Mom and 2 day old kittens Do's and Dont's on what to do next.

handsome kitty · Apr 1, 2016

ToysandCatsby said:
We've had mama cat Toys for about 5 months, she just showed up on our porch. When she into labor we gave her a box ( we've kept her outside ) and expected to have kittens in it in the morning. When we woke up there wasn't any kittens and there was a stillborn one just left on the porch. She had put the other ones under the house. The next day we were watching where she was going to see where she put the kittens and she picked one up and brought it onto the porch. She was searching for a place to put the kitten so I held out my hands like you would if you were catching water and she put the kitten in my hand and then got in my lap. We got her a box and she nursed the kitten in there and then went and got another one. ( We made sure there weren't any more kittens )

We put her and the kittens in a bathroom. They have a large cardboard box with towels in it. And a litter box. She was not happy about being put in the house, but she wasn't freaking out either. And she had free run of the house. Till night came and at about 2:00 AM she came and peed on my bed. So I put her in the bathroom and shut the door. She was very unhappy about this. Then when I checked on her this morning, she had pooed in the shower and put a mat on it and squished it down. Then she escaped the bathroom and ran into the bedroom ( the bathroom is connected to the master bedroom ) and I couldn't get her back in so I shut the bedroom door and left for about 10 minuets. When I went back in I finally got her back in the bathroom and found that she had peed on my parents bed too!

I put her poo in the litter box and put the litter box where she pooed in the shower to. I believe she is using it now. Also before I shut her in, she had taken one of the kittens out, and put it outside the bathroom door on a wire. I didn't want the kitten to get tangled so I moved the kitten to the side. She was not happy about me touching the kitten. I left for room for like five seconds and came back and she was back in her box nursing the other kitten while the other one was still in the middle of the floor. So i just put the kitten back in the box.

I also want to add that when they were outside she was fine with us holding and petting the kittens and now she's not so we are just leaving them alone unless we have to mess with them. Anyways I believe she is using the litter box now as she has no choice. I went in to clean it earlier and she had taken the same kitten out of the box and put it next to the toilet but left the other kitten so I just put the kitten back and changed the litter in the box.

I called a vet for advice and she said to just put them back outside. Which I'm not going to do as there are a bunch of mean cats in the neighborhood that would kill them, and there are armadillos, and dogs and snakes and everything else. I called another vet and she said to just keep her locked in the bathroom and she will eventually calm down and get used to it. So mama is unhappy and she also doesn't like to use the litter box. Here are all the questions.

What type of bedding is best? What type of litter should we be using? ( they currently have a non clumping clay litter ) What kind of litter box? ( currently a low sided uncovered box ) What temperature should the room be? How many boxes should she have? How to interact with the kittens? Or should we not mess with them? What should we watch out for? How often should we check in on the cats? Should we not touch them at all? What should be in the bathroom and what shouldn't be? Are placing rugs for Toys in there okay? ( she loves laying on rugs ) When should we clean the litter? Should we buy Toys and cat Toys? At what age can we start holding the kittens and playing with them? And we have kept the light on 24/7 in there. Is that okay? Its pitch black in there at night if we don't. The box they have in covered and the kittens can't get out of it unless Toys takes them out. Is it okay if toys put them on the floor by themselves? The floor is so hard and cold it seems mean to leave them there. That's why I put the kitten back.

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We want Toys to be happy and not scared or stressed. We also want to be sure Toys is using the litter box and is comfortable. It really is better for them to be inside, especially since its been so cold and rainy today.

First things first. Turn off the light. Put a night light or a low light in the room for yourselves so you don't step on a kitten in the dark. Bright light is harmful for the kittens until their eyes have adjusted which I believe is a week or so after they open. They don't all open at the same time so go by the latest.

Non-clumping litter is good. Put some puppy pads around it on the floor if you are concerned w/accidents.

You can handle the kittens now, but for a short period of time and always where mom can see them. Do you have a small scale - like a kitchen or postal scale. Weighing the kittens once a day is the best way to see if they are healthy. Make sure you talk to them.

Rugs are fine, especially if the floor is cold. My cats love laying on rugs and I have throw rugs everywhere for them. Toys are good. The kittens won't play with them right away. Cubes and tunnels are fun too.

If toy is taking the kittens out of the box, she may not be happy with where it is. Can you cover it so it is more secluded or move it to a corner so she feels protected and not out in the open? It's good that the kittens cannot get out by themselves.

Bedding, almost anything is good. The kittens cannot retract their claws so avoid anything they can catch on, like towels.

Toys will need dry and wet kitten food, as well as water. Make sure the food and water are not near the litter box.

Others will be along with more advice.

Sarthur2 · Apr 1, 2016

Thank you for bringing them inside. I cannot believe a vet's office told you to put them back outside.

Rugs on the floor are great. Mom may prefer laying on the rugs with her kittens rather than being in a nesting box. The kittens need to be warm at all times. Is it cold in the bathroom? If so, use a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel near the kittens, or a heating pad set on low under a rug so they can move away if they get too warm.

Mom needs kitten chow 24/7, water at all times, and wet food several times a day. She probably won't play with any toys right now. A nightlight at night would be good. Kittens do not need bright lights. It hurts their eyes when they begin to open.

You should check on them several times a day, and you can begin gently handling the kittens now so they learn your smell and grow accustomed to human touch. Mom will likely settle down soon. It sounds like she was in a panic and acting out. When the kittens are 3-4 weeks old they will need more space to explore, so moving them and all the supplies to your bedroom would then be appropriate.

Non-clumping litter is fine and preferred when the kittens begin to train in a few weeks, as they tend to want to eat it. Mom may prefer a covered litter box. She may also prefer a nest made from a box turned sideways and draped with a towel over the opening for some privacy for her kittens.

Continue using this thread for all your questions, and keep up the nice job! We'd love to see pictures too! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

calicosrspecial · Apr 2, 2016

Handsome Kitty and sarthur2,

Thank you for giving such great advice. I am learning as well. Please keep the advice coming if you think of anything.

toysandcatsby · Apr 2, 2016

I covered the box and moved it. Last night both kittens were in the corner next to the toilet again. So I put them back in the box ( thats when I moved and covered the box ) and I put some old clothes in that corner then put a soft old T shirt on top of it so if she likes that corner so much ( the box doesn't fit ) she can put her kittens there now. We are going to put a nightlight in there. We don't have a scale but we can get one. If towels aren't okay, what type of bedding do you recommend?

Also I was trying to clean out the shower and her litter box and she bit my hand. And then she kept following me and like standing right on my feet and jumping onto the box and acting all weird every time I moved. I was worried she was going to bite me so I just let her out out the room so I could get out. She's in the bedroom again with the door shut. She is using her litter box. So she won't pee on the bed will she?

calicosrspecial · Apr 2, 2016

First off, make sure you wash where you were bitten very thoroughly. Did she break the skin? How deep was the bite? Cat bites are not good and can get infected so please be very careful and you may want to check with your doctor and describe the bite.

What exactly did she do before she bite? Was her tail moving quickly? Did she growl? Did her ears get pinned back (go flat)? Did her tail get big? If you sense she is upset please just give her space and try again later. It is best to try and keep her calm and you safe.

Hopefully others can weigh in on this as well.

She may go again and for other reasons it would be best if you can get her back into the bathroom.

Also, make sure that the other readers of this thread know you have the male cat (the father?) that was with her in the house as well. I believe they should be kept apart but others will know for sure.

Hopefully others can address the questions in the post prior to mine.

StefanZ · Apr 2, 2016

ToysandCatsby said:
I covered the box and moved it. Last night both kittens were in the corner next to the toilet again. So I put them back in the box ( thats when I moved and covered the box ) and I put some old clothes in that corner then put a soft old T shirt on top of it so if she likes that corner so much ( the box doesn't fit ) she can put her kittens there now. We are going to put a nightlight in there. We don't have a scale but we can get one. If towels aren't okay, what type of bedding do you recommend?

Also I was trying to clean out the shower and her litter box and she bit my hand. And then she kept following me and like standing right on my feet and jumping onto the box and acting all weird every time I moved. I was worried she was going to bite me so I just let her out out the room so I could get out. She's in the bedroom again with the door shut. She is using her litter box. So she won't pee on the bed will she?

Fleece is very good, feels nice and dont fastens in kittens claws.

I agree on the worry re the bite. Did it broke the skin? Was it deep? If a cat bites for real, it goes deep in - you feel the hurting after the bite, its literally alike two hammers crashing on you, the same force.

IF she didnt broke the skin, it wasnt meant as a real bite.

And yeah, of course, you must protect yourself, feel reasonably comfortable. Attacks on the rescuer / caretaker arent common, but they may happen.

StefanZ · Apr 2, 2016

CalicosRSpecial said:
Also, make sure that the other readers of this thread know you have the male cat (the father?) that was with her in the house as well. I believe they should be kept apart but others will know for sure.

Hopefully others can address the questions in the post prior to mine.

ToysandCatsby said:
I covered the box and moved it. Last night both kittens were in the corner next to the toilet again. So I put them back in the box ( thats when I moved and covered the box ) and I put some old clothes in that corner then put a soft old T shirt on top of it so if she likes that corner so much ( the box doesn't fit ) she can put her kittens there now. We are going to put a nightlight in there. We don't have a scale but we can get one. If towels aren't okay, what type of bedding do you recommend?

Also I was trying to clean out the shower and her litter box and she bit my hand. And then she kept following me and like standing right on my feet and jumping onto the box and acting all weird every time I moved. I was worried she was going to bite me so I just let her out out the room so I could get out. She's in the bedroom again with the door shut. She is using her litter box. So she won't pee on the bed will she?

toysandcatsby · Apr 2, 2016

I don't think its that cold in the bathroom. She bit me when I was trying to clean the shower and her litter box so I guess she hasn't calmed down yet... She is roaming the house now, I'm hoping she will use her litter box. She's in the bathroom eating. I looked at the kittens and both of the kittens ears are open. Would it be okay if the kittens were put in the living room at that age? She's been doing this thing that she hasn't done since she first came her, which is this weird shaking/ vibrating thing in her tail. She did it when she first came and she went inside the house a little bit.

toysandcatsby · Apr 2, 2016

StefanZ said:

Yes I do, and they are best friends. Since the door was open and Catsby ( the male ) saw her he immediately went down the hallway to her. She doesn't seem to have a problem with him. He went and smelled the box that has the kittens but other than that he hasn't touched the kittens. We don't know for sure that he is the father. But one of the kittens looks exactly like him so were guessing that he probably is.

CalicosRSpecial said:
First off, make sure you wash where you were bitten very thoroughly. Did she break the skin? How deep was the bite? Cat bites are not good and can get infected so please be very careful and you may want to check with your doctor and describe the bite.

What exactly did she do before she bite? Was her tail moving quickly? Did she growl? Did her ears get pinned back (go flat)? Did her tail get big? If you sense she is upset please just give her space and try again later. It is best to try and keep her calm and you safe.

Hopefully others can weigh in on this as well.

She may go again and for other reasons it would be best if you can get her back into the bathroom.

Also, make sure that the other readers of this thread know you have the male cat (the father?) that was with her in the house as well. I believe they should be kept apart but others will know for sure.

Hopefully others can address the questions in the post prior to mine

I got her back in the bathroom and she didn't make a big fuss of it. The bite didn't break the skin. I don't know what she as doing. I was looking at the litter box trying to clean it when she went under my arm and bit my hand. That's when I just left the room and let her leave.

Sorry if I'm doing this wrong. I have no idea how to use a forum.

calicosrspecial · Apr 2, 2016

Did you have the shower or the faucet running? Were you moving quickly? She may have viewed the movement of a rag, or scooper as either prey or a play thing. It really just depends. It is hard to know without seeing what transpired before the action. Did she paw at the scooper or rag or your hand first?

If her tail is moving quickly I have always interpreted that as a cat being in an excited state. And that it is best to let them calm down a bit and not make any fast movements or movements towards them.

How is your bite?

toysandcatsby · Apr 2, 2016

StefanZ said:
Fleece is very good, feels nice and dont fastens in kittens claws.

I agree on the worry re the bite. Did it broke the skin? Was it deep? If a cat bites for real, it goes deep in - you feel the hurting after the bite, its literally alike two hammers crashing on you, the same force.

IF she didnt broke the skin, it wasnt meant as a real bite.

And yeah, of course, you must protect yourself, feel reasonably comfortable. Attacks on the rescuer / caretaker arent common, but they may happen.

She didn't break the skin. I guess she didn't want me to clean her litter box. We have 100% cotton flannel baby blankets. Would that be okay?

calicosrspecial · Apr 2, 2016

Don't worry about using the forum, you are doing great.

Great news that she did not break the skin. She did not want to hurt you. If she wanted to hurt you she would have really bitten. But she knows you are good and helping so I don't think she wanted to hurt you. But always be careful when around cats as they can get irritated and some of the signs are hissing, growling, flat ears, big fluffed up tail, tail moving rapidly. Usually they will give a good warning before attacking but not always so always be on guard.

So glad you got her back in the bathroom without a fuss. She is getting use to being in there, her new home. That is good. She needs to take car of her kittens so it is important they are all together. Personally, I would keep her in that bathroom and not have her settle in the living room. StefanZ, sarthur2, and Handsome Kitty would be able to give much more valuable advice on what place is best though.

toysandcatsby · Apr 2, 2016

CalicosRSpecial said:
Did you have the shower or the faucet running? Were you moving quickly? She may have viewed the movement of a rag, or scooper as either prey or a play thing. It really just depends. It is hard to know without seeing what transpired before the action. Did she paw at the scooper or rag or your hand first?

If her tail is moving quickly I have always interpreted that as a cat being in an excited state. And that it is best to let them calm down a bit and not make any fast movements or movements towards them.

How is your bite?

No nothing was running. I don't think i was moving quickly, the bathroom is very small so I was trying to be careful stepping around so I didn't bother her to much. I did move the box a little bit so it wasn't in my way. I moved it very carefully and slowly though. She didn't paw at the scooper but she did seem very interested in the paper towels I had before I put them down. This was before I brought her more food ( I keep her food bowl full all the time but I had left her alone all night and she ate it all ).

toysandcatsby · Apr 2, 2016

CalicosRSpecial said:
Don't worry about using the forum, you are doing great.

Great news that she did not break the skin. She did not want to hurt you. If she wanted to hurt you she would have really bitten. But she knows you are good and helping so I don't think she wanted to hurt you. But always be careful when around cats as they can get irritated and some of the signs are hissing, growling, flat ears, big fluffed up tail, tail moving rapidly. Usually they will give a good warning before attacking but not always so always be on guard.

So glad you got her back in the bathroom without a fuss. She is getting use to being in there, her new home. That is good. She needs to take car of her kittens so it is important they are all together. Personally, I would keep her in that bathroom and not have her settle in the living room. StefanZ, sarthur2, and Handsome Kitty would be able to give much more valuable advice on what place is best though.

Thanks!

Also sorry I forgot to answer the bite question. Its good there aren't any marks or anything.

Okay, I'll definitely always be on guard now.

I'm glad she's getting used to it. The kittens seem to be happy. Every time I look at them they are sleeping together. Do you know how long she will have to be in there. Do you think she will get bored?

calicosrspecial · Apr 2, 2016

I would like to see other people's takes.

But I think it could have been more play driven. It doesn't sound mean or aggressive.

calicosrspecial · Apr 2, 2016

Remember cats can feel the energy a person has. So be cautious but confident. If a person approaches with negative energy, fear, they then feed off that negative energy. Same with positive and confident energy.

Judging by what I have read your energy has been very good.

I don't think she will be too bored, she'll be fine.

I don't know how long she will need to be in there but the others will. I am guessing for a while until the kittens can be a more independent (whenever that happens). The others will definitely help on that question.

toysandcatsby · Apr 2, 2016

CalicosRSpecial said:
I would like to see other people's takes.

But I think it could have been more play driven. It doesn't sound mean or aggressive.

It probably was. When she first showed up she would always like our toes so did Catsby. Catsby still does sometimes, he also drools. I don't know what that's about. I think she also still will lick toes every once in a while. It's weird.

StefanZ · Apr 2, 2016

ToysandCatsby said:
She didn't break the skin. I guess she didn't want me to clean her litter box. We have 100% cotton flannel baby blankets. Would that be okay?

Yes, its good.

Re the male - as long he is friend with mom, it doesnt matter much if he is the biological father. He wont hurt the babies, unless by sheer accident. some cats are a little afraid of small kittens - if he happens to swipe defensively...

But having two fertile cats has its risks. It may even be part of the peeing is because of this. Peeing everywhere is not unheard of with intact females. And with a tom nearby it will be double so.

toysandcatsby · Apr 2, 2016

CalicosRSpecial said:
Remember cats can feel the energy a person has. So be cautious but confident. If a person approaches with negative energy, fear, they then feed off that negative energy. Same with positive and confident energy.

Judging by what I have read your energy has been very good.

I don't think she will be too bored, she'll be fine.

I don't know how long she will need to be in there but the others will. I am guessing for a while until the kittens can be a more independent (whenever that happens). The others will definitely help on that question.

I've been happy to help her and the kittens. But my energy probably was not so good after she bit me a little bit.. I don't think she will bite again. I'll just be more careful when cleaning out her litter box. I'll go about it in a different way, maybe by moving it out of the shower or something.

toysandcatsby · Apr 2, 2016

StefanZ said:
Yes, its good.

Re the male - as long he is friend with mom, it doesnt matter much if he is the biological father. He wont hurt the babies, unless by sheer accident. some cats are a little afraid of small kittens - if he happens to swipe defensively...

But having two fertile cats has its risks. It may even be part of the peeing is because of this. Peeing everywhere is not unheard of with intact females. And with a tom nearby it will be double so.

Alright. We want to get them fixed as soon as we can. We'll keep her in the bathroom.

Mom and 2 day old kittens Do's and Dont's on what to do next.

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