Meet Lolita's kittens (Lolita pending). 4 week old foster kittens.

Lolita's a six month old (at most) feral kitten who was living in a colony with her two kittens until a dog attacked. She was quite hurt protecting these two and is still at the vet's as she needed to be sedated for an extra day.

These are her two, as yet unnamed, kittens. They have a slight eye infection but drops are seeing to that. They're exploring their big, new, interesting room full of toys and beds, and other more interesting toys such as the heater and chair legs.

Any ideas for names? They have to be Spanishy.

Being so young they're not at all fazed by the change, they've explored, napped, explored, eaten and pooed. They don't appear to be missing mum.

Aren't they adorable.

Any ideas for names? They have to be Spanishy.
 

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I'm afraid my Spanish is virtually non-existent,  but I couldn't resist going to the Spanish names' site and pick a few.  You don't say whether they're male, female of one of each?

I've always been fond of Bruno for a boy.  Paco, Marco and Camilo are cute.

Sarita or Gracia for a girl?  Or Pia?

Ooh I like Paco and Pia. Easy vowels to get them used to having names.

Lolita's here


They couldn't get her into the carrier so she arrived in the trap. She's terrified but not lashing out. I proffered my first when she was in there and she sniffed but didn't react.

She's wandered and found a spot behind a mop bucket in the corner to hide and rest. Not surprising after a four hour operation and extra sedation. The vet's confirmed she's 6-7 months at most. She's tiny and so thin.

The problem now is her wounds need cleaning. How do clean the wounds of a terrified feral?

Awww, this is my favorite age.  This 4-6 weeks old age is just too adorable.  They are just learning to use the litter box, just learning to play with toys and just learning to play with each other in earnest.  The best part, they are starting to eat on their own!  I have 14 foster babies right now with 5 of them at this age and just love it! 

They're so sweet, five of them and 14 total is quite a feat.

The little ones are pretty independent for their age due to the circumstances,although they still need their faces and bums wiped occasionally.

Pegleg said:

They couldn't get her into the carrier so she arrived in the trap. She's terrified but not lashing out. I proffered my first when she was in there and she sniffed but didn't react.

She's wandered and found a spot behind a mop bucket in the corner to hide and rest. Not surprising after a four hour operation and extra sedation. The vet's confirmed she's 6-7 months at most. She's tiny and so thin.

The problem now is her wounds need cleaning. How do clean the wounds of a terrified feral?

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 Oh golly, a litter when she's really still a baby herself.  That really breaks my heart.

If she sniffed your hand I'd say she's not a true feral.  Abandoned or lost by the look of it

Hopefully some of our experienced Strays and Ferals people will be able to help you with the wound question.

Sorry I should have been clearer. She didn't reach out and sniff, just smelt.

She's slightly more used to people being around because the person who found her feeds her colony,she was born there.

I spoke to the vet and if I can't clean her by Saturday she'll have to go in and be sedated.


She's tried out the sofa, windowsill, and this morning was sitting by the kittens. She's still terrified but I think she's twigged that as frightening as the situation is, we're not going to hurt her.

I know, born on the street, having her own litter, practically eviscerated by a dog and hours in surgery is a lot to deal with in 6-7 months.

Poor little girl! I'm so glad that you were able to help her.

Two of mine were very feral and horribly injured when they first came to me. Are you able to touch her at all? Exactly how do you need to clean her? Do you mean changing a dressing or swabbing and applying cream? 

If you're not able to handle her at all I think it would be easier if the vet sedated her and cleaned her up himself. Was she given an injection of antibiotics or do you have meds for her as well?

I'm so glad the kittens are OK.

I think Alba is good for a girl. (It means white or fair.) Sorry, my Spanish isn't very good.

I can't touch her yet. I haven't got anything to give her so that's not a worry.

Just swabbing, two of her wounds are 'open' so they need to be kept clean. She most likely will have to go back to the vet. She's not going to be happy about that at all.

How did your ferals respond?

We're sticking with Pia and Packard for now. Alba is a lovely name, I've known a few here.

They actually seem to heal up a lot quicker if they are left open. I think it's better that you let the vet do all of that. If you haven't had chance to win her over yet it's better if you do all the nice stuff, like feeding her, rather than trying to touch the bits that are painful. You've got more chance of gaining her trust that way.

One of my feral cats was a female who lost her first litter then got severe mastitis. She needed several operations to remove the dead tissue and slowly draw the ends of the wound closed. She stayed at the clinic for three weeks. I used to go in every day to feed her. By the time she was ready to bring home she was used to me getting close to her and actually purred when I got her into my apartment and opened her carrier. After that it was just a case of hiding her meds in bits of cream cheese and eventually petting her. She's been with me for 7 years now. She's a total cuddle bug.

The other feral was a young tom who had been badly injured in a cat fight. I managed to trap him in a carrier (Didn't have a trap at that time). The vet stitched him up, neutered him and gave him an injection of antibiotics. I think the first time I touched him was about a week later when I took his e-collar off.

Both times I was the one bringing them home from the scary vet and doing all the feeding and playing with them, so I think they associated me with the more positive sides of life.

I love the names Pia and Packard! How are they all doing today?

I have had cats recover from HORRIBLE wounds, ones that I don't truly know how they did. Vet care and a antibiotic will do wonders for her, and now that she doesn't have to worry about her kittens will do even more. Bless you for taking care of her, please give that sweet, brave girl a kiss from me and tell her I'll pray for her recovery. There are wound sprays that may help, but don't 'spray' it, it is scary. Spray it into a small container and drip it on the wounds.( or soak a cloth and dab it if it is underneath) I usually could do this while they were eating, in fact many of the 'procedures' I have to perform on ferals is done at feeding time, from pulling ticks to tending to wounds. First you have to get them used to you stroking them at feeding time, then go from there. They are so intent on eating they tolerate a lot more, but sometimes you only have one chance to do anything, then they get nervous and run. All the luck!

Thanks @Norachan I was thinking along those lines! I was a bit worried she'd see me cleaning the kitten's eyes and putting in drops, which they don't like, and be afraid but she seems alright with that.

The little ones are great, their eyes have completely cleared up and, when not standing in their own poo, are developing very well. Lolita's still scared of course, but last night she ate while I was a metre away, and didn't immediately hide under the shelves to clean herself, which is great progress. She was sick at some point which I was expecting as she hasn't yet realised that food isn't scarce.

Di and Bob said:

 
I have had cats recover from HORRIBLE wounds, ones that I don't truly know how they did. Vet care and a antibiotic will do wonders for her, and now that she doesn't have to worry about her kittens will do even more. Bless you for taking care of her, please give that sweet, brave girl a kiss from me and tell her I'll pray for her recovery. There are wound sprays that may help, but don't 'spray' it, it is scary. Spray it into a small container and drip it on the wounds.( or soak a cloth and dab it if it is underneath) I usually could do this while they were eating, in fact many of the 'procedures' I have to perform on ferals is done at feeding time, from pulling ticks to tending to wounds. First you have to get them used to you stroking them at feeding time, then go from there. They are so intent on eating they tolerate a lot more, but sometimes you only have one chance to do anything, then they get nervous and run. All the luck!

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I haven't been able to get that close yet! Thanks, I'm going to need the luck with her. They're free fed and I top up/change the wet food frequently because of the heat so that trick's not going to work for me.

Yay, Loli just approached me for an ear scratch (at arms length)! 

She's healing up really well. 


She's still wary but not absolutely terrified anymore and has rediscovered her appetite, and the fact that I open the cans. 

14 foster babies! That's a lot! But I am sure you and the kittens are okay.

The babies are just precious, and momma looks like she's adjusting well. 

Well this is just horrible. A virus has got to them, and after being rushed to the vets Pablo had to be put down today as he want downhill so fast, and being so little, anything the vet could do wouldn't have helped. Pia has been given antibiotics, fluids, and will get some shots to boost her immune system, but she's still not out of the woods.

Loli's older and stronger so much less likely to be affected, but she got scared again and isn't being mum as much as Pia needs.

Pablo was a sweet little character and would have made a lovely pet. Now we have to concentrate on the other two and make sure they're well.

I'm so sorry for your loss

for Pia and Lolita

Oh, I'm so sorry!



Poor little Pablo, when they're that small they are so vulnerable to these things.

Vibes for Pia and Loli.