Starting a new thread since my (foster) cat is no longer pregnant. She gave birth to her kittens on Monday. I have been Google-ing too much and decided to come back here instead. Besides, the people on here are more helpful than on "Yahoo! Answers". Anyway, my reason for posting is kitten handling. So Nimby gave birth underneath my bathroom sink (I had cleared it out the night before and put down a blanket). Well a few hours after, I wanted to wash the blanket she gave birth on and give her a clean one. So naturally I had to move the kittens to a temporary spot. Mama freaked out, began meowing in distress and started carrying the kittens back under the sink before I had even replaced the blanket. I know that she feels that they are the most safe in there - it is dark and quiet. Of course at some point I will need to change out the blankets again and move the kittens for a little bit. But I do not want her to get upset. At what age will she let them be away from that spot? They can't stay under the sink forever. Also - I have read different things about handling kittens. Some people say you need to handle them every day (if mama allows) so they will get accustomed to human contact. Some people say you should not even think about touching the kittens until they are a couple weeks old. Well... sometimes Nimby will let me touch them and sometimes she won't. One kitten had something stuck in its fur so I picked it up to get it out. She did not like it and tried to grab him back from me (I then put him back lol). At what age will she willingly let me handle the kittens? Maybe it is just how young they are? Because I have fostered a mama cat and kittens before and I do not remember that one being so protective (I took them in when the kittens were 3 weeks old). Just trying to be a good foster mom lol.
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Kitten Handling
- Thread starter sgrtx88
- Start Date
Yeah, this is the trick, doing it respectfully. Try so the kitten has no reason for crying. So lay it down on somewhere nice and cozy.
Look, almost all breeders, and most rescuers do weigh them every day, from day 1. So per definition, they are, and should be handled, from day 1. Kittens of family girls and rescued semiferales.
Good luck!
Until they are a couple of weeks I restrict handling to the minimum - I pick them up, weigh them in front of mum and pop them back. Once their eyes are opening I might give a tiny stroke and pop them back. The sensistive period is from 2-8 weeks in cats and that's the time you need to keep doing a bit more handling, and introduce new sights and sounds.
If you foster again, try putting a puppy pad on top of her bed, and gently pull it out the next day.
If you foster again, try putting a puppy pad on top of her bed, and gently pull it out the next day.
I do the same. The first week or two I only handle them to grab a weight and put them right back. And, I only do this directly in front of Mom. As they get older and more mobile she should calm down a bit.
I have also found that my foster Mom's tend to relax a little quicker if I spend time focusing on her. I'll go into the room and give her lots of pets and talk to her act like I have no interest in the kittens. I think the more trust you can build with your foster, the more comfortable she will be with you handling them. Remember right now other than weighing them your only job is to make sure Mom is taken care of so she can do her job and take care of the babies.
Exactly.<snip>
Remember right now other than weighing them your only job is to make sure Mom is taken care of so she can do her job and take care of the babies.
