Update on the kitten situation

[Rusty Shackleford]

For those that care:

Eight kittens on eight nipples is a pretty tight squeeze, and consequently there'd usually be a bit of a scuffle between the kittens as they'd all vie for a nip. They scratched the momma cat up a bit over the course of these past four weeks, and the scratches became infected.

She's been taken to the vet, and she's on antibiotics for the next two weeks; she cannot nurse at this time. For the next week or so I have to bottle feed all eight kittens four times a day, and help them go to the bathroom until they're all enough to use a litter box.

I'm the de facto momma cat now... and while it's a lot of responsibility (they don't always eat, which stresses the shit outta me, and helping them go to the bathroom is pretty nasty) it feels really good to care for them.

 

[kis123]

Eight kittens?

That's one helluva litter there bud.

I've done the bottle feeding before with four kittens so I know you must be exhausted. They should be glad to have a substitute momma cat like you.

 

[Snail Shell]

Dude, I'm telling you, get a zebra from the zoo. 😉

SS

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Dude, I'm telling you, get a zebra from the zoo. 😉

SS

 

[Bugman]

You really do have your hands full there, but kudos for stepping up to the task. How are the antibiotics administered? Ever tried giving a cat a pill? I have, and will suggest a suit of armor would come in handy unless it can be mixed in with her food or something.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Feeding eight kittens every four hours from a single bottle is exhausting

 

[paracarl44]

Are you on a 25 hour day?

 

[desdemona]

Ummmmm....ok. First tip - you trim the kittens nails so they don't scratch up mom (all kittens will continue to try to nurse, even after weaning). And... by 4-5 weeks of age, you can easily work on getting them on a soft gruel of KMR (kitten milk replacer) and some canned kitten food (or dry food soaked in the milk until it's mush). And most kittens are going on their own after 3 weeks of age.

 

[Bohemianne]

^ Congratulations, I see a future possibility... With such dedication you are showing, I wondering if playing Mozart music to kitten will achieve a different milestone as above. 😉

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

So now they're eating solid kitten chow mixed in with yummy wet kitten food... I have to bathe them every day because they're such little messes when they eat, and unfortunately cleaning them is such a strong bonding experience it's gonna wrench my heart when we inevitably part ways....

I have five homes lined up, three to go. Anybody in the city looking for an adorable, healthy kitten? I'll travel!

Pics soon.