Cats, who knows about cats?
@DesigningLife (903)
United States
April 22, 2007 10:29pm CST
We have a new mama cat with kittens that are 15 days old at the moment. Mama has Mastistis and is on antibiotics but her nipples and surrounding areas are so gross from "popping" that we have placed a sock over her belly so kittens cant nurse....vet told us not to let them nurse even though she is on antibiotics. The kittens sometimes take bottles like they are starving, but younger/smaller ones need force to feed them. Does anyone have suggestions for how we can save the kittens (we bought kitten formula and bottles) but mom is a wreck...and oh so gross... do you think she can get through this ok?
2 responses
@CritterKeeper (519)
• United States
24 Apr 07
It sounds like you're doing fine for the mama already, give her the meds and keep the area clean. When you've got babies who've nursed on mama and then have to bottle feed it can be tough getting them to accept the bottle. You can use a sterilized pin or something similar to make the opening in the nipple just big enough to get a slow but steady drip when you turn it upside down, about 1 drip per second. Then they don't have to suck as hard to get the milk out and also helps give them that first taste of milk to get them going for more. I also think it's good if you can hold them in a natural nursing position, on their tummies with head slightly elevated. That helps sometimes plus makes it less likely that they'll aspirate the milk. I've had to bottlefeed quite a few orphans this way myself and I know how much hard work it can be! Good luck with them!!
1 person likes this
@DesigningLife (903)
• United States
26 Apr 07
Thank you for your help! Mama is doing better, I ended up putting a gauze bandage with neosporin on wound area with ace bandage wrap that "sticks to itself" over it for a few days and have seen great improvement - though I nearly vomited there for a while each time I saw it. The wounds appear clean (I mean free of pus or icky stuff) then I let her have the thing off for a couple days to dry since she was taking it off.
I still cover her belly as she wants to be with babies (this way she can snuggle them, clean them when they eliminate, etc) and they "think" they are nursing but are unable to scratch her wounds or further infect.
They are taking the bottles much better. Ha the first time I tried them, my daughter and I mixed the formula warmed it slightly and began to feed...well, DUH, the nipples do not come already with holes in them so we figured that out finally after 20 minutes of "what the heck is wrong here?" looks at one another. LOL!
the kittens seem to feed best when they are held somewhat upright, either cradled in palm of hand or up against us. They are beginning to seek us out and climb on us looking for milk, so cute! They are beginning to play a little with one another, growing and it is so sweet feeding them. Their little triangl ears wiggle and they put front legs up in air, lol.
@CritterKeeper (519)
• United States
26 Apr 07
Heh Neosporin can work wonders on a pretty good number of things, people or animals! It's a must have in our medicine cabinet!
It's good that mama can still care for the kittens even if she can't nurse them. They'll all get some good benefits from that!
1 person likes this
@DesigningLife (903)
• United States
17 May 07
I wish I knew how to put a photo up on the discussion of the kittens now, or maybe I dont have enough posts yet.
Anyway, Mama cat has healed completely (thankfully), and the little herd of furballs are now playing, running around and even eating soft cat food from a plate!
I wanted to show pics - the kittens are so adorable!! We have learned a lot throughout the past 5 1/2 weeks, and my daughter did an excellent job caring for them as well. They climb up in her bed leaving her very little room...lol, but I don't think she minds sharing with furry little snugglers. :)
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
11 Jun 07
We had alot of pups when I was a kdi and one time there was a runt that my mom was gona give up on I raised him from the bottle from the time he was only a few days old. I did put some sugar in the pet milk to get him to eat it better. Not sure if its the right thing to do or not but he made it through the worst part.
@DesigningLife (903)
• United States
11 Jun 07
That's a really cool story! It is very rewarding, isn't it?
Thank you for sharing. :)
