New kittens

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Saphire_1975
Posts: 46
Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 1:58 pm
Location: Erie

New kittens

Post by Saphire_1975 »

Hi every-one, I'm new here and so glad I found you. I have a 5 mounth old kitten named Sammy. My neighbor being the wonderful (not) person that he is kicked out his pregnant cat friday night. I needless to say took her in, she gave birth to 3 beautiful kitten's on Saturday. I have been keeping her and the kitten's in my daughter's room, Sammy so far could care less about their existance he sees me going in there with food and water and can hear me talking to them. And seems not to care as long as I'm their when he wants me :D My question is when and how do I go about introducing them to each other? Although none of them have made any attempts to leave their areas I'm afraid of them meeting in a not to supervised way. Can someone help? Allso the mother will not let me touch her kitten's at all which I being a stranger to her can understand so when I go into the room I just pet and talk to her, Is this OK?
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Traci
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Post by Traci »

First, don't think about introducing Sammy to momma and babies until she has been examined by your vet and tested for FELV/FIV, you can't risk the unknown. I'm assuming Sammy is current on his own vaccinations?

As for momma kitty, be patient, and try to understand the direct and unexpected stress she is enduring right now, new environment, birthing, nursing, new and unknown things around her that she is not used to. She is merely protecting her young until she feels comfortable and safe with you. Don't try to handle the kittens until she is comfortable with that, or unless you absolutely have to due to checking them over or if something arises they need your attention.

Until then, ensure she is eating/drinking normally, using the litterbox, is able to nurse all the kittens, and that each kitten is getting enough milk from her, and that neither she nor the kittens are seemingly ill or needing vet attention.
..........Traci
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Auntie Debbie
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Post by Auntie Debbie »

Hi and Welcome to the board!

Thank you so much for taking in Mama and her little crew. As Traci suggested, please have her tested for diseases first before introducing her to your resident cat.
Once she is is given the okay by your vet and she is feeling more comforable in her new surroundings and with you you can slowly try introducing them with short supervised visits, adding more time as long as things are going well. It would be a good idea to keep the kittens sequestered at least until they are close to being weaned.
I have some links on "Kittens", "Kittening" and "Introductions" under the Feline section of my website (Debbie's Feline Health) listed just under Favorites on the menu at the left of the board.
I hoipe things will go well and please keep us posted, okay?
Kitty kisses,
Debbie
____________________________________

"Those we shelter on earth will be our treasures in Heaven." Victor Hugo, I think
Saphire_1975
Posts: 46
Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 1:58 pm
Location: Erie

Follow up

Post by Saphire_1975 »

First of all thank you all for your help. I took Mama cat to the vet on Monday because I thought I felt another kitten in her. Luckily I was wrong, I tend to overreact. The vet checked her out and gave her a clean bill of health, not even fleas :lol: and Sammy is current on all his shot's so that's not an issue. My problem is that Mama wants out of that room. And I was afraid of them runing into eachother, however yesterday she snuck out she just started to explore the house and Sammy looked at her then went back to eating. I'm still keeping them away as my vet doesn't want to neuter Sammy till he's 6 months old and I read on one of the links that Mama can get pregnant. BTW thanks for the links they were very helpful. Another thing, the room babies are in stinks as I said Mama doesn't want them touched so they have been in the same box with the same blanket since Saturday and she had them on the carpet. I set up a new box with a new blanket and am hoping that mama moves them. Again thanks for the help.
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