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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / May 2005Kittens in a box...
Hi Group, Another situation, as I am now (even more officially) a full blown cat nut.... I recieved a box of two kittens today, I began to bottle feed them and had all supplies on hand, of course.... One female cat "Tora" (Japanese for tiger) was fixed last month and also got a kitty abortion, we got her as a stray too. She instinctivly stepped into the mother role of cleaning, protecting, and loving them like crazy... She is not lactating and can not nurse them but they are trying to tear her poor nipples off even though I bottle feed them. Q: should I keep them together so she can care for them? She is so happy and purring non-stop... Or should I seperate them for Toras safety and well being? The kittens and Tora have their own room with a safe secluded little area....... Thanks very much as always.... Karl. >Hi Group, > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >happy and purring non-stop... Or should I seperate them for Toras >safety and well being? I would monitor Tora's nipples, but why would you prevent her from something that makes her happy and is nice for the kittens too? Charlie >The kittens and Tora have their own room with a safe secluded little >area....... > >Thanks very much as always.... >Karl. > >Hi Group, > > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > I would monitor Tora's nipples, but why would you prevent her from > something that makes her happy and is nice for the kittens too? In humans, suckling produces milk. I wonder if it is the same for cats? > Hi Group, > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > Thanks very much as always.... > Karl. I'd say leave them together- the benefits for the kittens are immense. Keep an eye on Tora's nipples, but don't be surprised if she does start to lactate. The stimulation of the kittens nursing can trigger lactation in a spayed female. Katrina > > Hi Group, > > [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > to lactate. The stimulation of the kittens nursing can trigger > lactation in a spayed female. Ahh, so it is true for cats! In humans, there have been cases of men producing milk for children. hondaru...@aol.com wrote: > Hi Group, > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > Thanks very much as always.... > Karl. Oh, absolutely yes, keep them together. They will thrive better. Even if she can't nurse them, baby kittens learn everything from Mom, even how to groom themselves. I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't start lactating. At the shelter, we've had "surrogate mothers" who took on orphans after their own kittens were weaned. Sherry > Hi Group, > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > like crazy... She is not lactating and can not nurse them but they are > trying to tear her poor nipples off even though I bottle feed them. Kittens sucking stimulates the brain to release prolactin-- which stimulates milk production even if the female isn't/wasn't pregnant. In certain situations we use metoclopramide (Reglan) to increase milk production if necessary. Nothing is better than a cat's natural milk. > Q: should I keep them together so she can care for them? She is so > happy and purring non-stop... Or should I seperate them for Toras > safety and well being? If the queen received a clean bill of health from the vet, definitely keep them together for at least of couple months-- and try to handle the kits as much as possible-- impoves socialization with other cats and humans. The queen will also keep the kits clean and stimulate them to poop. > The kittens and Tora have their own room with a safe secluded little > area....... Just be sure to keep the area warm (85-90F), dry and clean. > Thanks very much as always.... > Karl. You're now an incurable ailurophile! ;-) Best of luck. Phil Maybe if she gets irritated (headed toward infection, which could make the kids sick), maybe you could put a lightweight sleeve around her abdomen to prevent them from getting to the nipple, this way she can still mollycoddle them. hondaruehs@aol.com Wrote: > Hi Group, > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > Thanks very much as always.... > Karl. A: Keep them together. It'll benefit both of them. Your Tora gets t fulfill her maternal instincts, and the kits have the happy safenes and security of a mother. As the others also advise: do keep an eye o Tora's nipples. They might get sore, but it won't hurt her. And seein as that she had an abortion, don't be surprised if she actually start lactating. Her pregnancy will have already started to activate her mil glands, and in that case it's even better if your new kits suckle her Anyway, you will find that keeping them together will create a ver special bond between both all three of them, and you as the surrogat mother (the one with the milk). This is going to be one happy felin family! Purrs and nudges from the overseas eleven; Whoopi, Venus, Sabine Tibsy, Jolie, Cleo-Shinta-Li, Bisou, Toby, Frolic, Syrius and Shand (who is probably going to deliver some cute little fluffies hersel pretty soon) -- Fritti |
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