My cleaning lady recently lost her 17 year old cat and was looking for a new kitten or two. A friend of hers had a pregnant cat and offered a kitten or two after they were born and ready to leave.
Mind you, I only get updates every two weeks when she comes here to clean.
Anyhow the queen went into labor. A kitten was stuck. Queen and already delivered kitten(s) were taken to emergency vet who wanted $3,000 for a C-section. Which was unaffordable. In tears, the woman said to euthanize the cat and give her the surviving kittens. No, said the vet hospital, she could not have them back. They were surrendered.
End of chapter one - a C-section was done for $850, queen and 3 surviving kittens of 5 came home. I do hope queen was spayed at the time.
Cleaning lady came (this would have been very end of March) and showed me pictures on her phone. The queen's owner used wood shavings for bedding in the kittens nest box. Well, woman has chickens but still . . .
Chapter 2. Today's update - cat's owner call a week ago and says come get the now 3 week old kittens, the mother doesn't want to nurse them any more. Which my cleaning lady did, took all three. Quick trip to Tractor Supply who advised her to get the powdered KMR. She bought the three bottles they had available. Had been feeding the kittens every 2 hours, helped by husband (who feeds kittens at 4:00 a.m. just before he leaves for work) and two children, ages 11 and 13.
One kitten - they are 4 weeks old now - doesn't like the bottle or wet food but is eating kitten kibble with KMR. The others will bottle feed but also kibble with KMR. They are all now using litter pan like champions, no longer need assistance.
Kittens are confined in a big blue tub when no one is home and at night but will soon be in the bathroom instead. They are adorable - today's pictures are of 3 tabby kittens with just some or lots of white. They purr, are learning to meow, first one then all three learned to hiss. They run to people and cuddle.
I am really eager to learn the next installment. In two weeks.
Mind you, I only get updates every two weeks when she comes here to clean.
Anyhow the queen went into labor. A kitten was stuck. Queen and already delivered kitten(s) were taken to emergency vet who wanted $3,000 for a C-section. Which was unaffordable. In tears, the woman said to euthanize the cat and give her the surviving kittens. No, said the vet hospital, she could not have them back. They were surrendered.
End of chapter one - a C-section was done for $850, queen and 3 surviving kittens of 5 came home. I do hope queen was spayed at the time.
Cleaning lady came (this would have been very end of March) and showed me pictures on her phone. The queen's owner used wood shavings for bedding in the kittens nest box. Well, woman has chickens but still . . .
Chapter 2. Today's update - cat's owner call a week ago and says come get the now 3 week old kittens, the mother doesn't want to nurse them any more. Which my cleaning lady did, took all three. Quick trip to Tractor Supply who advised her to get the powdered KMR. She bought the three bottles they had available. Had been feeding the kittens every 2 hours, helped by husband (who feeds kittens at 4:00 a.m. just before he leaves for work) and two children, ages 11 and 13.
One kitten - they are 4 weeks old now - doesn't like the bottle or wet food but is eating kitten kibble with KMR. The others will bottle feed but also kibble with KMR. They are all now using litter pan like champions, no longer need assistance.
Kittens are confined in a big blue tub when no one is home and at night but will soon be in the bathroom instead. They are adorable - today's pictures are of 3 tabby kittens with just some or lots of white. They purr, are learning to meow, first one then all three learned to hiss. They run to people and cuddle.
I am really eager to learn the next installment. In two weeks.
