???'s about our kittens...

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-2004
???'s about our kittens...
6
Wed, 09-01-2004 - 6:32am
Hi, I wrote in a few weeks ago, looking for advice regarding my pregnant cat, and then proudly announced that we had the arrival of three healthy kittens. Everything has been going great! The advice I received was greatly appreciated, and very useful...but, as I warned, I am very new to owning a cat and have more questions.

The kittens are now 17 days old - they all appear healthy, are getting more mobile, and starting to become a bit playful. (I would defy anyone, who claims that they don't think cats are adorable to watch these little cuties, and not smile with affection!) Mom-cat, Jake, and her kittens have been comfortably nested in my old baby cradle. Unfortunately, this is not going to be a safe home for them, as they begin to grow. How would you suggest moving them to a larger caged off area? (The kittens were born in the cradle, and Jake has been content to keep them there, so I want to minimize her stress, when they need to be moved.)

I was strict, with my kids, about not picking the kittens up, but we have all spent hours sitting by the cradle petting them - and Jake too, of course - and now we hold them for short periods of time. Jake was never an affectionate cat, but she now "meows" and approaches us, when she hears someone come into the room. Now, I have noticed that the kittens have also begin "meowing", when they see or hear us. Is this their way of asking for attention? Or are they just mimicking their mother? Can we spoil them by stopping and petting them, everytime they "meow"?

I understand that I should start introducing solid food to them, in about a week. (They would be between 3 - 4 weeks old, then.) I planned on following the instructions, on the kitten-food I purchased - soaking small amounts of food in warm water and then offering it to them, and if I understand correctly, I should offer them fresh water, at the same time. However, Jake should continue to nurse the kittens, until she decides to wean them, probably in another 3 - 5 weeks. Is this correct?

Is it true that if I place a small (accessable to the littens) litterbox, into their home, that Jake will teach them to use it?

Sorry I have so many questions, and most of them are probably "common-sense" to you, but I have never owned a cat b/c of my allergies, (maybe it's all the antihistamines I'm taking that make me "dense"),LOL, but I really, truly appreciate your experience and advice.

Talk to you soon...

Kim

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 09-01-2004 - 6:52am

Hi Kim,


Yes, you should move them to someplace bigger and safer since they will shortly be trying to climb out of the cradle.

Cat =^..^=
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2003
Wed, 09-01-2004 - 8:31am
I have to say catwman has the best advice! I bet they are so cute!

Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 09-01-2004 - 11:23am

It sounds like you are having lots of fun with the kittens. Cat gave you some great advice.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-10-2003
Wed, 09-01-2004 - 1:59pm

LOL!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-02-2004
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 12:30pm
I want to say "thanks" to all of you for your support and encouragement, and a special thanks to catwoman. (Your advice is great, and put simply enough, so even us amateurs can understand it!) I think I have come up with the "purr-fect" (sorry, couldn't help myself!) spot to move them to. Jake absolutely freaks if she is locked into a room, so I've decided that since I have a large walk-in closet, I'll make a 1/2 door across the doorway and the kittens can stay in there. That way they will only be moved a matter of a few feet, and Jake should be happy that she will still be able to come-and-go, as she pleases. The BF will probably be pissed-off, but since the "fight" about me bringing her in to have the kittens, and him saying that she and the kittens are now my responsibility - (Jake was his cat before I ever came into the picture, but he wanted nothing to do with her when she came home pregnant) - he can blow it out his ear! MY responsibility, MY choice!

I am doing my best to keep her inside, until the trip to the vet, to be spayed! I can have that done, as soon as the kittens are weaned, right? Should the kittens be taken to the vet for a check-up, at the same time, or is it OK to pre-pay the vet appt.'s, and give the gift certificates to the adoptive owners and let them take their kitten in?

Sorry, no pictures available to be downloaded, yet, but believe me, they are adorable, I'll try to see what I can do.

"ARISTA1986" mentioned about socialization and ill-mannered cats. If you have any books, or articles, to suggest, I'd love to read them. Jake has always been "skittish", from what I've been told, and it was a good six months of me being overly patient, calm, speaking softly, and moving slowly, before she would not flee at the first sight of me. I am proud of the fact that she now trusts me, and even has begun trusting my kids, but this is my total extent of experience "training" a cat to be sociable. Any advice would help.

Also, with her, all I have to do to "punish" her, for misbehaving - like attacking my houseplants - is to clap my hands and say her name in a "scolding" tone. Any suggestions for using with the kittens when they are older and begin getting into mischief? I'll try using the "clapping" method, (with lots of praise when they are good, of course), but I don't know if this will work on all cats or if it only works for Jake, because she is so nervous around people.

Thanks, again. You guys are the best!!!

Talk to you soon,

Kim

Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 09-02-2004 - 4:28pm

I think you are doing a wonderful job with Jake and her kittens


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