- Joined
- Mar 9, 2016
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- 5
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Last summer my widower neighbor trapped a feral kitten and released it inside his fenced back yard; I did not become aware of the kitten's owner until Thanksgiving. It didn't take long for our new furry friend to find the food inside my garage left there for the feral we had taken in several years earlier (but regrettably had to put down late summer). Thinking it was a stray, I started leaving food out twice a day. She would come over, eat and run back across the street. Having a soft spot for animals, I decided to try and tame her (could tell she - even though at the time checking her bottom for gender was totally out of the question - was rather young). A watch from afar turned into standing beside the dish, to a touch, then to a rub and finally to a pick up and hold over the course of a few months.
When the weather started changing, my husband and I let her stay in our garage every night. But, when morning came, food was eaten and door opened, she returned across the street. In mid-January with 5" of snow/sleet on the ground, she walked across my garage floor and I noticed her sides were expanding - assumed at that time gender was female!! She has been in my garage 24/7 since that time.
Knowing absolutely nothing about kittens, I found this site and started reading. I knew time was drawing nigh but my only sign was just a mere flutter of movement now and then; so slight I could barely feel it. Late in the day on February 21 I noticed just a touch of pinkish liquid on her bed blanket. I knew she wasn't licking anything off because she was so large she could no longer stretch that far! The first was born just after 10:00 pm and the final around midnight. I did have to help one little buddy. It came out feet first and she started her cleaning process on the back end. It became apparent she wasn't going to make it to the head before another one decided to come into the world. I picked it up, cleaned its mouth out, partially cleaned its face and laid it beside her; she was busy with number five and ignored it. It had let out a couple cries but was struggling for breath. We were sure we would lose it, however, the next morning all five babies were safe and sound.
They are still in our garage inside a clean nesting box of sufficient size with a heating pad on one side of the box which is turned on low and tucked underneath a couple layers of fleece blanket. One, unfortunately, now has a URI but has been to the vet, on meds for a couple days and already much improved. The cat isn't mine, but my neighbor has already been informed that Zoe (yes, I've even named her) will be going in for a fix, my treat! The Human Society has agreed to take the kittens for placement in either permanent or foster homes assuming, of course, I can give all of them up.
I felt compelled to pass along a huge "THANKS" to all of you for your participation on this site; I found everything I needed right here to prepare me for this adventure!!
When the weather started changing, my husband and I let her stay in our garage every night. But, when morning came, food was eaten and door opened, she returned across the street. In mid-January with 5" of snow/sleet on the ground, she walked across my garage floor and I noticed her sides were expanding - assumed at that time gender was female!! She has been in my garage 24/7 since that time.
Knowing absolutely nothing about kittens, I found this site and started reading. I knew time was drawing nigh but my only sign was just a mere flutter of movement now and then; so slight I could barely feel it. Late in the day on February 21 I noticed just a touch of pinkish liquid on her bed blanket. I knew she wasn't licking anything off because she was so large she could no longer stretch that far! The first was born just after 10:00 pm and the final around midnight. I did have to help one little buddy. It came out feet first and she started her cleaning process on the back end. It became apparent she wasn't going to make it to the head before another one decided to come into the world. I picked it up, cleaned its mouth out, partially cleaned its face and laid it beside her; she was busy with number five and ignored it. It had let out a couple cries but was struggling for breath. We were sure we would lose it, however, the next morning all five babies were safe and sound.
They are still in our garage inside a clean nesting box of sufficient size with a heating pad on one side of the box which is turned on low and tucked underneath a couple layers of fleece blanket. One, unfortunately, now has a URI but has been to the vet, on meds for a couple days and already much improved. The cat isn't mine, but my neighbor has already been informed that Zoe (yes, I've even named her) will be going in for a fix, my treat! The Human Society has agreed to take the kittens for placement in either permanent or foster homes assuming, of course, I can give all of them up.
I felt compelled to pass along a huge "THANKS" to all of you for your participation on this site; I found everything I needed right here to prepare me for this adventure!!