2.5 week old kittens

Can you put a small box in there for them to snuggle together in?

Thanks, that's a great idea! The kittens are very playful today and have been crawling all over my lap. I did notice that one of the kittens had a poop stuck to his legs/ tail. I've been trying to wipe it off with a damp papertowel as best I can but the little guy just hates it and won't stay still. Should I just do the best I can and hope mom does the rest? Also, the poop looked a little bit loose. 

Try to scruff him by the neck so he stays still long enough for you to clean him with a warm, damp wash cloth.

Kitten poop is soft.

Thanks! At what age should I start having kitten litter boxes out? I know it's still too early but I like to be prepared.

Anytime after 4-5 weeks, particularly when they begin eating solids.

Okay, sounds good. So I currently have them in the pen and they love to explore and climb all over my lap when I'm in there. They are 3 weeks and 1 day. I was thinking that this week when I leave during the day I will keep them in the pen and then depending on how things are going, around the 4 week mark I might see if they're ready to try wet food or not and if so I could maybe section off my living room and set up some litter boxes and food. But I just worry that if I'm gone during the day the kittens might get stuck in between the cushions on the couch or eat the litter or get into other kinds of trouble.

Do you think this is a good plan or should I alter it? I am home Saturday through Tuesday, and I am home for half the day on Thursday and Friday. So Wednesday is the main day they are alone. We do have a friend who could come over at lunch next week to check and make sure all is okay. 

Kittens generally wean better at 5 weeks than four.

I would not give them the run of the living room for several more weeks, and then under supervision only.

I allowed my kittens in the living room around 6 weeks, but for short periods and under my supervision. I had kitten-proofed, yet one kitten still managed to go behind the entertainment center and climb into a drawer, where she became stuck. I had no clue a drawer could be accessed from behind. Getting her out was not easy!

Anyway, at the end of a play session I would scoop them up and return them to the safety of my bedroom, which remained home base for many weeks, and once closed in, they were safe and had food, water, and litter in there, and I could leave them without worrying.

I suggest you do something similar, especially since you are home so much. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

sarthur2 said:

The gate plan sounds good. I don't think there's much you can do about the couch other than spreading towels over it.

I had a brand new couch last year when my kittens were little. They never peed on it even once.

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I agree with sarther2,   they won't necessarily urinate on the couch, just make sure there are litter boxes that are easily acessable to kittens (low sides)   with non-clumping litter inside.  Underneath the sofa throw you can place water proof mats such as baby crib liners,  twin bed water proof mattress pads, etc.  that would absorb any moisture from the kittens just in case. 

I used a baby gate, and mama cat can climb in and out. I put a gate up in the bathroom, helped while they were litter training, especially, cause they make a mess. Obviously I super-sanitized the floors first. Amazon has one for $12. 

So poor mom cat had diarrhea around 4 am. I had a friend over yesterday who was eating pizza and mom snuck a tiny piece of cheese...now about 8 or so hours later diarrhea. Is this likely the cause? I know dairy is bad for cats but she grabbed one tiny piece so I'm a little surprised. Will the kittens be okay nursing? Poor thing

Make sure she has plenty of water to drink. I have not had a cat get diarrhea from such a little amount, it is more likely from the stress of the kittens or a change in diet. Monitor it, and make sure it doesn't continue past a couple of days. The mama and the kittens are absolutely beautiful, she is so lucky to have found you, I want to cry thinking she came out and started giving birth on the sidewalk, she must have been so desperate! All the best to you, I pray you can give her the home she so  needs!

Mix a tablespoon of plain, canned pumpkin into her wet food to firm up her stool. You can even give her clear pedialyte instead of water to drink.

Some cats are super-sensitive, so it could be from the cheese.

If it continues, she may need to see the vet for meds.

Keep us posted.

Thanks everyone! Mom seems to have recovered. She's truly one of the sweetest cats I've ever met. The kittens are crazy and rambunctious and crawl all over me when they're awake. As for litter training, any advice on containers to use? I might buy some kitten-specific litter boxes on amazon if I can't find a small alternative at a store.

Glad to hear mom is all better!

You can use any small box with low sides for the kittens. Even disposable aluminum pans from a dollar store. In a few short weeks they will be jumping into a regular-sized box! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

So I have all the materials, and I'm thinking of starting wet food and litter boxes this weekend. What should I do/ what is the process?

I fostered a pregnant cat who had 3 kittens last fall. I knew nothing! This link helped me enormously.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2139&aid=906

Thanks for the link! We had our first major accident tonight (mom had been great at stimulating them and the previous accidents were on puppy pee pads or blankets) so tomorrow is definitely the day. Unfortunately I couldn't start earlier this week due to grad school schedule craziness.

Just put out kitten-sized litter pans with non-clumping litter (since kittens like to taste things), and put pee pads around. Put the kittens in the pans before and after meals, and at other times during the day. When they are ready they catch on quickly! Once they begin eating solids well, feed them 6 times a day.

Begin leaving dry kitten chow out for the kittens, and offering pate-style chicken wet food mixed with kitten formula or water to make it mushy. When they are ready the kittens will begin to try the food. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

So I think mom might be in heat...she hasn't been "yowling" but she has been meowing over and over and very restless and attention seeking....advice?

So 3 kittens went #1 in the litterbox right away which is great. Only 1 ate some of the food I put out, though. The others didn't seem very interested, even with mom as a model to learn from. Will try again later today, but so far so good with the litter training! They did eat a couple pieces (or at least chew on them), but I have clay litter so hopefully it's fine. After that they lost interest in eating it...must not have been that tasty.