I hafta tell y'all...

[lilsparrow]

It's been really nice knowin' ya. Chances are slim that I will survive the night since I have found a nest of kittens. Mama kitty has not come back today, one of the had wiggled its way out of the nest and another had itself hung up on a briar inside the nest. It hung upside down on that for at least 4 1/2 hours that I know of. Needless to say, I panicked, gathered them up and have brought them in to the house. They are cool to the touch, but still quite vocal and wiggling around quite a bit. I went and got them some KMR and they have drank about a half a tablespoon between the three. I discovered their where-abouts on Sunday and I am guessing that they are probably only 3 or 4 days old. Now that they have had the KMR they are all pile up on each other and sound asleep...so cute!! Wish me luck, guys, 'cuz hubby told me to leave them outside!!!

But look, tell me you could just leave them out to die!!!

[mckenzygirl]

Oh Dap you in fer alot of work there!
Kittens need to be fed like every 4 hours, maybe more!
After you feed them then you have to simulate them to go potty.
When I took care of a very young kitten, I used a rough wash cloth.
Good Luck Dear keep Us posted on how they are doing !
They are so cute!
I couldn't just put them outside and let them die.

[Laura]

I know you can do it DAP..Too bad you dont have a female there who isn't their mommy..she would no doubt fill in where the real one left off..when I had L.C. ( little cat ) we brought her in & she thought Morris was her mom..he tolerated her for a while but soon made him growl at the door..so it was time to move her out..he was gettin
Good Luck with your new phamily there..

[lilsparrow]

Thanks guys...Well, I survived~he didn't kill me like I thought he would. But just as bad~he isn't speaking to me either!! That will only last a day or two and then he will love them as much as I do! They are doing well so far. I have a hot water bottle under the towel for them in their box, so they are warm. They ate around 6, then one of the white ones ate again around 9, but the other two don't seem to want to eat yet. I am going to put them out on the porch (it is screened, they'll be safe) and set my alarm for another 2 hours I think. I will check on them then. We'll see how it goes.

[lilsparrow]

Well, I still have all three. Two are doing very well, and one is hanging in there. Definately the runt. It is pretty weak, but still mews quietly, and noses about a tiny little bit. But, it seems stronger this morning than last night, so I am hoping I will be able to nurse it along. No sign yet of any of them opening their eyes. I am still feeding them about every four hours, but have waited as long as about 5 1/2 and I have to wake them for feeding time. The runt would right thru it if I let it, but as soon as my hand goes into the box the other two just squirm and cry until its their turn!! I've only named the gray one so far, that one is Corkie 'cuz it in my hand just like a cork screw trying to find that nipple! I'm thinking the runt might be Sneezie or Sleepy, haven't decided yet and the other one just eludes me. I am not sure what to call it. It will come to me!

[KellyGa]

Ohhh DAP! Thats how they getcha! Thats what my husband always says, they getcha with that cuteness as kittens, then they turn into CATS! I exalt you DAP for caring for those kittens, you deserve it for sure, you are their hero! Thats a lot of work! Keep us posted and take pictures as they grow. Boy oh boy, you got your hands full. Good Luck!

[mickee311]

DAP, I have exalted you as well for taking in these kittens. You are awesome for taking care of the babies and I think they will be okay with your love and care. I kind of adopted the neighbor's kittens, they don't feed them, so they are small and Mom is very skinny. People are cruel. Good luck with the kitties and keep us posted!

Oh and keep posting pics!

[jeanette]

oh Dap, they are so very small... i'll be praying.. i've tried with little sucess...
they say that goats milk is good for them... never ever cow's milk.. it gives them the poops. that, in turn weakens them and eventually kills them

[mickee311]

They have special kitten milk replacement at the pet stores and I think they even have it at WallyWorld. I know several people who have used this with stray kittens and the like and they have had great success.

[lilsparrow]

Yeah, I went to the pet store and got some kitten milk replacement. It was a rough early evening, I lost the runt. It hung on for soooo long, it just did not wanna die! But it finally lost the battle so hubby and I buried it out near where it started. The other two are still quite vivacious with STRONG appetites! Oh, and how they purr as they feed. I pray that that continues. My little mop dog is just mesmerized by the little ones, he licks their little faces and has to check on them constantly. It is really cute to see him. He's kinda fearful though when I let the little varmits climb on him, you can tell he doesn't know what to think! It looks like their eyes are getting dark under those closed lids so I think they will open in the next couple of days. I'll post some pix provided we make it that far!! Both seem strong so I'm hopeful we will.

[Laura]

Sorry to hear about the lil one DAP.. I would have lost 4 of mine here had I not seperated them from a cord that was wrapped around them..Good luck with the other 2 babies..

[Songbird]

Oh DAP!! How precious!! Of course you couldn't just leave them!!

I'm sorry you lost the runt, but it was probably to be expected.
I've had to nurse many a kitten along out at the land. Look out!! You become very attached to them!!

[lilsparrow]

The two remaining are doing quite well, but I did break down yesterday and take them to the vet to get them checked. He had to give them some fluids and he put them on antibiotics for 10 days. They both have an outstanding appetite and are getting around their box and out of it quite easily! I have decided to name the remaining white kitten "Gimme" 'cuz he is sooo demanding! He started to open one eye yesterday and today the other eye is nearly open too. Corky's started to open last night, but still only has one open so far. They curl up together on their little water bed and sleep so peacefully until I go in to feed them again. Once they know I am in there tho~LOOK OUT!!! They squirm and meow, and climb all over!!!

[mckenzygirl]

Oh Dap so sorry to hear about losing the runt.

Sounds like the other two are doing very well.
Keep us posted on they are doing! we need updated picture too!
Are their eyes open all the way now?
Best of luck to you and the kitties!

[jeanette]

sounds like they are gonna make it... go ahead and let your little dog lick them, they get kinda psyco with out that kinda of contact

[ssandna]

amazing any of them are living, you are doing a wonderful thing, takes time, money, and sacrifice. can we see updated pictures? are you getting them to poop? if so, how? jeannette, did your last set make it?

[lilsparrow]

They are doing well, but I am having issues with getting them to poop. I try to stimulate the anus with a damp, warm, paper towel and they always urinate for me but usually go over 24 hours before they poop and they do strain to pass it. I hear the gray one's little belly rumblin' but just can't seem to get him to go. I know, I know, TMI!!! Anyway, that was why I took them to the vet on Sat. He gave them some subcutaneous fluids (said they were dehydrated, and I am not surprised) which did bring on a good poop Sat. nite. Now I am adding a little Karo syrup to their formula. I don't know if that will help or not, but my mother swears it will. If they don't go again tonight, I will be back in the vet's office tomorrow to see if I can figure out what to do for them. I sure would hate to lose them to constipation.

Their eyes are completely open, and I can tell they can actually see now too. They look around with great interest. They stay awake more now too, and yes, they are getting to be quite the handfuls! They want to eat simultaneously, so I am holding one to feed with one hand and coralling the other with the other hand. Tonight they fell asleep, one in each hand, the white one face down and the gray sprawled flat out on his back. It was so cute!!! I have definately gotten attached! I'll see if I can get a good pic tomorrow to post. They are growing fast!

[lilsparrow]

Here's my babies a whole week later...


Can you believe that? And they have DOUBLED in size!!!They went to the vet yesterday and he said I don't have to get up and feed them at 2AM anymore!!! Yay!!! I LOVE you, Dr. Vet!!!

[crazy1]

"I love you Dr vet" Glad their doin well DAP

[Laura]

Aren't they cute.. So how old did the Vet think they are? Cant be very old seeing as how a 9 volt is not that much bigger then they are. Now you have some house pet's..to keep the dog company..

[jeanette]

if their eyes are just opening, they are between 3 and 4 weeks..
wow you are really doing a good job, they are so content..
no sheila sadly mine didn't make it.. i'm not sure why.. maybe they went without food too long before i found them.. they were so frantic it was hard to get them to eat.. and there were just too many of them..6.

[lilsparrow]

laura said:

Aren't they cute.. So how old did the Vet think they are? Cant be very old seeing as how a 9 volt is not that much bigger then they are. Now you have some house pet's..to keep the dog company..

He figured they are just about two weeks old. Said their eyes usually open at 7 to 10 days and they just opened Sat and Sunday I think. They sure are doing good. They love to be handled...

[lilsparrow]

Well, it's been another week and they continue to grow. They still sleep alot, but they are getting up and around more and more everyday. They love to eat~can you tell?


And look at this one~here's daddy!!!


I don't know if that battery is a good reference~it seems like it makes them look smaller than they are. They are a little bigger than the palm of my hand...

[jeanette]

aww isn't that just the sweetest thing...

is your little doggie a lasa??? she looks just like my mom's snickers...

[lilsparrow]

Yep, he's a Lhasa, and a sweet one at that. He is definately their body guard, he won't let the adult cat anywhere near them! Usually he and the adult cat get along great, just not when the kittens are nearby.

[Laura]

It sure is nice that your dog has adopted the kittens..
Tank will tolerate the lil ones here.. He just wont LOOK at them..they have no fear of him. Nib's will still take a swat at him just for being here..

[lilsparrow]

Look how much they have changed in a week!! Their teeth starting breaking thru the gums on Monday, and are pretty sharp now. They run thru the house, and try like crazy to keep up with Artoo (the Lhasa)! I havent litter trained them yet, and they dont get the solid food thing yet either. I mash it up real good, and dilute it with their formula, but they dont eat it yet. They will soon, Im sure.

[Laura]

DAP..you have done a great job with the kittens!! They sure are cute..

[lilsparrow]

Gosh, I just can't get over how fast they are growing!! They are starting to eat solids and are inconsistantly using the litter box too. We're working on it!! The gray one, Corkie, his eyes are just starting to change color I think, but Spot's are still a very solid blue. He's not deaf though, he responds to noises appropriately.

[jeanette]

awww will you look at that... i'm gonna snag that pic, if it's alright, and make bethany a card or something with it... that is precious...