Tag: Kitten | Pawbly

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Krista Magnifico

Hello Ann,

Thanks for the question, and for caring for the kitten.

Seizures and inability to defecate are not normal and likely signify a serious health problem.

I would advise that you seek professional assistance from a veterinarian or a cat rescue, or animal rescue group who are experienced in caring for newborns.

In general kittens need to be kept warm, be fed about every 3-4 hours, and be stimulated to urinate and defecate.

But seizures are indicative of a sugar imbalance (you need to be using a high quality kitten formula and not a grocery store product), or a central nervous system disorder, infectious disease, and unfortunately even rabies, (which is fatal to everyone it touches, you are at risk also).

I’m sorry that your kitten is sick, but it is time to seek some professional and in person help.

I wish you the best of luck,
Krista

Krista Magnifico, DVM
Owner Jarrettsville Veterinary Center
Jarrettsville, MD
http://www.jarrettsvillevet.com

11 years ago

Question

Steve Hatchett | 11 years ago

I Recently Heard That Rescued Pets Are Incapable Of Showing Emotion When Taken To Their…

I recently heard that rescued pets are incapable of showing emotion when taken to their forever home. This seems contrary to my own observations. My most recent adoption, the kitten I named Scout seemed overwhelmingly happy coming into our home and is basically all over me with affection.

From your professional standpoint, is the happiness they show have any scientific basis?

Best regards,

Steve Hatchett

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Anonymous

Hey Steve!
That has got to be one of the silliest things I’ve ever heard. I’ve met quite a few rescued pets and they are some of the friendliest, happiest, most loving critters on the planet. Of course, there is an adjustment period while they get used to you and their new digs.

Dogs who are rescued may have come from neglect or abuse in their past, but it doesn’t condemn them to having no connection to the people they live with going forward.

I don’t have any scientific basis for my opinions, just observations like yourself.
May not have been the answer you were looking for, but I hope it helps!
All the best,
Sandy Kempton
Barks and Blooms

11 years ago
Kelly Furgason

Hi Steve,
I agree with Sandy in her comments. I think that it is untrue to state that rescue’d pets are incapable of showing emotion. I think it depends on the pet…many are happy go lucky and whatever they’ve been through doesn’t faze them, while others take a bit longer to come out of their shells. Actually, from what I’ve experienced, a rescued animal can be more loving and almost seems grateful for the new love and affection of a new person in their life. Congrats on your adopted kitty!!
~kelly

11 years ago

Question

Gary Thomas | 11 years ago

I Have A Feral Cat That Has Given Birth To 5 Kittens In A Old…

I have a feral cat that has given birth to 5 kittens in a old shed out back. This was 5 or 6 weeks ago.

There was another cat that is much more tame that also gave birth to 4 kittens in our yard leaves. These kittens and the mother were brought inside about 1 – 2 weeks old. They were exposed to people and are pretty tame. The mother comes in and out by the cat window. We did this so that we could possibly find homes for them.

We would also like to do the same with the other 5 kittens but the mother is very feral. The 2 mother cats I believe were from the same litter and live in the woods out back.

The cats in the back began to escape and wonder. 2 were abandoned and we thought we would try to incorporate them with the other litter. It was easy and we have made sure the other mother is not overwhelmed. They immediately began to eat solid moistened kitten food. They are a little older then the others. They are all now very friendly with humans and again hoping to find them homes. They are all in a childs play pen, modified, doing well and all beginning to try solid food. Mother is still coming in to check them and feed them. Sometimes we have to remove the 2 "outside" cats so that the mother is not overwhelmed and the cats not really eating solid food have milk, the "outside" cats are at least a week older and stronger.

So.. We happened to come across the other 3 kittens under a palate of landscaping stone. The mother was still around and had not abandoned them like we had thought.

We moved them back into the sheltered shed. They hissed a lot but once we were handling them they were ok. We have been going out there and holding them whenever the mother is not around cause she gets bent out of shape and attacks us.

FINALLY THE QUESTION.
We would like to remove the kittens in the shed and put them in a crate to acclimate them to humans in hope of finding them homes. They are all very beautiful and unique kittens. So we have a separate crate for these cats and I am pretty sure they have learned to eat solid food cause the other 2 from this took to it and had learned. We did not want to put all 9 kittens in the same pen now cause we did not want to overwhelm the one mother, what are your thoughts? Should we put them in a crate where the mother cant get to them and feed them food an water, making sure they do eat?

Any thoughts?

Also, we would like to trap and get this feral mother fixed so there are no more kittens from her, any thoughts about how we should do this or a place that could do this inexpensively? When can we do this? Did not want to do it while she was nursing.
Same goes with the other mother cat. When can we get her fixed, how old should her kittens be and when can we give them away?

I live in Delta PA area.

Thank you

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Comments

Krista Magnifico

Hello Gary,

Thank you for your question, and thank you for being so proactive and compassionate to these kitties.

I think that in general you have a very good plan and it sounds like you are doing everything just as I would recommend. I think that 9 kittens is too much for one mom if they are all nursing (it sounds like they are not though). A mom that has too many kittens nursing can get hypocalcemia (we call it eclampsia). This can be life threatening.

By 4 weeks old the kittens should be able to be transitioned to kitten food. I would recommend leaving dry kitten food, wet kitten food, or softened dry food with kitten formula out every 4 hours. If the kittens continue to nurse I would start to rotate them so they have more individual time with you and a better ability to be encouraged to eat.

We estimate the age of kittens by one pound per month of age up to about 7 months old. A one pound kitten is about 4 weeks old.

If a kitten is not socialized and tamed by about 6 to 8 weeks old it gets increasingly more difficult. Spend as much time and attention that you can with them before this age.

Please be warned that unvaccinated cats and kittens can carry rabies. It can be deadly to them and to you.

I would also recommend that you contact your veterinarian and any local rescue groups for help in humanely trapping, spaying, vaccinating, de-worming, feline leukemia and feline immuno-deficiency testing, and microchipping. Many of the non-profits or rescues have low cost options for these.

I have included information about some local groups below.

Of course, if you would like to talk to me, or anyone else at Jarrettsville Vet about any of this you can find me at the link below.

For help on affordable pet care;
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html

Alley Cat Allies;
http://www.alleycat.org/

Animal Rescue in New Freedom Pa;
http://www.animalrescueinc.org/

Krista Magnifico, DVM
Owner Jarrettsville Veterinary Center
Jarrettsville, MD
http://www.jarrettsvillevet.com

11 years ago

#Kitten Topic

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