Approximate delivery day for this mama kitty?

@sweetlynn86    I think you are doing an amazing job with everything you have done so far. I do know that even though we fall in love with these precious babies while we foster them, it's always best for us and them to go to their forever homes so they can get the full extent of love and devotion they so deserve. Especially those who have started out in such an unhealthy situation as Chanel did. She will be blessed more once she has her own family who will truly love and cherish her

Handsome Kitty said:

@sweetlynn86
I noticed from your face book page that you are really out in the middle of nowhere.  I wondered why you would drive so far (2 hrs for Polka's kittens and then 4 hrs for Chanel) for the  cats.  Do you think you will be contacted to take some of the animals from Chanel's home if the ASPCA needs fosters and rescues to take the cats in.

@stewball weren't you also trying to get @Checkers
to keep some of her foster kittens too?

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Lol. Guilty. But I feel very firmly about chanel. She's such a poor little thing and the only thing she has going for her is being where she is.

Handsome Kitty said:

That is a very sweet picture.  I am hoping Polka helps feed Chanel's kittens.

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Chanel may want to feed her own kitties.

sweetlynn86 said:

image.jpg

• sweetlynn86
• Aug 4, 2015

Here is beautiful picture. Polka has taken to Chanel and even accepts her around her babies.

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Polka is a beautiful cat and chanel is really a small kitty.

Stewball said:

Lol. Guilty. But I feel very firmly about chanel. She's such a poor little thing and the only thing she has going for her is being where she is.

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But...she would also have something great going for her when she found her forever home, elsewhere, when she is healthy and able. Why potentially make someone feel guilty or bad for not keeping this cat, when they are doing something amazing in rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming? Instead of that...why not support what IS happening, and how beautiful it is that Polka's rescue is off to a great start?

It was said before that it takes a special person to foster long term like this, because of the "letting go" and that is true...but even those special people can struggle with that part and it's not kind to make it even harder....

Stewball said:

Chanel may want to feed her own kitties.

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This is Chanel's 4th litter.  She may not have the reserves and she needs to rebuild for herself.

This poor cat has spent almost a year pregnant.

KKoerner said:

But...she would also have something great going for her when she found her forever home, elsewhere, when she is healthy and able. Why potentially make someone feel guilty or bad for not keeping this cat, when they are doing something amazing in rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming? Instead of that...why not support what IS happening, and how beautiful it is that Polka's rescue is off to a great start?

It was said before that it takes a special person to foster long term like this, because of the "letting go" and that is true...but even those special people can struggle with that part and it's not kind to
make it even harder....

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I certainly did not intend to make anybody feel bad. How can I make such a special feel bad. If I did I highly apologise. I was just thinking of poor chanel and the lousy start she had in her life. I could never foster because I wouldn't be able to hand them back.
I'll keep my mouth shut in future and let those that know better take charge. Thank you for bringing my attention to this. :-)

Handsome Kitty said:

This is Chanel's 4th litter.  She may not have the reserves and she needs to rebuild for herself.

This poor cat has spent almost a year pregnant.

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She's building up strength all the time now that she's eating and deflead etc. Why would you think she won't be able to care for her own kittens when the time comes.

Awwwww. It's okay guys. I don't feel guilty and I totally understand wanting to keep her. However, that's how alot of animal hoarding situations probably start. What good could I be if I created the very situation I pull an animal out of? Due to Chanel's dire situation until recently, I don't have high expectations of Chanel's kittens surviving. If she gives birth in the next couple weeks, she may not be healthy enough to nurse. I'm hoping we have adequate time to get some weight on her. There's nothing we can do for the kittens though. Brain and organ development are already past the critical stage. If she does have live kittens, they very well may need help. If for no other reason, the vet said their growth is probably stunted which may require human intervention to get them going in the beginning. Chanel is definitely going to need a home without other animals. She's too traumatized by her past situation. All our animals are trying to welcome her in and even leaving a bowl available for her to eat with them but she's terrified of them to the point that she loses control of her bowels. She adores people, especially kids but she needs to be an only animal. I'm sure she would eventually overcome her fear to some extent but she shouldn't have to. She deserves to be placed in a home where she doesn't have to overcome anything ever again. She's overcome enough.

Handsome Kitty said:

This is Chanel's 4th litter.  She may not have the reserves and she needs to rebuild for herself.

This poor cat has spent almost a year pregnant.

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You are correct in your thoughts. It's a very real possibility that her body won't be able to support kittens. Especially if she has them sooner than expected.

Stewball said:

I certainly did not intend to make anybody feel bad. How can I make such a special feel bad. If I did I highly apologise. I was just thinking of poor chanel and the lousy start she had in her life. I could never foster because I wouldn't be able to hand them back.
I'll keep my mouth shut in future and let those that know better take charge. Thank you for bringing my attention to this. :-)

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Don't feel bad. I understand how easy it would be to get drawn into keeping every poor animal.

@Stewball Cat's who have back to back litters run the risk of a calcium shortage which can be fatal.  We don't know how long ago she weened her last litter.  I'm just saying it would be nice if Polka nursed some, she's only had this litter a couple of weeks and should still have some milk.  It would mean more nutrients for the kittens as well.

I don't think her last litter was weaned very long at all when she became pregnant. The lady showed me Chanel's 1 surviving kitten and he was also extremely small and young. I'm guessing he is probably around 5 months old.

Poor baby! She's so terrified that she's losing control of her bowels! Wow - that's extreme!

Do you think some of it is just getting acclimated to her new surroundings?

Part of it could be the new food as well.

Poor thing.  My cats hate when they don't get to the litter box in time.  Usually when we are trying a new wet food.

Her poop is perfectly formed when using the litter box. However, when she's in the living room and the other animals begin stressing her out, she becomes paralyzed. She gets in almost a fetal position and and her poop becomes diarrhea. She can't even move to go to the litterbox. She gets up and it runs out. She tries to sit by polka but as soon as any animals begin moving around and playing, she can't handle it. I moved her into my daughters room. My daughter is a bookworm and spends a lot of time in there reading and doing schoolwork. Chanel is a happy camper in there with her so that's how we'll keep her.

It's nice that Chanel can enjoy peace and quiet in your daughter's room. It sounds like a safe place for her to rest and relax. Honestly, she still needs time to acclimate. It can't be easy for her right now. As awful as where she came from was, it was home to her.

Oh that poor baby. It may take her quite a while to get use to the other animals. It may be best to introduce her to them one at a time once she is comfortable and not quite so stressed. She may never be able to deal with a busy area so putting her in your daughter's room is what's best for her at this time. That way she has company and can still get use to movement in the rest of the house.

Well either Chanel has longer to go than 2-3 weeks or her kittens are definitely dwarfed. I can feel them kicking around in there (suuuuper adorable), but it's just tiny little taps. I think back to 2-3 weeks before polkas kittens arrived and it felt like she had swallowed exploding golf balls. These feel more like a high five from a gecko. I'm still not holding my breath about her kittens being healthy but alas, they are alive right now!

You know, she may also only have a couple of kittens in that little body of hers. And they still have time to get bigger. Considering Chanel's poor start, there's almost no way they will be as big as they should be, but I'm still holding out hope for their overall health.

I think it's 50-50 right now. Maybe they took what they needed from her for development, and that's partially why she was so rundown. I'm hoping for the best.