TheBasement Kittens are having fun

[Auntie Debbie]

The basement kittens are all doing well. They had and still have to a degree loose poops. They are on albon and flagyl with some plain yogurt in their food, and the poops are improving.
However, they are messy little pigs. First I started them in the spare room and regardless of what or how they’re pooping or peeing, often they or one or two of them will do so outside the box. This kind of non-conformity will not do, especially if they some day hope to keep a nice forever home. So we put them in a smaller, more confined space, the bathroom. They did fairly well as far as using the boxes (and yes we gave them two boxes, even scooped it several times a day as well as completely changing it twice a day) but they would step in whatever they did and track it all over. Plus the bathroom is small and we had difficulty doing what we needed to do in there.
Next step was to buy a 48”L x 30”W x 33’H crate…three door, got a good deal on it at Petsmart (tell ya about that one later).
They weren’t too thrilled with being confined but got used to it and there really is plenty of room for them to even run a little.
Besides tracking litter on the towel we put in there, we started to notice crap marks on the wall just behind the crate. We couldn’t imagine how they were getting it on the wall! Yesterday I caught one in action….what he (maybe “they”) did was to use the litter box, get something on his paw and wipe it on the wall. I told hubby we need to pull the bar out with the crate a little further away from the wall and install one of those rotating towel dispensers, LOL!
Anyway, here’s some pics

The Wall



Pre Crate pics







Crate pocs

[Auntie Debbie]

[momPaws]

Debbie, you are such a good mom! Are their eyes really all blue?...they are very cute.

[Traci]

They're still so young, and remember, they don't have their mom to teach them the litterbox duty, so you're it. Yes, it's twice as hard for you to do that, but you don't have a choice. Plus, with 5 of them together, they don't understand, and it's going to take time for them as individuals to learn how to use the litterbox, faithfully. Be patient, consistent, and did I mention patient???

I just love the pics, they are so cute! Don't confine them all of the time, they will fair much better when allowed out to run around, romp, chase each other, play. Remember they need each other at this very important time in their lives and need to socialize in an accomodating environment.

[Auntie Debbie]

The actually have enough room in there to get a little run going, about as much room almost as what they had in the bathroom. I may let them out again in a day or two as they seem to be getting a little neater about things and their stools aren't 100% yet, but not nearly as bad.
When I got them they looked to b about 4-1/2 weeks or so, whichh is what those other total ferals were. And they did alright with the box. This is my first batch that are totally messy. Too bad too because they are the friendliest and most affectionate of them all. We do go in often to pet them and hold each one for a while.
They are being neater with themselves too. We no longer have to wash them off a couple times a day!
Their eyes are no longer blue...turning greenish now...some of those pics were taken a couple weeks ago and then last week, and just a couple days ago. Their eyes are clear, they're very, very alert, good appetites and very active. Oh, did I mention cute?...danged cute!

[Cleo]

Boy do I remember that set up. When I took home the two brothers Max & Riley (Max being the "feral" that the vet told me to put outside/Riley being lovable and easy to handle) I got 3 of those crates and set them up in an L shape. I won't be able to explain it correctly (haven't had my coffee yet) but I set up the crates with one end exposed and tucked under, attached them all with those plastic ties and the two boys had their own kitty hotel. One crate housed the litter box, the other end the food and the middle housed their beds. They came out every day to run around and there was plenty of room inside for them to roam. They were older, 6 months when I rescued them but my point was to teach them the litter box as well as get Max used to being in such close contact with a human and being handled while having his brother near by.

I got a good deal on the crates as well at WalMart. Bought three, the cashier only rang up 2. Ever see that Ikea commercial where the woman thinks she's getting away with a steal when in fact everything is on sale and she runs through the parking lot to her husband who is sitting in the car and is screaming START THE CAR!! START THE CARRRRRRRRRR!

Yeah that was me! LOL

[Traci]

What a great idea, Cleo, as long as they are stable and don't fall over if you stack more than one, LOL. And much cheaper too.

Debbie, keep in mind that with 5 kittens, even if at least two of them have runny or soft stool, as active as they are, the others are going to inevitably get alittle messy too. That's why you want to allow them in a bigger space at times throughout the day.

I know it's hard, but they will learn to use the litterbox eventually.

[Auntie Debbie]

Actually I'm thinking of letting them out for a spell tomorrow tosee how they do and to let them just run around. First sign of trouble, back they go!

[Traci]

You could lay down a bunch of newspaper on the floor. Just monitor them so they don't chew it up. Then, just pick up newspaper, toss in trash. Still would need to place litterboxes on the paper.

[Cleo]

Traci, they weren't stacked, just one level but all three connected with the inside wall ends opened so the cats can go from one end to the other. I wish I took pictures as a guide for others.

I hope the poopy mess clears soon Debbie. I remember going through the same thing with Gwen and her kitts; they were on Albon, Flagyl and a Probiotic paste forever!! Well it seemed like forever. I remember having to clean the walls as well although I never actually caught anyone wiping their paws like yours. Sounds like you'll have your hands with this crew and I am actually jealous!