Ittybittykittycommittee; A year... a whole year... Happy Belated Birthday to the boys

[pintopiaffe]

(I am copying the original post here, for posterity... )

"The Oldest Hay Swindle in the Business"
Originally posted: Aug. 6, 2009, 05:31 PM

So, thanks to a CotH'er who looked on Craig's List (I never go there, so hadn't even occurred to me) found some last-year's squares for sale about an hour away. Went last week and got 25 bales. They are really quite good. Better than anything anyone's currently putting up, actually. Probably not all that much nutrition, but they are clean and smell good and fulfill the boredome and fiber factors.

So, I get up early today (after working until 0200 last night) to go back for another load. I don't really have storage for square bales, but... until we actually GET some rounds, this be it.

Get there and the 'son,' who is about my age or so (think top o'the hill can see t'other side) and not unattracive, in a strawberry blond "Grizzly Adams" kind of way, comes out to help me load. He tosses, I stack.

Then out comes Dad, the man I've been speaking to on the phone. Did not meet him last week. The typical "ayup" phone answers. What time would be good for you? "Oh, I s'pose 9, 10, 10:30... " Vizually he is the epitome of "Uncle Jesse" from the Dukes of Hazzard, yellowing white beard overalls and all. Lovely gentleman, but with emphysema. (should you really be in the hay barn sir?) Just chit chatting in that way of farmers.

Makes me lose count. Not once, but twice. Says, "That's ok, I can tell."

Yup.

Asks what I do for work... I"m always a little hesitant, you never quite know what people think of the popo. It's usually either respect or hate. Never anything in the middle. But, since my uniform shirt is in plain view on the back of the passenger seat, I fess. up.

Asks if I have kids. I say nope, I can lock mine up and not get in trouble. We laugh about that and chat about dawgs. And the frisbee dogs at the Fair. He knows the Frisbee Dog Guy.

Asks about "what does your husband do."

I say, "If I had a man around, you think *I* would be stacking hay?" A good chuckle out of both of them. Now I wonder if he's trying to set me up with Grizzly Adams.

Then... there it comes. I never even saw it heading at me. But he was sizing up his mark the whole time.

"You need a cat?"



Me: "Um, what *kind* of cat?" (was just thiking over the dogs thread that there was room for ONE should ONE female find me. I'm sick of the males going on walkabout a couple-three months after tutoring.)

Uncle Jesse: "Oh, a young female."

Me: "Well, actually...."

Uncle Jesse to Grizzly Adams: "Go get that cat."

While Grizzly Adams goes to get the cat, I am told that cat was dumped off and Uncle Jesse really shouldn't have too much cat hair around. She's a nice cat, but he has emphysema and all...

Grizzly Adams returns with the most beautiful pewter kitty, that solid, pussy willow grey. Two tiny white spots on chest.

And here, the swindle is complete. It's a "buy cat, get hay and KITTENS free deal... "

While both Uncle Jesse and Grizzly Adams appear to be very kind old farmers, I have little faith that either of them would really be the appropriate keepers of said kitty in late pregnancy and for bearing kittens. I do not doubt in the least they would not let her or kittens suffer, but...

I am just plain hoodwinked.

Kitty gets put in the cab of truck. Promptly locks the doors.
Uncle Jesse says not to worry and sends Grizzly Adams for the unlocking stick tool. They have junk cars/parts yard, so have the 'kit.'

While waiting for Grizzly Adams, Uncle Jesse slips and mentions cat is a good mouser, but he already has two cats... He can't have TOO MUCH cat hair around. Old coot.

So, I laughed all the way home. She is a lovely, lovely girl. YOUNG. Adolescent still. Very personable. Very, very pregnant.

I have absolutely NO RIGHT to be adding to the household right now. And I grin every time I think of it. I guess it makes up for no foals last year or this. Certainly will take care of the puppy fix. I've never had kittens. I've fostered and nursed wee ittybittykitties, but never actually had a cat have kittens. Fambly planning and all.

I've really been hoping that the right female would come along and become a Queen and stick around. I am hoping having her litter here will help convince her this is HOME.

Did I mention she's lovely? She's not skinny, but is a little underweight in that adolescent way--any suggestions on groceries for the late term kitty?

We chatted on the way home about what her name is. It's between Claire and Rhiannon. (Queen.) I like Rhi, but she's a little too young and angular to really *fit* it... then again, we grow into names too...

Will be chatting with vet tomorrow about what we should do re: shots, worming or any kind of prenatal care... I'm suspecting she's so far along we won't do anything until after the kittens come.

So, everyone, take this as a warning. Con men are out there. Even in the most unsuspecting circumstances, they will size you up and scam you. BE ON GUARD!!!

(this ends the original post... what follows is the continuing saga... :p )

:uhoh:

Rhi is grumbling away tonight. She is still in the big dog crate in the house as I have to make room in the grain/tack shed for the big dog crate... she's out with me right now, and I can't decide if she's growing at *herself* or at Paidir who just might maybe could be *looking* at her from the other end of the house... :eek: :lol:

Vet didn't want to see her 'till post kittens as she's so close. I forgot to ask what I should be watching for. DOH!

She's quite warm to the touch, all over. Eating, drinking... quite sociable. Just grumbly at nothing. Which makes me think labor??

No milk testing, 'eh?? :uhoh: :lol:

[suze]

Okay, so I had visions of kitties forming labor unions to give them more power in their demands for more fish & chicken & mice & less dry cat food, but now find out it's about a kitty who's going to produce kittens and about which I know nothing. But pics of baby kitties would be in order, when they show up. Is all the hair around her teats gone? I do remember that happened before our childhood cat produced offspring. That's about all I do remember, though. Except for a Siamese when we were first married who decided to have hers in a closet . . . :)

[Vindicated]

From what I remember-it has been about 10 years.
Cats in labor are just like horses, dogs, and people. They are all individuals.

The cats that I watched, huffed and puffed, and sweated....and you could tell....

For some reason I always tied off the cords with dental floss...I think a vet told me this, don't remember....


Just remember to have a bulb syringe, dry towels & scissors handy...But if this was a planned pregnancy, I am sure you have done your fare share of homework....
Hot water helps too....

Nothing like a nice cup of tea to settle your nerves...

[Laurierace]

Cats don't sweat so not sure exactly what you saw there. Most cats are pretty business like about it once they get down to it but they tend to hide beforehand so the first sign might be that you can't find her.

[RealityCheck]

I know nothing about cat labor, but wanted to throw in that cat's paws can sweat! We had a cat who was terribly afraid of the vet and his paws would sweat profusely anytime we had to take him. Vet said that was actually a fairly common sign of stress.

[dressagetraks]

I've only had one experience - also with a kitty with bonus, in my case a street cat I trapped at work. She was named Emily Dickinson in honor of her eloquence, as she cursed at me from the trap for 45 minutes straight on the drive home without repeating herself once. :lol: Took her about 2 hours to discover that I had food, and then I was her hero. She is now spayed, healthy, and the Amazon queen of my barn cats.

Anyway, the night that Emily had her kittens, she was restless all that afternoon and looking for hiding places, and yes, she was "grumbling" a bit. She also did feel a bit warm, and her tail area was wet toward the end. She was quite agitated for the first kitten, clearly her first litter (she wasn't much above a kitten herself), and bit me hard when I was trying to comfort her and happened to reach to her head just as the big push contraction hit. After the first one, she settled down and pushed 'em out like a trooper, stopping to clean off each kitten. She also ate the placenta. Thought that was kind of disgusting myself, but I figured maybe it had milk-producing nutrients or something, since she clearly wanted to eat it.

Best of luck! And yes, we need pictures.

[Chall]

Weeks proceeding labor my cat would forever be finding new terrific places to make her bed/nest, like in the drawer on my father's tux shirts, or the laundry closet on the freshly washed towels. :D Which tells you, they want clean and fresh bedding just like us.
But come time for labor, it was laying down, getting up, turning a circle, laying down, repeat repeat. Right before actually giving birth she'd start meowing while looking directly at me, she was very vocal.
Depending on how close she is to you (or how strong her instincts are) she may show you her favorite nesting site (proudly)and come to you (for comfort) when labor starts or give birth quietly in her secret place and let you know about it after the fact.

[danceronice]

I know nothing about cat labor, but wanted to throw in that cat's paws can sweat! We had a cat who was terribly afraid of the vet and his paws would sweat profusely anytime we had to take him. Vet said that was actually a fairly common sign of stress.

Cats can definitely sweat when stressed enough. One of our cats not only got damp on the ride to the vet, she also began stress-shedding her hair. (We think she was likely tossed from a car as it was the car ride that stressed her out. She's still not a big fan of car trips.)

As for labor...we've only had one unspayed female (we couldn't catch her) and the biggest sign was just that she disappeared for 24 hours and then we found the kittens in a nest in the hay stall. But she was a barn cat so we weren't watching her constantly or even sure she was pregnant.

And I'm glad I'm not the only one who had a mental image of little kitty picket lines at the tread title....

[Carol Ames]

Do you have a box/ suitcase or drawer she could use for delivery? as mentioned put towels, blankets, saddle pads in it She will arrange them As she likesI have had two cats give birth on my bed; one, at the foot;); when I came in I found momma kitty lieing on the bed, looking quite pleased with herself:yes:! The other went into labor around my:eek: head; she had been sleeping on my pillow . the others s all picked their own locations, usually a box or a suitcase; I have never had to do:no: anything except for once, whose first kitten was having difficulty coming out; I simply put a finger on either side of the head and the kitten then slid out easily;Of course, the first time
i saw mom licking and eating away the placentas I thought she was eating the:eek: kitten! fortunately, most mom cats do just fine without much help; so, just talk t to Mom and :yes:enjoy; It really is amazing how these wet little, blind things grow up to be big beautiful furry:yes: kitties

[Carol Ames]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxH0O1i8w5shttp://www.2ndchance.info/felinelabor.htm

[Carol Ames]

http://cats.about.com/od/reproduction/a/birthprocess.htm

[Rhyadawn]

First sign, you can't find them!

Their back ends will get wet, usually a few hours or so before hand. You might notice them get cuddly the day before, but the biggest clue is usually when they disapear. Listen for the kittens mewling.

[WingedPanda]

Another sign of impending kitten-expulsion = massive purring.

Another vote for "give her a box". They like dark nests - a closed-up cardboard box with a "door" cut in it (all the way to the floor please, in case first-time mom freaks out and runs out of the box dragging baby attached by umbilical cord...if there's a "ledge" on the box door, baby will bang against it and possibly get caught and that, while not injuring baby, will scare the crapola out of you, the human. ASK me how I know, rofl..)

Line said box with towels. :)

[pintopiaffe]

WP--:eek: :lol: :eek:

No kittens last night. She's calmer today. Was definitely talking to me. Very new so I don't know if she'll tell me, but amazingly bonded already. :sigh: It's the invisible 'sucker' tatoo. :yes:

[greysandbays]

Momma cat rule number one: She has her kittens where she darn well pleases. No matter how nice a nest you make for her. Her first litter might get squirted out where ever she happens to be at the time -- living room floor, middle of the driveway, etc (or on something you really don't want fouled up with birth fluids).

Most times you can tell birth is "imminent" (as in next couple of days) as the udders fill out quite a bit, and if you squeeze a nipple and a bead of milk appears you are definitely in the home stretch. When a bit of a mess appears around her backside, kittens will follow shortly (within several hours).

Sometimes they don't just get down to business and pop kittens out one after the other. It can take most of a day (or night) to get the job done. Pop out a kitten or two, go for a walk, have a snack, come back and pop out a couple more kittens, and so on.

Some first-time mothers are rather vocal when contractions start (but most aren't). First time mothers can also be a bit stupid about attending to the already-born as subsequent arrivals make their appearance. A weak kitten may not have the "fight" in it to search for the milk machine while momma cat is busy with the next in line.

Generally speaking, cats want solitude for giving birth. But if she wants company (and some do), she will make that known. While I haven't actually researched the topic, delivery complications seem to be really, really rare so your job (should she want company) is to ooh and aah and generally admire the results of her effort.:)

[pintopiaffe]

so your job (should she want company) is to ooh and aah and generally admire the results of her effort.:)

Vet assured me that kitties are far easier than horses, and easier even than dogs.

If I could just get Eamon to stop trying to eat her, life would be better. :(

I don't understand how he can tolerate one cat perfectly fine, but want to kill every other cat in the Universe. :mad:

[Trevelyan96]

They're pretty self sufficient when it come to giving birth. She'll find a quiet, warm, clean place to hide, and get down to business. Most cats are excellent mothers, but instinct will make them look for a safe hiding place for their babies.

Mine came to me preggers. She was a really protective mother, until she weanted the kittens. Once they were weaned, and she was spayed, she doesn't even want them in the same room. :( My house is like a war zone with mommy, son and daughter, who came back to us from her onwer at 2 years old.

[pintopiaffe]

I'm smitten. :D

Rhi (which I'm still not quite convinced is her name, but "Mamma" isn't quite right either. ;) ) acts like she's been my cat forever. She plops down next to me, stretching out on her side. Talks and talks. I think she's got a lot of siamese, as her head is quite refined. I had a black cat who was a talker, I forgot how entertaining it is. I find myself talking back... "really? You don't say." etc. When I come in she starts to tell me all about what happened while I was outside.

I SHOULD have moved her to the grain shed today. The dogs are annoying with her in the house... but I sort of want her nearby...

Nipples are much bigger today, though teats aren't really filling. She's GINORMOUS sideways. :p

I just smile every time I see her. I needed another critter like a hole in the head, but I *did* need to smile... ;)

[Rhyadawn]

I'm smitten. :D

Rhi (which I'm still not quite convinced is her name, but "Mamma" isn't quite right either. ;) ) acts like she's been my cat forever. She plops down next to me, stretching out on her side. Talks and talks. I think she's got a lot of siamese, as her head is quite refined. I had a black cat who was a talker, I forgot how entertaining it is. I find myself talking back... "really? You don't say." etc. When I come in she starts to tell me all about what happened while I was outside.

I SHOULD have moved her to the grain shed today. The dogs are annoying with her in the house... but I sort of want her nearby...

Nipples are much bigger today, though teats aren't really filling. She's GINORMOUS sideways. :p

I just smile every time I see her. I needed another critter like a hole in the head, but I *did* need to smile... ;)

I had a siamese, he loved to talk ;) always had something to say. I miss him :cry:

sounds like you are well on your way to baby kitties. Goodluck!

[Seven-up]

You can put out as many comfy boxes as you want; but if she wants to give birth in your underwear drawer, she will. It will be wherever she feels safest. Might be in the hayloft, might be on the kitchen table. (Who wants dinner?:winkgrin:)

I can remember my childhood cat wanted to be in my room hiding behind my curtains. My mother moved her several times, and each time she would carefully carry her herd back, one at a time, getting a little more annoyed each time. Mom finally gave up and we left her there. She was much happier, as was I. It doesn't get much better when you're a little kid than to have a pile of kittens in your room.:D

For her first litter, she took most of a day to pop out just 2 kittens, so we thought that was just a very small first litter. Over 24 hours later, the final kitten showed up. So it might take a while before you get a final count.

Your first clue might be that she disappears for a while, and your second clue may be that she shows up, svelte and trim, saying, "Man, am I hungry! Where's the food?" Then all you have to do is follow her back to her nest so she can show off her work.

Once she pops, you must post many pictures!

[WingedPanda]

WP--:eek: :lol: :eek:

yeah, it was...startling. :lol:

She was in her nest doing her thing, then *voom* - out she came mrewling like crazy, dragging baby, who smacked into the ledge and stuck for a second while mom squealed and I fellover myself to "unhook" baby, who was then dragged in a circle and back into the box.

I almost had a heart attack, lol. Everyone (except me) was just fine.

Not *quite* what I had been expecting.

Are there kittens yet?!?! We want kittens!!!!

[Carol Ames]

There is a reason we have such an overpopulation of cats in this country :-:winkgrin:)
delivery complications seem to be really, really rare:yes:

[Carol Ames]

you may see her shape/ profile change just before she gives birth;)

[Carol Ames]

It doesn't get much better when you're a little kid than to have a pile of kittens in your room.:D

[MistyBlue]

Line a few boxes with old towels you don't mind throwing out later on. Hide them all over the place...closets, under furniture, etc. Wait until she starts disappearing...many hide to give birth. But some don't...some come looking for you hollering. :lol:
And be ready to go on a scavenger hunt for the kittens because Momma kitty will probably ignore all your lined boxes and pick somewhere really weird.
Keep an eye on them as she's giving birth or right after, not all cats care for every kitten at first. And sometimes a previous stray will start moving them around in between births. Makes for a fun time tracking down kittens all over the house...one in a shoe, one in a potted plant, one in the dog's feed dish, etc. Keep gathering them up and putting them in one location.
After the kittens are all born, within a day or two move mom and kittens to a higher sided box to keep tiny kitties from escaping. You'd be surprised at how fast a blind newborn can wriggle over a box edge.
Be prepared for a buttload of fun and ooos and ahhhs once the kitties open their eyes and start wobbling around. And even more fun once they get coordinated and start playing. Not much on this planet is as cute or as much fun as a litter of small kittens. :D

My cat was also a pregnant stray...about 5-6 month old when we picked her up outside a furniture store. (she came free with a new kitchen table, bonus cat hiding 6 kittens in her) Brought her to my mom's because she wanted another cat and she had her kittens there. She didn't like the first born...she had that one and then ran over to people mewing like mad and dropped the kitten and went back to her box to have the next one. She did this after each kitten and we kept putting that first kitten back in the box with her. Only ever moving that first kitten out and "giving her away" to the humans in the house.
For the first week after she had the kittens at least once a day my mother would come across that first born left somewhere else. She'd wake up in bed with that kitten, find it on the kitchen floor, once it was left on the coffee table. :confused: She just kept putting the kitten back and eventually Olivia stopped relocation it. Oddly enough my mother decided to keep that first born kitten as her own and I took the mom Olivia home with me 10 years ago. To this day my mother keeps saying, "Why did I want this one? Even it's mother didn;t want it!" :lol: :lol: :lol: Joking of course, but that first born is a real wise-arse and always in trouble or destroying something. :winkgrin:

[pintopiaffe]

Nothing yet. Had a bit of a rough night as she and Eamon worked things out. She won. ;) Hopefully there is truce now. I probably should move her out to the grain/tack shed. I just... well... <shrugs>

She's VERY talkative this morning. Can't decide if she's restless, or just telling me all about the dog with the horrible manners. :D

Trying to get digicam to work to take pictures of her and of the new Ancient Passier the Saddle Fairy brought. :p

[Lori B]

Keep us posted, pintopiaffe.

To tide y'all over, here's the photos of the street kitty I took in a few years ago, and her kittens. They are all in nice homes now.

http://www.brownphotos.com/kittens/kittens.html

PP, keep us posted. :-)

[pintopiaffe]

oohhhh.... my..... wow. :cool:

I am out of my mind, but I don't regret this for a second. I don't think I've *ever* had a cat bond to me so quickly.

She's lounging around on her side today. "udders" :p are filling, nipples are bigger and a dark rosy vs. pink. I've set up a couple of boxes since I don't think she's going to choose the crate... I *am* keeping her out of the bedroom. They can get under the bed frame, which is a waterbed frame with the drawers. :eek:

If I leave a few towels and old sweatshirts around, will she move them to where she wants to be? Or should I put them in corners and such?

[Seven-up]

They'll usually make a nest exactly how they want it, but if you leave it in a box somewhere it'll make it easier for her.

If she's that attached to you, it might help if you have worn the sweatshirt a few times (without washing it) so it smells like you. That might encourage her to deposit her hatchlings where you want her to.:winkgrin:

[Auventera Two]

I keep checking the thread, waiting for kittens! :winkgrin: Hurry up already! haha

I was given a pregnant mamma kittie who birthed her kittens under my bed. The day of the birth, I went out to lunch with a couple of friends and mistakenly ate a crab cake. I am VERY allergic to shell fish so I took 2 Benadryl and went home to sleep. I remember laying on the bed hearing this sqwaling and thinking - man, what is going on? Is somebody dying in this house or what? One Benadryl can knock you for a loop, so 2 of them put me right over the edge. Standard run of the mill hangover has nothin' on 2 Benadryl. :eek: The noise just wouldn't quit and after who knows how long of drifting in and out of sleep, I crawled off the bed and stuck my head under. I remember thinking oh my god something is alive under my bed. I fell asleep with my head under the bed, near the cat box and woke up at least 5 hours later with a pile of teenie kittens and mamma cat curled up in my (at the time, waiste length) hair. Thank heaven it appeared that she had the kittens in the box, cleaned them up, then moved them into the hair after I was zonked out.

And, 10 years later I still have Ladybug, who is one of those little kittens. She's the best cat EVER. She thinks she's a person.

[harveyhorses]

Okay, so I had visions of kitties forming labor unions to give them more power in their demands for more fish & chicken & mice & less dry cat food, but now find out it's about a kitty who's going to produce kittens and about which I know nothing. But pics of baby kitties would be in order, when they show up. Is all the hair around her teats gone? I do remember that happened before our childhood cat produced offspring. That's about all I do remember, though. Except for a Siamese when we were first married who decided to have hers in a closet . . . :)

LOL, mine hunt like wild things when they feel like it, but never when I want them to.
My oldest was barely 6 months when she got dropped at our farm, also barley 'with kitten'. Our vet recommended the kitty abortion, she was seriously underweight and said vet thought it would be a bad thing all around to go full term. She was wormy, an absess behind one of her ears, pretty pathetic. Now she rules the roost. Anyone else have expierience with an orange and white female?
We want pics, before and after will do. :)

[MistyBlue]

LoriB...I'm guessing you're a jazz fan? :winkgrin: Ya know, considering those cute kittens' names. :D

We had boring names for my cat's litter...most of the new owners changed the names anyways but I remember:
Lucy & Ethel (inseparable and usually up to no good together)
Screech (didn't meow, just screeched)
Georgie (the one my mother kept)
Y2Kitty (it was 1999 and this was one adorable little disaster waiting to happen)
And I'm blanking on the last kitten's name. Momma cat didn't have a name until I took her for our own, daughter named her Olivia.

[harveyhorses]

Love those jazz names! Got yours picked out? Grandma!

[dressagetraks]

ARGH!!!

Must stop reading. Must absolutely stop opening up picture links. :yes:

I was already battling that "I want a kitten" feeling that comes along now and then.

[MistyBlue]

Well now you're doomed DTraks. :D

Try looking at this:
http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/funny-pictures-kitten-is-too-cute.jpg

[lcw579]

Is her belly moving around like aliens are about to pop out? I remember when the stray that turned up at my sisters was about to deliver she was huge and her belly would move and ripple and feet and heads would poke out! :lol::eek:

She chose a closet to have her kittens, on kid's dirty laundry IIRC, rather than the lovely prepared boxes my sister had for her in some of her favorite places. Cats are odd creatures.

A-two - great image of you all woozy on benydryl with kitties sleeping in your hair! :lol::lol:

[lcw579]

ARGH!!!

Must stop reading. Must absolutely stop opening up picture links. :yes:

I was already battling that "I want a kitten" feeling that comes along now and then.


Where are you? A stray turned up with kittens at the barn. They will be ready soon .....

[Lori B]

Yes, MB, a jazz fan. Most all of them got renamed, but Billie is still Billie (and belongs to a professional musician, of course.) The rest were adopted mainly by lawyers, so they now live in nicer homes than I do.

The day I took Ella to her new home (in MA, my old boss), she stood up on one of those cat trees, all 1.5 lbs. of her, and hissed at her new lab retriever housemate, and the lab cowered, and that is how things went in THAT household, from there on out.

They were a lot of fun, and I miss having kittens, but my honey's head would explode if we had more animals.

[jetsmom]

When we had a cat that was due to have kittens, we put a bunch of towels in a box at the bottom of a linen closet. In the days preceding the birth we would put the cat in the box several times a day. When the cat went into labor, she went to the box all on her own.

Maybe try putting kitty in the box where you'd like her to have her kittens...

[Christa P]

Yes, MB, a jazz fan. Most all of them got renamed, but Billie is still Billie (and belongs to a professional musician, of course.) The rest were adopted mainly by lawyers, so they now live in nicer homes than I do.

The day I took Ella to her new home (in MA, my old boss), she stood up on one of those cat trees, all 1.5 lbs. of her, and hissed at her new lab retriever housemate, and the lab cowered, and that is how things went in THAT household, from there on out.

They were a lot of fun, and I miss having kittens, but my honey's head would explode if we had more animals.

We had an orange tiger female stray (Kitty Hawk) that the dogs did not get within range of. She would also taunt the tenants dogs by running up a tree and sitting ~8' up on a branch and watching them bark at her :lol:.

At the barn my horse is at a 1/2 grown kitten was sitting on a fence post of the paddock while I had my horse out. Patrick (the horse - TB stallion that takes a large horse halter) came up to say Hi - the kitten proceeded to SWAT him right across the nose with claws out. Patrick came up again - same reaction. Patrick decided to keep his distance :lol::lol:.

Christa

[JoZ]

Can I start the cheer now?


KIT-TEHS! KIT-TEHS! KIT-TEHS!
We all want the KIT-TEHS!
Show us the KIT-TEHS!
Nothing cuter than KIT-TEHS!
KIT-TEHS! KIT-TEHS! KIT-TEHS!

[FindersKeepers]

When my friend's cat had kittens...unexpectedly. (she was 20 years old, and they had never let her out of the house, but she became desperate to go out there in her old age. They thought she couldn't get pregnant...)

She had one in every room of the house. After all 5 were out, she'd go back and pick up the strays she had left, and took them to the box they had left out for her. So despite their best efforts, they had to replace all the carpet in their home. Crazy old cat lived another 2 years. Her children are all still there to this day...and all are a little...mentally handicapped. Poor kids.

[Buffyblue]

I made my cat a really nice bed in a crate for her to have her kittens, but she had them in the middle of the night, in my bed! I woke up to find mommy and her three little ones curled up next to me! Are there kittens yet?

[ex-racer owner]

I can't really offer too much in the way of advice regarding the birth of kittens, but I wanted to share a true story. This actually happened to me. When I was much younger, there was a barn cat that was very attached to me. She would follow me back and forth to the manure pile, around the barn, etc. She was pretty much my shadow. Anyhow, for so unremembered reason, we used to sneak her home on the weekends and I'd hide her in my room- Dad didn't approve. Anyhow, we noticed that her belly was kind of round and thought she had worms. Mom said bring her home, put her in your room and we'll worm her. So, I put her in my room that evening and everything was fine. I did notice she was acting a bit strange, she kept going under my chair which she didn't usually do, but I didn't think too much of it. Fast forward to 3:30 am. I awakened to meowing and a wet bed. I get out of my bed, turn on the light to survey the damage-thinking she peed. I hit the light and see a dark mass on my bed, which I first thought was poop. I get closer to take a look, because she was still on my bed, and realize its a kitten!:eek: It hits me that she is giving birth (I was maybe 13 at the time), and with much trepidation, go knock on my parents door:no:

Dad was understandably not pleased, but came in to have a look. So, in all Bob (yes, we knew she was girl, though we assumed she had been neutered. She had a bobtail, hence Bob)gave birth to 6 black kittens in my bed on Friday, April 13. We did take one after they were weened. It was interesting that out of the kittens, two had little nubby tails, two had half tails, and two had full length tails. She never did get that worming!

[pintopiaffe]

OMG... the stories are just fabulous. I laugh out loud.

Of COURSE they were all black kitties (in your BED) it was Friday the 13th!

And every time I look at Mamma, (who might be Claire now, instead of Rhi. :uhoh: ) I smile.

Nothing yet. Didna get pics today because I got a call for a job interview--basically only had time to shower, change and go... then had to drop truck off at mechanicgods and ride scooter home in t'storms...

The day I took Ella to her new home (in MA, my old boss), she stood up on one of those cat trees, all 1.5 lbs. of her, and hissed at her new lab retriever housemate, and the lab cowered, and that is how things went in THAT household, from there on out.Now, see, that's how it is with Paidir. He attacks the dogs, randomly, for no apparant reason, and they all get along famously. Well, he can keep Eamon in whatever room he wants just by laying in the doorway... but other than that, they don't chase him etc.

The fragile peace accord negotiated last night has to be REnegotiated every time the dogs come in from being out. :mad: Malarkey is fine. One good hiss, he's all set. "Yup. It's a cat alright. I'm outta here." Eamon... :sigh: I just don't know. :no: George Mitchell WAS in town this week, but I guess he ran out of time for my request. Middle East... whatever. THIS is my HOUSE, they NEED to get ALONG. Now! ;)

I will gate him in with me tonight and give her a break.

I just checked. The hair is gone around the nipples. It was NOT yest'dy.

We're getting close! I have a disposable camera in the foaling kit I never used this year. I will get it out if I can't get the digicam working. Will pick up new batteries tomorrow. There WILL be pics. I can hardly stand how exciting and fun this is, of COURSE I'll share! :D

[suze]

http://www.brownphotos.com/kittens/kittens.html

CUTENESS! When we were kids we had a cat who occasionally produced kittens. Nothing cuter than a pile of kittens.

[Auventera Two]

Pinto - As for your dog, I don't know what kind of training you do, or what your philosophies are..... But, when I got the 100 pound stray Pit Bull, and he moved into my house, we had to have a down and dirty discussion on Day 1 about what position the cat in the house holds.

The dog bristled his hair at the cat and lunged toward her. Normally I am all about positive reinforcement training, but in this instance, the Cesar Milan in me took over. I went after him like I was going to kill him right then and there. He rolled over on his back and started peeing :dead: and that was the END of it. I stared him down for probably 2 minutes and growled at him every time he moved a muscle. He's a VERY submissive dog anyway and had been obviously abused and neglected, so he had a LOT of fear. But I didn't care. He was NOT going to get it in his head that its acceptable to torment my cat. I never hit him, or touched him at all. Just the force of me coming at him like a freight train scared the ever loving bejeeebus out of him. (But only YOU know your dog's temperament, and if this is even possible. You can't do this with a dog who doesn't respect you as pack leader, or you might get seriously hurt.)

One alpha roll over fixed the problem right then and there. The last thing I wanted was a stray, intact male Pit Bull with no training, and who knew how much neglect and abuse, to start tearing up my cat. It starts with a cat, and ends where???? :confused:

So in my opinion, you can get control of the dog's behavior, but how you do it is up to you. :) I do NOT tolerate dogs thinking they can torment and chase things that belong to me! That means chickens, cats, horses, or the squirrels on my bird feeder. I'm the alpha and I say what the pack chases and does not chase. Subordinate wolf and dingo pack members don't just strike off on a hunt by themself without the alpha(s) leading the pack in the behavior. The alphas decide when they hunt, and what they hunt.

Anyway, just something to think about. Not trying to turn it into a dog thread, but just wanted to throw that out there.

[pintopiaffe]

A2, that's a good thought. We seem to have a tentative peace. Eamon's an odd duck. Used to be positively TERRIFIED of my *special dog* who could do absolutely nothing to harm Eamon--wouldn't even be able to CATCH him if he wanted to, but Eams would sit and whine in the kitchen because Gus was sitting between him and me in the livingroom... That's the same with Paidir, the Mafia Kitty. He RULES that dog with just a look. Eamon averts his eyes and head when the cat climbs on top of him! So when Mamakitty stands her ground and growls, he just leaves her. It's only if she scoots off that he has to go check her out, scaring her, starting noisy chaos. :sigh: So maybe a Come to Jesus is in order.

Mamakitty is still with kitten. I woke up out of a dead sleep last night to what I *swear* was the unmistakeable "splurtch" sound. Assuming that cats sound the same as dogs and horses. I quietly snuck out to the kitchen with the flashlight, not finding her. I got excited (and awake, quickly) and called to her... and she came padding over, still huge. :sleepy:

The aliens ARE ready to spring right out, I can't imagine how they fit in there. She's eating quite literally a few kibbles at a time, but fairly often. I hate that I can feel her spine--I know it's about impossible to get any weight on her until there's more ROOM in her BELLY! lol!

So... tomorrow I leave early, early in the morning to teach, get come to quickly don uniform, then work a 10 hr shift until 0200, home by 0230-0245.

Who else thinks THAT'S when she'll go???

[Rhyadawn]

cats are a different kind of sneaky from horses. They can fit into impossible tiny places so don't feel the same need to wait for you to actually leave the premisis.

[sk_pacer]

You should have her on kitten food right now and on through lactation. That will help keep her weight on and may even add some.

[pintopiaffe]

Yes, I've had her on kitten food since the first day, with the occasional canned, that surprisingly she turned her nose up at.

[Valentina_32926]

The other went into labor around my:eek: head; she had been sleeping on my pillow.

That's what happened to me - I was a teenager and my female cat had 9 kittens - started labor on my pillow and screaming in my ear. So I picked up pillow with her on it and transferred her and pillow to rug on floor for rest of babies to be born.

[AppJumpr08]

Pp - no advice, but I can't wait to see pictures! :)

Did you get my email?

[sk_pacer]

Any action yet???

Aside to pp's cat - get ON with it already, we are all curious!!!!LOL

[Rhyadawn]

That's what happened to me - I was a teenager and my female cat had 9 kittens - started labor on my pillow and screaming in my ear. So I picked up pillow with her on it and transferred her and pillow to rug on floor for rest of babies to be born.

9??? OMG! The most I have seen in a litter was 6! I can't even imagine 9 little munchkins running around

[Guin]

Kitteh update??

[Invite]

Any kittens? I like the name Claire for Mamakitty. It's a good cat name. Distinguished, yet not snotty :) Just my $0.02!!!

[harveyhorses]

Well?? Patience is not one of my (our) virtues. (spelling isn't either)
if not kittens, at least pics of mama?
Hope your job interview was fruitful.
I like both names, but partial to Rhiannon, had a good friend we calle Rhi. (ree) :winkgrin:

[pintopiaffe]

Oh great. The votes are tied. :lol: I am waffling hourly about the name.

Might be closer. I taught all day, and was home just long enough to throw hay, fill water and change. She was still with kitten... *but*.... drumroll... there appeared to be a teensy bit of gook around her back end.

Y'all know that's a technical term from my 20 years of midwifing foals, right? :lol:

I don't get home until around 0200. If there's an update, I'll post.

Signing a conditional offer for job at the crack o'dawn tomorrow--just PT but a good one and foot in the door (which puts me back up to 3 PT's plus teaching, though that ends when school starts as my regular students are SCHOOL teachers. Boo! )

But really must get piccies t'morw. I promise.

(p.s. appjumper I did--I know where you live! :lol: Will get back to ya t'mow or over the weekend. ;0 )

[Luckydonkey]

I vote for Claire also- can't wait to see kitty pics! We have had kittens born on my be, in a bookshelf, and in walls of the barn....

[Rhyadawn]

Update????

[pintopiaffe]

NO Kittehs. Though we are now 'chirping' or purring when I pat belly rather than growling. And growling when I scratch 'dock of tail' rather than chirping/purring. :lol:

LONG story I'll update t'mow, but truck freaked out/catastrophic failure about 1 mile from hay guy/mechanicgod's house... I had gotten out of work at midnight rather than 0200 because of AM appt... good freaking thing. Long story short, truck freaked out, I c r a w l e d to mechanigod's (haygod's son's) place, and instead of LOADING scooter, (affectionately known as The Red Rocket) onto said truck, left truck for Mechanicgod, and rode SCOOTER home. :sigh: :dead:

Glass half full: messy me has IN the truck still: leather jacket, helmet and extra clothes/layers for the CHILLY 1+hr ride home, AND, even has WINTER GLOVES still kicking around passenger side floorboards. :cool: :lol: Truck died/catastrophically imploded at the PERFECT place, not 90+ miles from anywhere as I was earlier in the day teaching.

Anyway. Get home, house *smells* funny. Smelly kitty poop in the litterbox. But no kittens yet. Herself is sprawled at my feet and telling me all about the evening. The aliens in her belly apparantly do NOT know that this is 'sleepytime' and are poking about.

Good Lord, the only thing I can guarantee is we WILL have kittens. Some day. :lol:

I'm off to hay the kiddos... then nap briefly before leaving about 1/2 hour early for AM iappt, since I'm scooterbound. :p

Piccies t'mow evening, I PROMISE. Either of a VERY fat kitty, with the most precious little pussywillow paws you've ever seen... or... :winkgrin:

[pintopiaffe]

Morning update: No update.

She's talkative, GINORMOUS (how big can she get for a leetle kitty?) and stretched out on her side next to me. The way Murphy has been practicing Law in my life lately... I have a migraine, have to ride a SCOOTER to a job offer (with a migraine) and then go for a drug test (so haven't taken anything yet--I know you can have Rx stuff in your system, but... better to just test clean!) and back... It's going to be the hottest day of the summer so far (huh, that's not hard to do!)

Tonight maybe? I HAVE to fix up a nest under the sink for her. She is an expert cabinet opener, and has found the empty cabinet. But the REASON it's empty was the burst pipes this winter, and ensuing wetness, rotting the pressboard bottom shelf... so it's icky in there with a little mold. Of COURSE that's where she's spending her time when not laying next to me. Not in any of the lovely boxes with clothes and towels and blankets I've so lovingly set around... :uhoh:

;)

[halla]

Completely random and unrelated - but fresh or pickled ginger somehow gets rid of my migraines in minutes, way faster than my otc migraine pills. How, I do not know.

Hope the interview went well!

[lcw579]

Well, why wouldn't she prefer a dark, damp, moldy cabinet to a nicely prepared box? She's a cat! They like to be contrary. :yes::lol:

Looking forward to the update and the pictures, one way or the other. I like the name Claire. :winkgrin:

ETA: Another drug free migraine cure is coffee with as much sugar as you can add, making it almost syrupy. Tastes a bit sickening and might make you a little jittery but much better than a migraine any day.

[Carol Ames]

20 years of midwifing foals, right? :lol: WE all may have had years of foaling out experience:yes:, but, BUT, when mom cat goes into labor we all feel compelled to gather around,:cool: comfort her,:lol: etc. when I did the Equuissage course one of the momma cats went into labor:cool:, and we all dropped everything, rushed into the barn, and:yes: "cheered her on " I'm sure she was thinking; "can't I get ANY privacy around here any more?:winkgrin: ;" just go learn about joints, muscles and movement and let ;)me deliver these babies alone, please!"

[harveyhorses]

The trick is to make her think you DON'T want her there. Which is pretty tricky
Thinking positive thoughts your way on all fronts!

[Lori B]

Duct tape the cupboard shut. End of discussion. :-)

[jen-s]

Duct tape the cupboard shut. End of discussion. :-)

Brilliant idea! Nevermind the hassle of getting duct tape goo off. It'll be worth it long term. ;)

So sorry to hear about the truck, the scooter/job offer, and the migraine. Hugs! Hoping that things go well today. Can't wait for the next update.

[pintopiaffe]

SmartPack to the rescue!!! Take one SmartPak drawer, add some old clothes and a blanket, and *voila* kitty can have her cabinet *and* a nice box. :yes:

I also got some stuff at Home Depot that is supposed to be fabulous for mold. Friend who works there used it when he pulled moldy/post flood baseboards from cellar, and his wife--allergic to mold asthmatic--didn't even notice he'd pulled the boards when she came down. So it's supposed to really work. We'll see.

Still miserably big, hot and talkative. I'm sure that cabinet is one of the coolest places in the house too--since the water pipes run through, and the well is FREEEEEZING even this time of year!

[pintopiaffe]

Cooler tonight, but panting a bit. Hunting around like crazy for corners/hideyholes.

Of course I have to work tomorrow! :(

Oh, and thanks for the headache wishes! I took 4 magnesium tablets, drank 32oz of Iced Tea, and used that rub on stick migraine stuff. I don't know if it *works* but it at least distracts your concentration some. I was running SO late by the time I headed in for my job offer that I had to really concentrate and go as fast as possible (on a scooter :uhoh: ) by the time I got to town, (17 somewhat hilly miles) I actually felt better.

Came home and took Rx, and head is better, now I'm doing the 'hit by a Mac Truck' thing. Trying to summon the energy to go ride the beast... but am happily procrastinating watching Miss Kitty Who Still Remains with Two Names. ;)

[Peggy]

Sending wishes for kittens (located outside, as opposed to inside, mama cat) soon.

SmartPak may not know it but they make a fine line of cat products. Behold - the SmartCat tower.

[Buffyblue]

Maybe she'll have them tonight in your bed!

[pintopiaffe]

http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/images/icons/icon12.gif there's something about a Momma cat,
20 years of midwifing foals, right? :lol: WE all may have had years of foaling out experience:yes:, but, BUT, when mom cat goes into labor we all feel compelled to gather around,:cool: comfort her,:lol: etc.

lol! So true.

I'm so completely obsessed with her impossibly tiny pussy willow feet... and the awkward, also impossible bulk of her belly.

She's quieted down again. Just like a mare, getting me all excited, then dissing me. Nipples are big, milk is coming in (though not leaking yet.)

But she's just sprawled at my feet in that incredibly UNfeline sprawl that is the only way she can lay down.

Maybe she'll have them tonight in your bed!


You HUSH now! She's not allowed in the bedroom. I have a matress, but on top of a waterbed frame. Cats can get right in under that frame, into the drawers, in the center, where no HUMAN can reach... BAD kitty. No. :no: :lol:

No... that, I am safe from. The boys (dawgs) sleep on the bed.

She's still loffing the under sink cupboard, but not so much the box/blankie I put in. In a little poetic twist, I gave her a polarfleece lap rug I won as an award on a regional level for one of my 9-1-1 calls at my *old* job. :p I felt it appropriate. Perhaps there is karma she can feel and that's why she doesn't like it... :confused: :winkgrin:

No, while she was exploring, she's *not* quite nesting yet.

I really can't stand how much fun this is and how much it makes me smile. I've had puppies, and they were AWESOME. Foals are miracles, each and every one. But this is new, and exciting, and I just can't stand it.

It doesn't hurt that she has apparantly COMPLETELY claimed me as Her Person.

So much for the big crate going out to the grain shed, 'eh? :uhoh:

[MunchkinsMom]

From a person who loves cats, but has none, thanks for sharing this experience and allowing us to share it vicariously!

I love the mental images I get from your descriptions.

Hope you get surprised by kittens in the AM!

[pintopiaffe]

Awww... thanks. It's incredibly fun to 'share' it with people who GET it. My parents are NOT cat people. (though they did babysit the grandkitties a time or two... and are fascinated with them when they come to visit... )

I lost my post and had to repost, and forgot--

We REALLY need to send this stuff in to SmartPak. I wonder if they realize? :lol:

[suze]

Maybe you'll wake up in the morning to baby mewing going on! :)

[pony89]

Sending wishes for kittens (located outside, as opposed to inside, mama cat) soon.

SmartPak may not know it but they make a fine line of cat products. Behold - the SmartCat tower.

If we get a lot of boxes from ALDIS or a smartpak delivery, we build a little apartment complex in our kitchen and call it the cat ghetto :lol:

Good luck with your kittens, I hope she gets down to business soon!

[pintopiaffe]

Shape has changed this morning. In fact, when I first saw her I suspected she might have started... but no. Just that her shape has changed quite a bit.

I'm at work. Get out at 1600, home by 17-17:30 or so. Then I'm off for a couple of days. Sooo... any time now would be FINE... ;)

[sk_pacer]

Shape changed is a good thing

Now all together: Come on momma cat!! KITTENS KITTENS KITTENS!!!

[lcw579]

Now that Angel has come inside this is my "go to" thread! :lol:

I'm having flashbacks to the summer when my sister's little stray was keeping us all on tenterhooks with her impossibly large alien filled belly. It was such a happy day when she finally went into that closet and had those kittens! From all the squirming appendages poking out of her belly it had looked like there were a dozen in there but it was just four. Can't wait to hear all about yours, Pinto.

Kittens, kittens, kittens....

[pintopiaffe]

it's SO bloody hot out, and humid... like we're making up for all of June & July in ONE DAY. I can't imagine the poor thing with all that fur and all those aliens in there.

It *DOES* look like there must be at least ten. I've no idea how big itty bitty kitties are. I know med-lg dog pups came out just about the size of guinea pigs. Blind, adorable, snuffly guinea pigs. :D

I can't wait to get home and check on her. The poor boys were crated this morning. I *rarely* crate them any more now that there's just two, but I wanted to be sure she had peace and quiet in case that might entice her to settle down to work.

There's a fascinating sort of standoff between them, somewhere between cease-fire and truce. Not quite the 'snuggle into your side' that Paidir has with them, but neither the 'walking along and attack you for no reason' that Paidir has either. :uhoh: Eamon just sits, fascinated, fixated on her. She actually will close her eyes... and without opening them, if he moves so much as a WHISKER towards her, gives a wonderful low growly mutter. :lol:

Three more hours, then about an hour home. The suspense is killing me! :winkgrin:

[Long Spot]

Good luck, Pinto! I'm addicted to this thread. Can't wait to hear the outcome. Hope she has an easy time. You are just going to LOVE having a litter of adorable kittens!

Aren't you just dying to know how many boys and girls are in there and what they will look like?

[sk_pacer]

Newborn kittens are pretty tiny. You can hold 2 in one palm. They are blind, deaf and have no body heat regulatory system, so try to convince momma to keep them somewhere warm - my last litter was raised in an old grease pail outside. not MY first choice of home but it was warm. Normally. I keep them under a heat lamp the first few weeks if possible.

[suze]

Have you told her we're getting impatient here?

[tikihorse2]

I'm new to this thread... and very excited!! :yes: I check for updates every time I log on!

Can't wait to see how many babies there are, and what they look like, and so on. There IS NOTHING like a mama cat, as Carol Ames put it!

Eagerly awaiting updates!

Kim

[coloredhorse]

I'm seriously addicted to this thread and sending massive pop-out-them-bebe-kittehs vibes. Can't wait to hear how many, what colors ... and all the tales that inevitably develop.

[pintopiaffe]

You guys obviously aren't trying HARD enough... :no:

Came home and got a little excited--she wasn't in her normal spots.

But then she popped out of another cabinet... still with aliens. :sigh:

AND I forgot AA batteries at the grocery store on the way home. Grr. So no skinny kitty with blob piccies tonight. Grrr. T'mow will have to go down the mountain for them.

She is sprawled, blobelly up, under the kitchen table on the linoleum. Panting slightly just as last night. Showing no inclination at ALL to do ANYTHING but sprawl.

And no, I can't wait to see what comes out. NO IDEA whosethedaddy... so could be any number of colours/patterns etc.

[Laurierace]

Well they don't all necessarily have the same Daddy believe it or not but you can't really tell based upon what they look like. Best of luck to you both.

[Buffyblue]

The suspense is killing me! Gotta be tonight!

[AppJumpr08]

Common kitties!! Can't wait to hear how many!

It IS hot, but what glorious haying weather! Finally! Fields down everywhere :)

[pintopiaffe]

OMG... HUGE squirmy belly!!! :lol: It's killing me!

I just told her it would be *far* easier to breathe if she'd just pop out all that extra baggage pressing on her diaphragm... :yes:

She gets me all excited by scouting around behind chairs and in cabinets and such... and then sprawls back out again. :sigh:

[Laurierace]

Well the beauty of all this is she doesn't need your help. Its not like foal watch. Have a drink, watch a movie, go to bed and SURPRISE!

[pintopiaffe]

:sigh: I know. But I can't *stand* it. I've never HAD kittens before! :winkgrin:

(and for the record, I cannot SAY the word like normal people. I mean, I can, and have, most of my life just said 'kit'ns. Like a normal person. But right now, every time I say it (or type it) it sounds like KITTTens. Emphasis on the "tt"s, with a clear separation, almost a 'stop' between syllables. ) :uhoh: :lol:

Awww... laying down she can't reach her hind paw to her ear to stratch... :lol: She has to twist her whole hind end around and go practically belly up. :p

Must go scratch ear for her.

[Carol Ames]

t she has apparently COMPLETELY claimed me as Her Person. Well, :yes:you are;) aren't you?

[Carol Ames]

kit TENS; accent is on the last syllable; if they hear it often:winkgrin: enough, they know it means them!:yes: and you, to pick them up and ooh and ahh:yes: while talking baby talk :yes::winkgrin:

[Timex]

Well, you go tell her that WE WANT KITTENS!!! Lol

And boy, does she have YOU well trained! Lol

[coloredhorse]

Well, you go tell her that WE WANT KITTENS!!! Lol

Regardless of pronunciation! :lol::lol::lol:

If it makes you feel better, my whole family tends to say k'ens. No Ts at all and just the barest hint of the short "i." If you listen hard. Or key-key (legacy of my sister's inability as a toddler to say kitty).

[dressagetraks]

My grandmother used to say "kit'ns," very clipped, and the funny thing was, she almost never used it to literally refer to baby cats. Having kittens was a phrase that indicated someone was very upset. Grandmother had (non literal) kittens frequently when something ruffled her perfectionistic feathers.

She did have a funny accent on some words, though. She always said Washington as "Warshington." My siblings and I used to have bets with each other as to who could, at a family dinner, get her to say the word Washington in conversation first without any adult at the table getting suspicious of our conversational steering. :D:lol:

Hope you will be having literal, not figurative, kittens soon. :)

[McVillesMom]

The fact that you forgot batteries bodes well - if you let her THINK that you want pictures of her still preggers, that may help induce the kittening (I know that's not really the proper word, but I like it!)

Fingers crossed for kittens tonight!

[MunchkinsMom]

Dang! I was hoping to read about newborn kitties tonight! Because I have no experience whatsoever (other than being surprised by kittens from the barn cats at boarding barns), I used this as a learning experience and did some googling:

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80724

http://www.2ndchance.info/felinelabor.htm

http://www.myhealthycat.com/cats-giving-birth-to-kittens.html

http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/breeding.html

http://www.hdw-inc.com/delivery.htm

Hope it all goes well for you.

[jen-s]

The level of my addiction to this thread is embarrassing.

C'mon Momma Kitteh.....puhlease pop those baby kittehs out!

[Rhyadawn]

The level of my addiction to this thread is embarrassing.

:yes: I check this thread as often as I can, even sneaking it in at work on breaks. Nothing else, just this.

Come on mummykitty!

[kookicat]

Any babies yet? :D

I remember my last cat, who came to me pregnant like yours, trying to squeeze through a gap in the fence and getting stuck- skinny head and ribs on one side, fat kitty belly on the other! I've never seen a cat look so embarrassed before!

[coloredhorse]

The level of my addiction to this thread is embarrassing.

Not only am I addicted, I have managed to make Mr. CH addicted, too (hangs head in shame).

[Quin]

Well??? It's midmorning already - enquiring minds want to know what happened overnight!

[pintopiaffe]

:sleepy:

I checked several times during the night, hence the late morning...

It is all a great big scam. She just wanted sympathy and to be a house cat. She never intends to have any kittens at all, just to lay around on her side like the Queen of Sheba forever... :no:

:lol:

Same as ever.

I was SO SURE she'd do something last night.

She's panting occasionally with mouth open, (mostly when staring straight at me, as if saying, "would you FIX this please?" ) and yawning some. I thought the yawning might be good. In mares it is... but I suppose cats can breathe out of their mouths, eh?

:sleepy:

It's HOT HOT HOT again today. God Bless the poor folks out haying. They're trying to get all of first crop (!) in this weekend. I didn't go by a single field still standing on the way home last night. But MAN, it's hot to be out there.

[Blacklabs]

I just found this thread on my way to get Angel updates.

Two years go I also took in a pregnant cat weighing 2 lbs. I thought she was a feral but now feel she was left to fend on her own. I took her in on a Friday night when found at our local marina and we had 6 kittens early Wednesday morning (midnight). The kittens were very active the first few days that I got her, her tummy looked like a human wave at a sports event.The last day they were quiet and she was very quiet, not really interested in eating, panting and restless as not being able to get comfortable and very affectionate. Her teats were very full.We kept her in our quest bedroom and away from our dogs and other cat as she was deathly afraid of them.
I laid down on the bed Tuesday night next to her at 10:30 pm and after 30 minutes she hopped off the bed and I fell asleep about a hour later I woke to a kitten crying and when I got the light on she was in the middle of delivering another on the rug.
I had purchased a large plastic laundry basket and lined with blankets hoping she would have them there. After she was finished having her second kitten I put both of them in the basket and she jumped in and finished having the rest in the basket.They were born very quickly and Mom took care of each of them. From start to finish was about 3 hours with 6 kittens.
Much to my surprise cats mate with many partners so the kittens looked like their various fathers and one identical to Mom. 4 solid black, one orange and one tortoise coloring like Mom.
The vet had me feed Marena kitten food as it had the best nutrients and lots of water. Also try to keep the kittens really warm and away from any drafts as they can get respiratory infections/colds very quickly. Two of ours did and were put down at 2 weeks. The vet said I would also lose Mom and the 4 other kittens as she was in bad shape. I did supplement them at 2 weeks with milk as Marnea was so thin and everyone was on antibiotic for 2 weeks. All 4 lived and so did Mom. We kept Marena and one of her kittens and the rest were placed in wonderful homes. Two years later she weighs 10 lbs and is queen of the household. Her son is solid black and very handsome.
Good luck and so glad you took her in

As for size of the kittens, ours were the size of plump sausages, very small.

[harveyhorses]

I used to check the Angel updates first, now I check this! So sad. Since there are no kitTENS and no pics, I will perform surgery on my iMac, the cd slot hs become unaligned. I'll be back later, AND I EXPECT RESULTS:D:lol:

[MunchkinsMom]

Well, here is proof that this is the new "Around The Farm" hot topic, when I come check this thread before I go post updates about Angel!

Guess we all have to just keep checking in.

[bird4416]

I'm anxiously awaiting the little kittens. Come on mama, time to deliver.

[Chall]

She's panting occasionally with mouth open, (mostly when staring straight at me, as if saying, "would you FIX this please?" ) and yawning some.

I know that look. After a week of steady rain, when I open the door to let the cats out and they look out, shake a paw disgustedly and then LOOK AT ME to FIX IT with annoyance.
It IS my responsibility to make things "right":lol:.

[pintopiaffe]

Oh, Lord... I hate to be fooled again... but she panting mouth open almost entirely now, and twice in the last 1/2 hour has just started YOWLIN at me. Just staring and YOWLING.

Looking at her belly/back end alot... was laying with her hind legs pressing against a cabinet edge, the way mares press against the pressure.

So... maybe we *are* having kittens??

It's 14:11, just getting a little hazy so I was going to brave the heat and go out and start working horses... but... of course now I have to hang out a little while more...

[pintopiaffe]

Oh, and she's purring with the panting.

Not 'ooh, happy' purring... but distress purring.

I'm so tempted to go plop her in the middle of my bed and see if that works... :uhoh: :lol:

She DID check out the SmartPak drawer and was in it for a whole five minutes!!!

[BasqueMom]

My guess is "yes"---keep us posted!

[pintopiaffe]

14:25

We have the persistent licking and alternating between squatting and laying on side back to lick.

I think we're really in labour now...

I'm trying very hard to put on my 'super calm, reassuring' foaling hat. I'm so excited and don't think I've been this nervous in ages. It's a good thing cats don't usually need help! :p

[pintopiaffe]

I have this feeling I'm going to miss Church at 17:30 tonight. :lol:

She's actually IN the SmartPak drawer. Whoda thunk?

(after wreaking havoc in every lower cabinet IN the kitchen trying to find a better place than the loffly polarfleece lined 'perfect nest' so lovingly presented... :lol; )

[thatmoody]

Yeah, I think they want their OWN place - ie. any place you didn't choose for them. Good luck!

[lcw579]

Yay! The kitties are coming! The kitties are coming! :D

[suze]

I'm canning today & just thought I'd sneak a quick peek & now I have to go back to the kitchen!!!! PICS!!!!!

[pintopiaffe]

First one's here... Announced with a couple of yowls, then she settled down to work.

She's doing a good job cleaning it up. It's squirming around. IMPOSSIBLY tiny face, feet are bigger than I expected! :lol:

I'm all verclempt. She wanted me over there, I'm parked on the floor in front of the sink. Every few minutes she looks up and wants some reassurance.

Probably will be awhile before the next update... maybe not... depends on how long beteween each ittybittykitty.

Oh. My. :D :sadsmile: :D I'm all teary and giddy. ;)

[jen-s]

OMG! I'm so excited! Congrats to you both and I can't wait for more updates, but totally understand that you must be handy to wipe her brow, cheer her own, etc.

And personally, new kittehs are a perfect excuse to skip church. ;)

[lcw579]

That's right, Pinto, helping the sick is a Corporal Work of Mercy!


Is waiting for kitten updates a good reason to skip church too? :winkgrin:

[Guin]

want kitteh pictures!!!

[pintopiaffe]

#3 just arrived, a lighter grey, with a teensy tiny little srip of white on head, and maybe a light/white belly? How on EARTH do you tell?

One and Two are vigorous and nursing. Mama is doing very well. Though she gets a wee bit distracted and fixates on cleaning the blanket sometimes instead of the kitten. :lol:

She's very businesslike. A couple of small belly bumps, then *splurtch* out comes another.

It's SO hot. I worry about that, although that cabinet is cooler because of the water pipes.

I can't stand how amazing it is. I don't care how many births you see, they are just so amazing.

Not sure how many more to go... so far two very dark grey or black, and the lighter grey.

Number Two is a sqeak toy! All mouth on that kid! One is quiet so far, latched on almost immediately, and hasn't let go. :p

[Blacklabs]

Congrats!! She will clean the blanket to eliminate any smells so predators can't smell them. My blankets were completely clean after 6 kittens.I did change all the bedding when she was done.

So glad it's going well.

[dressagetraks]

Yippee! Kittens!

Sounds like you're both doing a good job. ;)

[cllane1]

Yay! Cheer her on from all of us out here in COTH-land!

[thatmoody]

Awwww, what a happy day for you (and I'm happy to get some good news, so I'm glad too!). Take pictures, ASAP!

[kookicat]

Awesome! :D

Do you need a stiff drink, PP? :) :lol:

[Lori B]

aaaawwwwww. Kitty babies! The best. cheers to you for being such a good cat midwife, pintopiaffe. It's an honor for a cat to choose you, innit?

[pintopiaffe]

Do you need a stiff drink, PP? :) :lol:

OMG, do I *ever*!!!

Just had NUMBER FIVE... !!! :eek: :D Another black, I think. Number four is a long hair, lightish grey with maybe some white.

Number Three isn't doing so well. :cry: I'm not cut out for this! I know that runts often don't thrive... it seems like there might be something wrong with his paws and hind legs, but I can't tell if there really is something congenital, or if he's just not strong with muscle tone yet. He doesn't find the spigot all that well. When he does, he latches on, but the others can push him right off. Unlike Number One who already seems twice the size of the others and can just about hang on when Mama gets up to move around...

She had quite a long rest between four and five... just as I was thinking, "this is it, if I'm going to Church I have to leave in the next five minutes (even though I'm obviously not even dressed for it!) she had number five with very little warning. I'm not *entirely* sure she's done either! :eek: She's still kinda big!

I got a handful of pictures before the camera died. I *have* to head into town at some point, so will get batteries. I'll probably wait another hour or so an see if there are any more coming. :lol:

Lord, I really, really could use a drink right now. Have some frosty Blackbeary Wheat Ales... but I DO have to go to town still. :no: :lol:

Definitely will post pics later in the evening.

A few jingles for Number Three would be ok. I'm such a sucker. :sadsmile:

[kookicat]

Jingles for number three! (You just know that name is gonna stick! :) )

Could you remove the others for a few mins to let him suckle on his own?

[pintopiaffe]

Yeah. I keep moving Number One, since he's been nursing now for two hours.

Number Three can nurse a little if I hold him up there. Which I've been doing. And yes, I've been mushing the others over.

Mama keeps ignoring him a little. Not exactly pushing him away, but not helping him either. I dried him a little after Number Four came and she had given Three very little attention. Figured the stimulation wouldn't hurt either.

Oops... I think we're having another...

[kookicat]

When my piggy had her babies, mama kept pushing the weaker one away too. You wouldn't know it now- that baby is the biggest of the three. :) Sometimes, it just takes them a little longer to get going.

[Lori B]

pintopiaffe, in my pictures, the kitten named Basie was the runt, and didn't latch on well. I was able to get him over the hump by watching him and making space for him to nurse steadily over the first few days. After he started eating better, he got less puny and stronger. Don't think of the runt as not being helpable -- this is where you can make a real difference. Just watch to make sure he gets to eat, and doesn't get squished out. Basie was so pale and his fur was thin and it was like you could see every vein and blood vessel.

[RainyDayRide]

Jingles for #3 .. if mom's not doing it, stimulate his bottom periodically to encourage his elimination.

[Blacklabs]

So glad it's going well. If interested you can purchase milk replacement and feed #3 with a bottle. Bottle and milk replacement is sold at Walmart.

They sound adorable.

[lcw579]

Such exciting news. I'll go to Church, say an extra prayer for you AND light a candle for Number Three, Pinto - that should cover all the bases for today. :)

Can't wait to see the pictures.

Just hang in there, you're doing great!

[Buffyblue]

How exciting! Any more arrivals? Jingles for #3!

[Home Again Farm]

Jingles for #3. The only time I had a cat with kittens was eons ago in 1968. Brings back amazing memories.

[pintopiaffe]

good Lord, *I'm* exhausted... poor Mama must be wiped!! :lol:

Number six came out and turned 90 degrees and started nursing! lol! Another grey, possibly tiger. I'm thinking Dad(s) was grey... :lol:

Lori, that's helpful. His (I've no idea, just seems like a he) paws are turned in and his hind legs haven't uncrossed/uncurled. One front paw seems worse than the other. I'm not sure if that's because of muscle tone or lack thereof, or something *wrong*. I have NO PROBLEM keeping a special one for life... sat there crying a couple minutes ago beause it reminds me of my Special Dog. :sadsmile:

I will keep after it. And definitely will get some milk replacer if he doesn't seem to be getting enough. Right now if I get him proximate to the spigot, he nurses until someone pushes him away. I'll try to get him there a couple times an hour...

And thanks Rainy Day, I had forgotten that from puppies, but it's the same. :yes:

I don't know if I dare head into town now... will give another 10 minutes and see if she's thinking about another one. I *definitely* need batteries for the camera... not to mention have no HUMAN food in the house. :uhoh: :lol:

[Guin]

Go Momcat! HANG IN THERE, NUMBER THREE!

[lcw579]

Maybe #3 was squished in the middle of all the aliens so he didn't get to stretch out as much in utero. I don't know, I'm just looking for a cheap easy fix - a little stretching and using his limbs and he'll be pouncing on his siblings in no time.

It's a good sign that he does latch on when he gets a chance. I remember some kittens at the barn when I was a kid that had a runt that needed help getting his share. He ended up being just as big and healthy as the others even though he had a rough start. This thread is triggering lots of memories for me. :)

[Blacklabs]

Mom will sleep once she is done and gets settled in with them.They will lay on her and nurse on and off.They are all very quiet at first and sleep alot until their eyes open at 7-10 days. Big hugs to both of you, keep up the good work.

Jingling for #3.

[pintopiaffe]

Hokay, Number Three just ate his fill (not much, but said, "thanks I'm done now" when I tried to put him back on. :) )

So I'm going to sneak down the mountain. I'm sure she'll do fine without me, she hasn't needed me yet.

BUT, I'm relying on all of you to keep up the positive vibes while I'm gone! :lol:

Any bets on if there are more when I get home? :uhoh:

Six is a LOT of ittybittykitties. :eek: :D

[jen-s]

Six is a LOT of ittybittykitties. :eek: :D

You *did* say she was a little, um...large. Hehehe.

Lots of jingles from NC for #3. (In fact, maybe you should name him something related to "jingles.")

Congrats on the itty bitty kitteh committee. Sounds like you are going to have your hands full for a while.

[Larksmom]

Lark, Muff and I are jingling like mad!!:eek::D:lol: NUTHIN' bettter than kittehs!:lol::yes:;):D

[Lori B]

Be careful when you return, in case momma decides to relocate the family. It can happen. Close and block any closets you don't want to be digging out for kittens. !!!

good luck.

LKB

[kookicat]

You *did* say she was a little, um...large. Hehehe.

Lots of jingles from NC for #3. (In fact, maybe you should name him something related to "jingles.")

Congrats on the itty bitty kitteh committee. Sounds like you are going to have your hands full for a while.

I vote for calling number three 'Jingles.' :)

[Beethoven]

Jingles for #3!!!

[pintopiaffe]

Number Seven arrived before I did... another grey! I had to physically move them around to be sure, but ayup, there's another grey one. Still dunno if she's done! :eek:

"Jingles" is hanging in. I'm going to make sure he gets a snack and then head out for chores.

Will get pics up when I get in. They're pretty graphic--wet, new ittybittykitties... :cool:

[Zu Zu]

Jingles ~ Jingles ~ Jingles ~ & Major Jingles for # 3 "Jingles" AO ~ AO ~ AO Always Optimistic !!! Come on Jingles !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[amdfarm]

Been reading, but haven't posted until today. WOO HOO, kittehs!! They're so cute... after dried off, of course. :)

My sister used to raise Persians and has done the kitteh route many times over. They were so stinkin cute.

My two housecats are bottle fed barn kittehs from two different mothers a year or so apart.

Jingles for Jingles and can't wait to see pics!!

Ya done good!

[danceronice]

I vote for calling number three 'Jingles.' :)

LOL, I agree! It's called "magical thinking", if we all send jingles and s/he is named Jingles, it'll work!

Jingles to #3...and I hope for your sake and hers mom-cat is done at lucky #7!

[Larksmom]

and maybe the last one will be named 'Quits!':D:lol:

[MistyBlue]

Seven now? Heck Pinto, you may be buried in kittens in by midnight! :winkgrin:

[AppJumpr08]

7?! Holy moly! :D she's going to be a very busy girl! Can't wait to see pictures!

[suze]

OMG 7!! Hope she's done - she must be exhausted! Anxiously awaiting pics.

[pintopiaffe]

She appears to be done now... Seven. !!!! :eek: :D

When I came in from the barn she greeted me, then had a big long drink, and when I refilled her food, she had some of that. Not quite sure how she had ROOM for it after seven... um... let's just say she's a very clean kitty with lots of good protein for milk production... :uhoh: :D

I'm going to inhale some food, (and yes, at least one beer) and then try to upload some pics.

Don't get too excited. It's kind of hard to tell where one ends and another begins, five of the seven are the same colour!! :lol:

[MunchkinsMom]

WOW! 7 kittens! I can't even begin to imagine. Momma cat and you will have your hands/paws full before you know it.

What an experience for you, and thanks for sharing it with us.

[sk_pacer]

Congrats on SEVEN!!! WOW, that's quite a litter!!!

You won't be able to tell colours for a bit...they become more recognisable as the kittens age. Also, there may have been more than one sire and a small disparity in 'cooking' time for individual kittens.

[Rhyadawn]

7 is quite the litter!

I just got home and found this update! #3 should be called Jingles... :)

and I'm having a drink for you, just in case.... (was at the capital classic today, great show if anyone is up this way and happened to see it, who won???)

[pintopiaffe]

I give up... I cannot get a connection good enough to upload the pics I don't think.

If you want to try: www.innisfailte.com/ittybittykitties it might work, it might not. I've rebooted twice, and just get timeout errors. :sigh:

Will try again in the morning.

All seem to be doing well. I am going to give Jingles a feeding (i.e. hold him up there) before bed, and set the alarm for 90 minutes or so and see how s/he's doing.

Mama is awesome. Me, I can't believe how tired I am! :lol: And my neck is KILLING me from leaning into the under-the-sink cabinet for three hours. :lol: :p

Jingles is precious. I'm always a sucker for the underdog. Or cat, as it may be.

[MunchkinsMom]

Aww, here are some jingles for Jingles from FL.

FYI - no pics on the link you posted, just wanted to let you know.

[tikihorse2]

YAY for Mamacat! Yay for the kittens! And special YAY and jingles for Number 3!! (As well as YAY for Pinto for surviving the ordeal! :D)

Kim

[LisaW-B]

Awww!!!! Congrats to mama kitty and you. SEVEN. OMG.

[Carrera]

Awww aren't baby things jut wonderful?!?!

Unfortunately, the site isn't working :(

[NowThatsATrot]

Congrats on the ittybittykitties! (There are certainly enough for their own committee, lol!)

Jingling for "Jingles" as well.

[citydog]

So glad this kitty ended up in a home where she'll be taken care of and her brood started off well. Try asking your vet or local shelter about bulk rate pediatric speutering. :yes:

I hope you can get some pics up soon! :)

And sorry to intrude on your happy kitteh thread, but I can't let A2's dangerous comment go unaddressed:

One alpha roll over fixed the problem right then and there.

The problem was far more likely resolved *despite* the alpha roll rather than because of it. They're generally ineffective, always dangerous and largely a technique of the ignorant. The rare dog that "needs" one (there are other, better methods) is the one that's going to take your face off. Canines don't work off the grossly oversimplified version of dominance hierarchy that Cesar Millan promotes, and using such confrontational techniques is far more likely to create additional problems regarding the cat due to the dog's association with being physically bullied and the presence of the cat. While such illogical, ham-fisted, over-compensatingly macho techniques keep me in business as a trainer fixing the myriad additional problems they create, they earn an awful lot of dogs a one-way trip to the vet and a lot of kids and adults trips to the plastic surgeon.

Behaviorist and Veterinarian Sophia Yin's look at dominance in training and Cesar Millan: http://www.drsophiayin.com/dominance.php

American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's position statement on dominance in training: http://www.avsabonline.org/avsabonline/images/stories/Position_Statements/dominance%20statement.pdf

AVSAB's position statement on punishment in training: http://www.avsabonline.org/avsabonline/images/stories/Position_Statements/Combined_Punishment_Statements.pdf

Behaviorist James Ha, PhD, CAAB on confrontational behavior modification techniques and the risk they present to owners/handlers: http://companionanimalsolutions.com/blogs/confrontational-behavior-modification-techniques-and-the-risk-to-owners/

How the concept and terminology of "alpha wolf" has changed and faded out among wolf biologists, by a wolf biologist: http://www.wolf.org/wolves/news/iwmag/2008/winter/alphawolf.pdf

[Waterwitch]

You know how people say things about something being "about as easy as herding cats"? Erm....will you tell us if it's easy...or not?

:winkgrin:

Congratulations on surviving the kitty birth extravaganza and have fun. Love those furry squinched up kitty faces, sigh.

[Carol Ames]

Congratulations to all! Sounds like you did just fine; Jingles' legs will straighten out when he and his siblings start exploring the world ;)away from Mom, You can push the legs up from the pads of the feet; and then back down to the ground. do a little stimulation on the chest between the front legs ; This will give you, additional and reason to pick hm up and cuddle him:lol:

[Carol Ames]

I would n't worry, God knows about Creation:lol:, and remember how often He rested in Genesis 1:winkgrin:

[kookicat]

Seven! Wow! I can't wait to see pics- gotta love those tiny faces. :D

[harveyhorses]

YAY!! A big Woo Hoo too. Jingles for Jingles, and for you too, (I think you might need them in the coming weeks with 7 little one scampering around!)

[Guin]

When I went to bed, there were six - I wake up and it's SEVEN! Cheers for Momcat and Pinto, and jingles for Jingles - too cute!!:D

I hope Pinto got some sleep last night, in between kitteh-duty!!

[pintopiaffe]

Jingles was only interested in eating about half of the times I got up. I then slept through the alarm for more than an hour :eek: :sleepy: Making it 2.5 hrs, and he seemed ok. Good thing lessons aren't this morning. <yawn>

They are a lovely blob of sleep this morning. Mama is acting like nothing happened. God Bless youth!

Don't worry CityDog, I didn't get all Alpha over Eamon. I *did* remind him that my wrath might just overcome his curiosity, and he chooses not to find out if it's true... The ceasefire continues, but now Malarkey is positively fascinated by the cabinet. Eamon hasn't figured out there's anything IN there. :lol: Lark just sits, a good distance away, on full alert.

Paidir, the mafia kitty just presented himself to Eamon for rubs, Eamon absent-mindedly licked the top of his head twice. I told Eamon that the other kitty tastes the same, and there's no need to sample... :uhoh: :lol: I am obviously *managing* very carefully so there is no problem. Dogs are either outside or locked out of the kitchen when not 100% supervised.

Hokay, off to see if I can get pictures to work.

[Bluey]

Our vet used to tell us that queens had many in a litter because nature made newborn kittens very fragile, compared with newborns of other species.
In many litters, some don't survive and that is normal for cats.
He was warning us when we had some we had to hand feed and most did make it fine, most of the time, but not always.:(

With extra care, we can, as you did, get some going that just may need a nudge, but I would not be surprised if not all make it to weaning.

Looks like you have a real handful there and did well.
We sure could use some pictures, when you have a minute...;)

[jetsmom]

Congrats on the kitty babies.

Talking about your dogs and the cat reminded me of when I was a kid and had a cat that had 6 kittens. We had a Lhasa Apso that used to sit outside momma kitty's box and watch her while she cleaned the kittens. When Momma finally left the box one day, Fluffy (Original name, I know, but we were KIDS!), climbed into the box and started to "help" by cleaning the kittens. Unfortunately, he licked their fur up all in the wrong direction. Mom came back, Fluffy left the box, and mom climbed back in there with a thoroughly disgusted look, and went to work fixing their messed up fur.

[MunchkinsMom]

I'm so glad to see a happy update to the kitty saga!

[Lori B]

jetsmom, I love the Lhasa stepping in to 'help'. He wanted some babies of his own, awwww. Too cute.

[FalseImpression]

Last year, at our barn, we had a mama cat arrive! She came pregnant of course, BUT daddy was with her. And Daddy stayed during delivery (so close and interested we guess - we did not see it) that he squished two of the babies. However, he never left her side and took cat sitting duties when she needed a break. At first, we were convinced we had two females, but no. One of the boys looked just like daddy. He was there all summer, all winter with the mom and the two boys... BO managed to get the female spayed and shortly after daddy and one of the boys disappeared. We have a feeling they met a coyote or two unfortunately. The other boy is still there...

Here is a picture of the family. Daddy is sitting with the babies while mama stretches her legs and asks for attention.
http://i339.photobucket.com/albums/n479/FalseImpression/Maple%20Hill%20Farm/IMG_2188.jpg

[Zu Zu]

* Cats will mate with more than one Tom Cat. Tom Cats will return and kill any kittens that they did not sire. This happens to farm feral cat populations.

[pintopiaffe]

I'm not cut out for this at all. :no: I think I'm loosing jingles. :cry:

I *know* it's normal. Especially with such a large litter. I just can't stand it. I could be wrong--he could be nursing in between times, and so not really interested when I try to help. He takes just a few sucks then falls asleep.

His leetle crooked front legs are a little bit stronger, but the back legs cross, and he flips over a lot when he's trying to wiggle around.

Mama's caring for him, cleaning, etc., but with 7 kitties and six spigots... :uhoh:

I got kitten milk replacer and a tiny little bottle this afternoon. It's too big! I put some in an insulin syringe, and ever-so-carefully giving a drop at a time... he's really not very interested. I'm sure it doesn't compare favorably to the real deal. I think he might have already aspirated though, because before I even started this, he was making a sneezy sort of sound.

:sigh:

Tomorrow is probably going to be the deciding day for him, as I leave in the morning and won't be back until fairly late afternoon. I wish I could cancel but I absolutely can't.

I think if he makes it through tomorrow though, that will be a very good sign.

Everyone else is doing wonderfully. Mama leaves them much more than I expected--though it's HOT and she wants to lay on the cool linoleum. Can't blame her. Her appetite and thirst are great, she feels great... the ittybitties are very quiet, so I think content.

She's funny, when I take Jingles out, she tries to take him back to the box. She lets me handle him fine, but wants him 'where he belongs.' Which I think is a good sign.

So keep up the jingles for jingles. I hate Mother Nature sometimes. :sadsmile:

I will try to upload the pics once again tonight. Every time I try, the whole thing just locks up. Stupid dial up. :mad:

[dawglover]

Jingles for Jingles.

I hope he makes it but it is Mother Natures Way. Only the strongest survive and all that.

[BasqueMom]

I've done a lot of bottle babies fostering for our local humane society. Often the tip of the nipple needs to be enlarged a little. Some of them are so stiff, it's impossible for a human
to suck anything out. I take small slices off until just maybe a drop comes out on its own.
Then sometimes a small squeeze when you get the nipple in their mouth will start the ball
rolling. Some kittens take to it right away, others take longer. You have to be careful
not to aspirate them though--make sure they are on their bellies and not on on their backs
when you give them the milk.

The ones that young are tough--had a litter of six last year about 3-4 days old, five were
Siamese mixes. After a week, thought we were home free and then started to lose them.
Took them to the vet and got fluids to help. Got down to two, the black one and the biggest Siamese mix (named them Hilary and Obama) but lost them. Hilary was the last and
her eyes had even started to open. Most I get are a little older--eyes just opening or older and have good luck with them.

Texas-sized jingles for Jingles!

[Rhyadawn]

Jingles from Ontario! I hope the little guy makes it.

In other news, I'm bored out of my skull in a tornado warning...... nothing to do but cruise the forums.....

[harveyhorses]

Big Va Jingles!
Nature really is a Mother sometimes, he might surprise you yet.
Come on Jingles.

[Zu Zu]

Jingles for Jingles !!! AO ALWAYS OPTIMISTIC !!!

[sk_pacer]

jingles for Jingles.....

It's tough sometimes. It is hard when one doesn't make it and gets no easier. I just recently lost one, she just never thrived, was 10 weeks and barely any larger than when her eyes opened. Problem with some, not all, of the low birthweight babies is they are premies, and the digestive tract isnt developed enough or so I was told by a couple of vets.

zuzu said:
* Cats will mate with more than one Tom Cat. Tom Cats will return and kill any kittens that they did not sire. This happens to farm feral cat populations.

This is not always true - I have two resident toms and two strays that moved in. NONE of them go after kittens but I have seen all of them babysitting at different times, sharing food with the babies, and dragging them back to safe territory. A couple of years ago, something got into the barn and slaughtered 16 week old kittens. All the toms and neutered toms were battered, all needed cleaning, comforting and wound treating and so did the mommas. ONE kitten survived the initial attack but was hurt internally (guessing) or in deep shock because it only lived another couple of days. The oldest cat here (neutered tom) takes each and every kitten under his paw, and teaches them important cat things like eating, drinking, washing and playing and he happily lets them swarm over him for hours. One tom is so kitten crazy, it is nothing to see him curled around a litter. The other two (Both too wild to catch and too wily to trap) are gentle with kittens until they get real teeth, then they do discpline......saw one try to nurse on one, and he never moved, just let it happen. It wasn't his kitten either. So, this blanket statement does not apply to all situations.

However, queens WILL mate with several toms and may have kittens in a litter that are up to 2 weeks premature (vet told me)

[jen-s]

Jingling like crazy for baby kitteh Jingles. And hugs for you too, PP.

[page3girl]

More jingles from VA!!!!!

We're all pulling for Jingles here. Come on, little puss!!!!

[Blacklabs]

Do you have any karo sprup, if so put some on your finger and then give to him, literally put in his mouth a little at a time. It will give him energy. The springe worked better for me also. A eye dropper will also work,When using the eyedropper be careful not to force feed the kitten. Let the baby suck the fluid at its own pace, otherwise you can fill the baby's lungs with milk and cause pneumonia.

These links have good info

http://cats.about.com/cs/kittencare/ht/bottlefeed.htm

http://www.safehavenforcats.com/newborn.htm



Jingling for your jingles.

[pintopiaffe]

Pictures FINALLY say they uploaded, but now my website appears to be down. www.innisfailte.com/ittybittykitties (http://www.innisfailte.com/ittybittykitties) Should be a temporary thing. I know it was fine 2 hours ago. I can't get to my other album or blog either. These are the JUST born piccies. Last one is Jingles. :sadsmile:

Claire Rhiannon scared me half to death a bit ago... brought Jingles OUT for some reason. I hear squallering and look over, and she's carrying him. I"m not quite sure where she thought she was bringing him? I had the very certain feeling she was bringing him TO me.

Got about .5 cc of formula into him--it wakes him up and gets him wriggling and sqeaking and stronger...

I know I"m anthromorphizing that I thought she was bringing him to me. If she were going to move the whole brood (which I don't think she is--she loffs that space under the sink, which is why I put the box there finally) you'd think she'd leave him for last.

I dunno.

How the HECK do you tell boys from girls, BTW? They all look the same... :confused: :lol: They all have two holes. :yes: Some are slightly different positioned... but honestly, can you tell this young? Am I just feline-foolish?

Foals are easy. One hole or two. :yes: :lol:

Claire Rhiannon looks much better. She doesn't look as skinny--well, you know what I mean--her hips and spine look better. She's been eating well, but I seriously think all that weight was pulling down on the muscles of her topline and making her look worse off than she is. Though *now* her head looks big. :lol: Before I kept thinking what a delicate, refined head she had. Obviously I was seeing it in proportion to SEVEN kittens in her belly!

She's really, really lovely. Very graceful. I think she has quite a bit of siamese. Especially the way she's always talking. But I did read that Siamese tend to have bigger litters too... ;)

[sk_pacer]

How the HECK do you tell boys from girls, BTW? They all look the same... :confused: :lol: They all have two holes. :yes: Some are slightly different positioned... but honestly, can you tell this young? Am I just feline-foolish?



At that age, it ain't easy. Sometimes it's hard to tell until they get 3ish months old. Basically, girls look like an upside down exclamation mark ! and boys like a colon :. But I had one I didnt know until his balls showed up, even the vet was confused by him. Give them time to mature a little before you even attempt figuring out boys from girls.

[Blacklabs]

When two of my kittens got sick their Mom separated them from the rest. She did it many times and I would find them and put them back with the litter. At first I thought they were healthy but in time I saw they had a respiratory infection and had to put them down at 2 weeks. Just wondering if she's taking him anyway from the other kittens knowing he is sick.

Sending more jingles

[Buffyblue]

Couldn't get connected to the website for the photos :( More jingles for Jingles!

[Beethoven]

Yes, momma cat will move sick babies or try to get rid of them. We had the barn cat put on of her kittens in the wall. Luckily we got him out. It ultimatly ended up dying.

[cllane1]

When you can't tell genders, you end up with fully grown male cats named Lucy! (Ask me how I know!)

Jingles for Jingles. It's touch. We hand-raised a littler of orphan puppies this year, and it was nerve-wracking and rewarding!

Instead of the milk replacer, we used goat milk. Bought it at Wal-Mart in the dairy case. Purple bottle, Meyenberg brand. Or they had it condensed in a can and you could reconstitute it. Our pups thrived on that. Maybe give that a try instead of milk replacer?

[SpiritN]

PP,

When I was fostering a litter of kittens, I had a runt that had to be fed via syringe. I had a cat breeder tell me to mix a little bit of "Nutrical" (which is a cat vitamin that comes in a tube - you can get it at pet stores) in with the formula. The runt that I fed was really struggling and seemed to do much better once I added this to his feedings. He also had wheezing and I was sure he had aspirated, but in the end he did live. In fact, he still lives with me and is the largest cat in the house.

Nutrical is of a vaseline type consistency so I would add a dollop of it to formula and then blend it in a "magic bullet" blender.

So, there is a tip for you. Good luck with Jingles and no matter what happens - you are doing a wonderful thing!!!!

[shea'smom]

Oh, come on Jingles! Lots of love for you here!

[BasqueMom]

A dab of Karo syrup will also help their appetite and energy levels.

[MunchkinsMom]

More jingles for little Jingles.

[greysandbays]

How the HECK do you tell boys from girls, BTW? They all look the same... :confused: :lol: They all have two holes. :yes: Some are slightly different positioned... but honestly, can you tell this young? Am I just feline-foolish?


It should be fairly easy to tell on newborns. There is a time when they are several days old when it gets harder to tell, after they've filled out a little.

There's got to be at least one that you can tell for sure is either a boy or a girl, and then you can compare the rest of them to that one. The little boys will have just the bit more space and just a hint of a little "lump" between their two holes that clearly is not there on little girls. Don't try to over-think it; your first impression will probably be the right one.

[amdfarm]

WOO HOO, I saw the pics!! They are so danged cute and tiny. I almost forgot how small they are. Claire is a very pretty kitty. I can see how she wormed her way into your heart. :)

Jingles for Jingles. Boy or girl, that name works.

[Buffyblue]

Saw the pictures! Cyoootness!! Still jingling for Jingles - come on kid!

[harveyhorses]

That was one big pile 'o cuteness in her belly!!
We have a 12 YO female named Lester. She does resemble Les Nesman. :lol:
We just named her before we caught her.

Come on Jingles, PP you are doing a really good thing.

[Zu Zu]

Jingles for "JINGLES" and the whole crew !!!!

[charismaryllis]

keep an eye on jingles if mamacat keeps dumping him out of the nest; cats have been known to just kill kittens that have been put back one too many times. (ocaisionally the owner will have a PM done on said kitten and discover some invisible but terminal defect.)

but i'm with you: if it has two arms and two legs and squeaks and eats and poops, then i see no reason why it shouldn't be given a fighting chance and extra help. :)

[jen-s]

I saw the pictures! OMG! Cuteness overload!!! No wonder Mama was so successful--she's lovely! And the kitties are just precious. Congrats PP!

Still jingling for Jingles!

[lcw579]

Come on Jingles! We are all pulling for you! Claire is a lovely mama kitty and all her babes are soooo cute. Good work PP!

[starrysky]

I just found this thread - so exciting to have kittehs! I loved reading the story! Jingles for Jingles!!!!!

[Larksmom]

I so love tabby kittehs! I am jingling for jingles. love kittens.

[betsyk]

Hang in there if you can with your littlest kitty... years ago my horse vet was carrying this awful looking, sickly kitten in the truck with her, given to her by a dairy farmer because they thought he was going to need an indoor home. He was 3 months old and weighed just over a pound - bowlegged, icky eyes, big belly full of worms, delayed motor skills but a personality that stopped everyone in their tracks. I was a sucker (and she offered to do his vet care for the first year for free) and now he's about 14 lbs and looks like a rugby ball with legs. The only long term effects of his hard childhood seem to be bad teeth and a tendency to be an easy keeper! your little guy will have a way better chance than Seamus because you're not raising him in a dairy barn and expecting him to eat mice and drink milk!

[MunchkinsMom]

More jingles for Jingles. Oh, those pictures were just the best! And now that I can see what little Jingles looks like, I have a mental picture of who I am sending them for.

[CAH]

So in about six weeks you will have seven little demons running around your house :)

Hope you have friends that are looking for a kitten! You can always share with your COTH family!

Ask me how I know....I have two that came to me as orphan kittens. They are now 11 weeks old. My house will never be the same.

[Home Again Farm]

So adorable!!

Jingling for little Jingles. :yes:

When my cat had her kitties in 1968, one was born dead. A few years after that I tried to save a kitten that a mama cat had abandoned. I fed it and cared for it about 5 days when it suddenly went rapidly downhill. I lost it soon after that. My vet checked it over and it had a congenital intestinal defect that had it doomed from the start. Hoping Jingles does well, but, sadly, sometimes nothing we do can help.

{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}

[Reds-n-Greys]

ACK!!! How did I miss this thread! KIT-TENS!!!!!

Sending lots of jingles for Jingles

[AppJumpr08]

Tuesday afternoon Jingles for Jingles!

They are all too cute for words, and mamma is loffly!!

[coloredhorse]

Aww, nothin' like a bebe kitteh pile!

Mighty Tristan, aka the Big Orange Cat, sends special jingles for Jingles. Tristan was a teensy, sickly little orphan runt kitteh who had a nasty URI for a solid 3 months. Mr. CH and I really thought he wouldn't make it. Needless to say, with care, he blossomed, and at age 8 is a fine, strapping orange stripey man-cat. His special runt-to-runt jingles should carry extra-special healing powers.

[kookicat]

They are adorable! Sending more jingles for Jingles! :D

[Calvincrowe]

Our former-sickly-runt Man Cat sends super jingles from out here in broiling WA State! Possum (that's his name) is now a tall, stately flame point short hair despite his poor start in life (he must be related to Coloredhorse's Man Cat!).

Teeny tiny Pippin, Possum's little brother (2 years apart) is sitting on my lap, helping me type this out--he is offering mews and purrs for little Jingle Kitten, too!

[pintopiaffe]

I am SO happy and relieved to report that Jingles is hanging in there. :D :D :D

I sort of felt like today might be 'letting him go' as I left by 08:30 and just got back at 18:30--waaaaaay longer than I had planned.

But he's still hanging in. At least if I loose him now, I won't feel like 'well, if I'd cancelled clinic and lessons... ' ya know?

I'm hopelessly smitten. You already know he/she's never going ANYWHERE. ;)

[MunchkinsMom]

I am SO happy and relieved to report that Jingles is hanging in there. :D :D :D



WHEW! For a split second I was almost afraid to read your latest in case it was bad news.

So more jingles for Jingles, all of us rooting for him has to be a good thing.

[coloredhorse]

Glad to read the positive update!

(My addiction to this thread is truly ridiculous.)

[harveyhorses]

Yay! One day at a time, but I think every day might be a little victory, Oh I hopeIhopeIhope.
We are quite the cheering section!

[Zu Zu]

More Jingles for Jingles !!!!!

[JanWeber]

You know it's bad when you think "pintopiaffe should be home by now -wonder how Jingles is doing?" and excuse yourself from a meeting to go check the thread... Glad he's still holding on.

[Rhyadawn]

You know it's bad when you think "pintopiaffe should be home by now -wonder how Jinges is doing?" and excuse yourself from a meeting to go check the thread... Glad he's still holding on.

:yes:

I'm so ridiculously addicted it's not even funny.

More jingles for Jingles!

[BasqueMom]

There are worst things to be addicted to---go Jingles!

[Lori B]

Jingles jingles jingles jingles!!!!

Yay for the little kitty!

PP, you are an estimable cat midwife. When I raised the Jazz Kittens, it was so fun I could hardly stand to go to work. I could sit in my room and watch them climb all over each other for hours.

Which is why cats look at me, and see a giant 'SUCKER!' sign on my forehead.

[sublimequine]

This is one of the best COTH threads in a long time. :D

[ambar]

Haven't read the *whole* thread, I confess, but I see mama cat is a solid blue, so daddy had to be a brown tabby to produce that collection. (If there are any white feets, then one parent had to have white feet -- couldn't see, really, from the one picture of the Giant Kitten Pile! :D )

[Plumcreek]

Coming out of lurkdom as addicted to this thread also. My two feral rescue cats, Esmerelda and Thomas, formerly living off the land and starving, now sleek and purring in my lap, send their jingles.

[pintopiaffe]

couldn't see, really, from the one picture of the Giant Kitten Pile! :D

I will attempt another couple photos tomorrow. Amazing how quickly they start to resemble KITTENS.

I dunno how anyone can discern ANYTHING out of the Giant Kitten Pile Picture. I have some earlier ones on the camera that I can't download, which are even harder to tell where one starts and another ends. Talk about something you could sit and watch for hours... :cool: (hmm... I really ought to set a chiro appt. Something about scrunching down into the cabinet under the sink... :uhoh: )

Jingles ate 1/2 cc of formula tonight. His face looks like a baby tiger. Mama likes to clean up any excess formula, and then STOLE him from me! :lol: I am holding on to it as a good sign that she steals him from me and puts him back in the box. The opposite of shunning.

Hope is sharp edged. :sadsmile:

[danceronice]

Jingling for Jingles!

[LisaW-B]

Was finally able to see the pile o' ittybittykitties. :D I hope little Jingles makes it.

[SevenDogs]

Love the pile of tabby stripes! Go Jingles, go! :yes:

[Amwrider]

When you can't tell genders, you end up with fully grown male cats named Lucy! (Ask me how I know!)

I can relate, I have a fully grown male named Prissy.

Jingling for Jingles, glad he is hanging in there!

[suze]

Cute pile-o-kitties! They change so fast, though, so I hope you're planning on taking lots of pics to post!

[jen-s]

You know it's bad when you think "pintopiaffe should be home by now -wonder how Jingles is doing?" and excuse yourself from a meeting to go check the thread... Glad he's still holding on.

OMG--I thought that I was the only one! :winkgrin::winkgrin::winkgrin:

Still jingling but VERY glad to hear the update.

[tikihorse2]

I wasn't able to check the thread earlier today, but I was thinking about it. OMG, how adorable is that pile-o-kitties!!! :D I want to smooshle my face in them! Mama is adorable too!

SO GLAD Jingles is hanging in there! :cool::cool: My three kitties (including Buster, the formerly runt Siamese) and I all send SUPER jingles to Jingles!

Kim

[amdfarm]

Wonderful update. Do you have a before and after pic of Claire to share so we can see how large she was before the pile of ittybittykitties came out?

I was thinking of names today (other than Jingle) and since mom is blue and the majority of the kitties are blue, how about a bunch of Smurf names for them? LOL :winkgrin:

Continued jingles for Jingles.

[MEP]

We're jingling for little jingles here, too.

I'm another one who's addicted to reading about the baby kittehs - hope the whole darn pile stays healthy along with Mama Claire!

[kookicat]

Another addicted COTHer here. :uhoh::p

I'm so happy to hear the little Jingles in hanging in there. He sounds like a fighter! :)

[Guin]

loff the ittybittykitties!

[thatmoody]

I know, I borrowed a colleagues computer because I didn't bring my laptop, and got HER involved in the saga! Now she's gonna be checking in :).

[Zu Zu]

GOOD MORNING JINGLES for the whole crew and esp: Mr. JINGLES !!!!! Wishing you a big day of growing and sleeping !!!!

[dressagetraks]

If we're getting into name suggestions (aside from Jingles), this whole thread has reminded me of the St. Ives poem. "Each cat had 7 kits. . ." :yes: Maybe one of the more dignified - if there is such a thing as a dignified kitten; I've known one or two, but they are rare - could be St. Ives?

More jingles for Jingles!

[MidlifeCrisis]

Is there a Wednesday morning ittybittykittycommittee update?