Is this starving stray pregnant, or has she had her kittens?/ Thomas

The latest from the crazy kitten house

I've learnt so much about kittens in the last few weeks, mainly from this forum and, of course, by  being thrown in at the deep end. It's been such a treat having them in the house and watching them grow, so quickly.

I don't know what tomorrow will bring when I take them to the refuge for their vaccinations, health check and the dreaded weigh-in.  It may mean the handover. I'll post an update when I know. 


My friend's son (my godson) came to visit the other day and brought a gift - his shoelace.  Having had a kitten himself, he sure knew what they'd like. This is Ginge today, having fun with the well used shoelace!


More shoelace fun.


Possum and Ginge having a gentle wrestle after they wake from a sleep.


Minstrel not overly impressed as he wasn't ready to wake up.


Ginge peeps from under the lounge to get some morning sunlight. But she has to beware of Minstrel, who has appointed himself custodian of the sunshine patch.


Possum has come from behind and is now well in the lead in the growth race.  And as he grows, his colour variations seem more pronounced.

The tennis ball was a bit hit!


Ginge enjoying a bath.


Brother and sister, and best friends.


Signing off for tonight.

Have to say...you need to go in to the kitten photography business.  Absolutely priceless photos.  Thanks so much for posting them.

They're soo cute! I missed coming here... wasn't well.. But I must say your kittens are priceless and I hope they soon get lovely homes

Ginge didn't pass the weigh-in!
I got out the cage this morning to take the kittens for their vaccinations, etc., and opened the lid. They thought it was something else to play with, which was great because it made it easier to pop them in a bit later to drive them to the refuge.


I don’t know if others have experienced this, but when I brought the kittens home after their vaccinations (their first), in no time they were asleep, and they slept for most of the day. It was as if they’d been sedated. Ginge left the others on the sofa to find a cosier spot snuggled into my mother who was on the bed having a snooze.  Thanks to Ginge, the snooze didn’t last long.


I just love the way Ginge and Possum cuddle when they’re sleeping. It’d be wonderful if they could be adopted together.


Minstrel can fall asleep in the most unusual positions – often sitting up with his head dropped forward (like a few humans I know). I did photograph him in that position but as he’s black it was impossible to work out what was what in the photo.  In this pic he’s almost upright.  He sleeps so deeply – more so than the other two.


Why is it that when one kitten gets into the litter tray, the others decide they also need it. Often three try to fit into the tray together, or one waits on the edge until another steps out.   I do have two litter trays (this one is the smallest), but it’s got to be the tray the other is in.

That's it for another night.  

How good that you still have them..  

The litterbox scenario really cracked me up...   Yes, please do keep me posted!

I'm glad you got to keep them for a bit longer.

Good job with the photo booklet, it will be a really nice thing for the new family to see. I like the idea of sending the kittens favourite toys along with them, anything that smells of home will be a comfort to them.

You've done so well with them all @Checkers  When I think of what kind of life most feral born kittens have it's really upsetting. These little guys are going to have such a long, happy, carefree life compared to kittens who don't get rescued. It's all thanks to you.

Maybe you'd be able to foster the older cat if she's still looking for a home next week? Older cats are much calmer than little kittens, she won't be so much for your mum to cope with.

Norachan said:

Maybe you'd be able to foster the older cat if she's still looking for a home next week? Older cats are much calmer than little kittens, she won't be so much for your mum to cope with.

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My thoughts exactly.

 Maybe you'd be able to foster the older cat if she's still looking for a home next week? 

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Thanks @Norachan  and @Peony. I hope the shelter has found a home for that older cat by next weekend, due to her stress at being kept in a shelter.  But if not, I hope I can foster her.

One problem is, the particular branch of the animal welfare organisation which rang me   is a fair distance from my home (about 50 mins' drive). The shelter worker who rang me wasn't aware of where my suburb was. I have fostered once from that shelter.  For potential adopters who want to look at the cat, it's a long way to travel.  I guess I could ask them if they'd transfer her to a closer shelter within their organisation, and then the new shelter could do the promotion of her. How they want this one to work is that the older cat stays at her foster home until adopted so she doesn't have to suffer the shelter environment.  Potential adopters would go to the foster carer's home to view the animal, so they wouldn't want to be travelling too far.

You're in such demand @Checkers, as you don't have other cats.  What a wonderful service to provide if you can manage it.  I know you've done a fair bit of fostering, but to be able to look after these poor cats that just can't cope in shelters and/or with other cats is such an added bonus. 

How's your Mum handling everything?

 ... to be able to look after these poor cats that just can't cope in shelters and/or with other cats is such an added bonus.  

How's your Mum handling everything?...

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Thanks @Mani. Although I love fostering, I've only fostered a few in the last 18 months and most of them were through unusual circumstances, such as a relative having an unexpected litter which I offered to take to the AWL refuge and as they were full, the refuge signed me up as a foster parent and asked if I could foster them until they could take them. 

And of  course, you know the background to this lot of kittens!  I would not normally have offered to foster kittens, but this lot was a little different given my finding the mother and the big search leading up to them being discovered. I really wanted to give it another go.   This current litter is very different to the litter surrendered by my relative. That litter was very timid and didn't 'get in your face', like this lot.  They were so much easier to care for.  But I love the assertiveness and adventurous spirit of this lot. 

My mother has enjoyed the kittens, but it has placed a lot of stress on her as she tries to avoid their climbing and exuberance.  She is not happy about my wanting to take the older cat if they haven't found her a home by next weekend. I was thinking of doing a deal with the refuge.  I'll take the older cat; they take my older mother.  

Checkers said:

  I'll take the older cat; they take my older mother.  

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  As someone who looked after their aging Mum for many years, I can really relate to that.

I am happy to hear you get more time with the babies! 

I have fostered kittens since 2001.  (And just picked up a litter of NINE babies today!) Hard as it is to say goodbye, knowing that they are going to carefully-screened homes makes it so much easier to deal with. I've found that some of the fosters send updates and some don't... maybe you can sneak your email address into the history book?

As a long-time foster, I completely support and understand adopting the kittens out.  That said, after reading the thread, I did want to add one thing your Mom might want to consider: kittens at this age don't have full control of their claws yet. We always go through a phase where we are covered with little scratches from the eager, exploring babies.  But, it is simply a phase - they will gain control of their claws over the next month and can then be taught the "soft paws" rule.  (We do that by squealing in pain when they scratch. They DON'T want to hurt us, so once they are old enough to control their claws, they very quickly learn to keep them pulled in.) 

Of course, your Mom may not be willing to take the risk, especially with little ones that are so active, climbing, and running.  So one other thought - you may find that fostering a 1-2 year old gentle cat could work. (As opposed to assuming you can only handle elderly cats.) I am also fostering a one-year old with a broken leg, and she hasn't scratched AT ALL. A sweet injured cat that has to be caged might be a good solution -- allows you both the joy of a foster, but protects your mother.

Anyway, just wanted to throw those ideas into the hat.  I love to foster and, much as I hate letting my babies go, I am always eager to meet my next foster.  

Just for fun, here is a pic of the nine kittens: 


And the pretty 10-month old Mom with just a few of the babies: 


And a litter I had before stars in this infographic about the benefits of fostering.  I loved every one of those little ones, but I am positive I will love my little orange herd just as much.  

Which leads to one more thought -- maybe Mom would be open to you taking in a pregnant kitty? It's so much easier to foster kittens when Mom is with them. She does all the work the first few weeks and helps "discipline" them after that.  You can keep them in the bathroom for the first 4 weeks all the time, and then typically would only have them another 4 weeks as kittens who are eating food and nursing are more likely to hit their weight on time.  

Hope one of the ideas helps!  And if not -- love, love, love the idea of volunteering to photograph kittens for the shelter. You definitely have a gift and you'd be able to meet and visit with lots of kittens away from home.  

Soo cute! I love how the one kitten has dark fur and the rest are orange.

MANY thanks, @lynndeanne  !  That is very generous, helpful and thoughtful advice.  And I adore your kittens.  Poor mother cat at only 10 months giving birth to NINE kittens.  I was counting them and thought one must have been out of the photo, but then discovered the black one!  One black in such a big litter of almost identical gingers. How gorgeous.

I looked at your fostering link. How sad that Mimi was surrendered on the verge of having kittens. I don't understand some people. The poor kitten they decided to keep!

As I type, my three foster kittens are asleep on my mother's lap - the nightly routine after their mad, energetic play around the house. Minstrel's head is cupped in her hand. I can certainly appreciate the comments in your fostering link about the health benefits of fostering, or indeed, having pets.  To me, cats are the most therapeutic.

Funny you should mention putting my email address in the foster booklet. I was planning to put a note at the end of the booklet, inviting the adopter to email me if they wanted more photographs which I could email to them. I can't see why I couldn't invite the adopter to contact me with any questions about the kittens, or send me updates.  It's only an invitation, not an obligation.  You've given me a nudge along on that one. Thank you!

We do that by squealing in pain when they scratch. They DON'T want to hurt us, so once they are old enough to control their claws, they very quickly learn to keep them pulled in

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I had never heard this about teaching kittens to not scratch. Amazing. I'll certainly remember and use that idea. (I'd better warn the neighbours first.)

You mentioned fostering a young adult cat.  I have tried that 3 times in the last 18 months, without success.  They all jumped onto my mother's lap. For some reason, she attracts them despite her fear. And as they land, the claws are out like little landing wheels with the brakes on.

I don't think I'd be game to take on a pregnant cat. I'd be nervous that something would go wrong with the birth. But I do like the idea of fostering an injured animal, as you suggested.

Lynndeanne, you have given me much food for thought. Thank you too for the comments on the photos. I'd be very happy to help out the refuges with photographs but both organisations have brilliant photographers (which they don't always use, I notice, as I guess the traffic of animals through the shelters means they have to take happy snaps when the photographer's not available). I guess I could be a back-up if they were ever stuck. (As a full-time worker and a carer for my mother, I don't have a lot of spare time.)

Well, off to clean the litter trays..........

Checkers said:

 
Funny you should mention putting my email address in the foster booklet. I was planning to put a note at the end of the booklet, inviting the adopter to email me if they wanted more photographs which I could email to them. I can't see why I couldn't invite the adopter to contact me with any questions about the kittens, or send me updates.  It's only an invitation, not an obligation.  You've given me a nudge along on that one. Thank you!

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Nudging @Checkers  a little bit more. 

That is a wonderful idea. That way it's up to the new family.

Lovely kittens @lynndeanne  Are they really all from the same litter? That poor Mama Cat, I'm glad she's got you to give her a helping hand.

These kittens are deliberately getting cuter

With only three days to go until my beautiful rescue-foster kittens go for their de-sexing and adoption, I swear they are trying to make us change our minds and keep them all!  They are becoming more loving and cuddly as every day passes.  

Here are a few photos from last night's cuteness.


Minstrel has a habit of putting his head in my mother’s hands to go to sleep.  This was taken soon after he woke.


Minstrel  loves  hands.


Minstrel and Ginge, in that quiet cuddly lull between waking from a lap-nap, and tearing through the house like a typhoon. 


Possum and Minstrel, in the lull before the storm.


The 'pause' while they were sleeping.

At the suggestion of another foster carer, I introduced them to straws yesterday.  They were a BIG hit - - - -

  

All this photo needs is a glass at the bottom of the straw. 


Ginge cuddling into her big brothers.  

Apparently, she adopted a litter another cat abandoned.  I guess her milk came in before her babies were born, and she took on the first 5. Then her 4 were born a week later.  Her elderly owner was just put in a nursing home, and the family dropped the poor girl and the babies at the county shelter. Fortunately, our group was able to pull them the next day because she is not producing enough milk for all nine.  So we're helping with bottle feeding! 

Just gorgeous, @Checkers.   We're all really going to miss these three...