I hope she does kick in to mother mode. I wish you the best and mom. Prayers are with you. You seem like a super strong person.
Sounds like a good plan, good luck to you! Also, I wholeheartedly agree with the bolded part...couldn't be said enough. I almost wish these forums, especially the healthcare one and this one, were required reading for all cat owners.Originally Posted by Basklcj13
Well Tullah is still being a bad mother. It seems like the drugs have almost completely worn off. She has no trouble walking and if I open the bathroom door she is there enough to try to get out. She is locked in the bathroom with the babies. I have been feeding them and keeping them warm and trying to get her near them. I put them on her fur so that they will continue to smell like her not me, but she just ignores that. If I put it on the ground close to her she will growl at it.
This is what I am going to do.
Keep taking care of them, locking her in the bathroom and trying to get her to take care of them for two days. Then if after two days she doesn't take to them I am going to try to get the other cat to take them. If this happens then I will have to make sure and monitor all of the weights and probably do some supplemental feeding, but supplemental feeding is better than the full time care of 4 kittens. Like I have said before I have done this with 3 1 day old kittens, and they all grew up to be happy and healthy, but I have no desire to do this if any other options exist.
Any suggestions on getting Tullah to take care of her babies would be greatly appreciated
And a note to anyone who has not spayed their female cat:
THIS HAS BEEN QUITE AN ORDEAL!!!!!! SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR CATS! I am happy that I have 4 healthy kittens but we have spent over $500 and I am going to be up all night long! Trust me $60 is a lot more easy to come by for a spay than $500 + for the cost of hand rearing kittens and a C-section!
I wonder if that is because she doesn't know where they came from because they showed up, sort of, when she was 'sleeping'? Just interesting.Originally Posted by Basklcj13
Well last night went better than expected. I layed Tullah in the box with the kittens and after calming her down she stayed for about an hour. When my fiance got home at three I had to put her back in the box but after that she stayed the whole rest of the night. She is letting them nurse and has started to get a bit aggitated if I take on away and let him cry (great sign) but she still won't bathe them or make them go to the bathroom.
Oh and another thing. She will only lay with them if I am in the room. When I left the bedroom this morning she left the babies and cried at the bedroom door for me to let her out. (Yes, she has a litterbox, food and water in the bedroom so she doesn't NEED to leave)
That's wonderful news! I'm glad she is doing better with them. Have you been able to weigh them at all? It's a really good idea to do so while she still isn't staying with them a lot, once they start to loose weight, they tend to go down hill really quick.Originally Posted by Basklcj13
She has finally become a pretty good mother. She still wants to get out and run out of the bedroom if I leave the door open, but if she is forced in the room she stays with them and is pretty good to them.
AWW tell her she is such a good mommy. I am glad it is going better. Keep us posted about there weights and progress. Maybe some pictures too please.Originally Posted by Basklcj13
She has finally become a pretty good mother. She still wants to get out and run out of the bedroom if I leave the door open, but if she is forced in the room she stays with them and is pretty good to them.
Wasn't sure if you would need it...but below is a link to low cost spay/neuter clinics in case you need one for when the time is right to have mom spayed or to give to the adoptors of the kittens:Originally Posted by Basklcj13
Weighing them is definatly a good idea. I had loaned out my scale to one of my patients when she was raising a kitten, she brought it back to the office so when I go in on Monday I will pick it up.