StefanZ

this is quite common. I think the feeling is nice for cats, at least, as long the litter is not used. If you look at cat shows, you can see many of the show cats do rest in their field litters. No wonder, they usually dont do their needs there, they wait to they are back home. So their field litter is clean and fresh.

Could it be she does need some extra nourishment? What are you giving her for food?
To give moms kittens milk as additional is not any unusual way to give her extra nourishment.

What are you giving her?
Standard advice is kitten food of good quality as the main food for moms. With "only" 3 kittens it should be enough.

Here in sweden we often do use the raw yolk of eggs, with minced meat, or goat milk (if you can get it), or such, as extra boost.

Of course, here in Sweden we dont have any salmonella in eggs, so for us it is no big deal.
In must other countries where salmonella bacterias are common on eggs, or even in eggs, they must be verry careful with raw yolk... and thus this advice, although useful in some cases, cant be used as the standard advice...

Good luck!

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Thank you for all your help StefanZ, I have been feeding Melissa Whiskas kitten food since about 2 weeks prior to the birth, she doesnt seem to like it that much to be honest but I have stuck with it. She hates milk normally but as soon as the kitten milk went down she did drink the lot. I gave her some yesterday too. The kittens don't seem interested at all, I just dont know how I am supposed to know when to put food down for them or litter tray?

Originally Posted by fostermummy

The kittens don't seem interested at all, I just dont know how I am supposed to know when to put food down for them or litter tray?

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Easy, you keep trying! Watered kitten food, kitten milk, minced meat, wet cat food... You can try to have a little on your finger, and let them slick off.
At four weeks they usually are ripe for this next stage.

If mom wants this kitten milk, let her, even if it costs. If you can find goat milk, try with this too...

Same with the litter. As today they dont really need it, but let it stand there. As said before, non clumping litter.


Good luck!