Foster Kitten Chatter

I really appreciate the help and support.  : )

Lyla was nursing kittens, so I didn't weigh her yet, but I finally found a way to get the scale to work correctly and I got the weights I was looking for.

Nocturne: at 11:30 today, after using the bathroom, weighed 160 grams or 5.6 oz

Twilight: after using the bathroom weighed 118 grams or 4.1 oz

Ozzie: after using the bathroom weighed 169 grams or 5.9 oz

Obviously Twilight didn't gain as much because he was the only one I hadn't stimulated to go poop so he probably didn't have as large an appetite as the others. Now that I am stimulating them regularly he should start eating more and gaining more.

So by tomorrow's weigh-in we will see how much each is gaining per day. They are what - 11 days old now? The goal is to weigh 8 ounces at 14 days, so they are running behind. Of course they got a slow start since Lyla was so malnourished, but depending on numbers you may want to begin supplementing just to give them a boost.

They probably won't take a bottle since they have a mom, so you would need to use a small, needleless syringe.

Lyla: I weighed myself then weighed myself with her (she wouldn't fit on the food scale) and it says she is around 6 lbs. This kind of surprised me, since she is so skinny. I guess I'm just use to trying to pick up our giant male cat, Nym, who was like twice the weight he was expected to be when he was neutered (and he wasn't even over-weight!).

Ozzie: 169 grams

Nocturne: 169 grams

Twilight: 143 grams

Obviously Twilight is the smallest of the group, but he is making progress. He still needs baths to rinse off the dead skin/poop that got plastered to his skin and fur, but most of that has finally come off. He is the cutest thing ever!!!! So tiny and yet with his eyes opened.

For converting weight and milk formula amounts:::

1 cc = 1 ml

1 tsp = 4.9 cc

1 cup = 48 tsp

1 oz = 28.3 g

1 lbs = 16 oz

1 kg = 35.2 oz

1 g = 1000 mg

gitabooks

Nocturne yesterday: 160 grams, today: 169
* Gained 9 grams
Ozzie yesterday: 169 grams; today: 169
* No gain
Twilight yesterday: 118 grams; today 143
* Gained 25 grams

So, Twighlight may be the smallest, but he has gained the most.

Nocturne gained the minimum, while Ozzie gained nothing. Ozzie needs supplementing!

No gain or little gain means the kittens need supplementing, regardless of overall weight.

Supplementing all of them would boost their growth, but Ozzie must be supplemented.

Do you need feeding instructions?

sarthur2 said:

@GitaBooks

Nocturne yesterday: 160 grams, today: 169
* Gained 9 grams
Ozzie yesterday: 169 grams; today: 169
* No gain
Twilight yesterday: 118 grams; today 143
* Gained 25 grams

So, Twighlight may be the smallest, but he has gained the most.

Nocturne gained the minimum, while Ozzie gained nothing. Ozzie needs supplementing!

No gain or little gain means the kittens need supplementing, regardless of overall weight.

Supplementing all of them would boost their growth, but Ozzie must be supplemented.

Do you need feeding instructions?

Click to expand...

I've never fed with a syringe before, but I think I can get it down. I raised 5 kittens from 2 weeks of age who were orphaned so I just got a lot of experience.   : )

I'm glad Twilight seems to be doing better, he's been the weakest of the bunch and his poor eyes are getting a little crusty from running (newly opened kitten eyes can have issues with infection).

Do the eyes need terramycin? Are you keeping them cleaned with a warm, damp cloth?

Syringing is done holding the kitten tummy down with head up, as though it is feeding from mom. You place 2-3 drops in the side of the mouth (cheek not front), allow the kitten to swallow and breathe, then give more.

Kittens tend to fight it at first, but after a couple of times, and they realize it's good stuff, they often take it willingly, some even begin to suckle on the syringe.

I suggest giving 6 mLs every 3 hours for now.

Oz and Nocturne are both 179 grams, Twilight is 164 grams or so.  Making progress!!! Yay!! : )

By the way, we are now fostering Tesla (Tessie). She is such a sweeties, though you can tell she likely was raised outdoors as she is jumpier then our other cats. Fred is 2 lbs but his respiratory issues mean he likely won't be fixed until he starts to feel better. He is at the shelter getting TLC and hopefully continuing to bulk up.

Walinda was spayed today, which means she will likely go up for adoption. Nutmeg, Ebony and Ash are also up for adoption, and Domino is being fostered at night by a staff member. This means that only the calico five are really in need of fostering, perhaps Newton. It's amazing to see progress, to see things getting better as more animals get homes.

Weights are good. Is that with or without supplementing?

How are their eyes doing?

Should Fred be in a foster home rather than the shelter while he has respiratory issues?

Right now they aren't on supplementation because I'm afraid the formula would mess up their digestion. It caused bad constipation to the point of it being dangerous in one of our earlier orphan-cat-experiences. Ozzie it now 194 grams, so I think he is doing well, which is really nice. Twilight is still the smallest (around 174 grams), but is also gaining weight and strength, as is their mother. It is really nice to see them starting to lift up their front-half, showing off some muscle. Poor Twilight, however, I think got some constricted hair on his tail, as it seems swollen and the vertebrates sticking out. I've tried picking some of the matted hair off, but after so many rinses I'm not sure what else can help.

Their eyes are doing well. Twilight has some dead skin around his, but I think she is from not being cleaned well by his mother, not really his eyes being runny.

I'm not sure if anyone is fostering Fred in the evening or not. I think a foster home would help him stay away from other cats, but if he goes down-hill they can get him on antibiotics or fluids and I couldn't do that at my house. He hopefully will get plenty of food and rest and be able to fight off this cold finally (the herpes virus is making it hard for him) and be able to be put up for adoption. They keep him in the Hospital Room where only one other cat stays, so he is pretty well taken care of there. If he is still struggling in a few days we may take him and return Tesla, since she has gotten some great socialization already in a house situation, using a litter box, eating and drinking from dishes, meeting new people, meeting other dogs, ect. She is filling out wonderfully and has a long, luxurious coat of hair.

The calico kittens have my interest, but I think I want to wait until I have the time to focus on them. My five will be ready to be neutered/spayed and adopted probably in a week or so (they will be eight weeks in just a couple days). At that point my room will be available for a new group of kittens to be cuddled and spoiled rotten.  : )

I think this here is Twilight. You can see his handsome smokey blue coat with faint striping on the legs.


One of the calico kittens. Since being brought in they have grown a LOT! Probably doubled in size! 


Tesla on the same book-shelf as Fred was. She has a stronger "surprise" reflex, likely from being an outdoor kitten, but she is learning to get past that.


Trouble and Kai in their box, chilling out on their blankets. Trouble is finally learning to eat from a dish!!! They were vaccinated and dewormed a second time this Wednesday and weighed around 1.2 lbs or so.


Rambo is out of foster, neutered, and up for adoption! Yay for him! He doesn't look that great in this picture, but that was just a bad picture. He is healthy, excited, and actually quite large!


Twilight's eyes. And look at those long toes!!! Nocturne is the other kitten in the picture.


I think this is Ozzie and Nocturne, but it could be Twilight instead. The two keep changing fur-patterns as they grow, so older pictures make is difficult to keep up with. Similar to Kai and Trouble.  : )


Cash, chilling on my bed. He has started getting really cuddly and sweet lately, chewing on my face and licking his siblings and asking to sit next to me on the bed. All good signs if he is to find a wonderful, forever-home! I'm going to miss the little dude a lot. 


Twilight and Nocturne? It's hard to tell, as I said, but this one looks like it has the matted under-tail more like Twilight would. You can also see that Nocturne is a good deal larger. He is actually the heaviest of the trio now!


Bee and Ollie. Bee is still sweet as ever, asking to cuddle up against my face all the time, but Ollie has a little bit of a mischevious streak running through him right now as he tries out his teeth and claws.


Hopefully kitten season is winding down some and all the cats at the shelter can find good homes so more spaces can open up to take the many being offered. It is wonderful each time we find a new home for our cats.  : )

Here in Florida, kitten season does not wind down until the late fall, and with warm winters like we've had, the season is almost year-round - sigh.

The pictures are wonderful. I love Rambo! I notice some of the kitties are in cages and some are not. Do they all get out of cage time in your home?

Lyla's kittens are gaining well without supplementing, which is good. When you do need to supplement, I've found that adding 2-3 drops of olive oil to the formula helps with constipation. And PetAg powdered formula contains probiotics.

You did not mention Lyla. Is she continuing to gain weight and get stronger?

You really have a full house! What a wonderful service you are doing for these cats! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

The cats in our house spend most of their time out of their crate/box. My five kittens got nap time in their box while little Tesla gets put there for her safety if we are going to be gone for a long time or at night.

The kittens at the shelter generally stay in their crate during open hours, when I'm there, but often during closed hours cats are allowed to free-roam a room and get snuggles with the staff members there. Some of the kittens are also brought home with staff members at night for bonding time and exercise.

I can try to weigh Lyla, but she doesn't really like to carried over to the scale, it scares her a little.

I'll be going to shelter today, I'll update you all on how the kittens out of foster are doing.  : )

And thank you so much for the continued support, Sarthur2!

You're welcome!

You don't have to weigh Lyla. I just thought you could share your observations of her weight gain and strength. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

PREVENTING PHOBIAS::::
Cats have a natural strong instinct to react quickly to sudden, loud, or frightening motions or sounds. It is how they stay alive in the wild and also as indoor/outdoor cats. They avoid predators, fights with other cats, catch prey, and cover longer distances if they are intelligent about it.

However, this intelligence and strong instinct to run first and then think can lead to cats developing phobias towards objects or situations that caused them fear, harm, or uncertainty in the past. This is why socialization is SOOO important for foster kittens, as well as any kitten.

1::: Handle kittens in a gentle, kind, safe manner daily. Get them use to being lifted quickly, held away from the body, placed into a kennel, and being reached for. However, always say their name and support their body so they do not feel off-balance or as if they are going to fall. This will prevent a phobia of being grabbed or held.

Using the scruff gently can work with light-weight cats and kittens, but do not grab them by it and pinch it hard. Take a large amount of skin, lift them, then support their back end. The scruff helps you lift a cat out of a tight space or hold a frightened cat still to avoid biting. It is not simply a means of holding a cat or carrying them around.

2::: Let kittens get use to the normal sounds of a house, but avoid sudden loud sounds as much as possible. Place them in another room while sweeping or if using the blender. Let them get use to air-conditioning, fans, loud running water, or other such noises. Avoid screaming, shrieking, or making other "fear" sounds that a cat might interpurt as a warning to run. This will make them far more jumpy later in life towards similar sounds.

Do not baby a frighten cat, but call their name gently, give them a few strokes on the head or back, and let the normal routine continue unchanged so that they learn to quickly get past a "jump-scare" event.

3:::  Let kittens get use to kennels, crates, cages and carriers. Introduce them to it young. Make it comfortable and not too tight. Do not shake it, clank it, or shove them into it. Instead, let them play in it, feed them in it, let them make it into a den, a safe area. My kittens have learned to enter to the crate when nervous, since I use it to carry them from room to room. It is a good thing to them, it takes them to a fun, exciting new place and then back to the comforts of home again.

Don't only use a carrier or crate to take kittens to the vet or they will only see it as a bad thing.

4::: Do not chase a kitten or cause it to become frightened of your feet, hands, or presence. Sit down at their level, lay on your back so they can climb on you, tap the floor with your hands playful, speak in a friendly manner (like a happy cat might meow), pet them gently, and avoid kicking them or stepping on them so they do not learn to fear your feet as a cause of pain.

5::: Dogs can be a cause of fear for many cats, especially if they have ever been chased or hurt by one before. Introduce your kitten to your dogs in a calm manner and stay there, letting the dog know you are the kittens parent and they should not hurt it (dogs understand this, as in a pack, the mother dog always protects her pups). Let the kitten know you will stop any overly excited playing. Do not let the dog scratch, whine, pen the cat, chase it too quickly, or corner it. Instead, it is better if they either play gently or ignore one another at first.

6::: A kitten raised alone may be nervous, aggressive or fearful of other cats. Sometimes you already have a solo kitten that is frightened by other cats, but if you can help it, introduce it to a cat around its age and let them learn to snuggle, play and trust one another. This socialization and practice in communication and how to be gentle and when to stop will help them interact with cats for the rest of their lives. Try always to raise kittens with other kittens, it makes a HUGE difference in their ability to be with others of their own species.

7::: Door ways, gates, or other objects that open and close may frighten some cats. A cat that has had a door closed on it by accident or who had a gate fall while jumping over it may not want to experience that again. Avoid such situations by closing doors gently and always looking and by securing gates well. If they do, however, develop such a fear, you can work on them with it by carrying them through and then coaxing them with a treat once they see it is no danger. By getting a different gate or providing a cat door that can be locked. Patience, time and consistency will often win an animal over.

8::: "Trapped" feeling. A cat that has been locked in a room, locked outdoors, kept inside, or put into a cage or crate may decide that is no fun (even if it was for its own good, such as if it was injured or sick) and may not want to come back to that room, cage, door, ect when you are around to avoid being stuck again. A cat that refuses to come in is far more difficult then one that refuses to enter a crate. However, the best way to prevent this is just to make sure that the situation is never bad. A cage should be clean, neither too hot or too cold, lined with a soft material, offer enough space to move around, have food, water and a litter box, and not be in a noisy, open space but tucked back into a quiet, calm corner, perhaps with a blanket over the sides or part of the front.

If a cat is to be locked in a room or locked inside then provide plenty of toys, climbing places, hiding places, food and water, a litter box, and cuddle time. Don't make them feel isolated or trapped, instead, make them feel as though they have a chance to chill inside their "den area" a place of safety and where they are spoiled.

9::: Grooming. Yeah, cats might not like baths, nail trims or brushing, but you can still make it more bareble. The less grabbing, pinning, wrestling, loud noises, and feeling of being trapped, the more comfortable they will be with it. Get them use to brushing early on and involve treats, petting, cuddling, and letting them know they can leave when they want. Don't yank on their fur or poke them with sharp edges, do things slowly, gently, and in a way they like. Baths should be done in as quiet and calm a manner as possible. Try not to get frustrated with the animal, as they can sense that. Instead, rinse them, soap them, rinse again, and then spend lots of time cuddling so they can get over it and know it wasn't so bad.

Handling kittens paws from a young age helps avoid a phobia of their nails being clipped.

10::: Some cats don't like to be touched, it is just in their personality, but others are afraid if they come up to a person the person will try to force them to stay there. If a cat doesn't like petted in a particular area, then simply avoid that. If a cat likes to sit next to you but not be touched, then let them do that. It is still bonding, just in a way that is comfortable for both of you. If a cat doesn't want to be petted more then a few seconds, then enjoy that moment and praise them and talk to them and then be the first one to walk off. if you walk off then they will realize that you said hello but are not forcing them to do anything and they may start asking to be petted more often.

Pet them gently (unless they like rougher petting, but never injure them or frighten them most certainly!), in a manner they like, and when they ask for it. Say hello before petting them, let them sniff your hand, get down to their level or sit on the floor, offer a treat, all these things can help a cat associate being "groomed" by you as a wonderful experience and not the feeling of being trapped.

I hope this helps.  : )

I weighed Lyla's trio, who are growing very well and beginning to try to groom themselves.

They all weigh around 8.7 oz and are feeding well and beginning to lift themselves up to crawl.  : )

Bless their hearts! That's progress! How old are they now? And how is Lyla doing?

They were born July 7th so are around 3 weeks old.  : )

They are still a little small for their age, but very healthy and no longer having issues with dirtying themselves up when they go potty.

Lyla is doing great. She eats and drinks a lot still and is very thin, but she is producing a good amount of milk as well as strengthening up. When she begins to wean them she will likely do better with the weight gain. She is very sweet too, so she'll find an awesome home when put up for adoption.     She has been dewormed as well as treated for fleas so no parasites are bothering her either. The transformation is pretty incredible, she isn't stinky and greasy, though her hair is still thin on her legs. She is also able to stand up and walk around without having to stretch as much, showing her muscles are getting healthier.

My 5 are going back next Wednesday (I'll miss them so much!) and Tesla is gaining weight very well

Yes, at three weeks they should weigh closer to 12 ounces, but their circumstances are unique. I still think supplementing would give them a boost.

I'm glad that Lyla is doing well. Does she have access to as much food as she wants? Did you ever get the Nutrical paste for her?

sarthur2 said:

Yes, at three weeks they should weigh closer to 12 ounces, but their circumstances are unique. I still think supplementing would give them a boost.

I'm glad that Lyla is doing well. Does she have access to as much food as she wants? Did you ever get the Nutrical paste for her?

Click to expand...

I'll see how they do with supplementing when I get new bottles from the shelter. The ones we have are very dirty and old from having been used with my kittens. On Wednesday I'm going to be getting a couple more young kittens. Do you think Lyla would take to them? If I gave them to her but supplemented them and her kittens, she wouldn't loose weight but they would have a mother to love them and teach them, which is so much better then them being raised orphans. One is around 2 weeks old I think and the other 1 and a half. Their names are Banjo and Spoons and I'm keeping them while their foster mother is away for a few days. if they bonded to Lyla I would keep them full time though.

Lyla is getting all the food she wants, but she eats it so fast her plate is sometimes empty when I got in to full it up. She also drinks a lot. As for her nutrical, I think the vet forgot (she is very busy, but I might mention it to her again on Wednesday when I go there).

Ollie, Kai and Cash are being neutered and put up for adoption this Wednesday. If trouble ways enough he may be going as well. Bee and Tesla are staying together, since Tesla bonded to her new kitten family and it would be good for the two of them to be spayed together. It also gives them a little more time to gain some extra weight, since they are the smallest of the bunch.

I'm also going to be fostering three new kittens that are around 4 weeks of age either on Wednesday or Sunday. They are Hermoine, Genny, and Beatrix and they are ADORABLE!!! I'll post some pictures of them soon.

Lets just say a lot is happening on Wednesday.  : )

gitabooks

Has Lyla gained any weight? Do you supplement her with chicken or eggs? Is she getting a dish of KMR daily? She needs the calcium from KMR and the extra protein from poultry and eggs.

I do think you should give her the tiny kittens, but only if you supplement everyone. Lyla's own kittens still need more food and more weight gain, so you'll need to supplement and weigh daily.

You'll be bottle feeding the 3 four-week-olds unless they are weaned. This could be a big job!

You need to be careful you don't take on more young kittens than you can handle. It's a big job when they need around the clock supplementing.