Kitten Care(making sure I do everything I can right)

Hello, I recently posted on this site a couple weeks ago about my pregnant cat giving birth to 4 kittens. Everything has been going as well as it could so far. I have a "living space" for them in the bathroom, secluded from my other 2 kitties. I know I didn't have much to worry about in the beginning, because they wouldn't be walking around. But 2 weeks have past, & some of them are wandering and going out of the carrier I have set up for the mother(it's a giant dog carrier I got new by accident). I am worried about them wandering around in the bathroom & something bad happening by some stupid chance.

I guess what I'm trying to ask is, how can I make my bathroom as safe as possible for the kittens? Here's what I've done so far:

1. I have clean towels lining the carrier, and some carpets on the outside for the floor to prevent the kittens from falling on the hard floor(in case one stumbles out of the carrier).

2. The toilet seat is always down when I shut the bathroom door.

3. The light is always off when I leave.

4. The mother has a litter box(cleaned every day), fresh water, and dry food bowl. She also gets wet food in a bowl twice a day(bowl is removed after each feeding to prevent ants or bugs from coming out of the woodwork).

5. I check the kittens(& mom) every so often, not only to take pictures, but to make sure they're still breathing. I admit I'm overly paranoid here, so I make sure I don't lose one on my watch!

Any suggestions on how to make this bathroom as safe as possible would be very much appreciated(no matter how minute a suggestion). Thanks again!

The litter must be clump-free.  Pellets of some sort are good, bit main thing they are clumpfree.  As kittens, alike babies, tend to taste on everything.  And you dont want clumping litter inside them...

Secure everything which may fall down.  You can use such a double sided tape, for example...

Its good you check them often. Its a good way to early notice any upcoming problems, be it a not sufficient growth, or even getting fleas...  Also, it begins to socialize them.

Why are you turning the lights off?  True, they dont need full bright light in nights, but some light is OK.

Is the mom healthy?   Ie, with time, is it possible for you to try and let your residents meet the new little family?   It isnt strictly necessary, but it could help to socialize them kittens.

Good you are thinking on details!

Sounds to me like you've got it all covered! I'd just make sure that all cabinets are closed and there aren't dangling towels that the kitties can climb up. Also check bath rugs for loose strings and threads. Other than that it seems pretty safe to me. Good job!

CatLadyVetTech said:

Sounds to me like you've got it all covered! I'd just make sure that all cabinets are closed and there aren't dangling towels that the kitties can climb up. Also check bath rugs for loose strings and threads. Other than that it seems pretty safe to me. Good job!

Click to expand...

This may actually be a nice exercise for them.  but of course make sure its a safe climbing, not leading into any trouble.  And also, a safe fall if they fall down - and they will probably fall down...

So perhaps rig up one or two towels into safe climbing stations.  

Tx CatLadyVetTech for the inspiration!

@StefanZ: So far the only clump-free litter I have is Feline Pine. I'm thinking of getting another one though.

I hope to all things holy they don't get any fleas. I'm currently using Revolution Prescription Flea Meds on my 3 cats(mom included), so I better not see any. There isn't a chance that fleas could get on the kittens(even if cats don't have any), is there?

I keep it dark in the bathroom, cause I read on a cat site that kittens eyes are sensitive to light. I just didn't want to damage their eyes with constant bright light. My bathroom light isn't that bright, but I was just being safe. Only bright light they've "seen" is the flash on my camera. Only one of the kittens' eyes are open though, and that's just occasionally. Is it normal for them to have anything around their eyes before their eyes open for the first time(3 of them haven't opened their eyes yet)?

I think the mom is healthy. I rescued her from this evil lady who was being mean to her. I just know that she was kept outside all the time, except for feeding time. Even though she wanted to be inside, the lady was mean and didn't let her in. Also let her stay out in the rain and get mega-soaked, and never vaccinated her. A friend of mine(who gave me my first kitty Lilith, who is the mother cat's sister), alerted me to her suffering, & I offered to take her. Ever since I brought her home, I've fed her Iams Purrfect Delicacies Wet Food, fresh water, Merrick Bistro Dry Food, some roast turkey & prosciutto, and given her lots of love. In short though, I think she's healthy(given that I spoil all my cats with expensive food). I just hope the evil lady didn't cause her damage that I don't know about. She looks somewhat skinny, but I imagine that's cause she's feeding 4 kittens, and herself.

I don't think it's possible for her to meet the kittens yet, because mother cat runs out of the bathroom into the living room, just to attack Lilith & Luna(who aren't even going near the bathroom or kittens).

@CatLadyVetTech: Cabinets are always closed, and towels are on a rack high up where I don't think the kittens could even get to if they tried. Will be checking the rugs though. Can a string from the rug clog their intestines if they eat it? If so, rugs are going out of the bathroom. No chances taken.

FakeHealer79 said:

 
@StefanZ: So far the only clump-free litter I have is Feline Pine. I'm thinking of getting another one though.

I hope to all things holy they don't get any fleas. I'm currently using Revolution Prescription Flea Meds on my 3 cats(mom included), so I better not see any. There isn't a chance that fleas could get on the kittens(even if cats don't have any), is there?

I keep it dark in the bathroom, cause I read on a cat site that kittens eyes are sensitive to light. I just didn't want to damage their eyes with constant bright light. My bathroom light isn't that bright, but I was just being safe. Only bright light they've "seen" is the flash on my camera. Only one of the kittens' eyes are open though, and that's just occasionally. Is it normal for them to have anything around their eyes before their eyes open for the first time(3 of them haven't opened their eyes yet)?

I think the mom is healthy. I rescued her from this evil lady who was being mean to her. I just know that she was kept outside all the time, except for feeding time. Even though she wanted to be inside, the lady was mean and didn't let her in. Also let her stay out in the rain and get mega-soaked, and never vaccinated her. A friend of mine(who gave me my first kitty Lilith, who is the mother cat's sister), alerted me to her suffering, & I offered to take her. Ever since I brought her home, I've fed her Iams Purrfect Delicacies Wet Food, fresh water, Merrick Bistro Dry Food, some roast turkey & prosciutto, and given her lots of love. In short though, I think she's healthy(given that I spoil all my cats with expensive food). I just hope the evil lady didn't cause her damage that I don't know about. She looks somewhat skinny, but I imagine that's cause she's feeding 4 kittens, and herself.

I don't think it's possible for her to meet the kittens yet, because mother cat runs out of the bathroom into the living room, just to attack Lilith & Luna(who aren't even going near the bathroom or kittens).

@CatLadyVetTech: Cabinets are always closed, and towels are on a rack high up where I don't think the kittens could even get to if they tried. Will be checking the rugs though. Can a string from the rug clog their intestines if they eat it? If so, rugs are going out of the bathroom. No chances taken.

Click to expand...

The prescribed Revolution should proteckt te kittens too from fleas.  (yes cant CAN get fleas).  Revolution protects also against roundworms, which are otherwise common.   Good.

Sorry, Im not sure what you mean there in te bold.  Anyways, they do need some light, even if bright light isnt good.  You can perhaps set in a weaker bulb?

If mom is so defensive to the adult residents, and they arent best friends, ist just wise to proceed and separate them.  So keep on with it.

Give mom calcium as extra, say, goat milk, plain youghurt, cheeese....  Being malnoutrished earleir,  she needs everything she can get.