Pleaaaase let Aaru have her kittens safely and SOON...

So... I still haven't made Ru's scratchy post, but one of the items I was going to use for covering the post is a coir doormat. She loves the doormat as it is, and scratches it even more often than the yoga mat and couch combined, so I may just leave it as is and forget the post idea.

Also.... the babies are starting to look like cats! They're little ears are popping, and they're waddling around. I need to rig up a larger area for them soon so they can get out of the nest and play a bit. They are just over 2 weeks old now, and they weigh around 13 - 14 ounces. Is that good for kittens of their age? It seems healthy, but I'm no expert. They're certainly growing fast and getting interested in the nest door. Soon, I won't be able to contain them.

That is a good weight.   Most 4 week old kittens average 1 lb or 16 ounces.  Post some pictures if you get a chance.

They weigh almost as much as 4-week-olds, so they are doing great!

It would be best to contain them for now in one, kitten-proofed room that they can explore. Is that possible?

There are only a couple of rooms in my house with doors, one being the bathroom and I'm afraid they'd catch a chill there. The other is my bedroom, and there are many places in there for them to get lost (under furniture, a hole in the box-spring fabric, etc...). I'm hoping to get the art room kitten-proofed soon (this is where their nest is now). I just need to borrow a baby gate from someone since there's no door. In the meantime, I'm going to try to procure a refrigerator box or similar to at least give them some room to practice walking. I caught all 3 of them sleeping at the door of the nest with their little heads dangling out. I have no idea why, but they seem to think it's comfortable. I added more cardboard to better contain them, but it's only a matter of time before they break loose.

Speaking of breaking loose, I'm out of bed at this ridiculous hour because I heard a strange sound outside in the woods, very close to the house. I cracked the door and poked my head out to look around, and Ru escaped through the door crack while I was distracted! Bad timing for her to escape, while I'm contemplating which creature might have made the aforementioned sound. I had to chase her up a dirt road, but I got her. Thank goodness. Now it's bedtime. Again. Poor girl. She just wants to hunt in the moonlight.

Good thing you were able to catch Ru!

Hey all.

At what age is it normal for the momma cat to start allowing you to handle the kittens without being super crazy protective? I'm sure this varies with each mother to some degree, but I'm getting a little worried that Ru will never let me handle and play with the babies. I'm not trying to "play" with them now, mind you... but she doesn't even want me to weigh them. She gets stressed out when I even come into the room and sit down in preparation for weighing them. I usually only weigh one kitten before she gets mad at me. She doesn't get violent, but gets very vocal and obviously concerned. When we're not near the nest, she likes me fine, so I don't think it's personal... she's just really protective. I'm glad she's such a good momma... I'm just wondering if I'll get a chance to enjoy these kittens before they're grown up.

Note: my degree of involvement is usually just looking in on the nest from the door several times a day, and maybe once or twice a day, sitting down near the nest to attempt weighing or photographing the kittens (often unsuccessfully due to Ru protesting).

It can take a good while for some cats. Mine let me handle hers after she moved them into my bedroom when they were 3 weeks old, but she watched me like a hawk.

Just move slowly and softly, and speak softly and gently for now.

Momma Ru is also super stressed today on account of being obsessed with going outside. She's frantic tonight, and can't think of anything else. I had a loooong day of farm work and other obligations today, and was gone from 6:30 this morning until 7:30 tonight. When I got home, she was in the window crying for me. She calmed down initially when I came in and spent some time with her, but she soon got restless again and has spent the whole night going from window to window and door to door crying. My poor little girl. I wish she could go out and play to her heart's content, but I just can't let her. She's miserable and bored out of her wits. For some reason, tonight is worse than most. I'd assume she was in heat again, except that she's not loving on me at all, which she was last time she was in heat.

I've got some new photos to share! The babies are way cuter in person than in their photos... for some reason, the camera makes them look like creepy little black ferrets. Haha. The last picture is of Ru ignoring my yoga mat in favor of her new "log" that I made her. Woohoo! Success!!!

I'm so sorry that Ru is restless like this. I'm hoping it will pass.

A similar thing is happening to another forumist with her cat, and it is due to male cats coming around outside because they think she is in heat, but she is only nursing. It seems her protective instincts are kicking in.

Do you think this could be the case with Ru?

I've only seen a male cat around once in two years of living here. I'm sure he's the one that got her pregnant and probably still lives nearby, but I've seen no sign of him. As for Ru's restlessness, she definitely wants to go outside. It's like she's on a mission. On the occasions she has escaped, she's headed straight for the dirt road and toward the barn. I don't know why she's so insistent. She's a little more relaxed this morning. I just hate to see her so miserable so often.

I know, poor gal.

I really like your log.

@Handsome Kitty Thank you! When Ru goes out, she loves to find fallen logs to scratch on... so I thought it might be good for her scratchy "post" to mimic a log. It's just a coir doormat screwed to a wooden post. I did add a little catnip to get her in the mood.

The babies are 3 weeks old today! I'm having such a hard time with not touching them. They are so precious, and I want to cuddle with them so badly, but I know that it would upset Ru terribly. It's so hard... this is the cutest, sweetest, snuggliest time in the life of a kitty. From here, they will only get more and more independent and likely not want to snuggle. I'm going to miss it because Ru doesn't want anyone close to the babies. I respect her wishes as a mother... it's just so sad.

Most mama kitties do not like their new babies touched much for 3-4 weeks. I think I started sitting on the floor and letting my four kittens crawl on me between 3-4 weeks. They eventually began wanting to sleep on me a couple of weeks later. They actually get cuddlier as they explore their environment, and remain cute for months! You really haven't missed the best part at all. The best is yet to come! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

I sure hope I get to have that experience too. I hope Ru eases up soon .

I need some help expecting kitten milestones...

I'm starting to think about what I should expect (and when) as the babies grow. They turned 3 weeks old yesterday. Some things I'm wondering:

1. When do I give them a dish of water? I've read 4 weeks. Does that sound right?

2. When should I offer moistened kitten chow with KMR for weaning?

3. When should I give them a small litter pan? I've never seen a trace of mess from them relieving themselves independently. Ru keeps them spotless. When will they be able to urinate and defecate on their own?

In other news, their eyes are not as blue as they were, and I think they're slowly starting to turn green. I also got them an upgraded box last night from a friend. It's a wardrobe box, which will allow them more room to move about until I get them an entire room set up.

Kittens are usually ready to begin to try to wean around 5-6 weeks. You then offer moistened kitten chow and wet food mixed with KMR. Some take 7-8 weeks though.

Kittens do not usually drink water for several more weeks. They are still getting enough fluid from mom and from wet food.

When they begin actually eating solids more than nursing they need to be put in a litter pan before and after meals and throughout the day to learn to use it.

Ok thank you! So it sounds like they won't start weaning for another 2-3 weeks, and at that time I should start offering them the litter pan and water?